Everyone was now certain that Lianhua was deliberately targeting Jia Rui. Zhang Lanxiang and Liu Yuexiang were particularly excited, knowing that the Lu family wouldn't be the type to be bullied.

Zhang Lanxiang still remembered the fate of the wealthy man Dong who bullied the Lu family; he was thoroughly humiliated and forced to submit.

Now, Lianhua is clearly much gentler in dealing with Jia Rui.

Lianhua stood up to thank everyone for their praise, and then said to Jia Rui, "Youyou is right. I was just trying to help Miss Jia correct her. It's not a big deal that she played it wrong today. After all, this is not a big occasion. It's okay to make a mistake. I believe that all the ladies and young ladies here will not mind. But if Miss Jia plays it wrong on other occasions in the future, won't she become a laughing stock and embarrass the county magistrate?"

Lotus smiled very gently, as if she really was thinking of her.

Jia Rui, her eyes red with anger, couldn't help but cry out, "You...you're all bullying me like this!"

After saying that, she ignored her mother's attempts to stop her, got up and ran out. Since she had already lost face in front of so many people, she didn't care about losing even more face.

After she ran away, Grandmother Jia carefully stepped forward to apologize to Lianhua: "It's all because we've been too lenient with this girl. We'll definitely discipline her more strictly when we get back. Please don't hold it against her, Miss Lianhua."

Lianhua was about to nod in agreement, after all, she had been in the limelight today and didn't want to make things too ugly, but He Jiuniang, who was engrossed in eating melon seeds, spoke up.

"Since Madam Jia knows that the girl is not well-behaved, she shouldn't have brought her to our residence. In the future, she shouldn't easily bring her to other people's residences either, otherwise people will laugh at the Jia family for its poor upbringing. It's only because our Lu family is kind and doesn't want to make enemies everywhere, otherwise your daughter's behavior would have gotten her kicked out."

He Jiuniang spoke without any politeness. She had been bullied to the point of being rude. If she could still be polite and gentle, she would truly be looked down upon.

On the contrary, her righteous and stern warning could quickly establish the authority of the Lu family.

Of course, she wasn't referring to Jia Rui running away, but rather to her deliberately bringing the zither to show off, which was truly disgraceful.

She's just the daughter of a county magistrate in a small county town. She doesn't know her own worth. No matter how low the Lu family's background is, Lu Baichuan is now a high-ranking official of the second rank. She and Madam Sun are both first-rank imperial consorts. They are not people that a mere county magistrate's daughter can easily put on airs and play tricks on.

These words made everyone present gasp. When they first entered, they thought the Lu family was easy to get along with, always cheerful no matter what they said, as if they would never get angry, and they couldn't understand the implied meaning in their words. But now they realized that it wasn't that they didn't know, but that they disdained to bother with them.

"What the Third Madam says is true. I will definitely teach her a strict lesson when I get back. If she doesn't learn her lesson, I will never let her set foot in the house again!"

Grandmother Jia's heart trembled. She had come today to curry favor with the Lu family, but her daughter had offended them because of this incident. How could she explain this to her husband when she got home tonight?

He Jiuniang's expression softened, and she took the opportunity to address everyone: "It's the New Year, and we, the Lu family, are naturally happy to welcome you all. However, I hope that those who come are genuinely sincere in their desire to befriend us, not the cunning and scheming types. This time, I'll let it go; it's my fault for not making it clear beforehand. But if this happens again, our Lu family won't be so easily bullied."

Sun looked at He Jiu Niang with satisfaction. It was more meaningful for the third son's wife to say such things. If it were her, she certainly wouldn't have the same imposing manner.

Last night, He Jiuniang explained some possible situations that might occur at the banquet and told everyone in the Lu family that guests should not easily get into conflicts with others and should try to be kind to everyone.

Of course, if the other party has ill intentions, you can't just let them bully you like that. You have to retaliate fiercely and make them admit defeat.

Just like how Lotus had slapped Jia Rui hard in the face with a song, the slap that landed on Jia Rui's face was invisible yet more powerful than a real one, and even hurt her more than a real slap.

Those who still harbored ulterior motives were instantly frightened and lowered their heads.

Perhaps that's just how people are. When the Lu family treats them kindly, they think they're easy to bully and look down on them somewhat. But now, after being threatened and bribed by He Jiu Niang, they've become afraid.

Liu Yuexiang was most fortunate that she was still somewhat intelligent. When she first saw the Lu family, she knew that they were definitely not people she could afford to offend. Although she was somewhat judging by appearances, she ultimately made the right choice.

This further solidified her desire to become Lianhua's apprentice. It is said that birds of a feather flock together, and that being around excellent people for a long time will make one excellent as well. She couldn't wait to start doing business with Lianhua.

If even the niece of a high-ranking official can set aside her pride to do business, what does she, the daughter of a mere county magistrate, have to care about? Her father's salary is meager, barely enough to support a large family, and the household expenses are mostly covered by the income from the shops included in her mother's dowry, which is also a form of business.

In recent years, the shop's business has been declining, and the family's situation has been getting worse year by year. She had long had the idea of ​​managing the shop herself, but she didn't have the ability, so she hadn't taken action. But if she could become Lianhua's apprentice, she might be able to save her family's business.

Aside from the two cousins, everyone else in the room was on edge, wondering if they had said anything that offended the Lu family and whether they would face retaliation...

Jia Rui, who left in a huff, was unaware of what was happening in the reception room. She wanted to go back to her carriage, but instead saw Li Rong standing in front of the potted plants in the courtyard.

Li Rong was tall and slender, with the appearance of a handsome scholar, which made him very popular with these girls. Jia Rui was no exception, and she stopped in her tracks for Li Rong.

"It's so cold in the courtyard, why is Young Master Li here alone, freezing?"

She sniffed, deliberately put on a smile, and walked towards Li Rong.

Li Rong was surprised to see her here, but still greeted her politely: "I had a few drinks and wasn't feeling well, so I came out to admire the flowers. What brings you out here, Miss Jia?"

"It's still that lotus flower, blah blah blah..."

Jia Rui was feeling wronged when she heard someone care about her, so she immediately recounted what had happened in the reception room.

She felt that Lianhua was deliberately targeting her, making her lose face in front of so many people, and that she would find a chance to avenge the humiliation she suffered today.

But Li Rong's eyes lit up when he heard Lianhua's name, especially when he learned that she also knew music. He clenched his fists with excitement, and a determination to have Lianhua rose in his heart.