The dining table was set on a short brick bed in the hall room, Lady Gu stood below the brick bed giving orders, while Lady Chiang and a woman with a silk kerchief wrapped around her head brought over the dishes, set them on the table, and then invited Lady Zhang, Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi to co up onto the brick bed to eat.
Lady Chiang stood below the brick bed serving food to Lady Zhang and her children. The food was coarse rice. After the woman with the silk kerchief finished serving the dishes, she didn’t leave but took a few steps back and stood still.
Lian Manman couldn’t help but glance at the woman, and t her eyes which were curiously sizing them up.
The woman was probably twenty-six or twenty-seven, not yet thirty years old, with an ordinary but decent appearance. When Lian Manman looked at her, the woman lowered her head, yet she showed no sign of panic.
"Aunt Ping, you can leave this to us; you may go now," Lady Gu said to the woman.
Only then did the woman respond and leave.
"These past few days have been busy; the al preparation wasn’t thorough. Let’s just make do for now, there will be better dishes tonight."
After giving Lady Zhang and her children their al and making arrangents, Lady Gu and Lady Chiang excused themselves, claiming they had things to do and left, only asking Lady He to co and keep them company.
The coarse rice had no fragrance, clearly unpolished old rice, with four dishes and one soup which were all quite ordinary, but they were still made deliciously.
"Aunt He," Lian Manman began to chat idly, "what does Aunt Ping do exactly?"
"Oh, her," Lady He, always fond of chatting and confined in the courtyard daily with no one to talk to, eagerly spilled everything. "She cooks in the kitchen... She’s a widow, her husband used to work at the County Yan and died of a sickness. She had nowhere to go. When the County Magistrate used to live here, she was the cook."
"How’s the food? Is it good enough?" Lady He asked.
"It’s decent," Lian Manman nodded.
"The sa ingredients, when we cook it’s like washing the dishes, but when she cooks, it’s a real dish," remarked Lady He with a click of her tongue.
Lian Manman thought to herself that Aunt He must indeed have a good relationship with Aunt Ping.
"Second Aunt, who exactly is Xiuxiu marrying into?" Lady Zhang asked Lady He, "His grandfather wrote to us, only ntioned it was a family of officials, didn’t elaborate..."
They had co here, and given Lady Zhou’s attitude, they couldn’t broach this topic, thus Lady Zhang asked Lady He instead.
Lady He seed to perk up imdiately, sat down on the brick bed, and started chattering away.
"...This Zheng Family, they’re one of the major families in Taicang County. Including all the various officials, there must be twenty or thirty of them. Their people and their lands cover the whole Taicang County. Even the Master Magistrate has to nod and bow when he sees a Zheng family mber; he can hardly sit still in his position without their approval."
"...The one they’ve spoken of for Xiuxiu, is the young master from the Third Old Master Zheng’s family. The Third Old Master Zheng was also an official once, now he’s retired. This young master, oh, you haven’t seen him, he’s more handso than any maiden."
"How old is this Young Master Zheng now?" Lady Zhang inquired.
"According to the matchmaker, he was born in the year of the rat, sixteen years old this year, I heard he’s studying now. Next year he’s expected to beco a Scholar, and the following year a Graduate Master," Lady He said with a wide grin.
"The sa age as our Brother Xing." Lian Manman said.
"That does sound pretty good." Lady Zhang remarked.
"It’s more than just good." Lady He said, "This Young Master Zheng, being the eldest legitimate son of Old Master Zheng, is quite the treasure. His brothers have all married early, so of their children are almost his age. Mountains of gold and silver are at his disposal. Marrying into their household, Xiuxiu’s really fallen into a lap of fortune."
"Who brokered this match?" Lady Zhang asked again.
"It was Official Matchmaker Mother Hu from the County Yan." Lady He spoke and then added with a mysterious expression, "However, I’ve heard that it was Old Master Zheng who took a liking to Xiuxiu for his young master."
"Ah, how did that happen?" Lian Manman promptly showed a curious expression and asked.
"It was just that one day, Xiuxiu with us went to wander the garden at the back, and coincidentally, Master Magistrate was hosting Old Master Zheng and his Young Master at his place. After having their al, they too strolled in the garden and t her."
"That day we first saw Old Master Zheng. We didn’t recognize him, thought he was just so old man, all white-haired and frail. Xiuxiu even scolded him a bit. He wasn’t angry though, and later when Young Master Zheng showed up, he just couldn’t take his eyes off Xiuxiu." Lady He said, laughing heartily.
"Just a few days later, Mother Hu ca knocking to propose the marriage. With such a reputable family, once ntioned, it was settled imdiately." Lady He went on excitedly.
"Young Master Zheng is not that old, how co they’re rushing the marriage so much?" Lady Zhang asked again.
"He’s young, but his father is not." Lady He replied, "Young Master Zheng said, while his Papa is still strong, he needs to get married and bring ho a wife to honor his father. Listen to that, what a filial son. Marrying early suits us just fine. Our Old Lady is pretty anxious about it too, so it also clears up her worries."
...
In the Upper Room East Room, Lady Zhou was speaking with Lian Lanlan.
"It’s all fate, this life of ours. Our Xiuxiu simply has good fate." Lady Zhou, while fiddling with a piece of cloth, told Lian Lanlan, "Those several matches ntioned at ho, none ca to fruition, I was pretty anxious back then. Who would have thought, Xiuxiu’s marital fate was right here. Coming here was right, if for nothing else, just for this matter alone, everything is worthwhile."
"Mom, you’re really happy with this match?" Lian Lanlan, with a hesitant look, asked in a low voice.
Lady Zhou, looking down at the cloth in her hand but not at Lian Lanlan, thus, she missed seeing Lian Lanlan’s puzzled gaze.
"To say I’m happy, it’s not perfect." Lady Zhou said, "Xiuxiu’s not getting any younger, so I didn’t pick... The family is decent, marrying into it, she’ll be served by others... no mother-in-law above... no concubines etc., those aren’t real mother-in-laws..."
***......****
Sending out the first update, wishing everyone a Happy New Year, may all your wishes co true.
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Later today, another update will be delivered, if the pink support is strong, today there will be three updates. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit qidian to cast recomndation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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