Chapter 303: All Reconciled

The day before, Wen Yu went out early and came back late, and didn’t go to her mother-in-law’s place.

Early the next morning, before going to the shop, she went over to see her.

Madam Qi had just finished breakfast. Seeing Wen Yu had lost weight from all the work these days, she felt sorry for her. “If you can’t handle it, stop taking orders for now. Finish what you have on hand first.”

“Don’t worry! The shop is running smoothly. It’s no problem if we extend the delivery time. Are you free at noon? Come have lunch with me!”

Madam Qi smiled and said: “I’ll go if I’m free.”

When Wen Yu came out, she ran into Xu Minghui. She passed by as if she hadn’t seen her, and walked away with her head held high…

Xu Minghui watched her leave, cursed under her breath, and was about to enter Madam Qi’s courtyard.

But at the door, Nanny Cui came to stop her. “Madam is changing her clothes and getting ready to go out. It’s not convenient for you to go in now. If you have anything to say, I’ll pass it on!”

A servant dared to talk to her like that, Xu Minghui was furious. “Get out of the way, you dog!”

She looked like she wanted to barge in, relying on her pregnancy.

However, Nanny Cui sneered: “Eldest Young Madam, you better think carefully. Without Madam’s orders, you can’t enter. I will stop you with all my might. If something really happens, I might be beaten to death, but you will only regret it then…”

Xu Minghui glared at Nanny Cui viciously: You old hag, sooner or later you will fall into my hands, and then I will beat your whole family to death. But as much as she thought about it, how could she dare to take the risk? Her golden bump was in her belly!

So, she turned around and went to complain to Tan Shi. Only then did Tan Shi know about this matter of Qi Xiao.

Sending Qi Xiao away? It was obvious she wanted to win him over, but why send him away? Perhaps they wouldn’t even be able to spend New Year’s in the capital. The matter in March next year…

She couldn’t figure it out for a while, but seeing Xu Shi crying like a tearful person, she got annoyed. This bitch wasn’t her own granddaughter-in-law, but she was still useful! Otherwise, I wouldn’t tolerate her!

“Alright, stop crying. Is Qi Xiao at home?” she said patiently.

A servant beside her replied, “Eldest Young Master has gone out.”

“You go back and rest first. We’ll talk about it when he comes back!” Tan Shi finally impatiently dismissed Xu Shi.

Seeing this, Xu Shi could only go back first.

Qi Xiao was about to leave, and there were many things to take care of in terms of people, affairs, and finances. He ran around all morning, and still had to treat people to lunch. He chose to go to Delicious and Flavorful. Unexpectedly, Qi Wu was also there, so the two brothers accompanied the guests to finish their meal.

Qi Wu called Wen Yu over again.

Wen Yu was not polite, and directly told him about the matter in a concise and comprehensive way. She noticed that Qi Xiao seemed different from usual.

She patiently explained Tan Shi’s usual tactics.

“For example, that day, she knew that Master Qing was on the verge of life and death, and the shop’s garment making would be greatly affected. I was busy and worried, and my face looked bad… She first said that the family planned to order snacks from my shop, and that she, as a grandmother, was taking care of my business. She wanted me to be happy…

Then, she turned around and said that she hoped the shop could finish making the family’s clothes in advance, so they could wear them at the palace banquet and show them off to everyone. She would then help to promote it, and the shop’s business would be even better. First praising, then suppressing, making my mood fluctuate. That way she would have a kind of pleasure in being able to control everything.”

Qi Xiao was a soldier, and he had learned a lot of strategies, but he didn’t know which one to apply to this situation. He shook his head and smiled bitterly…

“So, you can’t let her lead you by the nose, but instead use the goal she wants to achieve to deduce her actions. Then you’ll see everything clearly!”

Qi Xiao nodded in agreement and worked busy all afternoon. As soon as he got home, Tan Shi immediately called him and Xu Shi over and began today’s performance:
“Once you leave, you’re afraid you won’t be able to come back for New Year’s. It’s not easy for your grandfather to be home…”

“Minghui’s temper is also something you’ve spoiled. Although it’s not good, she’s pregnant now…”

“Your grandfather has also been planning for you, and he mentioned to me that after the New Year, it can be settled. Now you…”

“Young people, it’s nothing to suffer a little. I don’t understand what you’re going to do. I’m just worried about Minghui! For a woman, giving birth is like going through hell. What if she has an emergency and you’re not here? How will she feel? You’ve finished your important business, but when you get home… won’t you regret it to death?!”

Xu Minghui nodded as she listened, and even sobbed…

Qi Xiao lowered his head and thought according to what Wen Yu had said: If she wants to prevent me from being more outstanding than Qi Yue, and doesn’t want to create obstacles for Third Uncle to inherit the title…

Then, everything becomes very clear!
For example, the more she persuaded, the more Xu Shi would cry and make a fuss.

So that’s how it is…

He didn’t dare to look up at Tan Shi, but just lowered his head and said in a deep voice: “Grandmother, I’ve already received the order, and I’ve also arranged things today. If I don’t go, I’m afraid I’ll lose my official position and be punished by military law. I have to go. I’ll entrust Minghui to you…”

After saying that, he sighed helplessly.

Xu Minghui was stunned, biting her handkerchief. He wouldn’t listen even after saying that?

Tan Shi nodded helplessly: “Alright then. You go. Minghui, I’ve always treated her as my own granddaughter, I’ll take care of everything for her!”

Qi Xiao thanked her and came out with Xu Shi. Xu Shi was so angry that she ignored him and left angrily.

Tan Shi leaned back on the cushion, a sneer on her lips: I’ve said all this, and you still won’t listen… Then, I’ll let you know what it feels like to have your sweetheart die with her unborn child!
No matter how high you climb, what’s the point?!

…

Although Song Shang said he didn’t rely on this, the entire shop was the hard work of Wen Yu and everyone else, how could she let it go?
These days, she had been going to the shop to keep an eye on things.

Fortunately, although Master Qing hadn’t woken up, his symptoms had eased. It had been agreed that he would move to the Houhai villa after the Emperor’s birthday celebration.

What surprised Wen Yu even more was that Yi Bai’s work was exceptionally good. And, unlike Master Qing, he didn’t need to entertain the shop’s distinguished guests all day long. He was focused and dedicated to tailoring, and his work was particularly fast.

The only regret was that he had seen too little in terms of innovative designs and didn’t dare to act rashly.

Wen Yu stayed at the shop all day. She was even worse than Zhu Zhu, and was exhausted when she got home.

So, it was time for Qi Wu to shine. She lay on the bed, and he gave her a “proper” massage. Although his hands were slender, his strength was not to be underestimated. With a gentle squeeze, Wen Yu moaned in both pain and pleasure. Qi Wu then began his “improper” massage.
In the end, Qi Wu reconciled with his little wife…

The next day, he was refreshed and his eyes were bright.

…

The day before Qi Xiao was to leave, he went to see Madam Qi and told his mother about the preparations he had made.

Madam Qi listened patiently, nodded, and pointed to the soft armor on the table. “Although you’re not going to war, you should still take it with you!”

“Mother…” Qi Xiao was so moved.

“Alright! You’re a man! You’re quite steady in your work, so I don’t need to say much… The journey will be hard, take more silver with you.” Beside the soft armor, there was also some silver.

“Mother, I don’t need much silver. Grandfather has written letters to the uncles along the way. If they need anything…”

“Take it! Those uncles have many children and grandchildren. When you see them, after all, you are from the capital, you can’t be stingy!”

“Yes.” Qi Xiao thought of his father who had been absent these days. He sighed sadly. “Mother, I want to ask you to take care of Xu Shi… I know you don’t like her, but she is pregnant after all.”

Madam Qi smiled: “Silly son! It seems you still don’t understand your mother! In this world, the only people who have hurt me but I can still forgive are your grandfather, you, and Xiao Wu. Your father can’t, and Bao’er can’t either. Do you understand?”

“Mother…”

“Only you and Xiao Wu were born from my womb after ten months of pregnancy. No matter how sad or angry I am with you, as long as you are willing to turn back, Mother will always be there waiting. As for Xu Shi…”

Madam Qi shook her head and smiled: “Last time I went back home, after Yuanyuan escaped danger, I had a dream. I dreamed that Yuanyuan really had an accident. I couldn’t bear it, and I became sometimes lucid and sometimes confused. The marriage Xiao Wu wanted to arrange didn’t work out. After returning to the capital, he went to the Northwest, and then news of his death came. Your grandfather had a stroke when he heard the news about Yuanyuan. Your Fourth Aunt also hated me to death because of this.

Xu Minghui, with Tan Shi’s support, locked me up as a lunatic and took my dowry and private property. Even you thought I was crazy.

“Mother!” Qi Xiao panicked.

Madam Qi held his hand: “But, I often heard you come to see me, bring me food and clothes, invite doctors, and tell the servants to take good care of me. Later, Xiao Wu suddenly came back alive, killed Tan Shi and Xu Shi, your grandfather wanted to kill Xiao Wu, and I stood in front of him…”

Madam Qi spoke of it as a dream, so her tone was quite calm, but when Qi Xiao heard it, his heart ached.

He thumped to his knees and cried: “Mother, I’ve let you down! I’m unfilial… Mother…”

Madam Qi was startled. “Get up quickly, what are you doing?!”

“Son…” Qi Xiao looked up at his mother, but couldn’t speak: “Mother, I’ve always hoped that you would love me.”

Madam Qi pulled him up and hugged him: “Mother does love you. We, mother and son, have missed a lot of good times. In the future, no matter what you think, don’t hide it, tell me, okay?”

“Okay…” Qi Xiao sobbed like a child.

Madam Qi pulled him to sit down with heartache: “How about this… I’ll do it for you. If Xu Minghui can come and apologize to me and promise to live a good life with you in the future and stop causing trouble, then Mother, even if she can’t treat her the same as Wen Yu, will still take care of her. And the things she has in mind will not all be in vain. What do you think?”

Qi Xiao knew it was difficult, but he had no choice but to nod: “I’ll go back and talk to her.”

“Xiao’er, you have to think carefully: whether to tell her this. Some people, the more they get along, the closer they become. Even without blood ties, they become like family. But sometimes… people drift apart as they walk. Xiao’er, think carefully. Don’t make things difficult for others, and don’t make things difficult for yourself.”

Qi Xiao came out carrying the soft armor and silver. Instead of going back to his own courtyard, he went straight to the front and handed the soft armor to his personal guard. “Put it in my luggage.”

The guard took it and looked at it. “My God! Master, is this yours?”

Qi Xiao nodded, his heart full: “Mother gave it to me!”

“Madam really loves you! This is a treasure, keep it safe! It’s priceless…”

“Big Brother.” Qi Wu came over.

“Xiao Wu.”

“I have something to ask you to do.”

His younger brother asking for something made Qi Xiao even happier than receiving a gift, and his voice revealed it: “Tell me.”

“These two letters are right on your way. The addresses are on them, please deliver them for me.”

“Okay. Don’t worry!”

“Also, this silver…” Qi Wu actually blushed. He hadn’t paid off his old debts, and he had borrowed new debts from his wife. Judging by his wife’s willingness to lend him money, he had “performed” well. At least she didn’t make him eat stir-fried pork kidneys…

“You don’t need this, Mother gave me some too.” Qi Xiao quickly refused.

“This time, it’s Big Brother’s first time leading people out to do business, you need to be well-prepared, you can bring back what you don’t use!”

“Fifth Brother…” Qi Xiao was moved again. “Before, Big Brother was muddled. It will be better in the future!”

Qi Wu smiled and patted his shoulder.

Yes, he had reconciled with his Big Brother too.