Chapter 13 - Meeting the ‘Wang’ (2) (1/2)
Xiu and Xiao Yu led them to the main hall. When they got there, Wang Luo Hai had just arrived along with his women. Yao Ying and Yao Ling greeted them politely just like how they used to be.
Wang Luo Hai laughed merrily and patted Yao Ying's shoulder, ”You don't need to bow that low. We are father and son now.” Then he turned to Yao Ling, ”And you are my daughter-in-law.” Yao Ying and Yao Ling both smiled at him and nodded in agreement.
”I'm sorry, Father-in-law. It's a habit,” Yao Ling explained, feeling a bit embarrassed.
”No worry… no worry… you can change it slowly,” Wang Luo Hai smiled.
”Come on! Let's go inside the main hall.” Wang Luo Hai led them to the main hall, and everyone followed him.
They waited for the matriarch for a little while, before she finally appeared. Yao Ying, as a man, didn't really pay attention to the Matriarch. For him, she's just an old lady. However, Yao Ling paid attention to every detail.
The matriarch's black hair had a hint of white hair here and there, but her face! She looked younger from her real age and not to mention… beautiful. She's supposed to be fifty-eight years old. Yao Ling finally knew from where Wang Luo Hai got his handsome look. If you didn't look at a slight wrinkle on the corner of her eyes and smiling line around her mouth, she could pass as young as thirty years old woman.
When she walked, her face was slightly raised. She was looking a bit proud, but not annoyingly arrogant. Her walk posture was the epitome of elegance. Yao Ling was in a trance. In her village, the old women there looked wrinkly and usually, their backs were slightly bent, maybe because they had to work hard on the field every day.
She forgot where she was and praised the Matriarch, ”How beautiful!” She said that from the bottom of her heart without trying to curry favor. Yao Ling was usually very blunt, so it was no surprise to Yao Ying. He nudged her to remind her to behave.
It seemed like her voice wasn't low enough, because the matriarch laughed after she turned around and sat down on the head table. When Yao Ling realized that the matriarch was laughing at her, she lowered her head in embarrassment.
The matriarch had been living long enough to understand people's character. She could hear a hint of sincerity in Yao Ling's voice; she genuinely praised her. Which woman didn't like to be called beautiful, especially when she already felt she was getting older?
The matriarch wasn't stupid. If she heard a trace of currying favor, she wouldn't like her. But this Yao Ling proved her otherwise. She already heard how her talent in embroidery was superb and she also started to teach a few embroiderers under her to lessen her burden on massive orders.
Wang Luo Hai led everyone in the room to pay morning respect to the matriarch. Then he introduced his new son and daughter-in-law, ”Mother, this is Yao Ying and Yao Ling. I'm asking your permission to let them become a part of this family as my son and daughter-in-law.”
Even though he was the one in charge of the family, Wang Luo Hai always put filial piety first. His mother was in charge of inner yard family matters, so this matter had to get pass through her first.
”Grandson meets Grandmother.”