After He Ketian gave away those two paintings, she truly returned to her room to organize her dowry. As for that husband who kept trying to harass her, she completely ignored him—she was still aching all over!
Third Brother Shi, knowing he had gone too far last night and angered his delicate wife, gave up after several failed attempts at harassment and pretended to start organizing tomorrow’s gifts for returning to her parents’ home.
“Wife, what does mother-in-law like?”
“Wife, do you think father-in-law would like this jade pixiu?”
“Wife…”
This shameless clingy behavior was truly overwhelming for He Ketian. Just when He Ketian was being worn down and about to soften, she suddenly heard someone knocking at the door outside.
“Wife, you sit here, I’ll go open the door.”
Third Brother Shi attentively went to answer.
Opening the door, he saw an unfamiliar young lady standing outside.
“May I ask who you’re looking for, miss?” Third Brother Shi asked puzzledly.
The young lady’s eyes flickered as she smiled, “I’m Ketian’s good friend, surname Shen. Is Ketian in?”
When He Ketian saw Third Brother Shi return, she looked at him questioningly.
“Ketian, there’s a young lady outside who says she’s your friend.” Third Brother Shi smiled ingratiatingly.
He Ketian stood up skeptically. She had just gotten married and hadn’t yet returned to her parents’ home—who would be so lacking in propriety as to seek her out at her in-laws’ house? Could this guy be playing some trick to deceive her again?
However, when she went out to look, she couldn’t help but be stunned. It really was her friend…
The visitor was Shen Tongyun.
“Ketian, I hope I’m not disturbing you.” Shen Tongyun smiled somewhat bashfully.
He Ketian was momentarily speechless, silently rolling her eyes in her heart. What should she say?… Are you disturbing me?
She could only smile dryly and invite her to sit in the courtyard.
After sitting down, Shen Tongyun first casually looked around the Shi family courtyard, then turned to the somewhat cold He Ketian and smiled, “Ketian, why do you have that expression? Am I not welcome here?”
“Didn’t you look down on the Shi family? What are you here for?” He Ketian said without courtesy.
Speaking of this, she was still angry. After her engagement to Third Brother Shi was settled, she had happily shared this news with Shen Tongyun, but Shen Tongyun had shown a disapproving expression, saying the Shi family had a bad reputation and the youngest Shi son was good for nothing, basically disparaging the Shi family and Third Brother Shi to nothing. This angered He Ketian so much that she turned around and left, never seeking her out again.
Who would have thought she would come visiting today.
Shen Tongyun smiled somewhat uncomfortably, “I was just worried about you. Now seeing that you’re doing well, I’m relieved.”
She had only learned on the day the Shi family sent betrothal gifts just how wealthy the Shi family really was… Previously, she had truly looked down on the Shi family.
As they were talking, Shi Fa Ke came to deliver tea and snacks, “Miss Shen, Third Sister-in-law, I’ve brought some tea and snacks.”
Third Brother Shi had told her about Shen Tongyun’s visit, asking his sister to help entertain his wife’s friend together—he was truly very considerate.
However, she wasn’t familiar with Shen Tongyun, and there had been some unpleasantness at Jinman Tower before, so Shi Fa Ke didn’t sit down. After greeting them, she put down the tea and snacks and planned to return to her room.
But Shen Tongyun called out to stop her.
“Miss Shi, I offended you last time. For the sake of my friendship with Ketian, please don’t take it to heart.” Shen Tongyun stood up with an apologetic expression, looking sincere, completely different from her arrogant and flamboyant manner last time.
Shi Fa Ke naturally wouldn’t take it to heart, after all, Shen Tongyun hadn’t actually offended her at the time, but rather Zhu Yanyan.
Besides, at that time, she had been helping He Ketian.
So Shi Fa Ke smiled and said very politely, “Miss Shen, you’re being too serious.”
Hearing this, Shen Tongyun showed a relieved expression. She smiled with some shyness, “As long as Miss Shi isn’t angry with me. You’re now the most prominent matchmaker in town.” She smiled flatteringly, then continued with a smile, “My mother wants to ask you to arrange a marriage.”
Nearby, He Ketian frowned slightly, somewhat displeased.
So visiting her was just a pretense, and finding her sister-in-law to arrange a marriage was the real purpose?
This feeling of being used made her unhappy.
“Oh? May I ask for whom Madam Shen is arranging this marriage? And with whom?” Shi Fa Ke didn’t mind these details and simply asked.
Hearing this, Shen Tongyun’s face showed a shy expression, “This matter… it’s really embarrassing for me to speak of it, but since you’re Ketian’s friend, you’re my friend too. I’ll tell you in advance, and later my mother will formally send you an invitation.”
“You might as well speak directly.” He Ketian frowned and interrupted her affected manner rather impolitely.
Yes, in He Ketian’s view, Shen Tongyun’s current expression was pure affectation.
Shen Tongyun’s face stiffened slightly, then she smiled faintly and said with bashful meaning, “My mother wants to arrange a marriage for me. She has taken a fancy to Scholar Lu from Willow Leaf Lane.”
Shi Fa Ke was stunned.
Lu Chi?
Madam Shen had taken a fancy to her former master’s young master for her daughter?
Shi Fa Ke’s expression became somewhat subtle as she looked at Shen Tongyun. If she hadn’t heard that old story at Lu Chi’s place that day, perhaps she would have accepted this commission now… and might even have felt excited that Lu Chi’s marriage had prospects.
But no, even if Lu Chi’s marriage was difficult, she wouldn’t speak for Shen Tongyun.
Not to mention the grudges of the previous generation, just Shen Tongyun’s character alone, she couldn’t approve of.
Shi Fa Ke recalled how Brother Lu had returned angrily that day, saying the betrothal gifts he had Jinman Tower prepare had been tampered with. Not only were inferior goods substituted for good ones, but among them was a pair of gold-inlaid jade bracelets that had actually been made from broken bracelets… Hiding broken bracelets among betrothal gifts was full of malice.
Not to mention, Jinman Tower was originally Lu family property—the Shen family was merely managing it.
Brother Lu had made it very clear at the time that this was the work of the bashful Miss Shen before them.
Truly, one cannot judge by appearances.
As for Madam Shen, who was famous for her virtue, she probably wasn’t innocent either.
The sad expression on Lu’s mother’s face was still vivid in memory. She had deep feelings for that old servant called Qiniang, but clearly Qiniang wasn’t as kind as Lu’s mother thought—she had hurt Lu’s mother’s heart.
Lu Chi was very clear about these matters—how could he possibly marry Shen Tongyun?
What was Madam Shen thinking? Not to mention, Madam Shen’s indenture contract was still with the Lu family… To put it harshly, she was still a household servant of the Lu family.
Shen Tongyun had originally spoken bashfully about her mother taking a fancy to Scholar Lu, but after Shi Fa Ke heard this, she inexplicably started spacing out, leaving her hanging there. She frowned and somewhat displeasedly waved her hand in front of her, “Miss Shi? Miss Shi? What are you daydreaming about?”
Shi Fa Ke came back to her senses, shook her head, and refused, “I’m sorry, I can’t take on this matter.”
She outright refused.
“Why?” Shen Tongyun was stunned, then somewhat nervously stepped forward and grabbed Shi Fa Ke’s hand, “Is it because you’re still angry with me?”
Shi Fa Ke felt uncomfortable and wanted to break free from her grip, but Shen Tongyun held on tightly, so tightly that her hand hurt. Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help but frown and refused again, “That’s not the case, but I really can’t take on this matter.”
“Why?” Shen Tongyun pressed, looking like she wouldn’t give up without an answer.
He Ketian, watching from the side, couldn’t stand it anymore. She stepped forward to pry apart Shen Tongyun’s hand and pulled Shi Fa Ke behind her, saying somewhat angrily, “Ah Ke doesn’t want to take on this matter—you can’t force her to, can you? There are so many matchmakers in Tongluo Town, who couldn’t you ask?”
Shen Tongyun was furious. She didn’t want to humble herself and beg Shi Fa Ke like this either, but her mother had instructed that this matter must be handled by Shi Fa Ke.
“We’re friends! I’m only asking her for help because Ah Ke is your friend and I trust her.” Shen Tongyun said with a disappointed expression, but her words still showed she hadn’t given up.
He Ketian was amused by her anger, “I may be your friend, but Ah Ke isn’t familiar with you. Don’t speak for yourself.”
“He Ketian, don’t go too far! When Shi Fa Ke was helping Zhu Yanyan bully you, I stood on your side. I offended her for your sake, and now you’re turning your back on me?” Shen Tongyun felt like her dignity was being trampled by He Ketian. She said angrily, “Is it because you think I’m no longer the young miss of Jinman Tower and not worthy of your friendship? I knew you were just like those others—looking down on me in your heart while pretending to comfort me! You’re even more disgusting than those who mock me to my face!”
After saying this, she turned and ran away.
Shi Fa Ke and He Ketian looked at each other.
“Simply… unreasonable.” He Ketian said with some exasperation.
Shi Fa Ke felt the same way, becoming even more determined not to match this Miss Shen with Second Brother Lu, no matter how difficult his marriage prospects were!
Better to have none than to settle for poor quality!