Chapter 35: Sooner or Later, It Will Be the Death of Me

Yunjiao returned to her room and heard the commotion coming from the east wing; she could only heave a helpless sigh.

"Miss, should I go and lend the eldest aunt a hand?" Huangju asked as she stepped forward.

"There is no need," Yunjiao shook her head.

Huangju looked perplexed.

Jianjia stepped forward and said with a smile, "You have just arrived, so you don't know. Our second aunt is like a kite string; the more you pull, the higher she flies. If she sees you offering help, I fear she will stir up a huge scene again in a moment."

Huangju suddenly understood.

Later, however, she took advantage of a moment when no one was watching to secretly help Qian Fangru. Qian Fangru was somewhat grateful to her, and the two grew familiar over time, but these are matters for another day and need not be mentioned for now.

As for Shen Changdong, he had been ill and bedridden for more than half a month. Spending his days in a daze in his room, he naturally lacked the energy to seek out Yunjiao. Furthermore, as the various aunts took turns caring for the grandmother and the second aunt was busy dealing with them, she had no spare time to target Yunjiao. By all accounts, her days should have been much easier than before.

Yet, she was not happy.

Her grandmother’s health had been declining day by day. Over the past two or three days, she had not touched a grain of rice, consuming only a little water. Yunjiao understood that birth, old age, sickness, and death were the way of the world, but she could not stop the sorrow from welling up. Was the old woman who had accompanied her as she grew, who had raised her from a naive child, who taught her how to conduct herself and how to be patient, truly about to leave her?

The thought filled her with fear and unease, yet she could only watch helplessly as her grandmother’s face withered and her life slowly ebbed away.

The aunts had all come to visit in turns, but aside from being bullied by the second aunt into washing the grandmother’s clothes and bedding, no one cared how the grandmother had injured her leg. After all, she was a person on the verge of death; why offend others for her sake? Once the grandmother passed, they would still have to interact with their relatives; the Qian family was, after all, their maiden home. Even the most capable and sharp-tongued third aunt had only asked about it once and never bothered again.

Yunjiao grew increasingly unable to sit still. She had to find a way to settle accounts with Shen Changdong; otherwise, even if her grandmother passed, she would not be able to close her eyes in peace, and Yunjiao herself would never find tranquility.

After a moment of thought, she stood up abruptly, called for Guyouzi, and gave her specific instructions.

A few days later, once Shen Changdong’s health had improved slightly, he returned to his old ways, unable to change his nature, and began finding excuses to frequent Qixia Courtyard. On this day, the north wind was howling, and snow drifted outside.

In the west wing, Jianjia, Mujin, and Huangju stood together, and even Guyouzi kept guard at the door. Only in this way could Yunjiao feel a shred of security while facing the hypocrite before her.

She held her teacup and said languidly, "This winter seems colder than the last."

"Is the little aunt feeling the cold? I shall have someone add more charcoal," Shen Changdong said, fawning over her with great diligence.

Yunjiao set down her teacup, pulled her vest closer, and shook her head: "Not exactly, I was just mentioning it in passing."

"Miss," Jianjia said, blowing on her hands, "in this freezing weather, a bowl of mutton soup would be delicious."

"Yes, yes," Shen Changdong stood up quickly, "I will have the kitchen simmer some mutton soup right now. If it’s ready by lunch, I shall dine here as well."

"The stuff simmered in the kitchen isn't tasty at all," Jianjia curled her lip.

"Jianjia!" Yunjiao scolded lightly.

Jianjia sheepishly cupped her hands to her mouth to warm them.

"You are an interesting girl," Shen Changdong became intrigued, "Tell me then, whose mutton soup is good?"

"Naturally, it's that shop at the entrance of the old market street. That flavor is truly peerless. If you could invite the cook from that shop to come here in this bitter cold, set up a large iron pot, and add the broth and seasonings—the taste, tsk tsk..." Jianjia said, her mouth practically watering.

"There is such a place? That sounds novel," Shen Changdong asked with a smile. He never went to the old market; those who ate and drank there were mere peddlers and laborers, and he disdained to associate with them. Thus, he knew nothing of the shop Jianjia spoke of.

"Brother-in-law, don't listen to Jianjia. It’s because we ladies of the boudoir cannot go out as we please that the shopkeeper came up with such a trick," Yunjiao glared at Jianjia, "We are not at home, and you have no sense of decorum in your speech!"

"But doesn't Miss also like that shop's mutton soup..." Jianjia muttered softly.

"Why not? As long as the little aunt likes it, consider this place your own home. I shall send someone to invite them immediately." Shen Changdong, brooking no argument, stood up to give the orders.

The cook from the mutton shop arrived quickly. She set up a large iron pot in the west wing and stoked the fire. The soup was soon boiling, bubbling and steaming, the aroma filling the room. They also heated a pot of "Tumi" wine, made from rice wine infused with petals; the mellow fragrance of the sweet rice wine mingled with the floral scent, enough to make one feel intoxicated just by the smell.

Even with the sunny windows of the wing room wide open, the room did not feel cold.

"Brother-in-law, there is so much mutton soup, we cannot finish it all. Why not ask cousin to come and eat with us?" Yunjiao looked at Shen Changdong.

Shen Changdong did not respond; he was staring blankly at the cook, unable to return to his senses for a long time. This woman was truly enchanting. Her fair face, while not perfectly refined, was rosy and tender; she looked no more than twelve or thirteen. Her slender waist and ample figure—truly, she was a gem among women, nourished by the mutton soup she drank daily. How had he never seen her before?

"Brother-in-law?" Yunjiao called out again.

Shen Changdong finally snapped out of it and nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, whatever you say." After agreeing, he felt a pang of regret. With two beauties in front of him, having that dowdy wife come over would be a total mood-killer. But since he had already spoken, he had no choice but to accept it.

Before long, Qian Xianglan arrived.

During the meal, Yunjiao and Qian Xianglan chatted and laughed, the two cousins getting along quite well. The cook chimed in from time to time, and Jianjia and the others joked while helping, making the room quite lively. Only Shen Changdong, heavy with his own thoughts, drank a few cups of wine in silence, lost in his own mind.

Watching him, Yunjiao sneered inwardly: blinded by lust, he would die because of it sooner or later.

Once the meal was over, the cook cleaned up and said with a smile, "Keep the wine money; consider it a gift to the young ladies. I shall go to the front and settle the bill for the mutton soup with the accountant."

"I will go and get it for you," Shen Changdong exclaimed, rising abruptly.

Qian Xianglan was startled by his sudden movement and watched helplessly as he led the cook out the door.

"Did you see that?" Qian Xianglan could not help but say to Yunjiao, "He saw that the cook had some charm and has started having crooked thoughts again."

Yunjiao smiled without replying. She beckoned for Jianjia, the other two maids, and Guyouzi to divide the remaining mutton soup.

Jianjia drank until she was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, her eyes fixed on the milky white soup in the pot, calculating how many more bowls she could get. Mujin also buried her head in her bowl, not saying a word.

Only Huangju said honestly, "It is good to follow the Miss. I have lived this long and never tasted such delicious mutton soup."

Guyouzi said with her mouth full, "Just keep following the Miss, and there will be plenty of good things in the future."

Huangju nodded repeatedly.