Qi Zhenzhen could somewhat understand Qi Yi's feelings. Boys generally admired their fathers. Even though he wasn't living in the Marquis's mansion now, he must have fantasized about how he would interact with that nominal father if he were to return.
"Brother Yi, your sister isn't speaking ill of Father. Although you are young, you are sensible. Think about it yourself, and ponder the logic behind it. In the Marquis's mansion, the Old Madam, Father, and the Madam were the masters. If they banished Mother and us to the estate, and only the Madam agreed to this, do you think it could have happened?" Qi Zhenzhen analyzed it for him bit by bit. "Clearly, it's impossible. Because although the Madam is a master, she is ultimately an outsider. In the Changping Marquis's mansion, the true person in charge is the Old Madam and Father."
Qi Yi's small face turned a little pale. Clearly, the reality was different from what he had imagined.
"Let's take a step back. Because the Madam's family is powerful, Father and Grandmother had to compromise. But they could have sent people to follow us secretly. Yet, what kind of life did Mother live on the estate back then? You were too young to remember clearly, but Eldest Sister remembers clearly. Mother had to do laundry and cook for the estate manager's family. They even mocked Mother, and the food they gave us was spoiled. Mother was also a pampered young lady before, how could she have done such things? But even so, Mother didn't think of running away. It was a steward on the estate who attempted to do something improper to her. With no other choice, Mother fled with us," Qi Zhenzhen continued.
"Putting these aside, when Mother was gravely ill, I went to the Changping Marquis's mansion, but I couldn't even get past the main gate. A steward gave me a wild ginseng root." Qi Zhenzhen revealed this matter. "Originally, I didn't want to tell you, but you have illusions about the people there. I must let you know what kind of people they are and whether they are worth defending."
Tears welled up in Qi Yi's eyes, and he bit his lip tightly. Qi Zhenzhen didn't pay attention to him, only busying herself with the task at hand. The truth was cruel, but it was also real. He had to accept it. Otherwise, he would always feel that those people were his family.
"Eldest Sister, I was wrong." Qi Yi's voice was very low, but the hatred within it was undeniable, a hatred gnawed at by clenched teeth.
"Brother Yi, you can hate those people in your heart, but you cannot show it on the surface. One is your stepmother, one is your father, and one is your grandmother. Disrespecting any of them will invite criticism and affect you. You cannot be intimate with them, but you must maintain a proper appearance." Qi Zhenzhen added, "In the future, we will definitely go back."
Qi Yi grunted and, with his head lowered, focused on tending the fire.
After dinner, Qi Zhenzhen needed to take a cart to the town. She had originally wanted to bring Qi Yi along, but perhaps what she had said in the morning had impacted him too strongly. He had been listless all day and had gone back to his room after eating.
As the end of the year approached, many people were heading to town. When Qi Zhenzhen arrived, the cart was already crowded with people.
"Zhenzhen, over here."
Qi Zhenzhen followed the sound and saw Jin Niang, who was from the same village as Madam Yu.
Jin Niang tried her best to shrink to the side, making a small space that could barely accommodate a person.
"Why are you squeezing so much? If you squeeze any more, I'll fall off. Can Miss Qi Jia sit in a place like this? Jin Niang, you're trying to curry favor with the employer, but you've chosen the wrong method!" a madam with a face full of coarse flesh said sarcastically.
Jin Niang was timid and felt a bit flustered by the taunt.
She had no intention of currying favor. She just saw that Qi Zhenzhen was going to town and had no place to sit, fearing she might not be able to go and be delayed, so she had called out to her.
Qi Zhenzhen remembered this woman. When her family was recruiting workers, this woman had volunteered. Unfortunately, she looked messy, and Qi Zhenzhen had refused her. Perhaps she held a grudge?
"The space that Jin Niang and I occupy isn't even as large as the space you alone occupy, Auntie. Should Auntie pay double the cart fare?" Qi Zhenzhen walked over and sat next to Jin Niang, saying with a smile.
The women on the cart burst into laughter, making the woman so ashamed that she couldn't even lift her head.
"I, you..." The woman wanted to retort but didn't know what to say.
She was as sturdy as a small mountain; even most men didn't have her physique. Qi Zhenzhen was merely stating the facts.
"Everyone sit properly. If you fall off and get hurt, it's not my responsibility," said Grandpa Yu, who was driving the cart, in a low voice.
Everyone stopped laughing and adjusted their posture to avoid falling off.
"Sister Jin Niang, what are you going to buy?" Qi Zhenzhen spoke to Jin Niang proactively.
"My mother-in-law has been coughing these past few days, so I want to buy some pear paste. It's almost the New Year, and the family needs to prepare some things. My brother-in-law has grown quite a bit this year, so I need to get him some cloth to make new clothes," Jin Niang replied softly.
"Aren't you getting anything for yourself?"
"My clothes are still wearable, and there's nothing I need to buy." Jin Niang smiled shyly.
Jin Niang was the daughter-in-law of the Lu family, but strictly speaking, she wasn't. Old Madam Lu had exchanged money and grain for her. Jin Niang's family was too poor, and Jin Niang, to support her family, had willingly come to the Lu family. Old Madam Lu publicly stated that she was marrying her to the eldest son of the Lu family, but everyone knew that the eldest son of the Lu family had disappeared after being conscripted. Whether he was dead or alive was unknown.
Among those conscripted from the village, Zhang Erniu had returned alive. Du's son had died on the battlefield.
Only the eldest son of the Lu family, his fate remained unknown.
Old Madam Lu must have believed that the eldest son of the Lu family was still alive, which was why she had married a daughter-in-law first.
The old madam was also kind-hearted and treated Jin Niang very well. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along very well.
They chatted intermittently, and the ox cart soon arrived in town.
"I need to go to the general store. Pear paste is sold at the general store. Let's go together," Qi Zhenzhen called out to Jin Niang.
Jin Niang nodded. She had come alone, and she was very happy that Qi Zhenzhen was willing to accompany her.
Qi Zhenzhen accompanied Jin Niang to pick out the pear paste. The young clerk recognized her and charged her the wholesale price. The pear paste, which cost forty wen, only cost thirty wen, making Jin Niang's face blush with joy. Only then did she realize that Qi Zhenzhen had partnered with her to help her. If she had bought it herself, she wouldn't have gotten any discount.
"I have something to discuss with Shopkeeper Lin. Sister Jin Niang, please wait for me here." Qi Zhenzhen gave the young clerk a look. The clever clerk moved a stool for Jin Niang and invited her to sit down.
Qi Zhenzhen went to the back courtyard with practiced ease. Shopkeeper Lin was organizing accounts. Stacks and stacks of thick account books almost obscured him from view.
"Shopkeeper Lin," Qi Zhenzhen called out.
Shopkeeper Lin looked up upon hearing her voice. "Miss Qi has arrived..."
"Shopkeeper Lin, have you found out about the matter I asked you to inquire about?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"I have news, I have news! I've been so overwhelmed with accounting lately that I haven't had time to tell you in detail," Shopkeeper Lin said with a wry smile. "A steward from an estate in the capital received grace from his master and was released from servitude. That steward's family is from our area, and he wanted to return. But after returning, he couldn't just sit around and do nothing, so he wanted to find some work. His specialty is cultivating fruit trees, and he's quite capable. I've already made arrangements. After the New Year, he will come. There's also progress on the grafting branches, and the steward will bring them along."