Chapter 148 - A Test (1)

"Straighten your back and lift your chin more. Don't dart your eyes around! Don't move so stiffly like that!"

Li Caiyi tried hard to keep up with the instructions, but this position was tough to maintain. She had been practicing the correct way of walking for a few hours, but she couldn't seem to do it right. The stack of books on top of her head was heavy, making her neck sore. 

However, Li Caiyi dared not to complain under her mother-in-law's piercing gaze. She took a deep breath and recalled the instructions from the top again. 

Qin Xiangjun stared at Li Caiyi's form with a deep frown on her face. She was already dissatisfied with her son's marriage, even more so when she found out that her daughter-in-law honestly had nothing worthy to talk about. Her son was such an excellent man, so how could his wife be any less than perfect as well? 

She really didn't understand why her husband was so adamant about marrying Meng Renshu with Li family's daughter.

If it were Li Chunhua, perhaps Qin Xiangjun wouldn't be this distraught. Because although she also didn't like Li Chunhua that much, she was still more tolerable than her dull and gloomy twin sister. It was already frustrating that she had to be content with her son's unsatisfying marriage, but her daughter-in-law was just too much of a disappointment. She couldn't introduce her to her circle of friends like this.

"What kind of etiquette did the Li family teach you? How can you not know how to walk properly at your age?" Qin Xiangjun sighed in exasperation. 

"I-I'm sorry, Mother. Let me try it again." Li Caiyi said.

"You already said that three times and the result is still the same. No matter how bad you are, this is just too much. Are you perhaps doing this on purpose?"

The sudden accusation baffled Li Caiyi. "No! Of course not! I'm really trying my best here."

"Then, why don't I see any improvement until now? We have been doing this routine for days, and I have yet to see any improvement in you. Even my patience has its limit. If you're not determined to improve, then just forget it. I don't want to waste my time with someone like that."

Li Caiyi didn't want to anger her mother-in-law, so she lowered her head subserviently and said apologetically, "I'm sorry."

However, that attitude only irked Qin Xiangjun further. Her impatience got the best of her, so she stood up angrily and left the room without saying anything, leaving Li Caiyi, who stood awkwardly with books on top of her head.

Li Caiyi watched how Qin Xiangjun left angrily and felt a heavy pressure on her heart. It had been two weeks since Li Caiyi was married to the Meng Family, and she was required to follow an etiquette lesson once every two days. 

She knew her mother-in-law was dissatisfied with her, so she didn't refuse when Qin Xiangjun advised her to take on the lesson. However, even Li Caiyi didn't know she would be so bad at it.

Every kid from an influential or wealthy family was supposed to receive etiquette lessons from childhood, and Li Caiyi wasn't an exception. Her manner wasn't excellent, but it was still decent. 

Unfortunately, just 'decent' wasn't acceptable in this house. Qin Xiangjun wanted the best partner for Meng Renshu. That was why she pushed Li Caiyi harder every day.

Considering how Qin Xiangjun was one of the best socialites in the whole city, Li Caiyi understood why she had such a high standard. Still, she didn't expect her training to be this rigorous. Even after Li Caiyi practiced independently, she still couldn't keep up with Qin Xiangjun's standard. Her inadequateness frustrated even herself.

"No, don't give up. Let's do this again." Li Caiyi said to herself. She straightened her back and repeated the instructions Qin Xiangjun told her once again.

***

Today was a birthday banquet for one of Meng Corporation's business partners. Meng Renshu had been trying to reach out to this person to cooperate with his company, so this banquet was extremely important to him. 

Among the guests who attended the banquet, Li Caiyi always stuck close to Meng Renshu as they walked around. Usually, Meng Renshu would do the bulk of talking, and Li Caiyi would only need to respond and talk occasionally. However, this time was different because Qin Xiangjun suddenly asked him to lend Li Caiyi to her.

Meng Renshu was reluctant at first because he knew how bad Li Caiyi was when talking to a stranger, but Qin Xiangjun assured him she would look after her, so he relented.

"Don't worry about anything and just relax. Mother will be there for you if you need any help." Meng Renshu smiled at Li Caiyi. "If you already finished with your ladies' talk, come to me anytime."

Li Caiyi was the most comfortable beside Meng Renshu on occasions like this, but she knew she couldn't be willful here. As the Madam of the Meng Family, she couldn't avoid socializing with people forever. 

Moreover, Qin Xiangjun would be even more dissatisfied with her if she always used Meng Renshu as her shield. 

"Yes, I understand. I'll see you later, Renshu." 

Meng Renshu nodded his head before he walked away. Li Caiyi still felt awkward calling him by only his first name, but it would be weird if she called him the way she used to.

"Have you finished talking? Then, shall we go?" Qin Xiangjun said as she beckoned her daughter-in-law to follow her.

Li Caiyi obediently followed her, and Qin Xiangjun took her to a table in the center of the room, where a few ladies of various ages sat together. They all looked sophisticated and elegant, but Li Caiyi couldn't help but shudder when their eyes fell on her. She felt like a mouse that had been caught in a hawk's gaze. 

"Introduce yourself first. There are my friends, and they have always wanted to meet you," Qin Xiangjun said while putting her hand on Li Caiyi's back. However, she could also feel that hand slightly pinched her back as if warning her not to mess up.

Li Caiyi swallowed her saliva nervously.. Every single person on this table looked at her with a smile on their face, but their eyes were measuring her from hair to toe.