Chapter 450: Chapter 450

After the better part of an hour, watching the three sisters arrive together, especially her eldest daughter on the far left with her rosy complexion and relaxed, carefree expression, and her son-in-law who eagerly stepped forward to greet them, becoming ever more attentive and thorough, Lady Jiang's expression, which had been somewhat gloomy because of her son, couldn't help but improve considerably.

A touch of genuine smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

After all, no matter what her son was like, he still had the vast family estate and noble title to inherit. Moreover, given the current situation, as long as he behaved a little more honestly and didn't go out causing trouble, things couldn't get too much worse.

Yun was indeed different. In other families, as a daughter-in-law, whose household wasn't filled with her husband's blood relatives? One could say that if the elders above or the man by her pillow had even the slightest flaw, the waves that crashed upon the woman were truly earth-shattering.

People often said it took many years for a daughter-in-law to 'steep' into a mother-in-law, and the single word 'steep' encapsulated all the bitterness within.

Especially when the men in her natal family were both incompetent and indifferent.

Glancing at the Fifth Young Lady who was speaking intimately with the Prince Consort nearby, Lady Jiang couldn't help but feel a surge of relief in her heart.

However, what made Lady Jiang even happier was yet to come.

Meeting the gaze of the young Master Zhou, which was suddenly filled with apprehension and nervousness yet still forced to maintain a calm composure as he rose.

During the banquet, An Ning's smile remained unchanged. Shangguan Huai by her side immediately understood her intent and casually took his A-Ning's hand in his.

He said gently, "I've heard that Academician Fu of the Imperial College is most profound in his scholarship and is rigorous and realistic in his pursuit of learning. If Xing-ge wishes to follow this path, he might benefit from regularly seeking his guidance."

As for whether the other party would pay him any heed, even if he wouldn't have before, after Shangguan Huai said these words, he certainly wouldn't refuse outright.

Of course, the premise was that Zhou Jinxing indeed had some ability, plus a genuinely rigorous attitude towards scholarship.

Otherwise, a scholar of considerable repute had plenty of ways to make an unwelcome visitor know his place and retreat.

As for taking him as a formal master, to be honest, given the aptitude of the Zhou family's eldest nephew, occasional guidance was one thing, but formal apprenticeship would truly be imposing on the man. Such scholars were mostly proud and aloof.

No amount of benefit would necessarily make them willing.

Even so, it was more than enough to fill several people with joy.

As expected, as soon as the words fell, the eyes of Sister-in-law Yang immediately lit up, and even Lady Jiang's eyes couldn't help but fill with an indescribable delight.

Although Zhou Jinxing wasn't the most clever, under the alternating tutelage of the two women over the years, he had developed a fair bit of perceptiveness. The moment the words finished, he immediately stood up and bowed respectfully to express his gratitude to the couple.

How wonderful. Some people were just born winning too much, too much.

Gently and carefully brushing away a stray red plum blossom petal that had accidentally landed on his wife's sleeve, Chen Silang watched this scene, and something stirred in his eyes, especially when he recalled how he had swallowed his pride and struggled to pursue learning in his early years.

Forget about receiving guidance from a figure like Academician Fu; even when visiting scholars in the provincial capital who had just a little bit of renown, one had to be extremely careful, wearing one's best clothes and waiting anxiously in the parlor. The tea would grow cold, be replaced several times, and one might still not get an audience, often returning empty-handed, let alone seeking academic advice.

Even so, the next time, he would still have to lick his wounds, respectfully carrying the seasonal gifts his parents had saved up for a long time to purchase, traveling a thousand miles to present them, not daring to show the slightest disrespect on his face.

There was no other way. Some things were inherently different. Although he had some talent, he wasn't a truly stunning, once-in-a-lifetime genius who left a lasting impression. And with his family background being what it was, if he hadn't been willing to swallow his pride and work diligently, how could he have achieved his current standing?

Henpecked? Living off his wife? Thinking of the seemingly secretive, even condescending, ridicule from certain people on ordinary days, Chen Silang snorted in derision, not caring in the slightest in his heart.

These people born into nests of wealth and privilege, how could they understand the hardships of people like him?

As long as he could climb higher, what did face matter!

Once he truly reached the heights, these things he had cast aside could naturally be regained manifold. Who would still laugh at the path he took to get there?

Wouldn't they be scrambling, kneeling, and licking his boots, fearing they were too late?

Imitating Fifth Brother-in-law, he diligently helped his own wife step into the carriage. Gazing into the distance at the incomparably majestic procession of the Prince Consort and Princess Consort, Chen Silang's resolve grew even firmer.

Seeing the path to high office right before his eyes, to hesitate even for a moment would be a disrespect to the over twenty years he had spent studying diligently by his cold window.

It wasn't until the figures of An Ning and her sisters had completely disappeared that the crowd of Zhou family members at the gate reluctantly withdrew their gazes.

Among them, also following closely, were the couple from the second household.

"Oho, what's this? Feeling envious?"

Returning to their own courtyard, seeing his wife on the other end of the couch who had been counting silver and jewelry for a good while but still hadn't managed to figure it out, Second Master Zhou chuckled and couldn't help but tease in a cheeky tone.

The hand sorting through the silver notes and jewelry paused for a moment. Without even looking at someone, Second Mistress Zhou, née Zhang, immediately snorted with a laugh.

"Envious? What would I be envious of? Regretting that I didn't help cultivate the daughters under you as diligently and exhaustively as Eldest Sister-in-law did?"

Hearing this, Zhang couldn't help but give a light snort of disdain. Without lifting her head, she looked at the chest sent by her natal family brothers a few days ago, which had grown several times larger, and felt not the slightest bit concerned in her heart.

"Just look at the aptitude of your two daughters! Besides, how could there be so many good things in this world!"

Of course, even if there really were, Zhang knew in her heart that she could never bring herself to work as hard and exhaust herself as Eldest Sister-in-law did.

Why torment oneself when life was perfectly fine as it was?

As for her son, she, a merchant's daughter, had already given him such a good background. If he had ability, he could soar. If he didn't, he could flap his own wings. Why should she, as his mother, always have to worry about him?

Countless facts proved that if you wanted to worry, there was a lifetime of worries that would never end. If you didn't worry, at least these years she had been happy!

At the same time, in the main residence.

Watching the departing figure of her grandson, and thinking of the Princess Consort's attitude earlier, after a moment of silence, Lady Jiang immediately instructed, "The Master is gravely ill. Naturally, his medicine should be increased a little more." She paused slightly at the end, then added, "And as for Eldest Young Master, as long as he stays well within the manor from now on, he will have his share of wealth and honor."

Vaguely sensing her mother-in-law's actions, Eldest Sister-in-law Yang, who had already taken over the management of the household, heaved a huge sigh of relief.

How wonderful. She didn't even need to lift a finger anymore.

Gazing delightedly at her son, who was looking more and more scholarly, she sighed inwardly. No matter how flawed this Count's household was, no matter how foolish her man was, having a good mother-in-law and a formidable sister-in-law meant her marriage hadn't been a loss.

It's just that the old master was truly formidable in certain aspects. A clever person like her mother-in-law, plus a not-too-bad her, still hadn't managed to make Xing-ge's mind any sharper.

Recalling the old master's appearance from earlier, Madam Yang felt an increasing sense of regret in her heart.

Really, that old master was also vexing. What should have been passed down wasn't, and what shouldn't have been...