Chapter 550 - 205: A Meeting
Chapter 550: Chapter 205: A Meeting
The father and son went to the rear courtyard to find Mrs. Sheng.
Mrs. Sheng wasn’t concerned about whether her young son-in-law’s family was poor or rich. At her age, she no longer cared about such things.
What she cared about was that the man’s family had good character. They shouldn’t bully her daughter just because she didn’t have a father to back her up, nor should they be greedy and try every means to get their hands on her daughter’s dowry.
As long as they could do those two things and also treat Lian’er well, they would be the best in-laws imaginable.
"To be safe, we should probably tell them about Lian’er’s situation before agreeing to the marriage."
Sheng Mingchuan held his wife’s hand, his face etched with the vicissitudes of life. "Don’t you worry," he said with a sigh. "I’ll make sure all of our children are settled. I’ll also try my best to live a few more years, so neither you nor the children will have to suffer any bullying."
Mrs. Sheng said nothing, but her frail, weak hand tightened its grip on his.
Having been together through thick and thin for forty years, the couple didn’t need words to understand each other’s thoughts; a single glance was enough.
Sheng Mingchuan then asked, "Would you like to meet the members of the Chen family? If so, I’ll arrange for them to visit."
Mrs. Sheng thought for a moment before declining. "In my condition, I’m afraid I’m not fit to see anyone. It’s best not to trouble them with a trip here. It would be terrible if they caught my illness."
Hearing this, Sheng Mingchuan understood perfectly. She wanted to meet the Chen family deep down, but she was worried her failing health would just make everyone anxious.
He smiled and said, "You should meet them. It will give you some peace of mind. If you feel they are suitable, we’ll approve the match."
He added, "You personally handled the marriages for our first three daughters, and you chose the sons-in-law as well. As their father, my judgment of character isn’t reliable. I still need you to meet them and help me decide."
"Then I suppose I... I’ll meet them?"
"Yes, meet them. Have Yan’er send an invitation to the Chen family, asking Mrs. Chen and her daughter to come to the estate and admire the flowers with you. I’ll have Chen Song and his son..."
Mrs. Sheng waved her hand. "If you think the son-in-law is fine, then he’s fine. I won’t meet him. I’ll just meet Mrs. Chen and her daughter in the inner courtyard. Half of married life is spent with one’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law. As long as they are reasonable people, Yan’er’s life will be just fine."
Sheng Mingchuan nodded in agreement. However, when he had a servant deliver the invitation, he subtly mentioned that Chen De’an should escort his mother and sister to their estate for the visit tomorrow.
He thought the matter was settled and all they had to do was wait for their guests to arrive the next day.
Sheng Mingchuan stayed with Mrs. Sheng for a little while longer before heading to the front courtyard.
But unexpectedly, after the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Wen Shu, who had delivered the invitation himself, returned.
He had a strange look on his face and seemed hesitant, as if he had run into some trouble.
Seeing this, Sheng Mingchuan asked him, "What is it? Did the Chen family decline the invitation? Are they not coming tomorrow?"
Wen Shu quickly waved his hands. "Of course not. The Chen family was overjoyed to receive the invitation. Mrs. Chen said she would certainly bring her children for the visit tomorrow."
"If that’s the case, why do you look like that?"
Wen Shu frowned and leaned closer to Sheng Mingchuan. "Master, you won’t believe this, but guess who I ran into at the entrance to Orchid Alley, where the Chen family lives?"
"You old codger, you’ve learned how to keep me in suspense. Just spit it out. Who did you run into?"
"I ran into the Xu family’s second young master."
"Xu Yanlin? What was he doing at the entrance to the Chen Family Alley?"
Sheng Mingchuan didn’t pay it much mind. He was holding a collection of selected examination essays, which the government office had worked overnight to print, and was carefully inspecting it for any errors.
Seeing this, Wen Shu didn’t stand on ceremony and plopped himself down on the first seat below the master’s.
"Master, the Xu family’s second young master said he thinks he’s found his missing aunt!"
Wen Shu’s words finally snapped Sheng Mingchuan back to attention.
Because a series of murders had occurred in his jurisdiction, Xu Shiling had returned directly to Liangchun Prefecture after leaving the examination hall.
He had entrusted the task of finding the person to him and Xu Yanlin.
Unfortunately, twenty years had passed, and finding someone after so long was no easy task. Even if they were to post portraits, the two of them weren’t sure what she would even look like now.
So, they had to scrap the idea of posting portraits at the city gates. Instead, Xu Yanlin was to wait at the public office in the examination hall to see if any failed and familiar-looking candidates came to collect their exam papers.
If that failed, he would, during the Lu Ming Banquet, ask all the students who had successfully become scholars who among them had been seen near the examination hall with their mother at that specific hour yesterday.
With this two-pronged approach, they were confident they could find out who she was.
’But Xu Yanlin is already making a move, saying he’s found the person?’
’Could it really be that smooth?’
Mr. Sheng wanted to ask if perhaps it was a case of mistaken identity, but before the words left his mouth, he suddenly recalled what Wen Shu had said with emphasis just moments before—that he had seen Xu Yanlin at the entrance to Orchid Alley.
’Orchid Alley?!’
Sheng Mingchuan’s eyes flew wide open. Even for a man who had seen great storms and was usually as unshakeable as a mountain, he couldn’t help but be rattled.
"Could it be that Xu Yanlin’s aunt... is Chen De’an’s mother?"