Higher Level Wife – 046 – Dragon Boat Festival Banquet (4)

Chapter 46: Dragon Boat Festival Banquet (4)

Translated by Pill Bug

Edited by Gumihou

 

Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao quickly explained the method to her, and even Jin Fengju could not help but prick up his ears. He too was a little curious and after seeing the children demonstrate how they folded and unfolded the boat, he realised that the entire structure was woven to interconnect like a parallelogram in such a way that with just a light squeeze, it could be flattened and tucked away. If anyone wished to expand it, it could be done so quickly.

This little trick was nothing among the common folk. However, such a skill was rather astonishing within a noble household, especially since it was made by children. Others could not help but recognise the ingenuity behind this little structure. From the side, Fu Qiuning could not help but anxiously hiss at Aunt Yu and Yu Jie, “Who told them to do this? This is just great, now we shall attract arrows from all sides.”

Aunt Yu and Yu Jie both blankly shook their heads. Fu Qiuning’s heart skipped a beat, thinking: If this was not taught by adults, then… did the children think up this scheme themselves? Could inborn talent manifest itself like this? Surely they have never seen this Old Madam? So where did this filial piety come from? Did it spring naturally from their desire to please a blood relative? Or were the children trying to curry favour with the Old Madam on purpose?

If it was the former, it is still understandable, but if it was the latter… she could not help but shiver, thinking: Isn’t it too scary? The children are still so young yet already know how to impress someone they never met. Don’t tell me that children born in noble households are equipped with the skills for harem battles? No, no, no, impossible. Feng’er and Jiao’er could not have done this on purpose. They had never even stepped outside the door of Night Breeze Pavilion before, so how could they know what the Old Madam likes? It must all be from a young child’s sincere heart. 

Yes, that must be it. [a]

She already knew that gifting Rice Dumplings would invite ridicule. Even so, she was prepared to endure their sneers and taunts. Better to be looked down on rather than incite jealousy from those wives and concubines. Even though Madam Jiang was the official mother-in-law, she shared a surname with Jiang Wanying. Clearly, this Aunt Jiang would side with that Niece Jiang, so there was no help coming from that quarter. If she sticks her head out, isn’t she just inviting someone to shoot her in the face?

Who would have thought that Old Madam could not bear to see her being ridiculed and actually lent a helping hand? This was enough to give Fu Qiuning a headache, but then the children suddenly had to show their ingenuity like this.

For Yu Jie whose strong point was weaving these little straw toys, she would not think much of this little boat. After all, she could make even more elaborate structures in less time. However, for these sheltered aristocrats who had ‘never seen the sky’, such a structure would appear quite clever.

Fu Qiuning could see the hidden knives in those smiling eyes and wanted to raise a complaint to the Heavens: You two broken brats! What are you planning with this stupid show, ah? Did you learn this from your plague bringing dad?!

Jin Fengju had been looking at Fu Qiuning warily for a while now. Even after he turned his head away, he did not realise that the corners of his mouth had pulled up beyond the perfunctory smile he usually wore to these functions. He sneered to himself: That woman probably has not expected Feng’er and Jiao’er to pull this little trick, right? Just look at that angry and frustrated face when she hissed at Aunt Yu and Yu Jie. Hahaha, how interesting.

While dark currents were stirring around the adults, the children seated next to Old Madam Jin were already buzzing with activity. Everyone was talking about the big dragon boat. Suddenly, Jin Zhenyi snorted, “Just what broken boat is this? Here I was, wondering what good thing everyone is talking about. Turns out it was just some bits of grass and branches. Great-Grandmother, if you like boats, I would have brought that big golden boat that uncle gave me two days ago. Why don’t I get the maids to bring that golden boat to you later?”

The Old Madam nodded with a little smile, “Good, you have a good heart. However, I don’t have a lot of space here. You should keep it to yourself if you like it that much.”

Jin Xiuzhen of Jiang’shi’s house suddenly covered her mouth and giggled, “Brother Zhenyi, aren’t you too used to ‘firing after the horse has run’? [2] You should have said something earlier, but look, you only mention your boat after someone else had already made a boat. If not for elder brother and sister, we would never have heard even a rumour about this. To think you’d personally mention it yourself just now?” 

Cui’shi’s daughter, Jin Xiunan, also laughed, “Don’t say that, brother Zhenyi has always been generous. However, he’s too straightforward for hidden motives. Unfortunately, he did not manage to consider everything. In the end, we must give credit to our much smarter brother and sister. We grandchildren are just too straight-laced and cannot match them in wits. Although the boat is woven with grass, it touches the people’s hearts, ah.

What could we, who turned up with empty hands, say? Mother is too useless, only thinking of pleasing the Old Madam when sending gifts and forgetting to let us know. If she had given us a bit of time to think, surely we could have also shown a better face to our ancestor now?”

The children, aside from Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao who had frozen in place, all laughed heartily. The Old Madam laughed too and said, “Out of all my grandchildren here, you are the most eloquent. You’re usually so quiet, but once you speak, your words are fatal. Come, come, this is your brother and sister’s first visit, so don’t scare them.”

After saying that, she handed the boat to the maid beside her and said, “Take this and put it in the cabinet. I’d like to have a look at it from time to time whenever I’m bored.”

She was actually very fond of this gift. Although it was not an exquisitely made piece of art, it was valuable as it was handmade. However, seeing how Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao had already made these other grandchildren unhappy, how could she not understand? Not a single one of these grandchildren were [1] ‘fuel-efficient lamps’, therefore, in order to avert trouble, she had the maid set the boat aside on the cabinet.

Although Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao had received Fu Qiuning’s love and care in the past five years and were raised like hothouse flowers inside [a] their closed gate courtyard, they had never forgotten the bullying they had suffered in the past. How could they not understand the secret taunting under the superficial praises?

With saddened hearts, they thought: You call us brother and sister, yet still say such humiliating words to us? No matter what, we all share the same father. Moreover, the grass boat was meant to express our feelings and has nothing to do with you. Just because you can’t think for yourself, you want to make fun of us. Does the word ‘justice’ or ‘fairness’ even exist in this marquisate?

Because of this abuse, the twins’ initial excitement at meeting their other relatives disappeared. They lowered their heads, nothing but chagrin in their minds. Suddenly, Old Madam Jin said, “Right, return to your mothers. After sitting for so long, my legs are numb. Let me stretch my legs a little.”

The twins could hardly wait to hop off the kang bed. They bowed once more to Old Madam before rushing towards Fu Qiuning, clutching her hands tightly as other children also returned to their respective mothers.

Only then did Jin Fengju come to the Old Madam and say with a smile, “Old Ancestor, this grandson also has to leave, I’m afraid the gentlemen outside have already arrived, I have to entertain the guests with Second Uncle.”

The Old Madam replied, “Why are you still here after half this day? You even left your Second Uncle out there to struggle with his old bones. Go and take his place for a while. After all, aren’t those noble young men out there looking for you?”

Jin Fengju smiled and made to leave. Just as he was leaving, he cast a glance at Fu Qiuning and caught the hint of anger hidden in her eyes. He smiled back, thinking: You should cultivate well. One day, you will have to involve yourself in these little battles too. Do you really think I’ll let you stay hidden within Night Breeze Pavilion for life?

The more he thought about it, the prouder he became. With his chest puffed out, he left through the main doors.

 

[Gumihou: I want to kick this poppycock in the head]

 

Pill Bug TL Notes:

 

[1] 省油灯 Chinese idiom, which means: a peace-loving person who keeps mostly to themself.

Gumihou: It’s a derogatory term and usually comes as ‘不是省油灯‘ – Not a Fuel Efficient Lamp.

Meaning someone who’s smart and sophisticated yet not easy to deal with (negative connotation); a troublemaker

https://www.cchatty.com/idiom/116476

 

[2] Firing after the horse has run – in hindsight

 

Gumihou’s Notes:

 

 [a] Some small adjustments for a smoother passage

 

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Have a Grilled Rice Ball

HLW – 047 – Dragon Boat Festival Banquet (5)

 

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HLW – 048 – Dragon Boat Festival Banquet (6)

 

A Bucket of Crowdads

HLW – 049 – Assessment

HLW – 050 – Birthday

 

Grilled Matsutake

HLW – 051 – Gifts

HLW – 052 – Revealing Feelings

HLW – 053 – Promise

HLW – 054 – Clear Skies

HLW – 055 – Old Madam’s Thoughts

໒( ́ ۝ ́ )७