Chapter 42

Grandmother insisted that Ning Zhen invite Sheng Changyu to their home. 

Ning Zhen firmly refused. 

She gave many reasons, but Grandmother gently persuaded her, saying that one must understand propriety in their actions. 

“Zhen’er, are you still holding a grudge that he didn’t come for the three-day homecoming visit?” Grandmother asked her privately. 

Ning Zhen: “No…” 

“Speak honestly. You know he dislikes the Ning family and wants your father and brothers dead. You’re wary of him and resent him. Your home doesn’t want him to come, is that the case?” Grandmother asked. 

Ning Zhen’s heart shook. 

She had never forgotten the original intent of this marriage. 

It was Sheng Changyu who had shown his intent to kill. 

Ning Zhen could humble herself and accommodate, but she was unwilling to have him come to her home. 

This was her territory. 

“But Zhen’er, Sheng Changyu has never truly had a deadly enmity with our family. He hasn’t killed anyone from the Ning family, and the Ning family hasn’t harmed him. 

Do you understand, child? We are not enemies, and we shouldn’t act like enemies. If possible, we should resolve our grievances,” Grandmother said. 

Ning Zhen asked, “Do you think he would be willing?” 

“If he married you and then went around belittling you and elevating the concubines, what would you do?” Grandmother asked. 

Ning Zhen: “I would have no way to deal with it.” 

“But he hasn’t done that. He respects you as the legitimate wife and has given you due respect both publicly and privately. He has treated you well. 

Now, your brothers have easily secured their positions because of his help. He has done so much for us, and what have we done in return? 

If you’re unwilling to take the next step, how will his prejudice against the Ning family be dispelled? Are you waiting for him to beg you?” Grandmother asked. “Zhen’er, you wanted to be a high-ranking wife, not just a favored concubine. What is your current attitude?” 

Ning Zhen listened, feeling as if she had been doused with cold water, instantly becoming clear-headed. 

“I understand what to do, Grandmother. I will personally invite him,” Ning Zhen said. “I will make sure to do my utmost as the Governor’s wife.” 

She added, “Grandmother, there have been too many chaotic things recently, and I’ve been a bit headstrong.” 

“You’re only twenty-one, Zhen’er. In Grandmother’s eyes, you’re more mature than your peers. You’re not at all headstrong. There aren’t many young women who are as capable as you,” Grandmother said. 

Ning Zhen couldn’t help but smile. 

She snuggled close to her grandmother, acting cute. 

The Ning family’s atmosphere was very good, filled with laughter and joy. Even though the eldest brother and father hadn’t returned yet, with the second and third brothers at home, the dining room felt lively. 

After Ning Zhen returned, she called the Governor’s Mansion. 

The adjutant answered, “The Governor is at his post and doesn’t know when he’ll be back. Would you like me to send a message, Madam?” 

Ning Zhen said, “There’s no need to specifically notify him at his post. If he returns to the city, please have him call me when he has time.” 

After hanging up, Ning Zhen called her family to inform her grandmother that Sheng Changyu was not in the city. 

Grandmother told her not to worry, just keep this matter in mind. Timing was also important for such things. 

Days passed slowly. 

A rain had fallen, and the cold air was pervasive. Ning Zhen’s home retrieved the heater. 

It finally felt like winter. 

At the Sheng family’s old residence, something happened every day, as the four branches of the family lived together. Sheng Changyu’s three uncles each had several wives and many children. 

When Ning Zhen was not in charge, these people had nothing to do with her. But once she took charge, she inevitably had to deal with them. 

Today, someone came to complain that the large kitchen’s procurement was skimping on supplies for her small kitchen. Tomorrow, another person would come asking to arrange a servant to work in the kitchen. 

Ning Zhen had little prestige, and no one feared her. She was approached with all sorts of trivial complaints. 

She dealt with them one by one. 

She handled things well, and the old lady praised her. 

After the third concubine’s miscarriage, she had been resting, and many tasks in the warehouse had been delayed. There were also people coming to complain to Ning Zhen. 

—Ning Zhen was experiencing for the first time how challenging it was to be the head of a large family. 

It was much more complicated than doing schoolwork. 

Someone called Ning Zhen. 

“…There’s a new cruise ship restaurant. Do you want to go? It’s right at the pier and sounds very interesting,” Ge Baoxian said on the phone. 

She was the fifth young lady from the railway bureau, whom Ning Zhen had met at her grandmother’s birthday banquet. 

Ning Zhen hadn’t expected to receive a call from her and had a hunch that her intentions might not be good. 

Just as she was about to refuse, Ge Baoxian added, “I’ve also invited your sister-in-law, and she has already agreed.” 

“My sister-in-law?” 

“Your second sister-in-law, Jin Nuan. We’ve gone out together before. Would you like to join us, Madam? The more, the merrier,” Ge Baoxian said on the phone. 

There was a hint of Ge Baoxian trying to use Jin Nuan to pressure Ning Zhen into attending. 

Ning Zhen said, “Alright, I will go. Tomorrow night at eight, right?” 

“Yes, we’ll meet at the pier tomorrow night,” Ge Baoxian replied with a smile. 

After the call ended, Ning Zhen pondered for a moment. 

She called her family. 

Jin Nuan answered, “She invited me, and I was quite surprised. She’s never paid any attention to me before. Maybe because your second brother is working at the Security Bureau, she wants to curry favor with me.” 

Ning Zhen:  

Jin Nuan always seemed so naive, without much guard against others. 

This was actually quite good—light-hearted and joyful, qualities Ning Zhen wished she could embody. 

“She also invited me,” Ning Zhen said. 

“She never paid attention to you before. Now that you’re the Governor’s wife, she invites you. She’s even more opportunistic than Yao Wenluo,” Jin Nuan said. 

Ning Zhen: “Be careful around her.” 

“I will, don’t worry. But the cruise ship restaurant is very interesting. The owner is extremely arrogant—if you’re not invited, you can’t board, no matter how much money you have. 

I’ve always wanted to see it. This is a rare opportunity. Ge Baoxian invited us, so let’s go,” Jin Nuan said eagerly. 

She was very curious about new things. 

“…Once we’ve been on board, even as regular customers, we can go directly next time without needing another invitation,” Jin Nuan added. 

That was Jin Nuan’s true intention. 

Ning Zhen didn’t want to spoil the mood and agreed, “Alright.” 

“Don’t be afraid of Ge Baoxian. She’s not impressive,” Jin Nuan said. 

Ning Zhen smiled, “Okay.” 

They agreed on the plan, and Ning Zhen went to inform the old lady. 

The old lady frowned slightly when she heard, “Going out to play at night?” 

She then asked, “Do you often go out at night when you’re at your family’s home?” 

Ning Zhen immediately said, “Then I won’t go.” 

The old lady’s face turned serious, “I didn’t say you couldn’t go. But since Changyu isn’t home, you should be mindful of your behavior. Think carefully about such invitations in the future.” 

She continued, “Since you’ve agreed and it’s Ge’s fifth young lady inviting you, you should go. It’s good to socialize more with the Ge family.” 

—More of the old lady’s combination of favor and authority. 

Ning Zhen nodded in agreement. 

She turned and left. 

The old lady was somewhat irritated, “Adu is still recovering, and the child couldn’t be saved, but she goes out to have fun all the time.” 

She added, “Adu would never go out at night. I can’t stand these new-fangled young girls and their behavior.” 

The housekeeper said, “If you really tell her not to go, she wouldn’t dare disobey.” 

“Outwardly, she wouldn’t dare, but she’s probably cursing me as an outdated and uncultured mother-in-law. Who knows how nasty it is,” the old lady said. 

She comforted herself, “I wanted a well-educated girl who had studied abroad. I never expected her to be just like Adu. Oh well.” 

The housekeeper then said, “Old lady, there’s something you might not know.” 

“What is it?”