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Having agreed with Sister Chang, several others also sat down with her.

Just as they were settling, Sister Chang across them handed her cane to the servant girl Qiaoer and then gathered her sleeves.

With her hands crossed and placed on her lower abdomen, she straightened her back, slightly bent her body, and her knees together as she gracefully took her seat on the chair, positioned just at the one-third point of the chair face.

Aside from Xiao Linshuang, the other three quietly observed how Sister Chang seated herself. It must be said that it was no wonder she was sought after by the entire nobility of the Capital city to provide instruction—her own etiquette was completely impeccable, truly perfection itself.

Lin Wei and Xiao He huddled together, whispering quietly as they observed Sister Chang and also adjusted their own sitting postures accordingly.

Lin Yuan, meanwhile, said nothing, but examined her intently, trying to find a single flaw. However, to her disappointment, she found none.

Despite Sister Chang’s age, her movements were precise, and her demeanor was structured, elevating her presence more than just a notch.

Xiao Linshuang, who was initially very reluctant, gradually closed her mouth.

She indeed had not believed it at first, and even more, she didn’t believe this old witch would personally demonstrate.

If it had been her maid Qiaoer or Miamiao performing, Xiao Linshuang could have easily found faults to pick on, but now, she really couldn’t find any.

Lin Wei and Xiao He, following Sister Chang’s example, also sat, and Lin Yuan took her seat as well. Xiao Linshuang, who initially enjoyed watching the spectacle, had also quieted down, putting her mocking spirit to rest.

How could she mock now? Just a moment ago, she had been playfully scratching Sister Chang’s itch with her own hair, yet Sister Chang remained as unmoved as a statue. How could that be considered entertaining?

Time ticked away slowly. Xiao He began to feel some pain in his back and involuntarily shifted a little. Lin Wei’s legs had gone numb, and she couldn’t help but pinch her legs, which were crossed at the knee. Even Lin Yuan had unconsciously shaken her stiff legs without realizing.

Meanwhile, Xiao Linshuang, who kept her eyes glued on Sister Chang, hadn’t detected even the slightest movement, as if what sat before her was really just a statue, not a person.

Xiao Linshuang checked the time and it was almost half an hour.

She frowned, sitting deflated in her chair, her eyes beginning to glaze over, "Okay, Sister, I give up. I believe someone could do it, but please, stop sitting there like a statue. It’s not like only your eyes are moving, or your nose breathing. I thought you had turned to stone!"

"Younger sister, what nonsense are you talking about?" Lin Yuan scolded her with a glance. The term ’turned to stone’ isn’t to be used lightly—it’s reserved for the dead.

Although Sister Chang wasn’t particularly likeable, she was, after all, brought here by Lady Liu and the princess and didn’t seem to have ill intentions. How could that term be applied to her?

Xiao Linshuang quickly clamped her mouth shut, suddenly realizing her mistake.

Sister Chang lifted her hands from her knees and slowly stood up, taking her cane from Qiaoer’s hand, she walked up to the group and asked, "Are the young ladies convinced now?"

Xiao Linshuang pouted and remained silent, deliberately turning her eyes away.

Lin Wei and Xiao He exchanged glances and nodded in admiration.

Lin Yuan slightly smiled and also nodded, "Sister, your endurance is admirable."

Regarding their compliments, Sister Chang paid no mind. She just slightly curled her lips, showing a rare smile, "Since the young ladies are convinced, let’s stick to the agreement. Now, it’s your turn to sit."

Ah?!

Seeing how Sister Chang sat was one thing, but actually doing it for half an hour without moving was quite another—a real challenge!

After half an hour of sitting, Lin Yuan and the others were all aching so badly they could barely stand, but fortunately, Sister Chang suddenly had something to attend to. Saying she needed to return to the house for a while, not only did she leave, but she also took both servant girls with her.

Sister Chang had just left, and there was nobody left in the living room to supervise them.

Xiao Linshuang, Lin Wei, and the others were all jumping around as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

It wasn’t out of excitement but rather to loosen up their muscles; otherwise, their arms and legs felt as though they weren’t their own.

Lin Yuan rubbed her neck, Lin Wei twisted her waist, Xiao He pressed on his legs, but the clothes were too thick to feel anything.

He simply rolled up his pant legs and slowly started massaging, while Xiao Linshuang had already flopped onto the ground, beginning to roll around and scream painfully, her voice echoing throughout the room.

While she was wailing in agony, Xiao Linshuang suddenly perked up her ears and whispered, "Sit up straight, someone’s coming!"

Xiao He let his pant legs fall while pleading in a tearful tone, "Why are they back so soon, wait a bit longer please!"

As they hurried to straighten their clothes, Mother Zhang and Hai Tang stealthily appeared, carrying food boxes and sneaking in. Hai Tang deftly shut the door and stood guard.

So it wasn’t the old witch after all!

Seeing Mother Zhang, Xiao Linshuang immediately went up to her to complain. Mother Zhang, patting her on the forehead, laughed and said, "Madam knew you young ladies likely didn’t eat well this morning, so she sent me to bring you some food."

Hai Tang turned her head, laughing, "This servant was keeping an eye on this side the whole time. It wasn’t long after Sister Chang left that I quickly helped Mother Zhang bring the food. Hurry and eat, ladies; once Sister Chang returns, you won’t have another chance!"

Upon hearing there was food, Lin Yuan’s stomach immediately cooperated with a loud gurgle, and she clumsily opened the food box, indeed smelling a tantalizing aroma within.

"It’s dumplings made by mother!"

Xiao Linshuang’s eyes lit up. She grabbed a dumpling and stuffed it into her mouth, muttering, "Delicious, so fragrant!"

Lin Wei and Xiao He each took a plate of dumplings and hurriedly began eating.

Mother Zhang hadn’t even distributed chopsticks to everyone, and they were already eating with their hands, which made her both exasperated and amused, "Don’t use your hands, I brought chopsticks!"

Pfft! Cough cough!

Upon hearing the word "chopsticks," Xiao Linshuang immediately choked, coughing violently.

Mother Zhang quickly poured her some tea, "Don’t rush, don’t rush, eat slowly, there’s nobody competing with you!"

Lin Wei, deeply understanding, swallowed a dumpling and slowly said, "Mother Zhang, please don’t mention chopsticks anymore. We’d rather eat with our hands than use chopsticks!"

Xiao Linshuang swallowed her saliva, steadied her breathing, threw the chopsticks Mother Zhang handed her into the food box, and even covered it with the lid before giving up, "Don’t let me see chopsticks anymore! I want to stuff all the chopsticks at home into the stove and burn them!"

Lin Yuan burst out laughing, "Quickly, our future days of happiness depend on you."

Xiao Linshuang pouted, stretched her neck, and continued to eat dumplings with her head down.

Mother Zhang watched the two of them, smiling, and said, "You really don’t know the blessings you have."