Chapter 7: One Hundred Days

Chapter 7

The first time Jiang Yuqing saw Qin Jue, Qin was secretly shocked.

She saw that the baby in the swaddling clothes had a red lotus on her forehead that looked like she was made of pink jade. She was the very picture of a remarkable and cute child. As expected for the only girl born in the Jiang clan in 200 years, she really had the look of fortune.

Jiang Yuqing was also curious as she looked at the county magistrate in front of her. Although only in his twenties, he already possessed an air of authority, likely cultivated from long years spent in high office.

Thinking that her own family were his subjects, Jiang Yuqing reflexively showed him a smile.

There's a saying that a county magistrate can ruin a family, and a prefect can destroy a whole clan. Whether to fawn on him or not, at least she shouldn't offend him. "Ah--County Magistrate, hello!"

Qin County Magistrate was taken aback, as he didn't expect this baby to speak to him.

But her baby talk was unintelligible, so he gently said, "Little one, what are you trying to say to me?"

"Ah--nothing much, just welcoming you to my family's full month celebration banquet."

"Hehe. Do you know who I am?"

"Ah--" Of course, of course I know you're the biggest official in our Qingzhou County."

After Qin County Magistrate teased Jiang Yuqing a little, he casually took off the jade pendant at his waist and put it in the baby's swaddling clothes.

He smiled at Jiang Wenyuan, "Your child is truly beautiful as jade in snow. I came impolitely today without any gifts on hand. Let this jade pendant be a toy for the child."

Jiang Wenyuan quickly declined, "Sir, this is too valuable, we can't accept!"

Qin laughed heartily, "It's nothing. I heard that women are rare in your Jiang clan, with only one precious girl born in generations.

Meeting her full month banquet today must be fate.

By age, she can call me Uncle. Elders' gifts cannot be declined, so please don't refuse again."

With the County Magistrate speaking to this point, it would be rude for Jiang Wenyuan to continue refusing. He could only bow and say, "I humbly thank you on my daughter's behalf for your generosity!"

Just then, the little boy who had been quietly standing to the side suddenly tugged on Jiang Wenyuan's clothes and looked up to ask him, "Can I see her?"

Jiang Wenyuan was a little surprised but said, "Of course you can!" Then he bent down and lifted his daughter closer.

Jiang Yuqing looked at the boy who seemed to be only five or six years old, with chubby cheeks set in a serious expression. Now seeing her, he looked rather surprised.

"Can I touch her?" he asked again. Jiang Wenyuan looked at his daughter in his arms, then at the little boy, feeling somewhat conflicted.

He didn't want to refuse and offend them, but was worried the child may injure his precious daughter unintentionally.

The little boy seemed to sense his dilemma and said earnestly, "I'll just gently touch her, I won't hurt her."

"Alright then. She's young, so please be very careful, Young Master!"

"I will be careful."

With approval, the little boy first stretched out a finger and gingerly touched Jiang Yuqing's soft, tender, chubby little face, seeming to find it satisfactory.

He also gently stroked the red lotus birthmark on her forehead, exclaiming "It's real!"

He said, "You're so pretty! The prettiest little child I've seen."

"Ah--thank you, you're also the most handsome and cute little boy I've seen!"

Jiang Yuqing smiled toothlessly. To the little boy, it was as if this pretty little sister was smiling at him, liking him.

So the little boy took off a blood-red warm jade pendant from his neck and put it in Jiang Yuqing's swaddling clothes.

"My father gave me this on my third birthday. Now I'm giving it to you. I hope you grow up safe and happy."

"Ah--thank you little boy. Although I really like it, it's your birthday gift from your father. I can't accept it."

Qin Yu was quite surprised to see that jade pendant.

But in the end he didn't say anything, only patting the boy's head, seeming to acquiesce.

When the dishes were served, the aroma filled the room.

After everyone sat down and had just picked up their chopsticks, a rather grating female voice rang out from outside.

"Oh, so the head of the household really moved up in the world, looking down on us poor relatives.

You didn't even send word about your granddaughter's full month celebration, let alone her hundred days!"

Listening to these sarcastic words, everyone's faces darkened.

Old Lady Hu pressed down her daughter-in-law Zhu who wanted to get up and coldly said, "Oh, who else but my sister-in-law?

What wicked wind blew your family here today?"

The newcomer was none other than Zhu's maternal aunt and uncle's family.

Back then, Zhu's sister-in-law Luo wanted to sell Zhu to a fifty-some year old man as a concubine for twenty taels of silver.

Thanks to Uncle Zhu's desperate efforts, even mobilizing the Zhu family's power, the Luo family was unable to succeed.

Later, when Uncle Zhu happened to see Jiang Wenxi who was learning craftsmanship from his cousin, he entrusted his cousin to mediate with the Zhu family.

Although the Jiang family was a little poorer, everyone in the family was upright in character. Old Lady Hu was not the kind of person who liked to pester people either. Naturally, such a family would not be too bad.

When proposing the marriage, Jiang Wenxi's master did not conceal the conditions of the bride's side, saying that the young lady might not have a dowry when she gets married.

At that time, Old Lady Hu said, "As long as the young lady is kind-hearted and willing to live in our family wholeheartedly, not having a dowry is nothing."

Thus, Jiang Wenxi was engaged to Zhu.

On the day Zhu left to get married, Luo angrily threw out a big basin of water, cursing, "You don't want to be a rich madame, but insist on marrying a country bumpkin. Don't bother coming back in the future.

I don't want to be pestered by poor relatives all the time asking for help. "

Zhu wiped her tears and said resentfully, "Rest assured. After leaving this house today, I will no longer be a Zhu family member.

Even if I come back, I will never set foot in your house again."

Her words were still vivid in memory.

But today it was Luo who came to make trouble. It would be strange if Old Lady Hu was polite to her.

Zhu's brother was a self-righteous yet cowardly and silly man. People nicknamed him Blind Zhu.

But he had skin thicker than city walls. Seeing that it was difficult to handle the Jiang family, he immediately changed his attitude.

He fawned, "Mother-in-law, don't mind. My sister-in-law has a foul mouth and can't speak properly. If she said anything unpleasant, don't take it to heart. Just let it go.

Look, it's noon already. We've traveled a long way and haven't even had a sip of water. Shall we... Hehe!"

There is a saying that goes, "Don't hit a smiling face with your hand stretched out." Since Blind Zhu spoke like this, Old Lady Hu naturally could not stop him anymore.

She just said in a cold face to her second son, "Set out bowls and chopsticks for the Luo family!"

Soon, Blind Zhu sat down at the dinner table, and Luo also sat at the women's table.

As soon as they picked up their chopsticks, they only picked the meat and vegetables, turning the dishes upside down. Oil was dripping from their mouths as they ate.

The women at the table frowned at this behavior. Zhu blushed with shame.

At the other table, Blind Zhu and his precious son Zhu Jinbao were no better.

The child had been spoiled by his parents. At four or five years old, he still held a bowl and was fed while chasing after them. Now six years old, he still couldn't properly use chopsticks.

Unable to use chopsticks well, he couldn't pick up food neatly, so he simply abandoned the chopsticks and reached into the dishes to grab food directly with his hands.

There was even undried snot on the back of his grabbing hand, which was very disgusting.

The other children at the table were already in school. When had they seen such rude rogues before? They angrily threw down their chopsticks and were about to cause a scene.