"Vice Minister Yang’s son? He must be extremely well-versed in propriety."
He Tiantian intentionally raised her voice so everyone in the tavern’s main hall could hear.
It was as if she was looking at an idol, her eyes filled with awe as she gazed at Yang Sanlang, then said, "I have long heard that the Yang Family is a great noble family."
"Vice Minister Yang is the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites; all the young men in his family know the rules and prioritize propriety!"
"Seeing it today, indeed, the reputation is well-deserved."
"Look at this young man, with his imposing appearance and extraordinary demeanor..."
He Tiantian behaved like a naive village girl who suddenly saw a noble young master, immediately feeling overwhelmed and ashamed of herself.
Anyway, her flattering words made Yang Sanlang very overconfident.
"I dare not accept such praise, I am just slightly better than those crude farmers!"
Yang Sanlang indeed despised He Xi, or rather, his nature was indeed arrogant and disdainful.
Ms. Hetian had praised him so, yet instead of being modest, he continued to indirectly insult the He family as inferior.
"Farmer," even without understanding its true meaning, just seeing the word "servant" in there, one could guess it was extremely humiliating.
And the He family came from a poor family, as He Tiantian just openly admitted; during the busy farming seasons, she, a woman, also had to work in the fields alongside men.
Yang Sanlang mentioning "farmer" in front of Ms. Hetian was not merely an implication.
It was practically like cursing a monk to his face.
Of course, if He Tiantian hadn’t flattered him so, as if she hadn’t heard Yang Sanlang’s indirect insults.
Yang Sanlang might have not been so reckless.
He was indeed arrogant, but he was not without intellect.
Indirect insults with vague targets, skirting around with word play, that was nothing.
Because with such words, even if taken seriously, he could simply feign surprise and say, "I was talking about someone else, not you!"
And he would look at the person with a gaze that said, "There are people who pick up silver, why are there fools who pick up insults to listen to?" creating a second layer of humiliation.
But if he openly insulted someone, that would be going too far.
Firstly, it would give people something to talk about.
Secondly, no matter what, Ms. Hetian was still an "elder."
Even though this woman appeared young, her son was already an official in the Imperial court, not to mention, Ms. Hetian also had the nearly exoneration status of being a chaste woman!
Vice Minister Yang indeed had a rivalry in the officialdom with He Xi, but political adversaries did not involve family members, let alone that Yang Sanlang and He Xi had not openly broken relations yet.
And yet, Yang Sanlang, as the son of the Yang Family, publicly humiliated He Xi’s mother, who had an excellent reputation... tsk tsk, such an act, even the common folk would shake their heads, let alone if it reached the Saint, it would be the Yang Family’s fault!
Actually, when Yang Sanlang arrogantly mentioned "farmer" again to He Tiantian, he was secretly somewhat regretful.
But soon, he consoled himself. Even if he directly insulted Ms. Hetian, so what?
Someone as ignorant as her, already feeling inferior, being exposed in public would only feel more ashamed, rather than causing a scene. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI★Fire.net
If it really did cause a scene, while Yang Sanlang might be criticized for arrogance, Ms. Hetian wouldn’t end up well either.
The He family was originally mere peasants, whereas the Yang Family was a noble family.
It was only because noble families in the Daxia Dynasty had fallen, and poor families were rising up.
If it was in the Previous Dynasty, bah, someone like He Xi, a mere farmer, would not have even had the right to enter the Imperial court.
And yet he dared to compete with a Yang Family’s son for an official position?
Bah, truly, the world is in disorder, nobility and propriety are trampled!
Yang Sanlang thought furiously, any initial unease in his heart also dissolving.
He was betting that Ms. Hetian would not dare to make this public, much less challenge a noble family.
He Tiantian: ... Dear, I’m sorry, but you’ve lost the bet!
He Tiantian’s previous sycophantic flattery looked just like someone of low birth suddenly facing a "Noble," filled with envy, admiration, and self-denial.
It was all to make Yang Sanlang overconfident.
At this moment, Yang Sanlang recklessly calling her a "farmer," He Tiantian immediately seized the handle.
Her expression changed dramatically, she suddenly challenged, "Mr. Yang, as a learned and reasonable man, and since I am a stranger to you, why do you insult me?"