Song Yutang came downstairs and found Jiang Guoqiang and Li Xiulan already waiting in the living room.
The couple had both changed into brand-new outfits.
Jiang Guoqiang wore a slightly ill-fitting navy suit. Every one of his ten fingers bore either a large gold ring or a large jade thumb ring, and a heavy gold watch sat on his wrist.
Li Xiulan wore a bright red cheongsam embroidered with gold thread, with a mink shawl draped over her shoulders.
Three gold chains of different thicknesses hung around her neck, the most eye-catching piece being the egg-sized jade Buddha pendant on her chest.
She also had five or six gold and jade bangles stacked on her wrists, which jingled as she moved.
Song Yutang stared for a moment. "Dad, Mom, what's all this...?"
With a mysterious air, Li Xiulan pulled her aside, took out a velvet box she had prepared earlier, and opened it.
Inside was a complete set of jade jewelry.
A necklace, earrings, a ring, and a bangle.
The jade had excellent translucency, its green so lush it seemed about to drip, glowing softly under the lights.
"This is... what the old patriarch gave me when I married into the Jiang Family..." Li Xiulan scratched her head sheepishly. "If you don't mind it, consider it a first-meeting gift from Mom."
"Mom, I can't accept this. It's far too valuable." Song Yutang knew little about modern jewelry, but she had seen plenty of treasures in the palace in her previous life.
In quality, translucency, color, and carving alike, this jade set was first-rate.
"Since you're calling me Mom, don't stand on ceremony. Here, let me put it on you. Let's get you looking nice and smart." Li Xiulan clumsily fastened the necklace for her, murmuring, "With Muyan like this, you're bound to get bullied if you go back alone. Your dad and I will go with you in a bit, so we'll be there to help if anything happens."
Her daughter-in-law was the daughter of the Song Family's first wife, and a stepmother ran the household.
Now she had even been forced to marry a man in a vegetative state in her younger sister's place. What standing could she possibly have in her birth family?
Song Yutang understood at once.
Whether it was giving her jewelry or accompanying her on her return visit, they were doing it to back her up.
This couple might not have been as polished and respectable as other wealthy families, and might even have seemed clumsy and rustic, but their care was genuine.
In two lifetimes, no one had ever considered her at every turn like this.
Warmth flooded Song Yutang's heart, and her eyes actually began to sting. "Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom."
"Eldest Young Madam, the car is ready, and all the gifts have been placed in the trunk." Butler Wang happened to walk in just then, his manner as businesslike as ever.
But the faint contempt from before had vanished, replaced by a cautious respect.
Song Yutang was very pleased with his change in attitude.
Butler Wang really did know how to read the times.
It seemed he understood everything that had happened over the past few days.
Before she got into the car, Butler Wang handed her a gift list. "Young Madam, when a Jiang Family daughter-in-law returns to her birth family, the proper courtesies must be observed. But considering your unusual relationship with the Song Family, may I ask whether this gift list meets with your approval?"
Song Yutang gave it a casual glance.
It was all moderately priced health supplements.
Neither discourteous nor an opportunity for the Song Family to profit.
She finally smiled. "Thank you for taking the trouble, Uncle Wang."
Butler Wang quietly let out a breath of relief.
The car headed toward the Song Family home.
As they neared their destination, Li Xiulan grew increasingly nervous, constantly adjusting her clothes and jewelry. "Yutang, look at me... will I embarrass you like this?"
Song Yutang held her hand and shook her head with a smile. "No. You look lovely."
Li Xiulan had spent her whole life accustomed to poverty and hardship. It was perfectly normal for her to like such extravagant things.
Everyone had their own taste; none was inherently higher or lower, nobler or baser.
If someone couldn't appreciate it, then the problem was surely theirs.
Li Xiulan took out her little hand mirror for another look, then suddenly slapped her thigh. "Oh dear... I knew I'd forgotten something. Before we left, I was thinking of putting on some lipstick, but I got busy and forgot."
Song Yutang also thought she needed some lipstick to hold its own against all that glittering finery.
She took out her lipstick and twisted it up. "Mom, what do you think of this color?"
Li Xiulan's aging face flushed slightly, but her eyes sparkled. "Isn't it... a little too pink?"
Seeing that she actually liked it, Song Yutang leaned closer with a smile. "This color is just right. It brightens your complexion. Mom, open your mouth. I'll put it on for you..."
The rose-bean lipstick went onto Li Xiulan's lips, and sure enough, it brightened her complexion considerably.
Li Xiulan was a little embarrassed, but she kept turning this way and that to look at herself in the mirror, her eyes narrowing into slits with her smile.
Watching beside her, Song Yutang couldn't help smiling too.
Having her parents-in-law accompany her on her return to her birth family was certainly a novel experience.
Having such down-to-earth parents-in-law was a very novel experience too...
Inside the Song Family villa.
Sun Meifang brought a plate of sliced fruit over to Father Song. "Honey, Yutang is coming back for her first visit today... should we make some preparations?"
Father Song was reading the newspaper and frowned at her words.
Before he could speak, Song Mingzhe gave a contemptuous laugh beside him. "Mom, you're just too kindhearted. Jiang Guoqiang and his family are nothing but country bumpkins, and Jiang Muyan, the only remotely useful one, is bedridden now. Even if Song Yutang has become a daughter-in-law of the richest family, no one in the Jiang Family will think anything of her, much less accompany her back here. Forget preparations. If that little bitch doesn't behave, I won't even let her through the door."
Sun Meifang's smile remained gentle and gracious. "Mingzhe, don't say that. Tangtang is still a child of this family, after all. She may be immature and may have caused such a scene on her wedding day that your father nearly had another heart attack... but we must still observe the proper courtesies."
Father Song's expression instantly darkened. "Don't mention that unfilial daughter. We gave her such a fine marriage, and not only was she ungrateful, she had the nerve to open her lion's maw and demand a dowry. Just mentioning her brings bad luck."
Song Ruowei immediately nestled against him and said softly, "Dad, don't be angry. It's only natural that my sister has no manners, since she grew up in the countryside. I'm just worried... the Jiang Family has so many rules, and she doesn't understand anything... if she does something wrong, will she implicate our family?"
Song Mingzhe frowned as well. "Dad, you saw the way she acted that day. She was the very image of a shrew. As if the Jiang Family could tolerate her. If you ask me, she's probably coming back today to cry and ask for money. You can't get muddleheaded again. Don't give her a single cent..."
While the family of four was talking, the butler hurried in to report, "Sir, the Jiang Family's convoy for the bride's return visit has arrived at the gate."
Father Song was reluctant. "Since she's already here, open the gate and let her in."
Sun Meifang immediately frowned, looking deeply considerate. "That child Yutang... she talked back to you so badly on her wedding day, and now she hasn't even let us know in advance that she's coming back. She's only just married into the richest family, and she already dares behave like this. If we don't discipline her properly, I'm afraid she'll take a mile when given an inch."
Song Mingzhe wholeheartedly agreed. "Mom's right. Why should she get to come back whenever she wants? What does she think this place is? If Jiang Muyan hadn't been in a car accident, a lowborn wretch like her wouldn't even be fit to work here as a maid."
Su Meifang shot him a reproachful look. "Mingzhe, don't talk nonsense... but Yutang really was spoiled by her mother. She has no manners. Isn't she always going on about ancient rites? Then why don't we have her follow those rites and kneel outside the gate for three full hours to thank her parents for raising her?"
The mention of ancient rites reminded Father Song of Song Yutang's outrageous antics on her wedding day, and his anger flared at once. "Butler, go tell Song Yutang that if she wants to enter the Song Family home, she must follow the ancient rites and kneel outside the gate for three full hours. Not one second less, or she can forget about coming in. The Jiang Family sent her back for her return visit, only for her not even to get through the gate. Let's see how she has the face to put on airs as the richest family's daughter-in-law then."