Chapter 183 - New Year’s Eve (2/2)
After awhile, the loud firecrackers sound could be heard, followed by the laughter from the people gathered and the sweet aroma coming from the dishes. Shi Yumei was secretly upset and depressed.
Ren Zhixian laughed coldly, “Who are you making this face for? Nobody is pulling or stopping you. If you want to go, then go! Heng, if your family really had the heart to invite us over, they wouldn’t just send a servant over and invite us in such a slapdash manner!”
Shi Yumei finally flared up and thought in her heart: If not what? You’re already staying in our household and not as a guest over here. Is it considered impolite to send someone to inform us? Or do you need my mother to invite you personally!
“Actually, you aren’t wrong. We are the Ren family, and not the Shi family. We shouldn’t turn up at all!” Shi Yumei looked coldly at him once and said expressionlessly.
Ren Zhixian was stunned as he thought she would be jumping angrily. He was frustrated and thought to himself: this woman is getting more and more imprudent. Is it because this is her family’s household and there will be someone supporting her? How dare she become more rebellious and disobedient! Really, what kind of family would produce such a daughter, this is so unreal!
Not long after, the kitchen sent the dishes over. There were six dishes and one soup, and they were still steaming hot. “Let’s eat!” Shi Yumei said expressionlessly. Seeing how Ren Zhixian ignored her, she went ahead to sit at the table before ordering Cui Zhu to prepare the bowl, chopsticks, and to scoop her rice.
Ren Zhixian glared at her disgruntledly.
Cui Bao tactfully said, “Lord, it’s the New Year, you should at least have your reunion dinner with Young Mistress! Don’t let Young Mistress wait too long!” She went forward to hold Ren Zhixian’s arm before leading him to the table.
Ren Zhixian took the opportunity to praise Cui Bao appreciatively. Cui Bao is still so considerate towards me, it seems my affection for her didn’t go to waste! She’s so much better than Cui Zhu who behaves just like a dead log!
Shi Yumei appeared indifferent, however, Ren Zhixian was insistent on making her angry in order for his heart to feel contented. Once he sat down and received the bowl of rice from Cui Bao, he pulled her over and said, “You should sit too and have dinner together!”
Shi Yumei’s chopsticks trembled and her face darkened, but she remained still.
Cui Bao’s eyes brightened with glee, but they instantly dimmed when she came to a realization. She quickly smiled and said, “Lord, please don’t make fun of me. Would a servant dare to sit at the same table as Lord and Young Mistress? That would be against tradition! Lord and Young Mistress, please have your dinner quickly else it’ll turn cold!”
Shi Yumei grunted but her expression turned slightly better. Luckily you know better!
“I make the rules! Where did such a tradition come from!” Ren Zhixian insisted on making her sit. When he saw Cui Zhu still standing beside Shi Yumei, he scolded unhappily, “Bring a chair over!”
“This servant does not dare! Please do not force this servant!” Cui Bao expression turned white and she fell to her knees.
Ren Zhixian could behave recklessly, but not her! Her brain was still functioning properly: this is the Shi household!
Making Shi Yumei lose her face in public, if the people from the Shi family got angry, Ren Zhixian was unlikely able to protect her!
“You!” Seeing how Cui Bao behaved, his scheme only ended up embarrassing him and he could only glare at her. However, there was no way he’d know what Cui Bao was thinking. He did not know that Cui Bao was afraid of the people from the Shi family, which was why she did not dare to obey him. Instead, he began to like her even more and felt that she was —— really obedient and sensible!
“Hurry and get up, why are you kneeling during the New Year!” Ren Zhixian consoled gently, and helped her up by her arm.
“This servant gives thanks to Lord!” Cui Bao glanced quietly at Shi Yumei who was still eating indifferently and let out a sigh of relief before smiling, “Lord, please have your dinner quickly!”
“Right!” Ren Zhixian nodded, and ordered Cui Bao to pick the dishes for him.
Shi Yumei could not stand the sight anymore and ate a few more mouthfuls in a fit of pique before slamming the chopsticks on the table. She got up and left together with Cui Zhu.
Ren Zhixian stared at her back as she left and said angrily to Cui Bao, “Just look at her! What is the meaning of this? Does she still see me as the head of the family!”
“Lord, please cool yourself down!” Cui Bao said with a smile, “Lord, it’s not auspicious to be angry during the New Year! Young Mistress might not be feeling well, so don’t think too much! Young Mistress isn’t normally like this!”
Ren Zhixian sneered, “You are wrong, she wasn’t like this in the past. Ever since she came back to Shi Household, she felt that she had finally found a backing and does not see me as her husband anymore! Heng, she better not forget that she is part of the Ren family. Even if she dies, she will have to be buried together in our household’s grave with no links to her Shi family! Her body is feeling unwell? I think it’s her heart and mind!”
“Lord!” Cui Bao face turned white with panic, “Please don’t speak such words anymore! After all, why bother! You won’t feel good about it, and neither would Young Mistress —— “
Cui Bao thought resentfully: Don’t you know that we’re still on the Shi family’s soil? Do words go through your mind first before you speak? The Shi family may not act rashly towards you, but won’t a servant such as I end up being implicated? Are you trying to send me to my grave!
“Ai!” Ren Zhixian could not withstand the pitiful tears of a beauty; seeing the way Cui Bao behaved, his heart immediately softened and he could not help but hold her hands as he sighed, “Cui Bao, Lord only has you who thinks about me! You are still the best, only you are concerned about me! There’s no one now, come, sit down and have dinner with me!”
Cui Bao glanced around subconsciously and forced a smile, “Tradition cannot be ignored. This servant will stand and have dinner!”
Ren Zhixian was happy, and nodded with satisfaction, “That’s fine too! Come and eat! Have whatever you like!”
“This servant is very thankful towards Lord!” Cui Bao cast a coquettish gaze at him.
Shi Yumei guessed that everyone should be done with dinner at Wang Shi’s place, and ordered Cui Zhu to bring over her large fur cloak in preparation to head over to her mother’s place to sit and spend the night with her mother, aunts, and sisters.
Who knew that Ren Zhixian would have the intention of obstructing her tonight. He did not go to the study room to spend time with Cui Bao and sat in the hall outside instead. He exclaimed at the sight of her about to leave, “Stand right there! Where are you going?”
Shi Yumei said indifferently, “I’m going to my mother’s place to accompany her with everyone else!”
“You’re not allowed to go!” Ren Zhixian was waiting for this exact moment and he firmly refused, “Today is the new year. As a Ren family member, you are not allowed to mix with the Shi family!”
Shi Yumei laughed in ridicule and simply said, “Lord, have you forgotten that we are now living in the Shi household? Am I not allowed to accompany my mother for a small chat?”
Her words poked Ren Zhixian at his sore spot and he said angrily with a cold face, “You’re not allowed to go if I say you’re not allowed to! If you dare to take a step out, then don’t ever think about coming back tonight!”
With a belly full of anger, why would Shi Yumei bother? She laughed coldly and left with Cui Zhu.
“Well done! Well done! Look at how well the Shi family has educated their daughter, really, really she’s not listening to her husband at all now!” Ren Zhixian had never been treated as such by Shi Yumei before and was so angry that his voice trembled. Cui Bao remain at his side to console him for a long time before he finally recovered.
Shi Yumei also did not feel comfortable, and was at a loss of words. Arriving at the front of the main courtyard, she reminded Cui Zhu to not speak insensibly and fixed the expression on her face before entering cheerily.