Chapter 309: Chapter 290, Impressive_1
Sun Jiayue couldn’t stand seeing Daohua and Dong Yuanyao picking on Feng Liangji, and without restraint, she approached Daohua and Dong Yuanyao to make excuses for Feng Liangji, “Two sisters…”
“Who are you calling sister?”
Dong Yuanyao immediately put on a cold face, cutting off Sun Jiayue’s words, leaving her no dignity.
“I…”
Sun Jiayue hadn’t expected Dong Yuanyao to be so straightforward. Glancing around at the people in the pavilion, she felt nothing but shame and fury. Yet, within moments, her eyes filled with tears, as she stood there, biting her lip, utterly at a loss.
Unfortunately for her, Xiao Yeyang and the others had no reaction to her plight, continuing their conversation and laughter as if she didn’t even exist. Only Yan Wenkai looked at her with a face full of disdain, giving her a few glances.
The instant his sister spoke up, Sun Yongyi knew there would be trouble.
The families of officials have always looked down upon the merchant class, and for his sister to address them as sisters was indeed too rash.
Sun Yongyi went forward with a smile, “Ladies, please don’t be angry, it’s my younger sister who has lost her decorum. I hope you can forgive her.”
With a cold snort from Dong Yuanyao, just as she was about to say something, she saw her elder brother looking over and instantly pursed her lips, refraining from further comment.
Dong Yuanxuan laughed, “It’s just a minor quarrel, no need to take it to heart.”
Sun Yongyi gave a grateful smile and swiftly pulled his sister off to the side.
Sun Jiayue was somewhat reluctant, but after receiving a fierce glare from Sun Yongyi, she withdrew with a resigned look.
Seeing the scene turning somewhat awkward, Feng Yiyun thought for a moment and then smiled at Daohua and Dong Yuanyao, “Miss Dong, Miss Yan, glutinous rice cakes are actually not sticky when made well. If you two are interested, I could invite you over to my home for a gathering sometime. Our family’s cook can personally demonstrate it for you.”
At this, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao exchanged a somewhat speechless look, their faces expressing deep resignation.
Were they really talking about glutinous rice cakes?
It seemed this girl from the Feng Family wasn’t very bright.
Daohua’s lips twitched, and she immediately turned her head away, not deigning to continue the conversation.
The Feng Family had established a connection with theirs because of Sister Zixuan, and now, even after Feng Liangji’s betrothal, he was still not keeping his distance from other girls. Why should she save face for the Feng Family?
If Daohua ignored her, Dong Yuanyao would do so even more.
If it wasn’t for the Yan Family’s sake, she wouldn’t be seen at the same event with the children of a merchant family.
Feng Hao sitting to the side felt an urge to cover his head.
He knew the offshoot branches of the family lacked manners, but he had not expected them to lack intelligence as well.
As an elder of the Feng Family, Feng Hao had no choice but to intervene, saying with a smile, “What nonsense are you speaking? Are the cooks from Minister Dong’s and Minister Yan’s households not better than ours? There’s no need for you to curry favor here.”
Feng Yiyun’s expression grew stiff, “I misspoke, Miss Dong, Miss Yan, please don’t take offense.”
Daohua waved her hand dismissively, “There’s nothing to be angry about. We didn’t know each other before and didn’t understand each other. Now that we’ve met, if we get along, we can chat more; if not, there’s no need to endure each other for some messed-up reason. It’s best to let go early, so nobody feels uncomfortable.”
Saying this, she picked up another piece of glutinous rice cake, looking towards Feng Liangji with a smirk.
“Just like how some people like this glutinous rice cake, but others insist on giving them a plate of red bean cakes. If someone is open and responsible, they should clarify on the spot, rather than accepting the red bean cake while still longing for the glutinous rice cake. It’s both a waste of the red bean cake and a betrayal of the good intentions of the person who offered it.”
“Right, Mr. Feng?”
Feng Liangji took a deep breath. Today, he had truly experienced the formidable nature of the daughters from official families, their speech indirect yet pointed, leaving him with no place to hide.
Last time, because he had gone to Joy Street, Zixuan, his cousin, stubbornly followed him to the opera house, even getting into a fight there.
Today, encountering him and Miss Sun in a scene that defied propriety must have infuriated you, right?
However, having such a cousin to protect her is indeed a fortunate thing.
But it was too unfriendly towards him.
Feng Liangji walked up to Daohua and immediately bowed deeply with a ninety-degree bow, “Miss Yan, the incident today was entirely my fault. I have been too casual in the past, but I will definitely correct my ways from now on.”
Daohua raised an eyebrow.
This one certainly knew how to stoop low.
Feng Hao, standing to the side, finally breathed a sigh of relief—fortunately, his nephew had some brains.
But Daohua was not ready to let it go, continuing, “Many promises are easily made and some even swear by the heavens without any reservations, yet very few actually keep them. Just words without action seems to be a common fault among many.”
Feng Liangji’s eyebrows twitched as he felt somewhat drained, thinking he would have to avoid dealing with Zixuan’s cousin in the future—she was too demanding!
As he hesitated over how to speak to dispel Daohua’s hostility toward him, another person walked into the pavilion.
“Big sister, what are you doing?”
Yan Wenxiu had noticed from afar that someone was apologizing to his eldest sister. By the time he entered the pavilion, his big sister hadn’t yet forgiven the person, so he couldn’t help but speak up.
“Big brother!”
Seeing Yan Wenxiu, Daohua’s face brightened with joy, and she immediately stood up and walked over, “When did you come back?”
Yan Wenxiu smiled, “I’ve been back for a few days.” After that, he greeted Xiao Yeyang and the others, then turned to Feng Liangji, “And who might this be?”
Daohua pouted and looked down without saying a word.
Li Chenyi, who came with Yan Wenxiu, immediately responded with a smile, “This is the Feng family’s son who is engaged to Sister Zixuan.”
Yan Wenxiu immediately greeted Feng Liangji with a smile, “I’m really sorry; my father was busy with the handover, and I had to help my mother with some matters. I couldn’t make it to the auspicious day of your engagement with my cousin Zixuan.”
Seeing that Yan Wenxiu was amiable and polite, without any hint of looking down on him, Feng Liangji quickly replied, “You’re too kind.”
Daohua asked, “Big brother, have father and the others left for Ningmen Prefecture?”
Yan Wenxiu nodded, “Father had to assume his duty within the stipulated time. On the third day after coming back, he immediately set off for Ningmen Prefecture, and mother and grandmother also left by boat on the same day. I guess I’m the last in our family to leave.”
Daohua nodded in understanding; since there were many people around, it wasn’t the time to ask details, and she sat back down next to Dong Yuanyao.
Feng Hao had been observing Yan Wenxiu since he stepped into the pavilion, noting how he greeted everyone with courtesy and pleasant talk, always with a spring breeze of a smile on his face, and he almost imperceptibly nodded his head in approval.
Due to Yan Wenxiu’s arrival, the atmosphere in the pavilion became more harmonious.
Daohua didn’t continue to badger Feng Liangji. Although she wasn’t afraid of her big brother, she wouldn’t embarrass him in public, sitting somewhat listlessly while playing with the ribbons on her outfit.
Dong Yuanyao was also bored. There was nothing in the pavilion, and she wasn’t interested in touching any of the refreshments provided.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang whispered a few words to Defu, who nodded and quickly turned to leave.
After a while, Defu returned, nodding at Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang stood up, “We’ve been sitting for quite a while. Let’s take a walk somewhere else.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao quickly stood up.