Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 1157 - 368 True Love, Laying the Cards on the Table_2

Chapter 1157: Chapter 368 True Love, Laying the Cards on the Table_2

After hearing about this matter, Grand Master Cui followed his mother’s advice and frequently invited Mo Qingze to dine at their home. The first reason was to observe, wanting to know whether Mo Qingze was someone worthy of trust; the second was to test whether Mo Qingze also harbored such intentions.

Looking at it now, other than the fact that Mo Qingze’s family background was somewhat modest, he was superior in every other aspect compared to the former brother-in-law—Grand Master Cui, who wanted nothing more than to find a good husband for his sister, couldn’t be more satisfied.

More importantly, the Mo Family had both sons and daughters; his younger sister’s inability to bear her own children was not a flaw but an advantage. Without children of her own, she would surely treat the children of the Cui family as if they were her own.

Although those children were grown and unlikely to be as close as natural-born children, as long as they felt the kindness of the younger sister and didn’t maliciously trip her up, it would be enough.

Besides, apart from the daughter of the second branch whom he had not met, he had met the other siblings, and they were all well-behaved and affectionate children. If the younger sister treated them with genuine kindness, it was unlikely they would be unkind to her.

Moreover, taking a step back, the Mo Family had a simple household without the need to serve any in-laws. If his younger sister married into their family, all she would need to do was take good care of the children and her husband. Such a life was far more comfortable than that in her former brother-in-law’s home.

The more Grand Master Cui thought about it, the more satisfied he became; as long as the man in front of him agreed, this marriage arrangement could be sealed.

Sensing that Grand Master Cui’s gaze on him had intensified, Mo Qingze nearly buckled under it. These past days, whether it was Grand Master Cui or Old Lady Cui, they had been extremely hospitable towards him. Even if he had the mind of a simpleton, he could guess the purpose behind their actions.

Undeniably, he indeed felt an affection for that gentle woman, an affection that had been there since their first meeting. When they unexpectedly encountered each other at her house, that affection had deepened.

Perhaps it was a twist of fate ordained by the heavens but in the days that followed, they met twice more. Once in Silver Tower, while he was selecting a birthday gift for his second daughter and, with her tactful suggestion, chose a very suitable set of jewelry. Another time was at Langui Pavilion, where she was with a few friends, enjoying tea and painting, and he, watching from above, saw her create an exquisite Painting of a child picking lotus in the lake.

After several such unexpected encounters, the image of this seemingly delicate figure became increasingly engraved in his heart; by the time he realized it, it was too late to ruthlessly extricate.

Both men harbored their own thoughts and had already understood all there was to know in the previous days; there was little conversation along the way. When they reached the Cui family home, the sun had already set, and the house had lit up one red palace lantern after another. On the quaint round table in the dining room, the wine and dishes had already been placed.

The Cui house was vast with many masters, and except for the fifteenth of each month and the New Year festivities, nearly everyone dined in their respective courtyards. These days, Mo Qingze had been having his meals in Old Lady Cui’s courtyard, accompanied only by Grand Master Cui.

Just like always, this time it was only Old Lady Cui seated at the table waiting for them. Suppressing the disappointment in his heart, Mo Qingze quickly washed his hands in the clear water brought by the Maid under Grand Master Cui’s urging, then sat to the right of Old Lady Cui, while Grand Master Cui took his place on the left.

This seating arrangement resembled two sons dining with their mother, that is if one ignored the fact that there wasn’t the slightest resemblance between their features.

After the meal, Grand Master Cui promptly left citing some affairs—following his mother’s silent cue—and sent the maids away too, leaving only Mo Qingze and Old Lady Cui in the room.

Sitting at the head of the table, Old Lady Cui looked down fondly at Mo Qingze, her shrewd eyes brimming with warmth. Like her son, Grand Master Cui, Old Lady Cui found no fault in Mo Qingze and, as her understanding of him deepened, so did her affection towards the younger generation.

Mo Qingze bowed his head slightly towards Old Lady Cui, a posture that was neither disrespectful nor too stern to agitate his nerves.

How could he not be nervous? Previously, after the meals, it had been both mother and son, Old Lady Cui and Grand Master Cui, chatting with Mo Qingze with a bevy of beautiful Maids providing tea and water around them.

Today, with just the two of them in the room facing each other, Mo Qingze could almost predict what was to come. To put it inappropriately, it was like a man awaiting judgment, where innocence or guilt could be decided in an instant.

Despite being prepared, the words that Old Lady Cui released next still left Mo Qingze momentarily stunned!