Chapter 313 Chapter 314. Looking for trouble
Yang Wenlan whispered in her ear, "Mrs. Ning and her mother-in-law are here. Don't be too surprised when you see her mother-in-law later."
Jin Qianqian knew that she was reminding her again on purpose, so she blinked her eyes and asked, "But what's wrong?"
Yang Wenlan pointed at her eyes and said, "There's something wrong with that eye. It seems like she can't see things clearly. I haven't seen her at the previous banquets. Why did she come out this time?"
Jin Qianqian, "...Shouldn't you ask why you followed me out this time?"
"They all mean the same thing. And from what I see, Madam Ning seems to be somewhat disdainful of her mother-in-law."
Jin Qianqian felt that she could play out several versions of the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in her mind, but she didn't say much and just walked quietly.
Looking at this mansion which is larger than her own house, and which exudes refinement and elegance everywhere, Jin Qianqian knows that this is the heritage, the heritage of a scholarly family.
"Don't be fooled by the size of the mansion now," Yang Wenlan guessed her thoughts, "after a while, when a large family comes over, these courtyards will be a bit crowded."
Even though there are four courtyards, with so many masters and servants, there is not much to do once they are divided.
Jin Qianqian deeply agreed with this. This was another disadvantage of a large family. All the members were tied together and would not separate until the elder ones passed away.
The more people live here, the more trouble there is. Jin Qianqian once again secretly felt fortunate that the Gu family split up early, which saved them a lot of trouble.
After turning around a corridor, a pavilion appeared in front of us. There, some people were already sitting there chatting.
The other young ladies were all greeting each other with laughter, and looking at these fresh faces, an old woman stood out in the middle.
"Madam Gu," Fang Yuan helped her mother-in-law stand up and saluted. After all, Jin Qianqian's husband had a higher official rank than hers.
"Madam Ning, you are too polite. These family gatherings of ours are not meant to be like those outside." Jin Qianqian suppressed the discomfort in her heart and said with a forced smile.
It's not just that the old lady of the Ning family has bad eyesight. One of her eyeballs has turned white and bulged, and the vision of the other eye must be poor as well, as she stares at her with one eye squinting.
"This etiquette cannot be abolished. The top scholar is two ranks higher than my son. This is all as it should be."
Why did Jin Qianqian feel that there was some resentment in his tone? Why did the three words "Zhuangyuan Gong" sound a bit sarcastic?
Fang Yuan immediately sensed the slight change in the atmosphere and smiled shyly, "My mother said that etiquette cannot be abolished."
"Hmph," Old Madam Ning snorted coldly, but didn't say anything else.
However, because of her words and actions, Jin Qianqian and Yang Wenlan's impression of her continued to decline.
Jin Qianqian originally felt some sympathy for her eyes, but now she just glanced at them and started chatting and laughing with the young lady she was familiar with.
Old Mrs. He narrowed her eyes and looked at Jin Qianqian. Fang Yuan beside her reminded her several times, but she still did her own thing.
"Mom, if you continue like this, I will tell my husband when I get home."
"Besides filing a complaint, what else can you do?
It was this woman's husband who stole your husband's title of No. 1, and you are still chatting and laughing with her here."
Fang Yuan pursed his lips and said, "My husband himself said that his writing is not as good as others, and the position of the top scholar was chosen by the emperor himself, so there is no such thing as snatching it away, right?
If you say this to others, you will be laughed at."
"A joke? Haven't my son made enough jokes? It's already unfair enough for him to marry a landlord's concubine like you.
He is obviously a top scholar, but someone else took advantage of his connections to snatch the top spot away from him. You are still here groveling and fawning on others. My son is really unlucky. "
Fang Yuan saw that her voice was getting louder and louder, so he stood up and helped her walk to the yard, where there was a place for everyone to change clothes. "Mom, I'll take you to change clothes."
The old lady was about to get angry, but then she felt everyone was looking at them curiously, so she gritted her teeth and followed her daughter-in-law to the backyard.
"What the hell are you doing, bringing me back here?"
Fang Yuan, "I have explained this to you many times at home, and my husband has also personally told you not to mention this matter again. If this offends someone, how can you let your husband get along with others in the officialdom in the future?"
Mrs. Ning knew this truth. "I just can't help but feel angry. The fortune tellers clearly said that my son has the talent to be the top scholar. If there is no villain, he will definitely be the top scholar this time."
"Mom," Fang Yuan shouted in a shrill voice. She was becoming more and more impatient with her mother-in-law.
"If you continue to cause trouble like this, I won't take you out anymore, and I'll tell my husband when I get back."
When the old lady heard Fang Yuan move her own son out, she cursed angrily, "You jinx, if you could bring good luck to your husband, would you let your husband suffer this injustice?"
Fang Yuan, "I know you look down on me now, but don't forget that my husband was able to go to Beijing to take the imperial examination because of the financial support from my family.
Besides, I have legitimate sons and daughters now. For the sake of your grandchildren, you'd better not do things like belittling me outside, otherwise the Ning family will be the one that suffers in the end."
Hearing her daughter-in-law's gritted teeth warning, Old Lady Ning stared at Fang Yuan with her terrifying eyes, "If I had known you were such a person, I shouldn't have let you in.
Even without you, at most our family would have to tighten their belts to support my son to go to Beijing."
Fang Yuan laughed so hard that tears came out. "Mother, have you forgotten that the Ning family was already at the end of its rope? Without the dowry I brought, would my husband have been able to pass the imperial examination? Without the financial support from my mother's family, would he have been able to go to Beijing to take the imperial examination?
Now you are belittling me everywhere, do you just want me to be a heartless person who will destroy the bridge after crossing the river?"
Whenever Mrs. Ning thought of those ladies from wealthy families who were dressed in jewels and eloquent, she still felt a great deal of regret in her heart. If she didn't have this daughter-in-law, her son would not have been unable to marry these ladies.
Fang Yuan, who had long guessed what the old lady was thinking, shook her head. Fortunately, her husband had made a promise to her, otherwise she really would not be willing to put up with this old lady.
He coaxed the old lady with sweet words for a while, and when he saw that the old lady was no longer causing trouble, he helped her out.
After they left, Li Qiu came out of the ear room awkwardly. She really didn't mean to eavesdrop just now. People were blocking the door, and she couldn't just rush out when others were talking.
I walked to a corner to get some fresh air, and when I was sure that no one was around, I slowly walked toward the front yard.
Jin Qianqian managed to get through the party despite the old lady's vague gaze.
"It so happens that several orchids have bloomed at home recently. Sisters, come to my house the day after tomorrow to admire the flowers and taste the new pastries that I have developed in my shop. You can also give me some suggestions." Jin Qianqian knew that it was her turn to host this time and had already thought of an excuse.
(End of this chapter)
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