Grandmother Jia acted as if she’d heard nothing and seen nothing of Old Lady Lin’s expression. She rushed over and forcibly took Daiyu into her arms, crying louder and louder.

Only then did Wang Xifeng find an opportunity to speak: “Old Ancestress, please stop crying—Sister Daiyu can barely breathe.”

“Today is the first time so many sisters have come to visit. Old Ancestress, please dry your tears. We haven’t even properly greeted each other yet.”

After much persuasion, Grandmother Jia finally stopped crying and made introductions for everyone.

“Daiyu, this is your eldest uncle and eldest aunt, this is your second uncle and second aunt, this is your Second Cousin Lian and his wife Second Sister-in-law Lian, this is your late eldest cousin Zhu’s wife, Sister-in-law Zhu, and Brother Lan. These are your several sisters—Ying Chun, Tan Chun, Xi Chun, and this one.”

Grandmother Jia pulled Baoyu over: “This is your second uncle’s Baoyu, a year older than you in nominal age.”

Naturally it wasn’t only Daiyu who needed to greet them—Ying Yu and the others all had to address them as uncle and aunt.

Jia She and Jia Zheng had long prepared meeting gifts for everyone except Chen Yu.

He’d come before and already received his gift.

All the others were meeting for the first time.

Jia She was fine—he gave things openly and straightforwardly.

Jia Zheng was silent. When Lin Ruhai came last time, he’d been silent. Now that they’d come, he was still silent.

He didn’t even look directly at Lin Ruhai.

He knew what the relationship between the two families actually was now. His sense of shame prevented him from being as adaptable as his mother.

But he also couldn’t bring himself to criticize his mother. He could only act as if he knew nothing. It was just that his state of mind was different—he wished he could escape this occasion, let alone show enthusiasm.

Then came the Jia family’s many juniors greeting the old lady and others. The old lady gave meeting gifts to each one.

Apart from the dream world, among these Jia family juniors, she’d only met Jia Zhu and Jia Lian. Now Jia Zhu was gone.

She gave Li Wan and Wang Xifeng an extra look.

In the old lady’s view, Jia Lian wasn’t good either—he’d pull anything dirty or foul into bed, and even during national and family mourning had secretly taken a second wife. But comparing him to these other Jia family juniors, he was rare in still being able to accomplish things.

No good at studying or martial arts, but at least he could manage the Jia family’s internal affairs properly.

Wang Xifeng was beautiful with a bold personality, but because of the Wang family teaching that “a woman’s lack of talent is her virtue,” she didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth, didn’t know what consequences her actions would bring, had no calculations in her heart.

Moreover, this one was confused—close to her aunt, yet didn’t realize that no matter how much she looked down on her stepmother mother-in-law, that was still her proper mother-in-law.

The Jia family’s eldest master was her true father-in-law.

They were the ones who stood together.

However, she and Jia Lian could be considered a heaven-made match—both husband and wife were recklessly bold.

As for Li Wan… this was a pitiable person.

She didn’t want Jia Zhu’s death either, yet some believed she brought inauspicious misfortune to her husband.

Having given birth to the second branch’s eldest son and grandson, she had no presence whatsoever.

Poor child Jia Lan—born without attention, living like an invisible person, especially compared to his second uncle.

It was fortunate Li Wan could endure.

Then there were the three sister flowers. Though still young now, their outstanding features were already apparent.

These three, like her own Daiyu, were all pitiable children.

Pity they were born as daughters and could only drift along here.

Finally there was Jia Baoyu.

The old lady impassively looked at his full-moon face. He was still young, looking like an innocent child who hadn’t yet done those later things, but seeing him made the old lady’s stomach turn.

Watching Jia Baoyu’s eyes happily shift back and forth among her three granddaughters made her even more disgusted.

Then she saw him sidle up to Daiyu: “I feel I’ve seen this sister before.”

Hearing this opening, the old lady’s heart rose to her throat.

Hearing these words, Yun Shuyao also perked up.

These words were truly familiar. Even if she hadn’t read Dream of the Red Chamber, she knew this line, because it had become a meme.

When Jia Baoyu said this, Daiyu looked over with those eyes still misty with tears, also feeling an indescribable sensation in her heart, as if somewhat familiar—had they met before?

Logically they shouldn’t have met.

The old lady remained composed. “Listen to this childish talk. Daiyu resembles her mother, who was your own aunt. Naturally you’d find her familiar.”

Indeed, this made sense.

Jia Baoyu’s interest didn’t diminish. Though both sisters were also beautiful, he was more interested in Sister Daiyu. He asked again: “Has sister studied?”

Daiyu glanced at him: “I’ve already started school.”

Jia Baoyu: “What are the two characters of sister’s honored name?”

Daiyu stated her name. Jia Baoyu was about to ask more when the old lady took over: “Baoyu, what’s the origin of your name?”

Jia Baoyu paused, then took out the jade from around his neck: “It’s all because of this.” He asked Daiyu: “Do you also have jade?”

Daiyu had heard the story from grandmother. She shook her head. Before she could speak, the old lady laughed again with a double meaning: “This jade of yours is truly a rare object. Who is born with such a large piece of jade? Throughout all ages, how many sages didn’t have this good fortune?”

If everyone hadn’t taken it seriously, and if the Jia family hadn’t declined, they would have been dealt with by the Emperor long ago.

Lin Ruhai listened in silence.

This was something he’d never understood from the start.

Why give the child such an origin story?

Even if it were true, they should be covering it up.

Forget Baoyu having any great future—being able to live as a wealthy man for life would already be the imperial family’s mercy.

Yet the Jia family seemed completely unaware. Even now hearing Old Lady Lin’s words, they didn’t understand.

The old lady sneered coldly. These confused Jia family people—she’d been overthinking.

She looked disappointedly at Shi Shi and Jia Zheng. Even these two didn’t see anything wrong.

However, this was also a fortunate mistake.

Thinking of how Jia Baoyu at his first birthday celebration had grabbed rouge, and as he grew older increasingly showed his true nature—

Yet the family still indulged him.

What promise could this have?

Neither Grand Lady Xing nor Second Lady Wang had particularly sharp tongues. Throughout this banquet, aside from blandly joining in with a few remarks, they could only express concern for Ying Yu and Luo Yu to show their presence.

Old Lady Lin had the old ancestress to deal with. Properly speaking, they should be hosting Jia Min, but Jia Min had passed away.

Lin Ruhai and Chen Yu had men to host them. Ying Yu and Luo Yu were concubine-born, not worth their excessive enthusiasm either. With Li Wan and several girls present, they eventually just stopped talking.

This banquet was somewhat strange—both Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng concluded this.

When Wang Xifeng saw the Lin family had brought all three concubines, she’d been momentarily stunned, then hurriedly had someone add another table and sent for Second Uncle’s Concubine Zhou and Concubine Zhao to accompany the guests.

Though Concubine Zhou was rather taciturn and Concubine Zhao’s temperament rather bold, these were the only two presentable concubines.

Calling out those seductive ones from the eldest master’s courtyard would bring shame to the Jia family.

Besides this, there were the barbed exchanges between Old Lady Lin and their old ancestress.

Neither of them was stupid.

Some hadn’t heard it, like the eldest master and grand lady—they were completely unaware anything was wrong, laughing warmly.

But for those who noticed, it made them quite uncomfortable.

What exactly had happened?

Moreover, Wang Xifeng’s gaze couldn’t help but look with amazement at these Lin family children, taking up the burden of enlivening the atmosphere.

Needless to say about Daiyu—she was almost like the old ancestress’s own legitimate granddaughter. Once the old ancestress took her in her arms, she was unwilling to let go. These two sisters were also like heavenly immortals.

Wang Xifeng wasn’t deliberately trying to praise them—she knew the old ancestress wouldn’t like hearing it—but it was truly hard not to praise.

Moreover, they still had to participate in the imperial selection. Who knew how far their futures would go?

Such a pity they were concubine-born daughters.

Grandmother Jia could only rely on this grandson’s wife. Both daughters-in-law were wooden—at times like this, not speaking and causing trouble was already a good thing.

Jia Lian also had to enliven the atmosphere at the men’s table.

He had to expose his own shortcomings, revealing his shallow learning, especially when compared to his younger cousin Chen Yu.

He noticed the master’s gaze upon him, his face full of bitterness. Once the banquet ended, he’d certainly get a scolding.

After one banquet, Wang Xifeng was so exhausted she couldn’t move a finger, leaning on the couch while Ping’er massaged her.

Wang Xifeng was quite intelligent.

Though the old ancestress hadn’t shown it, she still noticed her unhappiness.

Between her and Old Lady Lin, it was Old Lady Lin who had the upper hand.

This banquet was meant to welcome the Lin family and draw the two families closer, entrusted to her hands. She’d used every trick she knew, and the result… really pointless.

Wang Xifeng felt rather dispirited. When Jia Lian returned, he also sat down heavily. Husband and wife coincidentally leaned on the couch to rest.

After a good while, Jia Lian finally spoke: “After uncle’s family left, I was called by the master for a scolding.”

Scolding him for being unlearned, for wasting time. The Lin family cousin was younger than him, yet that one could produce polished phrases effortlessly.

If not for lacking a handy object at hand, he might well have had things thrown at his face.

Wang Xifeng: “People of our status needn’t work so hard competing with those people. Having it is icing on the cake; without it, spending some silver to buy a position is fine.”

Jia Lian sighed repeatedly. “Though that’s the principle, it’s still different.”

After returning, Jia Zheng also sighed for quite a while. In terms of scholarly honors, he’d only passed the xiucai level and received an official position through his father’s memorial.

Now he was just warming a cold bench.

While his brother-in-law was a top-three jinshi graduate, a third-rank official.

One heaven, one earth.

The only area where he’d beaten him was in sons—he had three sons, two legitimate.

Only pity that the promising one was gone. As for the younger one, thinking of Baoyu’s performance, his expression became solemn.

He also had talent, just too lazy.

He needed to supervise him more.

Thinking this, he went to Baoyu’s quarters.

Just in time to see Baoyu pestering a maid to taste the rouge on her mouth.

Jia Zheng instantly flew into a rage: “You scoundrel!”

Hearing his voice, Jia Baoyu’s legs went weak: “Master…”

Turning around, he was met with his father’s disciplinary rod.

Grandmother Jia was in her own courtyard with a stern face. She hadn’t lost her temper, yet it was more frightening than losing it. The surrounding maids and servants all held their breath, afraid of adding fuel to the old ancestress’s fire.

At this moment, a maid ran in frantically: “This is terrible! Second Master Bao has been beaten by the master. Old Ancestress, please go quickly and see.”

Grandmother Jia stood up abruptly. Because she rose too hastily, she even swayed: “Quick, help me over there…”