Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Chapter 1664: What a Prodigal

If your status is inferior to hers, she will undoubtedly view you with disdain, treating you merely as a lackey to be summoned and manipulated at will.

Furthermore, dealing with such an individual could be precarious due to their small-minded nature. A seemingly innocuous statement or minor incident might unknowingly incur her displeasure, leading to unforeseen consequences and potential retaliation.

Hence, it is advisable to maintain surface-level politeness and keep a safe distance from such personalities.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Xuan had already unintentionally irked Fan Ruyin.

Upon arriving at Anze Province, Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan promptly purchased a house and land. The laughter wasn’t confined to Deputy Prefect and Mrs. Guan; many others chuckled behind their backs.

The couple’s claim of hailing from the capital only fueled the mockery. The decision to invest in a desolate mountain and wilderness appeared short-sighted to onlookers.

Questions arose—wasn’t the spacious courtyard behind the state government office sufficient for their needs? And the extravagant purchase of a separate house for servants seemed wasteful.

People struggled to comprehend the couple’s motives. Did they plan to stay in this remote area for an extended period? Such a notion was unprecedented.

The Fan Family, particularly Fan Ruyin, took delight in ridiculing Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan. Fan Ruyin, adept at making jests, had been entertaining her mother with tales of their purchases.

Connecting the dots, she voiced her concern to her mother, “Lord Shao and Madam Shao seem so fixated on farmland that they even bought desolate land in the wilderness. Are they hinting that we should provide them with prime farmland? Mom, what if Lord Shao brings it up? We need a strategy!”

Old Lady Fan agreed with her daughter’s assessment and felt a surge of disdain. “Daring to contemplate our benefits and seize them, they will face the consequences.”

They must be courting death! Tell your brothers to be careful.”

First Old Master Fan and Second Old Master Fan dismissed the concerns, believing that local officials wouldn’t engage in such actions. They considered local officials to be astute individuals, aiming to maintain good relations with prominent local families for effective governance. Their confidence was bolstered by the fact that their Fan Clan held a prestigious position among the three great clans, alleviating any apprehensions.

In their view, Anze Province differed from other regions, and even if the Prefect harbored any greed, it would likely be limited to monetary interests. The fields, they reasoned, were not beyond his reach.

Consequently, they reassured their mother that there was no need for undue worry.

However, Fan Ruyin found her brothers’ lack of agreement disheartening. She persistently pressed them, expressing her discontent and feeling slighted. Aware that she had initiated the discussion, she vehemently defended her stance, exacerbating the discord with her two brothers, who already harbored disdain for her.

This discord displeased Old Lady Fan, prompting her to reprimand her two sons. Taking a firm stand in support of Fan Ruyin, she lectured them, “Being cautious is not amiss! Lord Shao and his wife are even eyeing the wilderness. It’s uncertain they won’t covet our fields. Ruyin has a point.”

“We must plan ahead and devise a strategy. We can’t afford to lose out! As elder brothers, your considerations must match Ruyin’s thoroughness.”

The two sons, well aware of their mother’s temperament, hesitated to challenge her, understanding the difficulty of pacifying her once angered. Reluctantly, they placated her, as being labeled unfilial was a scenario they could ill afford.