Chapter 24: Currying Favor

When Wen Qiniang returned to the room, she found that Auntie Cui could not hide the joy on her face. Noticing that Wen Qiniang and Wen Wuniang came back together, a glint of shrewdness flickered in her eyes.

"Qiniang, you're back. Did you see Magistrate Su on the way?"

Wen Qiniang nodded, rubbing her shoulder. "I saw Magistrate Su—he is dignified in appearance and seems talented despite his youth. However..." She hesitated, "there's a hint of flirtation in his eyes. All along the way, he kept staring at Fifth Sister, so much so that he bumped into people without realizing it. His words and actions were rather reckless."

Auntie Cui smiled slightly, her expression relaxing a little. "He is a young man in the prime of life. When he sees your Fifth Sister, it's only natural that his heart is restless."

Wen Wuniang blushed prettily and protested, "Mother, why do you tease me? How could Magistrate Su ever take a fancy to me?"

"Serving with beauty—how long can that last?" Wen Baniang muttered coldly, her face expressionless.

Both Auntie Cui and Wen Wuniang froze at her words.

"But one must have beauty first, to even have a chance to serve with it," Wen Wuniang retorted, emphasizing the word "beauty" with deliberate sharpness.

Wen Baniang's almond-shaped eyes widened, but with Auntie Cui present, she dared not lose her temper. Besides, in terms of looks, Wen Wuniang did indeed surpass her.

"Time reveals a person's heart. Marriage is a lifelong matter. Fifth Sister excels in both appearance and intelligence, but you mustn't act in haste and ruin your life," Wen Qiniang quickly interjected to break the awkwardness.

"Naturally," Auntie Cui replied, most of her smile fading as she beckoned Wen Wuniang to follow her away.

As soon as mother and daughter were gone, Wen Baniang pulled a face.

"All they think about is reeling in a rich husband. Qiniang, why bother playing the villain? They're bound to think you're just jealous of her finding a good match," Wen Baniang said angrily.

Wen Qiniang smiled faintly. "I spoke my mind. If they choose to twist it, that's their business. If they suffer later, they can't blame us."

Wen Baniang nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Qiniang, is that Magistrate Su really such a lecher?"

"Best keep your distance," Wen Qiniang replied ambiguously. Her first impression of Su Mu was far from favorable—his gaze was frivolous, his face bore a constant flirtatious air. But such things alone could not judge a person's character; the heart is hidden from view. Time would tell. Then she considered: everyone seeks different things in life. Wen Wuniang was after wealth and status—Su Mu's character might matter little to her. In that light, as Baniang said, what use was it to play the villain?

From that day on, Wen Qiniang was kept busy seeing all sorts of patients. In order to train her, Lin Bai abolished the rule of one consultation per day. The county office was nearly trampled flat by the constant stream of people. Wen Qiran didn't think this was ideal, but the new magistrate, waving his folding fan, said, "This is a good deed. A parent official must resolve the people's urgent needs. Lord Wen, you needn't fuss over trifles."

"As you wish, sir," Wen Qiran replied respectfully, a trace of a smile at his lips. Su Mu acted as if he hadn't noticed, shook his fan, and went out again.

Wen Wuniang seemed even busier than Wen Qiniang; she had not been seen for several days. As for Wen Baniang, ever since she had "roared like a lioness from Hedong" in front of Lin Bai, she had been too embarrassed to face him. Now, even the fun of bickering with Wuniang was gone. Only when Wen Shilang came back from his private studies would he amuse her with stories from school.

"Oh, Fifth Sister, where are you coming from?" Wen Baniang jumped out from behind the wall, blocking Wuniang’s path.

"None of your business," Wen Wuniang grumbled, clutching her chest in annoyance.

"If you’ve done nothing wrong, you don’t fear ghosts knocking at your door. Oh, this gold hairpin is rather pretty!" Wen Baniang exclaimed, snatching the ornament from Wuniang’s hair. Enraged, Wen Wuniang lunged to snatch it back.

"Give it back, you little brat, or I’ll tell Madam Ping!" Wen Wuniang’s eyes followed the hairpin nervously, afraid Baniang would break it by accident.

"Why so anxious, Fifth Sister? Could it be... a gift from a secret admirer?" Baniang teased as she dodged out of reach.

Wen Wuniang flushed with embarrassment, growing more anxious and angry.

Too busy dodging, Wen Baniang failed to watch her step and crashed into something.

"Ow! Do all the Wen family girls have a habit of bumping into people?"

"Su... Master Su, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!"

Seeing Su Mu clutching his chest, his features twisted in pain, Wen Baniang panicked. Taking advantage of the moment, Wen Wuniang snatched her hairpin back and hurried over to support Su Mu.

"Are you all right, Young Master Su?" she asked anxiously, shooting Baniang a fierce glare—a warning not to make a scene and ruin her carefully crafted image of a demure, virtuous lady. The message was clear: wait till we get home.

Wen Baniang stood aside, head bowed, twisting her hem and sneaking glances at the pair.

"It’s nothing. Don’t frighten Baniang, Fifth Miss. I was in too much of a hurry," Su Mu said with a bright, forgiving smile.

With just a few words, Su Mu took the blame upon himself. Wen Baniang, startled, then frightened and anxious, felt tears well up in her eyes—she was, after all, just a young girl.

"Oh dear, why the tears? Look what I have here." With a flourish, Su Mu produced a packet of dong candy from his sleeve.

Wen Baniang stared in astonishment. Dong candy was her favorite treat, but how did Su Mu know? Did Wuniang tell him? But Wuniang would never be so kind as to buy for her...

Su Mu smiled gently. "Today I strolled through the market with Fifth Miss. She mentioned that her eighth sister loves dong candy, so I bought some. And I brought chestnut candy for Shilang, too. I was delayed just now, so I’m only delivering them now."

Wen Baniang glanced at Wen Wuniang, suspicion in her eyes. Wen Wuniang forced a smile; in truth, she had no idea when Su Mu bought these things—perhaps while she was choosing hairpins, he’d slipped away to make the purchase. He was certainly attentive.

Wen Qiniang, looking weary, walked over and stared at the group in surprise.

"Qiniang, this is for you," Su Mu said as she approached, pulling a jade bracelet from his sleeve and offering it to her.

Wen Wuniang’s eyes narrowed. Judging from its quality, this bracelet was worth more than her hairpin. In the past, she would have dismissed it, but now, forced to live off the family's dwindling resources, she felt a surge of jealousy. She had thought she alone could attract Su Mu’s eye, but now Wen Qiniang had appeared as a formidable rival. If she wanted to win the new magistrate’s heart, she’d have to use her trump card.

Wen Baniang looked from the jade bracelet to Wen Wuniang’s displeased expression and laughed inwardly; seeing Wuniang thwarted was always a delight.

Wen Qiniang glanced at the bracelet, then accepted it with shining eyes. "It would be rude to refuse. Thank you very much, Master Su."

Wen Wuniang was shocked that Wen Qiniang took it so readily. Her eyes filled with contempt; she always pretended to be above worldly things, yet she was just as greedy as anyone else.

Su Mu studied Wen Qiniang with interest. Outwardly, she seemed delighted, but her eyes lacked any real fervor—clearly she was putting on a show for him. How intriguing.

Ignoring Su Mu’s burning gaze, Wen Qiniang took Wen Baniang by the hand and walked away. She was thinking that she could sell the bracelet later to pay Wang Dajiang—there would be more than enough. After all, Su Mu was nothing but a dissolute son living off money wrung from the people; this was merely taking from the people to give back to the people.