Jiang said "hmm", and Chen Afu sat down.

Jiang then said to Chen Yuhui, "Girl Hui, your father was born and raised in the countryside. He is a real countryman. But he was also the top scholar in the imperial examination more than ten years ago. Everyone says that he is handsome, elegant, knowledgeable and talented. How can you speak so badly of a countryman?"

Chen Yuhui quickly stood up with tears in her eyes and said, "My mother is teaching me that it is my daughter who is wrong." She is not stupid. Now her grandmother is half paralyzed and her biological mother is dead. If she offends the woman who holds her own destiny in her hands, she will be in trouble.

Jiang said "hmm" again, and Chen Yuhui sat down.

Jiang taught both girls a lesson, but everyone knew who she was really teaching a lesson to.

Jiang asked Chen Afu again, "Have you prepared the clothes for the banquet at the Chu Mansion?"

Chen Ahfu said, "I'm ready."

Jiang nodded and said, "I know you are a capable child. You may not like the clothes made by the embroiderer in the mansion. So I didn't prepare any clothes for you, but only a set of headgear."

As soon as she finished speaking, Hong Feng brought up a small lacquered box with flower patterns, which contained several pieces of red gold and jade head ornaments, including hairpins, hairpins, and earrings. They were brilliant and extremely beautiful.

Chen Afu stood up with a smile, thanked Jiang, and took the jewelry box.

Jiang then said to Chen Yuqing and Chen Yuxia, "You two should also prepare well and go with your elder sister the day after tomorrow."

After she finished speaking, two maids brought up two trays filled with clothes and jewelry boxes. The two sisters thanked Jiang with a smile and took the clothes and jewelry.

Seeing the confusion in Chen Yuhui's eyes, Jiang said to her, "It has only been two months since Aunt Tang died. After all, she is your biological mother. You are not allowed to go out to visit other people for three months. Therefore, you can't go to the Chu Mansion with your sisters the day after tomorrow."

Chen Yuhui's eyes were red with anger. She was extremely dissatisfied and felt that Jiang was looking for an excuse to suppress her. She was about to turn fifteen, but she had not yet been engaged. How could she not go to such a banquet that brought together all the noble ladies in Dingzhou Prefecture, and even noble ladies from the capital and provincial capital? If she went, if she was lucky enough to be favored by a lady, she would have a future.

Even though Aunt Tang is my biological mother, she is just an aunt. How can you lock her up in the house and not let her go out just because of her aunt's death?

I thought this in my mind but didn't dare say it out loud. I thought I would try again after my father came back.

Time passed quickly as they chatted and laughed, and Chen Yulan came here after school.

He bowed to Jiang, then happily pulled Chen Afu's sleeve and started chatting and laughing.

As dusk fell, Chen Shiying also came back. Jiang stood up and led the children and servants to pay him respects.

Chen Shiying nodded to Jiang first, then looked at Chen Afu and said with a smile, "Fu'er is here. Stay at home for a few more days this time and spend more time with your father and your mother." He then spoke to the children one by one.

He was kind and gentle, greeting each of his children and speaking softly to everyone. Even his two aunts were bathed in his gentle gaze.

This family, at least for now, is extremely harmonious.

Chen Shiying and his wife brought their five children to eat at the same table, without any separate tables.

After dinner, Chen Shiying and Jiang talked about going to the Chu Mansion to attend the birthday banquet. He asked Chen Afu and her three sisters to prepare well, and also said that Aunt Tang had just died not long ago, so Chen Yuhui should not go out as a guest.

"Dad, I..." Chen Yuhui looked at him with tears in her eyes.

Chen Shiying said, "Dad knows that you have a good relationship with your aunt, but the dead cannot be resurrected. Hui'er should also take care of himself and don't be too sad."

Then he waved his hand and asked his children to leave.

After they left, Jiang personally brewed a cup of tea for Chen Shiying and briefly told her about the quarrel between Chen Ahfu and Chen Yuhui. At the end, she said, "As the eldest sister, it is her duty to teach her younger sister. But her method is a little inappropriate. I have also told her about it."

Chen Shiying said, "Well, Madam is right. Fu'er grew up in the countryside and speaks too bluntly, but she doesn't have any bad intentions. As for Hui'er, ah," he sighed, his face darkening, "I am also responsible for her current situation. If I had not been soft-hearted and insisted on not listening to my mother, I would have handed her over to Madam to discipline..." He asked again, "I asked Madam to find a boyfriend for her. How is it? Is there anyone suitable?"

Jiang said, "I have been asking around these days and I think the three families are okay. I was just about to talk to the master about it..."

After listening to the conditions of those families, Chen Shiying hesitated for a moment and said, "I think we should go with the young man surnamed Wei from Zhongning County. Although he is only a scholar and will not achieve much in the future, he is honest and his family has thousands of acres of fertile land, so they will not have a bad life. If we give her more dowry, Hui will be able to live a rich life. With her personality, only by marrying her to this kind of family can she avoid trouble, and the Wei family will also treat her well for my sake."

Jiang also felt that this family was the most suitable for Chen Yuhui, but she was afraid that Chen Shiying would misunderstand that she was deliberately not finding a good family for Chen Yuhui, so she also found two other children of officials as alternatives.

After hearing what Chen Shiying said, Jiang hesitated and said, "I also think this family is good, but Hui's personality, and her mother-in-law..." What they had their eyes on was the son of the marquis's mansion, a third-rank general.

Chen Shiying waved her hands and said, "Hui'er is very strong, but people are stronger than fate. This family is her best destination. It's her parents' order and the matchmaker's words. She can't object. Madam, just do it. As for my mother, I won't tell her for now. I will explain to her after the matter is done." He sighed again, "Alas, no matter how wrong Hui'er is, she is still my own daughter. Madam, you still have to discipline her more in the future. I don't ask her to be kind and virtuous, but she must have a conscience and be sensible in doing things..."

Jiang said, "Hui'er is the master's daughter, and also my daughter. I will."

Chen Shiying reached out and held Jiang's hand and said, "Over the past decade, your husband has been able to make achievements in the officialdom and not let me worry about the family. It's all because of your virtue. Not only do you appreciate all the things you have done for me and this family, but the outside world also praises you."

Jiang's eyes were red, and she said, "I don't care what others say about me. As long as the master knows my heart, everything is worth it."

Chen Shiying patted her hands and said earnestly, "I know what Madam feels. I have always known it."

Today it was his turn to rest at Aunt He's place, but he stayed in the main courtyard.

After breakfast the next day, Chen Afu and her sisters went to pay their respects to Jiang. Just after they said a few words, someone came to report that the old lady was making a fuss again.

Jiang's face darkened slightly. She glanced at Chen Yuhui, sent the sisters back, and hurried to Hengshouyuan.

When Chen Afu returned to the Rose Courtyard, he heard a servant come to report that Manager Zeng of the Fuyunlai Trading Company had arrived.