Qingxiu sighed secretly after hearing this.

The old lady obviously didn't mean this, but the eldest lady is a sweetheart.

Aunt Liu also smiled deeply: "That's not true. I have been with the old lady for most of my life, and I often make mistakes in this gift. The eldest lady must not learn from it carefully."

Although the words were pleasant to the ears, Yang Shuwan still felt unhappy in her heart. She said indifferently: "Then just watch from the sidelines and ask me if you don't understand."

Yu Youyao nodded, sitting aside and listening to Yang Shuwan and Grandma Liu discussing together.

After listening for a while, Yu Youyao pointed to the gift list: "My mother just made a pair of entangled peony flower plates from the previous dynasty, but the flowers are very rich and auspicious. What's so special about this pair of jade pots and spring vases?"

What's the point?

The Xie family gave a pair of Ru kiln bowls, and the Yu family had a set of Ru kiln tea sets, which were comparable. Logically speaking, this set of tea sets returned was just right, but the Ru kiln was a precious thing, and it was lost.

How could she be willing to give such a good thing to the Xie Mansion for such a good price?

So I used a pair of expensive but not so rare jade pots and spring vases instead.

Yu Youyao asked, and Yang Shuwan was stunned for a moment: "This pair of jade pots and spring vases is very expensive, and there is a jade character inside, which also means wishful thinking."

The reason was a bit far-fetched, and Yu Youyao nodded.

Aunt Liu on the side heard Xian Zhi's elegance and understood the eldest lady's meaning: "With a pair of blue and white flowers, it's not easy to make another one, so just replace the pair of spring bottles with something else?"

Yang Shuwan was a little unhappy, but Grandma Liu smiled and said nothing.

Seeing that the atmosphere was tense, Yu Youyao smiled and said: "When I took inventory of the public school before, I saw a pair of purple-banded jade Ruyi, which is like a jade pot and spring vase. It is also very Ruyi. It is decent to take it as a return gift."

The purple-banded jade Ruyi is pure and rich, but it is very rare. It is much more valuable than the jade pot and spring vase, but it is not as good as the Ru kiln. It is better to choose the lesser of the two. Yang Shuwan reluctantly nodded.

Next, Yu Youyao really used the essence of the word "learning" to the fullest, pointing at the gift list and asking some questions from time to time.

Aunt Liu's eyes flickered.

The questions raised by the eldest lady were all omissions made by Yang Shuwan intentionally or unintentionally, but the eldest lady grasped the situation carefully and did not make it difficult for Yang Shuwan.

He can do things and be a good person.

It was really a lesson from Aunt Xu.

Half an hour later, the gift list was drawn up, and Yang Shuwan was bleeding. She could not feel happy anymore, so she said coldly: "If there is no problem, just ask someone to prepare it."

Nanny Xu nodded, and Yu Youyao also returned to Tiaoyuyuan.

Yang Shuwan tried her best to take advantage of the loopholes in making the gift list, and tried to save the appearance of dignity, but she did not care about the human feelings inside. It is no wonder that her grandmother was worried. Even she looked on and was angry.

But then I thought about it, how could she, a step-brother, have any favors with the Xie family?

There is nothing wrong with doing so.

When she was making the gift list just now, she asked some general questions in a cryptic way. Aunt Liu understood her thoughts and started to flatter her. Yang Shuwan was not happy and could not refuse.

Even so, the return gift prepared by the Yu Mansion was still a bit too conventional compared to the Xie Mansion. It was not surprising and would not make people find faults. It was not bad.

After working like this for a long time, it was time to apply.

Yu Zongshen took the lead to get out of the Yamen, changed into his official uniform and came to the main room.

After Xie Jingliu got the news, he had to come over to pay homage to his elders.

Seeing him, the thin smile on Yu Zongshen's lips became thicker: "I originally wanted to take a day off, but the yamen really couldn't get away, so I neglected Xie Yue."

Xie Jingliu's courtesy name is Xie Yue, so only close elders, relatives and friends would call him by his cousin name.

When he went to Quanzhou, he happened to have contacts with the Xie Mansion, and he got to know Xie Jingliu. At that time, Xie Jingliu was a little older, and he heard that he was the second-ranked scholar from the imperial court, so he pestered him for advice.

Xie Jingliu was a very big kid, a rare talent in the world. He was delighted to see him and inevitably got closer to him. He had many close contacts with the Xie family, but the one with whom he had the best relationship was the half-old Xie Jingliu.

It was also for Xie Jingliu's sake that the Xie Mansion helped him a lot.

Xie Jingliu said calmly: "Uncle Shi, your words are serious. Visiting us today is already a nuisance."

Even a fool can see the cold attitude. Yu Zongshen took the tea cup and lowered his eyes. The fragrance of tea in the cup filled his eyes: "Is the old man still in good health? Are the old man and the old lady okay?"

Xie Jingliu smiled sarcastically and said nothing.

Yu Zongshen was silent for a while: "Back then..."

Xie Jingliu interrupted him: "After King You's rebellion was dealt with, the whole court was not very stable. When I went to Beijing this time, it was because Grandpa felt that there was going to be chaos in Beijing, so he asked me to secretly transfer some of the Xie Mansion's business to some important matters.

Go back to Quanzhou," he laughed silently. After a while, he said: "The old man asked me to tell you so that you can take care of yourself."

After finishing speaking, Xie Jingliu stood up and saluted Yu Zongshen: "It's a rare trip to Beijing. I'll go to Xiaoyuyuan first to talk to my cousin."

Before Yu Zongshen could speak, he was already out the door.

After he left, Yu Zongshen looked calm, with a hint of his usual smile on his lips. He waved his sleeves and the teacups and dishes on the table were scattered on the floor. The sound of "clang" echoed in the quiet room.

Even anger does not change its color.

"Thank you, Rou, Jia!" An inaudible voice escaped from his lips that were smiling, and his smile turned into a bitter smile.

No one in the house knew about this episode.

It was not until 18:00 on Youshi that the eldest master, Yu Zongzheng, returned to the mansion with all his official authority. It was obvious that he did not listen to what Mrs. Yu sent someone to convey.

Yu Zongzheng first went to Anshou Hall to pay his respects to the old lady: "I am busy with things in court today, but I can't get away from it, so I can't go back home early."

Mrs. Yu sneered in her heart. The second child, a minister in the cabinet, could return to the government at the time of Shen Shi. How could he, a censor, be busier than the "Pavilion Elder"?

But he didn't take Xie's house seriously, and he was timid because of Xie Roujia's death. Even the people who met Xie's house made things difficult for him.

Mrs. Yu didn't have much to say, she just waved her hand and said, "I'll do it when I get back."

Yu Zongzheng breathed a sigh of relief. Although the yamen was busy, he was not unable to get away. Some official duties were taken home to handle, which was also allowed.

However, he never liked interacting with people from the Xie Mansion, so he felt that when the Xie Mansion came back, the whole mansion would have a yellow-white stench.

My mother didn't know what she was thinking. She was a merchant in Xie's house. Every time he came back, he had to work hard to encourage everyone and even asked him to go back to the house early.

Xie Jingliu is a junior, how can he be worthy of letting go of his court duties?

Mrs. Yu took one look and guessed what he was thinking, and sneered in her heart: "Your wife has arranged the banquet, just for your wife's sake, you should know the importance."
Chapter completed!