Yan Junmei listened to the conversation among the three women and chuckled lightly, "Our Yecheng hasn’t even married yet; where does this daughter-in-law come from? You must not tarnish Acheng’s reputation. If I start talking about a daughter-in-law, it will only be because you brought it up."
"Madam Gu, is this news not true then?" Wan Baobao found Yan Junmei’s response quite amusing. It seemed that Madam Gu did not want to acknowledge Su Xiaofeng’s status. "Madam Gu, we heard that Su Xiaofeng and Young Master Gu have already registered their marriage in a small county town. Such a big event, how could you not know?"
"Yes, Madam Gu. You must be aware of the marriage between Young Master Gu and Su Xiaofeng," Xu Xuezi played with her nails. "A few days ago when Grandpa and I visited the Gu Family, Yecheng openly acknowledged Xiaofeng as his wife right in front of us, and you were there too, you acknowledged it as well."
Xu Xuezi, of course, understood why Yan Junmei had changed her tune at this time: it was definitely because she learned about Xiaofeng’s children not being Yecheng’s, hence she couldn’t accept it.
"Young Master Gu too, letting go of such a fine young lady as Xuexue, and marrying some country girl. Madam Gu, what are you all thinking? Could it be just as everyone speculates, that Young Master Gu has some shameful physical condition?" Cheng Xiangyun felt emboldened to speak thus because she didn’t expect Yan Junmei to lash out at them.
The Gu Family daring to marry someone from a small place naturally had to be prepared for everyone’s mockery.
As Yan Junmei listened to their talk, raging anger surged within her heart. Her dissatisfaction with Xiaofeng became more pronounced, hearing what these people were saying. If Yecheng hadn’t married Xiaofeng, they wouldn’t dare speak of these things in front of her, nor mock Yecheng this way.
Xiaofeng, listening to their conversation, smiled lightly, "I always thought the young ladies from the Imperial Capital were surely ladies of good families, at least they wouldn’t meddle in others’ affairs or discuss their inadequacies. Seeing you ladies today, I truly gained some insights. Let me tell you, even in our village, there are those who love to chew on others’ tongues and discuss household affairs or say unpleasant things face to face to seem superior. Do you know what those people are called in the countryside?"
At this point, Xiaofeng laughed even more joyously, a faint smile lingering on the corner of her lips, as beautiful as spring flowers blooming: "Right, you guessed it, we call those people gossipmongers. I needn’t explain what a gossipmonger is; you surely all know."
Listening to Xiaofeng’s words, Cheng Xiangyun’s face shifted in expression, "Country bumpkin indeed, even bringing up the gossipmongers."
Cheng Xiangyun then started cursing Xiaofeng in English, probably to show off she was cultured and well-mannered. Even if she insulted Xiaofeng, who she regarded as just a country bumpkin, surely Xiaofeng couldn’t understand.
Of course, if anyone is to be blamed, it could only be her own insufficient cultural level that made her unable to discern if the words spoken to her were good or bad.
Listening to Cheng Xiangyun, Wan Baobao covered her mouth, giggling lightly.
Xu Xuezi also listened with keen interest.
Only Yan Junmei looked displeased, her face ashen.
Xiaofeng certainly understood what Cheng Xiangyun was saying; she too was a graduate of a top university, with English being her strong suit.
Not to mention, Cheng Xiangyun’s spoken English was somewhat lacking; it sounded quite flattened, lacking that certain nuance.
After Cheng Xiangyun finished, she looked at Xiaofeng mockingly, "Su Xiaofeng, you understood what I just said, right? You became a mother at such a young age; surely finishing high school is an achievement, isn’t it? You should be able to understand a bit of what I just mentioned."
A high school student, she estimated, would understand roughly, but wouldn’t grasp exactly what she said, probably remaining bewildered.
"Xiangyun, you think too highly of her. I heard that people from small county towns aren’t great with English; they probably know just a few simple phrases, how could they understand all that you were saying? You’ve been abroad for studies, having studied overseas; she can’t compare to you," Wan Baobao mocked similarly.
Xiangyun played this hand well; the other party surely couldn’t understand.
Xu Xuezi chuckled lightly, "Alright, in front of Madam Gu, let’s not trouble her daughter-in-law any further. Although her daughter-in-law’s education and family background aren’t remarkable, she is after all the daughter-in-law of the Gu Family. It’s not nice to tease her right in front of Madam Gu."