[Marriage first, love later] She is happy after marrying a widower

On a winter night in Hongshi Town, the wind whistled through the streets and alleys, making the window frames whistle, but it could not blow away the warmth in the Lan family's mansion.

After dinner, the house was filled with the lingering aroma of food, and the maids moved around quietly, clearing the dishes.

Song Yanzhi winked at the maid behind her. The maid understood and turned to leave the house. After a while, she came back with several beautifully wrapped gift boxes.

Song Yanzhi and Lan Mingyue were reclining on the warm kang, a charcoal brazier at the head of the bed blazing brightly, casting a faint blush on their faces. Song Yanzhi leaned forward and gently pushed an exquisitely carved treasure box toward Lan Mingyue, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Madam, I've prepared a little treat for you. Take a look. Do you like it?"

Lan Mingyue was originally chatting about family matters when she was caught by the sudden appearance of the box. She put down the handkerchief in her hand, leaned forward, and opened her eyes wide with curiosity. "Oh, what is this? It looks very delicate."

"Madam, please open it and take a look. You're guaranteed to be surprised." Song Yanzhi kept the secret with a playful smile on her lips.

Lan Mingyue eagerly took the box. The heavy feeling in her hand only heightened her anticipation. She gently lifted the lid, and instantly, her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "This is so beautiful!"

A set of ruby ​​tiaras in the box shines brightly. The rubies are not big, but each one is round and full, with exquisite cutting craftsmanship. Under the dim candlelight, they reflect a charming and warm halo.

Lan Mingyue was so engrossed in watching that even her breathing became lighter.

Song Yanzhi looked at her and smiled even more happily: "As long as the boss lady likes it, I'm glad. I've been worried that it won't suit your taste."

Lan Mingyue finally came to her senses, surprised, delighted, and a little hesitant: "Is this a gift for me? Oh, I can't accept it. Such an exquisite item can be a family heirloom. It's too valuable, how can I afford it?"

Although she lived a wealthy life in the town thanks to her cloth business, she had never been far away and her knowledge was limited. The farthest place she had been to was Qinghe County. She had never seen such gorgeous jewelry.

Song Yanzhi hurriedly held her hand, her eyes sincere and anxious: "Boss, please don't say that! If you don't accept it, it would be really awkward.

"Thinking back to that time, when we hurried back to town, we were unfamiliar with the place. If you hadn't opened your home without hesitation to take us in, I, my children, and my sisters would have suffered so much in the cold. This timely help is a thousand times more valuable than this set of jewelry!"

Song Yanzhi paused for a moment, looked into Lan Mingyue's eyes, and continued to persuade: "Besides, although this jewelry is not considered a rare treasure in the capital, in my heart, only you are worthy of its exquisiteness and delicacy.

I brought it back after a long journey, hoping you would like it. If you refuse, wouldn't that be a betrayal of my kindness? Just think of it as a gift shared between sisters. Accept it. We will have a long time to spend together in the future, and I may even benefit from your kindness even more!"

Lan Mingyue was still a little hesitant. She carefully picked up the jewelry, her eyes full of amazement: "Yanzhi, your thoughts are so profound. I..."

"Alright, alright, let's not be so formal with each other, sisters." Song Yanzhi interrupted her and stuffed the jewelry into her hand again. "Put it on quickly, let me appreciate it too. It must be gorgeous."

Lan Mingyue was deeply moved, her eyes slightly red. She looked at Song Yanzhi and said, "Yanzhi, I'll shamelessly accept it. If you need help from me in the future, please don't hesitate to ask me. I will do anything for you, even if it means going through fire and water."

Song Yanzhi nodded heavily, took her hand and patted it: "Of course, we sisters will share the joys and sorrows and help each other for a long time to come."

Lan Mingyue took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and walked to the bronze mirror at the other end of the room.

She gently put on the jewelry one by one, first inserting the ruby ​​hairpin into her bun, then putting on the matching earrings and bracelet. Every movement was gentle and solemn.

After putting it on, she turned her head left and right, repeatedly examining herself in the mirror. The more she looked, the more satisfied she felt. The smile on her face blossomed like a spring flower, and she couldn't hide it: "Yanzhi, look, it's really beautiful!"

Song Yanzhi clapped her hands on the kang and praised: "I told you! This headdress suits you so well, it brings out your gentleness and elegance." The laughter of the two echoed in the warm room, warming the cold night.

The cold night wind whipped, swaying the lanterns at the Lan family's gate, casting dappled shadows across the ground. Inside, Song Yanzhi and Lan Mingyue were chatting privately when the warm atmosphere was shattered by a sudden, loud noise.

"What's going on so late at night?" Lan Mingyue frowned instantly, and her originally gentle face became a little annoyed. She put the teacup in her hand down heavily, making a "clang" sound.

Song Yanzhi was also startled and hurriedly said, "I'll go out and take a look." As she spoke, she stood up swiftly, walked to the door in her slippers, and opened it. She saw the maid she had brought with her, arguing fiercely with a strange woman.

The woman had a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks, and was thin. She was wrapped in an old cotton coat and shivered in the cold wind, but her voice was unusually loud. She cursed at the top of her voice with a mean look on her face.

She stretched out a skinny finger, pointing directly at the Lan family's gate, cursing obscenely, "Lan Mingyue, you little bitch, you let outsiders live in the house that our family members don't allow us to rent. What are you thinking?"

Lan Mingyue was immediately furious when she saw this woman. She stormed out, her hair a mess from the wind. "Liu Cui Niang, why are you barking like a dog in front of my house? This is my yard, I can let anyone live there if they want. Why do you have to control it, you little bitch? You should go home and take care of your gambling-addict husband. I'm afraid he lost everything again, so you come here to act like a jerk?"

Song Yanzhi was stunned watching from the side. She was used to seeing Lan Mingyue being cheerful, generous, gentle and polite. She never expected that in the blink of an eye, the proprietress would become so aggressive. However, she admired her straightforwardness in her heart.

After hearing Lan Mingyue's scolding, Liu Cuiniang immediately became furious. She kept jumping on the spot like an enraged rooster. Her originally pretty face turned red with anger, like a ripe apple.

She stared at Lan Mingyue with wide eyes, cursing obscenely, "You Lan Mingyue, how dare you be so arrogant! You're just an unwanted widow. Who knows what kind of despicable tricks you use to seduce those men? Maybe you've done all kinds of shameful things behind her back!"