PFC Chapter 277 Fighting Alone
Chapter 277 Fighting Alone
Cui Rong hurriedly followed suit and knelt down in worship, but she felt mixed emotions in her heart, with anxiety about her future life and resentment and helplessness about the current situation.
The hall suddenly became so silent that it seemed as if time had stopped. Cui Rongrong could feel countless pairs of eyes around her shooting at her like sharp arrows. The invisible pressure made her lower her eyelids unconsciously. Her fingers tightly grasped the handkerchief, her joints looked a little pale due to excessive force, and the embroidery on the handkerchief seemed to tremble slightly with the fluctuations in her heart.
"Oh, a bride can't just stand there on her wedding day. Come on, come and offer a cup of tea to your parents-in-law to wish them good luck."
The second lady's voice sounded at the right moment, with her usual tactfulness and kindness. Her smile was like the warm spring sun, breaking the subtle silence and adding a festive atmosphere to the scene.
Although Cui Rongrong was nervous, she still mustered up her courage and walked forward slowly.
Kneeling on the ground, she held a cup of hot tea in both hands. The aroma of tea rising from the cup seemed to be telling the difficulty of a woman marrying into a wealthy family for the first time.
The old man had a stern face and looked serious, but after taking the teacup and taking a sip, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction.
Next, Cui Rongrong respectfully served the old lady another cup of tea. Although the old lady's face was slightly gloomy, when she took the ancient sandalwood box handed over by the maid, a touch of kindness flashed in her eyes, and she slowly said: "This bracelet is an heirloom of the Xie family. You should keep it well."
Upon hearing this, Cui Rong hurriedly bowed her head and said, "Thank you, mother-in-law."
When it came time to introduce the family members, Cui Rong followed the Second Madam's guidance and greeted them one by one. Every greeting revealed the tenderness and respect of a new bride. The elders in the family either smiled and nodded or simply exchanged pleasantries. The air was filled with a solemnity and harmony of the alternation of the old and the new.
After the ceremony, the group moved to the solemn ancestral hall, where Cui Rongrong's name was solemnly entered into the Xie family's genealogy. The moment the pen and ink fell, it seemed to have fixed her status as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xie family. From then on, she was a member of this ancient family.
The lunch arrangement followed traditional etiquette, with male and female guests seated separately.
During the banquet, Song Yanyi quietly held Cui Rongrong's hand. His fingertips gently conveyed warmth and encouragement, and whispered: "After the banquet, I will send someone to pick you up. Just say you have something to talk to me about, so you can leave early."
Although Cui Rongrong still felt a little aggrieved and uncomfortable, she also knew that it was not appropriate to be stubborn at this moment and agreed reluctantly to avoid any more trouble.
"I understand."
Cui Rongrong's voice was soft but firm.
"Then go ahead and take care of yourself."
Song Yanyi's words were full of reluctance.
Cui Rongrong let go of his hand as he said, and followed the old lady into the banquet hall set up specifically for female guests. The seats had been arranged according to seniority. As the eldest lady's daughter-in-law, she naturally sat next to the old lady.
The old lady still had an indifferent look that showed her authority without even getting angry, which made Cui Rong feel an invisible pressure. She could only sit there quietly, not daring to say much, for fear of accidentally breaking some rules.
The banquet was getting better and better, with laughter and conversation rising and falling one after another. In such a lively atmosphere, the topic naturally fell on the bride.
"Oh, what an iconic person! No wonder Brother Xian is so interested in him!"
There was a hint of sourness in the words of a woman, as if she was searching for some secret between the lines.
"Indeed, in today's world, beauty is a woman's asset. Otherwise, how can she have a chance to succeed?"
Another person echoed, his tone full of contempt for Cui Rongrong's background.
"Speaking of which, she was just a little girl living under someone else's roof before. Thanks to these relatives, she has now been able to climb up the social ladder. Who knows, one day she might even become a phoenix!"
Another person added fuel to the fire and spoke in a sarcastic and harsh manner.
This conversation undoubtedly put Cui Rongrong in the spotlight. Those women from the side branches of the Xie family all had their own thoughts. Who didn't want their daughter to be able to marry Song Yanyi and become the main wife of the Xie family?
After the Jiang family broke off the engagement, this opportunity made them even more jealous, as if they could soar to the sky if they seized it.
Cui Rong sat quietly, without showing any emotion, with mixed feelings in her heart.
She knew that as a junior and a new daughter-in-law, directly resisting the challenges posed by her elders was not the best option.
She had anticipated such a challenge the moment she stepped into the Xie family's door.
"Don't mind, new bride. We are just chatting. I wonder how many women in the capital envy your good fortune!"
Zhao's laughter was sharp and meaningful, like a sharp blade gently cutting through Cui Rong's heart.
Cui Rong bit her lip and was about to open her mouth to refute, but she heard a "pop" sound. The eldest lady slammed her chopsticks. The crisp sound was like a thunder, and the whole room was silent in an instant.
Everyone's smiles disappeared in an instant, and they sat up straight with nervous expressions.
The eldest lady's face was as calm as water, but her voice was unusually cold: "Although she is a new bride, she is also the mistress of the Xie family. How can you be here to make irresponsible remarks?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense, and fear appeared on everyone's face.
"Yes, we were rude, and the eldest lady is right."
Upon seeing this, several women quickly stood up and apologized.
They originally thought that the eldest lady did not interfere much with Cui Rong, so they acted recklessly, but they never expected to hit a wall.
The eldest lady warned coldly: "If there is a next time, don't blame me for punishing you according to the family rules."
The women's faces turned pale instantly, and they kept nodding off, not daring to say another word.
Cui Rong stared at the lady blankly, with a mixture of surprise and gratitude in her heart.
She didn't expect that at this critical moment, the eldest lady would stand up for her. She thought she could only fight alone and endure all the hardships.
The eldest lady stood up expressionlessly and said to Cui Rong: "Come with me."
Cui Rong hurriedly stood up and followed the eldest lady into the courtyard.
The sun was dappled, shining through the leaves onto the stone road. The eldest lady stopped and asked coldly, "Do you know why I scolded those people?"
Cui Rong gently shook her head, with a puzzled tone: "Cui Rong is dull and actually doesn't understand."
"We don't need to talk about the past. But now, you are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xie family, Xian'er's wife, and you represent the face and dignity of the Xie family. You must recognize your identity and responsibilities. Every action you take directly affects the honor and disgrace of Xian'er and the entire Xie family."
Although the eldest lady's words were harsh, they were full of recognition of her status.
Cui Rong's heartstrings were suddenly plucked, and an indescribable sob welled up in her throat.
The eldest lady's words were tantamount to telling her that from this moment on, she was an inseparable part of the Xie family.
"From now on, never allow anyone to look down on or insult you. If you do it again, I will never forgive you."