Chapter 3 "Good" Aunt and the Subsequent Reasoning

Yu Cailing's cheeks flushed with heat, and she coldly laughed to herself: Whenever she went out in the countryside, she had to wait until the sun was high and the morning chill had dissipated before she would agree to leave. Moreover, she had to be wrapped up tightly before they would let her go. Yet these people, in a hurry to report back, had pulled this sickly child, dressed only in a long gown, out from the warm carriage. As for how much this so-called aunt cared for the owner of this frail body, she absolutely did not believe it; when the opportunity arose, she would make sure to give each of these scoundrels a good beating to vent her anger!

In her impression, the constraints imposed on women by feudal rites and laws were such that for every spoonful, there was a basin; for every scoop, there was a basket. From the grand principles of feminine virtue and appearance to the minutiae of taking a step requiring a few centimeters or raising one's head a few inches while speaking, there were clear and strict regulations akin to international measurements. Women were controlled to the point of being lifeless, resembling wooden figures.

This woman surnamed Ge, incapable of confronting her enemies directly, resorts to venting her frustrations on children. It is no wonder her husband is weak and unaccomplished. Just look at her sharp features and bony frame, her complexion as green as broccoli, surely she suffers from an imbalance of yin and yang at night and excessive liver fire during the day, with nowhere to vent her anger. Why doesn't she find a lover to relieve her stress? She could have three young men around her, one feeding her grapes, another massaging her toes, and the last one entertaining her with laughter, her days would surely be much happier. Can creating trouble for your sister-in-law and niece really help you achieve hormonal balance and a radiant complexion? Truly, she is a thirteen-pointed descendant of ancestors who have not accumulated virtue.

"You talk this and that, but you want to persuade me to bow down to her!" Ge seemed to be angry, "Don't you think about it? I married in right after her, and in terms of talent and wealth, I surpass her in every aspect. But what kind of life am I living! I use my dowry to support the Cheng family, while she uses the Cheng family's money to support her own family! And she struts around every day, how can I endure this!"

Here, people's thoughts and minds seem so lively and natural, embodying a sense of possibility; in this vast world, nothing is impossible. While the virtues of a daughter being chaste and virtuous are certainly praised by many, the qualities of being strong-willed and daring are equally extolled.

Upon seeing this situation, Ge inquired about what had happened. Li Guanfus hurriedly replied: "Madam, this is quite troublesome. Fourth Young Lady is seriously ill. I have been both exhausted and anxious on this journey, and I fear I may have delayed your instructions"

Next came the familiar process of administering soup and medicine. Yu Cailing did not know how long she had slept, and in a daze, she had taken an unknown number of medicines, only feeling that this time the treatment was exceptionally good. The bedding beneath her was softer and more fragrant than that in the small courtyard, and the warmth of the room was more evenly distributed and well-ventilated. Even the hands that helped her loosen her clothing and attend to her were numerous, but unfortunately, their movements were not as gentle as those of A Lu.

"Madam, why must you trouble such a small child? You simply cannot stand Lady Xiao." said the old woman

The old woman chuckled and said, "Going to Qingzhou is quite good. Several of my nephews are also planning to go with their families, so with a large group, we won't have to fear being bullied. Moreover..." She paused and continued, "Madam, think about it, in these years, have any of our Ge family's young people managed to secure a future? Not even able to enter the Imperial Academy. Let alone myself.

Then the old woman helped Ge up and said anxiously: "The lady is confused; how can the son-in-law be at home at this time? Do not worry about that, first go out to welcome the guests, we must not lose our manners... No, no, it is better to go to your aunt first and go with her!"

The old woman seemed to sigh: "The Xiao family was once prosperous, but who could have known that they would encounter such great chaos in the world? It was either refugees or bandits that led to their downfall. Back then, in our village, she was one of the notable ladies, while the Cheng family was far inferior at that time. Ultimately, why must you contend with the madam? There is no enmity or grievance between you."

Although Yu Cailing felt dizzy from the fever, her mind was still intact. She didn't need that old woman to tell her what to think—this foolish aunt only knew how to scheme in the wrong places. You spend all day trying to curry favor with Madam Xiao, yet you still expect her husband to assist your family?

The old woman smiled and fell silent.

Yu Cailing summoned her last ounce of strength to lift her gaze, only to see an elderly woman with graying hair standing beside Ge. Then, everything went dark before her eyes, and she lost consciousness.

Little did they know that the medical practitioners came and went, and after taking medicine for several days, the fever had not subsided. Seeing the girl’s plumpness rapidly diminish from her face and body, anger quickly turned into worry. Ge sent everyone away and occasionally sat in front of Yu Cailing's couch, anxious about how to find an excuse if something were to happen to the girl. On this particular day, as Yu Cailing took her medicine, she was in a half-dreaming state and heard the old woman she had seen that day talking with the 'kind aunt'.

Li Guanfus glanced at the faintly glowing charcoal fire, speechless—now she began to feel that the coarse and rude Fourth Mistress was becoming familiar again. In the past, when she lost her temper and scolded the servants, she always acted this way. However, she had never dared to treat herself like this before; after falling seriously ill, has she become bolder?

It was quite a struggle to half-drag and half-carry to the entrance of the large house. There, she saw a dozen or so elegantly dressed women standing on the steps. Yu Cailing's vision was somewhat blurred, making it difficult to see clearly. She thought that the one surrounded by the crowd, wrapped in purple brocade and fur, with a heavily painted white face, must be her good aunt. Upon seeing this 'good aunt,' Yu Cailing couldn't help but want to laugh. If Li Guanfang was as thin as a chopstick, then this 'good aunt' was another chopstick; the two of them standing together could easily pick up food.

... ...

The old woman seemed to sigh: "Madam, listen to me, the Cheng family is no longer the Cheng family of the past, yet our Ge family remains the same as it was. Times have changed, so please do not be stubborn. I came this time to see you before the New Year, as in a few days I will be going to Qingzhou with my children and grandchildren. Since His Majesty conquered that place, the bandits have finally been cleared out over the past few years, and there is plenty of wasteland available for cultivation. They are currently posting notices to recruit people, and the taxes are light. After a few years of farming, that land will belong to us..."

Then I asked the lady, has your dowry remained unchanged over the years?

Yu Cailing quickly deduced: Hmm, this family has the surname Cheng, there are at least 2 brothers, the eldest is indeed the biological child of these parents, they are not deceased, and it seems they are doing quite well.

Upon hearing this, Ge was astonished and exclaimed, "How could it be so fast?" After a pause, he continued, "That’s not right; why is there no commotion at General Wan's house next door? I have had people watching it all along! Hasn't my brother been with General Wan all this time?" He then raised his voice and called out, "Someone, quickly go find my husband!"

Yu Cailing looked at her for a while, coldly laughed as she put down the hand warmer, turned back to insert her hairpin, and said coldly: "If you dare to speak another disrespectful word to me, I will jump out of the carriage, regardless of whether I live or die, I will never return with you." If she were not somewhat formidable, the young girl living with her widowed grandmother, who had no parents, would have been bullied to death by the townspeople even if she had an uncle.

The conclusion is that while it is certainly advantageous for a woman to be gentle and kind in order to marry well, being bold and fierce is not as vilified in later generations as it was once thought to be

In her youth, Yu's mother was a young intellectual who participated in the rural work movement. Many local youths aspired to marry her, some of whom were stronger and more ambitious. However, Yu's mother only had eyes for Yu's father. She understood very well that in life, substance is more important than appearance. Those other suitors spent their days leading a group of brothers, shouting and boasting, but had little food stored at home, which was of no use at all. Yu's father was different; he was shrewd and clever, while his mother was kind and gentle.

This is very different from her impression of ancient times

At that moment, a calloused hand gently brushed against Yu Cailing's forehead, and an aged voice said: "This is not good, the fever is severe. Madam, this could lead to trouble." Then raising his voice, he continued: "Someone, quickly go fetch a doctor! ... ... Please summon the Zhang from the south of the city!"

Before the words had left her lips, a commotion erupted outside, and the sharp voice of a young maid cried out: "My lady, it is not good; the head of the family has returned! There are at least a dozen large carriages at the main gate! The old matriarch is calling for us to hurry." Immediately, a flurry of hurried footsteps could be heard outside, accompanied by a series of rising and falling calls.

Looking at Yu Cailing's stubborn face, Li Guanfang could only swallow his anger, secretly thinking that he would have his wife deal with her once they returned.

No grievances, no enmity? ! '' Ge raised his voice unconsciously, and then heard a hushing sound, presumably from the old woman signaling him to lower his voice. Ge indeed lowered his voice and said: `` It was originally supposed to be me marrying my husband! I am the one who should be honored, I am the one who should receive the title! ''

Yu Cailing felt that her ten-year-old self was more clever than she was now. After slapping someone on the left cheek, she still expected the other person to lick her fingers; Madam Xiao is certainly not a masochist. You really should drink a couple of bottles of toilet cleaner to calm down, as the only person beside you with a clear mind is about to run away, probably in despair over your intelligence.

Yu Cailing chose to ignore her and found a pillow to lean against, pretending to doze off. She recalled a story she had heard in the countryside: it was said that a certain person from a previous dynasty was harmed by a powerful family. The enemies, knowing that the wealthy man had no sons or nephews, and that his daughter was already married with children, could not help but feel secretly pleased. However, the married daughter took up a sword to seek revenge and ultimately killed her enemies in the public pavilion. She then went before her elders to confess her crime and submit to the law. As a result, the local governor and magistrate jointly reported the woman's righteous and heroic actions to the court. Not only was she granted a full pardon and released, but a stone tablet was also erected to commemorate her deeds for all to see.

Just as she was about to retort, she recalled the current situation, and Li Guanfus could not help but close her mouth

Ge sneered coldly: "With parents alive, one should not possess private property. The family has not yet been divided; thus, the money of the elder brother should be managed by your uncle and aunt. The three brothers and their respective families should all have a share!"

The old woman said: "When they first got married, the lady indeed used her dowry to support the family, but it wasn't long before the general rose to prominence. After every battle, boxes of money and silk were sent back home, and our family's dowry was more than sufficient, perhaps even excessive. It is not unusual for Lady Xiao to use some of that money to support her family of origin."

Ge was taken aback and said, "So early? It has only just passed the Winter Solstice, why not wait until after the New Year to leave?" Although she had long known that Mother Fu's family was preparing to go to Qingzhou to acquire property, she still felt reluctant when the moment arrived.

Ge was even angrier: "It's all the fault of my father and mother for marrying me off to the Cheng family!"

The sound of conversation gradually faded away. Yu Cailing struggled to prop herself up and changed her sleeping position. She touched her burning forehead, feeling weak and drenched in sweat. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and for the moment, she had no thoughts in mind. The only solution seemed to be to fall into a deep sleep; otherwise, it would be a disservice to the days spent consuming the pesticide.

What are you planning to do now, madam? It seems that the illness of the fourth young lady cannot be cured in the next few days, the old woman said

It seemed as if to confirm the earlier report of Yu Cailing's illness, as the carriage traveled halfway, she developed a low fever again. Amidst the jolting, she vomited the lunch she had eaten not long ago, and by the end, even bile was expelled. Li Guanfus, feeling increasingly anxious, urged the driver to hasten the journey. After much difficulty, they finally arrived at the family residence, where Yu Cailing's low fever had escalated into a high fever. Her head throbbed painfully, and she felt dizzy and disoriented, unable to clearly see what the residence looked like, only sensing that the carriage had driven into the courtyard.

Ge's speech was hindered

Ge glanced at Yu Cailing, whose face had become plump and rosy from the nourishing effects of ramie over the past few days, and still maintained an air of superiority, slowly expressing disbelief: "Surely you are not pretending; children do not fall ill so easily." Everyone in the courtyard thought to themselves: This remark from the lady is quite strange; the younger the child, the more susceptible they are to illness.

Ge Shi said: "Mother Fu is right, let's do it this way. If that Xiao family keeps nagging me, I will reveal all the outrageous things that Fourth Miss has done outside over the years, and see if she thinks the child should be taught a lesson." After expressing her joy, she became angry again, "What is there to be afraid of? Can she really eat me?"

"Mother Fu." Ge seemed to have some dissatisfaction with the old woman, then he reached out to touch Yu Cailing's forehead himself. It was burning hot to the touch, and he was immediately alarmed, saying, "Oh dear, it's so hot! Quickly, go and fetch someone!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Cailing couldn't help but sneer inwardly. It seems that she is indeed fated to be without parents; in her previous life, her parents were divorced, and in this life, although her parents have not divorced, they still abandoned her.

The old woman chuckled and said, "Your brother has saved up some money from his small business over the past few years and is quite excited about it. He has already sought out a shaman for divination, who said that he should relocate to a distant place to establish a residence and invite the ancestors to join him, in order to bless the entire family. Therefore, we plan to go to Qingzhou to celebrate the New Year, and at that time, the whole family will conduct a proper ritual to ensure prosperity and growth for the family in the future"

Only the sound of footsteps could be heard, as if the old woman was patting Ge's shoulder, saying: "You are talking nonsense again. How did the Xiao family fall? It was only a county away, and who doesn't know? It was because the father and brothers of the madam all died at the hands of the bandits. At that time, the Xiao family was not only wealthy, but Xiao Taigong was also one of the three elders in the village. In order to resist the bandits' plundering of the village, he led his servants into battle and injured many bandits. Who would have thought that the bandit leader would hold a grudge and feign retreat? When everyone let their guard down, he took advantage of the night to sneak in and kill the entire Xiao family, old and young, without leaving a trace. Fortunately, the bandits were unaware that the wealthy families in our area often hid in cellars, which allowed a few women and children to survive. Unfortunately, all the adult males and wealth were lost.

This conversation has taken a wrong turn. I have watched you grow up, when did you ever take a liking to the Process family? It was Lady Xiao, during her first marriage, that the head of the family sang all the way to the wedding, and everyone in the village knew about it. Later, when chaos ensued, not long after, Lady Xiao fell out with her first husband, and even before the marriage was officially annulled, the head of the family was helping her in various ways. To put it bluntly, if our Ge family were to truly propose to the head of the family, he would not agree.

Ge said resentfully: "I just can't stand her! A fallen family, a second marriage woman, and she still dares to put on airs in front of me! My Ge family is wealthier than hers, our background is cleaner than hers, why should I tolerate her!"

Ge silently sighed and said softly, "Madam Fu, although you have spent much of the past two years outside, I have always been able to see you whenever I wished. Now, if I go to Qingzhou, what am I to do? Did I not say that I would help your son find a future?"

Li Guanfus was eager to rid herself of this burden. As she reached the courtyard gate, she did not put on airs and let the maid assist her; instead, she jumped down by herself and hurriedly helped and pulled Yu Cailing out of the carriage, heading towards the main house. Fortunately, the girl had not yet fully grown, so even carrying her was not a strain.

Ge was stamping his feet in anger, saying: "Look at the good marriage that my father has arranged for me. The groom spends all his time studying those classical texts. Uncle Ji is many years younger than him, yet he already holds an official position with several hundred stones of rank. After studying for a few years, he still hasn't achieved any recognition! As for Jun Gu, she pretends to be foolish and only cares about her own comfort..."

You, you...! Li Guanfus was stunned for a long time. It was common for servants to be scolded by their masters, but this Fourth Young Mistress had always been one to curry favor and please her.

Thus, is the lady going to take the life of the fourth young lady out of spite against Lady Xiao

At this moment, there was a silence in the room, as if both individuals had run out of things to say. Yu Cailing patiently waited, thinking that outside, the battle was still ongoing, and she was unaware of the situation. Meanwhile, she urged herself internally to continue the gossip, urging not to stop.

With a bit of strength, she was lifted up again to take her medicine. Yu Cailing was utterly disgusted by the bitter and nauseating taste. She thought about how she was almost better, only to be brought down again by this group of nonsensical lunatics, forcing her to take medicine and endure the suffering all over again. Anger surged within her, and she swung her arm, knocking over the bowls and dishes beside her, creating a clatter as the brown medicinal soup spilled all over the floor. This provoked Ge Shi to jump in anger; she wanted to scold Yu Cailing but also knew that it was crucial for her to recover quickly, so she had to suppress her fury.

In fact, when she first heard the phrase "a serious illness nearly cost her life," she felt guilty. This matter was originally her fault; the lady had not instructed her to end the life of the Fourth Young Lady. The lady had originally planned to take several months to gradually mold this girl, first making her suffer greatly, and then using months of tender care to ensure that the Fourth Young Lady would completely submit before her biological parents returned. However, the adversary was so cunning; in the letter, it was stated that they would not return for several months, yet yesterday they suddenly sent word that they would arrive in a few days. They were caught off guard. What should they do now? Even Li Guanfus was somewhat dumbfounded.

Ge sneered, "I originally intended to keep that wretched woman, but who would have thought she was so heartless, willing to leave her children behind to follow her husband! Her husband certainly aided her; she is quite skilled, having invited a powerful sorcerer to interpret omens, and she managed to take her sons away, leaving only this daughter. Indeed, I wanted to ruin the Fourth Young Lady, to bring shame upon her, but I never intended to take her life"

Ge's Central Road: "Madam Fu and I should come up with an excuse. Fourth Miss is not good, but unfortunately, these are all trivial matters. Quarreling and fighting with other young ladies, even at the garden party... If only Fourth Miss had committed a major mistake. It was my negligence; when I was younger, I couldn't cause any major trouble, but now that I am older, I haven't arranged things properly, thinking I had a few months to take it slow... That cunning Xiao family said it would take a few months to return, yet they are coming in just a few days!" It was my negligence; when I was younger, I couldn't cause any major trouble, but now that I am older, I haven't arranged things properly, thinking I had a few months to take it slow... That cunning Xiao family said it would take a few months to return, yet they are coming in just a few days!

The old woman sighed again and said, "Let me think. Hmm, I have an idea. Let's put it simply. The other day, didn't the second young lady come back crying about her aunt's shortcomings? You should say that the young ladies are all growing up now, and they are at the age where they can be matched with suitors. They must be dignified and virtuous, but who would have thought that the fourth young lady still behaves so thoughtlessly? Therefore, you decided to be strict and punish her properly. However, the servant neglected her duties. By the way, that greedy old woman under Li Zhui, if it comes to important matters, just use her as a scapegoat..."

Ge said with a resentful voice: "It is all because of that Xiao family's lowly woman; even my husband still acts according to her whims."

On this side, Yu Cailing's thoughts wandered far away, while on the other side, Ge felt increasingly wronged and said with resentment: "... Besides neglecting etiquette, what else can I do? Does Madam Fu not know that as soon as we hear any commotion, that old woman next door sends her maid to check? Am I able to punish the Fourth Young Lady or deny her food?"

The old woman sighed again: "The reasoning is not wrong. However, the money was earned by Lord Cheng in battle, and Madam Xiao has always been by his side, so the money always passes through her hands first. Outside, it is chaotic, with fighting everywhere; who still cares about these rules? Even now, once we step out of the states and counties that our emperor can manage, it is still in turmoil out there"

As for the Qiu family, although the eldest daughter of the Qiu family has been married multiple times, her bold and resolute nature has made her stand out. Whether during the time her two elder brothers were away at war or after they returned home disabled, whenever their parents and younger siblings were bullied, it was she who led the group to fight back and defend them. It is no wonder that the elder Qiu couple favored this daughter so much, and all the children looked up to this formidable aunt. The villagers, aside from making lewd jokes and causing a ruckus at the wedding, surprisingly did not utter any sour remarks like "a good horse does not carry two saddles."

The old woman seemed to have taken a sip of water and continued: "In those chaotic times, a reckless man could easily gather a few bandits and claim kingship, killing and robbing anyone from wealthy families, causing great suffering for the women. Our Ge family is such a large piece of fat meat, how perilous it is. Although the Cheng family is poor, the head of the family has a good reputation in the village; not only does he possess skills, but he also leads a group of capable and fierce followers. At that time, our great-grandfather said that he did not dare to emulate the former Lü Taigong who served the Red Emperor, he only wished not to become the second Xiao family. Although the Cheng family is poor, the head of the family has a good reputation in the village; not only does he possess skills, but he also leads a group of capable and fierce followers. At that time, our great-grandfather said that he did not dare to emulate the former Lü Taigong who served the Red Emperor, he only wished not to become the second Xiao family. At that time, the head of the family had just sought to marry the first lady, and the third son of the Cheng family was still young; if you do not marry a husband, who else could you marry?"

Yu's mother was not content with merely being an accountant in a small town. After the college entrance examination was reinstated, she immediately began her studies, persevering for several years until she was admitted to university. She was even assigned a promising position in a big city and 'coincidentally' encountered her childhood sweetheart, who came from a family of equal status and had 'just happened' to get divorced. What followed was only natural. The only miscalculation was probably giving birth to her.

Yu Cailing was about to fall asleep when she suddenly perked up upon hearing the words "Ami Tofu". She knew that not everyone in the world could be as discreet as Zhuo, and there would always be someone willing to share stories from the past. Thus, she pretended to sleep even more, straining her ears to listen closely, feeling as if her fever had subsided a little.