After Qi Huang left, Mrs. Wang looked at the few items, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, repacked them in the cloth, calmed her emotions, then turned to Zhang Quan’s family and said, "Did you hear what Qi Huang said just now, Sister Hong?"
Zhang Quan’s family was sharp-witted and replied, "Lady, when I return, I will certainly relay her words to the Old Lady without any falsehood."
Mrs. Wang nodded and said, "You needn’t speak of anything else, Xixi may look fragile, but she is very astute. She is an exceptionally clever child, even better than I had imagined." She touched the box of Angong Pills, and said with a bitter smile, "Looking at it now, it’s me who’s not worthy of being her legitimate mother."
No, it’s the Qin family that is unworthy.
"Lady, you should not diminish yourself."
"You don’t understand. For the past ten years, this child lived alone in the old house, and even though money and goods were sent to her with old servants to take care of her, how cruel and cold must it have been for a child?" Mrs. Wang sighed softly, "You’ve seen the state of the Qin family nowadays; even I have to rely on things sent by my mother to get by. Yet this young lady, who has just come of age, could offer such precious items, but I have no idea how she saved them up, what she has sacrificed in the process. But she did offer them, am I not indebted to her?"
Zhang Quan’s family tentatively asked, "Lady, do you mean to say that these medicines are as valuable as that girl said, and worth a fortune?"
Mrs. Wang’s expression became serious, "She is from the Mystic Sect, and she would not easily lie. These two medicines are as rare as those from Changsheng Hall, especially the Angong Pill; previously, I couldn’t even purchase it in the capital to give to my mother as a birthday gift. But now..."
She laughed bitterly and felt a bit shocked by Qin Liuxi’s abilities, which seemed even more intense and mysterious than she had imagined.
Zhang Quan’s family said, "If the young miss has such Divine Skills, then the Qin family..."
Her words were cut off by a look from Mrs. Wang, and she felt a palpitation.
Mrs. Wang said, "Don’t mention this again in the future, Sister Hong. Xixi may indeed be the Qin family’s daughter, but what has the Qin family given her these years? Family protection or parental care? None."
She laughed self-mockingly, "Even though the Qin family has fallen on hard times, should we be like a poor peasant family that drains every last penny of a child’s private savings? That’s not right, and I have no face to do so. What is hers is hers. I will act as if I don’t know, and I ask that you do the same, Sister Hong, do not speak of it outside. Just today, there was some unpleasantness at the Old Lady’s."
Thinking about the fuss, if she still expected Qin Liuxi to be generous and provide for the whole family as if living in luxury, Qin could regain its former glory, just the thought made her face feel unbearably hot.
Moreover, the Old Lady mustn’t know that these precious medicines were given by Qin Liuxi to her maternal grandmother; otherwise, who knows what kind of stories she would spin, saying she favored a stranger more than her own grandmother, especially with Mrs. Xie around, who had a loose tongue.
"If someone asks you if the young miss has given any gifts, just say she gave a few peace charms, but there’s no need to mention these two medicines. It’s not that I’m siding with my maternal family; I don’t want to bring trouble to that child."
Zhang Quan’s family understood her meaning and hastily said, "Lady, rest assured, I know what to do."
Mrs. Wang nodded and then said, "After you return, you must not give these two medicines to my mother in front of everyone else, be discreet about it."
Zhang Quan’s family was taken aback.
So this is not to be publicized? Doesn’t she want everyone to know that the Lady is not just a freeloader?
"The Qin family has just suffered a misfortune, and I hadn’t anticipated that Xixi could offer these things. Outsiders are unaware that she was raised in the Mystic Sect from a young age, and they might think we have other resources at our disposal. If this became known, wouldn’t it lead to more speculation?" Mrs. Wang spoke indifferently, "Too much talk and it won’t sound good. I’d rather let everyone know of my current plight than cause trouble for our Xixi by showing off, that’s the least I can do."
Zhang Quan’s family gave a deep bow, "I am grateful for the Lady’s guidance, I was short-sighted."
"As long as you understand my intentions, that’s good enough."