The scene before Song Jiyun nearly made her burst into laughter.
Madam Qian was so moved that tears brimmed in her eyes.
She had not expected that, by simply repeating the words her daughter had instructed her to say beforehand, she would prompt Old Master Song to come out and disrupt the old lady's proceedings.
Their Yun Duo was truly capable.
She should have trusted their Yun Duo even more.
As for Madam Zeng, she wished she could shove her foolish eldest son back into her womb.
"Eldest son, stop causing a scene here," she said, feeling a bit dizzy and leaning on Madam Li's arm, "It's a matter of the girl's marriage, and you, being an uncle, we have not informed you in advance..."
Song Daliang would not buy her act.
His mother adored his younger brother, Song Sanliang, the most.
Moreover, a marriage with the Yuan Family was a good thing!
A dowry of silver, married off far away.
The dowry didn't need to come out of the second brother's estate; using Madam Qian's dowry was enough.
It was just uncertain whether there was any connection between the Yuan Family and Lord Li?
Even without a connection, it was just as well to use this opportunity to get to know Lord Li.
It was, after all, a matter of great importance.
It looked like he would need to take a trip to Suzhou Prefecture.
Suzhou Prefecture was where the gold and silver lay, a place to make money.
Perhaps he could make a fortune through this young man of the Yuan Family.
Song Daliang interrupted Madam Zeng with a "tsk tsk tsk," and said, "Mother, don't talk about these trivial things. I just want to ask you one question. The betrothal letter from the Zeng Family was drawn up three months ago, when the second brother was still alive and the niece had come of age, so why was there no engagement ceremony back then? Why wait until after the second brother died, when his body was still in our house awaiting funeral, for the Zeng Family to rush over to propose marriage?"
Of course, it was because they had not anticipated that after the second brother passed away, his eldest daughter would turn out to be so formidable, preventing them from taking any advantage.
But Madam Zeng could not say that.
She was choked up to the point her neck swelled.
Song Daliang, however, thought it was because the second brother's funeral was in a couple of days and Old Master Zeng wanted his own son to perform the ritual of toppling the basin for the second brother, so he was in such a hurry to propose today.
He believed he had seen through the tricks of his mother, his brother, and the Zeng Family; this feeling of being excluded and plotted against by his own mother and brother made him even more resentful.
"Since ancient times, matchmaking has revolved around the orders of the parents and the words of the matchmaker, with procedures including the three letters and six etiquettes." He pointed at the betrothal letter from the Zeng Family and asked Old Master Zeng, "I want to ask the Zeng Family when did you match the horoscopes, when did you exchange the betrothal letter? When did you discuss the bride price and make a down payment?"
"Don't you have to inform the girl's relatives when exchanging betrothal letters and making a down payment?"
Song Daliang even boldly asked the Song Family clan elders, "Did you old folks know about this?"
"Have they sent you a notice?"
"Did you know that the Zeng Family had agreed to a marriage with the Song Family before?"
One by one, the clan elders of the Song Family shook their heads, and their looks towards Madam Zeng and Old Master Zeng carried a hint of displeasure.
Song Daliang was secretly pleased, thinking: You wanted to leave me out, right? Fine! If I can't have it, neither can you.
He stood proudly on the steps of the main gate, his demeanor so similar to that of Madam Zeng who had stood there not long ago, and asked the onlookers in a loud voice, "Without the three letters and six etiquettes, can this be considered a respectable marriage?"
One of the onlookers who didn't fear a spectacle replied, "No, it doesn't!"
Another said, "Old Master Song makes sense."
"Exactly!" Song Daliang said triumphantly, "I do not recognize this marriage!"
Ninth Master Song watched and nodded slightly.
Old Master Zeng cursed him to high heavens in his heart, but still had to steel himself to say to him, "This marriage was agreed upon by your aunt and me..."
"Don't use my mother as an excuse," Song Daliang cut him off before he could finish. "Everyone knows that ever since my mother married into the Song Family, she began to financially support the Zeng Family. But now that she's old, how can you still cling to her so tenaciously?"
After saying this, he also addressed Madam Zeng: "Mother, I'm already a grandfather. From now on, would you please leave matters outside to me? You can simply focus on reading scriptures at home, playing with your grandchild, and cuddling your great-grandchild!"
His implication was that Madam Zeng was getting senile.
Madam Zeng was so angry she turned crimson and was at a loss for words.
Song Daliang felt a strong sense of satisfaction.
He then taunted Song Sanliang, "Uncles and cousins might be all well and good, but they are Zengs by surname. Don't forget that you bear the surname Song."
Song Sanliang's face turned from green to white.
Song Daliang laughed heartily, reaching out to grab Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong endured for a moment, not knocking away Song Daliang's hand, allowing Song Daliang to grab his arm.
Song Daliang, oblivious, triumphantly pointed at Yuan Yunzhong and said to everyone, "See this? This is the Eldest Brother-in-law of the second branch of our family. The witness was none other than Lord Li himself. If anyone has objections, you can take it up with Lord Li."
Onlookers burst into raucous laughter.
Song Daliang was brimming with pride, personally introducing the Clan elders of the Song Family to Yuan Yunzhong: "This is Ninth Grand Master!"
The Ninth Master Song, who was of an advanced age, smiled kindly at Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong politely called out "Ninth Grand Master."
Ninth Master Song was delighted and personally introduced other Clan elders of the Song Family to him.
Song Jiyun made a discreet signal to Zheng Quan.
Understanding the cue, Zheng Quan, with several servant boys, threw all the betrothal gifts from the Zeng Family onto the street outside the door.
Old Master Zeng was both ashamed and humiliated.
Madam Li screeched in alarm, "Mother-in-law, mother-in-law, what happened to you?"
All eyes followed the noise.
They saw Madam Zeng clutching her chest, having slumped to the floor, limp as a ragdoll.
*
Inside the Main Hall at Madam Qian's residence, Madam Qian eyed Yuan Yunzhong who looked even more distinguished and imposing close up than he did at the door. She timidly raised her hand and said politely, "Have some tea!"
Yuan Yunzhong sniffed the tea, finding it acceptable, and took a sip as a courtesy.
To the uninformed observer, it might appear as though he was the master of the house and Madam Qian was his guest.
Madam Qian smiled awkwardly at Yuan Yunzhong, had Nanny Zheng serve him some snacks, and then pulled Song Jiyun into a small parlor behind the Main Hall, whispering anxiously, "Yun Duo, is this man the famous performer you brought back from Hangzhou? Something doesn't seem quite right to me. Could there have been a mistake?"
Song Jiyun, without the slightest change in expression, whispered back, "Mother, don't worry, there's no mistake. I paid his troupe leader the reward right in front of him."
Yuan Yunzhong, who had been gently brushing the floating leaves off his tea with the lid, stiffened at this.
Madam Qian let out a long sigh of relief and said, "That's good, that's good. His acting really had me fooled. Once this is all over, you must give him a generous tip."
Song Jiyun agreed.
Madam Qian returned with Song Jiyun to sit down again on the Arhat bed in the Main Hall.
As she looked at Yuan Yunzhong again, she became more and more certain of the young man's good looks and acting skills, and couldn't help but ask warmly about his background, "What's your real name? When did you join the troupe? Do you still remember where you're from?"
Song Jiyun had no choice but to cough gently a couple of times and said, "Mother, let's discuss how to tend to grandmother's illness, shall we?"
Madam Zeng had collapsed. Filial piety comes first, and this was a serious matter. All three families would need to attend to her.
"Yes!" Madam Qian agreed, then spoke to Yuan Yunzhong again, "You just make yourself at home here. Though our place is small and can't compare to Suzhou Prefecture, we do have a cook with excellent skills. If there's anything you want to eat, just let someone know to tell the kitchen."