Chapter 211: This Is China, Not Britain
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The three of them were invited to the Yuan family’s living room.
As soon as they stepped in, they saw Elizabeth and her daughter, who were dressed in luxurious and noble clothes.
The older lady, Lady Elizabeth, was dressed in British court attire. Her fair skin, tall nose, and golden eyes all showed that she was a foreigner. Her daughter, Qianqian, was wearing a blue backless dress. Her skin was still fair, but her facial features were closer to that of a Chinese. She must be of mixed blood.
Old Master Yuan smiled when he saw Ye Xiaoxi.
He took the initiative to introduce them.
Lady Elizabeth nodded slightly and said in a fluent London accent, “Mr. Yuan, your granddaughter is really beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
When Old Master Yuan heard his precious baby being praised, it was sweeter than eating honey.
Ye Xiaoxi smiled and said, “Madam, you’re much more elegant and beautiful than me. I’ve never seen a woman as noble as you.”
“Wow, your English is pretty good.” Elizabeth sighed in awe, “Have you studied abroad?”
“No, I haven’t,” replied Ye Xiaoxi.
She learned all her English from the local teachers. However, during the college entrance examination, in order to get high marks, win a national scholarship, and pay for her university fees, she had once crazily watched foreign news and learned how to speak English from the broadcasters.
“Then you are really smart.” Lady Elizabeth smiled as she said that.
Old Master Yuan was rather proud of himself. Even though he wasn’t by Xiaoxi’s side, she had still grown up to be outstanding.
As expected, the blood of the Yuan family still flowed in her bones.
She was just like him!
Qianqian listened to them for a while before she turned to whisper a few words to her mother.
Lady Elizabeth looked displeased.
This time, they came to A-City mainly to choose a fiance for their daughter. Her daughter was unwilling to marry and had been throwing a tantrum with her all the way.
Lady Elizabeth only had one daughter.
She usually indulged her, but when it came to the marriage between the two families, she naturally could not let her do as she pleased.
Hence, she ignored her daughter’s temper.
“Qianqian, this is Miss Xiaoxi from the Yuan family,” said Lady Elizabeth.
Qianqian glanced at Ye Xiaoxi and remained silent.
She felt that the entire Yuan family was a nouveau riche, and they were all old-fashioned.
Ye Xiaoxi did not seem to be cultured at all judging from her behavior.
Thinking about how she would have to spend time with such a family after getting married, she was extremely unhappy.
The atmosphere was momentarily awkward.
Old Master Yuan could tell that she was unwilling, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
Lady Elizabeth also looked troubled and scolded her daughter, “If you want to throw a tantrum, don’t do it now. Otherwise, I’ll…”
“How are you going to punish me?”
Marrying into the Yuan family was already the greatest punishment for her.
How was her mother going to deal with her?
Chase her out of the Yuan family?
Qianqian raised her head and met her mother’s gaze. She did not want to admit defeat.
Lady Elizabeth suddenly felt powerless.
Old Master Yuan took the initiative to help. He said, “Alright, don’t get into a conflict with the child. Qianqian must be tired from the journey and feeling unwell, which caused her to be in a bad mood. Let’s not make things difficult for the child.”
Ye Xiaoxi smiled and chimed in, “That’s right. We would get to know each other sooner or later. There is no rush.”
Seeing how considerate and sensible she was, Lady Elizabeth was even more disappointed in her daughter.
However, she couldn’t say anything in front of the Yuan family.
Old Master Yuan glanced at Jiang Yining and Xiao Yeyu from the corner of his eyes and took the initiative to change the topic and greet them.
When Lady Elizabeth learned that Jiang Yining was Lu Zhi’s wife, she shook her hand happily and greeted, “Young Madam Lu, it’s my honor to meet you.”
Jiang Yining greeted her warmly and appropriately. She did not show any fear.
Xiao Yeyu also tried her best to maintain her composure and not make a fool of herself.
Since Lady Elizabeth and her daughter had been living abroad, they had Western food for lunch.
Everyone in the Yuan family gave a grand welcome to Lady Elizabeth and Ye Xiaoxi.
Old Master Yuan also happily drank a few glasses of wine and said with a radiant face, “Today is really one of the few days in my life that is worth being happy about. Firstly, I’ve been looking for Xiaoxi for so many years and I’ve finally found her. From now on, she’s a legitimate member of the Yuan family. None of you are allowed to bully her, or I won’t forgive you!”
Everyone in the Yuan family expressed that they did not dare to bully her.
Old Master Yuan continued, “Secondly, Lady Elizabeth is here because she wants Qianqian to marry into the Yuan family. Our two families have worked together for so long. This time, we’re going to be a family. All of you better perform well. Whoever catches Qianqian’s eye, I’ll give him 10% of the Yuan family’s shares.”
The power of these words was no less than an atomic bomb.
Lady Elizabeth was an old aristocrat who had been in England for centuries. She still held the title of Earl.
Her family’s strength was not inferior to the Yuan family’s.
With a woman of such a background as his wife and the 10% shares of the company given by the old man, wouldn’t the next head of the Yuan family be in the bag for the one who becomes Qianqian’s husband?
The sons of the Yuan family present were all restless.
Yuan Luochen had already received the news, so he wasn’t surprised at all.
Yuan Xudong’s expression was indifferent, not interested at all.
He wanted to use his marriage to exchange for 10% of the shares. What was the difference between this and a transaction?
A real man should be so ashamed that he couldn’t show his face.
Moreover…
Qianqian was the same age as Ye Xiaoxi, and she was already his niece.
Marry her?
Wasn’t this a joke?
Yuan Xudong raised his glass and drank calmly.
After Old Master Yuan finished speaking, he clinked glasses with Lady Elizabeth.
Qianqian, who was one of the main characters today, noticed that everyone was looking at her as if they were looking at an item. She felt rebellious.
Want to marry her?
It’s not that easy!
Heh…
Qianqian gritted her teeth and glanced at Ye Xiaoxi, who was cutting the steak clumsily. A mocking smile appeared on her face.
“Don’t you know how to cut steak?”
Ye Xiaoxi, who was sitting beside her, did not sense her hostility. She smiled and said, “I rarely eat Western food, so I don’t know how to use these things.”
Qianqian sneered, “Even if you don’t eat much, you should know how to eat properly, right? Is this how the Yuan family teaches their girls? Someone like you… Attending any occasion would only embarrass the Yuan family, right?”
Ye Xiaoxi finally realized that something was wrong. She put down her knife and fork and said, “1 wasn’t in the Yuan family before, so I didn’t have the time to learn these rules. I’m very sorry for disturbing Miss Qianqian’s meal.”
She spoke politely, but she was no longer as enthusiastic as before.
Qianqian snorted again and said something in French.
Ye Xiaoxi did not understand.
But Jiang Yining, who was sitting next to her, understood.
If she were to translate Elizabeth Qianqian’s words into Chinese, it would say “As expected of a nouveau riche, so vulgar.”
Jiang Yining’s hand that was holding the knife and fork paused for a moment, then she said coldly in authentic French, “This is China, not Britain. There is no rule that Chinese people have to know British dining etiquette. Xiaoxi has lived as a commoner for more than 20 years, so it is normal for her to not know the proper British dining etiquette. ATiss Elizabeth, you’re born into a noble family, and always relied on your sense of superiority to mock others. Could this be the etiquette and upbringing of your family?”
“If that’s the case, I think you’re even worse than Xiaoxi.”
Elizabeth Qianqian frowned when she heard her words.
With a click, she placed the cutlery on the table.
“You dare to mock me?”
“I only said the truth.” Jiang Yining met her gaze and said calmly.
“You…”
Elizabeth Qianqian wanted to argue with her again.
When Lady Elizabeth heard the commotion, she turned around and scolded her in a low voice, “What are you doing now? Don’t cause trouble.”
Elizabeth Qianqian glared at Jiang Yining and didn’t say anything else.
Ye Xiaoxi did not understand what they were saying, but she firmly believed that Qianqian must have said something bad so Yining had rebuked her.
Ye Xiaoxi whispered in a voice that no one else could hear, “Yining, thank you. I will definitely study hard and not humiliate myself again.”
Today, she was mocked by Elizabeth.
It was also because she was not up to par with what a young lady of a rich family should be like.
She would definitely make up for her shortcomings in this aspect and do better.
Jiang Yining nodded and assured her, “Yes, I believe you. You’ll soon grow into a qualified young lady of the Yuan family.”
She could endure such a difficult time, this would be nothing to her.
Ye Xiaoxi felt a warmth in her heart when she heard her words.
She no longer felt embarrassed.
Straightening her back and maintaining her posture, she tried her best to eat elegantly..