Chapter 319 The more you give, the more you get
Looking at the expressions on the two faces, a barely perceptible glint flashed in Meng Yushan's cloudy eyes.
He picked up the teacup, gently blew on the steam, and then spoke slowly and deliberately.
"This invitation was sent a couple of days ago."
"I thought you had just returned to the capital and would be very busy, so I declined on your behalf."
"But they are very persistent. Yesterday, they sent another one."
"If we refuse again and again, it will make our Zhenguo Duke's Mansion seem heartless and disowning even our own relatives."
At this point, Meng Yushan put down his teacup with a soft sound.
He raised his head, his gaze falling on Meng Shilan and Zhou Congxian.
"I'm getting old."
"I'm too lazy to deal with these welcoming and sending-off ceremonies and social niceties anymore."
“Now that you are husband and wife, it is up to you to manage the inner and outer affairs of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion.”
He waved his hand, his tone carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
"This matter is left to you two, young couple, to handle as you see fit."
...
When distant relatives want to come and pay a visit, it's not a big deal, but it's not a small one either.
Although it was a family banquet, Meng Shilan dared not slack off in the slightest.
Instead of using the cooks in the mansion, she invited the head chef from Dexinglou Restaurant to come and cook at her home.
From the drafting of the menu to the arrangement of the banquet hall, and even the refreshments and fruits for the guests, she personally finalized every detail.
Shuang'er was puzzled. "Sister, it's just meeting a few distant relatives, why go to so much trouble?"
Meng Shilan put down the list in her hand and smiled faintly.
"Sometimes, the power struggles at the dinner table can be more dangerous than real swords and guns."
Three days later.
Three or four carriages stopped in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
The car door opened, and a large group of people got off.
Compared to the main family of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, which was rather quiet due to its small number of members, the Meng family, a collateral branch, was much more lively.
The leader was a middle-aged man who looked to be around fifty years old. He was slightly overweight and had a friendly smile on his face. He was Meng Shilan's seventh uncle, Meng De'an.
Beside him was his wife, Wang.
Wang was dressed in a crimson jacket and wore a full set of gold-inlaid jade headdress. She had a smile on her face, but her shrewd eyes had been scrutinizing her ever since she stepped into the Duke's mansion.
Behind them followed a large group of young men and women.
Besides her two married daughters, she had a total of five children who came with her today.
Three sons and two daughters.
Meng Ruoshui was the fifth among them.
Today, she wore a light blue long dress with a white fox fur cloak over it, which made her skin look even whiter and more pitiful.
She stood quietly in the crowd, her eyes lowered, looking obedient and harmless.
Meng Shilan, accompanied by Zhou Congxian, stood in front of the hanging flower gate to greet them.
Two groups of people gazed at each other from afar.
A group of strangers who have never met before but are related by blood.
On their faces, they all wore the same polite and distant smile.
A group of people stood at the door, chatting and laughing, exchanging greetings.
The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming, it felt like long-lost relatives were finally reunited.
Meng De'an spoke first, revealing a kind and loving smile like an elder.
"This must be Shi Lan, the pearl that our Meng family has found, right?"
Meng Shilan slightly bent her knees and bowed, her voice clear and neither humble nor arrogant.
"Shi Lan greets Seventh Uncle and Seventh Aunt."
Zhou Congxian, who was standing next to her, also gave a slight bow.
Wang hurriedly stepped forward, warmly took Meng Shilan's hand, and looked her up and down.
"Oh, what a good child!"
"Look at her appearance and demeanor, she truly deserves to be a daughter of the Meng family!"
"You've suffered so much these past years!"
Her voice carried a perfectly timed sob and a hint of heartache.
It was as if she truly felt the same way about this niece she had never met.
Meng Shilan simply smiled and let her hold his hand, then subtly withdrew it.
"Thank you for your concern, Aunt Qi."
Wang's shrewd eyes swept over Zhou Congxian, but when they met his cold gaze, she felt a chill and awkwardly looked away.
She then turned her attention to the two children beside Meng Shilan.
"Oh my, these two adorable little dolls, must be Fu'er and Little Fatty Xi?"
Wang exclaimed dramatically, squatted down, and tried to pinch Fu'er's cheek.
Fu'er instinctively ducked back and hid behind Meng Shilan.
Wang's hand awkwardly froze in mid-air.
Meng Shilan gently patted her daughter's back, her voice tender.
"Fu'er, call her Seventh Grandmother."
Fu'er then timidly peeked out from behind Meng Shilan and whispered a name.
"I hope my seventh grandmother is well."
Her voice was soft and sweet, yet it carried a hint of barely perceptible wariness.
Little Fatty Xi wasn't shy at all; he was staring with wide, curious eyes.
Seeing this, Wang immediately turned her attention to the boy who seemed easier to control.
"Young master is so handsome! Look at his eyebrows and eyes, he looks just like the young master!"
As she spoke, she took out a heavy, red-gold necklace from her sleeve, with a large longevity lock hanging on it.
"Here, this is a gift from our seventh grandmother. Let our little chubby boy wear it, and it will ensure you live to be a hundred years old!"
The gold necklace gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight, almost blinding people.
The daughters following behind Wang could not hide their envy.
Such a large quantity of pure gold necklaces is probably something they might not even have in their dowry chests.
Meng Shilan's gaze darkened slightly.
To present such an expensive gift to a three-year-old child upon first meeting.
The more you give, the more you get in return.
This seventh aunt made no attempt to hide her thoughts.
Zhou Congxian's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Before he could speak, Meng Shilan smiled and pressed down on Wang's hand.
"Seventh Aunt, you're too kind."
"The child is still young and delicate; he shouldn't wear such heavy things."
Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable power.
We appreciate your kind gesture.
"Please take the items back."
The smile on Wang's face froze.
She never expected that Meng Shilan would reject her so directly in front of so many people.
This was undoubtedly a public slap in the face for her.
Seeing this, Meng De'an quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
“My niece is right. It was her seventh aunt who didn’t think things through.”
He smiled and said to Wang.
"Hurry up and put those things away, don't be rude to the child."
Wang reluctantly took back the gold necklace, muttering to herself as she did so.
"I was just trying to be kind..."
Meng Shilan seemed not to hear, turned to the side, and made a "please" gesture.
"Seventh Uncle, Seventh Aunt, please follow me."
"It's windy outside, let's go inside the flower hall to talk."
She was composed and poised, as if the brief exchange had never happened.
The group walked through the covered walkway and headed towards the flower hall.
Along the way, the younger members of the collateral branches could hardly keep up with the sights.
Whispers continued to reach Meng Shilan's ears.
She pretended not to hear, and led the group with unhurried steps.
Meng Ruoshui, who was following behind, kept her head down the whole time, looking timid.
He seemed indifferent to everything around him.
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