Lady Chiang then took out two pastry boxes from another bundle and also pulled out four lengths of fabric, saying that they were prepared for Shouxin’s family and Shouli’s family, one share each.
"...This was prepared by the old madam," Lady Chiang said.
Lian Manman glanced at the items. The two pastry boxes looked quite nice; she wondered what kind of pastries were inside. The four lengths of fabric were decent, a step above what was gifted to her family last ti when they held the furnace ritual.
Lady Chiang ntioned that it was prepared by Lady Zhou, so there was no room for criticism, only gratitude.
Though Taicang had brought gifts, Lady Zhang was not pleased.
"... You ca, and whether or not you bring gifts, we never demand anything. You have many mouths to feed over there, running a household requires money. It’s better to save the money for daily expenses," Lady Zhang said, implying that living frugally and earning one’s rightful inco was important. This was the sentint Lady Wu Wang had previously expressed to her and had stuck in her mind, wanting to say this to the Taicang side.
"Mother, we still haven’t folded all the spirit money," Lian Manman chid in.
Lady Zhang was straightforward by nature, and if she truly said those words, it would offend people. Besides, saying it would not change anything. Before her stood Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang, neither of whom had the power to restrain Lian Shouren or Lian Shouyi.
"You’re right, let’s continue folding," Lady Zhang quickly caught onto Lian Manman’s intent—she didn’t want her mother to continue the topic, so she swallowed her words.
Lady Chiang sat sideways on the edge of the kang bed while helping fold the spirit money, chatting and laughing with Lady Zhang.
Lian Manman stole glances at Lady Chiang. She had always been a capable woman; even back when she lived in the village, she dressed more elegantly than the average wife. This ti, her appearance was even more striking.
Lady Chiang wore light makeup today, with a ruby inlaid gold hairpin adorning her head, along with two simple gold hair presses. Her ears bore gold and pearl earrings, and when her wrists moved, they revealed a pair of bright golden bracelets. She had also just removed a luxurious fur cloak, wore a brocade vest, and stepped into high-soled embroidered shoes, all exceptionally refined, valuable, and following the latest trends.
The high-soled shoes undoubtedly concealed scented powder within. As Lady Chiang moved earlier, Lian Manman caught a faint whiff of fragrance.
Lian Jizu’s outfit and style matched Lady Chiang’s perfectly, with three ruby-inlaid gold rings gleaming on his fingers.
The words Lady Zhang wanted to say were well-intentioned advice, but clearly, the two people standing before her would not take them to heart. Therefore, why even bother to speak?
After folding the spirit money, they sat for a while longer. Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye soon arrived.
Seeing that it was getting late, Lady Zhang suggested preparing the al.
"Tonight, stay here for dinner," Lady Zhang proposed.
Lian Manman, standing by Lady Zhang, discreetly signaled to her with a glance.
"Third sister-in-law, have you tidied things up for Jizu and his wife? Is the kang bed heated?" Lady Zhang asked Lady Zhao before turning to Lady Chiang, "Jizu’s wife, perhaps you could follow your third aunt over to make so preparations. Though the weather is warming up, the kang still needs to be heated. We have enough hands for cooking here; don’t worry, you can go ahead."
"Once your third uncle finishes work later, make sure he cos over promptly," Lady Zhang added to Lady Zhao.
Lady Chiang was sharp and imdiately understood Lady Zhang’s intentions. Though she was inviting them for dinner, she was not offering them a place to stay overnight. To sleep, they would need to return to the old house.
Though it dampened her spirits, Lady Zhang still prepared a lavish al for dinner. After the al, Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang followed Lian Yeye’s family to the old house, while the family gathered around the candlelight to chat.
Lian Manman opened the pastry boxes brought by Lian Jizu and Lady Chiang—the pastries inside were decent.
"These seem to be from the largest pastry shop in Taicang County Town," Wu Lang remarked after examining the patterns and shop markings on the pastry boxes.
"It’s no small feat for your grandmother to prepare these for us," Lady Zhang sighed.
Lian Manman then took out the ledger docunting the exchange of favors between families, carefully noting down the gifts brought by Lady Chiang this ti.
"For dealings with Taicang, I’ve kept a separate ledger," Lian Manman said, shaking the thin booklet in her hand after finishing her entry.
"If they gave us nothing at all, I’d be even happier," Lady Zhang said. "See the extravagant clothes on Jizu and his wife. How can their uncle as a county magistrate afford it all?"
In this dynasty, officials’ salaries were not paid in silver coins but in official rice stipends. A county magistrate received 780 catties of rice per month. In Taicang, their household included sixteen mbers, including Niuniu and Erlang’s baby girl. Officially, only Lian Shouren, the county magistrate, had a salary. Even excluding Niuniu and the newborn, with fourteen people, each would receive less than 56 catties of rice per month.
If they were frugal, it should barely be enough to scrape by.
Of course, in this era, it was rare for officials to live solely off their official stipends. But for a minor eighth-rank official to support such a large family and still afford Lady Chiang and Lian Jizu’s luxurious attire—it was no small feat.
"When they gave us gifts during the furnace ritual last ti, my sister-in-law wasn’t dressed this extravagantly," Lian Zhizhi remarked.
"Things are different now," Lian Manman replied.
Everyone in the family understood what had changed, but no one spoke of it aloud.
The next morning, the n went to offer sacrifices at the tombs, while the won stayed ho to cook.
Lady Chiang found a mont when only Lady Zhang and Lian Manman were in the room and handed a money pouch to Lady Zhang.
"Fourth sister-in-law, the travel expenses for our elder uncle’s trip back to Taicang last ti were borrowed from you. When he returned, both the Old Master and the Old Uncle scolded him thoroughly. I know, you and Fourth Brother wouldn’t mind the money, but by proper reasoning, you two should not have paid for it. The Old Master and Old Uncle insisted that this money be repaid to you both along with this note marked by Uncle’s seal..." Lady Chiang said to Lady Zhang and Lian Manman with an ingratiating smile.
***......***
Here cos the second update, asking for pink votes.
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Recomnded completed work by Ruoyan: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles" is a light house fight farmland tale—family affairs and intricate grudges in a grand household.
Book ID: 1771214
A direct link is provided below; click to access it. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please consider visiting Qidian (qidian) to vote with recomndation tickets or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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