Seeking pink tickets

  How to spend the rest of her life? According to Peony's original plan, she would naturally set up a female household first, then buy land, buy a house, build a garden, plant peonies, become rich and wealthy, and spend her own money as she pleased. If she could meet that person, truly love each other, have children, quarrel and make up, and live the rest of her life like this. If not, she couldn't just marry someone randomly, right? Someone like Liu Chuan, with a marriage like Peony's, once was enough, absolutely didn't want to experience it again.

  "Mother, actually I want to set up a separate household for myself," Peony ventured. She felt the hand on her head hesitate and she looked up at Lady An anxiously, worried that her suggestion might hurt her mother's feelings and make her think she was ungrateful.

  Madam Chun gazed at her sternly, not speaking a word. Peony could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her chest cavity, the frequency almost as rapid as when she was nearly trampled by the hoof of the Qinghua Duke's horse. Although tense, she persisted in looking at Madam Chun with the gentlest eyes, saying softly: "Mother, I know you're worried about me, and I also know it's not a good time to bring this up, but I think you and Father will definitely understand my feelings." After hesitating for a long time, she said softly: "To be honest with you, I've been thinking of cultivating peonies after I get married."

  Madam Qin wants to get a divorce and divide the property with the He family, she wants to make every effort to plan for her, compensate her, and naturally understand her thoughts. She wants independence, she wants to control her own destiny, grasp her own property rights.

  "Madam Chun was silent for a long time before saying, 'I need to discuss this matter with your father first.' Although she didn't give a direct answer, Peony could tell from her expression that it was already half settled. So she dropped the subject and asked Madam Chun, 'Is there anything you'd like to instruct me on?'"

  "Madam Cen just regained her composure: 'You know the Liu family hates you to the bone, they won't wish you well, will they?'"

  "Actually, it's all a misunderstanding. If his family could have tolerated me, things wouldn't have ended up like this. Everything seemed normal, but then something else happened."

  Madam Cen carefully observed her expression: "Your elder brother returned from outside today and only then learned that the rumors had already spread to our doorstep, saying that you were ill and unable to bear children, causing trouble at home and being shunned by everyone, which is why you were divorced and sent back home..."

  This means that even if we meet a good family in the future, this rumor will bring great trouble to our marriage. Peony raised an eyebrow, and although she was not calm in her heart, when she saw Madam Cen's distressed expression, she smiled casually and stroked Madam Cen's hand: "They're not wrong, I really couldn't have children, and it's true that I caused trouble, making their whole family suffer. In the future, there will be more suffering, isn't this what people mean by 'being shunned'? As for divorce, whether it's divorce or separation, it's all separation. Must the person being divorced always be at fault? Can't they remarry? Why bother with them? If we get angry because of this, we'll fall into their trap."

  Madam Xun did not expect such an answer, she thought Peony would be very sad or cry in her arms. But unexpectedly, Peony comforted her instead. Madam Xun was the one who felt sad and said: "Your father and I were thinking of finding you another suitable one after a while, but then..."

  "Mother, it's fine this way. It saves a lot of trouble, and let me live the life I've been thinking about for years. Marriage is predestined, if that person really has fate with me, they won't care about these things. You have to believe, great difficulties will not kill me, there must be good fortune after hardship, my good days are still ahead."

  Seeing her daughter so obedient and sensible, Mrs. Cen's heart ached greatly, but she forced herself not to show it and patted Mudan's hand saying: "Good, good, as long as you understand." But then said: "For the next few days, don't go out, okay? To avoid hearing annoying things."

  "Peony raised her chin: 'No, I'm going out. What have I done that's so shameful? Why should I be afraid to go out? Are those who were really abandoned and returned home supposed to hide and not show their faces? The more I hide, the more it seems like I'm the one who's ashamed. That would just make them happy. I'll go out tomorrow.'"

  Madam Cen saw how lovely she was and her mood slightly improved, smiling as she said: "Then where are you going?"

  "Peony Road: 'Curved River Pool Lotus Garden, please help me back up the gift. Father or one of my brothers should accompany me to thank that Mr. Jiang. If it weren't for him, I would have lost my life by now.'"

  Madam Cen said: "The gift has been prepared. Your father says to give a Xiangshanzi (a type of incense burner)."

  Peony nodded and saw Mrs. Cen off at the door: "You should get some rest earlier, or you'll ruin your health. How could I bear it?"

  "Come home all these days, haven't seen you eat less, how can you not get fat? So thin, which is not good?"

  Peony puffed out her chest: "Where did I get thinner? The flesh is all hidden." One sentence made Mrs. Cen laugh loudly.

  Madam Cen returned to her room, and He Zhizhong hastily asked: "How was it?"

  Madam Cen smiled slightly: "After all, our daughter has grown up. From now on, even if we die, we don't have to worry about her anymore."

  "What did you say?" He Zhitong asked in puzzlement.

  Madam Cen told him what Peony had said, and laughed: "It's not a big deal, tomorrow we'll be leaving anyway, let others say whatever they want." She looked at He Zhizhong again: "She wants to set up a female household, saying she wants to plant peonies in the future."

  It's indeed much clearer than before. He Zhizhong fell silent for a moment, rubbing his forehead and sighing: "Let her be. When children grow up, they don't listen to their parents. Look at us, we're not even dead yet, but it's already like this, with undercurrents surging. If I die before you one day, there will still be things for you to worry about. The children can't say who is good or bad, but you and I have come from the same place, fearing not poverty but inequality. It's only a matter of time. Better to get rid of her sooner rather than later, so we can prepare and avoid being caught off guard. She doesn't even have anywhere to go, and will suffer so much unjust treatment for no reason.

  Mrs. Cen said, "I think so too. Flesh and blood, flesh and blood, no matter how close siblings are, they can't be closer than one's own parents and children. But I still have an idea - after setting up a separate household for her, she can do whatever she wants outside, but before remarriage, I won't let her move out, I'm not at peace."

  He Zhizhong said: "Let it be. Tell her to get closer to the children, and if something happens in the future, she can be called upon."

  Before she had finished speaking, Lady Cui suddenly turned red-eyed, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and sobbed in a low voice: "My poor Dan Niang. Why do you always encounter so many troubles? You must make the Liu family suffer a great defeat to relieve my anger."

  He Zhizhong gently patted his old wife's shoulder and softly coaxed: "Don't cry, don't cry, it's all up to you."

  On the second day, early in the morning, Mudan got up early and asked Yuhe to bring her a crimson red jacket with a flipped collar, which she put on. She also changed into a pair of boots, tied a leather belt around her waist, combed her hair into a bun, and went out to eat. As she was walking, she ran into Mrs. Cen, who said before Mudan could even greet her: "Your father has agreed, but you have to stay at home. Later, I'll send someone to invite a geomancer to come and select a site for building an extension on the house. That way, you can live more comfortably in the winter."

  "This is probably the biggest concession they can make, and Peony no longer insists: 'It's hard on you.'"

  As soon as she entered the house, she saw her brothers-in-law smiling at her, while her sisters-in-law looked at her with sympathetic eyes. Zhen Shi, who usually loved to tease her, came up to her with a warm smile and said: "Dan Niang, are you hungry? Come sit down quickly, dinner will be served soon. We made your favorite crystal rice this morning."

  "Not hungry yet, ate a lot last night." Peony knew that everyone had come to sympathize with her after hearing the news. After all, they were one family, and when something like this happened, they immediately came together again. Suddenly, her mood lifted greatly, and she sat down happily next to Zhen Shi, holding the youngest He Chun in her arms, and laughed: "I heard that you got scolded by your grandmother the other day? Why was that?"

  He Chun, who was only five years old, leaned into Peony's arms and scrunched up her nose, saying: "Feng Feng is a big bad egg, hateful and detestable."

  Everyone burst out laughing, and Wu Lang pinched He Chun's nose: "It's just a bird, you tease it but instead get teased by it."

  Bai Shi looked at Peony with concern and said: "Dan Niang, are you going out? Why don't you go in two days?"

  The gate is definitely going out, Peony has not replied yet, He Zhizhong has already made a decisive decision: "After dinner, it's still me and Dalang accompanying Dan Niang to go out and thank you. Fourth brother, you go and invite Zhang Wu Lang, see what place is suitable, ask him to eat and answer his thanks, let him invite his brothers together, choose a good place without being stingy with money. Wait until I and Dalang finish our business and then come over to toast him."

  He Si Lang heard this and solemnly said: "Dad, rest assured, I will definitely handle things properly."

  Qujiangchi is separated from Xuanpingfang by four districts, it's not far to say, and it's not close to say. On the way, Peony met several familiar neighbors, I don't know if it was psychological, but she always felt that those people looked at her with different expressions when they saw her. She didn't care, greeted those who should be greeted, asked about those who should be asked, and treated others' inquiring gazes as air.

  Da Lang's face sank, looking very unpleasant. Seeing someone chatting with Peony for a few more words, he would whip out his whip and crack it loudly, scaring the person into hastily swallowing their words back into their belly and hurriedly bidding farewell to Peony.

  He Zhongzhong didn't bother with him, his face calm and quiet. When someone asked about it, he would answer a few words, otherwise he would patiently wait for the peony. He had seen many storms, what's this compared to that?

  When they arrived near the Furong Garden of Qujiang Pool, Dalang asked an old man who was pushing a cart selling steamed buns: "Excuse me, sir, do you know where Jiang Changyang is staying around here?"

  Request for Support

  Today is the last day of double monthly ticket, the list changes in an instant, but in a moment, it was thrown off by more than 200 votes. There's nothing to say, Xiaoyi will continue to work hard, and sincerely ask everyone to lend a hand, every vote counts, even if Xiaoyi hasn't paid off the debt today, she will pay it back one by one, absolutely no regrets. As for the final result, don't worry about it, Xiaoyi has already done her best. Thank you everyone. There will be an update later today.