Chapter 337: Temple Pilgrimage
Young girls in their teens, no matter how dignified and elegant they are taught to be in their homes, are still somewhat lively and energetic by nature.
When they heard that they could finally have a vegetarian meal, the three girls all showed expressions of secret relief. The three of them noticed it, smiled at each other, and understood each other, and for a moment their relationship became closer.
Mrs. Zhou's youngest daughter, Zhou Yan, took Zhao Liya's arm, leaned close to her, and whispered with a smile, "Sister Zhao, we finally got to go out, so we have to have fun to make the trip worthwhile. After we have our vegetarian meal, how about the three of us go for a good walk together? I've been here several times, and many places have nice views!"
Zhou Rui also slowed down her pace and joined them, jokingly saying, "You're still so playful! It's fine if you just want to play on your own, but you're dragging Sister Zhao along. Just wait and see how Third Aunt will teach you a lesson later."
Zhou Yan giggled and covered her mouth, begging for mercy in a delicate voice: "Good sister! Please forgive me, and don't complain to my mother! We finally got out here, so of course we have to go shopping and have fun. When we are at home, we never know when we can go out, right? Sister Zhao, let's go together, right?"
Zhao Liya couldn't help but laugh and nodded: "Okay, let's go shopping together!"
"Yeah! I knew Sister Zhao was the best! Second Sister is also good!"
Zhao Liya and Zhou Rui couldn't help but laugh.
The three of them fell behind, chattering and laughing. Mrs. Zhou San glanced back at them and said with a smile to Mrs. Deng and her second sister-in-law, "They are young girls, and they get along very well!"
Mrs. Zhou Er also smiled and said, "We are meant to be a family anyway. Wouldn't it be better if we had a better relationship? Our home will be so lively in the future!"
Mrs. Deng also laughed, "That's right, they get along perfectly."
Returning to the small courtyard for rest, they washed their hands and faces, and soon sat down in the flower hall. On the round dining table, vegetarian dishes were served one after another, all of which were gluten, tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, radishes, greens and cabbages, etc. They were homely cooked, and the plates for serving the dishes were light brown and black coarse pottery plates and bowls, simple and rustic, but looking like a return to nature.
The elders were polite to each other and everyone started to eat. The food tasted pretty good, some of it could even be called amazing, and there was no lack of praise.
Zhao Liya was also a little surprised. She didn't expect that the vegetarian food in Jinyun Temple was really as famous as it was! However, she hoped that some people came here sincerely to offer incense, instead of having ulterior motives, other calculations, and wanting to cause any accidents and defile this quiet Buddhist place.
Zhao Liya's eyes swept over the two pairs of mother and daughter of the Zhou family calmly, and then she lowered her eyes and looked away.
Since she was going to be with Zhou Hansheng, how could she not go out of her way to get to know the Zhou family in detail? Especially the women of the Zhou family.
You have to know that after she gets married, even if Zhou Hansheng indulges her and protects her and does not confine her to the backyard, it is obvious that she still needs to interact more with the female relatives.
It is necessary to plan ahead.
The eldest wife was being marginalized, and Old Lady Zhou favored her own second and third wives. Who in the capital didn't know this? It was Old Lady Zhou who single-handedly decided to cancel the engagement!
Unexpectedly, the Duke and his wife now support this marriage, which is almost equivalent to publicly slapping Old Lady Zhou in the face. They still refuse to admit that they had canceled the marriage in the first place, leaving Old Lady Zhou with no place to complain.
Everyone knew that she was embarrassed, but she couldn't say anything.
Just think about it and you will know how frustrated Mrs. Zhou must be.
Although Zhou Hansheng did not grow up in the Duke's Mansion, he did some detailed research and personal experience after returning. Without Zhao Liya asking, he told her everything as if they were already a family.
If it weren't for his mother's poor health, how could the second and third wives have been so arrogant? But his mother couldn't manage the household at all, not to mention that if the old lady who managed the household and the second and third wives were to cause trouble, his mother would have no energy to fight them. She simply left it alone and handed it over to him so that he could have some peace and quiet.
Even so, they couldn't reach his parents.
However, when he was young, his parents were busy with state affairs and had limited energy, so they were unable to take care of him. They were afraid that he would be harmed or led astray by them, so they used the excuse of his poor health to send him away.
Just from this point of view, you can tell that those people are not easy to deal with.
Knowing clearly that Zhao Liya would be the Crown Prince's wife after marriage and was fully qualified to be the housekeeper, she didn't believe that Old Madam Zhou and the others would just watch and do nothing.
Looking at the almost overflowing smiles on Mrs. Zhou Er and Mrs. Zhou San's faces and their friendly and enthusiastic laughter, Zhao Liya felt deeply uncomfortable.
There is also the gentle and quiet Zhou Rui, and the cute and lively Zhou Yan. Zhao Liya must be crazy to truly believe that this is how they treat her in her truest way.
After a vegetarian meal, everyone drank tea and chatted in the flower hall. After a while, Zhou Yuan could no longer sit still. She twisted her handkerchief in a mess and kept looking outside. Mrs. Zhou San glared at her and scolded her, "Why don't you just sit still, you little monkey? What are you doing staring outside? You don't act like a lady at all!"
Zhou Yan simply took the opportunity to hug her mother's arm and rub against her, smiling and acting coquettishly: "Mom, we finally came here, and the weather is so nice, why don't you let us go out for a walk and play, okay!"
"No, just sit still and be quiet."
"Mother! Second sister and Sister Zhao also want to go, but they are too embarrassed to say it. So you agreed!"
"You kid, you even dragged your second sister and sister Zhao into this. You have no shame!"
"mother!"
Mrs. Zhou Er, Mrs. Deng, and the servants couldn't help laughing.
Mrs. Zhou Er smiled politely and said to Mrs. Deng, "It's not good to be too restrained with young girls. Why not let them go out for a walk?"
Mrs. Deng looked at Zhao Liya, nodded and smiled: "Okay, then go, but don't go too far."
Zhao Liya agreed with a smile.
Zhou Yan couldn't wait any longer, giggling and responding flatteringly, then without saying anything else, she pulled Zhao Liya away affectionately. Zhou Rui followed with a smile.
Mrs. Zhou Er's smile deepened as she said to Mrs. Deng and her younger brother's wife, "Look how good their relationship is. It's great to be young. They can easily have fun together, chatting and laughing!"
Mrs. Zhou San smiled and said, "We'll all be family in the future anyway, so it's better to be this close!"
"That's right!"
All three of them laughed.
(End of this chapter)
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