She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 375 - 374: The Smug Look

Chapter 375: Chapter 374: The Smug Look

Ye Xinyan perked up her ears and listened intently as Qi Younian continued, "Grandfather wants to ask you, does Miss Zhou have any particular reason for her visit this time? It looks like she plans to stay for quite some time."

"Yes, she plans to leave with you, Grandfather Cheung, and Wong Qiao. She won’t return to Yuyuan City until the construction at the Prince’s Side Courtyard begins," Ye Xinyan said with a slight frown.

Qi Younian frowned upon hearing this and paused before asking, "What are Second Miss Zhou’s intentions? Does she plan to stay here and help you with work all the time?"

Ye Xinyan’s expression became somewhat strained, "She probably wants to learn construction skills from Wong Qiao."

Qi Younian had vaguely guessed this the day before, and upon hearing the almost identical answer, he merely pondered for a moment before asking directly, "What do you think?"

"Me?" Ye Xinyan looked at Qi Younian, her gaze flickering but still composed, and said, "What thoughts could I possibly have?"

Qi Younian sized up Ye Xinyan several times and then spoke earnestly, "It’s best to have no thoughts on the matter. Regardless of what happens between Ah Qiao and Second Miss Zhou, neither of you is suitable for each other."

"What are you talking about, Grandfather?" Ye Xinyan almost jumped up, she hadn’t said a thing, right? Nor had she done anything, so why would Grandfather say such a thing, "I, I don’t have any thoughts about..." The words ’I have no interest in Wong Qiao’ were somehow impossible to utter.

Qi Younian looked at Ye Xinyan’s annoyed and embarrassed expression, gestured downwards with his palm in the air, and said, "It’s nothing, nothing. Grandfather only noticed yesterday that you and Second Miss Zhou had unusual expressions. One overly calm, and one overly concerned. If it weren’t for Lord Jiang getting involved because of Ah Qiao’s injury, perhaps even Grandfather wouldn’t have noticed anything."

Ye Xinyan didn’t relax at all because of Qi Younian’s explanation; her expression grew even worse, her eyes darker, and she didn’t speak for a long while. Overly calm, was he referring to her? Could calmness reveal flaws?

And another thing, why wouldn’t she and Wong Qiao be suitable?

"Sigh," Qi Younian sighed and said, "Looking at you like this, you must disagree with Grandfather’s opinion, don’t you? You’re still young and don’t understand many things. A woman like you, if married into an ordinary family, likely wouldn’t be able to protect herself or her family."

"Why?" Ye Xinyan could never have imagined that Qi Younian would provide such an explanation for her and Wong Qiao being unsuitable.

Two mutually consenting hearts getting married, how did it come to talk of protecting oneself and one’s family, as if she was bound to bring disaster to herself and her family?

Qi Younian said, "We are in the construction industry, which relies on the craftsmanship and hard work of artisans to earn silver. Even if we can make money, we don’t have any status. Depending on people is alright, but if it involves bigger issues, there may be no one left to depend on.

"Here I’m talking about you, Ye Zi. If your skills are limited to running a small eatery, and helping ordinary construction firms get started and operate, that would probably be just fine. Even if you’re a skilled woman, you are still merely a somewhat skilled woman."

Qi Younian smiled to himself, "That’s what Grandfather thought at the time, believing that his granddaughter was a skilled woman. No matter which family she married into, she wouldn’t suffer too much with her skills and dowry."

"Is it not so?" Ye Xinyan asked in surprise. She was a capable woman, sufficiently competent to ensure her own well-being and livelihood; wasn’t that enough?

"No, Ye Zi, your abilities go far beyond that," Qi Younian shook his head, "Marrying into an ordinary household with your skills is courting disaster for yourself and your family. Those in the know are aware that finding craftsmen like Grandfather is not easy, but certainly not difficult, and it doesn’t even matter whether we have Ah Qiao or not. However, if the Construction Industry were without Ye Zi, it could never achieve the renown it has today. Not to mention the cattle farm and the rapidly growing Dairy Products Store, along with the rail project you’re involved in. A woman like you will undoubtedly catch the attention of many powerful families and forces. People and families like Ah Qiao ... they can neither afford to keep you nor bear the responsibility."

"But I ... don’t we have Duke An’s Mansion and Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion?" Ye Xinyan said.

Qi Younian frowned even more deeply, seeing this as a troublesome matter.

"Even if Duke An hasn’t acknowledged you, do you know what he thinks about your remarrying? If he acknowledges you, it’s even more problematic. He might not give you a choice but to take the chance of reconciling instead of remarrying a craftsman. He is your grandfather, it’s a decision he can make."

"To reconcile?" Ye Xinyan’s mouth fell open in astonishment. Did Grandfather mean Jiang Yifan?

Jiang Yifan had mentioned it vaguely when speaking of using maidservants some time ago. But at that time, there were no others present, and Jiang Yifan also assured that Guan He would not overhear their conversation as ex-husband and ex-wife. However, now Grandfather was speaking in such terms, clearly aware of Jiang Yifan’s intentions.

Qi Younian didn’t offer an explanation, simply continuing, "That is also why, on the night of the thirtieth, when you were speaking with Lord Jiang, Nanny Qiao from Duke An’s Mansion could stand guard not too far away."

Ye Xinyan gazed steadily at Qi Younian, her eyes suddenly focused and sharp. On the thirtieth, she had spoken with Jiang Yifan; had Grandfather noticed? Then others too, perhaps? For instance, Guan He, had she overheard anything they said? The conversation that day was not for just anyone’s ears.

Qi Younian, noticing Ye Xinyan’s suddenly keen gaze, comforted her, "At that time, everyone was busy setting off firecrackers, nobody paid attention to your conversation. Sigh, I had been quite relieved, thinking your future with Lord Jiang looked promising."

Ye Xinyan snapped her mouth shut, saying resentfully, "Hasn’t Grandfather ever heard that a good horse doesn’t turn back to graze? It was not so long ago that Jiang Yifan, with his conceited demeanor, acted as if I were a pile of stinking dogshit. Why would I reconcile with him?"

Qi Younian laughed, could such a matter really be shelved over spite?

"Regarding the incident back then, you also said it was a big mistake you made that forced you to flee Duke An’s Mansion. You never spoke a single fault of Jiang Yifan at the time."

"That’s because," Ye Xinyan retorted, "hadn’t I severed ties with him? Why make an issue out of nothing with someone you have no connection with? But if it’s about reconciling, his behavior back then is absolutely unforgivable." Moreover, as just an ordinary person, I don’t fancy such pompous men, nor can I bear them.

Ye Xinyan was so agitated she couldn’t continue, "Enough, let’s drop it. Lord Jiang puts on airs as if he’s something else every day; he’s not interested. Didn’t you come to ask me out for grilled meat, Grandfather? Miss Zhou is still in the outer court, right? Then let’s go."

"Ye Zi, think it over carefully. Lord Jiang is a good man. The causes and consequences of what happened back then are clear, and you can’t fully blame him. Besides, after those three years and this time spent together, Lord Jiang’s character is still trustworthy. Even under such circumstances, Lord Jiang has not taken in any concubines or lesser wives, which is difficult for men to achieve," Qi Younian tried to persuade her further.

Ye Xinyan stood up, went to support Qi Younian’s arm, and pleaded, "Let’s not talk about this anymore, let’s go."