Chapter 55: Cousin
Jiang Family, at the dinner table.
Jiang Yihui took all the meat and piled it up in his bowl to eat.
Zhong Lanhua looked at him with indulgence and said, "Is it enough? If not, I’ll make more tomorrow."
Jiang Yihui’s expression improved a bit, and he mumbled a response.
Zhong Lanhua also picked some oily cabbage for him: "Eat more, you look so thin."
Jiang Yihuan took a bite of cabbage and placed it in Xiao Yanci’s bowl.
Today was different from usual; Xiao Yanci was also at the table. Now, Xiao Yanci had gained the favor of the teacher, and because of him, Jiang Yihui was exempt from tuition fees, which forced Zhong Lanhua to pay attention to the presence of this ’servant.’
Zhong Lanhua knew that Jiang Yihui was unhappy. A servant was riding over his head and was praised by the teacher as unparalleled, and she wouldn’t be happy either if she were in his place.
However, this time she couldn’t side with Jiang Yihui’s feelings. Firstly, the tuition exemption was something many scholars dreamed of achieving, and it would be a waste not to take advantage of it. Secondly, if Xiao Yanci truly had such skills and gained fame, wouldn’t she also benefit from having bought him? When he became successful, he would have to repay the family, wouldn’t he?
But how could she bind this person to them?
Her gaze rested on Jiang Yihuan, then looked at Xiao Yanci across the table.
Actually, it wasn’t difficult. Her daughter wasn’t stupid; she had managed to charm Xiao Yanci before, and seeing his potential for academic success now, she could only do better.
"Brother Xiao, I was thinking, to change your status, you’ll need an identity. Tomorrow, we’ll say you’re my nephew, how about it?"
Xiao Yanci looked gratefully at Zhong Lanhua: "Thank you, madam."
"I should be thanking you! In the future, you and Brother Hui should support each other, and he’ll have someone to speak for him. You’re talented, so you should teach him well."
"The young master’s skills are excellent; given time, he’ll surely achieve academic success." Xiao Yanci’s eyes flashed with disdain.
This fool probably couldn’t even pass the scholar exam, let alone become a scholar or advanced scholar.
Since this mother and son liked to hear flattering words, he might as well say them. If sweet talk could avoid trouble, he could persuade himself to deal with them.
"Huan’er, from now on, Xiao Ci is your cousin, go on, call him cousin." Zhong Lanhua hinted with a glance.
Jiang Yihuan looked shyly at Xiao Yanci: "Cousin."
Xiao Yanci’s heart softened.
He looked gently at Jiang Yihuan and called, "Cousin."
Since his downfall, he’d only met deceitful people; she was the only flawless jade in his life. Once he achieved fame, he would repay her.
Jiang Yihui put down his chopsticks and said coldly, "I’m done eating."
Saying this, he angrily went back to his room.
Zhong Lanhua looked helplessly at Jiang Yihui’s figure and said to Jiang Yihuan, "Put away your brother’s food, warm it up later, and bring it to him."
"Mother, if Brother doesn’t want to eat, then let him be. He already ate so much earlier; he’s probably full." Jiang Yihuan said.
"Your brother is a man and is still growing; how can he eat so little? I’m going to talk to Sister in law Li; you tidy up the room and chop some firewood." Zhong Lanhua said, swaying her hips proudly as she left.
Her son didn’t have to pay for tuition; wasn’t this something to brag about to the whole village? Raising a scholar in a farmer’s family wasn’t easy, and saving money on tuition meant they could live more comfortably. The important part was that this kind of convenient situation was exclusive to their family, not others; of course, she had to flaunt it.
"Brother Xiao, you’re amazing!" Jiang Yihuan said softly, "The teacher would rather waive your tuition just to teach you; this shows how talented you are. Brother Xiao, you must study hard, leave this small place soon, become an official, and rise above others, so no one can bully you."
"Huan’er, thank you," Xiao Yanci said warmly, "I won’t let you down. Once I achieve my status, I’ll surely repay your kindness."
"I haven’t done anything worthy of your gratitude. Once you become an official, you should strive for the people, be a good official who saves people from suffering."
"You’re so kind."
"You should eat more. My mother always dotes on Brother; as long as he’s home, all the good things go to him. Earlier, I didn’t dare to give you meat, only vegetables; please don’t mind."
"You’re too silly. You didn’t even get any for yourself but offered some to me. If your mother got angry, you’d be the one suffering. Don’t do that next time."
"It’s fine for me, I’m just a girl, born lowly, and I’m used to it. You’re different; you’re a man destined for great things."
"Who says you’re lowly? You’re the purest girl in the world, deserving of the best. Just wait, once I achieve fame, I’ll make sure you live a good life."
Jiang Yihuan shyly pursed her lips, "I’m not really your cousin, how can I be qualified to live a good life with you?"
Xiao Yanci felt a warmth in his heart, gazing intensely at Jiang Yihuan’s soft and charming face.
Xiao Yanci grew up surrounded by women, having seen all kinds of beauties. His family had even produced the top beauty of the Capital City, proving he wasn’t someone swayed by mere looks.
Jiang Yihuan’s beauty was a standout in the countryside, but in the Capital, such looks were commonplace, even among servant girls in various households. Someone like her wouldn’t even qualify as a bedroom maid in his previous mansion.
But Xiao Yanci wasn’t someone who valued beauty alone; he valued a person’s nature. In his eyes, Jiang Yihuan, with her innocence and purity, was truly the most beautiful.
"You are the most qualified to live a good life with me."
"Brother Xiao, you’re so good to me. Before you came, even though I had family, I always felt lonely. Since you arrived, my heart has been at ease."
Xiao Yanci’s gaze toward Jiang Yihuan became more tender and pained.
Thank goodness it was the Jiang Family who bought him, and not that shrew from the Su Family. If he had ended up with the Su Family, who knows how much he’d have suffered.
Besides, the Su Family bought men to be live-in sons-in-law. That village girl couldn’t compare to even a fingertip of Jiang Yihuan, and he’d rather bash his head against a column than be her husband.
Xiao Yanci could already envision himself gaining fame while the Su Family’s son-in-law repeatedly failed, draining their finances, ultimately leaving them to beg for a living.
"Achoo!" Su Yaoguang had just lain down when she suddenly sneezed.
"Let me take your pulse," Jiang Jing offered to check Su Yaoguang’s pulse.
"My nose just itched suddenly, maybe because we haven’t been to the city for too long, and Wang Shu is missing us! We’ll head into town once things calm down, and I’ll introduce you to Wang Shu." Su Yaoguang rubbed her nose.