Chapter 8: Picking a Fight and Making a Wager

The Ye Family’s originally lively family feast was lifeless due to Ningwan’s arrival. The eldest aunt noticed that no one was speaking, her eyes rolled slightly as she smiled and said, "Dad, look at Xuan’er coming home today with so many gifts, she’s really sensible. I wonder what Ningwan has brought back for you? Ningwan, why don’t you show us the gifts you brought, let us have a look." The customs of Jiangcheng. When a daughter gets married from her family, a generous dowry is naturally expected. Three days after the marriage, when the daughter returns home, the husband’s family is also supposed to prepare gifts for this occasion. Typically, the more generous the dowry from the bride’s family, the more generous the gifts prepared by the husband’s family. Ningwan sneered. When she got married, the Ye Family didn’t even prepare a bed for her; did they expect her to bring back gifts? "Ningwan, you didn’t prepare anything, did you? But you grew up without parents and didn’t grow up with us, so you may not know the customs, and that’s understandable. But as for the Zhan Family... how could they not know this custom? Could it be that they’re not satisfied with you?" The eldest aunt covered her mouth and laughed mockingly. The others also looked at Ningwan with schadenfreude. She wore a veil at dinner, who knows how ugly she is. It’s only because Zhan Hanjue’s reputation isn’t good that she could marry him. But in their hearts, they surely despise her. Zhan Hanjue frowned slightly, he didn’t expect the Ye Family to bully an orphaned girl like this. "Housekeeper Wu, bring up the return gifts." Zhan Hanjue ordered coldly. "Yes." Housekeeper Wu immediately called in the people from outside, who displayed the gifts one by one for the Ye Family to see. A beautifully crafted set of eight gold jewelry items, a half-meter-tall jade Guanyin, a verdant and transparent jade Ruyi, and a colorful antique rotating vase from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Mr. Ye was a fan of antique collections. Other things aside, this antique vase caught his eyes immediately; such a good condition and preservation, it was evidently invaluable and rare. The other things also dazzled the others. The eldest aunt couldn’t both be embarrassed and flattered, quickly smiling ingratiatingly, "All these gifts for us? Mr. Zhan, you’re really too generous. Certainly befitting the richest man in Jiangcheng, so lavishly generous." "Eldest aunt is joking," Ningwan gently said, "These are the return gifts prepared by the Zhan Family, but since our Ye Family didn’t provide any dowry, how can we accept the Zhan Family’s gifts? The Zhan Family’s preparation shows their understanding of customs, but our Ye Family shouldn’t let others look down on us. Housekeeper Wu, put all the things away carefully, we’ll take them back later." "Yes, Young Madam." Housekeeper Wu agreed respectfully and waved people to pack the items again. "This... " "Third sister, other things aside, but grandpa loves collecting antiques. Why not leave the antique vase for grandpa? Surely, Mr. Zhan wouldn’t mind." Ye Xuan spoke up, asking for the vase on behalf of Mr. Ye and looked at Zhan Hanjue with tender eyes. Who would have thought, Zhan Hanjue said, "I don’t mind, but as for such household matters, I leave them entirely to my wife." Ningwan’s beautiful eyes curved: "Second sister, you are so filial, but Grandpa has many collections, he surely wouldn’t care for such a trifle." Mr. Ye was furious, his face turning pale. How could he not cherish it? He almost cherished it to death. But at his age, how could he have the face to ask his junior for something, especially when he indeed hadn’t prepared anything for the girl. Ye Xuan, being rebuffed, had an unpleasant look. However, she quickly came up with a plan, smiling as she looked at Zhan Hanjue: "Mr. Zhan, before we misunderstood due to rumors, we didn’t consider thoughtfully. Had we known Mr. Zhan was such a talent, we wouldn’t have married our unattractive third sister over. Our Ye Family has several other girls, Mr. Zhan might as well look at them." Saying this, she deliberately puffed up her ample chest and displayed what she thought was her prettiest smile. Lin Yuyang’s face turned pale with anger, but he couldn’t lose his temper in front of everyone, so he could only clench his fists in hatred. Second uncle’s Ye Ya, who was only seventeen, was so ashamed upon hearing Ye Xuan, that she hung her head blushing. The eldest aunt was overjoyed and immediately pushed her daughter towards Zhan Hanjue: "Mr. Zhan, this is my daughter Chen Nuomei, the same age as Ningwan, but much prettier than Ningwan." If they married into the Zhan Family, wouldn’t those return gifts all be theirs? Zhan Hanjue said coldly, "I guess you all forget, I have an eye condition, and beauty or ugliness is meaningless to me." "..." Ye Xuan was extremely annoyed, how could she look at his face and forget that he was blind, wasting all that posing for nothing. "Moreover, I don’t think Ningwan is ugly." Zhan Hanjue publicly held Ningwan’s hand. Ningwan’s hand, smooth and slender, was cool like a fine piece of jade when held. At the moment of contact, Zhan Hanjue’s heart seemed to be gently tickled by a feather, slightly itchy. Ye Xuan snorted coldly, trying to sow discord: "Mr. Zhan, you can’t see, don’t be deceived by some people. She wears a veil to cover her hideous face. Even if you don’t care, you should think about the next generation." "Exactly, Mr. Zhan, Ningwan has been ugly since childhood; our whole family knows it. My daughter Nuomei is truly beautiful, if you don’t believe me, you can let your housekeeper see and tell you." The eldest aunt also said eagerly. "Eldest aunt, how many years has it been since you saw me? How dare you say you ’know’. Second sister, does wearing a veil mean ugly? Where did you get this absurd logic, it’s really laughable and ridiculous." Ningwan retorted unceremoniously. Ye Xuan widened her eyes: "Ye Ningwan, such arrogance. Since you talk so big, why not take off the veil. Seeing is believing, let us all see how beautiful you really are." "That’s not necessary, I returned for the family feast, not a beauty contest. I fear that if I take off my veil, it’ll make you feel ashamed." Ningwan said in a tone that implied she was considering her. Ye Xuan was about to explode with anger, immediately stood up and shouted: "Ye Ningwan, how dare you speak such shameless words, you must take it off today." "Taking it off is possible, but second sister, why don’t we add a bit of a wager." Ningwan suggested. "A wager? What wager?" "If everyone thinks that second sister is more beautiful than me, then I’ll leave all the return gifts here for second sister." "Really? You have to keep your word and not go back on it." Ye Xuan shouted before Ningwan had finished, fearing she’d go back on her words. "Of course, I keep my word, my husband already said that internal matters are entirely up to me to manage, right, husband?" Ningwan looked at Zhan Hanjue with smiling eyes. Zhan Hanjue kept a steady face without speaking. However, his silence represented consent. "But second sister, if everyone thinks I am more beautiful than you, second sister you should also offer a wager, to make it fair." Ningwan continued. Ye Xuan snorted coldly: "Alright, what do you want me to offer?" Beauty, after all, has no strict standards; beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and from the looks of it, there are more people on her side than Ningwan’s. As long as everyone stands on her side, what can Ningwan do? "I want just one thing, the carved peony jade pendant from second sister’s dowry."