Volume 1 Chapter 83 Lianlian (Pink Tickets: 570)
Within days of making up his mind, Xu Lingyi moved back to the capital.
The great army stopped at Xishan Camp, sixty kilometers outside of Yanjing. Xu Lingyi led his three thousand troops to hold a ceremony to present the captives at Meridian Gate on June 6th at noon.
That day, Wan Kuang saw Xu Lang in an empty city...
Eleventh girl took amber and wintergreen at home to dry clothes and quilts, taking the opportunity to pack up boxes.
Zhu Xiang brought over a bowl of mung bean soup to quench their thirst.
"Take a break!" Shí yī niáng gazed out at the scorching sun, calling to Hǔ pò and Dōng qīng who were busy in the courtyard.
Two people entered the house with a scorching hot air, and they gulped down the green bean soup in one breath before putting down their bowls.
"Have you put in the rock sugar?" Dong Qing asked Zhu Xiang with a smile.
Zhu Xiang nodded: "I said it was Miss Eleven who wanted it, and there is rock sugar in the kitchen."
Not yet married into the Xu family, people's attitude towards the eleven niang's household had become vastly different.
Zhu Xiang hesitated and said: "Kitchen's Shen Mama said that her niece is very capable, Miss, when you leave, can you take her niece with you?"
Everyone was staring at Eleven Girl.
The eleventh girl smiled and said: "Tell her, this kind of thing is up to the mother to decide."
Zhu Xiang nodded and took the bowl away to the kitchen.
Amber said vaguely: "Miss, do you want to see a few people... there's always a way..."
The eleventh girl didn't make a sound.
Dong Qing raised his head and looked at the sky: "It's so hot today, I don't know if Master Hou can stand it. Hopefully he won't get sick from the heat!"
Eleventh Girl smiled: "Don't worry, the Xu family has already sent a betrothal gift. No matter what happens to him, I will still marry into their family."
"Dong Qing listened but said seriously: 'Miss, Master Hou is so good to you, you can't say such things anymore!'"
The "good" she said refers to the 5,000 taels of white silver that the Xu family gave as a betrothal gift to Shiyi Niang... Compared to the 1,000 taels given by the Wang family to Shi Niang and the 200 taels given by the Qian family to Wu Niang, it's really giving themselves too much face.
The eleventh girl decided to remain silent.
On this issue, she and Dong Qing really can't see eye to eye.
The betrothal gifts were a matter of face for both the Luo and Xu families. Moreover, since the total value of the Xu family's betrothal gifts exceeded 10,000 taels of silver, the elder lady had to increase her dowry accordingly, preparing an additional 10,000 taels of silver for her daughter-in-law. This outcome was exactly what the eleventh daughter-in-law had hoped for - who wouldn't want more dowry? In addition, all the valuable gold and silver jewelry, clothing, and fabrics from the Xu family's betrothal gifts would be given to her as part of her dowry when she married into the Xu family. In reality, the Xu family only spent around 2-3,000 taels of silver, but they gained two estates and two courtyards worth over 5,000 taels of silver... The Xu family truly gained both face and profit.
In comparison, the Luo family suffered a greater loss.
If I were to find a daughter-in-law for my son myself, I'm afraid I would also do the same!
However, Mrs. Wang's generosity was beyond her expectations.
After all, Wu Niang and Shi Niang got married, she was a fair share, each with 100 mu of water fields and a courtyard...
Dong Qing saw that Shiyi Nang didn't say a word and knew she didn't like her saying these things, but she really couldn't help herself.
The husband is the wife's key. Now that she has married into the Xu family, whether she lives or dies, whether things go well or badly for her, all depends on Master Hou. If she doesn't serve Master Hou well, how can she expect to have a good life? If Miss doesn't understand this point, she will suffer greatly in the future!
She couldn't help but persuade Miss Eleven: "Miss, you've read more books than me and know more about the ways of the world. Only when husband and wife are in harmony can the family prosper..."
A little maid came in and said: "Eleventh Miss, the sedan chair of Fifth Aunt has arrived!"
Eleventh Sister "sprang" up: "Really, where?"
The little maid smiled and said: "Just entering the alley. This should be entering the courtyard."
This is also one of the benefits of being engaged to Xu Lingyi - whenever there's something about her at home, everyone actively informs her.
Eleventh Sister let Amber give those little maidservants a few coppers.
The little maid took it and left with a thousand thanks.
The eleven-year-old girl slowly sat down.
Dong Qing asked: "Aren't you going to welcome your aunt?"
"When the time comes, Mother will naturally call me." The eleventh daughter's face had a faint sadness.
Some things are interdependent. Otherwise, how can there be sayings like "a mother values her son as precious" and "a son respects his mother as honorable"? As long as she is doing well, others naturally wouldn't dare to neglect the Fifth Madam...
It was quite some time before anyone came to call her.
The eleventh girl suddenly became anxious and hastily sent Autumn Chrysanthemum to go and ask: "See if something has happened?"
Qiu Ju returned quickly: "Miss, Wu Yiniang hasn't come!"
The eleventh girl was shocked: "Didn't come? Why didn't you come? Is your body uncomfortable? Or is something else going on?"
"I don't know." Qiu Ju shook her head. "However, this time both Wu Xiaoquan and his wife came, so the Wu family should know."
The eleventh girl was anxious and burning with anxiety, but her face pretended to be calm. It wasn't until the afternoon that Wu Xiaquan's family finally arrived.
She also said bluntly, "Auntie said that you have a good place to go, which is better than anything else. She won't come anymore. So as not to make it difficult for the groom when she gets married. And let me bring you a message, telling you that after arriving at your husband's house, you should respect your mother-in-law and respect your brother-in-law, and cannot do anything that loses the normal order of human relations."
The eleventh girl was somewhat dazed.
Fifth Aunt, no matter when, still thinks of herself as a daughter...
Wu Xiaquan's family saw that Shiyi's eyes were slightly red and hurriedly smiled: "Miss Shiyi doesn't know yet, does she? Our Fourth Master is going to get married."
The eleventh girl was indeed attracted by this news and exclaimed in surprise: "Fourth brother is going to marry a daughter-in-law?"
Wu Xiaquan's family nodded: "It's Miss Zhou from Linqiao, Yuxian County. It can also be considered a scholarly family for generations. Her grandfather used to be the prefect of a famous official residence, but her father passed away early, and the family has declined somewhat."
The eleventh girl nodded.
If it were good, the lady would definitely not agree.
Wu Xiaquan's family saw the eleventh daughter not being disgusted with this topic, took a few steps forward and said in a low voice: "However, I heard that Miss Zhou's personality is very strong-willed, and even her neighbors dare not provoke her. So at the age of 18, she still hasn't spoken about marriage."
"Eighteen years old and still not married?" Amber said in a low voice, "Isn't that even older than our family's Fourth Master?"
Wu Xiaoquan's family covered their sleeves and smiled: "This year is twenty years old, just as the saying goes, 'a girl at the age of three, hugging a gold brick'."
"Who made this marriage arrangement?" Eleventh Sister asked, "Does Third Aunt know about it?"
"It was the wife of Hangzhou Prefect Zhou, Mrs. Bao, who acted as matchmaker." Wu Xiaquan's family smiled and said, "The old lady personally asked Mrs. Zhou to help find a match, does Third Aunt know anything important? It is said that Lord Zhou had dealings with Miss Zhou's grandfather and, being of the same surname, they were related by generation. Now, September 10th has been tentatively set as the wedding date, and I was specifically asked to come discuss the marriage arrangements."
What is meant by "negotiating the marriage", is it to ask for money from the madam? After all, whether it's engagement or wedding, without money, it's hard to move forward. Moreover, during this year's Chinese New Year, the madam also sent someone to Yuhang to fetch 20,000 taels of silver...
On this side, Wu Xiaquan's family and the eleventh daughter-in-law were talking, while on that side, the old master was worrying: "I said that several sisters should be about the same, but you didn't listen. Now it's good, how can Sheng Ge get married?"
"What's difficult to handle?" said the old lady coldly, "Just move him back to his original place, and the furniture is already there. When you make the arrangements, just add some gold and silver jewelry, silk and satin fabrics, it won't cost more than 200 taels. Add the food for the banquet, at most 400 taels will be enough."
"Impossible!" said the old master, "You want me to spend 400 taels of silver to marry a daughter-in-law? The neighbors would laugh at me. It's got to be at least 1,000 taels of silver."
"A thousand two silver coins?" The old lady held her tea cup and sneered, "Don't you know what kind of family the Zhous are? If you take a thousand two silver coins to them, how can they return the gift? Don't forget, Xu's 12,000 silver coin betrothal gift made us spend 20,000 silver coins in total to marry off our eleventh daughter. The Xus are used to big scenes and always give generously, we should consider the Zhous' situation too. Maybe just these four hundred silver coins would make the Zhous go into debt to marry off their daughter."
The old master could only whisper: "That's too little. At the time of Xing Ge, it cost more than 5,000 taels..."
The wife glared at her husband impatiently: "My dowry also had more than 3,000 taels!"
The old master had never won an argument with his wife and turned around in a huff to drink tea.
"September 10th, this day also needs to be changed." The old lady said thoughtfully, "The Xu family asked me two days ago. They said that the Imperial Observatory said that in September, only the 10th is a good day. If not, we'll have to wait until October 22nd. I think the Xu family wants to set it on September 10th. Let's talk about Sheng Ge's date after the Xu family has decided!" After finishing speaking, she called out to Permit Mom, "Go and invite Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt over - Sheng Ge's wedding is a big deal, we need to discuss it with them."
Now Wu Niang listens to Qian Ming in everything, and Qian Ming is the same as Da Tai Tai, everything must be taken care of for the Xu family first. The old master can only keep silent. It can only be said after the Xu family has reported the date.
Xu Jia indeed set his sights on September 10th.
Because it was discussed and agreed upon with his wife, the old master immediately agreed.
Luo Zhensheng's wedding was changed to October 22nd.
The husband and wife had just discussed it, and a letter came from Shandong, saying that Qiuniang's wedding date was set for October 10th.
"Isn't it supposed to be at the beginning of the year? Why was it changed to the end of the year?"
The servant girl who came to report the news smiled and said, "You don't know how sincere our young master's heart is. The second mistress said that the furniture would take a few days to make, so the young master hastily sent it over; the second mistress said that the needlework couldn't be finished in time, so the young master invited ten seamstresses from Xianyin Pavilion to come and do the needlework at our house... The second mistress saw this situation and didn't dare say anything - could it be that marrying Seventh Miss would make the young master's family pay for everything? Now, I've been asked to report a message to Master, Mistress, and Third Mistress, and also to go to Lao Jixiang to do Seventh Miss's hair."
The madam glanced at the old master: "It seems that Second Brother's wedding date will have to be changed again."
When the son gets married, the parents will get it all!
The old master waved his hand: "Let's set Voice Brother's wedding for next spring!"
"Next year, Zhou's daughter will be twenty-one!" The old lady opposed again.
Niece and son, of course, the son is more important.
The old master did not hesitate at all and immediately said: "Then let Xing Ge send Qiuniang away, we will return to Yuhang!"
The lady's face sank slightly.
