Chapter 96: Shi Gun’s Dexterity
He Chengzhe watched Gu Yan and his group of dozens of people gallop away. After a moment of reverie, he turned back and, as he walked, instructed his son, “The Li family is also involved in business with us. Since the Young Lord has prepared betrothal gifts, we should also show our support. Go pick out a few items and deliver them yourself.”
“Alright,” He Ruiming replied, lowering his voice to ask, “Just now, when the Young Lord was picking out betrothal gifts in broad daylight, with everyone watching, what if someone comes to inquire about us?”
“Since you know the Young Lord picked out the betrothal gifts in broad daylight, do you still need to ask me what to do?” He Chengzhe stopped and frowned at his son.
“Yes, I understand,” He Ruiming said, somewhat surprised.
Why did his father suddenly lose his temper? He had been with his father since early morning, and nothing had happened.
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Shi Gun was already skilled and experienced in handling tasks related to Miss Li, having developed a keen sense for it.
Upon returning to the villa, Shi Gun immediately found Uncle Hong and selected four respectable and steady stewardesses. Their hair ornaments were dazzling, and their clothes were bright. They rode in two large carts, with the insignia of Prince Rui’s Mansion prominently displayed on the carts, making them eye-catching.
He then chose about a dozen respectable attendants, each in fine silk robes and riding a tall horse. This magnificent procession, carrying the four betrothal gifts personally selected by Gu Yan, headed towards Li Family Market.
A Wu, having received a “You go too” from Gu Yan, watched Gu Yan’s large group and many horses disappear like a whirlwind. Standing in place, she scratched her head, looking troubled.
Did the Young Lord’s “You go too” mean for her to go by herself, or to follow Gu Yan’s group with the betrothal gifts?
They had left without taking her. Hmm, then it must mean she should go by herself. If she went by herself, she couldn’t go empty-handed. Not empty-handed…
A Wu’s face contorted into a grimace.
She had no money!
The silver coins bestowed by the Young Lord, as well as what the He family had given her, had been spent entertaining her brothers for a few days and buying two fine horses. She had about thirty to forty taels left, which she had distributed entirely to her brothers, as they all had wives and children to support.
Her hands were already completely empty.
She should go back and discuss it with Yu Ting.
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The entire Li Family Market had already begun to liven up.
The matters of marrying a wife and taking a daughter in marriage could be simple or elaborate.
In the simplest case, the matchmaker would bring the woman to the man’s home. If they were pleased, they could marry that very day. A red cloth would be hung above the door; if no red cloth was available, red paper would suffice, and it would still be considered a formal marriage with a matchmaker and betrothal gifts.
For wealthy families, if they wanted to be particular, the process from sending the initial invitation to the post-wedding banquet could last an entire year, with activities every day.
For Li Yin Zhu’s marriage, Li Wen Liang and Old Master Hong, considering the circumstances of the Li siblings, had focused only on practicality until the ceremony of the groom’s arrival.
The ceremony of the groom’s arrival, a grand and lively event, was crucial for the reputation of both families, and it was definitely meant to be celebrated. However, both families still prioritized practicality.
Old Master Hong thought that the Li siblings were just starting out, and holding an overly extravagant wedding might be too difficult for the Li family.
Li Shikuan and Li Wen Liang naturally deferred to the Hong family.
Even with practicality as the priority, this wedding, with the entire Li clan involved in sending off their daughter, was still busy and lively enough.
Li Shikuan and several clan elders felt that this joyous wedding was not only the Li family’s first grand display but also a good opportunity for the Li clan members to gather and hold a significant event, fostering unity and a sense of shared lineage.
The Li clan and Li Family Market had to have a grand celebration.
A few days before the Li siblings returned to Li Family Market, sheds and large cooking pots had already begun to be set up in the open space in front of the ancestral hall.
On the day the Li siblings returned, the fortunate women from Li Family Market and Xiao Li Village, along with two or three other villages primarily inhabited by the Li surname, arrived at the ancestral hall early and left late. They first made Qingming rice cakes, then various other cakes like large cakes, pine cakes, and rice cakes, and prepared preserved meats, pickled chickens, and air-dried fish, frying, stewing, and cooking various ingredients.
A particular and lively welcoming ceremony, starting three days before the groom’s arrival, was to last for a full month!
During this time, there were ceremonies for urging the bride’s departure, displaying the dowry, the groom’s arrival, the third, seventh, and ninth-day rituals, and then the full moon and hair-washing ceremonies. Lively banquets followed one after another.
This grand collective celebration for the wives and daughters of the Li clan had nothing to do with Mei Jie.
Having been divorced and sent home because she couldn’t have children, she was considered an unlucky omen during weddings and had to stay far away.
But she couldn’t avoid this lively event.
Li Xiaonan and Cui Ye were tasked with blocking the groom at the door, which was a very important task requiring discussion, preparation, and manpower.
After Li Shikuan and the clan elders nodded, over a dozen girls around ten years old, and all the children under ten, were placed under Li Xiaonan and Cui Ye’s supervision.
Li Xiaonan designated their activity area as the home they shared with their siblings next to the ancestral hall.
A large group of children ran in and out, pulling on Li Xuemei and calling her Mei Jie, Mei Aunt, or even Mei Grandma, asking for drinks, food, and various other things.
Mei Jie had to go back and forth to the large sheds at the entrance of the ancestral hall, fetching a basket of cakes, carrying two pots of soup, and bringing various ingredients like red dates, hawthorn, chicken, fish, meat, and eggs.
Following behind her, asking for food and drinks, were children from various families. Under the large sheds, everyone was accommodating and didn’t make things difficult for her.
Li Xiaonan could finally enjoy a few days of comfortable living, eating whatever she wanted.
When the procession from Prince Rui’s Mansion arrived at Li Family Market to deliver the betrothal gifts, Li Xiaonan was sitting in their kitchen, eating freshly cooked osmanthus sugar water gorgon fruit seeds and watching a group of little girls laughing and playing.
“Fourth Sister, Fourth Sister!”
Li Shikuan’s grandson, A Min, screamed and rushed in, bumping into Cui Ye’s back. Cui Ye stumbled forward, knocking into two or three other people.
“Ouch, slow down!” Mei Jie exclaimed, startled, and quickly pulled A Min up.
“Call~ call you~”
Azhuang and A Qiang rushed in one after another, both panting. They looked at Li Xiaonan, pointing outside, but couldn’t speak coherently.
“Did something happen?” Li Xiaonan asked quickly.
A Qiang nodded frantically, while Azhuang shook his head.
Li Xiaonan handed her bowl to Mei Jie, waved her arm, and said, “Let’s go see!”
A large group of girls and children followed Li Xiaonan, rushing out in a flurry.
Outside the courtyard gate, Azhuang caught his breath and caught up with Li Xiaonan, tugging at her sleeve. “Weng Weng asked for you.”
“A large group of people, they look so good!” A Qiang could finally speak, exclaiming in awe.
“Weng Weng said it’s from the Prince’s Mansion and asked me to call Fourth Sister,” Azhuang said, pulling A Qiang behind him.
“Huh? What? Oh dear!” Li Xiaonan was stunned.
The Young Lord had arrived?
What was he here for?
“They’re here, they’re here!” Cui Ye shrieked.
Approaching them were Sister-in-law Cao, who was nervously accompanying them on the right, and Li Jinzhu walking on the left. In the middle were two women in splendid attire with dazzling hair ornaments, walking towards them.
“This is our Fourth Sister,” Sister-in-law Cao said to the women as soon as she saw Li Xiaonan, introducing her.
“Greetings, Miss Li,” the two women said, taking two quick steps forward. The two women behind them also followed, and all four performed identical curtsies.
“You are too kind, Nanny. Please come in and talk,” Li Xiaonan returned the greeting and gestured for the four women to enter.
Sister-in-law Guo and Sister-in-law Fan, the wife of Li Wenhua, and others who were following, ran up and, pushing and pulling, moved the group of stunned girls and children aside.
