Old Master Song had urgent matters to attend to, so he couldn’t join everyone for the meal.

Song Minglan had originally wanted to make small talk and bring up her cousin Sheng Xuan but was frightened into silence by the old master’s “perfect match” comment.

While the Song family was known for their pride, they didn’t lack perceptiveness.

The old master was very satisfied with Liu Fen, regardless of whether it was because of Tang Hongen. Who would dare to oppose the old master’s views?

What was more aggravating was that Liu Fen, this country woman who had lucked into marrying Tang Hongen, acted quite proudly herself.

Instead of taking the opportunity to ease tensions or skillfully break the awkwardness, she acted smug and maintained an indifferent attitude toward the Song family members, only speaking with Song Nanzhen and her son.

Second Sister-in-law Song and others were quite annoyed.

How could a woman like this compare to Sheng Xuan?

If Sheng Xuan were here today, she would surely have taken care of everyone’s feelings, livened up the atmosphere, and ensured no one felt neglected.

But with the old master’s attitude clear, and Tang Hongen occasionally serving dishes to Liu Fen and Xia Xiaolan at the table, the Song family could only suppress their displeasure.

After lunch, Tang Hongen bid farewell.

Song Nanzhen and Huo Chenzhou naturally accompanied them to the door, with Song Nanzhen holding Liu Fen’s hand reluctantly:

“I’ve been staying in the capital recently. You must make plans with me when you’re free. The younger generation has their own lives, we should spend more time together.”

With Song Nanzhen showing such goodwill, Liu Fen couldn’t refuse and had to agree.

After their car left Old Master Song’s recuperation place, Xia Xiaolan asked curiously:

“Are you going to meet with her?”

Liu Fen felt embarrassed, “Sister Song was too enthusiastic, but I’m busy with the store every day, I might not have time.”

Tang Hongen couldn’t help laughing: “Ah Fen, it’s hard to learn to be cunning, but so easy to be bad!”

Xia Xiaolan burst out laughing too.

Liu Fen couldn’t understand what was happening.

This honest person’s sincerity had truly won Xia Xiaolan’s respect.

Tang Hongen had known Song Nanzhen for many years and naturally knew what kind of person she was.

How outstanding was Ji Ya back then?

To be honest, when Ji Ya was young, she wasn’t so obstinate and was called the “Zhenzhu of the Ji Family” – how could she have been completely worthless? But Song Nanzhen just didn’t like Ji Ya, simply because young women tend to be competitive with each other, nothing serious.

Song Nanzhen had improved now, after all, she had reached that age.

But her habit of judging people based on their usefulness hadn’t changed.

Her desire to associate with Ah Fen naturally had its reasons – there’s no free lunch. Did she think Ah Fen was naive and easy to deceive?

Yet Ah Fen was an honest person who had her judgment about who treated her well and who had ulterior motives.

Tang Hongen wanted to laugh thinking about this:

“It’s fine, I don’t mean anything by it. If Song Nanzhen invites you and you’re bored, you can accept. If you don’t want to deal with her, just say you’re busy with business. These are trivial matters.”

The most important thing was that Liu Fen felt comfortable – this was something Tang Hongen had emphasized from before marriage until now.

While this family of three had left, the Song family members remaining at the villa each had their displeasure.

Song Minglan caught Huo Chenzhou who was trying to slip away:

“Cousin, you’re so disloyal. You knew Grandfather’s attitude, why didn’t you warn me earlier?”

Huo Chenzhou was quite exasperated: “Minglan, you were so indignant on behalf of your cousin Sheng Xuan that you didn’t listen to a word I said, and now you’re blaming me?”

Song Minglan’s cheeks reddened: “Well, I didn’t expect Grandfather to value those two so much, and besides, I didn’t say anything extreme.”

Indeed, she hadn’t said anything extreme.

She simply hadn’t spoken much at all, deliberately neglecting Xia Xiaolan and her mother.

Why did the old master value them so much?

Huo Chenzhou felt that if Liu Fen scored 10 points in Grandfather’s impression, at least 6 points were thanks to Xia Xiaolan’s contribution.

So what was the use of the Song family members fixating on Liu Fen? They never thought about humbling themselves to understand why Tang Hongen chose to marry Liu Fen.

If Tang Hongen were only after beauty, wouldn’t it have been better to marry Sheng Xuan? She was a great beauty, and younger than Liu Fen.

But marrying Sheng Xuan would mean getting entangled with Second Aunt’s family’s endless problems – too much trouble!

Instead, Liu Fen, her elder brother Liu Yong was successful, and her daughter Xia Xiaolan was quite impressive… Huo Chenzhou couldn’t help sighing:

“Minglan, you’ve even misidentified your opponent. Why do you care about these family matters at a young age? Who marries who doesn’t concern you? You should focus on yourself.”

Misidentified her opponent?

That meant she shouldn’t focus on Liu Fen, but rather on the baggage that came with Liu Fen marrying Tang Hongen – Xia Xiaolan.

Her cousin had mentioned Xia Xiaolan once, saying she was doing business in Pengcheng.

Song Minglan hadn’t thought much of a private business owner.

Huo Chenzhou saw through her thoughts and inwardly sneered. While Song Minglan was busy trying to stand up for Sheng Xuan, Sheng Xuan herself wasn’t being straightforward, speaking evasively and preventing Minglan and Second Aunt from making the correct judgment, overlooking Xia Xiaolan’s existence.

“If you want to know something, go ask your dear cousin.”

After saying this, Huo Chenzhou left, leaving Song Minglan stamping her foot in frustration.

Even her father had agreed to matchmake between her cousin and Tang Hongen, hoping to draw Tang Hongen to the Second Branch’s side as a future powerful ally.

Who knew Tang Hongen would be so slippery, acting beyond everyone’s expectations?

What should they do now?

Song Minglan wasn’t foolish. Everyone gave her face, calling her “Third Miss Song,” not because of her father, but because of her grandfather.

But her grandfather was already over 70 years old. Though the old master was in good health and might live another 10 years… he couldn’t hold onto power until the day he died.

Song Minglan began to worry needlessly.

Learn from Aunt Song Nanzhen and Cousin Huo Chenzhou, lower her head to curry favor with a “family servant”?

Song Minglan couldn’t do it herself, let alone ask her father to do so!

…

While young Third Miss Song was worrying about her future.

The family of three returned to Shichahai, and Xia Xiaolan immediately found someone to frame the “Perfect Match” calligraphy.

The framer couldn’t believe this level of artistry, but Xia Xiaolan waited nearby, willing to pay extra for the fastest service. After two hours, she finally headed home.

Just as she arrived home, she heard Liu Fen speaking, “Zhou Cheng’s mother just called looking for you. She said Zhou Yi’s wedding date has been set for the day after tomorrow.”

Xia Xiaolan clicked her tongue, “So rushed?”

“They said it was the Yuan family’s idea. They’ve prepared the wedding supplies according to the Zhou family’s wishes, and now they just want Zhou Yi to marry quickly, worried that her belly will show too much.”

Hmph, now they’re putting on this pretense, as if Yuan Han wasn’t the one who made Zhou Yi’s pregnancy public knowledge!

However, the Yuan family’s quick preparations showed that the calligraphy, ancient books, and seals that Yuan Han had sold must have been worth quite a bit.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help muttering, “With the Yuan family moving so quickly after Sister Zhou Yi marries Yuan Han, she probably won’t have any chance to pursue her career. Uncle Zhou’s efforts were wasted.”