The second watch, seeking pink readership.
***......***
Because Lian Manman’s family is close with Shopkeeper Wu from the Yue Lai Tavern, they knew right away that the urgent letter had co from Old Master Lian’s side. Shopkeeper Wu didn’t dare delay and imdiately sent his worker to deliver it.
Lian Shouxin furrowed his brow. It had only been a few days since the last letter, and now another urgent one. From hundreds of miles away, what could possibly be so urgent?
"This, it couldn’t be sothing happened to his grandfather or grandmother, right?"
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi had not yet returned, so Lian Shouxin let Lian Manman open the letter and read it aloud to him.
This letter was different from the previous one, consisting only of two pages and not even filled out completely.
After hearing the letter, Lian Shouxin let out a long sigh of relief. It turned out not to be sothing bad with Old Master Lian or Lady Zhou; instead, the letter spoke of a very good piece of news.
Lian Xiuxiu was getting married, and the date set in the letter was just six days away. Old Master Lian asked Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhou to co and see Lian Xiuxiu off as she leaves her bridal chamber, wanting everyone in the family who could co, including Lian Shouli’s family, to be there.
"Which family is it, what do they do, did the letter say?" Lady Zhang asked.
"No." Lian Manman shook her head, Old Master Lian only ntioned in the letter that the marriage had been arranged, and it was ti for her to get married. He only ntioned that Lian Xiuxiu’s husband’s family was from a family of officials in Taicang County and seed very well off. "I guess he was in a hurry sending the letter, so he didn’t go into details."
The urgency was necessary. Sending a letter took ti, and by the ti they received it and prepared, it would be a few more days on the road. And the wedding date is so imminent.
Indeed, the date seems rather rushed.
"This marriage must have been arranged quite recently. My Uncle Jizu and his wife didn’t ntion this when they visited the other day." Lian Manman said, "Mother, rember you asked my sister-in-law that day about my aunt’s marital prospects? Didn’t she say there was no progress yet, right?"
Even the previous long letter from Old Master Lian did not ntion this.
"Yes." Lady Zhang nodded and replied, "Now that you ntion it, how many days has it been since? Things moved so fast; both settling the marriage and even the wedding. They say that official families are particular, we don’t understand these things."
"Maybe the customs in Taicang are different from ours here." Lian Shouxin said, "Besides, there’s no fixed rule for such matters. There are slower ones and faster ones. Mother, you’ve been particularly anxious about Xiuxiu’s marriage anyway."
"That’s true, as long as the person is deed suitable, everything else happens fast. Xiuxiu’s dowry has been prepared over these years, everything should be ready. And since the other party is from an official family and is well-to-do, everything on their end should also be ready, even if prepared just now, they can do it quickly."
"It seems that my grandfather and grandmother did right by going there." Lian Manman smiled, "Not to ntion, in just a few days, my aunt’s marriage is settled. And she is marrying into an official family which, in our place, would have been difficult."
An imdiate official is better than a distant one; Lian Xiuxiu, being the sister of a County Magistrate, holds different weight in Taicang and in Thirty Mile Camp.
Lian Xiuxiu’s wedding is a big event, and everyone should go. When Lian Shouli gets off work and returns, both Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli’s families will gather to discuss.
Should we send soone?
"This isn’t nearby, it’s so far away..." Lian Shouli started to worry. Of everyone present, the furthest they had been was to Jinyang County Town. They had never even considered going beyond to the distant outskirts.
"Should we do like when we sent Sister-in-law Xiue her maternity gifts, prepare them and send them over?" Lian Yeye suggested.
The Zhao Wencai family in town had yet to send off the person delivering maternity gifts to Zhao Xiue.
This underscores how urgent Old Master Lian’s letter was, and it showed the frequency of his communications, thought Lian Manman.
Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin exchanged glances.
"If we don’t send soone, it would be..." The rest didn’t need to be said out loud, everyone understood.
Sending gifts for Zhao Xiue’s maternity might not be essential, but if they don’t attend Lian Xiuxiu’s wedding, would Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou let them off the hook?
Lian Manman could almost imagine how Lady Zhou would brutally scold them.
And by all conventions, when a sister is getting married, her brothers’ family should attend. Of course, that applies to families that maintain good relations and are in good standing.
"All going is impossible. The house can’t be left unattended, just two of us should go to convey our intentions." After thinking, Lian Shouxin spoke.
Lian Shouli nodded.
Lady Zhang didn’t say anything either. She is virtuous, and no matter the situation, she always maintained her virtuous deanor. That was Lian Shouxin’s fortune.
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