Chapter 6 Money alone isn't enough here.
the next day
Ji Tanyuan groaned; before she could even open her eyes, her hip bone started to hurt.
She has a narrow pelvis, and last night her legs were wrapped around the man's waist, which was almost like doing yoga for a long time. Her lower back was no longer sore, but her hips were sore.
Ji Tanyuan closed her eyes, feeling somewhat annoyed.
Especially since I'm meeting my mother-in-law today.
Zhong Yan had already gone to the company, and the breakfast prepared for her by the maid was ready.
Ji Tanyuan's breakfast consists of a hot Americano, a few shrimp, a slice of toast, and a vegetable salad.
While eating, he looked down at his phone and reported on the financial news that Tongji High-Tech New Energy had successfully raised $2 billion from Convolution Capital.
She then cut it open, which surprised her.
Zhong Yan didn't mention it at all.
She ate slowly and carefully, then left the crusts of her toast on the plate before getting up and leaving.
The housekeeper glanced at the plate, somewhat disapproving. "Does Madam not like toast crusts? Then I'll instruct the kitchen next time."
"No need, I'll let you know if I need it."
“But that’s such a waste.” Ji Tanyuan’s steps upstairs stopped at these words.
"OK."
"Then next time I won't give you bread with toast crusts, is that okay?"
"Can't."
The butler frowned. "Madam."
She leaned on the stair railing, looking down at the housekeeper, "If you keep nagging, I'll feel like it's a waste of my salary to pay you."
The housekeeper choked. She had been assigned from the Zhong family's old residence. Before she came, the old lady had specifically instructed her to observe the character of this granddaughter-in-law. Now it seemed that all her virtuousness and gentleness were just an act, and her true nature had already been exposed in just two short months.
Ji Tanyuan didn't take it to heart, but trouble came that night.
At that time, Ji Tanyuan was having dinner with her mother-in-law, Zhou Yanyu. Zhou Yanyu had been the wife of the Zhong family for 30 years, and was flattered and pampered, but she was very easygoing, though that was only on the surface.
Being an official's wife means not being too easygoing nor too aloof. If you strike the right balance, your demeanor will immediately convey the air of a leader.
The essence of a leader is to be assertive and have absolute authority. So, no matter how approachable she may seem, it's just a facade. If you think she's easy to talk to, you've already lost.
Their social interactions are different from those of wealthy women; they prefer to keep a low profile and never flaunt their status, using their uniqueness to highlight their superiority.
They're climbing on the coattails of their fathers or visiting historical sites that aren't open to the public. What they're climbing on is the sense of superiority that comes from knowing that even if you have the money, you can't do it, but I can.
The limited-edition bags and jewelry that Ji Tanyuan's circle competes with are even more unfathomable.
Of course, Ji Tanyuan, as a typical example of someone who is flaunted, got her chance to be shown off today.
The two circles, North and South, are inherently divided and secretly vying for power. In particular, Ji Tanyuan is a wealthy heiress who married into the family from afar. She had already experienced this once at Zhong Yan's friend's place, and she didn't expect to go through it again at this tea party.
That's xenophobia.
This xenophobia is different from others. She married into the Zhong family, which is a top-tier family. Others can't openly mock her, but she is also a second-generation rich kid. There aren't even any third-generation rich kids in her family yet.
The term "second-generation rich" has no real value here; there are no "old men" associated with them.
And so, the wives started acting sarcastic and cryptic, as if they wanted to use Ji Tanyuan's background to put down the Zhong family but didn't dare, and even had to say a few words of praise.
So much so that the harmonious atmosphere at the scene was tinged with an eeriness.
One of the women said, "Hey, Tan Yuan, do you only have one daughter?"
Ji Tanyuan nodded, "Yes."
The speaker was Shuyun's mother, the university's administrative director, whose husband worked in the Ministry of Education. She smiled and said, "It's good to have an only child, but why did she marry so far away?"
Ji Tanyuan smiled shyly: "I like Zhong Yan."
"You're quite lucky to have gotten married so easily. We thought Shuyun would end up with Ayan," another wife said.
Zhou Yanyu's smile faded slightly. "How come I didn't know?"
When Zhong Yan's biological mother spoke up, the others' expressions changed. Shu Yun's mother patted the person who had just spoken and said, "What are you saying? They just grew up together."
After scolding him, she explained to Ji Tanyuan, "Tanyuan, don't misunderstand. They grew up together."
Ji Tanyuan shook her head: "No."
Zhou Yanyu glanced at Ji Tanyuan and said, "Alright, stop teasing her."
Ji Tanyuan sat on the sofa, wearing a plain white dress, pearl earrings, and her hair was styled in a low bun, revealing her outstanding skull and face shape.
Ji Tanyuan's lips are very distinctive. They are not the thin, smiling lips that modern aesthetics pursue, but rather lips that have a sensual quality. Her eyes are also peach blossom eyes, which make her appear gentle and intellectual rather than mean.
It looks impeccable, but its family background is lacking. What's the use of money if a businessman doesn't have a good reputation? Money alone isn't enough here.
After the dinner, Zhou Yanyu and Ji Tanyuan walked out. "We will be holding charity events regularly in the future. You should participate. Don't just go to auctions and fashion shows. Keep your contact with your rich second-generation friends from Shanghai less, at least in Beijing."
"..." Ji Tanyuan was speechless. This was meddling too much. In terms of absurdity, they were equally absurd.
She nodded anyway. Mother-in-law, what an annoying word. She calls her mother and really acts like she's her own mother.
Her biological mother...
Thinking of her biological mother, Ji Tanyuan lowered her eyes and stopped thinking about it.
"Come back with me now to see your grandmother."
Speaking of this, Zhou Yanyu got a little angry. That day, Zhong Yan and his wife left in a huff after getting angry, leaving behind a mess. She was forced to listen to the old woman's endless nagging, which was really annoying. If Ji Tanyuan didn't apologize soon, she would be the one to go crazy.
"Zhong Yan is willful, and so are you? You should go and apologize to the old man."
Ji Tanyuan protested somewhat, "Zhong Yan is three years older than me."
Zhou Yanyu choked, "How can that be the same? He's not very perceptive, don't you understand that, you're a woman too? And why are you trying to be as willful as him?"
"Does the old lady love her grandson the same way she loves you?"
Ji Tanyuan muttered, "But she can lecture me as if it's her own grandmother's place."
When it's time to teach her a lesson or put her in a difficult position, she can act like a senior member of the family, but when it's time to show her affection, she'll say she's an outsider. What a double standard!
Zhou Yanyu turned around, slung her bag over her shoulder, and looked at her expressionlessly. Ji Tanyuan raised her hand and stretched her fingers from the right corner of her mouth to the left corner.
Ji Tanyuan felt that a good relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was a blessing from her past life, even greater than marrying a good husband.
She's really unlucky; she's got two "mothers-in-law" in her life.
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