Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1438: Chapter 1439 Intelligence is a Shortcoming_1

Dou Yun would soon turn twenty after her birthday, which, in Danliang Country, deemed her quite an old maid. Her mother wished for her to marry into a good family, but the Jiang Family relied solely on Elder Jiang Ge’s support, and the Dou Family were just relatives of Jiang Ge, with no significant reputation in the Capital. Dou Yun, unlike a true Noble Lady, was not proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; she had no particular talent or fame. How could she possibly marry well?

However, Madam Dou had been spoiled by the Jiang Family over the years, and so her expectations were quite high, which had resulted in delaying Dou Yun’s marriage prospects.

There was a hint of resentment in Dou Yun’s heart, but now, upon seeing the handsome and elegant Bai Zepei, all her grievances vanished.

If she could marry such an outstanding man, what harm was there in waiting a few more years?

With this thought, Dou Yun’s cheeks grew even more flushed, her gaze towards Bai Zepei softened further, but alas, Bai Zepei did not spare her a single glance, leaving her feeling a touch colder inside.

Dou Yun began to regret; why hadn’t she visited Bai Ruozhu’s house earlier? If she had grown closer to Bai Ruozhu and met Bai Zepei sooner, would he still be ignoring her now?

Bai Ruozhu set down her chopsticks and said to Madam Dou with a faint smile, ”That’s right, we received the news on the way, but it’s not surprising. My second brother has always been talented. He even won the title of Kui Shou several times in the Eight Academy Competition in his younger years; it’s just that some people weren’t aware. As for those who only approach us now upon seeing my second brother’s success as the runner-up in the imperial examination, our Bai Family is cautious in our interactions.”

Madam Dou’s face slightly changed, but she quickly covered it up. Jiang Family’s Madam, sitting beside, couldn’t help but show a disdainful expression. She spoke before Madam Dou, ”Yichun, Ruozhu, now that you’re back, you should also pay a visit to the Old Master. He has been missing you both dearly these days without you and Dengdeng around.”

Jiang Yichun scoffed unapologetically, ”Auntie, there’s no need to speak for him. Please convey our thanks for our uncle’s concern. Ruozhu and I still have duties assigned to us; we will only be able to find the time to return in a few days.”

The lady from the Jiang Family smiled awkwardly, ”Even if your grandpa didn’t say it outright, he has you in his heart. He’s getting on in years; please bear with him.”

”Alright, what you say makes sense, auntie. Once we’ve dealt with the urgent matters assigned by His Majesty, we will visit the Jiang Residence and greet Elder Jiang Ge,” Bai Ruozhu quickly agreed, fearing that Jiang Yichun might utter more words that could embarrass the lady from the Jiang Family.

Indeed, by etiquette, they were supposed to visit as well, so it would be better to earn some favor from the lady from the Jiang Family now.

”So, Ruozhu, you aren’t going back to stay?” Madam Dou asked somewhat anxiously.

The laughter almost escaped Bai Ruozhu as she observed Madam Dou and the Jiang lady still clad in last year’s clothes, their eyes riveted to the feast on the table the moment they entered the room. It was clear that the Jiang Family had returned to more austere days, which had left Madam Dou and her companion quite unaccustomed.

She didn’t hurry to respond to Madam Dou and said with a smile, ”We have duties to attend to afterwards. We will have to abide by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager’s wishes. The Empress Dowager has appointed me as the Chief Female Doctor at the Imperial Medical Bureau, and Achun has important tasks as well. We really can’t spare the time to leave.”

Both the lady from the Jiang Family and Madam Dou displayed looks of surprise and envy. There was even a glint of jealousy in Madam Dou’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced with a smile, as she felt more than ever the need to secure a relationship with the Bai family.

”Madam Bai, your children are truly impressive. I feel so envious just looking at them, unlike my own mischievous boys,” Madam Dou said beamingly to Lin Ping’er, tugging at Dou Yun, she added, ”At least my daughter here is knowledgeable and well-mannered with a nice temperament; otherwise, my worries would’ve killed me.”

Lin Ping’er could clearly see her intentions and cheerfully said, ”The boy will be better once he grows up a bit; you shouldn’t worry too much.”

Lady Dou, seeing that Lin Ping’er wasn’t paying attention to Dou Yun, grew anxious and turned to Bai Zepei, saying, ”It’s only upon closer inspection today that I’ve realized just how fine a young man Zepei has become. I wonder which family’s Miss will catch the eye of your Zepei.” She finished with a giggling laugh.

Bai Ruozhu felt goosebumps all over her body at these words. ”Zepei” indeed, were they close? She found the familiarity in her tone overly affectionate.

Dou Yun’s face flushed, and she lowered her head, looking too shy to handle, whereas Jiang Zhihe, who had come along, stood confidently and even gave Bai Ruozhu a wink, signaling her to be wary of Lady Dou and her daughter.

Bai Ruozhu slyly winked back at Jiang Zhihe, thinking to herself how clueless Lady Dou was, imagining that a mere familial relation could threaten the Bai Family.

”My second brother just said he doesn’t want to marry too early, insisting on establishing his career first. But we’ve really had no shortage of matchmakers coming from the capital, daughters from families of princes and aristocrats included. With my second brother’s status and demeanor, naturally, he would look for a noble-born lady skilled in literature and poetry, who could add fragrance to his red sleeves,” Bai Ruozhu purposely said with a smile.

That was already quite a polite rejection. If Lady Dou couldn’t understand that, she couldn’t be blamed for not being courteous.

Dou Yun’s face lost its flush at once, her complexion turning even paler, and she seemed to wobble slightly.

Lady Dou’s face darkened as she addressed Bai Ruozhu, ”Ruozhu, it’s commonly said, ’High-born girls should marry down, and low-born wives should marry up.’ You ought to understand this principle. Your family isn’t of noble origin, so aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to control such a high-status daughter-in-law? People really should know their place.”

”My second brother’s career is full of promise, and now I too am a female officer, and even Achun holds an official post. Our Bai Family will certainly become a noble house in the future, so what is there to fear?” Bai Ruozhu laughed, ”How could an aunt by marriage look down on us? Do you think our Agricultural and Scholarly Family doesn’t deserve to rise?”

”I didn’t mean anything by it, just a few reminders—but look at how you speak to your elders! Aren’t you afraid of making a mockery of the Bai Family’s lack of manners?” Lady Dou felt publicly humiliated by Bai Ruozhu and immediately took on an elder’s authority to give her a lesson.

Lin Ping’er was not pleased upon hearing this—why should her daughter be admonished by someone else, especially when it was not her legitimate mother-in-law, just a distant relative from the Jiang Family?

”We appreciate Lady Dou’s kindness, but I will discipline my own daughter. She doesn’t need others to fret about her. Ruozhu and the others are busy, so I’m afraid we cannot entertain you any longer today,” said Lin Ping’er, making a gesture to see the guests out.

Jiang Madam tugged at Lady Dou, saying, ”See, you really don’t know how to speak. Let’s go back, we don’t want to create discord among relatives.”

Being disrespectful to one’s elders is unfilial, Lady Dou shouted, her neck rigid with indignation, ”And with such treatment of guests, how can the Bai Family ever expect to become a family of noble status? Do they think they can ignore their relatives now that they have a Kui Shou in their midst?” She believed the Bai Family, being in the public eye, had to be mindful of their reputation. By saying this, she expected the Bai Family would have to come and speak sweetly to her, making it easier for her to manipulate them later, and then the matter concerning Dou Yun would be settled, wouldn’t it?

Unfortunately, Lady Dou’s intelligence was a sore point.