Mrs. Wang and Qin Liuxi returned to their own courtyard, saying, "I’ve been too busy recently; I had no idea her illness had beco this serious."
Qin Liuxi said, "It’s not your fault. She’s the one who obsessed over trivial matters and worked herself into this state. No one else is to bla."
Mrs. Wang sighed and seeing Qin Liuxi furrowing her brows, knew that she was fed up with these matters, so she said, "You don’t need to worry about this. I will handle it. Right, the shop has already produced several kinds of candied fruits. Try so."
She spread out the candied fruits wrapped in oil paper for Qin Liuxi to taste one by one.
Qin Liuxi picked up a preserved plum and popped it into her mouth. The sour and sweet flavor, tinged with the faint scent of licorice, filled her mouth. She squinted in delight, bit into the flesh of the plum, spat out the pit, and said, "This is the one, it’s done very well."
"Thanks to the two craftsn you brought back, their skills are impressive. We have the right formula and ample ingredients, and there you go." Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "We’ve only made a few flavors so far, but it’s already October. In two months, the New Year will be upon us, and so people start preparing gifts from now. Even though we don’t have many varieties of candied fruits yet, if we open now and gradually introduce new products, we might catch the wave of New Year’s gifts and quickly establish the shop’s reputation."
"This is the Qin family’s business; you make the decisions."
Hearing her sowhat detached tone, Mrs. Wang’s joy faded a bit, and she felt a little disappointed, but still smiled and said, "Then, could you please pick an auspicious date for the opening?"
This small favor, Qin Liuxi did not refuse and quickly calculated a lucky date—the twelfth day.
"Our shop has already opened, located at Shouxi Square and nad Feichang Dao. If you’re free, you can also go and take a look," Qin Liuxi said. "I have to take a long trip soon, for anything urgent you may consult Qi Huang. If a decision can’t be made, it can wait until I return."
"Alright. Be mindful of your safety while you’re outside. It’s getting cold, make sure to dress warmly, young girl," said Mrs. Wang gently.
Qin Liuxi felt a slight warmth in her heart and smiled, nodding her head. She rembered Third Qin’s issues and was about to speak but then stopped. Anyway, there’s no way for Third Qin to return now. Better not to say anything to make these won worry unnecessarily.
After chatting with Mrs. Wang for a while, Qin Liuxi took her leave.
Mrs. Wang watched her leave, then her expression darkened, and she walked straight out of the courtyard to Old Mrs. Qin’s place, where she indeed saw Mrs. Xie flattering the Old Lady.
Mrs. Wang’s anger rose imdiately. After greeting Old Mrs. Qin with a bow, she turned to Mrs. Xie and said, "Sister-in-law, I’ve recently been busy with the shop’s opening preparations and handed over the household affairs to you. Since you are too busy to cope, I might as well take back control."
Mrs. Xie was taken aback. What was her sister-in-law ranting about now?
"Sister-in-law, what do you an by that? When did I ever beco too busy to handle things?"
Old Mrs. Qin also looked towards Mrs. Wang. She was in a bad mood today; was it because of so upset outside, or was the shop’s opening not going smoothly?
"If you are indeed capable of handling everything, how did it happen that Aunt Pan beca seriously ill and you didn’t care to inquire, nor did you seek out a doctor for her diagnosis? If it weren’t for Aunt Wan and Xixi, wouldn’t she have died without anyone knowing?"
Mrs. Xie’s face changed colors and said, "Sister-in-law, it’s not as severe as you described."
Old Mrs. Qin’s expression darkened. Being of advanced age and frail health, and faced with such a household, she could not bear to hear the ominous word "death."
Mrs. Wang then recounted the matter of Aunt Pan overthinking and falling ill, concluding, "I know you dislike Aunt Pan for having a son before you, but she is already an old woman and one who has given birth to an heir at that. She has always been well-behaved, not seeking trouble. Your tornting of her—aren’t you afraid it will deplete your own blessings?"
Mrs. Xie jumped up and retorted, "Sister-in-law, I can’t accept what you’re saying. She brought this upon herself by worrying about everything. How am I to bla?"
"She’s ill, can’t you at least call for a doctor?" Mrs. Wang said sternly, "Logically, I shouldn’t ddle in the affairs of your second branch, but now we’re all on the sa sinking ship. I’m at the bow trying hard to set the sails, aiming to lift this ship up, yet you’re at the stern desperately piling on stones. How can I possibly raise the sails? I’m only asking you to manage this household well montarily, but even this simple task you fail to perform. Should I kick you off this ship? Or should we all just embrace each other and sink together?"
Mrs. Xie’s face turned beet red, wanting to argue, but Mrs. Wang had already knelt to Old Mrs. Qin, saying, "Mother, I have no desire to complain. Our Qin family should certainly stick together. It doesn’t matter if I’m the one getting exposed in public, the important part is that the second sister-in-law assists in managing our household well, to ensure we have no worries behind us. But what’s the reality?"
She closed her eyes and tiredly continued: "Mother, let Third Sister-in-Law manage the household. She is efficient in her duties, and I don’t want to be spineless, deliberately treating the concubines harshly."
Mrs. Xie’s red face turned white.
Mad, Mrs. Wang has truly gone mad.
Mrs. Xie looked towards Old Mrs. Qin, whose gaze was fixed on her, sharp as knives, causing her to break out in cold sweat.
"Then let Mrs. Gu take over the managent. As for Aunt Pan, assign a girl to take care of her, provide dicine if needed, and ensure she recovers her health," Old Mrs. Qin commanded with a frown.
Mrs. Wang knelt to acknowledge the command, said no more, and walked out.
She was weary from all the hustle and bustle outside, and coming back to deal with these trivial issues was sothing she genuinely lacked the heart and patience for.
Originally, she had no intention of confronting Mrs. Xie, but this had even disturbed Qin Liuxi, rousing her discontent and disapproval, making it impossible for her to remain passive.
Mrs. Xie, without a firm knock, assus she can reach the skies!
"Mother..." Mrs. Xie pitifully looked at Old Mrs. Qin.
Before she could say more, Old Mrs. Qin hurled the teacup in her hand at her: "You imbecile, what use are you!"
Mrs. Xie protected her head and scread.
Listening to the screams from within, Mrs. Wang snorted coldly, turned around, and headed towards Mrs. Gu’s courtyard, as she still had to inform Mrs. Gu about the dostic affairs.
"Nanny, I suddenly comprehend why Xixi had the idea of moving out."
Nanny Shen supported her hand but did not speak.
"Carrying such a large family burden, pressing on without any vigor - what’s the point? It’s just a dragging weight," Mrs. Wang said bitterly: "If I were her, I would also find it utterly aningless. Now it seems keeping her here by force was my selfishness."
What’s the sense in striving at the forefront, only to turn around and clean up the ss left behind?
"Lady, you’re overthinking it. Whether the young miss wants to go or stay is her will. Nobody in this house can force her to stay," Nanny Shen said in a gentle voice: "You just need to remain true to yourself, that’s enough."
Mrs. Wang shook her head with a light sigh; what could possibly make that child feel relaxed, happy, and sense the belonging of returning ho in this household?
To her, it seed that this entire family was nothing but a burden.
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