Chapter 617 The Belated Qiao Family Compound
Quite a few people had already arrived in the main hall, and they all looked unfamiliar; they were probably the family members of Qiao Jingyao's colleagues.
When these people saw Qiao Qinghe and the others enter, they all stood up to greet them.
Qiao Qinghe smiled and nodded in response. After everyone sat down again, the atmosphere in the main room became much more reserved than before.
Qiao Qinghe knew that these people were all friends of Qiao Jingyao and had come to offer their congratulations, so she lowered her stance and spoke to them in a kind manner.
Wei Jia took the initiative to start a discussion with everyone on a currently popular topic that wasn't taboo. In an instant, the atmosphere in the main room became much more relaxed.
Gradually, everyone relaxed.
Half an hour later, more people arrived, and the main room was almost full. No one else came for a long time afterward. It seemed that most of the people who were supposed to come had already arrived.
It was almost noon.
However, no one from the eldest son's side came for a long time.
Qiao Qinghe couldn't help but frown, but due to the large number of people around, she quickly concealed the impatience in her eyes.
He summoned Ah Shuang and whispered in her ear, "Go and see what's going on on Changxing Street. Why haven't they come yet?"
Ah Shuang accepted the order and quietly left the main room.
However, just as they arrived at the hanging flower gate, they ran into the Qiao family's eldest son and his entourage.
Zhou helped Old Madam Qiao inside. Perhaps because it was the second branch of the family moving into a new house today, Old Madam Qiao gave Zhou face, affectionately letting someone support her arm, and chatting and laughing with Zhou, looking very happy.
Qiao Wangshi, along with Qiao Bing, Qiao Ze, Qiao Hai, and Qiao Ling, followed behind the two.
Seeing A-Shuang come out, Zhou asked with a smile, "Why did you come out, girl? Does Qinghe have something urgent for you to do?"
Ah Shuang greeted them with a smile, then replied with a smile, "It's getting late. My old lady noticed that the old lady and the third mistress hadn't arrived yet, so she sent me out to see if anything had happened."
Grandma Qiao's expression froze, and she asked in an unhappy tone, "Is she complaining that we're late?"
Ah Shuang's face stiffened, and she was about to retort. Zhou Shi quickly smiled and comforted Old Madam Qiao, saying, "Mother, don't be angry. Qinghe didn't know that something had happened at home that caused the delay. That's why she sent someone out to check on things. She meant well, afraid that we would neglect our guests."
"Guests?" Old Mrs. Qiao was taken aback, then, thinking of the carriages parked at the door, she asked calmly, "Besides our two families, are there any other guests today?"
Zhou nodded with a smile: "Yes, quite a few have come, mostly Jingyao's colleagues and their families."
The smile on Grandma Qiao's face visibly faded, and she didn't seem as happy as before.
Seeing that there was nothing more for her to do, A-Shuang stepped aside, letting Old Madam Qiao and Madam Zhou go first. She stayed behind, curtsied to Madam Qiao, and leaned forward to quietly inquire about the news.
Qiao Wangshi was not one to be oblivious; she immediately pulled Ah Shuang aside and whispered the reason for her lateness.
After hearing what Qiao Wangshi said, A Shuang felt completely terrible.
Seeing her pale face, Madam Qiao was about to ask her what was wrong when A-Shuang thanked her, bowed to Madam Qiao again, stepped back a few steps, walked past the two old ladies in front of her, and hurried towards the main room.
It can only be said that the second wife's house was really small. Although Ah Shuang had already gone around a distance, she was still spotted by Old Madam Qiao when she ran to the front.
Why is this girl running so fast?
Old Mrs. Qiao frowned and looked at Mrs. Zhou.
Zhou shook her head: "How would I know? Perhaps I was in a hurry to inform Qinghe that you have arrived?"
Zhou was making cautious guesses.
Old Mrs. Qiao didn't believe it. She turned to look at Qiao Wangshi.
Qiao Wangshi smiled guiltily and waved her hand, saying she didn't know either.
Grandma Qiao didn't pay much attention to it.
The group quickly arrived at the main room.
Ah Shuang had barely begun speaking when she saw Old Mrs. Qiao and her entourage walk to the door.
Qiao Qinghe didn't bother to listen to what A Shuang was saying. She immediately stood up and went out to greet her personally.
Upon seeing Qiao Qinghe come out, Zhou smiled and said to Old Madam Qiao, "Old Madam, look what I told you. Ah Shuang was indeed in a hurry to come back and report."
Grandma Qiao's complexion also improved a lot.
"Mother is here." Qiao Qinghe smiled and went to help the old lady Qiao by the arm. Together with Zhou Shi, they helped the old lady into the house.
The other guests also rose to greet them.
Since it was already lunchtime, the group didn't chat much. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they went to the west wing to take their seats.
Today's banquet is divided into two parts: an inner and an outer section.
The women were all in the inner courtyard, while the male guests were entertained by Qiao Jingyao, Zhou Bing, and Xiong Peng in the outer courtyard.
Since everyone who came was a relative, friend, or colleague, no one was foolish enough to cause trouble today.
The housewarming banquet concluded successfully, and guests gradually rose to say goodbye and leave, leaving only the Qiao family members behind.
It was only then that Qiao Qinghe found a chance to speak with Old Mrs. Qiao.
"Mother, there's something I want to tell you. Let's go sit in Yuanyao's room for a while."
Qiao Qinghe took the initiative to invite her.
Grandma Qiao smiled and replied, "Perfect timing, I also have something to tell you."
Qiao Yuanyao smiled and came up to help Grandma Qiao, "Grandmother, let me help you over there."
As she spoke, she pushed Qiao Qinghe away from the old lady.
Qiao Qinghe was taken aback, and then she saw Qiao Yuanyao turn around and wink at her.
Before Qiao Qinghe could react, A Shuang stepped forward and whispered in her ear, "Madam, I have something to tell you."
Qiao Qinghe glanced at A Shuang with a puzzled look, and seeing that A Shuang's expression was off, she immediately followed her to a secluded spot.
"What happened?" Qiao Qinghe looked at A Shuang strangely. "I've felt that you've been acting strangely before. What exactly happened?"
Ah Shuang gritted her teeth and said indignantly, "Didn't you tell me to go check on the old lady and the others? Why haven't they come yet?"
Qiao Qinghe nodded: "That's true. But didn't the person just happen to arrive? Is there anything I don't know?"
Ah Shuang said through gritted teeth, "I had just arrived at the hanging flower gate when I ran into the old lady and her entourage. They said they were delayed by something at home. I asked the third mistress about the reason why they were late."
"Guess what I heard?"
Seeing Ah Shuang's indignant and clenched-teeth expression, Qiao Qinghe knew it couldn't be anything good.
She frowned, puzzled, and asked, "What has the eldest son's side done this time?"
Or we should ask the old lady what she did this time.
Qiao Wangshi had little say in that household; the old lady basically made the decisions.
Moreover, the fact that Qiao Wangshi dared to tell A Shuang about the matter shows that she was not implicated in the matter, whether it was good or bad.
In fact, she held opposing views to the old lady.
Ah Shuang took a deep breath, suppressed her emotions, and then said, "Third Madam said they were late because a matchmaker came to their mansion early this morning."
Qiao Qinghe's expression changed. "Could it be that they're targeting Qiao Ning?"
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