Ye Shiqi dutifully sat next to her mother today. When her mother entertained guests, she helped out, of course, alongside her sisters.
Other noble ladies felt it was only right for Mrs. Li and her children to serve them like maids, accepting it gladly. After all, they came to spend today, exuding an air of superiority.
Knowing her daughter was friends with these girls, Madam Sima kindly expressed a desire to get closer to Mrs. Li. They had met not once or twice, and during their conversations, her daughter would often come up.
Mrs. Mo faced a different idea when seeing Mrs. Li entertain guests with the help of her daughters—she too had once struggled, and now relied on her family’s work.
Though her living conditions had slightly improved, her husband was a teacher. He believed girls helping their mother with guests was polite, a sign of diligence.
At first glance, of course, this seemed good, but it all depended on which girl Zhong Xingwang fancied, subtly blending his opinions.
He wrote home to his parents, and only after they agreed did he invite the matchmaker over. But before that, he had to discuss it with Mrs. Li.
Young Mrs. Tang was also among these wealthy ladies. This time she brought out her youngest son, who went off to play with Tang Shunyan.
After giving birth to two sons, she hadn’t had any more children and didn’t envy others with daughters. She felt having two sons without a daughter was no big deal, and after all, other people’s daughters still called her mother.
Lady Tang had always opposed her son’s association with the Ye family, but her husband kept doing business with them. This increasingly close relationship gave her a sense of crisis.
When her son was younger, she thought he just liked his sister and was close to the Ye family’s little girls.
Now her son was nearly 11 and increasingly frequenting the Ye family. Though this also included the County Magistrate’s daughter, she felt this daughter was too wild to be a match for her family.
As a mother-in-law, she naturally wanted a daughter-in-law she could control. She had been in the Tang family for over a decade, but the housekeeper’s authority was still in her mother-in-law’s hands. She wanted an obedient daughter-in-law, someone she could control.
At this moment, to the Ye Family’s sisters, acting like maids, she and a friend who was a rich lady exchanged disdainful looks.
To gain her favor, seeing her unfriendly attitude towards Mrs. Li and her daughters, some imitated her behavior.
They secretly used looks and words to attack from behind, while openly showing mocking smiles.
And then, Big Pancake Face No.1, No.2, and many other women entered, seeking an opportunity to get acquainted with these rich ladies, knowing that the County Magistrate’s wife and Lady Tang were present.
Daughters of rich men from nearby villages, along with their own ladies, came here for this special banquet. As long as they entered and spent money here, they didn’t need an invitation, and they could meet people they normally couldn’t.
"Are you Young Mrs. Tang? Hello, I’ve long heard of your elegance," said Big Pancake Face’s mother, attempting to strike up a conversation for her daughter’s sake.
"Who are you?" Lady Tang rolled her eyes. What was this fat woman doing here with all these overweight girls?
"I’m Ye Zhiwei’s wife. My eldest son married a daughter from a side branch of your family," the plump lady declared, attempting to make a familial connection.
"Hmm, I don’t know you," Lady Tang scoffed internally. A concubine daughter from a side branch, marrying into her family, did she really count as a relative? That was quite a stretch. Compared to the Ye family, this rich man and his wife, and their children, were lesser in both character and wealth.
Ye Zhiwei’s wife bore the gazes of many as she was dismissed by Lady Tang.
Burning with anger, she was used to lofty status, but now seeking favor elsewhere with flattery was met with coldness. The disparity in status and wealth was humbling, and even more humbling was being snubbed in such a way.
Just like how they usually treated the poor or those working in their own homes.
With no choice and seeking the future happiness of her daughters, she said, "Lady Tang, it’s natural for someone of your status not to know me. I have a favor to ask, to have you mediate on my behalf."
Ye Zhiwei continued, hoping Lady Tang could mediate with a certain Mr. Tang for her.
Hearing this, Lady Tang frowned. That man from the Tang Family was not here today; he was probably busy working within the family.