Though Tang Dongdong had long prepared herself to marry Jin Feng, her face flushed red at the sight of only one bed in the room.
“What’s this nonsense?”
Jin Feng’s face darkened as he turned to call for Aunt Liu, but Guan Xiaorou grabbed his sleeve.
“Darling, we can just squeeze in.”
“Squeeze in? If someone gets pregnant, whose fault is that?”
Jin Feng snapped irritably.
“Whoever you want it to be,” Guan Xiaorou teased.
“Stop talking nonsense. Wait till I come back and deal with you.”
Jin Feng swatted her head playfully, brushed off her hand, and ran after Aunt Liu.
Guan Xiaorou shrank back, sticking out her tongue.
Seeing Jin Feng leave, she huffed at Tang Dongdong, “Winter, didn’t we agree at home? Why did you freeze up just now?”
“…”
Tang Dongdong twisted her clothing, silent.
“You, you!”
Guan Xiaorou stomped her foot, both exasperated and regretful.
So close to success…
“Aunt Liu, why did you only prepare one room for us?”
Jin Feng caught up to her, smiling wryly.
“Hm?”
Aunt Liu misunderstood, “Young Master, is the bed too small?”
“No, you’ve got it wrong. The girl in the blue skirt isn’t my wife.”
“I know, she’s your concubine.”
Aunt Liu nodded knowingly, “Does Madam not want to sleep with the concubine?”
In their village, no matter how many concubines, they all slept together. Most families had one bed, maybe another for grown children. Only after coming to the city did she learn that some wealthy wives refused to share a bed with concubines.
“Winter isn’t my concubine either.”
“Not a concubine? Then why is she here to see you off to the battlefield?”
Aunt Liu’s gossip sparked, “A sweetheart, perhaps? Young Master, I shouldn’t meddle, but if you fancy her, you ought to give her a proper status…”
“She’s not my sweetheart!”
Jin Feng’s face darkened, “She’s… she’s like a manager I hired to handle my business.”
“A female manager?”
Aunt Liu clearly didn’t believe him, “Really?”
Jin Feng was on the verge of losing it, “Whether it’s true or not isn’t your concern. Just tell me if you can prepare another room!”
“Yes, I’ll get the side room ready for you.”
Seeing Jin Feng’s agitation, Aunt Liu hurried off.
Zhong Wu, passing by on patrol, overheard and stifled a laugh. Noticing Jin Feng’s glare, he quickly composed himself.
“Zhong Wu, is Aunt Liu always like this?”
Jin Feng asked curiously.
Weren’t servants in ancient times supposed to be meek? How had Aunt Liu, so nosy, survived this long?
“Sir, Aunt Liu’s son was once the Lord’s guard. He died protecting him. Knowing she had no one, the Lord brought her to Qingfeng Villa to give her a livelihood,” Zhong Wu explained. “The Lord isn’t married, so there’s no mistress to discipline the household. You know his temperament; he never troubles the servants, so they’re a bit bold. Please bear with it. I’ll talk to her later.”
“No need, it’s fine.”
Jin Feng shook his head.
He was just a guest; no need to trouble a poor woman over this.
Back in the guest room, Tang Dongdong was still there, chatting with Guan Xiaorou about the furnishings.
“Winter, Aunt Liu is preparing the side room. You’ll stay there later.”
“Okay.”
Tang Dongdong nodded, “Brother Feng, any instructions for the workshop?”
“No, just keep doing things as usual when I’m not home.”
“Is Brother Liang going too? If he is, who’ll deliver to the county?”
“Mancang and I are going, not Liang,” Jin Feng said. “But while I’m away, don’t let Liang make deliveries. Have him stay home. If anything comes up, consult him. Let Brother Tie handle deliveries instead.”
“Got it.”
Tang Dongdong nodded, “I’ll go find Aunt Liu then.”
“Winter, why not just squeeze in…”
Guan Xiaorou wasn’t giving up.
Tang Dongdong shook her head, blushing, and ran off.
“Darling, Winter’s a shy girl. Can’t you be more proactive?”
Guan Xiaorou sighed as Tang Dongdong left, “I talked it over with her at home. She’s genuinely willing to marry you. If you’d just made a move, she’d have stayed tonight.”
“Why are you so set on me marrying Tang Dongdong? Isn’t it enough that I’m only marrying you?”
Jin Feng asked, puzzled.
Guan Xiaorou had mentioned taking a concubine before, but never with such urgency. It was as if she wanted to tie Tang Dongdong to the bed.
“Darling, I know you’re good to me, but…”
Guan Xiaorou trailed off.
“But what? Speak up.”
A sudden thought struck Jin Feng, “You don’t fancy Winter, do you?”
He recalled an online theory that many women had bisexual tendencies, explaining why close female friends might act intimately without awkwardness. Could Guan Xiaorou…
“Darling, how could you think that of me?”
Guan Xiaorou denied it vehemently, almost frantic, “If that’s what you think, dunk me in a pig cage tomorrow!”
“Why a pig cage?”
Seeing her truly upset, Jin Feng quickly said, “If you don’t fancy Tang Dongdong, why are you so eager for me to marry her?”
“Because I’m useless…”
Guan Xiaorou pouted, “Darling, our workshop is growing. We’re spinning more thread, and Brother Liang brings back more goods from the county. But I can’t read, and I keep messing up the accounts. Lately, transactions have exceeded two thousand wen, and I can’t keep up… If our business grows bigger and you’re not home, I can’t manage it. Someone could cheat me, and I wouldn’t even know…”
As the lady of the house, she checked accounts with Zhang Liang when he returned from the county. At first, with smaller sums and fewer items, she managed. But now, with more goods and complex accounts, she was overwhelmed. The better the workshop did, the more anxious she became, leading to today’s scene.
Seeing her distress, Jin Feng wiped the tears from her eyes and gently pulled her into his arms, “Xiaorou, don’t worry. When I’m back, I’ll teach you to read and do accounts.”
“I’m too dumb to learn, and you’re leaving tomorrow…”
“While I’m gone, let Winter help you.”
“How can that work?”
Guan Xiaorou sat up, “You haven’t shared a bed with Winter or given her a marriage contract. She’s not family. She can help with work, but how can we trust her with the accounts?”
