She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 336 - 335

Chapter 336: 335

The villagers weren’t without calculation; seeing the two businesses, the workshops and cattle pens, growing more prosperous and expanding by the day, they felt reassured.

Now that they had a bit of silver, though not a lot, it was still not an insignificant amount. The sum they had saved up over several years of good harvests paled in comparison. With the backing of two such large industries, they could afford to spend a little now and then. Next year, they would work again for the cattle farm. Once spring arrived, they would gather more grass from the lush areas, and by then, they would have earned back the silver.

Good days ought to look like good days, especially during the New Year. Celebrating the holiday well was seen as a good omen for the year to come, something that absolutely should not be taken lightly.

Those with a bit more leeway in their lives couldn’t help but think of the generosity of the second branch of the Qi family, considering paying an early New Year’s visit to the Qi family. The elder Qi Younian certainly lacked for nothing, but presenting him with carefully selected large eggs, dried vegetables, and mushrooms was, after all, a gesture of goodwill.

Although this was Ye Xinyan’s second New Year here, she was not familiar with handling the affairs that came with the celebration. Fortunately, Nanny Jin and Nanny Liu were experienced, and with reminders from Lady Wang of the main house, they had prepared plenty of pastries, eggs, and portions of meat. Faced with a constant stream of visitors bringing gifts to express their gratitude, the nannies in charge managed everything smoothly, accepting gifts and returning the favors in an orderly fashion.

Following Qi Younian’s guidance, the life of a farming household was not easy; as long as they weren’t overly cunning or greedy, returning the favor with a bit more generosity could make the whole family happy for many days to come.

So it often happened that a villager would come bring ten eggs and a basket of dried vegetables, exchange a few laughs, and leave with their basket filled with a sizeable portion of meat and two packets of dried fruit pastries in return.

Most farmers were simple folk, grateful for several favors received from the Qi family, without the desire to take undue advantage. Even those who were sly and sought advantages would lose their nerve against the second branch of the Qi family, now more imposing than even the grand households of the city.

Jinrong and Jiang Yifan, unfamiliar with false pleasantries, arrived at the Qi family on the twenty-ninth of the New Year at Shen Hour, by which time the continuous stream of visiting villagers was coming to an end. Those who had not managed to visit earlier, upon seeing them entering the second branch of the Qi family, had no choice but to stop and refrain from disturbing them with regret filling their hearts.

During the grand festival, those who had gone home and those who had not were all settled in, and it was unlikely for any strangers to come and go. Thus, the appearance of Jinrong and her entourage in Clear Water Village was quite eye-catching. Many who had thought of visiting the Qi family to show their gratitude before the New Year stopped in their tracks, while others, full of resentment, watched the distinguished city folks enter the second branch of the Qi family.

From a distance, Lady Zhang of the Qi Family Third Branch saw several richly dressed figures riding tall horses heading toward the Second Branch. Leading the group were none other than the County Magistrate and that notoriously wealthy Sixth Master Rong.

Both men were clad in satin fur gowns. Although the satin did not seem very bright, a flash of sunlight would reveal exquisite patterns woven into the fabric, clearly of a quality unknown to farming folks. The fur turned out on the collars and the front of their robes was sleek and glossy, shimmering like flowing water with each step their horses took. Even the four servants following them wore clothes of rich and fine quality, far beyond comparison to what the countryside people could aspire to.

Only after the group entered the Qi Family Courtyard did Lady Zhang continue on her way, grumbling in discontent as she looked for her own son.

This year, because of the two businesses started by the Abandoned Wife in the Second Branch, the villagers’ lives had improved, if only slightly. In principle, since they branched off from the same courtyard and the heads of the two households were blood brothers, the Third Branch should have been living a life just as good as the Second Branch, which even random villagers could benefit from.

But reality was far from it. Those in the Second Branch family who couldn’t distinguish between kin and others, having prospered, immediately forgot their relatives, and they didn’t provide any benefits to their kin.

Even the grandparents, putting on an old face to curry favor, could not step half into the Second Branch. The servants of the Second Branch, who did not understand hierarchy, did not even consider them to be masters, not to mention a greeting— they wouldn’t even spare a few extra words, never allowing them near the Second Branch Courtyard.

In the village, the adults and children alike had keen eyes for status. With the Second Branch prospering, everyone, old and young, tried to ingratiate themselves with its members. The children who used to play together in groups now gravitated toward Qi Sanshun and that illegitimate child raised on swill, as if their own kids had become too dull and clumsy to be seen in public.

Walking a bit further, Lady Zhang saw a group of children, including her own son, covered in mud and dirt, tussling in a large patch of frozen ground. Meanwhile, the group led by Qi Sanshun was taking turns pushing two ice carts, playing on a large patch of ice.

Needless to say, those two ice carts were again the handiwork of that someone from the Second Branch for that illegitimate child to play with. And that large patch of ice had been created by Qi Sanshun and his friends by pouring water from their own water tanks onto the ground, actions the adults also took lightly, taking the trouble to draw water from the well in the middle of winter only to let the children splash it around for fun. None of them had any sense!

Lady Zhang cursed those other families’ adults and children in her heart, but she still felt pained for her own son. They were all children, yet why should playing be more noble and interesting for some, while her own were doomed to lower status?

Feeling aggrieved, Lady Zhang swiftly approached, pulling up Qi Congwen and scolded, "How old are you anyway? Rolling around on the ground at your age? Aren’t you embarrassed, don’t you understand cleanliness?"

She then dragged Qi Congwu over as well, dusting the dirt off his body and continued berating, "Can’t you be more ambitious? Look at how other children play, do they roll around on the ground like you do?"

After ranting, she ignored the other three children and lead her own two sons back home, still muttering bitterly, "Can’t you be smarter? Other kids know they’ll get treats and fun by sticking with Qi Sanshun. You are his cousins, don’t you understand to stick by him?"