Chapter 421: Being Poor is not Shameful
The days passed by as they spent their sweet time together. She had to go to class on the last day of September, but she applied for a leave after finishing her morning classes since it was on Tuesday.
She went to the Shi residence located in Beijing with Song Mian after taking the slip of approval.
The Shi family started with the business of dyeing and weaving. Rumors had it that their ancestors used to trade with the royal family, and they were responsible for the weaving of the royal family. Due to that, they had many dyeing and weaving skills that were thought to be lost to time.
After many years of being in business, the Shi family was in many industries, but their main ones were in the fashion industry, which was what they had in the beginning.
Even though their brand wasn’t an international, top luxury brand, making haute-couture in China made them a lot of money per day.
Yun Xiangxiang thought the Shi residence was also full of retro-style pavilions and pagodas, but it was an elegant, majestic Euro-style villa to her surprise. Even before she had entered the gates, there was a magnificent fountain outside it.
They didn’t invite too many people. By the looks of it, only seven or eight families were invited, and each family only sent their heavyweight. For example, the Song family only sent Song Mian, and he brought her along.
The Tang family was also here, and it was the decision maker—Tang Zhiyu, while Tang Suran came as his partner.
Aside from the Tang family’s siblings, Yun Xiangxiang only knew the old master from the Min family, and that was thanks to having a meal in the Min residence back then.
The master of the Min family, Min Size was looking at her amicably, but perhaps that was because Old Master Min knew her.
Aside from them, Yun Xiangxiang knew nobody else. Since this was the men’s business, Song Mian handed Yun Xiangxiang to the Shi family’s madam after entering.
“My fiancée is a young lady, madam, so please take more care of her,” Song Mian asked with a smile.
“Since that’s your personal request, I will do my best to look after her,” the madam of the Shi family agreed smilingly before turning to look at Yun Xiangxiang. “She’s a pretty lady. Even if you hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t put her in harm’s way.”
Yun Xiangxiang smiled shyly all the way.
“Come to me if you need anything.” Song Mian went away after gently reminding her.
“I’m a bit older than you, so I’ll call you Xiangxiang. Come with me, and I’ll take you to meet with girls your age.” Madam Shi was friendly toward Yun Xiangxiang. “You don’t have to look so sad. You’ll meet when mealtime swings by.”
Yun Xiangxiang smiled while Madam Shi brought her to meet the young madams and misses. Some were chatting, while some were playing mahjong. Some were talking about their skills over tea, while some were playing chess.
Madam Shi made the introductions, and since everyone was unfamiliar with one another, they put on an amicable front.
But the second madam glanced at her for a moment longer. Yun Xiangxiang was sensitive to these, so she thought the Shi family’s second madam was being calculative.
We don’t know each other, right? Or does she have anything to do with me? When the madam was introducing, Yun Xiangxiang paid more attention, and she noticed the second madam had no daughter. Hence, she excluded the possibility that the second madam thought she took her daughter’s place.
Yun Xiangxiang couldn’t make any guesses, so she paid more attention to the second madam. But aside from playing mahjong, she did nothing more.
Tang Suran came to talk with her, and Shi Youxuan was there too. When Yun Xiangxiang noticed that the madam was ignoring Shi Youxuan, she felt impressed.
Madam Shi allowed her husband’s illegitimate daughter to appear on the old master’s birthday to socialize, and she was given the title of being a part of Shi family.
“Xiangxiang, I didn’t expect you to come. Why don’t we play some mahjong together?” Shi Youxuan took another lady to her and Tang Suran.
“You grew up abroad, but you know how to play mahjong?” Tang Suran asked.
Yun Xiangxiang noticed Tang Suran’s distaste for Shi Youxuan. She knew this was the eternal class problem, where the prominent family looked at the branch family in disdain.
“Growing up abroad doesn’t mean I’m not Chinese.” As if she didn’t pick up Tang Suran’s distaste, she made a double entendre.
The other meaning of that reply was: Even if I’m an illegitimate daughter, I am still a Shi family daughter.
Today was the old master of the Shi family’s birthday, and the old master acknowledged her, so an outsider was in no position to comment.
Yun Xiangxiang didn’t want to be caught in a crossfire, nor did she want to do anything about this. She gave it a thought before replying, “I like mahjong, so let’s play.”
Tang Suran joined in for Yun Xiangxiang’s sake. The lady Shi Youxuan brought was in her twenties, and her name was Chang Yuan.
The Chang family was the most prominent noble family in Macau, and Chang Yuan was a famous lady, for she was a Chinese socialite who had taken part in the Ball of Blue Blood.
“Go easy on us, Yuanyuan.” Shi Youxuan said smilingly after they sat down.
Gambling was one of the most ancient skills learned by the Chang family, but nobody knew if Chang Yuan had the great gambler’s genes.
“My skills aren’t great, and besides, gambling can be a game of luck.” Chang Yuan pushed the mahjong tiles into the shuffler.
Her clear eyes were locked onto Yun Xiangxiang. “I have heard everyone saying that Miss Yun is Lady Luck herself, so we should ask her to go easy on us.”
“It’s just some rumor. I was just lucky a couple of times, but since I’m an actress, everything’s exaggerated,” said Yun Xiangxiang humbly.
“What kind of mahjong are we playing?” Tang Suran continued. “What’s the bet?”
“No Guangdong mahjong [1], or else I’ll have the advantage,” Chang Yuan offered.
“No Taiwan mahjong either, or else I’ll have the advantage,” said Shi Youxuan quickly.
Shi Youxuan’s mother was Taiwanese, so she should know how Taiwan mahjong worked.
“I’m fine either way. All you need to do is tell me the rules.” Yun Xiangxiang didn’t know how to play every kind of mahjong, but as long as the rules were there, she would pick it up after a round or two.
“Sichuan mahjong is it then. Nobody’s from Sichuan here, and the rules are easy,” said Tang Suran.
Everyone else nodded in assent, and Chang Yuan said, “We don’t have much money, so let’s bet ten thousand per round.”
Yun Xiangxiang was shocked. If every round’s bet was ten thousand each, someone could win millions if their luck was good.
Tang Suran frowned, and when she was about to speak, Chang Yuan looked at Yun Xiangxiang with a smile. “Are you fine with it, Xiangxiang?”
She thought Yun Xiangxiang was poor. Actresses did make a lot of money, but Yun Xiangxiang used most of them to purchase her home, and she used half of it in charity. After taking a few endorsements, Yun Xiangxiang had about twenty million left.
If she went by Chang Yuan’s bet, she could lose all of them if her luck was terrible.
Was Chang Yuan meaning to remind Yun Xiangxiang that they were not on the same level, but she was going about it in a roundabout way?
But she was classier than Faye by leaps and bounds. She was asking warmly, and there was even a hint of concern in her eyes.
Yun Xiangxiang wasn’t an egotistical maniac, so she replied, “Sorry, I don’t have that kind of money. Ten thousand’s a bit big of a bet.”
There was nothing shameful about admitting that she was poor, for it was the truth.
Yun Xiangxiang didn’t think being poor was an embarrassment or a sin, nor would she use so much money on entertainment.
No matter if she won or lost.