287 No Escape Now
In the resting room, only Third Madam Bai’s voice was still echoing around.
After she grumbled about Fourth Madam Bai, she continued to do so about Yun Wei. After that, she also grumbled about Shen Ruojing.
In the span of a few sentences, she had offended all the main characters of the banquet today.
One could hear between the lines of what she said. It was that she looked down on Yun Wei, and Shen Ruojing was here for freebies.
However, the people from the first house pretended not to understand and ignored this.
!!
Since the people from the third house were considered Third Madam Bai’s children and they didn’t wish to offend a mother figure like her who was also narrow-minded, no one helped to speak up for Yun Wei’s group.
Hence, Fourth Madam Bai was so angry that she felt stifled.
She clenched her fists tightly. She had never been humiliated like this before!
Ever since she married into the Bai Family, other than the old madam, everyone had been good to her. She and her husband loved each other, and her father-in-law regarded her highly. Although she only gave birth to a single child, she knew very clearly that her father-in-law was very fond of her child and would often get her child to accompany him.
Speaking of background, Third Madam Bai was inferior to her. Third Madam Bai was also inferior to her when it came to things like dowry and the love between husband and wife!
She always acted so strangely because of envy and jealousy. Hence, Fourth Madam Bai had never minded Third Madam Bai before. However, her son was going to marry a wife now, yet his wife was being despised.
Fourth Madam Bai’s chest was heaving up and down. Clearly, she was badly infuriated.
At this moment, Yun Wei calmly spoke, “Third Madam Bai, do you have an objection because the Bai Family issued an invitation to my cousin? Why don’t you check with Old Master Bai about this? There’s no need for you to keep targeting us verbally here.”
This single sentence caused Third Madam Bai to choke.
Objection?
Would she dare to have any objection to Old Master Bai’s decision?
Of course not!
She then snorted coldly.
However, Yun Wei continued to ask, “Third Madam Bai, are my words wrong? Or is it because you don’t welcome me and my cousin?”
Would Third Madam Bai dare to say that she didn’t welcome the people that Old Master Bai invited?
Only then did Third Madam Bai realize that Yun Wei wasn’t a soft persimmon!
Yun Wei wasn’t someone easy to bully.
Madam Yun’s personality was weak, which in turn caused Yun Wei’s personality to be more domineering. Back in the Yun Family, she already had a hand in the family business before her younger brother even graduated, and she was now responsible for a few film projects.
If one wanted to argue, who could win against her?
Third Madam Bai was gnashing her teeth in anger silently, but she could only force a smile. “I welcome you two.”
Yun Wei smiled upon hearing that.
Fourth Madam Bai glanced at her in astonishment.
She had originally thought that her daughter-in-law had a shy personality. So, she hadn’t expected her daughter-in-law to be so good with words that it stumped her third sister-in-law!
Her liking for Yun Wei increased slightly.
And at this moment, the sound of footsteps rang out from outside.
A young couple was supporting an old lady in her seventies as they entered.
The young couple was tall, but Shen Ruojing’s gaze first landed on the old lady at the center.
The old lady was very old now. Her body frame was skinny, yet her mental state was clearly very good. Her demeanor was graceful and dignified, like a young miss that was the daughter of a landlord from ancient times.
She slowly walked to the top seat, and those people all immediately stood up, greeting her respectfully.
“Grandma.”
“Mother.”
After that, they then looked at the couple beside her. Bai Xiaojiu and a few others from his generation continued to greet, “Big brother, sister-in-law.”
That couple then looked at the Third and Fourth Madams and said, “Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt.”
Shen Ruojing found it a little interesting when she saw this situation.
This introduction banquet seemed messy, but in actual fact, there was a sequence.
The first who arrived were the juniors, then the seniors, and lastly, those of direct descent and their wives!
It seemed that the Bai Family regarded the tradition of valuing the eldest grandchild very heavily.
Shen Ruojing was pondering when she suddenly heard the eldest grandson’s wife laughing. “Third Aunt, what were you talking about? We have yet to enter, but we already heard your voice.”
Third Madam Bai’s eyes flashed. She lowered her head. “I’m telling Xiaojiu’s future wife about our family. She was puzzled why there was no second house in our family.”
This single sentence caused the seated old lady’s gaze to abruptly sharpen.
Pak!
She slammed her hand on the table, causing everyone who was seated to stand up once more.
Shen Ruojing who was seated down. “…”
She glanced left and right and discovered that even Yun Wei had stood up. Hence, she slowly got up to her feet. After that, she heard the old lady berating, “You are so nosy although you have yet to join our family. Xiaojiu’s wife, you can be considered someone from a major family in Ford City, so how can you be so lacking in morals?”
After scolding Yun Wei, she looked at Bai Xiaojiu. “Your grandfather must have spoiled you! You can’t even manage your own wife well, how ridiculous. After the banquet today, you are to go to the ancestral hall and kneel there!”
Yun Wei frowned and wanted to explain, but Bai Xiaojiu tugged on her sleeves.
Hence, she could only curb her tongue in bewilderment.
After Matriarch Bai finished scolding them, her gaze swept past Shen Ruojing and ignored her. She then continued, “Alright, today is the introduction banquet, so I won’t continue to make things difficult for you. After you marry Xiaojiu and join our family, you best take note to control your mouth!”
After speaking, she stood up. “Time’s up, let’s enter the dining hall!”
Upon saying that, she allowed herself to be supported by the eldest grandson’s wife and left directly.
The remaining people in this resting room followed her.
The Third and Fourth Madams had a higher status, so the rest had to follow behind them. Third Madam Bai had a look of joy on her face at this moment, feeling extremely complacent.
On the other hand, Fourth Madam Bai was extremely angry.
After the two of them entered, the people in the room followed them in sequential order in terms of their statuses.
Finally, it was Bai Xiaojiu’s turn. He then brought Yun Wei with him. After lengthening the distance between them and those in front, Bai Xiaojiu had a self-mocking smile on his face. “Do you feel depressed about why I didn’t let you explain earlier?”
Yun Wei nodded.
Bai Xiaojiu sighed. “Grandma has never liked me. If I explain further, she might feel that we are trying to argue. Hence, I can’t be bothered.”
Yun Wei frowned. “Why?”
Bai Xiaojiu glanced at the surroundings before he explained, “Back then, when my second uncle left home, it was because he was unhappy about the marriage that grandpa arranged for him. After he left, the marriage responsibilities fell onto my father’s shoulders.”
Shen Ruojing who was beside them was startled slightly as she tried to make sense of this.
(This means that Fourth Madam Bai was supposed to marry the second son of the Bai Family, but in the end, the second son refused and left home. And because of this, Matriarch Bai blames this matter on Fourth Madam Bai?!)
(My heavens, how twisted!)
Things in influential families were too troublesome. It wasn’t suited if one wanted to retire in an influential family!
However, Yun Wei actually figured out the reason quicker than her. She frowned. “But you are also her grandson and your father is her son!”
Bai Xiaojiu sighed. “Although the fact that grandpa dotes on me more is a secret, some people in the family still know about this. Hence, my eldest brother is somewhat unhappy. My grandma dotes on him and his wife the most because his wife said she had found our second uncle for her. However, my second uncle refused to return home and would only make a phone call every month…Grandma was very grateful to eldest sis-in-law because of this matter, hence, she is biased toward them.”
Old Master Bai’s doting on Bai Xiaojiu caused the rest of the older grandchildren to feel unhappy. This was why Matriarch Bai loathed him.
After understanding the Bai Family’s situation, Shen Ruojing had a hint of pity in her gaze as she looked at Yun Wei.
Most probably, her cousin was going to marry into a wolf lair.
But she didn’t expect Yun Wei’s eyes to brighten suddenly after hearing this. In fact, she even rubbed her hands in anticipation. “Don’t worry. After we mar…I mean in the future, I’ll definitely help you to fight back!”
She had learned about domestic politics since she was young for the sake of dealing with Wen Yuyi and Shen Wanxian.
It was a pity that her father loved her mother too much and would help her to suppress Shen Wanxian, causing Yun Wei to be unable to put her skills to good use.
But now, she could finally do so!
She was raring to go!
Yun Wei wasn’t willing to be a salted fish!
Shen Ruojing. “??”
She casually asked, “Why did you describe it as your eldest sis-in-law said that she had found your second uncle?”
Hearing this, Bai Xiaojiu immediately glanced at her.
The big boss’s daughter was truly impressive. She discovered the blind spot in his words in an instant.
Yun Wei’s expression also grew serious. She then mentally made a note about this in her heart.
Bai Xiaojiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Because my second uncle has never returned despite so many years. Hence, this is only my suspicion. I didn’t expect you to discover it from my words.”
Yun Wei understood. “You mean…”
Bai Xiaojiu nodded. “Hmm.”
Yun Wei started and continued, “Doesn’t that mean that if we can find your real second uncle for her, your grandma will put down the past and no longer target you and your mother deliberately?”
“It’s our mother,” Bai Xiaojiu reminded her and Yun Wei immediately blushed.
Bai Xiaojiu then smiled. “You are correct, but I tried searching before and there was no news. My second uncle has left home for almost thirty years. How would there still be any clues?”
Yun Wei patted his shoulders. “Don’t be anxious, we will find him one day.”
Shen Ruojing then looked at Bai Xiaojiu. She faintly felt that his appearance bore some similarities to someone she had seen. But where did she see someone similar to him before?
Just when she was pondering, the three of them finally entered the dining hall. After that, she saw Chu Cichen who was arranged to sit beside Old Master Bai.
Shen Ruojing lifted her brows and couldn’t help but whistle in her heart. (Hah! What a coincidence!)
The man seemed to have discovered something as he also turned his head over abruptly.
As their gazes matched, Chu Cichen was stunned for a time.
Was the capital so small?
Why were their chance encounters like that of a drama?
For a time, he felt a little ill at ease, as though the chair was burning his bum.
Was it apt if he found an excuse to leave right now?
Just when he was thinking of this, he saw Old Master Bai pointing to the seat beside Chu Cichen. Old Master Bai then spoke to Shen Ruojing, “Miss Shen, this seat is specially arranged for you. You can come over and sit here!”
Chu Cichen. “…”