Blossom

Without delving into the petty thoughts of Cui Jiu's wife, Cui Shisan emerged from the kitchen.

Consort Cui's father—the Cui family patriarch—was still alive, and none of the brothers had divided the family estate. By the time the grandchildren were born, they were simply called Dalang, Erlang... and so on, based on their birth order. When Dalang and Erlang were born, the Cui family had only just begun to have enough to eat, and none of them had received any education. By the time the family's fortunes gradually improved and they needed to sign land deeds or provide guarantees with fingerprints, they realized the character "lang" was too complicated to write. So they simply started calling them Cui Da, Cui Er, and so on.

Counting down from the brothers, by the time Cui Shisan was old enough to attend the private school twenty li from the village, his formal name had become Shisan.

Cui Shisan was quite surprised to see Cui Da.

Since Cui Da had begun helping Dou Zhao manage the farmsteads, his entire family had moved to live on the estate and only returned during festivals. The year-end inventory had long been completed, and there were still over ten days until the Minor New Year... He couldn't help but ask, "Elder Brother, what brings you back today?"

Cui Da chuckled and said, "Isn't Fourth Miss's coming-of-age ceremony approaching? I came back to discuss with Grandfather what our farmstead should gift her." He then raised a two-foot-long green carp and ordered Cui Shisan, "Take this to the kitchen and steam it for Grandfather to enjoy with wine. You should join us for a couple of drinks too."

Dou Zhao owned twelve farmsteads, all managed by Cui Da. Upon hearing that the managers of her shops were planning gifts for her coming-of-age ceremony, the Manor Heads of her farmsteads grew restless and came to Cui Da one after another: "We all serve under Fourth Miss—how can the shop managers give gifts while we do nothing?"

Cui Da thought this reasonable, but as he had no strong opinions on such matters, his wife advised him: "Go ask Grandfather, and besides, Cui Shisan is home too." That was why he hurried back and suggested Cui Shisan join them for drinks.

Unaware that he was being roped into this, Cui Shisan only recalled how Fan Wenshu had dragged him through every antique shop in the Capital before returning to Zhen Ding, and his feet seemed to ache again at the memory. He muttered, "Why is everyone talking about this everywhere I go?"

Cui Da didn't catch his words clearly and mistook his reluctance as defiance. With a stern face, he smacked Cui Shisan's head: "What? After two years in the Capital, you’ve grown too proud to listen to your elder brother? Hurry up and go!"

"No, no!" A farmer's hands were always strong, and Cui Shisan winced as he hastily took the carp. "I’m going, I’m going."

Watching Cui Shisan's retreating figure, Cui Da grinned warmly before turning toward the main house where the Cui patriarch lived.

The old man puffed on his white-jade-mouthed copper pipe for a long while before asking, "What have the other Manor Heads suggested?"

"All sorts of things!" Cui Da said helplessly. "Some suggested exchanging twenty taels of silver at the jewelry shop for a set of hair ornaments. Others said it’d be better to buy antiques or paintings, while some proposed each giving their own gifts and just going together..."

The patriarch had only stopped working the fields in recent years, and among ordinary farming families, gifts were usually just a few feet of blue or red cloth. He had no brilliant ideas either. After some thought, he said, "Why not ask your eldest aunt?"

Cui Da scratched his head. "I already did. She said there’s no need for such trouble—just give a couple of pairs of shoes and socks."

Just then, Cui Shisan walked in.Old Master Cui quickly pulled Cui Shisan to sit on the kang and asked him, "Tell me, what do people in the Capital usually give for such occasions?"

Cui Shisan laughed, "No wonder there are no common households in the Capital!"

"That's true," Old Master Cui chuckled.

Cui Shisan turned to Cui Da and said, "Elder Brother, why not let each Manor Head give their own gifts? You can't possibly overshadow everyone else."

Cui Da nodded, "That makes sense," looking at Cui Shisan with increasing enthusiasm.

Cui Shisan coughed awkwardly before continuing, "Our paternal aunt made a good point. Our family could just make a few pairs of shoes and socks, then add a couple of rare trinkets."

"What rare trinkets?" Old Master Cui and Cui Da fixed their bright eyes on Cui Shisan.

Cui Shisan went to his room and returned with an embroidered box. "I found this at Ji Shi's shop—it's called a kaleidoscope..." He then demonstrated how it worked.

Old Master Cui's eyes immediately glazed over. "How much does this cost?"

"Thirty taels," Cui Shisan replied.

Fan Wenshu had also spent thirty taels on a lotus-shaped jade brush washer from an antique shop in the Capital and prepared the same gift for Dou Zhao.

Old Master Cui shuddered, "So expensive!" Yet he clutched the item tightly and eagerly called out, "Cui Si's wife!" summoning Tuo Niang.

"You take this and deliver it," Old Master Cui said, shoving the box into Tuo Niang's hands. "This is our family's gift for the Fourth Miss's coming-of-age ceremony. Also, gather your sisters-in-law to make two sets of clothes for her. Get the silver from your mother. Later, you and your eldest sister-in-law, along with Old Ninth's wife, will go to the city to pay respects to the Fourth Miss."

Cui Jiu's father-in-law had once worked as a gatekeeper at the county office for several years, making his wife one of the more worldly women in the Cui family. That's why Old Master Cui had her join the group to congratulate Dou Zhao.

Cui Da and Cui Shisan were dumbfounded, never expecting Old Master Cui to intercept the gift. By the time they recovered, Tuo Niang had already swiftly packed it away.

"Grandfather..." Cui Shisan was on the verge of tears.

Old Master Cui remained unperturbed. "It's just thirty taels. Ask your grandmother for it later. You young men can make a trip to the prefecture tomorrow." With a wave of his hand, he ordered Tuo Niang, "Hurry and serve the meal! The field workers will be back soon."

What else could Cui Da and Cui Shisan do? They hastily ate a few bites before rushing to the prefecture overnight. They barely managed to buy a pair of glass bowls and a palm-sized tortoiseshell incense burner before Ji Shi's shop closed for the New Year, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

On the ninth day of the first lunar month, Cui Da and Cui Shisan drove a carriage, accompanied by Cui Da's wife, Tuo Niang, and Cui Jiu's wife, to the county town.

Along the way, they spotted several finely crafted black-lacquered carriages with flat roofs.

Having lived in the city for years, Cui Jiu's wife remarked in surprise, "Why are there so many carriages today?" Such carriages weren't something just anyone could afford.

Cui Da's wife and Tuo Niang also crowded by the window to look outside.

"Oh!" Tuo Niang recognized a familiar face and smiled. "That's Prefect Lu's family carriage. Madam Lu must be coming to attend the Fourth Miss's coming-of-age ceremony."

"Fourth Sister-in-law even knows Prefect Lu's family!" Cui Jiu's wife couldn't hide her admiration. "Madam Lu must be here to perform the hairpin ceremony for the Fourth Miss!""I merely happened to encounter Lord Lu's coachman last time when I came to pay respects to Fourth Miss," Tuo Niang hurriedly explained. "For Fourth Miss's coming-of-age ceremony, Madam Lu might not necessarily be the one arranging the hairpin!"

"If not Madam Lu, then who?" Cui Jiu's wife widened her eyes in disbelief.

In her mind, having Madam Lu assist with the hairpin ceremony would already be a great honor.

"The Dou family has no shortage of madams," Tuo Niang replied vaguely, feeling that Madam Lu wasn't qualified enough to perform the ritual for Dou Zhao. "Who knows which madam will be chosen?"

As they spoke, the carriage arrived at the side gate of the Dou residence. Tuo Niang and Cui Jiu's wife suddenly heard the usually silent Cui Da curse under his breath: "...That Tian Fugui actually brought a pair of golden pheasants as gifts for Fourth Miss!"

Everyone turned to look and saw a large, portly man carrying two gilded birdcages, each containing a brilliantly colored male pheasant. Under the crowd's gaze, he strode through the side gate with evident pride.

"Real golden pheasants!" Cui Da's wife exclaimed.

The onlookers buzzed with chatter: "Who is that man? He actually gifted golden pheasants!"

"That's Tian Fugui, the Manor Head from the eastern farmstead!"

"Where did he get them? Quite resourceful!"

Cui Da chuckled and said to Cui Shisan, "Tian Fatty is making a name for himself now!"

Cui Shisan also laughed. "Didn't expect this fatty to be so capable." He considered whether to bring Tian to the Capital for his expanding business, which needed more capable hands.

Just then, the sound of rolling carriage wheels came from behind. The driver shouted arrogantly, "Make way! Make way for the Marquis of Jining's Mansion carriage!"

Like a boulder tossed into a stream, the commotion at the side gate intensified.

"It's the Fourth Miss's in-laws!"

"As expected of a marquis's household—look at those magnificent horses!"

"Three carriages in total!"

Amidst the chatter, the crowd hastily cleared a path for the Wei family.

Meanwhile, the Dou family, having received word, opened the main gate.

The carriages stopped before it, and servants in blue robes began carrying in ornate boxes one after another.

"I wonder what gifts they've brought?" Those at the side gate craned their necks for a better look. "So many!"

"Of course!" someone replied. "What else would you expect from a marquis's household? Our Fourth Miss will be a marquise someday!"

"Indeed, indeed!"

Before the excitement died down, another cry rose: "Look, look! More carriages are coming!"

All eyes turned toward the new arrivals.

Inside the courtyard, Dou Zhao practically skipped out of the main hall and threw her arms around Sixth Aunt Ji Shi, who had just entered through the Hanging Flower Gate.

"Sixth Aunt!" Her joy was unmistakable. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Ji Shi gazed at the now taller Dou Zhao and embraced her shoulders affectionately. "If I had, would you be this happy now?"

Dou Zhao giggled in response.

The maids, wives, and old women around them joined in the laughter.

Though Dou Zhao's fifteenth birthday had yet to arrive, the Dou household was already brimming with jubilant celebration.Ji Shi turned slightly and introduced a young girl behind her to Dou Zhao: "This is my niece, her given name is Lingze. She's three years older than you. I specifically brought her here to introduce you two."

Dou Zhao felt as if struck by lightning.

Ji Lingze—this was the very cousin from the Ji family who would later elope with Dou Dezhao.

She couldn't help but blink, finally getting a clear look at the graceful young maiden before her.

Her jet-black hair was simply pinned up with a single hairpin adorned with a southern pearl. Her skin was as smooth and radiant as jade, her features as exquisite as mountain peaks, and she carried an ethereal, refined aura reminiscent of misty rain in secluded mountains—truly unforgettable at first sight.

"Cousin Ji!" Dou Zhao curtsied in greeting, though inwardly she couldn't help but wryly smile.

At this time, Ji Lingze was still unmarried but already betrothed to the sixth young master of the Han family from Huzhou.