Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 34 - : The Meeting Gift_1

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Meeting Gift_1

Bai Qingyan looked at Mrs. Dong’s joyous face and didn’t want to say she would never marry, fearing it would sadden her. She only said, “I just saw Second Aunt’s eyes were red. She must have cried before coming. Second Aunt loves me because I am her niece, but she won’t necessarily like a daughter-in-law who has difficulty bearing children. Grandmother and Uncle care about me, but one cannot force a cow to drink. In the end, one still has to live under the mother-in-law’s hand in the back courtyard. Mother, isn’t that right?”

Mrs. Dong didn’t speak, considering it carefully.

“Mother, Grandmother and Uncle have been so good to you and me. Are you willing to disturb Grandmother’s peaceful later years by causing discord between her and her daughter-in-law over my marriage? Marriage isn’t the only path in life. This is what you used to comfort me with.”

Mrs. Dong’s words were all to comfort her daughter when she was injured. She didn’t want to let go of this marriage, her lips quivering, “Perhaps, it’s better to meet Brother Yuan first. What if… Brother Yuan is willing?”

Bai Qingyan didn’t argue with Mrs. Dong.

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Her mother said that Grandmother had been planning her marriage with Dong Changyuan since she was injured, but she hadn’t heard about it in her past life.

Bai Qingyan closed her eyes and thought about it, quickly figuring it out.

In her previous life, when her grandmother, second uncle, and second aunt came to Dadu for the New Year, they indeed brought the second son, Dong Changyuan, from Dengzhou. However, at that time, Bai Jinxiu had unexpectedly died on her wedding day not long ago. Grandmother probably felt it was inappropriate to mention a marriage proposal, and later, the news of the Bai family men dying in Nanjiang on New Year’s Eve came back…

She knew her grandmother loved her, and she didn’t want to cause a rift between her grandmother and second aunt because of her.

Before the carriage arrived, Madam Dong, with white hair, was already standing at the gate of the Dong Mansion, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Mrs. Song and four grandsons and two granddaughters to welcome her daughter and granddaughter.

Madam Dong wore a gray squirrel fur coat embroidered with gold patterns, and her hands were wrapped around Buddha Beads, constantly looking toward the right side of the long street.

Dong Changyuan stood beside Madam Dong with his hands folded behind his back, dressed in a stone-blue straight gown with a black jade pendant hanging from his waist. The handsome young man showed no emotion on his refined face.

“They’re here, they’re here!” a servant woman shouted, “I see Second Master’s carriage!”

Madam Dong lifted her coat’s hem, held up by Mrs. Song, took a few steps forward.

“Mother, don’t rush, Wan Jun and Kid can’t fly!” Mrs. Dong, playing with Madam Dong.

Dong Tingzhen, Mrs. Dong’s second daughter, also laughed as she held Madam Dong: “Grandmother, don’t hurry. If you fall, Aunt and Big Cousin will worry!”

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Dong Mansion. Mrs. Dong got off the carriage first and, upon seeing her white-haired mother, immediately burst into tears: “Mother!”

“Wan Jun!” Madam Dong’s eyes moistened as she hurried down the steps.

Chun Tao and Chun Yan, who had been walking alongside the carriage, helped Bai Qingyan down. She bowed and greeted, “Grandmother, Aunt!”

“My Wan Jun, my Kid!” Madam Dong hugged her daughter with one arm and her granddaughter with the other, tears streaming down, making Bai Qingyan’s eyes red as well.

Several cousins and siblings came forward to pay respects. Only Dong Changyuan stood at the top of the steps, holding his jade pendant tightly, not wanting to look at anyone.

Seeing Dong Qingyue standing by the carriage, dead-eyed and expressionless, Mrs. Cui quickly called Dong Changyuan. He reluctantly walked down the steps and deeply bowed, “Chang Yuan greets Aunt and Cousin.”

He didn’t glance at Bai Qingyan.

“Brother Yuan has grown so much! Such a handsome young man!” Mrs. Dong praised, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

Mrs. Song hurriedly said, “It’s ill-mannered to stand at the gate talking. Kid’s health is fragile and she fears the cold! Mother, let’s find a warmer place to chat.”

“Yes, yes! Let’s talk inside!” Madam Dong, holding her daughter and granddaughter’s hands, led them inside, not wanting to let go, seeing no one but her daughter and granddaughter.

Inside, Madam Dong hugged Bai Qingyan, showering her with affection. Her tears never stopped, soaking Bai Qingyan’s new clothes.

Dong Changyuan sat at the back, drinking tea by himself, not looking at anyone, indifferent, his resistance clear to Madam Dong, let alone Mrs. Dong and Bai Qingyan.

Though she worried about her daughter’s lifelong happiness, Mrs. Dong didn’t want her daughter to marry a man who didn’t care about her. Seeing Mrs. Cui, who showed signs of weeping on the carriage, and her daughter with red eyes, Mrs. Dong decided she’d talk to her mother about canceling the marriage.

“Brother Yuan, I haven’t seen you in years. You’ve grown into an adult.” Mrs. Dong smiled, then beckoned Tingzhu to present Dong Changyuan’s meeting gift.

Dong Changyuan finally stepped forward and bowed.

Madam Dong held Bai Qingyan, looking at her handsome second grandson, thinking they were a perfect match.

“Last year, your grandmother wrote that you topped the township examination and earned the title of Top Graduate! Aunt is also happy for you!” Mrs. Dong motioned Tingzhu to present the gift to Dong Changyuan, “These two Shoushan Stones would be wasted if kept by me. They best serve Brother Yuan to carve into seals.”

Dong Changyuan quickly declined, bowing, the Shoushan Stones too precious, he was indeed afraid to accept.

“A gift from an elder cannot be declined! Your aunt gave it to you. Keep it well and don’t disappoint her kindness!” Madam Dong implied.

Bowing, Dong Changyuan’s face grew uglier, not wanting to accept the generous gift.

Mrs. Song covered her lips with her handkerchief and chuckled, “My sister’s gift is too precious, it’s scared Brother Yuan!”

Hugged by Madam Dong, Bai Qingyan saw Mrs. Cui’s red eyes. Not wanting her second aunt and Dong Changyuan to argue over her marriage, she said, “Mother hopes Chang Yuan can top the exam again, bringing glory to the Dong family and making her proud.”

Hearing the clear and gentle voice, Dong Changyuan, though not disliked, lowered his head more.

Bai Qingyan stood beside Madam Dong and smiled, “First meeting Brother Yuan today, I prepared a gift.”

Upon hearing this, Chun Tao quickly presented the top-quality Hui ink and Xizhi inkstone Bai Qingyan had prepared.

Seeing the ink and inkstone, Dong Changyuan, a lover of calligraphy, couldn’t help but admire them. But remembering they were gifts from someone he was forced to marry, his joy turned sour as if he had swallowed a fly, his discomfort evident. He bowed his head and said, “Cousin’s gift is too valuable. Chang Yuan dares not accept without earning it.”