Chapter 48: Preparing for the Year

  The three people in the room were somewhat at a loss as the young woman smiled and chatted.

  "Mr. Han Lang, you're overthinking it, we didn't come here to catch a son-in-law." The maid said with a suppressed smile.

  As soon as he said this, Han Yuan let out a sigh of relief and felt a bit embarrassed, involuntarily turning his head to glare at the two men.

  The two of them also smiled wryly at each other and laughed.

  "What a pity, I thought this time I would finally have the chance to make a choice in righteousness, and taste that kind of pain that cannot be helped but endured with dignity."

  "Yes, yes, I've already thought it through. Once the Yuan dynasty abandons its old alliance and switches to a new one, I'll be able to cut ties with him. Do you think I should cut this robe or exchange it for an old garment?"

  The maid who had just suppressed her laughter burst out laughing again, and the crisp sound of her laughter came from the door of the house, adding a bit of vitality to this bleak inn during the New Year's festival.

  "I wonder what good fortune those scholars have encountered." The shop assistants chimed in with curiosity.

  The laughter stopped, and the people in the house adjusted their expressions.

  "You mean your master wants me to help him with something?" Han Yuan asked, somewhat surprised.

  The maid nodded and pushed over a purse of money.

  "Yesterday, I saw that woman and her child were pitiful, and I wanted to offer some slight assistance. However, my master had unavoidable matters and couldn't go out. Moreover, since you, sir, have a connection with that woman, I asked you to go instead, so she would be more likely to trust you."

  Han Yuanchao was surprised, but nodded.

  "Your Excellency is chivalrous," he said, "but..."

  "It's all because of Master Lang's diligent studies that we've delayed, I'm truly sorry." The maid took over the conversation and said with a hint of apology as she curtsied.

  Han Yu Chao hastily returned half a courtesy.

  "It's all right, it's all right. Reading books is not a one-day effort." He said, thinking for a moment and then nodding, "Alright. I'll go with you tomorrow."

  "Tomorrow I will come here to find you, young master, and visit that woman so I can report back to my mistress and put her mind at ease." The maid said, standing up to take her leave.

  Han Yuanchao saw her off and watched as the maid put on a cloak and hood and disappeared into the snowy distance.

  "Could it be a scam?" his companion said with some doubt.

  "Swindler? What are you swindling me of?" Han Yuanchao laughed and said.

  His companion pretended to examine him seriously for a moment.

  "Color," he said.

  Han Yuanchao burst out laughing and gave him a punch.

  "Before we part ways, hurry up and rent a carriage for me. Tomorrow, it's more important that all of your attendants follow me as my entourage." He said with a smile.

  With his own rented carriage and six or seven followers in tow, he should be able to handle any ordinary small-time thieves in the capital. But if it's a big thief...

  "I think the Han family is a big clan in Su Zhou, but in the capital city, I'm afraid it's not worth anyone's effort to deal with. Han Yuan Chao smiled and said, "If we really need to make an effort to deal with each other, then it's naturally not something that can be handled just by responding. It's better to wait."

  "Who says chivalrous people are foolish? The person who said that deserves a slap in the face." His companion shook his head and sighed.

  The young woman stepped into the house, followed by two small servants, each carrying two bundles.

  Just two steps away, there was a sudden loud noise of firecrackers exploding nearby.

  "Jin Ge'er, don't be naughty!" She hastily covered her ears and shouted.

  Jin Geer laughed and threw down the bamboo pole in his hand as soon as he opened the door.

  The maid opened the door. Laughter and chatter filled the air, warm fragrance and warmth rushed towards me.

  The voices inside the house stopped for a moment.

  "Ban Jin has arrived." Xumao Shou said with a smile.

  "I have seen Mr. Sanlang." The maid made a curtsy and then bowed one by one to the other men sitting in the house.

  Then she turned around and took over the package handed by the little servant behind her and put it in the house. The little servant retreated, and the maid pulled up the paper door, isolating the cold air from outside.

  "It's too much courtesy to call her Miss Half Cabbage, we can't afford for you to address us as 'Lang Jun' one by one. And Third Brother said that accepting your gift is a sign of respect for you, I don't understand what he means..." said the man sitting at the end.

  "If you don't understand, then don't pretend to, and spare a few words." A man rebuked in a low voice.

  She had rarely seen him before, and after thinking for a moment, she remembered that this was her elder brother Fan Jianglin.

  "The Spring Festival is approaching and there's no time for tailoring, so the young lady asked me to buy ready-made clothes." The maid said, pushing over a package.

  The men shouted and became chaotic again.

  "How nice it would be if sister could get us some new clothes." Xu Maosheng said.

  Jiang Yao's mouth curved slightly as she sat quietly listening to them talk.

  "It's just a matter of doing this at home with sisters and female relatives," she said. "I've never done it personally, so I'm taking the easy way out."

  Fan Jianglin and others expressed their gratitude.

  "I don't know if it fits or not, let the gentlemen try it on and we can have the tailor make adjustments." The maid said with a smile.

  "Wow, I haven't worn new clothes for Chinese New Year in ages!" Xu Bangzhu exclaimed first, hugging his bundle and heading out, laughing with a wide grin.

  With him taking the lead, others are no longer reserved.

  "It's just as well to take a bath, otherwise the new clothes will stink before they're even worn."

  "Fourth brother, you're the one who stinks, I just washed yesterday."

  "Third brother, your beard is also due for a trim."

  "Brothers go by yourselves, wait until you've finished harvesting, and we'll eat together," said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "So, it's hard on you, sister," Xu Maosheng said.

  Led by him, the other brothers also thanked them busily.

  Jiang Nang returned the courtesy, and everyone laughed and stood up to leave.

  The room was filled with the lingering noise and the peculiar smell of men. The maid first served water to Cheng Yaonang, then read a passage for her to transcribe silently before kneeling down beside her.

  "My dear daughter, Mr. Han has already agreed, and I will go with him tomorrow," she said.

  Jiang Nang nodded.

  "Miss, why do you want me to invite a doctor over instead of..." The maid asked hesitantly.

  Why bother to invite another doctor when the princess can diagnose and treat herself?

  Jiangniang stroked the armrest and lowered her head.

  "He's still not enough for me to come and see him," she said.

  Are you saying that those people aren't qualified?

  The maid guessed, but it was just a fleeting thought. As for the master's thoughts, she never thought much about them. It was already presumptuous to ask this question, so she quickly changed her mind and covered her mouth with a giggle.

  "My dear, that Korean gentleman was quite amusing just now," she said.

  Jiang Nang raised her eyes and looked at her.

  "What?" she asked.

  The young lady rarely takes the initiative to ask about others' affairs. It seems that this Mr. Han is indeed an old acquaintance of hers. The maid thought so and quickly sat up straight.

  "He thought we were here to propose a marriage," said the maid with a smile. "You're refusing me in a righteous and proper manner."

  Jiang Yao's mouth curved slightly upwards.

  "How could you think that?" she said.

  "It's no wonder he thinks that way." The maid servant smiled and said, "In the capital, there has always been this custom. Every year when the big comparison is made, the powerful and wealthy families will all post notices to recruit sons-in-law. Now, even the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, Wang Wei, was contested by two powerful families in his youth, and the lawsuit went all the way to the Emperor."

  "This capital city custom is indeed interesting." said Jingniang with a smile.

  "It's not as severe elsewhere, but a good young man like you will be sought after for marriage wherever he goes." The maid servant said with a smile.

  Jiang Nang nodded.

  "But Han Lang Jun actually thought so." The maid couldn't help but laugh again.

  Just as they were laughing and chatting, there was a sound of footsteps outside the door, followed by a man's gentle cough.

  "Sister." Xu Maoshu's voice echoed from outside.

  The maid hurried over with a smile and opened the door.

  "Sanlang, so soon..." She said, lifting her head, suddenly stunned, and her voice stopped.

  Jiang Yao also looked over at the sound, her hand paused in drawing on the several cases.

  Outside the door stood a man, wearing a brand new green cotton gown, with cloth shoes on his feet. He was tall and robust in build, with a clean face and a hint of moisture on it from having just washed up. His eyebrows were thick and his eyes were large, with a broad forehead and a flat chin. Although his skin was rough, he still looked quite handsome.

  "It fits quite well, no need to alter it again." He said, lowering his head to examine his clothes.

  The previous chapter missed a word, Saturday is not the eldest son of the first wife, but the eldest son, hehe, corrected.