Because of Madam Qian’s ironic words, Wei Zhengyin frowned again, but immediately apologized to Old Madam Deng. In spite of being Madam Su’s mother, Old Madam Deng was kinder than her daughter. When her daughters-in-law intrigued against each other in front of her and the young generation who came to greet her, she neither scolded them nor revealed her dislike. On the contrary, she sighed with a helpless look and said to Wei Zhengyin, “It is your first time to see your niece since she grew up. It is not a problem that you have many words to say. Now, just let the same generation greet each other.”

First young master and third young master of the Su Family worked outside. Mrs. Deng and Mrs. Gu who ushered two guests into the hall apologized for their own husband’s absence. Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying immediately expressed their understanding and also felt sorry about their sudden visit. After greeting Mrs. Deng and Mrs. Gu, Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying met Su Yuli, the first miss of the Su Family, in order of age.

Su Yuli looked like Wei Zhengyin. She was tall, slim and elegant with a thin and pretty face. Followed by her was Su Yulee, the second miss of the Su Family. She looked like Madam Qian with a small face and fair skin. There was a pair of bright eyes below her thin willow eyebrows. She seemed a little charming but behaved in an elegant way. The next one was Su Yuliang, the fourth young master and the only lineal son of the eldest branch. Wei Changying heard that he was so irresolute that he couldn’t do something important. Therefore, the dispute between the first branch and the third branch started.

Wei Changying used to imagine that Su Yuliang should be a timid boy before. On the contrary, now, as an eighteen-year-old man, he was tall and handsome with proper behavior. His looks showed that he could be successful.

After greeting Su Yuliang, Wei Changying said hello to Su Yuwu whom she was quite curious about. But for this cousin, Wei Changying would visit the Su mansion as Shen Cangfeng took a rest.

Su Yuwu was about twenty days younger than Wei Changying. He was strong and even a little taller than his fourth brother, Su Yuliang. He had bright eyes with long eyebrows. There was an air of youthful brilliance on him.

Wei Changying greeted him with a smile. She thought, “No wonder that mom has actively talked with second aunt about the marriage between her daughter and Su Yuwu. There were many good-looking descendants with talent in great families. However, among them, the vigorous ones most admired by elder generation reminded them of those passing life at their youth.”

Su Yufei and Su Yuyin, two lineal daughters of the second branch, were the last two cousins Wei Changying should meet. Su Yufei was one year older than Su Yuyin. As Wei Changying imagined before, Su Yufei was fair-skinned with pretty eyebrows and eyes.

Su Yufei looked like Madam Zhang. However, her beautiful face was covered by the bloody tear makeup. There were many decorations on her hair. Su Yuyin also wore a heavy makeup like her elder sister. She drew a pair of long and thick eyebrows with charcoal twigs and ink. Her rouged face and lips were quite gorgeous. There were ornamental designs on her forehead, dimples and temples. If Wei Changying hadn’t seen this popular makeup in the Shen mansion before, she would have been startled.

Although she was still poised, Shen Cangfeng was rather shocked. Pointing at two cousins, he hesitantly asked, “Are you Yufei and Yuyin?”

Rolling their eyes at him, Su Yufei and Su Yuyin answered, “Third cousin, are you kidding? We haven’t seen for a few days, and don’t you remember us?”

As her two daughters entered the hall, Madam Zhang was awkward. After Shen Cangfeng showed his doubt, Madam Zhang felt blushed. When her daughters replied to him, she couldn’t help getting to her feet with irritation and snarled, “How dare you say that? Go back to your room to wash your face clean. Come on!”

Wei Changying was embarrassed, so she secretly pinched Shen Cangfeng and planned to smooth it over. However, Su Yufei felt wronged and retorted, “It took me about one hour to finish the bloody tear makeup. But for my first time to meet third sister-in-law, I would not have taken so many efforts.”

Su Yuyin added, “I have specially lent the eyebrow pencil from first sister to trace my thick eyebrows.”

The explanation of her two daughters embarrassed Madam Zhang so much that she sighed for her miserable life. It was Su Yufei who privately recommended Bloody Tear Makeup to Shen Cangning. Last time, Madam Su returned to her mother’s home to look after Old Madam Deng. After her mother just recovered, she on purpose asked her sisters-in-law something on this heavy makeup.

Su Yuli of the third branch and Su Yulee of the eldest branch were to get married. At this time, they were pretty interested in makeup, so they might recommend this makeup to Shen Cangning when she came to the Su Family. Unexpectedly, it was Su Yufei and Su Yuyin who did this.

Madam Zhang felt quite....

In the past, when Su Yufei and Su Yuyin looked after their ill grandmother beside the bed, they didn’t dare to wear a makeup. Now she recovered. Madam Zhang thought that her daughters would not wear such a heavy makeup because she used to scold at them after Madam Su’s inquiry. However, they once again wore this horrible makeup when their cousin visited the Su mansion with his wife.

In the view of Su Yufei and Su Yuyin, this makeup showed their respect to Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying. On the contrary, Madam Zhang thought that her daughters were so foolish that they did not notice Wei Changying’s faint smile. They saw Shen Cangfeng’s startled looks, but how could they still feel that their makeup was nice?

When Madam Zhang was going to denounce her daughters, Old Madam Deng who loved the young generation cut in, “It is a usual thing that a girl likes something colorful. Why are you so angry?”

Madam Zhang had to follow Old Madam Deng’s words, so she said with a smile, “Mom is always kind, but my two daughters are so mischievous. If I were not to give them some lesson, they would be wilder in the future. Fortunately, Cangfeng and Changying are our families. Otherwise it would lose our face if people knew what had happened.”

“Now the bloody tear makeup and the crying makeup are fashionable in the Capital City. Why do we make our family shamed?” Supported by their grandmother, Su Yufei and Su Yuyin did not fear their mother, so they retorted with their own mouth pouting.

Madam Zhang glared at them so that two sisters got closer to Old Madam Deng.

Old Madam Deng persuaded Madam Zhang, “It is a popular makeup in the Capital City, so not merely these two girls wear like this. It is a normal thing that many girls wear this makeup. Why is it a shame?” She added, “Doesn’t anyone have naughty children? They will be more sensible as they grow up. I used to worry about their first aunt and youngest aunt, too.”

Old Madam mentioned first aunt and youngest aunt, so Madam Zhang stopped scolding her daughters, but threatened them in a low voice, “I will beat you after returning to the room.”

The two girls ran to Old Madam with a laugh and did not care about their mother’s threatening words. Obviously, although Madam Zhang menaced them, she still loved them very much. As they went back to the room, she would not be so strict, so they did not fear her.

After this interruption, Old Madam mediated the conflicts for the young generation, so she got tired. After all she recovered soon before.

Madam Qian ordered servants to hand a cup of ginseng tea to Old Madam Deng. Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying felt sorry for their visit. Old Madam Deng said with a smile, “I felt at ease after seeing you, this lovely couple. Recently, I was fed up with those days when I lay on the bed and drank the bitter medicine. Only if I did not stay on the bed, I would be happier even if I were tired.”

After comforting grandson and his wife, Old Madam Deng felt uncomfortable. She asked Wei Zhengyin and her niece, Wei Changying, to chat in the third branch. After all, they had not met for many years. Besides, after conversation, Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying could come here for lunch.

After thanking Old Madam Deng for her kindness, Wei Zhengyin and Wei Changying gazed at her as she left and headed for rear hall. Holding a handkerchief, Madam Qian looked at Wei Zhengyin with a faint smile and said, “It is enviable that you and Changying look like a pair of sisters as you stand together.”

Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying did not find anything strange about her words. However, Madam Zhang held her two daughters and said in a normal voice, “What you have done has blushed me. Come to wash your face clean. And then I will give you some lesson.” And then, she quickly went off.

Madam Zhang’s behavior made Wei Changying doubt something. As she expected, Wei Zhengyin originally invited Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying to her room for a chat, but her smiling face was replaced by an air of angry after she heard Madam Qian’s words. Turning to Madam Qian, Wei Zhengyin coldly said, “Recently, it seems that first sister-in-law likes the word, ‘Sisters.’ If so, when my husband comes back, I will ask him to send that pair of sisters to the first branch to serve you.”

“Alas,” said Madam Qian with a smile. “It is not easy. Those sisters are as beautiful as flowers, so perhaps third brother is not willing to send them away. I won’t force him to do so. What’s more, they are given by the Crown Prince to third brother. How could you casually send them to others? Third-sister-in-law, please stop saying angry words. I won’t mention it, OK?”

After finishing her words, Madam Qian nodded at Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying. She joyfully left away with the obedient second miss, Su Yulee.

Wei Zhengyin glared at her back and then said to those young people who were too embarrassed to speak out, “Let’s go back to the third branch.”

After giving her two cousins a sorry and helpless look, Su Yuli hurried to support her mother with her hands and led them to their destination.

On their way to the third branch, Wei Zhengyin was comforted by her daughter, so she became a little happier as she arrived at the room. She asked the young people to take a seat and started talking with them. A few minutes later, a pair of beautiful maids with identical looks came to greet her. They were about sixteen or seventeen years old. They were fair-skinned and had bright eyes. They wore a single bun and identically dressed in a green upper shirt with thin sleeves and white floral dresses with a colorful ribbon on their own waist. Their appearance was fresh and lively.

As Wei Zhengyin saw them, her face clouded over with anger. After seeing this, Wei Changying thought that they might be the sisters mentioned by Madam Qian.

Obviously, two maids knew that Wei Zhengyin did not like them, so they nervously saluted her. However, Wei Zhengyin did not ask them to stand straight but asked, “Who ordered you to come here? Why are you so impolite?”

The taller maid on the left seemed older. She said in a low voice, “We heard that you have guests here, so we want to help you serve them.”

“Don’t I have any servants available here?” Wei Zhengyin frowned, looking up, and asked the servants outside the room, “Who are guarding the door?”

A maid in yellow entered the room with a nervous look. She saluted and answered, “Madam, Hexiang and Hexin said that more maids are needed for guests in the room. I thought that it was your order.”

Wei Zhengyin said furiously, “Can’t you ask more?”

Because Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying were in the room, Su Yuli and Su Yuwu had to make up for her mother’s rude words. Su Yuli softly said, “Mom, perhaps it’s Yanli’s negligence, but it is nothing serious. Today, Cangfeng has asked for a leave to visit us with his wife. We should happily have a chat, so why are we troubled by this trivial thing?”

Su Yuwu added, “Elder sister is right. The two maids have come here, so ask them to serve us.”

Hexiang and Hexin hurried to salute, “Yes, fifth young master.”

The two maids thanked Su Yuwu for the chance to serve them. Su Yuwu did not care about them but turned to Wei Changying, “After you married Cangfeng, I wonder whether I should address you third sister-in-law or third cousin.”

Shen Cangfeng and Wei Changying were amused by his words. Wei Changying said, “Just now first cousin called me cousin, and it is OK.”

Su Yuli answered, smiling, “On my way here, I have considered how I should call you, at last I decided to call you cousin. It is natural.”

“It doesn’t matter. We are families,” said Wei Zhengyin. The young generation joked about how to address others. Wei Zhengyin did not want to spoil the pleasure, even though two maids she disliked were here. So she cut in, “Any address form is OK as long as you like it.”

“Second aunt is right,” said Wei Changying with a smile. “Just now it is strange for me to call you third aunt. In Fengzhou, grandmother often mentioned you and my mother asked me to treat you in a filial manner. So, I am used to calling you second aunt.”

Wei Zhengyin preferred being called second aunt to being called third aunt. So, she said with a smile, “You can call me second aunt. Cangfeng, are you OK with it?”

Shen Cangfeng answered with a laugh, “No, unless third aunt gives me some water chestnuts cakes. Or I will tell my grandmother that third aunt doesn’t love me after she saw Changying.”

He was handsome and made a showy display of his abilities. As with these jokey words, Wei Changying had gotten used to them, but others, including Wei Zhengyin, were shocked at them. After they reacted what he had meant, they were awkward. Without caring about the absence of Hexiang and Hexin, Wei Zhengyin burst into laughter. She gestured at him and said, “I thought that you are a gentle man, but I did not expect you would be so naughty.” She asked maids to pass a plate of water chestnuts cake to him and said, “Here you are, these are all yours. Could you please not tell it to your grandmother?”

As Wei Zhengyin laughed, the atmosphere got lively suddenly. Shen Cangfeng got to his feet and thanked with his hands folded in front in an exaggerated way, “Thank you, third aunt. You are generous, so how could I do so? If you said anything else later, I would not tell it to my grandmother, either.”

People in the room all laughed and said, “This plate of water chestnuts cake is worth it.”