Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 126 Asking

Madam Pei nodded, and Hualei took Qingying back to Qihuayuan.

Only Rong Jin and Zhenzhu were left in Songhe Hall. Old Madam Pei took a sip of the teacup, looked at her grandson, and asked Rong Jin, "Jin'er, what happened when we went out to eat today? Why did you let Lei'er pay? Are you so irresponsible?" It could be heard that Old Madam Pei was suppressing her anger.

"No, grandma, it was Sister Hua who rushed to pay." Rong Jin felt a little aggrieved.

"What happened? Tell me. I'm telling you, you don't like her and don't want to marry her, but I'll let you do it. After all, a forced marriage is not sweet. What if I insist on using your grandfather's drunken marriage contract to force the two of you together, and then you become a couple of enemies, which will be bad for both you and Lei'er. So I'll always let you do it.

But don't think that just because you are the eldest son of the Marquis's family, you can do whatever you want and oppress and humiliate them at will. I won't allow you to be such a corrupt person.

Lei'er earns money with difficulty. She goes out early and comes back late every day. At such a young age, she has already taken on the responsibility of a parent. But you took your brothers and sisters to eat at Baxianlou and asked her to pay? One payment is 160 taels.

Do you believe that if your grandfather knew about this, he would break your legs? He hates bullies the most."

"I didn't. How could I be the kind of person who bullies the weak? It was Sister Hua who asked Qingying to pay the money first. I, I asked Butler Pei to give the money to Qingying, but she didn't want it." Rong Jin was anxious, his face flushed.

Madam Pei looked at Rong Jin, who didn't seem to be pretending. She turned her head and looked at Zhenzhu, "Zhenzhu, tell me the whole story."

"Grandma, this really can't be blamed on my eldest brother, it's like this..." Zhenzhu told the whole story from beginning to end. "Grandma, this is what happened, but Qingying left before my cousin said those unpleasant words." Zhenzhu also told the truth and did not deliberately discredit Han Qingge.

"You mean Lei'er asked Qingying to pay the money first before Qingge got into trouble?" Mrs. Pei confirmed.

"Yeah." Pearl nodded.

"But cousin's words are really irritating. You don't know, she is always so self-righteous. She also laughed at sister Hua's shabby clothes and laughed at sister Hua for only being able to sew a button. She said that her parents are healthy and don't need her to make money, and her aunt doesn't want her to suffer. She just needs to learn piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. Grandmother, you said that she has lived in our mansion since she was a child and has never earned a penny, and she still has the nerve to laugh at others. Why doesn't she use her face to polish it?"

"Alas..." Mrs. Pei sighed.

"What's wrong, Grandmother?"

"Nothing. By the way, didn't you just say that you met the kid from the Jiang family outside? How did you feel when you saw him outside? Was there any difference from coming home?"

In front, in the Lotus Garden, Old Madam Jiang from the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion and Jiang Yunqi's mother, Madam Chen, took Jiang Yunqi to meet Old Madam Pei, Madam Han, and Zhenzhu.

But the meeting at that time was arranged like an accidental encounter. Madam Pei, Madam Han and Zhenzhu were sitting in the pavilion, while Madam Jiang from the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion walked past the pavilion with her daughter-in-law and grandson, pretending to meet by chance.

They drank a cup of tea in the pavilion, and after only two cups of tea, the man left. At that time, Jiang Yunqi and Zhenzhu could not even talk to each other, and even looked at each other secretly, just looking at her height, outline, profile and back.

Then if both parties feel that it is okay, the man will ask the official matchmaker to go to the woman's house to ask the girl's opinion? When the betrothal ceremony was held, Jiang Yunqi went with Madam Chen and the matchmaker.

Because the old Marquis of Dingbei and Rong Jin's father were not in the mansion, Rong Jin took a special leave that day and entertained Jiang Yunqi who came to the mansion. Then he pretended to invite Jiang Yunqi to visit the back garden of the mansion, so that Zhenzhu and Jiang Yunqi could meet and have a conversation in the back garden of the mansion.

Originally, Zhenzhu was supposed to be accompanied by a female companion, so she called Hualei. However, Hualei felt that she was in mourning and it was not appropriate for her to be present. In order to avoid the taboo, Hualei returned to Qingyun Lane that day, so Han Qingge accompanied Zhenzhu that day.

Meeting Jiang Yunqi outside today was actually the second time for both Rong Jin and Zhenzhu to meet after their formal engagement.

Speaking of Jiang Yunqi, Zhenzhu blushed, lowered her head, sat aside, and said nothing.

Rong Jin looked at her, a little hesitant. They had only met twice, and today he had only stood there for a cup of tea. Apart from the fact that she looked okay, he could not tell what kind of person she was. He did not dare to say anything, what if he hurt Zhenzhu?

Madam Pei put down the teacup and said, "It's okay. Let's talk about it. The engagement hasn't been made yet. It's the probation period. Is he also choosing us while we are choosing?"

"I think she looks OK, and she looks healthy. She should be pretty good. As for Zhenzhu..." Rong Jin remembered that Jiang Yunqi had been stealing glances at Zhenzhu when he was standing by the carriage. "She should be interested in him, right?" Rong Jin looked at Zhenzhu and said, "She should be interested in the young master of the Jiang family, right?"

"Brother..." Pearl was shy and embarrassed.

Old Madam Pei turned to look at Zhenzhu and asked, "Oh, Zhenzhu, what do you think? Don't be ashamed. If it's good, it's good, and if it's not good, it's not good. You should open your eyes and see clearly. In case it's not good, it's better to regret it now than to regret it after you get married. Choose your partner carefully before getting married, and treat others well after getting married. I don't want you to go back to your parents' home crying." Old Madam Pei was a very open-minded person. She didn't have the idea that the head of the family should have the final say.

"I...I think it's OK." Zhenzhu whispered. Mrs. Pei looked at Zhenzhu and said nothing.

"I think... Sister Hua seems to be quite optimistic about Mr. Jiang." Rong Jin paused, "Grandmother, you can ask her opinion when the time comes."

"Oh? Why do you think so?" Mrs. Pei asked curiously.

"Well, at least that's how I feel..." Rong Jin's ears turned red, and Zhenzhu's face turned even redder. Madam Pei looked at Rong Jin in confusion, then looked at Zhenzhu beside her, and nodded.

"Okay, you all go back and wash up, change your clothes and come back." Madam Pei asked Rong Jin and Zhenzhu to go back to their own courtyard, and she leaned on the small couch. She slowly recalled what Zhenzhu and Rong Jin had just said, and fell into deep thought.

In Changfeng Garden, in Madam Han’s courtyard.

"You said that the little girl Zhenzhu stretched her hand out of the carriage with a handkerchief and waved goodbye to Master Jiang?" Madam Han looked incredulous.

"Well, it was Sister Hua who pushed open the small window and lifted up the curtain. Otherwise, Sister Zhenzhu wouldn't have done such a rude thing." Han Qingge was trying to please Hua Lei.