Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Ye Jiao didn’t know what feng shui was, but she could see that these people were not going to let the Qi family’s wine shop open smoothly.

Although there weren’t many people who came and they didn’t have any murder weapons, their roguish appearance made it clear that they came to stir things up.

At this moment, Steward Song had planned to go in with a sound. Before the auspicious hour, he would look for a chance to please the owner’s young lady. Who knew that there was such a disturbance, nailing him outside so he couldn’t get away.

With a frown, Dong Shi’s eyes flashed with disgust and she whispered: “Jiao Niang, I’m afraid we can’t get rid of these people with money.”

A happy event like the opening of an ordinary shop often attracted some idlers.

Beggars would come over with sticks and sing auspicious songs to ask for money, while local ruffians will come over to find a way to swindle money.

Generally, merchants send them away with money to avoid disasters, but this kind of people that reported their family in the beginning couldn’t be good.

If reported to the officer, most of the officers would not take it seriously since it was a small matter.

If let go of, it’s still a trivial matter that disturbs the auspicious time, but it would be troublesome if it hurt one’s reputation.

Ye Jiao blinked. The Little Ginseng had just become a human. She didn’t know much about these things, but good and evil were clear in her world.

If people like Xiang Gong were good, then these people were bad. They were such awful people that even spirits wouldn’t like them.

Naturally, with the same hatred on her face, Ye Jiao followed Dong Shi and said: “These people are very bad.”

Dong Shi nodded along, but there was some worry on her face for fear that Steward Song would not handle it well and cause trouble.

As soon as the two of them had finished speaking, Ye Jiao saw Steward Song from downstairs greeting them.

Steward Song had a smile on his face. He was getting older. Although he was shrewd, he had a gentle and kind face. Now his smile looked even more loving: “You few, peace and prosperity. This small store is not open yet. Fortunately, there’s a lot of good wine. If you have something to say, why don’t we go inside?

It was an indisputable response [1]. Steward Song never mentioned the Sun family, as if he hadn’t heard them.

These people were naturally unhappy. If they go in and talk, how could they cause trouble?

If there was no trouble, how could the people who sent them reward them?

This was just a set of tasks, and these rascals were very familiar with it. Of course they weren’t going to save Steward Song’s face.

Several people among the leaders wanted to talk again, but saw that Steward Song smiled and greeted the servants over. Without giving them a chance to respond, the servants caught each person and pinned them down.

It looked like they were being welcomed in, but secretly, a person covered one’s mouth while the other grasped his hand and cleanly pulled them in.

Since it wasn’t the auspicious opening moment yet, and it was lunchtime, there were not many onlookers. Standing on the street, you could only see someone’s back. Except for the shout at the beginning, nothing else was clearly seen. You naturally could not tell if these local ruffians happily went in or were grasped in.

But Ye Jiao on the second floor clearly saw it with surprise in her eyes.

Dong Shi let out an “eek” and said: “I used to think that Steward Song was a good-natured and astute person, but I didn’t expect him to be so decisive now.”

Especially since these guys looked like they were from a practiced family. Their actions were smooth and skilled; no mistakes were found, as if they had been prepared.

And after they brought in these troublemakers, they were not as polite as they were outside.

Although there was no beating or scolding, one by one were tied with a rope. They were tightly bound and it didn’t look like it felt too good.

Looking at the novel situation, Ye Jiao got up and walked downstairs. Dong Shi and Liu Pozi hurriedly followed.

Steward Song coldly faced the leader and said: “Spit it. What’s your name?”

The man didn’t say. Steward Song lifted his hand towards his mouth.

With a snap, the blow was heavy and hard, almost instantly making half the man’s face swollen, but Steward Song didn’t change his expression. Ye Jiao especially wanted to compliment Steward Song with the phrase of being old and vigorous. [2]

Thinking of this, Xiao Ginseng praised herself on using an idiom.

The leader could see that the old man in charge was a ruthless character. When he saw that Steward Song raised his hand to hit him on the other side of his face, he dared not carry on and immediately howled: “Wang Wu, my name is Wang Wu!”

Steward Song nodded, put his hand down, and slowly asked: “Who sent you here?”

Wang Wu whimpered and said: “Treasurer Sun.”

When Steward Song heard this, he slapped him again and gave him a symmetrical hit.

But Wang Wu wouldn’t say anything even if he was beaten. Steward Song frowned.

At this time, when Steward Song saw Ye Jiao coming down, he hurriedly put away his cruel look and replaced it with an ordinary smile: “Second Young Lady, go up and rest. Leave the business to me.”

Ye Jiao took a look and asked: “What are you planning to do after catching them?”

Steward Song replied: “This was ordered by the Second Young Master. He said that someone might come to make trouble today and let everyone in the shop prepare. If something went wrong, they should be caught first. Nothing can delay the opening of the shop. “

Ye Jiao heard Qi Yun’s order, so she stopped asking. Instead, she looked at the troublemakers, and Steward Song followed in looking.

Although they were already tied up, it wasn’t a problem to let them carry on and pretend to be stupid.

Steward Song frowned. In fact, a couple of slaps were just slaps. There were no traces after the swelling disappeared, but he couldn’t really break them or else they would be blamed.

It’s too late now to ask for ideas from Qi Yun. Qi Yun said that he (Steward Song) had the full authority to deal with it, but Steward Song had no rules and regulations and subconsciously said to Ye Jiao, the boss’s mistress: “Second Young Lady, take a look at this matter…”

Ye Jiao had never experienced this kind of battle. These people were bad guys, but Ye Jiao didn’t know how ordinary people dealt with bad guys. She was indecisive for a moment and her eyes looked over at Liu Pozi and Dong Shi.

Although Liu Pozi was old, she had always been in the back courtyard serving others, so she naturally didn’t have an idea about these things.

On the contrary, it was Dong Shi with a quick temper who spoke very directly: “Not to mention the Qi family won’t be afraid of you ruffians; even if you break your leg and throw it to the yamen [3], no one will listen to your grievances!”

Steward Song smiled in his heart, thinking that this Dong girl was still young. How can someone break a leg just by saying they would break a leg?

But the Little Ginseng had no idea about these. After listening to Dong Shi’s words, she muttered in her heart that human beings treat bad people quite ruthlessly, and casually said: “Okay then, hit it.”

Steward Song: “…”

Dong Shi: “…”

Wang Wuyi was terrified when he heard that. He originally wanted to come over to make trouble and get some money, but turns out he had a hard time!

Was it worth it to break a leg? The price is too high!

He had just thought that if the matter was given to a beautiful lady, he would get released. Who knew that this person was actually more ruthless than a man!

What a world!

Wang Wu hurriedly moved to yell. Song Guan thought he was an eyesore and feared that the shouting sound would disturb the people outside, so he waved his hand for his men to block their mouths and took them back for detailed questioning

When looking at Ye Jiao again, Steward Song was inexplicably more respectful: “Second Young Lady, do you want to tell the Second Young Master about this matter first?”

Ye Jiao was someone who asked her husband about everything, and this matter was no exception.

But before she could speak, she heard Steward Song again: “Oh, it’s just that it’s a long journey coming back and forth. Those people can’t be shut in for too long either. Leaving them here would be a hassle. If we open like this, if would be troublesome if something happened.”

Qi Yun did ask him to handle everything by himself. Steward Song had some ideas, but he rejected them all.

Ye Jiao slightly tilted her head and thought for a while: “What about sending them back to the Sun family?”

She mentioned it casually. She thought that they should go back from where they came from and not linger; it was annoying to hear them shout.

But this sentence made Steward Song’s face startled.

These people were playing under the banner of the Sun family to rile things up, but in fact, anyone with a discerning eye could see that they were not sent by the Sun family. After all, no one would do things and put their own names on their foreheads. They should be afraid of people recognizing them.

No matter who sent them, it was difficult for the Qi family to handle it in the end.

Going to the yamen usually ended with a few beats of the plank and then they get released, but it would affect their own shop sign.

It’s better to throw it to the Sun family and let them to ask around about who was making trouble outside under their banner. At that time, the Sun family would naturally have a way to toss out these big people and the people behind the scenes, and it has nothing to do with their own family.

Great, it was really great, this misfortune was used really well!

With a look of emotion, Steward Song immediately cupped his hand [4] at Ye Jiao and sincerely said: “The Second Young Lady is wise, really beyond the reach of ordinary people.”

Ye Jiao, who was casually commenting, looked at him inexplicably. Even after Steward Song left, she still didn’t understand what was going on.

The simple Little Ginseng did not know that there was a type of power that was making others think you are capable.

Plus, this was just a small episode of the opening of the shop. People outside didn’t even notice that some people were taken in and taken away. Everything was over before it even started.

Steward Song bundled these people and sent them to Treasurer Sun while he himself went out, as if nothing had happened, and waited for the auspicious time to light the firecrackers for a great fortune.

The Qi family’s wine store had made a name for itself with their Jade Elixir wine, and many people came to join in on the fun. The dragon and lion dance team was invited to make everything lively and exciting; naturally, no one remembered that someone just came over and tried to cause trouble.

Ye Jiao sat in front of the window on the second floor, covering her ears to block the crackling sound of firecrackers. Her eyes narrowed with laughter.

Dong Shi also covered her ears. Seeing Ye Jiao’s squeamish appearance, she felt that Ye Jiao’s words about beating legs were most likely meant to frighten those people. Her own Young Lady was obviously the kindest, and Dong Shi’s face smiled when she thought of this. She leaned over and loudly said: “Jiao Niang, do you like watching the lion dance?”

Ye Jiao also loudly called back: “As long as Xiang Gong invited it, I like it!”

This was loudly said, but Ye Jiao didn’t hesitate.

As long as it was from Xiang Gong, she liked it, because she knew that as long as it was from her, her husband liked it too.

Dong Shi smiled when she heard this, but there was envy in her eyes.

It’s hard not to be envious of Qi Yun and Ye Jiao as a husband and wife.

However, it wasn’t the first time that she had been shown a face by the owner and his wife. She got used to her feelings of envy after a few times, and soon Dong Shi was distracted by the lively lion dance outside.

After the excitement, Ye Jiao didn’t stay too long. After all, there were more and more people gathering; Steward Song had his own business to take care of. Ye Jiao also wanted to go to the pharmacy early, so she greeted Steward Song and prepared to leave.

On her way out, she wrote a few words using the pen and paper on the table.

Dong is literate. She was surprised to see the character “Sun” written in a round shape: “Jiao Niang, what are you doing with this?”

Ye Jiao folded the paper and put it in lap. She solemnly replied: “I’ll show it to my husband and tell him about it.”

Dong Shi laughed as soon as she heard it, thinking that the Second Young Lady was the only one who could be so confident in this complaint.

But when they went out, Ye Jiao didn’t notice two people staring at her from the corner of the street.

Once again, he was driven home by the master from the school, on the grounds that he cut the master’s beard while he was sleeping.

The master yelled and didn’t want to teach him anymore, but Ye Bao wasn’t worried at all. He didn’t like to read and write anyway. He didn’t want to go and followed his heart. The little guy’s age was young, so naturally he didn’t know that Ye Ersao had spent money on studying. If he didn’t like it, he didn’t like it, and he wouldn’t hide the fact.

Ye Ersao had a stomach full of anger and pulled Ye Bao home. Because she was looking for him at a school in town, when she went back she happened to run into the opening of the Qi family’s wine shop.

Ye Bao was clamoring to watch the excitement, and Ye Ersao couldn’t win against him. Thinking that she could get money among the hustle and bustle, she took him along. If they took a look, at least something should come out of it.

But when he was about to leave after watching the event, Ye Bao’s sharp eyes spotted Ye Jiao who was getting on the ox cart at a glance. He stretched out his finger and said, “Mother, look, it’s aunt!”

After pulling a few times, he didn’t hear Ye Ersao’s response.

Ye Bao raised his head in confusion and saw Ye Ersao staring at Ye Jiao; her hands clenched tighter and tighter.

Ye Bao yelled until his throat hurt, but Ye Ersao couldn’t hear it.

It wasn’t until Ye Bao pulled out his hand with all his strength that Ye Ersao came back to her senses.

She gritted her teeth and looked forward with all her might, but she couldn’t read a word. She could only turn her head and ask the vendor at the stall: “Whose family is conducting this event?”

The vendors set up stalls in the town all year round, and naturally they knew: “This is the Qi family ah, the Qi wine shop of the Jade Elixir wine. It’s newly opened. Looking at this scene, it is really prosperous.”

However, Ye Ersao only heard the first half of the sentence, and the latter could not be heard.

She was full of thoughts, Ye Jiao was really living a good life…

Unexplainably, her heart felt like it was being squeezed in pain.

***

Footnotes:

[1] Literal translation: not one drop of water can leak out. Referencing an airtight, rigorous argument.

[2] This is an idiom that describes someone being hearty and hale despite their years.

[3] Yamen = government office in feudal China.

[4] Cupping one’s hand at someone is like a salute; usually the hands are cupped in obeisance or greeting.

It looks like this; not like someone cupping their hands upwards. Image from Weibo.

***

Translator’s Notes:

Okay pop off Steward Song.