"Won't the Duke's mansion think that our scholar's academy doesn't value marriage with them! What kind of family is the Duke's mansion!" Xiao Jin said pointedly, "If this affects Father's career, then I will die a thousand deaths for it!"
Seeing that Xiao Ji seemed to be softening, Xiao Jin decided to press on and put in even more effort.
"Father, my eldest sister and third sister are also of marriageable age!" Xiao Jin said enticingly, "If I marry into the Duke's mansion, I might be able to help my eldest sister and third sister find good marriages!"
“My dowry will be the key to my eldest sister and third sister’s success! If any noblewoman asks me who embroidered the dowry, I can point out my eldest sister and third sister! Otherwise, words are meaningless, and who will believe that my eldest sister and third sister are skillful?”
Seeing Yao Niang and Ying Niang's faces gradually turn ashen, Xiao Jin continued in a good mood, "With two such good sons-in-law, Father's career will be much smoother. Father's entry into the cabinet will be just around the corner!"
When Xiao Jin mentioned his career prospects, Xiao Ji was already tempted.
"I never intended to trouble you, eldest sister and third sister! If you really don't want to..." Xiao Jin decided to take a step back and push her luck, saying somewhat aggrievedly, "Then forget it! If this causes discord between us sisters, then it's my fault!"
Xiao Ji finally made up his mind.
He lifted his eyelids and decisively said, "As you wish! Yao Niang and Ying Niang, you two will help Jin Niang embroider her dowry!"
"But Father..." Yao Niang still tried to struggle, "I'm afraid I won't be able to embroider it well..."
Before Xiao Jin could speak, Xiao Ji became displeased. He said coldly, "Did you waste your time hiring a needlework master? If you weren't observing mourning for your mother, Yao Niang, you would have been married long ago! And you still have the nerve to make excuses here!"
Xiao Jin was waiting for either Yao Niang or Ying Niang to say those words first, and she calmly replied, "Father, don't be in a hurry! Eldest sister means well!"
Yao Niang's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing Xiao Jin's words, thinking that Xiao Jin had changed his mind. Little did she know that Xiao Jin's next words would plunge her into hell.
“Don’t worry if you don’t embroider well! If you don’t do it well once, do it twice, and if you don’t do it well twice, do it three times…” Xiao Jin’s gentle smile looked particularly sinister to Yao Niang and Ying Niang. “Does our Scholar’s Mansion lack these needlework and fabrics?”
Does Xiao Jin mean that she has to decide whether their embroidery is suitable or not? If she doesn't think it's good, she can let them continue indefinitely?
Embroidery is both mentally and physically taxing! Usually, they would make a sachet or pouch for Xiao Ji as a token of their affection, but who knows how Xiao Jin will make things difficult for them this time!
And Xiao Ji, Yao Niang and Ying Niang's last hope, nodded in agreement with Xiao Jin's words, "Let's do as Jin Niang says!"
Compared to their pale faces, Xiao Jin's smile was exceptionally gentle and perfectly timed.
"Then thank you very much, Father, and thank you, Eldest Sister and Third Sister!"
Yingniang's expression was somewhat better, but Yaoniang's lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a word.
Just then, Zhang Xing came looking for Xiao Ji, so Xiao Ji turned away and left, letting the sisters discuss it themselves.
Xiao Jin smiled broadly, "Eldest sister, third sister, why don't you come in and take a look at the fabric, and then we can decide?"
What to embroider for the dowry, and whether it would even be usable—wasn't that all up to her? Xiao Jin had never been so decisive. From now on, Yao Niang and Ying Niang could peacefully embroider their dowries in their respective courtyards every day! They wouldn't have time to come out and cause her trouble!
Yao Niang and Ying Niang were furious, but there was nothing they could do. Xiao Jin had gotten all the credit!
The two of them followed Xiao Jin slowly, reluctant to go inside.
Yingniang complained in a low voice, "It's because my eldest sister angered my second sister that I got dragged into this! My second sister is going to be the third mistress of the Duke's mansion! Everyone advised my eldest sister to talk to my second sister nicely!"
Yingniang's words only fueled Yaoniang's anger. "How dare you say that! Didn't you take care of all the work? You're trying to be a nice guy, and I'm the one who suffers because of you!"
Xiao Jin heard all their complaints, but he just smiled and pretended not to know anything.
Let them say whatever they want; it's just a momentary verbal sparring match! If she assigns them a couple more tasks and says twice that they're unsuitable, she'll get everything back, won't she?
"Let's start with something simple today!" Xiao Jin began assigning tasks to the two of them. "Embroider a pair of handkerchiefs for each of you! Bring them over at the beginning of Shen time the day after tomorrow!"
Yao Niang still couldn't hold back. She snorted coldly, "They really are ordering us around!" She glanced at the pattern on the handkerchief and immediately complained, "It's so complicated, how can I finish embroidering it! I'm still not very skilled!"
"If you have anything to say, elder sister, just go and tell Father," Xiao Jin said calmly. "This was originally Father's assignment, why make things difficult for me!"
"Don't try to intimidate me with your father!" Yao Niang said fiercely. "You're just making a mountain out of a molehill!" Suddenly, her eyes lit up, she chuckled twice, and stopped arguing.
Xiao Jin naturally knew what kind of bad intentions she was up to.
"Elder sister, I advise you to take this seriously!" Xiao Jin glanced at her calmly and said coolly, "If you break too many things or the progress is too slow, I will have no choice but to report to Father truthfully!"
“My eldest sister is already seventeen years old!” Xiao Jin suddenly said something that seemed completely unrelated.
Yao Niang was like a hedgehog with all its quills standing on end. She said sharply, "Xiao Jinniang, what mischief are you up to now!"
"Eldest sister's skills must be even superior to Yao Niang's," Xiao Jin said, clapping her hands. "How about eldest sister embroiders another pair?"
"You—" Yao Niang was so angry that she couldn't speak, her eyes fixed on Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin looked at her casually, without the slightest fear.
In the end, Yao Niang was defeated. She said through gritted teeth, "I shouldn't have argued with my sister. Please forgive me!"
Xiao Jin adopted an understanding demeanor, saying magnanimously, "It's best that you think this way, eldest sister! Father is right, isn't it wonderful that we sisters are all so harmonious and happy!"
Yao Niang was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth, but she dared not say another word.
Yingniang, who was watching silently from the side, felt a chill run down her spine: When did Xiao Jin become this kind of person!
"I'll just say one more thing," Xiao Jin said with a smile, "I can recognize the work of my eldest sister and third sister at a glance... If they're having someone else do it for them, then I can inform Father!"
******************
"Young Miss, Third Miss, please take care!" Cui Zhu's suppressed laughter came from the courtyard.
Watching Yao Niang and Ying Niang leave dejectedly, Xiao Jin happily accepted the hot tea that Huan Yue served her. She had never thought that the aroma of Pu'er tea was so pleasant!
After what just happened, Xiao Jin felt even more strongly that she should thoroughly disgust these people before she got married.
What else is going on lately... dowry? No, she'll only ask for it when the Duke's betrothal gifts arrive! She refuses to believe that since the Duke's family is seeking her hand in marriage, they won't mistreat her in this regard!