novelraw Chapter 384 - 123: Mother-in-Law Meets Son-in-Law, The More She Sees, the More She Likes Him
Chapter 384 - 123: Mother-in-Law Meets Son-in-Law, The More She Sees, the More She Likes Him
Jiang Mansion!
Zhuang Min heard the maid’s report, and her face showed a trace of confusion.
They just enjoyed the flowers with Shu Suwan the other day, why are they here again today?
"Madam, the gatekeeper said, besides Miss Shu, there is a young man accompanying her."
"A young man?"
Zhuang Min’s eyes lit up, as if she understood something: "Please invite Miss Shu to the back garden, I’ll be there shortly."
"Yes!"
The maid left, and Zhuang Min glanced at her own clothes, which were a bit too flamboyant.
She enjoyed wearing flamboyant clothes, mostly sheer fabrics. It was fine for meeting other women, but if there was an outsider, especially if the young man Shu Suwan brought was Lin Chen, then it would be somewhat inappropriate.
It’s important to be dignified and proper when meeting the future son-in-law.
"Where is Miss?"
"Miss is in the front courtyard, hosting guests with the master."
Zhuang Min pondered for a moment, her husband probably wouldn’t want to see Lin Chen, and if he came to the back courtyard, he might just have a grumpy face and spoil the mood.
"Call Miss to the back garden as well."
...
...
Lin Chen followed his teacher’s wife, led by the Jiang Mansion’s servants, winding through layers of flowers along the bluestone path. Everywhere he looked, flower beds surrounded him, meticulously trimmed orchids lined up under the corridor in cloud patterns, and unseen white vines entwined with the railings.
"Madam Jiang loves growing flowers. It’s said that every time Lord Jiang goes somewhere, besides official duties, he collects flower seeds for Madam Jiang, so the variety of flowers in the Jiang Mansion is the highest in Jiangnan Dao."
Hearing his teacher’s wife’s words, Lin Chen silently mused, imagining Madam Jiang in his mind.
A flower lover.
A delicate, gentle woman from Jiangnan?
"Madam Jiang has a very unique personality. You’ll know when you meet her."
Shu Suwan dropped a hint with a playful smile. The first time she met Madam Jiang, she was also surprised by her character. Such a woman in Jiangnan Dao is indeed rare.
As Lin Chen followed his teacher’s wife, stepping into the back garden, the sweet scent of osmanthus mingled with the autumn sun brushed against his face.
The crimson railings were draped in dark green vines, and white porcelain pots were filled with various autumn chrysanthemums arranged like a tapestry. A woman in a lotus-colored silk dress was tiptoeing to trim the hibiscus. The jade hairpin in her hair and the jade bracelet on her wrist clanged together, creating clear, melodious sounds in the brisk autumn breeze.
"Madam, Miss Shu has arrived."
The maid spoke, and Zhuang Min turned her head, her eyes shimmering: "Suwan’s here, I just got a new hibiscus flower today, let’s admire it together."
Lin Chen looked at the graceful woman who turned around, hardly believing this was Jiang Qing’s mother. The beautiful woman had flower petals stuck at her temples, and her lotus-colored silk dress made her skin look fairer than snow. With every smile and twinkle, there wasn’t even a hint of crow’s feet, and compared to Jiang Qing, she exuded a slightly more mature charm like aged wine.
"Ahem, Madam, today I’m not here to appreciate flowers, but to bring someone to you." Shu Suwan noticed Lin Chen’s amazement and coughed lightly.
"I guessed, the young man who captured my Qing’Er’s heart, the most handsome young man in Jiangnan Dao."
Zhuang Min handed the flower shears to a maid and walked over leisurely. Her first words made Lin Chen’s face instantly turn red.
The most handsome young man in Jiangnan Dao?
Is this how Senior Sister Jiang described me to her mother?
"Junior Lin Chen pays his respect to Madam."
Seeing her approach, Lin Chen hurriedly paid his respects, but Zhuang Min said nothing, instead walking around Lin Chen twice. The maid stood beside her, looking helpless. Her mistress was just like this. She had said she would change into something more formal, yet she still chose the most beautiful outfit.
How could an elder scrutinize the younger like this, especially the one her daughter fancies?
At this moment, Lin Chen felt like a soldier being inspected, standing straight and eyes fixed.
This moment was more torturous than being hammered in Thousand Hammer Map.
"Madam, Miss will be here shortly." The maid couldn’t help but remind her.
"She’s coming... oh right..."
Zhuang Min withdrew her scrutinizing gaze and looked at Shu Suwan: "Every time my Qing’Er returns home, she brings a document, always commendations from the Military Affairs Department for Lin Chen, right in this pavilion. It makes me curious about what kind of young man makes my Qing’Er so devoted."
Upon hearing this, even though he had lived two lifetimes, Lin Chen was still a bit speechless.
This future mother-in-law, as his teacher’s wife said, truly has a unique personality.
It’s not that she speaks bluntly, but she possesses a girlish innocence in her speech and actions, making it hard to tell she is already a mother.
"Now, Madam has met him."
Shu Suwan replied with a smile. She could see that Madam Jiang was quite satisfied with Lin Chen. Although Madam Jiang’s behavior was a bit playful, not as solemn as most matriarchs, how could the matriarch of the Jiang Mansion be without any means? Otherwise, the large Jiang Mansion wouldn’t be managed in such an orderly fashion.
"Did Qing’Er ever mention me, her mother, to you?"
Zhuang Min looked at the somewhat bewildered Lin Chen, her lips curling into a smile as she asked.
"No... she hasn’t."
Lin Chen answered honestly. Indeed, Senior Sister Jiang hadn’t told him about her family, and if he hadn’t seen her that time in Linhu Village, he wouldn’t have known she was the daughter of Lord Jiang.
"I thought Qing’er would tell you, she has a mother who loves beauty and flowers. Alas, as one grows older, one can only rely on flowers to adorn oneself."
"If it wasn’t for the fact that I was just reminded by my instructor’s wife, I would have thought she was Senior Sister’s sister. You don’t look old at all."
Lin Chen said this without any insincerity. If Jiang Qing and Madam Jiang walked out together, anyone would think they were a pair of sisters.
"Smooth talker, is this how you won my Qing’er’s heart?"
Zhuang Min playfully pointed at Lin Chen from a distance: "I’m not teasing you anymore, Qing’er is with her father in the front yard. I’ve already sent someone to call her. You can rest a moment in this pavilion while I take your instructor’s wife to admire the flowers."
Seeing Madam Jiang following the instructor’s wife to the flower garden, Lin Chen let out a long breath.
Meeting his future mother-in-law for the first time, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
In comparison, he didn’t feel this nervous meeting Lord Jiang.
After pondering for a while, Lin Chen smiled, understanding why it was so. He knew that no matter how he behaved, Lord Jiang would not look favorably upon him, and without that worry of seeking approval, he didn’t feel nervous.
...
...
Front yard.
At this moment, Jiang Duanchao was accompanying a middle-aged man drinking tea in the pavilion in the yard.
The front yard wasn’t filled with many flowers and plants. It had a martial arts arena paved with bluestone, with numerous weapon racks on either side.
"It’s been a few years, and Qing has grown into quite the young lady."
The middle-aged man looked at Jiang Qing standing behind Jiang Duanchao, with a hint of nostalgia on his face. Upon hearing this, Jiang Duanchao’s face darkened slightly, as he couldn’t stand hearing the term "young lady," for in his heart, his daughter would always be his little girl.
"Qing’er is still young, hardly a young lady. But Xi’er looks like she’s almost ready to be married."
The middle-aged man, who was holding a teacup, paused for a moment and then laughed: "It’s still early for marriage, but there’s already an engagement. Xiao Cheng, why don’t you say hello to Uncle Jiang?"
Behind the middle-aged man stood a young boy and girl. Upon hearing this, the boy spoke up: "Nephew Jiang Cheng greets Uncle Jiang."
"Your surname is Jiang? Are you from the Jiang family of Jizhou Prefecture?"
"Nephew is indeed from Jizhou, and my father is Jiang Hong."
Jiang Duanchao gave Jiang Cheng a deep look and then turned his gaze to the middle-aged man, understanding that this fellow was here to boast about having found a good son-in-law.
The Jiang family of Jizhou had indeed produced Upper-Grade Martial Artists, and Jiang Hong himself was a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist, with a high chance of becoming Upper-Grade in the future.
"Senior Brother Chu indeed found a good son-in-law."
Hearing Jiang Duanchao say this, Chu Ming laughed heartily: "With your Qing’er’s qualities, if you put the word out, countless young talents would want to become a son-in-law of the Jiang family."
For Chu Ming, passing by Raozhou Prefecture to see Junior Brother Jiang was indeed partly to show off about his future son-in-law.
There’s no other way—having been suppressed by Junior Brother Jiang in the Martial Path all this time, with Jiang’s sharp tongue, now that there’s finally something to boast about, how could he not proudly show off a bit?
"Before practicing Refining the Viscera, Xiao Cheng was already accepted by Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy, and this time he is on his way to report to the academy in Lingxiao City."
"Accepted by the Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy before Refining the Viscera?"
This time, Jiang Duanchao was somewhat surprised. Being accepted by the academy prior to refining suggests that Xiao Cheng’s Martial Path talent must be quite impressive.
"Uncle Chu flatters me. Nephew was merely fortunate enough to be noticed by an Instructor from the academy, who offered me a disciple letter. It was nothing significant."
Jiang Cheng quickly replied modestly, while the girl beside him, Chu Xi, glanced provocatively at Jiang Qing.
Her father had always been overshadowed by Uncle Jiang, and for those years, she too was dimmed by Jiang Qing’s presence. The other boys at the camp seemed to revolve around Jiang Qing, much to her dissatisfaction.
She felt she was no lesser than Jiang Qing. In terms of family background, the Jiang family had only newly risen, whereas her Chu family had produced Middle-Grade Martial Artists for generations, with her grandfather even reaching the Fourth Grade Realm.
Feeling the provocation in Chu Xi’s eyes, Jiang Qing pouted. Being accepted into Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy hardly seemed something to be conceited about.
"Xiao Cheng, you have many outstanding peers. Why not introduce a few to Xiao Qing. In a place like Raozhou Prefecture, hardly anyone would be a match for Xiao Qing."
Chu Ming spoke with a smile, making Jiang Duanchao’s face turn cold. Was this fellow really intent on pushing his luck? Was he again itching for a fight?
Just as Jiang Duanchao was about to react, a maid hurriedly approached the pavilion and announced, "Master, Madam has asked Miss to go to the back yard."
"Why is Madam asking Qing’er to go to the back yard?" Jiang Duanchao asked with a frown.
"There is a guest in the back garden."
"What kind of guest?"
This time, it was Jiang Qing who inquired. If it were an ordinary guest, her mother wouldn’t have asked for her.
"Miss Shu from the Shu Mansion has arrived."
Upon hearing of Miss Shu from the Shu Mansion, Jiang Qing’s eyes lit up. She knew that Miss Shu from the Shu Mansion was Lin Chen’s instructor’s wife.
With the instructor’s wife here, she certainly needed to meet her.
"Father, since mother called for me, I’ll head to the back garden."
Sitting here was quite boring for Jiang Qing, and she had no desire to continue engaging in a staring contest with Chu Xi.
"Xi’er, Xiao Cheng, you should go pay a visit to your aunt as well. It wouldn’t do to come all this way and miss the courtesy," Chu Ming instructed with a cheerful grin.
PS: This Chapter is short on words, but there will be three more updates tomorrow. Please cast your monthly vote.