Chapter 1: Baoyuan Decoction
Shen Caiwei was living quite comfortably, embodying a sense of "I was born talented." Little did she know that in an instant, her situation changed drastically, going from a valuable enamel vase worth over one hundred million to a plastic vase on the street costing just one yuan. The disparity was comparable to that of a bankrupt tycoon, truly making her feel like jumping off a building to start over. The more she thought about it, the more pitiful she felt, and the more aggrieved she became. In a moment of overwhelming sorrow, her lips, resembling wilted petals, quivered as she cried out, "Wow."
Mother Wang was lost in thoughts about the "Beautiful Times in Future Beijing" when she was suddenly bitten hard by Shen Caiwei, causing her to frown in pain. She couldn't help but sigh and lament, "Well, at my age, it's better to enjoy my retirement in Songjiang. I can't endure your antics any longer." As she spoke, she began to think about lunch, saying, "Those girls have been in the kitchen for so long; why is there still no sound? I hope they aren't just filling their own stomachs and forgetting about me, the old woman."
Pei had just consumed the Baoyuan Soup—this soup was originally intended to be taken in a bowl each morning and evening. However, Pei found its peculiar taste off-putting and delayed drinking it for some time, causing it to be heated several times in the kitchen. Despite repeated encouragement from Wang Shanchun, the maid, it was only when she saw her sister-in-law, Song, arrive that she finally mustered the resolve to drink it all at once
The elderly lady also bears the surname Lin, and Lin is her biological niece, having watched her grow up since childhood, which naturally creates a different bond between them
Song sighed inwardly—her third sister-in-law was indeed spoiled and inexperienced. She reached out to pat Pei's shoulder, doing so intermittently, her tone softened as she slowly said: "I am not blaming you. I just want to remind you of something. My second brother has already chosen a new wife in the capital, but the old lady is unwilling to send the second daughter and the third son to the capital. The reasons are threefold: first, the second daughter is young and cannot endure the long journey; second, the old lady is worried and cannot bear to let the second daughter and the third son go to the capital to face the new wife's scrutiny; third, because the entry of Lin into the family was personally arranged by the old lady, she feels guilty and naturally has to keep this in mind."
"My second young lady, don't cry, don't cry... You really are quite difficult to take care of." Mother Wang mumbled to herself, yet she swiftly picked up Shen Caiwei, unfastened her clothing, and began to nurse her. Remembering the gossip she had overheard while playing cards last night, she couldn't help but feel a bit curious. "I heard that the second master’s new wife is about to come over, and I wonder if she will bring you to the capital. At that time, perhaps I will be taken along as well. Speaking of which, I have never been to the capital in my life..."
However, Shen Caiwei soon realized that she had been overthinking. In the evening, when Mama Wang went to the adjoining room to rest, several maids in the room gathered together to gossip (a timeless national pastime). Shen Caiwei finally managed to get a clearer understanding of the situation.
Pei was suddenly asked this question, her face slightly flushed, and she lowered her head, murmuring, "Of course I remember." On that day, the elder sister-in-law was out teaching with the elder brother, and all household matters were entrusted to Lin and Pei. Since Lin was already three months pregnant at that time, Song intended for Pei to learn some household skills to help out. Unfortunately, Pei was soon found to be pregnant with twins. After years of infertility, receiving such joyful news was both surprising and delightful for Pei. Coupled with the difficulty of carrying twins, Lin had to manage household affairs while comforting Pei. As a result, they suddenly heard that her husband in the capital intended to take a concubine. Under the strain of both mental and physical labor, Pei faced complications during childbirth, ultimately risking her life to give birth to the second daughter, Shen Caiwei.
At this moment, Song lowered her voice and fixed her gaze on Pei, saying, "Is this solely my achievement? Have you forgotten all the worries your second sister-in-law had for you back then?"
Shen Caiwei's cry was truly extraordinary, almost hoarse and filled with a fierce spirit. At the very least, the wet nurse, Mama Wang, who was dozing off nearby, could no longer sleep. Mama Wang had stayed up all night playing cards and had not even managed to catch a nap before being awakened by the noise, which inevitably made her feel quite annoyed.
Shen Caiwei could not help but feel some concern about her future—she did not know whether she was a legitimate child or a concubine's offspring, nor did she know if her father was a worthless man. Furthermore, she was uncertain whether her fragile life could endure the legendary struggles within the household. With a face like this, she truly felt a lack of security
Shen Caiwei let out a small hum and released her lips. Once she was full and satisfied, her mood improved significantly. With great resolve, she chose not to bicker with Wang Pozi and earnestly reflected on her current situation
Logically, a child of one year old should not have discernible features, yet Shen Caiwei clearly saw the large, red birthmark on her face as soon as she looked in the mirror, and she immediately knew that this was hopelessly ugly
Pei felt her face flush with embarrassment and could not respond, so she lowered her head to soothe her pair of children to sleep. Reluctantly, she handed the children over to the nurse and specifically instructed: "They cried all morning, so let them nap for a while, but don't let them sleep too long; otherwise, they won't feel sleepy at night, which would be troublesome."
Seeing that there was no one in the room, Song said with a smile: "Having been a mother once, you do seem a bit more like an adult now, which puts my mind at ease a great deal"
Initially, Pei was naturally reluctant—there were so many noble young men in the capital, why must she leave the capital to marry a husband who was said to be weak and unable to hold an official position? However, with Old Master Pei's firm resolve, Pei had no choice but to cry to Old Madam Pei and reluctantly marry him. Unexpectedly, the talents of the Shen family were outstanding, and Third Master Shen was exceptionally handsome. After Pei took a secret glance, her heart softened considerably. As they began their life together, she experienced the joys of it—her husband’s frailty naturally had its advantages, at least he had only her as his wife, with no one else around. The kind-hearted mother-in-law and the generous elder sister-in-law allowed Pei to focus solely on her own household affairs. Occasionally, she would discuss poetry and painting with her husband, living in sweet harmony, with no unhappiness at all. Even regarding children, although Pei endured hardships during childbirth, she was immensely satisfied to give birth to a pair of twins, a dragon and a phoenix.
It is quite a coincidence that the Shen family has only three daughters, one from each branch, and they are arranged in order of birth, all of whom are legitimate. The eldest is Shen Caifan, the second is Shen Caiwei, and the youngest is Shen Caiheng. It is said that Shen Caiheng is only half a month younger than Shen Caiwei, and she is both well-behaved and beautiful
When Pei was at home, she was truly a cherished young girl, raised like a precious pearl, feared to be blown away by the wind. Because her cousin was chosen as the wife of the current emperor's younger brother, the Prince of Ruyang, the Pei family gained considerable favor in the court. Coupled with the fierce reputation of the Empress, the gentle and virtuous demeanor of the Prince of Ruyang's wife further enhanced the reputation of the Pei family. Logically, she should have sought a family of equal status in the capital, but the late Mr. Shen and the late Mr. Pei were close friends, and there had long been talk of a betrothal. Before his passing, Mr. Shen was concerned about his younger son's future, and with the fierce reputation of the Empress as a backdrop, the gentle and virtuous nature of the Prince of Ruyang's wife made the Pei family's reputation even better. Logically, she should have sought a family of equal status in the capital, but the late Mr. Shen and the late Mr. Pei were close friends, and there had long been talk of a betrothal. Before his passing, Mr. Shen was concerned about his younger son's future, and thus he had to muster the courage to seek Pei as a daughter-in-law, which could be seen as finding a reliable support for his frail younger son.
Of course, even a vase has its professional requirements. At the very least, Shen Caiwei's face would have been considered a national beauty in ancient times, a level of allure that could compel people to willingly reach into their pockets for it. This illustrates that although Shen's parents passed away at a young age, they had already secured a golden opportunity for their daughter—first by having her charm others with her pretty and adorable face in the orphanage, and then by enabling her to earn a living through her flawless beauty from every angle. Their foresight is truly remarkable.
Song sighed again and said softly, "Sanlang is fine, but Erniang and Tushuji are still young, and the old lady is worried. She personally took care of them before. A few days ago, the old lady had a slight illness, and everyone in the courtyard was busy. She was afraid that Erniang, being a young child, would catch a cold, so she finally relented and allowed Erniang to be taken to another courtyard. However, at her age, the old lady should be focusing on her own health and shouldn't be so concerned about the affairs of the younger generation." She glanced at Pei and earnestly added, "As the saying goes, 'In times of trouble, the disciples bear the burden.' As juniors, we should also think more about our elders."
Shen Caiwei recalled the beautiful faces of others, feeling even more aggrieved. However, being a young girl, she soon closed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep, unaware that her situation had sparked yet another round of discussion between the Song family of the main house and the Pei family of the third house.
The Shen family is considered a renowned scholarly lineage in Songjiang, with ancestors who have served as high-ranking officials. In this generation, they have produced even more talents. The eldest uncle of the first branch is a well-known scholar, and he is the founder of the Yuren Academy in Songjiang (Hello, Principal!). The second branch's irresponsible father (Shen Caiwei believes that a father who leaves his daughter in the countryside is not much better) was the second place in the provincial examination and previously served as an editor at the Hanlin Academy; he is now holding a promising position in the Ministry of Personnel. Although the third branch has not produced any officials due to their frail health, they are known for their excellent calligraphy and painting, enjoying a good reputation in the literary world, and being the youngest child in the family, they are the most favored.
Pei listened, somewhat understanding but not entirely, and could only respond: "Then let Second Aunt and Third Brother stay, that would be fine. After all, there is no resolution on Second Uncle's side either. The new wife who has been arranged is the daughter of the Marquis of Xinling, and that family is quite difficult to deal with." She had grown up in the capital and knew a bit about these matters.
Before her time travel, Shen Caiwei was a struggling actress. Although the entertainment industry is full of ups and downs, with a plethora of talents emerging—some relying on their acting skills, others on their biological fathers or benefactors—Shen Caiwei was none of these; she relied on her looks. From a technical perspective, she was merely a professional vase.
On the first day of Shen Caiwei's time travel, she couldn't help but cry—she was crying because of her own ugliness
First of all, she has a father and a stepmother who is about to enter the family. However, she is not raised by her father in the capital. Although there are a few maidservants around her, it seems that only one Wang Mama, who is rather unreliable, and a few cunning maidservants actually do any work, clearly indicating that she is not favored. Lastly, up to now, she has never seen the so-called mother, which leads to the conclusion that this mother is likely no longer alive.
Madam is full of compassion, and the old woman certainly understands this. Nurse Liu hurriedly responded, knowing that Pei and Song must have private matters to discuss. She quickly bowed and respectfully withdrew with several maids.
Shen Caiwei cried a few times, feeling somewhat exhausted. She was inherently adaptable, thinking that a wise person does not suffer immediate losses. Thus, she had no choice but to take a heavy bite of Wang Pozi's nipple, her cheeks puffing up as she slowly began to drink the milk.
Having a sister-in-law is like having a mother. In the past, the Pei family received considerable care from the Song family, which allowed them to enjoy a stable life, and they had long regarded their sister-in-law as a real sister. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but cling to Song's arm and act coyly, saying: "It is truly thanks to my sister-in-law's daily guidance. With two more little monkeys added to the mix, I often feel overwhelmed. If it weren't for my sister-in-law's care, with sending people off and delivering things, I would be completely exhausted. While I am here, I must express my gratitude to my sister-in-law."
Song could not help but find it amusing: "I often drink this soup, and it tastes quite good. Why is it that when it comes to you, you never drink it honestly?"
Although Pei felt that this matter was mainly due to a series of misunderstandings, with Master Shen being the primary cause, when Song unexpectedly brought it up, she felt somewhat uncomfortable. Unable to help herself, she took a handkerchief and rubbed her eyes: "I naturally remember the kindness that Second Sister-in-law showed me back then. I would never dare to forget it."