This eldest brother-in-law of mine, who considers himself to possess remarkable talents, deems himself extraordinary and prides himself on being incorruptible, looks down upon our Shi family’s "stench of copper." Shi Fengju was indeed surprised to hear that he would willingly reside for an extended period in his home that reeked of that very scent.
"Is this the idea of my elder sister, or her husband? Is he really willing to do this?" Shi Fengju felt that it was better to ask for clarification, just in case it was solely his sister’s idea and her obstinate husband would later blame him for meddling!
"It was a mutual decision!" Shi Yumei hurriedly explained: "Besides, the house is now quiet, perfectly conducive for him to focus on his studies. Qingzhou is close to Hangzhou, so after three years, it will also be convenient for him to travel there for the examinations! Furthermore, our father can give some guidance to my younger brother. After three years, both uncle and nephew can set off together. It would be convenient for them to look after each other on the road!"
"No need!" As soon as Mrs. Wang and Shi Fengju heard about Ren Zhixian "guiding" Shi Fenghua, they both blurted out in unison.
"My younger brother has teachers guiding him at the academy. The teachers there have said that it won’t be long before he competes in the examinations. Changing advisors midway could do more harm than good! Besides, doesn’t my brother-in-law have to review his own lessons? He surely can’t neglect his own preparation for my younger brother’s sake!" Shi Fengju stated.
"Right, right! Your second brother is absolutely correct!" Mrs. Wang also hastily agreed.
Not to mention the distrust in entrusting their brother to such an unreliable person, Shi Fengju had no doubt that if he were to instruct him and then fail to succeed in the examinations again, he would surely complain about wasting effort on coaching his young brother-in-law and not studying well for himself! Moreover, if Shi Fenghua happened to pass, he would definitely claim that it was all thanks to his own guidance!
Upon hearing Shi Fengju’s explanations and noting the slight change in her expression, Shi Yumei’s face softened. She couldn’t help but show a slight smile and nodded, "That makes sense! But is that teacher trustworthy? We must not let him delay our Fenghua!"
"Very trustworthy! He’s a retired Hanlin scholar from the capital!" Mrs. Wang quickly replied.
"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Shi Yumei drew out her voice and then fell silent. Clearly, she was not entirely convinced by her mother’s words, but felt unsure about objecting.
Although she didn’t voice it, Shi Fengju understood her thoughts, silently thinking that even the most unreliable would be better than his esteemed brother-in-law!
Seeing the conversation veer off-topic, Shi Fengju then suggested, "I think the banana garden would be suitable! The place is spacious and the environment serene. What does my elder sister think?"
"The banana garden? The banana garden... Well, that’s acceptable! Let’s settle on that then!" Shi Yumei thought for a moment and then suddenly smiled a bit reluctantly.
The banana garden was located to the south of Shi Mansion, with the main entrance opening onto the outer courtyard. The courtyard and the house were situated within the inner courtyard, with a small door connecting to the inner quarters, perfectly positioned on the boundary between the inner and outer sections. At night, the doorkeepers in the inner courtyard could simply lock the gate, completely separating the two domains.
Within the garden, there were two separate courtyards, front and back. The main house, together with the side houses, encompassed five large rooms, spanning two sections. There were also supporting structures such as the back house, east, and west wing rooms, all fully equipped. Beyond that, the backyard contained a small garden about an acre in size, adorned with rockeries and a pond, with lush and meticulously arranged flora. The front courtyard was planted with plantains, plum blossoms, and bamboo—serenely elegant and quiet, making it an ideal place for studying.
It couldn’t be more fitting for a married lady like her to come back with her husband and stay here.
However, a tinge of melancholy arose in Shi Yumei’s heart. She had initially wanted to suggest living in the embroidery house where she stayed before her marriage. Now she realized that the embroidery house was no longer an option for her! Soon, the Shi family would have a new young mistress, her brother’s daughter. It should be the residence for the new Miss Shi. With her husband by her side, how could she continue to live in the inner courtyard?
Filled with sorrow, Shi Yumei couldn’t help but feel constrained and fearful as an "outsider," forcing a strained smile as she said: "Then, that would trouble my second brother to make the arrangements! Once the banana garden has been tidied up, we’ll move in. We’ll manage our own meals from now on."
"You’re being too formal with your brother!" When Mrs. Wang heard her daughter speak in such a manner she couldn’t help but feel saddened. When her daughter was at home, she was so strong-willed, always striving to be the best. It was distressing that she had married poorly, that within three years both her father-in-law and mother-in-law passed away, and in just three or four years since then, her imprudent husband had squandered all her property, even depleting her dowry!
Seeing her daughter show weakness, a look that would have been impossible before, revealed how difficult the past years must have been, even altering her temperament. How could this not break a mother’s heart?