Jiang Nan Chen's exclamation successfully drew everyone's attention to Quan Jiu.
A hint of amazement flashed in everyone's eyes.
The woman wore a snow-white cheongsam with exquisite embroidery, her figure accentuated to be graceful and elegant. Her demeanor was even more outstanding, and coupled with her stunning beauty, she was so captivating that people couldn't look away.
Jiang's mother was also taken aback. But then she frowned slightly.
He Miao also looked over. Upon seeing clearly, she was startled, then as if she thought of something, a mocking smile flickered across her lips.
Quan Jiu and Wang Feifei approached Jiang's mother. Wang Feifei presented her gift first, "Auntie Jiang, Happy Birthday! I wish you eternal youth and a life as long as South Mountain."
Jiang's mother looked at her a few more times before smiling, "Isn't this Feifei? How are your parents doing recently?"
Wang Feifei was a little surprised, "Auntie, you recognize me?"
"Haha, you and your father are like two peas in a pod," Jiang's mother held Wang Feifei's hand, "The last time I saw you was when you were ten. I never expected that tomboy to grow up to be so lovely." kuAiδugg
Wang Feifei smiled shyly, "Girls change as they grow. My parents are both doing well."
"She's the Wang family's daughter?" a wealthy lady exclaimed, "Has she been engaged yet?"
Wang Feifei gave a dry laugh, "I haven't considered it for now."
"Oh my, she must be twenty-six or twenty-seven. It's time to consider it," the wealthy lady held Wang Feifei's hand, "I have a nephew, he's very handsome. I'll introduce you two another day." Without waiting for a reply, she pulled Wang Feifei aside to look at her nephew's photos.
Jiang Nan Chen said to Jiang's mother, "Mom, this is Jiu Jiu."
Jiang's mother finally looked directly at Quan Jiu, her smile polite yet distant, "Forgive my poor eyesight, I don't know which family's child you are? You look a bit unfamiliar."
Quan Jiu smiled faintly, "My parents passed away early."
So she was from a commoner background. The expressions of everyone in the hall immediately changed from admiration to disdain and disgust. To be so beautiful and from a commoner background, what else could she be but a vixen.
The smile on Jiang's mother's face became even more courteous and distant, chuckling, "I was too presumptuous."
Quan Jiu presented a gift box, "Wishing Auntie good health and longevity."
Jiang's mother nodded slightly. A servant took the gift box and casually placed it in a corner with the other gifts.
He Miao saw that Jiang Nan Chen's eyes seemed to be glued to Quan Jiu, and remembering Jiang Nan Chen's words from earlier, a surge of jealousy arose in her heart.
"Auntie, aren't you going to see what gift this sister gave?" He Miao said as she reached for the gift box.
A vixen whose parents died young, with no power or influence, who could only rely on being a mistress, what good things could she possibly give? Such women were the most proud of their self-esteem, and she wanted to crush that self-esteem and trample it into the dirt.
Jiang's mother had initially wanted to save the young lady some face, but seeing her son's ardent gaze.
The Jiang family was a scholarly lineage for generations. How could they possibly marry a commoner whose parents had passed away? It would be better to let the young lady know the gap between them early on. If she could be sensible and retreat, she could even introduce her to a good family.
With this thought, Jiang's mother did not refuse, allowing He Miao to open Quan Jiu's gift box.
The wealthy ladies and young ladies all gathered to watch the spectacle. What good things could a commoner whose parents had passed away give? It would surely be some unpresentable gifts.
As the gift box was opened, the onlookers could no longer hide their mockery.
It was a piece of blue silk, likely for clothing by the look of it.
He Miao chuckled, "This gift is quite practical, but it's a pity Auntie only wears custom-made clothes, not just any clothes."
It was just a piece of worn clothing, worth very little, truly poor and shabby. She casually threw the clothing box aside, letting it fall to the ground.
The wealthy ladies and young ladies also couldn't help but laugh.
Jiang Nan Chen's face immediately darkened. He said with a stern expression, "Pick it up."
He Miao had never seen him angry before and was a little scared. She quickly made an excuse, "My hand slipped, it fell accidentally." Then she picked up the clothing box, but still casually set it aside.
Jiang Nan Chen looked coldly at everyone's ridicule, "The Jiang family has been a scholarly lineage for generations, and the word 'cultivation' is deeply ingrained in our bones. Since all you elders have entered the Jiang family home, please temporarily bring out your limited cultivation to save face."
At these words, all the wealthy ladies and young ladies present had unsightly expressions.
Jiang's mother's face also darkened, "Nan Chen, what nonsense are you talking about? After two years abroad, have you forgotten basic etiquette and shame?"
Jiang Nan Chen, however, replied sharply, "I haven't forgotten. Rather, I want to remind those present who have forgotten."
"You..." Jiang's mother was so angry she almost fainted, "Apologize to them immediately."
Jiang Nan Chen stubbornly said, "They should apologize to Jiu Jiu first, and then I will naturally apologize to them."
Wang Feifei heard the commotion and quickly squeezed into the crowd. After just a few glances, she immediately guessed what was happening.
Her face darkened. Given that the elders were all around, she turned her target to He Miao, "How can you be so ill-mannered? How could you open Auntie's gift as you pleased, and then throw it? Do you have a grudge against the Jiang family?"
He Miao retorted angrily, "It's just that this dress is too shabby and not worthy of Auntie Jiang."
"I think the shabbiest one is you. Haven't you ever learned that a small gift with great meaning is precious? Haven't you been to school?" Wang Feifei retorted fiercely.
Jiang Nan Chen glared at He Miao, "Take back what you just said."
He Miao, being publicly rebuked, her eyes turned red with anger, "Why? She's just a mistress being kept by someone. Brother Nan Chen, don't be blinded by this vixen's face."
Indeed, she was a vixen. The wealthy ladies became even more disdainful. Mrs. Zhao said sarcastically, "This is high society. How did such a lowly person as a mistress get in?"
Jiang's mother's face was disgraced, and her expression also turned unpleasant, "Nan Chen, see the guests out."
Wang Feifei glared fiercely at Jiang Nan Chen and pulled Quan Jiu to leave.
However, Quan Jiu smiled and walked to her gift box, taking out the clothes inside and refolding them.
As she unfolded the clothes, the wealthy ladies also saw the appearance of the dress.
It was a cheongsam with peony embroidery. The lifelike peony embroidery on the hem was very striking. The cheongsam was not made of ordinary silk. A sharp-eyed lady immediately recognized it and exclaimed, "This is actually Yun Jin!"
"No, this is Yun Lan. This is from Yun Lan Pavilion!" someone else exclaimed.
Jiang's mother's eyebrows also twitched. She looked closely for a moment before exclaiming in surprise, "This is indeed a high-end custom-made piece from Yun Lan Pavilion."
Some wealthy ladies did not believe it, "How could a mistress afford clothes from Yun Lan Pavilion? Yun Lan Pavilion requires reservations several years in advance, only selling ten pieces a year, and you can't buy them even with money. It must be fake."
However, Jiang's mother stared longingly at the exquisite peony embroidery, shaking her head, "This is indeed from Yun Lan Pavilion, and this embroidery, the Pavilion Master of Yun Lan Pavilion personally sewed it. It uses double-sided embroidery, so this dress can be worn on both sides, and the two sides will definitely have different styles."
As she spoke, she subconsciously took the dress and turned it over. As expected, the embroidery on the hem had become a piece of elegant orchid embroidery. The front was opulent, and the inside was elegant, which was the best omen.