Against the Current - Chapter 123

Chapter 123 - Visiting as Guests (Part 3)

Xianglan was slightly startled, but she pretended not to hear and deliberately steered the conversation to something else with Xia's second sister-in-law. Seeing that Xianglan ignored her, Xia's third sister grew somewhat anxious, tugging at Xianglan's sleeve as she said, "I'm telling you, those hairpins and clasps of yours are pretty too!"

Xianglan nodded and said, "Thank you for the compliment."

Xia's third sister asked, "Then why aren't you giving me one?"

Xia's second sister-in-law reached out and slapped Xia's third sister twice, scolding, "Wretched girl! You've completely embarrassed us!"

Xia's third sister immediately felt deeply aggrieved, opening her mouth with the intent to cry.

Xianglan hurriedly comforted her, saying, "Forget it, forget it, Xia second sister-in-law, don't scold her."

After lecturing Xia's third sister a few more times, Xia's second sister-in-law put on a smile and said to Xianglan, "This wretched girl has never seen the world, so please don't be angry, Sister... Ah, and it's also a pity that at such a tender age, she hasn't even worn a single copper hairpin. Sister is such a generous and wealthy person—why don't you just give her one?"

Xianglan was dumbfounded, feeling that even after living two lifetimes, she had never encountered such a person. Before she could even reply, Xia's second sister-in-law quickly gave Xia's third sister a yank and said, "She's going to give you a hairpin, so why aren't you thanking your Chen family sister quickly?"

Xia's third sister cast her grievances aside and said crisply, "Thank you, Chen family sister!" With that, she once more stared with wide, longing eyes at Xianglan's hair.

Xianglan said nothing, merely offering a faint, cold smile.

Terrified that Xianglan might refuse to give it, Xia's second sister-in-law hastened to say, "Chen family sister, you are a kind-hearted and well-off person—surely you can pity your little sister for never having worn anything nice? It's just a hairpin; do you really care about such a tiny, insignificant thing?"

Xianglan sneered, "I never knew there were people in this world who begged others for things in quite this manner. I am certainly no easy mark to be taken advantage of." With that, she ignored them entirely, walked straight over to Madam Xue's side, and picked up the kettle to add water.

Glaring fiercely, Xia's third sister said, "What does she mean? I already thanked her—is she going to give me the hairpin or not?" She made a motion as if to throw a tantrum again.

Giving her a sharp pinch, Xia's second sister-in-law hissed, "You instant-retribution wretch, shut your mouth at once!"

Having always stood in awe of Xia's second sister-in-law's long-established authority, Xia's third sister instantly lost her nerve and dared not utter another sound.

By this time, Madam Jin had already praised Xia Yun from head to toe, declaring, "Ever since he was little, a fortune-teller told me that our little third one is a heavenly constellation descended to earth, destined to become a high-ranking government minister in the future. He also said I am a woman of immense good fortune, and that future generations of glory and wealth will be inexhaustible for me to enjoy. I didn't believe it at first, but now I see every single word has come true!"

Finding it all intensely irritating, Madam Xue used the excuse of telling Xianglan to refill the tea to interrupt, saying, "Elder Sister, have a sip of tea before you go on."

Paying her no heed whatsoever, Madam Jin continued her endless stream of chatter: "The county magistrate himself appreciates our little third one. I heard he regrets it so much he's ready to bash his head against a wall just hearing that my son is still unmarried, saying that if he had known there was such a talented and handsome provincial graduate, he wouldn't have betrothed his own daughter off so early. Tsk, tsk, but if you ask me, even if the magistrate's daughter hadn't been betrothed, our little third one might not have deigned to look at her! Tomorrow when our young scholar passes the metropolitan examination and becomes a jinshi, he will be a genuine, high-ranking official. Therefore, in choosing a bride, she must firstly be gifted in both talent and beauty, and secondly come from a wealthy and prominent household. If any ordinary person wants to step foot into our Xia family as a daughter-in-law—bah! Not a chance in hell!"

Before her voice had even faded, Xia's second sister-in-law jumped in to echo her: "That's right, ordinary folks certainly won't do! If I may be so brazen, I actually think Xianglan is a wonderful match for our little third one—they're practically a match made in heaven, aren't they?"

Madam Xue hurriedly laughed and said, "Our Little Lan wouldn't dare to climb so high; we'll just be content finding a solid, honest farmer for her in the future. Young Scholar Xia is bound to soar to great heights and achieve brilliant success, so he ought to pick a bride from among a hundred candidates. I should think that not only the magistrate's daughter, but even the emperor's daughter could be married by him."

Hearing this, Madam Jin felt completely gratified. She covered her mouth and giggled for a spell before saying, "Sister Xue is right; your girl's temperament is a bit too sharp—only by finding someone honest and good-tempered will anyone be able to tolerate her!"

Madam Xue and Xianglan exchanged a glance, both turning their faces away as though they hadn't heard a thing, and looked out the window.

Xia's second sister-in-law frowned slightly and opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing.

The three members of the Xia family finally departed after partaking of the midday meal at the Chen household. Once they had stepped out through the gates and were walking slowly back, Xia's second sister-in-law asked, "Mother, did you catch the drift of the Chen family's attitude today?"

Madam Jin started slightly and asked, "What drift?"

Xia's second sister-in-law replied, "Their Xianglan is turning sixteen soon, and our little third one is eighteen or nineteen this year—what kind of drift do you think there is?"

Madam Jin instantly furrowed her brows and snapped, "No! Absolutely not! A toad trying to eat swan meat, sheer wishful thinking! That damned little hussy deserves to have her mouth rot and sprout sores; she's so arrogant she even has wrinkles on her face, acting just like a double-crossing vixen. She makes me so furious I want to slap her a few times!"

Xia's second sister-in-law chuckled and said, "My dear mother, why are you being so closed-minded? If you ask me, if the Chen family is willing, we should be overjoyed! The Chen family is so wealthy that even their window paper is made of five-colored gauze—a single bolt of that costs as much as a bundle of fine linen. Look at their food, clothing, and everyday furnishings; every single item surpasses ours by two or three levels. Chen Wanquan knows how to appraise antiques; who knows how many good things he has hidden away! The Chen family has no son, and all those old relatives of theirs never visit anymore. Whoever marries Xianglan—wouldn't a family fortune like this end up falling into his lap?"

At the thought of the Chen family's house and furnishings, Madam Jin felt her heart leap with sudden temptation, but a moment later she shook her head and retorted, "Our little third one is a provincial graduate now; what kind of wealthy family's daughter can't he find? Just the other day, a matchmaker was telling me about the pastry shop manager's daughter!"

Xia's second sister-in-law continued, "Mother doesn't realize this, but this Chen Xianglan has another distinct advantage. She knows how to paint, and nowadays a single painting of hers is worth dozens of taels of silver! Whoever marries her is holding a hen that lays golden eggs; Mother must know how to calculate this account."

Madam Jin was startled. "Dozens of taels of silver? Really or falsely?"

Xia's second sister-in-law said, "Everyone is saying so. Although she claims she doesn't know how to paint herself, I'd wager eight or nine times out of ten it's her."

Both envious and jealous, Madam Jin clicked her tongue and exclaimed, "My goodness, dozens of taels of silver? That's practically making a fortune! No wonder the Chen family is as wealthy as this!"

Xia's second sister-in-law agreed, "Indeed. Little third works himself half-dead in the yamen and only brings home three or four taels of silver a month—how can that compare? Mother has been trying to arrange a marriage for little third these days, but upper-class families think we're poor, while lower-class ones aren't to our liking. There are a few middle-class ones, but little third either thinks their daughter is too fat or too ugly; not a single one satisfies him. I've noticed he keeps hanging around Chen Wanquan, and when I secretly sounded him out, he acted all evasive, as if he fancied their girl."

Frowning, Madam Jin said, "It's just that this girl's temper..."

Xia's second sister-in-law sneered, "Hah, once she marries into our family, she'll have to submit to her mother-in-law's molding. If you ask me, we should treat such a money-making grandmother like an icon to be worshipped; a single painting from her is enough to cover our whole family's food and drink for a year!" Privately, however, she thought to herself, The Chen girl seems like a generous sort—she gave away such a fine flower ornament just like that. Today it was only because third sister pressed her too aggressively for it that she turned hostile; if she is coaxed properly in the future, who knows how many good things we might be able to squeeze out of her.

The more Madam Jin thought about it, the more tempted she became. Halting in her tracks, she turned around to head back, but Xia's second sister-in-law quickly grabbed her arm and asked, "Hey, hey, Mother, where are you going?"

Madam Jin said, "I'm going straight back to talk to Chen Wanquan's wife about this."

Sighing, Xia's second sister-in-law said, "Let's wait a couple of days, Mother. You offended them with what you said today; it's a miracle if they agree to anything right now."

Glaring fiercely, Madam Jin retorted, "If our family is willing to agree, that would be burning high incense on the Chen family's ancestral graves! Why wouldn't they agree!" She then grumbled at Xia's second sister-in-law, "Since the Chen family has all these benefits, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Rolling her eyes, Xia's second sister-in-law thought to herself, I didn't know you, old bag, would start putting on airs the moment you gained a little face and offend them right off the bat! Aloud, however, she apologized with a smile, "It was just my oversight."

Muttering to herself, Madam Jin said, "I'll have to ask around later. If her painting really can earn that much silver, then we'll just have to let little third suffer a little grievance—later on, if we find good ones, we can get him a few more concubines."

Though Xia's second sister-in-law agreed verbally, she was deeply unconvinced in her heart. By the time they reached their doorstep, Madam Jin went inside first, while Xia's second sister-in-law turned back to see Xia's third sister standing before the water vat in the courtyard, admiring her reflection and posing with the flower ornament atop her head. Xia's second sister-in-law marched over, grabbed the flower straight from Xia's third sister's head, and yanked it off.

Taken aback, Xia's third sister rushed forward to grab it back, crying out, "My flower! My flower!"

With furrowed brows and hands on her hips, Xia's second sister-in-law snapped, "Whose flower? Keeping such a fine thing with you is just a waste; I'll keep it for you!"

As Xia's third sister opened her mouth to wail, Xia's second sister-in-law pinched her cheek and hissed, "Cry, cry! All you know is crying! If you dare to make a single sound, I'll give you something to remember!"

Xia's third sister had been raised by Xia's second sister-in-law since childhood and had suffered no end of beatings and scoldings. Furthermore, Xia's second sister-in-law had a silver tongue that won Madam Jin's favor; whenever Xia's third sister went to complain, Xia's second sister-in-law always had plenty of ways to punish her afterward. Terrified out of her wits, Xia's third sister dared not make a fuss anymore and could only swallow her grievances and go off to cry in private.

Seeing that Xia's third sister had obediently gone inside, Xia's second sister-in-law heaved a sigh of relief. She walked over to the water vat, stuck the flower into her own hair bun, examined herself from left to right, decided she looked quite beautiful, and hummed a little tune as she returned to her room.

Meanwhile, when Chen Wanquan returned home that afternoon, Madam Xue recounted everything that had happened from beginning to end. Furrowing her brow, she said, "What kind of chaotic rabble are this lot? I reckon even old Mrs. Lü's family from back then gave us less heart-ache than the Xia family. If you dare to betroth Little Lan to a family like this, I'll hang myself or cut my throat this very instant to make a clean break of it!"

Being naturally opportunistic, Chen Wanquan heard that the Xia family was still in straitened circumstances, which instantly halved the benefits of Xia Yun passing the imperial exams and becoming an official. He frowned and said, "I thought young Scholar Xia was an exceptional fellow; who knew his entire family was of this sort? Forget it, if it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be. We can just look around for another family."

For a time, all was quiet.

A couple of days later, Madam Jin came to the Chen household once more. This time, she had lowered her pride, plastered a hundred-and-tenth percent smile on her face, and praised Xianglan without stop. Madam Xue merely nodded in response without engaging very deeply. When Madam Jin came again after that, no matter how loudly she called out at the gate, the Chen family simply ignored her entirely. Inwardly harboring resentment, Madam Jin was reluctant to let go, so she discussed the matter with Xia's second sister-in-law, planning to entrust a familiar matchmaker to go and sound out their intentions.

Before this plan could come to fruition, however, an incident occurred.