Chapter 38: What Evil Technique Did 4th Brother Use?

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Standing in front of Wang Shouzhe was a middle-aged woman dressed with exquisite taste. Her hair was adorned with pearl hairpins, her hands with jade bracelets, and she wore high Cloud-Stepping Boots, all wrapped in a luxurious multicolored cloud-pattern silk dress. She appeared as a noblewoman from the city.

Moreover, she had meticulously groomed herself before coming. Her face was powdered and her lips painted a crimson red, making her seem not a day over twenty-seven or eight years old rather than her actual age of forty. This was a testament to her diligent upkeep and being clearly cherished and indulged by her husband, Wang Shouxin.

Yet, there were red threads in her eyes, indicating she had been crying recently.

Remarkably, she held a large bamboo basket covered with red cloth.

Upon seeing how courteous Wang Shouzhe was, Xu Shi's initial tension and hostility diminished slightly. She respectfully curtsied and greeted, "Xu Shi greets Fourth Uncle."

"Sister-in-law, you are too polite," Wang Shouzhe replied with a sincere smile. "Sister-in-law, please, come into the side hall and rest. My Lady is also here." Saying this, he courteously guided Xu Shi to the side hall.

Xu Shi's expression tightened, and upon seeing Gongsun Hui, she hastily bowed with respect, "Xu Shi greets Lady Hui." She had always been proud, as a direct lineage daughter of the Changning Xu Family, marrying Wang Shouxin was considered a step down. Yet, no matter her pride, she dared not show airs in front of a legitimate daughter of the Shanyang Gongsun Family.

Especially since Gongsun Shi was the wife of the former Clan Leader, the current Clan Leader's legitimate mother, and her elder!

"Oh, it's Shouxin's family that's come. What wind blew you here?" Gongsun Hui spoke with a slight authoritative undertone, yet with a full smile, "Come, come, sit down and speak. Just in time to taste the Shanyang Small Spirit Species grown personally by Shouzhe's grandfather."

She maintained a tone of seniority, using "Shouxin's family" to emphasize Xu Shi's identity as Wang Shouxin's wife, evidently a hint of a warning.

"No, no, no, Lady Hui, how dare I sit?" Xu Shi awkwardly smiled. She had not expected Lady Gongsun to be here; otherwise, she wouldn't have dared come looking for Wang Shouzhe at this time.

Moreover, the tea they were drinking was Spirit Seed Spirit Tea, which, given her position in the Changning Xu Family, she could never have enjoyed. Marrying into the Ping'an Wang Family made it even more unattainable...

"Fourth Uncle, you are the pillar of the family." Xu Shi put on a slightly fawning smile and handed over the basket in her hand, saying, "Sister-in-law just thought you work so hard in your cultivation, and brought some fresh ingredients to nourish you. I wouldn't want to disturb your conversation…"

With that, she placed down the basket and prepared to leave.

"Sister-in-law, hold on." Wang Shouzhe said, smiling to stop her, "It's rare for you to visit my place, have a cup of tea before you go. Besides, it's been a long time since I've seen Brother Shouxin. I heard he's recently returned to the main house for some business, I'll have a servant invite him over, and we can have a meal together and catch up."

"This…" Xu Shi was somewhat flattered yet apprehensive, glancing at Gongsun Hui.

"Shouzhe is the Patriarch of the Wang Family, if he asks you to sit, then you should sit," Gongsun Hui's demeanor softened a bit.

Only then did Xu Shi sit down, though awkwardly. Although she wore luxurious clothes, her attire seemed to lack its splendor compared to the more simply dressed Gongsun Hui.

Wang Shouzhe called in Wang Gui and instructed, "Inform the main kitchen to cook a large piece of boar meat sent by the Fourth Old Master, but don't let it stew too soft. Also, get a skilled cook to set up a small stove in our courtyard and slice two pounds of Spirit Horned Yak Meat. Oh, and also bring that pot of Spirit Wine, and arrange for fresh fruits and vegetables as you see fit."

"Yes, Patriarch. By the way, the Sixth Master sent a fresh Red-Scaled Eel into the family's ice cellar, and the precious Spirit Eel Blood has been prepared into blood tofu. It's said to belong to your private collection since you caught it yourself—only you are allowed to eat it," Wang Gui reminded.

"Heh, ignore it," Wang Shouzhe replied with a smile, "Cut the best part from the middle of the Red-Scaled Eel, along with the blood tofu, and bring them both out. The rest goes to the public storage and is distributed as needed for everyone to taste. After you've arranged it all, invite Brother Shouxin over."

"Yes, Patriarch." Wang Gui acknowledged and withdrew.

"Fourth Uncle, this, this is too extravagant… and makes you go through too much trouble." Xu Shi was trembling, whispered, "Make it simpler, simpler."

"Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Wang Shouxin is my brother, you are my sister-in-law. Since we're all together for a meal, how can we be haphazard?" Wang Shouzhe personally took a teacup and poured Xu Shi a cup of Spirit Tea, "Sister-in-law, try this Shanyang Small Spirit Species, it's best consumed hot for effect."

Xu Shi trembled as she sipped the tea, and the bitterness and unique flavor of the Spirit Tea struck her heart. Instantly, she felt like crying.

Having lived in the Changning Xu Family for nineteen years and married into the Ping'an Wang Family for twenty-one, she never had the blessing to drink a cup of Spirit Tea. Her first cup in life, unexpectedly, was given by Wang Shouzhe.

Initially, she came here prepared to plead with him. If that didn't work, she was ready to make a scene, to alarm all the clan members.

For her son, she could overlook everything and was ready to let go of all her dignity.

Yet she never thought that as the prestigious direct lineage of the clan and the patriarch, Wang Shouzhe would treat her with such respect and hospitality as a sister-in-law.

"Fourth Uncle, that, that matter…" Suddenly, Xu Shi felt a bit choked up, wondering if perhaps there was a chance for a turnaround, given Wang Shouzhe's kindness toward her and her husband.

"Sister-in-law, are you referring to the matter concerning Zongwei?" Wang Shouzhe had no intention of avoiding the issue and said with a smile, "I have considered this matter. Let's wait until Brother arrives, and we can discuss it as we eat. Sister-in-law, have some snacks to settle your stomach first."

"Yes." Xu Shi quickly swallowed back her words. From Wang Shouzhe's demeanor, it seemed he wasn't planning to hold onto the issue, yet her heart was still uneasy.

After a short while, the family cook arrived. After paying respects to Wang Shouzhe, she was about to start a fire in the small kitchen in the courtyard when Wang Shouzhe stopped her: "No need for too much hustle, just slice the fresh ingredients, the Spirit Horned Yak Meat, and the Red-Scaled Eel into thin slices for the plate, the thinner the better. Also, use top-notch charcoal to light a brazier, prepare a clean copper basin with water, and some salt."

The cook, though puzzled, wouldn't dare disobey the Patriarch's order and set about as instructed.

"Zhe'Er, what are you up to?" Gongsun Hui questioned curiously, "Why are you lighting a brazier in this heat?"

"Madam, you'll see shortly." Wang Shouzhe replied with a smile, "Just a little something for the heat, so long as I don't waste precious Spiritual Food."

Gongsun Hui curbed her curiosity and decided to wait and see, tugging Xu Shi along with her to have a friendly chat. She was impressed that Wang Shouzhe was not using his authority as Clan Leader to arbitrarily impose, which was reassuring.

However, with what she knew about Xu Shi, she doubted that Xu Shi would hold back so casually.

Before long, Wang Shouxin arrived in a hurry, led by Wang Gui. As soon as he stepped inside the room, his expression turned cold with anger and he barked, "Wang Shouxin! What nonsense are you spewing?! Look at Zongwei now; should I just let you beat him to death, or stand by and watch his future be stolen by that, by Wang Luotong?"

"You, you, you… If it weren't for you spoiling him… I would have… just…"

But all that bluster was clearly not enough to suppress Xu Shi.

"Fourth Uncle, you are the pillar of the family." Xu Shi showed a slightly placating smile and handed over the basket in her hand. "Sister-in-law just thought you work so hard in your cultivation, so I brought some fresh ingredients to help replenish your strength. I won't disturb your conversation with mother and son..."