Chapter 280: Chapter 280

The two clan elders of the Chai Family, having shed their usual arrogance, smiled from afar as they greeted the Eldest Young Master Chai, "Da Lang, you’ve really had a hard day today."

The Eldest Young Master Chai replied indifferently, "It’s my sister’s wedding, what’s this talk of hard work? Isn’t it only right?"

His words were stinging.

The faces of the two clan elders turned awkwardly embarrassed, rendered speechless by his retort.

At this moment, Uncle Gui, the coachman from the residence, came over and said, "Eldest Young Master, there are some dishes left. How should they be stored? It’s hot weather." ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩

The Eldest Young Master Chai said, "No need to store them, just send them out. Uncle Liu worked hard in the kitchen, so send a bowl of each dish to the Liu Family. Our two neighbor families helped set up the shade tents, which was also laborious, so send two bowls to each of them. If there’s any left over, send a bowl to each household with elderly in the village."

Uncle Gui smiled and said, "Alright."

The two clan elders of the Chai Family were infuriated, glaring with wide eyes; do they not get a share?

According to tradition, the leftover wine and dishes from a feast are usually distributed among the clan members.

"What about... ours?" The Fifth Uncle from the Chai Family huffed angrily.

The Seventh Uncle from the Chai Family also stared discontentedly at the Eldest Young Master Chai.

Now the Eldest Young Master Chai had come to terms with it. No matter how he tried to please the members of the clan, they continued to look down on him and his sister.

For red and white events in other families within the clan, he never failed to send gifts, yet when it came to his sister’s wedding, only two unwilling people came, and they only came to cause trouble.

Clearly, trying to warm cold shoulders with a warm face was futile.

The Eldest Young Master Chai simply decided to ignore the other members of the Chai Family.

"Weren’t the two of you always saying during the feast that you couldn’t eat anymore? In this hot weather, eating too much meat and fish is indeed not good. You’re both advanced in age, and if you get a stomach ache from the rich food, I’ll be blamed." Saying this, the Eldest Young Master Chai clasped his hands in a salute to the two, his expression apologetic.

This made the two old men fume with rage.

One glared, the other huffed his beard.

Yet they couldn’t scold the Eldest Young Master Chai, who was now the brother-in-law of the County Magistrate. They dared not curse him.

The two suppressed their anger, flung their sleeves, and stormed off.

In Chai Eying’s bedroom, her sister-in-law called over the maid, Chuntao, to untie the ropes binding Miss Chai and her maid.

"Alright, E Ying is married off, you two can leave now," she said nonchalantly.

Having been untied, Miss Chai jumped with rage. She sneered and pointed angrily at Chai Eying’s sister-in-law, "Well, you dared to tie me up? And now you’re kicking me out without an apology?"

"What? Do you need me to find a sedan chair to send you off? Oh, you’re not my little sister-in-law, why should I send you off? Off with you, you’re not welcome here, don’t come next time!" Chai Eying’s sister-in-law pushed Miss Chai out of the room.

Chuntao then pushed Miss Chai’s maid out.

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law came from a family that ran a shop, and she had helped with the business when she was a girl, known to be tough and spirited.

Meanwhile, Miss Chai had been pampered since childhood, unable to even handle those weaker than Miss Chai Three. Naturally, she couldn’t match up to Chai Eying’s sister-in-law and was quickly pushed out of the house.

Unyielding, Miss Chai stood at the door shouting, "Well, you tied me up in the room, and now you’re kicking me out without a word! I’ll go tell the old lady! Don’t push it too far!"

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law flicked the creases of her sleeves, coldly laughing, "Tying someone up? Oh dear, Miss Chai, you can speak recklessly, but speak wisely. You’re the old lady’s precious one; how would I dare tie you up? Don’t falsely accuse anyone."

"You did tie me up! My maid can testify, and my wrist still hurts," Miss Chai yelled angrily.

"Whose maid isn’t on their side? My maid can also testify, I didn’t tie you up at all. Chuntao, tell me, did I tie up Miss Chai?" Chai Eying’s sister-in-law glanced at Chuntao.

Chuntao stifled a laugh and shook her head, saying, "No, the Eldest Young Madam wouldn’t tie up Miss Chai. Miss Chai, don’t speak nonsense."

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law sneered, "Miss Chai, the marks you made yourself, you’re blaming on me? Off you go, I don’t want to quarrel with you, I’m busy."

"You... you all..." Miss Chai was at a loss for words against Chai Eying’s sister-in-law, her face flushed with anger. She looked at the villagers who hadn’t left and were watching the drama at the door, loudly saying, "Chai Eying’s sister-in-law tied me up just now, look, I still have marks on my wrists."

The crowd watched her coldly, not responding.

These people had all received dishes from the feast sent by the Eldest Young Master Chai. Having benefited from him, naturally, they’d side with the Eldest Young Master Chai’s family. Why would they bother with Miss Chai?

Besides, Miss Chai’s bullying of Miss Chai Three had long displeased these villagers.

Liu Laoda, who hadn’t gone home yet, sneered, "Miss Chai, you already stole Miss Chai Three’s fiancé, she’s never said a word, just avoided you, moving to a shabby old house in the village, just wanting to quietly marry someone. Why are you still chasing her here to cause a scene? Bullying her because she has no family to support her, isn’t that going too far?"

"Exactly, that’s too much! Even though she’s your former stepmother’s daughter and your close cousin, is it necessary to push her to the brink ? You marry into the Luo Family, she marries into the Li Family, you go your own sunny road, and she walks her own single-log bridge. Wouldn’t it be better if you both stay out of each other’s way and live in peace?"

"Both with the surname Chai, yet the difference is so great?"

"That’s right, bullying others, never seen such arrogance!"

"The Luo family should have married Miss Chai; why did they blindly marry Miss Chai? They’ll surely regret it."

"The Luo family isn’t a good family either. Why should Miss Chai marry them? The family she married into, the Li family, is quite decent. They have a good family reputation, the groom is handsome, and they’re relatives of the County Magistrate. They say dragons pair with dragons, phoenixes with phoenixes, fleas with bedbugs. Miss Chai should just pair with the Luo family; let these two stick together and not cause trouble for others."

Standing at the entrance of the house, there were still about twenty or thirty villagers, each contributing their comments, laughing and scolding around Miss Chai.

Miss Chai, pale with anger, wanted to retort but couldn’t remember who had insulted her just moments ago. As she was baffled, yet another person hurled an insult.

Alone, she couldn’t counter so many mouths. Seeing the situation was not in her favor, her maid quietly advised, "Miss, should we leave?"

Leave! If she stayed any longer, she would have been scolded to shreds.

Miss Chai bit her lip, covered her face with her sleeve, and sprinted forward.

A few dozen steps ahead was her carriage.

As she ran, the maid followed suit.

Their disheveled escape drew laughter from the villagers.

Miss Chai and her maid scrambled into the carriage and, without pause, sped off.

Another burst of laughter ensued from the crowd.

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law smiled and addressed everyone, "Thank you all for your help at today’s feast. If your family ever needs assistance, feel free to ask. We’ll surely help if we can."

Everyone had received liquor, meat, and dishes sent by the Eldest Young Master Chai. For the poor farming families who rarely ate meat, this was a substantial gift, prompting them to say, "Your family is too kind."

After the feast, both inside and outside the house were in a state of disarray.

Firecracker remnants lay all around the yard, tables and benches for drinking were askew, chairs for guests were scattered everywhere in and out of the yard, makeshift sunshades had not yet been taken down, and a pile of bowls was stacked in a large basin.

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law called her maid Chuntao, the cook Granny Zhou, and the coachman Uncle Gui to tidy up.

Neighbors who saw this willingly came to help.

Some helped dismantle the sunshades, others arranged tables and chairs, and some grabbed brooms to sweep the firecracker remnants from the yard entrance down the path.

With many hands at work, it took only half an hour to clean the messy yard.

Chai Eying’s sister-in-law marveled at how distant relatives aren’t as helpful as close neighbors.

A lively wedding procession brought Chai Eying’s bridal sedan chair to the Li Family’s bamboo house.

According to tradition, the Princely Heir carried Chai Eying out of the sedan, past the house gate, past the screen wall, and to the North Courtyard Main House.

Villagers, eager to join in the fun, trailed along with their children.

Everyone chatted and laughed together.

At the steps, the Princely Heir finally set Chai Eying down.

The Li family had invited two elderly auspicious matrons from the village to assist Chai Eying over a fire basin; then, the Princely Heir led her into the main house.

At the head of the main house sat Prince Luling and his wife, dressed in festive attire.

Their new clothes were made by Chai Eying and the embroidery girl, using premium Su Jin fabric.

Having been here for several months, this was the first time the couple was dressed so well, and coupled with the wedding of their new daughter-in-law, smiles blossomed on their faces.

Dressed like lucky children, Guoguo and Jingjing were held by the couple.

Jingjing, unsure of what was happening, clutched a pastry, looking around cluelessly.

Guoguo also held a pastry but did not eat it; instead, she beamed, flashing her little white teeth, looking at the Princely Heir one moment and at Chai Eying the next.

Her spirits seemed lifted, as she playfully swung her little legs.

Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an, along with their siblings, stood neatly in order of age to the left of Prince Luling and his wife.

Like the Prince and his wife, the siblings were also dressed in brand-new silk garments.

These were also gifts from Chai Eying.

The Great Princess, dressing up so splendidly for the first time, smiled elegantly.

Li Lixing, along with Pei Shenyan and Mu Yuanxiu, the trio of young guests, stood to the right of Prince Luling and his wife, with Li Lixing, being of a slightly higher status despite his young age, standing in front of Pei Shenyan.