Jiang Chengyuan struggled internally. He did not have much savings himself, almost all his monthly silver went towards Jiang Chenghua, and the hundred taels of gold and deed were from his grandfather back when he was still alive.
If he took all of that out, what would he give to Jiang Sheng? Should he really give a knife?
Mrs. Liao saw his hesitation and changed her tone, "In the end, it's all for betrothal gifts, what difference does it make if you give it to me or directly? Don't worry, I'll add more later and say it's from both mother and son."
With words spoken to this point, Jiang Chengyuan could only go to retrieve the gold and deed.
Mrs. Liao was very satisfied, leading Jiang Chenghua away from De Ren Courtyard.
If she had looked back, she could have seen Jiang Sheng covering her mouth with a little maid.
Unfortunately she did not, only holding Jiang Chenghua’s hand while discussing something in low voices.
When De Ren Courtyard regained its tranquility, Jiang Sheng finally removed her hand from the little maid’s mouth, shaking her somewhat numb hand.
No wonder she did not see Grandmother or Tan Yue when she woke up, turns out they were venting their anger for her.
In fact there was no need, Jiang Sheng felt she did not care about anything regarding the Jiang family at all. She has always been content, with five older brothers that was enough.
"Miss," the little maid whose mouth was numb asked tremblingly, "Shall we go in?"
Jiang Sheng pondered for a moment, not immediately barging in, but rather waiting for the time it takes to drink tea before sleepily entering.
Old Lady Jiang was instructing Tan Yue and her eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Sheng, "I was just about to go see you, and here you come."
Everyone else simultaneously stopped what they were doing and turned to look over.
Jiang Jizong, Second Madam, Jiang Chengfeng, Jiang Chengyu.
When she realized no one from the main residence was present, Old Lady Jiang's expression became cold and stern again.
The chubby little girl leaned over intimately, and Old Lady Jiang resumed smiling again, "Come, come, let me make some introductions. This is your second uncle and aunt, these are your cousins, Xiaoyu is less than a month away from you in age."
This was a scene Jiang Sheng had never encountered before.
Being introduced by a relative to other blood relations.
Fortunately, Yao Siqing had taught her to be poised, keep smiling, and address people properly.
Stopping in front of Jiang Jizong, she politely called out, "Greetings to Second Uncle."
She received five hundred taels worth of silver notes.
This time Jiang Jizong did not attempt to reach out his hand again, only silently gazing at her, complex emotions swirling in his eyes.
Stopping in front of the Second Madam, she softly called out, "Greetings to Second Aunt."
She received a pair of heavy gold bangles.
Stopping in front of Jiang Chengfeng, she pursed her lips, "Greetings elder brother."
She received a delicate gold hairpin.
"I must say elder brother, how can you be so shameless." Jiang Chengyu started shouting from the side, "One bangle from Mother could be split into ten hairpins from you, isn't that too stingy?"
Both Jiang Jizong and the Second Madam glared over murderously.
Jiang Chengfeng hurriedly raised his hands pleading innocence, "That's not it, that's not it, this hairpin has a mechanism that can be used for self protection when necessary."
He demonstrated, lightly pressing and the hairpin really shot out silver needles the thickness of hair, with a range of about five paces. With current techniques, it was definitely a top notch item.
Old Lady Jiang nodded approvingly, and the Second Madam couple also finally retracted their glares.
But Jiang Chengyu was still a bit sour, "I don't even have one."
But when Jiang Sheng walked over, she generously took out a gold pendant necklace, "Although there's no mechanism and it’s not as heavy as Mother’s bangle, it’s especially suitable to match clothes."
After speaking, she actually undid the clasp wanting to put it on for Jiang Sheng right there.
The pure gold pendant necklace had rows of tassels hanging down, looking especially luxurious and pretty around the neck. The only trouble was the clasp which needed careful patience to snap together.
The little maid knew Fourth Young Miss from the west courtyard had an impatient temper, cleverly walked over wanting to help. But Tan Yue stopped her.
Whether it was the Second Madam couple or Old Lady Jiang, everyone was smiling as they watched the two girls of similar age squeeze together, seriously and diligently trying to snap the clasp shut.
One was chubby and half a head shorter, the other tall and slightly sturdier.
The Second Madam couldn’t help but mutter, “ Girls from other families are slender and delicate, yet ours are born sturdy and robust, I figured something must have gone wrong. Turns out there is another equally stalwart one.”
Second Master Jiang was drinking tea and nearly spat it out.
Compared to Jiang Sheng, Jiang Chengyu was not actually fat. It was just that in the current trend favoring extreme slenderness, with the foil of delicate beauties like Yao Siqing and Jiang Chenghua, she went from healthy and proportional to sturdy.
Everyone was always praising Jiang Chenghua, inevitably needing to pull out Jiang Chengyu for contrast, gradually increasing the contradiction and dislike between the two girls. They competed jealously, deliberately making things difficult for each other.
Mothers know their own daughters best.
Jiang Chengyu’s warm welcome of Jiang Sheng was probably because - finally there was someone fatter than her.
Jiang Jizong: "......"
On that side, with enormous effort they finally got the necklace hung up. Jiang Sheng’s round face was even more eye catching with the added richness and charm, gradually resembling that of a young miss from a prestigious household.
Jiang Chengyu was very satisfied with her work, snickering twice, “I heard elder sister has a great appetite. I have some top quality candied fruit, I’ll send some over later.”
Jiang Sheng blinked then nodded in agreement. But just then there was a commotion outside De Ren Courtyard.
It sounded like maid voices, “The young miss has come, quick quick!”
Jiang Chengyuan rushed in first. Seeing Jiang Sheng, his face flushed red and he bashfully scratched his head, words stuck in his belly uncertain of how to express them.
After him was Mrs. Liao, seemingly pinching something in her hands as she calmly entered.
Old Lady Jiang’s expression slightly softened.
“Jiang Sheng,” she gestured at her granddaughter, “This is your eldest brother of the same womb, and also your birth mother.”
Even if the relationship was a bit distant with the cousins, the eldest brother from the same mother should be the closest existence.
Jiang Sheng was holding the gold hairpin engraved with place of origin. She slowly walked over, “Greetings elder brother.”
This address that was mundane in Jiang Chengfeng’s ears caused Jiang Chengyuan’s heart to fall to the bottom.
She was unwilling to call him elder brother.
She sweetly called other people elder brother.
Jiang Chengyuan’s heart was bitter and astringent, but he also knew there was no one else to blame. It was all because of him, because he did not work hard to find his younger sister, because he had coldly neglected his younger sister several times - it was all because of him......
The youth fell into grief and self reproach, temporarily forgetting to take out his gift.
He also did not have anything to take out.
Jiang Sheng’s expression was tranquil. She walked to the front of Mrs. Liao with her head lowered, “Greetings Madam Jiang.”
These words caused a huge commotion.
The four people from the second residence had grave expressions. Old Lady Jiang also slowly straightened. Jiang Chengyuan even forgot his self-reproach as he blankly watched over.
She called Second Uncle, called Second Aunt, called Elder Brother. Yet she was unwilling to call Mother even once.
Mrs Liao was also somewhat shocked. After reacting she started coldly laughing, “What a way to address me as Madam Jiang. As expected if not raised by one’s side it’s hard to become intimate. Yet I was the one blindly affectionate.”
Jiang Chengyuan anxiously urged at the side, “Jiang Sheng, you should call Mother. This is our mother!”
“Yes Miss, the Madam is your proper and birth mother who carried you for ten months and gave birth to you.” The purple clothed maid also had a blaming tone.
