Chapter 678 - 665: Slapping the Transmigrator 20 (Bonus for 550 Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 678: Chapter 665: Slapping the Transmigrator 20 (Bonus for 550 Monthly Tickets)

Anning and Xiao Yuan arrived at the Cui home. Xiao Yuan had the servant lead him to meet Second Master Cui, while Anning first went to Old Lady Cui.

The original owner frequently visited the Cui home in earlier years and was very familiar with Old Lady Cui. When Anning arrived, she stood outside the door and heard voices inside, then she stepped over the threshold.

Behind a screen, Anning smiled and said, "What is Old Madam talking about? It sounds lively in here."

Upon hearing Anning’s voice, Old Lady Cui quickly said, "You’re finally here. I was just saying, it’s been many days since your last visit. I wondered if you had forgotten about this forgettable old woman."

Anning walked around the screen and saw a spacious room, fully furnished. Across from her sat an old lady on a couch, with a small table in front of her that held tea, snacks, and dry fruits.

To the side of the old lady stood two beautiful maids. Seated on her lower left was Madam Cui, the wife of Cui Ji, and on the lower right was the second wife, Cui Ji.

Next to Mrs. Zhao sat a young woman in apricot-colored clothes, and several little girls aged five or six and a little plump boy in red sat next to Mrs. Ji.

Anning approached and first greeted Old Lady Cui, "It’s not that I haven’t come to visit, I was just busy with marriage matters and couldn’t go out. As soon as the home was settled, I hurried to visit you."

Old Lady Cui helped Anning up, sizing her up, "It’s been a while since I last saw you, and you look even more handsome. Knowing you’re married, I assume you have been living comfortably. Those unaware might think you’ve taken some miraculous spirit pill."

Anning laughed, "If I had any miraculous spirit pill, I would offer it to you first, Old Madam. You always tease me. If you keep making fun of me, I might just have to stay here for lunch."

A maid next to the Old Lady said, "It would be good if Miss did stay for lunch. Old Madam has been thinking of you these days, always asking about you. Today, you must stay for a meal."

Anning pinched the maid’s face, "If Qingping wants me to stay for lunch, then seven dishes and eight bowls must all be prepared, or else I won’t agree."

Old Lady Cui pointed at Anning and laughed, "You girl, always teasing my maids every time you come. Alright, stop pinching Qingping’s face, or it will turn red."

Anning then let go, "Indeed, Old Madam still dotes on Qingping the most."

After chatting a bit more, she took a seat to the lower-right of Mrs. Ji.

The young woman sitting opposite her was curiously sizing her up.

Anning smiled at the woman.

Mrs. Zhao pointed to the woman and said, "You might not recognize her yet. This is Granny from our household."

Anning then knew this must be from the Guan Group.

She smiled and called her "sister-in-law," and the woman from Guan responded.

Anning noticed a smile on the woman’s face but a hint of bitterness in her eyes.

She did not ponder it much and continued chatting with Old Lady Cui before following Mrs. Ji.

Leaving Old Lady Cui’s place, they passed through a small door and crossed several courtyards to reach Mrs. Ji’s room.

On the way, Mrs. Ji spoke to Anning, "I think Cui Yiran regrets it now."

Eh?

Anning looked at Mrs. Ji.

Mrs. Ji whispered, "When Mrs. Guan entered our family, her dowry was too modest. Even though Madam entered as a concubine, our family was truly in decline, yet her dowry was not much less than hers. Mrs. Guan claims to come from a scholarly, distinguished background, but that dowry truly cannot be presented. Cui Yiran has been looking unhappy for several days."

Anning smiled, "How they manage is none of my business. I live my own life."

She leaned toward Mrs. Ji, "Now that the main branch has a new bride, has Aunt handed over the stewardship to the main branch?"

Mrs. Ji stopped, looking at Anning, "What do you mean by that?"

Anning did not avoid or yield, her eyes fixed directly on Mrs. Ji: "Does aunt really not understand what I mean? You know best how Cui Yiran and I broke off the engagement initially. If Cui Yiran could scheme against our Ji Family, can he really harbor any good feelings towards you, aunt? I know the hardships you’ve endured managing this household over the years, and I also know that it’s not easy to manage this house. Aunt, you’ve sacrificed so much to maintain the social relations of the house, but those in the main branch, including Cui Yiran, may not be aware of it. He probably even resents you for having taken so much from the second branch."

Mrs. Ji had never considered this.

She wasn’t as clever or articulate as Anning, despite some stubborn and calculating traits, Mrs. Ji had truly devoted herself to managing the household all these years.

She had never thought that managing the household would cause others to resent her.

Now that Anning had spoken these words, it undoubtedly served as a reminder to Mrs. Ji.

"Aunt."

Anning held Mrs. Ji’s hand: "We are close family, there shouldn’t be anything we can’t discuss. I’ll speak my mind, whether right or wrong, and please don’t take it too seriously as if arguing with a child. I’m thinking that everyone in the main branch likely suspects that aunt has embezzled the household’s goods, and if you don’t relinquish control over the household affairs now, they’ll be even more convinced that there’s a lot to gain from it."

Mrs. Ji nodded, and after a long pause, she said: "My child, what you said is true. I hadn’t thought of these things, but now... well, I’ve managed the household enough over the years. I’ve tired myself out, and it’s time to rest."

The two walked together and went to see Cui Siran.

When Anning arrived, Cui Siran’s wife from the Sun Family was also there.

She stood at the door to welcome Anning, who quickly approached: "You can stay inside, I’m not such an honorable guest that you need to come out to greet me."

Sun Family smiled: "You haven’t visited in a long time, I’ve really missed you."

As she entered the room, Anning didn’t approach closely and kept her distance while speaking to Cui Siran.

It had been a while since Anning had seen Cui Siran, and the sight gave her quite a shock.

Previously, Cui Siran was a mild-mannered young gentleman, but now his whole appearance had changed, lying on the bed weak and listless, his skin sallow and unhealthy.

It was a distressing sight.

Seeing Cui Siran stirred some emotions in her, and Anning’s eyes welled up, turning red.

She turned her head away and took a deep breath to compose herself; when she turned back, her face was smiling: "Knowing that cousin has not been liking greasy foods recently, my husband specially picked out some fresh fruits yesterday. If cousin would like, we can have sister-in-law fetch some for you to try. If they are good, I can try to get some more."

Cui Siran nodded, sizing up Anning, saw that she looked well and her eyes were bright, and felt relieved knowing that her days must have been good.

"Thank you for your concern. In a bit, let my brother-in-law come for a visit, my cousin here has yet to meet him."

Anning took a few steps forward: "He’ll be here shortly. Right now, he must be held up by uncle discussing his studies."

As she spoke, Anning and Cui Siran both laughed.

Mrs. Sun invited Anning to sit: "Cousin, please advise him. Despite his condition, he still wants to study all the time. He doesn’t listen to anything I say. Later you and your brother-in-law must help me talk to him."

Anning nodded with a smile.

In Old Lady Cui’s room, after Anning and Mrs. Ji had left, Old Lady Cui’s expression was faint.

The Guan Group knew that Old Madam was displeased with her.

Feeling anxious, she dared not speak further.

Old Madam glanced at Guan Group and said: "If there’s something you need to do in your room, you should go. I don’t need anyone attending to me here."

Guan Group didn’t say anything, just rose and excused herself.

After Guan Group left, Old Lady Cui complained to Qingping: "Look at that, what kind of people are these? A young girl, yet she behaves like a wooden puppet, lifeless. She comes here, sits there without speaking, putting on airs of superiority, probably because she thinks none of us are educated enough, looking down on us."