The dishes for the New Year’s Eve dinner were all set on the table.
But Yun Qi, Aunty Su, Aunty Hua, Yun Zuomo, Yun Qingzhi, and the sisters Yun Qingqing were missing.
When Mrs. Han led Yun Jinnian in, the old lady asked indifferently, "What about the second one?"
"I don’t know, he probably went out!" Mrs. Han said as she pulled Yun Jinnian to sit down.
Mrs. Han didn’t care at all about where Yun Qi might be.
"What about Aunty Hua and Aunty Su?" the old lady asked again.
"Oh, they went to Qiyue Academy earlier to show off their kneeling, and I thought it was a good idea, so I let them kneel in the courtyard. The second master thought kneeling at Qiyue Academy would dirty it, so he had them returned to their own courtyards to kneel. As for the fifth, sixth, and seventh young ladies, the master had them watch their aunts; if Aunty Hua and Aunty Su didn’t kneel properly, they’d take their place, and there was no need for them to come over for the New Year’s Eve dinner!" Mrs. Han articulated clearly.
The old lady was so infuriated she almost reeled back.
Mrs. He hurriedly asked, "What about the second master?"
"He went out too, and didn’t tell me!" Mrs. Han said indifferently.
She was truly impatient with Yun Qi’s disappearing acts - not leaving early, not leaving late, but right when it was time to eat; what was he trying to do?
The old lady had wanted to wait a while, but seeing that the dishes were already served, she hurriedly said, "Go call them to come for the meal!"
These few referred naturally to Aunty Su, Aunty Hua, and the like.
Mrs. Han smiled foolishly, "Mother is just too kind. I heard that Jinnian was once sick, nearly losing his life. I’ve always been puzzled and wanted to ask mother, what exactly happened?"
The old lady found herself in extreme embarrassment.
She felt pity for the two aunts and the illegitimate daughters, yet she was so cruel and heartless towards her own legitimate daughter.
Xu Xinmo, seeing the old lady stumped, hastily came to her aid, "How can Auntie speak to Grandfather !"
Mrs. Han looked toward Xu Xinmo and nodded slightly, "Yes, you’re indeed right!"
Mrs. Han’s gaze was icy, causing Xu Xinmo’s scalp to tingle, "Why is Auntie looking at me ?"
"It’s nothing, I’m just trying to see if you have any resemblance to your mother. Sadly, no matter how I look, I just can’t see it!" Mrs. Han said, unable to hide her disappointment as she sighed.
Xu Xinmo felt a sudden shock in her chest.
She suddenly remembered that Yun Qi had said the same thing before.
"Mrs. Han, what do you mean?" the old lady barked angrily.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask Xinmo, was Jinnian’s fall into Lotus Pond really an accident? Even though the servant Ru Xin who attended to her was sold off, it would be easy to find her!"
The Yun Muyou sisters all bowed their heads one by one.
The old lady was horrified.
Mrs. Han must know; she definitely knew that it was Xu Xinmo who had pushed Yun Jinnian into the water back then.
The three Yun Zhen brothers looked at each other, not quite understanding, yet vaguely grasping something!
Seeing their three sisters and one cousin look guilty, and then glancing at their guilty mother, the three brothers suddenly felt ashamed.
Yun Chen felt his head ache and said in a deep voice, "Let’s eat."
If the argument went on any longer, they might as well not have the New Year’s Eve dinner at all.
With Yun Chen’s definitive statement, Mrs. Han didn’t continue speaking, and slowly began to eat with her chopsticks.
Yun Jinnian admired Mrs. Han greatly in his heart.
With just a few words, she had made the old lady stumped and left the Lady speechless.
It seemed there was still much he needed to learn!
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, it was still time to give out the New Year’s money.
The old lady gave out gold mules that could be used to make gold jewelry, and this time she did not favor anyone.
Everyone got the same.
Mrs. He and Yun Chen both gave out two hundred silver notes; the three Yun Zhen brothers were originally prepared as well, but Yun Zhen didn’t take his out, and the other two also plainly stated they had none this year.
Mrs. Han gave gold hairpins, one for each person; she was not biased toward anyone.
As for staying up on New Year’s Eve, the old lady was not in a good mood, returned to Cixin Academy first, and told everyone there was no need to stay up and that they should all rest early!
Xu Xinmo and the Yun Muyou sisters fooled around together, Mrs. Han went back to Qiyue Academy, and Yun Zihan and Yun Jinnian sat together, also feeling bored to death.
Remembering that Chu Yu said he would come over, Yun Jinnian said to Yun Zihan, "Let’s head back separately too!"