291: Troubles in Xiaohe Village (8th Update)
Xie Zhinuan thought for a moment, and agreed.
Lian Sheng valued the family heritage even more than Lian Huai did.
The remaining wine, unless it was absolutely necessary, he really wouldn’t take it out to sell or give away.
“I understand now!”
That ship’s cargo of wine couldn’t be too cheap, but it also didn’t need to be so expensive that it killed people.
There was still a difference compared to a rare treasure.
If people thought of ‘Kechanglai’ whenever good wine was mentioned, that would be a success in its own right.
“As long as you understand!”
The water route back was different from the one on the way there, and on the way, she unexpectedly encountered Auntie Chen.
After not seeing her for some days, Auntie Chen seemed in good spirits. Xie Zhinuan greeted her with great respect, “I have seen the lady!”
She had planned to go directly to the Lian Family, but after receiving a pigeon message from Yuanbao, she waited here.
“Auntie Chen, there’s no need for such formality. Rushing to call you here, I was hoping you could help by taking care of a child!”
Auntie Chen nodded, “That’s no trouble at all. How old is the child? A boy or a girl?”
“Nine months old, a baby boy. It’s just that…” Xie Zhinuan pulled Auntie Chen aside, speaking in a low voice to explain the details.
After listening, Auntie Chen nodded repeatedly, “So that’s the situation. Then we don’t need to hire a wet nurse. I’ll spend more time cooking to make some extra meals; we can eat five or six times a day, that should be enough to plump him up!”
Xie Zhinuan smiled and agreed.
Auntie Chen then brought up the affairs of Xiaohe Village.
“That Yuan Family is in trouble!”
Xie Zhinuan raised an eyebrow, “What happened?”
“I heard from the villagers that Yuan Cheng took a concubine in Fengping County, what’s her name again-oh yes, the maid who served Yuan Cheng’s wife. Normally, such matters wouldn’t have caused an issue, but after Yuan Cheng’s wife returned to Xiaohe Village and sought justice from the old Yuan patriarch, who ignored her pleas, she began crying and making the affair public. With both of her sons away for the imperial examination, the issue blew up. She even came to our doorstep to curse us, saying such ugly things that I slapped her twice, leaving her dumbstruck and in tears, threatening to make me pay!”
The maid named Azhu was known to Xie Zhinuan.
She hadn’t expected that Azhu would become a concubine to Yuan Cheng, who was old enough to be her father.
And then there was Yuan Cheng’s wife…
“You did well to slap her, she deserved a couple of harsh slaps!” Xie Zhinuan said softly.
She wasn’t too interested in the affairs of the Yuan Family.
“It’s just that the old man has fallen ill, quite seriously too. Yuan Cheng returned and it’s said that he quarreled with his wife and even discussed divorce. These things were all brought up when Liuwang’s wife came over for a chat, and that’s how I found out!”
“…”
After a long silence, Xie Zhinuan finally said, “All of this, it has nothing to do with me anymore. Whether they are doing well or not, I won’t get involved any longer!”
They had long severed ties.
Yet, deep down, she still missed that old grandpa who approached with a smile, smoking his pipe, and the old grandma who would wipe her body for her.
If Yuan Cheng’s wife hadn’t attracted trouble, leaving an opening for others to exploit, she and the Yuan Family might have become as close as kin, visiting each other like relatives.
If so, she might still be living a leisurely life in Xiaohe Village, guarding her small piece of land.
Auntie Chen said all that needed to be said, leaving out any superflitous words.
“Grandma asked me to find out when you would be coming to Fengping County?”
“Once everything in the fields there is taken care of, after harvesting the oranges and grapefruits, then I’ll head to the county. I plan to give that house to Xiaoyuan as a wedding gift, as well as a reward for her calling me ‘Master’!”
In the future as she climbed higher and ventured farther, even her visits to Fengping County would be uncertain.
Xiaoyuan was a good girl.
She deserved a reward!
“The lady is kind-hearted. Lady Xiaoyuan is indeed very good. She often brings some homemade things from her family to share with us in Xiaohe Village!” Auntie Chen said.
Chapter 292