BXBX NOVEL Chapter 38: What Sorcery has the Fourth Brother Used?
Standing before Wang Shouzhe was a middle-aged woman dressed with meticulous care. Her hair was adorned with a pearl hairpin, her wrist donned a jade bracelet, her feet in high-stepping cloud boots, and her body draped with an opulent multi-colored cloud-patterned silk dress, making her appear like a noblewoman from the city.
Furthermore, she had taken great pains with her makeup before her arrival, her face painted and lips lightly tinted crimson. She didn’t look like someone in her forties at all, but rather like a mature beauty in her late twenties, a testament to her regular self-care. And her brother-in-law Wang Shouxin must dote on her quite a bit, spoiling her for sure.
It was just that her eyes were somewhat red, clearly having cried not long ago.
What was extremely rare was that she was also carrying a large bamboo basket, covered with a red cloth on top.
Upon seeing Wang Shouzhe’s polite demeanor, Xu Family’s initial tension and hostility in her heart dissolved somewhat, and she immediately returned the gesture with due reverence, “Xu Family pays respects to Fourth Uncle.” “Sister-in-law, you are too kind.” Wang Shouzhe smiled sincerely, “Please come in, sister-in-law, come in and rest in the side hall, my mother is also present.” Saying so, he cordially guided Xu Family into the side hall.
Xu Family’s expression tightened as she saw Gongsun Hui and quickly paid her respects, “Xu Family pays respects to Elder Madam Hui.” She always carried herself with pride, being from the direct line of the Changning Xu Family, she had married Wang Shouxin with the mindset of marrying below her. But proud as she might be, she dared not put on airs in front of the direct daughter of the Shanyang Gongsun Clan.
Moreover, the Gongsun Clan was the wife of the First Clan Leader and the father’s first wife of the current Clan Leader, her elder!
“Oh, it’s Shouxin’s wife who has come. What wind has blown you here?” Gongsun Hui’s words carried a hint of pressure, but she said with a smiling face, “Come, come, have a seat and talk, just in time to taste the Spirit seed from my father-in-law’s personal cultivation.”
She took on the tone of an elder, and with “Shouxin’s wife”, she directly emphasized Xu Family’s status as Wang Shouxin’s spouse, clearly as a warning. “No, no, no, I wouldn’t dare to sit in front of Elder Madam Hui,” Xu Family said with an awkward smile. She had not expected Madam Gongsun to be present, otherwise, she would not have dared to seek out Wang Shouzhe at this time. ’ And the tea they were drinking, just by hearing it was Spiritual Tea from Spirit seeds, was something she could not afford to drink given her position in the Changning Xu Family. Not to mention after marrying Wang Shouxin… it was even less likely.
“Fourth Uncle, you are the pillar of the family,” Xu Family showed a slightly ingratiating smile and handed over the basket she was carrying, “Sister-in-law sees you working so hard in your cultivation, and brought you some fresh ingredients to replenish your body. I won’t disturb your conversation with your mother now…”
Having said that, she set down the basket and prepared to leave.
Sister-in-law, hold on,” Wang Shouzhe smiled and stopped her, “It’s not often you come to my place, have a cup of tea before you go. Besides, I haven’t seen my brother Shouxin for a long time. I heard he has just gone back to the Main Residence. I will send someone to invite him over, and we can have a meal and chat together.”
“This…” Xu Family was quite flattered, yet looked toward Gongsun Hui apprehensively.
“Shouzhe is the Head of the Wang family, if he asks you to sit, you sit down,” Gongsun Hui’s attitude softened somewhat.
Xu Family then sat down awkwardly. Though she was dressed lavishly, she displayed none of the distinguished air in front of the modestly dressed Gongsun Hui.
Wang Shouzhe called in Wang Gui and instructed, “Tell the head chef to cook up a big chunk of pork sent over by Grand Elder, but not to stew the meat too soft. Moreover, find a skilled kitchen maid to set up a small stove in our courtyard, slice two pounds of Spirit Horned Yak meat. Mm, and bring that jar of Spiritual Wine too. As for the fresh fruit and vegetables, you see to it.”
Yes, Family Head. Oh, and Sixth Uncle has sent a Fresh Red-Scaled Eel to the family ice cellar, even the most precious Spirit Eel Blood has been processed into blood tofu, saying that it is a catch personally made by the Family Head and belongs to your private stock, meant for your consumption alone,” Wang Gui reminded on the side.
“Heh, never mind that,” Wang Shouzhe laughed, “Take the best segment of the Red-Scaled Eel, and bring the blood tofu as well. The rest should be deposited into the public stock, distributed as needed, let everyone have a taste of the fresh catch. Once you’ve arranged everything, go invite my brother Shouxin over.”
“Yes, Family Head,” Wang Gui complied and left.
“Fourth Uncle, this is too generous… and it must have cost you dearly,” Xu Family’s body trembled as she spoke meekly, “Keep it simple, a little simpler.” “What are you saying, sister-in-law? Wang Shouxin is my brother, you are my sister-in-law. When our family gathers for a meal, how can we be casual?” Wang Shouzhe personally took a tea cup, poured a cup of Spiritual Tea for Xu Family, “Please taste this Spirit seed from Shanyang, drink it while it’s hot for the best effect.”
Madam Xu sipped the tea, trembling slightly. The bitterness and unique flavor of the Spiritual Tea flooded her senses, and suddenly, she felt an urge to cry.
She had been a maiden in the Xu Family of Changning for nineteen years and married into the Ping’an Wang Family for twenty-one years, yet never had the fortune to taste a cup of Spiritual Tea. That the first cup of Spiritual Tea in her life was offered by Wang Shouzhe was beyond her expectations.
Originally, she came here prepared to plead with him. If it was utterly impossible, she was ready to create a scandal and curse in the street to stir up a commotion and alarm all the clan members.
For the sake of her son, she had cast aside all her concerns and was willing to shed all her pride.
Yet, she had never anticipated that Wang Shouzhe, esteemed as a direct line of the family and a Clan Leader, would treat her with such respect, kindly hosting her, his elder sister-in-law.
“Fourth Uncle, that, that matter…” In that instant, Madam Xu found herself at a loss for words. Wang Shouzhe’s friendly manner towards her and her husband made her hopeful that the situation might take a favorable turn.
Elder sister-in-law, you’re referring to Zongwei’s matter, aren’t you?” Wang Shouzhe had no intention of avoiding the subject. Instead, he smiled and said, “I’ve already considered the issue. Let’s wait for Big Brother to arrive, and we can discuss while we chat. For now, elder sister-in-law, please have some snacks to fill your stomach.”
Yes. Madam Xu quickly swallowed her words, seeing Wang Shouzhe’s attitude which did not seem to be holding onto the issue, yet she still felt some unease in her heart.
Not much later, the family cook arrived. After paying her respects to Wang Shouzhe, she was about to start a fire in the small kitchen in the yard when Wang Shouzhe stopped her, “No need to fuss too much, just prepare the fresh ingredients by thinly slicing the Spirit Yak meat and Red-scaled Eel into thin slices for plating, the thinner, the better. Also, prepare a brazier with high- quality charcoal, another clean copper basin with clear water, and some salt.” Although the cook was perplexed, she dared not disobey the Family Head’s command and went about the task as instructed.
Zhe Er, what are you up to?” Gongsun Hui asked curiously. “Why are you lighting a brazier in this scorching heat?”
“You will know soon, Elder Madam,” said Wang Shouzhe with a smile. “It is a cooking method I saw in ancient texts, quite innovative and very delicious.”
You, I can never figure you out, just don’t waste precious Spirit Food,” Gongsun Hui curbed her curiosity and began to tenderly comfort Madam Xu. She was very surprised at how Wang Shouzhe handled the matter concerning Wang Zongwei, at least he had not resorted to bullying tactics under the Clan Leader’s authority.
However, knowing Madam Xu, she likely wouldn’t give up just like that. Therefore, Gongsun Hui was all the more curious about how her son would handle what was to come.
A while later, Wang Shouxin rushed over led by Wang Gui. As soon as he entered the room, his face turned cold with anger, and he scolded Madam Xu, You ignorant woman, how dare you, how dare you come looking for
Shouzhe…”
At forty-three this year, Wang Shouxin had a square-shaped face and a beard; he looked dignified and commanding even without showing anger.
Unexpectedly, Madam Xu was not intimidated at all, her anger, previously suppressed by Wang Shouzhe and Gongsun Hui, suddenly erupted, “Wang Shouxin! What nonsense are you spouting? Zongwei is in such a state, how could I not come to ask your brother for leniency? Zongwei is my son, should I just watch him get beaten to death by you? Or should I stand by as his future is stolen by that compensa… by Wang Luotong?”
Normally, the word ‘loss’ would have already slipped out. But in front of Wang Shouzhe and Gongsun Hui, she dared not utter such words, and swallowed them back in her urgency.
“You, you, you… Shouzhe is the Clan Leader, and besides, that little brute deserved to be beaten, to be punished.” Wang Shouxin bellowed with a red face, “If it wasn’t for your coddling him… I would have…”
But this tactic clearly could not subdue Madam Xu.
“Elder sister-in-law, Big Brother.” To prevent their argument from escalating, Wang Shouzhe immediately raised his hand to intervene, “We are all family, what does it look like to argue like this? Let’s sit down and eat first, and talk things over slowly.”
“Yes, Uncle.” Madam Xu immediately put on a docile demeanor, sitting down obediently, then gently said, “I’ll listen to Uncle, we’re all family, no fighting, let’s talk reasonably.”
“Sss!”
Taken aback, Wang Shouxin gasped, his mind filled with doubt and wonder. Had his younger brother used some sort of technique? He had never seen Madam Xu be so compliant and rational, instantly suppressing her fiery temper and even starting to talk sense?