Chapter 35

Qiao Xuan’s Understanding

Madame Qiao consoled her with a smile, meaning to console herself as well. “It is just 300 liang. She can’t live on that amount for the rest of her life. It is worth the while if we are left alone after this. Just take it that we are driving away a beggar!”

Qiao Wei snorted, and let it go.

When Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan left the mansion, they could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

Qiao Xuan smiled. “Darling, I am sorry that you have to go through this! But don’t worry, this is the one and only time. We will never come to this place again!”

Qiao Xuan was feeling really guilty, because Shao Yunduan suffered from this ordeal thanks to her.

She had told him a few things before they walked into the mansion, but the reality turned out to be much worse than what she had said. It did not seem to have worked that well for him.

Shao Yunduan was indeed feeling really bad inwardly.

But that was mostly because he felt sorry for Qiao Xuan, who was the so-called daughter of County Magistrate on the surface yet who suffered from such discrimination inside the mansion. He even believed that Taotao was living a happier life than she had, earlier at her house.

They had gotten married and Qiao Xuan was very compatible with the Shao Family these days. She even called his mother ‘Mom’ passionately, and subconsciously, Shao Yunduan had already included her into their family.

Seeing that she was bullied, he became not only compassionate, but also angry.

But she was still trying her best to console him at this moment.

Shao Yunduan felt heat attacking his heart, as he looked at Qiao Xuan. “I will definitely make it to the ‘Recommended Man’ next year at the village examination!”

Qiao Xuan was confused. “What? Why are you saying this now?”

“And the year after that, I will make it to the ‘Advanced Scholar’.”

“What?”

“At that time, no one is going to look down at you any more.”

“…”

Qiao Xuan finally understood what he was saying.

Suddenly, she felt a stream of warmth flowing past her heart, as she looked at Shao Yunduan in astonishment.

She had thought that the most Shao Yunduan would do was not blame her, and might hold some grudges inside. After all, he had been humiliated for no reason. No one would be able to stand that.

Moreover, he was a scholar, who cared more about manners than the others.

Unexpectedly, however, he was making a promise to console her.

This kind of consolation consisted of no sweet words or gentle sentences. Instead it was filled with penetrative strength, just like the sunshine that melted the ice and snow. For some reason, she felt even more confident in this way.

She smiled brightly. “I am sure you can make it!”

A man like him deserved to get happiness in his life. He should be given a promising future to become a ‘Recommended Man’ and an ‘Advanced Scholar’.

Shao Yunduan showed a rare smile as he nodded. “Let’s just leave.”

“Okay!”

Since they were in the county, Qiao Xuan decided to bring some stuff home.

She talked happily with Shao Yunduan, who wasn’t that talkative but gave small responses. Gradually, the grudge they held towards the trip to the Qiao Mansion was gone.

The couple grabbed some food and then, Qiao Xuan took Shao Yunduan for shopping.

Farmers’ families were not rich enough to splurge on spices and seasonings, and they were always fed light-tasted food. Two or three meals might be useful to get a healthy diet, but too many such meals couldn’t be tolerated.

Qiao Xuan, who had been used to a well-to-do life, had had enough of such bland food after just three days.

She was definitely going to buy a lot of seasonings and spices today, before anything else.

They were breeding sprouts at home, and after the Dragon Boat Day, they would start to plant the crop. But it seemed that the grains were not enough, so her mother-in-law had tried to cut down the rice for the porridge so as to live more frugally. They would not be completely full until the new grains were harvested.

Therefore, Qiao Xuan decided to buy hundreds of jin of rice and flour respectively.