Chapter 444: Chapter 436: The Ding Family Courts Disaster

Seeing Mrs. Wang return, Aunt Wan also very sensibly came forward to serve her, offering up hot water and tea with Nanny Shen, then withdrew.

Mrs. Wang waved her hand at Nanny Shen, then said to Qin Liuxi, “I heard everything you said to your aunt. Don’t look down on her for being foolish; she’s just a simple person, straightforward in her ways, devoid of sly scheming, so there is no need to test her.”

Qin Liuxi’s movements paused as she held her tea, and she looked up at her with a wry smile, “You’re so protective of her that it makes me seem like the villain.”

Mrs. Wang chuckled, “You have a strong presence; she’s scared of you.”

Qin Liuxi touched her nose and said, “She indeed has good fortune to have met a madam like you. If it were my second aunt, she’d have been worn down to nothing by now, how could she still be as beautiful as a flower and maintain such innocence and simplicity?”

Mrs. Wang took a sip of tea and said, “Having a beauty around is also pleasing to the eyes. Her kind and innocent nature often reminds me of the carefree time before I was married. If she can always stay this way, that’s fine too.”

Qin Liuxi had seen the struggles between the wives and concubines in the household before; curious about how Mrs. Wang treated Aunt Wan so well, like a little sister, she asked, “Aren’t wives and concubines usually like oil and water, incompatible? Like my second aunt and Aunt Pan, they are like heaven and earth, incompatible as fire and water. Don’t you resent her?”

Mrs. Wang was silent for a long time before saying, “To me, marriage is but the will of my parents and the matchmaker’s words, a matter of matching red gates, who the other party is, to me, it’s all the same. Whomever your father wants to take as a concubine, as the madam, I will arrange for him accordingly.”

Qin Liuxi suddenly understood.

If there’s no love, it doesn’t matter.

“He really is miserable; treated by his concubines as nothing more than a tool, pretty much the same with you.”

Neither his wife nor his concubines truly love him; he is just like a superior, Qin Bohong, truly pitiable!

Far away in the northwest, Qin Bohong sneezed twice, took over the ginger tea from his son, took a sip, and felt a sense of melancholic longing, “I don’t know how your mother and the others are doing. Your mother comes from a respectable family and has an indomitable spirit, nothing can trouble her. But your aunt is from a smaller household, born delicate, and with the sudden changes at home, I fear she spends her days crying for me, I hope she doesn’t harm her health because of it.”

Qin Mingyan thought of the beautiful and somewhat silly Aunt Wan, looked at his sighing father, lowered his eyes, and thought that Aunt Wan seemed to be more practical in wanting to maximize her beauty with cosmetics than missing his father.

But let it be, better not to break his spirit, the northwest is too cold and harsh, people need something to look forward to in order to survive, just like he hoped his mother missed him the way he missed her.

Naturally, Mrs. Wang missed her son, especially during the nights when she woke from dreams, not knowing how many times she had soaked her pillow with tears, sometimes sitting motionless until dawn.

But in front of others, she would brace herself, once again the capable matriarch of the Qin family.

Regarding Qin Liuxi’s comment about her father, Mrs. Wang couldn’t help but give a cry and laugh, chiding her with a glance.

Qin Liuxi asked nonchalantly, “Is the shop doing alright, no troublemakers with no sense of sight, right?”

Mrs. Wang’s smile faltered for a moment, then relaxed again, “All is well, don’t worry.”

Qin Liuxi looked at her: “If there’s anything difficult to resolve, come to talk to me. I can always protect the Qin family’s shops.”

Mrs. Wang’s heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily glanced over, always feeling there was more to Qin Liuxi’s words.

Qin Liuxi didn’t say more. It didn’t matter whether Mrs. Wang spoke or not; if the Ding family were to give up just like that, so be it. But if they really dared to stir up trouble, she would be able to turn the tides against them.

The Ding family would do well not to dig their own graves.

Qin Liuxi’s ‘kindness’ was something the Ding family could not hear. As for the Ruyi Pavilion, they were determined to have it. It might only be a preserved fruit shop, but if the preserved fruits are delicious and become well-known, the profits would be significant.

They had already inquired; there were quite a few preserved fruit shops in Li City, but the best-tasting ones belonged to the suddenly emerged Ruyi Pavilion. Its recipe for preserved fruit was unknown, but the treats it produced were very tasty. Some varieties could even target minor ailments, bringing considerable relief to the body after consumption.

Third Madam of the Ding family had tried the preserved fruit from that shop and had been thinking about it ever since, especially the newly released soft cake, which melted in the mouth. She was very curious; the Qin family had failed and should be destitute, struggling with meals – how could they have opened a shop, and moreover, one that was doing well?

She then thought of Mrs. Qin, who was from a prestigious and noble family. Being from a great house, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had some secret recipes. With support from her maiden family, they might have been able to prop themselves up.

Third Madam Ding envied this even more and sent someone to negotiate the deal, yet she did not expect Mrs. Wang to stand her ground.

Tsk, a down-and-out family that still comes to them for help so shamelessly stubborn—what’s there to be so proud of?

Third Madam Ding felt indignant. Upon hearing that the destitute family seemed to have some interactions with the Yu Family, she became somewhat enlightened.

No wonder, they’ve gotten the backing of the Yu Family.

Hateful Mrs. Yu had even shared a tale of an ingratitude at a banquet, alluding to the villain of the story kicking someone when they’re down and being too greedy, saying that while people do as they please, Heaven is watching. Such behavior is bound to lead to the loss of fortune.

What Mrs. Yu implied was that the Ding family’s conduct was improper, and their avarice knew no bounds, angering the family matriarch to the point where she nearly had an outburst then and there, her face swelling up with rage.

But what of it? If it was a willing buyer and a willing seller, the Yu Family would have nothing to say.

Third Madam Ding discussed with her mother-in-law, saying that it wouldn’t be difficult to purchase the Qin family’s shop if they couldn’t continue running it. They would have to sell.

Old Mrs. Ding herself came from a humble background. Although her son had become a Magistrate and had enjoyed inexhaustible blessings, becoming an Imperial Decree Wife, the nature of loving bargains and being calculative in her bones had not changed.

“I remember, when Liang Kuan, who used to be with our eldest, returned from delivering medicinal herbs, he mentioned in passing that some old lords in the northwest are having a hard time.” As Old Mrs. Ding fiddled with her Buddha Beads, she said, “For a family clan, nothing is more important than the patriarchs. If they need silver for arrangements, they will have no choice but to sell.”

Third Madam Ding was somewhat curious: “Mother, what are you planning to do?”

“Of course, we have to send an invitation to visit the Qin family. We don’t want people to call us ungrateful white-eyed wolves. Prepare some gifts,” Old Mrs. Ding urged, taking her daughter-in-law’s words seriously.

“Then about the shop, should we just let it be for now?” Third Madam Ding was a little anxious: “I’ve carefully calculated it; if their shop really takes off and they start opening branches, the profits would be even greater than our textile shop. Isn’t elder uncle looking to step further up? He needs silver everywhere. Mother, this…”

Speaking of the eldest son’s official position, Old Mrs. Ding’s heart skipped a beat, but she steadied herself and said, “What’s the rush? You, arrange for some people…”