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“Look at what we eat, how our children are dressed. As a wife and mother, don’t you feel any guilt? Yet, you have the audacity to criticize others for their spending habits?”
“Starting tomorrow, you won’t be idle at home anymore. Find some work to do outside. It’ll keep you busy and prevent you from idly gossiping behind others’ backs!”
If Mrs. Niu said these things in front of him, she would surely say them in front of others as well.
Living in a lane with many residents, including families associated with the academy, if word got out, it would likely become a subject of ridicule.
Mocking his family’s poverty while criticizing others for spending lavishly would only reveal jealousy towards their wealth.
If that were the case, Mrs. Niu would truly have embarrassed him!
Mrs. Niu was left bewildered by Zhang Yaosheng’s scolding, but after a moment, she timidly asked, “If I go out to work, wouldn’t that embarrass you?”
Being a scholar’s wife and soon to be a high-ranking official’s spouse, taking up menial work would surely invite disdain, especially from those who enjoy gossiping.
Especially from those who often gather to chat and talk about others.
Perhaps those gossiping tongues not only would look down on her but also spit behind her back, saying she’s just a scholar’s wife. So what if she were? Wasn’t she going out to earn a living just like them?
Mrs. Niu couldn’t bear being the subject of such gossip.
Moreover, she had begged to move to the county town, hoping to hold her head high and be esteemed. If working outside were less honorable than working at home on the farm, what was the point?
“By eating meager meals every day and dressing our children poorly, do you think you have any dignity? Others will still say you lack any capability,” Zhang Yaosheng, increasingly exasperated, found Mrs. Niu ‘s actions foolish. “If you don’t want to be criticized, find a more respectable job or do things discreetly.”
The comparison with others was truly infuriating.
Look at the Song family!
Living in a spacious and bright mansion, with a young and beautiful wife who was also a skilled earner, Song Jingyun could afford fine clothes without constantly worrying about copying books to earn money, allowing him to focus wholeheartedly on his studies. How carefree and comfortable.
Now, looking at his own family…
The more Zhang Yaosheng thought about it, the more frustrated he became, his face darkening like the bottom of a pot, looking rather unpleasant.
Seeing Zhang Yaosheng’s anger, Mrs. Niu dared not argue further, quickly nodding, “I understand, I’ll… tomorrow…”
“After finishing lunch, I’ll go out to look for a suitable job,” Mrs. Niu obediently said.
Seeing Mrs. Niu comply and show fear, Zhang Yaosheng felt a bit relieved. With a simple “Hmm,” he continued his meal.
Observing Zhang Yaosheng’s more relaxed demeanor, Mrs. Niu attentively helped him with his food.
The food was truly unappetizing!
Despite feeling disdainful, Zhang Yaosheng, driven by hunger, reluctantly ate.
But the more he ate, the more stifled he felt.
Song Jingyun was indeed fortunate to have such a good wife.
If only he could have the same luck…
The lack of food at the academy didn’t affect Song Jingyun much logically since he usually ate at home. However, because many people invited him out to eat due to the lack of food supply, he had to politely decline each time.
The only reason he gave for these refusals was to go back and eat with his wife.
Initially, people were quite surprised by this reason, finding it unusual. However, after a few instances, they grew accustomed to it, even remarking, “Song Jingyun truly cares for his wife.”
“The love between husband and wife, envies others.”
“Song Jingyun’s deep affection is truly rare…”
Such phrases often reached Song Jingyun’s ears, to which he simply smiled faintly without much response.
Observing this, Zhang Yaosheng pondered for a moment and suddenly felt at ease.
Even in a normal loving relationship, there’s no rule saying that couples must spend every day together. Song Jingyun constantly running back home, never eating out, likely stemmed from one reason – fear.
After all, the money in the household was earned by Lady Jiang. Despite being a man of stature, Song Jingyun’s position at home might not be as strong, requiring him to please his wife to ensure his own well-being.
Although Mrs. Niu may lack in some areas, she was very obedient. If he asked her to go east, she wouldn’t dare go west. If he told her to chase away a dog, she wouldn’t dare shoo a chicken – truly following his every command.
In comparison, his life seemed much more comfortable!
Zhang Yaosheng suddenly felt much more content, dispelling the gloom that had hung over him due to his family’s inferior status compared to Song Jingyun.
Learning that Song Jingyun had not married Jiang Mixia but had become a son-in-law to the Jiang family brought even more satisfaction and joy to Zhang Yaosheng.
No matter how good his studies were, how much recognition he received from his teachers and the headmaster, or how well he dressed and ate, being a son-in-law meant that his future children would bear the Jiang family name. Even if he achieved success in the imperial exams, it would only add to the Jiang family’s glory, lacking any trace of honor for the Song family.
Truly laughable!
Zhang Yaosheng’s chin lifted proudly.
—
After two consecutive snowfalls, the weather grew even colder.
To ensure the students could study comfortably, the academy had started using charcoal fires for warmth.
In the Jiang family’s household, they purchased a large amount of charcoal for the ground stoves and charcoal braziers. Even the hand warmers were kept at a certain temperature.
Amidst this cold weather, the Eight Treasures Pavilion in the county town finally opened for business, half a month later than the expected opening in October.
The delay was due to Jiang Mixia’s careful consideration of the shop’s layout and the flow of customers inside during the renovation, leading to some adjustments in the counter position near the entrance.
After the adjustments, the entrance looked spacious, elegant, and of a higher class, earning praise even from Wei, the shopkeeper.
As for the half-month delay, people didn’t really mind and chose another auspicious day for the opening.
After all, good things are worth the wait!
In fact, this proved true.
The Eight Treasures Pavilion’s reputation in the capital city had spread far and wide, even reaching the county town. With its opening in the town, locals were naturally curious to taste the renowned dishes.
From the very first day of opening, the Eight Treasures Pavilion thrived, attracting a full house of guests daily.
In response to this success, Jiang Mixia proposed a tiered membership system to Wei, the shopkeeper.
Silver card, gold card, and black card.
Members would pre-load a certain amount of money, with higher deposits leading to higher card levels. They would enjoy more significant discounts when dining, receive more gifts, and have priority access to private rooms.
While membership systems may seem ordinary and even somewhat outdated in modern society, they often prove to be effective and straightforward marketing strategies.