Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Soon, all the guests arrived. Everyone took their seats and the dishes were served one after another.
Zhou Yu and Zhang Lan were in charge of chatting with and attending to the guests. Zhou Xiaoli was not required to do anything today.
However, her second aunt-in-lawâs arrival was a surprise.
She had no choice but to spare some energy to keep an eye on her. She would definitely drag her out if she dared to create any trouble.
Fortunately, even after the housewarming banquet had started for a long time, Ji Guizhi did not cause any trouble other than wolfing food down like she had not eaten in a long while.
The housewarming banquet, other than the occasional sound of people snatching food, could be considered as harmonious.
Some people were happy, while others were unhappy.
The Old Zhou family, who was not invited, was not peaceful.
Hearing the sound of firecrackers and laughter coming from the Zhou family, they were about to die of jealousy.
Especially Lai Jinniang, who stood in the courtyard and cursed.
âWhat an unfilial son. He has become rich and doesnât care about his parents anymore. His father has been sick in bed for so long, but I havenât seen him come over to take a look. We had raised an ingrate.â
However, because of the previous lesson learnt, Lai Jinniang only dared to curse in her courtyard after closing the door. She did not dare to go to the Zhou family to cause trouble.
At this moment, a slightly low-key carriage drove into Boyu Village.
Many villagers gossiped on the streets as the arrival of this carriage caused quite a stir.
At this moment, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing the beautiful face of a woman.
Zhang Yan smiled appropriately. âOld friend, may I ask if thereâs a Zhou family in your village?â
Just by looking at the womanâs attire, one could tell that she was either rich or noble. The villagers did not dare to be negligent and replied warmly.
âYes, yes. Why are you looking for the Zhou family?â
Zhang Yan said, âIâm looking for an old friend. May I ask where the Zhou family lives?â
The villagers started to murmur among themselves.
âWhich Zhou family do you think theyâre looking for? Old Zhou family or Zhou Yuâs family?â
âIt must be the Old Zhou family. Zhou Yu just recovered not long ago. How could he know such an important person? It must be the Old Zhou family.â
Everyone thought about it and felt that it made sense.
Although Old Zhouâs eldest son had fallen into dire straits recently, he had been doing very well in the city previously.
Moreover, Old Zhou had a son-in-law who was in the jade business in the county city.
It was not strange at all for them to know such an important person.
While they were discussing, the daughter-in-law of the Lu family turned her eyes and rushed forward. She said warmly, âMadam, I know where the Zhou family is. Let me lead the way for you!â
Zhang Yan nodded. âIn that case, thank you.â
As she spoke, she handed a bag of pastries to the Lu familyâs daughter-in-law as a thank-you gift.
Seeing this, the surrounding villagersâ eyes widened. They hated themselves for not being as fast as the Lu familyâs daughter-in-law and hence, missed out on this.
However, they could only watch regretfully as the woman from the Lu family jogged to lead the carriage away.
Soon, the carriage arrived at Old Zhouâs house. Zhang Yan alighted from the carriage and looked at the house in front of her.
She first heard a string of curses in the courtyard.
Zhang Yan subconsciously frowned, but thinking that this was the house of her benefactor, she did not say much.
The daughter-in-law of the Lu family was already knocking on the door and shouting, âOld Madam Lai, Old Madam Lai, open the door quickly. Your family has a distinguished guest!â
Initially, when the carriage passed by the village, it attracted many people to watch the commotion. After her shouts, more people looked on.
Lai Jinniang was still angry. When she heard the knock on the door, she muttered, âWhat esteemed guest? What esteemed guest?â
However, she still opened the door. When she saw the carriage outside, she was stunned.
The daughter-in-law of the Lu family said with a smile, âMadam, this is the Zhou family.â
Madam Lai looked over and her eyes landed on the beautiful madam at the door. When she saw the clothes and jewelry on her, her eyes widened.
She nodded repeatedly. âYes, weâre the Zhou family. Weâre the Zhou family.â
At this moment, she seemed to have regained her dignity and raised her head.
So what if her sonâs pharmacy was closed? So what if that ingrate Zhou Yu earned money? Would they have an esteemed guest like their family?
Lai Jinniang was even more proud under the envious looks of the surrounding villagers.
Zhang Yan pretended not to see Lai Jinniangâs behavior and said politely, âOld Madam, Iâm here to look for your granddaughter. Is your granddaughter at home?â n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Madam Lai was stunned, thinking that she had misheard. âGranddaughter?
Youâre looking for my granddaughter?â
Shouldnât she be looking for her son?
Zhang Yan nodded.
Although Lai Jinniang found it strange, she still called her two granddaughters over. She smiled and said, âMadam, look, these two are my granddaughters.â
Looking at the two girls who were only seven or eight years old, Zhang Yan shook her head. âItâs not them. Itâs a 10-year-old girl.â
At this moment, other than Old Zhou and his youngest son, who was lying on the bed and could not move, everyone else in the Zhou family heard the commotion and came out to stand at the door.
Hearing Zhang Yanâs words, Lai Jinniang pulled her daughter aside. âYou are looking for my daughter, right? Sheâs in her teens this year.â
Zhang Yanâs gaze landed on Zhou Guihua and she shook her head. âNo, is everyone in your family here?â
Lai Jinniang nodded. âMy daughters and granddaughters are all here.â
Zhang Yan sighed. âThatâs not the family that I was looking for then. I found the wrong place. Sorry for disturbing you.â
With that, Zhang Yan prepared to leave.
The old woman at the side could not help but comfort her. âMiss, itâs fine. Letâs look around again.â
When Lai Jinniang saw that Zhang Yan was about to leave, she felt terrible. She was so arrogant just now, but now she felt that everyone was laughing at her.
She immediately stopped Zhang Yan from leaving and said excitedly, âNo, Madam, I still have a big daughter. My big daughter is in the city, and my son-in-law runs a jade shopâ¦
Her benefactor was so young, so she was definitely not married.
Zhang Yan shook her head and interrupted her. âItâs not her. The person Iâm looking for is from the village. Her surname is Zhou. Sheâs a 10 years old girl.
She shouldnât have gotten married yet.â
At this moment, someone shouted, âHey, isnât she talking about Zhou Yuâs eldest daughter? Isnât she just 10 years old?â
Zhang Yan instantly looked over and said excitedly, âOld mister, is Zhou Yu here?â
That person shook his head. âNo, no. Zhou Yu has already cut ties with the Old Zhou family. They live at the entrance of the village, in a newly built house. Theyâre holding a housewarming banquet today. You should have seen them when you entered the village.â
Zhang Yan immediately felt that it should be the person she was looking for. She hurriedly thanked him, got into the carriage, and went straight to the village entrance.
Lai Jinniang and her family stood at the door in jealousy.
Zhou Guihua snorted coldly. âIf sheâs not looking for our family, she must be looking for Zhou Xiaoli? That little b*tch, Zhou Xiaoli, how could she know such a high-ranking madam?â
Lai Jinniang: âThatâs right, thatâs right. Sheâs blind.â
After venting their anger, they went home and slammed the door. This was the only way they could get back at her.
The villagers watched the commotion and laughed. Then, they followed the carriage to the Zhou family to watch what the commotion was about.
At that time, the Zhou familyâs housewarming banquet went very smoothly.
Immediately after, they heard the villagers shouting outside the door.
Zhou Xiaoli thought something was wrong. She put down her cup and walked out first.
Then, a beautiful lady came down from the carriage. When she saw the ladyâs appearance, Zhou Xiaoli was surprised. âItâs you, Madam Zhao.. Why are you here?â