Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Chapter 499: Didn’t hold it in well

"Okay, Dalang, please continue." Cui Shuhua picked up the teacup and motioned Wang Xianzi to continue.

That leisurely and contented look made many people's eyes light up.

This kind of unrestrained and pleasing gesture is truly the style of a scholar!

Wang Xianzi saw that the matter of the mushroom fight was easily revealed by her, and she looked at Zheng Bojiang secretly. The latter shook his head imperceptibly, and she knew that there was no way out.

Who made Cui Shuhua say such harsh words? We are all well-known people. Who would like to be singled out by Cui Shuhua to be scolded and compared to a dog?

She quickly replayed what happened downstairs in her mind over and over again. With so many people watching, lying was impossible, but she could avoid the important issues and say things that would benefit her. This was human nature.

"The ladies all felt that this mushroom fight was inappropriate, so they tried to dissuade her. However, this only upset Miss Jiang, who then argued with Miss Zuo. Miss Jiang was young and didn't know the seriousness of the matter, so she said that the Zuo family was, was..."

She stammered, quickly glanced at Old Lady Zuo who was sitting not far away watching the fun, then looked at Zheng Bojiang, then shut her mouth, her face full of "I dare not say it, if you force me to say it..."

Zheng Bojiang also glanced at Old Madam Zuo and then coughed lightly. "The Zuo family and ours have always been on good terms. What can't be said? If Miss Jiang is wrong, Old Madam Zuo is here too. Just talk it out and apologize."

"Miss Jiang said that the Zuo family is a fence-sitter..." Wang Xianzi closed his eyes and spoke quickly and loudly.

Xiao Jiang felt that given the current situation, not only the third floor, but also the second floor must have heard it clearly.

Tsk tsk tsk, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the eldest house really can’t hold their farts back!

Sure enough, everyone present gasped. They were all smart people and could roughly guess what Jiang Shangxian meant in just one sentence. Many of them changed their expressions.

When His Majesty was conquering the world, they all fled to the Tang Dynasty for safety when they saw the situation was not right. If they were to talk about fence-sitters, most of the people here would have no chance of escaping.

Jiang Shangxian was not just scolding one person, he was scolding most people.

"Bastard!"

Madam Zuo's face flushed crimson. Before she could say anything, Zheng Bojiang spoke first, sternly scolding her: "How dare you say such a thing?!"

Then he pleaded with Madam Zuo, acting like a worried elder trying to clean up the mess for his younger generation: "This child was born in the market. She doesn't know what etiquette and rules are. She can't even read a few words. Don't bother with her. I will teach her properly after she gets married."

Every word and sentence is belittling Jiang Shangxian. Who can't hear it?

Many people secretly thought that the eldest lady was really a sweet-faced but bitter-hearted person. How much did she despise her niece-in-law to speak like this about her in such an occasion?

This is to let everyone in Qingzhou know that Jiang Shangxian is a vulgar and ignorant village woman!

Facing all the looks, Zheng Bojiang pretended to be completely oblivious and said to Jiang Shangxian hurriedly, "Hurry up and kowtow to Old Madam Zuo and confess your guilt. Ask her to forgive you this time!"

Jiang Shangxian leaned close to Zhao Yue with an innocent look on his face and his lips were tightly pursed.

She's not going to apologize, bullshit!

You're a fence-sitter and you don't allow people to say anything?

Cui Shuhua glanced coldly at Zheng Bojiang, her eyes fixed straight ahead, her chin slightly raised, not looking at anyone else. She said calmly, "If a clan wants to pass on its legacy, it must choose a wise leader. Even if none of you have learned this, you should be able to see this truth by looking through the family tree. People without foundation say that playing both sides is the behavior of a mean person and extremely despicable, but this is exactly how our clan conducts itself. We should know how to act within our capabilities. Since we dare to do this, why should we fear what others say?"

After hearing these words, everyone's expressions gradually improved. Yes, when dynasties change, choice is more important than effort.

Clans are different from ordinary literati who have no foundation and want to make a name for themselves. They have a heritage to continue and should know the principle of being able to bend and stretch better than others.

Zheng Bojiang had thought she would speak up for Jiang Shangxian, but she hadn't expected this to happen. So, he said, "Sixth sister, if that's the case, just have Miss Jiang apologize to Old Madam Zuo."

"Do not."

Cui Shuhua glanced at her again, then fixed her gaze on Old Madam Zuo. "Just now, my sister-in-law said that Nian Nu had never learned etiquette and couldn't even read. That's not true. I personally taught Nian Nu etiquette, and I hired a female teacher to teach her calligraphy. However, regarding the issue of the clan's survival, I haven't had time to teach her yet. This is my fault, and I apologize to Old Madam Zuo and I."

As she spoke, she stood up and bowed with an elegant posture and perfect courtesy, neither humble nor arrogant. This made many people's eyes shine, and they couldn't help but think that the husband of Fanyang Lu was unlucky to die at such a young age, leaving such a good wife to waste her youth until now.

Wang Xianzi hadn't expected her aunt to be so protective of Jiang Shangxian. She even stood up to apologize for her when she made such a mistake. She couldn't help but say, "Aunt, Miss Jiang made a mistake and she should apologize to Old Madam Zuo."

"What does it have to do with you?"

Cui Shuhua was merciless and hit her back with one sentence: "You have no right to interrupt your elders when they are talking? It's unruly!"

Bullying her pension insurance?

What’s the difference between this and stealing Cui Shuhua’s girlfriend?

Wang Xianzi's face turned pale instantly. She felt a tightness at the back of her head and was extremely panicked. She looked at Zheng Bojiang as if for help.

If Cui Shuhua says that she is unruly today, then tomorrow everyone in Qingzhou will say that Wang Xianzi is unruly.

Wouldn't all these years of walking on thin ice become a joke? Add to that the fact that she hadn't given birth to an heir for years, and how could she still sit securely on the throne of Cui's eldest daughter-in-law?

Although Zheng Bojiang was also annoyed that she had messed things up, she hated her sister-in-law even more for going against her. She didn't understand why this sister-in-law, who had always locked herself in the yard and never came out except to handle weddings and funerals, turned to the second house after just one trip to Chang'an.

It was she who first suggested that Cui Shuhua go to Chang'an with Zhao Yue.

Cui Shuhua is a quiet, literary, aloof and proud person. Zhao Yue is not well-educated and follows the rules. His mind is often distracted when he speaks and does things. According to her, it would be a blessing if the two of them don't get along well and don't have a big fight during this trip.

Now it seems like she has shot herself in the foot.

But it was too late to regret now. She had to save her daughter-in-law first. With her own Wei'er in such a state now, it was impossible for her to marry someone with a better family background than Wang Xianzi. Unless she recovered completely from her illness and then used the reason of having no children...