Chapter 9
Interaction Between Siblings
Shi Yan replied with a faint smile, “Of course.”
“Then don’t call me Miss Jiang. Just call me Rui’er. That’s what my family calls me.”
“Rui’er.”
Jiang Rui stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly said, “Xiao Yan, you’re really good-looking!”
Jiang Rui had heard from Grandma Jiang more than once that Shi Yan was good-looking. She believed in her aesthetic judgment, not thinking that Grandma Jiang only thought that her savior was good-looking because she had a filter when it came to the girl. Since Grandma Jiang said so, it meant that Shi Yan was really good-looking.
However, even though she was mentally prepared, when she saw Shi Yan in person, Jiang Rui could not help but be amazed.
Her sudden praise left Shi Yan stunned for a moment. Then, she smiled and said, “Thank you. You are also very good-looking.”
“Okay, okay. Both of you are very good-looking. Quickly, sit down.”
Grandma Jiang was very satisfied when she saw the two of them chatting and getting along so well.
“Xiao Yan, come and sit down,”Jiang Rui insisted warmly.
Shi Yan walked over and sat down.
“Xiao Yan, this is my granddaughter, Jiang Rui. I mentioned her to you on the phone. Do you need me to introduce you further?”
Grandma Jiang looked at Shi Yan with a smile.
Shi Yan replied, “You don’t need to introduce me.”
She then nodded slightly at Jiang Rui, who was looking at her.
Her gaze fell on the gift bag that was placed on the solid wood tea table in front of her and said, “I have prepared four gifts. Two handkerchiefs are for first madam and second madam, respectively. The silk scarf is for Rui’er. I didn’t see anything suitable for Grandma Jiang, so I brought along a string of Buddhist beads that I went to the temple with my elders to beg for a long time ago.”
Grandma Jiang believed in Buddhism.
“Buddhist beads? You are such a thoughtful child. Little Bowl, open it and take a look.”
Little Bowl was the woman beside Grandma Jiang. In the old house, everyone called her Auntie Bowl.
“Let me help,” Jiang Rui insisted, in high spirits.
Holding the silk scarf, Jiang Rui exclaimed, “Wow, this is too beautiful!”
It was indeed beautiful. Jiang Rui was not exaggerating; even Grandma Jiang was a little surprised.
The silk scarf and the two handkerchiefs were lying in the gift box. Whether it was the material or the workmanship, although they were not the best in the industry, they could not be bought anywhere.
The embroidery was very delicate and exquisite.
Looking at the string of Buddhist beads lying in the wooden box, they looked ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, felt completely different. A sense of antiquity washed over her. Grandma Jiang believed in Buddhism and was very knowledgeable about Buddhist beads. With one look, she could tell that these were not ordinary Buddhist beads.
Auntie Bowl saw Grandma Jiang staring at the Buddhist beads, so she picked them up and handed them to her.
Grandma Jiang held them in her hand, gently stroking them.
She was even more amazed.
She looked at Shi Yan and said, “Xiao Yan, these…”
“I was quite lucky. When I was out shopping, I happened to come across a good embroidery shop. I bought the scarves and handkerchiefs from that shop. The Buddhist beads were bought from the temple by my elders a long time ago. They are not expensive things.”
She sat there with her hands crossed on her lap. She sat very upright with a faint smile on her face, giving people a quiet and indifferent feeling.
Grandma Jiang looked at her deeply and did not say anything more.
“Since it’s from Xiao Yan, Grandma Jiang will accept it. The gift is very good. Xiao Yan has good taste. My two daughters-in-law are not in the old house, so I thank you on their behalf for the carefully prepared gifts.”
Jiang Rui said, “I heard from Xiao Zhao on the phone that she took you to Xihua Street. I’m quite familiar with Xihua Street. How come I didn’t know there was such a good embroidery shop there?”
At Xiao Zhao’s insistence, Jiang Rui also called her Xiao Zhao.
Shi Yan met Jiang Rui’s eyes and said with a smile, “It’s in an alley, very few people usually go to that place. I accidentally walked there.”
“I see. Then you’re really lucky. When you have time, can you take me there? This embroidery is too exquisite. I want to buy two more pieces to give to my friends.”
The workmanship was exquisite, and the price would definitely not be too expensive.
However, Jiang Rui did not raise the price.
With Grandma Jiang’s repeated emphasis on Shi Yan’s background, Jiang Rui knew in her heart that Shi Yan was an orphan who lived a poor life in the countryside. As for the rest, she did not care. She only needed to know that Shi Yan had put in a lot of effort in preparing this gift.
“Sure. Let me know when you want to go. I’ll take you there.”
Jiang Rui looked very happy after getting her confirmation. She held the silk scarf in her hand and stuck her face against it. She blinked her big, watery eyes and looked at Shi Yan.
“Xiao Yan, I like it so much. Thank you.”
Just as Shi Yan was about to say something, a voice interrupted her.
“What do you like?”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice. Someone was walking in from outside the door, his face cold and his aura threatening. The temperature around him seemed to have dropped a little with his appearance.
The person who came was the young master of the Jiang family, Jiang Sheng.
It was only a little past five in the afternoon. Usually, Jiang Sheng was still on his way back from the company to the Jiang family’s old residence at this time.
He first nodded to Grandma Jiang and greeted her, “Grandmother.”
He turned to Jiang Rui once again and asked, “What do you like?”
“Xiao Yan prepared a gift for me. Brother, look, isn’t it beautiful?”
Jiang Sheng’s expression was cold and his aura was strong, but Jiang Rui did not seem to be afraid of him at all. She happily showed off the gift in her hand to him.
Jiang Sheng’s gaze fell on the silk scarf in Jiang Rui’s hand. With his eyesight, he could tell at a glance whether the gift was good or bad.
He was slightly surprised.
He glanced at Shi Yan, who was sitting calmly beside Jiang Rui.
“Yes, it’s very beautiful,” he replied to Jiang Rui.
He then said to Shi Yan, “Miss Shi, you’ve spent a lot of money.”
His tone was still cold.
Shi Yan did not care. She only smiled slightly in response.
“Why are you back so early today?” Grandma Jiang asked.
“I heard that you and Rui’er came back, so I left work early.”
He walked over and sat beside Jiang Rui.
“Brother, Xiao Yan didn’t prepare gifts just for me. She also prepared gifts for grandmother, mother, and second aunt. Each gift is very exquisite. Xiao Yan has really good taste.”
Jiang Sheng’s gaze swept across the other gifts and replied, “Yes, I see. Keep the gifts. But how can you scrutinize the gifts in front of the person who gave them to you?”
With Jiang Sheng’s reminder, Jiang Rui realized that it was indeed inappropriate for her to do so. It was fine if other people’s gifts could withstand scrutiny, but if it was a very ordinary gift that could not, she would be suspected of deliberately embarrassing others.
She took a look at Shi Yan and saw that she did not seem to care, so Jiang Rui felt slightly relieved and smiled, “I like it so much.”
She folded the silk scarf and put it back.
“Xiao Yan, this is my brother, Jiang Sheng. You have met him, right?”
Shi Yan smiled and nodded, “Yes, I’ve met him. When I first arrived at the Jiang family, Young Master Jiang and Uncle Hai received me. We had dinner together that day.”
“Then, Xiao Yan, your meal must have been very difficult. My brother likes to keep a cold face to everyone, and he doesn’t talk much. Besides, he’s quite intimidating.”
It was really hard for Shi Yan to answer this question. Fortunately, she didn’t need to answer it.
Jiang Sheng’s face darkened after hearing Jiang Rui’s words. He knocked on Jiang Rui’s forehead, “What do you mean I like to keep a cold face to everyone? Have I ever kept a cold face to you?”
Jiang Rui cried out in pain and covered her forehead.
“When haven’t you ever kept a cold face to me? Not only did you keep a cold face to me, you often hit me.”
“I hit you? Jiang Rui’er, are you sure?”Jiang Sheng’s face darkened.
“Why? You hit me just now. It hurts so much.”
Jiang Sheng was about to pull on her hand, “Let me take a look.”
“I don’t want to. Stay away from me. I don’t have a brother as ruthless as you.”
Jiang Rui pretended to be angry and moved away from him towards Shi Yan.
She even hugged Shi Yan’s arm.
Shi Yan didn’t know what to do.
“Alright, it’s fine if you and your sister usually make a scene. However, Xiao Yan just got home. Aren’t you afraid that she’ll laugh at you?” Grandma Jiang reprimanded, but her eyes were smiling.
She said to Shi Yan, “They have always gotten along like this. Don’t take it to heart.”
Shi Yan smiled and shook her head, indicating that it was fine.
She did not say much.
However, there was a flash of absent-mindedness in her expression.
She had once…