Chapter 67 Then I will be bold enough to be the elder sister of my two younger sisters
Deng Jinniang carefully looked at the two girls of the same age as her. One of them looked about 70% similar to Du Heng. Needless to say, she was definitely Wanyi's beautiful sister.
Although her mother often mentioned Du Heng, telling her that the capital was her destiny, she rarely mentioned her beautiful younger sister. Jinniang knew that her mother never took her aunt seriously. In her eyes, her aunt was just a cousin who had benefited from her family's legacy, had the good fortune to marry young, and because she was a member of a side branch, she had not been implicated.
Influenced by her mother, she hadn't had much of an impression of Wanyi. She vaguely remembered her cousin's poetry, prose, and needlework as merely passable, not worth mentioning. Now, seeing Wanyi enter the room, gazing at her with an undisguised, innocent smile, Jinniang felt she was simple-minded and had already figured out how to get along with her.
However, what caught her attention was the woman next to Wanyi.
The woman had fair skin and pretty features, which made people unconsciously shift their gaze from Wanyi to her.
Jinniang really wants to know who she is?
She knew she was quite good-looking. She had always been a local celebrity, both in western Fujian and later in Fuzhou, where she moved with her father. Not only for her talent, but also for her beauty. In fact, a local aristocratic family had already approached her about marriage, but her mother had dismissed them. In her mother's eyes, even a century-old family was just a poor, remote village. How could it compare to the capital?
Therefore, after seeing Su Ying, Jinniang couldn't help but secretly compare herself with this beautiful woman whose identity was still unknown, from her hair to her eyebrows and eyes, from her eyebrows and eyes to her lips and nose, and then to her face and figure.
Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The woman next to Wanyi lacked the noble look in her eyes and was no match for her.
Her heart was relieved and she smiled.
Without waiting for Cheng's introduction, she took the initiative to step forward and said with a graceful smile, "Is this Sister Wanyi? I haven't seen you for many years, and you are still so cute and lovely. Do you remember me? I am Jinniang. We played handkerchiefs together when we were young."
As he spoke, he took out a handkerchief from his bosom and quickly made a handkerchief mouse. He teased Wanyi, "That year, we played with this handkerchief mouse together for a long time!"
Jinniang, well-educated by her mother, possessed a unique way of interacting with others. As expected, Wanyi was immediately drawn to her handkerchief. Although she vaguely remembered having such a cousin, she had no recollection of them ever playing together. However, the fact that Jinniang, so skillful and gracious, approached her and initiated a conversation naturally warmed Wanyi's heart.
Wanyi looked at the little mouse made of a green handkerchief in Jinniang's hand with curiosity, clapping her hands in praise: "Sister Jinniang, you are so amazing!"
Cheng was extremely pleased with Jinniang's behavior. She couldn't help but look at Su Ying with a hint of provocation and disdain in her eyes. Still smiling, she said to her daughter, "Wanyi, how can you be so rude? This is your cousin. Come and greet her."
Wanyi was pointed out by her mother. She grumbled, but still bowed happily to Jinniang: "Cousin."
"Sister Wanyi, please get up quickly."
Jinniang pulled Wanyi up with both hands and said to Cheng Shi with a smile, "Aunt, I haven't seen my sister Wanyi for a long time. I was in a good mood and tinkered with my childhood toys. If you say it's unruly, it was me who started it."
Cheng was delighted and replied, "You are well-behaved and sensible. Wanyi lives in the west wing of the east courtyard. You can stay with Wanyi for the next few days. When the east wing is ready, you can move in."
Jinniang was naturally willing, so she bowed to Cheng and said, "Thank you for your hard work, aunt."
It was as if by chance that she saw Su Ying beside her. She greeted Su Ying with a kind look on her face.
Su Ying stood quietly by, listening to some of the conversation. She already knew that the slightly tired woman in front of her was Cheng's niece. She had heard Cheng's words, no matter how harsh they were, and as for the term "serious cousin," it had long since faded from her mind.
She originally thought that since the old lady asked her to come, she would just wait quietly, but unexpectedly Jinniang took the initiative to get to know her.
Su Ying bowed in return and told her name.
Wanyi was delighted. She had been feeling lonely, but now she had two new sisters. So she chattered and asked Jinniang about her birthdate, and the three of them sorted out their age order: Jinniang was a few months older, Suying was second, and Wanyi, having been born at the end of the year, was the youngest.
"Then I will be bold enough to be the older sister of my two younger sisters."
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Du Heng and was pleasantly surprised to find a smile in his eyes as he looked at the three of them. She secretly felt satisfied; it seemed her show of affection for Wanyi was the right thing to do. Du Heng was a brother who doted on his sister. So she made up her mind to stay with Wanyi in the West Wing for the next few days, to build a good relationship with her and, incidentally, to find out Du Heng's preferences, so that she could have a chance to win his affection for her in the future.
However, Cheng was not happy to see the three of them being so harmonious, so she interrupted them and said, "Okay, okay, your cousin just arrived and hasn't had a sip of water yet."
Then he bowed to his mother-in-law and said, "Mother, I will take Jinniang and the others back now. I will pay my respects to you again after a few days of rest."
The old lady nodded, thinking that it should have been done long ago. She then gave Jinniang a few more instructions before letting Chaoxia help her back to her room to rest.
After everyone respectfully saw the old lady off, Cheng Shi put away her previous respect for her mother-in-law. She glanced at Su Ying and said to Wan Yi, "Take your cousin back to the East Courtyard."
As she said that, she asked Songying to support her and walked towards the door.
But just as she reached the door, she remembered that if she only let Wanyi take Jinniang with her, wouldn't that mean Hengger and Su Ying were left behind alone?
So she quickly turned around and waved to Du Heng, "Brother Heng, if you have nothing else to do, come along. I had someone make some red date, white fungus, and lotus seed soup, and it should be almost ready. You can come over and eat it with me, so Songying doesn't have to take it to the study and let it get cold."
Du Heng nodded and said, "Mother, go ahead. I'll be there soon."
When Cheng heard this, she raised her eyebrows and looked behind Du Heng.
At this moment, Wanyi and Jinniang were holding hands warmly, while Su Ying was smiling beside them.
Especially Jinniang's words and deeds perfectly interpret what a lady from a noble family is, while that petty-minded merchant's daughter is really not worthy of respect.
Feeling proud, she did not force her son to go with her. It was fine for her son to go with them. As long as things are compared, the good and the bad will be revealed.
She nodded and said, "Then come with Wanyi and Jinniang. Don't let the three of you get so caught up in childhood conversation that you forget the time. I'll be waiting for you in the East Courtyard."
Deng Jinniang was so smart that Cheng Shi only needed a few words and glances to make her understand the position of Su Ying in Cheng Shi's heart.
She looked at Su Ying, only to see that her expression was still calm and graceful, as if she hadn't noticed that Cheng hadn't let her go with him.
Jinniang originally planned to pretend that she didn't know and just pulled Wanyi and Cheng out of the house, but she never expected that Du Heng would walk towards Su Ying.
Her heart skipped a beat and she looked straight at the two of them.
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