After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 597 Tangled
It was almost evening when Haitang received the materials and furs sent by the Jin family.

She flipped through the two pieces of cloth and the fur and couldn't help sighing.

Ma didn't know why she was sighing, and smiled, "Mammy Ma's requirements are not high, and the clothes will not be worn until the first month of the year, so you can take your time. I think, with your usual speed of sewing, it will be done in less than a month. Try to make it more delicate. Although she said that it doesn't need to be embroidered all over, it can't be bare. You can embroider some unique patterns in the corners, so that Mammy Ma can see your good sewing. She came from the palace, and is the confidant of the Empress Dowager. Which lady in Chang'an City doesn't respect her? As long as she praises you, everyone will look up to you. In the future, when you go to the Duke's Mansion for a banquet, if you meet other daughters, no one will dare to look down on you."

Ma believed from the bottom of her heart that her granddaughter's needlework skills could not be lost. How long had she been learning needlework? In less than two years, she could already compete with needlework ladies who had 20 to 30 years of experience. No lady in Chang'an was as talented as her!
Since you have talent, you should spread your reputation quickly, and not just keep it to your family. This kind of good reputation is much more stable than Miss Tang's talent in poetry. For the military families of border troops, even if the daughter-in-law can write a hundred poems, it is not as useful as the ability to make a thick cotton-padded jacket. Miss Tang wanted to rely on her talent to find a good marriage, but she was entangled by Jin Shan, who was also famous for her talent. It took a lot of effort to get out of it, and her reputation was ruined. Girls who become famous for needlework are less likely to meet such playboys, and they will also leave people with the impression of being quiet and virtuous.

Ma didn't expect her granddaughter to marry into a wealthy family, but since her granddaughter was so outstanding, she should marry a young talent who was worthy of her in every way, right? It would be best if the family had some wealth, so that the child wouldn't suffer if she married into the family, like Zhou Zhilan...

Ma hoped that her granddaughter could get married in Chang'an, so that her husband would not want to leave the child and decide to stay. As for going back to her hometown to visit the graves... she could go back when her husband retired and went back to her hometown while he was still healthy, to pay respects to his parents-in-law, and then go back to Chang'an to live out his days. It would be the same. Anyway, there were not many relatives and friends in Yongping who were close to her husband, and the eldest family was even more hateful. They hadn't seen each other for more than 30 years. How could it compare to Chang'an where there were acquaintances everywhere, and her relatives were here!
If they want to retire, it is better to live in a familiar place. Anyway, they have been in the northwest for more than 30 years and have long been accustomed to life here. Why go back to Yongping? They are unfamiliar with the place and it is not as prosperous as Chang'an...

Ma was calculating her own plans, and continued to coax her granddaughter with a smile: "I know you are usually impatient to do these things, and you only make clothes and hats for your family, but you are grown up after all, and it will be time for you to get married in two years, and we should think about the future. If you have the ability, why can't you publicize it? With a good reputation and Ma Ma backing you up, you will be worthy of anyone in the future, are you still afraid that others will look down on you?"

Haitang said helplessly, "When did grandma come up with this idea? You didn't even tell me in advance. Earlier at the Jin family, you suddenly asked me to embroider someone else's needlework, which scared me. Aren't you afraid that I would ruin someone else's needlework and offend Mammy?"

Ma waved her hands, "No, no, Sister Ma is not such a petty person. We didn't know her well before, and we thought she came from the palace. As soon as she returned to Chang'an, she investigated the crime of Madam Ma and fed people poisoned wine, so we thought she was not easy to mess with. In fact, she is very kind and sensible, and considerate of others. I have been with her a lot these days and have figured out a lot of things. She knows my worries and has given me a lot of ideas, all of which are feasible. If your aunt is half as smart as her, I would worry less!"

Case solved! It turns out that Ma Shangyi has been whispering in Ma's ear recently.

Haitang was a little annoyed. She shouldn't have been lazy and evasive all the time, allowing Ma to meet and interact with Ma Shangyi while she only participated occasionally. She didn't know what Ma Shangyi said to Ma. The latter had never thought of making her granddaughter famous before, and would not consider letting her find a husband in Chang'an, for fear that the two elders would have to endure the pain of separation after returning to their hometown in Zhili. Now Ma no longer has this concern, could it be that she has changed her future arrangements?

Does Grandfather Hai Xiya know what Grandmother is thinking?
Haitang frowned slightly, but showed no unusual expression. She just casually discussed with Ma about the style of clothes and the patterns to be embroidered. Soon, she went back to the house with the clothes and furs. Brother Haijiao came home not long after. Before dinner, he went to the west wing study to review his homework, and Haitang went to find him.

Haijiao looked up and saw her come in. He signaled her with his eyes to close the door and said softly, "Before I came back, I went to see Xiaojin. He told me about the visit of the Hu brothers and sisters and Aunt Jin today. I know the details. Xiaojin felt that Ma Shangyi would arrange for the Hu brothers and sisters to learn skills. It is estimated that after they return to Zunhua Prefecture, they will be arranged to run errands for the maids and eunuchs from the Cining Palace. Even if the Hu family treats them badly, their livelihood will not be a problem in the future. Although he didn't say anything, he should still be very happy in his heart. But Aunt Jin's side may not be so good. He suspected that Ma Shangyi and others would not let Aunt Jin go. Even if the coffin was successfully carried back to the hometown, they would find an opportunity to kill her. But he could not do anything and could only pretend not to know."

Haitang sat down opposite him. "Didn't Brother Jin guess this would be the outcome a long time ago? If the old people from the Cining Palace planned to take action in Zunhua Prefecture, he would be out of reach and unable to do anything. His relationship with Aunt Jin is not so deep that he would ignore the interests of Concubine Xu and the Eighth Prince in the palace and go against Ma Shangyi and the others, right?"

Haijiao smiled and said, "Of course not. I think Xiao Jin just felt a little bit sorry. He once mentioned that from childhood to adulthood, although Aunt Jin didn't treat him well, she didn't treat him too badly either. She scolded him but never beat him. There were a few times when he was hungry, Aunt Jin even secretly stuffed food into his mouth. It wasn't many times, and the food wasn't much, but he was always bullied and mistreated. It was rare that someone treated him well, and he would remember it in his heart.

"He was still very young at that time. It is said that Aunt Jin also had a child, but it died when he was about the same age, perhaps because of transference of feelings. When he was two years old, Aunt Jin never stuffed food into his mouth again. But not long after, Concubine Xu was made a concubine, and the emperor rewarded her with gold. Mr. Jin treated his eldest son better and was willing to let him go to school. His situation improved, and he never went hungry again. He was just always ordered to work and occasionally beaten, but he didn't need help from others."

Jin Jiashu's situation has improved, and Aunt Jin no longer has any pity for him, but the kindness she once showed him has always been in his heart. He is now willing to help Aunt Jin with money in the hope of saving her life, all out of that kindness. If other people from the second branch of the Jin family were stranded in Chang'an, they might not be treated this way. Of course, he would not affect the interests of his biological mother and brother for her, but he still hopes to help Aunt Jin to the best of his ability.

Because of this, when he found that he could not stop the people around him from harming Aunt Jin, he felt conflicted. But he could not tell anyone about these things, even to his good friend Hai Jiao, and he could only vaguely mention it without mentioning the secret of his biological mother.

Just because he said it vaguely, it didn't mean Haijiao couldn't see the struggle in his heart. But even if he could see it, what could Haijiao do?

(End of this chapter)