Chapter 53: Euan's Wild Imagination

When Fang Ning and the others each carried bolts of cloth through the door, Old Madam Fang’s eyes darkened, and she nearly fainted.

“Where did this cloth come from?” Old Madam Fang asked in a trembling voice. “Ning Ning, did you have the Young Master buy it for you?”

Seeing this, Fang Ning hurried to explain, “Grandma, no, I bought it myself. It has nothing to do with the Young Master. Grandma, you know the weather will soon turn hot, and your clothes have so many patches—I felt sorry for you. So I bought some old cloth to make you new clothes.

“Don’t worry, Grandma. This fine cotton cloth is very cheap, only five wen per yard. I only bought it because it was much cheaper than the others. Although it looks a bit faded, the fabric itself is good—you can feel it yourself.”

She scampered over and handed the cloth to her grandmother.

Old Madam Fang looked doubtful. “Are you really sure the Young Master didn’t buy this for you?”

“Really not. I swear. If you don’t believe me, ask Second Brother and Third Brother—they were there, too.”

“Mm, yes, Ning Ning bought it.”

“I went, too,” Si Yuheng spoke up. “Don’t worry, Old Madam, Fang Ning personally bargained with the cloth shop to buy these. He said you and Grandpa have worried about the Eldest Branch your whole lives, but the Eldest Branch never showed you any filial respect.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Fang felt a warmth in her heart. Her gaze softened as she looked at the bolts of cloth.

They said it was old cloth, but fine cotton was hardly something farmers like them could afford. Usually, a few yards of coarse cloth to make clothes was already considered good.

“Grandma, there’s more outside. I’ll put these here first.” Fang Ning soothed the old lady, placing the cloth on the stool beside her, then ran back outside.

You An looked at her silently. “Young Master Fang, do you know how to use some kind of sleeping potion?”

Why does his master always cover for him? Usually, if he makes a mistake, he has to wash dishes at the Quanwei Restaurant!

The master’s favoritism is just too obvious.

“Yes, be careful, or I might slip you a sleeping potion too!”

Fang Ning gave this imaginative guard a sidelong glance. She didn’t know where he got such wild suspicions, always thinking up nonsense all day.

You An was startled and quickly clutched his chest. “Young Master Fang, I like women.”

Fang Ning was speechless.

She snatched the cloth from You An’s hand and turned to leave without another glance.

Really, if she were a man, she’d choose someone like Si Yuheng.

As for You An? Such a clown, even as a brother they find him too silly!

Si Yuheng came out then. He lifted his foot.

You An shivered and immediately flopped off the carriage, falling with a grimace.

Having thick skin was fine—better than washing dishes.

Si Yuheng carried out the last two bolts of cloth. “Scram!”

“Yes, Young Master.”

You An got up, led the horse away sheepishly.

Fang Ning told herself over and over, don’t offend him—that’s the Young Master’s favorite.

Old Madam Fang saw so much cloth and began to worry again. “How much silver did this cost?”

“Not much, only three taels,” Fang Ning held up three fingers and answered before anyone else.

“Ning Ning, lying isn’t good.”

“It really is three taels. If you don’t believe me, ask Second Brother and Third Brother.”

Fang Yu and Fang Hong: “...”

They’d never lied in their lives but were forced to lie alongside Fang Ning to Old Madam Fang.

“Yes, yes, it’s three taels.”

“Exactly, I heard the boss say so myself.”

Fang Ning: “... Fang Yu, can you be more reliable? How can you be tongue-tied over something so simple?”

Fortunately, Old Madam Fang didn’t notice and was only focused on the cloth.

“Grandma, these are shoes the boss gave me.” Fang Ning proudly presented the shoes Boss Zhong had gifted. “These are for you and Grandpa. Mom and Dad didn’t get any, so I asked the boss to give some to us siblings and you two.”

Old Madam Fang’s face lit up. No elder disliked being remembered by the younger generation.

“Ning Ning is so thoughtful.”

“Big Sister, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Sister all helped pick them out. These two patterned fabrics were chosen by Big Sister and Fifth Sister—they said these would suit you and Grandpa. The rest were picked by me and the brothers. Grandma, see how well the patches Big Sister and Fifth Sister chose suit you?”

“Well, all my good grandchildren. In all of Futian Village, Grandma is the luckiest, having such well-behaved grandchildren.” Old Madam Fang smiled broadly, showing her teeth, radiating joy.

She had worried that buying so many things might get them scolded, but Fang Ning shared the credit with everyone.

Especially Fang Ling, who had been saved by Fang Ning once, and now held no previous prejudice against her.

“Grandma is definitely the luckiest, after all, you have a face full of good fortune,” Fang Ning said, choosing words elders loved to hear. “And if it weren’t for your good teaching, we wouldn’t be so well-behaved.”

“You little rascal, so slick-tongued. I wonder where you learned that.” Old Madam Fang feigned anger, but the smile in her eyes never dimmed.

Just then, the workers in the fields returned.

Old Madam Fang called to Old Man Fang, “Old man, come look. Your little grandchildren have been so good. They picked cloth for you—do you like it? And here are new shoes.”

Old Man Fang thought he misheard, but when he looked, it was indeed new cloth and new shoes.

“Where did the silver come from to buy these?”

“Old man, can you keep quiet? Your grandchildren bought them for you, so why complain? This silver was earned picking bayberries. If you didn’t want them, I would have given them to the eldest.”

“Yes, yes, I want them. My good grandchildren bought them for me, why would I refuse? I’m going to wash my feet and try on the new shoes.” Old Man Fang grinned, unable to maintain the stern patriarchal demeanor in front of Old Madam Fang.

“What are you trying them on for? Wait until after your bath tonight, when you’re in bed. Don’t dirty them now.”

“Ning Ning, did you buy these?”

“Big brothers, sisters, and sisters-in-law all contributed. We bought them together for Grandpa and Grandma. The other cloth was bought with silver I asked from my mother. Uncle and Second Uncle used to take care of our Eldest Branch. Now that we have the means, we should also be good to them.” Fang Ning answered obediently.

The old couple were very pleased.

As they age, they only wish for their children to be around, living harmoniously.

The Eldest Branch used to be so unruly they couldn’t endure it and had to drive them out to protect the honest Second and Third Branches. Now the Eldest Branch had changed; how could they not be happy?

Fang Wenqin and Fang Wenchang also returned behind them.

Fang Ning distributed the cloth she had picked for them.

The two couples were stunned and didn’t even dare to accept.

“Second Uncle, Third Uncle, take these and have your wives make clothes.”

They instinctively looked at Old Madam Fang.

Old Madam Fang said, “Accept it. It’s the goodwill of your eldest brother. We are family; don’t be so polite.”

Only then did they accept the gifts.

“Where are Dad and Mom?” Fang Ning noticed her parents hadn’t returned with them and asked, “Where did they go?”