Wang Xifeng warmly entertained Lin Daiyu and Shen Ajiao, but Grandmother Jia, feeling tired, returned to her own courtyard to rest.
[My Feng has changed! This courtyard looks much better than when I last visited.]
[These maids and nannies, wow, they're all so proper and orderly, I'm almost not used to it.]
[Not bad, not bad, Feng is about to rise!]
Wang Xifeng was overjoyed, her heart bursting with happiness. "Look," she thought, "even Mrs. Lin praised me. I'm so capable."
[It's such a pity that natural disasters and man-made calamities have struck—my daughter is sick, and my husband is causing me so much trouble. It's truly a tragedy.]
Wang Xifeng: So she won't get to enjoy these good days?
She wanted to see how troublesome Jia Lian could be, but first and foremost, she had to take good care of her daughter.
As they were talking, a soft, charming voice rang out from outside, "Granny, is Madam receiving guests?"
"Is she a pretty auntie?"
"Mrs. Lin hasn't met my daughter yet, has she? That little girl keeps talking about pretty auntie, pretty auntie at home all day long."
Shen Ajiao then saw a petite, adorable little dumpling nestled in the nanny's arms, peeking out curiously. Upon seeing Shen Ajiao and Lin Daiyu, her eyes lit up, "Pretty sister, pretty sister."
"Silly girl, this is my beautiful auntie." (Pointing to Lin Daiyu)
Pointing at Shen Ajiao, "This is my great-aunt!"
The little dumpling didn't understand. They were all pretty older sisters, so why was she called "Grandma"?
"I want a pretty older sister to hug me." The little boy flapped his arms and tried to get into Chen Ajiao's arms, which startled Wang Xifeng. The little boy mumbled in Wang Xifeng's arms, "I want a pretty older sister to hug me."
[Wow, what a sweet mouth! This little girl has potential! Come here, let me give you a hug!]
Without any hesitation, he took out a jade thumb ring and gave it to her.
Wang Xifeng smiled and placed the dumpling in her arms into Shen Ajiao's arms, feigning jealousy and saying, "You pretentious little devil."
"This little girl is so eloquent, she always manages to charm me into a daze."
The little dumpling pouted and said, "Pretty sister, you smell so good, I like you."
This amused Wang Xifeng, who exclaimed, "Look at you, you've got such a sweet tongue! Haha!"
[I never imagined Qiaojie was so sweet as a child; it's such a pity she's grown up.]
Wang Xifeng: Here they come, they've finally arrived. I'd like to see what my daughter will do.
He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he forgot the name that Shen Ajiao had mentioned.
However, things always turn around, and after the worst comes the best. Fortunately, Granny Liu came to the rescue.
Granny Liu? Who is she?
She had never heard of this name before, and even after racking her brain for possible names, she couldn't recall one. Wang Xifeng grew increasingly anxious; if her plan failed, she couldn't let it implicate her young lady.
No, she'll make arrangements for her daughter first.
However, after only three or five days, a maid from the gatehouse came to report that Zhou Rui's wife had brought a relative from the Wang family, saying that the mistress was too busy and asked her to entertain him.
Wang Xifeng was a little angry. They were bringing all sorts of things, like cats and dogs, to her. The Second Madam herself didn't want to see anyone, but she didn't want to see them either. Her daughter's affairs hadn't been arranged yet.
Just as he was about to ask someone to give him something to get rid of him, he casually asked, "Where did you come from, relative? What's your name?"
The maid below didn't know either. "Grandma Zhou said that one of their ancestors had recognized the Wang family as relatives and established a clan connection. The family had moved to another place and had just returned. They said they wanted to come and visit."
Wang Xifeng lost interest in listening further, but the maid continued, "I heard Granny Zhou say it was something like 'Grandma'..."
"Grandma Liu?"
Wang Xifeng was startled and blurted out "Grandma Liu". The little maid didn't think anything was wrong and assumed that she really knew her, and laughed, "Yes, yes, Second Mistress is her."
Wang Xifeng's hands and feet trembled uncontrollably as she sat on the couch. It took her a while to calm herself down before she finally found her voice, "Quickly, invite them in!"
The little maidservant went outside to spread the word with a smile. She had received copper coins from Grandma Zhou, and now that the matter was settled, she felt at ease keeping them.
Wang Xifeng hurriedly called for someone to bring her daughter over. She wanted to give her some advice, but seeing her daughter's lovely face, she didn't say anything. However, she couldn't help but pray in her heart that her daughter would have a safe and smooth life after this.
After a while, Zhou Rui's wife brought in an elderly woman dressed in a gray dress, with a wrinkled face and a somewhat awkward demeanor.
Wang Xifeng sipped her tea discreetly while scrutinizing the person in front of her. Her mind was in turmoil. This man looked like an old man from the village, toiling in the fields. Was this really the person Mrs. Lin had been talking about who could save her daughter in the future?
Regardless of anything else, since they've come, we absolutely cannot neglect them.
"I'm young and don't recognize them much, and I don't know their generation either, so I dare not address them."
Zhou Rui's wife laughed and said, "This is the grandmother I was talking about with my wife."
Wang Xifeng ordered tea to be served, invited people to sit down, and said with a smile, "Relatives don't visit each other much, and we've all grown distant. If Grandma didn't come, she would almost forget about us as relatives. I really feel ashamed."
Granny Liu was a little reserved. "Our family is struggling financially and can't afford to travel. Coming here would be a shame for you, Granny. Even the stewards don't seem like the right people to help us."
Wang Xifeng was taken aback. It seemed that she had been scolded by the group of scoundrels at the gate when she arrived. How hateful! It seemed that she needed to be taught a lesson.
“Grandma, what are you saying? We’re just using our ancestors’ reputation to become poor officials. What do we have? It’s all just an empty shell of the past. Grandma, you’re belittling yourself.”
After speaking, Wang Xifeng looked at Zhou Rui's wife and asked, "Have you seen Madam?"
As Zhou Ruijia spoke, she gave Granny Liu a meaningful look, "Madam said she's busy today, so Second Mistress will accompany you. Please take good care of her. It's just a casual stroll. If you have anything to say, just tell Second Mistress. It's all the same."
Normally, Wang Xifeng would have scoffed at these words, but things are very different now. She needs them now, and it's best if the Second Madam doesn't get involved!
Grandma Liu understood, her face flushing red before she even spoke, somewhat embarrassed. But then she thought, what was she here for? If she didn't speak up today, who knew if she'd ever have another chance?
"Logically, I shouldn't say this since it's the first time I've met you, but since I've come all this way to see you, I have to say it."
Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Speak quickly, just tell me if there's anything I can help you with, and I'll definitely get it done for you!"
With this in place, her daughter's future is probably more secure.
Just as Granny Liu opened her mouth to speak, a maidservant outside announced, "Young Master of the East Mansion has entered!"
Wang Xifeng was furious. "Are you courting death? You don't even have any manners. How can you be so shameless? Aren't you ashamed?"
The footsteps outside stopped abruptly, and a clear male voice rang out, "My father sent me to find my aunt. He said that the glass screen that my aunt's wife gave you last time is for an important guest. He asked me to borrow it, set it up briefly, and then send it over."
How shameless! If you don't have it, don't use it. What are you pretending to be, some important guest? What's important? If you don't have it, just buy it yourself! Get lost!
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