RATMOFANF: Chapter 50

 Character Glossary

· Shen Jingxiu (沈静姝): The female protagonist, Li Ling's wife. The new matriarch of the Zhenguo Duke Manor.

· Shen Jinglan (沈静岚): Shen Jingxiu's younger sister (second小姐).

· Shen Jingxuan (沈静萱): Shen Jingxiu's youngest sister (third小姐).

· San Guniang (三姑娘): The Third Young Lady, Li Ling's younger sister.

· Li Ling (李陵): The Heir of Zhenguo Duke Manor. Shen Jingxiu's husband.

· Ziyun (紫云): Shen Jingxiu's chief personal maid.

· Danzhu (丹朱): Another of Jingxiu's maids.

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Chapter 50: It's Not Good to Dismiss Your Husband Like This

Shen Jinglan asked, "Is Brother-in-law not home?"

Jingxiu replied, "He's on duty at the camp."

Shen Jingxuan, eating fruit, said, "Sister, tomorrow is Father's birthday. Can you come home?"

Hearing Shen Jingxuan say this, Jingxiu remembered—tomorrow was indeed her father's birthday! She had been so busy lately, having just taken over the household, that she had truly forgotten.

It had been almost half a year since her three-day post-wedding return visit. Usually, being busy, she didn't have time to think about it, but suddenly hearing her sister mention it made her feel a strong urge to return home.

Jingxiu replied, "It's Father's birthday; of course I will go home."

Shen Jinglan asked, "Can Brother-in-law go too?"

Jingxiu said, "He's been busy lately. I'll ask him."

Just as they were talking, San Guniang came in from outside. Her voice reached them before she did: "Second Sister-in-law, I heard your sisters are here?"

Jingxiu stood up to greet her, smiling as she asked, "Shouldn't you be at the official school today?"

"School let out early today," she said, while looking towards the two young ladies in the room.

One looked about fifteen or sixteen, with a peach-blossom-like face, as slender as her second sister-in-law, but far less beautiful. The other was only twelve or thirteen, with large, dark, lively eyes, still a tender cucumber—hard to tell much now, but even when grown up, she definitely wouldn't be as pretty as her second sister-in-law.

Jingxiu took San Guniang's hand and introduced, "These are my second and third younger sisters from my maternal family." Then, to the two of them, she said, "This is your brother-in-law's own younger sister, the Third Young Lady of the manor."

The Shen Jinglan sisters smiled and greeted San Guniang, but San Guniang's expression was rather indifferent.

Jingxiu understood her sister-in-law's thoughts perfectly. San Guniang was feeling jealous of her two sisters again. She quickly warmly urged, "Sit down, please. What would you like to eat? I'll have Ziyun bring it."

Sure enough, San Guniang glanced at the Shen Jinglan sisters, then looked at Jingxiu and said mildly, "Since Second Sister-in-law's own sisters are here, I shouldn't disturb you. Don't trouble yourself. I'll be going now."

If she really didn't want to disturb, why did she come running over right after school?

Jingxiu genuinely cherished this straightforward and adorable sister-in-law,treating her no differently from her own blood sisters, and couldn't bear to see her feeling wronged.

Jingxiu pulled her over and said with a smile, "I haven't seen you for several days and was just thinking of you. Now that we're finally together today, won't you keep me company for a while?"

Hearing such considerate words from Jingxiu, San Guniang felt delighted inside. She glanced sideways at the Shen Jinglan sisters, still concealing her expression, and said bashfully, "I was afraid I'd interrupt Second Sister-in-law's time with your own sisters."

Seeing her like this, Jingxiu suppressed a laugh. "They are my sisters, but aren't you also my sister? It's a coincidence we're all together today. Stay here for dinner tonight."

San Guniang was secretly pleased but still hesitated for a moment before replying, "I can't bear to refuse Second Sister-in-law's kind offer. Then I'll stay and keep you company for the meal today."

Jingxiu instructed Ziyun, "Tell the small kitchen later to prepare the roasted squab that the Third Young Lady likes." Then, looking at the Shen Jinglan sisters, she added, "Also make a few dishes that these two sisters like."

Shen Jingxuan said naively to Ziyun, "Sister Ziyun, do you still remember what I like to eat?"

Ziyun smiled and replied, "Third Young Miss, you like braised pig's trotters the most. How could this servant forget? I'll go tell the small kitchen now. You must try the braised pig's trotters from our Zhenguo Duke Manor tonight; they're made so fragrantly."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Once the meal was served, Jingxiu invited her sister-in-law and two sisters to the table. After everyone was seated, Shen Jinglan looked towards the door and said, "Should we wait for Brother-in-law to come back to eat together?"

Jingxiu said, "He's been busy lately and won't be back until very late. Let's eat first. No need to wait for him."

Shen Jinglan said, "Yes, after winter begins, it gets dark earlier. We need to hurry back after the meal."

Hearing they would leave right after eating, San Guniang was truly happy.

So what if they were blood sisters? They still had to leave after one day. But she and Second Sister-in-law would be in this manor for a long, long time. They could see each other whenever they wanted, be as close as they wanted.

San Guniang was happy inside and couldn't hide it on her face. As she ate, she chattered incessantly to Jingxiu about this and that.

Shen Jinglan disapproved of her. Taking advantage of a gap in her conversation with Jingxiu, she shot her a fierce glare.

Shen Jingxuan, however, was simple and honest. At the table, she focused solely on gnawing the pig's trotter. After finishing most of one, she held up her two greasy little hands and praised, "The braised pig's trotters here are indeed more fragrant than the ones at our home."

By the time they finished dinner, the sun was setting in the west. Seeing the sky growing dark, Jingxiu couldn't keep her sisters any longer. She, along with San Guniang, saw the two sisters off to their carriage.

After seeing the Shen sisters off, as San Guniang walked back with Jingxiu, she casually asked, "Second Sister-in-law, have you heard of Liu Yunzhi from Jiangnan?"

Jingxiu asked, "Do you mean Liu Yunzhi, who comes from a Jiangnan scholar family, known as Liu Qilang (Seventh Young Master Liu)?"

San Guniang said excitedly, "Second Sister-in-law, you've heard of him!"

Jingxiu smiled faintly and replied, "There's a folk saying, 'Wherever there is a water well, people sing Liu's lyrics.' How could I not have heard of such a famously talented scholar from Jiangnan?"

San Guniang said mysteriously, "I heard that the official school might invite this Liu Qilang to come and teach."

San Guniang chattered incessantly to Jingxiu about this Liu Yunzhi until they reached the gate of Lán Yǎ Xuān. Only then did she reluctantly part with Jingxiu. Before leaving, she said to Jingxiu, "If Liu Qilang really comes to teach at the official school, I must ask him for a collection of his poems."

Returning to Qingfeng Yuan, Jingxiu took Danzhu to the small storeroom. The day after tomorrow was her father's birthday; she needed to carefully select a few decent gifts for him.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

She spent considerable effort choosing the gifts. By the time she left the small storeroom, the full moon had risen. She and Danzhu, carrying the selected gifts, had just returned to the room when they saw Ziyun entering from outside, holding a food box.

Jingxiu, focused on arranging the items for her father, asked without looking up, "Has the Heir returned?"

Ziyun replied sullenly, "He's back. He's busy in the study. I've already delivered the supper."

Hearing Ziyun's flat tone, Jingxiu looked up at her and asked, "What's wrong? Didn't he like the supper you brought?"

Ziyun muttered, "How could the Young Master not like it? I followed your instructions and told him you made it for him with your own hands. He was so happy he ate it all in one go."

Jingxiu lowered her head and resumed fiddling with the objects in her hands, saying mildly, "As long as he's happy."

Ziyun walked to Jingxiu's side, took the object from her hands, looked at her, and said, "Miss, this servant feels it's not good for you to be perfunctory with the Young Master like this. From what I've observed coldly, the Young Master treats you with true sincerity. Why must you still hold a grudge over that day's incident?"

Jingxiu picked up an inkstone meant for her father that was nearby and casually played with it, changing the subject. "Go and wrap all these things up. We need to take them when we go to my maternal home tomorrow."

(End of Chapter)

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