Volume 2: Eagle vs. Dragon Chapter 57: Returning Home on the Second Day of the Lunar New Year
In traditional China, there is a ceremony called "returning home", which is usually held on the second or third day after the wedding of a newlywed couple. Of course, this is only the case when the couple live close to each other. In some special cases, such as marrying far away, the ceremony will be handled according to the actual situation.
The Ye family gave the Ye Garden to the Wu family as Ye Youyu's dowry. After Wu Chengjian got married, the Ye family moved back to Xiguan. Although there was a Pearl River between them, this distance was not a big deal for a wealthy family like the Wu family.
However, based on various considerations, the two families agreed to postpone the return visit to the second day of the Lunar New Year. According to traditional customs, this day is usually the day when married daughters return to their parents' home once a year. Anyway, Wu Chengjian's wedding date was very close to the Lunar New Year, so the two days were merged.
Although Ye Youyu didn't have much status in the Ye family, no one dared to neglect Wu Chengjian, so Ye Dalin made a lot of preparations on the day of her return, and even temporarily calmed his wife, asking her not to be rude when Wu Chengjian brought Ye Youyu back.
The eldest daughter and son-in-law of the Ye family arrived first. The second daughter, Ye Haocai, was not married yet. Ma waited patiently with Ye Dalin until almost noon, when the gate reported that the third brother-in-law had arrived. Given Wu Chengjian's status and position, no one dared to be surprised that he was late. Except for Ye Haocai who hid in the back and refused to show up, Ye Dalin and his wife, Ye Haojia and his wife, and the eldest daughter and son-in-law were all sitting in the main hall waiting.
In addition, there were the four big shopkeepers of the Ye family, the business owners of the four downstream merchants, and more than ten cousins of the Ye family, all waiting respectfully - Ye Dalin specially called so many people to show off his face. After all, it was a very proud thing to be able to recruit Wu Chengjian as a son-in-law.
But no matter how long he waited, Wu Chengjian never showed up. Just when Ye Dalin was about to give up his patience, he saw a male servant rushing over and saying something in Ye Dalin's ear, which made Ye Dalin's face turn dark.
It was Ye Youyu's first time to go back to her parents' home because she was spending the New Year at the old house in Xiguan. She had no time to take care of the family and affairs here. Cai Qiaozhu had thought everything out for her - she would not go back to Daxing Street because Wu Chengjun was ill. She only prepared a gift for her parents and brothers, and asked Wu Liu to take Guang'er to visit her grandparents. She prepared a portion for Ye Youyu, and she also took into account Ye Youyu's special situation. In addition to the gift for Ma, her stepmother, she also carefully prepared a gift for Xu.
Seeing this, Ye Youyu was touched and said, "Sister-in-law is so thoughtful."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "Yes, my elder brother is very lucky to marry her."
Wu Chengjian had no good impression of Ye Dalin and was not serious about going to the Ye family, so he left the house slowly. Fortunately, they were all in Xiguan, so they arrived there in a short while. After entering the house, Ye Youyu remembered that she would meet Ye Dalin and his wife later. Ye Dalin was okay, after all, the father and daughter had talked it out before she got married , but as for Ma, she was a little unsure about how to meet her later.
Just as I stepped over the threshold, I suddenly heard Wu Chengjian ask, "How do I get to Yingyang Garden?"
Ye Youyu cried out, and Wu Chengjian had already called Changzi, "Lead the way." Changzi was overjoyed and led the way.
Ye Youyu stood still at the door. Wu Chengjian said, "Let's go." Ye Youyu was stunned for a moment before following him.
On the second day of the Chinese New Year, Xu knew that her daughter would be back home, so she went to bed early last night. She wanted her daughter to see that she was in good spirits and not to worry. Then she got up early again this morning, waiting anxiously.
Ye Dalin did not come to ask her to go to the living room. Xu Shi had been used to being submissive over the years, so she was not annoyed. She just thought in her heart: "If we can't meet properly later, I will take a look at her secretly in the garden."
It was almost noon when I heard the maid at the door calling out, "Madam, Madam, great news, great news. The son-in-law brought the third young lady to see you."
Xu couldn't believe her ears. Dongmei screamed and ran out, but she came back again in a moment, shouting, "Auntie, it's really the girl and the son-in-law."
Xu was surprised and delighted, and hurried out to greet them, but she turned around and looked in the mirror, and seeing that she had done nothing wrong, she walked out of the room. Wu Chengjian and Ye Youyu had already entered the small hall.
Mother and daughter met, even though it was only a few days since they last met, but Xu felt as if they were in a different world. They both lost their composure for a moment, and Ye Youyu walked over in a few small steps and hugged her mother. Xu originally wanted her daughter to see that she was safe and happy, but as soon as she hugged her daughter, tears welled up in her eyes.
Wu Chengjian saw that although Ye Youyu had tears in her eyes, she was actually happy. He felt a little happy for no reason and said with a smile, "Hello, mother-in-law."
Xu finally remembered him and quickly pushed her daughter to stand up. She bowed and said, "This...Hao...Hao Guan."
She was used to being humiliated, so when she suddenly saw Wu Chengjian, who was on equal footing with Ye Dalin or even superior to him, she still did not dare to regard herself as an elder.
Wu Chengjian cried out, "This is unacceptable. How can a mother-in-law bow to her son-in-law like this? It ruins my luck." He helped Xu sit on the chair, then pulled Ye Youyu and said, "Let us kowtow to you."
Xu stood up in panic and said, "This... I don't deserve it..."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "You are not worthy of it, but does that guy named Ma deserve it?" He helped Xu to sit on the chair and winked at the two maids Dongxue and Dongmei. After all, Dongxue was smarter than Dongmei, so she helped Xu not to let her get up.
Wu Chengjian pulled Ye Youyu and said, "Come on."
Ye Youyu had not expected that Wu Chengjian would do this, and was willing to do this. Although she had always been very opinionated, she was like a puppet at this moment, being pulled by Wu Chengjian, and the two of them kowtowed to Xu together.
Xu was held up by Dongxue, unable to get up. Seeing the famous Yihexing Haoguan actually paying her respects, she could no longer hold back her tears and quickly wiped them with her sleeves. She thought to herself, "I am just a concubine, and I would have gotten what he wanted if he just bowed to me. But he actually kowtowed to me. A man's knees are made of gold, not to mention his status. It must be because of Youyu... so he is really good to Youyu."
The fact that Wu Chengjian gave her respect in public was secondary. Thinking that Wu Chengjian was willing to give her this respect, which meant that he loved her daughter, made her feel more at ease.
When the servants of the Ye family saw this scene, they looked at Xu differently.
Over there, after Ye Youyu stood up with Wu Chengjian, tears were still in her eyes. When she looked at Wu Chengjian, it was as if she was looking at this man through a layer of crystal.
At this moment, Ye Duofu hurried over, bowed and said, "Officer Hao, you are here."
Wu Chengjian glanced at him: "Yeah."
Ye Duofu bowed and said, "My master, mistress, several young masters, young ladies, and guests from all parties are waiting for you in the hall. I didn't expect you to come to Yingyang Garden first."
Wu Chengjian smiled and said, "Your third daughter missed her mother, so she came here first."
Ye Duofu said, "Then... since we have already met Auntie here, why don't we move to the hall to meet the master and the guests?"
It was already noon and the banquet was about to start. If Wu Chengjian delayed here for a moment longer, Ye Dalin would have to wait in vain over there and would lose face even more.
Wu Chengjian said with a smile: "You ask your daughter. When I come to my mother-in-law's house, of course I listen to my wife."
Including Ye Duofu, all the servants of the Ye family inside and outside the hall were stunned.
Ye Youyu was a very smart person. She knew at this moment that Wu Chengjian was trying to give her face and openly support her mother. She was happy in her heart, but she said, "I will follow my mother's arrangements."
Xu subconsciously wanted to say that you should go quickly, but she saw her daughter winking at her behind Ye Duofu's back. Xu was cowardly by nature, but not stupid. She changed her words when the words came to her lips, and said with a stammer: "This... this... I will listen to the master's arrangements."
Ye Duofu was stunned. He looked around. The person who really had the final say in this room was definitely Wu Chengjian, but Wu Chengjian pushed it to Ye Youyu, who pushed it to Xu, who pushed it to Ye Dalin who was not present...
Ye Duofu had no choice but to say goodbye and hurried to report to Ye Dalin.
Ye Dalin was furious when he heard this, but after all, he was a man who could make it to the top five of the Thirteen Hongs by his own efforts. He immediately thought, "Wu Chengjian, that little bastard, is willing to do this for Youyu. He really dotes on Youyu!" He was a profit-oriented person. He changed his mind and suppressed his anger. He said, "Add a chair and invite Sixth Aunt to sit down."
Ma, who was originally reluctant, suddenly glared at him.
Her eldest daughter also called out, "Dad!" Before she got married, Xu was nothing at home, but after what happened recently, Xu's status rose sharply, and in the Ye family, she even threatened Ma. At this time, the eldest daughter naturally helped her mother.
Ye Dalin shouted at Ye Duofu, "What are you waiting for? Go and invite them!"
Ye Duofu agreed to go, but Ma shouted angrily: "Ye Dalin, do you think I'm dead?"
Ye Dalin said calmly, "Today is the second day of the Chinese New Year, and it is also Youyu's first time back home since she got married. It's not too much to ask her mother to be present. Just sit down."
Ma snorted, "Sit still? I tell you, either she or I, or either me or she!" She turned around and stormed back to the inner room.
The eldest daughter of the Ye family was about to stand up, but suddenly she noticed her husband standing beside her motionless. A woman should obey her husband after marriage, so she sat back down before she even had her buttocks left the chair.
Ye Haoye, Ye Haojia and several other young masters of the Ye family also looked at Ye Dalin with pleading expressions, but none of them left the table.
Ma walked away a few steps and found that none of her children followed her. She turned back suddenly and cursed angrily, "I really gave birth to a bunch of heartless people!" Then she rushed back to the inner room howling.
Seeing this sudden change, all the guests secretly glanced at Ye Dalin, but seeing that he did not show any emotion at all, they secretly admired him.
