[Pride and Prejudice] Lady Makes Money

Soon it was time for the feast.

This time the banquet was not arranged at Bingley's home, but in the new house Mr. Horst bought in London.

It seems that they decided to live here permanently.

It was said to be a dance party, but actually not many guests were invited, only a dozen or so people, including several couples.

It can be seen that Mrs. Horst put a lot of effort into choosing the guests. Many of these people looked familiar to Jane.

Others, when Mrs. Horst introduced them to the Manly sisters, also showed due enthusiasm and respect.

It looks like he comes from a family with a good tutor, and he has a good character.

"Sister, did you have all the gatherings with these people before?"

Mary asked Jane quietly while Mrs. Horst was receiving other guests.

"That's about the same kind of people. Don't you think it's all right?"

Jane smiled and said: "I quite like gathering with Louisa's friends, and everyone can chat. Many people here have been to Netherfield Gardens before, and Lizzy also knows them. They have always wanted to be with them. Are you in a relationship!"

Manli looked into her sister's eyes and knew that what she said was from her heart, without any force.

I couldn't help but nodded in my heart, and my opinion of my future brother-in-law was much better.

It seems that Mr. Bingley has also taken great pains in order to let his sister integrate into their social circle more quickly.

"Sophia is here, let's go over and say hello." Jane pulled Manli, who was still thinking, and said cheerfully.

Sophia?

Jean's sister?

Manli's body froze uncontrollably, but she quickly returned to normal.

No one was given a chance to find out.

At this time, Mrs. Horst did lead a tall woman towards them.

Manli looked at the woman carefully.

I saw her about 25 or [-] years old, tall, slender, and beautiful, but she was not a stunning beauty.

Her skin is very fair, but a little too white, and looks a little sick, so that even the few small freckles above the nose are a little obvious.

However, there was no sickness on her face, with a relaxed expression.After meeting Jane's eyes, he even waved to her, looking very happy.

At first glance, he is a very cheerful person.

While talking, the two people approached, and Mrs. Horst introduced Miss Sophia to Manli.

Manli was actually a little nervous at the beginning, she didn't know how to get along with Jin's sister.

But Sophia's expression looked very relaxed.

She first smiled at Manli, and then said to her in a very friendly tone: "Miss Manli, I am very glad to meet you here today. Speaking of which, I have been looking forward to this meeting for a long time."

She said: "I have always wanted to find an opportunity to thank you in person, and today I finally got my wish."

Manli froze for a moment, a little confused about what she meant?

Sophia went on to say: "You may not know. Before my husband was seriously ill, he had a high fever for several days. Finally, he used the folk prescription given by Gene to finally subdue the fever. Then It almost frightened our family once. Then we asked to meet the person who gave Fang Zi, and Gene told us that he got it from you. Then I kept thinking about how to meet You, thank you in person."

It turned out that this was the case, Manli finally understood.

She couldn't remember giving Gene any home remedies.

After much deliberation, there may be only one thing, that is, when she was decocting medicine for Jane in Netherfield Gardens, she once recounted the prescription for curing fever, and deliberately said all the medicines contained in it.

Unexpectedly, after only saying it once, it was remembered by Gene.

In the end, it was used by chance.

"You're welcome. It's not my credit. It should be a coincidence. I didn't help you much. You don't need to thank me." Manli said quickly and respectfully.

Sophia stared at Manli for a while, then suddenly laughed.

She stretched out her hand affectionately, took Man Li's arm like a good sister, pulled her to a corner near the corner of the ballroom and sat down.

Then she motioned Jane to sit next to them, so as to relieve Mary's uneasiness.

Then he said in a gentle tone: "Manli, you don't have to be so nervous. Although I am Jean's sister and know that he has been pursuing you, I don't have the slightest intention to interfere in your relationship."

"If you promise him, I will naturally be very happy and bless you all, but if you reject him, I think it's right to do it."

Manli suddenly felt very embarrassed.

She never thought that this Sophia's character was so straightforward.

This kind of words can also be said without any pretense.

When Sophia said this, she suddenly covered her lips with her hand.

But even so, the smirk on his lips was not concealed.

"Manli, let me tell you the truth. Knowing that Gene's proposal failed, I was actually a little gloating. No, no, no, it's not just me. No one in our family sympathizes with him."

"You do not get it……"

Having said this, Sophia embraced Manli's arm again, and got close to her, as if she was whispering to her best friend.

"I don't know how annoying that little bastard is! He has been spoiled by his family since he was a child, so spoiled that he doesn't know how powerful the world is, and anyone dares to bully him!"

"You can let him have a taste of being hit... It's a great joy for our family! So, don't worry, I won't intercede for him. "

Having said that, she looked at her as if she was afraid that Manli would not believe her, and nodded heavily, with a very sincere attitude.

Manli: "..." I was quite speechless.

She didn't understand, what the hell did that guy Jean do at home?How did it fall to the point where people hate dogs?

Even when his own sister talked about him, she had a look of love and hatred, and she wanted to share the same hatred with her and let him suffer the consequences.

But the problem is... Manli didn't feel that she was rejecting Gene's marriage proposal, just to hit him, she was obviously serious!

But how to explain this?

Seemingly seeing her embarrassment, Sophia did not continue this topic.

Instead, he looked at her with a smile, with a very intimate look: "Man Li, we are friends now, right?"

"Of course, it's my honor to be your friend." Manli asked hastily.

"Okay, okay, don't use any honorifics with me. I'm not a few years older than you, as if I'm very old. Like Jane, you also call me Sophia directly, so it sounds close .”

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Manli to answer, he asked familiarly: "Manli, as friends, can we also visit each other? When is it convenient for you, my husband and I will visit your house first. .Well, if possible, I would like to ask you to stay with us for a light meal."

"..." So, after making such a big circle and talking so much, she actually wanted to go to her own house for a meal?

For a moment, Manli didn't know what to say.

She felt that her uneasiness these days was really a bit in vain.

Knowing that this banquet was specially chosen when Gene was not in London and was out to help his father with errands, and his sister Sophia was also going to attend, Manli really thought a lot.

For a moment, she actually wanted to refuse to participate.

It's not that I'm afraid of anything, but a little bit of resistance.

She didn't know what kind of person this Jin's sister was, and she was afraid that if she met her, if she didn't agree with each other, it would make everyone unhappy.

Just thinking about it later, if my sister wants to marry Mr. Bingley in the future, these people will be regarded as close relatives, and they will always be unable to escape meeting in the future.

Rather than being awkward all the time, it's better to simply meet up early, at worst it depends on the situation.

But she didn't think that this Miss Sophia was different from what she had thought before.

Manli thought that she would be noble and elegant, and she also thought that she might be aggressive. She even thought that this noble lady would show her off, so that she would retreat in spite of difficulties.

Isn't that what is written in ordinary novels?

After all, the difference in family background between myself and Jean is too great.

But now, why did things turn out like this?

What about getting off the horse?

How did it become an invitation to dinner in the end?

Manli felt a little confused, her mind didn't seem to be spinning in circles, and the agreed tricks were completely useless.

Moreover, she is actually a bit conflicted in her heart.

She wondered if Sophia knew about her family situation?

Is it appropriate to invite the couple to have dinner at your uncle's house?

No matter how humble she is, she is always the Duke's daughter, a well-off wealthy family.

But my uncle's family is a merchant.

Although I don't care at all, but...

If she remembered correctly, the duke's daughter married into a wealthy family, and her husband should also have a title.

She may have been curious because she heard Gene, Bingley, and even the Horsts talk about the delicacies they hadn't tasted.

In addition, relatives have been there so many times, so it doesn't matter if you go there once.

That's why this request is made.

But what about her husband?

Does that noble gentleman also mind lowering his status?

Manli was a little unsure.

Although Sophia's enthusiasm made her unable to say no for a while.

But if she really agreed, it would lead to more troubles in the end, which she didn't want to see.

She struggled and didn't know how to answer for a while.

Seeing that the expression on Sophia's face had slowly turned from full of expectation to disappointment, Jane who had been silent beside her finally couldn't stand it any longer.

She quietly touched Manli, and then winked at her from an angle that others could not see.

Only then did Manli sigh helplessly in her heart, and once again decided to see the trick.

She nodded to Sophia: "Of course. It is our honor to invite the two of you to dine at home. We and my uncle's family are looking forward to your visit with your husband at any time."

Seeing that Manli was still deliberately keeping a distance from her, and even speaking so well-behaved, Sophia's expression showed a bit of helplessness.

But she didn't say anything more after all.

She immediately said that she would ask her husband to write a visiting letter to Mr. Gardiner when she went back, and she hoped to meet her sisters again in the shortest possible time.

Now that she agreed, Manli calmed down. She was even ready to ask Sophia if there were any taboos between the couple?

At this moment, Mr. Bingley's surprised voice came from behind: "You are here! What are you talking about, so happy? Let Howard and I find it easier."

Manli turned around following the sound.

Only then did he realize that it wasn't just Bingley who came over, there was also a tall man with brown hair and brown eyes beside him. Needless to say, that was the Howard he was talking about.

Seeing the two of them, Sophia pouted, unconsciously showing an expression similar to that of a child acting like a spoiled child.

She glared at the man reproachfully: "Didn't I say that, I want to chat with Jane and Manli, what are you looking for?!"

Bingley laughed twice, and his tone was full of jokes: "I must be looking for it. Everyone knows that Howard will be restless if he doesn't see you for a while. If he doesn't find you, he will talk about my head." fainted."

"Stop talking nonsense." The tall man slapped Bingley on the shoulder, and glared at him pretending to be angry.But there was a smile on the corner of his mouth.

Anyone could see that he didn't mind the slightest bit of sarcasm.

Sophia was obviously used to such teasing, she ignored Bingley at all, and grinned happily at the man.

Then he took Manli's arm, and showed off to that Mr. Howard proudly: "My dear, this is Manli. You must not have imagined that she has agreed to invite us to her home for dinner!"

Manli: "..."

It seems that she really thought too much before!