Xiao Jin finally found Hui Family in the teahouse.
When Hui Family saw Xiao Jin, she didn’t greet him, just got up with her people and was about to leave.
Xiao Jin didn’t know what to say, so he could only follow Hui Family ho.
When they got ho, Hui Family entered the room, removed the jewelry from her head, and said to Xiao Jin: "I haven’t been feeling well these days, so I won’t entertain Mr. Four. Mr. Four, go ahead and do as you please."
Xiao Jin felt a bit awkward, and told the maids: "You all step out first."
After the maids and the old woman left, he leaned in, speaking softly to Hui Family: "I know I was wrong. Earlier, I was blinded by stupidity and made this mistake. I promise it won’t happen again. Darling, please forgive this ti..."
Hui Family said coldly: "I’ve told you, I’m not feeling well and need to rest. Mr. Four, please go out quickly, lest I pass on my illness to you."
Ever since Hui Family entered the Xiao ho, she had never spoken to Xiao Jin like this.
Xiao Jin truly wasn’t accustod to this. He reached out to grab Hui Family’s hand, but Hui Family directly evaded him: "What does Mr. Four an by this? Now, I can’t even rest for a mont? Am I dood to be worked to death by Mr. Four?"
Having spoken to this extent, Xiao Jin could only leave.
As he went out, he still asked: "Should I call a doctor to take a look at you? Let’s properly address this, prescribe so dicine to nourish your body, okay?"
Hui Family kicked off her shoes, lay on the bed, covered herself with the quilt, and said nothing.
Xiao Jin left reluctantly.
He called Xiao Zhong over: "Your mother is feeling a bit unwell. Stay ho these days and look after her more."
Xiao Zhong nodded: "I know, father hasn’t been ho lately, it’s just been and my sister taking care of our mother."
Those words made Xiao Jin’s face turn red with embarrassnt.
Xiao Jin felt he couldn’t stay at ho anymore.
He had a stomach full of frustration and no one to confide in, so knowing Xiao Yuan was at the military camp, he went to find Xiao Yuan.
Coincidentally, Dong Da was there too. Xiao Yuan was discussing matters with Dong Da. When he saw Xiao Jin co over, Xiao Yuan laughed: "Since you’re here, co join us in the discussion."
The two were discussing military training matters. Recently, many new recruits have been brought in on the Southern Yi side, which requires expanding the military camp and undergoing extensive training.
Xiao Yuan proposed holding a competition within the army, where the veterans compete, and after a period of training, the new recruits also compete, with rewards for the victors.
Dong Da also found this thod good.
Xiao Jin listened and laughed: "This thod seems quite good. Try it out first, and if it proves effective, it can be maintained in the future."
After discussing the matters, Xiao Jin proposed: "Shall we find a place to have a few drinks?"
Dong Da, who loved to drink, imdiately responded: "Sure."
Xiao Yuan got up: "Alright, but your Third Sister-in-law won’t let drink too much, so I’ll only have a few cups."
Xiao Jin shook his head: "Third Brother, you’re too afraid of your Third Sister-in-law. You’re now the proper King of Southern Barbarians, yet you fear a woman like Third Sister-in-law. Do you know what people call her outside? They call her ’Mother Tiger’."
Xiao Yuan lightly slapped Xiao Jin: "Those people outside speak nonsense without understanding. You’re also speaking nonsense. Your Third Sister-in-law has been very caring towards you and Lao Liu. Her kindness is wasted."
Hearing this, Xiao Jin imdiately beca deflated.
The three of them rode to the city, and soon found a restaurant. Xiao Jin had the waiter lead them to a private room on the second floor.
Once seated, Dong Da called for two jars of wine, and Xiao Jin ordered a few dishes.
Soon, the food and drinks were set out, and Xiao Jin first poured a cup of wine for each of the three. He raised his cup and drank it all in one go.
"Great, satisfying."
Dong Da also downed a cup of wine.
Just like that, the two of them drank around a dozen cups without much delay.
Xiao Yuan occasionally joined in with a cup, drinking only two or three cups in total.
Xiao Jin, whose tolerance was not very good, beca sowhat intoxicated after a dozen cups.
Once drunk, his face turned red like a piece of red cloth, and his eyes beca misty.
He shook his head and grabbed Xiao Yuan’s hand: "Third Brother, I’m upset. My wife kicked out; she won’t let inside the house anymore. She doesn’t want ."
"Serves you right."
Xiao Yuan gritted his teeth and spat the words.
Dong Da laughed and downed another cup: "Mr. Four, if you ask , you brought this on yourself. Fourth Sister-in-law is such a good person, how could you treat her this way? It’s understandable that she’s upset. You’ve got a wife, a son, and a daughter; life is good for you. Unlike , I’m still all alone. I used to have a wife, but my wife..."
He drank another cup and began to cry: "I missed my wife. If she were alive, our life would be so wonderful now. I wouldn’t be leading troops into war anymore. I would return to our village with my wife. We’d cultivate ten acres of land, I would work hard, and the harvest would be enough for us. We’d have a few children, and I’d be content with my wife and children by my warm hearth..."
Dong Da cried for a while, then turned to Xiao Jin: "You’re the well-fed man who doesn’t know the hunger of a starving man. Your wife is so good, yet you still want to take a concubine. You’re just idle and bored."
Xiao Jin drank another cup: "I truly don’t understand. I’ve always treated her well, always consulted her on everything. I’ve let her make all the decisions at ho. Whatever she says goes, I’ve never opposed her. It’s just that earlier, I thought Bai i was beautiful and sensible, so I harbored so feelings. You know, aren’t we n like this? Back in Duke Ping Mansion, didn’t Father and Eldest all have concubines and chambermaids? It seed normal then."
Xiao Jin turned to ask Xiao Yuan: "Third Brother, what do you think they’re all thinking? I just wanted to take a concubine, not harm her. She’s still the rightful wife, and the concubine taken ho is to serve her. If she were disrespected, I wouldn’t allow it either."
Xiao Yuan was genuinely amused by Xiao Jin’s words.
He slapped Xiao Jin: "You’re muddled."
Xiao Jin was taken aback.
Xiao Yuan handed him a cup of tea: "Father and Eldest may have chambermaids and concubines, but think about it; if Father t trouble, would Old Madam risk her life for him? If Eldest encountered issues, would Mrs. Zhao put everything on the line for him? They wouldn’t. Now think again, if soone wanted to kill you, would your wife shield you from harm?"
Xiao Jin drank the tea and pondered for a while, then suddenly started crying: "She certainly would. Though she’s angry with and ignoring now, if I really were in trouble, she’d risk everything for ."
Xiao Yuan poured so more tea for Xiao Jin: "That’s because your wife has you in her heart. She loves you, cherishes you, feels she can’t do without you. That’s why she can’t accept another woman beside you. If she could truly tolerate another without quarrels, it ans she feels indifferent towards you, no longer cares. Your actions would an nothing to her, so she’d not bother you, and whoever you fool around with wouldn’t matter. Broad efforts would only annoy you."
Hearing this, Xiao Jin was lost in thought.
Xiao Yuan took a sip of water: "Everyone says your Third Sister-in-law manages well and that I fear my wife. But am I afraid of her? No, I respect and love her, unwilling to upset her. I’m aware she manages for my benefit, her heart entirely invested in . Without , she couldn’t live. You see, such a dedicated person towards , would I willingly let her down? Think about everything your Third Sister-in-law has done for and our family. Without her, would we brothers have what we have today? Mr. Four, as people, we must have conscience. We shouldn’t let our wives suffer when we’re down, and when we’re better off, ignore them and bring ho every temptation, disgusting our wives with concubines and chambermaids."
Dong Da was quite drunk by now too. He slamd the table, swayed as he stood up: "Third Young Master is right, absolutely right. If I ever find a woman who sees favorably, with eyes all on , I’d marry her imdiately and treat her well, risking my life for her kindness forever..."
User Comments
0 comments from readers