Chapter 343: Stupid to the Point of Being Obvious

Speaking, Shi Ding turned his head toward Niu, his face slightly darkening as he said:

"Ning's mother, did you say something wrong that made Aunt angry? Hurry and apologize to Aunt!"

Facing Shi Ding's questioning, Niu's expression froze, and she didn't know how to speak at that moment!

Could it be that it's not my fault, but that the second sister‑in‑law's foolish nonsense just now almost made Aunt fall ill from anger?

Although the facts are indeed so, she also understood that, no matter how Xie is, as a sister‑in‑law she shouldn't openly blame her in front of everyone.

Otherwise there would be suspicion of stirring trouble behind the scenes, making people think she too lacks propriety!

Seeing Shi Ding's expression grow darker, Jia Jing also turned his gaze toward himself, and Niu suddenly felt immense pressure, her face anxious!

Fortunately, Jia Mu couldn't bear Niu taking the blame for Xie, and felt comforted by Shi Ding's respect for her, so she spoke to explain:

"Ding brother, don't wrongly blame Niu; it has nothing to do with her!"

"It's your second brother, that foolish seed, whose wife is also a brainless idiot."

"Just now she came to me, I don't know if she was possessed or what, spouting nonsense…"

Jia Mu, in front of Shi Ding and Jia Jing, scolded Xie harshly, venting the pent‑up anger in her heart.

As the most esteemed elder of the two households, she naturally didn't need to be as cautious as Niu.

Regarding the younger members and daughters‑in‑law of the Shi and Jia families, no matter whom she scolds, the other party only has the role of the recipient!

Of course, except for a certain troublesome third grandson!

At the same time, the reason Jia Mu chose to bring up Xie's matter is, firstly, the affair couldn't be hidden; Shi Ding and Jia Jing would eventually learn of it.

Secondly, it serves as a reminder to Shi Ding, urging him to go back and more firmly advise and restrain Shi Nai and his wife, lest these two foolish idiots cause trouble later that would affect the entire Shi family.

Thirdly, it is actually a precaution for Jia Jing, letting him know that Shi Nai and his wife are fools; if Jia Jing were unintentionally bumped into by the two in the future, he could defuse the situation.

Honestly, Jia Mu was truly a bit worried that Xie, being brainless, might ask Jia Jing for an official position, and then the couple wouldn't be able to endure it and would flee!

In this way, Jia Mu still harbored a thought of protecting her nephew Shi Nai.

In the hall, after hearing Jia Mu's account, and with Mrs. Xing several times supplementing Jia Mu with key points, Shi Ding's face flushed red, feeling both ashamed and angry.

Just now Jia Jing had warned himself to go back and manage his family, but unexpectedly, turning his head, Xie performed such a drama in Rong Qing Tang; this truly is…

— And what about the First Prime Minister?!

— And the third brother is useless?!

— And the heads of the Niu family and the Feng family are also incompetent?!

— And have to be a money‑grabbing middle‑rank officer?!

— And will it also entangle their own family?!

In the past he knew that Xie, this second sister‑in‑law, was foolish, but never expected her to be this stupid!

Shi Ding almost laughed in anger; he slowly stood up, gritted his teeth, and apologized to Jia Mu, saying:

"Aunt, this matter is the fault of my second brother and Xie; I am here to apologize on their behalf."

"Rest assured, when I return I will make it clear to my second brother; if he doesn't handle it seriously and truly repent, I will gather the clan to beat him!"

Shi Ding said this with great confidence; although Shi Nai is the elder brother and has inherited the Marquis of Baoling title, in fact Shi Ding fears most his own brother who emerges with real weapons on the battlefield.

It is said that Shi Nai has been 'educated' by Shi Ding more than once!

Shi Ding gave Jia Mu a guarantee, then turned and bowed to Jia Jing, saying:

"Lord, please forgive me; I will definitely give you an answer on this matter!"

Everyone in the hall hearing this, Lady Wang, Mrs. Xing, Feng Jie, Si Chun, Xiang Dai and others all turned their gazes toward Jia Jing, wanting to see how he would respond.

But Jia Jing's expression remained unchanged; he let out a faint, cold snort and said slowly:

"This is a matter of your Shi family; just handle it yourself!"

"However, these two stupid, show‑off, foolish idiots, I hope they can behave in the future; otherwise if they violate any taboo, don't expect me, a relative, to be lenient!"

Jia Jing harbored no goodwill toward Xie and Shi Ding; in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence they were both classified as pleasure‑seeking, reckless, and incompetent.

For such people, he didn't want to interfere, nor had time to bother; as long as they didn't cross his path, he wouldn't even glance at them!

Jia Jing's words caused an immediate hush in the hall.

Daiyu, Tan Chun and others exchanged glances, their brows conveying messages!

Stupid to the point of being obvious!

Although they hadn't seen the term much, they understood from its meaning that it was similar to 'a face full of stupidity', i. e., foolishness evident on one's face.

But why does this term sound so funny!

Tan Chun, Daiyu and others couldn't help but smile, their eyebrows curving like crescents, their eyes sparkling with bright amusement.

Shi Ding, with a heavy expression, bowed and responded.

At this moment, maids and older women began serving dishes; the crowd stopped chatting and started eating.

After the meal, Shi Ding didn't linger, and, with Niu, left with a solemn farewell.

Jia Jing also prepared to return to the manor, but Jia Mu called him back, saying:

"Jing brother, don't rush to leave; there's something I still want to discuss with you!"

"In the past two years, at the residence, your father, Dong Fu's Jing brother, Zhen brother, Rong brother and others have encountered incident after incident, as if constantly plagued by bad luck."

"I wonder if we should go to Qingxu Temple for a few days of peace‑offering rites, perform operas and make offerings, to pray for the family's blessings and change our fortune."

"Secondly, although your fortunes have been good these years, you rose to fame at a young age and often lead troops abroad as a general; praying for your safety is also beneficial!"

"What do you think?"

Jia Mu said this with a bit of discomfort; she also, from Niu's words that morning, thought of the recent series of changes in the Jia family.

To deal with these changes, the solution she could think of was to go to Qingxu Temple for a peace‑offering rite.

However, discussing this with Jia Jing felt somewhat odd.

After all, Jia Jing's fortunes these past years have been like flowers in brocade, fire cooking oil, with a smooth official career, flourishing to the extreme!

Even the green smoke rising from the ancestral tomb cannot describe his fortune; it feels rather odd to tell him to go for a prayer!

Jia Jing heard this, glanced at Jia Mu, who was seated high on the couch, and frowned.

The peace‑offering ritual Jia Mu mentioned is a practice set up by a Daoist priest, involving chanting sutras, offering sacrifices, performing operas, etc., a collective prayer activity seeking the deities' blessing for "everything goes as wished, year after year peace and safety."

This kind of activity is grand and lively, requiring the whole family to participate; its main purpose is to seek blessings and dispel disasters for the household.

In the original work, chapter 28 already recorded an occurrence of such an event.