Spring flowers

Chapter 12 is valuable

"How should we act? And what kind of play should we act in?" Pei Xiaorou's voice was filled with uncertain urgency.

Wei Yishang did not rush to reveal the answer.

She pushed the cup of tea that had been pushed towards her forward an inch further and said softly, "Miss Pei, before we discuss a solution, I'd like to ask you a question. Do you think your elder sister-in-law is truly insane?"

This question caught Pei Xiaorou off guard.

She opened her mouth, and the image of her eldest sister-in-law appeared in her mind.

Sometimes she would become dazed and ignore everyone's calls, and other times she would suddenly scream, smash everything in the room, and mutter incoherently about trivial matters concerning her family.

The doctors invited by the mansion all said it was a mental illness caused by emotional distress, which damaged his mind and eventually led to madness.

"Doctor, that's what they say," Pei Xiaorou replied somewhat uncertainly.

"Doctors can only cure physical ailments, not mental ones," Wei Yishang shook her head.

"In my opinion, your sister-in-law is not crazy, but sick. The root of the problem does not lie in her, but in the Pei family."

"The Pei residence?"

“Exactly.” Wei Yishang’s tone was firm.

"How could a once vibrant person become like this after marrying into a high-ranking family? It's simply because of the disparity in social status and the resulting disdain. She came from an ordinary background, and in the prestigious Minister's mansion, she brought not glory, but rather a 'stain' in your mother's eyes. She couldn't compose poetry, nor could she bring honor to your family at noble ladies' banquets. All she could do was bear children, but unfortunately, her womb was uncooperative. Miss Pei, think about it, a person who is constantly disliked and unable to find their own value, confined within high walls day after day, how could she not 'fall ill'?"

These words shocked Pei Xiaorou even more than the slap she had just received. She had never considered her sister-in-law's situation from this perspective. In her mind, her sister-in-law's marriage into the Pei family was a step up for her, and she should be cautious and try to please the elders.

She never imagined that behind that cautiousness lay such repression and despair.

Seeing that her expression softened, Wei Yishang knew that she had taken it to heart, so she pressed on while the iron was hot: "Therefore, the cure is not about how many famous doctors you invite or how much medicine you give her. It's about treating the symptoms. The root of the problem is that she can't afford to see a doctor, so the cure is naturally to make her 'valuable'."

"Make her valuable?" Pei Xiaorou murmured to herself, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. "How can that be done?"

"Instead of cutting off the fuel supply, we should turn waste into treasure." Wei Yishang finally revealed a fox-like smile, exuding a charming and strategic aura.

"This is the show I was talking about. The first step is to make your sister-in-law's madness legitimately cured."

She paused, making sure Pei Xiaorou could follow her train of thought: "You can't let her suddenly get better, that would be too deliberate and arouse suspicion. You should announce to the outside world that your mother, out of love for her daughter-in-law, searched far and wide for renowned doctors and finally found a hermit master."

This wise man said that your sister-in-law's illness is a case of spiritual disorientation, and she needs to use the things she knows and loves most to soothe her soul and calm her mind in order to recover.

Pei Xiaorou listened intently: "The things you are most familiar with and love the most?"

“That’s right.” Wei Yishang nodded. “I’m asking you, what kind of business does your sister-in-law’s family do? Before she got married, did she have any special skills?”

Pei Xiaorou pondered for a moment and replied, "Her family is from the south, and their ancestors have been famous for brewing Baihua wine for generations. I once heard my brother mention that before she got married, her 'Peach Blossom Wine,' which she brewed herself, won first place at a local wine tasting event, and even the prefect praised it highly. However, after she married into the family, her mother considered these to be lowly business dealings and forbade her to touch them anymore."

"This is it!" Wei Yishang clapped her hands. "A godsend! This peach blossom wine is the perfect medicinal ingredient for curing the disease!"

Pei Xiaorou, being an exceptionally intelligent person, had already vaguely guessed Wei Yishang's intention: "You mean..."

"Yes! Just say that the prescription given by that expert is to let your sister-in-law return to her old trade and brew wine every day. Use the aroma of the wine as a catalyst and focus as a medicine to gather her scattered spirit. In this way, your mother will gain a reputation for seeking medical help for her daughter-in-law, and your sister-in-law's madness will have a reasonable explanation. Most importantly, she will start doing something, something she is good at and loves."

Pei Xiaorou seemed to be considering the feasibility of the matter.

Wei Yishang looked at her and revealed the second and most crucial step of the plan: "The real show will begin once she brews the Peach Blossom Wine. This wine must not be consumed only within the mansion. Miss Pei, what you must do is make it a priceless treasure among the powerful and influential circles of the capital."

"A rare item?"

“Yes. The prestige of the Minister’s mansion is the best advertisement. You can have your mother serve this wine as the grand finale at banquets, in limited quantities. Or, when visiting other duke’s or marquis’s mansions, you can give the beautifully packaged Peach Blossom Wine as a souvenir. You must let everyone know that this wine is unique to the Minister’s mansion, brewed by the Minister’s ailing daughter-in-law, and produced in very limited quantities, so that only close relatives and friends can taste it.”

Wei Yishang's lips curled into a sly smile: "Think about it, when those noble ladies flaunt your family's wine, when the officials in the court subtly inquire about your father's desire for a jar of Peach Blossom Wine, when your mother gains prestige in social circles because of this unique gift, who will care about your sister-in-law's background? Who will remember that she was once mad?"

"At that time, she will no longer be a stain on the Pei family, but a treasure. A treasure that can continuously create value and glory for the family. At that time, will her status in the family still be the same as it is now? Will your mother's attitude towards her still be so harsh? A hen that can lay golden eggs will only be well taken care of by its master, so why would she be plucked?"

"At that time, you will have no worries about finding a spouse. All the good young men in the capital will be lining up at your residence. Perhaps even Scholar Ye will come to your residence for the sake of Peach Blossom Wine. You will have no worries about not having a chance to get close to him!"

Wei Yishang threw out her final bombshell bait: "It's better to have more friends than more enemies."

If she wants to survive, it's best not to make enemies everywhere.

At that moment, the people in the next private room almost spat out their tea when they heard Wei Yishang's words.

What a clever woman from the Wei family! She even made him a part of her scheme.

Wei Yishang's words left Pei Xiaorou speechless.

This plan was meticulously crafted, with each step linked to the next, leaving no room for error.

It saved everyone's face, cleverly transforming a family scandal into a heartwarming tale of a loving mother and a miraculous cure.

What's even more frightening is that it precisely targets the weaknesses of human nature: vanity and self-interest.

It not only solved the sister-in-law's predicament, but also created a new and unique form of social capital for the entire Pei family.

It's more than just solving a problem; it's like turning lead into gold!

Looking at Wei Yishang, Pei Xiaorou felt admiration for the first time.

This was no longer the sheltered young lady she had feared who would compete with her for attention; she was clearly a shrewd and calculating female strategist!

(End of this chapter)