This invitation only bears the na Lian Shouxin, without ntioning Old Master Lian and Lian Shouren. However, since the steward said so, it implies that Scholar Wang had this intention.
This is getting interesting.
"Dad, what are you doing?" After laughing, Lian Manman, upon noticing Lian Shouxin still seed sowhat distracted, asked.
"Manman, this is the first ti the Wang Family has sent us an invitation." Lian Shouxin said, "Manman, help Dad take another look. As far as I can see, it’s only written my na."
Lian Shouxin originally couldn’t read, but recently he had been working with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi, mainly learning so characters with Xiao Qi. So now, he could more or less read an invitation.
"Dad, you’re right, it’s only written your na." Lian Manman replied, "Dad, we still need to discuss what kind of gift to send."
"Right." Lian Shouxin nodded eagerly.
Just now, when the steward ca to deliver the invitation, he also ntioned that Scholar Wang intended to invite everyone for a good ti and that gifts were not necessary. Although Scholar Wang said so, it was still proper to prepare a gift.
The family gathered together to discuss it.
"Why don’t we take so money, and see when Brother Jiaxing and his dad are going to town in the next two days, to buy a couple of top-quality and presentable fabrics for us?" Lian Manman suggested.
We have fabrics readily available at ho from Wu Jiaxing and the pogranate seed embroidered satin from Shen Liu, but nobody intended to give those away as gifts.
"Add a couple more pieces of embroidery from the shop, and I think that will be enough." Lady Zhang thought for a mont and then said.
After discussing for a while, everyone agreed that the gift should be both respectable and suitable, and the decision was made. Lady Zhang and Lian Manman were in charge of taking the silver and going to town imdiately.
"It’s perfect for consulting with Brother Xing’s mother; I reckon they’ll also need to send soone there." Lady Zhang said.
Lian Manman opened the cabinet and handed Lady Zhang the silver.
"Then I’ll go send a ssage to his grandfather and his uncle." Lian Shouxin said, picking up the invitation from the table, then after thinking, he placed it back down.
"How about I just go and talk to them without bringing the invitation?" Lian Shouxin proposed in a suggestive tone.
Lian Manman laughed. Lian Shouxin wasn’t stupid after all.
Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang left separately, and Lian Manman didn’t follow either of them. Enjoying a rare mont of leisure, and in a good mood, she sat down in front of the table to practice her writing.
About half a Chinese hour later, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang returned one after the other.
"... I left the money with Brother Xing’s mother. Just right, she said they were also planning to go to town to prepare a congratulatory gift." Lady Zhang said excitedly, having hit it off well with Lady Wang. "She even asked if I wanted to go with her, but I declined, saying there was no one to attend the house."
While speaking, Lady Zhang placed the pastry box on the table.
"Brother Xing’s mother insisted that I bring this back, saying Brother Xing had just brokered a big deal for soone, and this was a gift from the deal, for us to try."
Lian Manman’s family and the Wu Family have been visiting each other frequently lately, exchanging various items and growing very close.
Compared to Lady Zhang’s excitent, Lian Shouxin’s expression wasn’t as pleased.
"Dad, did you pass on the ssage to my grandfather and my uncle?" Lian Manman asked.
"Mhm." Lian Shouxin sat at the edge of the bed and nodded.
"And what did my grandfather say?" Lian Manman inquired with a probing look at Lian Shouxin.
"Just asked about it, I didn’t talk about the invitation. I just said the Wang Family’s steward just happened to pass by and told . The steward was busy, so he had pass along the ssage." Lian Shouxin explained, "Your grandfather, your grandma, and your uncle discussed sending a gift. Then I ca back."
"It should have only been a few words, Dad, why did it take you so long to return?" Lian Manman pressed for an answer.
A trace of embarrassnt and helplessness crossed Lian Shouxin’s face.
"While discussing the gift, your grandma asked what we were sending. I said it was your mother’s responsibility... I ntioned your mother planned to have Jiaxing go to town to help us buy stuff." Lian Shouxin sighed. Perhaps he shouldn’t have told Lady Zhou so much detail, as he had already learned his lesson. However, he was facing his own mother, after all, and in the past, he was used to being managed by Lady Zhou. Inadvertently, he had revealed too much.
Lian Shouxin felt helpless with family matters being more draining than facing outsiders.
"Your grandma said the house had no money, implying that we should..."
"Didn’t she an for us to prepare the Upper Room’s gift?" Lady Zhang’s eyes widened a bit as she asked.
"I didn’t agree." Lian Shouxin said, visibly frustrated, "The implication from your grandma was that since we were also buying, just to prepare extra and deliver everything to the Wang Family at once. I said that didn’t make sense. If we’re splitting it up, the gifts should be separate as well. Mixing it all, what’s that about... she wasn’t too pleased..."
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