The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 140: Bad Temper

At the Jiang family residence of the Minister of Rites, a group of women were enjoying a joyous banquet when someone whispered, "Old Madam Xia has arrived."

The banquet hall, which had been filled with laughter, fell silent instantly.

Everyone was waiting to see the General's Mansion make a fool of itself.

Yes, everyone knows how picky Madam Xia was when she chose her son's wife. She looked at family background, talent, looks, and even the compatibility of their birth dates.

Who knew that if one was chosen to die, two would also die, and even three would not escape their fate of death.

For a time, the young ladies of prominent families in the capital kept their distance from General Xia.

I like him a little, but I'm also a little afraid that he'll like me back.

She wants to get married but doesn't dare to.

Some daring families wanted to use their illegitimate daughters to gain wealth and status, but Old Madam Xia disagreed.

She didn't even want the illegitimate daughter of a young, unmarried woman, but in the end, she received a marriage bestowed by the emperor himself. The person she was betrothed to was actually the divorced wife of the Wu family, who also had a child with her.

Madam Xia, who attended the banquet today, must be feeling quite embarrassed.

Some of the women who had a bad relationship with Madam Xia were thinking to themselves: "Finally, I've caught her with a chance to humiliate her. I've been holding back this insult for so long, and today I'll make her pay double."

"Madam Xia, please come in." Madam Jiang led Madam Xia to the banquet hall: "Madam Zhou and Madam Wang are all here."

"It seems I've arrived a little late."

"It's not too late, it's just right. Please go ahead!"

Grandma Xia nodded and took Panpan's little hand as they walked inside.

"Come on, my dear granddaughter, Grandma will take you to see the bride."

"Okay, Panpan, look at the bride and eat the bride's wedding candy."

"Little glutton, your mother doesn't allow you to eat so much candy. She says it will give you a toothache if you eat too much."

"It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. I'll feel bad if I don't get to eat."

"You child..." Grandma Xia couldn't stop laughing, "How can you be so lovable?"

The women were shocked when they suddenly heard Old Madam Xia's laughter.

As everyone knows, Madam Xia was a woman who had followed General Xia to the border for twenty years. She was usually serious and rarely smiled. Hearing the hearty laughter, she was very curious: who had the ability to make Madam Xia laugh?
"Whose child is that? He's quite cute."

Some sharp-eyed people noticed the child being held by Madam Xia's hand.

"You don't know, do you? That's the young lady brought by the General's new wife. Can you believe how lucky General Xia is? He got a free gift with his first marriage."

After saying that, he chuckled to himself.

Everyone... those words were truly vicious. Who could speak so smugly of a burden? This was an insult to the Xia family's reputation.

You must not let Old Madam Xia hear these words. Given her fiery temper, she might just take action on the spot.

Seriously, never mess with Old Madam Xia!
"Ma'am, your breath stinks! You have terrible bad breath! Oh dear, you don't even brush your teeth! You only eat and don't poop, your belly is full of poop! You keep farting..."

Madam Xia looked at Panpan in shock. This child had always spoken in a pleasing way, and it was truly unheard of for her to speak so recklessly and nonsensically. Most importantly, she had humiliated Madam Zhang in public.

This child... well, she's my own precious granddaughter, no matter how big a mess she gets into, I have to take care of her.

She didn't want to curse, but she went out of her way to get cursed, and it was her granddaughter who cursed her. Why did Old Madam Xia suddenly feel a little relieved?
"How dare you speak like that? Where did this bastard come from? You're spouting nonsense..."

Madam Zhang's face turned pale, then blue, then red, a rather striking sight, but she didn't forget to retaliate. "Li Xia, slap her."

"Yes, old lady."

Li Xia darted forward in one stride, and before people could even see her clearly, they heard a crisp "snap" sound.

With two tugs to the left and two to the right, Li Xia quickly retreated back to the old lady's side.

"Ouch, ouch..."

Madam Zhang covered her face and screamed repeatedly, and no one dared to utter a sound.

When Madam Jiang heard that something had happened, she rushed over.

"Madam Xia..."

Even at this age, her fiery temper remains as bad as ever; she'll resort to violence at the slightest provocation. Truly worthy of being a general's wife.

Honestly, Madam Zhang is incredibly stupid. How could a fourth-rank lady speak ill of a second-rank noblewoman to her face? Even if she were beaten, it would be pointless!
"Madam Jiang, I'm so sorry, but I can't stand the slightest grievance. My precious granddaughter is also my treasure, and I won't allow anyone to slander her." Madam Xia apologized, but her face remained expressionless.

Although it's wrong to make a move at the Minister's mansion's celebration, so what?

Among this group of people, no one could compare to her in status or position.

So what if she's being willful?
Back when the old general was alive, he spoiled people, and their arrogant nature had long been formed. Anyone who disagreed could go and confront the old general.

Yes, before marriage, she was pampered by her father, who was the Duke of Protector of the Nation; after marrying into the Xia family, she was stationed at the border for more than 20 years, and General Xia cherished her dearly; after the general died in battle, she took her only son to the front lines, and her son made great contributions in battle. She then retired to live in seclusion and became an old lady. Now her son's status in the capital is also very high.

How could a family like that tolerate a fifth-rank lady like you slandering Panpan's status?
"Yes, the old lady is right. This must be your young lady, right?"

Madam Jiang had never been enthusiastic towards Panpan before, partly because she was busy, and partly because she wasn't quite sure what Madam Xia liked. If she flattered someone Madam Xia liked, that would be fine. But if she didn't like someone, wouldn't it be like she was trying to curry favor but ended up with something she didn't like?

She won't get involved in trouble until she understands the situation.

It seems that she needs to lay the groundwork.

“That’s right, this is a young lady from my Xia family, not the young lady, but the eldest young lady.” Old Madam Xia bent down and picked up Panpan: “Panpan, come and greet Madam Jiang.”

"Hello, Madam Jiang. Madam is so beautiful."

"Oh, this child, what a sweet tongue."

Who doesn't like being complimented on their beauty, especially by children? That's a genuine compliment. Madam Jiang was delighted, but then she thought, "Oh dear, what bad luck! I just gave the gifts I brought to the other children."

She immediately took off the jade bracelet on her wrist.

"Here, this is for you. You're a pretty young lady too."

"Thank you, Madam Jiang, but Panpan cannot accept this. Panpan has done nothing to deserve such a gift. Moreover, this bracelet is meant to be left to the future daughter-in-law by Madam Jiang, and it is not appropriate for Panpan to accept it."

She really liked the bracelet and had indeed said she would pass it on to her daughter-in-law.

Madam Jiang was shocked. How did she know?
The key point is that she also knows how to refuse. How did she come up with such a thing when she was such a young child and no one had taught her?
"Madam, what's wrong with Miss..."

"Thank you for your kindness to my granddaughter, Madam Jiang." Madam Xia also felt it was inappropriate to accept the bracelet: "Madam Jiang, you can give my granddaughter another gift later."

It wasn't that they didn't want her gift, but rather that it was too extravagant, and their general's mansion didn't want to owe her such a favor.

"Alright." Madam Jiang also felt it was inappropriate, so she said to the nanny beside her, "Go and get the safety amulet from my storeroom and give it to the eldest daughter of the Xia family. Such a well-behaved baby, may she have a peaceful and smooth life."

(End of this chapter)