Chapter 40 The Changes in Old Madam Lou
Old Madam Lou's thoughts quietly changed, and at first, no one noticed.
She only tried coffee once and then disliked it. She also couldn't get used to Western breakfasts and preferred the cooking of Chinese chefs.
She still preferred wearing old-fashioned jackets and skirts and disliked Western food. After arguing with the old lady, Lou Hongjian continued to paint at home as he pleased, gradually accumulating many paintings.
Until one day, the third concubine was going out to socialize again.
She remained bold, perming her hair, applying makeup, wearing a well-fitting cheongsam that accentuated her figure, and a pair of high heels, walking with a clattering sound.
Even though she had been reprimanded by Old Madam Lou, she couldn't afford to lose face in public.
But she remembered the lesson: she could go out, but she absolutely couldn't let the old lady find out, or she would be scolded again.
This time, however, she was unlucky. When she was about to leave, Old Madam Lou was playing with her fourth grandson and little granddaughter in the garden, and the big white cat was running on the lawn with the cat.
As soon as the third concubine stepped out of the gate, she ran into the gaze of the old lady Lou. She thought to herself that something was wrong, but it was too late to turn back.
Old Madam Lou had already seen her.
When faced with the old lady's stern face upstairs, the third concubine broke out in a cold sweat. Unable to back down, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and walk over, already prepared to be scolded by the old lady.
Lou Yansui also noticed her. He glanced at Old Madam Lou, then at Mao Mao beside her, who looked innocent and cheerful. His eyes immediately showed worry, and he hesitated before speaking, "Grandma..."
But Madam Lou simply gave a faint "hmm" and looked away.
Lou Yansui, who had prepared her words of dissuasion: ? ? ?
The third concubine, bracing herself for a scolding: ? ? ?
Grandma Lou elegantly picked up her cup and took a small sip of the milk tea. She was still using a set of English bone china cups, but at this moment, no one noticed anything amiss.
"Where to?" Old Madam Lou asked coldly.
The third concubine subconsciously touched her hair, and when she touched the small curls on her head, she immediately pulled her hand back as if she had been burned. She straightened up and said tremblingly, "I... Mrs. Wang is hosting a salon, and I'm going to attend."
Madam Lou: "Hmm."
Old Madam Lou: "When you go out socially, you represent our Lou family. If you lose face, you are disgracing the Marshal. Remember your place."
The third concubine nodded in agreement.
Old Madam Lou said impatiently, "Alright, go ahead, you're blocking the light here."
Sitting in the open air under such a bright sun, how could she possibly block out the light?
The third concubine nodded obsequiously in agreement, left obsequiously, and got into the car obsequiously. It wasn't until the car had driven quite a distance that she realized something was wrong.
Um? !
Why didn't the old lady scold me today?!
Has the old lady changed her mind?
At home, Lou Yansui was still somewhat dazed.
He had already prepared himself for Old Madam Lou's anger.
Old Madam Lou was conservative and regarded the concubines as mistresses. She also disapproved of the concubines dressing up in a flamboyant manner to go out to socialize, attend salons or parties. The cheongsam that accentuated the waistline of the third concubine and the heels that were thinner than a finger were all major objections of Old Madam Lou's.
But even after the third concubine left, Old Madam Lou didn't say a word?!
Lou Yansui was stunned: "Grandma, you..."
Old Madam Lou picked up her teacup, took an elegant sip, and looked over with her aged eyes: "What's wrong, Ah Sui?"
Lou Yansui then noticed that the old lady Lou was drinking milk tea and using Western teaware.
The old lady had never tried drinking English black tea with a lot of milk, let alone using a bone china cup.
"Grandma, why are you drinking this?" Lou Yansui was stunned.
Old Madam Lou: "What's wrong? I just wanted to taste it."
"So, how do you think it tastes?"
Madam Lou put down her cup and elegantly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "It's just so-so, not as refreshing as tea. Only young people like you would enjoy it."
Lou Yansui: "..."
Is his hearing damaged?
Why didn't I hear Grandma cursing foreigners?
Lou Yansui was momentarily dazed.
Although the old lady complained and didn't say a word of praise, given her personality, this was already an incredible change.
What's even more unbelievable is yet to come.
At dinner, the Lou family sat on either side of the long table, enjoying a sumptuous meal together.
Lou Hongjian was making faces at his younger sister. Tonight, he had carried Mao Mao to the seat next to him, and now, with a peeled shrimp between his fingers, he was turning Mao Mao's head around, mouthing to her: "Mao Mao, will you be your brother's little model tonight?"
He didn't make a sound, and Mao Mao couldn't understand his lip movements. Her attention was completely drawn to the shrimp flying in mid-air. Her eyes followed the shrimp, her mouth wide open, and she tilted her head back, wanting to catch it.
But the shrimp wouldn't fall into her mouth, making her so anxious that she clenched her little hands into fists.
Suddenly, Old Madam Lou coughed lightly.
The first wife turned around and gently scolded, "Ah Hong, eat your food properly."
Lou Hongjian fell silent and quickly fed the shrimp meat into Mao Mao's mouth.
Mao Mao ate the meat with great satisfaction, her round little cheeks twitching as she chewed.
Old Madam Lou looked at him sternly: "Ah Hong."
Lou Hongjian sat up straight and skillfully slid to his knees: "Grandma, I was wrong."
Old Madam Lou: "..."
After a moment of silence, Old Madam Lou awkwardly asked, "Are you still painting your Western-style paintings?"
“Yes.” Lou Hongjian raised his eyelids, glanced at her face, and compared it to how the old lady usually looked when she was angry. He felt that his grandmother's anger didn't seem to be that great today, so he immediately straightened his back confidently: “Grandma, I know you disagree, but no matter what you say, I will absolutely not give up. My gallery has already—”
"Draw me one," said Madam Lou.
Lou Hongjian: "—Location chosen, time to open for business..."
Lou Hongjian suddenly stopped talking.
His eyes widened, and he almost dropped his chopsticks: "What did you say?!"
At the long table, everyone except Mao Mao, who was focused on eating, looked up in shock.
Feeling the gazes of everyone, Old Madam Lou became a little uncomfortable. She put on a stern face and said, "What? You've been studying with foreigners for several years, and you can't even draw a portrait of someone?"
"Of course I can do it..." Lou Hongjian stammered, his voice lowering.
His confidence vanished suddenly, and his peach blossom eyes looked frantically at his other brothers, filled with pleading for help.
Is his hearing damaged?
Or did he eventually lose his way in the pursuit of art and suffer a mental breakdown?
How did he hear his grandmother ask for a portrait?
Or should I specifically name him and ask him to draw it?
Good heavens... Has he driven Grandma crazy?
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