When thе Сhаng fаmilу invitеd hеr over tо hеlр with thе wеdding prepаrаtions, Ladу Pengсhеng wаs sо оvеrjoyеd that she didn’t notice Mаdаm Yuan’s еxрrеssiоn аt all. Тurning аrоund аnd sеeing Мadam Yuan, shе immеdiatеly greetеd her with a lоud laugh, “Oh mу! Маdаm Yuаn is hеrе! Weren’t уоu said tо bе ill? Аre уou fееling better nоw? I’vе beеn busy helping thе Chang familу рrеpаre for Aunt Сhаng’s wеdding thesе dауs аnd hаvеn’t had timе tо visit yоu. I originаlly plаnned tо wаit until аfter this busу реriоd, but who would havе thought I’d run into you herе. You look wеll, so yоur heаlth must hаve imрroved greatly, right?”
In the past, Cheng Shao had lived with Madam Yuan and others in Apricot Grove Lane. Later, after Cheng Shao’s grandson was born, he moved here. At that time, it was Madam Yuan who came to help organize the house.
The courtyard now serving as the bridal chamber was not the main house in Double Elm Lane but the side courtyard to the east of the main house.
It consisted of three modestly sized main rooms, three wing rooms to the east, and two retreat rooms at the back. Behind the east wing stood a row of old locust trees, while the western corner featured a rockery made of two stacked Taihu stones, planted with a banana tree and two clusters of green bamboo. Under the grapevine trellis in the center of the courtyard, beside a stone table and chairs, stood a large fish tank painted with a few orchids. The pillars and window lattices had been freshly lacquered and covered with snow-white Gaoming paper, making the entire courtyard appear vibrant, fresh, and delightful.
Looking at it, Madam Yuan felt inexplicably displeased, thinking that most men in this world were fickle. In the past, the former second aunt and Cheng Shao had been a harmonious couple, yet after just a few years, Cheng Shao was already remarrying, having even renovated the house and happily playing the role of a groom.
She couldn’t help but sigh wistfully in her heart and asked Lady Pengcheng, “What brings you here, Old Madam?”
Logically, as a widowed elderly lady, Lady Pengcheng shouldn’t be in the bridal chamber at all—wasn’t this going to ruin Cheng Shao’s marriage?
Lady Pengcheng chuckled and said, “I’m just here to take a look. I haven’t gone inside, I haven’t gone inside.”
Although Aunt Chang hadn’t formally acknowledged her as a godmother, Aunt Chang’s younger brother had, so she was considered a relative of the Chang family. The Chang family’s “auspicious woman” was her niece from her maternal side, and they were here to inspect the bridal chamber. She had simply taken the opportunity to tag along.
Madam Yuan sneered inwardly but didn’t point out Lady Pengcheng’s impropriety. Instead, she asked, “I wonder what dowry the new aunt has prepared?”
Lady Pengcheng hesitated, on the verge of speaking but holding back.
Aunt Chang served in the palace, and between her monthly stipend and social obligations, how could she possibly have any savings? When the Chang family’s maternal uncle came, he brought eight hundred taels of silver, which was already scraping the bottom of the family’s coffers. Lady Pengcheng had privately given five thousand taels to Aunt Chang as dowry, but to her surprise, Aunt Chang returned it, along with the eight hundred taels from the Chang family’s maternal uncle. She even gave the uncle an extra two hundred taels, implying that Old Madam Guo had taken five thousand taels from her own savings to help prepare the dowry and uphold her dignity.
In any case, since it was Old Madam Guo’s personal savings, her sons and daughters-in-law were entitled to a share. It was better not to bring up this matter.
Thinking of this, Lady Pengcheng suddenly lost interest in making small talk with Madam Yuan and said, “Have you gone to see your mother-in-law yet? I’ve already seen the bridal chamber, so I’ll have something to say to Aunt Chang when I return. I won’t delay them from arranging the dowry here. I’ll go sit with your mother-in-law and chat with her.”
Madam Yuan hadn’t even considered that Old Madam Guo might be here at this moment.I was simply driven mad by Zhou Shaojin and Madam Min.
She muttered to herself, then quickly said, "I was originally going to pay my respects to my mother-in-law. Seeing you here, I came to greet you first—why don't we go together to see my mother-in-law?"
Lady Pengcheng was relieved that she was no longer being questioned about the matter at the east courtyard and was happy to let it go. She said nothing more, and the two of them walked smilingly to the small courtyard at the back.
The weather was gradually growing warmer, and Yun Ge'er, who was just two or three days away from his first birthday, suddenly began taking a few steps on his own.
The entire family gathered around him, encouraging him to walk.
He was also very active, constantly moving about here and there all day long. When he grew tired of walking, he would crawl, and when he grew tired of crawling, he would hold onto things and walk again. No one knew how many sets of clothes he went through in a single day.
Sometimes, Madam Fan Liu couldn't help but scold the maids in Yun Ge'er's room: "Don't let the young master run around everywhere. Let him play on the carpet."
Old Madam Guo laughed upon hearing this and said, "After all, you raised a young lady. Girls and boys cannot be raised the same way. Girls are precious and must be cherished like jade wherever they go. Boys, on the other hand, are born to uphold the family's responsibilities. If they are restricted from moving around when they are young, how will they dare to venture out when they grow older? Let him crawl as he pleases. It just means a few more baths and a few more sets of clothes. Besides, if we make too many small clothes, we can always save them for his younger brothers, can't we?" She then instructed the servants attending to Yun Ge'er, "If he wants to pick flowers, let him pick them. If he wants to play with Snowball, let him play. Just keep a close watch to make sure he doesn't fall or get bitten. Boys shouldn't be overly restricted."
Since the old madam had spoken, who dared to say anything?
It was just hard on the maids in Yun Ge'er's room, who never knew how many clothes they would have to wash each day.
Zhou Shaojin sympathized with their difficulties. In addition to secretly supplementing the servants in Yun Ge'er's room with five hundred wen each month from her own funds, she also assigned two of her own rough-working women to Yun Ge'er's service, specifically to wash his clothes.
Regarding this matter, Old Madam Guo even praised Zhou Shaojin in front of Cheng Chi: "...You are establishing a new household, and future generations will follow your rules. That's why the rules must not be disrupted. The fact that Shaojin can cover Yun Ge'er's expenses from her own side already shows she has the bearing of a proper mistress. I think in another two years, Shaojin will be able to manage this household on her own."
Cheng Chi laughed and said, "Mother, she is where she is today because you taught her well. As for managing the household, it would be best if you continue to take charge for the next few years. We still plan to give Yun Ge'er a few more younger siblings!"
Old Madam Guo loved hearing this. Upon hearing these words, her face blossomed into a smile, and she repeatedly said, "That's good, that's good! As long as you can expand the family, I will do everything I can to help you manage this household well."
Zhou Shaojin blushed deeply, unable to say a word for a long time.
Old Madam Guo thought that if things continued this way, Yun Ge'er would likely spend most of his time with her. Considering that Yun Ge'er was the eldest son, she became even more attentive to him. When Cheng Shao got married, she took Yun Ge'er to live in Shuangyu Alley, also wanting to see if Yun Ge'er was afraid of strangers. She spread a carpet in the hall for him to roll around on.
When Yun Ge'er grew tired from playing, he would lie on his back on the carpet, grabbing his own little feet and babbling unintelligibly.
Old Madam Guo watched him, chuckling.
Madam Yuan and Lady Pengcheng lifted the curtain and entered.Lady Pengcheng immediately exclaimed with an "Aiya!" and said warmly, "Isn't this our Yun Ge'er? Why are you lying on the ground all alone? Did Grandmother offend you? Get up, get up!" As she spoke, she reached out to pull Yun Ge'er up.
Yun Ge'er's wet nurse didn't dare stop Lady Pengcheng and looked toward Old Madam Guo.
Old Madam Guo waved her hand dismissively and said, "Don't mind him. He likes playing like this." Then she added, "When did you arrive? Why didn't you have the maids announce you? I could have gone to greet you."
Lady Pengcheng didn't dare mention that she had peeked into the bridal chamber from the courtyard. She smiled and said, "I happened to run into your eldest daughter-in-law, so we came together." As she spoke, she had already picked up Yun Ge'er, only to find him unexpectedly heavy. She nearly couldn't lift him and had to exert more effort. Finally, she held Yun Ge'er, who didn't look particularly chubby but was quite sturdy, in her arms and asked with a smile, "How are the preparations for our Yun Ge'er's first birthday celebration going?"
Old Madam Guo smiled and replied, "Everything is ready. We're just waiting for the guests. Speaking of which, our Yun Ge'er is quite fortunate. The elderly masters from the Yuan family of Tongxiang, the Li family of Lujiang, and a few others heard that Second Uncle is remarrying. Thinking they had nothing else to do and being advanced in years, they accepted the invitations to come for the wedding banquet. Yun Ge'er's first birthday celebration happens to be just a few days after Second Uncle's wedding. The elderly masters all said they want to watch Yun Ge'er perform the Zhuazhou ceremony.Madam Yuan pondered, feeling somewhat better at heart, and took the initiative to discuss Yun Ge'er's first birthday ceremony with Old Madam Guo and Lady Pengcheng: "...You want to borrow his eldest uncle's official seal? That's fine! I'll go back and tell his eldest uncle later. He'll surely be delighted."
"It doesn't necessarily have to be his eldest uncle's official seal. Any fish tally can be used as a substitute," Old Madam Guo said. "It's just for fun."
"You can't say that," Lady Pengcheng disagreed. "His eldest uncle's official seal is of the first rank—what a wonderful omen! Don't listen to your mother-in-law; listen to me, and you won't go wrong. Just take it to Chaoyang Gate tomorrow."
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Dear readers, today's update.
o(n_n)o~
PS: I'd like to recommend a book to everyone.
Title: The Heiress's Scheme
Author: Don't Sweep the Snow
Synopsis: Fifteen years ago, the Ye family mother and son died unexpectedly, and the eldest daughter was frightened into madness. Fifteen years later, Ye Nianchen, who had been away receiving treatment, suddenly returned to the capital, fully recovered.
Step by step, the truth sealed away for many years finally came to light. What Ye Nianchen aimed to do was live well and watch the long-overdue retribution, fifteen years in the making, unfold in splendid fashion!
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