In her previous life, Jiang Huaiyu was just like that in the Marquis's mansion. No one could find any fault with her adherence to the rules.
Moreover, if she hadn't arrived early today, how would she have known about their schemes and plots inside the house?
Now that we know, we must not let their scheme succeed.
Seeing her dignified appearance, Xie Wenyin was displeased, so she gently helped Bai Qishi walk outside, saying, "Aunt, let's move to the main hall."
As soon as the two stepped into the courtyard, they caught sight of Bai Yujing rushing back from outside.
"Yujing, where did you go so early in the morning?" Bai Qi asked with a look of surprise.
Bai Yujing gently waved the paper bag in her hand and explained with a smile, "Since the new bride is new here, I was worried that she wouldn't be used to the food at home, so I specially went to town to buy some breakfast."
Bai Qi's face immediately turned gloomy. "It's not even dawn yet, and you've already gone to buy her breakfast?"
"It's not even dawn yet, but didn't the new bride go to pay her respects to you early?" Bai Yujing replied calmly.
"Can those be compared?"
"What exactly is the difference?"
Madam Bai stamped her foot angrily, her tone laced with rage: "Which family doesn't have a new bride? Which bride isn't filial to her parents-in-law? Why has she become so unrestrained in your case? Aren't you afraid that one day she'll ride roughshod over all of us?"
Bai Yujing handed the breakfast to Jiang Huaiyu, then gently helped Bai Qishi up, and said in a gentle tone, "Mother, please calm down. Although I love my new daughter-in-law, I have never forgotten my filial piety towards my mother. This breakfast is for the whole family to share, including your favorite chicken broth buns."
Bai Qishi was still furious and retorted in a stronger tone, "This is not just about steamed buns." Her gaze was like a knife, as if she wanted to pierce Bai Yujing's chest.
"You...you just married your bride yesterday, and today you want to elevate her to the highest heavens? Don't you want to simply enshrine her on a shrine?"
“Mother, that’s absurd. My wife is just a mortal. Why should I worship her?”
Bai Yujing gently picked up a steaming hot bun and tenderly offered it to her lips. "Mother, try this bun. It's freshly taken out of the steamer and piping hot."
With the steamed buns right in front of her, Bai Qi hesitated, unsure whether to accept them or refuse them.
Unable to bear the pent-up anger any longer, she abruptly shoved her son's hand away and said furiously, "Are you trying to drive me to my death?"
Seeing that she didn't want to eat, Bai Yujing had no choice but to gently put the bun back in its original place and couldn't help but sigh softly.
“Mother, I understand your unspoken meaning, but my wife comes from a prestigious family and has already condescended to marry me. I should cherish her even more so as not to betray Lord Taishan’s trust.”
“But she’s just an adopted daughter!” Bai Qi’s tone was defiant.
"Her identity doesn't matter. She has become my wife. All I know is that the marriage certificate has our names on it."
"Rebellious son!"
Bai Qi was so angry that she was speechless, her face turning red and white in turns.
Bai Yujing waited patiently until her breathing gradually calmed down before slowly speaking: "Mother, in our village, there are no rules about paying respects to elders morning and evening or serving them. From now on, please don't make the new bride perform these cumbersome rituals."
Before she could finish speaking, Bai Qishi's emotions finally erupted. She swung her hand and slapped her son's back.
"You can't shirk responsibility for this; it was clearly her own insistence that she come!"
Bai Yujing did not dodge, enduring her mother's beating, and continued, "The new bride's willingness to come is a sign of respect for you as an elder, and your waiver of her formalities is a sign of your consideration for your daughter-in-law. There is no contradiction between the two."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyu felt both surprised and warmed.
It's been a long time since anyone has stood by her so steadfastly...
Recalling her past life, she was all alone in the Marquis's mansion. She had to please her in-laws and pretend to be a loving couple in front of outsiders to avoid giving herself away. If anything went wrong, the Marquis's mansion would use her life and the lives of everyone in the Jiang family as leverage.
Even after returning to the Jiang family, no one cared whether she was happy or not; they only demanded that she continue to please the Marquis's household.
She had never met anyone willing to stand up for her or shield her from the storms of life.
Bai Qi knew her second son's personality very well and knew that she could not force him to change his mind, so she gave up and just glanced at Jiang Huaiyu with a resentful look.
She asked, puzzled, "What kind of magic did you cast on my son that made him so subservient to you overnight?"
Jiang Huaiyu replied sternly, "How dare I, your daughter-in-law, overstep my bounds? To receive such tender care from my husband is truly my good fortune."
Bai Qi glanced at the two of them, feeling a deep sense of displeasure. She then took Xie Wenyin and angrily returned to the main room.
Bai Yujing watched her mother's retreating figure, sighed helplessly, and gently shook her head.
Jiang Huaiyu stepped forward and said gently, "I am deeply grateful for your love and care. However, if my existence causes any damage to the bond between you and your mother, I will find it difficult to have peace of mind."
Her words were full of sincerity and earnestness.
She herself hadn't expected that Bai Yujing would stand by her side time and time again.
Bai Yujing pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Lord Taishan's concern and guidance have been invaluable. The precious books you brought, as well as that priceless letter of recommendation, have greatly benefited the Bai family. I promised you that I would shoulder the responsibilities of a husband. Although the Bai family has no luxurious clothes or food, nor servants, all I can do is make you feel comfortable and at ease in this home, without feeling any constraints."
If he does not take any action, he will always be filled with guilt.
Jiang Huaiyu gazed at the thoughtful and warm smile on his face, and understood in her heart, "In short, I still want to express my heartfelt gratitude to you."
Whether out of a sense of responsibility or gratitude, she could deeply appreciate this sincere sentiment.
There were no mishaps during the tea ceremony. Bai Qi was dissatisfied but too lazy to even reprimand him. She just glanced at Jiang Huaiyu several times with a gloomy expression.
Just after the tea ceremony was completed, the four members of the eldest son's family arrived one after another.
Bai Jinxiao's gaze fell on the abundant food on the table. He casually picked up a delicate sweet cake and handed it to his five-year-old daughter, saying with a gentle smile, "Oh my, what a sumptuous breakfast today!"
Xie Wenying replied softly, "That's right. We're able to enjoy these delicacies today entirely thanks to my second cousin's wife. These steamed buns, sweet cakes, and fried dough sticks were all specially purchased by my cousin Yujing from town early this morning. Otherwise, we usually eat coarse coarse flour buns at home, how could we enjoy such delicious food?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang hurriedly snatched the sweet cake from her daughter's hand and put it back on the plate.
He scolded sternly, "This sweet cake was specially prepared by your uncle for your aunt. You are not allowed to be greedy!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
