Chapter 416

As they spoke,

Everyone walked out of the storeroom.

The three wooden boxes that Mama Cui had just called for were also sent over.

Mama Cui then, in front of Qingcao, Yun Xiang, and Hua Xiang, placed the jade-carved hairpins they had picked into the wooden boxes filled with cotton wool and silk.

"Mama, I think this is about enough!"

Qingcao said.

Mama Cui had a good impression of the cautious, clever, and sharp Qingcao, and smiled and nodded: "This winter marriage negotiation is freezing cold. Since Young Master Jing wants to show his good intentions, let's take a look at the leather materials!"

"Yes! Mama is still the most thoughtful!"

Qingcao replied.

Mama Cui smiled and waved her hand.

After wandering around the storeroom with various leather materials, Qingcao took a few rabbit skins and said: "Mama, what do you think of this?"

"Hmm! This was sent to Young Master Jing by the Yi family of Zhending Prefecture, and the quality is very good!"

"Then let's take these few to have Sister Sister Xiaodie make a scarf. Mama, please verify."

"Pitter-patter, pitter-patter"

On the roof,

The melted snow water was still dripping down,

In the storeroom courtyard,

All the rooms were locked again,

At the main gate,

Beside the table,

Qingcao in front, Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang behind, each stood holding a tray.

"Six gold bars in a patterned box..."

"Six gold bars in a patterned box, verified!"

Mama Cui said one sentence, and the woman sitting behind the table repeated it while checking.

After nodding, another woman recorded the items in the account book.

"Three Yang Zhou jade-carved hairpins..."

"Three Zhending rabbit skins..."

The items taken from the storeroom were all checked and placed on the table.

Qingcao untied her cloak and said: "Mama, please."

Mama Cui stood to the side, and the woman behind the table walked over and said: "Qingcao, excuse me."

"It's the rules of the residence; Mama, you are being too polite."

As she spoke, the old woman patted Qingcao's body and said: "All is well."

Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang were also sharp; seeing Qingcao's actions, they followed suit and untied their cloaks.

After it was over,

Qingcao led Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang, carrying the trays, toward the corridor with the mamas beside Sun Shi.

Under the corridor,

A distance away from the storeroom courtyard,

Mama Zhu looked at Yun Xiang beside her and said: "Yun Xiang, do you feel that this storeroom is making a mountain out of a molehill?"

Yun Xiang shook her head: "Mama, this storeroom is a restricted area, so being cumbersome and meticulous is always right!"

Hearing this, both Mama Dan and Mama Zhu laughed.

Mama Zhu said: "It's good that you can think this way! In the future, when your Young Master has a mistress to manage the household, no one can say for sure how things will be, so experiencing more in our residence is always good!"

"So that we won't be unable to bear it if others are stricter in the future."

"Mama is right!"

Qingcao said with a smile.

Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang also nodded with emotion.

Water droplets were also falling on the side of the corridor,

And the water splashes hitting the ground

flashed a few times in the sunlight.

As they talked, they arrived at the mistress's courtyard.

"Madam, we are back."

Mama Zhu walked into the courtyard and shouted at the entrance of the hall.

The little maid at the entrance lifted the cotton curtain from inside.

Qingcao and the three followed behind the two mamas into the main room,

Passed the outer room,

And entered the inner room.

"Greetings, Madam, Eldest Da Niangzi, Second Eldest Da Niangzi."

Qingcao and the three carried the items and bowed to Sun Shi, Xie Shi, and Hualan.

"Are the things all picked out? Come, let me take a look!"

Sun Shi said.

"Yes, Madam."

Qingcao said, handing the trays in her hands to Mama Zhu and Mama Dan.

Xie Shi looked at the hands of the three maids, which were somewhat red from the cold:

"Go warm yourselves by the heater; you don't even know how to wear gloves!"

Watching Sun Shi smile and shake her head, Qingcao and the three bowed again and walked to the heater to warm their hands.

Come to think of it,

It shouldn't be the concern of a Marquis's wife like Sun Shi for a Sheng family maid to negotiate a marriage.

But she couldn't help it, as the brother of this girl was a life-and-death friend of her nephew, Zhu Qinghu.

The object of the marriage negotiation was also the brother-in-law of Zhu Qinghu.

Moreover, there was another reason why Sun Shi was so concerned, and that was that the maid served Wei Xiaoniang, who was Wei Shuyi.

On one hand, Wei Shuyi was the biological mother of Sheng Changzhen, and Changzhen's birthday was the same as the Old Madam's own son, Sheng Zhen.

Although the Old Madam knew very well in her heart that her own son had long since passed away and didn't pay too much attention to this matter.

But Sun Shi had received the Old Madam's favor when she was young, and out of love for the house and its crow, she wanted to think and do more things.

On the other hand, when Sun Shi's two daughters were married, the Sheng family had sent things over. Sun Shi, who took inventory of these things, naturally knew that Wei Shuyi had put her heart into it.

Sun Shi and the two daughters-in-law looked at the items on the tray and nodded: "The things picked are not bad."

"Thank you for the compliment, Madam."

Cui Chan, who was holding Xu Xingzhong behind Hualan, exchanged a look with Hualan and nodded.

After knowing that Xu Zaijing also wanted to send gifts during breakfast, the master and servant decided to send more things.

Now it seemed that their expectations were not wrong.

"Qingcao."

"Madam!" Qingcao, who was by the heater, retracted her hands and stood solemnly to the side.

"When you go to the Sheng family later, bring our good intentions as well."

"Yes, Madam!"

Sun Shi looked at Qingcao's expression and said: "What, is there something else?"

"Madam, the servant wants... to forgo next month's allowance and exchange it for cotton wool to bring to Sister Sister Xiaodie."

Hearing this, Sun Shi nodded: "Good, granted."

"Thank you, Madam!"

Jiying Lane

Sheng family

The bright morning sunlight illuminated the room very brightly.

The snow water dripping from the eaves had wetted many places in the courtyard,

Scholar Zhuang was reading a book behind the desk in the room,

And several 'Lan's were also busy with their own things.

Outside the house,

Xu Zaijing was walking in the courtyard with his classmates,

Talking while occasionally stretching his waist and hips from sitting for a long time, and stretching his arms.

At this moment,

Qingyun walked into the courtyard,

Bowed and cupped his hands to the group who were exercising, and then said to Xu Zaijing: "Young Master, I have come over."

"Where are Qingcao and the others?"

"They went to the backyard."

"Good."

After speaking, Qingyun exited the courtyard.

Xu Zaijing looked at Zaihang, who was looking at him with a worried expression, and said: "Brother, don't worry! You have your wife at home thinking about you!"

Hearing this,

Zaihang raised an eyebrow: "That's true!"

Looking at Zaihang's proud expression,

The few young men beside Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and others who hadn't negotiated marriage yet, looked at each other one after another.

"Second Brother, is getting married really that good?"

Changfeng, beside Gu Tingye, asked softly.

Gu Tingye glared: "I haven't gotten married, how would I know?"

"Pfft."

Xu Zaijing let out a snort of laughter in front.

"I say, Fifth Young Master, what do you mean?" Gu Tingye asked.

Xu Zaijing didn't speak; he first scanned Gu Tingye from head to toe, then turned to look at Qiu Niang, who was following behind the group, and finally exchanged a look with Gu Tingye.

With an expression of 'You want me to say it out loud?'

Gu Tingye understood and hurriedly coughed: "I hear it now, Young Master Jing, you don't mean anything!"

"Hehe..."

Weiruixuan

In the hall,

Wang Ruofu was sitting behind the desk flipping through a booklet,

Mama Liu beside her placed a bowl of nourishing tea soup on the table,

And took a small spoon from the tray held by the maid and put it into the bowl.

"Eldest Da Niangzi, stop looking at the account book and drink some soup."

Wang Ruofu nodded.

After drinking only a few mouthfuls, the maid Cai Huan walked to the entrance and said softly: "Eldest Da Niangzi, the three maids beside the Xu family's Young Master Jing have come over from Shou'an Hall."

Wang Ruofu, whose small spoon was about to scoop the soup, stopped: "Why are they here again?"

"They came to send gifts because of Sister Sister Xiaodie's matter; they all went to Jin'an Studio to ask Wei Xiaoniang for embroidery skills before."

Cai Huan replied at the entrance.

Wang Ruofu's small spoon continued to move: "Just say I know, and ask them to go directly to Jin'an Studio."

"Yes!"

Mama Liu beside her said in a low voice: "Eldest Da Niangzi, knowing that the maids beside Fifth Young Master have come to send gifts, our family's son-in-law and eldest daughter will definitely want to send some too."

"Why don't I go take a look... at what gifts were sent, so we have an idea, and if there's anything inappropriate, we can make up for it. Our courtyard's Seeing Qiujiang can also..."

Wang Ruofu was stunned and nodded: "Right, right! Hualan has been very good to Wei Shi before! And I heard from my sister that this Xu family Fifth Young Master has people sending gifts every three days, and our eldest son-in-law is an honest child; it wouldn't be good if he were outdone."

Mama Liu's expression froze; she didn't say the sentence 'The Xu family are all legitimate'.

"Then the servant will go over first."

"Go, go."

At the entrance of Weiruixuan,

Mama Liu walked out with a maid and smiled at Qingcao and the three, who were carrying or holding wooden gift boxes of different styles: "Three girls, the Eldest Da Niangzi sent me to accompany you three over, please."

"Sorry to trouble you, Mama Liu."

"What are you saying, Qingcao girl! Seeing Qiujiang, help carry the things."

Hearing this, looking at the little maid reaching out, Qingcao hurriedly said with a smile: "Sister, no need!"

Qingcao added: "Mama Liu is too polite. We are used to doing work in the Marquis's residence!"

Looking at Qingcao and the others, Mama Liu flicked her handkerchief and smiled: "Then forget it."

Passing through the corridor and the gate,

After walking for a while, the group arrived at the entrance of the courtyard with the 'Jin'an Studio' plaque.

Mama Liu walked to the entrance with a smile: "Xiaoniang! Someone has come to see you!"

In the courtyard,

A girl poked her head out: "Mama Liu?"

"Sister Xiaodie girl, Qingcao girl from the Marquis's residence has come over."

Mama Liu said, turning her body to reveal Qingcao and the others behind her.

"Sister Sister Xiaodie."

Qingcao and Yun Xiang shouted together.

At this moment, Wei Shuyi also lifted the cloth curtain and walked out of the main room.

"Greetings, Xiaoniang!"

Mama Liu bowed.

Wei Shuyi returned the salute with a smile and looked at Qingcao and the others carrying the wooden gift boxes: "Come, come in quickly!"

Entering the room,

Qingcao placed the gift boxes on a table to the side.

After everyone sat down,

Qingcao smiled at Mama Liu and said to Wei Shuyi: "Xiaoniang, when we came, the Marquis's residence Eldest Da Niangzi specifically instructed that these things must be seen by you."

Wei Shuyi looked at Sister Xiaodie, somewhat embarrassed: "I am a country bumpkin and haven't seen any good things; the things sent by the Marquis's residence must be good."

Qingcao smiled, stood up, and picked up two gift boxes: "Xiaoniang, these were sent by our Madam and the two Eldest Ladies."

Saying this, she opened the two three-layer wooden boxes.

Inside the two wooden boxes were three sets of headwear jewelry, one gold and two silver.

"The gold one is from the Madam, and the two silver sets are from the two Eldest Ladies. The Second Eldest Da Niangzi said that Sister Xiaodie is a member of the maiden family, so she specifically put one hundred strings of silver notes at the bottom."

Hearing Qingcao's words, Mama Liu took her gaze off the exquisite jewelry and nodded with satisfaction.

Subsequently, Qingcao seemed somewhat embarrassed and said: "This is our heart."

Saying this, Qingcao took the long wooden box from Hua Xiang's hand and opened it, revealing the rabbit skin and cloth inside.

Wei Shuyi looked at the things in the gift box and smiled: "Very good! Sister Xiaodie!"

Sister Xiaodie stood to the side, bowed deeply, and said: "Thank you to the Madam and the two Eldest Ladies! Thank you to the three sisters."

Qingcao, Yun Xiang, and Hua Xiang returned the salute with a smile, and Qingcao added: "There is still some cotton wool in the carriage, and someone will send it over later. Consider it my own heart."

"Back in Yang Zhou, if it weren't for Sister Sister Xiaodie taking off her cotton clothes to wrap me up, I don't know how much suffering I would have endured!"

Sister Xiaodie looked at Wei Shuyi: "Qingcao, anyone who saw it would have protected you."

Qingcao smiled and shook her head; at that time, who else would have come out besides those in Wei Xiaoniang's courtyard.

Mama Liu took advantage of the gap in the conversation and said: "Xiaoniang, after Sister Xiaodie gets married in a few days, the Eldest Da Niangzi is afraid you won't have anyone by your side, so she sent Seeing Qiujiang over. Come, come over."

The little maid who had been following along walked over and bowed: "Servant Seeing Qiujiang, greetings to Xiaoniang and the sisters."

Mama Liu smiled and said: "Seeing Qiujiang's parents and brothers all work in the residence's manor; she is well-known and is a loyal and honest one."

Wei Shuyi looked at Seeing Qiujiang and said: "She doesn't look much older than Ming'er."

"Seeing Qiujiang is the same age as the Fifth Da Niangzi."

Wei Shuyi understood: "Please ask Mama Liu to thank the Eldest Da Niangzi for me, and let her worry!"

Mama Liu nodded with a smile.

"Then you will follow Sister Xiaodie in two days."

"Yes, Xiaoniang."

After speaking,

The room fell silent.

Mama Liu was also tactful and stood up: "Xiaoniang, sisters, then I will take my leave."

Saying this, everyone stood up and sent Mama Liu out of Jin'an Studio.

Seeing Qiujiang also followed out.

On the way back to Weiruixuan, Seeing Qiujiang said in a low voice: "Mama Liu, did Wei Xiaoniang agree to let me go over?"

Mama Liu nodded.

"Mama Liu, the things sent by the Marquis's residence are really different; that headwear jewelry looks really good."

"Yes! But this was also fought for by Sister Xiaodie's brother with his life." Mama Liu said.

Seeing Qiujiang nodded behind her, seemingly thinking about whether she could use her brother in the manor to exchange for a set of headwear, but when she was about to reach Weiruixuan, the little maid shook her head.

Entering Weiruixuan,

Seeing Qiujiang stood in the room as usual,

Listening to Mama Liu smiling and praising the Eldest Da Niangzi in the inner room,

Cai Huan leaned over.

The two whispered, and looking at the envious expression in her eyes as she listened to Seeing Qiujiang describe the style of the jewelry,

Jin'an Studio,

After sending Mama Liu back,

"Xiaoniang, Zhen Ge'er looks really obedient at the Old Madam's place."

Qingcao said.

Wei Shuyi smiled: "He and the Old Madam are destined."

Looking at the expressions of Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang that they couldn't suppress, Wei Shuyi asked suspiciously: "What's wrong?"

Qingcao looked at the expressions of the two sisters looking at her and nodded with a smile.

So, Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang couldn't wait to pull Sister Xiaodie to the table and reopen the long wooden box they had taken out last.

After moving the rabbit skin and cloth aside, nine wooden boxes were revealed underneath.

"Xiaoniang, Sister Sister Xiaodie, this is our and the Young Master's heart."

Sister Xiaodie was stunned: "This is?"

Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang opened the first and last wooden boxes among them: "The first six are gold bars with patterns, and the last three are jade hairpins we picked for Sister Sister Xiaodie."

"This is too valuable!"

Sister Xiaodie shook her head and looked at Wei Shuyi helplessly.

Wei Shuyi said: "Accept it; if you don't accept these, they will probably be sent to the Ni family anyway."

At the same time, Wei Shuyi also sighed in her heart that the dowry she had prepared for Sister Xiaodie was not as valuable as one of these nine wooden boxes.

Two days later,

The tenth month had passed halfway,

Afternoon,

Sheng family,

Wang Ruofu, who was taking an afternoon nap, sat up from the bed supported by Mama Liu's arm and frowned: "Why is someone going to Jin'an Studio again!"

"Eldest Da Niangzi, Ni Eldest Da Niangzi is also here to discuss Sister Xiaodie's dowry; after all, it's her own younger brother."

Wang Ruofu nodded.

After getting up and saying a few words, she invited Ni Eldest Da Niangzi to Jin'an Studio.

Inside Jin'an Studio,

Wei Shuyi pushed away the silver notes in Ni Qiqiu's hand and smiled: "Eldest Da Niangzi, Sister Xiaodie really doesn't lack a dowry; the Marquis's residence sent quite a bit! Several adults also sent some."

These several adults were the same life-and-death comrades who broke through the siege with Zhu Qinghu.

Ni Qiqiu nodded: "I know! But life in Bianjing is not easy, and her family has difficulties, so let me add some; consider it my heart. It will be used by the young couple in the future."

Wei Shuyi looked at Ni Qiqiu's appearance, then looked at Sister Xiaodie, and smiled helplessly: "You should come and take a look!"

Saying this, she led the person to the inner room.

Ni Qiqiu looked at the things in the seven or eight boxes and gift boxes of different sizes, and it was her turn to smile helplessly.

(End of chapter)