Chapter 1056: Disdain Even for Her Name

But Ms. Lu felt that Mrs. Chen probably didn’t have the brains for such a scheme.

Yet, since she was marrying off a daughter, it wouldn’t be right to speak too bluntly, so she didn’t give any more hints. Remembering Mrs. Cui had mentioned that the Luo and Qin families’ elders would visit today to discuss the engagement gifts, she didn’t stay long and soon took her leave.

"These days, we have guests visiting to congratulate Zhao Ming on becoming a student. I should head back; next time, I’ll come to chat with Third Aunt and Sister-in-law, Little Sister-in-law Da Gui."

Mrs. Cui and the others quickly got up, "Okay, then we won’t keep Second Mrs. Xu."

The group escorted Ms. Lu out the gate and presented the Xu Family with generous return gifts.

Seeing that the Gu Family’s return gift was a whole ham, Ms. Lu was utterly astonished: "Sister-in-law Dashan, this gift is too valuable; we can’t accept it."

Ms. Lu wasn’t an ignorant woman; she had heard from her husband about ham, how it was considered glazed meat, and even one piece could cost at least two thousand taels of silver. They only dared to order a small plate with nine pieces when dining at Futai Building.

Seeing this wealthy lady from the Xu Family taken aback by the ham, Mrs. Chen felt invigorated and said proudly, "Second Sister-in-law Xu, there’s no need to be polite, it’s just ham after all..."

Cough!

Gu Jinli coughed, interrupting Mrs. Chen just in time.

What are you trying to do? Getting carried away?

I’m relying on hams to earn big money. If you dare claim they’re worthless, just a piece of pig leg, I won’t let it go!

Mrs. Chen, frightened, quickly shut her mouth. She still wanted to open a shop in the prefecture, so she couldn’t afford to offend Xiao Yu now.

Mrs. Cui said, "Second Mrs. Xu, your family gifted us with two large carts of generous gifts. We’re just giving you a ham; it’s nothing. Please accept it."

Upon hearing this, Ms. Lu no longer hesitated, accepted the ham, bid farewell to the Gu Family People, and got on the mule cart to leave.

The mule cart had just moved a few meters when she couldn’t resist lifting the curtain to glance back at Mrs. Chen, only to see her already turning around and eagerly entering Gu Jinli’s house. She sighed, lowered the curtain, and murmured, "Seems she didn’t take a liking to Linglong at all. If she was interested, she would’ve understood considering all I said."

Yesterday at the shop, Mrs. Chen had enthusiastically held Xu Ling’s hand and lavishly praised Gu Dexing. The implication was obvious—she had her eye on Xu Ling and wanted to match him with Gu Dexing.

Nanny Lu consoled, "Second Madam, don’t worry. Mrs. Chen is quite carelessly straightforward, but Gu Family’s Third Aunt is old and wise, and Second Miss Gu is clever too. They’ve surely understood and will clarify things to Mrs. Chen. There’s no need to fret. Whether they truly have no interest, you’ll find out in a few days."

Ms. Lu sighed, "That’s all we can do."

Ms. Lu and Nanny Lu weren’t mistaken; Mrs. Chen indeed had no interest in Xu Zhong.

Seeing Gu Dexing’s promising future, she wanted to find him a good wife, focusing on legitimate daughters of wealthy families, dismissing second branch daughters as a lower tier, and since they received a smaller inheritance, she paid no mind to Ms. Lu’s words.

Right now, she was in the flower hall of Gu Jinli’s house, sorting through the generous gifts from the Xu family, all the while saying nobly, "I always feel bad making Sister-in-law Dashan distribute these things; this time I’ll do it."

Her eyes gleamed with greed as she stared at the gifts, marvelling at how foolishly generous the Xu family was to send so many gifts. Selling these could fetch a few hundred taels of silver, easily!

Smack smack! Third Grandma angrily slapped Mrs. Chen’s hand clutching the gifts, rebuking, "You oblivious fool, only caring about these trinkets and not understanding a word Ms. Lu said. If you act like this, it’s a wonder if Brother Xing can ever find a wife!"

Mrs. Chen rubbed her stinging hand, protesting, "Third Aunt, you’re really wronging me. To prevent Brother Xing from being a lifelong bachelor, I’ve been tirelessly looking for a good wife for him from Tianfu County to the prefecture. How can you say I’m not attentive?"

Feeling aggrieved, Mrs. Chen truly thought she treated Gu Dexing well. With him getting older and his future marriage and children in mind, she hadn’t dared to cut into the first branch’s dividends, wanting to save a bit of silver for his wife and kids.

Third Grandma, infuriated, prodded her forehead, "You fool, Ms. Lu said so much today and even gave you two lotus silk flowers made by Xu Zhong, clearly hinting at wanting to match Xu Zhong to Brother Xing."

But this fool didn’t understand a thing. She hurried back inside to allocate gifts within a few meters of seeing her off, completely overlooking them.

"What?" Mrs. Chen was stunned, "Third Aunt, you mean Ms. Lu has her eye on Brother Xing and was hinting me to find a matchmaker to approach the Xu family?"

Third Grandma nodded, "That’s right, Ms. Lu’s exactly hinting at that. Otherwise, the one who offends you is Xu Ling. Why would she give you flowers made by Xu Zhong? Xu Zhong is already of age, and the things that an accomplished young lady makes are deliberate. Even if she did offer you silk flowers, they’d be camellias or osmanthus, not lotus."

Such flowers are for elders, symbolizing elegance and auspiciousness. Lotuses, like mandarin ducks, are given to those seeking to form matrimonial bonds.

Mrs. Chen finally understood and became haughty, chuckling with pride, "Haha, who would’ve thought that a rich family’s young lady would take a liking to Brother Xing? Since they were the first to show interest, we shouldn’t seem too eager and agree immediately; that would be too degrading."

Thud thud thud!

Third Grandma angrily pounded Mrs. Chen’s back, cursing, "A rich family’s young lady finally takes a liking to Brother Xing, and you dare put on airs. Are you crazy?"

She continued, "Xu Zhong is excellent. Since Ms. Lu is hinting so directly, you and your husband should talk to Da Fu today about this matter. If he agrees, prepare generous gifts and find a matchmaker to make a formal proposal."

But Mrs. Chen disdainfully said, "Third Aunt, that Xu Zhong is a second branch girl, while Brother Xing is a legitimate grandson from the first branch. His bride should be a legitimate daughter from the first house. The second branch, having split off as a side branch, has decreased status, and their inheritance is lesser."

"She’s not Xu Zhao Ming’s own sister, and her little brother is only ten. Whether he can gain official rank is uncertain, offering no help in Brother Xing’s career."

"Moreover, that name Xu Zhong—would Brother Xing have to call her ’Zhong’er’ after marriage? Using that name is hardly endearing; it kills any atmosphere."

Mrs. Chen even found Xu Zhong’s name objectionable.

Third Grandma was driven to exasperation, pointing at Mrs. Chen and trembling with anger, "Aren’t you unashamed? Wanting every possible advantage. Xu family’s Brother Ming is Xu Zhong’s cousin and gets along well with Brother An and Brother Xing. You think he wouldn’t support Brother Xing?"