Chapter 160 – Yan Xiaosi Gets Angry
Yan Bozhang gritted his teeth. As the steward of the county government and the eldest in the Yan family, many sought his favor, yet Yan Xiaosi dared to ignore him. It infuriated him. However, remembering the task given to him by Yao Jin, he suppressed his anger.
“Xiaosi, is your mother in there?” he asked.
Yan Xiaosi stopped, crossed her arms, and looked at him with a nonchalant expression. “Are you talking to me, Great Master Yan?”
Seeing her dismissive attitude, Yan Bozhang felt like strangling her but managed to smile and said, “Is there anyone else here called Xiaosi? Xiaosi, stop joking around with your uncle.”
“Joking!” Yan Xiaosi scoffed inwardly, her intention was to drive away the bothersome Yan family, not to joke around.
“Master Yan, do you have business with my mother? She’s washing dishes; you can tell me instead.”
Knowing Yan Bozhang’s visit couldn’t be for anything good, she didn’t want him to see Ms. Zhong and add to her worries.
Ms. Zhong, washing dishes inside the cave, faintly heard Yan Xiaosi talking to someone and casually asked, “Xiaosi, who are you talking to?”
Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue were puzzled, wondering who would visit the mountain at this time of day.
Hearing Ms. Zhong’s voice, Yan Bozhang eagerly called out, “Third brother’s wife, it’s me. I need to speak with you. Can you come out for a moment?”
Ms. Zhong’s heart tightened at the sound of Yan Bozhang’s voice, and she accidentally dropped the dish brush.
Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue’s expressions changed.
Yan Shuxue looked outside the cave nervously and said, “Mom, why is uncle here at this time?”
Ms. Zhong picked up the dish brush and wiped her hands. “I don’t know. Shuqin, Shuxue, stay inside. I’ll go and see.”
As Yan Bozhang waited, he saw Ms. Zhong come out of the cave with a troubled expression.
He started to approach her, but Yan Xiaosi stepped forward, protectively placing herself in front of Ms. Zhong.
Yan Bozhang had to stop, smiling at Ms. Zhong.
His gentle smile made her even more nervous.
“What do you need, Elder Brother?” Ms. Zhong asked.
Seeing her vulnerable, Yan Bozhang got straight to the point: “Third brother’s wife, Shuqin is eighteen this year, right?”
Ms. Zhong nodded nervously, “She will be after the new year.”
“Eighteen is the age to marry. Someone has taken a liking to Shuqin and asked me to arrange a match.”
Hearing this, Ms. Zhong and Yan Xiaosi immediately tensed. The only person who could persuade Yan Bozhang to arrange a match was likely Yao Jin, the magistrate of Xize County.
The inevitable had come, just sooner than expected.
Ms. Zhong was at a loss, her mind in chaos.
Yan Xiaosi remained calm. With a cold smile, she stared at Yan Bozhang, “Master Yan, is this person you speak of Magistrate Yao of Xize County?”
Yan Bozhang was momentarily taken aback by his young nephew’s demeanor. Indeed, he was as clever and astute as his father, which made him quite detestable.
“Exactly,” he admitted.
Seeing him nod, Yan Xiaosi let out a cold laugh. “Magistrate Yao already has more than a dozen wives and concubines. The cost of their cosmetics alone must be several dozen taels a year. But I remember that a seventh-rank official in the Great Chu Dynasty only earns about fifty or sixty taels a year. Is Magistrate Yao not eating or drinking, spending all his salary on his wives and concubines? But when General Zhan invited us to the county office, I noticed they lived quite well. Could it be that Magistrate Yao is extorting from the people?”
Yan Bozhang’s face changed at Yan Xiaosi’s speculative remarks, and he cut her off sharply. “Yan Xiaosi, don’t speak nonsense.”
Unfazed by his anger, Yan Xiaosi shrugged. “General Zhan is currently in Xize County. Whether I’m speaking nonsense can easily be verified by him.”
Yan Bozhang, having benefited from Yao Jin’s corrupt practices, knew the consequences if these matters reached the high-ranking officials in Xijing. The plan to help Yao Jin take another concubine had to be temporarily abandoned.
“Yan Xiaosi, you’re ruthless,” he said with a harsh glare.
He then turned his attention to Ms. Zhong, reminding her, “Marriage matters of a daughter should be decided by her elders. Don’t forget, the Old Master is Shuqin’s grandfather and has the right to decide her marriage.”
This statement infuriated Yan Xiaosi. “Bullshit! After my father died, Old Master Yan threw us out of the Yan estate. For years, it’s been my mother who has struggled to raise us. We haven’t eaten a single grain of rice provided by Old Master Yan. Why should he have any say in my sister’s marriage?”
Yan Bozhang’s face turned green with anger. Besides the Old Master, no one else dared to curse at him like this.
“You, you…” he stuttered in rage, pointing at Yan Xiaosi.
Yan Xiaosi stood her ground, “What about me? We’re barefoot and not afraid of those with shoes. I’m telling you today, if anyone tries to make our family’s life miserable, I’ll make sure they have no peace either. If you don’t believe me, you can try it.”
Yan Bozhang and the two servants from the Yan family were intimidated by her ferocity and remained silent, fearing her wrath.
Yan Xiaosi’s aura was completely unleashed, her eyes flashing with fierce determination.
Yan Bozhang took a sharp breath, realizing that her words were not just threats. This nephew of his could truly retaliate against him and the Yan family.
His fear was mixed with jealousy. How could such a young teenager possess such a powerful presence?
Even Ms. Zhong was momentarily intimidated by Yan Xiaosi’s aura. But when she came to her senses, she didn’t stop Yan Xiaosi from making threats.
“Elder brother, you can leave. My Shuqin would rather marry a poor man than be a concubine in an official’s house. That’s my stance. It doesn’t matter who comes asking.”
After Ms. Zhong finished, Yan Xiaosi stood tall and ordered Yan Bozhang and the servants, “Now leave! Do you need me to sweep you out?”
Being intimidated by his nephew in front of the servants made Yan Bozhang feel utterly humiliated. He glared fiercely at Yan Xiaosi as he turned to leave.
After Yan Bozhang and the two servants left, Ms. Zhong breathed a sigh of relief, her body suddenly feeling weak.
