章 35: Build a Bright Future for Me
編集者: Exodus Tales
Xiao Yi carried her and headed straight to the bedroom, not bothering about the mess in the yard.
...
The sun was setting.
A few beams of the warm sun fell on the threshold. A young man in black robes leaned against the door.
There were sounds of crutches coming from the end of the corridor.
Old Madam was supported by a maid and walked anxiously while saying, "Why is Jiaojiao'er still not awake? Didn't the doctor say she was fine? You are also another one, you knew that Jiaojiao'er is weak and you still force her to wake up so early to study, and not even letting her eat. Isn't this torturing her?!"
"'When heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a great man, it always first frustrates his spirit and will, exhausts his muscles and bones, exposing him to starvation and poverty'. Grandmother keeps spoiling her, what good does it do for her?"
"What do you know? The daughters of Nan family is naturally loved and pampered!"
Xiao Yi curled his thin lips, "Then why do you want her to marry into the Cheng family?"
Old Madam was silent.
The Cheng family was a noble family in Shu County. Old Master Cheng sat high up on his governor position.
At that time, it took a lot of effort to build a connection with the Cheng family and even wanted to have marriage ties with them. Firstly, it was for Jiaojiao'er to marry into a good family, secondly, it was to enhance the Nan family's position.
For hundreds of years, the Nan family had accumulated much wealth and was envied by many people.
But no one in the family could be a high ranking official. If there was no governor's protection, what was there to be done?
Xiao Yi coldly went straight to the point, "Grandmother really thinks that the Cheng family would be willing to protect the Nan family? Nan Baoyi is good for nothing and has no substance, would the Cheng family really appreciate her? How is one to know that the Cheng family is not also longing after the Nan family's wealth?"
Old Madam said in a low voice, "Marriage with the Cheng family is indeed not the best move. But if we don't build a connection through marriage then what else can we do?"
"Relying on mountains, mountains will fall. Relying on the river, the river will flow away. The only solution is to make yourself stronger, then you can stand firm in the world."
Old Madam sneered, "You are saying this lightly. For hundreds of years, no one in the Nan family could even pass the imperial exam. The men in our family are disappointing. If the women don't build connections through marriage, what else can we do?"
After saying this, she seemed to think of something and looked at Xiao Yi suddenly.
The young man's pupils were as dark as lacquer and had a majestic appearance.
After pondering for a long time, she could not believe it, "You mean…"
Xiao Yi looked meaningful, "Use all the family wealth and connections in Shu County and build a bright future for me, betting the Nan family's glorious reputation in return. What do you think?"
Old Madam stared at him.
This was the first time she looked at this adoptive son seriously.
An eighteen-year-old boy wearing black robes, he had handsome looks and stood up tall and straight with a noble aura, a pair of bright eyes that seemed to understand the world clearly, his reserved profound manner was like a treasured sword hidden away in a box.
But in that instant when he unsheathed the sword, he would inevitably show off his ability and take the world by storm!
The old lady's eyes gradually became brighter.
...
After Old Madam left, Xiao Yi stepped into the bedroom.
On her bed, Nan Baoyi was awake.
She sat up, took a blue-green embroidered pillow to cushion her waist, and said softly, "I heard your entire conversation with Grandmother!"
"Why are you, a small kid, eavesdropping on an adult conversation?"
Xiao Yi took over the bird's nest drink that the maid brought in and scooped some using a jade spoon. He blew on it and brought it to her lips.
Nan Baoyi opened her mouth and ate it, her eyes shining brightly, "Second Brother, I will support you. The higher you climb, the more you can protect our family!"
"You're not afraid I will be ungrateful?" Xiao Yi scooped up another spoonful of bird's nest drink but ate it himself, "This is so sweet, why do you like this kind of sweet stuff?"
"What was wrong to use the residence's fate to bet on a glorious reputation in return?" Nan Baoyi saw he was about to eat more and quickly held his hand, "You, stop eating. Yu Wei made this for me!"
"Call me Brother."
"Second Brother!"
The little girl's voice was sweet and she looked like a cute little monster when she tried to snatch the food, Xiao Yi could not help but curled up his lips, "Stop fooling around, I'll feed you."
Nan Baoyi obediently ate the bird's nest and asked curiously, "Oh right, how is my father now? Which side did he choose?"
"Kneeling in the ancestral hall as punishment."
Nan Baoyi blinked.
So this means, father chose to stay in the residence?
Her mood improved immediately, "Second Brother, although my father is often confused, he still has a good heart, don't you think so?"
Xiao Yi did not say anything. He wiped away some bird's nest from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief.
He did not tell Nan Baoyi. That shameful old man Nan Guang stayed in the residence with a condition, the Old Madam had to take out three thousand gold to support his mistress.
He had never seen anyone more useless than Nan Guang.
Already at such an age and still so useless.
The little girl in front was innocent and kept talking about how Nan Guang spoiled her when she was young, talking so much like a talkative bird.
But she did not know, her father was not the same as those years.
He touched her head.
Forget it, since she took the chestnuts from the fire for him before, he would give her more attention and treat her like a half daughter!
Nan Baoyi was unhappy, "Second Brother, don't keep touching my head, I won't be able to grow tall!"
"Superstitious."
"Even if you're not superstitious you can't touch my head, I'm not a dog…"
Xiao Yi saw that she got her energy back and said, "Well-rested?"
"Almost, why?"
"Get up and study."
Nan Baoyi said in horror, "Second Brother, I fainted today, I actually fainted today!"
"Didn't you say you are well-rested?"
"Still not enough! Ahh, I'm fainting, fainting again…"
The little girl pretended to fall on her blanket, her hand on her forehead like she really fainted. But her eyes were flashing around like a thief, glancing at him from time to time.
Xiao Yi leaned over.
He supported one hand on the bed and put the other hand on her thin waist. He said in a low voice, "Really don't want to study?"
While he was speaking, his fingertips quietly reached the girl's undershirt.
He curved his finger on the skin of her thin waist. Her skin was tender and soft like a top-notch fine white tallow jade.
"Hahahaha!" Nan Baoyi could not help but laugh out and rushed out of the bed like a duck that has been chased, "I'll study, I'll go study now! Hahahaha!"
Her Second Brother was really too scary!
Twenty days later.
Under Xiao Yi's personal guidance, Nan Baoyi completed a devil-like training.
On the eve of the Spring Flower Festival, Nan Baozhu brought over the new dresses that the embroiderers just made.
She saw Nan Baoyi closing her book and sat quietly in front of her dressing table.
When the sunset shone through the window, her light pink skirt swayed like running water. Because she did not go out much, her skin was even fairer than before. There was a pearl-like glow around her just by sitting there.
She knew that her little sister was very beautiful but she did not expect her sister to have such a graceful and magnificent manner after studying, like a well-educated young lady from a governor family.
She could not help but smiled widely, "Jiaojiao!"
Nan Baoyi looked back and quickly greeted her warmly, "Zhuzhu!"
"You look skinnier…" Nan Baozhu held her hand feeling a little heartache, "Jiaojiao, studying is hard work, you have to be good to yourself!"
Nan Baoyi was embarrassed.
It was not that she got thinner but Nan Baozhu was rounder than before. She suspected that Second Aunt would be worried.
"By the way, a few new clothes were made in the residence, you should see if you like it or not." Nan Baozhu dragged Nan Baoyi into the bedroom, "This dress is made of Shu silk, this dress is made of Hunan silk, both colors are very bright and soft! You should try both! Tomorrow at the Spring Flower Festival, Jiaojiao must be the most outstanding one!"
Nan Baoyi longingly said, "The rest is fine, but this dress is so beautiful…"
-- 贈り物
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