There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Fallen Republican Era Young Lady X The Overseas-Educated Paternal Aunt

The clan leader wiped the sweat from his forehead. He fully understood: if Ruan Jiyun was not satisfied, Jiang Peifeng would absolutely not let the matter rest.

He composed himself, turning to the crowd and saying: “It’s late today. Everyone should disperse now. The matter of the Third Branch’s adoption will be decided after I consult with Yunniang and we have a proper arrangement.”

The clan leader’s 180-degree change in attitude was merely a waste of time for the others who came to watch the spectacle, but for Uncle Ruan’s family, it was a declaration that their plans had failed. Uncle Ruan anxiously asked: “Then what about us…”

No one paid attention to his eager demeanor. Jiang Peifeng simply took out her cape and carefully wrapped it around Ruan Jiyun. The clan leader had already instructed a quick-witted young man to hurry home, tidy up a clean side room, and await the arrival of the distinguished guests. Seeing Uncle Ruan still looking foolish, he coldly snorted: “Ruan Da, you go home first.”

Uncle Ruan scratched his ears in frustration: “Seventh Uncle, this adoption matter… shouldn’t I be involved in the consultation too?”

The clan leader cursed him internally for being “oblivious,” but still said outwardly: “Just go home and wait for news.” Didn’t he see his own son’s face was swollen like a pig’s head? In that state, let alone Ruan Jiyun, even he was looking down on him a bit.

The group thus left Uncle Ruan’s family behind and headed straight for the clan leader’s house. Uncle Ruan was furious and anxious. Looking at the mournful Aunt Ruan and his son whose face was bruised and swollen, he surprisingly hit his son on the head: “Useless thing!”

Jiang Peifeng didn’t care about the Ruan family’s regret. Her only concern was Ruan Jiyun being wronged. Even if it meant going back to face her father’s scolding, she had to see this matter through and absolutely not allow Uncle Ruan’s family to take advantage of them again.

She sat with Ruan Jiyun in the clan leader’s house. The clan leader dared not be negligent, personally ordering his wife to brew good tea. After they had settled down, he nervously approached them: “I apologize that I didn’t clearly distinguish the situation and allowed that heartless Ruan Da to mislead me. I thought he had truly discussed it with you, Yunniang, and only then did I…”

Ruan Jiyun gently shook her head: “I know you, Great Uncle, are the most fair in handling affairs. If my uncle hadn’t deliberately deceived you, you would never have allowed me to be misled.”

The clan leader thought: Exactly! It’s all that Ruan Da’s fault for being too cunning! He kept insisting that Ruan Jiyun, being just a girl, would never dare to have any opinion, and all I had to do was get the job done and wait to collect the land deeds. In the end, what kind of gentle girl was this? She’s more ferocious than any young man!

He wiped the cold sweat from his head again and said: “Now, regarding the adoption, how do you intend to proceed, Yunniang?”

Ruan Jiyun said softly: “I definitely cannot agree to Ruan Xiaoxian’s intention to serve both branches. When my father was alive, almost all his earnings from the weaving workshop were put into the communal fund. For all these years, our family’s daughter has not even had the chance to study. Great Uncle, do you think this is the way to prosper a family?”

“Although I am slow-witted, I was fortunate to receive care from the Jiang family and have managed to acquire some knowledge. Even a young woman like me understands that the key to a family’s prosperity lies in nurturing the next generation. Now, they’ve raised Xiaoxian like this and still plan to claim him as their own. Even if I genuinely tried, it would be difficult to manage him, and the family assets would likely be wasted in his hands…”

The clan leader nodded repeatedly as he listened. He wasn’t unaware of Uncle Ruan’s intentions; he only blamed himself for being greedy, thinking only of his own third son needing to marry soon and how the income from an extra ten mu of land would make the betrothal gifts more presentable. Now, hearing Ruan Jiyun’s breakdown, he realized he had been taken advantage of.

Jiang Peifeng, listening to their conversation, suddenly smiled: “What you are worried about now is merely that the Ruan family’s young men are incapable. If that’s the case, I have a good idea.”

If it were anyone else, the clan leader would have stopped them, but thinking of the Jiang family behind Jiang Peifeng, he conceded: “Miss Jiang is not an outsider. Please speak freely.”

Jiang Peifeng said: “Sister Ruan is a woman, and you worry that when she marries, the family assets will follow her into our Jiang family. But since the Ruan family’s current young men are unsuitable for adoption, why not have Sister Ruan allocate funds to cultivate an heir?”

She pointed out: “120 mu of paddy field yields about five hundred silver dollars annually. If Sister Ruan were to divide this five hundred into two, half could be managed by the Clan Leader to fund the clan school, providing initial education for talented young men in the clan. If a worthy one emerges in the future, you can select him then. The world is in turmoil right now. Even if there is no immediate adoption, if the clan produces one talented person, why worry about not rising to prominence?”

This proposal was undoubtedly an alternative path, opening up a new perspective for everyone. The Clan Leader was afraid that the Third Branch’s wealth would be lost to outsiders, and Yunniang was not greedy for wealth; she simply didn’t want Uncle Ruan’s family to swallow her father’s lifelong hard work. It would truly be better to donate it for education, as Jiang Peifeng suggested.

Ruan Jiyun felt this was highly appropriate and nodded: “Great Uncle, what do you think of this? You are highly respected. I would be completely at ease entrusting this money to you for management.”

The potential income, which was originally only ten mu of land, suddenly increased severalfold. Even if it was used to rebuild the clan school, the tuition fees and living expenses for so many clan children would be another source of income. Not to mention, if, as Miss Jiang said, a scholar was cultivated, the entire family would truly gain hope.

The clan leader’s eyes lit up as he listened, nodding repeatedly: “Yunniang, if you are willing to fund education for the clan, let alone helping manage it as the Clan Leader, I would be happy to do odd jobs. This is a great benefit for future generations!”

“Entrusting the money to you, Clan Leader, will certainly be fair and transparent,” Jiang Peifeng was half-relieved that the little white flower had finally developed cunning, and half-worried for her, filling in the gaps. “Magistrate Yu, who manages education in the county, is my uncle-in-law. I will speak to him about the clan school you are establishing, Clan Leader. If we can get support from the county, it will save a lot of trouble.”

This was putting the matter before the officials. Although this meant a significant amount of money would have to be invested in the clan school, it was undoubtedly good for his own reputation. The clan leader, who had managed local affairs for many years, was no fool. Hearing this, he smiled cheerfully: “Then I thank Miss Jiang in advance.”

With the clan leader’s approval, the subsequent events proceeded smoothly. The next day, the council was reopened in the Ancestral Hall. Ruan Jiyun personally signed a contract, promising that half of the income from the Ruan family’s land for the next ten years would be dedicated to the clan for establishing the clan school.

She also specifically mentioned that girls, like boys, should enjoy the right to education, and if their academic performance was excellent, there would be an additional incentive called a “scholarship.” Studying well could earn money for the family. This led some previously hesitant clan members to consider sending their children to school to try it out.

Uncle Ruan knew the battle was lost. It was impossible for him to hoard the land deeds now; that would be akin to opposing the entire clan. His face was pale, like a defeated rooster. He miserably handed the deeds over to Ruan Jiyun. His resentful eyes tried to glare at her, but Jiang Peifeng firmly blocked his view.

“I originally came here because my father instructed me to deliver the betrothal gifts to your family. Now, it seems this matter needs further consideration,” Jiang Peifeng said with a smile. “However, I have another suggestion. Would you, Uncle Ruan, like to hear it?”

Jiang Peifeng’s suggestion was very simple: Since Uncle Ruan’s family and Ruan Jiyun were still related, the Jiang family was willing to provide an annual sum of money as care for Ruan Jiyun’s maiden family, but this money came with a condition.

“Did Miss Jiang really say that?” The aunt wrung her hands anxiously as she saw her husband return home looking depressed. “This… isn’t this threatening us?”

Uncle Ruan spat at her irritably: “Whose fault is it that that girl Ningniang ran out without a word and ran right into her! Miss Jiang specifically said that this money will be given every six months, but it must be collected by that girl Jining.”

The memory of Jiang Peifeng’s half-smile made his heart tremble. Despite being a young girl, her actions were flawless: “Go to the clan leader’s house again. As for that clan school, make sure Jining goes too!”

The aunt was so astonished by this command that her eyes almost popped out.

After resolving the lingering issues of the Ruan family, Jiang Peifeng was unwilling to let Ruan Jiyun stay in Nanxi any longer and immediately took her back to Shanghai.

The car window separated them from the outside world. Fine rain streamed down the glass, and a faint mist slowly rose inside the car. Only half-way through the journey, Jiang Peifeng felt something was wrong.

Ruan Jiyun initially had her head lowered, seemingly dozing. After a moment, her small head gradually gave way, resting on Jiang Peifeng’s shoulder, and a light breath, noticeably hot, fluttered against her neck.

Jiang Peifeng alertly sat up straight, placing her hand on Ruan Jiyun’s forehead. It was indeed burning hot.

“Uncle Jiang, how much longer until we arrive?” she asked, touching the hot cheek in her embrace.

Uncle Jiang, the chauffeur, turned back from the passenger seat. He was startled by Ruan Jiyun’s condition. He thought for a moment and replied: “It will probably take another two hours. Miss, this area is all farmland. A doctor will be hard to find…”

Jiang Peifeng held Ruan Jiyun with one arm, her lips pressed tightly together. The area beneath her palm felt thin, and a slight heat transmitted through the clothes. She sighed, but still commanded: “Borrow a basin from a nearby house. We’ll continue the journey.”

In the countryside, most doctors were traveling physicians. Jiang Peifeng dared not take that risk. After Uncle Jiang brought a brand new wooden basin and personally filled it with cold well water, she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket.

She gently lifted Ruan Jiyun and placed her across the back seat, allowing her head to rest more comfortably in her lap. With her other hand, she took the chilled handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her face.

The little white flower, even when ill, was still a girl who didn’t want to cause trouble. Even though her cheeks were flushed crimson and her demeanor was utterly pitiable, she only whimpered twice and then pressed her lips together, enduring silently. This only made Jiang Peifeng regret her carelessness more, wishing she could be the one to be sick instead.

The high fever made her whole body ache. Ruan Jiyun leaned into the coolness of the towel, letting out a rare, soft plea: “Peifeng… it hurts.”

Jiang Peifeng gently stroked her hair, coaxing her: “I’m here. You’ll be better after a good sleep.”

The rain pattered on the car roof, gradually picking up speed until it was almost a dense, impenetrable net. Jiang Peifeng frowned, using the handkerchief constantly to try and bring down the fever. Suddenly, Ruan Jiyun turned her head, burying her face in Jiang Peifeng’s neck. On her right ear, white as jade, there was a mole—red and faint. In the dim light, it looked like a drop of melting sugar, lingeringly imprinted in Jiang Peifeng’s eyes.

Jiang Peifeng was momentarily stunned.

She couldn’t hear the noisy rain at all. It wasn’t until the car gently bumped that she realized with a start that she and Ruan Jiyun were incredibly close. Her lips were pressed near Ruan Jiyun’s ear, so close that it seemed she could kiss her at any second.

An inexpressible tenderness arose in her heart. A voice seemed to be asking her, Do you want to kiss her?

Jiang Peifeng felt as if she had fallen into a dream. She had never experienced this kind of emotion before. Did she want to kiss her? The thought made her heart pound wildly. She let out a deep breath, raising her hand to gently brush away Ruan Jiyun’s stray hairs.

Meanwhile, Uncle Jiang, hearing no sound from the back seat for a while, looked worriedly into the rearview mirror.

The sight made his heart tremble slightly. He saw his Miss, known for her aloof demeanor, with her head lowered, staring intently at Ruan Jiyun. Her clear, cool eyes seemed to be drenched in the rain, with a misty look framed by her long eyelashes, falling entirely upon the face of the person in her arms.

The pounding rain and the distant, cool wind seemed to be entirely shut out by her gaze, confined to the space outside the two of them.

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