Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Losing Face (2/2)

“What do you mean? Fourth Daughter-in-law, explain yourself clearly. Your Aunt and Cousin are reasonable people; if there truly is a good reason, they will listen.”

“Mother, it was I who was too impatient. I shouldn’t have talked back to Aunt. I didn’t let Chunlan rest in my room truly for her own good. Chunlan is only a

year younger than me, an almost fully grown girl. How can she sleep where a man lives? Never mind that Husband and Chunlan are cousins, such relationships have always been prone to gossip, and even true siblings need to avoid each other after reaching a certain age. If this gets out, there will inevitably be slanders, which would tarnish both Husband’s and Cousin’s reputations. ”

Mrs. Yang, who placed great importance on her youngest son’s reputation, quickly nodded in agreement, “Fourth Daughter-in-law makes a good point. A daughter’s reputation is of utmost importance.”

What Mrs. Yang actually wanted to say was that her son’s reputation was most important. However, considering her Niece was also involved, and Mrs. Yang did have a soft spot for Chunlan, she still took Chunlan’s feelings into account while speaking.

“If one does nothing wrong, why be afraid of a crooked shadow? I have done nothing to fear; besides, this is our own family we’re talking about. Who would gossip so much?” Jiang Chunlan muttered, unconcerned.

After hearing these words, Mrs. Yang could not reprimand her due to her Sister’s presence, but her expression soured. She had thought her Niece was respectable, but it turned out she was like this, a girl unconcerned with staying in a man’s room and unashamed. Mrs. Yang thought to herself that it was fortunate Father-in-law interfered with Yuer’s marriage and that he married the Fourth Daughter-in-law instead. If such a woman entered their family, it could have led her son astray. In this regard, Mrs. Yang even more appreciated Su Wenyue and firmly sided with her daughter-in-law over Jiang Chunlan.

“Cousin Chunlan might not be afraid, but I am. Husband clearly isn’t fickle, but such rumors would damage his reputation. I can’t control you, Cousin. You may do as you wish elsewhere, just don’t implicate my Husband. So Cousin

Chunlan, you should rest somewhere else. If you don’t mind, you can stay in Xiao Xi’s room,” Su Wenyue said.

This aligned perfectly with Mrs. Yang’s reasoning; it didn’t matter what the Jiang Family’s daughter did, as long as she didn’t affect her son.

“Yes, Chunlan, although what the Fourth Daughter-in-law says is harsh, it’s for your own good. Xiao Xi is a neat and generous person, and she wouldn’t mind you staying in her room. Besides, you are both women; it’s convenient and won’t cause any unseemly rumors,” Mrs. Yang added.

“Eldest Sister, who is this Xiao Xi?” Yang Juxiang asked, puzzled by the name, unaware of such a person at the Han Family.

Seeing her Sister inquire, Mrs. Yang explained Xiao Xi’s background again.

Both Yang Juxiang and her daughter, learning that Xiao Xi was merely Su Wenyue’s Servant girl, felt disdain and contempt.

“Aunt, how can you let me stay in a Servant girl’s room? That’s too degrading,” Jiang Chunlan protested, leveraging her youth and naivety to speak without concern, voicing things that Yang Juxiang wanted to say but couldn’t.

Yang Juxiang, hearing her daughter, didn’t object, evidently sharing the same view. Her Eldest Sister offering her a Servant’s room was downright disrespectful.

You silly girl, what are you saying? Xiao Xi is no longer a Servant girl; she’s redeemed herself. She’s staying with Our family because she values her loyalty and wishes to follow her master. Besides, not just anyone can become a servant at the Su Family. Many people plead for such a position and are turned away. You didn’t see the clothes Xiao Xi wore when she first arrived at the Han Family; she was dressed far better than us by many times, in the finest materials, like a pampered Daughter In The City. I couldn’t believe Xiao Xi was just a Servant girl. She can cook and do all sorts of household chores, and she’s literate, too. Our average farmer’s daughters can’t compare..”