Chapter 695 The Governor's Wife's Banquet

This was Cheng Wanwan's first time in the provincial capital, and also her first time entering this circle.

These ladies from the provincial capital were also seeing the legendary Lady Sui for the first time.

"So you're so young, Lady Sui Shuren." The governor's wife greeted her with a smile. "Lady Sui Shuren didn't even tell me she was coming to the provincial capital. If I hadn't heard last night that she was accompanying her son to the provincial examination, I'm afraid I would have missed the chance to meet her."

Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "I should have paid a visit to the governor's wife, but I haven't been able to find the time. I hope it's not too late now."

Her gaze fell upon the other dozen or so ladies. "May I ask how you are addressed?"

Those ladies were all relatives of officials in the provincial capital, ranging from the fourth to the seventh or eighth rank. When the governor's wife held a banquet, they naturally had to come and support her.

Upon hearing Cheng Wanwan's question, they immediately began to introduce themselves.

There were wives of magistrates, wives of sub-prefects, wives of military officials, and wives of officials from the education government...

Lu Yingxue's gaze fell on the face of one of the school officials' wives, and she said with a smile, "So this is Mrs. Pan."

"This is my sister, her husband's surname is Yu," Cheng Wanwan introduced. "My sister's son is the same age as my son. They came to Yunnan Province together to take the provincial examination. I came to the banquet, and it wouldn't be good to leave my sister alone at home, so I came along."

The governor's wife smiled and said, "Since you are Sui Shuren's sister, let's sit down and enjoy the flowers together. These chrysanthemums are a new variety sent from the capital last year, and they are of very good quality... We women don't need to compose poems. I specially had someone buy the freshest crabs from Chenghu Lake. Everyone can enjoy the flowers and eat at the same time. Don't be shy."

Ladies, please find a seat.

Cheng Wanwan was of a higher status and sat in the seat of honor with the governor's wife.

Lu Yingxue, who had no official rank, sat at the lowest seat, right next to Madam Pan.

Madam Pan's husband was a low-ranking official of the ninth grade in the local government. Whenever she attended a banquet, she was always just an accessory. This was the first time anyone had paid attention to her.

She smiled and looked at Lu Yingxue: "Does Madam Yu know my husband?"

"This is my first time in the provincial capital, how would I know Lord Pan?" Lu Yingxue said, taking a bite of crab meat. "Yesterday, when the provincial examination started, didn't a lot of people faint before entering the examination hall and get thrown out? One of them happened to be a fellow villager. He said that Lord Pan was the inspector for this provincial examination. He was particularly strict and careful, which prevented cheating. Lord Pan is truly a good official."

Madam Pan said with pride, "He is indeed a meticulous person."

"These crabs are delicious, Madam Pan, please eat them quickly, they'll get fishy if they get cold." Lu Yingxue raised a glass of wine and clinked glasses with her. "Madam Pan and I seem to have a special connection. After the banquet, my sister and I are going to browse the jewelry shop. Would Madam Pan like to come along?"

Madam Pan knew that the elder sister Madam Yu was referring to was Lady Sui Shu.

Sui Shuren, so many people want to build connections with her, but they have no way to do so. Unexpectedly, the opportunity was presented to her.

She immediately nodded: "I'm from the provincial capital, I know which shops have nice gold jewelry. I'll take Madam Yu and Lady Sui to have a look later."

Cheng Wanwan sat in the upper seat and watched Lu Yingxue and Madam Pan chatting and laughing, looking no different from sisters.

She wasn't idle either; she chatted with the governor's wife about this and that.

The flower-viewing banquet didn't end until evening. During those two hours, Cheng Wanwan and the governor's wife's relationship progressed rapidly. If they weren't as close as sisters, they had at least become acquaintances in the general sense.

She exchanged a few pleasantries with the governor's wife before taking her leave.

As they approached the entrance of the villa, Lu Yingxue smiled and said, "Sister Wanwan, it's still early. Let's go to the jewelry shop. Madam Pan said that the shop specially purchased goods from the capital and has many rare items."

Cheng Wanwan nodded: "Then I'll trouble Madam Pan to lead the way."

Madam Pan looked alarmed: "Don't bother with this little thing, it's just ahead, not far."

Cheng Wanwan and Lu Yingxue rode in one carriage, while Madam Pan rode in her own carriage, heading towards the bustling street one after the other.

As dusk fell, the streets of Yuncheng were not deserted. People who had been busy all day came out to stroll around, and the streets were very lively.

Before getting off the carriage, Lu Yingxue gritted her teeth and said, "If we have to fight later, let me do it, so that you don't get your hands dirty, Sister Wanwan."

Cheng Wanwan was both amused and exasperated: "What, do you think I'm just a boorish person who only knows how to use my hands?"

Lu Yingxue coughed: "Si Dan was tricked by her husband, and I felt that the only way to vent my anger was to slap her. You have no idea how hard I had to hold back."

"Looks like you'll have to keep putting up with it." Cheng Wanwan chuckled. "I plan to befriend her, not fall out with her."

Seeing Lu Yingxue's puzzled look, she continued, "There are more than a dozen low-ranking officials like this in the government. If we get rid of one Lord Pan, there will be countless more Lord Pans. Rather than that, why not keep this guy surnamed Pan around and have him work for me? What do you think?"

Four Eggs has been in the exam hall for two days now, and I wonder if anyone is still causing trouble.

Therefore, she needs to get this done as soon as possible.

Cheng Wanwan lifted the carriage curtain and helped Granny Qi down from the carriage.

In front of them was a three-story jewelry shop, decorated very luxuriously. Madam Pan led the way, and the three of them went inside.

Madam Pan was probably not a regular customer here, because the shopkeeper did not come up to greet her personally. Cheng Wanwan specifically asked for the latest jewelry from the capital before the shopkeeper led her into a private room to serve tea.

A row of gold ornaments, along with jade, glass, and pearl ornaments, were carefully carried over by the shopkeeper and placed in front of the three people.

Lu Yingxue exclaimed in amazement, "It's truly worthy of being from the capital! It's so beautiful! Sister Wanwan, look at the dragonfly on this gold hairpin, it looks just like the real thing."

"Do you like it? If you like it, I'll give it to you." Cheng Wanwan said generously, "Does Madam Pan have any jewelry she likes? Pick one out too."

Madam Pan was startled. The jewelry in this shop was extremely expensive, and the jewelry brought from the capital was even more so, easily costing a hundred taels of silver. She dared not let Consort Sui send such valuable items, and hurriedly said, "No need, no need, I have enough at home."

Cheng Wanwan glanced at the hairpin in her hair. It was a pearl hairpin, but the pearls were slightly worn, clearly indicating that it had been worn for many years.

Today's banquet should be a rather important occasion for Madam Pan, and the jewelry she wears should be the most precious in the family. If the most precious item is just a pearl hairpin of mediocre quality, it means that the Pan family is not very wealthy.

Because his family was too poor, he couldn't resist the temptation of the He family's benefits.

If money can bribe someone, that would be too easy.

Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Madam Pan and my sister are on good terms, and Madam Pan and I are also destined to meet. Giving a gift is nothing. If you don't like any of these, then Madam Pan, please accept this bracelet."

She took off the emerald green jade bracelet from her wrist.

Madam Pan was extremely anxious and apprehensive.

Lu Yingxue advised from the side, "My sister Wanwan is rich. It's just a bracelet. Take it. It's no big deal."