Guai (夬) - Auspicious Hexagram
Chapter 43 Guai Hexagram (The Most Auspicious Hexagram) - Counterfeit
When Rong Yan stepped in, her demeanor was composed and elegant. Duan Shi glanced at her increasingly refined air and couldn't help but feel indignant.
If she weren't her daughter, Rong Yan would never have a place in the Marquis's mansion.
Now things have taken a turn for the better. Originally destined to be a widow who was to marry in place of another, she has not only won the favor of Madam Wang, but also seems to have caught the eye of this old lady.
She sent her to marry in her place, not so that she could be on Qingyun Road next to her daughter's.
Rong Yan glanced at the food on the table and found it to be surprisingly lavish. No wonder, since Rong Guangmao and Madam Duan had come to visit, the meal was naturally more abundant than usual.
She knew in her heart that this was a trap.
No one spoke much while eating.
Rong Yan had little appetite and ate a little bit before eating only sporadically.
Du Chunhong whispered to her from the side, "Later, I'll make you some red bean soup."
Rong Yan smiled, his eyes lit up, and he nodded obediently.
Her mother's red bean paste was so smooth and sweet, and the taro balls had such a chewy texture that she wanted to taste it right away whenever she thought about it.
After everyone had eaten their fill, the play that Rong Yan had been waiting for finally began.
Although she didn't know what Rong Shu was up to, she wasn't afraid of her intelligence.
At this moment, Rong Shu glanced at Duan Shi, and Duan Shi nudged Rong Guangmao gently.
Rong Guangmao suddenly laughed, "Ha, thank you for the hospitality of the Marquis's residence this time. I also thank Old Madam Rong for entrusting my daughter with the management of the household affairs, allowing her to gain experience and be given such an important responsibility. The string of jade walnuts in my hand was personally carved by a famous gentleman from the capital. It is a rare find. I am giving it to Old Madam as a small token of my appreciation."
As Rong Guangmao spoke, he opened the brocade box in his hand, revealing a string of exquisite jade beads inside. Under the candlelight, the beauty of the jade was immediately apparent.
Rong Yan also glanced at it and found it quite familiar.
How come it looks exactly the same as the string of pearls her father gave her?
Rong Yan didn't know who Mr. Mingren was, but everyone present obviously did, especially Old Madam Xie, who looked pleasantly surprised.
Xie Qisheng, sitting next to him, seemed to have a nail in his butt and started to fidget.
Even Du Chunhong coughed lightly a few times.
"How could I accept such a gift? It's far too valuable; please take it back. Besides, there's the matter of managing the household affairs..."
Rong Guangmao interrupted Old Madam Xie, saying, "Grandma Xie cannot refuse."
Rong Yan glanced at it; the jade wasn't of the highest quality, but the carving was indeed quite good.
After Rong Guangmao declined several times, Old Madam Xie finally accepted it.
Even Rong Yan could see with his own eyes that Old Madam Xie was very happy. Clearly, this Mr. Ming was highly skilled and had excellent craftsmanship. He must be a nobleman in the capital.
Did Rong Shu call her here just to observe how people give gifts?
"Father, Grandmother, I've heard that Mr. Mingren never makes two of his carvings. Each piece is exquisite and small, and there's only one of each. That's why his works are especially precious. Is that true?" Rong Shu asked Rong Guangmao with an innocent look.
"It seems there is such a thing."
Grandma Xie nodded in agreement. "That's true. Last year, I took a fancy to a pine tree, but unfortunately, the Wang family bought it. I sent someone to ask for a higher price to buy another one, but the reply I received was that it was impossible to make another one. So, you can't just buy his things with money."
Even Xie Qisheng spoke up, "Not making the same thing? Perhaps the craftsmanship isn't refined enough, and the same thing can't be perfectly replicated."
Rong Yan was startled by Xie Qisheng's sudden voice beside him. Old Madam Xie glared at him and said, "How can you use your own mind to try to understand the skills of a master?"
After being nagged by his mother, Xie Qisheng became quiet and kept quiet.
Rong Shu interjected at the opportune moment, "But I've seen this exact same string of jade walnuts in my sister's room..."
Duan immediately rebuked, "Don't talk nonsense."
Grandma Xie liked this string of beads so much, she would have some reservations if she knew that Rong Yan had a fake.
Oh, so that's what it was all about.
Rong Guangmao frowned. "Don't talk nonsense. Where did your sister get so much money to buy it? You must have mistaken something similar for something else."
“Father, I certainly wouldn’t be wrong. I’m just afraid that one day my sister will take it out and play with it. If someone sees this string of beads on Grandmother’s side, they might suspect it’s fake and laugh at us.”
Xie Qisheng said, "What you said makes sense. Zhezhi, your wife is quite meticulous. How about this, Yanyan, have someone take out the jade walnut strings and compare them side by side. Wouldn't that make it clear?"
Upon hearing this, Rong Yan obediently sent someone to fetch it.
Seeing that she was still so calm and composed, Rong Shu felt disdain. She was about to die and was still pretending that nothing had happened.
“Sister, I’m not criticizing you. Father often taught us that one should not be vain. You can’t expect everything just because you’ve married into the Marquis’s family. Even if you can’t get it, you can’t fake it. If word gets out, wouldn’t that tarnish our parents’ reputation and bring trouble to the Marquis’s family as well?”
Rong Yan remained silent, which gave Rong Shu more room to maneuver. "Now that you're a lady of high birth, you should have some of the temperament of a noblewoman. This isn't a Taoist temple; you can't use any underhanded methods here."
Rong Yan couldn't help but yawn, covering her nose slightly. She was full and sleepy again.
Rong Shu: ?
Madam Duan frowned and glared at her, but spoke gently, "I'm sorry for making everyone laugh. It's my fault as a mother; I haven't done my duty and haven't raised my child well..."
Rong Guangmao: "I never imagined that the ten years of poverty in the Taoist temple would cultivate such a vain nature in you. Old Madam Rong, my daughter is useless. I absolutely cannot entrust the management of the household to her in the future!"
Rong Yan suddenly felt a chill run through her body. She was somewhat confused, wondering whether it was the original owner of the body who was feeling cold, or herself.
Suddenly, she felt a little tired.
Especially when dealing with these people and things.
Xie Qisheng suddenly smiled, and Du Chunhong patted the back of her hand at the same time, and she smiled faintly.
Xie Qisheng said coldly, "Wait a minute. We haven't even decided who is telling the truth and who is lying. How can you be so quick to accuse the young mistress of being vain?"
Madam Duan sneered, "Could it be that Uncle Xie thinks my master is a fake, and my daughter is real?"
"naturally."
Everyone: !!!
Grandma Xie was a little annoyed that her son didn't understand any social etiquette at all. His words were so stupid that they left her speechless.
Duan was momentarily speechless, and it took her a while to find the words to continue, "Uncle Xie really loves to joke. My master never buys fakes, and he would never give fakes to the old lady."
Xie Qisheng chuckled dryly, making Duan Shi even more embarrassed.
After Hua Li brought the bracelet from Rong Yan's room, Xie Qisheng took out the bracelet and casually placed it on the table.
When everyone saw that Rong Yan was so careless, not only did she not use sesame oil to moisten it, but she didn't even provide a brocade box, they were even more convinced that it was fake.
Rong Shu: "This..."
Xie Qisheng: "You don't need to doubt it. This bracelet was a gift from me. Do you think I bought a fake one?"
Everyone: !!!
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