Chapter 64 : Having endured the scolding, we can’t leave empty-handed, can we.

Yin Changfeng didn’t expect to be outmaneuvered by Huo Tan, and his expression immediately soured. He was different from Cui Xu. The Cui family had a large household; apart from the direct descendants, the extended family was so numerous that it couldn’t be counted on one hand. Cui Xu, being the legitimate second son, was deeply invested in his official career. With his high rank and the support from Cui Yunzhao’s father, he was able to secure the position of family head. If it weren’t for Cui Yunzhao’s father passing away suddenly, there wouldn’t have been an opportunity for Cui Xu.

However, Yin Changfeng had been the heir to the Yin family from the start. As the legitimate eldest son, he bore the weight of the Yin family’s future. From childhood, he was raised with strict discipline, and after becoming the head of the family, he maintained that same strictness. In the Yin family, no one dared to oppose him. It was only natural for him to look down on Cui Xu and even more so on Huo Tan.

At this moment, as Huo Tan countered him without any hesitation, Yin Changfeng’s pride was hard to maintain. Cui Yunzhao sighed inwardly, feeling no discomfort, she simply wanted to finish lunch quickly so that once Huo Tan left, Yin Changfeng could speak more freely.

So, she said, “Uncle, Aunt, since we’ve all been seated for a while, why don’t we eat?”

Aunt Zhou immediately replied, “Right, look at my memory! Sun Guanjia, serve the food.”

Thus, the family moved to the dining hall. The dining hall was in a side room next to the main courtyard, elegantly decorated with various precious antiques on display, clearly of great value. The floor was covered with thick cashmere carpets that felt soft and made no sound when stepped on.

In the center of the hall was a large round table made of huanghuali wood, carved with auspicious cloud patterns, surrounded by a circle of six huanghuali armchairs. The table was already filled with rare delicacies. The Yin family was very particular about meals, even more so than the Cui family. Once everyone was seated, Yin Changfeng lifted his wine cup and said, “Since we’re all together and seeing you all well brings me great comfort, I don’t feel unworthy of my elder sister’s husband.”

At this point, he genuinely choked up. After a pause, he continued, “Alright, let’s begin.”

The family raised their teacups and toasted with him. Huo Tan, still on duty, did not drink but also shared tea with them. Yin Changfeng didn’t say much about it.

The lunch was quite oppressive. The Yin family adhered to a strict dining etiquette of silence, talking during meals was not permitted. Everyone sat in their places quietly eating, hardly making a sound. Aunt Zhou had long been accustomed to this, and Yin Changfeng even found it comfortable. However, the younger ones, Cui Yunting and Cui Yunlan, felt quite uncomfortable after a while, they didn’t know how to continue eating. They glanced at Cui Yunzhao, who gestured for them to keep eating, so they gritted their teeth and carried on.

Huo Tan and Cui Yunzhao maintained their usual expressions. After finally dragging through lunch, Huo Tan accompanied them to the main hall for a cup of tea before finally getting up to leave. During his entire visit, he barely exchanged a few words with Yin Changfeng. After bowing to the two elders, he prepared to depart.

Aunt Zhou spoke up, “Jiao jiao, see your husband off.”

Cui Yunzhao was somewhat surprised. She got up to follow Huo Tan, but just as she was about to step out the door, she heard Yin Changfeng snort coldly. She felt a bit helpless.

She walked quite a distance with Huo Tan before she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. “Really,” she said. Huo Tan smiled, and seeing there were no other guests around, he held her hand briefly.

“It’s cold outside, you don’t have to see me off,” Huo Tan said. “If you’re unhappy, you can go back home tonight and take your sister-in-law with you. Here’s my waist token, the patrol guards won’t stop you.”

Cui Yunzhao was a bit surprised. After pausing, she smiled and said, “No need, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and there might be some personal matters to discuss. Please make sure you settle in well tonight.”

Huo Tan nodded, seemingly reluctant, and squeezed her hand before finally letting go. “Then I’m leaving?”

Cui Yunzhao nodded. “Take care.”

Huo Tan paused, turned back after a moment, and raised an eyebrow. “Does my wife have anything else to remind me?”

Cui Yunzhao realized he was teasing her, so she smiled and pushed him playfully on his back. “Hurry up, you talk too much.”

Only then did Huo Tan leave. As soon as his figure disappeared beyond the door, the smile on Cui Yunzhao’s face faded.

After not seeing him for years, Yin Changfeng’s temper had only worsened. He was too stubborn and dogmatic, holding his own beliefs as absolutes, refusing to listen to even a word of good advice from others.

Cui Yunzhao thought this to herself, took a deep breath, and turned back to the main hall. This time, the atmosphere in the hall was much better. Aunt Zhou was asking Cui Yunting about his studies. Ever since he started attending the third uncle’s music hall, Cui Yunting had become more cheerful and no longer as stiff as before.

Now, under Aunt Zhou’s questioning, he sat up straight, his small face serious, answering earnestly. “Aunt, your nephew is already preparing for next year’s provincial exams. I’ve read all the books and am currently explaining them one by one,” Cui Yunting answered clearly. “Next year, I will definitely do my best and not let you or Uncle down.”

Seeing his confident response, Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Unexpectedly, Yin Changfeng’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

“You’ve only just started explaining the texts?” His words left Cui Yunting stunned. Yin Changfeng didn’t care that his nephew was just a boy, he directly admonished him, “I know your parents have passed, and the family has been urging you to study, but you can’t let that excuse you from your studies or from striving for improvement.”

“Your cousin was already preparing for the autumn exams at your age.”

“How can you be so complacent when you’re just about to take the provincial exam?”

Yin Changfeng was much harsher with Cui Yunting than with Huo Tan. Each of his remarks struck like a sharp knife into the hearts of the three children below. Not only did Cui Yunting’s face go pale, but Cui Yunlan also trembled in fear, while Cui Yunzhao’s expression darkened.

Yin Changfeng held absolute authority in the Yin family, commanding respect and fear. Given his cousin’s accomplishments and his sister’s advantageous marriage, he felt justified in his strict teachings and held even higher expectations for the younger generation. However, he was speaking from a position of privilege.

Cui Yunzhao and her siblings were left to fend for themselves, without parental care or close relatives to support them. Surviving in the Cui family was already a challenge. In a prestigious family, life wasn’t always glamorous. Even a noble girl like Cui Yunzhao could find herself ordered to marry an ordinary military officer.

Cui Yunzhao was fortunate to marry Huo Tan, but what about others? No one cared what kind of difficulties she might face or what kind of life she would lead after marrying. Their father was gone, their mother was not around, and even with relatives, personal interests often took precedence over family bonds.

Cui Yunting’s current situation was not just thanks to Cui Yunzhao’s unwavering support and care for her siblings; it was also due to his own perseverance. In his past life, though Cui Yunting acted impulsively and was stubborn, he still managed to gain status and recognition through his efforts.

Cui Yunzhao furrowed her brow, about to speak, when the young boy interjected, holding his head high. “Uncle, you said our parents are gone, but have you ever asked what kind of life my sisters and I have lived these years?”

“Did you ever consider whether we have enough to eat, enough to wear, or whether we are treated kindly by our family?”

“I am where I am today thanks to my eldest and second sisters. They have endured bullying from our second aunt for my sake. Have you asked about any of this?”

“Yes, perhaps I haven’t worked hard enough, but besides studying, I have been punished by my second uncle and aunt. I either couldn’t attend school or had to devote myself to filial piety, spending days copying scriptures in the Buddhist hall. I’ve even done all the chores around the house.”

“If you were in my shoes, could you have achieved what I have?”

At this point, Cui Yunting spoke with resolve, maintaining his posture without shedding a tear. However, Cui Yunlan lowered her head, gently wiping her eyes. Cui Yunzhao pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

Yin Changfeng clearly didn’t expect to be confronted by his nephew, and his face turned extremely grim. Although Cui Yunting was calmly recounting the hardships of the past years, to Yin Changfeng, it sounded like a reproach for his neglect in allowing the Cui family to bully his elder sister’s orphans. In an instant, anger surged to his head.

“What scholar doesn’t have to endure hardship?” Yin Changfeng shouted angrily. “Your cousin was frail and spent half the month resting, yet even during that time, he kept his nose in his books.”

“If you make a mistake, shouldn’t the elders in the family discipline you? Is it not a child’s duty to be filial to their parents?”

Yin Changfeng paused to catch his breath, trying to rein in his fury and maintain his dignity as the head of the Yin family.

“You will need to be a government official, to support your family, and to work for the welfare of the people. You must also learn to handle the tasks of a servant.”

These statements seemed reasonable at first. If outsiders only heard this, they would think Yin Changfeng was a man of integrity, focused on the welfare of the common people. But to the Cui siblings, it was painfully harsh.

These hardships were not something they should have had to bear at such a young age. Indeed, an official must understand the suffering of the people, but Cui Yunting had to be able to pass his exams and become an official first. He could fulfill his filial duties, but during the crucial preparation time for the provincial exams, he was clearly being suppressed.

In the end, he was blamed for his lack of effort.

In his youth, Cui Yunting was impulsive. He would often retaliate when bullied by his cousins or scolded by his second uncle and aunt. But after repeated punishments, he learned to be more cautious.

Now, even if he was the first to greet his second uncle and aunt, he would still face reprimands, accused of disregarding his elders and disturbing their rest. For so many years, the three siblings had grown up under such pressure.

Looking back now, Cui Yunzhao understood why she had been so cautious in her previous life. The shadows of her childhood experiences lingered on. Losing their parents, losing protection, and having no way out, this pain was unbearable for anyone.

Now, for Yin Changfeng to blame them for not working hard enough was utterly ridiculous.

After finishing his remarks and catching his breath, Yin Changfeng felt he had been too harsh and turned to Aunt Zhou. She lowered her brows, having remained silent until now, and immediately smiled to ease the tension.

“All right, Tinglang has already worked very hard. He’s still young, and just passing the provincial exam this year is quite an achievement.”

“Tinglang, come sit and talk. We’re family, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Cui Yunting stood at the bottom of the hall, clenching his hands tightly, his face flushed. He continued to look up, his gaze intensely fixed on Yin Changfeng.

Cui Yunzhao sighed. She looked at her younger brother reassuringly and gently said, “Tinglang, sit down.”

At the sound of her voice, Cui Yunting blinked, and at that moment, a flush of red came to his eyes.

He lowered his head, wiped his eyes vigorously, and then obediently sat down in a chair at his elder sister’s urging.

The main hall fell silent for a moment.

Aunt Zhou frowned slightly, likely feeling her pride had been wounded by Cui Yunzhao’s rebuttal, and was now somewhat displeased.

So, she turned her attention to Cui Yunlan. “Lan’er, how is your studies lately? Have you been diligent in your needlework?”

Just now, when Cui Yunting was so harshly reprimanded, Cui Yunlan felt a bit fearful and was already hesitant to speak. Even now, when Aunt Zhou gently asked her, she couldn’t help but shiver. She wasn’t an outgoing person and rarely spoke at home, she was always very quiet.

Having finally been nurtured to be a bit more cheerful by the three aunts, she became withdrawn again after being startled by her uncle. After Aunt Zhou finished her question without getting a response from Cui Yunlan, she furrowed her brows in slight discontent.

She had never liked these few nephews. When her elder sister passed away, she worried that Yin Changfeng might act impulsively, so she had come to Boling with him. It turned out to be a wise decision. Yin Changfeng’s impulsiveness was one thing, but the fact that the Cui children actually wanted to return to Tonglu was quite troubling.

Though the Yin family was wealthy, they couldn’t spend all their time doing charity. They couldn’t be dragged down by everyone. Especially since these children were Yin’s nephews, if they went to the Yin household, would their clothing and food come from their mother’s dowry? If they were poorly raised, wouldn’t the Cui family blame their uncle and aunt for not being diligent?

It would be easier for her as a distant aunt to take the blame. Yin Changfeng had acted on impulse, but once he calmed down, he understood the situation yet couldn’t bring himself to take back his words. But she was there to intervene. So when Yin Changfeng spoke to her about the matter, Aunt Zhou immediately thought of a solution.

Yin Changfeng wasn’t very insistent; his suggestion had only been made to save face. After being married to him for many years, Aunt Zhou knew his temperament well. He didn’t care much for his two nieces, but he was more concerned about his nephew. For Yin Changfeng, having male heirs was the most important thing, as only they could uphold the family name.

Aunt Zhou seized on this point and persuaded him to bring Cui Yunting home for careful nurturing. She could see that the three siblings had a very close bond, and indeed, as soon as she made this suggestion, Cui Yunting immediately rejected it. He couldn’t bear to leave his sisters behind.

Aunt Zhou felt relieved when she heard his refusal, especially since it made Yin Changfeng lose face and made him somewhat unhappy at the time. Over the next few years, the two families exchanged only letters. Yin Changfeng, who could be described as composed and self-controlled, could just as easily be labeled as cold and unfeeling.

He didn’t really care whether his nephews were living well, but he feared others’ gossip, so he handled their correspondence rather casually. He didn’t pay much attention to the letters, which were mostly dealt with by Aunt Zhou.

Yin Changfeng was stubborn and rarely listened to advice, but Aunt Zhou had a way of manipulating his temper to get him to follow her wishes. This time, Yin Changfeng came to Boling for business and also wanted to make some social calls. Visiting his nephews was just an incidental matter.

Aunt Zhou lowered her eyes, then smiled again after a moment: “Since Lan’er doesn’t want to speak, let’s go see the new clothes I made for you. How does that sound?”

She was very considerate in matters of appearance. Cui Yunzhao was also tired of arguing with Yin Changfeng, so she immediately said, “Thank you, Aunt. It’s our fault for making you worry.”

Aunt Zhou smiled and stood up: “Let’s go. I’ve prepared some gifts for you, we’ll go to the guest room to see them together.”

After not seeing her nephews for many years, it was only right to have them stay the night and chat about personal matters. Thus, Aunt Zhou had prepared a room in the nearby loft for the three siblings to stay for the night.

As she led them away, Yin Changfeng remained seated in the main hall, not moving. Aunt Zhou didn’t mind and chatted pleasantly as they walked, her attitude very warm.

When they arrived at the Mu Yu Building, Aunt Zhou introduced them to the guest rooms where they would be staying. Afterward, she took them to the tea room to show them the gifts she had brought.

These gifts were nothing significant for the Yin family, but Aunt Zhou was generous, preparing a substantial amount of clothing for each of them. There were even three sets for Huo Tan.

In addition, she prepared various books for Cui Yunting and exquisite hair ornaments for both Cui Yunzhao and Cui Yunlan. Seeing the three large boxes of gifts, Cui Yunlan relaxed a bit, and even Cui Yunting eased his frown, no longer looking as angry as before.

Cui Yunzhao, however, remained expressionless, revealing no particular emotions. Aunt Zhou couldn’t help but glance at her. After years apart, Cui Yunzhao had changed completely from her younger self.

While she had been more generous than Cui Yunlan in her youth, she had always been tense and spoke and acted with strict decorum, never making a slip of the tongue. Back then, when Yin Changfeng wanted to take Cui Yunting away, Cui Yunzhao didn’t voice any opposition; it was Cui Yunting who refused to leave his sisters.

But now, especially in the presence of Cui Yunzhao, she no longer carried that restraint or tension. She seemed relaxed.

Earlier, when Huo Tan had been put on the spot by Yin Changfeng, he appeared indifferent, as if he didn’t take it to heart. Cui Yunzhao showed no change in expression, nor did she seem anxious or uncomfortable.

The couple clearly wasn’t simple. Although it seemed that Cui Yunzhao had married below her status, she had indeed chosen the right person.

Thinking of this, Aunt Zhou felt a twinge of frustration toward Yin Changfeng. His attitude was hardly that of someone seeking help.

Aunt Zhou smiled at Cui Yunzhao “I wonder about your husband’s size. If the clothes don’t fit, just let someone alter them later.”

Cui Yunzhao also smiled, appearing quite obedient. “Thank you for your generosity, Aunt. We didn’t prepare suitable gifts ourselves in the hurry, so I just brought a few of my husband’s trophies. Please don’t find them lacking.”

Everything was handled impeccably.

Not giving Aunt Zhou a chance to speak at all, Cui Yunzhao noticed her continued politeness and felt somewhat relieved. Aunt Zhou then engaged them in conversation for a while, starting with her eldest daughter, Yin Suxue.

This cousin, Yin Suxue, was somewhat similar to Cui Yunlan, she had a repressed childhood, which made her quiet and fond of reading. Cui Yunzhao recalled that she married into the Murong family of Fulu. The Murong family had originally come from a military background and had held two posts as military governors; later on, for some unknown reason, they shifted to civil service. Now, the head of the Murong family served as the governor of Fulu and was quite impressive. Yin Suxue was married to the eldest son of the family head.

Hearing Aunt Zhou mention Yin Suxue, Cui Yunzhao smiled and said, “It’s been many years since I last saw my cousin. If I have the chance to go to Fulu, I will definitely visit her.”

Aunt Zhou’s expression wasn’t very pleasant, but she still replied, “Your cousin is doing well. She has a daughter now and lives quite peacefully.”

There was something off about this statement, but knowing Aunt Zhou was tight-lipped, Cui Yunzhao didn’t press further and simply smiled, saying, “Then we should congratulate her and you and Uncle as well.”

Aunt Zhou forced a smile before adding, “You know how your cousin’s husband is. This year, he is taking part in the autumn exams, but his luck hasn’t been good. With winter approaching, I’m really worried.”

Originally, the autumn exams were supposed to take place in October, but at that time, there were conflicts in Fulu, Wuping, and even Tonglu. The situation was unstable, so the court ordered a delay in the exams. This delay meant they would now fall in the winter.

Even though the examination hall allowed candidates to bring charcoal for warmth, it couldn’t stave off the cold. At this point, Aunt Zhou hesitated, her words trailing off.

Cui Yunzhao paused, realizing the reason for her uncle and aunt’s visit this time. Perhaps because of her earlier conflict with the Cui family and sending her younger siblings to live with their uncle, her uncle was certainly furious, while Aunt Zhou had been more thoughtful.

Cui Yunzhao speculated that Aunt Zhou noticed how much more decisive she had become in her dealings and wanted to gauge whether she was doing well in her husband’s family. She might have even asked their Boling shops to inquire, eventually discovering that she and Huo Tan were living quite well, which piqued her interest.

As for what they wanted to discuss, it likely had to do with Yin Xingzhi. Today, Yin Changfeng was particularly displeasing, and Cui Yunzhao gave Aunt Zhou a faint glance, not speaking up.

Aunt Zhou’s smile became stiff. Now she was the lady of the house, respected and wealthy, and had never had to beg anyone before, especially not a junior she had always looked down upon.

Thinking this, Aunt Zhou’s expression darkened, but she maintained her outward courtesy. “You all rest for a bit. I’ll go let your uncle sleep for a while; we’ll have dinner later.”

With that, Aunt Zhou turned and left the guest room. The two younger siblings exchanged glances and then looked at their eldest sister.

Cui Yunzhao couldn’t help but smile. “Well, today wasn’t a waste. We got these clothes and accessories; we’ll take them home as a consolation for being scolded.”

Cui Yunting, whose face had still been puffy with anger, managed to hold back a smile at his sister’s words. Even Cui Yunlan pressed her lips together in a smile.

Cui Yunzhao sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the rundown garden outside. In the harsh winter, the garden was gray and bare, with no sign of new growth.

There were no wintergreens, no pines or cypresses, and not even a rockery. The entire garden felt empty and desolate; if it hadn’t been cleaned, others might truly think it was a haunted place.

Cui Yunzhao chuckled softly. Cui Yunting walked over to her side and peered down at the garden.

After a glance, he frowned slightly and said, “Why is it so desolate?”

“Desolate” was a euphemism for what it truly was. Cui Yunzhao beckoned to Cui Yunlan, inviting her to sit beside her, gently holding her hand.

“It’s because Uncle and Aunt are people who don’t rise early without profit,” she explained. “They hardly come to Boling all year round. The only reason they set up a residence here was because of their business interests and because Mother married into Boling.”

This residence had actually been bought by Cui Yunzhao’s maternal grandfather. It had been many years, even older than Cui Yunzhao herself.

Cui Yunzhao gently held her sister’s cold hand, helping to warm it. “Lan’er, Tingtian, you don’t have to worry about how outsiders see us. Even Uncle and Aunt, without familial ties and blood relations, are still outsiders.”

“Any criticism from Uncle should go in one ear and out the other. Once they leave, we’ll still live our lives, so don’t take it to heart.”

Cui Yunting had felt heavy in his heart after being scolded by Yin Changfeng earlier, his face flushed and silent. Now, hearing his elder sister’s comforting words, he lifted his head.

He was still young and needed to grow strong. This time, Cui Yunzhao hoped that both he and Cui Yunlan could grow up happily, free from oppression and without daily worries.

Cui Yunzhao would do everything she could, even if it meant cutting ties with the Cui family, to ensure her siblings had a good life. She wanted to reclaim everything she had lost.

“Look at how rundown that garden is, Uncle and Aunt don’t even ask about it. They clearly don’t care much about Boling or us,” she remarked. “So, we shouldn’t care too much about them either.”

Cui Yunzhao patted Cui Yunting’s shoulder and smiled at him. “Still angry?”

Cui Yunting nodded at first, then shook his head after a moment.

Cui Yunlan spoke softly, “Sister, what if Uncle scolds us again tonight?”

Cui Yunzhao took out the waist token that Huo Tan had given her. She waved it in front of her younger siblings and smiled. “Then we’ll just leave with our gifts.”

“Having endured the scolding, we can’t leave empty-handed, can we?”

The two younger ones exchanged glances and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.