It’s truly great to have a brother like that.
Looking at the sumptuous dishes in front of her, Ban Qin turned around happily.
“Miss, it’s time to eat,” she said, as she knelt down.
The newly arrived maids hurriedly worked together to lift the dining table over.
Behind the bamboo curtain, a lady lay on her side on the couch.
“You may go,” Ban Qin said.
The maids responded affirmatively.
“Since I am not familiar with the mistress’s taste, please check for me,” the maid said respectfully.
“Alright,” Ban Qin said, nodding in acknowledgment.
The maids withdrew, and as the curtain was pulled back, they saw Ban Qin helping a lady sit in the main hall.
The young maid, curious, tried to get a better look at the woman, but the older maid glared at her and pulled her away.
“What does the mistress look like?” the young maid couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
“What’s there to see about a fool! Stop causing trouble. If the young master from the Zhou family finds out and takes offense, we’ll be in big trouble,” the older maid warned.
Remembering that seven people from both households had been expelled from the residence over this issue, and aware of the severe repercussions of being dismissed by the masters, the young maid became frightened. She tensed up and didn’t dare to look into the room again, afraid that her curiosity about the mistress’s appearance might lead to trouble.
After eating, First Madam Cheng waited for First Master Cheng to arrive.
“What did he say?” she asked anxiously.
“He didn’t say anything, just drank a pot of wine and went to sleep,” First Master Cheng replied irritably, sitting down and feeling stifled.
The day’s events had left him feeling stifled from start to finish, with no way to vent his frustration.
First Madam Cheng felt the same way. As she sat down opposite him and was about to speak, the second household’s couple arrived.
As soon as Second Madam Cheng entered the room, she began to cry, which only increased First Madam Cheng’s irritation.
“Sister-in-law,” she said, kneeling down in a formal bow.
This grand gesture startled Fist Master Cheng and First Madam Cheng, and they hurriedly reached out to help her up.
“What are you doing?” First Madam Cheng asked.
“Today, in public, I committed a wrongdoing and shifted the blame onto you. It was highly disrespectful of me,” Second Madam Cheng cried, refusing to stand up.
At the mention of this matter, a strange look briefly crossed First Madam Cheng’s face.
Second Master Cheng also bowed low.
“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have spoken ill of you,” he said, looking down.
“No, stop this,” First Madam Cheng said, hastily helping them up with a hint of reproach. “This isn’t your fault at all. It was my responsibility. I failed to manage the household properly and caused you to suffer grievances.”
Second Madam Cheng held First Madam Cheng’s hand, sobbing softly.
“Alright, we are family, no need for formalities. What matters now is dealing with the outsiders,” First Master Cheng said.
Only then did everyone sit down.
“They say they don’t know… What… what is that child’s name?” First Master Cheng asked directly, as there were no outsiders present.
The three people in the room were slightly taken aback, as if trying to remember the name of the simpleton.
“Her name is Jiao-niang!” Second Madam Cheng was the first to remember, adding, “It seems it was given by Old Madam Zhou.”
First Master Cheng’s expression hardened.
“What a peculiar name,” he muttered, unclear whether he referred to the name itself or the Zhou family’s people.
“Zhou Liu-lang claims he was unaware of Jiao-niang’s return. Can we believe him?” First Master Cheng continued.
“It’s nonsense,” Second Master Cheng said with irritation, “Why would he come causing trouble if he didn’t know?”
The room fell silent for a moment.
“Today’s incident is also our fault. We gave them an opportunity and can’t blame others for humiliating us,” First Master Cheng stated. “We’ve admitted our mistake. Now, let’s see what the Zhou family plans to do.”
“What else do they want?” Second Master Cheng questioned angrily. “Do they really think we are afraid of them?”
First Master Cheng nodded.
“Indeed. We may have been partially at fault initially today, but if they attempt to exploit the situation and cause deliberate trouble, we won’t tolerate being bullied by anyone,” he continued. “Being shamed by a mere military man doesn’t just dishonor us but also disgraces all the literati.”
In the traditional hierarchy of martial valor versus scholarly prestige, a scholar without official rank need not fear a military officer.
“I should never have agreed to this marriage in the first place. It’s made me a laughingstock,” Second Master Cheng muttered with a grunt.
First Master Cheng shot him a sharp look.
“Are you criticizing our father’s decision?” he demanded.
Second Madam Cheng kept her head lowered, especially when mentioning Second Master Cheng’s first wife.
First Madam Cheng gently nudged her husband.
“He didn’t mean it that way. Don’t misinterpret his words,” she said, glancing at Second Master Cheng. “Alright, we’re all exhausted. Let’s take a break at noon and recharge. We don’t want to give others the opportunity to laugh at us.”
The couple took their leave and headed towards their own residence.
“You should go attend to First Madam more frequently these few days,” Second Master Cheng remarked. “Hopefully she won’t mind today’s incident.”
Second Madam Cheng pursed her lips slightly.
“Everything’s been discussed already, and I’ve even made a formal apology. Isn’t that enough for her pride? Besides, we weren’t entirely wrong in the first place,” she replied.
Second Master Cheng stopped walking and turned to glare at her.
“What did you just say?” he said in a low voice.
“What did I say? Wasn’t I right? Why does she get credit for all the good deeds and leave me with the blame? She was the one who insisted on taking care of that simpleton; why should I be the one to bear the criticism when something goes wrong? If you hadn’t spoken up for me at the time, would she have volunteered to speak up on her own? Would I still have to repent at the ancestral hall?” Second Madam Cheng said, her eyes turning red.
“Lower your voice, we’re outside,” Second Master Cheng startled, hastily saying.
The accompanying maids who were following them hurriedly moved away, sensing the tension.
Second Madam Cheng tossed her sleeve and quickly walked past Second Master Cheng.
Second Master Cheng felt a throbbing headache.
It’s like troubles never end!
How did things go awry like this?
There’s nothing in this house that can be kept secret. First Madam Cheng learned about the quarrel between the couple soon after. She sighed and removed her hairpin.
“Go and ensure this doesn’t spread any further,” she instructed.
The maid nodded and left with her head bowed.
“Why did she suddenly act so thoughtlessly?” First Master Cheng reclined partially on the couch, his brow furrowed with displeasure.
“You too. How could you forget that Jiao-niang was under my care?” First Madam Cheng responded, sounding both resigned and weary.
“Even though you were looking after her, so what? She’s technically Jiao-niang’s mother. If I don’t hold her accountable, how will Zhou Liu-lang ever relent? Besides, realistically, how could I possibly punish her?” First Master Cheng sighed heavily. “This is just unacceptable.”
First Madam Cheng lay down on the opposite side of the couch, gently rubbing her temples.
“Perhaps it’s the sudden change brought by Jiao-niang’s return that she couldn’t handle,” she remarked.
First Master Cheng grunted skeptically.
“She’s been aware of our situation with this child for a long time. Why is she struggling with it now?” he questioned.
First Madam Cheng stifled a smile.
“Knowing about something is one thing; witnessing it firsthand is another,” she explained.
“I think she’s become too accustomed to comfortable days,” First Master Cheng commented blandly.
This time, First Madam Cheng didn’t argue further. Instead, she sighed, switched hands to massage her temples, and closed her eyes.
