Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Oti / As if to teach the art of husband training...
When Audrey and Mrs. Moore returned to the banquet hall, the auction had already begun.
Lisa sat in the center of the front row, and the ladies took their seats according to their name tags.
Seeing Audrey, Lisa looked surprised and stood up and said, "Oh my God! Miss Norman, why is your skirt so dirty?"
Morr said with a forced smile, "Ms. Blossom, you ask even though you already know the answer."
"I must have been unclear when I was giving directions..." Lisa smiled apologetically, her gaze fixed on Audrey's skirt. "That's why you're in such a mess."
Everyone's eyes were focused on the two of them.
Audrey seemed oblivious to the mocking looks and said with a frank smile, "It's okay, Miss Lisa. Where should I sit?"
Lisa called the housekeeper: "Show Miss Norman and Mrs. Moore to take a seat."
The butler looked embarrassed. "Ms. Lisa, uh... all the seats are full."
His eyes drifted towards the woman in black sitting on the left side of the first row. "Besides Madam Jeshia's side, the only option is to add a bench to the last row."
Lisa immediately scolded the housekeeper, and the scolding was heard by everyone, which prompted the other wives to come to the rescue.
Mrs. Beech smiled, fanning herself. "Lisa, don't blame the old housekeeper. The seats at the auction are limited. If you join too hastily, you're bound to get into trouble, right? Miss Norman?"
Audrey didn't respond, but smiled at Lisa and said, "I'll sit in the last row. Please excuse me, housekeeper."
Lisa nodded apologetically. "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience."
Mrs. Moore snorted coldly and turned her head away.
The butler was about to lead the way when a voice suddenly came from the side.
"Miss Norman, if you don't mind, please sit next to me."
Audrey looked over and saw a woman in her thirties wearing a black lace hat, her skin looking even paler with her fiery red lips.
She was stunned for a moment, remembering the housekeeper's words: "Mrs. Jeshia?"
Jieshia raised her eyes and said in a low voice: "Why? You don't want to sit with a widow?"
"Of course not." Audrey immediately shook her head, sat down, and said with a smile, "I couldn't ask for more."
He waved to Mrs. Moore again: "Mrs. Moore, come quickly, there is still a place here for Mrs. Jeshia."
The two of them sat down next to Jeshia, and many eyes moved behind them.
Lisa's eyes flashed coldly.
Mrs. Beech scoffed softly, "She's just a widow, huddled together with some sleazy upstart. Not worth your worry, Lisa."
"Yes, of course I'm not worried."
Lisa straightened her back and signaled the host to start the conversation.
The first few items announced for auction all came from the wives of old money families.
Host: "Master Mallord David's classical oil painting "Summer in Hersland"——"
Mrs. Beech fanned herself, half-risen, and nodded.
"Oh, Master Mallord's paintings?" Lisa laughed. "Mrs. Beech is really generous."
Mrs. Beech: "That can't overshadow you, Countess."
The bidding went on for several rounds before the host finally settled on: "Three thousand Ceylon rupees, once; three thousand Ceylon rupees, twice; three thousand Ceylon rupees... three times. Deal!"
Several items auctioned afterwards were antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and a few were handicrafts, but they were also rare treasures and it was obvious at first glance that they were not made by hand.
When it was Lisa's turn, she waved her hand and ordered two servants to bring up a copper-gilt cabinet.
"This is an antique piece of furniture from the Audley Dynasty, gifted by Miss Blossom. It's inlaid with rosewood and rosewood, and finished with a hand-mixed Martin lacquer. It has a simple and elegant style and is highly collectible. Please bid."
Lisa listened to the flattery with satisfaction. The auction price continued to rise, and the Blossom family was destined to be the top of the donation list this year.
When the hammer fell, Lisa looked at Audrey in the right corner - she was concentrating on appreciating the items, without any tension or resentment.
"Heh." Lisa sneered and raised her chin.
The host received the signal and quickly announced, "Next one, from the White family, Miss Norman."
A large box was lifted up, and as the lid was lifted, an exquisite manor model came into view.
Mrs. Moore's eyes widened: "Miss Norman, didn't you say that the auction item was made by hand?"
"I made this myself, Mrs. Moore." Audrey nodded sincerely.
Mrs. Beach sneered and glanced at her. "Don't be ridiculous, Miss Norman. I advise you to be honest."
The manor model is so exquisite that even an outsider can see how difficult it was to build.
Audrey frowned slightly. "I'm telling the truth. You were the one who informed me that I needed handicrafts, so I did as I was asked. If you don't believe me, that's your business."
"Okay, stop talking." Lisa smiled and tried to smooth things over. "Just pretend it was done by Miss Norman herself. Let's start the auction."
Mrs. Beech snorted and turned her head away.
"Even if I made it myself, so what? How can a shabby handicraft compare to our auction items?"
Sure enough, the host announced the starting price and waited for three minutes, but no one raised their hand.
Silence spread in the hall, and the ladies exchanged glances, agreeing to laugh at the Baroness's joke.
The host was still counting: "Ten seconds left. If no one bids, the auction will be declared unsold."
The host began to count down, and every count felt like a humiliation.
Mrs. Beach sneered, "See? Even the nouveau riche can't produce anything good. Who would buy junk from a street stall? And you say you made it yourself? I'm afraid only the fools in the slums who have never seen the world would believe you."
"Mrs. Beech, please speak more respectfully!" Mrs. Moore's face darkened.
Mrs. Beach: "It's a fact that the film can't be released. Miss Norman is destined to be at the bottom of the donation list."
"Oh no." She paused, her eyes full of sarcasm, "And what about Mrs. Moore's little follower? What kind of rags did you bring? Can it fill the gap for Miss Norman?"
Mrs. Moore was shaking with anger and was about to raise her sign to help Audrey raise the price.
His hands were held down.
"Don't waste your money on me, Mrs. Moore." Audrey smiled. "I hope you want to take a picture of it because you really like it."
Mrs. Moore: “But…”
Audrey shook her head: "Nothing else matters."
Mrs. Moore sighed, "Okay."
The host was still counting down, "Three, two, one, I declare, this lot..."
"etc."
Suddenly, a voice sounded. It came from the woman in black beside Audrey, Mrs. Jeshia.
Facing many eyes, she slowly raised her hand: "I want this item."
The ladies looked at each other secretly, "Why is she joining in the fun?"
Audrey was slightly startled: "Mrs. Jeshia, you..."
"I heard what you said." Jeshia raised her eyes calmly. "I really like this model, not because I want to save your face. Your face is not worth that much to me."
Audrey didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled and said, "That's great. Thank you, Mrs. Jeshia."
Jieshia stared at her smiling face and quickly looked away: "You're welcome."
The host announced the hammer, which put an end to Lisa's plan.
The ladies' faces turned ugly.
Mrs. Beach sneered, "Don't worry, Lisa. There's a charity sale tomorrow that will last all day. Whoever has a deserted storefront will be the one who makes a fool of himself."
Lisa clenched her fingers slightly, suppressed her anger, and smiled: "Yes, you are right, Mrs. Beech."
"It's just a small thing." Lisa slowly looked at Audrey, who was chatting and laughing with Jeshia beside her. "The war isn't over yet."
-
On the way back, Mrs. Moore said worriedly, "Miss Norman, don't come tomorrow. You saw today, they didn't hesitate to break the rules of the charity auction just to embarrass us."
"They lied to you that it was handicraft, but they actually showed us antique treasures. How can we compete with the price we get at this auction?" Mrs. Moore sighed again. "There's a charity sale tomorrow, and I don't know what tricks they'll pull!"
Audrey lifted the carriage curtain and said, "I don't compete with them. Whatever I can sell is my intention."
"Having said that, this donation list will be published in the newspaper, and who knows what people will say about you then!" Mrs. Moore shook her head.
Hearing this, Audrey also sighed.
Mrs. Moore thought she had figured it out, and asked hurriedly, "Well? Have you decided to give up?"
Audrey raised her head: "Huh? No!"
She came back to her senses and smiled, "I was just thinking that if the sales were too low, I would have to donate the money out of my own pocket! That's why I sighed."
"..." Mrs. Moore, "Don't take it lightly. Public opinion will also affect your fiancé, Mr. White."
When it came to Herman, Audrey thought about it seriously and said, "I don't think he would mind."
Mrs. Moore was even more helpless.
After spending a few days together, she changed from being reserved and flattering towards Audrey at the beginning to being familiar and friendly now, also because she found that she was an innocent little girl.
She is about the same age as her daughter, but she doesn't understand the ways of the world, and she doesn't understand marriage or men.
Mrs. Moore really wanted to teach her a lesson, so she said earnestly, "Miss Norman, a wife shouldn't be too willful. He dotes on you now because you're young and beautiful, but when you get older, you won't be able to take advantage of his doting. You must be sensible from now on and think about him."
"He dotes on me?" Audrey was confused and nodded blankly: "Then... I should be very nice to him."
Mrs. Moore saw that she didn't understand, so she gave her some advice again: "It's not enough to just be kind on the inside. You have to know that when dealing with men, you have to be sweet-mouthed but ruthless on the inside. It doesn't matter what you think on the inside, but your actions must show your care and consideration."
As the carriage rolled away, Mrs. Moore became more and more excited.
"For example, this time, when you go back, you can't act like nothing happened. You have to complain to him and tell him how much you've been wronged. And all of this is to protect the White Family and his reputation."
Audrey's eyes glazed over as she listened: "...Is...that so?"
Mrs. Moore pursed her lips proudly and said, "Miss Norman, don't underestimate the art of taming your husband. You should know that I am in charge of the finances of my family."
Audrey gave him a look of admiration.
"Okay, I understand."
Taking a deep breath, Audrey straightened her back, as if she wanted to inhale the husband-taming technique into her lungs.
Mrs. Moore nodded with satisfaction. "That way you don't have to go tomorrow. It will both protect his reputation and let him handle the problem."
"Hmm..." Audrey pondered for a moment, then slowly opened her eyes and said cheerfully, "No, I still have to go tomorrow! I can't let these little ornaments I worked so hard on go to waste. Maybe there are some people who have a discerning eye and are not afraid of power!"
Having said that, he opened the car door and ran home.
While waving back: "Thank you for your advice, Mrs. Moore!"
Looking at the receding figure, Mrs. Moore said: "...Alas, silly girl."
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The author has something to say: Audrey: (Inhales husband-training technique) (Stretches out her hand) I, your wife, send you money, one million!
Hermann:?
Audrey: Mrs. Moore lied to me, it didn't work at all. (Runs off)
Hermann: (Pauses signing the check)
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