Madam Yan's laughter was very loud, but Zhu Qianying did not feel embarrassed. Madam Yan's laughter was kind and cheerful, unlike the other concubines in Zhu Qianying's family.
Madam Yan stopped in front of Zhu Qianying, her laughter subsided but her face still held a smile as she opened her arms to Zhu Qianying, "Ying'er, I've finally met you!"
Zhu Qianying didn't mind hugging the kind-hearted elder in front of her, but she was also holding two potted plants in her arms.
When Madam Yan saw her lower her head, she followed her gaze and saw that the two potted plants she was holding were lush and green with long, thin leaves. Among the green leaves, each plant had a purple-red spike-like flower in full bloom.
Madam Yan abandoned her plan to hug her future daughter-in-law, leaned closer and touched her face, then reached out and took a potted plant, examining it carefully.
"Ying'er, what kind of flower is this?"
Old Madam Yan didn't know much about flowers and plants; the flowers and plants in the Yan family courtyard were all arranged by Yan Bo.
"Auntie, this flower is called the lucky grass, which symbolizes joy and good fortune."
Sure enough, upon hearing Zhu Qianying's explanation, Madam Yan beamed with joy. "Oh, I like it. This one can be placed in my bedroom, and yours can be given to Xiao Han."
Zhu Qianying was taken aback. "Xiao Han?"
Madam Yan laughed again, "Hahaha, Ying'er, don't you know? My son's name is Yan Han!"
Zhu Qianying then realized, "I have indeed heard it, but I was very young when I heard others call him that, so I didn't realize it at first."
Yan Bo then walked over and took the potted plant from him.
"Wife, this auspicious herb has been regarded as a sacred herb in India since ancient times. It can also be used as medicine, and has the effects of moisturizing the lungs, relieving cough, and dispelling wind."
Zhu Qianying was surprised by Yan Bo's extensive knowledge. "Uncle is really amazing. I only knew that many people like to use it as a potted plant for home decoration, but I didn't know that it can also be used for medicine."
Yan Bo laughed and said, "When I was in my twenties, your aunt ignored me. In my spare time, I could only grow flowers and plants to pass the time."
Zhu Qianying had heard a little about the couple's love story. She knew that after they fell in love, they had broken up and gotten back together for a long time due to the disparity in their family backgrounds. They didn't get married until they were in their thirties, and Madam Yan gave birth to Young Master Yan when she was forty.
"Won't your aunt be jealous of your flowers and plants?"
Zhu Qianying had a very good impression of these two elders, so she spoke more casually. Of course, she was just joking.
Madam Yan smiled and glanced at Yan Bo, who also smiled broadly.
"Ying'er, you're so clever. Back then, your aunt would only show up occasionally, and she would smash all the flowers in my greenhouse to pieces. She would smash anything that was valuable!"
Thinking back to the expensive flowers and plants she had just entered, Zhu Qianying couldn't help but tease, "No wonder every single flower and plant in this courtyard is a rare variety. So, they're there to vent your anger on your mother? Uncle, do you often make your mother angry?"
This was purely a joke, and the two elders naturally knew that.
Yan Bo, on the other hand, now looks at Zhu Qianying with a different eye.
Yanbo always believed that she had taken advantage of the situation by using the brocade box and jade ruyi.
After all, it's unlikely that a girl who is only twenty years old would be so knowledgeable.
But her words just now showed that she not only recognized those exotic flowers and plants when she entered the room, but was also very familiar with them. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known that they were rare species, and some of them were even priceless.
Yan Bo, making no attempt to hide his surprise, turned to look at Zhu Qianying and asked, "Ying'er, do you recognize all the flowers and plants that came in through the gate?"
He just wanted to confirm it.
Without hesitation, Zhu Qianying replied, "I know some of them, and I don't know others."
Yan Bo instinctively felt that she was being modest.
"If there are any you don't recognize, your uncle will tell you about them one by one another time!"
Compared to his son's arrogance and fussiness, Yanbo prefers Zhu Qianying's generosity and straightforwardness.
"Thank you, Uncle!" Zhu Qianying replied obediently.
The three hit it off immediately, chatting and laughing all the way, showing no signs of the awkwardness or restraint one might expect from a first meeting.
When they arrived at the main house, Madam Yan pointed to it and said, "Ying'er, we usually live in this large house that faces south."
Zhu Qianying gleaned a piece of information from her words: that occasionally, they would stay in a mansion in another location.
Sure enough, money talks. Four houses that look almost identical were built, and people lived in them in different directions. What a tycoon!
However, Zhu Qianying dared not say these words aloud.
The three entered the mansion. Uncle Hai took the potted plant from Zhu Qianying's hand with one hand and handed her a pair of brand-new slippers with the other.
"Thank you, Uncle Hai!" Sure enough, the treatment received when you formally visit someone's home is different.
"You're too kind, Miss Fifth!" Uncle Hai said respectfully from the side.
"Uncle Hai, you can just call me Ying'er."
“But…” Uncle Hai started to say something, but Madam Yan interrupted him, “Ying’er is fine, but calling her Fifth Miss sounds too distant.”
Madam Yan's background and experiences in her youth shaped her free-spirited personality, which disliked following conventions.
The Yan family, having been officials for generations, held vastly different ideas from hers.
Uncle Hai looked at the two masters and finally spoke, "Well... Ying'er, would you like something to drink? Dinner is being prepared, and we can eat when the young master returns."
Zhu Qianying likes all things natural, and tea is one of them.
"Tea will do, thank you Uncle Hai."
Upon hearing that Ying'er loved tea, Madam Yan took her hand and said, "Does Ying'er also like tea? Perfect timing! Your uncle and I were just enjoying tea on the terrace. Would you like to join us?"
"Okay!" Zhu Qianying had never had such close contact with her elders before.
Now, as Old Madam Yan led her out onto the terrace, she didn't find it unpleasant.
"Madam, these potted plants..." Uncle Hai hugged the two potted plants, unsure of what to do with them, so he followed up to ask the old lady for her opinion.
Before Madam Yan could answer, Yan Bo said, "Put one pot in our bedroom and the other in my study."
Madam Yan seemed to want to say something, but she opened her mouth and said nothing.
Zhu Qianying had no objection to this. Once a gift is given, it belongs to the recipient. She had no right to interfere with how the recipient should handle it.
On the terrace, the three sat around a solid wood tea tray carved from a century-old tree root, with Zhu Qianying taking the initiative to brew the tea.
As for Uncle Hai, after receiving Mr. Yan's orders, he hurriedly carried the two potted plants back to the living room, where he saw Young Master Yan just entering.
"Young Master, you're back? Ying'er is here, having tea with the old gentleman and lady on the terrace."
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