Chapter 27: Consideration

When the grandparents and children returned to Ninghe Hall, the place was already brimming with joy and harmony. Qin Shi held her youngest son’s hand, asking after his well-being and reluctant to let go. Sitting below, her other sons chatted while sipping tea, unfazed by the affectionate interaction between their mother and youngest brother. Who wouldn’t dote on a sweet-talking and handsome youngest child? Everyone in the family knew how much the mother cherished her youngest son, allowing him to bask in her favor as long as it made her happy.

General Xiao sat down with his two granddaughters. Xiao Yao leaned obediently against her grandfather’s chest, while Xiao Yuan clung stubbornly to his neck, refusing to let go.

“Ruyi, come down; your grandfather’s tired,” he coaxed gently. Although holding a chubby little girl was indeed comforting, it became tiring after a while. Despite her father Xiao Jingmin’s persistent gestures, the plump Xiao Yuan turned slightly but completely ignored his calls.

Xiao Yao, however, slid down quietly, retreating backward off her grandfather’s lap. Once on the ground, she began to head toward the family, but after just a few steps, someone blocked her way.

“You must be Ping’an, right?” Xiao Jingyan’s clear voice rang out, as melodious as water droplets hitting jade, captivating to hear.

Heaven was truly generous to Xiao Jingyan, a favored child blessed with both looks and a charming voice.

“Hello, Fourth Uncle,” Xiao Yao greeted, momentarily envious but quickly suppressing the emotion.

“You’ve never met me before, yet you knew who I am? What a clever little girl,” Xiao Jingyan remarked.

Did that even need an introduction? Anyone who saw Grandmother’s reaction at the front door would know who you are unless they were clueless!

Xiao Yao felt that her fourth uncle’s remark insulted her intelligence. Did she look dim-witted? She discreetly cast a judgmental glance at him before attempting to continue forward.

“What’s that expression? Was that disdain I saw?” Xiao Jingyan decided to have a proper chat with his little niece about her attitude.

“Don’t you dare bully little Ping’an,” General Xiao bellowed at his son.

“Who’s bullying her? Brother Yan simply adores Ping’an,” Qin Shi interjected to defend her son.

Xiao Jingyan responded to his father’s rebuke with a faint smile. He knew his father’s disapproval wasn’t new, and he didn’t take it to heart. In his own mind, he wasn’t a playboy shirking responsibilities. His decision to remain out of officialdom was well-considered.

The Xiao family already commanded significant attention with General Xiao wielding military power and his three sons holding government positions. To avoid suspicion and jealousy, Xiao Jingyan believed it was necessary to have one family member who appeared aimless. Of course, he didn’t plan to drift forever. In a couple of years, after his father retired, he’d find something to do. Unfortunately, his good intentions were often misunderstood, and explaining would be futile. He’d take it one step at a time.

Xiao Yao sympathized with her fourth uncle, caught between his parents and unable to do anything right. He really was a pitiful figure!

“Fourth Uncle, do you have gifts for us?” Among the younger generation, Xiao Jingyan was most familiar with Xiao Lang, Xiao Yi, and Xiao Yang. He’d only met Xiao Rui a handful of times since the latter grew up with his parents. As for the youngest ones, he’d only heard their names before.

“Yes!” Xiao Jun eagerly stepped forward. Unafraid of strangers, he felt confident since it was his own uncle. When adults met children for the first time, wasn’t giving gifts customary?

A wooden horse on wheels, pulling a small cart, moved forward when the reins were tugged. Another toy was a wooden ladder with a little monkey that flipped acrobatically when the ladder was tilted. These toys were unlike anything Xiao Jun and Xiao Qi had seen before, and they immediately squatted to play with excitement.

Xiao Jingyan then called for two ornate boxes, which were placed on a low table as he addressed Xiao Yao and Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yao walked over but did not open the box. Instead, she stood still and waited for Xiao Yuan to arrive. Seeing this, Xiao Jingyan secretly nodded in approval. He admired her calm demeanor, her care for her sister, and her poise. Clearly, her mother had raised her well.

When Xiao Yuan approached, Xiao Jingyan opened the boxes. The women’s eyes lit up at the sight.

The boxes were filled with pearls. The lower layer contained luminous, evenly-sized white pearls, while the top featured rare pink pearls, some with a faint purple glow.

“These are too precious. You should save them for your future sweetheart,” Yuan Yutong teased lightly.

Hearing this, Xiao Yuan immediately covered the box with her chubby hands, glaring at her mother with a pout. These were hers!

Her puffed-up indignation melted everyone’s hearts. Xiao Yao gently soothed her, knowing her sister’s possessive nature. As the youngest, Xiao Yuan fiercely guarded anything given to her. If she didn’t want to share, no one forced her.

“Do you want one or both?” Xiao Jingyan teased.

Xiao Yuan hesitated, glanced at Xiao Yao, then reluctantly pushed one box toward her sister. Grabbing Xiao Yao’s hand, she placed it on the box, then glared at Xiao Jingyan with a heavy “hmph.” She and her sister could each have one, and no one needed to teach her how to share.

“Anyone else taking a box of pearls would make Ruyi reluctant, but she gave it to Ping’an without hesitation,” Yuan Yutong observed, imagining herself in Ping’an’s place. Her daughter wouldn’t have shared so easily. This confirmed once again that Xiao Yuan valued her sister more than her mother.

At midday, Xiao Jingkang returned, and the family was finally complete. The lunch banquet was even more lavish than holiday feasts, with everyone’s faces lit up in smiles. The men toasted, the women beamed, and the children played to their hearts’ content.

With the patriarch’s birthday on the sixth of September approaching, birthday plans dominated the conversation. Little did they know, elsewhere, another group was discussing the same event.

“Do we really have to gift this jade sculpture to the Xiao family?” Lady Fang asked reluctantly, her eyes glued to the exquisite piece in front of her.

“You want a good relationship with them but can’t bear to part with anything valuable. No wonder they look down on us,” Fang Yufu snapped. If the money he gave to the Han family were converted into jade, it could fill an entire room.

“At the Xiao family’s banquet, I will demand an explanation. Qinglian is already thirteen, and Qinghe has turned eleven. We can’t delay this matter any longer.”

“Their eldest grandson is only twelve. Clearly, Qinglian isn’t suitable,” Fang Yufu mused, preferring Xiao’s youngest granddaughter for his plans. After all, progress with the Han family was promising, and he might swap the granddaughter’s match for his grandson instead. His hopes for his granddaughters were slim—they weren’t attractive or well-matched enough to benefit him or the Fang family.

“What do you mean? An older bride can better care for her husband,” Lady Fang argued.

Fang Yufu almost retorted that few men liked older wives. Such unions were rarely by choice. Qinglian’s age and Qinghe’s plain looks made them unsuitable. The perfect candidate lingered in his mind.

“What do you think of their youngest granddaughter?” he asked.

“She’s still so young! Besides, I don’t want our grandson living in her shadow.”

“Foolish! Once she’s married into our family, everything will follow our rules. Qinglian and Qinghe won’t fare better in the Xiao family, so listen to me. If you keep babbling, I’ll send you back to Xuzhou.”

Lady Fang fell silent. Her husband had a point, and opposing him would be futile.

Eavesdropping outside, the Fang sisters stumbled away, retreating to their quarters with unspoken thoughts.