All the relatives and wives looked at Jiang Yao with strange eyes.
What new bride doesn't care about her husband?
Instead, they keep talking about how great other people's husbands are...
"!" Jiang Yao realized she had talked too much when they looked at her like that.
He quickly replied, "I heard it from Yulang. They are cousins and study at the Imperial Academy, so they are quite close."
"So it's the young master!"
All the relatives and wives believed it.
"What the young master said should have some credibility."
"It's understandable that the young master wouldn't come during the New Year, after all, he has to participate in the competition this year."
"I heard that the young master is going to take the imperial examination and become the top scholar."
"The young master is truly ambitious, and the young lady is truly blessed."
"Who doesn't say the young lady married well..."
Jiang Yao was completely dumbfounded.
She said that Pei Yanzhi's absence was intended to embarrass Jiang Shuwan.
She knew these relatives very well. In the past, they would be furious if their sons-in-law didn't bring their daughters home for the New Year.
She scolded her son-in-law for being impolite, while also saying that her daughter was useless and couldn't even win her husband's heart.
She has no status in her husband's family.
How come when it comes to Pei Yanzhi and Jiang Shuwan, one is portrayed as having an excusable situation, while the other is seen as fortunate?!
Double standards!
This is blatant double standards!
You weren't like this before!
Jiang Yao was so angry she almost fell backward.
She wasted her breath.
Jiang Yao angrily gulped down half a pot of tea. When Jiang Shuwan arrived, all the relatives and ladies saw her return alone.
Indeed, there was nothing wrong with her at all; they treated her like a princess and indulged her every whim.
Everyone surrounded her, treating her like a star among spectators, creating a lively and intimate atmosphere.
Song Shi Jiang Yao, on the other hand, was treated like a supporting character, ignored by everyone.
In particular, Jiang Shuwan was wearing a pearl hairpin in her hair.
"My goodness, is this the legendary Haizhu?"
"I thought I'd never see him in this lifetime, but I never expected to see him with my own eyes?"
"I heard that sea pearls grow in the deep sea, are extremely difficult to harvest, and are very expensive. One pearl is enough for an ordinary family to eat for a lifetime."
"What do you mean by ordinary families? Even ordinary officials' families have never seen such a thing."
"Exactly. If an official or wealthy family had one or two of these, they would consider themselves incredibly lucky and would treasure them carefully."
All the relatives and wives crowded in front of Jiang Shuwan, staring at the hair ornament on her head with longing and shock in their eyes.
"This is so beautiful."
"The color, the smoothness, the soft glow it emits."
"It's more than ten times better than ordinary pearls, it's so beautiful..."
It's no wonder they seem ignorant; they are relatives of the Jiang and Song families, unlike the relatives of the Marquis's family who are either officials or businessmen.
Each has its own wealth and its own dignity.
In the Jiang and Song families, only Jiang's father held an official position; the rest were commoners.
I've never seen anything good.
Not to mention that this is Haizhu Buyao, who would be presentable even in the wealthiest circles of Kyoto.
How many times in their lives will they have the opportunity to see such luxurious and elegant jewelry?
Then I have to take a second look.
It will be something to brag about later.
All the relatives and ladies stared at the hairpin without blinking, their palms itching to hold it.
I wish I could touch it.
"Dear aunts and uncles, would you like to have a look at this?"
Seeing the longing in their eyes, Jiang Shuwan generously removed the hair ornament.
The pearl given to her by Madam Pei was used to make a headdress with nineteen pearls.
Two more hairpins were made to complete the rest.
A peony and pearl hairpin.
A peach blossom and pearl hairpin.
Right now, she is wearing a peony and pearl hairpin.
Since our relatives are so eager to see it, let them have a look.
Anyway, it won't cost us anything.
"How can this be done?"
"We're thick-skinned and tough, what if we get scratched?"
All the relatives were modest in their words.
After all, this thing is expensive, and they really can't afford to pay for it if it gets scratched.
While thinking this, his eyes remained fixed on Haizhu Buyao.
He couldn't help but reach out and take the hairpin, immediately praising it upon handling it.
"This feels so smooth and delicate..."
"This is a pearl worth a fortune?"
"Heavens above! I'm just a commoner, and I've actually managed to touch such a valuable item..."
The relatives couldn't put down the hair ornament and stroked the pearl hairpin, especially the pearl in the middle that was as big as an adult's thumb.
That's huge!
This is really great!
They admired it for a few moments with great enjoyment, and then, urged by others, reluctantly passed it on to the next person.
The photos were passed around the room, admired by everyone, before finally returning to Jiang Shuwan.
"It's all thanks to Miss, otherwise we would never have had the chance to see such exquisite jewelry..."
"Yes, yes, it's all thanks to you, Miss."
The relatives became even more affectionate towards Jiang Shuwan.
When Jiang's father came in, Jiang Shuwan took out the New Year's gifts she had prepared, as well as the special-grade inkstone that Pei Yanzhi had given her, which was exclusively for the royal family and nobility.
This made all the relatives even more envious.
Whether a person is doing well or not can be seen from every aspect of their life.
Take Jiang Shuwan for example, look at her attire and the gifts she casually gives.
I knew she lived a very respectable life.
Then look at Jiang Yao, who also married into the Earl's family.
Compared to Jiang Shuwan, she is far inferior.
Jiang Yao felt extremely uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gazes.
She dressed up nicely for her visit to her parents' home today.
Her clothes were the best in her trunk, but they still couldn't compare to Jiang Shuwan's single hairpin.
The New Year's gift she asked Pei Lingyu to prepare was also made from Huizhou ink, specially sourced according to Jiang's father's preferences.
It's only of medium grade.
Compared to the top-grade Huizhou ink given by Pei Yanzhi, which made Jiang's father beam with joy and overjoyed.
He also valued Jiang Shuwan even more.
They thought Jiang Shuwan was intelligent and capable, and that she not only married into a high-status family but was also highly regarded by her husband's family.
Unlike Jiang Yao, who desperately wanted to marry into the Earl's family.
Even though she was still newly married, she was bullied by her mother-in-law and needed help from her older sister, Jiang Shuwan.
Thinking about it, Jiang's father's expression was indifferent towards Pei Lingyu, who had accompanied Jiang Yao back.
"Why don't you find a top-grade Huizhou inkstone!"
"Top-grade items aren't something you can just find anywhere on the street; how could you possibly find them so easily?"
"How come Pei Yanzhi has it?"
"He is him, and I am me. How can you compare him to me?"
"you!"
Jiang Yao didn't expect Pei Lingyu to say that. The couple, who had finally achieved a blissful marriage, couldn't help but have a few arguments in private.
They didn't speak during the meal, each sulking and ignoring the other.
As Pei Lingyu prepared to return to her residence, she recalled the grievances Jiang Yao had suffered a few days earlier.
He then gave in and showered Jiang Yao with sweet words.
Jiang Yao stopped crying and started laughing; the couple were back to being happy together.
As the Earl's and Marquis's families left the Jiang residence together in two carriages, Jiang Yao glanced at Jiang Shuwan with a smug look.
Poor Jiang Shuwan is all alone, without even a man who cares for her.
What a failure for a woman to act like this.
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