Chapter 19: I’ll Go Right Away
Second Sister-in-law Lin knew the reason, but she gave Lin Tingting a strange look. However, Lin Tingting had not yet realized anything. Seeing everyone’s gazes on her, she became even more excited, pointing at Jiang Ruanxi and questioning her.
“Second Sister-in-law, you said the dishes you had prepared today. Look at this fish; it’s not even fresh. Are you deliberately trying to ruin the mood?”
Lin Tingting spoke while poking at the fish in front of her with her chopsticks.
Before Jiang Ruanxi could speak, a familiar voice sounded from the nearby men’s table.
Jiang Ruanxi looked over and found that the speaker was Li Xun, who had just spoken up for Lin Ningkun.
“Ning Kun, this fish is white carp. It’s said to grow specifically in southern coastal waters, with an extremely fresh taste. Even the high officials and nobles in the capital need to reserve it a month in advance at Jixiang Tower, and they might not even get it.”
“I’ve heard this fish is extremely hard to keep alive. It needs someone watching it the whole way. If it dies, it must be immediately preserved with ice. Last time I went to Jixiang Tower with my father, that fish had clearly died en route, and its quality was obviously not as good as this one.”
“I didn’t expect Young Master Li, you really know everything.”
“You just don’t go out much, so you don’t know these things…”
“…”
Various flattering words were thrown at Li Xun like they were free.
But these words in Lin Tingting’s ears were undoubtedly sharp knives stabbing into her heart.
It was as if her actions were showing off her ignorance.
She was so ashamed her face turned bright red, and she was at a loss for what to do.
“I didn’t expect the Marquis’s Wife to put so much effort into this family banquet. Forget white carp; it’s the first time I’ve even heard of it. Following you has really broadened my horizons.”
Second Sister-in-law Lin saw the atmosphere was off and spoke up to ease it.
Lin Tingting’s expression softened a bit. Jiang Ruanxi smiled, “Sister-in-law is joking. I’ve just managed household affairs more, so I vaguely know some things. If you handled a few events, you’d know too.”
“The food has gone cold. Let’s stop talking and eat quickly, or we’ll waste the Marquis’s Wife’s good intentions.”
Another sister-in-law from the clan at the table saw the awkward atmosphere and quickly changed the subject.
Jiang Ruanxi didn’t mind and was in a good mood, eating quite a bit.
Lin Tingting had originally wanted to embarrass Jiang Ruanxi, but she ended up making a fool of herself, revealing her ignorance. She was furious to death. After a few bites, she could no longer hold back. She threw away her poise and restraint, angrily leaving the table.
The Lin Family women saw this and couldn’t say much. After the banquet ended, Lin Ningkun saw off the men, while Jiang Ruanxi busied herself sending off the Lin Family women.
After finally instructing Hong Ye to safely escort Second Sister-in-law Lin away, before she could catch her breath, Manyue, the chief maidservant by Madam Zhou’s side, came to call her. “Madam, the Old Madam asks you to come over.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes flickered. “I’ll go right away.”
“Mother, I think she did it on purpose. She deliberately wanted to embarrass me, so she didn’t tell me those things beforehand. She clearly wanted me to make a fool of myself at the family banquet.”
As Jiang Ruanxi passed through the corridor and reached Madam Zhou’s door, she heard Lin Tingting complaining inside.
“It’s one thing in the clan, but today so many outsiders came—the young master from the Prime Minister’s residence, and from the Minister’s residence… It was so humiliating. If these people in the capital find out, how am I supposed to live? No, you have to teach her a lesson properly, set some rules for her, so she knows her limits.”
Manyue saw Jiang Ruanxi stop and was about to remind her when she heard Lin Tingting’s words.
She looked embarrassed and lightly coughed to signal. The voices inside stopped, and then she said, “Madam, please go in.”
When Jiang Ruanxi entered, Madam Zhou’s expression wasn’t good. “Jiang Ruanxi, what’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you remind Tingting during the meal? You made such a big joke.”
“Mother is right. It was indeed my negligence; I didn’t remind Third Sister of these things.” Jiang Ruanxi said softly.
Then she turned her words and looked at Lin Tingting.
“But I didn’t expect that Fourth Sister usually doesn’t care about these matters. Why did she suddenly ask about this at the banquet today? And at that time, I hadn’t said anything yet. Who knew Fourth Young Master Li’s words would carry over.
It was also my arrangement that wasn’t careful enough. I should have set the women’s banquet in the back courtyard, so even if Third Sister said something, the men probably wouldn’t hear.”
Speaking of this, Madam Zhou felt a bit regretful too.
At the beginning, Jiang Ruanxi had indeed suggested setting the women’s banquet in the back courtyard. Madam Zhou hadn’t listened and had insisted on having Jiang Ruanxi place the women’s banquet next to the men’s.
Learning that Lin Ningkun had invited others to the family banquet, she felt her arrangement was fine.
But she hadn’t expected it to backfire.
In fact, Lin Tingting had already had her coming-of-age ceremony and was now waiting to be married.
Actually, it wasn’t that no one had come to propose marriage; it was just that she was proud and looked down on ordinary people.
She had originally wanted to attract Fourth Young Master Li’s attention by picking on her, but instead, she showed off her own ignorance.
Unexpectedly, she failed to steal the chicken and lost the rice. Jiang Ruanxi sneered inwardly.
“You’re talking nonsense. Where was I afraid of the men outside hearing? Don’t slander me here and ruin my reputation.” Lin Tingting seemed to have her thoughts exposed and anxiously stood up, pointing at Jiang Ruanxi’s nose and scolding.
“Why is Third Sister so anxious? Weren’t you not afraid of the men outside hearing? Then what are you worried about? Everyone who knows today is from our family. I don’t think they would gossip.”
Jiang Ruanxi continued with a half-smile, “If Third Sister doesn’t trust Sister-in-law and Aunt and fears they might talk outside, I’ll go remind them later to keep their mouths shut and not ruin Third Sister’s reputation.”
The more Jiang Ruanxi spoke, the angrier Lin Tingting got.
She was so angry her chest heaved up and down.
This Jiang Ruanxi was doing it on purpose.
If she went around saying it, wouldn’t that be like no silver three hundred taels here?
If there was originally nothing, her going to say it wouldn’t that admit her own ignorance?
Then wouldn’t it really become known to everyone?
“Second Sister-in-law, you’re unhappy with your own life, so you want me to be unhappy too before you’re satisfied?” Lin Tingting said viciously.
Jiang Ruanxi looked wronged. “Third Sister, how could you have such a vicious thought? You’re my sister; of course I hope you do well. Everything I’m doing is for your sake. If this doesn’t work and that doesn’t work, then what do you want me to do?”
“You…”
“Enough.” Madam Zhou frowned and looked at Lin Tingting. “Your sister-in-law didn’t mean it. This matter is over.”
“Mother…” Lin Tingting angrily stomped her foot. “Why are you taking her side?”
