Although it wasn’t explicitly mentioned, everyone knew that the "your sister" she was referring to was Qin Wan.

Qin Heng hummed like a mosquito, frantically gesturing with his eyes.

Qin Jijiu paused for a moment and then understood. Just as he was about to speak to remedy the situation, complaints from Qin Wan came from the back hall, "Mother, Father just spoke about me like this in front of my brothers! No wonder Ziqi says my brothers treat me worse than Qin Yuan does."

Qin Jijiu was initially a bit guilt-ridden, but became furious upon hearing this.

"That Lin Ziqi, useless himself, still stirs my daughter against her brothers. Truly worthless. Those two lousy poems, squeezed in reluctantly for my sake. Since he starts the trouble, I will finish it. Tomorrow I’ll have Shen Changle withdraw those two pieces."

Qin Wan, ignoring decorum in her fury, stormed out from the back hall and yelled: "Father! This is too heartless. Even if you don’t fancy me and Ziqi, and pin your hopes on Qin Yuan and our cousin, there’s no need to treat us like this. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, who knows what will happen in the future. Brother Heng is so lazy, and the Dingbei Marquis is so arrogant, he doesn’t truly earn the Emperor’s favor, who will you rely on in the future?"

Qin Heng hung his head in frustration.

Qin Jijiu sneered coldly: "You think just sending some food makes me believe Lin Ziqi can be relied on in the future? It’s money from the Qins, used to buy food for me, expecting me to feel grateful?"

This was akin to ripping off Qin Wan’s dignity and stomping it into the ground.

Qin Siyuan fidgeted, wanting to speak up and mediate. Qin Jijiu waved him off, saying: "Take it away, take it away, you become weak when fed by others, shortchanged when taking from others. I don’t eat your Lin family’s food and drink, so stay away from the Qin family. Our family temple is too small to accommodate a future First-Grade Imperial Decree lady like you."

Qin Wan sobbed: "Father, you truly are my father."

Seeing the situation, Mrs. Cui, who had chased after her daughter, reproached, "What is this, what is this? We were all sitting together nicely waiting for you to eat, and now it’s this chaos as soon as you return? Wan’er is with child, can’t you, as her father, say less?"

Qin Wan leaned into Mrs. Cui’s embrace, sobbing: "Mother, does father not want me anymore? You mustn’t abandon me."

Qin Jijiu flung his sleeves in rage: "Eat what? Didn’t you hear them? In the future, even nephews can’t be relied upon, so I should depend on that traitor son-in-law?"

Seeing him truly angered, Mrs. Cui immediately consoled: "If not eat, then not eat. I’ll have someone take it away immediately."

Qin Heng couldn’t hold back anymore, shouting: "I brought this from the Marquis Mansion, my eldest sister sent it. This is all the flavors the family loves, nothing to do with Second Sister or her husband."

"What?"

Qin Jijiu, slightly less angry, turned his face to ask, "Your eldest sister sent this?"

Qin Heng replied: "Of course. You think Second Sister’s family can send such a good spread? Just look at the spicy lamb shank, where would her family get the lamb from? Her mother-in-law is afraid of not having enough herself, let alone agreeing to let Second Sister send any home! She’d be sitting on the ground crying if it was. Today I rode all day in the Marquis Mansion, even brother Si Yuan and I were starving. Father, Second Sister, stop this. Can’t the Qin family sit down for a meal together without fighting like chickens?"

Qin Wan rolled her eyes in frustration, about to speak but was stopped by a glare from Qin Heng.

Qin Heng continued: "Mother, can’t you guide Second Sister a bit? Second Sister doesn’t get good food at the Lin family, now that she’s here, let her eat more and take some when she leaves, reheating and eating slowly. These dishes are plentiful and can’t all be finished in one sitting. Eldest Sister specially ordered the cooks to make Suzhou Cuisine, sugar-coated pork elbow, and spicy lamb shank, with a large pot of each."

Mrs. Cui teased: "You rascal, speaking of your mother like this."

Though she said so, she still half-support, half-dragged Qin Wan into the inner hall.

Qin Wan indeed suffered in terms of food, clothing, and usage at the Lin family. She wanted to eat something good, and if she left now, she’d lose face to return later, so she let Mrs. Cui coax her into the inner hall.

Qin Jijiu entered the inner room, changed into regular clothes, and joined the table before saying to Qin Heng: "Why did you take food from your eldest sister when visiting her house? Couldn’t it make people laugh?"

Qin Heng replied: "Who dares to laugh at my eldest sister? She’s now the head mistress at the Marquis Mansion. Everything big and small in the house is decided by her. I and cousin were retained by Old Madam Gu in the top room to chat, and the madam praised eldest sister like a celestial fairy descended from heavens to her several cousins-in-law. Cousin, am I right?"

Qin Siyuan nodded: "Eldest Sister indeed is respected throughout the Marquis Mansion. The Gu Family relatives hold her in high regard as well. She proposed a plan, and the entire Gu Family praised it. I also think it’s quite good. If the Qin ancestors were so prosperous back then, our Qin family might be even more flourishing now."

Qin Jijiu queried while gnawing on a shank, finally sucking his fingers and sighing: "I always said my daughter could serve as an official had she entered court, pity she’s a woman, otherwise the Qin family could rise further."

Qin Siyuan sincerely vouched: "Eldest Sister indeed has that capability."

Inside the hall, Mrs. Cui continually filled Qin Wan’s bowl with food.

Qin Wan, after a few bites, couldn’t resist complaining again: "Qin Yuan married into the Marquis Mansion, becoming Marchioness, even her farts smell sweet. If I had ample funds, I’d send spreads home too."

Mrs. Cui glanced at her, staying silent.

Qin Wan continued: "Why are you looking at me, Mother? Did I say something wrong?"

Mrs. Cui set down her chopsticks, saying: "Why are you complaining now? This spread is just your eldest sister’s gesture. Even if you arranged a spread outside, how much silver would it cost, and how much silver do you have in dowry? You always blame us for disdaining Mr. Lin. Yet, regarding what you say and do, is there anything that makes him worthy in our eyes?"

Qin Wan lowered her head, finding the food tasteless.

Mrs. Cui took a breath before gently continuing: "Why complain now? You didn’t marry the Marquis when you could, but insisted on Lin. Now pregnant, you must accept it, with chicken or dog, just focus on the child within you; in the future, you’ll rely on this child. The pampered Xu can’t have children; if you bear a son..."

Before Mrs. Cui finished, Qin Wan perked up again, put down her chopsticks, eyes brimming with joy as she gently stroked her still flat belly and laughed: "No matter how proud Qin Yuan becomes, she can’t bear children. Who knows, might be a child from Gu Sixth Master’s family assuming the princely heir position. This is my own flesh and blood."