Higher Level Wife – 172 – Dragon Boat Festival, Again

Chapter 172: Dragon Boat Festival, Again

Author: White Pear Flower

Raws: https://book.qidian.com/info/2386994/

Translated Pill Bug

Edited by Gumihou

 

Jin Fengju glanced at the four children with a seemingly intentional, yet also unintentional gaze, and saw that all four had colourful [a] braided silk threads tied around their wrists and ankles. They also had [a] little brooms and medicinal peaches hanging on their chests. The decorations were exactly the same, only made with slightly different coloured threads. He sighed with relief and thought: From this, I can tell that Qiuning must have personally made these things. She is a true loving mother. Indeed, entrusting these two children to her is my best decision.

Just then, Fu Qiuning entered the hall. Jin Fengju beamed at her and asked, “How many rice dumplings did you manage to wrap?”

“We are just about done wrapping all of them.” At Jin Fengju’s look of surprise, she said, “Do you imagine that I wrap these dumplings alone? Over ten of us woke up early to wrap them. Most of the fillings and other preparations had already been done and the rice cooked. There’s only the wrapping left. Even Aunt Yu, on her first day of marriage, greeted her mother-in-law early in the morning and returned here to help us. I told her to stay at her in-law’s house for a few days, but she refused.”

When Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao heard that Aunt Yu had returned, they raised their hands and cheered. Jin Fengju acted as if he had just noticed the braided thread bracelets and smiled, “Did you braid these yourself? I must say they are very pretty. Much better than the ones I had back when I was young.”

Jin Zhenyi and Jin Xiunan both looked down at the braided bracelets on their wrists. Jin Zhenyi badly wished to say that the bracelets made by his mother were even more beautiful, but the one on his wrist, made with several colourful threads and woven into a thick bracelet, was clearly superior and he could not bring himself to say anything.

Fu Qiuning had no idea what [b] kind of fuss Jin Fengju was making. Now that Jin Zhenyi and Jin Xiunan were under her care, as the adult in the house, it was only right for her to treat them fairly regardless of her feelings. Her bracelet-making skills [c] were inherited from original!Fu Qiuning and it was nothing to just let her body do its thing. Thus, she casually answered, “Yes, I made them.”

[b1] “… ah, I wonder what Mother will say when she sees the bracelets. She used to be so proud of her feminine skills, what must she think!”

[b1] “… I cannot say I know what she will think,”

Jin Fengju beamed foolishly. He knew that the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was almost non-existent. However, judging from Fu Qiuning’s tone, she didn’t have much resentment towards Madam Jiang, only indifference at worse. Looking at his wife’s serious side profile, he felt touched and happy. If it weren’t for the children being present, he really wanted to hold her hand and cherish this precious moment.

 

By mid-morning, the rice dumplings had all been boiled.

Jin Zhenyi and his sister sat on the swing under the pergola [1] in the yard, watching Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao running back and forth to the kitchen to check on the rice dumpling’s progress. Jin Zhenyi remembered the savoury meat dumplings he had tasted last year and couldn’t help but feel tempted.

However, he didn’t want to show it, so when he saw Jin Changfeng and his sister coming out again, he coldly snorted, “You’re such simpletons. Becoming so greedy over mere dumplings, are you not tired from running back and forth all this while? If Father sees you, won’t he say that you’re not behaving like a young master or a young lady from a respected family?”

Jin Changfeng [d] blinked at the sudden attack, but only smiled slightly.

Jin Changjiao plopped herself on the swing next to Jin Xiunan and said loudly, “Indeed, we are simpletons. I do wonder, who was it that complained about [d] yesterday’s ‘pig’s feed’ yet ended up ignoring the exquisitely made dishes around him to eat ‘pig’s feed’ with us?”

Jin Zhenyi’s face turned red and he glared fiercely at Jin Changjiao.

“Jiao’er, do mind your words. What would [b1] Mother say if she hears you?” Jin Changfeng smiled at Jin Zhenyi, “The rice dumplings should be ready soon. Mother plans to put some together for Great-grandmother, let us go together.”

This was the first time Jin Changfeng spoke to Jin Zhenyi directly after that incident. It was also a reconciliatory gesture. For a while, Jin Zhenyi was dumbfounded. He was tempted to reject this olive branch, but the thought of being [e] excluded again by the entire family over the dinner table made him hesitate. Not to mention, he also knew just how delicious that woman’s food was.

After wavering for a moment, he said, “Right, the dumplings won’t be as fresh after we come back from Great-grandmother’s place. It’s best to eat them hot. I wonder how many meat-filled ones they made this year?”

Jin Changjiao looked like she was about to burst into laughter. [e1] This was the exact reaction he had intended. He often made Mother laugh at his jokes, but it was too bad that Jin Xiunan was too solemn to laugh at his clowning. Even so, it felt like he had won something when Jin Changjiao had to keep coughing to cover up her laughter.

 

Please read this at kitchennovel dot com

 

That afternoon, Fu Qiuning invited Jin Yanfang, the three Feng sisters and cousin as well as Concubine Mei to her place. Jin Yanfang immediately smiled upon entry and said, “Sister-in-law is very considerate to invite us over for a treat. Just the other day, Old Ancestor could not stop speaking about how delicious your rice dumplings were and how varied the fillings. I swear, I caught her drooling even as she described them to us. Yesterday, Zhan’er came back to tell us all about the great feast he had enjoyed here.

Knowing that Sister-in-law is someone who trains her culinary skills well, I conspired with my sisters this morning to scheme our way into your courtyard and seize a few rice dumplings for ourselves. However, we do not know what sort of bribe was worthy compensation. Fortunately, Sister-in-law saved us from utter shameless behaviour with your invitation and allowed us to save a bit of face.”

Fu Qiuning smiled and said, “Yes, your faces are saved, but what of mine? I have no face to meet people anymore. What’s all this about training my culinary skills well? These are merely little tricks honed during the hard times at Night Breeze Pavilion to persuade those two little ancestors to eat a little bit more of the simple meals we could provide. Just how did it turn into a story of me being a foodie?”

‘Foodie’ was a commonly used Internet slang that Fu Qiuning casually threw out, much to the delight of Jin Yanfang and the rest. The ladies all agreed that the term was incredibly vivid and interesting. After another round of sparkling laughter, they ordered the maids to serve food.

That was when Jin Yanfang looked around in surprise and asked, “Isn’t Second Brother eating with us? He’s usually at Elegant Mansion, moreover, there are freshly made rice dumplings here. How could he be absent?”

Fu Qiuning said, “I believe he should be with Old Madam or Elder Madam. There are plenty of rice dumplings there and more have been distributed to the rest of the estate. Whether he is here or not, he is sure to be helping himself to some rice dumplings elsewhere.” [b] To change the subject, she said, “By the way, I heard that Xiangyang Marquisate’s side has almost been fully renovated. Is Younger Sister, Second Old Master and his wife planning to move there together?”

Jin Yanfang replied, “We did plan to move there, but Old Madam would not hear of it. She insisted that this garden is too spacious and that I should remain here to keep Sister-in-law company. The estate would be filled with more people soon, so it is likely that we will not move.”

Fu Qiuning [b] nodded and said, “That works out well. If you move, even though this Elegant Mansion is close to the edge of the garden, I still wouldn’t feel at ease in my heart.” Just then, she noticed Jin Zhenyi peeling two dumplings for himself. A little [b] dismayed, Fu Qiuning said, “Remove one from your bowl. You have already eaten one in the kitchen. If you eat two more now, you will give yourself indigestion.”

Jin Zhenyi grumpily replied, “The one I ate before had meat in it. I want to try the jujube paste and salted egg yolk next. So what if I ate too many? I’ll just go for a run later. If Father asks, I definitely won’t involve you. Hmph, I’ll take responsibility for my own actions.”

“Pei, enough of your acting. Try talking like that to your father instead,” Fu Qiuning matter-of-factly grabbed his bowl and pinched off the three corners of both rice dumplings with her chopsticks, placing the extra glutinous rice in another bowl before returning the rice dumplings to him. “If you like the fillings, eat them like this. Glutinous rice is not something you can just digest with a little running, and moreover, these rice dumplings are not small.” She turned to Jin Yanfang, “You should watch Zhan’er and Yu’er as well. Children should not eat too much glutinous rice or it will give them stomach problems.”

Jin Yanfang’s gaze flickered between Fu Qiuning and Jin Zhenyi a few times. Suddenly, a smile bloomed on her face and she said in a soft voice, “Looks like Second Brother is still the better schemer. Although Zhenyi’s mother is not up to par, it is their good fortune for ending up in this place.”

Fu Qiuning [b2] stiffened. She set down her chopsticks a little too loudly and said, “Indeed, your Second Brother is the better schemer. Although, I cannot agree that it is their good fortune for being separated from their mother.”

“It is all for their own good. Though they do not understand it now, they will surely understand Sister-in-law’s good intentions when they grow up,” said Jin Yanfang with a knowing smile. She thought: Indeed, Second Brother has a very good eye for women. Look how she genuinely cares for the children despite her true feelings. It is women who speak sweetly yet lace their actions with poisons that the family ought to be wary of.

Till the end of the cheerful and festive meal, with the Feng girls heaping endless praises upon each type of dumpling, Jin Fengju never turned up, much to the disappointment of the girls. Naturally, they did not show it on their faces. After making arrangements for the children’s afternoon naps, the ladies rested for a while and chatted idly with each other, awaiting the appointed time to go to the Health & Longevity Court. The plan was to leave for the place together.

It was at that moment that several dignified and noble guests were slowly approaching the gates of the Jing Dukedom.

 

“Is this Fengju’s residence?” Emperor Zhao Xi asked Chief Eunuch Li Dezheng as he glanced at the majestic golden words on a black plaque that read ‘Jing Dukedom’.

“Yes, Your Majesty, this is the place. However, the young marquis and the duke may not be at the estate at this time. Moreover, the princes must be at their estates right now, awaiting their summons to the palace,” Li Dezhang respectfully replied. He thought: God in Heaven, ah, surely His Majesty is not planning to visit the Duke of Jing’s estate? Isn’t this too unexpected and whimsical? Such a thing has never happened before. Rumour is that the duke’s health is not very good. Won’t this visit simply shock him to death?

Just as he was thinking this, he heard the emperor chuckle and say, “What’s the point of going to those palaces? Instead, we recall that it has been over a decade since We last visited. They even built an extremely luxurious garden for Us at that time, making it difficult for Us to visit. If Our visit were to cost them an untold fortune each time, they would have worked tirelessly for months in vain. Surely there is no need for that. This is just an incognito visit. Their family is not prepared, therefore, Our visit would not cause a disturbance. Let us go and have a look.”

 

[Gumihou: Oh look, yet another transparent attempt to make FQN look good. sigh.]

 

[a] Dragon Boat Festival Customs:

Braided silk threads, they look a lot like friendship bracelets

https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/dragon-boat-festival-custom.htm

Yes, you read it right, ‘small brooms’ is meant to ‘sweep’ away bad luck. Peach medicine pouches, especially fragrant ones, are probably

for fortune and to ward off contagious diseases and ward off evil spirits

https://inf.news/en/culture/9cf896acad0d66fc78147d99812fd259.html

[b] Remove the ‘kyaa~’

[b1] JFJ baiting FQN into acting ‘kyaa~’

[b2] Deleted some self-congratulation and kyaahahaha, kyaaaahaha

…laughed and said, “What’s good about ending up in this place? Just look at Feng’er and Jiao’er, and you’ll understand. I’m strict with them even here at the Elegant Mansion, not like in Calling Crane Pavilion, where they have so much freedom.”

[c] Let us remember original!Fu Qiuning *pray for Fu Qiuning*

[d] Remove extra words the author used to tell us all about how clever some people were

[e] Have Jin Zhenyi be more thoughtful than just a stomach worm

[e1] Have Jin Zhenyi be deliberate in his ‘clowning’ behaviour. Deleted the following:

Jin Changjiao was about to burst into laughter, but when she saw Jin Xiunan, watching her, and shaking her head slightly, she quickly suppressed her laughter and coughed several times to cover it up.

 

Pill Bug TL Notes:

[1] 藤架 “Rattan Frame”.

This thing: https://img.archiexpo.com/images_ae/photo-g/160049-13137006.webp

 

Kitchennovel.com has a new Membership System!!

Please click on the table below to check it out~

Naturally, you can still support us through Patreon or tip us via Kofi~!

     

Although… it’s, um, you only get half the benefits… but, the decision is in your hands!

Do also comment at Novelupdates and raise our ratings!