She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 109 - 108: The Coincidental Encounter Had No Effect

Chapter 109: Chapter 108: The Coincidental Encounter Had No Effect

The old woman servant who had spoken first didn’t come over to eat, but seemed to be watching over Liang Wanqiu from a distance. In fact, she was all ears, listening to the movements behind the shop.

At that moment, she heard the regular murmuring voices from behind the shop stop, followed by a louder bout of pleasantries. She quickly stepped forward, giving Liang Wanqiu a meaningful look.

Liang Wanqiu had been waiting for this moment. Catching the old woman servant’s signal, she stood up as if casually and said, "We’ve been out for quite a long time, and I’m also tired. Let’s return now."

The maids and married women by her side hurriedly followed, watching the old woman servant’s cues, slowly moving toward the exit.

The old woman servant’s guidance was reliable. As Liang Wanqiu and her group reached the corridor, Jinrong and the others also emerged.

Lost in feigned distraction, one of the Liang household maids nearly bumped into Hongzhi, who was stepping out from the inner hall. Hongzhi was quick to react, pivoting on his foot, pulling Jinrong with him to step aside.

Jinrong’s response was also commendable. Following Hongzhi, he took a step back, allowing Jiang Yifan to come forward.

Upon seeing the scene in front of him, Jinrong couldn’t help but laugh. The young ladies of today are no simpletons, actually capable of setting up a scene like this. It’s better to leave Jiang Yifan, this kid, to deal with it. His skin is good, and he has the reputation of an Imperial Top Scholar. This rotten peach blossom must have been attracted by this kid.

Jiang Yifan unexpectedly came face-to-face with Liang Wanqiu, immediately feeling annoyed in his heart, yet he couldn’t blame Jinrong and Hongzhi. He could only scold Shi Yu behind him, saying, "What kind of job are you doing? Don’t you know to watch the path ahead?"

Liang Wanqiu had originally been shyly prepared to offer the words she had been rehearsing, but she was taken aback by the unexpected ire of the handsome gentleman.

Luckily, she was quick to recover. She curtseyed slightly to Jiang Yifan and said in a timid voice tinged with shyness, "Young Master Jiang, please don’t be upset. It’s not the boy’s fault; it’s my own maid who wasn’t watching her step and carelessly ran into you. I hope you won’t take offense, Young Master."

Miss, your attempt is... way too obvious, don’t you think? Does your family know you’re doing this?

Ye Xinyan, who stood far behind this group of women, rolled her eyes dramatically upon hearing Liang Wanqiu’s delicate words, filled with undisguised contempt.

Still calling him a young master? The kid’s already been divorced once—if he remarries, it’s a second marriage, you know? Compared to you, Miss, he’s an old man quite a few years your senior. Miss Liang’s taste really isn’t up to snuff.

Perhaps Ye Xinyan’s movement was too pronounced, for Jiang Yifan didn’t look at the pretty girl in front of him, but instead glanced in Ye Xinyan’s direction.

Ye Xinyan didn’t mind at all. Given her past with Jiang Yifan, to say they were enemies would be an exaggeration, but mutual disgust was most certainly not. I am just like this, if I look, then so be it. I don’t feel even the slightest bit uneasy about losing composure in front of you, Jiang Yifan.

However, Liang Wanqiu didn’t know about their relationship and was frustrated to see Young Master Jiang looking past all of them at the seemingly unrefined country woman.

Feeling indignant, Liang Wanqiu once again made a bow and said, "Young Master Jiang, it truly was my maid’s fault for bumping into you so carelessly. I will surely teach her a lesson when we get back, and I hope you can forgive this. Young Master Jiang may not be aware, but I am from Official Liang’s Residence. Perhaps one day my father can visit your residence to offer an apology."

Hearing this, Ye Xinyan nearly rolled her eyes out. Is it really necessary? Just for the chance to marry a man who’s had a second-tier official position and one divorce, your father would need to apologize at his residence? How lowly is your family’s status? If your wish comes true and you become the wife of Young Boy Jiang, this kind of behavior is quite unbecoming for his father-in-law.

Jiang Yifan withdrew his gaze, glanced at Liang Wanqiu, and immediately stepped back, cupping his hands and saying, "It turns out to be Miss Liang. It was indeed a blunder by my attendant, not the fault of others. Please go ahead, Miss."

As he spoke, Jiang Yifan gestured for her to proceed, taking another half step backward.

Liang Wanqiu, slightly shy, bowed her head and also took half a step back, saying, "Please, Young Master Jiang, you go first. I am not in a hurry and can wait a while longer."

Jiang Yifan paused for a moment, and now his view of the Young Miss of the Liang Family was even less favorable.

In this world, why were there so few women who were pleasing to the eyes? Just look at Miss Liang, dignified and courteous on the surface, but inside she was pretentious and affected, as if she was afraid others wouldn’t realize she was intentionally dragging out time.

Jiang Yifan’s irritation was evident as he shot a cold, contemptuous glance at Shi Yu.

Shi Yu quickly stepped forward, blocking between Liang Wanqiu and Jiang Yifan, and with a raised hand and a bow, said, "Young Master, please. Our entourage and horses are already waiting outside, you can leave right away."

At least that boy knew how to read the room.

Jiang Yifan’s expression eased slightly as he hastily bowed to Liang Wanqiu and said, "Excuse me, I will take my leave first."

"..." He’s just leaving like that?

Liang Wanqiu watched with wide eyes as Jiang Yifan and his people walked past her, but, obstructed by Jiang Yifan’s servant, she could only seethe with frustration.

After Jinrong and his party left, Ye Xinyan also turned her attention back, as she was still waiting for the Liang family to pay the bill. Her family ran a small business and couldn’t afford to have customers skip payment.

The person she wanted to encounter had left without a trace, yet now she saw that detestable village woman standing before her eyes, and Liang Wanqiu felt fury rising from nowhere.

"Granny Tan, you go ask, what is this woman of the small shop doing blocking our way? Shoo her aside!"

Liang Wanqiu’s tone was no longer as it had been earlier. Although it was not warm before, it had been somewhat dignified; now, her voice contained an obvious note of resentment and anger.

Granny Tan naturally knew her young lady was irritated. Without further hesitating over whether Sixth Master Rong had taken a liking to the small shop when he left, she immediately hardened her face and scolded Ye Xinyan, "You, woman, why don’t you step aside? Are you looking to be smacked standing here?"

Ye Xinyan was almost amused to anger by Granny Tan, "Nanny, you and the others... still haven’t settled the bill."

Grandma Tan was taken aback but didn’t lose her imposing manner and sneered, "You have the nerve to mention settling the bill? Lady Qi, no offense, but if your family has the means, you do this business; if not, don’t put on a façade here. My family’s head of the household is a wealthy gentry of Qingyuan County, and our young miss is also counted among the most distinguished ladies there. Now, she almost got bumped in your cramped little shop. Our head of the household isn’t making trouble for you; you should be thankful for that. And now you’re troubling us to pay the bill; do you still want to continue with this business?"

The smile on Ye Xinyan’s face froze as she listened to Grandma Tan’s words.

How shameless could one be? Was there such an unscrupulous way of handling things? It was her young miss who actively pursued a man into their shop, right? She was angry simply because she hadn’t been bumped into—isn’t that the reason for her unwarranted indignation? And now, they were bringing this up as an issue!

And as for being wealthy gentry of Qingyuan County—within the scope of Qingyuan County, could that even be considered gentry?

Qi Younian returned just in time to see Granny Tan giving Ye Xinyan a hard time.

Nanny Jin handed Qi Jia over to Qi Younian, giving him a look to return to the back hall to avoid giving Granny Tan another chance to gossip.

She stepped forward and said, "Nanny, our business hasn’t been open for very long, and there is much we don’t understand. We hope for your understanding and forgiveness. Having the Young Miss of your house visit our shop is an honor for us, so how could we ask you to settle the account? This is indeed a mistake on Lady Qi’s part, and I will address it with her afterward. If you are not in a rush, please stay a while longer, and we will serve some of the kitchen’s specialties for your young miss, free of charge. What do you say?"

"Pah!" Granny Tan spat, "You, woman, really know nothing, dare to speak of ’free of charge.’ Do you think the Eldest Miss of the Liang Household would dine and dash? Is it for skimping on a few pickled dishes?"