A Good Country Wife
Chapter 359 - 353_1

Chapter 359: 353_1

"Zhao Xing, you steal and still think you’re in the right? Apologize to Erhu immediately and return the stolen sweet potatoes," Zhao Dahuo said, his words seemingly aimed at smoothing things over. In truth, he too hoped that, for his sake, Zhao Erhu wouldn’t make a big fuss about this. Although his relationship with Wei Family and her son hadn’t been amicable in the past, they were still brothers, bound by blood. Erhu had already accepted Zhao Cheng and his wife, allowing them to work here, with Li Xiaomei managing affairs no less. Forgiving Zhao Xing as well wouldn’t be too much, but Zhao Dahuo had yet to understand the difference between them.

Zhao Xing somewhat understood Zhao Dahuo’s meaning, and so, seizing the opportunity to back down, he said, "Alright, I’ll listen to you and return them. It’s ridiculous to hold such grudges between brothers." There was even a hint of complaint in his voice.

Zhao Xing thought about the sweet potatoes at home that hadn’t been sold yet. Returning those would suffice. As for the silver coins earned from selling the sweet potatoes, he had no intention of giving them up. No one would know anyway. If Zhao Erhu asked, he would simply deny it adamantly, claiming he only stole on those two occasions. What could Zhao Erhu do to him then?

However, Zhao Xing had misjudged this time. Zhao Erhu harbored deep hatred for the Wei Family and her son. Zhao Cheng was an exception; firstly, because Wei Family favored her other two sons over him, and secondly, because Zhao Cheng’s nature wasn’t bad, and he hadn’t done anything too excessive. Zhao Xing was different; this kid was fundamentally rotten, full of bad ideas even from a young age. He had caused trouble for Erhu countless times and even got him beaten up a few. As he grew up, he didn’t stop scheming behind his back. Now that he had fallen into Erhu’s hands, there was no way he would let this youngster off easily.

"Returning what you stole from our house is a given. However, this doesn’t mean I’ll overlook the fact that you came to our house to steal. It’s too late at night to deal with this now. Let’s wait until tomorrow morning and ask the village chief over to decide how you should be dealt with."

"Erhu, we really shouldn’t trouble the village chief with this kind of matter. Zhao Xing is our brother after all. It’s embarrassing for us to have such things happening in the family. Let’s not blow this out of proportion," Zhao Dahuo said, not quite agreeing with the idea of getting the village chief involved.

"Big brother, don’t try to persuade me. These thieving incidents keep happening over and over. We can’t keep turning a blind eye. I’ve made up my mind about this, and your arguing is pointless. Besides, he doesn’t appreciate your kindness, nor does he regard you as his brother. Save your breath," Zhao Dahuo was being too sentimental about blood ties, often failing to distinguish right from wrong, which was something Zhao Erhu never really agreed with.

Hearing Zhao Erhu speak so firmly, Zhao Dahuo knew there was no room for negotiation and sighed without saying anything more.

The next morning, Zhao Erhu invited the village chief over bright and early. The chief hadn’t had any affinity for the Zhao Family’s old house for quite a while, especially for Wei Family and her sons. Dealing with the matter without any hesitation, he was very impartial in gathering the villagers at the ancestral hall, severely criticizing Zhao Xing, and even making him cough up the silver coins he got from selling the sweet potatoes, handing them over to Zhao Erhu. It was only then that the villagers truly realized how valuable sweet potatoes were.

Wei Family, although enraged that her son had been bewitched by that unclean, foxy vixen from the Chen Family, couldn’t help but feel for her eldest son whom she had doted on for so many years. Watching him being scolded by the village chief and several clan elders in front of everyone, and scorned by the community, she forgot all about their rifts and resentments, not blaming her son for his wrongdoing but blaming the Chen Family for leading her son astray.

Knowing that her youngest son’s family didn’t even have enough food to get through the winter, Wei Family couldn’t help but secretly provide support to Zhao Xing from time to time. When Zhao Quan found out, he became increasingly dissatisfied with Wei Family’s actions, begrudging the fact that even though they ate and lived in their home, her thoughts were still with her youngest son – no wonder Zhao Cheng accused her of favoritism; his words weren’t wrong after all. It seemed Zhao Quan had forgotten that when Wei Family divided their property with them, they had bequeathed a portion of the family estate to them.

After the incident with the traitor, Zhao Erhu and his family resumed their peaceful yet busy days, utilizing nights to finish work sooner, though they were being paid extra for it. Far from complaining, everyone was actually eager. With New Year’s approaching, they couldn’t wait to earn some silver coin before the festivities.

In the Capital City, the Empress Dowager’s birthday was drawing near. Empress Dowager Huici was the biological mother of the Emperor, who was filial and raised under her care, thus sharing a close bond with her. The Emperor was giving the upcoming birthday extra importance and had already ordered the Imperial Household Department to make preparations, planning a grand birthday banquet to celebrate. The people below were already eager to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, but seeing the Emperor’s emphasis on the celebration only fueled their efforts to collect gifts to win the Empress Dowager’s heart on her birthday. If the Empress Dowager was pleased, the Emperor would naturally be delighted, and they might then look upon them with favor.

The news of Jiang Ziqi’s assumption of the Family Head position broke after his return to the Capital City. This information was bound to be disclosed sooner or later anyway, and since it had come out, the number of people focusing on Jiang Ziqi had increased. Already famous as a Divine Doctor and deeply trusted by the Emperor, now having taken over as the Family Head of the Jiang Family, it was difficult for people to ignore him.

The Jiang Family wanted to use this opportunity to establish Jiang Ziqi’s authority, which is why they deliberately leaked the news of his succession. They wanted Jiang Ziqi to make a good impression at the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration. They had seen the embroidery brought back by Jiang Ziqi; it was nothing short of divine skill. What was even more ingenious was the implied meaning within the artwork and the resemblance of the Queen Mother’s image to the Empress Dowager’s likeness, sure to stand out among the many gifts and capture the Empress Dowager’s delight and favor. If this matter was handled well, they believed that the old diehards in the family who opposed Jiang Ziqi would be left speechless thereafter.

As the Family Head of the Jiang Family, there were some responsibilities one couldn’t like or avoid, which was why Jiang Ziqi had decided to go to Jiangnan personally to find the embroideresses. However, he hadn’t anticipated that he would encounter Li Xiaomei, a girl with exceptional embroidery skills, while treating a patient on his journey.

The day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday arrived in the blink of an eye, and the palace was abuzz with singing and dancing, exceptionally lively. Jiang Ziqi also entered the palace early, ready to take part in the birthday banquet.

It all started with the Emperor’s eulogy and toast, followed by performances, after which the people below presented birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager in order of status.

Indeed, everyone had put forth a lot of effort; all sorts of rare and precious things were presented, things you couldn’t even imagine.

"I wonder what gift Brother Jiang has prepared for the Empress Dowager? This is Brother Jiang’s first big event as the Family Head, so don’t bring shame to the Jiang Family. Otherwise, I’d be delightfully happy," said a long-standing adversary of the Jiang Family, also from a Medicine Aristocrat Family background, always in competition with the Jiang Family for the position of chief at the Imperial Medical Academy, and immensely envious of Jiang Ziqi’s title as the number one Divine Doctor at such a young age. Thus, he seized every opportunity to needle Jiang Ziqi.

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