Triumph in Her Rise and Love-Chapter 76 - 74

Song Jiyun had not yet had a chance to say anything when suddenly a laugh broke out from outside the door.

Both of them turned around in unison.

There stood Madam Qian, her face radiant with a smile as she looked at them.

The two were taken aback.

Yuan Yunzhong slowly straightened up.

Song Jiyun hurried over and supported Madam Qian’s arm, saying, "Mother, what brings you here?"

She then looked past Madam Qian, saw only two young maidservants following her, and glanced critically at Madam Qian’s slightly swollen belly, discontentedly saying, "Why isn’t Nanny Zheng accompanying you? Where are Jiyu and Jixue?"

At these words, Madam Qian’s smile faded and her eyes reddened as she choked up, saying, "I heard from Steward Wu that you had gone missing, and I was scared out of my wits. I left Nanny Zheng at the Gratitude Temple with Jiyu and Jixue and rushed over here overnight."

As she spoke, she took Song Jiyun’s hand and looked her up and down, saying, "I’m relieved you’re unharmed!"

"What harm could come to me?" Song Jiyun quickly consoled Madam Qian, glazing over the bad parts as she recounted the events, saying, "I wasn’t missing. It was just a calculated scheme to lure the snake out of its hole; we kept our whereabouts secret."

There was no need to tell Madam Qian about her and Yuan Yunzhong getting lost, as that would only worry her.

Madam Qian had no suspicions and, hearing that everything had been resolved, relaxed. She brought her palms together and murmured a grateful "Amitabha," joyfully saying, "Blessed by the Bodhisattva!"

Song Jiyun breathed a sigh of relief.

Madam Qian then turned her gaze to Yuan Yunzhong, smiled warmly at him, and said, "Pardon my rudeness! I was so worried about our eldest daughter that I failed to thank Young Master Yuan."

"Second Madam is too polite!" Yuan Yunzhong responded, his expression neutral and his tone ordinary, as if he hadn’t just been the person by the column, speaking as if he were the Song family’s son-in-law.

Madam Qian quickly said, "This is not just politeness. Although my daughter hasn’t explicitly said it, I understand very well, whether it’s a calculated scheme or luring the snake out of its hole, today’s success would have hardly been possible without the young master at her side!"

Yuan Yunzhong’s hand clenched into a fist, and he brought it to his mouth, coughing softly twice.

Song Jiyun held her forehead.

Her mother was right.

Especially during the times they had been lost these past few days, Yuan Yunzhong had taken extra care of her.

But she thought about Shao Qing, who had accompanied Yuan Yunzhong to the Kiln Factory.

Not to say that her and Yuan Yunzhong’s future was uncertain but considering the way her mother was looking at Yuan Yunzhong as if she were sizing up a son-in-law, she didn’t want her mother to have too much interaction with Yuan Yunzhong.

It would only hurt her mother in the end.

She quickly interjected before Madam Qian could continue, saying, "Mother, have you had breakfast yet? The Kiln Factory makes a decent cold noodle dish, I’ll have them prepare a bowl for you!"

Yuan Yunzhong saw his chance and stood up to take his leave, saying, "Then I’ll not impose any further!"

Madam Qian glanced at Song Jiyun and then at Yuan Yunzhong.

One interrupted her, and the other immediately took his leave.

She had heard everything clearly from outside just now. Yuan Yunzhong had even said such a thing as "the Song family’s son-in-law." Even if it was a private joke among young people, how could he say such a thing if they didn’t care for each other?

If it weren’t for the mourning period...

Madam Qian’s mind raced, but she decisively stopped Yuan Yunzhong, smiling and saying, "Young Master Yuan, why don’t you join us for breakfast? It’s nothing exotic, just a local specialty, but consider it a small token of my appreciation."

Yuan Yunzhong declined several times.

Song Jiyun also added from the side, "Early in the morning like this, and Young Master Yuan just woke up. You should let him catch his breath, maybe have a cup of tea?"

Madam Qian glanced at Song Jiyun and seemed even more determined to have Yuan Yunzhong stay for breakfast. She added, "It’s the thought that counts. I hope the Young Master will honor my heartfelt wish for my beloved daughter."

Yuan Yunzhong thought for a moment and replied, "Then I must respectfully comply! I will go home to change my clothes and then come back for breakfast."

Madam Qian personally escorted Yuan Yunzhong out of the hall and sat in the small hall behind the main hall, waiting for the cold noodles, and tactfully inquired about Yuan Yunzhong, "Has he been with you all this time?"

What did she mean by being with her all this time?

Song Jiyun replied, "No! There was no one to send him back to the city."

Madam Qian was unconvinced, asking, "If he really wanted to leave, could you have forced him to stay?"

"That’s true!" Song Jiyun changed the subject, "You have been worried on the way here. I’ll have someone prepare a room for you to rest in, and later you can go back to the city with me."

She then asked about Nanny Zheng and her sister, "When are they coming home? Should we pick them up?"

"They will also come home later," replied Madam Qian. "I am at ease now that you are fine. I know you have just taken over the Kiln Factory, and with the affairs of Ninth Grand Master and Song Li, you must be very busy. I won’t disturb you here. I will go back on my own later."

Then she shifted the conversation back to Yuan Yunzhong, "I think Young Master Yuan is truly exceptional. When the Song Family Private School is set up, why don’t you ask if he would like to attend school there?"

The two could also have more time to interact.

Song Jiyun didn’t want to foster false hopes in her mother, and for a while, she didn’t know how to dissuade her. She fell silent, which made Madam Qian think she was unsure of what to do.

Madam Qian then smiled and urged Song Jiyun, "Go and see if my cold noodles are ready?"

Song Jiyun smiled helplessly and said, "Mother, there’s no need to rush my matters. Haste does not bring success."

"I understand!" Madam Qian laughed. When the cold noodles finally arrived, they were all spicy mixtures, so she specifically asked the kitchen to make a fresh three-fresh mixture.

When Yuan Yunzhong arrived, the three of them went to the hall’s round table for breakfast.

Yuan Yunzhong wore a moon-white fine cloth Taoist robe, his back straight, handsome and dashing; Song Jiyun wore a moon-white fine cloth battle dress, sitting upright and demurely, beautiful and elegant; they looked like a perfect match.

Madam Qian’s smile deepened as she looked at them, her eyes brimming with uncontrollable joy.

She also asked Yuan Yunzhong, "Young Master, you haven’t returned to the city in the last few days and have been staying at the Kiln Factory with our eldest daughter. Are you finding it comfortable?"

Yuan Yunzhong glanced at Song Jiyun and simply replied, "I haven’t been much help."

Madam Qian nodded and asked, "What does Young Master Yuan think of our Kiln Factory?"

Yuan Yunzhong looked at Madam Qian curiously and politely responded, "It’s quite large, and quite good."

Madam Qian shook her head and sighed, looking at him and saying, "This Kiln Factory was built by our family’s master brick by brick, with great hardship. In the future, it will be managed by our eldest daughter."

Yuan Yunzhong had long known these things.

He replied courteously, "That is only proper!"

Instantly, Madam Qian’s face lit up with delight, her look showing not just relief but also unmistakable satisfaction.

Young Master Yuan not only thought well of the Song family, but he also had no objections to her daughter taking over the Kiln Factory.

She said joyfully, "Young Master Yuan is magnanimous. It’s truly our family’s fortune to have met you!"

Yuan Yunzhong was puzzled.

Song Jiyun wished she could just silence her mother.

She pointed to a large bowl on the table filled with mung bean soup and said, "Mother, it’s hot. Shall I serve you a bowl?"

Madam Qian happily consented with a "Yes," but when Song Jiyun had served the mung bean soup, Madam Qian pushed it towards Yuan Yunzhong, saying, "It’s hot, Young Master. You try some too."