Uncle Feng and Aunt Feng asked Xiaofeng hesitantly, "So, you have nothing to do with Zhao Dahe at all?" Official source ıs novel⸺fire.net
Xiaofeng nodded, "There’s really no relationship. If we were to talk about relationships, I’d have to call him brother-in-law. But given Xiu’er’s situation at home, I’ve decided not to pursue this family relation."
"So we came all this way for nothing?" Aunt Feng asked incredulously.
Xiaofeng replied seriously, "Auntie, your thinking is wrong. One has to rely on oneself, not on others. Is getting something for free really that easy?"
Aunt Feng wailed, "What are we going to do now!"
Before coming here, they made big promises and had already dealt with their fields and houses at home.
They spent quite a lot of silver on the way, and now going back would mean having nothing.
Moreover, more than having nothing, she was more afraid of others pointing fingers at her.
Doesn’t that mean she’ll never be able to hold her head high?
From her cousin’s intermittent explanations, Xiaofeng finally understood why her aunt was so agitated.
"Uncle and Aunt, after my parents passed away, you took me in, and I’m deeply grateful. That’s why I listened to you about everything, even if it meant disregarding my reputation. But as you can see, the path you arranged is a dead end," Xiaofeng said.
"Isn’t it just because you’re incompetent?" Aunt Feng couldn’t help but mutter.
"Auntie, you’re right; I am indeed incompetent. And if being someone’s concubine is competent, then I’d rather be incompetent for life. I feel really fine as I am now!" Xiaofeng replied.
She truly felt fine. She learned a skill and could support herself.
Her master told her she had saved a lot of silver, and in a few years, when she decides not to work anymore, she’d find herself a live-in son-in-law. Wouldn’t her life be just as prosperous then?
Being a concubine to someone, how can it compare to running your own household?
"Xiaofeng, we’re a family, you can’t just ignore us," said Aunt Feng.
"Auntie, my household registration is already separate from yours. Also, I’m unable to help you," Xiaofeng said, "So please, Auntie, don’t make things difficult for me."
Uncle Feng’s face was full of worry, "What do we do now, wife?"
"Let’s go back and find the Meng family!" Aunt Feng said through gritted teeth.
"Will that work?" Uncle Feng hesitated.
Xiaofeng chuckled, "Of course it won’t work, Uncle. Think about it; if I were Zhao family’s concubine, you might have some right to stay. But I have nothing to do with the Zhao family. On what grounds do you have to impose on them? On what grounds do you have a thick face, or because you’re shameless?"
Uncle and Aunt Feng’s expressions froze. Why hadn’t they noticed before that Xiaofeng’s tongue was so sharp?
"They can’t just leave us behind, right? Besides, there’s your cousin and her family... they brought us here!" Aunt Feng said.
"Then go find them," Xiaofeng replied.
"But we don’t know where they are!" Aunt Feng suddenly remembered.
She had asked Mrs. Meng about it, but Mrs. Meng only said they went where they needed to go and wouldn’t be back for a while.
Xiaofeng recounted what her master had said about the tactics of high-ranking households in the capital, and Uncle and Aunt Feng’s faces became ashen.
"Xiaofeng, are you telling the truth?" Aunt Feng asked, trembling.
"Of course it’s true, Auntie. Say, in our town, would you dare provoke those wealthy families?" Xiaofeng asked.
Aunt Feng instinctively shook her head. Of course not, stirring up trouble meant big problems.
Those wealthy families had their own guards.
Too much trouble to provoke.
"So, Auntie, you wouldn’t dare provoke the wealthy families in the town, yet dare to provoke the General Mansion, the Duke Mansion, and the County Princess?" Xiaofeng asked.
They can easily crush those wealthy families in the town, right?
So what part of Auntie was wrong that she thought she could challenge Sister Xiu’er’s mother-in-law?
"Xiaofeng, your uncle and aunt rarely come to the capital, morally speaking, you should host them well." Xiaofeng’s master timely interjected.
"Master, I do have a monthly salary now, but I’m saving it to buy a small house for myself to settle down in. Treating Uncle and Aunt and cousin to a meal is doable; beyond that, I can’t do more." Xiaofeng said.
She wasn’t about to foolishly take on responsibility herself.
Her life was finally getting better. She didn’t want to ruin it.
"After all, they are your relatives," Xiaofeng’s master said.
"I can’t support them either!" Xiaofeng replied firmly.
She knew very well what her uncle and aunt were like. If she showed any sign of weakness, they’d definitely cling to her.
"Besides, if I can support myself, there’s no reason Uncle and Aunt can’t support themselves." Xiaofeng added, "And if they can’t, they ought to head back honestly to the countryside."
"We can’t go back!" Aunt Feng stated without hesitation.
She didn’t want to be a laughingstock for the rest of her life.
Besides, the capital was so nice (someone as dull as Xiaofeng could become witty here), they obviously wanted to stay here.
"Xiaofeng, Auntie won’t make things difficult for you. Your cousin is quite good with needlework. Can you ask if there’s any place where you work that’s hiring?" Aunt Feng asked.
"Auntie, you say you’re not making things difficult, but that’s still putting me in a tough spot. I’m only an apprentice; I’m not even sure if I can stay permanently!" Xiaofeng puffed her cheeks, exasperated.
"You may not manage, but isn’t there someone who can? Your master can take on an apprentice, so she must be well-respected in the embroidery shop. If she speaks up, wouldn’t it matter?" Aunt Feng said, her eyes fixed on Xiaofeng’s master.
Just as Xiaofeng was about to refuse, her master spoke, "I can bring it up, but there’s no guarantee it will work out. Xiaofeng went through an assessment when she arrived. Hundred Embroidery House has strict requirements for embroidery girls — you can’t just join easily. If she isn’t selected, you can’t blame Xiaofeng."
"The two sisters learned embroidery together, and our family’s Hai Tang isn’t worse than Xiaofeng." Aunt Feng said.
"Okay, I’ll mention it to the shopkeeper." Xiaofeng’s master agreed readily.
"Xiaofeng’s master, can you also ask if they need someone to do odd jobs?" Aunt Feng asked sheepishly.
"Auntie, aren’t you pushing it?" Xiaofeng protested.
"Your master didn’t say anything; what are you worried about? You’re not young anymore, stop being so rash." Aunt Feng scolded.
"Do I look like a pushover?" Xiaofeng’s master asked flatly.
"If it’s not possible, then so be it." Aunt Feng pursed her lips, "Xiaofeng, your uncle and I don’t have much silver left. Give us some, rest assured, we’re borrowing it from you. When Hai Tang gets paid, we’ll deduct it from her salary."
"I’ve only been here a short while; where would I get silver?"
In the end, it was Xiaofeng’s master who lent them some silver. Of course, it wasn’t lent directly; they had to press their fingerprints on an IOU. If they defaulted, they’d face a lawsuit with the government.