Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 167

Madam Zhao had just been scolded, yet she still looked defiant. Fuming, she said, “Why is Father only blaming me? If it weren’t for how much he values her medical skills, would she have become so spoiled and willful, acting like she doesn’t need to respect anyone?”

Yu Ruhai grew even angrier upon hearing her complain about him. He slammed the table in frustration, his chest heaving. “Willful and reckless? I think the third son’s spoiled you too much, which is why you have no sense of propriety!”

Old Madam Yu quickly reached out to calm him and shot Madam Zhao a warning glance. She gently said, “Old Master, don’t be upset with someone who doesn’t know better. She’s just worried about Erlang and Silang, and in her panic she blurted out thoughtless words.”

She then turned to scold Madam Zhao. “You’d better stop talking. Your father cares deeply about the futures of the boys in the family. He’s just as worried for Jinshu and Jinyan as you are. What matters most now is how we can persuade Meng girl to go see Headmaster Lin.”

Old Madam Yu’s soft words soothed Yu Ruhai somewhat. After a moment of silence, he said to her, “Go find the eldest daughter-in-law and have her speak with Yujiao. The eldest branch is closer to Meng girl and has never had conflict with her. Have Madam Zhang appeal to the girl for Zhizhou’s sake.”

Madam Zhang had already heard from Yu Zhizhou that there was no way to resolve things through the Zhang family. Even before Old Madam Yu came to her, she had already decided she would go ask Yu Jiao for help.

After Old Madam Yu left the east room, she saw Yu Mengshan boiling bamboo in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Madam Zhang spoke with Yu Qiaoshan, who was making umbrellas outside, about her plan.

Yu Qiaoshan set down his work and said to Madam Zhang, “Everyone has their fate. If Meng girl really finds it difficult, don’t force her.”

He was a grounded, practical man. If Zhizhou truly had a talent for studying, then like Wulang, he could rely on himself to rise through the ranks. If he didn’t have the ability, then even with a student recommendation, he still wouldn’t pass the provincial exam.

Madam Zhang sighed, “I know. It’s not that I’m dreaming of him passing the provincial exams. I just hoped that if he made a good showing in the local exam, it’d help when arranging a marriage. Matchmaker Wang mentioned a few girls I quite liked. If we settle an engagement for Zhizhou, I can finally rest easy.”

Yu Qiaoshan nodded and returned to his work. Madam Zhang stood up and walked toward the east room.

Inside, Yu Fuling sat by the window sewing clothes. Yu Jiao had just re-embroidered the willow leaves she had picked out earlier and planned to turn them into a handkerchief.

Madam Zhang lifted the bamboo curtain and stepped inside. Yu Fuling looked up with a smile and greeted, “Aunt Zhang.”

Madam Zhang found a stool and sat near the two girls, smiling as she said, “Meng girl, what are you embroidering there?”

“I want to make a handkerchief,” Yu Jiao replied, a little embarrassed. Her embroidery wasn’t particularly good, and she knew it.

Madam Zhang studied it for a while but couldn’t quite tell what the pattern was. Then, hesitantly, she got to the point. “Meng girl, about Sanlang… I must ask for your help. I know Wulang had valid points earlier, and I’m not expecting Zhizhou to actually pass the provincial exam. But if he could at least participate in the local exam and get some recognition, it’d help us save face. It’d make it easier for him to find a job as a bookkeeper in town later. I’ve even asked a matchmaker to find him a match and told her he was going to take the local exam. If this falls through, the marriage proposal might fall apart too.”

She went on, “Your uncle and I aren’t capable people, and Sanlang doesn’t have the favor of the old master and madam like the other two grandsons do. So as parents, we have to do more for him. Your uncle even said just now that if it really troubles you, we won’t blame you.”

Seeing Madam Zhang humble herself like this to ask a younger family member for help moved Yu Fuling. She gave Yu Jiao’s hand a small tug.

Yu Jiao put down her embroidery frame, deeply moved. A parent’s love for their child is always long-sighted. She looked at Madam Zhang and said, “Aunt Zhang, I can’t promise it’ll work out, but I’ll go to the Lin residence in a few days and speak to Headmaster Lin.”

Madam Zhang hadn’t expected her to agree so easily. From what Yu Jiao had said in the main hall earlier, she thought persuading her would be very difficult. She immediately broke into a smile and said excitedly, “Thank you on behalf of Sanlang! If he does make something of himself, I’ll be sure to teach him to repay you properly.”

Yu Jiao smiled. She didn’t dare hope for gratitude from Yu Zhizhou, she’d be content if he simply stopped trying to hurt her. “Don’t tell anyone about this for now. Let the third branch stew a little longer,” she said.

Madam Zhang instantly understood. Now that things were settled, she felt much more at ease. With a grin, she said, “That branch has been spoiled by the old madam beyond reason. It’s about time they were taken down a peg. Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a word.”

Yu Jiao smiled and picked her embroidery frame back up.

“That fabric you gave me, I haven’t finished sewing it yet. I’ll let you girls get back to work,” Madam Zhang said with a smile, then left the east room.

Yu Fuling looked at Yu Jiao with amusement. “You’ve always had a sharp tongue and a soft heart. Tell me the truth, weren’t you already planning to go ask Headmaster Lin?”

“I wasn’t,” Yu Jiao said as she kept stitching, denying it.

But Yu Fuling didn’t believe her. “Come on, I know you. You were just upset about what Aunt Zhao and Jinshu said. You put up a strong front, but deep down you were planning to help.”

Yu Jiao looked up at her and said with a smile, “You’re too clever. Sharp tongue, soft heart? I’ve got both the tongue and the heart made of steel.”

Yu Fuling laughed. “But with Aunt Zhao’s temper, once third uncle returns, they’ll definitely cause more trouble.”

Yu Jiao gave a faint smile. She wasn’t one to yield to pressure. If Yu Hanshan and his wife wanted to push her, she’d be more than happy to show them just how stubborn she could be.

People need to be tempered by one another.

Some people have kind hearts and know how to repay kindness. Treat them well, and they’ll return it in kind. Some are decent and fair. If you show them respect, they’ll give you more in return. They won’t take advantage of you or hurt you.

But then there are people like Madam Zhao and her husband. Arrogant, opportunistic, ungrateful, and always feeling entitled.

Those people can’t be coddled. If you show them respect, they’ll just see you as weak. Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile. Show kindness, and they’ll use it to manipulate you.

The reason Yu Jiao had decided to go to Headmaster Lin wasn’t because she wanted to help the third branch, but because she knew those lost scholar spots had been impacted by her being called to treat someone at the Zhang residence.

But if she agreed outright, the third branch wouldn’t feel thankful, they’d feel entitled. And once you give in, it becomes a pattern.

Getting along with others takes boundaries and mutual respect. Since she was staying in the Yu family, the third branch needed to learn her rules. Otherwise, they’d keep pushing her and make her life miserable.

That night, Yu Hanshan returned from the market. Madam Zhao exaggerated the whole story about Yu Jinshu and Yu Jinyan’s scholar spots being taken away. As expected, Yu Hanshan flew into a rage and grabbed a broom, storming off to confront Yu Jiao in the east room.

Only to be stopped cold by Yu Ruhai, who gave him a loud, scathing scolding.