"Husband was right; these genes really aren’t much to speak of," she murmured.
Thus rejected by Mrs. Lai, the young lady felt anger surge, stomping her foot, ready to storm off huffing and puffing. She took a few steps but paused at the doorstep, seemingly reluctant to leave.
At that mont, she slled the aroma of at wafting from the kitchen, which halted her steps. Her eyes darted around and landed on Hongji’s father, seated with his kin, leisurely puffing on a bamboo pipe. The n conversed sporadically, enveloped in a cloud of smoke.
The young lady stared intensely at Hongji’s father, studying him. This man, in his forties or fifties, was dressed in garnts befitting a wealthy man and bore no signs of severe aging.
He looked every part the wealthy master; a wealthy master in his forties or fifties could still take a young woman as a concubine, provided he could afford the price.
Hongji’s father, at the age of forty-sothing, had long been working on woodworking with his son at ho, seldom going out in the sun. His skin was not dark and his beard was freshly shaved, though a few white hairs on his head made him seem slightly older. Nevertheless, his physique was robust and his face showed little age.
To the young lady, he possessed a certain mature charm of a handso uncle, particularly more so when he was smoking.
Hongji’s father seed to notice he was being watched. Seeing it was an unmarried young lady, he rely thought she was curious about their smoking and thought nothing more of it.
He had once thought of taking a concubine but later abandoned the idea, feeling content with the current situation. His aging wife could no longer keep up, and he had to make do.
The young lady glanced back at Mrs. Lai, noticing how old she looked. If she married this man, he would surely dote on her imnsely.
If she could also bear him a son or daughter, she might even contest for a share of his wealth.
Mrs. Lai gave her niece a helpless smile.
Little did Mrs. Lai know that her children were already scheming against her.
With a plan in mind, the young lady left without further delay, intending to discuss strategies with her family back ho.
Not long after, her parents visited Mrs. Lai’s parental ho, along with the young lady.
With the in-laws visiting, the Lai Family felt obliged to keep them for dinner.
The young lady and her parents thus dined at Mrs. Lai’s parental ho.
The n drank during the al, and her father, with a plan in mind, continuously urged Hongji’s father to drink, praising his capacity for alcohol and insisting on toasting with him.
The other n of the Lai Family joined in the toasting, prompting Hongji’s father to drink several more glasses, leaving him slightly dizzy and unable to resist starting with the at.
Little did he consider he had to drive a cart and lacked the foresight of his son.
The al lasted longer for the n than for the won. They weren’t just there to eat but to drink, consu at, and exchange flatteries through conversation.
Hongji’s father, hearing these words and having drunk a bit more, felt even less in control of himself.
The n, slightly drunk, left the dining area without caring about the still-present relatives, finding beds to sleep off the alcohol in their rooms.
The young lady’s father, seizing the mont when no one was drinking anymore, forcefully pulled Hongji’s father to his ho for a chat and perhaps a few more drinks.
The young lady had already returned ho with her mother to plan with their family, just waiting for their prey to co knocking.
Mrs. Lai had intended to stop her husband from being dragged off to drink, but back at her parental ho, her sister-in-law and mother, claiming they needed to speak with her privately, whisked her away into a room.
At this mont, Mrs. Lai did not yet realize that her mother and sister-in-law had already betrayed her, believing the Empress too would solidify her power in the Imperial Harem by sending her own sister there.
Mrs. Lai, now aged, was of little assistance to her parental family.
The young lady’s mother had promised them a substantial sum of money, saying they would share half of the gift money with them as soon as their family received it, and later, a portion of the Ye family’s wealth as well.
Though the assets were not yet in hand, resembling re empty promises, human greed works in such ways—acting on another’s promise alone.
They did not consider whether it was legal or how it might impact familial affection.
Hongji’s father, intoxicated, was led to the young lady’s ho to drink.
In his blurred vision, he surveyed this relative’s ho. Although it did not match the wealth of Mrs. Lai’s parental ho with its red brick tiles, it was certainly better than so people’s earthen hos.
The young lady and her mother prepared more wine and dishes for the n.
Joining her father in drinking with Hongji’s father were also her brother and younger brother.
The others had already sought places to hide after eating, having prepared extra food and sending the children and other family mbers away for the sche.
Hongji’s father, already staggering drunk, had a hard ti walking and was further encouraged to drink by the two younger n—one glass after another. Afterwards, he even ventured to the outhouse and was then supported by a pair of soft, delicate white hands. He sensed a fragrant aroma emanating from the person assisting him and stumbled into a room to be laid down to sleep.
He was then moved onto a bed that was softer than the previous one, able to sll a faint scent in the room.
As Hongji’s father lay on the bed, a pair of triumphant eyes watched him. Then, shedding her coat, she also climbed onto the bed.
Reviews
All reviews (0)