Chapter 11: Does She Enjoy Seeking Out Suffering?

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Madam Qin was eleven years older than Yan Chaonian and had gained fame earlier. Over the years, many had come to her for guidance, and she usually offered some advice out of courtesy. Last year, at the Doujin Festival, the top prize went to a plum blossom-patterned brocade from the Chaijin Workshop. Having examined it herself, she admired its intricate and precise weaving, the splendid color scheme, and the way the entire fabric unfolded rhythmically, expanding within the rules—a truly well-deserved honor.

“From this piece, one can see the weaver’s skill is exquisite, the weave dense and well-managed. She must be a standout among the thousands of weavers in Rong City, yet…” Madam Qin was puzzled; she had never heard of such a person.

Yan Chaonian smiled. “That’s my mother. Unfortunately, she’s gotten older, and her eyesight isn’t so good anymore. Doing such delicate work has become difficult for her.”

“Since last year’s brocade, she hasn’t touched the loom again.”

Understanding this, Madam Qin felt regret. “If given the chance, I must pay your mother a visit. Even with poor eyesight, her experience and skill are truly rare.”

“Judging by that brocade, your mother’s weaving skill must be on par with mine. Why don’t you learn directly from her?”

Yan Chaonian chuckled. “My mother has a sharp temper. She always thinks I’m slow-witted. If I don’t get it after a couple of lessons, she gets angry. Over time, I lost the will to learn, and she lost the patience to teach.”

Madam Qin laughed along. “Just hearing that, I can tell your mother has a straightforward nature. With such skill, it’s odd that her name isn’t well-known in the city. I suppose your family must be quite well-off.”

Only then did she realize it was already evening. “It’s rare we find someone we can talk to so easily. Before we knew it, the day has slipped away.”

Yan Chaonian stood. “I’ve troubled you all day, Madam Qin. Our conversation has been most enlightening. May I visit again?”

“You’re welcome anytime.”

Though Madam Qin was more skilled due to her age, she also gained much from their day-long conversation, especially her newfound interest in Yan’s mother.

Madam Qin escorted Yan Chaonian to the gate, watching as she climbed into a carriage. The carriage was ordinary, unmarked, revealing Yan Chaonian’s need for discretion. Even dressed plainly today, her noble bearing couldn’t be hidden; she was no mere workshop weaver.

Her thoughts drifted to the mysterious female owner of Chaijin Workshop, noting some resemblance.

“What are you looking at?”

Master Xu, just returned from teaching, curiously looked toward his wife. Following her gaze, he saw the carriage departing. “The visitor who came today is only leaving now?”

“Yes, a skilled and interesting woman.”

The joy in Madam Qin’s eyes was evident, and Master Xu shared her happiness. He placed a pouch of money in her hand. “If you like her, keep in touch. This is the rent money just collected. Don’t stay at the loom too long—it’s bad for your eyes.”

“I understand.”

Madam Qin wondered what the highly skilled Yan mother thought. She couldn’t rest; today had sparked new ideas she wanted to try.

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“I’m content as long as I have a good grandchild.”

At this moment, Yan’s mother was playing chase with her little grandson in the courtyard. The child’s giggles coaxed even Li Xia, who had been standing nearby, into joining the game. After a while, she said, “That persistent pest was at the back gate of the workshop all day.”

“What pest?”

Yan Chaonian had returned. Her little Xun’er ran to her, leaving dirt on her clean clothes.

“You little rascal, look at my clothes.”

“Ha ha ha!”

Xun’er laughed and ran off again, then stopped and beckoned her to chase. Yan Chaonian sighed, feigning pursuit for a while until she was out of breath. Xun’er seemed to have boundless energy, so Yan Chaonian reluctantly let a maid accompany the boy for a run.

“What were you just talking about? I feel like you’re hiding something from me.”

Li Xia dodged the question, but Yan Chaonian pressed on. “You’re definitely hiding something.”

They had been chatting happily until she arrived, then fell silent. While she played with Xun’er, they exchanged secret glances. Yan Chaonian’s sharp eyes saw through their act.

“Did the Jiang family cause trouble again?”

Li Xia gave a knowing look to Yan’s mother, who remained calm. Li Xia then recounted the theft involving Jiang Wencheng and his son. “I heard everything was stolen—except for their underwear. They even sent someone to spy on you at the workshop’s back gate.”

Yan Chaonian blinked. “If everything was stolen, why spy on me?”

Her mind immediately jumped to a conclusion: were they trying to curry favor with her?

She had brought money and clothes, but the father and son had sneered and mocked her before accepting the gifts reluctantly, then trampled on her again. Was that their real intent?

“Nothing was left behind?”

“Not exactly.”

Li Xia explained, “The servants weren’t robbed. They still have three carriages, which they sold and exchanged for mules to save money. That’s enough for the trip home.”

Yan Chaonian suddenly realized. “You did this.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Li Xia denied it. “My second uncle isn’t that kind of person. The authorities said it was a flying thief.”

Patting her belly, she said, “Can my second uncle really fly?”

Yan Chaonian folded her arms, half-smiling. “You’re the culprit. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

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“Tell you earlier? And have you go easy on him?”

Li Xia was exasperated, convinced her niece wasn’t thinking straight. “He treats you like that, and you still feel soft-hearted?”

Yan Chaonian was speechless. When had she ever been soft-hearted? Did she really look that unreliable? Was she someone who enjoyed pain?

“I admit I was a bit of a coward back at the Bo residence. I didn’t draw my knife to kill Jiang Wencheng, nor did I poison Old Lady Jiang with rat poison. But in the end, I was mentally and physically broken. I’ve come to my senses.”

“My second uncle, can you stop looking at me like I’m an idiot?”

She was losing confidence.

Li Xia remained unconvinced. She could believe she might harm Jiang Wencheng, but with that wolfish brat from the Jiang family around, she just couldn’t.

“Anyway, don’t get involved. Just pretend you don’t know.”

“How can I pretend not to know? If you want to teach him a lesson, that’s fine, but there must be limits…”

“See, see.”

Before Yan’s mother could finish, Li Xia interrupted. “You just can’t bear to.”

Yan’s mother sighed and told Yan Chaonian to go wash up.

Once Yan Chaonian left, her mother glared at Li Xia. “Stop bringing up the past. It wasn’t easy for her back then. Her father and brother were officials. She had to weigh every word and action carefully. The circles of nobility aren’t so carefree; one wrong word, and you’re done. She had many relatives, but few to support her. Do you think life was easy for her?”

“Don’t speak of her like that anymore. Your brother-in-law can’t hear these things either.”

Thinking of the quarrel between Yan’s father and Lord Li gave her a headache.

Li Xia was resentful. “Why can’t we support him?”

Yan’s mother sighed in exhaustion. Did they really think all officials were as easy to deal with as Yuan Shen? Had they forgotten the days she had been a granddaughter?