A Good Country Wife
Chapter 406 - 400_1

Chapter 406: Chapter 400_1

Upon learning that Lord Chen had extended an invitation, Lin Yue thought it would be inappropriate to arrive too late. Thus, she postponed her shopping plans, deciding to pay a visit to Lord and Lady Chen first. However, the thought of having to give another significant gift pained her. Still, as the saying goes, "No pain, no gain." If she wanted to build a relationship with Lord Chen, she couldn’t afford to be stingy. After much deliberation, Lin Yue took out one of the two large embroidered pictures she had brought with her, the smaller one, and decided to present it as a gift.

Even though it was the smaller one, the picture still would fetch at least a thousand taels of silver on the market. It was a sizable expenditure to curry favor with Lord Chen, but having a powerful patron was critically important in those times. Ever since Ceng Lu became the Magistrate of Xin’an City, the Zhao Family had felt the pressure, and both Erhu and Lin Yue were profoundly aware of this situation. Thus, when Lord Chen extended an olive branch, they were eager to accept it.

"Wife, if you really can’t bear to part with it, we can switch it for another gift," Zhao Erhu said, seeing his little wife’s distressed expression and naturally not wanting her to suffer.

Lin Yue shook her head. "Let’s just give it. We know that Lady Chen likes my embroidery, and giving something else would seem insincere. I just feel pained that this piece of embroidery, which could sell for at least a thousand taels of silver, is being given away just like that."

Hearing Lin Yue say this, Zhao Erhu had an epiphany, realizing it wasn’t the embroidered picture she was pained about, but the silver. He had forgotten his little wife was quite fond of money; no wonder she felt so distressed after giving away so many things recently.

They packed the large embroidered picture, along with several smaller items, handmade soaps prepared earlier, and some homemade delicacies from their own production, riding in a carriage all the way to the Chen Mansion. It was only when they were about to arrive that Lin Yue remembered the customs of these elite families: visiting required a prior delivery of a visiting card. Having no such practice in the countryside had led to this oversight. But now that they were at the family’s doorstep, could they really turn back?

Lin Yue was in a quandary, and Zhao Erhu, aware of the importance these matters had to great households, wondered if they should return home first and then come back after sending the visiting card.

Lord Chen, having returned from court, saw a carriage stopped at the entrance of his mansion. After sending someone to inquire and learning that it was the Zhao couple, he invited them inside.

"Brother Zhao, Madame Zhao, please come in," Lord Chen said warmly and hospitably as he ushered them into the mansion. Then, turning to the servant beside him, he instructed, "Go and summon the lady. Tell her an old friend is visiting and ask her to come out to meet the guests."

"Lord Chen, we apologize for arriving unannounced!" Zhao Erhu said, bowing to Lord Chen. Since it was a private visit and Lord Chen was looking for closeness, there was no need for a full set of kneeling and salutations.

Lin Yue also bowed briefly to Lord Chen, "Lin Yue pays respects to Lord Chen."

"Haha, wonderful, it’s rare for old friends to drop by. Let’s talk in the hall," Lord Chen replied, genuinely pleased to see the Zhao couple. Although there were some personal interests involved, he had initially taken particular care of the Zhao couple because of their good relations with the Family Head of the Jiang Family. But now, he truly valued them, mainly because he saw them as not only having good character and clever minds, but most importantly, as being blessed with fortune.

Ever since Magistrate Chen became acquainted with Zhao Erhu and his wife, his official fortune flourished and everything went astoundingly well. Fostering relations with such a person always seemed right. He wasn’t one to judge by appearances, and despite Zhao Erhu and his wife’s humble origins, he had no contempt for them. Heroes are not recognized by their origins, after all, and this couple had great abilities. Moreover, they had good relations with the Jiang Family Head, destined for greatness beyond ordinary measure.

The young servant moved quickly, running to inform Lady Chen. Lady Chen had matters to discuss with Magistrate Chen and was on her way, so when Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue arrived, she was there as well. They hurriedly paid their respects to her.

Lady Chen had a favorable impression of Lin Yue. Given her own husband’s patronage of Zhao Erhu and his wife, Lady Chen, a virtuous woman, naturally followed Magistrate Chen’s inclination and quickly, with a smile, urged Zhao Erhu and his wife to rise. "Please, no need for excess formality. It’s a joy to reunite with old friends. Yueyue, we must have a good visit today, as I wish to consult with you on some embroidery issues."

"I wouldn’t dare presume. Lady Chen, please feel free to ask any questions you might have. I shall spare no effort in sharing all I know." Speaking of embroidery, Lin Yue thought of the gift they had brought and glanced at Zhao Erhu.

Grasping Lin Yue’s intention, and planning to mention it himself, Zhao Erhu said, "Magistrate Chen, Lady Chen, it’s our first visit to your esteemed mansion and we haven’t anything of note to bring. We have prepared a modest gift, insignificant as it may be, yet it represents our heartfelt respect. We hope you will graciously accept it."

"Brother Zhao, you are too courteous," replied Magistrate Chen generously as he accepted the gift from Zhao Erhu and his wife. "Bringing so many things on your visit wasn’t necessary, but since it’s your sincere gesture, I will not refuse it." This implied a favor from Magistrate Chen. Deeply engrossed in his official career, he wasn’t one of those avaricious officials who accepted bribes blindly. Accepting gifts was not common for him, so taking one from Zhao Erhu and his wife was a significant sign of esteem.

Although Lin Yue felt a small frustration – as if, despite offering gifts, it seemed as though they owed a favor – she realized that their current status was low, and such situations were inevitable. To become angry over this would truly be ungrateful.

So, Zhao Erhu stayed to converse with Magistrate Chen in the main hall, while Lin Yue was drawn aside by Lady Chen to discuss embroidery. Both sides chatted in delight.

Thinking of her daughter, who was diligently practicing her needlework, Lady Chen considered Lin Yue’s superior embroidery skills – even the best embroiderers in the Capital City couldn’t compare. She thought it would be beneficial for Lin Yue to give some advice to her daughter, so she called for someone, "Bring my daughter here."

Lady Chen’s daughter, Chen Ruyu, was thirteen that year, fresh and youthful. She resembled her mother somewhat, fair-skinned, and was considered moderately beautiful. Having been doted upon by her parents since childhood, she developed a somewhat proud disposition. When she came in and learned that Lady Chen wanted Lin Yue to guide her in embroidery, she felt displeased.

Ruyu believed that her own embroidery skills were already excellent. If guidance was required, it should come from a distinguished family in the Capital City. Who was this woman who appeared out of nowhere, and what qualifications did she have to advise her? To make matters worse, though Ruyu wouldn’t admit it, Lin Yue was more beautiful than she was, inciting jealousy and making Ruyu even more irritable towards her.

Lin Yue, for her part, did not take kindly to Ruyu. Her disdainful and provocative attitude was becoming intolerable. Was she supposed to have no temper at all? But for the sake of Lady Chen, Lin Yue refrained from reacting openly, deciding it was best to consider Ruyu an ignorant child. After all, with a powerful father as an official, Lin Yue had to endure any grievances. However, seeing her daughter’s unseemly behavior, Lady Chen rebuked her slightly, which only intensified Ruyu’s resentment.

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