Chapter 67 Pairing 4K

  Wang Yi Xing smiled even more warmly after hearing Sheng Si Yan's question, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze on one's face, making everyone feel drunk. "I indeed just arrived in the capital from Jiangnan. As a southerner coming north, I don't understand many rules and customs. If there's any disrespect, please forgive me." While speaking, he bowed to Wu Yan Juan.

  Wu Chanjuan was overjoyed.

  Ever since she met Sheng Siyan, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Sheng Siyan always had to suppress her, suffocating her until she couldn't breathe. But now it's finally changed, and for the first time, she has suppressed Sheng Siyan!

  This worldly and elegant young master actually didn't care about Sheng Siyan, this plump little lotus flower at all, his eyes were completely focused on himself! —— Indeed a connoisseur...

  Wu Chanjuan's heart was filled with joy, and she no longer felt so disgusted by Sheng Siyan. She smiled and nodded, saying: "Young Master Wang is being modest. If you are being impolite, then nobody in this house understands etiquette." Then she bent her knees and bowed slightly, "Big sister just reminded me, the banquet in the outer courtyard should have started already, right?"

  Zhou Huairui stood with his hands behind his back, staring at Sheng Siyan for a while before turning to Wu Chanjuan and saying, "In that case, we'll take our leave. Cousin, help take care of Niu Daguniang, her brother is extremely fond of this younger sister."

  Wu Chanjuan blinked her eyes and suddenly became interested in the Niu family.

  A merchant's family, even if they are imperial merchants, is just a newly appointed imperial merchant. The Wu family, however, has been a prominent family for thousands of years and manages the country's finances with the Ministry of Revenue. Are there any other merchants more important than the Wu family?

  Wu Zhuangxiang, Wu Chanjuan's elder brother, also said: "This is the first time Niu Dagu has come to our house, take good care of her."

  "Don't worry, big brother. Even if you didn't say this, I would still take good care of her. Everyone who comes to our home is a guest, and I will treat each one with courtesy." Wu Chuanjuan's words were very appropriate, taking into account both Niu Xiaoye and the other guests in the house.

  Wu Chan-yin let out a quiet sigh of relief beside him.

  She knew that her cousin, under the guidance of her aunt, was extremely outstanding. Her manners and behavior were impeccable, and she was two years younger than herself. She had already started learning household management from her aunt. It was said that she was extremely intelligent, able to memorize numbers at a glance, and could do mental calculations faster than others who used an abacus. Today's mistake was probably the first time it had ever happened to her.

  Wu Chan-yin thought so. She was also somewhat displeased with Sheng Si-yan, who had stolen the spotlight from Wu Chan-yuan that morning.

  Sheng Siyan may have been blind since infancy, so although her eyesight was not very useful, her other senses were particularly keen. Her hearing and sense of smell didn't need to be mentioned, she was also born with the ability to sensitively perceive whether others had good or evil intentions towards her. When she sensed evil intentions, she could avoid them from afar.

  The Wu family didn't need to be mentioned, Sheng Siyan had already made preparations to avoid them from afar, so she stopped talking and quietly took a step back. Since Wang Erge pretended not to recognize her, she would pretend not to recognize him too.

  Think about it, there's nothing to it. They're just neighbors. Not even siblings. Even if they were siblings, when a brother grows up and marries his wife, the person he'll care for most will be her, and as a sister, you should understand that. Otherwise, if you insist on getting in between them and competing with your sister-in-law, it's going to stir up trouble at home.

  Thinking of this, Sheng Siyan's mood recovered. She had always been a very optimistic person, even if the situation was bad, she always believed that every cloud has a silver lining, and when all doors were closed, it wouldn't hurt to see if there was an open window.

  The road is walked out by people, and heaven will not cut off a man's path.

  Sheng Siyan smiled as she watched the four men turn and leave. She followed Wu Chanjuan and Wu Chanying back into the house.

  Wu Chanjuan saw Little King Xia Zhi curiously looking over at them, and her heart moved. She smiled and turned back to Sheng Siyan, saying: "Sheng Big Sister, you can't keep hiding in that corner anymore. You're trying to avoid the commotion, but others might think my Wu family is neglecting you, Sheng Big Sister. If my mother finds out, I'll be punished." With a hint of a smile, she asked another question, "Good sister, you wouldn't want to see me get punished, would you?"

  "Hmm, has she made progress? Sheng Siyan secretly gave Wu Chanjuan a thumbs up in her heart. Then she smiled and said: "Even if I say I want to, your father wouldn't be willing to punish me haha, right?"

  Niu Xiaoye moved over, standing beside Sheng Siyan, saying: "Siyan, you like to hide. Is hiding really that great? If I were as talented as you, I..."

  Sheng Siyan hastily interrupted her, winking at her, "Xiao Ye, this is the Wu family. Give me some face and don't bring up my past embarrassing stories."

  Wu Chanjuan smiled and said, "Niu Daguai has also arrived, just in time. Come, please take a seat." She led Sheng Siyan and Niu Xiaoye to sit with the young masters of the Wang, Zhou, Zheng, and Wu families.

  "Grand lady, you are our honored guest today. Please take a seat next to our young master Wang." Wu Yujuan arranged the seating with a smile.

  Sheng Siyan looked at Xia Zhi with some hesitation.

  "It's okay. Young Master Wang is easy-going." A youth wearing a silver-gray shirt said with a smile, making way for two seats beside him.

  Wu Chanjuan introduced to Sheng Siyan and Niu Xiaoye, "This is Zheng San Gongzi of the Zheng Guo Gongfu, Zheng Zhong Er, and that's his sister, Zheng Da Guniang Zheng Yuer."

  Sheng Siyan saw the situation and could only nod at the young master who looked very gentle, sitting down beside Xiao Wangye Xia Zhi.

  Niu Xiaoye sat down beside Sheng Siyan.

  At a glance, the people on this table are either from the Wang Mansion or the Guo Gong Mansion. Niu Xiaoye was so excited that she couldn't calm down. She lowered her voice and leaned into Sheng Siyan's ear, whispering: "Siyan, you're really the eldest daughter of the Sheng Guo Gong?"

  Sheng Siyan nodded, "Is this fake? Otherwise, how could I be sitting in this position?"

  Niu Xiaoye hastily said: "I'm not doubting your intention. I'm just too surprised! Who would have thought that even I, Niu Xiaoye, could have such good luck?! - Come on, let me toast you a glass! Take care of yourself from now on!"

  Compared with Wu Chanjuan, Sheng Siyan is naturally more familiar with Niu Xiaoye.

  Moreover, among all these people in the room, she was willing to talk to Niu Xiaoye, this "old friend".

  These people on the table were all unfamiliar to her, but she also knew that from now on, this was going to be her circle of life. She had to break into this circle in order to truly help the Sheng Guo Gong Fu regain its reputation.

  They became a taboo in this circle for a while.

  It's also time to lift the ban now.

  Sheng Siyan has never been a proud and aloof person, on the contrary, she is very willing to get along with people in her circle, so she makes an effort to chat with them.

  The people on this table are still young, and they drink and play rock-paper-scissors. After playing around, the invisible barrier naturally disappeared.

  Wu Chanjuan did her duty as a hostess.

  She smiled and introduced the names of the people at this table to Sheng Siyan, especially Xiao Wangye Xia Zhi, whom she introduced in the most detail.

  "Xiao Wangye is infatuated with the 'History of the Sui and Tang Dynasties', following Zheng Lao's teachings, his writing skills are exceptional, he can memorize everything at a glance. Now he has a belly full of poetry and books, we can't even keep up with him by flattering him." Wu Yanjuan raised a cup of amber wine, filled with yellow liquor. "Come on, Xiao Wangye, I'll toast you!"

  Xia Zhi smiled and raised the white jade cup in front of him, also taking a sip, as if returning the toast.

  Niu Xiaoye had been listening attentively to everyone's conversation beside her, unable to get a word in edgewise for half the day. Now that Wu Yujuan mentioned that young master Xia Zhi was "outstanding in literary talent and had a photographic memory", she hurriedly nudged Sheng Siyan and said: "Siyan, you've finally met your match! Young Master Xia is outstanding in literary talent and has a photographic memory, just like you! Back then, we thought for sure that Rong girl would be the top scorer on the entrance exam. But then you dropped out of school, and both Mountain Long and Mr. He were deeply disappointed!"

  Sheng Siyan hastily picked up a piece of crucian carp skin with her chopsticks and put it in front of Niu Xiaoye's small dish, scolding: "Hurry up and eat yours, what's the point of talking so much nonsense?" While saying that, she also picked up a piece of silver fish and purple crab meat.

  The mandarin fish are from the south, while the silver fish and purple crab are caught from the heavenly pool in the north. They are all rare delicacies that only a family like the Wu's, who have been wealthy and powerful for generations, can serve as ordinary dishes.

  Niu Xiaoye ate the dish and still didn't let go of the opportunity to show off Sheng Siyan.

  "I didn't say anything wrong! At that time in school, you could recite the whole book of 'The Four Books for Women' just by glancing at it. I've heard you reciting it before!" Niu Xiaoye also gave Sheng Siyan a piece of silver fish and purple crab, "This is delicious. Eat more. In my hometown, only my older brother would offer this to our ancestors, and I could only eat the leftovers."

  Sheng Siyan hadn't eaten these dishes before either, and after taking a light bite, she smiled and said, "Indeed delicious." She also praised the Wu family's chef for making such great dishes.

  Wu Chanjuan smiled and looked at them as they pushed and yielded, then ordered someone to bring up another plate of silver fish and purple crab.

  No one else at the table took Niu Xiaoye's words seriously, except for Xiao Wangye Xia Zhi. He looked carefully at Sheng Siyan and saw that she was petite and a bit chubby, but her facial features were really good. Perhaps because of her chubbiness, her skin was plump and smooth, without any blemishes even upon close inspection.

  "What books have you read, Shengda girl?" Xia Zhi asked curiously.

  "I haven't read any books, I just learned a few words from my mother, so I'm not completely ignorant." Sheng Siyan said with a smile.

  "Siyan, have you read those four great classical novels I lent you? You've forgotten?" Niu Xiaoye said with a raised eyebrow.

  Everyone on the table who heard "The Four Great Masterpieces" looked at Zheng's brother and sister.

  It is well known that these "Four Great Masterpieces" are the masterworks of Zheng Xuan and belong to the Zheng family.

  Zheng Zhongyi smiled and said, "This is a game our little aunt played in her youth. Everyone looks up to the Zheng family, so they call it 'a good book'. The two words 'classic' are absolutely undeserved!"

  Niu Xiaoye glared and said, "How can you people be so modest? The Four Great Classical Novels are such great books! In the entire Da Xia Dynasty, they're all the rage. It's said that wherever there's a well, there's someone who wants to read 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. You've sold so many copies and yet you just say it's a 'good book'? Don't let my brother hear this, or he'll definitely argue with you!"

  Wu Chanjuan smiled and nodded, saying: "Xiao Ye is good at this point, likes to tell the truth." Then she said to Zheng Jia brothers and sisters: "Cousin brother, cousin sister, my aunt's book is well written. My mother said that whoever says my aunt writes badly, let him come and talk to my mother, or write a better one too."

  Hearing Zheng Dà Niáng speak so highly of her deceased sister, Shèng Sī Yán's impression of Zheng Dà Niáng improved a bit.

  A person with such a deep sisterly love can't be bad no matter what.

  What's more, Zheng Xiāoróng is not a person of high moral character. Just because of her 'wen chāo gōng' behavior, which even spared no one like Qióniáng nǎinai, if she were still alive, Shèng Sīyàn would definitely be blacklisted for life!

  She's dead and that's it. When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; to keep on fussing about it is too narrow-minded.

  Sheng Siyan smiled and changed the subject, asking Xiao Wangye Xia Zhi beside her, "What kind of books do you usually read, Young Master?"

  "I've been reading a lot of books, but mainly I've been going over the lessons left behind by Master Zheng. The thick volumes of classics and histories are a bit of a headache to look at, but in my free time, I love to read 'Sheng Ge Dui Yun', it's very helpful when writing poetry." Xia Zhi Gao said with excitement.

  "What's 'Shengjiaduiyun'?"

  "Yes! Heaven and earth, rain and wind. Continent and vast sky. Mountain flowers and sea trees, red sun and blue sky...... I'll recite a few lines!" Niu Xiaoye said hurriedly.

  Sheng Siyan smiled and said: "My mother taught me..."

  "Let's recite it together, shall we?" Xia Zhi said with great enthusiasm.

  "Little Wang, you go first. If I forget, you can remind me." Sheng Siyan said with a smile.

  "...but having obtained the restored and preserved sharp blade, why bother with the empty and hollow words. The colorful phoenix knows the sound, the music classics require nine performances; the golden man guards his mouth, even the wise father is silent for three times!"

  As they came and went, Sheng Siyan and Xia Zhi collaborated to recite the entire "Shēng Jiǎo Duì Yùn" from memory, earning Xia Zhi a newfound respect for Sheng Siyan.

  Wu Chanjuan watched as Xiao Wangye Xia Zhi became more and more interested in Sheng Siyan, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

  The people on the table clamored for a couplet of poetry again.

  Niú Xiǎo Yè sometimes can't get it done, Shèng Sī Yán still helps her come up with ideas, and doesn't hide or conceal anything.

  Xia Zhi saw it and her heart was moved. She said to Sheng Siyan, "Miss Sheng, I have a couplet, I don't know if you would be willing to respond with the second half?"

  "Come on, Little Prince! Siyan will definitely be able to match!" Niu Xiaoye saw that no one at the table today could match more sentences with Sheng Siyan, and was even more pleased.

  Xia Zhi then said: "The first line is: 'If the king does not take charge, who will be in control?' - Please respond with the second line."

  Sheng Siyan said without hesitation: "Wu has a big mouth and only talks about the sky!"

  Xia Zhi listened and was stunned for half a day, then suddenly exclaimed, "Great! Great! Great! Tomorrow I will tell Mr. about this couplet, it's even better than mine!"

  The Wu family followed with an awkward smile.

  Sheng Siyan suddenly thought of her being a guest at the Wu's, so she said that, but it was not very respectful to the host family, so she decided not to speak again and busied herself eating and drinking.

  After the dust settles, Wu Yujuan sends everyone back to the flower hall to reunite with their respective families and goes to report back to her mother.

  When she heard that Wu Yanjuan had deliberately arranged for Sheng Siyan to sit with Xiao Wangye Xia Zhi, and the two were chatting happily, Zheng Suhui was very satisfied and praised: "It's really not experiencing one thing, not growing one wisdom. If you can always be like this, mother will feel at ease."

  The first update is 4,000 words long. There will be a second update in the afternoon. Also, please vote for pink tickets and recommended tickets.

  ……

  ps：

  Thank you all for the peace talismans yesterday. There will be an extra update this afternoon. Also, a shout-out for pink tickets and recommended votes.