However, before she could retaliate, Zhan Jinmo stopped her with a cold rebuke. “Enough.”
She was stupid without even realizing it, and still had the nerve to talk back after being ridiculed. What a disgrace!
Feng Xianxian’s eyes immediately reddened with grievance. Holding back a pool of tears, she retreated to a corner.
Shao Yutong’s eyes flickered. She stepped forward and asked Cheng Yao, “One gold hairpin can only buy ten bowls of ginger soup?”
Her words brought Madam Wang, Zhan Yunhe’s mother, back to her senses. She hurriedly said, “That’s right, Yao’er. We’re all family, and we’re still on the road to exile. It’s already difficult enough just to stay alive. Can’t you charge a little less?”
“Whether I charge anything, and how much I charge, depends on the person.” Cheng Yao smiled faintly. “Fifth Aunt, if you think it’s too expensive, you can take the hairpin back.”
She spread open her hand. The gold hairpin lay in her fair, delicate palm.
Madam Wang was momentarily speechless. “Th-that… This is far too unfair.”
Cheng Yao lifted her chin slightly. “There’s no such thing as fair or unfair. I made the ginger soup, so I decide.”
Zhan Yunhe pulled Madam Wang aside. “Mother, this ginger soup can cure illness. It’s worth a fortune. What does exchanging it for a hairpin matter?”
“What do you know? With one hairpin, we could buy a great deal of rice and clothing at the market.” Madam Wang shook off his hand.
“But if we fall ill, we won’t be able to enjoy even the finest food or clothing.”
“In this freezing weather, we’ll die just the same if we have nothing to eat or wear.”
Without another word, Madam Wang snatched the hairpin from Cheng Yao’s hand.
The others who wanted to buy Cheng Yao’s ginger soup began hesitating again.
One man summoned his courage and offered two hard, cold flatbreads.
“Can I exchange them for a bowl… No, half a bowl of ginger soup?”
He was a concubine-born son from a secondary branch of the family. No relatives or friends had come to see him off, so he had no supplies.
These flatbreads were the food he had saved for two days. They were all he had.
Cheng Wan accepted them with a smile. “Then you can have a bowl.”
The man was overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly.
The others erupted in commotion and began bringing over their own flatbreads.
Cheng Yao, however, shook her head. “That won’t be enough to exchange for any.”
Everyone was confused, and some were even angry.
“Why can Zhan Mang do it, but we can’t?”
“Isn’t this blatant favoritism?”
Cheng Yao smiled. “To Zhan Mang, those flatbreads are his only food, which makes them precious. That is their value. But you all have plenty of good things hidden away, so the flatbreads are practically worthless in comparison. I’m not interested.”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Could value really be calculated that way?
They had indeed hidden things away, but how had she known?
“Then will this hairpin do?” An elderly woman tremblingly held out a silver hairpin.
Cheng Yao glanced at it. “It can be exchanged for half a bowl.”
Everyone was confused again. “Isn’t that the only thing she has? Why is it worth only half a bowl?”
“It isn’t the only thing she has.”
Cheng Yao did not elaborate.
“Wow, she really is amazing. Can she see through people or something? She even knows that!”
“This woman is something else. No wonder she can treat illnesses.”
Everyone felt a chill run through them and became even more wary of Cheng Yao.
Secretly, Cheng Yao found it amusing. She was hardly that extraordinary. She had merely guessed from the old woman’s guilty, evasive gaze.
Shao Yutong came over carrying a bowl. “Eldest Cousin-in-Law, I’m here to collect the ginger soup for Grandmother and Second Aunt.”
“All right.” Cheng Yao smiled warmly. “But, Cousin Yutong, what are you planning to exchange for it?”
Shao Yutong opened her innocent, wide eyes. “Eldest Cousin-in-Law, are you charging family members too?”
Cheng Yao said, “Have you forgotten? Your Third Cousin-in-Law already separated my branch of the family from Grandmother’s.”
“We haven’t been separated yet. Our names are still on the same household register.”
“That’s only because she failed to keep her promise. I’ll go find her and have it done now.”
Cheng Yao turned to leave, but Shao Yutong grabbed her arm. “Eldest Cousin-in-Law, even if the families are separated, we’re still relatives.”
Cheng Yao replied casually, “Yes, and the entire Zhan clan is also family. I treat everyone equally.”
Shao Yutong grew anxious. “But you didn’t say you wanted payment when you gave us ginger soup before.”
Cheng Yao did not even blush. “That was a complimentary trial serving. Once you’re satisfied with the trial, naturally you have to pay.”
Shao Yutong opened and closed her mouth, unable to say a word. She clutched the corner of her clothes and took a small step back, her little face gradually crumpling as bewilderment and wounded grievance filled her watery eyes.
Zhan Qingrou curled her lips in disgust. Even with her own family, Cheng Yao was so stingy. No wonder she had come from a humble household—she was utterly embarrassing and disgraceful!
“Cheng Yao, that’s our grandmother and Second Aunt you’re talking about. No matter how much you love money, you shouldn’t charge them.”
Cheng Yao looked at this sister-in-law who had always taken outsiders’ side, and she lost the last of her patience. “If you won’t let me charge them, then where am I supposed to get the money for the ginger and medicinal ingredients? You think I’m greedy? Then pay for them yourself.”
Zhan Qingrou was left speechless.
You’re deliberately trying to embarrass me, aren’t you?
If I had money, would I need to put up with your attitude?
She could afford to pay for the ginger soup for the entire clan.
But she was not entirely confident as she said, “They’re only drinking two bowls. How much could the ingredients possibly cost?”
Cheng Yao looked at her leisurely. “Oh? Since they won’t drink much, then the entire Zhan clan is family too. Should I waive the cost for everyone?”
This Cheng Yao—hadn’t she always been quiet and withdrawn since childhood?
How had she become so sharp-tongued and eloquent?
Zhan Qingrou braced herself. “There’s a difference between relatives close and distant. Grandmother and Second Aunt are our direct relatives.”
Cheng Yao sneered. “The families have already separated. If you want to be close to them, go ahead. I have no intention of considering them family.”
“You!” Zhan Qingrou stamped her foot. “Mother, look at Cheng Yao. She’s being completely unreasonable.”
Lady Zhan frowned unhappily. “How insolent! She’s your elder sister-in-law. How can you address her by her full name?”
Zhan Qingrou stamped her foot again, feeling deeply wronged. “Mother! Why do you always take her side? She’s clearly the one in the wrong.”
Her eldest brother was a prince of a different surname, second only to the emperor and above all others. Even in exile, his authority remained.
Cheng Yao had none of the generosity or sense of responsibility expected of the wife of the clan head. She was simply bringing shame upon her eldest brother!
Why, then, did Mother not see it that way? Why did she keep trying to curry favor with Cheng Yao?
Zhan Haochen spoke up. “Qingrou, Eldest Sister-in-Law knows what she’s doing. There’s no need for you or me to interfere.”
As long as Eldest Sister-in-Law was sincerely treating his eldest brother, he felt that nothing she did could be considered excessive.
“Second Brother, you’re taking her side too!”
Zhan Qingrou felt as though the entire family had turned against her. Her mother and both her brothers no longer loved her. Heartbroken, she turned and ran outside.
“Qingrou!”
Lady Zhan turned to chase after her. “It’s dangerous outside. Come back!”
However, after traveling for so many days, all her strength had already been drained. Even walking made her stagger.
Cheng Yao was worried about her health. “Mother, let her cool off. You’re tired too, so sit down and rest for a while.”
Zhan Haochen also urged her, “Mother, Eldest Sister-in-Law is right. Eldest Brother hasn’t recovered yet, and you mustn’t collapse again.”
Lady Zhan stood there and called out several times, warning Zhan Qingrou not to go too far, before finally returning.
But she was still worried, so she asked Zhan Haochen to go look for her.
“Mother, see for yourself.” Zhan Haochen removed his ragged cloth shoes, revealing feet covered in bloody, mangled flesh.
“I truly can’t walk anymore.”
“My poor son…”
Lady Zhan’s heart ached terribly, and her tears would not stop.
