frightfiction Chapter 483 Sharing Breakfast
Chapter 483 Sharing Breakfast
I thought this self-important grandmother was about to start her usual rambling, repetitive rant, but to my surprise, she quickly changed the subject.
Yuan Ge didn't try to guess her purpose. He simply took the porridge with lean meat that Jian Shu handed him, scooped up a spoonful, and said, "Father has no concubines, and there is only one stepmother in the mansion."
"The stepmother?" Yu Wanyu's brows furrowed. She spoke of having breakfast together, but she didn't touch her chopsticks. She stared at the bowl of porridge that Yuan Ge was holding. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Do you have any brothers or sisters in the household? Has that stepmother ever treated you harshly? Or perhaps she has been too kind to you?"
She inquired about every little detail, her chattering causing a moment of disorientation... Yuan Ge lowered her brows slightly and replied gently, "I have an older brother and a younger sister in the household. My mother treats me very well, never mistreating me nor spoiling me." She thought that blood ties are ultimately the most inexplicable thing, invisible and intangible, but they do exist. She pushed the pastries in front of her to the other side before saying, "Try some, Grandma Dou's cooking is quite good."
Yu Wanyu nodded, picked up the piece of mung bean cake closest to her, covered her mouth with her handkerchief, took a small bite, and put it down. Then she said, "You actually call her mother... She hasn't even taught you the most basic manners, so how come she treats you so well? A woman obeys her father at home and her husband after marriage. Although you are not in the mansion now, why do you and your husband live in separate courtyards? The first time I saw you, I felt something was wrong. You, a woman, are sitting in the main seat, while your husband is sitting on the right. You are so arrogant and spoiled!"
Yuan Ge was taken aback, then saw Yu Wanyu's face grow even colder as she reprimanded him, "Today is no different. Not talking while eating or sleeping is the most basic manners, yet you were eating and talking at the same time. It's clear your stepmother never taught you proper etiquette, so now that you're married, you still indulge in pleasure and sleep until noon. Your behavior is a disgrace to the elders in the family."
Yuan Ge lowered her eyes to the lean meat porridge in her hand. Every time Grandma Dou cooked lean meat porridge, she would sprinkle some chopped vegetable leaves on top. As she drank the porridge, which hadn't tasted different for many years, she suddenly felt that she had been quite ridiculous just a moment ago—she had actually expected that the feelings between people could be generated out of thin air based on that invisible and intangible blood relationship.
She put down her bowl of porridge and looked up at Yu Wanyu, whose face was expressionless and devoid of any smile. Suddenly, she smiled. "Three meals a day, tea, and snacks are all prepared by a skilled chef. Before I got married, my father and mother never told me to bring honor to the elders of the family. My father is the Minister of Revenue. If his reputation is already being built on the shoulders of a young lady like me... I'm afraid the Wen family's vast fortune is already in jeopardy. As for when I get up or where I sit... no one has ever questioned me before you, Madam."
The other party immediately retorted, "How can a cook's food be the same as a wife's?"
“That would definitely be different… Whether it’s Grandma Dou or Aunt Gui, they both cook excellent dishes, with perfect color, aroma, and taste. If it were me… I’m afraid it would be torture for Song Wenyuan.” After saying that, he shook his head with a smile.
His nonchalant attitude clearly showed that he didn't take the other person's words to heart.
Yu Wanyu's face instantly turned cold. Leaning back in her chair, she sternly reprimanded, "Xiao Qian! There are some things outsiders won't say to your face; they'll only point fingers and laugh at you behind your back! I know you lost your mother at a young age, and no one has been there to raise you in every little detail. I also bear some responsibility for this, so I'm taking this time to teach you how to be a competent wife. You should learn diligently. Do you understand?"
The old woman, sitting upright with her chin tucked in and back straight, demanded with an air of self-righteousness that her granddaughter, whom she had only recognized for less than twelve hours, become the person she desired. Just as she calmly said, "I also bear responsibility for the fact that you lost your mother when you were young," she had already accepted the fact that her biological daughter had died at the hands of her relatives in just one night, without showing the slightest bit of grief.
Yuan Ge's expression gradually turned cold. She thought to herself, "The Murong family... there really aren't any normal people here." But she wanted to know the truth of what happened back then, the real reason why Murong Zhen went to such lengths to brutally murder his two biological daughters... This person in front of her seemed to know something, and should be the easiest breakthrough point. As her thoughts raced, the coldness on her face gradually lessened until it disappeared completely.
She raised her eyes slightly, her gentle demeanor carrying a hint of barely perceptible aloofness, and nodded in response, "Alright."
He painstakingly climbed the social ladder by marrying his own daughter off to Zhixuan Mountain, only to then travel thousands of miles under the guise of visiting relatives to brutally murder her… What conspiracy lies behind these seemingly contradictory actions? Yuan Ge lowered his eyes and slowly revealed an almost cruel smile.
However, the grandmother and grandson's first breakfast was destined to be more than they could finish.
A little over half of a bowl of lean meat porridge remained. Yu Wanyu hadn't eaten anything except the mung bean cake she'd started with. Just as she was earnestly imparting her theories on being a wife to Yuan Ge, Lin Mu rushed in. Upon seeing a guest, he only paused slightly before walking to the pavilion. Before Yu Wanyu could reprimand him, he said, "Young Madam, something's happened. Young Master Wei Ming of the Murong family is causing trouble at the Grand Elder's place. But don't worry, Master has already gone there. However, he said that since the Murong family is involved, and he's an outsider with a history of forceful methods, he might not be careful with his actions. Therefore, it would be best if you went to see for yourself."
Yu Wanyu was startled and subconsciously stood up. The reprimand that was on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back down. Just as she was about to ask, she suddenly frowned. She felt that the other person's words were strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why. Just as she was about to investigate, she saw that the other person had already stood up and was looking down at her, asking, "Old Madam, shall we go and take a look together?"
“Of course.” Yu Wanyu nodded and stood up.
……
According to Lin Mu's confession, this whole thing was caused by Murong Weiming.
Although Jian Shu had been serving in the herb garden lately, the old master really liked the girl. He himself was ordered to stay in the courtyard and couldn't go anywhere, so he was extremely bored and would think of Jian Shu, occasionally inviting her over to chat and exchange martial arts techniques. He had just delivered breakfast to the pavilion when the steward there came to invite her, and she naturally accepted with pleasure.
Unexpectedly, they encountered Murong Weiming halfway there.
This ancestor was probably really boring. He was pacing with his hands behind his back when he saw Jian Shu. His eyes lit up, and he grinned and went up to him, trying to build a relationship by chatting about this and that. Even though Jian Shu was cold to him the whole time, it didn't stop this guy from sticking to him all the way to the Grand Elder.