Chapter 853: Serving Tea

“Chengmin and Taohua got married yesterday and are coming back today. I haven’t heard of hosting a feast for such an occasion. Today the mansion is not entertaining guests, so please leave.”

“Leave? What do you mean leave? This is my grandson’s home, and I am his dear grandmother; I come whenever I wish. Who are you, an outsider grandmother, to boss around in this mansion?”

“By what right? By raising Chengmin, by the blood of the Min Family running through Chengmin, by Chengmin personally inviting me to sit in this household. Do you think I have the right?”

…

Gu Taohua, in a groggy state of sleep, heard the sounds of quarreling outside.

There’s no need to ask; by the voices alone, one can tell it’s Mrs. Min and Old Mrs. Su.

Try asking all of Man Shengjing, whose voice can be louder than these two old women?

Mrs. Min has always been in good health, her momentum prevailing.

Old Mrs. Su’s illness had only recently recovered, her breath weaker, yet she still raised her voice to shout.

Su Chengmin and Gu Taohua opened their own residence after marriage. Since they were newlyweds, Mrs. Min and Mighty General were helping oversee the household. Once everything settled after their honeymoon phase, they’d move back to Min Mansion.

Mrs. Min had Su Chengmin’s support, using her imposing demeanor as an old noblewoman to block Old Mrs. Su from entering.

By the way, Old Mrs. Su scavenged all the dowry that the Lu Family procured from Min Baozhen and gave it entirely to Gu Taohua as a bridal gift, yet did not result in her grandson marrying at Su Mansion. Not only that, at her grandson’s wedding, she didn’t even make it to the main table.

Old Mrs. Su refused to acknowledge this was her grandson’s idea; she believed it was all evil machinations by Mrs. Min.

Thinking of the humiliation suffered at yesterday’s wedding feast, Old Mrs. Su wanted nothing more than to rip Mrs. Min apart.

Mrs. Min, hands on her hips, glared at Old Mrs. Su like a victorious rooster ready to claw its former in-law to death at any moment.

Old Mrs. Su, initially imposing, heard Mrs. Min mention Chengmin personally inviting her to the household, and her demeanor deflated considerably.

She also wished for her grandson to invite her to preside, but her grandson never did. On the wedding day morning, unable to bear it any longer, she and her son Su Shihang took the initiative to go to Su Chengmin’s residence to attend the wedding.

During the bowing ceremony, Mighty General sat at the head, and Su Shihang almost lost his temper in fury.

“Some people only grow older without growing wiser; when there’s nothing, Chengmin is a Su Family descendant, but when things happen, Chengmin almost gets removed from the family tree. Are you Su Family people just fence-sitters?”

“Yesterday, getting you seated at the table made you act like precious guests, right? Yet today, you shamelessly come again.”

Mrs. Min saw Su Shihang enter and thought of grabbing a broom to chase them away.

Su Chengmin walked out with a displeased face, softly saying to Old Mrs. Su, “Can’t you keep it down? Disturbing Taohua’s peace so early in the morning.”

Old Mrs. Su said, “Only blame me, and not your grandmother? Her voice is louder than mine.”

Su Chengmin, protective, said, “If you hadn’t come, there wouldn’t be any shouting.”

Old Mrs. Su angrily wanted to raise her cane, an elbow-turning hostile.

Thinking of not driving Su Chengmin further away, she silently lowered the cane.

Mrs. Min raised her eyebrows and let out a smug laugh at Old Mrs. Su.

Old Mrs. Su, infuriated, started to pick on Gu Taohua, saying, “Your wife still not up? What kind of new bride sleeps in so late?”

Su Chengmin said, “My wife can sleep however late she wants.”

Old Mrs. Su nearly choked with rage.

At this point, Mighty General walked out, inviting Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang into the main room.

Mrs. Min angrily glared at her son, wondering what game he was playing.

Su Chengmin whispered a few words in his grandmother’s ear, and Mrs. Min’s expression slightly relaxed and she turned to the main room.

…

“Today disturbed your peace, but in the future, no one will disturb you. You can sleep however late you wish.”

Su Chengmin returned to the room, where Gu Taohua was already dressed, styling her hair before the mirror.

Su Chengmin whispered softly into Gu Taohua’s ear.

Gu Taohua smiled and said, “I still need to serve tea, I’m already considered late.”

Su Chengmin placed a hairpin into Gu Taohua’s thick hair.

The two of them held hands and went to the main room.

Mrs. Min and Mighty General sat at the head; Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang sat at the lower seats, with no communication between the four.

Old Mrs. Su saw the two’s intertwined hands and snorted, “This country girl is like a witch, holding my grandson in thrall.”

Gu Taohua was about to pay her respects to Mrs. Min and Mighty General when Mrs. Min held her hand.

“We don’t stand on ceremony for such formalities,” Mighty General waved his hand broadly.

Mighty General looked at Gu Taohua and couldn’t be more satisfied; she was the spitting image of her mother in her youth.

He and Tong Dajiao were fated but unblessed; having her daughter married to his nephew was quite pleasing.

Even Baozhen would be happy to know.

Mrs. Min held Gu Taohua’s hand, looking her up and down, asking, “Are you getting accustomed here?”

Gu Taohua blushed and said, “Adapted.”

Mrs. Min nodded, saying, “You are the lady of this mansion; you decide who enters or leaves. No one can tell you otherwise.”

After speaking, she glanced at Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang.

Old Mrs. Su: “…”

Su Shihang: “…”

Gu Taohua nodded and said, “I understand, don’t worry, I won’t let myself be wronged.”

Mrs. Min was increasingly satisfied with Gu Taohua.

“Madam, General, the newcomers are ready to serve tea,” the granny beside Mrs. Min stepped forward to remind.

Mrs. Min nodded.

Mighty General sat upright and serious.

Old Mrs. Su and Su Shihang also sat up straight.

Though they didn’t manage the main table yesterday, for some reason Su Shihang managed to convince Mighty General, who agreed to let them receive the newcomers’ tea today.

Gu Taohua started serving tea, offering the first cup to Mrs. Min.

Mrs. Min gave Gu Taohua a priceless hairpin.

When the hairpin was taken out, Old Mrs. Su’s eyes went wide. It was a birthday gift from the Empress Dowager to Mrs. Min.

It’s said to be one of the favorite hairpins of the Empress Dowager.

Gu Taohua knew Mrs. Min gifting it meant no possibility of taking it back, so she accepted it with a smile.

The second cup was offered to Mighty General, whose gift when he took it out shocked both Gu Taohua and Su Chengmin.

Mighty General gave Gu Taohua a killing rod.

“Niece-in-law, if Chengmin angers you, use this killing rod to teach him a lesson.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Gu Taohua accepted the killing rod with a smile.

Su Chengmin felt a chill down his spine.

The third cup was presented to Old Mrs. Su, who had brought no gift.

Mrs. Min stared directly at Old Mrs. Su, scoffing, “Didn’t you shout earlier how Chengmin is your grandson? Yet you have no wedding gift; clearly, all talk.”

“Shut up, who only talks?”

Never yield in a loss.

Old Mrs. Su, gritting her teeth, took off a jade bracelet on her wrist, a gift from the Empress at the time, and wore it on Gu Taohua’s hand.