Days passed like flowing water. Amidst the expectant gazes of the soldiers and common folk in the Northern Frontier, the new garrison general, Lei Hu, and his family, arrived fashionably late.
As Qi Yuanshan observed the long convoy and rather shabby carriages, he was momentarily bewildered. General Liu had mentioned Lei Hu was greedy, yet these carriages seemed even poorer than ordinary passenger vehicles. If General Liu hadn't already revealed the truth, he would have taken the man for an incorruptible official, devoted to his people.
Beside him, General Liu’s weathered face creased with more wrinkles as he chuckled. "I used to hear that Old Fourth Lei was stingy, but I didn't quite believe it. Today, I've truly seen it with my own eyes. This Old Fourth Lei is unbelievably stingy; he's actually making his family travel in such carriages on this long journey. It's truly outrageous."
Hearing General Liu's blatant mockery, Qi Yuanshan felt utterly dismayed. With a greedy and stingy miser as his superior, he felt the days ahead for the Northern Frontier soldiers would be difficult.
As for the handover between General Liu and Lei Hu, and the welcome banquet hosted by the prominent figures and merchants of the Northern Frontier for General Lei, Qi Yuanshan paid no attention. He made a brief appearance and then, using an excuse, returned to Eagle Beak Cliff. Matters that didn't concern him were not worth his involvement.
With his affairs handed over, it was time for General Liu to return to the capital. This departure might well be permanent. General Liu felt a pang of sorrow and spent the night alone.
The next morning, the soldiers of the Northern Frontier spontaneously came to see him off. Grandpa Meng also sent his son in his stead, along with some dried seafood, preserved fruits, and fruit wine produced by their own family. General Liu thought, "The Meng family's produce are all good things, quite unattainable in the capital." These items, if brought back and gifted, would certainly save face. Of course, he didn't want to give them to outsiders; such fine goods were best kept for himself and his family, as future opportunities might be scarce.
General Liu cast a reluctant glance at every familiar face before boarding the carriage. As the carriage was about to depart, he called Qi Yuanshan over and offered a piece of advice: "The women Lei Laosi brought are not his main wife, only two concubines. His main wife remains in the capital."
Qi Yuanshan was aware of this. For a military officer guarding the border, his wife and children were kept in the capital. To put it bluntly, they were hostages.
At first, Qi Yuanshan didn't grasp the meaning behind General Liu's words. It was only when a formal invitation from the General's mansion was delivered to him, inviting the wives and concubines of all military officers in the Northern Frontier to a flower viewing at the General's residence, that he understood General Liu's intention. His own family was small, and he, as the elder, was a lifelong bachelor. As for his son and daughter-in-law, he knew Xin Ci's temperament and had no intention of making her bow to two concubines at the General's mansion. He couldn't say they were unworthy; in fact, he felt exactly that. Without hesitation, he told the steward who delivered the invitation, "Please convey to the General that I appreciate his kind regard, but unfortunately, I do not have suitable female family members to attend the flower viewing."
The steward, Manager Zhang, was taken aback by Commander Qi's direct refusal. However, he did not change his expression. Recalling his master's instructions before leaving the capital – to foster good relations with the Qi family father and son, or at the very least, not to offend them – he remained composed. His master had repeatedly emphasized that they must not offend Commander Qi and his son, nor the "Grand Madam" of the Qi family.
(After the birth of his eldest grandson, Qi Yuanshan had instructed his household staff to refer to his son and daughter-in-law as "Master" and "Grand Madam," while his grandson became the rightful "Young Master." He also hoped for future "Second Young Master" and "Third Young Master.")
Qi Yuanshan was surprised that the delivering steward was so accommodating. He had merely stated his family's circumstances, and the man had readily agreed. Watching the steward depart, he was puzzled. Weren't servants from wealthy households usually arrogant? Why were Lei's servants different from what he had heard? Qi Yuanshan was unaware that Lei Hu and his servants had been warned by the Lei family patriarch; none dared to act presumptuously in front of the Qi family members, for they valued their lives.
...
Fu Xin Ci had been quite busy these past few days, first packing up her family's belongings, then her maiden family's. She practiced the principle of not showing off wealth to the fullest. Qi He looked at the furnishings in their rooms with a helpless, wry smile. "It's like we're ready for a swift departure at any moment." "Yes, even the main courtyard is the same." "Alas, it's a pity for our two courtyards; I'm a bit reluctant to leave." "No one wants to leave, but we must prepare for the worst. Perhaps they aren't as bad as we fear, and we're just overthinking things." "Yes, I hope my wife is right and we're just worrying unnecessarily."
When Qi Yuanshan returned, he informed them about the invitation from the General's mansion. "I immediately told the steward who delivered the invitation about our family's actual situation, and the steward was quite understanding." After hearing his father's account and glancing at his wife, Qi He and his family shared a common thought: they probably didn't need to flee for now.
In the small hall of the General's mansion, Lei Hu's two concubines, Madam Zhao and Madam Guan, sat at the head, listening to Manager Zhang report Commander Qi's polite refusal of the invitation. "He's such a coarse fellow; he couldn't even come up with a better excuse," Madam Zhao, the General's new favorite, spoke thoughtlessly, spoiled by his affection. Madam Guan did not respond to her but continued to question Manager Zhang, "I heard that Commander Qi's main wife died early, and he never took a concubine. Is that true?" "Replying to Madam Guan, it is true." "Oh my, I didn't realize he was so devoted," Madam Guan said, twisting a handkerchief in her hands, lost in thought. Madam Zhao, hearing this, covered her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckled. "Devoted, heh." Madam Guan's peripheral vision caught Madam Zhao's expression and she knew this fool was about to blunder again. But she wouldn't warn her; instead, she'd pull up a small stool and watch the show. She wanted to see if the General would still favor her then.
As expected, after a short while, Madam Zhao called her head maid, Ying'er, over. Whatever she whispered in Ying'er's ear made the maid blush deeply, though she repeatedly replied, "This servant will obey the Madam's every command." Madam Zhao was not exactly a good mistress; her sharp and assertive nature often offended people, and her two head maids, Ying'er and Yan'er, had often taken the blame for her. Yan'er was fine, but Ying'er was already of an age to leave the household and marry. When she was in the capital, she hadn't begged for favors because her parents were long gone, and at home, she had only an unreliable elder brother and a money-grubbing sister-in-law. If she agreed to marry and leave, her brother and sister-in-law might marry her off to anyone.