Chapter 59 Condolences (Pink Ticket 330 Plus Update)

  On the third day of Xiaoxuan's death, the Duan family announced the news to their relatives and friends. Suddenly, the Duan household was bustling with people, and those who came to pay their respects were endless.

  Dòu Shìyīng, Wáng Yìngxuě, Dòu Zhāo, and Dòu Míng, as filial children, daughter-in-law, and grandson, paid their respects in front of the coffin. All household matters were handed over to Gāo Shēng.

  Those who served tea and water, accompanied guests, managed the account books, even those who went to his place to show respect, he had never experienced such things, but in recent years, following Dou Shiying in Kyoto, he gained some experience, and when handling matters, he was more careful, more stable and reliable than others in the Western Dou family. After a busy period, he was exhausted, and his strength was not enough.

  Dong Zhao occasionally gave him some pointers, and he soon grasped the essentials. He became more stable in his actions, and some of Dong's old managers praised him, saying "he can be greatly used". Only then did Gao Sheng breathe a sigh of relief, and when he looked at Dong Zhao again, his gaze was somewhat different.

  This is exactly what Dou Zhao had planned.

  For three years of mourning, she must live in Xidu, and she needs a strong arm.

  Two days later, Wang Zhihe and Pang Yulou came to offer condolences.

  The combination of great uncle and sister-in-law is quite strange.

  "Wang Zhi explained: 'Eldest brother's wife is pregnant, and it's the early stages, plus she's a bit older, so she can't take the bumpy ride. It's been some days since younger sister hasn't seen little sister, and Eldest Brother has been thinking of his cousin, so I brought them together to come burn incense for Old Master.'"

  Wang Tan is the eldest son of Pang Yulou and one year older than Dou Ming.

  Or maybe it was when the two of them were in Kyoto's Yanzhi Alley, Wang Tan would grab Du Ming's hand as soon as she entered the house and wouldn't let go, shouting "Ming Jie" : "When are you going home? No one is accompanying me to play."

  Dong Mingdao said: "I want to pay filial piety to my grandfather, after finishing paying filial piety I will go to Kyoto to see you."

  Wang Dan said: "Then hurry up and finish your filial piety. When the time comes, I'll let Father take us to Daxiangguo Temple together to eat mutton noodles."

  Dong Ming nodded without stopping.

  Pang Yulou gave her son a push and pointed at Dou Zhao, saying: "Hurry up and call Big Sister!"

  Wang Tan looks like a member of the Pang family, with fair skin and big, bright eyes. She is even more beautiful and delicate than the young lady from the Gong family.

  He sweetly called Du Zhao "sister".

  Dou Zhao still remembered the last time he knelt down beside Du Ming's feet, begging pitifully: "Good sister, brother's heart only has that cousin of his, Gao Mingzhu, even if he marries you, he won't treat you well. I'm different, I've liked you since childhood, if you marry me, I'll treat you well for a lifetime, whatever you want to do, I'll help you..."

  Unfortunately, Dou Ming's eyes were as soft and entwining as spring water, as if they could drown people. Wang Tan's gaze, on the other hand, was filled with calculation.

  "She smiled and said: 'Then I want you to say in front of your grandmother that you want to marry Gao Mingzhu, do you dare?'"

  .

  The Wang family only thought that Gao Mingzhu was ambiguous between Wang Nan and Wang Tan brothers, and she had no chance of becoming the daughter-in-law of the Wang family again.

  Gao's family would rather die than let Dou Ming be her daughter-in-law.

  Wang Nan never spoke another word with Dou Ming...

  Dòu Zhāo saw Wáng Tán again, and his heart was filled with pity for him.

  She smiled faintly at Wang Dan.

  Pang Yulou pushed her son in front of Du Zhao: "You are cousins, you should get closer to each other!"

  Dong Zhao did not make a sound.

  Dong Ming however ran over and pulled Wang Tan: "Let's go play with Yí sister and Shū sister together."

  Wang Dan smiled and replied "good".

  Pang Yulou glared at her son and said: "You stay here."

  Wang Dan didn't dare move, pitifully gazing at Dou Ming.

  Dong Ming burst into tears: "I want to play with Tan Ge, I want to play with Tan Ge!"

  Dòu Shìyīng frowned straight away.

  Wang Yingshu looked at Pang Yulou with displeasure, and coaxed Wang Tan and Dou Ming: "Alright, alright, stop crying. Yi Jie and Shu Jie are both in the flower hall, go find them to play!"

  Wang Dan and Dou Ming went to the flower hall hand in hand.

  Pang Yulou secretly sighed in her heart, and smiled at Dou Shiying: "My mother's two nephews, Pang Xiuge and Kun Ge, have also arrived. They want to come in and pay their respects to the young master."

  Dongdang passed away. The three elder brothers of Pang Yulou all came to mourn in person, but they didn't know that their niece from their mother's side had followed them.

  Guests are coming.

  Dòu Shìyīng did not refuse.

  Pang Jixiu is the son of Pang Jinlou, fifteen years old this year. Pang Kunbai is the son of Pang Yinlou, twelve years old this year. Both children are handsome and elegant in appearance. Their every move is polite and courteous, if not for one being too distracted and the other being too sharp-eyed, they would be a perfect pair of refined young gentlemen.

  Pang Yulou then introduced Du Zhao: "This is your elder female cousin."

  Two men bowed to Duan Zhao.

  Dong Zhaodan nodded slightly, without returning the courtesy, looking somewhat aloof and proud.

  Dong Shiying did not expect that Pang Yulou's two nephews had grown so big, and seeing Pang Yulou behave in such a manner, he was displeased in his heart, and naturally would not think that Dong Zhao was disappointed.

  He indifferently exchanged a few words with Pang Jixiu and Pang Kunbai, then took Du Zhao to the mourning hall.

  Wang Yingxue pulled Pang Yulou to a side room and said in a low voice, "What are you trying to do?"

  Pan Yulou had a helpless look on her face: "You also know that my mother's brothers are still doing business in Lingbi County, and they want to get close to the Duan family. They heard that Fourth Miss and Xiu Ge'er and Kun Ge'er are of similar age, so they have the intention of seeking a marriage alliance. I also know that Xiu Ge'er and Kun Ge'er are not worthy of Fourth Miss, but no matter how I say it, they don't believe me, and instead blame me for meddling. I had no choice but to bring my two nephews over, hoping to get your approval." She continued, "However, thinking carefully, if Fourth Miss were to marry into the Pan family, it would be good for you too - my sister-in-law would become her mother-in-law, and I would become her aunt. She wouldn't dare disobey her elders, right?"

  "How could you have forgotten? The Wang family cannot interfere with Du Zhao's marriage!"

  "The order of parents, the words of matchmakers." Pang Yulou disagreed, "We're not directly arranging a marriage for Fourth Miss, are we?"

  Wang Yingshu's heart skipped a beat: "What did you say?"

  "What if Fourth Miss herself had a crush on him?" Pang Yulou covered her mouth and laughed, "The Zhao family didn't say that Fourth Miss couldn't marry into the Pang family!"

  What's so good about Nangong Zhao that Second Sister-in-law has to go to such great lengths to marry her into the Pang family...

  It suddenly occurred to Wang Yingshuai that Dou Zhao had brought a dowry with him.

  Her expression suddenly became somewhat obscure and unclear.

  If Duan Zhao married into the Pang family, this property would belong to the Pang family.

  Although the second lady had given a gag order, those who experienced it that year were clear in their hearts.

  When Wang Yingxue looked at Pang Yulou again, she had a few more points of vigilance.

  She's really got a mind of her own!

  Wang Yingshu thought to herself. Du Shiying was talking to the people who came to mourn with the Wu family: "...... He left too suddenly, no one expected it...... I reported my condolence leave at the Hanlin Academy. It's a good opportunity to stay at home and read some books..."

  Wu Shan quietly handed Dou Zhao a handbag behind his uncle's back: "You mourn and change!"

  What does this have to do with handbags?

  She stared at Wu Shan in dismay.

  "Wu Shan took advantage of the adults' inattention and whispered: 'I asked for a peace charm at the Dafang Temple.' His voice was urgent, his ears bright red."

  Dong Zhaoming was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said "thank you", his words sincere.

  Wu Shan narrowed his eyes and smiled, his ears reddening even more, then he stood beside Wu's uncle with his eyes cast down. He didn't look at Du Zhao again.

  Dong Zhaoyi vaguely felt Wu Shan's intentions towards her, and she couldn't help but fall into deep thought... After the 49-day mourning period, her grandfather was buried in the ancestral tomb of the Dong family in Beilou, and the guests at home also gradually dispersed.

  Pang Yulou and Wang Yingshu discussed: "Can we let Xiu Geer and Kun Geer study at the Dou family's clan school?"

  Wang Yingshu didn't like Pang Yulou's greed and didn't want to bother with this. She was also afraid that she would need to ask the Pangs for something in the future, so she didn't want to fall out with them. She pushed the matter onto Du Shiying, who thought both children seemed quite worldly and wasn't too pleased, pushing the responsibility onto Third Uncle: "It's always been Third Master who's been in charge, I don't know what requirements there are for studying at the clan school, why don't you go ask Third Master?"

  Both of them agreed reluctantly.

  Pang Yulou had heard more unpleasant words than this and didn't take it to heart. He took the eight-color gift box and personally found Dou Shihong.

  The Dou family was quite famous in Zhending Prefecture, and relatives and friends often sent their children to the Dou family to study.

  Dou Shi Bang nodded in agreement without saying another word.

  Thus, Pang Jixiu and Pang Kunbai entered the Dou family school, soon got to know Dou Zhengchang, Dou Dechang, Dou Qijun and others, occasionally even thinking of ways to follow them back to the East Mansion for dinner, but never met Dou Zhao once.

  Pang Kunbai couldn't help but complain to his father: "It's completely useless."

  Pang Yilou slapped his son: "I've been doing business for over a decade and only made 20,000 to 30,000 taels of silver. You think you can get that kind of money without putting in any effort? There's no such easy deal!" Then he scolded him again, "You need to be more diligent! The Duan family's silver is not just being watched by your uncle, but also your aunt has her own calculations. Don't let Wang Dan take advantage of you, or you'll end up crying and unable to do anything about it."

  "Really?" Pang Kunbai was extremely surprised, "Wang Tan is four years younger than the fourth miss of the Diao family?"

  "What's wrong with being four years younger?" Pang Jinlou said, "Pang Jixiu is still six years older than Fourth Miss!"

  Pang Kunbai shut his mouth tight.

  Pang Jixiu was more talented than Pang Kun, and after he took a large sum of money to investigate Dou Zhaonan without success, not only did he seriously follow the Dou family's Western studies, Mrs. Du, to read and write, but also made great efforts to get along with the people in the Dou family's school.

  Dou Junqi and others were used to being flattered, and they took these things to heart. However, Pang Jixiu heard from Dou Junqi's attendants that every summer, Dou Zhao would go to Tianzhuang to stay for a few days.

  In the second year of summer, he made early preparations and invited Dou Zhengchang and others to go to the countryside for fun as soon as he heard that Dou Zhaoyi had set out for Tianzhuang.

  Du Zhengchang and several others were unwilling to go: "It's hot enough to kill someone, what's fun about the countryside?" As he said this, Du Dechang was holding a bowl of iced sour plum soup.

  Pang Jixiu also felt that there was nothing interesting, so he said: "We can go down to the river and catch fish!"

  "I'm still fishing by the pond." said Du Zhengchang lazily.

  Wu Shan is coming.

  Dòu Zhèngchāng introduced them, Qí said: "I thought you'd come on Dragon Boat Festival, but you didn't. Now it's so hot and you've rushed over, what's the urgent matter?"

  ※

  Sisters, Spring Festival is rushing to ask for pink votes... If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) RQ