Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was finally Mrs. Ruan’s turn. Seeing that the people before her didn’t receive enthusiastic responses, she was a little worried too. She calmed herself thinking about the fact that what she had in her hands was a treasure. The phoenixes embroidered into the fabric were made out of golden threads. They were so life-like that they seemed like they could almost fly out of the fabric. Madam Ruan should like it, right?
Ruan Guofu had his wife and Lijia by his side as he walked with them to Madam Ruan. Ruan Guofu held the box reverently in his hands, his voice full of respect. “Mom, my family wishes you fortune for years to come, and for you to have perfect health.”
Ruan Guofu opened the box then. Under the light’s illuminance, a golden shine spread out from the box. Mrs. Ruan took the qipao out of the box with reverence, displaying the entire piece before Madam Ruan and the entire audience. “Mom, this qipao is called Two Phoenixes made in Heaven, made by Madam Liang’s most senior protege. The phoenixes are embroidered with golden threads, I hope you like it.”
Everyone was blown away by how exquisite and how valuable it was. The fact that it was Madam Liang’s eldest protege’s work must have made the cost extremely high too.
It seems like the third son of the Ruan family had found a great gift and invested a lot of money. The previous few qi paos were not impressive enough to Madam Ruan, she should like it, right?
Mrs. Ruan looked at Ling Tianya, extremely satisfied with herself. So, what if Ling Tianya wanted to please Madam Ruan? The qipao was still in her hands!
Ling Tianya felt Ruan Zeyan give her a questioning look, and she couldn’t help bursting out with a small laugh.
Seeing that Ling Tianya not angry and she still had the audacity to laugh at her, third Mrs. Ruan couldn’t help the anger that bubbled up. She turned to address Madam Ruan. “Mom, Madam Liang is the world expert in qipao making, but she has long since stopped creating new pieces. Now, the next person in line to succeed her name is her most senior protege. I had to move mountains in order to get this piece ‘Two Phoenix made in Heaven’, and this is a show of my family’s respect for you. Not like the others, who brought inferior qipaos.”
She had wanted Ling Tianya to hear but had unknowingly offended all the other people that had gifted qipaos as well.
Just as the family was basking in their glow and waiting for Madam Ruan to praise them, all they got was Madam Ruan’s immensely unhappy chiding, “What do you mean by sending me this qipao? Are you trying to insult me?”
The three of them were extremely taken aback. Everyone there was at a loss as well.
What happened? Why did Madam Ruan suddenly become so angry? Logically speaking, the previous qipaos were not as impressive and expensive as that one. Even if she didn’t like it, she would just be indifferent, instead of getting angry like that.
What happened?
Mrs. Ruan’s even more confused, but when she recalled how Ling Tianya had mocked her, her heart sank. Was there something that she missed?
Wasn’t it just a qipao?
Madam Ruan glared at the family, her eyes saturated with utter hatred. “Two Phoenixes made in Heaven? That is a term for couples who are happy and united as one, people who have successful marriages. Have you forgotten who you are? Because of your mother, my marriage was ruined! Now, you’re at my birthday dinner, and you bring something like this to me? What are you trying to imply? Are you insulting my marriage, or are you showing off for your mother?”
When the couple heard that explanation, their hearts fell and shattered right into the pits of their guts. They had not thought of that at all and didn’t know that “Two Phoenixes made in Heaven” had that layer of meaning!
Ruan Guofu was born to the second wife of the Ruan patriarch. Because of his mother, Madam Ruan and Mr. Ruan had had a huge fight. Mr. Ruan had wanted to break up with Ruan Guofu’s mother in order to return to the family initially. Ruan Guofu’s mother was found to be pregnant, and with a boy too. Mr. Ruan had only one son, Ruan Qishan, back then. As he wanted to have more sons, he decided to have Ruan Guofu’s mom as his second wife. That had always been a thorn in Madam Ruan’s heart.
