Chapter 118: Sister and Cousin (Three)

  Along the way, Yao Cunhui occasionally lifted a corner of the car curtain to take a look outside, then turned to Xie Fu Yun and Xu Wanting with a smile, asking where this was, what that was, what was good to eat, what was fun, and so on.

  Not in front of Mrs. Xie, how would Xu Wanting have the heart to talk to her? After a few words, she fell silent, thinking about how to find an opportunity to be alone with her cousin later.

  So in the carriage of three people, only Xie Fu Yun and Yao Cun Hui's non-stop conversation could be heard.

  They soon arrived at the Weaving Workshop, where Yao Cunhui and Xu Wanting followed Ye Fu Yun inside.

  Xu Wantong had been here many times and was already familiar with the place, but Yao Cunhui was a first-timer and found everything novel. She couldn't help but ask questions in a low voice from time to time, and Xie Fu Yun patiently smiled and explained things to her. Yao Cunhui felt like her horizons were broadening.

  There were hundreds of workers busy at each place, including washing, bleaching, weaving, dyeing and finishing. Except for the strict confidentiality of some processes in weaving and dyeing that did not allow outsiders to enter, the Xie's family happily agreed to Yao Cunhui's request to visit.

  Because he was busy with other things, he called his trusted steward to accompany Yao Cunhui together. Xu Wantong secretly rejoiced in her heart and thought that she had finally driven this annoying ghost away, so as not to interfere!

  Unexpectedly, Yao Cunhui grasped her hand and refused to let go, smiling as he pulled her along with him. Xu Wanting was so angry that she could have ascended to heaven and been reborn, but no matter how hard she tried to shake him off, he just smiled warmly and held on tight!

  Xu Wantong was no match for her in terms of strength, and it wasn't convenient to turn against her in front of everyone, so she could only leave with a huff.

  The Xie family's good fortune is a great joy in his heart.

  After a lap, Yao Cunhui was still full of enthusiasm, her eyes shining brightly. Xu Wanting usually followed behind Xie Fu Yun's body, mostly sitting in the house, where had she run to so many places and walked so many roads? She was a young lady from a wealthy family! Her legs were cramping, sweat dripping down her face, panting and shouting that she couldn't go on!

  Yao Cunhui couldn't help but smile secretly, and then kindly said to Xie Fu Yun: "Elder sister Wan'er is tired, let's head back to the manor first!"

  Xie Fu agreed and ordered someone to send them back safely.

  Yao Cunhui personally took Xu Wanzhu to the front of Mrs. Xie and Jiang, Mrs. Xie smiled and asked, Yao Cunhui smiled and replied one by one, saying that she had seen many rare things with her cousin Wanzhu in the weaving workshop, describing and drawing, the loom "so high, so big, so long", seeing what she had never seen before!

  Mrs. Xie had been to the weaving workshop before, and she was amused by them, laughing and saying: "You two are really something, you've walked through the entire weaving workshop in half a day! No wonder you're so tired! Hurry up and go rest, or your calves will ache tonight!"

  "It's all right, I don't feel tired at all!" Yao Cunhui smiled slightly, still full of energy and spirit. Her eyes shifted to see Xu Wanting looking a bit down, and she pretended to be surprised and apologetic: "Oh dear, I'm so sorry! I was too excited and ran a few more steps without thinking, and ended up tiring you out, Sister Wanting! I'm really sorry!"

  Xu Wantong was furious in her heart, but had no choice but to smile and say "It doesn't matter, it's nothing!"

  Yao Cunhui secretly rejoiced and returned to Yao Cunjia's place, while Xu Wantong also went back to her room to rest with the accompaniment of Jiang.

  Mrs. Xie's eyes flashed, and Yuanyuan's body seemed a bit too weak.

  "Look at you, how disheveled you look! I didn't know what to think, I thought you had traveled a hundred and eighty miles!" Jiang's wife helped her daughter sit down by the bed, ordering the young maid to bring water to attend to washing her face and feet.

  Xu Wantong frowned and said, "I'm all sweaty and sticky, it's unbearable. Tell the kitchen to prepare water, I want to take a bath!" Then she turned to Jiangshi and said, "Do you think I wanted to? That Yao Cunhui is probably some kind of monster, dragging me around everywhere. She doesn't get tired at all, my legs are almost broken!" As she spoke, she called for Zhuer to come over and massage her legs.

  "Who told you to go with her? Can't you say no?"

  "I'd like to! Someone's holding on and won't let go, can I fight with her? I've never seen anyone with such a thick face!" Xu Wanting didn't admit it but subconsciously acknowledged that even if she fought back, she wouldn't be able to beat the other person.

  Jiang glanced at her and fell silent, secretly worrying in her heart that this was probably a plot by the Xie family.

  Yesterday evening, everyone was there. Xie Fu Yun called Yao Cun Hui "Second Sister" with a warm and intimate smile in his eyes, but he called Wan Er "Cousin" with a polite yet distant tone, revealing the distinction between familiarity and estrangement.

  Jiang suddenly realized that Xie's family had never taken the initiative to be good to Yu'er, it was always Yu'er who clung to him, asking him for things, letting him take her out to play, and asking him for small favors. Although he had never refused, he seemed to have never taken the initiative either.

  But to this great lady, his doting is unreserved. Although a pregnant woman's body is precious and her husband is concerned, it doesn't mean that he has to hold her when she walks, hand her tea when she drinks, or serve her food when she eats. Can't the servants do these things? Why does he have to do them himself? What he values is clearly not just the child in her belly, but also her as a person!

  Jiang felt more and more despondent, letting out a long sigh.

  "What's wrong with you?" Xǔ Wǎnzhú scolded Yáo Cúnhuì while humming in pain, and glared at Jiāng Shì when she heard her sighing.

  "Wan'er, let's go home in two days!" Jiang said faintly.

  "No! You go back yourself!" Xǔ Wǎnzhú immediately refused.

  "So when will you move out?"

  Xu Wantong was suddenly speechless, how long would she have to stay? She also felt a bit at a loss. But, just like that, she couldn't bear to leave, and she didn't admit defeat!

  "Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner, we should go back home, what's the point of spending the festival here?"

  "What's wrong with that!" Xu Wanting didn't agree: "If others can spend the holiday here, why can't we?" Xu Wanting couldn't help but secretly think to herself. On Mid-Autumn Festival day, the three branches of the Xie family and Old Master would be gathering together for a reunion dinner. If she could make a good impression that day and gain Old Master's favor, with just one word from him, all obstacles would be cleared!

  Xu Wanting's head heated up, and she felt that this festival must be spent at the Xie residence. She resolutely said: "In any case, I won't go back with you. This festival, I must spend it here!"

  "Ah, you child—" Jiang couldn't think of what to say and sighed after a while: "Wan'er, Mom is asking you something true, listen carefully: if you and your cousin can't make it—“

  "Why not! It will work out, it must work out! It definitely will!" Xu Wanting couldn't care less about her sore legs, hearing Jiang's words stimulated her to almost jump up, in a rush her eyes turned red and she choked with sobs: "Mother, why are you also pouring cold water on me? You don't know how much I like my brother-in-law! How can you bear to do this, how can you bear to... Waaahhhh!"

  "Wan Er!" Jiang's heart ached as she hugged her daughter tightly, saying with difficulty: "But, but you also saw it, your older cousin and Eldest Madam..."

  "What a big nanny! I am the big nanny of the Xie family!" Xu Wanting snorted: "What qualifications does she, a merchant's daughter, have to be the big nanny of the Xie family? Brother-in-law is just anxious about the child in her belly! Humph, who can't give birth?! Wait until I get pregnant with brother-in-law's child, brother-in-law will definitely treat me better! He was already so good to me——"

  Xu Wantong's mouth grew hot with anger, and she wished she could immediately enter the Xie family's gate and climb onto Xie Fu Yun's bed.

  "Wan Er!" Jiang's heart sank, secretly thinking that she should find a good opportunity to have a thorough talk with Mrs. Xie. If the previous agreement was still valid, she couldn't wait any longer and had to let Wan Er enter the house as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary troubles; if the previous agreement was invalid, then she also couldn't wait, she wanted to take Wan Er away immediately and arrange a good marriage for her as soon as possible, her daughter couldn't be wasted on the Xie family.

  "Mother, you will help me, won't you? You must help me, right?" Xǔ Wǎnzhú suddenly lifted her head and gazed at Jiāng with eagerness.

  Jiang's nose slightly puckered, and she nodded: "Yes, Mother will help you."

  "I knew Mother was the best!" Xǔ Wǎnzhú smiled sweetly and snuggled into Jiāng's arms. Jiāng gently wrapped her arms around her, stroking her hair, with a deep sadness in her heart.

  In the evening, Xie Fu Yun returned and couldn't help but ask Yao Cun Hui about her thoughts on what she had seen today.

  Yao Cunhui smiled and joked: "After all, it's the government's money that can't be counted as a cost, everything is good, there's not even half a point to pick! And with sister-in-law and Xie Bobo taking care of things, where can you find anything bad?"

  Xie Fu's luck was not due to his big laugh, and the laughter revealed a few hints of complacency. He had known since he was sensible that he would be the next master of the Weaving Mansion, and having grown up following his father there since childhood, managing it came naturally. Yao Cunhui's words were somewhat flattering, but not entirely unfounded.

  "Is there really nothing wrong? Second sister, just say it and let me hear, I'm a magnanimous person!"

  Yao Cunhui's sisters couldn't help but burst out laughing, and Yao Cunjia also laughed: "Yes, Hui'er, your idea must be useful. If you don't say one or two things, your brother-in-law will have a sleepless night tonight!"

  Yao Cunhui thought for a moment with her head tilted, and smiled: "Those looms, I wonder if brother-in-law has considered improving them?"

  "Improve?" Xie Fu Yun was taken aback, then smiled and said: "Those machines are working fine, why do we need to improve them? The brocades, satins, and silks they weave are all top-notch and flawless!"

  Yao Cunhui smiled and said: "Brother-in-law's words are reasonable, I only ask brother-in-law one question, how does the current loom compare to those from a hundred years ago or two hundred years ago?"

  Xie Fu Yun smiled and said: "Does this still need to be said? Of course it's more advanced than back then!"

  "This is the truth! Society will always progress, new things will constantly surpass old ones, time will slowly pass by, and people in it will not even notice, but one day new things will replace old ones. If you don't move, others will, and when you realize it's too late. The world is vast, there are talented people everywhere, why not send someone to investigate or post a notice? Whoever invents new tools, new weaving methods, or new dyes can come forward to be rewarded, or if the news is correct, they can also be rewarded. This way, the textile industry will never fall behind, always leading the way, and will never be replaced! Brother-in-law can also encourage his subordinates to study and make contributions, can't he reward them?"

  Xie Fu's eyes flashed, and he unconsciously lowered his head to think deeply. Yao Cun Hui's words made him suddenly feel enlightened, and his heart surged with excitement!