Chapter 20: Can't Let the Cook Down
Hearing that someone wanted to destroy the marriage between the Wei and Xiao families, Wei's father and Xiao's father's faces suddenly darkened, and Yun and Madam Xiao's faces were even more ashen.
The marriage of children is related to the prosperity and decline of the family. If someone wants to make a fuss about this matter, it must not be tolerated.
After all, the incident happened in the Xiao family. Although Yun was anxious, she did not interrupt. Madam Xiao looked at Chunxi solemnly and asked, "Do you have any evidence for what you said?"
"Yes, Second Young Master Ye gave me ten gold ingots and promised to give me three thousand gold coins after the matter is completed."
Chunxi quickly took out ten gold ingots and handed them to Shen Qingyuan.
Gold and silver items were all made in places specially designated by the court. Each ingot was marked with its place of origin. If it was a royal reward, the ingot would have dragon and phoenix carvings, as well as the family logo or surname of the recipient. Of course, some people took some items to small workshops to melt them into ingot styles and engraved their own surnames on them.
Chunxi took out ten pieces that were given by the emperor, and each one was engraved with the Ye family emblem.
"These ingots are indeed from the Ye family."
Shen Qingyuan pointed out the mark on the ingot to Xiao's father, who immediately sneered, "The Ye family has truly raised a good son!"
Chunxi quickly expressed her sincerity: "I am willing to go to the Ye family to confront Second Young Master Ye in person, and I also ask Master Xiao to ensure the safety of my family. Second Young Master Ye had my fiancé severely beaten yesterday. I am afraid that if I step out of the Xiao family's gate today, I will be tortured to death by Second Young Master Ye's men."
"He dares!"
Wei Lingze squeezed out these two words from between his teeth, and a sinister murderous aura surged out.
He should have killed Ye Er directly on the day of the outing.
Ye Er's calculations and Chunxi's avoidance of suspicion made Wei Lingze furious, but in the eyes of others, this anger seemed to be to protect Chunxi.
Seeing that everyone's faces were not right, Yun Shi had to speak up: "The matter is now clear. Thanks to Chunxi's loyalty to the Wei family, you can ask for any reward you want."
Yun Shi made it clear that she was only discussing money with Chunxi and would not let her return to Wei Lingze. Chunxi did not refuse and asked with sparkling eyes, "Can I keep the gold ingots given by Second Young Master Ye?"
She had a close call with death, so it’s not too much to ask for a few gold ingots, right?
Of course, Yun didn't think it was excessive. Compared with Wei Lingze's marriage, these gold ingots were nothing. Madam Xiao, like Yun, was quite satisfied with Chunxi's attitude of only caring about money and not being entangled. In addition to the ten gold ingots given by Ye Er, she ordered someone to take ten more from the warehouse as rewards for Chunxi.
Chunxi kowtowed to thank for the reward, feeling happy from the bottom of his heart.
After this trip, not only did I resolve the crisis, but I also got twenty gold ingots. It was really worth it.
After some trouble, it was time for the banquet.
Chunxi was about to leave when Old Madam Xiao, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly said, "I think this child is quite appealing to me. Since you're here, why don't you stay and have dinner with us?"
Everyone was surprised, but Chunxi remained unfazed: "Thank you, old lady. I didn't know today was your birthday, so I didn't prepare any gifts. If you don't mind, these two ingots of gold are my little token of appreciation."
None of these gold ingots were earned by you, how dare you give them as gifts?
Everyone thought Chunxi was quite shameless, but Chunxi didn't care what others thought. He quickly took out two ingots of gold and placed them in front of Old Madam Xiao.
Old Madam Xiao did not despise it. She accepted the gold ingots and asked someone to take Chunxi to sit next to Shen Qingchi.
Mrs. Mo's face suddenly fell.
Although they were able to attend the Xiao family's banquet thanks to Shen Qingyuan, they also presented formal gifts. It would be fine if Shen Qingyuan also sat at the same table with them.
Why did Shen Qingyuan sit at the main table with the Xiao family, but let them sit at the same table with people like Chunxi?
The Xiao family was busy discussing the wedding date with the Wei family and didn't care about Mo's mood, and Chunxi didn't care either.
Her home was far away from the Xiao family, and she had just been chased for so long that she was already very hungry. Moreover, every dish on the table was very exquisite and the ingredients used were also very expensive.
It would be unfair to the cook if you don't cook well.
Chunxi ate with a big bowl of rice attentively.
Shrimp and tofu, steamed duck with fermented rice wine, sour bamboo shoots and chicken skin soup, creamy puff pastry rolls, stewed pork elbow with ham...
Chunxi ate one mouthful after another. Although he moved quickly, his eating manners were not ugly. He chewed each mouthful thoroughly before swallowing it.
Shen Qingyuan sat on the left side of Old Madam Xiao, from which position he could just see Chunxi.
It was the first time Shen Qingyuan saw someone eating so deliciously that he couldn't help but take a few more glances. Old Madam Xiao noticed his gaze keenly and also looked at Chunxi.
Shen Qingchi, who was sitting next to Chunxi, was the most affected. She was not very hungry, but she couldn't help but taste the shrimp and tofu that Chunxi had picked up three times in a row.
It really seems to be more delicious than what we usually eat at banquets.
Shen Qingchi's eyes lit up slightly. Just as he was about to try the butter-filled puff pastry roll, he heard his mother's cold voice: "Didn't your family give you food? Do you want to be reincarnated as a starving ghost?"
Mrs. Mo lowered her voice, just loud enough for Shen Qingchi and Chunxi to hear clearly.
Shen Qingchi's face turned pale and he put down his chopsticks silently. Chunxi was not affected at all and even asked the maid to add another bowl of rice.
Eat, eat, eat, until you die of fullness!
Mrs. Mo was so angry that she almost rolled her eyes.
Although she had never met Chunxi, she had already found out everything about Chunxi because Shen Qingyuan brought her home that time. If Chunxi became Shen Qingyuan's second wife and was embarrassed by going out like this, she would not be angry at all, but would only be happy.
But Old Lady Xiao ridiculed her and said that Shen Qingyuan would be the one to decide his own marriage in the future. Chunxi's loss of face had nothing to do with Shen Qingyuan, and those who sat at the same table with Chunxi were the clowns in the eyes of the Xiao family.
Chunxi just being herself made Mrs. Mo so angry that she couldn't eat. Seeing this, Shen Qingyuan couldn't help but curl his lips, and then stretched out his chopsticks to the plate of shrimp and tofu.
Old Madam Xiao also took a bite.
Wei Lingze and Xiao Qinghe's wedding date is set for May 26th, exactly two months later.
Time is a bit tight, but both families had already prepared everything needed for the wedding three years ago, so there is no need to rush.
During the meal, Xiao's father addressed Wei Lingze as a virtuous son-in-law, and the young masters of the eldest house also told Wei Lingze one by one to be good to Xiao Qinghe and not to let her down.
Wei Lingze naturally agreed and promised that he would be devoted to her and would never take a concubine in his life.
Xiao Qinghe always had a perfect smile on her face, but she no longer had the shyness and happiness she had before.
She couldn't help but look at Chun Xi a few times.
Being in a completely unfamiliar environment, Chunxi was not afraid at all. She ate mouthful after mouthful, not caring about other people's opinions at all. The discussions about Wei Lingze's marriage had no effect on Chunxi at all.
This powerless girl could never compete with her, and never thought of competing with her for anything.
But she lost miserably.
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