Chapter 23 Cat Cat Cat Cat, I'm Mao Mao
The sudden appearance of Old Madam Lou caught everyone off guard.
Before General Lou and his wives rushed home after receiving the news, Old Madam Lou had already given all her grandsons a good scolding.
Several grandsons lined up, and apart from Lou Heming, who was still working at the hospital, the old lady leaned on her cane and paced in front of them.
"You have no manners, whether you're sitting or standing." Old Madam Lou surveyed the room, tapping her cane on her third grandson's leg. "Especially you, you went abroad to study, only to pick up a bunch of bad habits from those foreigners."
Lou Hongjian almost jumped up, but he managed to hold it in and forced a smile at Old Madam Lou: "Grandma..."
He wasn't the only one who went abroad to study.
The second brother, Lou Heming, studied Western medicine and had previously studied abroad.
"Don't try to fool me with that grin." Old Madam Lou glared at me sternly. "Stand still! Learn from your eldest brother!"
Lou Hongjian quickly straightened his back, placed his hands on the seams of his clothes, and stood like a pine tree.
The other two brothers glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes and chuckled to themselves.
Although Lou Hongjian was dressed in a long robe, he did not have the demeanor of a scholar. Even when he stood upright, he exuded a carefree and leisurely air.
This also made the old lady Lou, who demanded a conservative and traditional lifestyle, the most disapproving of her.
"Ah Sui".
As she approached Lou Yansui, Old Madam Lou's expression softened somewhat: "How are you feeling?"
Lou Yansui: "I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Grandma."
Madam Lou nodded: "I heard from your father that you've been going out recently, which is very good."
Lou Yansui was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Old Madam Lou look him up and down, her lips drooping again as she sternly said, "Even if you can't stand up, you can't lose your spirit. You're not strong enough to give up easily."
Lou Yansui: "...I remember, Grandma."
As Old Madam Lou passed by him, she stopped, her gaze shifting downwards to the short little bundle in front of her.
Mao Mao stood with her brothers at the very end of the row. She stood straight, puffed out her little belly, and held her head high, waiting for the old lady's inspection.
Mao Mao had already heard the old lady scold her brothers. Watching her tall and strong brothers being scolded so badly that they couldn't lift their heads, her little heart trembled as she listened.
I was afraid that I would also be criticized.
But Old Madam Lou only glanced at her before looking away and turning to sit down.
Maomao:?
Mao Mao couldn't help but say, "Grandma, it's me."
The old lady looked over, her aged eyes dignified.
The three older brothers standing next to him couldn't help but glance at him.
I've seen people get scolded before, but this is the first time I've seen someone actively seeking out being scolded.
Old Madam Lou: "You?"
Mao Mao raised her head and stuck out her little belly: "Grandma, you haven't said anything to me yet."
Old Madam Lou: "Who are you?"
Mao Mao said, "I am Mao Mao! I just said that."
Old Madam Lou: "..."
Lou Fengju introduced, "Grandma, this is Mao Mao, the child of Dad's fourth concubine."
The wrinkles on Old Madam Lou's face deepened, and she said unhappily, "Your father is becoming more and more outrageous. He takes a concubine, and he even takes a concubine who has a child. He raises someone else's child as his own."
Lou Yansui paused for a moment: "Grandma, we all treat Mao Mao like our own sister."
"Yeah, yeah," Lou Hongjian chimed in, "Mao Mao is like our little sister. She even helped me. If it weren't for her, I almost..."
"alright."
Having traveled all day, Madam Lou was impatient to argue with them and stood up, saying, "Have someone take my luggage upstairs. I'm going to rest for a bit."
The servants responded immediately and carried the old lady's luggage upstairs.
There were many suitcases, and the luggage was transported in several trips.
The Lou brothers murmured, "I wonder how many days Grandma will stay at home this time."
"Why did she suddenly come here? What's the matter?"
"Sigh, maybe I should move out?" Lou Hongjian said.
Lou Fengju rolled her eyes at him: "If you dare to go out, Dad will kick you out of the house tomorrow."
Lou Hongjian's face was full of bitterness, and he dared not mention it again.
As for Mao Mao, her attention had long been drawn to the big white cat.
When Madam Lou came over, she not only gave her grandsons a lecture, but also brought a beautiful big white cat.
That white cat was really big. Its fur was fluffy and soft all over, like a large dandelion. Its paw pads were soft and pink. When Mao Mao lay on the ground, it felt like the cat was almost as big as herself.
As soon as the big cat arrived, it took up the hottest spot on the sofa, where the sun was shining.
Mao Mao lay down next to it: "Cat, cat, I'm Mao Mao."
Meow~
Mao Mao stroked its fur, and the big cat didn't mind at all, even nudging her with its head.
"Kitty, are you Grandma's cat?"
Meow~
"Great!" Mao Mao said happily, "Then I'll go find Grandma and ask her to let you play with me."
"Meow~"
Mao Mao touched the big cat's soft paws with her chubby little hands, and the two shook hands, becoming good friends.
In the evening, the ladies returned home.
They had gone out to a concert, and were all in high spirits. Even Xia Xiaoxiang didn't fall asleep in the concert hall.
To my surprise, as soon as I got home, I heard that guests had arrived.
Upon hearing that Madam Lou had arrived, all the wives turned pale and hurried back to their rooms, removing their earrings, makeup, and high heels. The third wife even straightened her trendy curls. As for the first wife, like her third son, she pulled out a loose-fitting jacket and skirt from the depths of her wardrobe.
Xia Xiaoxiang was completely bewildered: "What's going on?"
The second concubine kindly advised her, "Listen to me, change out of your cheongsam, otherwise it will upset the old lady."
Xia Xiaoxiang had some doubts.
What kind of monster is an old woman?
But she obediently followed orders and, like the other wives, changed her clothes from head to toe.
When it was time for dinner, she went to the dining room as usual, but was stopped by her first aunt.
"Wrong, we're not eating there today."
Xia Xiaoxiang was pulled by the first concubine to another small restaurant, where there was a square dining table. The other concubines were all seated at the table, which was already set with a sumptuous feast.
Xia Xiaoxiang asked in bewilderment, "That's strange, why are we eating separately today?"
The third concubine shook her head: "It's not just today; every day the old lady is alive, we can't sit at the table."
"What?!"
Xia Xiaoxiang was dumbfounded: "There's such a rule?"
"That's how it is when the old lady is here."
Madam Lou had many rules.
It is said that before the emperor abdicated, she was the eldest daughter of a strict and rigid family.
In the place where Madam Lou lived, there were many feudal customs.
Old Madam Lou was very conservative and had many rules. She also looked down on anything that came from foreigners. Therefore, she was very dissatisfied with Lou Hongjian going to learn Western art from foreigners.
When Madam Lou was alive, even the head seat at the long table was hers.
Dinner began, and everyone took their seats at the long table.
Lou Dashuai volunteered, "Mom, why don't you say something?"
The old lady nodded sternly: "Yes."
Old Madam Lou glanced around at everyone in the house, about to speak, when suddenly her gaze stopped on a certain spot.
At the end of the long table, besides the Lou family, sat a short girl with short arms and legs, a round face, and fair skin.
Mao Mao could already smell the delicious aroma of food, and the two little tufts of hair on her head swayed happily back and forth.
She leaned on the dining table, looking over expectantly, waiting for Old Madam Lou to finish speaking before preparing to eat.
The old lady Lou, caught off guard and meeting her bright, sparkling eyes, was speechless.
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