Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: The Most Exasperating Person
Chapter 302: The Most Exasperating Person
Translator: c.o.keZero Editor: Rainystars
Lu Jiao instantly nodded.
Worried, Li Yuyao reminded Lu Jiao, “Scholar Xie is going to become an official one day. All officials have concubines. It doesn’t matter whether or not he wants one himself, the higher authorities would appoint him concubines. Plus, his colleagues would also give him women. The bottom line is, all officials have concubines. My father-in-law isn’t capable enough to get women as gifts. That’s why he only has the two my mother-in-law shoved him.
All of those capable ones have at least three to four concubines.”
Lu Jiao was in awe. Though she knew it was normal to have many wives during this era, she didn’t know higher authorities would give out women as gifts.
Luckily, she never planned on becoming an official’s wife. Those types of situations would exhaust her to death.
Yesterday at Hu’s birthday celebration, there was so much drama. If there were multiple women in one household, everyday would be theatrical. Where would she find the time to cure patients? She would have to battle it out with the concubines everyday.
Lu Jiao remembered that Xie Yunjin once vowed to never get concubines. She wondered if he would keep that promise.
Lu Jiao thought of the plot of the novel and this future First a.s.sistant actually didn’t have any concubines.
It appeared that Xie Yunjin was one of the good ones in this era.
Given how deep in thought Lu Jiao was, Li Yuyao comforted, “It’s okay. Concubines are just playthings. If Scholar Xie gets concubines in the future, just think of them as toys to cure your husband’s boredom.”
Lu Jiao raised her head and said to Li Yuyao seriously, “How are they playthings? That’s a dangerous way to think. They’re people who could easily get emotionally attached to your husband. What it your husband gets attached to her? What will happen to you then? What if that woman gives birth to children? She may start plotting against you then.
You should know how many women die in the imperial palace because of this. Dying is considered a small price. The children who survived have to endure so much hardship.”
Lu Jiao found ancient women so pitiful. Their mothers who died were even more pitiful.
Those situations made Li Yuyao sweat and she couldn’t help but to hate her mother-in-law.
She insisted on getting women to serve Hu Shan. Hu Shan never asked for that.
Even that was after her father-in-law spoke up. Or else Hu Shan would have two concubines right now.
It was her father-in-law who said that since Hu Shan had no son with his wife yet, the women who served him should not get pregnant. They were asked to take medicine to prevent pregnancies and only once Hu Shan had his son with his wife, should the servants get pregnant. Once they bear sons, they can become concubines.
Li Yuyao had originally accepted her fate but Lu Jiao’s words made her anxious. If those women give birth to sons, they may try to take her son’s life.
Li Yuyao grabbed Lu Jiao’s hands, “Jiaojiao, how did I end up with such a mother-in-law.”
Lu Jiao sighed, “It’s not just your mother-in-law. They’re all similar. Remember though, you cannot b.u.t.t heads against your mother-in-law. You have to act soft against her harsh edges. You also have to make sure you have Hu Shan’s heart and prevent him from falling for those two women. When you get a chance, get rid of those two. In the future, you should ask Hu Shan to deal with your mother-in-law. You should be able to do that if you’re nice to him.”
Li Yuyao continued to nod and pull on Lu Jiao’s hands, “Jiaojiao, I have benefited greatly by making you my sister.”
Lu Jiao knew how worried she was and tried to make her laugh, “Then, treat me nicely in the future.”
Li Yuyao managed a smile, “Of course. You’re like my biological sister!”
Her real biological sister should get as far away from her as possible.
Lu Jiao and Li Yuyao conversed for a while longer. Worried that the four little ones might fight with Zhao Yuluo again, they got up to check.
They ended up finding Zhao Yuluo quietly playing with Hu Lingxue and the four little ones.
Lu Jiao couldn’t help but laugh. See, bad kids needed to be educated. If you ignore her, she’ll comfort herself.
The Hu family spent the afternoon here happily. Lu Jiao tried to keep them for dinner but due to how little Ping An was, Hu Shan and Li Yuyao couldn’t stay.
Lu Jiao asked aunt Hua to make some pastries for them to bring back.
Li Yuyao and Hu Lingxue were ecstatic to hear that. They had tasted the pastries aunt Hua made and found them to be delicious. They also felt like their mood somehow improved after eating.
Zhao Yuluo was brought back home by her nanny and servant. Before leaving, she remembered to say bye to Lu Jiao.
She ignored the others though and ran away cold-faced.
They thought she was oblivious? The others didn’t like her and therefore, she didn’t like them!
Xie Yunjin and the four little ones’ watched her with a dark face.
“The Zhao family is so awful at raising children.”
The First Born added, “Very true. She is so disrespectful.”
The Second Born unwelcomingly announced, “When I see her next, I am going to hit her again.”
Lu Jiao didn’t like that, “Did you forget what I taught you before?” The Second Born instantly said, “I shouldn’t bully girls.”
But he quickly added, “She hit me first though! And pinched my face!”
“What happened today could be forgiven. But do not proudly say you are going to hit someone the next time you see them. You’re a boy and you should not be petty. You should be reasonable and logical.”
The Second Born originally felt wronged. But since his mother said he was forgiven for today, he replied loudly, “Mommy, I got it. I won’t hit her next time.”
But if someone provokes him first, he will react the same way as today.
The Second Born silently swore.
The Third and Fourth Born looked towards Lu Jiao, “Mommy, sister Xiaoxiao is nicer than Zhao Yuluo.”
“She even gave us gifts!”
The Fourth Born was grinning so hard his eyes disappeared. This was because he got the roly-poly from her and what a fun toy that was!
“That means your sister Xiaoxiao is friendly and polite. You should learn to be like that in the future.’
“We will!”
The family had dinner peacefully. After eating, the four little ones were so tired they could barely think. Lu Jiao and Xie Yunjin bathed them and sent them to bed.
Under the dim light, Lu Jiao couldn’t help but peek at Lu Jiao.
Lu Jiao’s eyes were soft as she tucked the four little ones in. It was August and the night had gotten chilly. Therefore, she pulled out thick blankets for all of them.
Terrified that the four little ones might kick the blankets off in the middle of the night, she carefully tucked each side of the blanket under their bodies.
Xie Yunjin saw the gentleness in her and lost himself.
She was exactly the mother he had imagined all mothers should be.
Before, she frequently thought that his future wife would be someone who loved their children. He didn’t want his children to suffer as he did growing up. Sadly, the woman he married was more exasperating than his own mother. Not only did she mistreat the children, she even beat them.
The person that existed before made Xie Yunjin frown.
Beside him, Lu Jiao stood up and couldn’t help but to comment, “You’re looking a little sick.. What’s wrong?”