Granny Yu had bought the flour, at, and vegetables, but Qin i didn’t let her take them ho. If she had, they would have none for themselves. Qin i didn’t mind, but she knew Jing Qi would be upset.
Qin i walked Granny Yu and the second auntie out of the courtyard. After hesitating for a long while, Granny Yu pulled Qin i aside and asked in a low voice, "Fourth Wife of Jing, about the massage, how much are you planning to charge?"
"The Qin Family Lactation Massage Technique," Qin i corrected.
"Right, right. Look at my mory." Granny Yu tapped her forehead. "The Qin Family Lactation Massage Technique."
"One hundred," Qin i said.
"One hundred," Granny Yu exclaid, her expression conflicted. "Can’t it be a little cheaper?"
"No." Qin i shook her head, her tone firm.
"That price is too high. Many families will be scared off," Granny Yu reminded her.
"My standard fee is one hundred. It’s non-negotiable," Qin i insisted.
"I think one hundred is very reasonable. If the fee were any lower, wouldn’t the Fourth Wife of Jing be worked to death?" The second auntie sided with Qin i. It was easy for her to say—she didn’t need the service, so Qin i’s price, no matter how high, had nothing to do with her.
Seeing that her own younger sister had said as much, Granny Yu didn’t feel right pressing the issue. "Alright then. When they ask again, I’ll tell them. Fourth Wife of Jing, I have to be upfront with you, it’s very difficult for an ordinary family to co up with one hundred. I can’t guarantee anyone will co looking for a massage."
"Granny Yu, just tell them the truth. You don’t need to worry about anything else," Qin i said with a smile.
"Fourth Wife of Jing, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease." Granny Yu was secretly relieved. ’Thank goodness Qin i didn’t charge . If she had asked for one hundred right then and there, where would I have scraped it together?’
’One hundred! Heavens!’
"Big Sis, I’ll walk you out," the second auntie said.
Granny Yu didn’t refuse. She could tell her younger sister didn’t want to go ho.
"Granny Yu, be careful on your way," Qin i added.
"Fourth Wife of Jing, you don’t have to see us out. Go back and keep Jing Qi company." The second auntie gave Qin i a little push, and Granny Yu also told her not to escort them any further.
Qin i smiled and nodded. She hadn’t intended to walk them out anyway. She watched them leave before re-entering the courtyard. Aunt Zhang was sweeping, her gaze fixed on Qin i with unconcealed hostility.
’Didn’t she want to make peace with ? How long has it been, and she’s already going back on her word?’
Qin i saw that Jing Qi’s door was closed, so she didn’t disturb her. She returned to her own room, closing and locking the door to take a nap.
Qin i didn’t sleep for long. If she slept too much during the day, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.
Jing Qi didn’t co to Qin i for help with her problems, so Qin i left her alone. She took a key and went to the room next door. It had originally been Jie Jingjue’s room, but after he moved out, Qin i had started using it to store common dicinal herbs. She had even placed a special furnace there, which she used to refine pills.
When Jie Jingchen got ho from work, Qin i was still refining her pills. The entire courtyard was filled with the sll of Chinese dicine. Aunt Zhang looked disgusted but didn’t dare to stop Qin i. At first, the neighbors had also complained, but Mrs. Xie had a chat with them, and they stopped complaining, even expressing their understanding.
"Mom, what’s that sll? It’s awful!" Jie You pinched his nose, his chubby face scrunched up in disgust.
"What else could it be? Your fourth aunt is refining an elixir of immortality," Xu Chunyan said sarcastically, deliberately raising her voice as if afraid Qin i wouldn’t hear.
Qin i heard her but paid no mind. That was just how Chinese dicine slled. She was used to it; if they weren’t, there was nothing she could do about it.
To avoid disturbing others, she always refined her pills while they were at work. Today was an exception. The batch was larger, and she wasn’t finished even though they were starting to co ho.
"It’s not just for immortality, it’s for eternal youth too," Aunt Zhang jeered. She had stuffed toilet paper up her nostrils. She was the unluckiest one, having to sll it from start to finish. ’Thank goodness Qin i doesn’t do this every day.’ "Xiao You, co here! I braised your favorite chicken legs for you."
"Really? WOO-HOO! That’s great! Thank you, Great-Aunt!" Jie You was overjoyed. He let go of Xu Chunyan and ran cheering toward Aunt Zhang.
Aunt Zhang took the little guy’s chubby hand, ruffled his hair, and led him toward the kitchen.
Seeing how well Aunt Zhang treated Xiao You, always thinking of him when there was good food, Xu Chunyan felt a pang of guilt and sha. She muttered to herself, "If Aunt finds out I’ve been stabbing her in the back, will she hate ?"
Between the benefits Aunt Zhang gave her and the benefits Qiao Yanqiu gave her, Xu Chunyan had decisively chosen Qiao Yanqiu.
’I can’t give up the comfortable life Qiao Yanqiu provides for such a paltry profit. I can’t be blad for this. I’ve done nothing wrong. If anyone’s to bla, it’s Aunt herself. What was so bad about maintaining the status quo? Why did she have to get such crooked ideas?’
’My father-in-law is a married man, and Aunt is a married woman. How could she even think of sothing so improper?’
Xu Chunyan rubbed her stomach. She was hungry too and needed a chicken leg to tide her over.
"Aunt, I’m hungry too." Xu Chunyan first put Xiao You’s schoolbag back in his room, then headed for the kitchen.
Aunt Zhang picked up a chicken leg for Xu Chunyan. Jie You was standing to the side, eating with great relish. Xu Chunyan had just taken a bite when Aunt Zhang pulled her into a corner.
"Is the braised chicken leg good?" Aunt Zhang asked.
"Delicious," Xu Chunyan nodded, full of praise. "Aunt, your cooking is almost as good as the second auntie’s. I’ve gotten so used to it. If one day I couldn’t eat your food anymore, I would really miss it."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Aunt Zhang shot Xu Chunyan a look and then promised in her ear, "Don’t worry. Even after I marry your father-in-law, I’ll still cook for all of you."
Xu Chunyan’s chewing faltered. A flicker of guilt crossed her eyes as she looked at Aunt Zhang. "COUGH, COUGH, COUGH. Aunt, that’s all for the future. Let’s not talk about this right now."
Aunt Zhang was deliberately testing Xu Chunyan, and the result was disappointing. Just as she had expected, Xu Chunyan wasn’t going to help her with all her might. Aunt Zhang smiled to hide her true feelings. "Nothing is set in stone yet, so it is a bit early to talk about it. However, Second Daughter-in-law Jing, I have to remind you of sothing."
Xu Chunyan waited for her to continue. After a long pause, Aunt Zhang still hadn’t said anything. ’Is she deliberately trying to keep in suspense?’ "Aunt, what did you want to remind about?"
"I am the biological aunt of Jing Er and Jing San. Jing San doesn’t work at the machinery plant, and Jing Si was assigned to the machinery plant after he retired from the military. Do you know what ’pillow talk’ is?" Aunt Zhang asked with a smile.
A gleam flashed in Xu Chunyan’s eyes. She swallowed the chewed-up chicken in her mouth and feigned ignorance. "Aunt, I don’t quite understand what you an."
"Right now, both Jing Er and Jing Si work at the machinery plant. There is only one director position. Second Daughter-in-law Jing, do I need to spell it out for you?" Aunt Zhang was still smiling, but Xu Chunyan felt it was a smile hiding a dagger.
Xu Chunyan gritted her teeth. ’Aunt Zhang is too cunning. She sensed that I wouldn’t go all out to help her, so now she’s using the director’s position to both tempt and threaten .’
"Second Daughter-in-law Jing, you’re a smart woman. As long as Qiao Yanqiu is sleeping next to Jie Jianguo, Jing Si will be the next director of the machinery plant. But if the person next to Jie Jianguo changes—to , for example—well, I’m Jing Er’s biological aunt. As long as I whisper in Jie Jianguo’s ear, Jing Er will be the next director of the machinery plant." Aunt Zhang had Xu Chunyan completely cornered.
Inwardly, Xu Chunyan was disgusted by Aunt Zhang’s behavior, but she let none of it show on her face. "Aunt, since I’ve already promised you, I will help you fulfill your long-cherished wish."
"Second Daughter-in-law Jing, with your words, I can finally rest easy." Aunt Zhang’s smile deepened. "Second Daughter-in-law Jing, you must rember, this is a win-win for us. If I marry Jie Jianguo and beco the director’s wife, then Jing Er will be the next director, and you will be the next director’s wife."
"Yes, yes, it’s a win-win for us," Xu Chunyan echoed. Satisfied, Aunt Zhang turned to check on the pot. The smile on Xu Chunyan’s face vanished instantly. She stared daggers at Aunt Zhang’s back, a sharp, cold glint shooting from her eyes.
’Win-win? A win-win my ass.’
’Does she really take for a fool? The only one who wins here will be Aunt. As for whether Jing Er actually becos the next director, who can say for sure? But in the short term, I’m the one who stands to lose a lot.’
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