Chapter 12: Family

Returning to the Qing Hua Courtyard, Meinang first went to the main hall to greet her mother and brother before even going back to her room. She felt a bit uneasy, concerned that she might seem distant, which could hurt her family’s feelings.

Her worries proved unnecessary. When she met Madam Qin and her brother, Qin Gong Zi, the tired yet lovingly hopeful expressions on their faces touched her heart. One called her “daughter” and the other, “sister,” their affection so genuine it brought her to tears. Unable to hold back, she cried in Madam Qin’s arms like a child.

After a while, Wang Mama intervened, saying, “Madam, the mistress and young master must be exhausted from the journey and haven’t eaten yet.”

Meinang quickly composed herself, wiping her tears and saying, “Hasn’t anyone brought food and wine from the kitchen yet? I was just in the upper room…”

Just then, a maid announced, “Madam Liang, please come in. The madam is in the hall.” Wang Mama lifted the curtain, and Madam Liang entered with several other kitchen staff, carrying multiple food boxes. They set the dishes out, filling the table with an array of twenty steaming plates of chicken, duck, fish, and other dishes.

Meinang thanked Madam Liang and then said, “Are you Madam Liang, the one managing the kitchen?”

“Yes, madam,” Madam Liang replied with her head lowered.

“I understand there are four of you managing the kitchen. I’ve met Mama Cai, and now I’ve met you. I heard that earlier today, you couldn’t manage to prepare a bowl of porridge for our Cheng’er?”

Madam Liang, sweating, stammered, “Madam, I only found out afterward, it wasn’t…”

Meinang smiled, “I’m not blaming you, but it seems like things in the kitchen could be a bit more orderly. Tomorrow, please prepare fresh ingredients and wait for me to choose them. I’ll show you how to prepare them properly, and I’d like to see the different copper pots in the kitchen as well. Tomorrow evening, I’ll personally prepare the old lady’s meal.”

Madam Liang bowed her head and replied, “Yes, madam, I understand.”

Once the servants left, Meinang turned back to her mother and brother, apologizing to her brother, Qin Bo Qing, “Brother, please warm up with a cup of wine. The marquis couldn’t come today, but I’ll ask him to join you tomorrow.”

Qin Bo Qing, who was three or four years older than the beautiful Meinang, was handsome but slender and frail. He smiled, turning away to cough softly before responding, “It’s fine. The marquis is busy with important matters. I don’t dare to expect him to sit and drink with me. Besides, I don’t drink.”

Madam Qin looked worried, “Your brother has overworked himself for the autumn exams, and now he has a lingering cough. He’s on medicine, so he can’t drink.”

“Mother, don’t worry,” Qin Bo Qing replied. “I’m feeling much better. It’s Meinang who scared us this time, we thought we might never see her again. Mother cried all the way here, but hearing she recovered, we’re beyond grateful. Meinang, you must take good care of yourself from now on. Don’t make mother and me worry again.”

Meinang smiled and nodded, “Rest assured, Mother and Brother. I’ll take good care of myself.”

Madam Qin looked at her lovingly and said, “As long as my son and daughter are safe and healthy, I have no other wishes.”

Holding her mother’s hand on one side and her brother’s on the other, Meinang smiled, “Everything will get better. They say that wishes made on a snowy day are the most powerful. I sincerely wish for our family’s health, happiness, and peace.”

Qin Bo Qing laughed, “Mother, look at her. Meinang is back to her childish self!”

Meinang playfully tapped him, “Childish? I’m already a mother. By the way, where’s Heng Ge’er? Let’s bring him in to meet Grandmother and Uncle!”

Madam Qin smiled, “I’ve been longing to see Heng Ge’er. He was asleep when we arrived, so we let him rest. We don’t want him to wake up crying.”

“It’s alright,” Meinang replied. “Babies can be soothed easily.” Just then, a maid’s voice rang out from the corridor, “Young Master Heng is here!”

Madam Qin eagerly stood up, walking forward a few steps. “Oh! My grandson is awake!”

Qin Bo Qing also stood with a smile, while Meinang held Madam Qin back, saying, “It’s chilly by the door, Mother. Please sit and let the nurse bring him over.”

Madam Qin quickly tidied her sleeves, remarking, “Though Heng Ge’er is still little, he is the legitimate heir of the household and will one day inherit the title. We must treat him with the utmost respect.”

The maids raised the curtain, and the nurse brought in little Heng, a chubby seven month old baby. He was rosy cheeked and in good spirits, smiling at everyone.

Without hesitation, he reached out toward Meinang, who laughed and took him in her arms. She gently kissed his soft cheeks and introduced him to Madam Qin, “This is your grandmother my mother. You must be respectful and affectionate toward her. Now, go to your grandmother!”

It was as if the baby understood, as he leaned toward Madam Qin, who took him, beaming with joy and tearing up with happiness.

Watching Madam Qin, Meinang asked, “Mother, haven’t you met the marquis?”

Qin Bo Qing replied, “Have you forgotten? After you and the marquis married, he left for the northern border after only two days, and Mother never got a chance to meet him.”

No wonder things were so cold and distant between her and Xu Jun Ying two days of marriage and then a year long separation. Meinang sighed, thinking it must have been hard for both of them.

She turned to her brother and said, “Brother, I was seriously ill and have forgotten many things, including you and Mother. If it weren’t for Wang Mama helping me remember, I’d be at a loss.”

Qin Bo Qing looked at her in surprise, “Really? Don’t forget the marquis and Heng Ge’er!”

Meinang laughed, “I did forget for a while, but I’ve remembered now!”

Madam Qin sighed, “Your father had a similar spell once, he couldn’t recognize anyone after a serious illness, but it passed. I just hope you stay well from now on.”

Meinang reassured her, “Mother, don’t worry. I won’t forget you or Brother again.”

Then she looked at her brother, “How did you do in the autumn exams?”

Qin Bo Qing laughed, “Though I’m weak, I have no trouble with studies. I topped the exams!”

Madam Qin added, “We planned to return to the capital after the New Year for the metropolitan exams, but hearing about you, we came quickly. Your sister in law, five months along, stayed back in Yue Zhou.”

“Oh! Is she well taken care of?” Meinang asked anxiously.

Qin Bo Qing reassured her, “Don’t worry, she has trusted attendants with her. I’ll be going to our city residence tomorrow to prepare it for Mother, and then I’ll return to Yue Zhou to bring my wife back for the New Year. We’ll be together as a family for the holiday.”

Watching her frail brother, Meinang felt a pang of worry. Yet she knew he had to balance his duties as a son and a husband. It’s a relief she recovered, otherwise, their long journey would have been in vain.

After settling her mother and brother, Meinang returned to her room, sitting by the lamp lost in thought.

Xu Jun Ying the marquis is indeed overbearing. He knew her mother and brother were here, yet after greeting the old lady, he couldn’t even spare a moment to meet them! The Xu family’s arrogance and pride made her frustrated. She was stewing in her quiet indignation when suddenly, the warm curtain lifted, and Xu Jun Ying walked in.