Chapter 58: Mid-Autumn Family Banquet

As soon as Song Yifeng entered the door, Madam Yu couldn’t wait to tell him the news about the Ye family’s troubles.

“This is great. If the Ye family becomes destitute, you can break off the engagement,” Madam Yu said happily.

Song Yifeng shook his head, “Mother, don’t let this thought show in front of others. I can’t break off the engagement with Third Miss Ye now.”

Madam Yu was anxious, “Why not?”

“If the Ye family falls and we break off the engagement, do you think your son’s reputation will remain untarnished?” Song Yifeng said.

A scholar’s reputation is crucial. If he breaks off the engagement as soon as the Ye family falls, how will those who want him as a son-in-law view him? Would they still dare to marry their daughters to him?

He’s not that foolish.

Madam Yu was stunned, then sat down dejectedly, “What should we do? Do you really want to marry the daughter of a merchant?”

Ye Yaming had come of age, and the Ye family would soon bring up the marriage. Especially now that the Ye family seemed to be in decline, they would surely try to hold onto the Song family as a lifeline.

“Don’t worry,” Song Yifeng said calmly. “If they bring up the marriage, tell them I need to focus on my studies and prepare for the next imperial examination. We’ll discuss marriage after the examination.”

“Yes, yes,” Madam Yu said happily, “Let’s do that.”

Song Yifeng was silent for a moment, then sighed, “If only we could add fuel to the fire regarding the Ye family’s troubles.”

Madam Yu frowned. After thinking for a long time, she sighed, “We’re still too weak.”

Even a broken ship has three nails. Even if the Ye family is in decline, they still have their connections and foundation. If they try to do something and the Ye family finds out, they could ruin Song Yifeng’s future with just a finger.

Her son was her life. Madam Yu wouldn’t gamble with her son’s future. The status of a daughter-in-law’s family was important, but it couldn’t compare to her son’s future. Only if Song Yifeng passed the imperial examination and became an official could they afford to be choosy.

She looked up at Song Yifeng, “Son, you must study hard and strive to pass the imperial examination soon. Otherwise, you’ll be tied to the Ye family for life.”

Song Yifeng nodded firmly. He decided to spread rumors about the Ye family at the prefectural school. If the news reached the ears of those in power and they wanted him to break off the engagement, it would be effortless.

With the engagement to the Ye family, he didn’t dare to let the daughters of officials notice him, fearing it would anger their parents and ruin his future.

So, for now, he could only spread the news.

…

Although Ye Hongchang was at home, he kept an eye on the outside. He quickly heard from the servants about what happened when his father and son went to the tea house in the morning.

He worried all day at home.

Ye Chongming, however, was unhurried. He drank tea with his old friends at the tea house, and since his friends wanted to comfort him by inviting him to lunch, he took his grandson to Taibai Lou for a sumptuous lunch. They didn’t return until it was almost dinner time.

Today was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Ye family was to celebrate together in the main hall of the main courtyard.

As soon as Ye Hongchang heard his father had returned, he had himself carried to the main courtyard and asked about the situation outside.

Speaking of this, Ye Chongming smiled bitterly. He shook his head, “Everything was fine before. But now that our family is facing a bit of trouble, people immediately distance themselves, as if I’m going to borrow money from them.”

He sighed, “Indeed, adversity reveals true character.”

He shook his head, seemingly unwilling to mention those who watched coldly or inquired or kicked him when he was down, only mentioning the good side, “Of course, there are a few who are truly good. Some even offered to lend me money. The thing is, these people weren’t particularly close to me, but I helped them once when they were in trouble.”

As the guild head, he often mediated disputes among tea merchants. Being kind-hearted, he helped those in need within his capacity if they were worth helping.

Over the years, he had done many such things. But now that he was in trouble, there weren’t many who could help him. The most precious thing was that one or two people he had helped before came to him, offering to lend him money.

Adversity reveals true friendship, indeed.

He finally understood why Ye Yaming had said to let the rumors spread for a while to filter out the people they associated with. He had indeed been too comfortable for too long to see people’s true nature.

“Being able to see who is genuine and who is not through this is not a bad thing,” Ye Hongchang comforted.

Ye Chongming nodded.

“Are the tea farmers in the mountains still stable?” Ye Yaming asked.

Speaking of this, Ye Chongming smiled with relief, “Most of the tea farmers are still grateful. Over the years, our family has treated them well, and they don’t want to see us in trouble and switch to another merchant. So they all expressed their willingness to help us through this difficult time.”

Ye Jiaxing nodded vigorously beside him.

…

The night of the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion. During dinner, Ye Yaming met her third aunt, Madam Cai, and her twelve-year-old cousin, Ye Yayu, whom she hadn’t seen since she transmigrated.

Madam Cai wore a moon-white dress with a light blue jacket and only a jade hairpin in her hair, with no other ornaments. She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but she had a gentle, scholarly air, and her demeanor was calm and elegant, giving her a good temperament. Her complexion was also good, and she looked peaceful, without any signs of worry.

This appearance was completely different from what Ye Yaming had imagined for the third madam. She had thought that Madam Cai, who lost her husband while pregnant at eighteen and had been a widow for twelve years, living a secluded life without socializing, would be silent, emaciated, and lifeless.

It’s not that widows must be like this. Many women who lost their husbands but didn’t want to remarry still lived vibrant lives, no different from others.

Ye Yaming had such a guess mainly because Madam Cai had isolated herself too much. She not only didn’t go out or care about worldly matters but also didn’t interact with other family members. Except for major holidays, the family rarely saw her. Not only that, but her daughter also seldom moved around the mansion and had little contact with her cousins. This made Ye Yaming think a lot.

Seeing Madam Cai now, with her rosy complexion and elegant demeanor, though silent and expressionless, her eyes were lively, not like someone who had shut herself off.

Her daughter, Ye Yayu, probably due to lack of social interaction, seemed timid, clinging tightly to her mother, head down, afraid to interact with others, fitting the image of a girl who had been too sheltered.

Ye Yaming couldn’t help but frown.

After losing her husband, Madam Cai wanted to live a secluded life, which was her choice, and Ye Yaming wouldn’t judge whether it was good or bad. However, as a mother, keeping her daughter from interacting with family members, leading to a reclusive personality, was not right.