Yang Haiyan explained, "My needlework was taught by a master craftsman in the capital. I wouldn't dare compare myself to a top embroidery master, but I'm more than capable of teaching the little girl. Moreover, I can also teach Si Ya to read and write. Although a girl's conditions are limited and she may not be as well-off as a boy, if we have the means to train her, it's also possible."
Moreover, she have a dowry shop over there and she sell snacks. If Shoucheng and Si Ya go there, they can help her with the accounts and manage the shop. Servants are not as reassuring as them.
To put it bluntly, if the younger brothers and sisters no longer need to be raised in the public account, Second Aunt will have no reason to complain that the eldest wife is overcrowded with children. She was quite fond of Shoucheng and Si Ya; she thought they were both very well-behaved. Si Ya, in particular, was a lovely little girl. When she asked her to get on the carriage, she shyly ran away. Who wouldn't like a girl like that?
Qin Fang stayed outside, listening to his wife reasoning with his mother. He thought about how he'd been away for five years and felt a little guilty towards his parents. Then he thought about his wife's feelings and decided it would be a good idea to take Shoucheng and Si Ya with him. Firstly, it would keep his wife from getting bored and secondly, she knew a lot and could teach Si Ya a lot. As for his younger brother... he didn't need his wife's guidance; he took him to the martial arts training ground every day for training.
However, Qin Fang did not say anything. He wanted to discuss kindness with his wife in private and listen to her opinion.
The carriage arrived at the village gate and Qin Fang saw a small figure walking back and forth at the village gate. "Si Ya?"
Qin Si Ya heard her elder brother's call, trotted a few steps and then stared at the carriage with envy in her eyes.
In the carriage, Qin's mother and Yang Haiyan naturally heard the sound as well. They lifted the carriage curtain and Qin's mother said, "Si Ya, why are you here?"
Qin Si Ya smiled carelessly and said, "Mother, I'm here to see my brother and sister-in-law's carriage." As she spoke, her eyes revealed a bit of longing.
Not to mention that Qin's mother understood what she meant, even Yang Haiyan and Qin Fang understood it.
Yang Haiyan said, "Si Ya, do you want to come up and sit for a while?"
Qin Si Ya looked at Qin's mother.
Mother Qin was really at a loss for words: "Why don't you come up? You little devil, who doesn't know your little tricks?"
Qin Si Ya didn't care what her mother said, she climbed up happily. The height of the carriage was no big deal for a child who had been used to playing in the countryside.
Qin Siya got on the carriage, looked at Yang Haiyan carefully and then called out softly, "Sister-in-law."
Yang Haiyan: "Hey, Si Ya is so well behaved."
Qin Siya smiled. She was still easily shy in front of the strange sister-in-law.
Soon, they arrived at the Qin family.
Grandpa Qin and the others sat in the courtyard, while Grandma Qin and her two daughters-in-law were busy in the kitchen. Niu Dan, Qin Shouye and Qin Shoucheng stood by the horses, watching. Even standing around can bored, they were happy.
But when the carriage came in, they followed it. Qin Fang got off first and when Qin Si Ya came out, when Qin Fang was about to pick her up, she had already jumped off the carriage. Then came Qin's mother and Yang Haiyan.
When Niu Dan saw Qin Siya coming down, he pulled her along to ask her how she felt about riding in the carriage. Qin Siya said she was beaming with joy, looking very proud.
Qin Fang carried the wedding quilt into the house, Yang Haiyan carried the things and Qin's mother went into the kitchen.
Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan's room was newly built, so the bed, table and stools inside were all new. Qin Fang put down the quilt and Yang Haiyan made the bed. Then the couple put down the sheets together. After their beds were made, Grandma Qin came over and said, "Ah Fang, Yanyan, are you done? It's time to eat."
Qin Haiyan: "Grandma, we are done."
Today's food was excellent, even better than what they'd had during Chinese New Year. The dishes at previous banquets were no better than this. Fish, pork, eggs—Grandma Qin had brought out everything she could; the new bride's first meal couldn't be shabby.
The Qin family had two dining tables, one for the men and one for the women, because the Qin family was large and there was not enough space at one table.
But today was different. They got a big round table and put it on the small table. A dozen people could squeeze in and sit there.
Grandma Qin: "Everyone, please sit down. Don't start eating yet. Your grandpa has something to say."
Even though Second Aunt Qin usually eats as fast as she farts, she didn't even pick up her chopsticks.
Grandpa Qin nodded, hummed and then took a sip of tea. "Today, our family is finally sitting here together. Ah Fang is a good man, filial to his father and uncle. You must remember that five years ago, he didn't serve in the military in place of anyone else. He served in place of all the men in this family."
Qin family: "Yes."
Grandpa Qin continued, "It would be even better if Ah Fang left alone and the two of them returned. The court would reward Afang with a wife for his military achievements. This would be the pride of our Qin family."
Qin family: "Yes."
Yang Haiyan looked at everyone's expressions. This was not a casual response. In the eyes of ordinary people like them, the imperial court's granting of a wife was indeed a great gift.
Grandpa Qin added, "Ah Fang's wife is also very good. She has studied and can read. She also taught Ah Fang's these things. So, our family should be united."
Qin family: "Yes."
Grandpa Qin: "That's all I have to say."
Qin Fang suddenly stood up.
Everyone looked at him.
Qin Fang left his seat, walked to Grandpa Qin and knelt down with a plop: "Grandpa, your unfilial grandson is back."
His cry of "kneel" was so loud that it made Yang Haiyan's knees ache. However, once Qin Fang knelt, there was absolutely no reason for her to sit still. She hurriedly stood up and was about to kneel down when she was stopped by Grandma Qin. Grandma Qin said, "Good child, sit down. This is a matter between them, grandfather and grandson."
After Grandma Qin said this, Yang Haiyan did not go.
Grandpa Qin wipe his moist eyes and helped Qin Fang up: "It's good that you're here, it's good that you're here. You've grown up and started a family. Grandpa can't control you anymore. I just hope you take good care of yourself."
Qin Fang: "Don't worry, Grandpa."
Grandpa Qin: "Okay, let's eat together."
As soon as Qin Fang sat down, people started to scramble for food at the table. However, it was only Second Aunt Qin and the children who were scrambling for food, while the third wife was silently looking at the dishes. Mother Qin quickly picked up some meat, but she didn't stuff her mouth with a piece like Second Aunt Qin did, leaving only one piece in the bowl.
Yang Haiyan ate her vegetables silently. She usually had enough meat, so she didn't fight with them for it.
Seeing this, Grandma Qin picked up a piece of meat for Yang Haiyan and said, "Child, eat meat."
Yang Haiyan wasn't used to people serving her food, especially with chopsticks she'd used to eat with, but she also knew that ordinary people wouldn't be so particular. Yang Haiyan smiled, handed the meat to Qin Fang and explained to Grandma Qin, "Grandma, I can't eat fish these days. I can only eat light food. Last night when we arrived in the county town, I vomited and couldn't stop. I called a doctor and the doctor said the bumpy ride and the dry food I ate had damaged my stomach. I need to drink some porridge to nourish my stomach these days."
After hearing what Yang Haiyan said, Grandma Qin believed it. Mainly because Yang Haiyan left a good impression on her, she certainly wouldn't think otherwise. "Then I'll make you some porridge tonight. You've been working so hard these past few days."
Yang Haiyan smiled and said, "As long as I can come back here and see everyone, I will be so happy."
Aunt Qin asked curiously, "Ah Fang's wife, what's it like at your border? I see Ah Fang is so tall, is he well fed?"
Grandma Qin immediately warned her: "What are you talking about? If you don't know how to speak, don't speak."
In fact, Aunt Qin had no other intentions. She even thought that if the border was so good, she could just send Niu Dan there when she served in the army next time. In five years, she would send a tall and strong Niu Dan back.
Aunt Qin was timid after being warned by Grandma Qin. But this person becomes more courageous after being frustrated. She would forget her timidity after a while. Anyway, she was used to being embarrassed.
Yang Haiyan, on the other hand, answered Aunt Qin's question seriously: "I married and moved to the border last August. I've been living in the capital ever since, so I don't know what life has been like for my husband. But my time there was unfortunate. There was a two-month winter disaster. According to the wives of other military over there, there are two months of winter disasters every year at the border.
During the past two months of the winter disaster, the sandstorms were extremely strong and the weather was extremely cold. The streets were deserted and all the shops were closed. But my husband would patrol outside no matter what the weather was, even if it was windy or rainy.
Before the Lunar New Year last year, barbarians infiltrated the county town, causing chaos. The city gates were closed for several days until the barbarians were captured. They were vicious and treacherous. When they were captured, they even took children hostage, but fortunately, the children were rescued".
This had frightened Second Aunt Qin who want to send Niu Dan to serve in the army.
Everyone who heard it felt terrified.
Yang Haiyan continued, "After the New Year, our Qi Kingdom went to war with the barbarians. My husband was the vanguard. He led his men to hide in front of the barbarians' gate. For a whole month, they could only eat dry food, sleep on the roadside and had to endure the wind, sand and rain outside. A month later, although our Qi Kingdom won, my husband also suffered several injuries. Fortunately, none of them were fatal. It's just that he was injured and it was very uncomfortable."
As Yang Haiyan spoke, her eyes turned red and soon, tears came out.
In fact, her original intention was to tell the Qin family that Qin Fang had a difficult life and to stop them from thinking too much, but as she spoke, she couldn't help it. She also felt that her husband had a difficult life. For that month, she was worried every day, and she was really worried to the point of crying.
At first, Qin Fang could tell that his wife said this on purpose, but he had no idea that his wife actually cried. He quickly put down his chopsticks and comforted her: "Yan Yan, I'm fine, don't worry. I said I would be careful, you have to believe me." He thought to himself, isn't his wife really good at acting?