She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 101 - 100 Returning with a Broken Wing

Chapter 101: Chapter 100 Returning with a Broken Wing

Ye Xinyan felt a chill run down her back as Madam Song cordially took her hand, though she couldn’t overtly reject Madam Song’s show of affection. As a result, her smile became somewhat stiff.

Indeed, people should not be compared. When juxtaposed with the unfriendly cold face of the first branch’s Great Aunt Lady Wang, who made no secret of her displeasure, Ye Xinyan would rather face Lady Wang’s cold demeanor than Madam Song’s smiling face with ulterior motives.

Seeing Madam Song getting up, Qi Yourong also bustled to get off the ground, still muttering under his breath, "Really, I was happy for nothing, thinking I got an extra elder brother to be pleased about. Turns out, my brother doesn’t see me as a sibling at all."

Ye Xinyan rolled her eyes heavenward, thinking that an extra elder brother simply meant an extra person to be exploited without conditions. So, was he unhappy because this had not been achieved?

In the face of Qi Yourong’s nonsense, Qi Younian didn’t bite, lest he provoke even more idle chatter. He merely made a polite gesture, inviting them to stay for dinner, "Nanny Jin is already preparing dinner outside, you two should sit for a while longer and eat before you go back."

Madam Song declined with a smile, "No, thank you. The daughters-in-law have already prepared dinner at home, and they are waiting for us to start eating."

Qi Yourong, however, seemed inclined to stay. At his home, every meal was the same, just plain vegetables boiled in water and steamed buns. Staying at his elder brother’s place, he might get a chance to eat something different for a change.

As soon as he hesitated, Madam Song pulled him along, "Your elder brother is not young anymore, after a busy day, he needs to rest. Let’s go back first. When we’re free some other day, we can come over and chat with brother again."

Qi Yourong took another look at Qi Younian, who had already gotten up, and reluctantly followed Madam Song outside.

In the yard, Nanny Jin was busy at the stove arranging the meal, while Qi Jia sat quietly by her side, obediently watching her work and occasionally adding a stick of firewood to the fire.

Madam Song did not favor the ungrateful Qi Jia, but with the current favorable situation of the second branch family, she could not show her true feelings and was forced to smile at Qi Younian, "It was the right decision giving this child to you, elder brother. Look how clever he’s become now. With proper guidance, it’s just different. A child taught by your Ye Zi will surely be smart. Otherwise, it would be a disservice to our Ye Zi."

Knowing that Madam Song was just making conversation, Qi Younian still felt pleased by such praise, "Indeed, both Ye Zi and Jiajia are good children, incredibly clever each in their own right."

It was then that Madam Song remembered that the child had been renamed Qi Jia.

Qi Yourong and his companion came over at Shen Hour and had waited half a day only to greet their host upon his return. After spending half the time talking with Qi Younian and Ye Xinyan, it was already You Hour. They had wasted nearly two Shichen Chinese Hours for no benefit or promise in return, meanwhile getting reprimanded by Qi Younian as the one at fault.

When the two left the courtyard of the second branch, walking through the village’s narrow path, Madam Song turned to take a serious look back at the rundown house and courtyard of the second branch, then scolded Qi Yourong, "Out of the three brothers, you are the silliest. Everyone else is shrewder than you. Look at your elder brother, he obviously made a lot of money, but he pretends to be a pauper so we won’t share in his good fortune."

Avoiding a few frolicking children on the path, Madam Song went on, "Think about that rice tofu stall. When it was set up, the cost of the tables, chairs, and utensils alone was significant. I heard you had to pay hundreds of large coins to the yamen. And now they gave it away just like that, to your oldest brother. Your eldest brother is also tough. He seems generous enough, letting you pick benefits all the time, but when it really comes down to big profits, his true colors show. The moment there’s an opportunity to make a good income, your eldest brother silently takes it over. They all treat you like a fool."

"Stop nagging; don’t you get tired of it?" retorted Qi Yourong, annoyed.

"Why shouldn’t I say it? Did I say something wrong? Look at your eldest brother, he acts so virtuous on normal days, pretending to be indulgent towards you. But when it really matters, does he even consider you? "

Qi Yourong felt frustrated, and, tired of listening to the nagging, impatiently said, "So what do you propose we do? Should we just cut ties with my eldest brother if he’s so disagreeable?"

Madam Song paused, then stopped talking. Of course, cutting ties was out of the question. Without ties, where would they borrow things and not return them? During the busy farming season, which family would come to help with planting and harvesting?

Thinking this, Madam Song’s mood gradually improved. She realized she had been wrong. In the past, they were afraid the Second Branch family was too poor to borrow anything, fearing that if they borrowed one thing from the Second Branch family, they would have to return three. Now it was different. They could get closer and borrow things more often, which would bring them quite a few benefits.

The children and daughters-in-law of the Third Branch family were still waiting for news. The first thing they saw was their father’s disheartened and frustrated demeanor. Although Madam Song, who followed him in, wasn’t visibly as downhearted, she also didn’t look particularly joyful.

Lady Zhang’s heart sank. Following the old couple into the room, she brought two bowls of water to the dining table and asked, "Mother, how did it go with the Second Branch family? Did Second Uncle agree to let us work at his shop?"

Qi Yourong scolded irritably, "You make it sound so easy. Is there such a good thing prepared for you? What time is it now, and you still haven’t served dinner?"

He and his old woman servant hadn’t had a chance to haggle with his younger brother, who had simply said he didn’t like their behavior.

After Qi Yourong finished speaking, he glanced angrily at Qi Liang and Madam Pang. They were the biggest contributors to this mess, usually creating more problems than they solved.

Seeing Qi Yourong glaring at Qi Liang, Madam Song shifted her body to shield him, then addressed Lady Zhang and her two sons, "Your Second Great Uncle has been distant for many years, hardly cherishing familial affection. He openly claimed that our family has never supported him and thus gave the business to Chengzi."

With that, she waved her hand dismissively, "Alright, we can’t blame ourselves for this, as we didn’t know he needed help, did we? But remember, if you expect any favors from the Second Branch family, don’t provoke them anymore. Tell the children to be especially nice to their whelp, I mean, to Qi Jia, and don’t give them reasons for gossip."

Qi Dong and Qi Liang’s couple were stunned, especially Lady Pang. The thought of her and her son having to cozy up to that kid, who once lived like a rat, filled her with intense indignation and inconvenience.

......

The Qi family thus settled down for the moment, while Jinrong was already discussing the cattle farm matter with Jiang Yifan.

The two of them were holding tea cups, drinking tea while talking past each other about managing the cattle farm in a mix of alignment and miscommunication.

Jiang Yifan repeatedly grumbled at Jinrong, "Planning to raise cattle isn’t simple. We could have just managed it on our own. Why involve Ye Xinyan?"

Jinrong leaned back leisurely in the exquisitely carved armchair in the back hall of the Prefectural Magistrate’s Yamen, coolly saying, "You are a man, and you used to seem quite broad-minded. Why do you become so petty and shameless when it comes to Ye Xinyan?"

"What does this have to do with being shameless?"

This was outright slander. If not for considering Jinrong’s status, Jiang Yifan would have been tempted to put down his tea cup and come to blows.