Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1118 - 483: Marital Discord (Part 2)
In mid-November, Yueyao received the New Year’s gifts sent back by Mingzhu from Suzhou. Besides the gifts, everyone received an individual present.
Yueyao’s gift was embroidery. Holding the exquisite embroidery, Yueyao exclaimed, "I always thought my embroidery skills were decent, but after seeing this today, I realize I’ve been like a frog in a well."
Xiang Wei’s gift was Biluochun tea. She was a bit disappointed, "Biluochun, I see? If only they were hairy crabs. I heard the hairy crabs from Kunshan, Suzhou, are large and plump, with green shells and white bellies, golden claws, and yellow fur. The meat is rich, and the ten limbs are nimble, making them exceptionally delicious."
Yueyao laughed and said, "When we go there in a couple of years, you can eat to your heart’s content." These hairy crabs are indeed tasty, but given the distance, even if Mingzhu wanted to send them, they’d become dead crabs by the time they reached the Capital City.
Xiang Wei was very much looking forward to the trip to Jiangnan, "The flavorful snacks of Jiangnan are famous worldwide, when I get there, I intend to eat my fill."
The majority of Mingzhu’s gifts were sent to Kexin, which included exquisite brocade and jewelry. Although the jewelry wasn’t particularly valuable, each piece was very delicate and appropriate for Kexin’s age.
After seeing Mingzhu’s gifts, Xiang Wei remarked, "They say a Magistrate who has been clean for three years saves ten thousand taels of snow silver. Niu Yanghui has served two terms in Suzhou; surely his family’s wealth must be solidified. Ugh, why is it that An Zhichen has been in the Northwest for so long, and apart from a few letters, hasn’t sent anything back yet?" Besides New Year’s gifts, Mingzhu also sent gifts during Mid-Autumn. An Zhichen, on the other hand, had not sent anything back.
Yueyao, caught between laughter and tears, said, "Men aren’t like women; there’s no comparison here." Although An Zhichen didn’t send objects back, he did send silver notes. In terms of practicality, silver notes are more worthwhile. Sending objects such a long distance, the shipping cost itself is quite significant.
Xiang Wei was most disdainful of Yueyao’s practicality in this regard, "What do you mean by saving shipping costs? Haven’t you wasted so much sending things to the Northwest? Even though the Northwest isn’t as good as Jiangnan, they have plenty of furs over there. Didn’t he think to send back some furs for your household to make clothes?"
Yueyao chose not to argue with Xiang Wei; the more they argued, the more Xiang Wei would persist, "Pick what you like, the rest should be stored away. The New Year is approaching, and there’s so much work to be done."
In the afternoon, Yueyao received news that Tingzheng was back. Tingzheng had actually gone to Haikou this time, but for what purpose, Yueyao didn’t know, nor did she ask.
By twilight, Tingzheng had come to visit Yueyao and the five nephews.
Brother Shengsheng and his two siblings were now quite articulate; Kexin coached them to call Tingzheng "uncle," to which all three simultaneously responded, "Uncle..." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Tingzheng was very fond of his nephews and gave them the gifts he had brought. Yueyao did not stop him.
After the children received their gifts, they left, and only then did Yueyao frown and say, "What’s happened now? Only four months have passed, and you’ve lost so much weight?"
Tingzheng laughed, "It’s nothing, I’ll recover with some care." Tingzheng’s visit brought another matter to discuss with Yueyao; he wanted to be posted externally.
Yueyao thought an external posting was rather good, "Has the Ninth Prince agreed?" Without the Ninth Prince’s consent, any hope would be in vain.
Tingzheng nodded, "I mentioned my intentions to the Ninth Prince, and he agreed. However, finding a suitable vacancy isn’t easy; it will take some time for the external posting to be realized." During this period, Tingzheng had pondered a lot—his thoughts caused him discomfort but also made him acutely aware that if he continued to stay in the Capital City, people might well perceive him as living off a woman.
Yueyao wasn’t aware of Tingzheng’s inner turmoil; she simply believed an external posting is quite beneficial and character-building, "Your wife is pregnant, you should wait until she’s given birth before going—it won’t be too late then."
Tingzheng thought of what Ma Peng had said, and his heart was filled with bitterness, "Sis, it was my fault that day. Had I not invited you over, you wouldn’t have suffered such embarrassment. Sis, it won’t happen again." The elder cousin’s reprimand was justified; it’s his own incompetence that caused his sister such grievances.
Yueyao smiled gently, "With your words, I am content. Go back early then, and come over for a meal when you’re next on leave." Yueyao may not favor Madam Lin, but, as a pregnant woman, Yueyao couldn’t possibly engage in disputes with her.
The intuition of women is quite sharp, and Lin Qinghan quickly sensed Tingzheng growing distant. Within a few days, Lin Qinghan’s heart was troubled, and she cried to Lady Lin, "Mother, do you think he has someone on the side? He’s been back for ten days, and every night he’s stayed in the study. When I go to look for him, he barely speaks to me."
