Chapter 8: Setting the Stage – I Can Support You!

“Correct.” Jiang Qingshi nodded, not intending to hide anything from Lin Guilan. “I’ve been deliberately tolerant these days because I’ve figured out Yuan Shi’s temperament. The more I tolerate, the more her suspicious nature will lead her to believe I’m not being magnanimous but rather acting out of guilt, hence avoiding confrontation. The more this happens, the more impatient she becomes. And in the Jiang Family, no one is more suitable than Yuan Shi to be this powder keg.”

“But husband, you haven’t misappropriated the Jiang Family’s assets. Then where did father’s money…” Lin Guilan felt it improper to speak ill of elders, but seeing Jiang Qingshi’s encouraging gaze, she suddenly found courage. “Where did father’s money actually go?”

“Right, I didn’t use it.” Jiang Qingshi smiled faintly. “Guilan, do you remember after you married into the family, I told you to keep your dowry list safe and not flaunt your wealth before the Jiang Family?”

“Husband, I naturally remember.”

Though her dowry wasn’t particularly lavish, it was considered quite substantial in a small place like Fanjiazhuang. Though her brother was angry at her disobedience, what’s done was done. Since both her brother and sister-in-law had always doted on her, they provided a generous dowry, hoping she would live well in the Jiang Family.

But right after their marriage, her husband had told her to keep her dowry close and not reveal it to the Jiang Family. She had always trusted Jiang Qingshi’s words and naturally followed his advice carefully.

“But you’ve seen the situation in the Jiang Family. When you first married in, they frequently inquired about how much dowry you brought. This naturally couldn’t escape my father’s notice, but at the time I deliberately mentioned my deceased mother in front of him, hoping he wouldn’t disclose this matter to others. Perhaps due to some lingering guilt towards me over the years, he agreed. So other members of the Jiang Family don’t know my wife has a substantial dowry. The lamp oil and writing materials I use are all provided by my wife.” Jiang Qingshi’s tone turned cold when speaking of Old Master Jiang, only softening again when mentioning Lin Guilan. “With the county examinations approaching, I naturally need to burn the midnight oil, studying late into the night. When Yuan Shi sees this, she becomes uncomfortable. She must think father has been secretly supplementing me. Yuan Shi pays closest attention to such matters. Upon investigation, she discovered two items missing from father’s room. Someone like Yuan Shi would naturally not tolerate such things.”

“Then why are things actually missing from father’s room? And why is father being so secretive about it?”

Lin Guilan was no fool. Recalling Old Master Jiang’s unusual behavior, she grew increasingly concerned about the situation and looked worriedly at Jiang Qingshi.

Being straightforward by nature, she didn’t want to beat around the bush at this point and directly voiced the question in her heart.

“Could father have become involved with some courtesan and spent the money that way?”

“No.” Jiang Qingshi patted Lin Guilan’s shoulder. “He’s just become obsessed with cricket fighting. These little insects may seem insignificant, but many in the markets deliberately inflate cricket prices. Father has always been competitive and has spent considerable silver on this hobby.”

Lin Guilan breathed a sigh of relief. Though she didn’t know much about cricket fighting, she knew it had originated from the imperial palace and had become quite popular among commoners, particularly among nobles and officials who were fascinated by the sport.

Many people in the market would hold onto crickets with good qualities, waiting to sell them at high prices, driving up the cost to unbelievable levels… Lin Guilan felt this was not a good practice, but since nobles and aristocrats enjoyed it, she, as a mere woman, could not say much. And since the nobility delighted in it so, cricket fighting could hardly be considered a forbidden activity.

If her father-in-law were truly involved with a courtesan, and word got out, it would harm her husband and tarnish his reputation. Though they had already moved out, they were still nominally part of the Jiang Family and could not easily sever all ties.

Seeing Lin Guilan breathe a sigh of relief, Jiang Qingshi understood her thoughts. What he did not mention was that he was the one who had introduced Old Master Jiang to cricket fighting in the first place.

He knew Old Master Jiang’s temperament all too well—the man was exceedingly selfish and stubborn. Unless something threatened Old Master Jiang personally, he would never concede an inch.

Old Master Jiang believed the Jiang Family to be a prosperous and respectable household, almost wearing the family precepts like a crown to recite day and night. Moving out of the Jiang Family might seem simple, but actually achieving it was fraught with difficulties.

Given this, Jiang Qingshi decided to create some trouble for the Jiang Family, making Old Master Jiang so preoccupied with his own problems that he would willingly let them go, thus fulfilling Jiang Qingshi’s wishes.

But there was no need for Guilan to know any of this. Guilan was pure-hearted, and in her eyes, he should always remain upright and noble, like a pristine pine tree.

“So you seized this opportunity to have us move out of the Jiang Family.”

“Exactly. The Jiang Family is crowded and complicated, and neither of us was happy there.” Jiang Qingshi took Lin Guilan’s hand. “Though this place is humble, with the three of us together, I believe it is the best. But I made this decision without consulting you, my wife. You have every right to blame me.”

“No, no,” Lin Guilan shook her head vigorously. “Husband, I didn’t like the Jiang Family either. I am overjoyed that we could move out. And I know my own clumsy nature—if you had told me, I would never have been able to keep it a secret!”

“Guilan, don’t belittle yourself. You are clever and capable, the finest woman in this world.”

“Husband.” Lin Guilan flushed with embarrassment again. “You’re teasing me with such words.”

Jiang Qingshi smiled. “My wife, back in the Jiang Family, I could never study in peace. The county examination is next February. I don’t know if I have the fate to rise above my station, but I want to give it my all. I will have to rely on you to manage the household.”

“Husband, there’s no need to be so formal with me.”

Lin Guilan spoke hurriedly, then gazed at Jiang Qingshi, her eyes suddenly filled with tenderness. Perhaps it was because of all they had experienced together that day, but Jiang Qingshi felt even closer to her in her heart. Driven by some unknown courage, she mustered the words she had long wanted to say.

“Husband, I see you burning the midnight oil every day, exhausting your mind and spirit. Actually… you don’t need to work so hard. I’m not a vain person who must be a scholar’s wife… Husband, I am fully capable of supporting our family on my own.”

Jiang Qingshi was taken aback for a moment before he understood. He broke into a smile, reaching out to gently tap Lin Guilan’s delicate nose. “Silly Guilan, if others heard you say that, wouldn’t they say you’ve married a useless pretty face?”

“Why should I care what they say.” Lin Guilan wore an expression of complete indifference. “We live our own lives. I know my husband treats me well—what does it matter how capable their husbands are? Those men always speak harshly and show no consideration for their wives, only flaunting their authority outside. They’re clearly jealous of me—I married a handsome man who’s scholarly, knows how to cherish me, and cares for my feelings. As long as they don’t dare say it to my face, I don’t care at all! Even if they do confront me, it doesn’t matter—I’d love to have a good argument with them. I’ve been holding in some frustration from the Jiang Family lately with no outlet!”

Jiang Qingshi couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“What is it, husband? Did I say something wrong?”

Though Lin Guilan had begun to show more of her true nature, she still cared deeply about Jiang Qingshi’s opinion and remained constantly attentive to his reactions.

“You spoke excellently. I was just thinking how wonderfully amusing my Guilan is.” Jiang Qingshi then grew serious. “Guilan, though I study day and night, I don’t find it arduous. I’m not pursuing this path merely for fame and fortune. Though born into poverty, I refuse to remain insignificant—this path is my only means to achieve my aspirations. You and Miao Ge’er are the warmth within my reach, yet I also harbor greater, more distant ambitions. Those ambitions are like castles in the air—only by truly reaching them can I pluck the stars from the sky.”

Lin Guilan scratched her head, clearly not understanding what Jiang Qingshi was talking about. But since she couldn’t grasp it, she didn’t dwell on it. This time, she actively took Jiang Qingshi’s hand: “Husband, whatever you want to do, I’ll always support you! I know the Jiang Family has held you back all these years. They’re shortsighted—you’re the only literate one among them, yet the old man is so stingy he won’t buy you anything. Your two older brothers claim you’re worthless, but truthfully, they can’t stand to see you succeed. Whenever they see you reading or writing, they try everything to disrupt you! Husband, don’t be surprised—since marrying you, I’ve wanted to learn more about your past. I… gathered all this information by chatting with the neighbor aunties. Husband, though I don’t understand scholarly pursuits, I know it’s been incredibly hard for you. Auntie Li next door even said she often saw you as a child drawing characters with twigs on the ground… She never understood why you did that. None of them understand you, because they’re narrow-minded, content with their tiny plots of land. They don’t realize… what an extraordinary person you are!”

After this long speech, Lin Guilan’s cheeks were burning with shyness, but this time she ignored her embarrassment. She held Jiang Qingshi’s hand tightly: “Even if I don’t understand you, I’m willing to always stand behind you and support you. This is my lifelong promise!”

“Good, I understand my wife’s heart.”

Jiang Qingshi reached out and gently patted Lin Guilan’s head. Jiang Zhimiao, watching his parents’ tender moment, giggled happily.

“My mother was different from other women—she was literate, so she planted a seed in my heart since childhood.” Jiang Qingshi also opened up. “It’s just a pity she passed away early. Without my mother’s protection, life in the Jiang Family has always been difficult. Fortunately, I have my twin sister Jiang Yunxiu—we’ve always supported each other.”

“Though Mother passed away early and I never met her, she must have been a beautiful, intelligent, cultured and insightful woman. Just look at how elegant the names she gave you and Aunt are—unlike the rest of the Jiang Family with their ‘Civil General’ and ‘Military General’ names. When I first married into your family, I could barely contain my laughter upon hearing Jiang the Eldest and Jiang the Second.”

“Alas, fair flowers soon fade,” Jiang Qingshi sighed. “Father remarried without delay. After Feng Shi entered the household, Father became enamored with her methods—his favoritism goes without saying. All these years I’ve studied arduously alone. At first I merely hoped to broaden my horizons, but after reading more books, I learned that scholarly achievement could lead to great accomplishments, even influence the rise and fall of dynasties. My heart yearned for this, and I became determined to pursue this path no matter how difficult.”

“Husband, I’ve thought it through. Though my brother treats me well and provided a generous dowry, Miao Ge’er’s illness last year nearly drained our family savings. Our Lin family has always sustained itself by selling tofu. Starting tomorrow, I’ll tidy up and take Miao Ge’er to sell tofu on the streets. Though we still have some grain reserves, we can’t sit idle and consume them all. With my own hands and feet, I can surely make our little life prosperous—soon others will envy us!”

Jiang Qingshi pondered for a moment: “Wife, have you noticed how many wealthy households have emerged in Xichun Town these past two years?”

Author’s note:

Miao Ge’er: My mom is awesome~