Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 522 Support
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While the children played nearby, the adults drank tea and chatted idly. The hall became quiet for a while, with only the light clinking of teacups and the occasional babbling of the children.

Hua Lan put down her sweet white porcelain teacup, gently touched the corner of her mouth with a plain handkerchief embroidered with orchids, and sighed softly as if by chance. The sigh contained an indescribable complex emotion, a mixture of emotions that had been suppressed for a long time and were finally able to be released.

"Speaking of which, the turmoil that happened at the Yuan family a few days ago is both infuriating and laughable now that I think about it."

Hua Lan's voice was gentle, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

The moment these words were spoken, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Ru Lan even forgot to eat the lotus seed cake she had just picked up, her round eyes wide open. Hai Chaoyun also turned to look over, and even Mo Lan, who had been trying to maintain a smile and blend in, couldn't help but hold her breath and prick up her ears.

"What's wrong? Hua'er, did the Yuan family upset you again?"

Madam Wang immediately frowned, her body involuntarily leaning forward, her tone full of protective urgency.

Seeing that she had successfully attracted everyone's attention, Hua Lan sat up a little straighter and began to tell her story vividly, with a touch of just the right amount of teasing and joking in her tone, as if she were telling an interesting anecdote that had nothing to do with her.

"Mother, don't worry. This time, it's not aimed directly at me. It's the trouble caused by my mother-in-law's two beloved nephews."

"Those two cousins, didn't they both take the exam this time? In the end, they both failed and got nothing." She paused, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes, "As soon as this news was confirmed, perhaps some well-informed family in the capital couldn't stand it, or... had some other intentions, because right after that, several families that were 'friendly' with the Marquis of Zhongqin's family sent respectable servants to deliver some 'consolation gifts' over."

She mimicked the seemingly respectful yet potentially sarcastic tone of the servants, saying in an affected manner, "'Oh dear, our lady specifically instructed that you two gentlemen must not be discouraged. Victory and defeat are common in war. The road to the imperial examination is long. Study diligently, and you will surely pass the exam next year!'... 'This is just a small gift, nothing more, but to calm your nerves and help you recover. Please take good care of yourselves!'..."

As Hua Lan spoke, she couldn't help but cover her mouth with her handkerchief and laugh: "Mother, grandmother, you know that my mother-in-law is very concerned about her reputation."

Before the results were announced, she often boasted to others about how talented her two nephews were, how certain they were to pass the exam, and how they outshone the other young men from other families who were also taking the exam.

"And what happened? When these words reached my mother-in-law's ears, who was already seething with anger and had nowhere to vent it, every single one of them felt like a knife to her throat! It was obvious that she was laughing at their family!"

"Her face immediately fell, so dark it could drip water. As soon as the gift-giver left, she called her two precious nephews over and launched into a tirade of abuse!" Hua Lan mimicked Madam Yuan's tone, lowering her voice but speaking with unwavering force, "scolding them for not studying hard enough and wasting the money the family spent on hiring famous tutors."

"Say they're a disgrace, making her lose face in front of her family and the other ladies."

"She scolded them for wasting all her hard work and expectations, and the two men in their mid-twenties were so embarrassed that they couldn't lift their heads, their faces turned red, and they wished they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into on the spot!"

Rulan burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking. Hai Chaoyun also couldn't help but chuckle, turning her face away to hide her laughter. Even Minglan's eyes revealed a faint smile.

Hua Lan abruptly changed the subject, her lips curving upwards involuntarily into a genuine and joyful smile, her eyes lighting up as if reliving that dramatic moment: "Just when the anger hadn't subsided and the servants in the room were trembling with fear, not daring to breathe—the good news of Seventh Brother's passing the imperial examination arrived!"

She paused deliberately, whetting everyone's appetite, before continuing, her voice suddenly rising to a high pitch, perfectly mimicking the booming, powerful voice of the servant announcing good news, a voice so loud it seemed the whole mansion could hear it:

"Congratulations to the young lady! The seventh young master of the Sheng family has achieved the top score in the imperial examination! His success brings glory to the family!"

She imitated his voice perfectly; his powerful, penetrating voice seemed to pierce through several courtyards, sounding exceptionally clear and strong in the quiet Shou'an Hall.

Rulan's eyes widened as she listened, her mouth forming an "o" shape. Hai Chaoyun couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. Even the old lady on the couch smiled with a deep, knowing, and gratified smile—the idea of ​​arranging such a grand celebration was something she had tacitly approved of Fang Mama to do.

Madam Wang slapped her thigh excitedly: "Good! Good! You've come at just the right time!"

Hua Lan herself laughed heartily, continuing to describe the scene that followed in an extremely mischievous tone, as if she were recounting the most exciting excerpt from a traditional opera. "You didn't see it! My mother-in-law's face, oh my goodness, in an instant it turned... like a New Year's palette had been overturned! It went from green to white, from white to red, from red to purple, all that anger from just now was frozen on her face!"

"That expression, tsk tsk, it was truly indescribable! The ginseng teacup she was holding fell with a 'clatter' onto her brand-new silk skirt, splashing scalding hot tea all over it, and she didn't even react!"

"And then there's that snob Wang Mama next to her, who's always been the most snobbish one, giving me the cold shoulder and always treating people differently based on their status!"

Hua Lan mentioned this with obvious sarcasm: "The speed at which they change their expressions is faster than turning the pages of a book!"

"When she first saw me, her old face always drooped along with her master's. But later, when she saw me again, she smiled like a wrinkled old chrysanthemum, with all the wrinkles piled up!"

“He shouted at the top of his lungs, louder than any auspicious messenger: ‘Oh my! What a joyous occasion! What a joyous occasion has befallen our household! The eldest mistress’s family is truly blessed, as if the God of Literature has descended to earth and accumulated great merit! Our Earl’s mansion is also honored!’”

She imitated Wang Mama's arrogant yet obsequious and shrill voice, making Rulan laugh so hard she fell onto Hai Chaoyun. Hai Chaoyun supported her while laughing uncontrollably herself.

Madam Wang laughed so hard she almost fell over, tears welling in her eyes, repeatedly saying, "Serves them right! They deserve it! Let those scoundrels continue to be so snobbish!"

Hua Lan became increasingly smug as she spoke: "While shouting, Wang Mama hurriedly urged the maids and servants: 'Quick! Quickly open the storeroom! Pick out the finest Suzhou and Hangzhou brocade, the most precious Changbai Mountain ginseng, and the most fashionable gold-inlaid jewelry! Find the most radiant and presentable clothes for the eldest mistress to change into! Hurry, hurry! Help the eldest mistress return to her parents' home in style to offer congratulations! This is a matter of utmost importance for our Earl's mansion, and we absolutely cannot neglect it!'"

"They acted as if they were afraid that if we were even a step too slow, it would make us, the Yuan family, seem insincere or disrespectful! It's a complete contrast to their previous arrogant and dismissive attitude!"

Her vivid description perfectly captures the Yuan family's arrogant yet obsequious and extremely snobbish nature, creating a dramatic contrast and hilarious comedic effect.

"After this good news, for several days in a row, the atmosphere in the dining hall during meals was..." Hua Lan suppressed her smile and shook her head slightly, "Oh dear, it was absolutely silent!"

"The table was laden with all sorts of dishes, but no one dared to speak loudly, or even chew loudly. My mother-in-law herself had a sullen face, and she held her silver chopsticks for a long time without picking up a single bite. We, the younger generation, didn't dare to breathe loudly either, wishing we could shrink into a ball and hope that the meal would end soon."

"Even Shige'er was frightened by the low atmosphere and became a little listless. He obediently leaned against me and didn't dare to make a fuss. He just opened his big, dark eyes and looked around anxiously."

She described the oppressive and suffocating atmosphere at the time, making the listeners feel the embarrassment and tension.

Madam Wang was overjoyed to hear this, feeling completely relaxed. She felt that the resentment that had been building up in her heart for many years because of her daughter's mistreatment in her husband's family could finally be released in a strong and satisfying way!

"Oh!"

She slammed her hand heavily on the kang table, making the teacups rattle. Her voice was loud and clear, filled with triumphant pride: "Good! Good! Good! I knew it! The sons of the Sheng family are the most promising!"

"This has truly brought honor to the Sheng family and to my daughter!"

"This has really given those snobs a good slap in the face! Let's see who dares to look down on my daughter now! Let's see who dares to gossip behind my back and say that the Sheng family only knows how to study and doesn't know how to scheme!"

“This is the biggest scheming of my son! He’s scheming for knowledge! He’s scheming on a bright and promising path that no one dares to underestimate!”

Rulan laughed without any restraint, clapping her hands and cheering, her voice clear and bright: "Serves her right! Serves her right! Big sister, it's a pity I couldn't see her face with my own eyes!"

"I really want to see it with my own eyes! And that Aunt Wang too!"

"Pah! Serves her right! She used to look down on people like that!"

The timing was wrong.