"That’s right." Lady Zhang nodded and reached out to touch Lian Zhizhi’s hair, "Zhizhi, when you marry into the Wu Family, the matters of the old residence will have nothing to do with you. In the future, when visiting the old residence, neither you nor Jiaxing need to go. The farther you stay from them, the better."
Without expectation, there is no disappointnt. Although there was a bit of annoyance over the dowry brought by the old residence, it was quickly overshadowed by the more intense and lively festive atmosphere.
Luo Xiaoyan, carrying Er Niuniu and Erlang, also ca to add dowry for Lian Zhizhi.
As soon as she entered the room, Luo Xiaoyan, holding Er Niuniu, knelt before Lady Zhang, intending to kowtow.
"It’s not a festival, get up quickly, we don’t practice this custom." Lady Zhang hurriedly had soone help Luo Xiaoyan up and said sternly, "You child, didn’t I tell you? I’ll remind you again, if you keep doing this, I won’t let you through the door anymore."
"It won’t happen next ti, it won’t happen next ti." Seeing Lady Zhang was serious, Luo Xiaoyan quickly smiled apologetically.
Lady Zhang had Luo Xiaoyan sit on the kang, taking Er Niuniu to examine. Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan had walked from Luo Family Village, in the cold weather, Er Niuniu was dressed in a cotton jacket and pants, and wrapped in a small quilt outside. Since the room was warm, Lady Zhang laid Er Niuniu on the kang, opened the quilt, and picked her up.
Perhaps because Luo Xiaoyan had ample milk, Er Niuniu had beco stronger over the past half year, and she was cleaned and tidied up by Luo Xiaoyan inside and out.
"Such a lovely little face." Lady Li, Lady Zhang Wang, and a few others were sitting on the kang, and everyone took turns holding Er Niuniu.
Er Niuniu’s face was starting to develop, her skin fair, her features combining the strengths of Erlang and Zhao Xiue, it was obvious she would grow into a fair and beautiful girl.
"I wanted to co a few days ago, but Erlang was busy at the shop, today was the first chance." Luo Xiaoyan congratulated while putting down the bundle she carried, taking out the dowry gifts prepared for Lian Zhizhi.
The dowry prepared by Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan for Lian Zhizhi included two large red cloth lengths, a pair of silver bracelets engraved with happiness, two pairs of socks, and a pair of pillowcases.
The cloth lengths were the best cotton silk available at the town’s cloth shop, and the silver bracelets were newly crafted, not too heavy but of decent quality, while the socks and pillowcases were also made of cotton silk, embroidered with simple patterns.
The needlework was densely and neatly stitched, though the embroidery was sowhat coarse.
The girls of farmstead families had to learn sewing and patching, but not every girl had the opportunity or resources to learn embroidery, let alone to master it intricately.
With Lian Manman’s family running a general store and managing ledgers, she could quickly estimate the cost of the dowry gifts at a glance.
The dowry sent by Luo Xiaoyan was mostly purchased, costing at least Two Strings of Money, likely around Three Strings of Money.
This was indeed a generous gift considering the financial situation of Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan.
"We’re all family, making a couple of needlework items when you’re free is enough. You two spend a lot; don’t borrow money for this..." Lady Zhang felt a bit uneasy, suspecting that Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan might have borrowed money to afford these items.
"Fourth Aunt, we didn’t borrow money." Luo Xiaoyan quickly told Lady Zhang, "Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt have always looked after us, this is the only big event for sister Zhizhi, as her brother and sister-in-law, we have to express sothing. This is our sentint."
"Fourth Aunt, please don’t say you won’t accept it. If you treat us as your own nephew and niece-in-law, then you must accept it." Seeing Lady Zhang intending to decline, Luo Xiaoyan quickly added.
When soone brought a dowry gift formally, there’s no reason to make them take it back. Reciprocity could co later.
Though Lady Zhang felt a little uneasy, she was pleased at heart. She valued not the silver coin, but the fact that Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan were willing to spend that silver coin to add to Lian Zhizhi’s dowry, truly valuing the event, valuing Lian Zhizhi, and naturally valuing their entire family.
"For sister Zhizhi’s affair, there will surely be many people and much liveliness. Fourth Aunt, Erlang and I will co early to help out. Anything you need, just ask us. I’ll have my brother Xiao Ying and my sister Xiao Que co too. Erlang and Xiao Ying can run errands, serving dishes and carrying plates, both can manage; Xiao Que and I can also serve plates, count us in for washing dishes as well." Luo Xiaoyan was forthright, imdiately taking on the dirtiest and most tiring jobs of the festivity preparations.
"How can I let you help with that?" Lady Zhang laughed joyfully, "We are marrying off a daughter, those things are for Jiaxing and the others to handle. Just co early, and we’ll attend the banquet together. Bring your brother, sister, and parents, and we’ll all have seats."
As Luo Xiaoyan took her leave, Lian Manman packed so snacks and fruits, nearly filling a basket, and handed it to Luo Xiaoyan to take ho.
After sending off Luo Xiaoyan and Erlang, Lady Zhang looked again at the dowry they brought, inevitably feeling a bit wistful.
"This daughter-in-law of Erlang, she’s quite adept at handling matters." Lady Zhang Wang comnted.
"She’s the picture of a farmstead daughter-in-law. The previous one, she didn’t seem like soone an ordinary family could support." Lady Li agreed.
"If it weren’t for her family’s troubles, she and Erlang would be a good match, a good in-law." Lady Zhang said, naturally speaking from the Lian family’s perspective, her tone seed to echo Lian Shouxin’s sentints.
Lian Shouxin returned from the front yard, seeing the dowry Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan had brought, he too guessed the couple had borrowed money.
"Luo Xiaoyan still denies it, saying they didn’t borrow money." Lady Zhang said.
However, they soon discovered that Luo Xiaoyan was not lying.
With the first Chapter delivered, requesting for pink tickets, the second Chapter will follow shortly. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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