Chapter 55: Cousin
Jiang family, at the dining table.
Jiang Yihui picked up all the meat with his chopsticks and piled it in his bowl to eat.
Zhong Lanhua looked at him indulgently and said, “Is that enough to eat? If not, Mom will make more tomorrow.”
Jiang Yihui’s expression improved a bit, and he hummed in response.
Zhong Lanhua also picked up the cabbage that was soaked in oil and gave it to him: “Eat more. Look how thin you’ve gotten.”
Jiang Yihuan picked up some cabbage with her chopsticks and placed it in Xiao Yanci’s bowl.
Today was different from usual; Xiao Yanci was also at the table. Now, Xiao Yanci had earned the teacher’s favor, and because of him, Jiang Yihui could be exempted from tuition fees, which made Zhong Lanhua have to take this “servant”‘s presence seriously.
Zhong Lanhua knew that Jiang Yihui was unhappy right now. A servant riding on top of him, and even being praised by the teacher as unparalleled in heaven and earth—no one would be happy about that.
However, this time she couldn’t indulge Jiang Yihui. First, they could be exempted from tuition fees, which was something every scholar dreamed of; such a cheap opportunity shouldn’t be wasted. Second, if Xiao Yanci really had such ability and passed the exam to obtain an official position, wouldn’t she, who bought him, also benefit? If he rose to prominence, he would surely repay their whole family, right?
But how could she tie this person down?
Her gaze lingered on Jiang Yihuan, then shifted to Xiao Yanci opposite her.
Actually, it wasn’t difficult. Her daughter’s brain wasn’t stupid; she had already coaxed Xiao Yanci around her finger before. Now that she saw he had the talent to obtain an official position, she could coax him even better, right?
“Yanci, here’s what I’m thinking: to change to commoner status, you need an identity. Tomorrow, we’ll say you’re my nephew, how about that?”
Xiao Yanci looked at Zhong Lanhua gratefully: “Thank you, Madam.”
“I should thank you even more! In the future, you and Hui Ge’er can help each other; there’ll be someone by his side who can talk to him. You have great talent, so you must teach him well.”
“The young master’s talent is very good; given time, he will surely obtain an official position.” Disdain flashed in Xiao Yanci’s eyes.
Such an incompetent person probably couldn’t even pass the xiucai scholar exam, let alone juren scholar or presented scholar.
Since this mother and son liked to hear pleasant words, he would just say them. If saying nice things could avoid trouble, he could try to convince himself to play along with them.
“Huan’er, Xiao Ci is your male cousin from now on, so call him cousin.” Zhong Lanhua gave her a look.
Jiang Yihuan looked at Xiao Yanci shyly: “Male cousin.”
Xiao Yanci’s heart softened into a puddle.
He looked at Jiang Yihuan gently and called out, “Female cousin.”
Ever since he fell on hard times, all he met were cunning villains; only she was the sole flawless white jade in his life. After he obtained an official position, he would definitely repay her.
Jiang Yihui put down his chopsticks and said coldly, “I’m not eating anymore.”
With that, he angrily returned to his room.
Zhong Lanhua looked helplessly at Jiang Yihui’s figure and said to Jiang Yihuan, “Put away your brother’s meal first, heat it up later, and bring it to him.”
“Mom, if brother doesn’t want to eat, then don’t make him.” Jiang Yihuan said, “He ate so much just now; he’s probably full.”
“Your brother is a man and growing; how can he do with just this little? I’m going to chat with Eldest Sister-in-law Li. Clean up the room, and there’s not much firewood left—chop the firewood.” Zhong Lanhua said as she twisted her waist and went out smugly.
Her son could study without paying tuition fees—such a great thing had to be bragged about to the whole village, right? For a farming family like theirs, raising a scholar was not easy. Saving the tuition money would make their family much more comfortable. Most importantly, such a good deal of taking advantage was only for their family; no one else had it, so of course she had to boast about it.
“Xiao Gege, you’re so amazing!” Jiang Yihuan said softly, “The teacher is willing to waive your tuition fees just to teach you, which shows your talent is really great. Xiao Gege, you must study hard, leave this small place soon, become a high official, and rise above others, so no one can bully you anymore.”
“Huan’er, thank you.” Xiao Yanci said mildly, “I won’t let you down. Once I obtain an official position, I will definitely repay your kindness.”
“I didn’t do anything worth you remembering like this. After you become a high official, you must speak up for the people and be a good official who saves the people from water and fire.”
“You are truly too kind.”
“Eat more. Mom has always doted on brother; as long as brother is at home, all the good things in the house are his. Just now, I didn’t dare to pick meat for you and only picked vegetables; don’t mind it.”
“You are truly too silly. You didn’t even pick any vegetables for yourself but picked for me. If your mom gets angry, you’ll be the one who suffers. Don’t do that next time.”
“It’s fine for me; I’m a girl anyway, born lowly, and I’m used to it. You’re different; you’re a man, destined to do great things in the future.”
“Who says you’re lowly? You are the purest and most flawless young lady in the world and deserve the best. Wait for me; once I obtain an official position, I will definitely let you live a good life.”
Jiang Yihuan shyly pursed her lips: “I’m not really your female cousin; how could I qualify to live a good life with you?”
Xiao Yanci’s heart heated up, and he looked scorchingly at Jiang Yihuan’s soft and charming appearance.
Xiao Yanci grew up among women and had seen all kinds of beauties. His family had produced the capital city’s number one beauty, so it was clear he wasn’t someone who only cared about looks.
Jiang Yihuan’s appearance could be considered outstanding in this countryside, but in the capital city, such looks were everywhere—even among the maids in various mansions, there were many with good looks. Someone like her couldn’t even be a concubine’s maid in his former large mansion.
However, Xiao Yanci wasn’t someone who cared about looks; he cared about a person’s inner qualities. A young lady like Jiang Yihuan who was innocent and pure was, in his view, the most beautiful.
“You are the one most qualified to live a good life with me.”
“Xiao Gege, you’re so good to me. Before you came, although I had family, I always felt lonely. Only after you came did my heart feel at ease.”
Xiao Yanci’s gaze toward Jiang Yihuan became even more lingering and heartbroken.
Fortunately, the one who bought him was the Jiang family, not that shrew from the Su family. If he had fallen into the Su family’s hands, who knows how much suffering he would have endured.
Besides, the Su family bought a man to be a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family. That village girl was shrewish and rude, not even comparable to one finger of Jiang Yihuan; he’d rather crash his head into a pillar and die than be a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family for her.
Xiao Yanci could already imagine himself obtaining an official position and shining brightly, while the son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family bought by the Su family failed repeatedly, exhausting their family wealth, and finally the whole family begging on the streets.
“Achoo!” Su Yaoguang had just lain down when she suddenly sneezed.
“Let me take your pulse.” Jiang Jing took Su Yaoguang’s pulse.
“My nose suddenly feels itchy; maybe it’s because I haven’t gone to the city for too long. Wangshu must be missing us! Once these few days of busyness are over, we’ll go to the city, and I’ll introduce Wangshu to you.” Su Yaoguang rubbed her nose.
