Chapter 671: Chapter 673: Talking Gossip

Liang Feiling was overjoyed. He turned to show it to Mrs. Liang He and waited for her slight nod before breaking into a wide grin.

He carefully closed the box, hugged it tightly to his chest, and said sincerely, "I love your gift, Madam. Thank you very much."

Jin Qianqian smiled. "I’m glad you like it, Feiling."

Mrs. Liang He had just glanced at it and knew that Jin Qianqian had put a lot of thought into this gift.

"You are very thoughtful, Mrs. Gu."

Jin Qianqian replied, "As long as the boy is happy."

"I’m late," Zhang Guihong said as she arrived, led by a maid. Cen Yueqin followed behind her.

"Greetings, ladies." Zhang Guihong smiled and greeted everyone. Since arriving in Yongchang County, she had attended every invitation and quickly gotten to know many people.

"Greetings, Lady Liang." Her eyes immediately fell on Jin Qianqian, who was sitting next to Mrs. Liang He. "Mrs. Gu, we meet again."

Jin Qianqian saw she was extravagantly dressed as always and gave her a friendly smile.

Mrs. Liang He said, "Lady Cen, please, have a seat. Is this your daughter behind you?"

Cen Yueqin took a small step forward. "I am Yue Qin of the Cen Family. Greetings to all the madams."

"You’re so blessed, Lady Cen. With such a sweet and lovely daughter, your days must be so comforting." After speaking, Mrs. Liang He slipped a bracelet from her wrist. "This is for our first meeting. A little something for you to wear."

Jin Qianqian also took a Jade Pendant from Lichun’s hand. "We met in such a hurry last time, I didn’t have a chance to give you a gift. Here, this is for you."

At a signal from Zhang Guihong, Cen Yueqin stepped forward, accepted the gifts, and then performed a Fuli in thanks.

Mrs. Liang He called over her own niece. "This is my niece from my maiden family, He Xiaoyu. You girls can go and have fun together."

After Jin Qianqian and the others also gave their greeting gifts, the banquet officially began.

"We were just wondering why you hadn’t arrived yet. Were you delayed by something?" Lady Wu patted the seat next to her, inviting Zhang Guihong to sit down.

Zhang Guihong didn’t stand on ceremony and went right over to sit down. "I was held up for a bit as I was leaving. Sorry to keep you waiting."

She really hadn’t intended to be the last to arrive. It was just that Aunt Lan in her household was being difficult, causing a scene right as she was about to leave.

"That’s completely understandable. We all have so much to deal with, both inside and outside the home, and there are always some people who make things difficult." This remark opened the floodgates, and soon everyone was chiming in, one after another, airing the troubles they faced at home.

After all, when a group of women get together, if they aren’t talking about clothes and fashion, they’re talking about the affairs of the back courtyard.

When Aunt Lan was mentioned, all the official wives present had looks of contempt on their faces.

If Zhang Guihong hadn’t come, and they had remained unaware of the situation, they might have actually continued to interact with Aunt Lan as if she were Lady Cen.

"You have no idea. Before you arrived, we had sent an invitation to your residence, and that Aunt Lan actually accepted it and came!" The one who said this, Mrs. Guo, shook her head. "We didn’t know at the time, so you can’t blame us."

"How could I possibly blame you? My own household produced such an unruly creature.

I’ve already spoken to my husband about it. He was also careless and let that bitch take advantage of the situation."

One still had to maintain a façade of dignity in public. Even though everyone knew the real situation, appearances had to be kept up.

"It’s the same for all of us, really. Our households are full of frustrating matters." At this, Lady Wu looked toward Jin Qianqian. "Mrs. Gu, your situation is much more peaceful. I hear Mr. Gu only brought you with him to his new post this time.

I don’t know how you keep your household so stable. I’d love to ask you for a few pointers."

The question was posed with a hint of malice. Seeing that all eyes were on her, Jin Qianqian covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled. "I really don’t have any experience in that matter.

I suppose you ladies are from far away and haven’t heard.

My husband’s family has a clan rule: a man can only take a concubine if he is forty and still has no son. My luck is pretty good, so my husband won’t have that blessing."

Everyone was stunned. Even Mrs. Liang He was a bit envious. She had married into the Liang Mansion as a young maiden, and though she immediately became an Imperial Decree Lady upon entering the family, the household still had old concubines and newly acquired ones, and the back courtyard was full of troubles.

"Is there really such a rule?" someone exclaimed in surprise.

Jin Qianqian replied, "Of course. I wouldn’t just make up a reason like that to deceive you all."

The ladies were merely surprised to hear of such a rule for the first time; they weren’t actually questioning the truth of her claim.

Even if Jin Qianqian were the boldest person alive, she wouldn’t dare to joke about a clan’s rules.

"That’s really wonderful." The women present all felt a complicated mix of emotions.

They spent their days battling wits with the little vixens in their own back courtyards, yet here was someone living so freely.

"What if someone violates it?"

Jin Qianqian had no intention of elaborating there. "Then naturally, the clan’s rules will deal with them."

"How wonderful," Lady Wu said, her tone filled with envy. Then her eyes lit up as she looked at Jin Qianqian. "I wonder, does Mr. Gu have any unmarried brothers?"

If such a good rule was really in place, it would be a good opportunity for a marriage alliance.

The eyes of the other ladies also grew fervent. Which of them didn’t have a marriageable girl in their family? This was an excellent prospect.

Jin Qianqian shook her head. "I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you all. My husband is the seventh child, and he has no younger siblings."

’There’s no need to mention Old Gu, the one who was expelled from the family.’

Hearing this, the ladies were inevitably a little disappointed and felt it was a pity. Unfortunately, Mrs. Gu’s two legitimate sons were still young, and there were no other suitable children in her household.

Knowing there was no opportunity here, the group stopped dwelling on the topic and started chatting about fashionable fabrics.

After finishing the refreshments and being treated to a delicious meal, the day’s banquet finally came to an end.

Leaning back in the carriage, Jin Qianqian stretched her arms. "How are Minghai’s preparations coming along these days?"

Lichun replied, "He has already found a good location, but the storefront itself isn’t ideal. To turn it into a restaurant, it would probably have to be torn down and rebuilt."

Jin Qianqian said, "Have him come and report to me when we get back to the residence."

’I don’t want to be busy with backyard affairs all day. If I have my own business to manage, I’ll have an excuse to turn down social obligations.’

Lichun assented. "Today, a few of the young masters from the Gu family stopped me. They wanted me to ask if you have any arrangements for them.

They feel that just wandering the streets isn’t a solution and want to find something to do."

Jin Qianqian said, "I didn’t expect them to be the first to get impatient. Have them come to the back courtyard early tomorrow morning. They’ve been idle for long enough; it’s about time I found something for them to do."

Lichun remained silent.

Jin Qianqian didn’t say anything either. After spending a whole day outside dealing with those women and their gossip, she was not only physically and mentally exhausted, but her head was also throbbing.

’At the same time, she was sorting things out in her mind. Lady Liang’s initial enthusiasm toward her wasn’t just about building a good relationship. She was definitely eyeing my two children.’

’I really don’t know where she gets the confidence to think I’d let my two legitimate sons be playmates for her child.’

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