Article 66 (2)

  "Jiū jiě ér, you first greet your elder cousin!" Jiang said to Jiū jiě ér as she stood up.

  "What's wrong, Mother? What happened?" Jiuniang also quickly stood up upon hearing this.

  Jiu Jie asked, and Zhou Mama was about to speak, but just as she was about to open her mouth, Jiang Shi waved his hand to stop her, and Zhou Mama immediately fell silent.

  "It's just a small matter, I'll be right back!" Jiang said to Jiu again.

  "Uh..." Ninth Sister looked at Jiang Shi and then at that Jiang Yu Xing.

  "Cousin, I suddenly thought of something. When I was in the south, a friend of mine caught a cold and had a persistent cough. The local doctor prescribed him medicine that included insect white wax. Can we approach this from a medicinal perspective?..." Just then, Jiang Yuxing, who was looking down at the agricultural book brought by Jiu Si'er, suddenly looked up and said.

  "Medicine?" Jiuniang was taken aback, "Right, it's still Brother who thought of that..."

  Jiujie's attention returned to the topic she had just discussed with Jiang Yuxing, and Jiang immediately smiled and quietly beckoned Zhou Mama to leave.

  "Madam, is this... alright?" Mrs. Zhou asked somewhat nervously as soon as they stepped out the door.

  "What's wrong? Didn't I leave Cui Mei on the side? Besides, there are servants and underlings guarding the door, it's not like we're alone." Jiang Shi said with a smile.

  Mother Zhou didn't say anything, she just frowned.

  "Alright, I'm really not afraid of anything now!"

  "But where is the old lady..."

  "Don't worry, this girl is now the apple of Old Lady's eye. Didn't you see what happened last time with that dog and the embroidered shoes? If Xing Ge really marries her, hehe... our Jiang family might just rise to become imperial relatives in the future."

  "Uh..." Mrs. Zhou was taken aback, looking at Jiang with a feeling of being unsure what to say.

  She tried every means to persuade her to betroth the ninth sister to her own nephew, but then she went back on her word and told her to spread rumors that it was not going to happen.

  But now she's revived this idea, what kind of attitude is this from her?

  Repeating herself over and over again... She's too embarrassed for her, oh dear!

  And you said that Jiu's clever little cup can be rolled into a ball by you at will?

  "Alas, you think I'm willing to do this," Seeing that Mother Zhou didn't say anything, Jiang immediately sighed again, "Don't you see my sister-in-law? She's always causing trouble and almost treats me like a sinner."

  After hearing this, Mother Zhou couldn't help but sigh too, then comforted, "Madam, don't worry, in my opinion, Ninth Sister seems to have a good impression of Young Master Xing as well. What you're thinking might not be accurate."

  "Let's hope so!" Jiang's expression changed from gloomy to sunny upon hearing this.

  "...I'm fine, it's just an old habit of mine, why are you making such a fuss?"

  Jiang arrived at Yanshoutang, the other ladies had also arrived. Although Old Lady was not in high spirits, she did not seem to be seriously ill either. At this time, Zheng was leaning against a couch, speaking to several people with a gloomy face.

  "What's all the fuss about? You're ill, we should be taking care of you." As soon as the old man finished speaking, Zhen Shi immediately began to curry favor and pushed others aside to help the old lady gently massage her legs.

  Jiang and Miao met and immediately went to see Zou, hoping she could say a few words on behalf of Zhēn.

  But Zou didn't smile as usual, and instead said with a hint of sarcasm, "You're the one who made everyone come, and now you're being so attentive. It's as if we're not filial daughters-in-law, but you are."

  "Sister-in-law, don't say that. In the past, it was always you who were filial, so today I'll take this opportunity." Seeing Zou Shi not speaking up for her, Zhenn Shi's face grew even more flushed.

  "By the way, Old Lady, I got some pain-relieving plasters yesterday that are quite effective. I'll have someone send two over to you later." Zou Shi then ignored her and spoke only to the old lady.

  "What kind of plaster is so effective?" Before the old lady could speak up, Miao Shi asked.

  "It was a gift from the palace, but I heard it was made by a Taoist priest living on a mountain ten miles away. The Taoist priest had an otherworldly air about him and not only knew how to concoct medicine, but also how to diagnose illnesses and tell fortunes with great accuracy, so people called him 'Old Immortal'."

  "Oh, really......" Everyone immediately became interested.

  At this time, Cuiping brought tea and melon seeds over, and several people sat down around the old lady, asking about the "old immortal" in a flurry...

  ……

  "Goddess of Mercy, please, I beg of you, bless me with finding a good family soon..."

  Just as Zou Shi was telling the story of "Lao Shen Xian" to several sisters-in-law, in the ancestral hall of the Wen family, a beautiful and charming figure also knelt down in front of the statue to pray and worship.

  It's Wen Qiujie!

  Her stepmother, Zhen Shi, didn't take her affairs seriously. Although her aunt was anxious, she knew only a limited number of people and her father, the fourth master Wen Chonghai, was too lazy to bother with this matter, so at the age of 14, she hadn't even received any marriage proposals.

  What's most infuriating is that she originally had the chance to become a concubine of the royal family, but let Ninth Sister take it instead. Now, for some reason, Eldest Mistress has been cold towards her, and these past few days, Sixth Sister has also been indifferent to her.

  In desperation and depression, she suddenly thought of praying to gods and Buddha, hoping that heaven would bless her with a good marriage soon...

  "Miss, it's late, go back!" At this time, Qingju walked in and said.

  The seventh sister looked outside and stood up, tidied herself, then walked out with Qingju.

  Out of the temple, turning over a piece of flower trees, then it's a fake mountain.

  But just as the master and servant walked to the fake mountain, they heard voices coming from behind the fake mountain.

  "Really? So Ninth Sister is secretly meeting with Young Master Jiang in Third Madam's residence?"

  "Is that fake? Is it the three madams' intention to hide themselves and even take the maids away, leaving only two people in the house... Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. I specifically called you to this secluded place so that no one would hear us, otherwise, something big would happen!"

  The voices stopped, followed by a burst of footsteps, and then two little maidservants emerged from behind the artificial hill.

  Two little maids were very cautious and after coming out looked around in all directions before walking away together.

  Until those two little maidservants were out of sight, another two figures emerged from the other side of the artificial hill.

  "Green Chrysanthemum, my luck has arrived..." one figure said to another.

  ……

  "Fourth sister is really stubborn, ah..."

  "That's exactly what I mean..."

  The women of Yanshoutang have already shifted their attention from that "old immortal" to the marriage of Fourth Sister.

  "Second aunt, if fourth sister has made up her mind to break off the engagement, then let her...let her call it off!" The old lady sighed and murmured for a while before suddenly speaking in a low tone.

  Uh...

  Everyone was stunned, looking at her and then at Madame Two.

  "Old lady, this...this won't do, if we retreat now, what kind of family can the fourth sister find? Not to mention the high-ranking Guo Gong Fu, even a slightly better-off family might not be possible." However, the second madam hesitated for a moment and still resolutely shook her head.

  Mrs. Li heard this and didn't say a word, her gaze fell on her face, after a long time, she let out a light sigh and said, "You love however you want to, it's up to you."

  The house fell silent afterwards, and in the silence, Seventh Sister hastily entered the Hall of Prolonged Longevity.

  "Old lady, I heard that you're not feeling well, so my granddaughter specially went to the ancestral temple to pray for your blessing. But unexpectedly, when she came back, she really saw... saw an auspicious sign..." The seventh sister first bowed to her surprised elders, then looked at Lady Li and continued.

  "What's auspicious?" Without a doubt, this seventh sister was also clever and soon everyone's curiosity was piqued.

  "Yes, a five-colored auspicious cloud has just landed above Third Aunt's courtyard. At this moment, Qingju is watching from there, and our daughter quickly came to invite Old Lady and Mother as well as all the Aunts to move over..."

  "What auspicious colorful cloud came from my place again? Seventh sister, did you see it wrong?" But before the words fell, she was interrupted by Jiang Shi.

  "What's going on, Third Aunt? Are you trying to monopolize the good fortune for yourself or is there something in your house that can't be seen by others?"

  "Seventh Sister!" This time it was not Jiang who interrupted her, but Zou.

  "Great Aunt, really..." Towards this great aunt of hers, Seventh Sister had always been both respectful and fearful, trying to curry favor with her. Now that she was being scolded by her, she naturally shrank back, full of grievances.

  "This child, how come you're so rude today......" Zou said, looking at the old lady and then turning her head to look at Zhen who was watching with a cold eye.

  The old lady didn't say a word, she just looked at the seven sisters, then at Jiang Shi, and finally also looked at Zhen Shi.

  Jiang's face was very unsightly, changing from pale to red in an instant.

  "Old lady, since this useless thing said she saw the auspicious sign with her own eyes, let's go and take a look. If she's talking nonsense, I'll make sure to discipline her when I get back!"

  Zhen Shi originally didn't plan to intervene in Qī Jiě's affairs, but now being stared at by Lǎo Tàigōng and Zōu Shì, she had no choice but to speak up. However, this guy has a bad temper that can't calm things down, instead he deliberately stirred up trouble, fearing it wouldn't be chaotic enough.

  "Very well, then let San Di Mei take us there!" said Miao Shi at this time.

  "Th...this..." Jiang hesitated, a look of difficulty and shock appearing on his face.

  "All right, all right! Look what's going on, the little girl is just joking around!" At this point, Mrs. Zou actually smiled and stopped her, but while speaking, she couldn't help but glance at Madame Li's face again.

  "Go and take a look!" Li Taijun said with a serious gaze, then resolutely.

  After hearing her words, Cuifeng and Fang's mother hurried over to support her.

  "Old lady, your body is still not suitable... " However, Mrs. Zou was still chirping away on the side.

  "Seventh sister, lead the way!" But Li Taijun waved her hand at Seventh Sister again.

  The seventh sister's delicate face immediately showed a triumphant smile again, and she turned around and walked forward.

  The crowd followed afterwards, but Jiang was still standing in his original position.

  "Third sister, hurry up!" Zhen Shi had already seen some clues and turned her head to slyly call out to her.

  Jiang hesitated for a moment, a resolute glint flashing across his face, and finally followed.

  It's all out in the open now, anyway she has already decided to marry off this ninth sister to her nephew, these two people are really well-suited.

  Just now I saw two people discussing business together, she had a premonition that the Jiang family would have great success.

  At that time, her family's Shui Ge and Shi Jie will also follow in the footsteps of Zhang Guang!

  Besides, these two children didn't do anything, they just talked, and there was also a big girl on the side, and outside there were servants, this doesn't count as anything...

  Jiang's behavior was naturally seen by Zou who was walking behind her, and she could also guess what her sister-in-law was thinking.

  Haha, but you're thinking too much, I'll make sure you get a good scolding, neither here nor there...

  A line of people, with Seventh Sister and Madame Chiang in the lead, followed by Old Mother Chou, all walking hastily.

  As soon as they entered the courtyard, Jiang and Zhou Mama's footsteps slowed down noticeably when they reached the door, because there was an unusual eerie silence in the courtyard.

  The several old women and girls at the gate were gone, and walking further in, I saw Cui Mei lying on a small table fast asleep.

  Jiang's face changed color, while Auntie Zhou immediately rushed over and pushed Cui Mei, "Cui Mei, Cui Mei..."

  "Madam, Mrs. Zhou, you two are back...... Ah, Old Lady, all the ladies..."

  Cui Mei was pushed awake, opened her blurry eyes to look at the two of them, but suddenly discovered a group behind them, and immediately stood up in shock, all sleepiness gone.

  "Where is Young Master Bao?" Jiang asked her abruptly.

  Cui Mei was so frightened by his words that she let out a sudden shriek and instantly lost her composure.

  On the other side, Seventh Sister smiled, it seems that things are more rewarding than imagined. She originally wanted to marry Ninth Sister to Jiang Yuxing, a merchant's son, but looking at the situation now, hehe... maybe Ninth Sister will be even worse off.

  She never mentioned that auspicious thing again, turned around and quickly ran into the east wing.

  Zhen Shi, a person who loves excitement and noise, naturally followed closely behind. Next was Miao Shi, with Li Tai Jun pushing open the door and supporting her two companions as they walked quickly inside.

  He had only walked to the door when he suddenly turned his head around, his piercing gaze fixed on Jiang who was already pale.

  Jiang was frightened by her gaze and trembled all over, almost falling down, fortunately, Zhou Mama on the side supported her in time.

  Zou was the last one to enter the house, although she tried her best to conceal it, but on her pale face, there were still threads of excitement and triumphant smile.

  But soon she couldn't laugh anymore——

  "Eight... eight little sister, how... how is it you..."

  The forward army's seventh sister let out a loud and abrupt cry, causing Zou's face to stiffen for an instant. The smile had not yet faded, but this time it suddenly changed expression, the facial muscles unable to adjust in time, looking really distorted and twisted.

  Zou took this expression, hastily squeezed open the people around him, and then he saw a young couple lying together on the large kang with cloud-patterned bedding and embroidered quilt.

  Although the two were dressed neatly, they were very close together, and the woman had even rolled into the man's armpit, their state was extremely intimate.

  The man was handsome and clean, exactly Jiang's nephew Jiang Yuxing; while the woman, although weak, was delicate and beautiful, exactly Zou's daughter Wen Bajie.

  "Old Eighth Sister, Little Eighth..."

  Zou's eyes were rubbed in disbelief, and he looked at the woman on the kang again. When he was sure that what he saw was true, he immediately went mad, and there was no longer any elegance or dignity as before. He rushed up and slapped the still closed-eyed Eighth Sister several times.

  Na Wen woke up with a start, opened her eyes to see Zou Shi's face twisted in anger, and immediately curled up into a ball, her face contorted in terror. "Mother, don't hit me...don't hit me, I must be dreaming...I didn't do anything wrong, Mother...ah...where is this? How did I get here?" But soon after, the girl seemed to come to her senses and felt something was off. She turned her head unintentionally and suddenly saw the man lying beside her, and couldn't help but let out a high-pitched scream of shock, "Ahh——"

  "You shameless person, you still have the face to shout, my face has been lost because of you......" Seeing this, Mrs. Zou was furious again, and she dragged Ba Jie down from the kang, wanting to beat her once more.

  "Halt!" But at this moment, he only heard Li Taijun's angry shout.

  Zou was taken aback, and his rationality returned in an instant. He looked at the old lady, but she had already put on a sorrowful and mournful expression. "Old lady, I...I'm so ashamed to death..."

  "You're really shameless, look at you now, where's the dignity of a lady? You're just like a street vendor!" But before she could finish her words, the old lady scolded her with a few stern sentences.

  "Uh..." Zou was stunned, this being the first time in years that his mother-in-law had treated him like this. Although he hadn't liked her before, he had always given her face and even handed over control of the household to her.

  "Old lady..." The words choked back, filled with resentment and anger, causing Madame Zou's tears to fall instantly.

  "You're still complaining about her? Xiao Ba is so honest and well-behaved, with a soft temperament like mud. Look at how you've scared her! And earlier, your unreasonable scolding... do you have any love for her? Is it just because she's not your biological child?"

  But the old lady didn't give up because of this, instead she glanced at Ba Jie who was so scared that she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, and continued.

  Obviously, these words are very profound and sharp, with the effect of awakening the deaf, and everyone can't help but sympathize with Ba Jie and shake their heads, then they cast strange glances at Zou Shi one after another.

  "Not... old lady, I..." facing such a bad name, Zou Shi panicked and couldn't help but argue back.

  "Xiao Ba, what's going on today? Tell me everything quickly!" But the old lady didn't listen and turned to ask Ba Jie instead.

  Of course, everyone is more concerned about today's affairs, including Zou Shi, who was slapped in the face by her mother-in-law. She couldn't figure out how everything she had carefully planned and designed could be replaced with her own daughter at home.

  Then those eyes instantly fell on the eighth sister.

  However, Ba Jie was unable to satisfy everyone's wishes. She saw her small face pale, trembling and sobbing on one side, and couldn't say a word, which made everyone anxious.

  Looking at her like this, Zou's eyes narrowed fiercely, and she was about to get angry again, but after glancing at Li Taijun who had already sat in the main seat with a cold face, she could only suppress her anger.

  Li Taijun looked at the eighth sister again, took a deep breath with some helplessness, and then turned to look at Jiang Yuxing who was just woken up by Madam Jiang on the couch that had been moved aside, and was now staring blankly at everyone.

  "Xing Ge, quickly tell me, what's going on?" The mother-in-law's gaze turned to her nephew, and Jiang Shi was startled, hurriedly poking him and whispering.

  "Someone come... hurry and help Ninth Miss up, Ninth Miss has fainted to the ground..." But at this time, a shout was heard from outside the door...

  ……

  Digression

  Friends, how's it going? Hehe... The next chapter will be even more exciting!