111 – The Hapless Lei Xiangli

“Everyone in the village knows that you are kind to your servants and employees.” Chen San’s wife had a firmer smile on her face and a softer voice, “I heard that your servants are given meat every month; they’re better than some villagers.”

Qin Mian didn’t admit to her words and just smiled.

“Uncle Chen, does this mean you agreed? I’ll let you know when the winery starts operating.”

“All right, all right.” Uncle Chen rubbed his hands and smiled.

After Qin Mian and Lei Tie left, a few villagers went to Chen San to inquiry about the news.

The two passed by the tofu workshop on the way back. In actuality, the workshop was based on the opened window in the back room of a house. Tofu, dried tofu, fried tofu, and so on were placed there where the passers-by could see.

Qin Mian saw the lady owner of the tofu workshop brought out a plate of freshly-made tofu, “I haven’t eaten tofu for a long time.”

The lady owner cheerfully said, “Then buy 2 jin to bring home. It’s delicious whether pan-fry, deep-fry, or boil!”

Qin Mian walked over and inquiringly said to Lei Tie, “Buy 2 jin of tofu and 2 jin of dried tofu?”

Lei Tie took off the pouch hanging on his belt.

The lady owner chuckled at Qin Mian with a significant meaning.

Qin Mian kept a straight face, utterly calm.

The lady owner skillfully cut the tofu and weighed the dried tofu, “Accurate 2 jin of tofu. 2 jin and 2 liang of dried tofu, count as 2 jin. The total is 7 Wen.”

Lei Tie took out seven copper coins and put them on the counter. He picked up the packaged tofu and dried tofu. These actions made the lady owner smiled with goodwill.

“Be careful on your way.”

The owner of the tofu workshop came out of the room, rubbing his stomach with a drowsy look, “I’m starving. Why haven’t you cook?”

“Eat, eat, and eat. You only want to eat all day!” The lady owner’s slender finger stabbed on his forehead with bitterness, “You look at how good Lei Tie treats his wife, not even letting his wife hold things. And you? Your wife is a delicate and charming woman, but you don’t know how to cherish it!”

The owner avoided her hand. He looked at her thick waist and fat buttocks, and then chuckled, “Delicate and charming? I don’t see it.”

“What did you say?” The lady owner put her hands on her hips as her apricot eyes¹ glared.

“N-nothing.” The owner suddenly withered and said with a dry laugh, “You’re delicate and charming. Are you going to cook?”

“Humph!”

Qin Mian raised his eyebrow and stared at Lei tie. Lei Tie looked steadily forward, being ignorant.

Qin Mian couldn’t help laughing. He heard the conversation behind him and didn’t believe that Lei Tie didn’t hear it.

Today, there was no wind at all. The hot sunlight shone down made the wilting leaves on the trees shining with a golden radiance. The ground was scorching hot, appearing as if smoke could come out from it.

The cicadas were chirring tirelessly amid the leaves; one sound was higher than the other.

Qin Mian’s face was scorched by the sun. He quickened his paces, “Let’s eat cold dishes and pot-stewed dish for lunch.”

Lei Tie walked on his right side, blocking part of the sun, “Pot-stewed beef is good.”

Qin Mian’s heart was softened, how could he disagree? He held the man’s big palm and pulled him to go home quickly, “I’ll make you a dish of pot-stewed beef, and then a dish of red-cooked beef.”

After entering the courtyard gate, Lei-Qin Yuan informed them that Lei Xiangzhi and Lei Chuntao were here.

Qin Mian remembered that Qingyun Academy was on holiday at the end of the month. He ordered Lei-Qin Yuan to pick a few peaches and send them over.

Lei Chuntao and Lei Xiangzhi stood in the shade of the maple trees as they chatted.

“Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law.”

Qin Mian pushed the door open. “The door is not locked, why didn’t you go in and sit down? Come in.”

“Feeling the blow of the wind outside is also good.” Lei Xiangzhi and Lei Chuntao followed in. This was a polite remark. There was no one at home, how could they go in at will?

Lei Tie went to the kitchen and put the dishes away.

“A-Tie, soak the tofu in water and sprinkle some salt,” Qin Mian told him.

From inside, Lei Tie asked, “How much salt?”

“Just a handful.”

Aunt Quan quickly came over and put the washed and cut fruits on the table. “Fifth-gongzi, miss, please enjoy the fruits.”

Lei Chuntao said thanks. She was in a very melancholy spirit. Meanwhile, there were shadows hidden in Lei Xiangzhi’s eyes.

Qin Mian first went to change to straw sandals. After handing them two plates of fruit, he sat down at the table, shook his palm-leaf fan, and asked, “Why are you looking so sad?”

“Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law. It’s too noisy at home. We went out for fresh air.” Lei Chuntao took the fruit plate and sighed. She secretly looked at her eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law. Their clothes were very strange, but it gave her a kind of free and leisurely feeling, making her very envious.

“What kind of noisy?” Qin Mian casually asked.

Lei Chuntao was a person who couldn’t hide her words, “Mother and Fourth Brother. Mother wants Fourth Brother to marry Second (maternal) Cousin² of Eldest (maternal) Uncle’s family. But Fourth Brother didn’t want to, so they quarreled. Second Cousin, she–– I really don’t understand what Mother is thinking!” When she said this, her expression had a trace of disgust toward Du Shi.

Of course, the ‘Eldest Uncle’ she spoke of was not the same person as Lei Tie’s Eldest Uncle, but Du Shi’s eldest brother.

Qin Mian truly sympathized with Lei Xiangli. He took a look at the calm Lei Xiangzhi and lightly said, “You don’t understand it, but your fifth brother should understand.”

Lei Chuntao looked at Lei Xiangzhi in surprise and asked, “Fifth Brother, why is Mother doing this?”

Lei Xiangzhi was not necessarily willing to talk about Du Shi’s fault in front of him and Lei Tie, so Qin Mian was ready to change the subject.

Lei Xiangzhi sighed and opened his mouth. His voice was calm, “It’s related to Fourth Brother wanting to separate. Mother worried that Fourth Brother… be at odds with her, so… ”

Lei Chuntao scrunched up her nose, “What? For this reason, Mother wants Fourth Brother to marry Second Cousin? Although Second Cousin is beautiful, she is spoiled and lazy. It’s harmful to Fourth Brother to marry her! Mother is overthinking. Fourth Brother is her son, how can he be at odds with her?”

Lei Xiangzhi bitterly smiled. He also wanted to know what his mother was thinking. Not only she forced Eldest Brother away, but did she also want to force her own son away?

“Mother is only in discordance for a while. I’ll persuade her.” He profoundly said, “If we let the Second Cousin marry in, she’ll ruin Fourth Brother.”

Qin Mian did not make any comment.

With head lowered, Lei Tie cut fruits for his wife, appearing as if he didn’t hear the dialogue between Lei Xiangzhi and Lei Chuntao.

At this time, Lei Chuntao was in the mood to eat the fruits.

Lei Xiangzhi put aside his negative emotions, “Eldest Sister-in-law, I have another thing to talk about today. Some of my schoolmates want to buy fruits from Leisurely Farmhouse. I told them that the fruits of Leisurely Farmhouse are not for sale, but they insist that I ask you again. So, I’m asking them for them.”

“Those students have a good relationship with you, right? However, since the business of Double Xiang House is getting better and better, the daily picked peaches are basically sent to Double Xiang House. Even your eldest brother and I seldom eat it.” Qin Mian was a little embarrassed, “How about this: I’ll spare some for them before the fruits stop yielding in the eighth month. But the price is not low.” Everyone knew that the fruits of Leisurely Farmhouse were expensive, but these students still wanted to buy them. It could be seen that these students were rich people who wouldn’t care about the price.

Lei Xiangzhi knew that Eldest Sister-in-law was doing it for the sake of his honor. He said with a smile, “Many thanks, Eldest Sister-in-law. They said the price is not a problem.”

Qin Mian softly nodded.

Lei Xiangzhi fished out a scroll from his sleeve pocket. “Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law. This is a recent painting of mine. If you think it’s good, you can hang it at home.”

Qin Mian took the scroll and unfurled it. It was a painting of a fraction of Leisurely Farmhouse. The hue was bright and colorful and the strokes were vivid. The butterfly on the flower looked lifelike as if it was about to fly out of the painting.

“Good painting!” Qin Mian praised, “Why isn’t there an autograph? When Fifth Brother becomes the Number One Scholar, this painting will increase in value.”

Lei Xiangzhi’s face was slightly red, and his eyes looked confident and contented. “I’m very grateful for Eldest Sister-in-law to think highly of me. I will try my best.”

Lei Tie fetched the Four Treasures of the Study, and Lei Xiangzhi filled in his autograph. Qin Mian hung the painting in the living room.

“It’s rare for you two to come here, would you like to have lunch here?” Qin Mian said.

Lei Chuntao repeatedly nodded, “Eldest Sister-in-law has a good culinary skill, so this little sister won’t stand on ceremonies.”

Lei Xiangzhi cupped his hands in obeisance to Qin Mian, “We’re troubling Eldest Sister-in-law.”

Qin Mian got up, “A-Tie, you go to the garden to pick some vegetables.”

Lei Xiangzhi and Lei Chuntao also stood up.

“We’ll go with Eldest Brother.”

“Sure, you can pick whatever you like to eat. A-Tie, you pick a pumpkin.” Qin Mian found two baskets and gave them to Lei Xiangzhi and Lei Chuntao.

“En.”

In the garden, there were eggplant, cucumber, green pepper, white gourd, potato, loofah, bitter gourd, tomato, pumpkin, lettuce, chives, and whatever one would need. The cucumbers were long and green, and the tomatoes were like red lanterns… All the vegetables were full of vitality. Lei Chuntao thought that a pair of eyes was not enough to see it all.

“Look, Fifth Brother. The vegetables in Eldest Sister-in-law’s garden are so good that they don’t even have a hole caused by worms.”

Lei Xiangzhi looked around and nodded with approval, “I think so, too. Otherwise, the business of Double Xiang House will not be so prosperous.”

Lei Tie picked a big pumpkin and held it in one hand. “I’ll go back first. Pick whatever you like to eat.”

“Thank you, Eldest Brother.” Lei Chuntao flew over like a yellow butterfly and picked her favorite tomato first.

At home, Qin Mian first made dried tofu slices, pot-stewed beef, and stir-mixed preserved egg with tofu. When Lei Tie came back with the pumpkin, Qian Mian boiled the pumpkin and prepared to make pumpkin pies. It was not yet noon, so there was plenty of time.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, we are back.” Lei Chuntao’s spry voice arrived as she came in first.

Lei Xiangzhi carried the two baskets, walking at the back.

“Eldest Sister-in-law has already cooked three dishes?” Lei Chuntao looked at the table and shyly said, “We picked too many vegetables.”

Qin Mian looked at the vegetables in the two baskets, “It’s alright. Since it’s something you like, eat more later. Sit down for a while. If you’re hungry, eat some fruit.”

Lei Chuntao was about to help when she saw Lei Tie carrying the two baskets and following Qin Mian into the kitchen, so she sat back.

After making a pumpkin pie, Qin Mian made red-cooked beef, beef soup with tomato, hot and sour vermicelli, chives omelet, stir-fried pork with cucumber, and sour and spicy shredded potatoes. In addition to the pumpkin pie, there were a total of ten dishes, comparable to the Lunar New Year’s meal.

Lei Chuntao and Lei Xiangzhi helped to bring the dishes to the table.

“Smells good.” Lei Chuntao praised with a smile.

“Awoo.”

White Spot’s voice came from the door. Qin Mian noticed that Lei Xiangli was standing outside the door, looking blank. It was unknown how long he had been standing there.

Standing behind him, Lei-Qin Yuan quickly stepped forward. “Please forgive your servant, Eldest Young Master, Little Young Master. Your servant had wanted to report…”

Lei Xiangli hurriedly said, “Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law. I didn’t let him report. I was going to stand for a while and leave.”

Qin Mian motioned Lei-Qin Yuan to withdraw and said, “Fourth Brother, why don’t you come in?”

Lei Xiangli rubbed his face and walked in, a tired expression remained on his face. He was embarrassed, “Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law. I didn’t want to stay at home, but I didn’t know where I could go. I just walked and ended up here…”

Qin Mian sympathetically patted him on the shoulder, “Have you eaten yet?”

Lei Xiangli shook his head as he said, “No.”

Lei Tie went to the kitchen to get a pair of chopsticks and a bowl.

“Many thanks, Eldest Brother.” Lei Xiangli sat down beside Lei Chuntao.

“Fourth Brother, are you alright?” Lei Chuntao asked in a low voice.

“I’m fine.” Lei Xiangli silently sighed.

Qin Mian motioned, “Let’s eat.”

Lei Tie first gave his wife dried tofu slices before he started to eat. Qin Mian gave Lei Tie pot-stewed beef.

Lei Xiangli, Lei Xiangzhi, and Lei Chuntao were all stunned for a moment. Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law’s movements were extremely natural, they obviously had done it so many times. This was a real home where the whole family be kind and loved each other. Unlike in their home, everyone ate fast at mealtime, afraid to eat less than others. Sometimes, they even fought for food. There was not a trace of a family’s warmth.

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Footnotes