"Mrs. Chen, shut up. Second Mrs. Xu just helped you, and now you’re burning bridges as soon as you cross them. Have you no sha?" Third Grandma scolded, "How to educate the girl is the Xu family’s business. It’s not for an outsider like you to ddle."
Apologizing should suffice. There’s no need to act superior and say things to teach the girl a lesson. Is she a daughter of the Gu Family, allowing you to play the elder? That’s a daughter of the Xu family.
Ms. Lu said, "Third Aunt, there’s no need to scold Little Sister-in-law Da Gui. Girl Ling indeed has a temper too hot. At ho, even her father-in-law said to correct her temperant before she’s engaged. Otherwise, she’d suffer in her husband’s family in the future."
Mrs. Chen listened, her face full of happiness, holding Ms. Lu’s hand, "That’s exactly what I an. Second Sister-in-law Xu, you understand ."
She sighed, "It’s also because we t late. If we’d known each other for ten years earlier, I’d have beco blood sisters with Sister-in-law."
Ms. Lu laughed, "It’s not too late to et now. There are still decades ahead to spend together."
Gu Jinli hearing this, glanced at Second Mrs. Xu, thinking she’s been overly tolerant of Mrs. Chen. If Second Mrs. Xu were a man, she would suspect Second Mrs. Xu had taken a liking to Mrs. Chen.
It’s not that Gu Jinli is overthinking. It’s just that Mrs. Chen’s temperant, if she were newly acquainted, would be intolerable. Only over ti could one see she ans no harm and is willing to endure her chatter.
Gu Jinli didn’t ponder long before Ms. Lu subtly gave her an answer.
Ms. Lu took out a box and handed it to Mrs. Chen: "My eldest daughter, Linglong, felt very sorry about yesterday. After returning, she stayed up all night making a pair of silk flowers, asking to bring them to you as an apology gift. She hoped you wouldn’t be upset."
"Girl Ling is too polite. She hand-made an apology gift for . I must accept it." Mrs. Chen, seeing the gift, was very pleased. She imdiately took the box, opened it to find two brand new silk flowers inside. The flowers had golden threads and remarked with surprise, "Wow, these silk flowers are wrapped with gold thread, aren’t they? How precious."
Though she spoke of them being precious, she had no intention of returning them, quickly tucking them away in her pocket: "Sister-in-law, tell Girl Ling I really like these silk flowers, thanks for her hard work."
If she had more ti, she could make a few more. After all, gold threads are quite valuable, and reselling them could fetch a good amount.
Ms. Lu was taken aback at how quickly they were accepted. Did Mrs. Chen understand her implication?
However, Ms. Lu’s was marrying off a daughter, not bringing ho a daughter-in-law. She had to maintain so reserve and couldn’t speak plainly, lest her daughter’s value decrease. But looking at Mrs. Chen, if she didn’t explain, it seed like she wouldn’t understand.
Ms. Lu frowned in worry.
Gu Jinli beca more suspicious upon seeing this. Not only was Ms. Lu tolerating Mrs. Chen, but Xu Zhong even hand-made a pair of silk flowers overnight using precious gold thread, and the flowers were lotus-shaped.
The lovebird and twin lotus motif imply a couple companionship aning.
Yet, the one who scolded Mrs. Chen was Xu Ling, entirely unrelated to Xu Zhong. Why would Xu Zhong send silk flowers to apologize to Mrs. Chen?
The apology gift is likely an excuse; the real intent is to imply other things.
Nanny Lu was also stunned, noticing Mrs. Chen’s expression neglectfully. She probably hasn’t even recalled who Linglong is, let alone understood the implication.
Nanny Lu and Ms. Lu exchanged a look, both facepalm with unspeakable frustration, but dared not say more. They instead praised Gu Jinxiu and the other three girls: "Third Aunt, the girls in your households are all exceptionally beautiful. Especially the two from Sister-in-law Dashan’s family. I’ve lived most of my life and haven’t seen such beautiful girls. It’s truly enviable."
Gu Jinli laughed. Hadn’t they already been praised? Yet praising again? The attempt to make conversation was too obvious.
However, Ms. Lu swiftly changed the topic and asked, "Sister-in-law Dashan, I heard your eldest daughter is engaged?"
Mrs. Cui smiled and nodded, "Yes, Sister Xiu and Xiao Yu have been betrothed. Sister Xiu to the Luo Family, Xiao Yu to the Qin family. These are trusted acquaintances. The engagent letters have been exchanged, and today the elders from both families are coming to discuss the date for the engagent gifts."
Mrs. Cui couldn’t help but beam when talking about her daughters’ engagents. With both daughters settled, she could sleep well at night, unlike when Sister Xiu was unmarried, which grieved her to tears.
Ms. Lu expressed great envy, "It’s good that it’s settled, not like my Linglong, who’s reached the age yet is still unsettled."
This was to let Mrs. Chen know that her daughter Linglong was not betrothed. Did you hear that?
But Mrs. Chen misunderstood, inwardly rolling her eyes and thinking: Why can’t the Xu family just give up? Have they given up on Xu Ling and now want to propose Xu Zhong for Brother An? Tsk tsk, don’t they even consider whether Brother An would want her?
If Ms. Lu knew what Mrs. Chen was thinking, she’d probably be spitting blood in anger.
Unaware, she brought up the marriage of Gu Jin’an and several other eligible young n: "Zhao Ming had delayed his proposal because of studying. The family is quite anxious. They’re thinking of finding a suitable girl as soon as he becos a scholar."
She then asked Mrs. Chen, "Little Sister-in-law Da Gui, is there a girl he is fond of for Brother Xing, who’s even older than Zhao Ming?"
Mrs. Chen’s face darkened slightly, feeling Ms. Lu mocked Gu Dexing for being old without being engaged, coldly responding, "Those scholars and madn marry late. So marry in their thirties. Brother Xing is only in his early twenties, and it’s not too late to marry once he becos a scholar."
Ms. Lu was taken aback, realizing Mrs. Chen had misunderstood, finding the situation sowhat amusing.
Nanny Lu quickly said, "Madam Gu, you misunderstood. Our Second Madam hearing about Brother Xing from Young Master Ming thought he was a fine young man and regarded him as a family nephew. She was a little concerned about his marital affairs and asked without malice."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chen’s expression softened, laughing, "Look at my brain, I misunderstood. Please don’t get mad, Second Sister-in-law Xu. I was just angered by that group of village shrews. Those busybodies were destitute in past lives, that’s why they enjoy gossiping about the children’s marriages in our families. They do it on purpose, trying to agitate us enough to marry their relatives’ daughters. Ha, what a dream!"
She continued, "The children in our families are all accomplished and destined to marry won from wealthy families or at least literate ones. If they marry those shrews’ relatives’ daughters, each of whom wouldn’t even know how to write their nas, how will life be after marriage?"
"Mrs. Chen, you’re so noisy. Can’t you say a little less?" Third Grandma’s expression turned displeased. Mrs. Chen, you fool, you’re insulting illiterate girls, but among the won of the Qin, Gu, and Luotian families, aside from Mrs. Cui and Ms. Chu, none can read. Who exactly are you insulting?
Mrs. Chen realized this, apologized to Third Grandma, and then addressed Second Mrs. Xu, "Don’t mind my chatter, Second Sister-in-law Xu. I’m just outspoken. I simply look down on the daughters of those gossips’ relatives from the village."
"Little Sister-in-law Da Gui, you’re overthinking. You just care for the young n in your families and want to find good matches for them," Ms. Lu felt a bit exasperated. She had put her pride aside to ntion Gu Dexing’s marriage, but Mrs. Chen gave no sign of understanding... Could she be uninterested in her Linglong and pretending not to understand?
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