After arresting three criminals in a single afternoon and then drinking with Yan Pu at an entertainment house, Jia Huan returned to the mansion toward evening.
"Brother Huan, the young mistress wants you to come over."
Pretty Ping'er had been chatting and joking with Concubine Zhao in her room. Seeing Jia Huan return from the office, she rose to greet him.
"All right," Jia Huan replied.
Before he even entered the courtyard, he heard Wang Xifeng's drawn-out voice:
"You used to come running here so eagerly to pay your respects, calling me sister-in-law this and sister-in-law that. Now there's not even a shadow of you to be seen!"
The stunning young married woman walked out, her hair laden with pearls and jade, her figure lush and shapely, her phoenix eyes casting him a sidelong glance.
Jia Huan chuckled. "I've been busy with official duties. Please don't hold it against me, sister-in-law."
"Knowing you're making something of yourself puts my heart at ease." Wang Xifeng made no attempt to beat around the bush and went straight to the point:
"Brother Huan, the Eastern Mansion came to me about transferring those three shops you sealed up to me for three thousand taels of silver. I've asked around-they bring in five thousand taels a year. Give your sister-in-law your word and have those seals torn off."
Hearing this, Jia Huan immediately grew angry and rebuked her:
"Sister-in-law, has the grease of profit clogged your senses? You'll haul in anything rotten or stinking, without a thought for dirtying your hands!"
Wang Xifeng looked astonished. Then a sense of grievance welled up, and her fiery temper flared, her willow brows bristling:
"You heartless Brother Huan! Whenever people in this mansion mocked and scolded you, I was always the one protecting you. Now I say a few words, and you fly into a rage without so much as a pleasant look for me."
Under her glare, Jia Huan could hardly conceal his anger. He said heavily:
"Those three shops' accounts are riddled with holes. They've evaded business taxes for five straight years, maliciously seized other people's property, forced people to sell cheaply and buy dear. What do you want them for? They'll dirty your hands!"
"After all, it only takes a word from me. If you insist on having the shops, I won't make you lose face-I can have the seals torn off right now. But from then on, sister-in-law, your place in my heart will be nothing like what it was!"
"Oh, oh, oh! What are you shouting like that for?" Wang Xifeng's shrill voice softened too, though she pressed her lips together and protested loudly:
"How was I to know about all that filth? Fine, I don't want them!"
Jia Huan did not believe her:
"What good could those two craven turtles, father and son in the Eastern Mansion, ever do? You've always been shrewd, sister-in-law. You could have guessed how filthy those three shops were."
Standing beside them, Ping'er looked puzzled too.
The young mistress loved money, but when Brother Huan offered her precious jadeite, she had refused it stubbornly and only agreed to keep it for him after he nearly smashed it. By rights, she should not have asked for those three shops and needlessly angered him.
Anger colored Wang Xifeng's cheeks:
"A maid from the Eastern Mansion secretly told me that the pair curse you all day long. At the Daoist Nun's urging, they've even made paper figures to put a curse on you. I thought I'd quietly get the three shops from you and return them to the Eastern Mansion to soothe their resentment. You're all members of the Jia family, after all. As your elder clansman, why should Master Zhen stoop so low as to fight a younger relative to the bitter end?"
Then she scolded him resentfully:
"Don't think I asked for the shops out of greed. This is the first time you've shouted at me, and you've shouted all my good intentions into resentment."
Warmth stirred in Jia Huan's heart, and he said gently:
"Thank you for caring, sister-in-law."
"As for those two in the Eastern Mansion, let them do what they like. If curses with paper figures worked, they'd have rotted in their graves long ago. They'd better behave themselves and leave me alone, or they shouldn't blame me for throwing caution to the wind and disregarding family ties!"
Wang Xifeng's anger had not subsided. Frost veiled her alluring face as she snapped:
"Brother Huan, you were just taking jabs at me, openly and otherwise. You thought I was raking in money without distinguishing good from bad, didn't you?"
Jia Huan explained, "I was only worried you'd taint yourself with that foul business."
"Enough. Go back!" Wang Xifeng flicked her sleeve to dismiss him. "You've made something of yourself now. You don't need a woman's concern. I really did meddle and talk too much!"
Ping'er lowered her head without speaking. The young mistress did not look truly angry; rather, she seemed deeply hurt that Brother Huan had misunderstood her...
Jia Huan hastily said:
"Sister-in-law, I was just hoping to ask for your help. When I wiped out those mountain bandits recently, I seized a large sum of gold, silver, and jewels. Leaving it stored at the government office isn't a solution. I'd like you to invest it in properties and businesses for me, and I'll give you half the yearly proceeds."
Wang Xifeng snorted. "Don't come to me. I haven't got such great abilities. Just hire an accountant."
Jia Huan stepped forward and said from the bottom of his heart:
"How could an outsider be as trustworthy as you, sister-in-law? If you were a man, with your ability to manage affairs, even vice minister of revenue would be beneath you. You'd have to be the one at the helm of the Ministry of Revenue."
"Pah, pah!"
Wang Xifeng spat softly twice, but a smile finally appeared on her cheeks. Pointing at him, she scolded:
"I ought to tear that mouth of yours apart! All you do is spout nonsense and give outsiders something to laugh at!"
Yet his words had touched her heart. If she were a man, she would long since have sought a position at court and spread her wings. Why would she linger in the women's quarters, fussing all day over chicken feathers and garlic skins?
That was why she admired Brother Huan more and more. A real man ought to have ambition and venture out to make his mark!
"Since you trust me, just bring it over," Wang Xifeng agreed.
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Jia Huan nodded.
"Watch out for those two in the Eastern Mansion!" Wang Xifeng did not forget to warn him.
"I know." Jia Huan took his leave.
Watching his retreating back, Ping'er hesitated, then finally said cautiously:
"Young mistress, is it really proper for you to buy properties and businesses for Brother Huan?"
"What's improper about it?" Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes at her. "Are you worried I'll pocket Brother Huan's money? If I, Wang Xifeng, ever sank to such a despicable state, I'd have hanged myself long ago!"
"No..." Ping'er shook her head and said quietly:
"Brother Huan is a grown man now. He needn't ask you for help with everything. Outsiders might wag their tongues, and buying properties and businesses is a major affair..."
"Nonsense! You wretched little hussy, what wild ideas have you been entertaining?" Wang Xifeng caught her wrist and dragged her into the room, poking her forehead as she berated her:
"Ever since I married into Rongguo Mansion, Brother Huan has come to me every few days for spending money, and whenever he was wronged, he came to me for protection. Now that he's made something of himself, he thinks of me a little more in everything he does. If anyone dares gossip, I'll slap their mouths in public!"
Ping'er pouted. "Brother Huan doesn't look at you the way he used to!"
"I've watched carefully. Before, it was the fear and respect a junior has for an elder. Now he keeps looking at... looking at your face, young mistress. Sometimes he even looks at your figure. There's more admiration in his eyes."
Wang Xifeng's expression shifted slightly, and she countered:
"Brother Huan admires my ability to manage the entire household."
"It's clearly a man's admiration for a woman," Ping'er muttered.
"Insolence!" Yet Wang Xifeng lowered her voice. "You're the maid I brought with me when I married. It's one thing to joke with me, but if you dare spout this nonsense to anyone else, I'll cut out that rotten tongue of yours."
"I know what's at stake." Ping'er nodded. This was only private talk in the bedchamber.
With the young mistress's shrewdness and keen perception, she must have noticed Brother Huan's gaze. Who could escape those discerning eyes of hers?
Wang Xifeng pinched her ear and warned:
"Listen carefully. Brother Huan feels nothing but respect for me!"
"Yes..." Ping'er pulled away in pain, but could not help feeling worried.
First he gave her precious jadeite, and now he was asking the young mistress to manage his properties. Perhaps she had misunderstood, and Brother Huan was merely repaying kindness with gratitude.
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