Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 117: Someone Can Afford It_1

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Someone Can Afford It_1

Qian Yixiu and Qian Xiaofeng were passing by Huaxi Village when they saw Old woman Qian and Qian Yiduo heading toward the west side of the village.

Qian Yiduo also saw Qian Yixiu, ran over, and said, "Sister Embroidery, I want to go to your house to eat deer meat."

Qian Yixiu then took her hand and continued towards the west side of the village with Old woman Qian. Along the way, people kept asking about the legend of the white wolf, and Qian Yixiu vividly recounted the tale once again.

When several of them returned home, the deer offal was already stewed to perfection. Qian Sangui had Qian Manxia lead Qian Xiaoyu to deliver a small bowl each to Qian’s Main Courtyard, the second wife’s home, Second Grandpa’s House, Wang Lizheng’s house, Xie Huzi’s House, and Mr. Zhang’s House. Deer meat was still a rarity, even if it was just the offal; these households rarely had the chance to taste it.

In Huaxi Village, the Qian’s third wife had unwittingly saved a white wolf, and the several versions of the story about the wolf showing gratitude by bringing a spotted deer in return quickly spread, soon reaching neighboring villages like Darong Village.

Yama Raja Xu heard this and sneered, saying, "Nonsense! I’ve been a hunter for over twenty years, even followed my master into the deep mountains, and I’ve never seen any white wolf. My master used to say that all the white wolves are in the northern territories of the Tatars, there are none around here. It’s clear these stories are just made up by the Old Qian Family to scare people. It seems to me that many of the Old Qian Family’s tales are exaggerated; they are not as frightening as they make them out to be."

Boss Xu chuckled and said, "No matter whether their family is terrifying or not, didn’t my nephew say yesterday? In addition to loving opera, Sir Jin only loves stunningly beautiful young women. Once he sees the portrait of Qian’s silly widow, who looks heavenly beautiful, even surpassing Hua Wuxin from the Red Cloud Troupe in looks... Hey hey, we can’t afford that silly widow, but naturally, someone else can."

Boss Xu nodded and said, "Once Sir Jin takes care of that family, we’ll bring that girl into our door. I heard they’ve got a new delicate and tender little maid. By then, master and servant will both enter to serve me." After saying this, he patted the armrest of his chair with a self-satisfied smirk.

Boss Xu advised, "Not everything about the Qian family is bluster; Old Wong has always covered for them, and we’ve seen those noble young masters ourselves. Sir Jin might not be afraid of them, but it’s still better for our family to stay behind the scenes."

"What kind of lord is he, just a servant, fit only to scare the peasants. As long as Fuzi finds the right opportunity and does it neatly, without stealing or robbing, or breaking any laws, it’s the girl’s own business if she clings to our Xu family—who can blame us? Not to mention Old Wong, even Master County Magistrate can’t control a consensual relationship. And those three young men, one is from Baohe Hall, Zhang Family, but he’s just a little officer; what is there to fear? The other two are from the Capital City; they can’t even take care of our territory here, it’s too far, even the Emperor can’t manage it—let alone them. Humph, that Qian Sangui thinks he can fight me, Yama Raja Xu, he’s courting death!" Yama Raja Xu bellowed.

Boss Xu said, "But I still think..."

"Afraid of everything, are you even my offspring? Hurry up and be happy; that widow is already in our house." Yama Raja Xu cursed, slamming the table, causing the teacups on it to jump.

...

In the afternoon, Huang Tie came back and handed over the twenty-four taels of silver he had earned to Lady Wu. The deer whiskers were valuable, selling for twenty taels, while the other goods only brought in four.

Lady Wu, holding the unexpected silver, was very cheerful. Although the family still had some savings, with so many mouths to feed, she felt a significant pressure.

Half a month later, Dashan and Monkey Brother brought the white wolf again, and this time it had brought a young sheep. It came in the evening again, placed the gift outside the courtyard without entering, and waited for the two pups to come out and have an affectionate exchange before leaving.

Lady Wu had Huang Tie take the young sheep to the county city to be sold again.

Seeing Lady Wu cheerfully counting the silver coins, Qian Yixiu joked, "Look how happy Granny is; Dashan’s lover sure knows how to curry favor. Once it leaves a good impression on Grandpa and Granny, our family won’t be afraid of it anymore, and it will eventually come inside to formally meet its in-laws."

Her words amused Qian Sangui immensely. He said, "That White Wolf really is clever, knowing to keep its distance from us because it knows we are afraid of it."

The jujubes in the courtyard ripened. Now that life at home was comfortable, there was no need to sell the jujubes for money, so they gave some to relatives and friends, and also sent some to the Song Family Manor, Little Monk Hongji, the Zhang family, and Shopkeeper Cui.

While delivering jujubes to the Zhang family, Qian Yixiu also went to Zhang’s House to plant the Gypsophila seeds in a corner of their backyard garden and explained the care instructions to the gardener in charge. In addition, she respectfully offered twenty steamed egg cakes to the Old Lady.

Old Lady Zhang praised, "This child’s temperament is exactly to an old woman’s liking, even the food she makes suits the old woman’s taste."

Qian Yixiu cozied up to her, acting sweet and endearing, and shared a few rural jokes, including the tales of White Wolf’s loyalty and righteousness. Of course, she did not hide the fact that White Wolf was associated with Dashan, but she didn’t deny that her family once "saved" the White Wolf either, leaving the people of the Zhang family sighing continuously. The Old Lady still insisted she stay for lunch, while Lady Wu, who had come with her, was invited to dine in another room.

From the discussions among the members of the Zhang family, she learned that Zhang Yang was already engaged. Two years later, when Zhang Yang would be sixteen and the girl fifteen, they would be married.

The girl Zhang Yang was engaged to was the daughter of Huang Wanchun, the owner of the wealthiest Qingfeng line in the provincial capital of Xizhou Mansion. The Huang family was a Royal Merchant, and Huang Wanchun held a nominal position in the Ministry of Revenue. Their business was extensive, covering alcohol, grain, money lending, foreign trade, and more. Their most important trade was liquor though, owning their own brewery, with establishments spread throughout the Great Qian Kingdom. Their premium brand, ’Blue Flower Brew,’ was not just favored by the aristocratic families but was also an imperial tribute, and the more economic and popular ’Old Liang Chun’ was also brewed by them.

It was said that Huang Yue’e was exceptionally beautiful and well-cultured.

As the Huang family was a Royal Merchant, when Qian Yixiu was a ghost, she had visited their household. They were indeed rich beyond measure, even gilding their home’s columns with gold dust.

However, her visit to the Huang family was limited to Huang Wanchun’s study room, and she didn’t enter the inner quarters, so she wasn’t familiar with Huang Yuexian’s character and nature.

But she had a thorough understanding of Huang Wanchun, from where he hid his treasures, to his hobbies, to his favorite courtesan, and even knowing clearly where his two mistresses lived.

It seemed that it was the Huang family who first took a liking to Zhang Yang and actively sought a matchmaker for the engagement.

Zhang Zhongkun was not very keen on the idea, feeling that the Huang family was not of the same ilk as his own. However, when Zhang Yang heard that Huang Yue’e was as beautiful as her name suggested, like Chang’e from the Moon Palace, he was very fond of her.

Old Lady Zhang and Lady Song, being anxious for their son’s happiness, thought that since Zhang Yang liked her, they should grant him his wish.

Qian Yixiu thought to herself that a girl from a nouveau riche background might not necessarily be a good match for Zhang Yang, who was kindhearted and devoted to helping the world with his medical skills.

But such matters were not for a small country girl like her to comment on; perhaps there could be an unexpected good outcome.

As she left, she again asked Zhang Zhongkun to prescribe a few remedies for Cheng Yue. She felt that her little mother seemed more emotionally stable after taking the medicine. Although she still couldn’t remember the past, she no longer stood at the courtyard gate embroidering for most of the day, only to stand there for over an hour. Now she would still look out the gate several times a day, but each time for a much shorter duration than before.