Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 147

Old Madam Yu felt uneasy in her heart and said, “That girl certainly knows how to be kind to the second branch, but unfortunately, she’s far too vengeful. Your father has always treated her well, even bought fabric for everyone in the second branch, yet she doesn’t show any respect to her elders. I can’t tell if she’s doing it on purpose!”

Yu Ruhai grew irritated upon hearing this. Seeing how well Yu Jiao treated the second branch left him feeling quite bitter. If it hadn’t been his idea to buy Meng Yujiao as a wife for Yu Qizhe, would the second branch even be enjoying such fortune now?

“You both should say less,” Yu Ruhai scolded. “I told you from the start, that girl is clever and never lets herself be taken advantage of. I told you to treat her well. If you’d genuinely been kind to her, we wouldn’t have been left out of the fabric gifts.”

Now he was blaming Old Madam Yu instead.

Old Madam Yu wasn’t pleased by his words. Initially, it was him who wanted to control Meng Yujiao. She disliked the girl because she had lacked proper conduct from the beginning. If that incident with Jinyan hadn’t happened, maybe she would’ve shown Meng Yujiao some kindness. But after that disgrace, no matter how capable Meng Yujiao was, she couldn’t bring herself to like her.

Yet she didn’t dare say any of this out loud. She merely said, “It’s not like I ever mistreated her. What girl or daughter-in-law in any household behaves as unruly as she does?”

Madam Zhao chimed in to defend her mother-in-law. “Father, you can’t blame mother for this. It’s Meng Yujiao who’s too willful. You can’t expect mother to treat her like some honored lady of the house, can you?”

Yu Ruhai gave the two women a cold glance and sighed. “No one’s coming to me for medical consultations anymore. Our entire Yu family’s future is tied to that girl now. There’s a long road ahead. If things go on like this, the second branch will end up with a house full of fine things, and none of it will come your way.”

Both Old Madam Yu and Madam Zhao were lost in thought.

In the west wing, Madam Zhang was playing with little Jie Geng, who was nestled in Wang Mengyan’s arms. She sighed, “Looks like good times have come to the second branch. You really can’t judge people by their current circumstances.”

Not long ago, when Yu Mengshan broke his leg, the second branch had seemed on the verge of collapse. Madam Song had been crying every day. But now the tables had turned, and laughter and cheer filled their home.

Wang Mengyan knew her mother-in-law didn’t mean any harm, she was merely envious, not jealous like the third branch. She smiled and said, “Once San-di passes the provincial exam, your good days will come too, mother.”

Mentioning Yu Zhizhou made Madam Zhang feel a pang of sorrow. “Your father and I lack ability. Other scholars go to the provincial exams in fine clothes, while our Zhizhou looks so shabby.”

Wang Mengyan was just about to comfort her when someone knocked on the door. She stood, still holding the baby, and lifted the bamboo curtain.

Yu Fuling entered with a bolt of greenish-blue fabric in her arms and a bright smile. In a cheerful voice, she said, “Aunt, sister-in-law Mengyan, this fabric was picked by Yu Jiao for San-di. She said the exam is coming up, and it wouldn’t do for him to be the only one not dressed decently.”

Madam Zhang’s expression lit up at once. She hadn’t expected the second branch to be thinking of Zhizhou at all, let alone to actually buy him fabric for new clothes.

She took the cloth from Yu Fuling, beaming. “This is too kind… But with Zhizhou taking the provincial exam, this is like receiving coal during a snowstorm. I won’t be polite then. Do thank Meng girl for me.”

“No need for formalities, Aunt. We’re family. We shouldn’t favor one over another. Er-ge and Si-di both have new clothes, how could we leave out San-di?” Yu Fuling deliberately praised Yu Jiao, adding, “It was her thoughtful idea. She may be young, but she’s really considerate.”

Madam Zhang was deeply grateful. Smiling, she said, “Absolutely. I was just telling your mother earlier what a good and grateful girl she is. With such a warm-hearted and filial daughter, your parents will still have someone to rely on even after you’re married.”

Yu Fuling then pulled out two paper-wrapped buns from her sleeve and handed them to Wang Mengyan. “Sister-in-law, these are meat buns we brought back from town. They’re still warm, give them to little Jie Geng.”

Wang Mengyan took them and gently coaxed the baby in her arms. “Quick, thank your auntie.”

The little girl reached out for the bun, her soft and childish voice murmuring, “Thank you, auntie.”

She mispronounced “auntie” as “guoguo,” which made Yu Fuling laugh out loud.

After Yu Fuling left, Wang Mengyan tore the bun into small pieces and fed them to Jie Geng. The little one didn’t understand much but clearly knew what tasted good, she only ate the filling and spit out the bun’s outer layer.

Madam Zhang laughed heartily at the sight. Stroking the greenish-blue fabric with fondness, she said, “Meng girl really is a good one, so thoughtful to still be thinking about Zhizhou. I don’t even know how to thank her.”

While gently teaching Jie Geng not to be picky with her food, Wang Mengyan replied, “You’re right, mother. She knows right from wrong, and if we treat her sincerely, she’ll return the same.”

Madam Zhang nodded and brought up another matter. “What do you think about your second uncle’s idea to make and sell oiled paper umbrellas?”

She had already discussed the umbrella-making idea with Yu Zhixing, and Wang Mengyan had heard about it. “I think it’s doable. My husband’s not an exceptional scholar, but he can still paint. The designs on umbrella covers aren’t for art collections, they just need to look appealing.”

“We think it’s viable too,” Madam Zhang whispered. “Meng girl knows how to earn money. I have a feeling your second uncle wants to help our branch out a bit by asking us first.”

Wang Mengyan nodded.

But Madam Zhang still had some concerns. She glanced toward the main hall and said, “Paper and tung oil don’t cost much, but your father and I don’t have any private savings. Unlike the third branch, we’re not well-off. I’m afraid your grandfather and grandmother won’t agree to give us funds from the family pot.”

Wang Mengyan, quick-witted as always, said, “That’s nothing to worry about. Since second uncle asked you privately, even if Grandpa and Grandma won’t give the money, second uncle probably has another way. If the money comes from Yu Jiao, then once we’ve made a profit, we can repay her. As long as we don’t let second uncle’s family lose out, it’ll be fine.”

Madam Zhang suddenly saw things clearly and went off right away to discuss it with Yu Qiaoshan so he could report back to Yu Mengshan.

Later that evening during dinner, Yu Hanshan returned from outside. He had borrowed a gong and spent the day going around nearby villages promoting their pork stall.

Madam Song brought out the meat buns that Yu Jiao and the others had brought back. She and Yu Mengshan had already eaten one each in their room. Now, with one bun per person on the table, dinner was a harmonious affair.

Yu Jiao had worried that after buying so much fabric, Madam Zhao and Old Madam Yu might become envious and stir up trouble. But to her surprise, neither of them caused any fuss. Old Madam Yu even made an effort to be friendly, asking how their trip to Fahua Temple had gone. Yu Jiao couldn’t help but feel surprised.

When others showed her kindness, she wasn’t the type to meet it with coldness. She responded warmly.

In a meditation chamber at Fahua Temple, a young man in plain monk robes reclined against the couch. His sharp, fox-like eyes, exotic and alluring, calmly observed the man in black kneeling before him.

The man in black respectfully reported, “Lord Cheng, during this time, Young Master Yu hasn’t come into contact with any masters. However, among the two women who accompanied him up the mountain, one is a female physician named Meng Yujiao. It’s likely she was the one who cured his poison. But… this woman is rather strange.”