A Good Country Wife
Chapter 553 - 547_1

Chapter 553: Chapter 547_1

However, the gift list revealed that each person would receive ten blocks of Fragrant Soap, five bottles of wine, five embroidered ornaments or trinkets, five cans each of fruit preserves and pickled vegetables, various dried goods and bean products, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Calculating this way, the gifts for each person amounted to over one hundred Silver, indeed a very generous offering.

Upon hearing this from Momo Xu, Lin Yue chuckled, "Giving plenty of gifts is always better than giving too few, besides, these are all products from our own estate. In reality, the cost isn’t much, and among those, though their current ranks are low, there are quite a few capable ones. Who knows, they might achieve something in the future. Let’s just consider it as establishing good karma."

As for Eunuch Cui and the other two, the dry goods, fruits, and vegetables Lin Yue sent were doubled in quantity. Furthermore, the Fragrant Soap and wine she offered were of the top quality, while only one embroidered ornament was given. Of course, it wasn’t ordinary—it was a newly completed piece of double-sided embroidery. Ordinary embroidery, even several pieces of it, didn’t compare to the value of this single item. Naturally, it wasn’t Lin Yue who embroidered it personally; Lan Fang and Dong Xue had made significant progress under Lin Yue’s instruction and had already produced a few double-sided embroideries. These three pieces were the best selected from their work. Although definitely not as exquisite as those embroidered by Lin Yue herself, they were still quite remarkable, surpassing the average level of quality found in the market.

Since they were setting off the next day, Lin Yue arranged for the gifts to be delivered personally to each recipient the afternoon before. Erhu personally delivered the gifts for Eunuch Cui and his three companions. Compared to the Silver they had previously received, these items were much more appreciated by everyone; the gifts were not only of high quality but also substantial, so much so that during dinner that evening, everyone was in high spirits and exceptionally cheerful.

The following day, Erhu and Eunuch Cui’s entourage embarked on their journey to the Capital City. Lin Yue had reiterated all her reminders, "Erhu, once you’ve finished your business in the capital, hurry back. There’s word from Shanglin Village that your elder sister is not faring well, and it’s estimated that she may only hold on for a month or two more. You’ll need to rush back to see her one last time."

Erhu nodded solemnly, "Wife, I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll rush back as soon as possible. In my absence, please look after my elder sister. She has wronged you in the past, but in the end..." Speaking of this, Erhu still felt somewhat ashamed, but being away from home, he had to entrust these matters to his young wife, as he couldn’t trust anyone else.

"Enough, don’t speak of this anymore. I understand what you want to say. Let bygones be bygones; I no longer mind it. Since I’m your wife, your elder sister is my elder sister too. After all, she has treated you well in the past. For that reason alone, I will do my utmost. You go with peace of mind and take care of yourself. Be particularly cautious when you meet that person in the capital. The emperor’s heart is unfathomable like the sea; you must be careful in your interactions."

Watching Erhu and Eunuch Cui’s party depart in the distance, Lin Yue felt an emptiness inside. The deeper her affection for Erhu, the harder it was to part with him. Each time Erhu left, it always took her some time to adjust. Fortunately, his stay in the Capital City this time wasn’t long, and he would be back soon.

After seeing Erhu off, Lin Yue returned to her room and contemplated the next steps. It was already decided that they would set sail earlier than planned. Erhu mentioned that their homemade goods were selling well; there was no worry about not being able to sell them, but rather a concern of not having enough stock. Thus, during these days, Lin Yue urged every department to step up production. Meanwhile, Liao Ruyan, ever since the day she had scavenged a number of items from her, had been hiding in the Soap Making Room, conducting her research. Lin Yue hadn’t seen Liao Ruyan come out even once in these days. All the items needed here had also been sent over by others. Lin Yue was keen to learn about the progress of Liao Ruyan’s essential oil research and was preparing to visit the Soap Making Room when a maid at the door announced the arrival of Zhang Qiusheng.

"Master Zhang has arrived, please have a seat. Is there something you need?" Since the incident with Zhang Xiaoyu occurred, Zhang Qiusheng had rarely presented himself in front of others, instead quietly hiding away in the carpentry workshop, avoiding being seen, perhaps out of a sense of shame and a wish to work harder as a sign of gratitude to Lin Yue. His proactive visit this time surely meant something was afoot.

"Madam, it’s about Fangcao. My family has already chosen an auspicious date and set it two months from now to welcome Fangcao into our household. I wanted to personally inform you," Zhang Qiusheng said.

"If you’ve chosen the date, then it’s settled. It’s a happy occasion. I’ll give you a few days off in advance so you can take care of things and also take some rest. You’ve been working so hard these days that you deserve some rest. After all, your health is most important. Your parents are eagerly awaiting your marriage to Fangcao, hoping for a grandson to carry on the family line. This seems to be an unexpected turn of fate."

As Lin Yue said this, she felt her own moral standards had shifted. Had it been another family in such a predicament, Lin Yue wouldn’t have spoken these words because it would involve breaking up someone else’s marriage. Zhang Qiusheng, in this era, could be considered a loyal man, who under pressure from his parents and being childless, remarkably abstained from taking another woman. Yet, at this age, he encountered this situation with only Fangcao to marry.

However, the situation couldn’t really be attributed to anyone else. He wasn’t forced; it was his own daughter whom he doted on since birth that facilitated these events. Moreover, Lin Yue had very little sympathy for Zhang Xiaoyu and her mother. One was weak and indecisive, spoiling her daughter to a fault, while the other was willful, selfish to the extreme, and had even coveted Lin Yue’s man, which was utterly unforgivable.

Lin Yue held no pity for them. If it weren’t for Zhang Qiusheng’s usefulness, she wouldn’t have allowed Zhang Xiaoyu to cause trouble repeatedly. Now, she couldn’t wait for Fangcao to marry into Zhang Qiusheng’s home sooner and give birth to a chubby son. When that happened, she wouldn’t need to act; Zhang Xiaoyu’s character guaranteed that she would have no good days ahead.

Fangcao, after all, harbored deep resentment towards Zhang Xiaoyu—didn’t you see the way Fangcao looked at her, wishing she could tear her apart? Zhang Xiaoyu had stolen Fangcao’s beloved, and because of Zhang Xiaoyu, Fangcao ended up with Zhang Qiusheng. A woman’s mindset is truly understood by another woman, and Lin Yue firmly believed that Fangcao’s hatred for her surpassed even that for the man who deceived her. Once Fangcao entered Zhang Qiusheng’s household, Zhang Xiaoyu would have no good days to look forward to. Besides, Zhang Qiusheng owed Fangcao for this guilt and would likely favor her side. Lin Yue could already envision Zhang Xiaoyu’s future frustration. Lin Yue felt delighted inside; whoever dared to covet Lin Yue’s man would face consequences!

"Madam’s words are wise. My parents are beside themselves with joy over this. They’ve looked far more spirited these days. It was my lack of filial piety that caused my parents so much worry." Zhang Qiusheng listened to Lin Yue and became somewhat contemplative. Previously, he had defied his elderly parents for the sake of his wife and daughter, but in the end... Thinking of all that his unfilial actions had put his parents through, Zhang Qiusheng resolved to be thoroughly dutiful to them going forward and to no longer be so irresponsible.