Chapter 78 Flower Arrangement
In the Courtyard
Mrs. Xiao was pruning branches in the courtyard, and the scissors in her hands neatly cut off a few budding peonies and a few fresh daisies.
Xu Qin walked over and silently took the flower basket from her hand.
"Why don't you play with them?"
Mrs. Xiao asked gently, her eyes scanning the lively scene in the room.
Thinking of the sensitive daughter that Fu Wenying often mentioned, she expressed her concern for her.
"Your brother brought his girlfriend here today?"
"Um."
Xu Qin lowered her head and responded, her fingers gently stroking the petals.
Mrs. Xiao gently placed a budding peony into the flower basket, her voice gentle but wise.
"Flowers bloom at their own time. When it's time to bloom, you should let them bloom to their full potential. If you force them to bloom after their time has passed, you are being immature."
She pruned off the small flowers on the branches. "No matter how beautiful a flower is, it can't support the entire spring. Only when all the flowers bloom in the garden can the true spring be full of vitality. But some flowers always think they should have the sun all to themselves. They don't know that instead of admiring their own beauty, they should learn to coexist with all other flowers."
She handed the trimmed branches to Xu Qin,
“A wise person knows when to bloom and when to wither.”
Xu Qin tightened her fingers slightly, and the thorns on the flower stem pierced her fingertips, but she didn't feel any pain.
"Let's go,"
Madam Xiao took the flower basket and said, "Come with me to arrange the flowers."
When the two walked into the living room, all the younger generations immediately stood up and bowed to greet them.
"Hello, Auntie."
Madam Xiao smiled gently, "Yanchen, did you bring your girlfriend with you?"
Meng Yanchen took Fan Shengmei one step forward,
"Auntie, this is Fan Shengmei."
"What a beautiful girl,"
Mrs. Xiao's eyes lit up and she took Fan Shengmei's hand affectionately.
"Yanchen is very lucky. You must treat the girl well."
She patted Fan Shengmei's hand gently and said affectionately,
"These boys just work all day long. Qinqin was the only girl before, but now that you're here, she finally has someone to keep her company. Boys aren't as attentive, so if you're not used to anything, just tell your aunt. Just treat her like your own family."
Between words and connotations, it hinted that Fan Shengmei should get along well with Xu Qin.
Fan Shengmei nodded gracefully.
"Thank you, Auntie. Everything is fine."
"Okay, then you guys play, I'll go put the flowers in."
Mrs. Xiao was about to turn around when Xu Qin suddenly said, "Auntie, let me help you."
She looked at Fan Shengmei and asked, "Do you want to join us?"
The living room was silent for a few seconds.
Mrs. Xiao looked at Xu Qin thoughtfully, then looked at Fan Shengmei.
Fan Shengmei thought of Fu Wenying's teachings——
If you understand, you understand. If you don’t understand, you don’t understand. Don’t pretend to understand.
Attitude, bearing, pattern, character, etc., these are enough to make up for many shortcomings and gain more opportunities.
She smiled calmly, "I'm not particularly good at it, but if I want to learn, we can come together."
Xiao Yixiao looked at Meng Yanchen, who just smiled faintly.
"Do you want to go? If you do, I'll go with you."
Fan Shengmei nodded.
"Then let's all go together!"
Zhao Ziqian immediately tried to smooth things over, "It's a good opportunity for us to learn as well."
"That's right,"
Pei Yu also joined in the fun, just for fun, "Aunt Xiao, I want to learn too. I want to make a chrysanthemum stand."
Everyone, "..."
Xiao Yixiao, "It's a good day, don't force me to beat you up."
Mrs. Xiao placed the flowers one by one on the table, and the colorful branches were scattered in an orderly manner on the celadon plate.
She picked up a peony and skillfully trimmed the stem.
"Flower arrangement emphasizes the harmony of heaven, earth and man,"
She explained in a gentle voice, "The main branch is the sky, the secondary branches are the earth, and the embellishments in between are people."
Xu Qin picked up a uniquely shaped Phalaenopsis orchid and handed it to Fan Shengmei seemingly casually.
"This looks good, do you want to try this?"
Mrs. Xiao looked at the Phalaenopsis orchid quietly, her eyes moving back and forth between the two of them.
Phalaenopsis is one of the flowers that tests the most skill in flower arrangement, and the flower stems will be broken if you are not careful.
Xu Qin was making things difficult for her, but Mrs. Xiao wanted to see how Fan Shengmei would respond, and even if she didn't, how she would turn the situation around.
Although this group of grown men don't know much about flower arrangement, they are often immersed in the negotiation table, and they understand people, facial expressions, and atmosphere.
"Old Meng..."
Xiao Yixiao was about to say something when Meng Yanchen raised his hand to interrupt him.
The next second, Fan Shengmei picked up the scissors, cut the flower stem neatly and diagonally, and deftly wrapped the copper wire with her fingers. Although her movements were a little awkward, she managed to fix the Phalaenopsis on the sword mountain properly.
"Huh?"
The young master of the Pei family blurted out.
Everyone was also slightly surprised.
Meng Yanchen adjusted his glasses. He had read the pile of information about her that Xiao Yixiao had given him countless times.
In order to marry into a wealthy family, this woman actually squeezed out the time and money to learn some elegant things like flower arrangement and tea ceremony.
Mrs. Xiao had a sharp eye and could tell at a glance that Fan Shengmei had only learned the basics.
She calmly continued, "This Phalaenopsis orchid is perfect here."
As he spoke, he personally adjusted the angle of the branches, instantly elevating the entire work to a higher level.
"Okay, let's go downstairs and eat."
Fan Shengmei looked at her gratefully and nodded in thanks.
When everyone went downstairs, Madam Xiao deliberately took two steps behind and whispered to Meng Yanchen,
"I like this girl. She looks like the daughter your mother would raise."
She looked at Meng Yanchen and said softly, "Your mother... doesn't know yet, right?"
Meng Yanchen shook his head slightly, "I haven't told her yet."
Madam Xiao patted his arm and said, "You have been very sensible since you were a child. Just follow your heart this time."
She nodded towards Fan Shengmei's back and said, "As for your mother...she's stubborn, so you need to be more considerate. Auntie will keep it a secret for you for now."
Meng Yanchen raised the corners of his lips slightly, "Thank you, Auntie."
She paused, then suddenly said, "Did you know that Yixiao picked up a stray cat two years ago?"
Meng Yanchen adjusted his glasses and said, "I heard him say that. What's wrong?"
Madam Xiao said softly, "Tell your mother that I've given it away."
She smiled faintly and said, "Maybe it's not meant to be with our family. If we can't raise it, then we won't raise it. Some things must be cut off at the right time!"
Meng Yanchen's eyes suddenly darkened, as if a long-suspenseful chess game had finally waited for a decisive move.
He should have made this move long ago, but he just lacked the affirmative response.
"Meng Yanchen, what are you thinking about?"
Suddenly, a pair of warm arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
The tension in his body relaxed instantly, and he turned around and hugged the person in his arms.
Fan Shengmei looked up at him, the sunlight dancing on her eyelashes like a handful of gold.
"I was wondering why my girlfriend is so amazing,"
He lowered his head and rubbed her nose. "You can do everything, and you're still so lovable."
Fan Shengmei chuckled, "You knew I only knew the basics, luckily Aunt Xiao helped me fool it."
She poked his chest with her fingertips and said, "The copper wire of the Phalaenopsis was twisted and tangled. Fortunately, Aunt Xiao brought it back to life."
“It’s already impressive to know a little bit.”
He bent down and kissed the top of her head, his voice filled with apology.
"I'm sorry for making you feel wronged."
"What's wrong with that?"
She waved her hand nonchalantly, "I can't help it. You're a sister-con. It's normal for Qinqin to feel uncomfortable when suddenly a woman comes out to share her brother with her. I understand."
As she spoke, she suddenly hugged him tightly, like a small animal protecting its food.
"But even so, I won't let you go—"
Fan Shengmei buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled.
"I finally caught such a rich husband. I'm not stupid."
Meng Yanchen was amused by her and hugged her tighter.
"Meng Yanchen,"
Fan Shengmei called him softly, "I'm serious."
Her smiling eyes were now burning with ambition and seriousness——
Now that she has seen better, no one can make her go back to the way she was before.
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