Volume 1 Chapter 140 Joyful Banquet (Middle) (Pink Tickets: 1440)
People always find it easier to accept those who are on the same level as themselves.
Madam Huang's remark "all are family losers" made Lin Dajie suddenly become close to Shier Niang. She asked her what hobbies she had at home, whether she liked listening to opera, and who sang better, Geng Changsheng of the Changsheng Troupe or Bai Xiuqiong of the Jieshangshe Troupe? With Madam Huang also chiming in, the three women chatted and laughed warmly.
The lady in front took the opportunity to turn her head and take a look, and then discussed with Madame Huang how Shandong people marrying off their daughters differed from those in Yanjing.
The dining area was a small flower hall, with five or six tables set up, and only two women sat on the east side. One was around fifty years old, wearing a dark brown ten-flower brocade jacket with gold trim, her black hair styled in a round bun, and only wearing a pair of golden Guanyin earrings, with a very cold expression. The other was around forty years old, wearing a blue peony flower brocade jacket with gold trim, her hair styled in a peony head, wearing a pair of golden phoenix hairpins, ruby rings, and a smile that was cautious. There was also a woman wearing a bright red silk skirt with gold branches and green leaves, standing beside the two women. She looked like she was only in her early twenties, with an ordinary appearance, but there was a hint of arrogance between her eyebrows, giving people a feeling that she was not easy to get along with.
Lin Dai * milk immediately said in a low voice: "Do you see the one wearing a large red carved silk skirt, Yang Shi, the third lady of the Tang family."
The eleventh girl was slightly surprised.
What surprised her was not that she met the daughter of Jian Ning Hou here, but that there was a hint of reminder in Lin's tone.
It seems like they're meeting for the second time and having their first in-depth conversation... Sometimes, fate is a strange thing!
In the midst of their sighs, the three had already looked over. The woman in her forties immediately smiled and came over to greet them: "Everyone has finally arrived!"
Mrs. Tang and others greeted the woman in unison: "Mrs. Li!"
The old lady beckoned to Eleven Maid: "Come, meet the wife of General Li of Shanxi."
The eleventh daughter hastily stepped forward and paid her respects to Madame Li.
Mrs. Li returned the courtesy while saying: "This is really a blow to me. I recall that in the past, our family's old master was rescued by Duke Hou..."
"This is not a grand hall for rewarding merits." The old lady smiled and interrupted Mrs. Li's words, "Mrs. Li is also too polite!"
As they spoke, the fifty-year-old woman and the third wife of the Tang family, Yang, walked over.
"I've long heard that Master Hou has married a virtuous and talented wife, but I didn't expect her to be a beauty as well!" The fifty-year-old woman smiled as she looked her up and down, "Our Master Hou is indeed a lucky man!"
The eleventh girl couldn't help but break out in cold sweat as she listened.
Before marrying Xu Lingyi, she was just a little girl from the countryside of Yuhang who was unknown to the world. When did she have the reputation of being virtuous and gentle? This lady's hat is too high!
The old lady listened but only smiled and said to the eleventh girl: "This is the wife of Mr. Liang, a university scholar in the Huagai Temple and the Minister of Justice."
The eleventh daughter made a curtsy and paid her respects to Mrs. Liang.
Madam Liang hastily grasped her hand: "Master Hou and our family's old master are sworn brothers, madam needn't be too polite."
"Ah!" Yang's sister-in-law, who was standing beside him, suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, "Poor brother-in-law, you've got another little aunt."
Eleventh daughter listened to a head of fog water.
The old lady smiled and said: "The second sister of the third young mistress of the Tang family is the third daughter-in-law of Mrs. Liang."
The eleventh daughter suddenly realized.
Mrs. Liang's eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure, and she laughed awkwardly: "I'm just afraid that I won't have any gift for you when we meet."
Everyone burst out laughing, and Yang's awkwardness was covered up as a result.
Tang's fourth grandmother arranged for everyone to take their seats in an orderly manner.
Mrs. Tai, Mrs. Zheng, Mrs. Huang, and Mrs. Lin sat at one table, while Mrs. Liang, Mrs. Li, Mrs. Gan, and Mrs. Qiao sat at another. Lin Dàniáng, Huang Sān Niáng, and Shíyī Niáng sat at a third table. The mother of the host invited several aunts and sisters-in-law of Miss Tang, who all exchanged greetings. Mrs. Tang accompanied her sisters-in-law to sit at one table, while her sisters sat at another. With five tables full, there was an empty seat next to Shíyī Niáng. Tang's fourth aunt smiled and said to Yang Shi, "Why don't you join us too?"
Yang smiled and was about to take her seat when a little maid ran in: "Mrs. Zhou from the residence of the eldest princess has arrived!"
Tang's fourth grandmother hurried out to greet her as soon as she heard the news. Yang saw her and followed her out too.
Huang San Niang explained to Shiyi Niang: "Fu Ma Ye's surname is Zhou. The elderly princess is already old, and all social interactions are handled by her daughter-in-law, Madame Zhou. She is the eldest legitimate daughter of Wang Rao, the Marquis of Zhen Nan."
The girl's eyes sparkled and she said in a low voice: "Is he a relative of Fujian Governor Wang?"
Huang San's eyes widened slightly: "The Zhen Nan Wang family indeed had a collateral brother who served as the Fujian Governor. So you know each other?"
That's right.
The one who proposed to Shi Niang.
Madam Wang and Elder Sister Jiang were extremely close...
She knew that the households of these people were intertwined, but they were so complicated that she couldn't help but secretly rejoice - if it wasn't for Madame Tai changing her mind and deciding to bring her out, it would have taken herself three or five years to figure out these relationships.
Eleventh Young Lady shook her head: "I know the wife of Governor Wang!"
Lin Daiyu was listening to something strange, just wanting to ask for details, Tang's fourth wife and Yang's wife had already walked in on either side of a woman in her thirties wearing a large red embroidered butterfly patterned jacket.
Mrs. Zheng and a few older ladies remained seated without moving, while Mrs. Gan and a few younger ladies stood up to greet Mrs. Zhou.
Mrs. Zhou was very lively, curtsying and asking after everyone's well-being in a different way - she asked Mrs. Zheng about her health, asked Mrs. Tai about the situation in Danyang, asked Mrs. Lin when her fifth daughter, Lin Mingyuan, would get married, asked Mrs. Liang when they would harvest their wheat after already harvesting their barley, and jokingly asked Mrs. Gan why she wasn't sitting with her relatives, was she feeling embarrassed... She single-handedly made the atmosphere suddenly more lively by 30%. Eleventh Sister couldn't help but secretly admire her. Also listening to Mrs. Zhou's words, she quietly asked Lin Dajie: "Who is Mrs. Gan related to?"
Lin Dai smiled and said: "Lan Ting and the eldest son of the Liang family have been engaged!"
"What time is it?"
"This March!" Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Previously, the Liang family had been asking to marry Lanting, but the Gan family wanted to marry off Cao E first and then discuss Lanting's marriage. Who knew that in June, the old ancestor of the Jiang family passed away, and the Jiang family wanted to complete the wedding within 100 days? But Fujian is thousands of miles away from here, and it's also the peak summer, so it's a bit rushed. The Gan family simply let Cao E wait for three years after her mourning period was over before discussing it again. So they discussed Lanting's marriage first. Speaking of which, Lanting isn't young either. The Liang family's old lady has been ill and bedridden all the time, if something really happens to her, wouldn't Lanting have to wait another three years? And she still has two younger sisters who are about to get married!"
The 11th girl's mind was racing quickly, and she barely heard some words: "You're saying that the third daughter of the Gan family is going to marry into the Jian'an Jiang family, which has 'one gate with four jinshi and two grand councilors in one generation'. The seventh daughter of the Gan family, however, is engaged to the eldest son of the Liang family."
So Ganniangzi became Qiaofu's natal family?
It's really complicated!
"Hmm!" Lin Daiyu nodded, glanced at Yang, and winked at Eleventh Sister: "The Yang family wanted to marry their second daughter to the eldest son of the Liang family, but unfortunately, the Liang family's eldest son had already been engaged to the seventh miss of the Gan family. The second son had also been engaged to the second daughter of Huang Yu, the governor of Zhejiang. So, Yang's second daughter ended up marrying the third son of the Liang family." She said with a smile, pursing her lips.
The eleventh girl understood.
No matter whether it's a big family or a small one, the eldest son and daughter-in-law are the representatives of the whole family and the pillars that support the household. Therefore, they are extremely cautious in cultivating the eldest son and choosing the eldest daughter-in-law. The Liang family is doing this because they don't want to form an alliance with the Yang family... She also thought about Lan Ting's purity, intelligence, magnanimity, and tolerance, no wonder the Liang family has been eager to marry her.
She smiled and winked at Lin Daiyu: "Understood, understood!"
Lin Dai smiled with her eyes narrowed.
Eleventh suddenly felt that Lin Da was also a very interesting person!
The second son of the Liang family married the second daughter of Huang Yu, the governor of Zhejiang... She thought that when it was time for the birthday of the old lady, she would have to send a longevity fan screen. The fifth daughter wanted a purple sandalwood base for the screen, but the Luo family had one, and because of Madame Huang's birthday, Luo Zhenxing took it away to carve a longevity star... In the blink of an eye, two years had passed. Her life had also undergone earth-shaking changes.
She still owed Lanting a favor - when Lanting learned that she had become Xu Lingyi's wife, he tactfully reminded her to read more Buddhist scriptures, hoping that she could find peace of mind and overcome all difficulties. Unfortunately, at the time, she was too busy with her own affairs and didn't dare to have much contact with Lanting, which has always been a regret in her heart.
As she was lost in thought, Old Madam summoned her with a wave of her hand.
The eleventh daughter hastily left her seat and went to the place of the old lady.
"Mrs. Zhou, this is our fourth daughter-in-law." He then pointed to Mrs. Zhou and said to the Eleventh Lady, "This is the daughter-in-law of the Prince's mansion, a talented woman from Yanjing, Mrs. Zhou."
Eleventh daughter-in-law half-knelt and made a courtesy, Madame Zhou hastily returned the courtesy. Turning to Old Madam on one side, she said: "I was wondering who this was - so delicate and refined, I've never seen her before. It turns out she's your family's Fourth Madam."
Yang said beside him: "Don't you think she looks a bit like Song Jieyu?"
"Madam Zhou seemed not to have heard and said to the eleventh girl, 'Our home is in a hutong just next to the Lotus Flower Temple. When you're free, come visit us at home. The Marquis Hou and my husband, as well as Shun Wang, are all childhood friends, so don't be formal.'"
Eleventh Girl smiled and said: "Thank you, sister-in-law. I'll definitely go play when the time comes."
"What's with the 'auntie', Mrs. Zhou said with a smile, "call me sister."
The eleventh girl took a quick glance at Mrs. Tai and saw that she nodded slightly, then smiled and shouted "Sister".
Mrs. Zhou immediately smiled and agreed, then smiled at Fourth Madam Tang and said: "You don't have to be embarrassed anymore. I'll squeeze in with the fourth madam."
"Then how can it be?" said Fourth Mistress Tang anxiously.
"You think I'm eager for your family's food?" Mrs. Zhou said with a smile, "I just want to join in the fun! Where can't you find something to eat and drink?" She didn't care what the fourth madam of the Tang family said, and asked the eleventh lady, "Where are you sitting? We sisters meet for the first time, we should have a good chat." And she also said to the elderly ladies, "Originally I should be setting out chopsticks and bowls, but since my mother-in-law isn't here today, let me take liberties and act like an elder sister in front of the fourth madam."
Several ladies burst out laughing.
Zheng Taikun even more rarely spoke with a tone of teasing: "Tell Princess Chang tomorrow!"
Mrs. Zhou pulled at the hem of Zheng Taikun's garment and wouldn't let go: "Tomorrow, bring some candied fruit to visit Aunt." This made Zheng Taikun laugh out loud, tapping her forehead: "Go on, go on, don't disturb us here."
Everyone burst out laughing again.
She pulled the eleventh girl towards the eleventh girl's seat.
