145: Chapter 145 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 23

Time flies like a white horse passing a crevice.

July 15th, the Ghost Festival. According to the Meng Family rules, today is the Yulan Autumn Sacrifice.

Although it was only a small sacrifice, Qinghe Garden was busy early on.

Father Meng and his wife returned to Qinghe Garden a few days ago after finishing their trip, and were greeting guests in front of the main courtyard early in the morning.

Each branch of the Meng Family sent representatives. Whether they had communicated beforehand or not, several families surprisingly brought their younger generations.

These young people were about the same age as Nan Li.

Once they entered the garden, their gazes drifted intentionally or unintentionally toward Nan Li.

They were secretly sizing up this "orphan of the Nan family," who was rumored to hold shares of the Meng Family and was highly favored by Old Madam.

Lu Yu, the uncle-in-law of Meng Zhu, also brought his son, Lu Jin, today.

Lu Jin had met Nan Li a few times when they were young; he wasn't exactly a villain.

However, he had been spoiled by his family since childhood, carried an indelible air of a playboy, and acted extremely immaturely.

Before he came, he had learned from his father that today was to discuss Nan Li's marriage.

At first, he didn't care, but when he actually saw Nan Li today, his eyes went straight.

The young girl was wearing a simple and elegant cheongsam, her figure was slender, her brows and eyes were clear and exceptionally beautiful, like a blooming orchid in an empty valley.

In previous years, he was too lazy to come to Qinghe Garden for the big sacrifice, never expecting that the little girl from his youth would be so charming now.

Lu Jin muttered to himself, why hadn't he noticed it before?

He had wasted all these years.

So, like an inescapable tail, he became exceptionally attentive to Nan Li, serving tea and water, making conversation.

When they were young, she didn't feel anything, but now that Nan Li had someone in her heart, facing his frivolous behavior, she only felt indescribable annoyance.

The ancestor worship ceremony was held in front of the ancestral hall, hosted by Father Meng and Aunt Liang.

Back then, Nan Li's guardian was the old master of the Meng Family, so she always had a seat at important occasions of the Meng Family.

At this moment, she stood quietly beside Meng Zhu.

Lu Jin, whether intentionally or unintentionally, squeezed to the other side of Nan Li and kept trying to talk to her.

"Little Sister Nan Li, I heard you can play the piano and even won an award? Can you play for me when you have time?"

Nan Li frowned, keeping a cold face the whole time, pretending not to hear.

She slightly turned her head, her gaze landing on the tall and straight profile of Meng Zhu beside her.

Seeing his solemn expression, a sudden, uncontrollable soreness welled up in Nan Li's heart.

When Courtesy Name marries a wife, in the future, it won't be Uncle Meng and Aunt Liang hosting the ancestor worship.

At that time, it will be Courtesy Name and his wife standing at the very front.

Thinking of this, she felt as if her heart was blocked by a clump of wet cotton, suffocatingly uncomfortable.

Seeing that Nan Li ignored him, Lu Jin's young master temper flared up, and he lowered his voice, mixed with a bit of shame and anger.

"What's your attitude? Why are you ignoring me? My dad said, you are destined to marry me sooner or later!"

As soon as these words came out, Nan Li's expression turned even colder.

And Meng Zhu, who was standing beside her, also paused slightly.

He didn't turn his head, but those deep eyes instantly froze into ice, and terrifying hostility surged at the bottom of his eyes.

In the original story, it was exactly this sentence that made the male lead uncontrollably begin to lose control, and his actions became urgent.

The bullet comments in the air were noisy, but seeing Meng Zhu's expression only slightly change, they couldn't help but praise his composure.

After the ancestor worship ceremony, the elders of each family gathered in the main hall of Qinghe Garden.

This meeting was initiated by Aunt Meng Qingyuan and Uncle-in-law Lu Yu.

Just as Meng Zhu sat down in the seat below his parents, he turned his head and instructed Uncle Quan.

"Uncle Quan, add a chair next to me."

The many elders present were all stunned. Before they could ask, footsteps came from outside the door.

Auntie Hua brought Nan Li to the entrance of the main hall.

"Young Master, Miss Zhaoyu is here."

Meng Zhu's cold face softened when he saw Nan Li.

"Hmm, Auntie Hua, you go ahead and get busy."

He waved at Nan Li, his voice gentle.

"Zhaoyu, come, sit next to me."

Seeing this, Lu Yu frowned and was about to speak to stop it.

Meng Zhu didn't even give him a glance, only saying indifferently.

"Uncle-in-law, I don't really like listening to what you have to say. You wouldn't want Zhaoyu to go sit by Grandma, would you?"

Lu Yu's expression changed, and he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Back then, Nan Li's guardian was the old master of the Meng Family, and now Old Madam also treasures Nan Li like the apple of her eye.

Old Madam still has the right to write Nan Li into the Meng Family genealogy, which would do nothing but harm to Lu Yu.

So he gave a dry laugh to cover up his embarrassment.

After Nan Li sat down, Lu Yu thought for a while before speaking.

"Today's meeting is precisely for the girl Nan Li. This girl grew up in the Meng Family since she was a child, just like the Meng Family's own child. Everyone present here can be considered her elders..."

He was laying the groundwork at length, but Meng Zhu seemed not to hear it at all.

He picked a Yunnan honey tangerine with a great appearance from the fruit plate on the table, and peeled the orange peel with his slender fingers in a leisurely manner.

There aren't many varieties of oranges in this season, and Yunnan honey tangerines are the sweetest and juiciest.

Nan Li felt constrained and bored sitting in such an occasion, but seeing the oranges in the fruit plate, she didn't dare to reach out and take one.

Meng Zhu had long noticed her little thoughts, and naturally handed the clean orange flesh, with the white fibers removed, into Nan Li's hand.

"Eat."

He said in a low voice.

Nan Li's cheeks flushed slightly, and she said in a low voice.

"Thank you, Courtesy Name."

Then she lowered her head and ate it one small segment at a time.

She was a bit constrained, but not nervous or uneasy; she had always trusted the love of Meng Zhu and Grandma.

Lu Yu caught a glimpse of this scene in his spare time, and was extremely annoyed by the attitude of Meng Zhu and Nan Li completely ignoring him.

So he didn't want to beat around the bush anymore, cleared his throat, and finally got to the point.

"I won't say much more. In short, this girl Nan Li is not young anymore. As elders, we should worry about her marriage. She still holds shares of the Meng Family in her hands. Arranging this marriage properly is also for the stability of the Meng Family."

After finishing, he didn't wait for everyone to react, and shouted directly at the door.

"Lu Jin, come in, take your little sister Nan Li and a few brothers to walk around in the garden. Young people, get to know each other more."

Lu Jin, who had been peeking outside the door, immediately responded loudly upon hearing this.

"Got it, Dad!"

Saying that, he swaggered in, wanting to grab Nan Li's arm.

"Stop."

A cold voice exploded in the main hall.

Lu Jin's feet stopped abruptly, staring blankly at the person who made the sound.

Meng Zhu's eyes were as cold as ice at this moment.

"What kind of place is this? Get out! No manners at all."

Seeing his son being scolded in public, Lu Yu immediately raised his eyebrows.

"Meng Zhu, you..."

"Go out and wait."

Old Madam, who had been sitting at the top without speaking, suddenly interrupted him, her gaze staring sharply at Lu Yu.

"Lu Yu, you can sit here and discuss matters today because you are taking Meng Qingyuan's place. Don't do things that are out of line."

Aunt Meng Qingyuan pulled Lu Yu's sleeve.

Lu Yu's face was livid, he gritted his teeth, and turned to say to Lu Jin.

"You go out first!"

After Lu Jin left, Lu Yu turned his head and stared fixedly at Nan Li.

"What about Nan Li? We are discussing matters here, by what identity is she sitting here?!"

Old Madam frowned, just about to say that Nan Li was her granddaughter and could be added to the genealogy whenever she wanted, but was interrupted by Meng Zhu.

"You initiated the discussion here, and it is about Zhaoyu's marriage."

Meng Zhu stared at Lu Yu with burning eyes.

"The Nan family elders are not here. Her marriage is naturally decided by herself. She is already giving you the courtesy of an elder by sitting here listening to your nonsense today."

Lu Yu was furious.

"The command of parents and the words of the matchmaker! Her marriage is not up to her! Everyone present is her elder, so it should naturally be decided by us!"

"Since you also know that the Meng Family members present are her elders, then there is naturally no problem with her sitting here."

He deliberately said that the Meng Family members were Nan Li's elders, but did not include the Lu Family.

Without waiting for Lu Yu to refute, Meng Zhu sneered again, his tone full of disdain.

"As for her marriage, the people of the Meng Family are definitely more concerned than you, a person surnamed Lu. If you made such a big fuss today just to say this nonsense, then let's disperse."

The representatives of the Meng Family branches below looked at each other, none of them dared to touch Meng Zhu's bad luck at this time.

Lu Yu's face flushed red, and he turned to look at Meng Qingyuan who was bowing her head and not daring to speak. Seeing her weak appearance, he was even more furious.

He turned to look at Meng Zhu's parents and said sternly.

"Big Brother! Are you just letting Meng Zhu be so presumptuous here, with no respect for his elders?"

Who knew that Father Meng just leisurely picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying indifferently.

"My Meng Family main line has always allowed the eldest son to manage the family once he reaches adulthood. It is normal that you, brother-in-law, do not know this rule. However, do not say such ridiculous remarks in the future."

These words, whether it was Old Madam or the representatives of the various branches of the Meng Family, all had calm expressions.

Obviously, this was not a lie.

Lu Yu knew that things had completely fallen apart today.

Meng Zhu's attitude was too tough, he was truly crazy for an orphan girl with a different surname.

This Meng Family main line clearly intended to protect their own.

Now that it had come to this, he could only tear off his mask.

"Good!"

Lu Yu laughed in anger, pointed at Meng Zhu and said.

"I accept today's matter! I hope you won't regret it later!"

After speaking, he got up, straightened his suit, and walked away angrily.

The people from other branches of the Meng Family saw this, knowing that there would be no good fruit to eat if they stayed, so they all got up and said goodbye.