Chapter 85: First Visit to Chen Mansion
Zhu Yuanou said to Du Lanfang: "You are not Lan Jie'er's biological mother. You have done a good job by helping to manage the affairs."
After saying that, he looked at Pei Yue again, with obvious dissatisfaction in his eyes. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard Zhu Chao's voice.
"Mom, I smell it, it smells so good!"
Xiao Zhuchao ran out from the inner courtyard, talking loudly and pointing in the direction of the kitchen.
Du Lanfang asked: "Fragrance? What kind of fragrance?"
Xiao Zhu Chao said seriously, "It's the kitchen. Many strangers have come here and are busy cooking. It smells so good!"
…
In the kitchen, chef Wang Yu was wearing an apron, holding a large spoon, and supervising his apprentices.
"Come on, everyone, and show us your best skills!
Today is Miss Zhu's coming-of-age ceremony. Our future success will all depend on Miss Zhu!"
Soon, one delicious dish after another was served, and the aroma filled the entire coming-of-age ceremony venue.
"This is... the Golden Toad and Jade Abalone!?" a sharp-eyed guest shouted out.
"These dishes can only be eaten in Yuxiang Pavilion!"
"Yes, and we have to make reservations many days in advance. I didn't expect the Zhu family's chef to be so good!"
Du Lanfang was dumbfounded.
There was clearly no expense for preparing a banquet on Pei Yue's shopping list!
And looking at the specifications of the dishes, even the Zhu family couldn't afford to eat them on ordinary days. Where did she get the money?
The celebrities specially invited by Du Lanfang thanked her one after another:
"Oh, if Madam Du hadn't invited us here, we wouldn't have had this great fortune today!"
"Yeah, I didn't expect that the Zhu family was so well-hidden that they actually had such a great cook hidden away, hahaha!"
Du Lanfang forced a smile, his mind was in a mess. How could this happen?
"Mr. Zhu, stop hiding it and ask the chef to come out and meet us!" someone said.
Chef Wang came out to meet everyone and asked for their opinions on the dishes.
Many people exclaimed:
"Oh my god, we actually invited Chef Wang from Yuxiang Pavilion!"
"This... What kind of background does the Zhu family have that they can even hire Wang Yuchu himself!?"
Wang Yuchu laughed and said, "Miss Zhu Lan is an honored guest of our Yuxiang Pavilion, what's a mere meal?
Everyone, enjoy your meal. Today’s banquet is just a token of appreciation prepared by Yuxiang Pavilion for Miss Zhu’s coming of age celebration!”
Zhu Yuanou was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling, and he started praising Pei Yue non-stop, not noticing that Du Lanfang's mouth was almost drooping to the ground.
Zhu Qingyan stood outside the gate of Zhu's house the whole time, with a sullen face, listening to all the noisy and bustling things inside.
He turned around and left silently.
The noisy atmosphere in Zhu's house lasted all afternoon, and it gradually dispersed after the guests left after having eaten and drunk their fill.
…
“Crash, crash—!”
Su heard the noise and came out. She saw the firewood chopped into pieces by Zhu Qingyan on the ground and asked her what was wrong with concern.
It was hard to tell whether the water on Zhu Qingyan's face was tears or sweat. He chopped the wood with all his strength, as if he was not chopping wood but people.
"Mom, why, why can that Zhu Lan get everything she wants!?
Why does everyone like her? "
Zhu Qingyan couldn't understand why he was worse than her and why he got nothing after all the hard work.
Su sighed distressedly and wanted to hug Zhu Qingyan in her arms, but was gently pushed away by Zhu Qingyan.
Zhu Qingyan's eyes became firm, and he looked at Su and said:
"Mom, I want to go to the Chen Mansion."
"Chen Mansion?" Su was a little surprised.
Zhu Qingyan told Su that Chen Ziming wanted to take her home, and Su fell silent after hearing this.
"Senior Brother Ziming is very good to me and has a good family background. He is a person worthy of trust."
"But……"
Su's face was filled with worry. "Will such a family be willing to accept us? Mother is worried that you will be wronged if you really marry into their family in the future."
Zhu Qingyan looked around at the dilapidated yard and the patched clothes on Su.
She wants to change the current situation. Is there any better way than marrying into the Chen family?
"Mom, don't worry too much. The hospital exam will be in a few months, and your daughter is confident.
When she gets married, she will be a female scholar, with a reputation, and she won’t have to be a humble woman.”
Su wanted to persuade him again, but Zhu Qingyan said that he had made up his mind.
…
On the day of entering the mansion, Chen Ziming personally went to Zhu Qingyan's home to pick her up.
"Qingyan, you...are wearing this?"
Zhu Qingyan looked down at his student uniform which had become somewhat pale from washing, and his face looked somewhat embarrassed.
Chen Ziming didn't say anything more and took her into the carriage.
The hall of the Chen Mansion was lavishly decorated, brightly lit, and filled with servants coming in and out in an endless stream.
"Sir, wish Miss."
Every servant who passed by lowered his eyes and saluted to the two men with a respectful attitude, always looking at the right place, showing a very well-trained attitude.
It turns out that wealthy families are different.
Thinking of this, Zhu Qingyan felt a little more longing in his heart.
When we meet later, if Senior Brother Ziming's parents approve of it, will our relationship be basically settled?
My mother and I will finally have someone to rely on.
When he saw Mrs. Chen, Zhu Qingyan's originally nervous mood relaxed a little, because this lady did not look as strict as he thought.
Madam Chen prepared a table of food, asked Zhu Qingyan to sit down with a smile, and dismissed the servants, as if it was just a home-cooked meal.
Mrs. Chen first chatted for a while and asked about the journey.
Although Zhu Qingyan's family background was ordinary, he looked gentle and respectful, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
Then he asked about her family situation.
"Qingyan grew up with his mother in another county. He came to Jiangzhou City only last year. His mother is now doing some handicrafts at home. His father..." Zhu Qingyan paused, "was also a young man from a scholarly family, but he has passed away for many years."
Mrs. Chen nodded. As long as the family background was clean, everything would be easy.
During the meal, it was mostly Mrs. Chen and Zhu Qingyan who were talking, and Chen Ziming spoke very little.
When talking about some unfamiliar topics, Zhu Qingyan didn't know how to answer. He subconsciously looked at Chen Ziming, but saw that he was just concentrating on eating and had no intention of helping him out.
Madam Chen called the servants over, "Is Miss Zhu's room ready?"
"Madam, everything has been packed."
Zhu Qingyan was stunned, "Madam, what room?"
Madam Chen looked at her and smiled, "From today on, you will live in the Chen Mansion. Don't worry, there are servants to take care of the trivialities of life."
Zhu Qingyan stood up, looking a little flustered.
Living in Chen's house? Chen Ziming didn't tell her about this arrangement in advance.
Madam Chen rinsed her mouth with the water brought by the servant, picked up the handkerchief and wiped it gently, saying lightly:
"You don't have to look at him. I have arranged everything."
Chen Ziming sat next to Madam Chen and said:
"Qingyan, listen to my mother. You should move into the mansion in advance so that you can get familiar with the place.
Don't worry, I live not far from you, and I will visit you often."
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