Mon premier mari après ma transmigration

Chapitre 7

Xu Jinrong said something to Miao Xia, who hurriedly went out and closed the door behind her.

Danmei took the towel that Miaoxia had put down earlier and continued to dry her still slightly damp long hair. Xu Jinrong stood behind her for a while and suddenly asked, "Why are you wearing these clothes?" Before Danmei could answer, he quickly shook his head and said, "I was asking too much. It must be my mother's idea."

Danmei didn't turn around, but simply said, "In this rural area, wearing silk would only be conspicuous."

Xu Jinrong paused for a moment, then hummed in agreement, saying, "It looks good this way too."

Danmei was a little suspicious. Had this man taken the wrong medicine this morning? Why was he saying these things to her out of the blue? This made her feel a little uncomfortable. She gave a perfunctory reply and was about to turn around and ask him what he wanted to say when he sent Miaoxia away earlier when she felt a darkness behind her. Xu Jinrong was already behind her, taking a handkerchief from her hand and wrapping it around her long hair, slowly rubbing it.

Danmei was momentarily confused, never expecting that someone like him would do something so inconsiderate. Although she was extremely surprised, she remained seated and let him rub her.

"The grain transport ships from Huainan East Road to the capital region have been hijacked several times recently. Now that the war with Li Yuanhao in the Northwest is intense, all that grain is destined for Yanzhou for military use. The Emperor is furious. After discussing it with the court officials at the court meeting the day before yesterday, he sent me to apprehend the river and sea pirates. I have been busy planning my departure from the capital for the past two days, and I only came here last night. I will inform my mother this morning and then I will set off."

Danmei was quite surprised to hear him say this so suddenly. She turned around abruptly and widened her eyes, saying, "What kind of river pirates are so bold? They even dare to rob the government's grain transport?"

Xu Jinrong glanced at her and shook his head slightly, saying, "You're a woman raised in seclusion, how would you know anything about the outside world? Do you think the world is truly peaceful everywhere now? The northwest is at war, the Liao Kingdom is eyeing us covetously, and even in the capital's extensive and wide sewers, countless criminals are hiding, claiming to have entered the Worry-Free Cave, even abducting respectable women and hiding them there for their pleasure, saying they're visiting the Ghostly Fanlou. Several Kaifeng prefects have been helpless, let alone Huainan Road, thousands of miles away? No matter how far the government's reach is, it can't extend to those outlaws and bandits."

Upon hearing his words, Danmei suddenly thought of Liangshan from the Water Margin. Although the Song Dynasty was prosperous, it had never lacked underworld figures since its founding. Those prefectural officials probably only considered it a good world if Wuyou Cave didn't openly open on the main street and if local officials didn't join hands with underworld bosses to "enjoy themselves" at Fanlou. She fell silent immediately.

"My trip will take at least one or two months, and at most three to five months. I went to the Prime Minister's residence yesterday to say goodbye, and my father-in-law and mother-in-law already know that you are here with my mother. If you are not used to living here, you can go back to your parents' home for a while after some time. I will talk to my mother, and I don't think she would dare to stop you."

Danmei gave a soft "oh." She had only been married to this man for a few days, and he was already leaving for months. To be honest, aside from his somewhat unpleasant behavior in bed, he was otherwise impeccable. She wasn't entirely ungrateful, so while his departure today fulfilled her wish, she was strangely filled with mixed emotions, unable to discern whether she was happy or sad.

Xu Jinrong put down the towel, opened the door, and called someone in to help her comb her hair. After she was done, the two of them went to the old lady's room together.

The old lady got up this morning to hear from the gatekeeper that her husband had come late last night. Knowing he must have stayed overnight in his new wife's room, she was furious. She didn't even bother with the vegetable garden anymore, and just sat sullenly in a chair waiting for her son to come and greet her. Seeing that Dongfang Dabai hadn't come yet, she became anxious and wanted to go and knock on the door herself. Her foot was already out of the door when Xiqing, who was quick-witted and agile, stopped her and persuaded her to return to the chair.

Just as Xiqing was trying to persuade her, she suddenly heard the little maid who had broken the teapot say in a clear voice, "The master's wife has come to pay her respects to the old lady." She then said with a smile, "Look, old lady, isn't she here?"

The old lady snorted, her eyes fixed on the doorway. Seeing Danmei enter with her hair still damp, she knew she must have finished her business and had gotten up to bathe that morning. Her displeasure deepened, and her brows furrowed. Before she could speak, her son knelt before her, kowtowing respectfully, saying, "Your son is unfilial. For the next few months, I fear I will not be able to serve you so closely. Fortunately, you have a new wife; she can still fulfill her filial duties to you on my behalf."

The old lady was startled, having long forgotten her anger. She immediately stood up from her seat, helped Xu Jinrong up, and asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Xu Jinrong smiled and said, "Mother, please don't worry, it's nothing serious. It's just that something happened in Huainan Road. The Emperor took a liking to my past connections there and sent me to investigate. I'll be back as soon as things calm down."

The old lady didn't believe her. She held Xu Jinrong's arms with both hands, looked up and carefully examined her son, who was more than a head taller than her. Then she said in a trembling voice, "Although I'm getting old, I'm not senile. Are you deliberately downplaying things to comfort me? I know what you did in the past, all of which were dangerous and risky. I thought that now that you've become an official in the capital, you'll be able to live a peaceful life from now on. Why do you want to go back and get involved with those people again?" As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

Danmei watched from the side, increasingly surprised. At first, when Xu Jinrong told her that, she was merely surprised. But now, seeing the old lady in such a state, as if she were going to her death, her heart tightened.

Xu Jinrong laughed and said, "Look at what Mother is saying. I am no longer the young man who only knew how to kill. Besides, this time I am going on the emperor's orders. I am in charge of the troops in Huainan. I am just sitting here and talking. How can it be as scary as Mother says?"

Chapter Seventeen

Although the old lady was extremely reluctant, she knew that the imperial decree was of paramount importance, and personally escorted her son to the stone bridge at the end of the willow-lined path outside the garden gate. Seeing that she wanted to see him off again, Xu Jinrong knelt down once more to bid farewell and called him back.

"Alright, alright, go ahead. I just hope you'll return soon."

The old lady helped her son up.

Danmei stood a little behind the old lady. After he said goodbye to the old lady, he didn't even look at her. He took the reins from a servant behind him, mounted the horse, and the servants beside him also mounted. The group rode off the plank bridge with a whoosh, attracting people from nearby farmhouses who happened to be home to come out of their gates and crane their necks to look, whispering among themselves.

As Danmei watched his departing figure on horseback, she vaguely felt that the slight sense of familiarity she had developed with him because of their entanglement that morning had vanished. She pursed her lips slightly, turned her head and looked in the direction of Xingzhuang, which Xiqing had mentioned yesterday. She could vaguely see a cluster of houses at the end of the green fields in the distance.

As Danmei turned her head, Xu Jinrong, who had already crossed the plank bridge, slightly slowed his horse's pace and looked back. The old lady, seeing her son looking at her, assumed he was saying his final farewell and, suppressing her sorrow, waved to him. Xu Jinrong nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the young woman he had married only a few days prior, standing to one side behind her. Seeing that she wasn't watching him as he had expected, he was slightly surprised, his eyebrows furrowing slightly, a hint of displeasure creeping into his heart. He gave a shout, turned, whipped his horse, and galloped away.

The old lady didn't return to her room until her son and his party were out of sight. Distracted by the sudden turn of events, she had no energy left to argue with Danmei, and her anger had subsided considerably. She was sitting sullenly in her room, with Xiqing helping her sew shoe soles, when the little maid suddenly flung open the curtain and burst in excitedly.

"Are you courting death? You're in such a hurry, you've frightened the old lady."

Xiqing cursed.

"Madam, sister, the method Madam mentioned yesterday really worked! I just went to check and saw that both melon vines looked straightened up, and they looked so vibrant!"

The little girl bowed and said with a smile.

The old lady and Xiqing exchanged a glance, and then she perked up a bit, taking Xiqing's hand to go outside to see.

Danmei was standing in front of the cucumber trellis, removing the two bamboo skewers she had removed yesterday. Seeing the old lady approaching, she stepped aside.

The old lady leaned closer to look for a while, then gave Danmei a suspicious look, muttering, "It really is like the sun rising in the west..."

Xiqing chuckled and said, "Madam, you're mistaken. As the saying goes, no dye shop can operate without indigo. Since you said that yesterday, you must know something about it. Why don't you tell me, so I can learn something too?"

"She comes from a prime minister's family, how would she know about these kinds of local jobs?"

Seeing that the old lady was still stubborn, but her expression softened slightly when she looked at her, Danmei knew that the old lady was proud and probably felt unhappy that she had been defeated by her after a lifetime of farming. So Danmei said solemnly, "Mother is not wrong. I don't know these tricks myself. I just heard my wet nurse from the countryside mention them when I was a child. I found it interesting and remembered it. It was just that I guessed right. As for the work, I will have to learn from you in the future."

The old lady's expression softened slightly, and she fell silent. Xiqing, however, became interested and pressed her for details, saying, "Madam's wet nurse is quite interesting. Has Madam heard her mention any methods for getting rid of insects? The first two years were fine, but this year, for some reason, these insects are everywhere in the fields. A few days ago, they ate up large patches of gourd leaves. Everyone in the garden couldn't even pick them up with chopsticks. It's driving me crazy."

Seeing the old lady listening intently to the cheerful conversation, Danmei found it slightly amusing. At this time, without the pesticides of later generations, the crops grown were completely organic and pollution-free. However, if pests appeared, there were few effective methods besides manual removal. When she took agricultural courses, her mentor not only taught but also personally cultivated experimental plots, from which she learned some pest control methods to avoid pesticide contamination. Although she hadn't used them in vegetable cultivation, she had used them for flowers with good results. When asked about it, she went to look at the gourd trellis.

The gourds are just in bloom, with small white flowers, but unfortunately many leaves are riddled with holes, indicating a serious pest infestation.

Danmei pointed to the red spider that was clinging to the gourd leaf and said, "For these spider mites, mash garlic cloves into a paste, add some soapy water, mix well, and spray it on the affected area twice a day, morning and evening. They should be killed in a few days. If you see cabbage aphids, mash scallions into a paste, add five or six drops of soapy water, filter it, and then spray it. Besides scallions and garlic, this method can also kill cabbage aphids on cucumber and bitter orange vines."

Several old women nearby, who were picking up insects with chopsticks, showed delight upon hearing this. It turned out that the weather had become hotter recently, leading to a surge in insect infestations. The old lady not only caught them herself but also ordered the women in the garden to do the same, without a moment's rest. Yet, the insects seemed endless, increasing day by day, and the women were all growing impatient, only daring not to disobey. Now, hearing this new lady's method, they thought it would save them much more effort and were naturally pleased.

Upon hearing this, the old lady was initially pleased, but quickly said, "I don't know if your methods will work, but they sound like they require a lot of onions and garlic." It turned out she was reluctant to spend the money.

Danmei nodded and said, "Mother is right. That's why we have to get rid of this pest at its source. This garden is planted with gourds, but I wonder what we planted the first two years?"

"It is naturally a gourd."

Joyful greetings came from the side.

“This is it. My old wet nurse once said that because insects have different preferences for vegetables, if the same vegetable is planted on the same plot of land every year, the pest infestation will become more and more serious. After this harvest, Mother can try planting other vegetables on this plot of land, and the same applies to the other plots.”

Seeing that the old lady still seemed somewhat puzzled, Danmei glanced at the other plots of land nearby and patiently explained, "I see that you've planted beans, taro, eggplant, cauliflower, radish, lettuce, and gourd here, Mother. Plant them this way this year, and next year, change the field where you planted beans to taro, the field where you planted taro to eggplant, the field where you planted eggplant to cauliflower... This is crop rotation. By rotating crops like this, not only can pests be reduced, but because each vegetable prefers different nutrients, changing the field every year actually makes them grow better."

After Danmei finished her explanation, the old lady remained silent. Danmei, observing her expression, smiled and said, "What I just said was nothing but empty talk. Whether it works or not, we'll only know after we try it. If you trust me, Mother, I'll help you out from now on."

The old lady gave a mumbled "hmm" and went back into the house without saying anything. Xiqing naturally followed, but when she looked back at Danmei, her eyes were full of respect.

After everyone had left, Miaoxia, who had been by Danmei's side, whispered, "When did Madam acquire a wet nurse who knows so much about local affairs? I was so confused."

Danmei reached out and pinched her cheek, saying, "When did you start telling me what to do? If I say it's there, it's there; if I say it's not, it's not."

Miaoxia was confused, and Danmei smiled without saying a word, then went back into her room.

In the following days, the old lady went to work in the vegetable garden by herself, without calling Danmei to come with her. Only after quietly inquiring with Xiqing did she learn that the old lady was secretly spraying the insecticide according to the method she had taught her. Since she hadn't been called, Danmei was naturally happy to have some free time. She only went to the old lady's room to greet her in the morning and evening, and then had nothing to do all day.

Danmei had initially thought that after she came here with the old lady, she would definitely be restricted in every way. But judging from the situation these past few days, the old lady had gone to great lengths to bring her here only to prevent her son from being implicated in a calamity. Now that her son had left the capital, it seemed that the old lady was no longer so restrictive. This suited her wishes. That afternoon, seeing that the sky was clear and knowing that the old lady and Huijie had gone for their afternoon nap and wouldn't be up for a while, she took Miaoxia and asked the garden coachman to prepare a carriage to go out.

The coachman saw that the lady was dressed in a blue cloth dress and wore a hat. If it weren't for her fair complexion, she would have looked like an ordinary country woman. When he heard that they were going to Xingzhuang, he was a little surprised, but he didn't dare to ask any questions and just nodded in agreement.

The road to Xingzhuang was narrow, so the driver abandoned the horse and used a donkey to make a small donkey cart. Miaoxia helped Danmei into the cart, and as the driver drove along, swaying and bumping towards Xingzhuang, she couldn't help but ask out of curiosity why they were going there. Seeing that the lady only smiled and didn't answer, she had no choice but to suppress her suspicions and think that she would naturally find out once she went with them.

Although Xingzhuang is only four or five miles to the northeast, the road is narrow and the carriages are slow. It took almost half an hour to reach the entrance of the village.

Danmei got off the donkey cart and told the driver to wait under the blue stone arch bridge at the entrance of the village. She then took Miaoxia into the village.

Just as Xiqing had said, most of the villagers in Xingzhuang made their living by growing flowers. The two of them hadn't gone far from the entrance of the village when they saw that the houses and fences along the roadside were filled with potted or soil-grown flowers. Because it was the height of summer, the flowers were in full bloom. However, most of the varieties they saw were just common ones like perilla, magnolia, rose, and laurel. The expensive peonies and camellias were not very common at the moment.

Danmei led Miaoxia slowly along the way, occasionally encountering a few village women and men carrying flower hoes and flower mud. Because the two of them were dressed as country women and had their straw hats pulled low, they didn't stand out. Moreover, in the countryside, women were free to go out as they pleased, so they didn't attract any attention.

A clear stream meanders through the heart of the village, spanned by a plank bridge that can only accommodate one person at a time. Danmei stood at one end of the bridge and saw a flower field on the other side. Although it didn't look very big, the outer wall was not the bamboo fence she had seen along the way, nor was it made of brick or wood. Instead, it was filled with hibiscus, forming a hibiscus hedge, which was quite unique.

Hibiscus, also known as "Shunhua" in ancient times, has flowers that bloom in the morning and wither in the evening, its life is short. However, hibiscus hedges grow and weave year after year, which are sturdy, beautiful and have a wild charm. Danmei has always liked it. When she saw that there was someone here who shared the same taste, she couldn't help but cross the plank bridge and head to the garden.

Chapter 18

After walking about a hundred steps along the smooth, moss-covered stone path past Banqiao, Danmei arrived at the hibiscus hedge, finding the gate ajar. Initially, the tall hedge obscured the view, leading her to believe it was a flower garden from afar; now, closer, she realized her mistake. Peeking through the crack, she saw a vast area, with earthen mounds planted with slender bamboos, a stream encircling it with a small bridge, and a gently sloping platform surrounded by stacked stones and stone pillars with blue railings. The bamboo shade was pristine, not a speck of dust or leaf remained. In the center, on a stone platform and benches, water was being boiled for tea, and steam could be faintly seen rising from the pot. Further on, hidden by the bamboo, a corner of a pavilion and a building was revealed. However, in this enormous place, not a single person could be seen, only a few bees and butterflies flitting about among the purple flowers of the hibiscus hedge. A breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, adding to the sense of desolation.

Danmei realized she had taken the wrong path. This wasn't a flower garden at all; it was clearly the manor of a wealthy family, nestled deep within a village. Fearing the master might come out and find them inappropriate, she hurriedly called Miaoxia back to the stone bridge. But when they reached the bridgehead, they stopped.

The stone bridge was narrow and cramped, making it difficult for two people to pass. On the other side of the bridge, two servants were carrying a shallow sedan chair with railings. A young man who was not yet twenty years old sat on it, followed by several burly men who looked like family members.

The man had gentle features, and his jet-black hair was tied up with a jade-white hair crown. The wind blew, filling the sleeves of his light blue robe, making him look like a bamboo swaying in the breeze.

Danmei glanced at her once, then immediately lowered her head, tugged at Miaoxia, and moved aside.

"You two women have quite the nerve! Don't you know that this is private land beyond this stone bridge? How dare you barge in like this?"

One of the burly men had already shouted it out.

"Jingzhong, those two must have wandered in by accident. Don't be alarmed. Let them go ahead."

Before Danmei could reply, the man spoke. His voice was as gentle as he was. Upon hearing this, the burly man immediately fell silent and stood to one side with his hands clasped.

Danmei was slightly surprised. She looked up and saw the young man looking at her with a warm expression.

Since the other party had already said so, she didn't need to back down. Danmei thanked them and crossed the plank bridge.

As they passed the palanquin, a strong wind at the bridgehead lifted one corner of the man's robe, revealing the pale white silk trousers underneath. The silk, whipped by the wind, clung tightly to his ankle, accentuating his slender frame and giving him an air of sickliness.

Miaoxia was probably frightened. After following Danmei for a few steps, she tugged at her sleeve and begged in a low voice to go back, saying that if she went out and went back too late, she was afraid that the old lady would scold her.

Danmei came out today simply to inquire about the varieties of flowers that the local flower farmers usually cultivate. Seeing that most of them were common and inexpensive, she already had a general idea and nodded in agreement. The two of them returned along the same route, where the coachman was already waiting expectantly. Upon seeing the two of them appear, he immediately greeted them with a joyful expression.

As Danmei boarded the carriage to head back, the image of the man she had just encountered, as serene as the first snow after a storm, suddenly resurfaced in her mind. His bearing suggested he didn't come from an ordinary farming family. It was a pity he seemed to have a leg ailment. The capital had always been a place where hidden talents roamed, but she wondered who this man was, as he seemed to live alone in that garden.

When Danmei returned, the old lady had already gotten up from her nap and was tending to the vegetables in the garden. Seeing Danmei return and bump into her, she was somewhat displeased. Xiqing, quick-witted, immediately laughed and said, "Look, Madam, the method Madam mentioned a few days ago really worked! Although it wasted some scallions and garlic, the insects are indeed much fewer now. Once the fruit grows, the wasted scallions and garlic will be made up for."

The old lady's mouth was gagged, and she glanced at Danmei. Danmei then picked up the words she had prepared beforehand and replied, "I was feeling a little sleepy just now, but I didn't dare to sleep too much for fear of waking up at night. That's why I asked Ding Da to hitch up the donkey cart and go for a drive. Since we're going to be staying here for a long time, it's good to know the way."

The old lady reluctantly hummed in agreement and said, "Since my son is away on business, you should spend more time in my quiet room reciting scriptures during the day. It's better than wandering around aimlessly outside."

Danmei understood what she meant and agreed.

A few days later, Madam Qin from the Jixian Prime Minister's residence sent a visiting card to Old Madam Xu, saying that since the two families had become in-laws, they should have met long ago. Unfortunately, she had heard that her future in-laws' wife was unwell during the previous meeting, and thus missed the opportunity. Now that she finally had some free time, she had come specifically to visit her future in-laws' wife.

This news stirred up the entire garden, disrupting its usual tranquility. The old lady, perhaps fearing Qin's disdain, not only had brand-new tea sets and bowls brought out, but also changed into a rich brocade outfit early that morning, adorning her head with gold and silver ornaments, and wearing seven or eight glittering gold rings on her fingers—a truly magnificent sight. Danmei, without the old lady's prompting, naturally also wore her usual silks and brocades, dressing herself neatly. When the sun was barely two feet high, the little maid waiting at the garden entrance saw carriages approaching straight down the road in the distance and hurriedly went in to report. The old lady herself went to the gate to greet them.

Since Danmei returned home after her wedding, several days had passed in the blink of an eye. Although Qin Shi had anticipated that the Xu family wouldn't dare to mistreat her daughter, she still felt uneasy remembering Danmei's girlish behavior in front of her that day. Furthermore, she had heard a rumor a few days prior, which weighed heavily on her mind, and she had long wanted to take the opportunity to visit her in person. When her husband mentioned her son-in-law after returning from court a few days ago, her heart pounded in her chest. When Xu Jinrong personally came to say goodbye the next day, he learned that his daughter had moved to the northern suburbs with her mother-in-law. Fearing that her usually gentle daughter would suffer mistreatment at the hands of her mother-in-law, she could no longer restrain herself and, after two days, sent someone with a formal invitation to visit.

Qin's daughter-in-law, Liu, arrived at the Xu family's garden in the northern suburbs with various gifts. Upon seeing her future mother-in-law, she knew she was from the countryside. However, she showed no surprise; instead, she warmly took Xu's mother-in-law's hand, addressing her as "Mother-in-law" repeatedly. Liu, following behind, lacked her mother-in-law's refinement. Seeing the old lady's rustic appearance, her expression became somewhat arrogant. When led inside, she was even more astonished to see the garden filled with vegetables and gourds, emitting a foul odor, and not a single decent flower or plant in sight. Her disdain was impossible to conceal. Fortunately, Xu's mother-in-law wasn't blind and didn't see Liu's expression, which relieved her of some of her annoyance.

Madam Qin and Old Madam Xu sat together, chatting warmly for a long time. First, Madam Qin inquired about her health, then praised her son-in-law, and finally complimented her mother-in-law on her daughter's kindness. The old lady was a straightforward person, without many hidden agendas. Before meeting Madam Qin, she had both respected and resented this noblewoman from the Prime Minister's household. The respect stemmed from their different social backgrounds, a deep-seated admiration, and although the two families were now related by marriage, she feared being looked down upon. The resentment, however, originated from her daughter, fearing she might bring misfortune to her son. Now, hearing Madam Qin's words, she felt as if she had been gently soothed, feeling completely at ease, and even her smile broadened. Later, without Madam Qin needing to speak, she said, "Mother-in-law, children are the apple of a mother's eye. I understand your feelings. You two go and have a private chat; I'll go and have some good dishes prepared. Please stay for dinner."

Madam Qin sat down in Danmei's room. Seeing that Danmei looked much better than last time, she felt much relieved. She inquired about her daily life and diet, and when Danmei said she was fine, she asked in a low voice about her relationship with her son-in-law. Danmei remembered her loss of composure in front of her when she returned to her parents' home last time, and she would never act like that again. She lowered her head shyly and remained silent. Madam Qin thought that her daughter had been enlightened last time and that they were now a perfect match. She was delighted and covered her mouth with a smile, saying, "Your mother-in-law is quite a remarkable person. I was afraid she would make things difficult for you at first. Although my family is of higher social standing than theirs, you are marrying down. But once you enter the Xu family, your mother-in-law is all that matters. My dear daughter, how does your mother-in-law treat you? If she is unhappy, I will take you back to stay for a while. After all, your son-in-law agreed with me a few days ago."

Danmei grasped Qin's hand, shook her head and smiled, "My mother-in-law is a straightforward person, much better than those who are roundabout. Thank you for your kindness, Mother, but going back to live here might not be appropriate."

Madam Qin nodded and sighed, "That's good. Seeing that you're much better than last time, I can go back with peace of mind."

Qin's words weren't for any particular reason. It turned out that only a few days after Danmei's marriage, she received news from the wife of a Ministry of Personnel official with whom she had a fairly close relationship: the matter of Madam Lu, the wife of the Military Commander, acting as matchmaker. It was said that Madam Lu had arranged a marriage for Xu Jinrong two years prior, with the bride being the daughter of the Xu Hanlin family. His daughter had already been betrothed to the son of the Grand Commandant, but the two families had a falling out and went to Kaifeng Prefecture for a divorce. This matter had caused quite a stir in the city, and Qin had naturally heard of it. Madam Lu had agreed to act as matchmaker for Xu Jinrong at that time, having heard that he was very fond of the Hanlin family's daughter. However, the Xu and Yang families later became in-laws again, and the matter was dropped.

Judging from the tone of the doctor's wife, Madam Qin sensed that Madam Lu seemed to owe Xu Jinrong a favor. Two years ago, her matchmaking attempt failed, and now Madam Lu was offering her daughter in marriage as a way of fulfilling a vow. Madam Qin was deeply displeased, and her face immediately darkened. The doctor's wife, who had only been speaking offhand, quickly regretted her words upon seeing Madam Qin's displeasure. She mumbled a few more words and then awkwardly took her leave.

Madam Qin rushed over today and found her daughter to be quite agreeable. She recalled that Xu Jinrong, since becoming her son-in-law, had been impeccably courteous and flawless. But then she remembered that it had all been two years ago, when the man in her daughter's second marriage had recently passed away—they were practically strangers. Her anger gradually subsided. Of course, she wouldn't let her daughter know about this, lest she add to her worries.