Qin Mei put down her knife and the potato and left the kitchen. She went into the main room to get her keys, where she saw Jie Jingchen preparing milk powder. Without a word, Qin Mei grabbed the keys and walked out.
In the courtyard, Xu Chunyan was clinging to Jie Jingling, sobbing uncontrollably. Qin Mei paid her no mind, instead going into the room next to Jie Jingjue’s to retrieve the prepared herbs and take them to the kitchen.
"Fourth Wife of Jing, I’ll take those," Second Auntie said, taking the herbs from Qin Mei’s hands.
Qin Mei was the one who formulated all the herbal recipes for the ointment. Second Auntie usually prepared it at her own home, but with the Ma Family having guests over, it was safer to do it here, just in case.
Second Auntie had long since mastered the process and no longer needed Qin Mei’s help. Aside from not knowing how to formulate the recipes or grind the final powder, she was skilled enough to be considered a master herself.
"Fourth Wife of Jing, I heard a piece of news I think you’ll want to hear," Second Auntie said. She knew Qin Mei was helping Old Zhang and his wife but chose to say nothing about it.
Everyone knew that Jie Jingling was Old Zhang’s apprentice.
"What news?" Qin Mei asked, peeling a potato.
"Old Zhang’s son is dead," Second Auntie said.
Qin Mei’s hand faltered as she peeled the potato. ’News travels fast. We just got back, and word of Zhang Haoyuan’s death is already spreading.’
Qin Mei feigned shock. "What? Is that true?"
Second Auntie studied Qin Mei with a scrutinizing gaze. "It’s true. The Public Security Bureau released the information, so it’s absolutely true. Sigh... That son of the Zhang family had such a troubled fate. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and was spoiled rotten. When the Zhang family fell from grace, he went from heaven to hell. No one could accept such a sudden change, and neither could he. Even with his family in trouble, he still couldn’t stay out of it and got addicted to gambling."
Qin Mei remained silent.
"Fourth Wife of Jing, shouldn’t you and Jing Ling go check on Old Zhang? Zhang Haoyuan may have been a good-for-nothing, but the pain of losing a child... I’m worried the old couple won’t be able to withstand the shock. What if something happens to them?" Second Auntie said.
"Second Auntie, why don’t you go instead?" Qin Mei said, deliberately teasing her.
Second Auntie immediately became defensive. "What would I go there for? I’m not close with the Zhang family."
’Everyone’s avoiding the Zhang family these days. I’m not about to wade into that mess.’
"I’m not close with the Zhang family either," Qin Mei said, blinking as a smile played in her eyes.
Second Auntie looked as if she wanted to say more but held her tongue, ultimately saying nothing.
Jie Jingchen came in with a bowl of freshly prepared milk powder and handed it to Qin Mei. "Here, have something to tide you over."
Qin Mei stared for a moment, surprised. ’He made it for me?’ She put down her knife and the potato and took the bowl Jie Jingchen offered.
She blew on it and took a small sip to test the temperature. It was just right. Qin Mei, who was genuinely hungry, drank the entire bowl in a few large gulps.
"It’s hot in the kitchen. You should go back to the room and get in front of the fan," Jie Jingchen said, his eyes softening as he looked at her.
"Okay." Qin Mei stood up with the empty bowl, washed it at the sink, and placed it in the cupboard. "Second Auntie, I’m heading out now."
"Fourth Wife of Jing, wait a moment," Second Auntie called out. She stood and pulled money from both of her pockets, handing it to Qin Mei. "You should count it. It’s eight hundred seventy-three yuan and sixty-seven fen in total."
It was a mix of bills and coins, precise down to the last fen. Qin Mei took it with a smile, not bothering to count before stuffing it directly into her pants pocket.
When Jie Jingchen heard the amount Second Auntie mentioned, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. ’Is the ointment really that profitable?’ he wondered.
Previously, Second Auntie would have been more discreet around him. Now, she didn’t seem to mind at all, handing the money to Qin Mei right in front of him.
’They’re a married couple, after all,’ Second Auntie figured, so she hadn’t bothered being discreet around Jie Jingchen.
After Qin Mei left, Jie Jingchen couldn’t resist asking, "Second Auntie, is selling the ointment really that profitable?"
Second Auntie grinned from ear to ear. "Jing Si, you married a capable woman. She’s practically a God of Wealth!"
"She is very capable," Jie Jingchen said sincerely. But after a moment’s thought, he poured cold water on Second Auntie’s enthusiasm. "But being too capable isn’t necessarily a good thing."
Second Auntie understood his underlying meaning. The corner of her mouth twitched, but she didn’t reply.
"Be careful, Second Auntie." Jie Jingchen had initially planned to be subtle, but worried she might not get the hint, he decided to be direct.
"I will." Second Auntie secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Jie Jingchen wasn’t trying to stop them. If he had, their money-making venture would be over. She gave him a solemn promise, "Jing Si, you can rest assured. While I can’t guarantee it’s completely foolproof, I can promise you this: even if something goes wrong, I will never sell out... no, not sell out, I mean implicate. I swear I will never implicate your wife."
When Qin Mei returned to her room, she put the money away. Xu Chunyan was still in the yard, clinging to Jie Jingling and complaining. Unable to sit still any longer, Jie You ran to the kitchen.