RATMOFANF: Chapter 99

 Glossary

·Li Ling (李陵): The Male Lead, Shen Jingxiu's husband.

·Shen Jingxiu (沈静姝): The Female Lead.

·Shen De'an (沈德安): Shen Jingxiu's father.

·Shen Xing (沈兴): Shen Jingxiu's younger brother.

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

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

·Wang-shi (王氏): Shen Jingxiu's stepmother.

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Chapter 99: A Visit to Jingxiu's Parental Home

Before Li Ling and Jingxiu departed for the Southern Commandery, they not only went to the Princess Manor to bid farewell to his mother but also paid a visit to the Shen residence.

Although Jingxiu's birth mother had passed away many years ago, Shen De'an had always maintained close ties with her maternal family.

In earlier years, when the roads were clear, Shen De'an would make the arduous journey almost annually to visit his in-laws.

Since Jingxiu had this rare opportunity to return with Li Ling, she naturally had to inform her father.

During the family dinner at the Shen residence, when Shen De'an heard his eldest daughter would be accompanying his son-in-law back to her maternal hometown, he too felt concern. Since the nearby five cities had fallen, that route had become extremely difficult to travel.

Though Shen De'an also constantly thought of his in-laws, he remained uneasy about his eldest daughter undertaking such a long and arduous journey. He couldn't help but advise, "Perhaps it would be better to have your husband visit your maternal grandparents on your behalf when he passes through the region. I am uneasy about you going along. The journey is exceedingly difficult."

Before Jingxiu could respond, Li Ling agreed with his father-in-law. "I've advised her the same, but Jingxiu simply won't listen."

Jingxiu had worked so hard to persuade Li Ling and secure this opportunity. She hadn't expected her father to raise the same objections. Under the table, she gently kicked Li Ling, signaling him to be quiet.

Li Ling, catching the sharp look his wife shot him, fell silent. However, Shen De'an continued to urge, "The roads are treacherous, and the weather is cold now. You really shouldn't go."

Though Li Ling agreed with his father-in-law, he dared not voice it again under his wife's formidable glare. He could only cast meaningful glances at Shen De'an, indicating his support for the older man's wise decision.

It wasn't until he caught another sharp look from his wife that Li Ling reluctantly closed his mouth, not daring to make any further subtle gestures.

Jingxiu replied to her father, "Please don't worry, Father. I will be careful. Besides, with my husband there, he will take good care of me."

As she spoke, Jingxiu glanced at Li Ling, her sharp little look forcing him to state his position.

Li Ling had no choice but to agree against his better judgment. "Your son-in-law will take good care of Jingxiu. Please don't worry, Father-in-law. Let her come along."

Before Shen De'an could speak, Shen Xing, who was seated nearby, said, "Since Elder Brother-in-law is going, he will surely ensure Elder Sister's safety. Father, you need not worry so much."

Shen De'an replied, "I'm only afraid the journey will be too hard, and your brother-in-law might not be able to look after everything. I also worry she might become a burden to him."

Shen Xing said with a smile, "Brother-in-law is a great general who protects the realm's people. Can he not protect one elder sister? Please set your mind at ease, Father."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Shen Jingxuan, sitting nearby, rapped her younger brother on the head and said to everyone with a playful laugh, "As soon as Brother-in-law came in, he secretly gave this kid a big red envelope. See? It won him over. His mouth is as sweet as honey now."

Jingxiu hadn't known about Li Ling giving her brother a red envelope. Hearing her third sister's words, she couldn't help but look at Li Ling beside her.

Shen Jinglan, hearing this, also looked at Li Ling and teased with a laugh, "Brother-in-law is so biased. We're both your younger sisters-in-law, so why did you only give one to Xing'er and not us?" As she spoke, she reached past her elder sister toward Li Ling, exclaiming, "I want one too! I want one too!"

When her brother had received the red envelope from their brother-in-law, Shen Jingxuan had stolen a glance. It contained a one-thousand-tael banknote! Such a generous gift naturally made one's mouth water.

Though Shen Jingxuan also coveted her brother's red envelope, she felt somewhat intimidated by this stern brother-in-law. She didn't dare to join her second sister's impudence and could only look at her brother-in-law with eager eyes, hoping to hitch a ride on her second sister's coattails.

Faced with Shen Jinglan's coquettish pleas, Li Ling merely smiled faintly and replied, "Ask your sister for it. She manages all the banknotes."

Seeing Li Ling's indifferent expression, Shen Jinglan wisely pulled her hand back. Seizing a moment, she leaned close to her elder sister's ear and whispered, "Did I annoy Brother-in-law?"

Jingxiu knew her second sister was naturally lively and didn't blame her. She patted her sister's hand reassuringly. "Your brother-in-law has a cold temperament and generally doesn't care for playful banter. It's not directed at you. Don't take it to heart."

Shen Jinglan let out a slight sigh of relief, glancing at Li Ling. "That's good. I thought he was angry with me."

Having passed this New Year, Shen Jinglan was now also sixteen. Seeing his second daughter still lacking in dignity and poise, Shen De'an said with mild annoyance, "You're so grown now. How can you still be so lacking in propriety?"

Wang-shi, seated nearby, urged, "Our son-in-law is not an outsider. We're all family. Why must you make Lan'er feel so constrained?"

Hearing her mother, Shen Jinglan muttered, "Exactly. Brother-in-law isn't an outsider."

Seeing her parents and sister becoming displeased, Jingxiu quickly changed the subject to smooth things over. "Did you all go to see the lanterns on Lantern Festival night?"

Shen Jingxuan replied cheerfully, "Of course we went! Except for Father, who doesn't care for crowds, Mother, Second Sister, Xing'er, and I all went."

Shen Xing added, "This year was somewhat more interesting than last year. At least that grand crystal lantern was finally won by someone. Unlike last year, with seas of people, in the end, no one managed to take the top prize."

Mentioning last year's Lantern Festival, Shen Jinglan looked at Jingxiu beside her. "Elder Sister, do you remember what happened during the Lantern Festival three years ago?"

"Three years ago at the Lantern Festival?" Jingxiu turned her head, puzzled. "Was there something special?"

Shen Jinglan secretly pointed at Li Ling beside her elder sister and whispered in Jingxiu's ear, "We saw Brother-in-law that year. Don't you remember?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Though Shen Jinglan's voice was soft, Li Ling had sharp ears. Hearing this, he turned his head to look at his wife.

See! Even your sister remembers this, yet you forgot it completely.

Feeling guilty, Jingxiu gave Li Ling an appeasing smile, picked up the wine jug, and refilled his cup. "Husband, have some wine, have some wine."

Before the couple left, Wang-shi brought over two jars of fragrant tea and said to Jingxiu, "Eldest Young Lady, these were newly brought over from our hometown before the New Year at the Master's request. Knowing you love this tea, the Master specifically instructed they be kept for you."

Jingxiu accepted the tea with a smile. "Thank you, Father and Mother, for remembering I love this."

On the way back, when Jingxiu learned Li Ling had given her brother a one-thousand-tael banknote, she asked in astonishment, "He's just a child. Why did you give him so much silver?"

Li Ling replied, "Now that Xing'er is attending the official school, he's surrounded by the sons of prominent families. Having a bit more silver in his pocket is never wrong."

Jingxiu retorted, "What's the point of competing in extravagance? Focusing on his studies is what's proper."

Of course, excelling in studies was important. But children had their pride too. If he saw his classmates spending money freely while he himself was short of funds, it would inevitably hurt his self-esteem.

And a man's pride—could that be allowed to be hurt?

Li Ling didn't argue with his wife. He just replied nonchalantly, "This is a matter between men. You should interfere less."

Seeing him relapse into his chauvinistic ways, Jingxiu went straight for his ear, pinching it hard. Through gritted teeth, she said, "If I don't keep you in check for three days, you start climbing onto the roof to tear off tiles, is that it?"

Li Ling covered his ear, his mouth refusing to yield. "Don't you dare act so arrogantly with me whenever you feel like it. Just wait until we get back and see how I deal with you."

Jingxiu let go of him, shot him a reproachful look, and complained, "You didn't even tell me you were giving Xing'er such a large banknote. And what about my two younger sisters? You've put me in a very awkward position."

Li Ling glanced at his wife. "During the New Year season, surely you knew you should have prepared red envelopes for them?"

Jingxiu sighed. "I did prepare them. It's just that compared to what you gave my brother, it seems I gave rather little."

Li Ling asked, "How much did you give them?"

Jingxiu held up five fingers toward Li Ling. Li Ling looked at her and guessed, "Five hundred taels?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Jingxiu said slowly, "Five taels."

Li Ling said, astonished, "You, as an elder sister, are truly too stingy."

Comparing five taels to one thousand, Li Ling truly couldn't imagine the letdown the two younger sisters-in-law must have felt upon opening their red envelopes.

Jingxiu explained, "Before I married, whenever New Year came, Father would give us about that much. I was just following the old custom."

Five taels of silver—for an official's family like the Shens, that was enough for about half a month's food and drink. It was actually quite a substantial amount.

She shot Li Ling a reproachful look. "Our minor family truly can't compare with a noble young master like you, can it?"

Li Ling drew his wife closer and teased, "It's good that you have this awareness. Therefore, from now on, you should be obedient in front of me."

"Best of all, go back to how you were just after we married, keeping your eyes lowered and attending to me all day, serving me comfortably. That would be perfect."

Hearing this, Jingxiu couldn't resist going for Li Ling's ear again, giving it a hard pinch.

(End of Chapter)

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