第136章 姨甥俩的对话

"Thank you." Sun Tinghua had a favor to ask today, and he always maintained a humble and pleasing smile on his face.
Fang Luo sat down, and a maid served tea. Du Da laughed and said, "Please have some tea, cousin-in-law."
"Thank you." Sun Tinghua also expressed gratitude, he blew the tea mist and took a sip, "Mr. Du, it is truly embarrassing. Wu and his wife are having a fight, and they even made you worry. It is my fault as the head of the family for not handling the matter well, causing you to be amused."
Du Da feels that Sun Tinghua's attitude is acceptable, much stronger than the inappropriate actions of Sun Xuewu, which brings him some comfort. As Snow's uncle, although he did not witness her growth, the Du family is the only relatives Snow has in the capital. If Snow is being treated unfairly, as her uncle, he should stand up for her. "Every family has their own hardships, and at this age, even government officials may have family issues. However, aside from our Du family, Snow has no other relatives in the capital. If she is really being mistreated, as a government official, I will definitely not turn a blind eye."
"Yes, yes." Sun Tinghua repeatedly agreed, thinking about how to steer the conversation towards the female medical officer imprisoned inside. "Mr. Du's reprimand was justified."
Sun Tinghua's use of the term 'reprimand' resonated well with Mr. Du. The Sun family still had someone reasonable.
At this time, in the backyard of the Du residence, Tan Yingxue was peeling orange skin and handing each peeled yellow petal to Xia, the wife of Du Dazi who was arranging flowers nearby. Xia, also known as Madam Xia, held a third-ranking official title. She wore a horse-tail bun and adorned it with silk flowers woven with jade threads. Her eyebrows and eyes resembled those of Tan Yingxue, but she didn't appear to be a formidable person. However, she was fiercely protective of her loved ones.
Tan Yingxue moved into the Du Mansion, without anyone else by her side. Mrs. Xia then had her personal maid, Xirui, come to serve her. Xirui was very clever and considerate, and she was a loyal servant who was willing to dedicate herself to her mistress.
"This orange isn't as sweet as the previous one, but I love the sour-sweet taste of this fruit." Madam Xia cut off a branch with a side shoot, put down the scissors, and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "If you prefer pure sweetness, you can keep this plate of fruit for me. Your uncle also enjoys this taste."
Tan Yingxue secretly envied, "Auntie, you and Uncle have been so close for all these years, I really envy you."
Madame Xia's face flushed slightly, despite being in her middle age, she did not appear pretentious. Being praised by her niece, she felt a little embarrassed but also proud, "Don't envy me, hurry up and divorce Sun Xuewu. I will take care of finding a suitable husband for you. With your Uncle as such a powerful backer, can't we find a husband that meets your standards?"
Tan Yingxue realized the various ways in which Sun Xuewu treated her badly, and there was hardly anyone in the Sun family who stood up for her. She felt a bellyful of resentment, thinking, "Divorce is just a matter of time, but that bastard Sun Xuewu is probably hoping for me to disappear from his sight. If I agree with his wishes and divorce, wouldn't that be giving in to him? I'm not that foolish. I want to make a fuss in front of him and make the Sun family in turmoil. If I don't do that, then I'm not Tan Yingxue. And that little slut Su Yu, who dares to plot against me, if I don't take revenge for this great hatred, how could I easily leave the Sun family."
"You said you and Sun Xuewu are at odds, so why does he still go to the Du Mansion every day? Is he born with a despicable bone?" The Xia family sneered, showing no regard for Sun Xuewu, their nephew-in-law.
Being spoken about her husband in this way, Tan Yingxue became even more disgusted. "He's nothing but a despicable bone. Auntie, I know Sun Xuewu too well. He would never voluntarily come to the Du Mansion to find me. His visit must be the result of pressure from the elders of the Sun family. After all, it's during the New Year, and yet their daughter-in-law is left homeless. What will happen to the reputation of the Sun family if this spreads?"
"You are right, I will make it difficult for Sun Xuewu next time he comes to our door and call you uncle to give him a hard time," Xia Shi said, letting her anger cloud her judgment as she forgot that she was Tan Yingxue's elder and should not interfere in the couple's affairs.
Tan Yingxue finished eating the oranges in her hands, clapped her hands, and complained bitterly, "If it weren't for my blind parents, how could they have married me to such a useless person like Sun Xuewu? The most beautiful time of my youth is wasted in that pit of the Sun family. Just thinking about it makes my teeth hurt."
Mrs. Xia sighed and said, "At that time, your mother was seriously ill, and her only wish was to see you get married. The Sun family happened to come to our door, with a suitable background and a matching social status. This marriage was arranged in such a way. But your mother probably never expected that your husband, whom she was satisfied with, would become a couple living in resentment."
谭莹雪心塞，细蕊抬手撩帘进来，朝着二人福了福，“夫人，表姑娘，表姑爷又来了。”
谭莹雪正憋着气，指着门口，怒道：“不准他进府，否则就几棒子打出去。”
Xirui shook her head, looking troubled, saying, "Not only has my cousin-in-law arrived, but also my husband's cousin-in-law has come. Master is currently receiving them in the flower hall."
"My husband's cousin-in-law is here?" Mrs. Xia continued, "It seems that this time they are really showing their sincerity."
这次孙廷桦也到了，谭莹雪高傲的挑了挑眉，冷笑道：“什么诚意，他们是觉着我长久不归孙家不合规矩，怕姨父怪罪罢了。”
Tan Yingxue's words were clearly mocking the Sun father and son's loss of face, while secretly complimenting her own husband's power and status. Mistress Xia listened with delight, saying, "Do you want to see what your father and your uncle will say to each other?"
Tan Yingxue nodded, and the aunt and nephew walked out of the warm chamber, led by Xirui, heading towards the flower hall.
In the flower hall, Sun Tinghua humbly bowed, showing no sign of familiarity with Du Da despite being relatives through marriage, which made Du Da even more favorable towards him.
Sun Xuewu was admonished in the car and he did not dare to be unruly in his speech and demeanor. He rarely sat decently and did not dare to speak much. He would answer when the elders asked him a question. Du Da thought that Sun Xuewu seemed to have a humble and gentlemanly demeanor now, if only he had been like this earlier, then he wouldn't have had such an awkward situation with Miss Xue.
"Brother Wu, present the gift list to your uncle." Sun Tinghua took a deep breath and finally decided to get to the point.
"Before entering the estate, Brother Sun Wu secretly looked at the gift list. There were some good things on it that he had never seen before, and he felt heartbroken. If it was because of that wretched Tan Shi, it would really be too painful to let go of such good things." "Yes, Father."
Du Da thought that Sun Tinghua was just being polite, after all, it was their first meeting due to a matter involving younger generations. He only wanted to show some goodwill and courtesy, but little did he expect that upon seeing the gift list, even someone as composed as him couldn't help but sigh heavily. On the gift list, it was written in bold letters: Five catties of pearls from the North Sea, fifty pieces of Shu brocade, a pair of gold-encrusted jade ruyi, ten pairs of red gold bracelets, five pieces of jade inkstone from Duanzhou, one rare purple-red coral plant, and a pair of extremely precious blue cat's eye stones.
Du Da secretly looked wide-eyed and speechless. If he didn't know why Sun Tinghua and his son came to his door, he would have imagined that this was a marriage proposal for him.
"Uncle, I know your Sun family has a good fortune, but it's not right to spend so much on the younger generation. How about we have a drink together after these two children make up, and you can take back this gift list. I really dare not accept it."
Du Da's lack of excitement and envy towards the gifts on the gift list made Sun Tinghua view him in a new light. However, at the same time, he also felt quite worried. Refusing the gifts indicated Du Da's uprightness and integrity, but it also showed that he was rigid and not easily swayed by material possessions, let alone willing to break rules.
"Master Du, the Du family is being too harsh. Wu's wife took refuge in the Du family because she suffered grievances, and it is our Sun family's negligence. Today, my father and I have come to offer a small gift to apologize to the Du family. I hope Master Du won't refuse."
"It's not that I'm thinking too much, cousin-in-law, you are indeed too polite." Du Da held the gift list in his hand and indeed dared not accept it. Once those idle imperial censors knew that he had accepted the gift, if they went to the imperial court and talked nonsense about him, it would really cause him a lot of trouble. "This is not a small gift, just those five hundred catties of North Sea pearls alone are worth a fortune, not to mention the precious Shu brocade and purple-red jade coral."
杜达今年四十有七，也算在官场混迹了大半辈子，他自己说着说着脸色微僵，孙廷桦送这么厚的礼，莫不是……，“表亲家公今日前来为的不止是接回雪姐儿那般简单罢。”
Isn't it? Sun Xueyong looked at his father, Sun Tinghua, in confusion.
Sun Tinghua admired Du Da's keenness, stood up and saluted: "To be frank, there is something that I, Sun, cannot do without the help of Du, and I hope that Du, sir, will not refuse. Otherwise, Sun will really have no way to go."
Du Da put the gift list in his hand on the table and pushed it in front of the servant waiting beside him, indicating him to return it to Sun Tinghua. "I have been an official for over twenty years, and it is not easy to sit in the position of the Grand Minister of Justice. I have followed the rules and regulations all my life, and my esteemed relative should not ask me to bend the law for personal gain and tarnish my lifelong reputation."