Chapter 16: The Golden Boy and Jade Girl

When they went to the Jie family, the boat barely sat low in the water, but on the return trip, Uncle and Aunt filled half the boat with local produce, causing it to sink noticeably.

Yao Niang had grown closer to her father and shared about her experience of catching shrimp: "Sixth Cousin is amazing; he not only taught me how to catch shrimp but also how to make grasshoppers. I caught a small basin full of little shrimp, and we all ate them as stir-fried shrimp balls that day."

"Is that so? You're quite skilled now. How about next time when Father goes fishing, you come along and keep me company?" Yan Yingqi smiled.

Yao Niang fell silent, and Yan Yingqi looked at her suspiciously: "You don't want to keep me company?"

"It's not that. I've never seen Father fish before." Yao Niang didn't enjoy playing with adults, finding it boring.

This made Yan Yingqi laugh, but just as he was about to speak, Jie Shi said, "Yingqi, we're here."

The group returned home by carriage. When passing by the City God Temple, Yao Niang said to Yan Yingqi, "Father, when will you take us to visit the City God Temple? My mother has a small plaque there, and we can eat for free."

Yao Niang thought her mother was impressive, but she didn't expect her father to say, "Could it be that you were chosen as one of the Golden Boy and Jade Girl under Guanyin?"

"Oh, how did you know?" Yao Niang was surprised.

Yan Yingqi looked at Jie Shi and said, "Because I have one too."

Jie Shi hadn't expected Yan Yingqi to have one either and exclaimed, "What a coincidence!"

Yao Niang rested her chin on her hand, looking at the couple: "Wow, two of the most beautiful Golden Boy and Jade Girl from back then grew up to become a couple. Truly, fate brings people together over great distances."

"Ahem, where did you learn to talk like this, little imp?" Jie Shi was taken aback.

But Yan Yingqi raised his chin: "Speak more if you can."

"Haha." Yao Niang grinned widely.

Thanks to the reminder from the nursemaid beside her, she composed herself.

After returning, Jie Shi distributed the fresh lotus roots, water caltrops, shrimp, crabs, oysters, scallops, and some prepared foods like braised tendon, stuffed intestines with glutinous rice, and water peaches to the main house and second house.

She then personally cooked some barracuda with preserved radish and sent a portion to Old Lady Yu, knowing that she loved preserved radish. These were the freshest seafood and local produce, which couldn't be bought even with money. Yao Niang ate heartily, though she used to dislike seafood and once broke out in a rash after eating it. Gradually, she could eat it without any issues.

Especially the garlic scallops; Yao Niang could finish a small plate by herself. Jie Shi stopped her, saying, "Don't overeat. Haven't I told you to eat until you're seven-tenths full? Overeating will lead to more overeating in the future."

"Okay." Yao Niang sniffed.

Yan Yingqi looked at Yao Niang and said, "Don't be like your mother, who eats like a little chick and gets full from half a bowl of rice."

Now that Yan Yingqi's relationship with Jie Shi had improved, he spoke more freely. Yao Niang obediently listened to Jie Shi and didn't eat more.

While they enjoyed their meal, problems arose in the main house. Zhen Shi served the seafood Jie Shi had brought to everyone, and both Ying Niang and the newly bought maidservant An'er broke out in red rashes.

At that moment, Jie Shi was taking a nap on a beauty couch, while Yan Yingqi was talking to Zhou Lingguang, unaware of the chaos next door.

Zhen Shi wasn't overly concerned about a concubine, but if her daughter developed scars on her face, her life would be ruined.

The maids and servants held Ying Niang down, afraid she might scratch fiercely. Zhen Shi saw this and felt heartbroken: "Fourth girl, the doctor will be here soon. Just bear with it a little longer."

"Mother, why is this happening to me? Will I get better?" Ying Niang was terrified.

Zhen Shi comforted her: "You'll be fine, don't worry." She sighed, "I told you to eat less of those things. I only asked the kitchen to prepare a little, but you ate it all."

Ying Niang shouted, "Why are Second Sister and Third Sister fine, and even you are fine, but only I have a problem?"

"In the future, eat less of what others give you." Zhen Shi blamed Jie Shi somewhat.

When Jie Shi learned of this, she felt guilty and hurried over to visit. Yan Yingqi, knowing Jie Shi's kindness, also feared for Ying Niang and went with her.

Seeing them come, Zhen Shi suppressed her bitterness and said, "The doctor has already been here and prescribed medicine, but it still itches."

"What should we do? I should have asked clearly before sending it over. Last time, our Yao Niang also broke out in a rash after eating seafood, but she was fine the second time." Jie Shi was deeply pained seeing Ying Niang's face and legs.

Zhen Shi asked, "Yao Niang had the same issue?"

"Yes, she recovered after taking two doses of medicine. When she was young, I often cooked seafood porridge for her, but after moving to the northwest, we rarely had seafood. When she came back, tired from travel and with poor circulation, eating the seafood porridge caused the issue." Jie Shi shed tears.

Zhen Shi hadn't expected Jie Shi's tears to come so easily. Yan Yingqi said, "Let's see how the medicine works today. If it doesn't help, we'll call the doctor again tomorrow."

"That's all we can do. Sister-in-law, I know you always think of us, but please don't send such things anymore, to avoid waste." Zhen Shi was worried.

Jie Shi hadn't expected her to say this but cried, "Okay, I understand. This is my fault."

Jie Shi was remarkable, able to endure such situations. Others might have argued, but she accepted responsibility. This made Yan Yingqi look at her with even more concern.

"I'll leave now and come back tomorrow to check on her." Jie Shi dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

Zhen Shi didn't want to see Yan Yingqi and Jie Shi flirting in front of her and said, "You're an elder, why trouble yourself to come so often? Send someone else to check on her."

Jie Shi continued to express concern before leaving, and Yan Yingqi comforted Zhen Shi a bit before departing.

On the way out, they saw Concubine Feng eagerly watching them. Yan Yingqi coughed lightly before leaving. Yao Niang heard about this and went to the main house to ask Jie Shi, "Mother, should I go visit as well?"

"You don't need to. You just got back, rest well." Jie Shi stroked her daughter's face.

No matter how harmonious siblings may seem, wherever there are people, there is conflict. What matters is how you overcome challenges. Jie Shi explained to Yao Niang, "Today, when I visited Zhen Shi, she blamed me."

"But you didn't do it on purpose. Last time, when we sent abalone, she ate it without any issues. It was meant for the main house, not specifically to harm Ying Niang. How can she blame you?" Yao Niang felt her mother was unjustly accused.

Jie Shi said, "I won't argue. We'll wait until Ying Niang recovers. Remember, courage is important, but sometimes patience can also be beneficial."

Yao Niang hadn't expected such an incident on her first day back. She comforted Jie Shi, "Mother, it'll be okay. Everything will be fine."

"Yes, I hope so too!" Mrs. Xie said.

Yao Niang suddenly said, "Mother, I heard that it's not just Fourth Sister who has the rash; Concubine An seems to have it as well. I wonder if Madam has sent for a doctor for her. If not, perhaps you could mention it to Madam."

Mrs. Xie looked at Yao Niang: "I didn't even know about this. How did you find out?"

Yao Niang scratched her head: "Ping'an told me. I originally asked him about the Fengshou konghou, but he mentioned that the Fourth Miss had a rash, so I asked one more question. He then said he saw someone from Concubine An's side lingering around."

Ping'an was Yan Yingqi's servant, and his mother was the eldest son of the head housekeeper in the main residence. The servants were always well-informed.

On the surface, Mrs. Zhen would never allow Mrs. Xie to visit a concubine, so Mrs. Xie only knew about the Fourth Miss and was unaware of others. Now, she learned about it through Yao Niang.

"Alright, I know what to do. I also have something I need her to investigate for me." Mrs. Xie wanted to confirm if it was Mrs. Zhen who had mentioned to Yan Yingqi that the Second Master and she had something going on in Dongshan. Indeed, help arrived when she needed it most.