Chapter 117: Sister and Cousin (Two)

  Because Yao Cun Hui said that, Yao Cun Jia's heart also slightly alleviated the lingering fear. If it were really a dangerous matter, her sister would not have called herself to do it! This point, she had always believed.

  "He -" Xie Fu Yun was wronged, a big man like him, when did he get associated with the word "startled", and only his dear wife could say something like that!

  "Ah, brother-in-law, I have something to give you. Let me go get it!" Yao Cunhui said, returning to the room and soon came back with a scroll in hand, handing it over to Xie Fuyuan with a smile: "Brother-in-law, sister, take a look!"

  Xie Fu Yun and Yao Cun Jia looked at it together, only to see that the inside was painted with one piece after another of floral patterns, all of which were fresh styles that had never been seen before.

  "I thought that since my brother-in-law is in charge of the weaving workshop, he must be interested in flower patterns. These are what I saw in Southeast Asia and drew according to my own ideas. Brother-in-law, take a look and see if they can be useful for your weaving workshop."

  "Hui'er is really clever! I didn't expect you to draw such a good hand-painted pattern, sister should have asked for your help earlier!" Yao Cun Jia sighed.

  "Sister's hands are much more skilled than mine, these few strokes are not enough for sister to see!" Yao Cunhui smiled with a pursed mouth. In her previous life as a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, sketching was a must-learn skill, and she had drawn countless medicinal plants.

  "Thanks to Second Sister for thinking of this, it's really... " Xie Fu's emotions were very complicated, and he could only sigh in admiration. He had dealings with Westerners, Southeast Asians, and Northeast Asians, and also had interactions with big merchants who came and went from these places. However, he had never thought of gaining anything from them. Unexpectedly, Second Sister had only gone to Southeast Asia once, but she had thought of so much!

  "Second sister, thank you so much! Hehe, I was really confused, and it never occurred to me that the weaving workshop could borrow from foreign patterns. The palace has been pressing us for new designs every year, which is a real headache. You've shown us a way out!" Xie Fu Yun's eyes sparkled with delight as she smiled.

  "Really? Brother-in-law helped me so much, I just lent a hand, no need to be polite!" Yao Cunhui was also very happy and paused before saying: "However, the various patterns and designs from foreign countries are like ours, some of which contain many implied meanings. When brother-in-law uses them, it's best to send someone to check, lest he offends some taboo and gets into trouble!"

  The royal family is not the most particular about taboos, right? As long as they are involved in this, even a tiny mistake can be like a prairie fire that burns down the entire family. The imperial envoy handling the case can conveniently throw all nine clans of relatives who don't even recognize each other into prison so everyone can get to know each other!

  It's not afraid of ten thousand, but afraid of one in ten thousand. If someone deliberately finds fault, it's indeed unavoidable to guard against.

  Xie's family has been in this line for generations, and their understanding of this point is deeply ingrained. The Xie estate's operation is naturally the same. As soon as he got these patterns from Yao Cunhui, his mind immediately made connections. However, it's rare to find someone like Yao Cunhui who can think so comprehensively and meticulously.

  Xie Fu couldn't help but laugh, and grasped Yao Cun Jia's hand, smiling at the two sisters: "Second sister, if you weren't a woman, you'd definitely be hired as the manager of Xie family's weaving workshop with a high salary, and we would treat you well!"

  Yao Cunhui smiled awkwardly and said: "Brother-in-law, you're being too serious. If I really accepted your invitation, brother-in-law would definitely be shouting 'I've been cheated'!"

  Xie Fu smiled and suddenly asked: "The idea of buying land in Lake Township and going out to sea to buy rice, were they both your ideas, Second Sister?"

  Yao Cunhui's eyes widened in surprise, and in that moment of hesitation, Xie Fu had already spoken up, laughing and saying: "Second sister is truly a heroine among women!"

  "Is that so?" Yao Cun Jia was taken aback, and also laughed: "I said Dad is such a cautious person, how would he suddenly assign such an important task to Hui Er!" It turned out that he had already witnessed her abilities and only then felt at ease.

  "Hui'er, now sister can rest assured!" Yao Cun's face lit up with a warm smile, it seems that her younger sister really has the ability to stand firm in the Yao family!

  "Sister!" Yao Cunhui understood that her sister's words were meant to reassure her, and she was deeply moved for a moment. Apart from her sister, who else in the world cared about her so much?

  Dinner was also used at Mrs. Xie's place.

  Yao Cunhui followed her sister and brother-in-law to Xie's place, where Xu Wanting came out with a smile to greet them. She was extremely warm and enthusiastic towards Yao Cunjia and her sister, showing an extremely friendly attitude and kindness, as if the events of that afternoon had never happened at all.

  Yao Cunhui smiled brightly on the surface, but in her heart, she was secretly wondering: Was this person taking the wrong medicine? Or did he have some ulterior motive? Could it be that she dared to play tricks in front of Mrs. Xie and Mr. Xie?

  Later, inadvertently catching a glimpse of Mrs. Xie smiling and looking at Xu Wanting with a satisfied and relieved gaze, Yao Cunhui suddenly realized: This is for Mrs. Xie to see!

  Yao Cunhui couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding: this person was two-faced and had a close relationship with Mrs. Xie, as well as a deep affection that went back to childhood. If she really entered the Xie household, wouldn't it be easy for her to stir up trouble in the future? Her sister's character was open and honest, a bright and sunny person - how could she possibly be a match for her? And as for her brother-in-law, being a man, how could he always be mindful of the affairs of the inner courtyard? They had to think of a way to make her completely give up on this idea.

  The atmosphere at the dinner table was very good, and a meal was eaten with great satisfaction. After dinner, as usual, they sat in the flower hall to drink tea and digest their food.

  Xu Wantong glanced at Yao Cunhui and suddenly smiled coquettishly at Mrs. Xie, saying: "Aunt, I also want to move to Yuhua Hall to live with my sister-in-law and Hui cousin every day!"

  Jiang was startled, "Nonsense!" Yu Huatang is the courtyard of Xie Fu Yun's husband and wife, and Xu Wanting and Xie Fu Yun have such a relationship. In the future, she will marry and move in, which is reasonable. Now moving in would lead to gossip! In the future, when she marries into the family, she will also be looked down upon! How could she be so foolish!

  Yao Cunhui was a guest, and at this time it wasn't his place to interrupt, so Yao Cunjia exchanged a glance with Xie Fuyuan, waiting to see what Mrs. Xie would say.

  "How can Hui's sister stay and I'm not allowed to?! Brother-in-law and sister-in-law are obviously biased!" Xǔ Yuànzhú had made up her mind, pouting and acting spoiled.

  "Wan'er, you misunderstood," Yao Cun Jia hurriedly said with a smile: "It's not that kind of thing, Hui'er doesn't understand anything, I have to keep an eye on her myself before I can feel at ease, how could I be biased?"

  "You can only take care of one, your sister-in-law is enough, how can you afford to add another one? Cousin, you'd better stay with your aunt - isn't the guest room uncomfortable? Just ask the housekeeper to change it for you!" said Xie Fu Yun.

  "It's all right, it's all right! Don't mind her, she doesn't understand things. Don't bother with her, sir and madam!" Jiang Shi hastily smiled and cast a reproachful glance at Xu Wanyu.

  "I'm already so big, I don't need to be taken care of by my cousin's wife! I can take care of myself, and what's more, I can also help my cousin's wife take care of Hui. Besides, aren't there also the maids?" Xǔ Yuànzhú muttered to herself.

  Xu Wanting thought the opposite of Jiang's words. For some reason, she always felt that Xie Fu Yun was very concerned about Yao Cun Jia, and she had a faint sense of panic and unease, as if her brother-in-law was getting farther and farther away from her. What reputation, what honor, none of it mattered anymore, only by moving into Ruhua Hall could she have the opportunity to get close to him, could she have the chance to turn uncooked rice into cooked rice.

  "Impossible!" The color of Xie Fu Yun's face turned slightly cold, and he said lightly: "You are a guest, how can you take care of my second sister? If this gets out, others will laugh at me, the Xie family!"

  "Older male cousin!"

  "Stop messing around!"

  "Wan Er!" Jiang's voice was stern as she could no longer remain seated.

  Xu Wanting's eyes were brimming with tears, and she cast a wronged glance at Mrs. Xie, but didn't notice that the luck of the Xie family was also staring at Mrs. Xie with wide eyes.

  "Alright, Wan'er," Mrs. Xie finally said with a smile: "You get along well with your cousin and Hui'er, so just go over there more often during the day, why do you need to move in? Your cousin is pregnant and it's not convenient to take care of two people! Listen to me!"

  "Then, I was thinking of going to the weaving workshop with my cousin tomorrow, is that okay?" Xu Wanting didn't dare disobey Mrs. Xie's will and said reluctantly: "I've been there with my cousin before, I just want to go out and clear my mind!"

  Mrs. Xie sighed softly and looked towards the fortune of the Xie family estate.

  Xie Fu nodded after a moment of hesitation, "Alright, I'll take you there tomorrow."

  "Really!"

  "Uh-huh."

  Xu Wantong's eyes swept over Yao Cunjia and her sister with a hint of pride, the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

  But the next day, she couldn't get up. Because Xie Fu not only took her there, but also took Yao Cunhui with him.

  This morning, Xu Wanting got up early and dressed carefully. She wore a light golden and pink embroidered jacket with a crimson silk undergarment, a pink embroidered hundred-pleat skirt, and had her hair styled in a half-moon shape with a gold filigree inlaid pearl plum blossom hairpin inserted at an angle. She also wore a jade drop earring, a pearl necklace, and carefully painted her eyebrows and lips red. A faint blush of rouge appeared on her pale cheeks, and she lightly powdered herself with delicate and fragrant powder, making herself look lovelier than ever, radiant and dazzling.

  Then, supporting the arm of her maid girl Zhen'er, she came to Yuhua Hall and waited for Ye Fu Yun to go out together. She wanted everyone to see how well-matched she and her cousin were! She wanted to leave a lifelong unforgettable back view for Yao Cun Jia, the back view of her and her cousin walking side by side!

  But when Yao Cunhui appeared beside Xie Yun, all of Xu Wanting's beautiful fantasies burst like soap bubbles!

  "This is——" Xu Wanting's eyes widened in shock, her face revealing unhidden surprise.

  "Wan Er's older sister!" Yao Cun Hui smiled secretly in her heart, and on her face, she piled up even more smiles, saying: "Your brother-in-law is afraid you'll be bored, so he specially asked me to go with you as your companion!"

  "Really? Haha!" Xǔ Wǎnzhú forced a smile, her mood hitting rock bottom.

  "Don't be naughty, don't disturb your brother-in-law, got it?" Yao Cun Jia sent him to the door and pinched Yao Cun Hui's hand.

  "Sister, I know!" Yao Cunhui's small mouth pouted.

  "Jia'er, you can go back, I'll take care of my second sister!" Xie Fu Yun smiled. Last night, Xu Wen Zhu mentioned it and he agreed, because he really wanted to take the opportunity to bring Yao Cun Hui over, who knows, maybe his second sister could give him some good ideas!

  The three of them got on the horse-drawn carriage together, and with a rumbling sound, it rolled away.