At this moment, Madam Li once again shattered Yu Tang’s impression of her.

Her expression still carried a hint of arrogance, yet her manner of speaking was mild, her smile warm. Looking at Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang, she said: “These must be your precious treasures! Truly like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with their own excellence. When Madam Tang mentioned you earlier, I thought she was exaggerating, but it turns out my perspective was too limited.”

Chen Shi and Madam Ma were both people who weren’t skilled at socializing. Having never dealt with Madam Li before, they were inevitably somewhat ill at ease. Upon hearing this, they hurriedly spoke modest words like “Not at all, not at all” and “Madam flatters us too much.”

Yet Madam Li acted as if she and Chen Shi and Madam Ma were old friends meeting again. She continued praising Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang for two more sentences, then even produced two jade pendants from her sleeves to give to Yu Tang and Ma Xiuniang as meeting gifts, saying something about not expecting to encounter them here, that this was a small token of her feelings, and asking them not to disdain it.

One doesn’t strike a smiling face. Moreover, Li Yi had been sailing smoothly these past few years and had already become Prefect of Rizhao. Madam Li’s natal family was said to be wealthy merchants from Fujian, so even if she was somewhat spoiled and willful, it was understandable. What’s more, she treated them with courtesy. Chen Shi and Madam Ma immediately felt that Madam Li was actually quite decent as a person. They then instructed their daughters to accept the meeting gifts and agreed to visit and express their thanks when they had the opportunity.

Madam Li smiled and said: “At that time, bring both young ladies along. I only gave birth to two sons, devils incarnate, and have always longed in my heart to have a daughter, but I don’t have such good fortune.” After speaking, she even let out a long sigh.

In the past, Chen Shi’s health had been poor and she rarely went out, so she truly didn’t understand the Li family. Madam Ma was a bit better than Chen Shi. There were only so many households of presented scholars, recommended men, and scholars in the city, and with various weddings, funerals, and celebrations, they would always run into each other. Seeing Madam Li compliment them, she also returned the favor and complimented Madam Li: “We still envy Madam for having such a good son who passed the recommended man examination at such a young age! If that worthless son of ours had half the promise of your esteemed son, I could wake up laughing in the middle of the night.”

Whether in her previous life or this life, Li Duan was always Lin Shi’s pride.

Madam Ma had scratched exactly the right itch.

She couldn’t help but show her satisfaction on her face and began talking endlessly about Li Duan: “Madam Ma flatters me too much! That child, well, at least his studies haven’t caused me worry… He’s been frail and sickly since childhood, I was always afraid he wouldn’t grow up… When he reached the age to marry, it was another headache… Fortunately, the Gu family saw that he was material for study and agreed to this match… I just hope he can marry soon, and that when he sits for the examination next year, he can succeed in the spring palace examination…”

If the thing that made Madam Li most satisfied and proud in this life was her son Li Duan’s scholarly career, then the second thing she was most pleased with was helping Li Duan secure a marriage proposal to the eldest legitimate daughter of the second branch of the Gu family from Hangzhou Prefecture.

The four great surnames of Jiangnan.

Gu, Shen, Lu, Qian.

Li Duan’s wife, Gu Xi, was a young lady from that Gu family in Hangzhou.

Chen Shi and Madam Ma both assumed very interested expressions as they listened, occasionally offering a few flattering words.

Yu Tang observed coldly from the sidelines.

As if only Li Duan in the entire world was blessed with talent and spirit, as if he were a personage of importance.

She thought of those things Li Duan had done to her back then, and how when she had tactfully sought help from Lin Shi, Lin Shi had instead scolded her for being shameless and seducing Li Duan…

Yu Tang couldn’t help but want to let Lin Shi also taste that kind of heartbreak, pain, and even despair.

She deliberately used a voice that seemed lowered but could actually be heard by those nearby, and spoke in confusion to Ma Xiuniang in private: “How old is the eldest young master of the Li family? I just heard people in the residence say that Third Master Pei passed the presented scholar examination at twenty-one.”

Lin Shi was like someone who had been punched, her words stopping abruptly.

Chen Shi’s face flushed bright red as she scolded Yu Tang: “What nonsense are you spouting? Third Master Pei’s affairs are not for you to discuss.” Then she apologized to Lin Shi: “Children don’t understand propriety. Please don’t take it to heart.”

But Lin Shi’s smile had already developed cracks.

Madam Tang saw the atmosphere wasn’t right and hurriedly laughed to rescue Lin Shi: “Children speak without thinking! Children speak without thinking!”

Upon hearing this, Lin Shi forced a smile toward Chen Shi with an expression of barely suppressed anger.

Yu Tang was secretly amazed.

When had Lin Shi had such a good temper!

Back when she had married into the Li family, Lin Shi would say whatever she wanted to say to her. Even with Gu Xi, Lin Shi’s most satisfactory daughter-in-law, if she didn’t meet Lin Shi’s wishes, Lin Shi would flare up without giving any face.

This showed that Lin Shi wasn’t truly unable to bear grievances.

It was just that when facing her daughters-in-law, she didn’t want to endure anything at all.

Yu Tang sneered inwardly.

Then she heard Lin Shi continue: “I’m someone who talks a bit too much. Once I start talking, I have a hard time stopping.”

“Everyone’s the same.” Chen Shi and Madam Ma responded politely.

Who would have known that Lin Shi had no intention of dispersing at all, and actually continued: “Every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite. In our family, although I love my eldest son, the one I most worry about is still my younger son. He’s four years younger than his older brother, and being the second son, he doesn’t need to inherit the family business. My mother-in-law spoiled him terribly and raised him with a temperament that doesn’t understand worldly matters. Now he’s already eighteen, and still doesn’t understand anything. He dislikes the servants and old women at home for being long-winded and won’t let them attend him closely. All day long he follows the young male servants and attendants around, riding horses and playing cuju, or else he follows the family’s accounting master to the shops to check the accounts. His marriage is worrying me to death!”

After speaking, she looked deeply at Yu Tang.

Everyone present froze.

Especially Yu Tang.

What kind of ill-fated connection did she have with the Li family?

In her previous life, they said Li Jun had taken a liking to her. In this life, she was avoiding Li Jun, yet it seemed Lin Shi had taken a fancy to her.

However, she really must thank her.

She didn’t care one bit about becoming a daughter-in-law of the Li family.

Thinking of this, she suddenly thought of Gu Xi.

If Gu Xi also knew what would happen after marrying into the Li family, she probably wouldn’t marry Li Duan either!

How about sabotaging the marriage between her and Li Duan?

Lin Shi would be so angry she’d jump three feet high!

Just thinking about it made Yu Tang feel so happy she could hardly keep her mouth from splitting into a grin.

Chen Shi reacted at this moment.

So this Madam Li had said so much because she had her eye on their Yu Tang!

She had already very clearly refused Madam Tang earlier. Why was Madam Li still blocking them to talk about this matter!

Chen Shi had self-awareness.

If it were based on appearance, their A’Tang could even marry into the Pei family. But if marriage matters were all based on appearance alone, why would there be the saying about matching families of equal social status?

She glanced at Madam Tang.

Madam Tang didn’t dare meet her eyes and seemed very guilty.

Chen Shi understood.

So earlier when Madam Tang had “coincidentally encountered” them in the hall, it was at Madam Li’s request.

Madam Li, disregarding the unfamiliarity between the two families, was chatting with her awkwardly here—so she hadn’t given up!

This kind of thing couldn’t be dragged out. If it dragged on, it would easily give rise to all sorts of gossip and rumors.

Their A’Tang had also reached the age to discuss marriage proposals and couldn’t let this affect her marriage prospects.

Chen Shi smiled at Lin Shi and said: “You and I suffer from the same affliction. We only have this one daughter. Her father holds her in his hands afraid she’ll fall, holds her in his mouth afraid she’ll melt. He’s set his heart on recruiting a son-in-law to marry into our family. But recruiting a son-in-law to marry in—where is that so simple? I’m so worried my hair is falling out.”

Lin Shi was dumbfounded.

Yu Tang secretly rejoiced.

Lin Shi hadn’t expected she would be refused!

Lin Shi’s smile could no longer be maintained. She hastily said a few words to Chen Shi, then hurriedly took her leave with Madam Tang.

Yu Tang wished she could hug her mother and give her two kisses.

Looking at Lin Shi’s departing back, she felt very satisfied, and decided to give Lin Shi another “gift.”

“Mother,” she said with a beaming smile, “the Li family in the southern part of the city, isn’t that the Li family that sells fruit?”

Li Yi’s ancestors had made their fortune selling fruit.

Of course, this was already something from several decades ago.

Not many people in Lin’an City nowadays knew about it.

She had only heard it occasionally from one of the Li family’s hereditary servants after marrying into the Li family.

Lin Shi’s natal family was in the silk and tea business, and moreover, they were wealthy merchants who had been in business for several generations. She was very sensitive about others mentioning that the Li family’s ancestors sold fruit.

Neither Chen Shi nor Madam Ma had heard of this.

For a moment, they didn’t know how to respond.

But Yu Tang saw Lin Shi very clearly stumble and nearly fall.

The little person in Yu Tang’s heart laughed heartily. She decided to give Lin Shi a bit more of a “gift”: “Mother, haven’t you all heard? Wang Pozi who runs the tea stall on East Street and A’Liu who sells water pears at Little Plum Stream both know about it.”

“Really?” Chen Shi and Madam Ma, thinking Yu Tang was just making casual conversation, responded with a sound.

But Yu Tang could sense that Lin Shi could barely stand.

She giggled with laughter, and was about to satirize Lin Shi with two more sentences when the corner of her eye suddenly caught sight of someone standing in the corridor beside them.

Yu Tang raised her eyes to look and immediately her face showed embarrassment. She retreated two steps.

This time it was her turn to nearly fall.

Ma Xiuniang, quick-eyed and quick-handed, supported her and said with concern: “What’s wrong with you? Did you not stand steady and sprain your ankle?”

“No, no.” Yu Tang said with a red face, “I’m fine!”

Yet she stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to look behind Ma Xiuniang.

Ma Xiuniang and the others all looked in the direction she was gazing.

The corridor with its black lacquer and gray roof, its lustrous green stones and swaying bamboo branches, was empty of people yet full of dense greenery. From the distance, a wave of cool refreshing wind rushed toward them.

“What are you looking at?” Several people asked Yu Tang in confusion.

“Nothing! Nothing!” Yu Tang said, glossing things over, and tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “When guests leave, the host rests. We should hurry home!”

Everyone was tired as well.

“Alright!” Madam Ma enthusiastically invited Chen Shi and her daughter: “If you have free time, come sit at our house. Her father has gone to Hangzhou Prefecture and won’t be back for another seven or eight days. If you come, you can keep me company.”

Chen Shi agreed. Talking with Madam Ma and her daughter, she went to inform Yu Wen and then headed home.

But Yu Tang remained distracted the whole time.

What kind of luck did she have lately? How was it that wherever she went, she kept running into Third Master Pei?

And moreover, it was always when she was most embarrassed—just now at the Pei residence, she had been laughing.

At such a solemn occasion as a funeral, she had actually laughed, and laughed quite cheerfully at that, and moreover had been caught red-handed by Third Master Pei.

Would he think she had no respect for the deceased!

Moreover, his expression just now had looked so terrible.

As if it were gloomy enough to drip ink.

She didn’t know whether he was so angry because he heard her laughing, or if he just happened to be in a bad mood?

However, why would he, alone, have gone to that place and just happened to encounter them?

Did he only see her laughing, or did he also hear her satirizing Lin Shi?

Yu Tang sighed.

In his mind, she probably didn’t have any good standing at all!

Yu Tang thought of those flower trees at the Pei residence whose flowers had been pinched off.

A vast expanse of green.

Without any other colors.

She didn’t know if she would be dealt with by him the same way as those flowers on the flower trees…

But then again, his heart was also a bit too narrow.

Over such a small matter, he kept a stern face.

And he was a Hanlin academician?

But now that his father had passed away, he should have to observe mourning at home, right?

In the future, they might still run into each other…

How unlucky she was.

Yu Tang was melancholy for several days.