Chapter 144: The Jin Family

"It's nothing," Song Wan shook her head.

Jin Youqian looked at her, assuming she was just nervous, and asked no further. He took Song Wan's hand and led her into the Jin family's ancestral home.

The moment she stepped through the doors, Song Wan found herself meeting the sharp, spirited gaze of a white-haired elderly man.

Startled for a second, she tugged at Jin Youqian's sleeve.

Ignoring her entirely, Jin Youqian pulled Song Wan straight to the empty seat on the old man's right, sitting opposite his parents.

After coughing a few times, the old man spoke first: "You must be Jin's wife?"

He looked at Song Wan as he spoke, but his eyes remained calm and unreadable, making it impossible to gauge his attitude toward her.

Yet, from Song Wan's perspective, having no discernible attitude was in fact the clearest attitude of all—

Seeing the legal partner of his most prized grandson for the very first time, he didn't even bother to feign warmth; he didn't even offer a smile. That alone spoke volumes.

He was not satisfied with Song Wan as his granddaughter-in-law.

It was simply that the marriage was already a done deal, and perhaps he had already consented to Jin Youqian choosing his own partner, so out of basic propriety, he could not afford to make Jin Youqian lose face.

However, saving Jin Youqian's face was the absolute limit of his concession. Expecting him to put on the warm, welcoming expression usually reserved for a beloved junior was something he would never do.

Jin Youqian didn't mind in the least. Cutting in before Song Wan could reply, he said, "Grandfather, this is my wife, Song Wan. We've been married for several months now."

Song Wan paused for a moment, then smiled at Elder Jin and said, "Hello, Grandfather. My name is Song Wan, and I am Youqian's legal wife."

The old man narrowed his eyes, his appraising gaze sweeping back and forth over Song Wan for a long time before he finally withdrew it.

Even so, his internal impression of Song Wan had deteriorated further.

At that moment, Mrs. Jin chimed in: "My goodness, meeting your daughter-in-law is such a joyful occasion, Father! Why do you have to make the atmosphere so tense?" She smiled at Song Wan. "Is there anything you particularly like to eat? I'll tell Aunt Zhang to make it right away, and we can all have lunch together later."

This...

Song Wan couldn't help but glance at Jin Youqian. To be asked what she liked to eat the absolute second she walked through the door—wasn't this attitude a bit too eager? Why did she always get the lingering feeling that Mrs. Jin was constantly worried they might pack up and leave the ancestral residence?

Doubting her own judgment for a moment, she discreetly glanced at the wall clock hanging in the living room: 9:16 AM.

Was it really necessary to start preparing for lunch this early?

She looked up and, to her surprise, found that the others were all staring at her with burning intensity, as if they were desperately concerned about whether she... would actually stay for lunch.

Song Wan possessed a healthy amount of self-awareness. She was hardly delusional enough to think that Elder Jin—who was meeting her for the very first time and clearly held deep resentment toward her—would genuinely care about her favorite dishes. Therefore, the expressions on their faces must have been entirely on account of Jin Youqian.

She desperately wanted to ask if Jin Youqian had somehow never managed to share a proper meal with them before.

Jin Youqian's expression remained entirely normal, offering no extra explanation for the confusion in Song Wan's eyes. He simply turned to Housekeeper Feng and said, "Wannwan likes fish. Make a spicy boiled fish fillet at noon, and stir-fry a few more seasonal vegetables."

The others seemed to exhale in collective relief.

Yet, a split second later, Elder Jin's gaze toward Song Wan grew even more unfriendly.

Song Wan: "..." I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything?

It was utterly inexplicable.

Elder Jin opened his mouth to speak, but caught sight of Jin Youqian's deceptively calm expression and swallowed his words with an impatient huff.

Even so, the look he cast at Song Wan grew increasingly dissatisfied.

Song Wan: "..." She figured she now knew why Elder Jin was angry.

Still, for someone of Elder Jin's advanced age to be jealous because his grandson treated his wife too well, and to then take it out on his granddaughter-in-law... wasn't that just a bit bizarre?

Song Wan turned her head in bewilderment. She had heard of mothers-in-law harboring such sentiments, but she had never once heard of a grandfather transferring his grievances in such a manner.

Jin Youqian squeezed Song Wan's hand and curved his lips into a smile as she turned back to him. "If there's anything else you'd like to eat, you can tell Uncle Feng, and he'll have Aunt Zhang prepare it."

After a brief hesitation, Song Wan voiced her lingering confusion: "It's only nine o'clock. Isn't it a bit too early to start making lunch?"

Surely the Jin family didn't eat a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast every single day, requiring hours and hours of intricate preparation?

Jin Youqian couldn't help letting out a soft laugh. "It's not that we're cooking right now, but Aunt Zhang needs to go buy the groceries." He paused for a moment before continuing, "The ancestral home has quite a few strict rules, and we're extremely particular about food. Every meal doesn't have to be extravagant, but the ingredients must always be impeccably fresh. That's why Aunt Zhang always buys the groceries right before cooking."

Song Wan understood instantly.

She didn't find such rules particularly strange. After all, the Jin family was the wealthiest household in Jiuzhou; it was entirely understandable that instead of turning every meal into an extravagant banquet, they preferred to dine on the freshest possible ingredients.

What Song Wan found strange was Jin Youqian's tone and demeanor whenever he mentioned the ancestral home and its "numerous rules."

It seemed to her that he held the ancestral home and its traditions in utter disdain, viewing them with intense repulsion.

The atmosphere in the room grew slightly awkward.

Fortunately, Mrs. Jin was naturally outgoing and warmly approached Song Wan, taking her hand and leading her over to Mr. Jin. "This must be your first time meeting Zongquan, right?"

Mr. Jin, who had been ignored until now, showed no signs of annoyance. His attitude toward Song Wan could even be described as genial. He pulled a red envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Song Wan, this is some pocket money for you." He paused, casting a fierce glare at Jin Youqian. "I originally intended for this to be your formal greeting gift, but you two have dragged your feet for so long without holding a wedding. Even though this is our first time meeting, since you're already married, I can't just let the occasion pass without a token of my regard."

Seeing Song Wan hesitate, Mrs. Jin snatched the red envelope right out of Mr. Jin's hand and shoved it directly into hers. "If he gives it to you, just take it. It's not like it's a fortune; you'll blow through it buying a few luxury items anyway."

Surprised, Song Wan had no choice but to accept the envelope. "Thank you... Dad."

She weighed it briefly in her hand; it undoubtedly contained a bank card, though the exact balance remained a mystery.

Seeing Song Wan accept the gift, Mrs. Jin's eyes crinkled into delighted smiles. She immediately dug into the handbag resting on the sofa, pulled out another red envelope, and pressed it into Song Wan's palm. "That last red envelope was your father's pocket money for you. This one is from me—it doesn't have as much inside as the card your dad gave you, but it's enough to buy a bag or two."

After thinking for a moment, she added with a grin, "If you run out of money and it's not enough, just come to me. Or you can ask Jin; he's even richer than your dad."

Elder Jin furrowed his brow and couldn't help snapping, "The money Jin makes isn't even enough for you to squander!"

Mrs. Jin shot right back, "My husband and my son make money precisely for me to spend! How is that squandering? Besides, if I actually managed to squander this entire family's fortune, I'd consider it quite a joyous occasion!"

Song Wan: "......Thank you, Mom."

Elder Jin glared daggers at Song Wan. "Don't pick up those petty, small-minded habits from her. It's disgraceful!"

Song Wan: "..." I'm literally just a daughter-in-law/granddaughter-in-law meeting them for the very first time. Why is everyone directing their fire at me?

She turned her head to seek help from Jin Youqian, only to be met with the shocking discovery that his expression had turned as dark as ink, and the look he cast at Mrs. Jin carried a heavy trace of disgust.

Only Mr. Jin—ever since Mrs. Jin snatched the red envelope from his hands—kept his gaze glued entirely to her. His eyes were filled with the same doting tenderness as always, enough to warm anyone who saw it.

Yet, it seemed that aside from Mrs. Jin, he didn't care to place a single other person in his field of vision.

Song Wan's heart skipped a beat. The reason Mr. Jin had been so nice to her couldn't possibly be because Mrs. Jin was satisfied with her, right?

Elder Jin gave Mr. Jin a look of profound disappointment, and noticing that Song Wan was watching them intently, he inexplicably shot her another glare as well.

Song Wan: "..." She had a strong suspicion she had just hit the nail on the head.

This entire family was entirely too bizarre.

Jin Youqian, however, seemed thoroughly accustomed to it all, seeing nothing strange in their behavior whatsoever.

Mrs. Jin looked as though she wanted to keep chatting with Song Wan, but Mr. Jin pulled her gently aside to sit down next to him.

Rolling her eyes playfully, Mrs. Jin offered Song Wan an apologetic look. "Wannwan, I honestly love your performance in *Miao Language* so much! I'm your number-one little fan. From now on, just think of the ancestral home as your own house, and remember to come over often to visit and keep this old lady company."

Song Wan smiled and nodded.

They looked as though they wanted to continue talking, but Jin Youqian frowned at the sight of Song Wan standing up. He stood immediately, pulled her back to his side, and then sat her down.

Song Wan breathed a sigh of relief inwardly; standing there all alone had indeed felt rather awkward.

Just as she was about to thank Jin Youqian, she noticed his deeply brooding gaze fixed on Mr. Jin, clearly harboring a heavy measure of reproach.

Mrs. Jin, sitting beside Mr. Jin, cast a somewhat panicked look back and forth between the two men, though she spent most of her effort trying to restrain Mr. Jin. The look she threw Jin Youqian, meanwhile, held a distinct trace of ingratiating caution.

Song Wan opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed her words.

The dynamic among this family was far too weird, and Mr. Jin was the epicenter of it all.

Conscious that she knew none of the inside story, Song Wan wisely kept her mouth shut.

Mr. Jin and Jin Youqian locked eyes in a silent standoff, but eventually, yielding to Mrs. Jin's pleading look, he patted her hand and stopped looking at his son altogether.

Left with pent-up frustration that had nowhere to go, Jin Youqian let out a cold, sharp huff.

Song Wan shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

As the group sat in silence for a few awkward minutes, Jin Youqian's impatience finally flared. Without a word, he grabbed Song Wan's hand and pulled her toward the stairs.

Startled, Song Wan hurriedly pulled back. "Youqian, Dad, Mom, and Grandfather are all right here! Where are you dragging me?"

Ignoring her, Jin Youqian cast an impatient glance at the others, took a deep breath, and said, "I'm taking you to see the room I lived in when I was a kid."

With that, he turned and dragged Song Wan toward the upper floor.

He was literally dragging her. Song Wan tried to dig her heels in, but it was completely useless; she could only stumble along in his wake.

Realizing that her struggles were utterly futile, she finally gave up and turned her head to look back at the other three members of the Jin family, wearing a helpless, apologetic expression. "Um... Dad, Mom, Grandfather, I've been talking about wanting to see the room Youqian grew up in ever since before we arrived, so I suppose he's just a bit eager..."

A sudden increase in tension on her wrist cut her short. Song Wan only had time to catch a final glimpse of their expressions before she was forced to turn back around.

Upon reaching the door of Jin Youqian's childhood bedroom, he finally came to a halt.

Song Wan sighed. "Why were you getting so emotional back there?"

What she actually wanted to ask was: *What on earth is wrong with your family?* But she knew she had barely stepped foot in the house, and it wasn't the right time to ask such questions.

Even if she asked, Jin Youqian wouldn't necessarily tell her.

Or rather, he definitely wouldn't tell her.

Sure enough, even when she probed near the sensitive spot, Jin Youqian showed no inclination to discuss the matter.

After a momentary pause, he pushed the door open with a perfectly normal expression. "Come on in. I heard all you women love looking at embarrassing childhood photos of your husbands. I didn't take many pictures growing up, but there should be a couple lying around."

With that, he walked straight into the room and finally released the hand he had been holding the entire time.

Song Wan inexplicably felt a sudden pang of loss. A moment later, she couldn't help letting out a soft, helpless chuckle. "Pfft—"

She was really, truly falling for him.

Hearing the sound, Jin Youqian turned back in confusion. "What is it?"