Chapter 1 Marrying a Needle-Swallowing Woman
Ji Tanyuan has been married for two months, transforming from the eldest daughter of the Ji family into the daughter-in-law of the prestigious Zhong family in the capital.
From the daughter of a tech tycoon to the daughter-in-law of a high-ranking official, from a socialite in Shanghai to a young woman in Beijing.
The marriage between people from the North and South, a union of the old and the new, was a celebrated story in the industry, and everyone who met her would praise her for marrying well.
However, in the eyes of the Zhong family, she was just a nouveau riche.
Today is the day the nouveau riche daughter-in-law is taught manners.
At a family dinner on Monday, Ji Tanyuan was criticized for wearing a short skirt.
The old lady of the Zhong family, her husband's grandmother, was wearing a modern Chinese-style jacket with a front opening, made of gray-black Xiangyun yarn embroidered with clouds. Her white hair was neatly combed, and her expression was solemn.
"Tan Yuan, you should dress appropriately for the family banquet. Don't dress so casually next time."
Ji Tanyuan looked at the short skirt she was wearing. The skirt was actually not short, only 5cm above the knee. It was a black dress with a fitted waist, but the fabric was soft and the pleats were crisp, so it looked quite formal.
She glanced at her sister-in-law's attire again—a cheongsam, a traditionally cut cheongsam. Sensing her gaze, her sister-in-law looked up and smiled gently, instantly radiating beauty and charm. Such a sophisticated and elegant woman.
But she stood up, took the tea, and knelt down.
ah……
He knelt down...
He knelt before the old lady and said, "Grandmother, please have some tea."
When Ji Tanyuan saw this scene, she didn't know what kind of expression to make. How could this be? Why did she kneel down?
The old lady smiled with satisfaction, "Look, Yi'an did a great job. Tan Yuan, you are now a member of the Zhong family. When you go out, your words and actions reflect the face of the Zhong family. You should give up all the fun that young people used to enjoy. Just focus on A Yan at home."
Ji Tanyuan saw the celadon teacup handed to her by the maid; it was clearly an expensive item, but she didn't take it.
She didn't want to kneel; she was married into a prestigious family, not a palace.
The atmosphere immediately turned cold.
Ji Tanyuan's mother-in-law looked at her daughter-in-law and reminded her, "Tanyuan, remember who you are now."
"Even if it was an arranged marriage, it was a marriage certificate and a banquet that everyone knew about. She was a legitimate member of the Zhong family. Haven't you all read the family precepts?"
Ji Tanyuan lowered her eyes. Instruction book? What is this thing?
Ji Tanyuan possessed a unique Jiangnan charm, with delicate and refined features, gentle and elegant demeanor, yet her upright back was as straight as bamboo.
Zhong Yan's mother came from a scholarly family and liked her quite a bit. Understanding that Zhong Yan was not used to it since she was new here, she said to the old lady, "She may not be used to it. Maybe next time, I'll have A-Yan talk to her."
Setting rules, intimidating people, conducting obedience tests—the Zhong family really is like... the Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty.
[Once you enter the Zhong family, you must abide by the Zhong family rules], she finally understood why Zhong Yan had suddenly said that last night.
The way he looked at her then had a mocking, almost gleeful look on his face; it turned out he had been expecting this all along.
"No, what's so strange about this? Do I need to get used to serving tea and paying my respects?" the old lady said in a deep voice.
Wen Yi'an, the eldest grandson's wife of Zhong Jing, sat down and advised, "Tan Yuan, this is just etiquette. It's only once a week, and Grandmother has already been very understanding."
The maid pushed the teacup forward again. Ji Tanyuan took a deep breath. It's okay. The Ji family needs the Zhong family's backing now. Everything comes at a price. Marrying Tunzhen is her price.
At the corner upstairs, the man glanced at the scene and turned to leave, just in time to bump into his older brother, Zhong Jing, who was coming down. Zhong Jing looked at the scene downstairs and said to his younger brother, "Didn't you used to hate these rules the most? Why are you making your newlywed wife face them?"
Zhong Yan said "Oh," and replied, "Isn't that the purpose of a wife in an arranged marriage? She's there for the family."
At this point, he raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Of course, I have to follow the family rules."
He turned to look at Ji Tanyuan, but the next second he suddenly covered his mouth, threw down the teacup, and ran to the bathroom.
Zhong Yan narrowed his eyes slightly; he remembered that he had taken precautions.
The people below were in a panic. The old lady, her impatience gone, stood up, leaned on the table, and looked towards the bathroom. "What's going on?"
"Could it be... that she's pregnant?"
She immediately lost her seriousness, beamed with joy, and repeatedly said "good" to him.
"Okay, okay, quickly arrange a car to go to the hospital, or call the family doctor over."
Zhong Yan's expression was indifferent. He turned and walked downstairs, pushed through the crowd, and opened the bathroom door.
He went into the bathroom, closed the door, and shut out everything outside.
Ji Tanyuan bent over, gripping the bathtub so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She had never suffered such humiliation in her life. Now, because of her wedding, she had to kneel and serve tea every week. She was extremely disgusted by this custom that targeted the differences between men and women.
She wasn't pregnant at all; she was just so nauseous she wanted to vomit. The thought of having to kneel and pay respects like this every week made her feel disgusted.
Even if the other party is the Zhong family, she still can't accept it. Ji Tanyuan is marrying far away, and her father is under a lot of pressure because of company problems. She doesn't dare to complain. This marriage is a painful blow for her.
“Zhong Yan, you didn’t tell me this before.”
Zhong Yan leaned against the door, raised his hand to pat her back, and said, "Are you upset? If I told you, would you not marry me?"
"But that makes sense. Rich girls who have received modern education can't accept this kind of outdated feudal remnant. Actually, I can't accept it either."
Any normal person would find it repulsive, but unfortunately, there are no normal people in the Zhong family.
Zhong Yan sighed and said regretfully, "What can I do? I still want to be a filial son and virtuous grandson."
Ji Tanyuan's eyes were brimming with tears from vomiting. "But I can't accept this."
The accusing look in her eyes was enough to soften anyone's heart, but Zhong Yan was a little annoyed and covered her eyes.
"So, did I marry a troublemaker?"
Ji Tanyuan gritted her teeth. Trouble? What about the benefits? Why not mention how the Zhong family used their marriage alliance with the Ji family to undermine the political and business landscape of Haicheng?
"You want a divorce?" Ji Tanyuan asked.
Zhong Yan scoffed lightly. "No wonder the young lady is so naive. Divorce isn't so easy."
"Go back and ask your father if he's willing. Your family's cash flow has dried up, and you haven't even gotten through the credit crisis yet, honey."
"I'm asking you."
"You're asking me? To tell you the truth, I really didn't want to get married, if it weren't for..."
The words that were about to come out stopped abruptly, suddenly reminding Zhong Yan that this was a mutually beneficial marriage.
Marriage is the second most important means of family business expansion after blood ties. When it comes to short-term, cross-regional, and reputational challenges, only blood ties can mitigate them.
They came together for profit, and they will part ways for profit in the future.
At least for now, the Zhong family hasn't achieved their goal, so they can't divorce and have to maintain the appearance of a loving couple.
He felt an itch in his palm; it was Ji Tanyuan's eyelashes. She was nervous; was she afraid he would divorce her?
Hearing the urging voice outside the door, Zhong Yan looked down at the person whose eyes were covered, who was still behaving obediently. The person had a full forehead, a flawless face, and even an expression that was just right, so perfect that it was unreal.
They're like socialites and heiresses wholesaled as tools for arranged marriages; they don't know how to fight for power and profit, and they've been brainwashed into thinking everything is for the benefit of their families, so they're not actually the beneficiaries.
He sighed, "Well, that's what happens when you're my wife."
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