The Real Heiress Has an Appraisal System
Chapter 23: You Also Represent the Face of the Lu Family’s Main Branch

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: You Also Represent the Face of the Lu Family’s Main Branch

She then sat quietly in Lin Kai’s car, not saying a word.

’I guess playing dumb got me through that hurdle,’ she mused. ’Next up are who knows how many wolves and tigers waiting for me. The challenges in the Capital City will be even greater.’

But to Gu Shengsheng, greater challenges also meant greater opportunities to make money.

’I have to make money quickly. I’ll need to slowly get my live streams going again, too. Once I have enough money, I’ll buy a house to call my own and gradually break away from the Lu Family.’

A powerful family this intricate and complex... one wrong move could lead to a life-or-death struggle.

That’s what happened to her husband who died so young.

Gu Shengsheng had no time to waste doing anything for the Lu Family.

From now on, she had to plan everything for herself.

She had already looked up the latest prices at the second-hand and antique markets in Beijing City on her phone.

’Maybe I can go check out Pan Garden some other day. The place is full of legends.’

As she thought about it, Gu Shengsheng felt a growing sense of anticipation.

The car stopped at the Lu family’s villa. When Gu Shengsheng got out, a housekeeper came over to greet her.

The housekeeper had intended to help with the luggage, but Gu Shengsheng hadn’t brought anything.

She looked a little surprised.

But as someone who worked for a prominent family, she quickly reined in her emotions and put on the standard fake smile for a guest.

After Gu Shengsheng entered the house, Madam Lu was sitting in the living room.

Seeing her, she said, "Shengsheng, come here."

Her tone was cool and detached, betraying no hint of pleasure or displeasure.

Gu Shengsheng saw that no one else was around and sat down stiffly.

Madam Lu, Zhao Fenghua, said, "From now on, you are the Young Madam, even if you were brought in for a warding-off wedding. We must still mark the occasion, so I’ve prepared a banquet for you tonight."

"When the time comes, you must not bring us shame."

Gu Shengsheng stood up and said, "Yes, I will follow your arrangements, Madam."

Madam Lu let out a sigh of relief. "Although our main branch has declined quite a bit since Shi Jing’s passing, we must still maintain our dignity."

"As for etiquette, I will have someone teach you later. You will also learn by attending banquets with me, one by one."

Gu Shengsheng indeed had no experience with banquets. She asked, "But for the first one... what should I do?"

"For the first one, you just need to hold your head high," Zhao Fenghua’s voice remained detached. "Even if you’re impolite, even if you grew up in the countryside, you must project an air of confidence. Don’t let anyone look down on you."

"You are part of the Lu Family’s main branch. You represent our reputation."

Gu Shengsheng understood what she meant.

’I’m a little surprised,’ she thought. ’I didn’t expect my mother-in-law to say something like that. I thought this would be a vicious battle, but it turns out she wants me to go to a banquet and pick fights...’

Gu Shengsheng was pretty sure she hadn’t misunderstood. Everyone from the Lu Family would be there. The purpose of the banquet was for Mrs. Lu Sr. to introduce her to the prominent, high-society families.

Only then would she be officially recognized as Lu Shijing’s wife.

She had heard the Lu Family’s ancestors came from a clean and respected lineage and that they had always treated people with equality and respect. She originally thought that as a warding-off bride, she would have to suffer a lot.

Moreover, she could clearly sense that Madam Lu was not satisfied with her, but the fact that she was still willing to protect her like this was truly remarkable. It was clear Madam Lu was a woman who knew right from wrong.

’It seems I didn’t bet wrong on this path as a warding-off bride. At least, it won’t be worse than living with my own biological parents.’

Following Madam Lu’s instructions, Gu Shengsheng went straight upstairs and changed into the bright red gown that had been prepared for her.

It was a perfect fit.

Madam Lu had also changed. She called someone over to style Gu Shengsheng’s hair and said with satisfaction, "After I saw you the other day, I roughly sized you up by eye."

"And it seems to fit you perfectly."

Gu Shengsheng was a bit dazed. Her own biological mother had never bothered to learn her size; all the clothes she prepared were hand-me-downs from the adopted daughter, and even a custom-made dress was made to the adopted daughter’s measurements. Yet a stranger she had only met once could accurately guess her size. How ironic.

’Sure enough, blood ties are the most unreliable thing in the world.’ Gu Shengsheng knew deep down that in this world, she couldn’t rely on anyone but herself.

Gu Shengsheng was a natural beauty to begin with. Now that she was all dressed up in that flamboyant red, it felt as though she was more than capable of commanding such a color.

Madam Lu was finally satisfied. Her tone softened slightly as she said, "Let’s go."

The banquet was held at the home of the second branch. The place was spacious, and the entire venue was magnificent.

When Gu Shengsheng entered, Madam Lu, Zhao Fenghua, brought her to see the grandmother.

The grandmother took a liking to her, holding Gu Shengsheng’s hand and showering her with questions about her well-being. Then, she cheerfully pulled her along to introduce her to people.

In the presence of Mrs. Lu Sr., who would dare to refuse?

But not a single one of them truly looked at Gu Shengsheng.

’She’s just some girl who was sold here for a warding-off wedding. What’s there to see?’

’Coming to Beijing City from such a poor and remote backwater, does she really think she’s climbed the social ladder and become a phoenix?’

’The Lu Family is just too kind. In any other family, the only purpose of a warding-off bride is the ritual itself. The rest of the time, she’s just a servant.’

’Who would introduce a warding-off bride as their Young Madam?!’

Don’t be fooled by the harmonious atmosphere on the surface. Mrs. Lu Sr.’s actions had earned her a great deal of gossip.

Many of the wealthy madams even thought she had gone mad.

When they saw Gu Shengsheng, everyone thought she was beautiful. But that beautiful face was all she had.

First, the eldest young master of the Lu Family died. Then the madam of the main branch inexplicably took in a warding-off bride. It really seemed the main branch of the Lu Family had fallen.

’They’ll just buy any girl and make her a daughter-in-law.’

Then there was the fact that Gu Shengsheng was just a country bumpkin, completely lacking the air of a socialite or noble lady. Everyone could sense this the moment she walked out.

She clearly had an untamed wildness about her, and she was dressed so flamboyantly. It was as if she were afraid people wouldn’t notice she was a hick.

There was so much gossip, and all of it inevitably reached the ears of Mrs. Lu Sr. Everyone was saying she’d gone senile.

Interestingly, the old madam only stayed for a short while before leaving. She usually only came to these events to make an appearance before taking her leave.

As she left, she muttered, "All the world is drunk, and I alone am sober. It’s not yet clear who’s right and who’s wrong!"

After Mrs. Lu Sr. left, Madam Lu became the target of the crowd’s "consolation."

"Madam Lu, you’re usually the one leading our circle. How did you get mixed up with a cheap bitch like this, brought in for a warding-off ritual? A hooligan like her, bought with money—is your Lu Family really treating her like some kind of treasure?"

"Your family’s matriarch has gone senile. You’re all alone now, with your husband demoted and sent abroad and your son’s whereabouts unknown. You can’t just let your mother-in-law torment you like this!"

"A warding-off bride is just a warding-off bride. You can’t really treat her like a proper daughter-in-law."

"From time to time, you should learn from your sister-in-law’s feisty ways. She manages her part of the Lu Family quite well. You’re just too cautious and too bound by rules."

"..."