Chapter 268: Chapter 268

Old Mrs. Chai’s feelings for the Eldest Young Master Chai had become indifferent.

When they met to talk, most of the time it was perfunctory.

But on this day, Old Mrs. Chai was unusually enthusiastic.

As soon as the Eldest Young Master Chai stepped into the main house of the inner courtyard, Old Mrs. Chai immediately called him, "You’re here at just the right time today, I was just about to send someone to find you. Fortunately, you came."

The Eldest Young Master Chai smiled slightly, called out "Grandmother," and then sat on the chair beside Old Mrs. Chai to drink tea.

After finishing his tea and exchanging a few polite words, he prepared to leave, just like every time.

However, today Old Mrs. Chai spoke a lot more and didn’t let him leave, "Tomorrow I will go to the old residence to send E Ying off."

He looked up at her, his gaze puzzled.

"Since E Ying is unwilling to come home, I will go to see her. A maiden getting married without her family elders present will cause gossip in the village," Old Mrs. Chai sighed.

The Eldest Young Master Chai glanced at her and said, "Aren’t I going? Besides, her eldest sister-in-law and I will be there to send her off. I’ve also invited two of Uncle Chai’s elders to join. With so many people, what can the villagers possibly gossip about?"

But Old Mrs. Chai insisted, "You and Yunniang are young, and the two elders of the Chai family you invited are distant relatives. If it were something else, this arrangement wouldn’t matter much. But this is a wedding. If we don’t handle it properly, the groom’s family might look down on us."

The Eldest Young Master Chai was indifferent, "The Li Family has no relatives, just their small family."

Old Mrs. Chai expressed her dissatisfaction, "What about the villagers? I heard the village chief will officiate the wedding, won’t the villagers gossip?"

The Eldest Young Master Chai couldn’t argue against Old Mrs. Chai and replied perfunctorily, "You may go, but no one else needs to. E Ying will be unhappy; on such an auspicious day, I don’t want to cause trouble."

Old Mrs. Chai suppressed her displeasure, "Alright, I understand. You can go back to your work."

The Eldest Young Master Chai put down the teacup and got up to leave.

The old nanny standing by got up to see him out.

Outside the residence gate, the nanny looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then pulled the Eldest Young Master Chai aside and spoke softly, "Young Master, I have a few words to say, please don’t leave just yet."

She was an old servant by Old Mrs. Chai’s side.

The Eldest Young Master Chai nodded to her, "Please speak, nanny."

The nanny sighed and said, "Don’t blame Old Mrs. Chai for being partial to Second Master. Forcing Second Miss to marry into the Luo Family was also out of necessity. The marriage between the two families was arranged many years ago. If we suddenly say the engagement is off, it would be bad for all the Chai family daughters."

The Eldest Young Master Chai sneered, "The matter is over, why bring it up again? If you don’t want to upset E Ying, don’t mention the Luo Family breaking the engagement; it’s an insult to her."

The nanny paused, nodded, "Understood."

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first; I still have to arrange matters for E Ying," the Eldest Young Master Chai turned and was about to leave again.

"Wait, Young Master." The nanny pulled him again.

The Eldest Young Master Chai frowned, "Is there anything else, nanny?"

"Young Master, Old Mrs. Chai being angry with Third Miss isn’t because she dislikes her. It’s just... Third Miss has such a stubborn temperament. If she comes back and apologizes to Old Mrs. Chai, she’ll forgive her."

"What did E Ying do wrong? Why should she apologize?" the Eldest Young Master Chai sneered, "She fell ill and was despised by the Luo Family, which is already pitiful enough, yet nobody cares about her, and instead they blame her for not letting go of Mr. Luo, not even offering a word of comfort." Get full chapters from novel_fіre.net

"Second Sister stole her marriage. When she vented her frustration, they said she didn’t care about the family’s reputation. So, because she’s upset, she can’t even utter a word of complaint? She didn’t even complain to outsiders!"

"Now that Second Sister has married into the Luo Family and E Ying is getting married, let’s not bring up past matters."

The Eldest Young Master Chai, having said that, flicked his sleeves and rode off.

The nanny, having been reprimanded, returned to the residence with a sullen face.

Inside Old Mrs. Chai’s room in the main house, there sat Miss Chai, Second Miss Chai, and the second wife of the Second Master Chai.

This second wife was a distant maternal aunt to Miss Chai and Second Miss Chai.

The second wife of the Second Master Chai wasn’t much older than her two stepdaughters and was their relative, so their relationship was passable.

As a result, Miss Chai Eying naturally became excluded from the family.

No matter what she did, she couldn’t integrate into the family of the second house.

The nanny approached with a smile and said, "Second Madam, Miss Chai, and Second Miss Chai have all arrived?"

The three nodded to her.

Old Mrs. Chai looked at her and asked, "Did you speak with Dalang?"

The nanny frowned, "I didn’t finish speaking; the Young Master left. He didn’t want to hear me out."

"Did you mention having E Ying apologize to her second father?" Old Mrs. Chai asked again.

The nanny shook her head, "I didn’t have time to mention Second Master’s matter. The Young Master left, very upset, telling me not to bring up past matters as Third Miss doesn’t like to hear them."

Old Mrs. Chai’s face turned cold, "These siblings are both stubborn. If they would just apologize to their second father, tomorrow’s wedding could proceed harmoniously, yet they insist on making a fuss."

Second Madam Chai said, "Old Madam, let them be. Dalang is not a child; he should be able to handle such a small matter well."

"Exactly, Grandma, leave them be," Second Miss Chai also advised.

"The groom comes from a poor family escaping from the Northern Land, why should Father attend the wedding? Does their family qualify to be on equal footing with Father?" Miss Chai laughed.

"Exactly, what a poor family. Only Third Sister, who can’t get married, is in a rush to wed," Second Miss Chai mocked.

"I heard his family’s bride just ran away. How poor must they be for the original wife to flee?" Second Madam Chai blinked with curiosity.

Her expression was curious, yet her eyes gleamed with ridicule.

"How poor? Eating wild vegetables daily, the whole family sharing one bed!" Second Miss Chai covered her mouth with a round fan, laughing, "That family has two more unmarried brothers. Are they looking for a shared wife?"

Miss Chai also chuckled, "Perhaps. I heard that in very poor places, that’s how they marry; three brothers sharing one wife."

"It can’t be that poor, right? E Ying has a thousand taels of dowry; she might help their brothers get wives too?" Second Madam Chai speculated, blinking at her stepdaughters.

"Using her dowry to help her brother-in-law marry, just what’s in E Ying’s head?" Second Miss Chai sneered.

Old Mrs. Chai listened to their chatter and grew increasingly frustrated.

"Tomorrow, you will all accompany me to the old residence. If the Li Family doesn’t provide a dowry, they won’t get a penny of E Ying’s dowry. The Chai Family’s money will certainly not support the groom’s family!" Old Mrs. Chai said with a stern face.

The Chai sisters and Second Madam Chai were eager to see Chai Eying embarrassed but had no opportunity since the Eldest Young Master wouldn’t let them go to the old residence. However, with Old Mrs. Chai, they could attend.

The Young Master wouldn’t dare turn away his grandmother.

Chai Eying’s humiliation would be enough to entertain them for a year.

"Yes, Old Madam," the three replied in unison, their eyes barely concealing their excitement.

The Eldest Young Master Chai rode back to the village’s old residence.

This was the house left by his biological parents, where they could live peacefully.

The weeds around the house had been cleared a day earlier, and red lanterns hung from the eaves, creating a festive atmosphere.

The village children ran about, playing and laughing.

A canopy had been erected on the open ground in front of the house, ready for the banquet.

While village family courtyards were small, and his family’s old house was no exception, to accommodate more than ten tables for the feast, an outdoor canopy had to be set up.

The weather had been clear for days, with a refreshing breeze, making the canopy under the shade of the trees the perfect spot for a feast.

Beneath the canopy, people were busy setting up tables and chairs.

The Eldest Young Master Chai dismounted with a smile and approached, "Uncle Liu, thank you for your hard work."

Arranging tables and chairs were Liu Laoda and his second and third daughters.

Upon hearing about Chai Eying’s marriage and banquet, Liu Laoda immediately came to help.

Liu Laoda laughed, "The bride is marrying into the Li family; the Li family is like family to us. We’re all familiar here, so there’s no need for formalities, Eldest Young Master Chai."

Gui, the old servant of the house, came with a smile, "Young Master, the two elders from the clan are here and waiting for you."

Liu Laoda waved cheerfully, "Young Master, go inside. These little tasks of setting up tables and chairs, my daughters can handle."

"Thank you, Uncle Liu," the Eldest Young Master Chai bowed.

"You’re too polite," Liu Laoda waved with a smile.

Granny Zhou, the nanny in the house, came out carrying a small basket adorned with a red flower. She scattered some candies on the table, calling to the nearby playful children, "Come, come, candy here."

"Oh, candies! Come see the bride!" The children giggled and rushed over.