"Although your family is now prominent, it still needs the help of your in-laws to ensure that your family can continue to prosper!"
"That woman who just came in is quite pretty, but when it comes to marriage, one should choose a virtuous wife and a beautiful concubine. Such a person is at most a concubine, someone to keep around for fun. For important matters, one should rely on a wife whose family is powerful!"
“You’ve been wandering around since you were little and have suffered a lot. There are many things you don’t understand, and your aunt can understand that. But now that you’ve come back and call me aunt, I can’t just stand by and watch you do something wrong!”
As Hu Shi spoke, she became more and more animated, showing no restraint whatsoever, as if she and He Jiu Niang were not meeting for the first time, but rather as relatives who had known each other for decades.
He Jiuniang couldn't help but interrupt: "Although, I still have to remind you that I have never called you aunt. Apart from my mother, I only have relatives from the Lu family left. All the other aunts and uncles are dead. Madam, don't bring bad luck upon yourself!"
"you!"
Madam Hu was surprised that He Jiuniang would undermine her, and her face turned very ugly.
"I'm doing this for your own good, why don't you appreciate it?"
Hu originally thought that since she was acting arrogantly as an elder, He Jiuniang should naturally listen to her.
She had specifically sent someone to inquire, and it turned out that the Lu family had arranged a marriage between the two people before they even came to the capital, which was incredibly foolish.
With so many noble ladies in the capital, only someone with a completely broken mind would think of marrying an orphan girl from the countryside!
"Madam, you are joking. You say it's for my own good, but how is it good? Since ancient times, marriages have always been arranged by parents and matchmakers. The two children are in love with each other, and their parents and elders are very satisfied with this marriage. Our whole family thinks it's a good thing. What right do you, a guest who has just visited, have to interfere in my family's affairs?"
"Madam is the wife of the Marquis of Chang'an. How can she have no self-awareness at all? She hasn't even managed her own household properly, yet she runs to someone else's house to show off her power?"
"I've watched Lianhua grow up. She's incredibly outstanding in her dealings with people. At such a young age, she's more likable than that old lady who's lived most of her life and still hasn't figured out her place. If a girl like that marries Leizi and becomes his mistress, she'll be a perfect match!"
"As for what you said, Madam, about using marriage to maintain the relationship between the two families, that's utter nonsense. What respectable family would want to use their children as tools to climb the social ladder? To ruin their children's lives for their own selfish desires? Would it be Madam herself?"
He Jiuniang hadn't been able to retort so freely in a long time; she had been holding back, which had really spurred her on.
Ms. Hu came under the guise of being Jiang Ruoya's friend, but in reality, it was for her own daughter.
The Lu family is now at the height of its power, so she naturally wants to leverage her past relationship with Jiang Ruoya to secure a bright future for her daughter.
She thought He Jiuniang had been wandering around since childhood and had little experience, so she should be easy to fool, but she didn't expect it to be completely different from what she thought.
Look at how sharp-tongued she is; I'm no match for her at all.
She longed to get up and leave, but she coveted the power of the Lu family, so she forced herself to stay and even managed a smile.
"Oh dear, I was too hasty. I felt that you had suffered injustices over the years and did not understand the complex relationships within these high-ranking families. I just wanted to talk to you about it."
"Of course I know you like that girl, which is why you agreed to this marriage, but liking someone can't put food on the table! You should think it over carefully!"
He Jiu Niang really didn't expect Hu Shi to be so shameless. Even after she had said such harsh words, Hu Shi still kept talking.
“Madam is visiting today as a friend of my mother. Out of respect for my mother, I cannot simply turn her away. But I am truly exhausted today. Please leave, Madam, and do not associate with us again. Our Lu family is not worthy of your presence.”
He Jiuniang's last bit of respect for her came from Jiang Ruoya. Before asking Jiang Ruoya's opinion, she still couldn't make things too awkward.
Madam Hu gritted her teeth and stood up. Her thoughts were similar to He Jiuniang's; she wanted to see Jiang Ruoya first.
"Then I'll be going now, I'll visit again another day."
He was still very polite, but when he got up to leave, he saw Lianhua standing outside waiting. He didn't give her a good look, glared at her, and then left.
How dare an orphaned girl from the countryside try to take her away from her daughter? What kind of person is she!
Once they've made a plan for her daughter, if they're in a good mood, they might make the orphan a concubine; if they're in a bad mood, they'll just get rid of her and sell her off so she won't be an eyesore at home!
Lianhua was unaware that Hu Shi was harboring the deepest malice towards her. She simply watched as Hu Shi walked away before going inside to find He Jiuniang.
When she entered, He Jiuniang was looking up at the ceiling with an extremely sorrowful expression, muttering to herself, "Heavens above, what sins have I committed to encounter these demons and monsters!"
"Auntie."
Lotus called out, about to offer some words of comfort, when she saw the woman beckon to her and say, "Don't take what that old woman said to heart. I know what she's up to! She said she was my mother's friend visiting, but actually she just wants to take your place!"
"How dare she boast about being from a noble family, making it sound like her family is so powerful. She's just a fake noble family, rotten to the core. She's trying to take advantage of my family and then says such nasty things. These people are really something."
Before meeting these guests, He Jiuniang would get a general understanding of the background of each family. She naturally knew about the Chang'an Earl's Mansion as well. The title was passed down from their ancestors, but by the time of the current Earl, the mansion had fallen into ruin. It was all show and no substance.
The Earl of Chang'an was only a minor official of the fifth rank in the court, and his family had no capable younger members. None of them passed the imperial examinations, and the whole family was living off their parents' savings.
And you still think Lotus has a bad background? How dare you!
Lianhua couldn't help but laugh as she listened to Lianhua's rant. She said, "Don't worry, Auntie. In the past, I would have felt unworthy of Leizi because of the unpleasant things she said, but not anymore. Auntie said that I am excellent and capable, and everyone in the family likes me. Why should I be unhappy for someone who is insignificant?"
Hearing these words, He Jiuniang couldn't help but take another look at Lianhua. This little girl has really grown up, and her mental resilience has become much stronger!
"Well done! Remember, you are the best girl I've ever raised. In my eyes, no one can compare to you. You are no worse than anyone else. If anyone says anything bad about you in the future, just go up to them and slap them across the face. If anything happens, your uncle and aunt will cover for you! Like I said before, we don't cause trouble, but we're not afraid of trouble either, understand?"
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