Approaching the living room, Mom Jian was having tea with a large group of relatives.
Upon seeing Jian Zhou walk in with Jiang Ling’s hand in his, Mom Jian’s smile faltered, her eyes fixing sharply on Jiang Ling. "Miss Jiang, with your busy schedule, how do you find time to grace our humble abode?"
Hearing this, Jiang Ling couldn't help but want to roll her eyes.
Humble abode?
If your home is a humble abode, then everyone else's home must be a pigsty.
Jiang Ling replied with a forced smile, "It's only proper. Auntie, you don't need to be so flattered. A dog doesn't despise its family for being poor, and a cold home can still feel warm. You'll get used to it with time!"
Didn't you just say your home was a humble abode?
Fine, she'd play along with that.
Hehe, I'm just the kind of good girl who doesn't mind the man's family being too 'penniless.'
Mom Jian was momentarily stunned, almost losing her composure.
Dad Jian quickly pulled her arm, signaling with his eyes for her to restrain herself on this festive occasion.
Mom Jian huffed, then shot a glance at a certain noblewoman beside her, signaling her to go and attack.
The noblewoman understood and looked at Jiang Ling with ill intent.
Mom Jian, as the matriarch of the Jian family and the wife of the richest man, maintained a sense of dignity. It would be beneath her to quibble with a mere young girl; it was better for someone else to do it.
There were two kinds of powerful winds in this world: one was the wind that blew gossip into one's ears, and the other was the wind that blew from one's pillow.
If she could handle this presumptuous girl, who only wanted to climb the social ladder and attach herself to a dragon, today, Mom Jian would be pleased. A little pillow talk, and her own son could secure a good position in the company.
With this thought, the noblewoman smiled at Jiang Ling. "It's rare for Ah Zhou to bring a girl home, so we elders naturally have to show our faces. However, according to Jian family tradition, when a woman visits, she must offer tea. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so why don't you offer a cup to each of us elders!"
Saying this, she gestured to a woman beside her to bring over the tea that had been prepared beforehand, wanting Jiang Ling to kneel and offer them tea.
Good heavens, a whole tray, at least a dozen cups. Her knees would be worn out from kneeling.
The relatives sitting nearby watched Jiang Ling with the expressions of people watching a monkey show.
When they had seen Mom Jian complain in their group chat about her younger son finding a girlfriend who had no family background and was deeply calculating, they felt both envious and disdainful.
Previously, they had introduced potential partners to Mom Jian multiple times, hoping to arrange for their own people to marry into the prominent Jian family and thus profit greatly.
However, Jian Zhou hadn't taken a liking to any of them. Now, he had found an actress from the lower echelons of society, and they were furious.
They feared Jian Zhou's status, so they naturally wouldn't dare to do anything to him, but dealing with a mere girl was more than enough for them.
If Jiang Ling were to truly kneel and offer them tea one by one, she would completely lose face.
The Jian family would also not accept a daughter-in-law who was so servile and disregarded her own dignity.
Hearing this, Jian Zhou understood the malicious intentions of these people and his expression immediately turned grim. He was about to speak.
Jiang Ling tugged at Jian Zhou's sleeve and asked with a laugh, "Who is this person?"
Jian Zhou replied, "She's my aunt."
"Blood relative, or cousin?"
"A cousin several times removed!"
"Is that so? Then I won't hold back!" Jiang Ling said, gritting her teeth.
Immediately, Jiang Ling displayed an expression of immense surprise and asked, "Really? You truly want to drink the ceremonial tea?"
Cousin Aunt Jian smiled like a wilting chrysanthemum and nodded, "Yes, it's truer than pearls. It's polite for a young lady to offer tea to her elders. How could we elders not like a sensible girl?"