Xiang Lan froze, pretending not to hear, and changed the subject to chat with Second Sister-in-law Xia. Third Sister Xia, seeing Xiang Lan ignore her, became anxious and tugged at Xiang Lan’s sleeve, saying, “I said your hairpins and rings are pretty too!”

Xiang Lan nodded and said, “Thank you for the compliment.”

Third Sister Xia said, “So why don’t you give me one?”

Second Sister-in-law Xia slapped Third Sister Xia twice, scolding, “You wretched girl! You’ve completely disgraced us!”

Third Sister Xia immediately became upset and opened her mouth as if about to cry.

Xiang Lan quickly mediated, “It’s fine, it’s fine, Second Sister-in-law Xia, don’t scold her.”

Second Sister-in-law Xia reprimanded Third Sister Xia a few more times before smiling at Xiang Lan, saying, “This wretched girl has no manners, please don’t be angry, sister… Ah, it’s pitiful that at such a young age, she’s never even worn a copper hairpin. You’re well-off, sister, why not just give her one?”

Xiang Lan was dumbfounded, feeling that in her two lifetimes, this was the first time she’d encountered such people. Before she could respond, Second Sister-in-law Xia quickly pulled Third Sister Xia, saying, “She’s going to give you a hairpin, hurry and thank your Sister Chen.”

Third Sister Xia’s distress vanished as she said sweetly, “Thank you, Sister Chen!” Then she stared eagerly at Xiang Lan’s hair again.

Xiang Lan remained silent, only giving a slight cold smile.

Fearing Xiang Lan wouldn’t give anything, Second Sister-in-law Xia hurriedly said, “Sister Chen, you’re kind and wealthy, surely you can pity your little sister who’s never worn nice things? It’s just a hairpin, surely you don’t care about such a small thing?”

Xiang Lan smiled coldly and said, “I never knew there were people in this world who asked for things like this. I’m not a fool to be taken advantage of.” With that, she ignored them and walked to Mother Xue’s side to refill the tea.

Third Sister Xia stared wide-eyed, saying, “What does she mean? I already thanked her, is she giving me the hairpin or not?” She looked ready to make a scene again.

Second Sister-in-law Xia pinched her, saying, “You’ll get what you deserve, now shut up!”

Third Sister Xia, long afraid of Second Sister-in-law Xia’s authority, immediately fell silent.

Meanwhile, Lady Jin had finished praising Xia Yun from head to toe, saying, “Since he was small, fortune tellers told me our Third Son was a celestial star descended to earth, destined to become an official, and that I was blessed with great fortune, destined to enjoy endless glory and wealth. I didn’t believe it at first, but now I see it’s all coming true!”

Mother Xue felt annoyed and used the excuse of having Xiang Lan refill tea to interrupt, saying, “Elder Sister, have some tea before continuing.”

Lady Jin ignored her completely and continued rambling, “The County Magistrate also recognizes our Third Son’s talent. When he heard our son wasn’t married yet, he regretted it so much he wanted to bang his head against the wall, saying if he’d known there was such a talented and handsome Graduate, he wouldn’t have betrothed his daughter so early. But I say, even if the County Magistrate’s daughter wasn’t betrothed, our Third Son might not have been interested! When our Graduate passes the Metropolitan Examination, he’ll be a proper high official, so his wife must be both talented and beautiful, and from a wealthy family. Common folk thinking of marrying into our Xia family? Pah! Not a chance!”

Before she finished speaking, Second Sister-in-law Xia quickly interjected, “Yes, ordinary ones won’t do! Let me be bold and say, I think Sister Lan and our Third Son would make a perfect match, truly made in heaven, don’t you think?”

Mother Xue hurriedly smiled and said, “Our Sister Lan wouldn’t dare aim so high. In the future, finding an honest, well-off farmer would be fine. Young Scholar Xia is surely destined for great things, he should find a one-in-a-hundred bride. I think not just the County Magistrate’s daughter, he might even be able to marry an imperial princess.”

Lady Jin felt thoroughly pleased, covering her mouth and giggling for a while before saying, “Sister Xue speaks truly. Your daughter’s temperament is too difficult; she needs someone patient and good-natured who can tolerate her!”

Mother Xue and Xiang Lan exchanged glances, both turning away as if they hadn’t heard, looking out the window instead.

Second Sister-in-law Xia slightly furrowed her brow and opened her mouth, but said nothing.

The three Xia women stayed for lunch before leaving. As they walked away from the Chen house, Second Sister-in-law Xia said, “Mother, did you notice the Chen family’s meaning today?”

Lady Jin started, asking, “What meaning?”

Second Sister-in-law Xia said, “Their Xiang Lan is almost sixteen, and our Third Son is eighteen or nineteen. What do you think that means?”

Lady Jin immediately frowned and said, “Impossible! Impossible! A toad wanting to eat swan meat – what wishful thinking! That loose-tongued little hussy, so arrogant she’s practically bursting, just like a sharp-tongued fox spirit. I want to slap her!”

Second Sister-in-law Xia laughed and said, “Mother, why are you being so narrow-minded? In my opinion, if the Chen family is willing, we should be eager! The Chen family is so wealthy, even using five-colored gauze for their windows – one piece costs as much as a bundle of fine cloth. Look at their food, clothing, housing, and daily items – everything is two or three levels above ours. Chen Wanquan knows antiques, who knows how many treasures they’ve stored away! The Chen family has no son, and they don’t associate with their previous relatives. Whoever marries Xiang Lan will inherit all this wealth!”

Lady Jin’s heart jumped at the thought of the Chen family’s house and furnishings, but she shook her head again, saying, “Third Son is now a Graduate – what wealthy family’s daughter couldn’t we find? Just the other day, a matchmaker mentioned the pastry shop owner’s daughter!”

Second Sister-in-law Xia continued, “Mother, you don’t know, but Xiang Lan has another advantage. She can paint, and now one painting is worth several dozen taels of silver! Whoever marries her would be getting a hen that lays golden eggs – Mother, you must calculate this properly.”

Lady Jin was shocked: “Several dozen taels of silver? Is that true?”

Second Sister-in-law Xia said, “That’s what everyone says. Though she claims she can’t paint, I’m almost certain it’s her.”

Lady Jin felt both envious and jealous, clicking her tongue: “Oh my, several dozen taels of silver – that’s a fortune! No wonder the Chen family is so wealthy!”

Second Sister-in-law Xia said, “Indeed! Third Son works himself to death at the government office for just three or four taels of silver – how can that compare? These days you’ve been arranging matches for Third Son, but upper-class families think we’re too poor, we look down on lower-class families, and among middle-class families, Third Son either thinks the girl is too fat or too ugly – none suit him. I’ve noticed he’s always hanging around Chen Wanquan, and when I quietly asked about his intentions, he hemmed and hawed, seeming to fancy their daughter.”

Lady Jin frowned and said, “But that girl’s temperament…”

Second Sister-in-law Xia sneered, “Hah, once she’s married in, won’t she have to do whatever her mother-in-law wants? In my opinion, a money-making treasure like her should be treated like a goddess. One painting from her would cover our whole family’s expenses for a year!” She thought to herself, “Looking at the Chen girl’s generosity, giving away such a nice flower so easily – it was only when Third Sister was too aggressive in asking that she turned cold. If we coax her properly in the future, who knows how many good things we might get from her.”

Lady Jin became increasingly interested. She stopped walking and turned back, but Second Sister-in-law Xia quickly grabbed her, saying, “Oh, Mother, where are you going?”

Lady Jin said, “I’m hurrying back to discuss this with Chen Wanquan’s wife.”

Second Sister-in-law Xia sighed and said, “Wait a few days. Mother offended them today – they’d never agree right now.”

Lady Jin glared with raised eyebrows, saying, “If our family agrees, it would be like burning good incense at their ancestral grave – how dare they not agree!” She then complained to Second Sister-in-law Xia, “Why didn’t you tell me about all these advantages of the Chen family earlier?”

Second Sister-in-law Xia rolled her eyes, thinking to herself, “How was I to know you’d get so cocky with a little success and immediately offend them!” But she smiled apologetically and said, “It was my oversight.”

Lady Jin muttered, “I’ll need to inquire more. If her paintings really can earn that much silver, we’ll let Third Son suffer a bit. Later, when we see better options, we can get him several concubines.”

Second Sister-in-law Xia agreed verbally but strongly disagreed in her heart. When they reached their doorway, Lady Jin went in first. Second Sister-in-law Xia looked back and saw Third Sister Xia standing by the water vat in the courtyard, admiring her reflection and posing with the flower. Second Sister-in-law Xia went over and snatched the flower from Third Sister Xia’s head.

Third Sister Xia was startled and tried to grab it back, shouting, “My flower! My flower!”

Second Sister-in-law Xia frowned and glared, hands on her hips, saying, “What do you mean, your flower? Such a nice thing would be wasted on you – I’ll keep it for you!”

Third Sister Xia’s mouth trembled, about to cry, but Second Sister-in-law Xia pinched her face and said, “Cry, go ahead and cry! Dare to make a sound and you’ll see what happens!”

Third Sister Xia had been raised by Second Sister-in-law Xia since childhood and had often been beaten and scolded. Second Sister-in-law Xia was also good at talking and had won Lady Jin’s favor, so when Third Sister Xia complained, Second Sister-in-law Xia always had ways to deal with her afterward. Third Sister Xia was terrified of her and didn’t dare make a scene, only going back to cry alone with her grievances.

Seeing Third Sister Xia obediently go inside, Second Sister-in-law Xia finally sighed in relief. She went to the water vat, put the flower in her hair, admired herself from different angles, and feeling beautiful, hummed a tune as she went back to her room.

That afternoon when Chen Wanquan returned home, Mother Xue told him everything that had happened, frowning as she said, “What kind of chaotic family are they? I think even Second Aunt Lu’s family was less troublesome than the Xia family. If you dare marry Sister Lan into such a family, I’ll hang myself right away!”

Chen Wanquan, being a snob by nature, heard that the Xia family was still struggling financially, which diminished half the benefit of Xia Yun being a Graduate and official. He frowned and said, “I thought Young Scholar Xia was excellent, who knew his family would be like this? Well, if it won’t work, it won’t work. We’ll look for other families.”

For the time being, nothing more happened.

As for Lady Jin, she came to the Chen house again a few days later, this time putting on airs and wearing an extremely bright smile, endlessly praising Xiang Lan’s virtues. Mother Xue just nodded in response, not engaging much in conversation. When Lady Jin came again later, no matter how she called at the door, the Chen family didn’t answer at all. Lady Jin harbored secret resentment, wanting to give up but unable to let go. She discussed with her Second Sister-in-law Xia again, planning to send a familiar matchmaker to sound out their intentions.

Before this plan could be carried out, another matter arose.