Song Zongzong nodded eagerly, then led them all the way to the Song family residence in Jiangzhou City.
Although the Song family was in decline, they were still a prominent household in Jiangzhou City.
Therefore, the Song family mansion was quite grand.
Not long after entering Jiangzhou City, on a bustling street, the Song family's nameplate could be seen from afar.
However, when the carriage finally arrived at the Song family's doorstep, Song Chaoyu heard what seemed to be a commotion within the residence.
The Old Madam also frowned, looking at Song Zongzong, "What does that sound like? It sounds like a quarrel."
Song Zongzong gestured for his wife to get out of the carriage to check, then smiled and reassured the Old Madam, "It's nothing, nothing. They must be excited because everyone knows you've arrived!"
However, when Song Chaoyu helped the Old Madam alight from the carriage and they truly reached the Song family entrance, they discovered that the situation within the Song residence was quite different!
The Song family had already prepared a banquet, awaiting the arrival of the Old Madam and her party.
As Song Chaoyu and the others entered, they found someone sitting at the banquet table, eating!
The noise stemmed from this very scene.
Ning Shi, who had just entered, along with two other people Song Chaoyu didn't recognize, were pulling at a man by the table: "What are you doing? This banquet is for Second Aunt from the capital! Hurry up and get up. How can you be so disrespectful to your elders and start eating before them?"
Beside the man stood a woman. She looked to be around Song Chaoyu's age, her face flushed with embarrassment, as she gently tugged at the man's sleeve.
But no matter how they pulled, the man remained seated, unmoving. He even grabbed a chicken leg from the side and placed it in his bowl: "What's wrong? I am the esteemed son-in-law of the Song manor. Can't I have a bite to eat? I'm starving! What capital Old Madam? I need to eat first!"
Song Chaoyu guessed the man's identity, likely the son of the Jiangzhou advisor and Song Yanyan's husband.
Seeing this, Song Zongzong frowned, then stepped forward and pulled him up: "The guests have arrived, what are you making such a fuss about?! This is not the time for you to mess around. Hurry and move aside, let the guests enter!"
Ning Shi saw the Old Madam enter and quickly rushed forward, saying to her, "Second Aunt, please don't be angry! This is the son of our Jiangzhou advisor, and Yanyan's husband. He's usually... like this, very uninhibited. Please, Old Madam, don't be upset."
Was this the "hospitality" of the Jiangzhou Song family?
Song Chaoyu glanced at the Old Madam. The Old Madam's eyes were filled with coldness: "It's fine. Since he is the esteemed son-in-law, let him eat."
She turned and took Song Chaoyu's hand, making a move to leave: "Yu'er, let's go! Is there really no place for us in this vast Jiangzhou?"
This time, even the Eldest Madam joined them: "Muqi, you are right! I will send someone to find a fine inn. We've had a long journey, we should rest well!"
"Second Aunt, don't go!"
Song Zongzong couldn't afford to lose face like this. If word got out, wouldn't they become a laughingstock?
He glared back at Song Yanyan's husband. Only then did the man stand up, casually take Song Yanyan's handkerchief, wipe his greasy mouth, and then step forward: "Why is everyone leaving? Don't let others say I've neglected you. Come, come, sit down and eat together! The Old Madam from the capital, we should address her as Aunt Grandmother, right?"
His utter lack of manners made Song Chaoyu's brow furrow.
Song Yanyan also stepped forward and pulled him hard: "Stop messing around! They're from the capital, don't let people laugh at us!"
Song Chaoyu seemed to smell alcohol on the man. Drinking in broad daylight and causing trouble, what kind of good family could he be from?
As expected, the man did not listen to Song Yanyan.
He flung Song Yanyan aside, then sneered and tugged at his clothes.
He dared not do anything to the Old Madam, but he brazenly looked up and down at Song Chaoyu, who stood behind the Old Madam: "So what if they're from the capital? We are the legitimate lineage, they are the illegitimate one. Your Song family only has this much face? You treat the illegitimate so importantly, won't people laugh if this gets out?"
He turned back to Song Yanyan without any respect: "Thinking about it, what kind of life has your Song family been living? Dani, remember, you are a daughter of the legitimate lineage of the Song family! You are my Guo Haixia's wife! What are you afraid of people from the capital for? So what if they're from the capital? My father is the advisor for the Jiangzhou Prefecture Office! I am the esteemed son-in-law of your Song manor!"
Song Chaoyu felt that this Guo Haixia was too indifferent to the Song family, perhaps he didn't even know what the Song family in the capital was like.
The Old Madam stepped forward slightly, blocking Song Chaoyu, and stared sternly at Guo Haixia: "Esteemed son-in-law? Aren't you the Song family's esteemed son-in-law? I'm afraid we cannot afford to offend such an esteemed son-in-law as you! Since this meal was prepared for the esteemed son-in-law, we will not disturb you further!"
She turned back and glared at Song Zongzong without any politeness, "You can dote on this esteemed son-in-law. We'll go stay elsewhere!"
This time, she was determined to turn and leave.
Song Zongzong was so scared that he wished he could immediately kneel before the Old Madam: "Aunt, don't go, please don't go! If you leave like this, won't our Song family be unable to show their face in Jiangzhou in the future? Aunt, I beg you! Just give us juniors some face, okay? I will handle things here, and everything in the manor has been prepared for Aunt!"
"Hmph! So spineless!"
Guo Haixia didn't even respect Song Zongzong, an elder, but instead sneered and stepped forward to grab Song Chaoyu: "You illegitimate branch, if you appease me properly, Iā"
"Get away!"
Song Chaoyu was startled by his grab and immediately shook off Guo Haixia's hand.
The Old Madam turned around in anger, and without a word, slapped Guo Haixia across the face: "Who do you think you are to dare touch our Fourth Girl? Get out of here and don't come back!"
It was the first time Song Chaoyu had seen the Old Madam take action against someone, and she felt grateful and moved.
Not only Guo Haixia, but everyone was stunned by the Old Madam's sudden slap!
Guo Haixia stood there, stunned for a long time, before veins bulged on his forehead: "You hit me? How dare you hit me! My father is the advisor for the Jiangzhou Prefecture Office!"