Though they resided in a large compound, opportunities for the entire extended family to gather were infrequent. First and foremost, the households did not dine together; each courtyard possessed its own kitchen. Unless it was a particularly significant occasion, meals were taken separately within their own quarters. Apart from the wedding night, Lin He had been preparing all her own meals these past few days.

This greatly reduced the chances of them crossing paths, naturally minimizing friction. If life continued this way, Lin He would be more than content; she would welcome it wholeheartedly.

However, there was one time each day Lin He could not avoid: the morning ritual of paying respects. On her first day offering tea, the Old Madam had stipulated that while there were no rules for other times, every woman in the household had to appear at her main residence each morning for the formal greeting.

"Paying respects" was largely a formality—a chance to check in, followed by the group of women sitting together. Since the Old Madam was present, most of the conversation revolved around her, making it hard to gauge the true relationships between the others. Lin He had attended for several days now, and the female relatives seemed to interact harmoniously, chatting and laughing much like she did with her own mother and aunts back home.

Yet, the subject matter differed slightly. At home, her conversations with her mother and aunts were filled with jokes or discussions about what they might eat. Here, besides the occasional jest, the bulk of their talk concerned who they had run into on the street the day before, what events were being planned by which family, or the new merchandise at the shops—which hairpin looked best or whose fabric was superior. This sort of gossip was usually led by the Third Madam and Wen Ningchen’s wife, Li Yuzhen.

Lin He mused that this disparity likely stemmed from their different social strata. Poor families spent most of their time discussing how to secure enough food and save meager funds to survive. These women, however, discussed how to present themselves elegantly and how to compete socially with others.

Frankly, Lin He held little interest in these trivialities. It wasn't that she was ignorant; knowing she was marrying into the Wen family, she anticipated such situations. Lin He had diligently purchased and studied specific texts, cramming knowledge deemed essential for wealthy household mistresses, preparing for any eventuality.

That morning, Lin He arrived for the customary greeting as usual. After paying respects to the Old Madam and Madam Wen, and exchanging nods with the various aunts, she settled into her designated seat. This had been her routine: pay respects, then sit quietly. Unless spoken to, she never interjected, maintaining a slight, polite smile while listening to the others.

In truth, Lin He’s mind was wandering, contemplating what would be best for lunch—Wen Ningxuan preferred light fare. Just as she was thinking this, she heard a voice speak up: “Grandmother, why don't you let Second Sister-in-law return? Look at the jewelry and silks we’re discussing; she clearly knows nothing of these things. Besides, she has paid her respects; she has nothing else to do here.”

It was Wen Qingmo speaking. Since the incident by the lotus pond, Wen Qingmo had been relatively subdued these past few days, offering only a wrinkle of the nose when they met. Today, however, it seemed she was looking for trouble again.

Lin He smiled faintly and replied, “Yes, I truly don't understand these matters. When I shop for such things, I rely on the shop assistants for introductions, which I find quite sufficient.” Lin He secretly thought that knowing about these things was irrelevant; as long as one had money, one could acquire them, and with money, everyone understood these matters.

“Oh, is that so? You purchase jewelry and trinkets too? I had imagined that people from your neighborhood spent their days focusing only on getting enough to eat,” Qingmo said, her eyes brimming with disdain.

“Heh heh, Qingmo is joking. Everyone needs to eat. It’s not just people from my neighborhood who think about it; you need to eat too. Furthermore, items like jewelry can be bought by anyone with the funds. Our family are merchants, Qingmo—surely you know that?” Lin He looked back at Wen Qingmo with a slight smile, answering very seriously, as if completely oblivious to the contempt laced in her words.

“Oh, really?” Qingmo countered, her tone filled with disbelief.

“Yes,” Lin He returned flatly.

“You…” Qingmo’s lips moved, but no words followed. Qingmo’s provocation had been blatant. Although she hadn’t explicitly stated it, everyone present had understood the insinuation: she was trying to humiliate Lin He. Yet, Lin He’s composed reply, meeting provocation with measured calm, acted like using minimal force to redirect a heavy object, leaving Qingmo speechless.

“Xuan’s daughter-in-law, you are indeed dressed too plainly. You should go with Xuan to your family’s silver shop sometimes and select things you like,” the Old Madam said to Lin He with a smile.

“Yes, Grandmother,” Lin He responded with a slight curtsy.

Although the Old Madam’s words sounded kind and were delivered with a smile, they tacitly agreed with Qingmo’s implication: that Lin He was too poor and undressed to wear fine things, which was why her attire was so simple. Given the Old Madam’s affectionate tone, Lin He found it difficult to argue directly, yet she was unwilling to be so easily belittled. She glanced subtly toward Ziyu, who was standing nearby.

Ziyu had already felt a surge of indignation hearing Qingmo’s words. Upon hearing the Old Madam’s comment, she nearly blurted something out. However, servants were forbidden from interrupting their mistresses. Just as she worried how to respond, she caught her young mistress's eye signal.

Ziyu immediately stepped forward, offering a formal bow to everyone. “Old Madam, Second Young Mistress has always preferred simple attire. If we try to dress her up, she dislikes it. However, Second Young Master prefers her just as she is, saying those heavy ornaments would only tire her. But our Young Mistress does enjoy wearing bracelets and bangles. Look, this on her wrist was a gift from Second Young Master; it’s supposedly some kind of liuli [colored glaze/crystal], the sort you can’t find in ordinary places.” Ziyu finished, deliberately gesturing toward Lin He’s hand.

Everyone followed Ziyu’s gaze. Indeed, a translucent chain was visible where Lin He’s sleeve ended. The Third Madam immediately exclaimed, her eyes shining, “That truly is liuli! Xuan’s daughter-in-law, may I see it?”

Lin He nodded. Ziyu swiftly removed the bracelet from Lin He’s wrist. The Third Madam and Li Yuzhen immediately took the bracelet, turning it over and examining it from every angle, even trying it on their own wrists. The Third Madam kept murmuring, “This is the first time I’ve seen a bracelet made of liuli. I’ve only ever seen liuli used for bottles. This level of refinement in liuli is unprecedented. This is something money cannot buy, Xuan’s daughter-in-law. Where did Xuan buy this for you?”

“Second Young Master said this cannot be bought; he made it himself. It is the only one of its kind in the world,” Ziyu added, deliberately casting a triumphant glance toward Qingmo’s direction.

Seeing Ziyu’s smug look, Qingmo wished she could tear the girl’s mouth off. Qingmo’s initial jab was meant to paint Lin He as a provincial pauper and make her the object of ridicule. She never expected Lin He to possess such a rare item, one impossible to buy, something even they had never seen. It infuriated her.

At this point, the Fourth Madam, who rarely spoke, chimed in with a smile, “It turns out the things Second Young Mistress enjoys are quite different from ours. Compared to this liuli, the things we possess seem rather common. Furthermore, truly fine things are not those that can be bought with mere money.”