Chapter 307: Chapter 113: Show Off Skills_3 Chapter 307: Chapter 113: Show Off Skills_3 Yueyao and Ruo Lan were chatting merrily when Cai Yi came over and said, “Young lady, Second Great Aunt and Miss cousin are here.”
Yueyao looked at Cai Yi and a flicker of impatience crossed her brows. She smiled and said, “Aunt and cousin are here?” Although she said this, Yueyao didn’t go out to greet them but waited for Lady Xiao Ma and Loo Ying to come over.
At one glance, Loo Ying saw Yueyao sitting beside Zhuang Ruolan, and a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes. She had been living very comfortably these past few months, often having new clothes and jewelry to wear. She knew this was all arranged by her cousin-in-law; she wanted to get closer to her but realized upon approaching that her cousin-in-law’s politeness was ample, but her warmth was lacking, and this made her very sad.
After Yueyao had paid her respects to Lady Xiao Ma, she smiled and said, “Aunt, you look much better.” It seemed that since Lady Cheng left, her aunt’s days were also more comfortable.
Lady Xiao Ma looked at Yueyao, then at her smiling niece-in-law, and showed a loving expression as she said, “You child, you didn’t even say a word when you came.” Half of her words were reproaching Ruo Lan for not sending someone to notify her, and the other half were about Yueyao not coming to visit her.
Ruo Lan was about to speak but didn’t expect Yueyao to speak before her, saying, “If I knew Aunt had already recovered, I would certainly have come to give you my respects.” Yueyao said this casually, but the implication was very clear.
Ruo Lan glanced at Yueyao, then back at Lady Xiao Ma. In truth, Ruo Lan was quite annoyed with Lady Xiao Ma. If you have to stay as a guest, then stay, nobody’s depriving you of food or clothing; just be at ease. However, this kind of person was painfully unaware, even suggesting she could help manage the household upon seeing her pregnant. This widow of a guest wanted to meddle in the internal affairs of Ma’s Mansion, and after being refused, she even wanted Loo Ying to be put in charge.
When Ruo Lan heard Lady Xiao Ma’s words, she felt as disgusted as if she had swallowed a fly. Normally she wouldn’t mind, as Ruo Lan wasn’t as petty as Lady Cheng and would’ve obliged if she could. But she was in the stages of pregnancy, and everyone knew that a pregnant person shouldn’t overexert, even the affairs of the Ma’s Mansion were managed by her Steward Mother and two personal maids. But this aunt of hers could actually make such an absurd request, and from then, Zhuang Ruolan grew cold towards the two.
Ruo Lan began to think that she had no conflicts of interest with Lady Xiao Ma and Loo Ying, it was nothing but providing for them and then offering some dowry. She wasn’t petty. But from this matter, she could tell that the Second Great Aunt was nothing but an ingrate, and Loo Ying was no better. Ruo Lan wasn’t stingy, but she wouldn’t spend money to feed ingrates.
Lady Xiao Ma said with a pleasant smile, “It’s all right, I’m already better.”
Yueyao looked at Lady Xiao Ma dressed in new clothes and asked, “Aunt, are you going out?” According to Nanny Deng, this little aunt had a bad temper; as a lady, she didn’t have a single close friend and had little contact with relatives and friends.
After coughing, Lady Xiao Ma said, “No, just taking a walk and happened to come over to see your Eldest Cousin-in-law.” She had merely dressed in new clothes and tidied up. Since when had she said she was going to visit relatives? This girl was as annoying as her mother.
Embarrassed, Yueyao said, “I thought Aunt was going to take cousin out to visit relatives!”
The remark left Lady Xiao Ma at a loss for how to respond, remembering the last time she had blurted out a request and how Yueyao had refused without a second thought, her eyes unfriendly.
Loo Ying walked up to Yueyao, wanting to hold her hand, but unfortunately, Yueyao didn’t like being touched by her and stepped back. Loo Ying felt very embarrassed.
Yueyao whispered, “Cousin, is there something you need?”
Looking into Yueyao’s sincere eyes, Loo Ying felt that Yueyao must have stepped back unintentionally and said, “Cousin, I heard you write a beautiful plum blossom calligraphy style. I wonder if you could teach me; I would like to learn too?” It was no secret that Yueyao could write in the plum blossom style, Loo Ying knew it wouldn’t be strange.
Yueyao glanced at Loo Ying and said, “I have only just started learning myself, I can’t teach you. If cousin truly wishes to learn, you could find a teacher.” It had taken her a year to finally get started, and it would take a long time before she could teach students. Of course, even if she had the skill to teach Loo Ying, she wouldn’t, for Yueyao didn’t have the time.
Seeing Yueyao refuse without a second thought made Loo Ying feel aggrieved. Lady Xiao Ma, seeing her daughter’s look, was not pleased and asked, “Is the teacher’s own writing in small plum blossom script? What is the teacher’s name and surname?” Even though Lady Xiao Ma was out of the loop, she knew that the Lian family had hired several teachers.