Triumph in Her Rise and Love-Chapter 40

"Oh my! Look at my poor eyesight." Madam Qian busily stepped forward and took the young girl’s hand, saying to Madam Luo, "This young lady has grown up to be so beautiful. If she walked down the street, I surely wouldn’t dare recognize her."

She turned her head to introduce her to Song Jiyun: "This is Madam Luo’s niece from her maternal family. Two years younger than you. She wasn’t even as tall as an embroidery stool when she followed Madam Luo from Anhui!"

She also whispered to her daughter and Yuan Yunzhong, "The child hit her head when she was little, which is why she was named Silly Girl."

The two of them couldn’t help but glance at Silly Girl.

Silly Girl just beamed at them, her smile so brilliant and warm, it reminded one of summer or blooming flowers, dazzlingly lovely.

Madam Luo was a woman with a kind and simple face, blushing as she urged Silly Girl: "Haven’t you yet greeted the Madam and the young miss with a bow?"

Silly Girl, very obedient, didn’t even mind that she was standing under the eaves, still wearing her pink Hangzhou silk garment, bent her legs to kneel.

Madam Qian quickly grabbed her, saying to Madam Luo, "What kind of greeting is this! She may not understand, but don’t you?" Then she gently told Silly Girl, "Go play with your Sister Yun!"

The carefree young girl ran over to Song Jiyun, latched onto her arm, calling her "sister," and gazed at Yuan Yunzhong with wide eyes, an unmistakable look of admiration on her face.

Charming and adorable!

Song Jiyun smiled sweetly.

Yuan Yunzhong had been watched by people as he grew up and was unfazed by it all.

However, Luo Zixing glanced at Yuan Yunzhong and asked Madam Qian, "Madam, who is this gentleman?"

Others pricked up their ears.

Madam Qian smiled and said, "This is Young Master Yuan."

"Oh, it turns out it’s the groom!" Luo Zixing quickly stepped forward to pay his respects to Yuan Yunzhong, praising him in front of Madam Qian, "Truly elegant and distinguished, handsome as a fair jade, a genuinely impressive young man!"

Several Store Managers and master craftsmen, upon hearing this, took the initiative to go forward and pay their respects to Yuan Yunzhong.

It seemed that everyone must have heard about the Song Family’s affairs.

Madam Qian then summoned everyone: "The weather outside is hot; let’s all go inside and take a seat!"

Everyone entered the Water Pavilion, each pausing in surprise.

In the spacious hall that spanned three rooms, there was only one round table set up.

Normally, even if men and women didn’t sit in separate rooms, they were supposed to sit at different tables.

Madam Qian saw this and laughed, "I remember in the first year-end feast of our Song Family Kiln Factory, we only set up one big round table. Although the Owner is no longer with us, some traditions remain the same. No need to stand on ceremony; everyone please take a seat wherever you wish!"

There was a hidden message in her words!

People looked at each other as if they were stunned and didn’t know what to do for a moment.

But it was Wong Dahai, who was in charge of the storeroom and known for his quick wit, who reacted first.

He laughed heartily a few times, made his way to the round table, and said, "The Madam is right! I won’t be shy, I’ll take my seat first."

Seeing him, the others had an epiphany. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

All of them had signed long-term contracts, and even if they wanted to leave the Song Family in the future, it was not something they could do in a short period. There was no need to upset the Owner’s wife and young miss over such a matter.

Everyone promptly found seats and sat down.

Luo Zixing even pushed Yuan Yunzhong to take a seat at the table.

Seeing this, others inwardly cursed Luo Zixing for being cunning, yet they admired his adaptability and clamored for Yuan Yunzhong to sit at the table as well.

Yuan Yunzhong was accustomed to taking a seat of honor and, after politely declining a few times, settled down in a seat.

Song Jiyun and Madam Qian then took their places beside Yuan Yunzhong.

Everyone seated themselves around the three.

Madam Qian smiled and signaled the maids to serve the dishes.

Yuan Yunzhong, as if suddenly coming to his senses, exclaimed "Oh" and hurriedly stood up to get the wine pot.

Wong Dahai was seated opposite him.

Without waiting for Yuan Yunzhong to stand up, he deftly rose to his feet, grabbed the wine pot, and said, "Let me do it, let me do it! The son-in-law is an honored guest, how can we let you pour the wine!"

He began to pour wine for everyone.

Yuan Yunzhong expressed his thanks to Wong Dahai with a sense of helplessness.

Song Jiyun couldn’t be bothered with him.

Madam Qian, however, watched with satisfaction and nodded in approval.

Once everyone’s cups were filled, Song Jiyun stood up, chose tea over wine, and said she wanted to toast everyone with three cups.

"This first cup, I toast to everyone here, for the many years of unwavering support to the Song Family, without you, there would be no Song Family today... This second cup, I toast to my late father, whose greatest achievement in life was the Song Family Kiln Factory... This third cup, I toast to everyone, to thank you all for the many years of hard work and toil for the Song Family Kiln Factory..."

Her words resonated with heartfelt sincerity, speaking only of the past and never mentioning the future, which eased the minds of those present, evoking memories of their own experiences—some with tears welling up, others with sighs of sentiment.

But the atmosphere ultimately became warmer and more affectionate.

Yuan Yunzhong looked at her with newfound respect, yet it felt unsurprising to him.

No one should expect to work porcelain without a diamond drill.

She wouldn’t be capable of doing so much if she wasn’t so skilled.

He silently drank his tea, aware that a gaze had been resting on him the entire time.

He glanced over casually.

He saw the girl named Silly Girl smiling with eyes bent like a crescent moon, looking at him. When he looked her way, she even gave him a little wave.

Yuan Yunzhong indifferently withdrew his gaze, just in time to see Song Jiyun holding a cup of wine, standing in front of the pottery wheel master Xiang Yang, and saying, "That year was continuously rainy, and the clay pieces couldn’t dry; Father had someone fan them, but it didn’t solve the problem fundamentally. I just casually suggested maybe we could try drying them with fire. Unexpectedly, Master Xiang really made it work."

Xiang Yang stood up, almost jumping in surprise, and exclaimed, "Was it really the young miss who came up with this idea?"

Song Jiyun replied, "It was just an offhand remark from a naive child, if it wasn’t for you and your apprentices working tirelessly for two months, this would never have been possible. You are the true hero of our family."

"No, no!" Xiang Yang’s neck thickened with emotion, and he hurriedly toasted Song Jiyun.

Yuan Yunzhong clicked his tongue inwardly twice.

This enchantress knew exactly how to play the "High Mountains and Flowing Waters" seeking a kindred spirit!

Just as the thought crossed his mind, someone tugged at his sleeve.

He glanced over from the corner of his eye.

Silly Girl had somehow crept up beside him in Song Jiyun’s seat, her face peach-blossomed and eyes engulfing like spring water, she looked up at him tenderly and murmured, "Brother-in-law, are you going to marry Sister Yun?"

Yuan Yunzhong, expressionless, brushed off his sleeve as if flicking away dust where Silly Girl had grabbed it.

Unhappy, Silly Girl pouted and asked Yuan Yunzhong, "Brother-in-law, don’t you like me?"

Yuan Yunzhong didn’t even bat an eyelid.

Silly Girl opened her hand, revealing a few pine nut candies on the handkerchief, and said, "Brother-in-law, have some candy! My father had someone buy them from Suzhou for me!"

Yuan Yunzhong ignored her, focusing instead on Song Jiyun.

Song Jiyun was offering tea to the glazing master craftsman Song Li, "I heard from Father that you learned your painting skills from my maternal grandfather, so it seems I should call you ’Uncle Master.’"

Song Li was so flustered by her words that he nearly spilled his wine cup.

Yuan Yunzhong leaned back in his chair, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Fabricating connections and relations, huh!

This enchantress, one technique after another!

Silly Girl, feeling continuously ignored, whined and threatened, "If you keep ignoring me, I’ll go tell Sister Yun that you have improper intentions toward me!"