Chapter 114, cold reception
The port was just outside Xingzhou City. After everyone met at the city gate, they quickly set off for the port. It wasn't long before they arrived at the port and began getting off the bus and boarding the ship.
"The Zhou family's cruise ship is so big!" The Yan family's carriage was positioned relatively far back, and Daohua was curious and couldn't help but lift the curtain to look outside.
"This is still a small one. If you want to talk about size and grandeur, the one that King Rui used to inspect the Grand Canal is the biggest one. It has four floors."
A voice came from the carriage behind. Daohua turned around and saw that it was Zhou Jingwan: "Why are you here?"
"If I'm not here, where else can I be?" Zhou Jingwan and Daohua were already familiar with each other, so they got off their own carriage and sat directly on Daohua's carriage.
"Aunt Li is well."
Mrs. Li smiled and helped Zhou Jingwan sit down.
Daohua then continued, "I thought you would be the first to get on board."
"Originally, yes, but I was a little late when I left, so my mother left first." Zhou Jingwan moved closer to Daohua, "We have to have a good time with her today. I've been wanting to take a boat ride for a long time."
Daohua: "Why? You have a cruise ship at home, and you can't take it often?"
Zhou Jingwan curled her lips and said, "Unless my mother takes me, I won't have the chance to sit here. I'm not my brother, who can often entertain friends and take a boat ride to enjoy the scenery."
Rice flowers are blooming. In ancient times, girls were not allowed to go out at will, especially in wealthy families, where the rules were even stricter.
"I'll post messages for you later, and we can go to my farm to play."
Zhou Jingwan nodded repeatedly: "You can't forget." She was active in nature and was bored staying at home all day.
Seeing Yan Yihan sitting aside and unable to get a word in, Daohua quickly pulled her aside and introduced her, "This is my second sister. Do you remember her?"
Zhou Jingwan glanced at Yan Yihan, smiled and nodded: "Hello, second sister of the Yan family."
Yan Yihan quickly replied, "Hello, Sister Zhou."
Zhou Jingwan smiled, quickly leaned close to Daohua's ear, and chuckled softly, "I remember you had a crybaby sister at home. Why didn't you bring her along?"
Daohua rolled her eyes at Zhou Jingwan and said, "What little girl doesn't cry? Have you ever cried?"
Beside her, Yan Yihan's cheeks were a little red. She knew that Miss Zhou was talking about Yishuang, and she was also a little surprised. She didn't expect that her elder sister would defend Yishuang in front of outsiders.
She could see clearly that ever since her elder sister came back home, Yishuang had been competing with her elder sister, both openly and covertly, for her favor, and Aunt Lin often used her elder sister as an excuse to stir up trouble.
Logically speaking, the elder sister should hate Yishuang, right?
Compared to Yan Yihan's confusion, Mrs. Li looked at her daughter with satisfaction.
Family conflicts are internal conflicts. No matter how fierce the fight is at home, don't show it in front of outsiders, as it will only make them laugh.
As they were talking, it was the Yan family's turn to board the ship.
Mrs. Li got off the carriage first, followed by Daohua and the other two.
The women who had boarded the boat, as well as those who were still waiting to board, looked over when they saw Zhou Jingwan getting off the Yan family carriage.
Mrs. Qian, the wife of the Tongzhi, was nearby, so she immediately pulled Qian Bilan over.
After the two sides exchanged greetings, Madam Qian pushed Qian Bilan towards Daohua and said, "Girl, you always talk about the eldest daughter of the Yan family at home. Now that you have finally met her, you must get close to her."
Qian Bilan smiled shyly at Daohua, then looked at Zhou Jingwan and stood beside her.
"Okay, let the little girls play together, and we adults go over there. Many ladies have already come." Mrs. Qian smiled and looked at Mrs. Zhou.
Madam Li nodded, glanced at Daohua and Yan Yihan, and urged, "Take good care of your sister."
Daohua nodded, indicating that she would look favorably upon Yan Yihan.
The Zhou family was the host of this party. As soon as Zhou Jingwan arrived, she was immediately sought after by the young ladies from various families.
Daohua pulled the somewhat nervous Yan Yihan to follow behind him, and with a decent smile on her face she recognized all the young ladies.
Don’t think that these girls are innocent because they are young. In fact, the interactions between young girls also have different circles and levels.
Especially those who were brought up in aristocratic families, because they were influenced by etiquette and rules since childhood, they knew how to maintain the right face towards people of different status.
Many of the people invited by the Zhou family this time were prominent families from Xingzhou. Some of these families had people serving as officials in Beijing, while others held important positions in the provincial government.
The Yan family is really not good enough to be included in this.
The girls from each family said a few polite words to Daohua and Yan Yihan, then let go and went to talk to other girls.
Even Qian Bilan, who was pushed over by Mrs. Qian, quickly walked away when she saw the girl she was on good terms with.
"Let's go sit on deck."
After completing the formalities, Daohua was no longer interested in pleasing a group of girls, so she took Yan Yihan away from the crowd.
Yan Yihan seemed to be hesitant to speak.
Daohua smiled and asked, "What do you want to say?"
Yan Yihan: "Big sister, let's just leave like this, okay?"
Daohua smiled and said as they walked, "Second sister, when you get along with others, you should be casual and comfortable. Are you comfortable staying with those girls?"
Yan Yihan shook her head.
Rice Flower: "That's it."
At this time, the two men had walked out of the cabin and came to the deck.
A breeze blew towards me, and the rice flowers suddenly perked up.
Sitting with the chattering little girls is not as comfortable as feeling the breeze and looking at the magnificent Grand Canal.
On the other hand, Madam Li was treated not much differently from Daohua and the others. Except for the initial moment when Madam Qian led her to greet the ladies of each family, everyone ignored her intentionally or unintentionally.
Mrs. Zhou was chatting and laughing with Mrs. Li, but there were too many people around her and she always failed to take good care of them.
On the side, Mrs. Wang, the wife of the magistrate, and Mrs. Qian were sitting together chatting and laughing.
When Mrs. Qian saw Mrs. Li sitting alone, she stood up and tried to pull her over, but was stopped by Mrs. Wang.
"Sister Qian, I'm not saying anything, but even if Lord Yan is our boss's immediate superior, there's no need for us to rush to curry favor with his wife, who comes from a merchant family. We shouldn't lower our status."
Madam Qian glanced at Madam Wang, feeling unhappy, so she sat back down again. After a moment's thought, she whispered, "Does your family know anything about the Yan brothers' situation at Wangyue Academy?"
Speaking of Wangyue Academy, Mrs. Wang became a little angry. Even with the help of Councillor Du, her family still couldn't send their eldest son to the academy.
"No one in our family is studying there, so how do we know what's going on there? What did you hear?"
Mrs. Qian shook her head awkwardly: "My family's news is much slower than yours."
After hearing this, Mrs. Wang didn't ask any more questions.
Indeed, the Qian and Wang families are not native families in Zhongzhou, but the Wang family has a relationship with Councillor Du. The Qian family, because they have stayed in Xingzhou for a long time, know more people and are slightly better off than the Yan family.
If you really want to find out some news, you will only know some details.
Madam Qian glanced at Madam Li again, wondering if what the master said was true. Did the Yan brothers really become the little prince's study companions?
Thinking of this, Mrs. Qian looked at Mrs. Zhou again.
This time, she clearly felt that Madam Zhou was much closer and more enthusiastic towards Madam Li. The eldest son of the Zhou family was studying in the academy and must have received some news.
Why.
Madam Qian glanced at Madam Li with a reproachful look. Although Madam Li came from a merchant family, she was extremely strict with her words. She hadn't been able to find out anything about the relationship between their family and the young prince, or the situation of the Yan brothers in the academy.
Now she doesn't know how to treat her.
(End of this chapter)
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