Chapter 504: Chapter 504: Who Doesn’t Love a Good Spectacle?

Lord Yao did not continue to ask.

Tong Huaqiong then invited Lord Yao for tea, but he politely declined. Lian Hengruo brought the black pearl that Lord Yao had touched earlier and gifted it to him.

Lian Hengruo had heard that Lord Yao was concerned about the people’s livelihood and often visited the fields, once thinking it was merely an image he cultivated.

Having witnessed it firsthand this time, seeing Lord Yao wearing coarse clothes and hearing he had been inspecting corn and cotton fields at Qinghe Bay, she changed her impression of him.

"You just taught me a lot about black pearls, which was illuminating. I can’t take your pearl for free. My grandmother loves pearls, but she has yet to see a black pearl. I would like to buy this pearl to honor her. How much does it cost?" Lord Yao said.

Lian Hengruo insisted on gifting it, but Tong Huaqiong said to her, "If you don’t accept Lord Yao’s money, he won’t take the pearl, thus ruining his intention of honoring his grandmother."

Lian Hengruo had no choice but to name a price.

Lord Yao awkwardly patted his pockets, realizing he hadn’t brought any money.

His attendants were not around either.

Tong Huaqiong wanted to lend him money, but she wasn’t carrying any silver either.

Lian Hengruo said generously, "Lord Yao, take the pearl, owe the money for now, and pay me next time we meet."

Then she pushed the pearl box into Lord Yao’s hands.

She was going to the provincial city, connecting with Lord Yao only had advantages, no disadvantages.

Now that it was in his hands, declining would seem insincere, so Lord Yao had to accept, thinking that Aunt Tong had a shop in the provincial city, he would ask her clerk to bring the payment next time.

"Aunt Tong, were you looking for me?" After Lord Yao left, Lian Hengruo asked Tong Huaqiong.

Her pearl stall had quickly gained fame thanks to the foot traffic at Jufu Supermarket, and business was going well these days.

The forty percent profit share for Tong Huaqiong didn’t hurt her anymore.

Opening a shop outside required rent, and the customer flow couldn’t compare to Jufu, plus it would attract her elder brother’s attention.

She planned to implement the blind box activity Tong Huaqiong mentioned in a few days.

Tong Huaqiong noticed Lian Hengruo’s good mood and inwardly cursed Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua.

"I have something to discuss with you."

Lian Hengruo saw Tong Huaqiong’s serious expression and invited her into the shop to talk privately.

"Are you negotiating marriage with Second Young Master Zheng?" Tong Huaqiong asked outright.

Lian Hengruo’s heart skipped a beat.

Could Tong Huaqiong possibly have a vendetta against the Zheng Family?

Indeed, the widow of the Eldest Young Master Zheng was from Qinghe Bay, could there be a grudge with Xu Zaohua’s maternal family?

It’s common for rural folks to feud over water and land disputes.

Lian Hengruo replied, "Yes, but I declined."

She didn’t want Tong Huaqiong to misunderstand her as having any ties with the Zheng Family.

She didn’t like Second Young Master Zheng and definitely didn’t want to marry into the Zheng Family.

Lian Hengruo’s eyes dimmed; she had indeed refused, but her father and mother still hoped she would marry.

These days she had been figuring out a way to make them abandon this hope.

Tong Huaqiong could tell from Lian Hengruo’s eyes that she was telling the truth.

Then she divulged the meeting between Gu Ruinian, Xu Zaohua, and Second Young Master Lian.

"I suspect they are targeting you," Tong Huaqiong said.

Lian Hengruo’s gaze suddenly became fierce.

The astute Second Young Miss immediately grasped what they planned to do.

Her brother calculating against her was one thing, after all, they were siblings constantly trying to outmaneuver each other, always waiting for an opportunity to strike back.

But what did Gu Ruinian and Xu Zaohua amount to? They’ve hardly exchanged words with her and yet dare to dream of becoming her husband; her marriage with the Zheng Family hasn’t even been planned, yet they wish for her downfall.

Was her aura too weak recently, that even unrelated people wanted to take a bite out of her?

If so, they had made a wrong move.

Lian Hengruo said to Tong Huaqiong, "Aunt Tong, thank you for telling me this. Now that I know, they won’t succeed."

In a couple of days, it would be her mother’s birthday, and invitations for the banquet had already been sent out, including to the Zheng Family.

Lian Hengruo suspected they would seize the opportunity at the birthday banquet to deal with her.

If that’s the case, she’s not averse to presenting her mother’s birthday banquet with a ’bomb.’

"Aunt Tong, in two days, it’s my mother’s birthday. I invite you and Taohua to come to the mansion to watch the show." Lian Hengruo said with a smile.

Who doesn’t want to join in on the excitement?

Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua are the kind of mother-daughter duo who can’t resist a spectacle, especially at a birthday banquet at the Lian mansion, which promises great food.

Go, they must go.

Tong Huaqiong agreed with a smile.

...

Two days later, the birthday banquet for the Lady of Lian Family began as scheduled.

The ladies of the notable families in Pingchuan County, with social prominence, had all received invitations, and Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua were invited by Lian Hengruo.

Lady Hua of the Lian Family was puzzled upon seeing two unfamiliar faces.

Before Lady Hua could inquire about which families Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua belonged to, Mrs. Han, the mother of County Magistrate Liu, warmly appeared, linking arms with Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua.

With Jufu Supermarket’s fame in Pingchuan, it’s well-known to all; Mrs. Han thought Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua were guests invited by Lady Hua, while Lady Hua thought they were Mrs. Han’s relatives accompanying her.

Since they are guests, she couldn’t afford to ignore County Magistrate Liu.

Grand household birthday banquets are all about the lively atmosphere; Tong Huaqiong and her companions were first invited to the garden’s pavilion to admire flowers and watch performances, talking moments before being seated for the meal.

Such banquets can be tedious for those accustomed to attending them frequently; Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua found everything fresh and engaging, whether listening to the opera or enjoying the meal.

At the banquet, Tong Huaqiong crossed paths with Xu Zaohua.

In these situations, the enemies seeing each other were intensely heated, Xu Zaohua wanted to stab Tong Huaqiong with words but dared not speak in front of Mrs. Han.

She consoled herself that she was here to witness the act of catching an adulterer, not to verbally spar with Tong Dajiao.

As Xu Zaohua glanced at Lian Hengruo joking with Gu Taohua, a cold smile appeared, let you enjoy the moment, soon you will face disaster.

Xu Zaohua’s expression caught Tong Huaqiong’s eye.

Gu Taohua suddenly raised her wine cup and sat directly in front of Xu Zaohua, saying, "Zaohua, so you’re here. Tsk tsk, look at what’s on your head and wearing on your body, no wonder folks in our village envy you. Your family keeps saying you have good fortune, having a son, without having to serve a husband, can do whatever you want; observing today proves it’s true."

"Here, I’ll toast you with a glass, after all, we both grew up in Qinghe Bay as sisters together. You can’t look down on me just because you’re now the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family."

Xu Zaohua was furious.

Her family indeed said she had a good life, with no husband but having a son, yet these words couldn’t be openly spoken.

If these reached the in-laws’ ears, she’d face grave trouble.

But in front of all the madams, she dared not erupt at Gu Taohua and had no choice but to drink the wine offered by Gu Taohua.

If she didn’t drink, it would spread tomorrow that she’d forgotten her roots.

Even though she hoped everyone in Pingchuan would forget she came from Qinghe Bay.

Xu Zaohua’s mind turned, knowing Gu Taohua was present, plotting against her along with Second Young Master Lian.

Gu Taohua mentioned she was living a good life without a husband; she’ll ensure Gu Taohua experiences what it feels like to be married yet suffer a living widow’s fate.