Ji Laosan didn’t understand the true meaning behind their gazes.He assumed they were pitying him for marrying a shrew.
"’Don’t mind her. She’s a shrew. If her father hadn’t insisted I marry her, I never would have! Now she wants a divorce? Fine, I’ll grant her wish.’"
After Ji Laosan finished speaking, he angrily downed a cup of wine and slammed it onto the table.
"’My apologies, Eighth Brother. I’ve ruined the mood. This is for you!’ Ji Laosan said, retrieving a box from his sleeve and handing it to Ji Youze. ’You love reading late into the night, and the Spring Imperial Examinations are approaching. Take this as a token of good luck.’"
Ji Youze accepted the box and recognized its contents at a glance. "’An inkstone handcrafted by a Great Confucian Scholar and a wolf-hair brush! These are truly fine items!’"
After Ji Youze expressed his delighted surprise, his expression suddenly faltered. "’You’re clearly not the way Third Sister-in-law describes you. Why must you provoke her anger?’"
Ji Youze felt utterly helpless!
"’Let’s not talk about that shrew! Drink!’"
Ji Youze shook his head, a barely perceptible smile touching his usually stern face.
Ji Youzhi patted Ji Laosan’s shoulder. "’Third Brother! If you ever run into some major trouble you can’t resolve, just go find Suisui!’"
Ji Laosan slapped Ji Youzhi’s hand away. "’Get lost! What kind of major trouble could I possibly encounter? As long as my Bright Moon Pavilion stands, there’s no problem I can’t solve.’"
What Ji Laosan loved most was silver. His life’s purpose was to make money; it was his forte. There was absolutely no money he couldn’t earn! Naturally, there was no problem he couldn’t solve!
Huo Xing’Er silently stood up and left.
Xie Pan’Er quickly followed suit and slipped away.
Inside Zhu Xiuxiu’s room, Old Madam Ji entered, holding a wailing Xiaosuisui, and thrust the child into Zhu Xiuxiu’s arms. "’Look what you two have done! You’ve terrified Suisui.’"
"’I know I was wrong, Mother! I...’ Zhu Xiuxiu hurriedly apologized, but before she could finish, a soft, sobbing little child had been thrust into her arms.
"’Suisui, don’t cry. It’s Third Aunt’s fault. Third Aunt shouldn’t have argued with your Third Uncle and frightened you. Please stop crying, alright?’"
Xiaosuisui continued to cry, still preoccupied with her large chicken drumstick.
"’SOB SOB SOB... My... my chicken drumstick...’"
Uh...
Zhu Xiuxiu’s scalp prickled as she recalled that when she’d slammed the table earlier, she seemed to have sent the chicken drumstick flying.
"’Don’t cry. It’s just a chicken drumstick, isn’t it? Third Aunt will have someone make you lots and lots of chicken drumsticks, okay?’"
Xiaosuisui shook her head. "’I... I’m full. That was for Xiaobai!’"
In Qinxin Courtyard, Xiaobai shivered and silently hopped into his nest in the old locust tree.
"’Oh, it was for Xiaobai! That’s no problem. Third Aunt will have someone pick it up; Xiaobai can still eat it.’"
Zhu Xiuxiu coaxed her for a long time before Xiaosuisui finally stopped crying.
"’Third Daughter-in-law, what is really going on between you and my Third Son?’"
"’Back then, you said you would marry, and so you did. My Third Son merely sent me a letter and had a few guards escort you here. And I accepted you as my daughter-in-law.’"
"’But if you weren’t willing to be a daughter-in-law of our Ji Family, why did you marry my Third Son in the first place?’"
"’I believe my Third Son isn’t the type to force someone against their will. Now, you’ve been married for three years. If you divorce, how will you face the world?’"
When Old Madam Ji said these things to Zhu Xiuxiu, she spoke directly, without any regard for Xiaosuisui’s presence.
Old Madam Ji had eight children, four of whom were married. The marriages of these four had always been a source of vexation for her.