Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 521 Warmth
"Ah."

Minglan slightly raised her eyes, and in her calm and serene gaze, she clearly saw Molan's anxious yet calculating figure.

After giving a brief reply, she subtly withdrew her hand from Mo Lan's overly enthusiastic, even somewhat sticky, grasp, her movements fluid and natural, as if she had merely adjusted her posture casually.

Immediately, she stood up, gracefully curtsied, her posture elegant and perfectly proportioned, without a single flaw.

"I hope Fourth Sister is well."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a stream flowing over pebbles. Her manners were impeccable, yet it was like an invisible, cold glass wall, instantly separating her from all the intimacy and "alliance" that Mo Lan was trying to create.

The wall was transparent, yet incredibly hard.

Before Mo Lan could continue to elaborate on her theory of "one prospers, all prosper," Ming Lan had already turned and walked very naturally toward the wet nurse who was holding Zhuo Jie'er.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips as she stretched out her arms and said softly, "Come here, Zhuo-jie, let your aunt give you a hug."

She took Zhuo'er, who was blinking her big, dark eyes and looking around curiously, from the wet nurse's hands. She skillfully held the child in her arms, gently lifted her up, lowered her head, and affectionately rubbed her nose against the child's soft little face. Her voice became even gentler: "Zhuo'er, look here at your auntie. Have you been good today?"

"Hmm? Our Zhuo'er is the best-behaved, isn't she?"

Zhuojie giggled, reaching out her chubby little hand to grab a stray hair from Minglan's temple. Minglan turned her head away and continued to tease the child softly, as if she was completely immersed in the interaction with her little niece, completely isolating Molan and her awkward performance in another world.

This series of actions was fluid and graceful, fulfilling all the proper etiquette while clearly rejecting Mo Lan's advances, and subtly drawing everyone's attention to the innocent and adorable child.

Hua Lan sat to the side, holding the celadon teacup with the sky after the rain, quietly watching Mo Lan's performance, which was both excellent and eloquent, but only earned her silence and Ming Lan's silent rejection. She understood everything perfectly. She just smiled gently and did not respond to Mo Lan's exaggerated and superficial attempts to force a connection.

She turned to the side, gently placed the teacup on the small table beside her, and turned her gaze to the old lady on the couch and Madam Wang sitting on the couch. Her tone was steady and sincere: "Grandmother, Mother, you must have been very busy at home yesterday?"

"I imagine that just welcoming and seeing off guests and receiving congratulatory messages must be exhausting. In fact, we are just basking in the glory, while Seventh Brother is the one who has really worked hard."

She sighed softly, a sigh filled with a complex mix of heartache and pride: "I studied diligently for over a decade, never daring to slack off, and now I realize how difficult it was. It was truly a moment of brilliance that amazed the world and brought immense prestige to our Sheng family."

As she spoke, a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes, a genuine pride in her brother: "Later at the banquet, I must properly toast him to thank him for the confidence and glory he has brought to our Sheng family and to us married sisters."

These words, simple and sincere, are based on an understanding of Sheng Changquan's years of dedication. They stand in stark contrast to Mo Lan's superficial and exaggerated performance, which is only interested in taking advantage of the situation, making them all the more genuine and moving.

"Humph!"

Rulan, standing to the side, took a bite of a newly served, exquisitely crafted rose pastry, as if she were taking her anger out on someone.

Her cheeks puffed out as she leaned closer to Hai Chaoyun, half-covering her mouth with a handkerchief embroidered with lotus blossoms, and muttered in a very low voice, her tone full of undisguised sarcasm: "Look at Fourth Sister's attitude, tsk tsk... If you didn't know better, you'd think it was her own brother who had passed the imperial examination!"

"Look at her eyes, she practically has 'I'm so proud' etched on her forehead! She talks a better game than those street performers singing lotus flower ballads, but alas, after singing for so long, not a single person chimes in to support her. It's truly laughable, and she doesn't even feel embarrassed..."

Upon hearing this, Hai Chaoyun, as the elder sister-in-law, quickly nudged her with her elbow and gave her a "be careful what you say" look, signaling her to be quiet.

But Hai Chaoyun herself couldn't help but smile knowingly and helplessly. She lowered her voice and whispered, "Fifth Sister, shut up. Why don't you just enjoy your snacks, drink your tea, and watch the children play?"

Although it was meant as dissuasion, his tone clearly showed that he was amused by Rulan's straightforwardness.

Looking at the scene before her, despite the discordant note of Mo Lan, who was constantly jumping around trying to make her presence known, Madam Wang still felt radiant and extremely happy, as if she had drunk a bowl of chilled plum juice on a hot summer day, feeling refreshed from head to toe.

She waved her hand, as if shooing away flies, to dispel the unpleasantness caused by Mo Lan, and ordered the maids standing beside her in a loud voice, revealing the decisiveness and confidence of the mistress of the house: "Quickly! Quickly brew the newly arrived, top-quality Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea from the storeroom!"

"Let's use that Jun ware tea set with the blue glaze after rain that the old lady treasures!"

"That tea set is just right for this tea color!" "And in the small kitchen, tell them to bring back plenty of each of the newly made rose pastries, lotus seed cakes, crab roe pastries, and plum blossom sesame cakes! Pick the most exquisite ones, the ones cooked to perfection! Let the grandmas and grandpas have a taste!"

"Let's relax and have some fun at home today!"

The maids responded in unison with a clear "Yes," their faces beaming with joy as they busied themselves with light steps.

Soon, the rich and mellow aroma of tea filled the air, and a variety of exquisite and tempting snacks were served in a continuous stream, filling the small tables in front of each person.

The atmosphere inside Shou'an Hall became even warmer and more lively.

According to custom, Sheng Changquan, as the young master of the host family and the absolute protagonist of the day, was required to personally invite his two brothers-in-law to the main hall in the front yard to talk with his father, Sheng Hong, and other male guests who had not yet left.

He rose at the opportune moment, bid farewell to his grandmother and mother, and remained respectful yet composed.

Yuan Wenshao immediately stood up and whispered to Hua Lan, his tone quite solemn: "I'm going to the front to talk to my father-in-law and seventh brother."

Hua Lan nodded obediently and whispered a word of advice: "Drink less alcohol."

Yuan Wenshao nodded in agreement.

Liang Han naturally stood up quickly as well, and he glanced at Mo Lan.

Mo Lan was feeling frustrated and annoyed because of the setbacks she had just suffered. Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she just nodded haphazardly and had no intention of paying attention to Liang Han. A hint of displeasure flashed in Liang Han's eyes, but she quickly covered it up and still had a smile on her face. She followed Sheng Changquan and Yuan Wenshao out of Shouan Hall and headed towards the front courtyard.

……

Once the men left, Shou'an Hall became entirely the domain of the women, and the atmosphere seemed to become more relaxed.

The two babies were also taken by the wet nurse to play on the floor covered with a thick carpet.

Shige'er, wearing a red satin jacket embroidered with the character "福" (fortune), was a lively and energetic boy with a chubby face. He clutched a brand-new cloth tiger tightly in his hand, wobbling as he chased after Zhuojie'er, calling out indistinctly, "Sister... Sister... play... play..."

Although Hualan had been married for a long time, she had no children until the old lady of the He family helped her give birth to Shige'er. Therefore, Shige'er and Zhuojie'er, the daughter of Hai Chaoyun, were not much different in age and could play together.

At this moment, Zhuojie was wearing a pink embroidered dress and looked more demure than Shige. She had two cute little pigtails and was being chased by Shige, making her giggle. She clumsily dodged with her short legs, and accidentally, her chubby little body plopped down on the soft carpet.

She didn't cry. Instead, she opened her big, bright, watery eyes, which were just like her mother's, and looked curiously at Shige'er, who had caught up with her. Her little mouth was slightly open.

Seeing this, Shige quickly stuffed his beloved, brand-new cloth tiger into Zhuojie's arms, as if he thought it was the best gift. Then, he took out a piece of sesame candy from the small pouch embroidered with "Longevity" at his waist. It was so big that it was no longer in shape and even a little sticky. He enthusiastically and without hesitation offered it to Zhuojie's mouth, his little face full of a sincere expression that said, "I'm giving you something delicious. We are the best playmates."

Zhuojie looked at the dark, sticky lump of candy, her little brows immediately furrowing in disgust. Like a little adult, she shook her head in a soft voice, refusing, "...dirty...I won't eat it...Brother...Brother eats it..."

But she didn't push Shige away. Instead, she stretched out her fair and tender little arm, which was like a lotus root, and curiously touched the white fluffy ball on Shige's hat that trembled with his movements. She was obviously more interested in this.

Madam Wang beamed with joy, her wrinkles crinkling into a smile. She said to Hua Lan and Hai Chaoyun, "Look at these two little rascals, they get along so well!"

"At such a young age, he already knows how to dote on his younger sister, always letting her eat the best food first! Our Shige'er is a true elder brother!"

Her tone was almost overflowing with pride and delight.

Hua Lan looked at her son's adorable appearance and nodded with a smile, her eyes full of tenderness.

Hai Chaoyun looked at her daughter tenderly and said softly, "Mother is right. Zhuo'er is usually a little shy and always hides when she sees unfamiliar people, but she gets along well with Shi'er and is not shy at all."

This heartwarming and childlike scene made the atmosphere in Shou'an Hall even more harmonious and joyful, filled with laughter.