Chapter 74 Acting
"I am with my wife."
Xie Qi stood next to Shen Yuanzhu, and the couple looked at Jiang Wansu with tacit understanding.
Jiang Wansu's face turned pale and then flushed, unsure how to react.
With Xie Xuchuan absent, it was strange whether she offered the tea or not.
"Serve tea to the young mistress."
Unable to bear watching this farce any longer, Xie San Niang waved for the Xie family servants to bring tea.
Jiang Wansu took it and stood beside Shen Yuanzhu and her husband.
Neither of the two granddaughters-in-law pleased Xie San Niang, so she and Xie Shan took a sip and set them aside.
Even the gifts given to her granddaughters-in-law were perfunctorily distributed to them by Granny Li.
Hua Nanzhi was the same; she drank the two bowls of tea in silence, and the only thing she gave the two of them was an ordinary jade bracelet.
When she put the agarwood pearl on her hand, she lowered her eyes for a moment.
Actually, she wasn't exactly estranged from the Xie family's eldest branch; she would send gifts to Hua Nanzhi during festivals in the past.
She clearly remembered that one year, Hua Nanzhi held up a very precious jade box and showed it to her as if to show off.
At that time, Hua Nanzhi said that when she entered the house and served tea, it would be given to her as a gift for her as a bride.
It seems that Hua Nanzhi dislikes Xie Qi and Jiang Wansu very much.
When the tea was served to the second room, Zheng Shu smiled and took the teacup from Shen Yuanzhu's hand, bypassing Jiang Wansu. Moreover, the way she greeted Jiang Wansu was quite different from how she greeted her.
Jiang Wansu held a gold hairpin, while she possessed a complete set of jewelry.
The fact that they showed such obvious favoritism is quite telling, especially considering the nature of the Xie family's second branch.
Shen Yuanzhu sweetly called Zheng Shutian "Second Aunt," which delighted Zheng Shutian and Xie Chengzhi, who clapped and cheered.
When serving tea to Xie Jingyuan, his behavior was perfectly proper. When Xie Qi stood up, he even patted him on the shoulder. Shen Yuanzhu knew that this man was impeccable.
"Yuanzhu, come and meet me. This is your younger sister, Lurong."
Zheng Shu pulled Xie Lurong to Shen Yuanzhu, bypassing Jiang Wansu.
Jiang Wansu bit her lip, standing weakly and helplessly to the side.
"Lu Rong, this is your second sister-in-law, quickly greet her."
Xie Lurong looked embarrassed: "Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wansu quickly smiled and said, "Knowing that I would be meeting my younger brothers and sisters today, I prepared gifts for you all in advance."
Zitang, who was behind her, stepped forward and respectfully handed her a box.
Seeing this, Zheng Shu said, "Quickly open it and take a look."
Xie Lurong opened it, and inside was a velvet hairpin in the new style from Jiangnan.
The velvet flowers are so lifelike, with a plump bee lying prone in the center of the flower's stamen, which is very suitable for a girl like Xie Lurong.
"Thank you very much, sister-in-law."
Xie Lurong was not favored at home and was young, so she liked the velvet flower hairpin very much. Zheng Shu, on the other hand, looked down at it and immediately pouted.
"Lu Rong, see if you like it."
Ling'er also stepped forward and handed a box to Xie Lurong. After opening it, Xie Lurong was so surprised that she said she couldn't accept it.
Inside the rosewood box was a piece of mutton fat jade as a lapel guard; the jade was warm and lustrous, and its touch warmed the skin.
As Xie Lurong moved, the hem of her robe seemed to flow with water, revealing a halo like the moon's reflection.
"Second sister-in-law, this is too valuable, I can't accept it."
Shen Yuanzhu said, "You deserve it no matter how precious it is, let alone just an ordinary piece of clothing."
Shen Yuanzhu helped Xie Lurong tuck the tuck into her clothes, then smiled and examined her closely, her eyes full of admiration.
Zheng Shu said, "Your second sister-in-law told you to keep it, so keep it. It can be used as part of your dowry later. Only your second sister-in-law could afford such a fine item."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wansu glanced at Shen Yuanzhu with a subtle and complex expression before lowering her head.
This amber pearl was clearly made on purpose.
He deliberately brought out such an expensive item today to embarrass her.
It seems that Shen Yuanzhu still harbors resentment towards her for taking Xie Xuchuan from her.
Thinking this way, Jiang Wansu also felt wronged.
Xie Xuchuan felt guilty and wanted to make amends, but it wasn't her fault, so why did Shen Yuanzhu make things difficult for her at every turn?
"Yingshou, come quickly to see your sister-in-law."
Seeing that Xie Lurong had received such valuable gifts, Xie Chengzhi quickly called his youngest son over as well.
Xie Yingshou was at a mischievous age, and only stopped running around when he heard his father's words, and walked up to the two of them.
"Third brother, this is a gift from your sister-in-law."
Jiang Wansu gently patted Xie Yingshou's head and handed him a cloth tiger.
"I sewed this myself..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Yingshou threw the item away with a thud: "What junk! Father, I want imported goods."
Jiang Wansu's eyes reddened, and she almost shed tears.
Seeing this, Shen Yuanzhu nodded to Ling'er, who then handed the item directly to Zheng Shu.
"These are the writing implements I prepared for my third brother. I hope that he will one day write calligraphy and achieve great success in the imperial examinations."
"Oh, thank you, Yuanzhu."
Zheng Shuxi held the items in her hands with great delight, clearly fascinated by them.
Even if Xie Yingshou was unruly, no parent would not want their child to excel in both literature and martial arts and become the top scholar in the imperial examination.
The cloth tiger that Jiang Wansu made by hand was thrown on the ground. Xie Lurong looked reluctant, picked it up, and stuffed it back into Xie Yingshou's arms.
But before he could even get a firm grip on it, he was kicked out again.
Xie Lurong looked flustered and had no choice but to pick it up herself and carefully hold it in her arms.
"It's all dirty, don't get your brooch dirty."
Zheng Shu raised her hand and pushed her, but Xie Lurong didn't react. Jiang Wansu seemed about to collapse.
She pinched her palm, a hint of resentment rising in her heart.
"Now that we've met, let's get down to business."
Hua Nanzhi looked at everyone and said calmly, "Yuanzhu, when the Xie and Chen families made their marriage agreement, they said that they would exchange the 'Xie Family Farming and Weaving Chart' and the 'Shen Family Dyeing Manual' after the marriage."
"The other half of the Xie family's farming and weaving chart is here; you can take it."
Hua Nanzhi tapped her finger on the table, signaling a servant to bring the item to Chen Yuanzhu.
Granny Li carried the food to Shen Yuanzhu, but Shen Yuanzhu did not move.
Hua Nanzhi didn't understand what she meant, so she frowned and remained silent.
Xie Qi didn't know what Shen Yuanzhu was planning to do, but he didn't care. He just stood aside and watched how his new wife would respond.
He is not valued in the Xie family. If Shen Yuanzhu hands over his livelihood, his future path will likely be difficult.
Shen Yuanzhu tilted her head, looking at the Xie Family Farming and Weaving Picture Book with great confusion. After a long while, she murmured, "Mother, there is something I don't understand."
"Is there anything you don't understand?"
Shen Yuanzhu said, "Back when the Xie and Shen families were engaged, my mother said that after we got married, she would give the dyeing manual to my husband."
The person he was betrothed to was Xie Xuchuan, the eldest grandson of the Xie family and the future heir to the Xie family business.
Therefore, it makes no difference whether this dyeing manual is given to Xie Xuchuan or the Xie family.
But now that she has married someone else, the agreement from back then has naturally changed.
After Shen Yuanzhu finished speaking, she looked up at Xie Qi with a shy expression.
Xie Qi felt a shiver run down his spine from her gaze and couldn't help but turn his face away.
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