Chapter 56: Marriage (Part 2)

  The Temple of National Protection is located in the west of Yanjing City, and there are temple fairs on the seventh and eighth days of each month. Today, although it's not a temple fair day, there are still many tourists like ants, and numerous incense guests, with many people taking horse-drawn carriages or riding donkeys to come to the temple to burn incense.

  Eleventh Sister got off the car with Tenth Sister and saw a row of small stalls in front of the mountain gate, with blue and white cloth sheds, selling food, jade utensils, silk fans, tea cups and other daily necessities, dazzling and everything was available. It looked like the scenic spots she had been to before.

  Luo Zhenxing and his classmate Qian Gongzi walked ahead, surrounded by maids, rough servants and tall and majestic guards. At a glance, it was clear that they were either rich or noble, and ordinary people naturally did not dare to get close.

  They soon went up to the main hall to burn incense and were then invited by the host to rest in the mountain house behind the temple.

  The Fifth Daughter and the Tenth Daughter were excited, wearing veils and looking around. Entering the mountain house, they even ran to the window sill to look outside. The Eldest Lady looked at the calm Eleventh Daughter and nodded slightly.

  Luo Zhenxing accompanied Qian Gongzi into the house to pay his respects to Madame.

  The five daughters-in-law hurriedly retreated to the inner chamber.

  That Mr. Qian was a very talkative person, after a few simple greetings, he started chatting with the mistress: "...... There are people selling wooden combs, all kinds of materials are available, I once bought a genuine cow horn comb for only ten cents. On the west side, there is a shoe face seller, with a wide range of colors and patterns, although it can't be compared to Jiangnan's Su style, it also has its own characteristics. You can send someone to take a look later. In the south, there is a tea stall called 'Year Cake Li', specializing in selling rice cakes, liangpi, fried dough sticks, and braised meatballs, all with authentic Yanjing flavor, you must try it! Have you heard of fried dough sticks? Inside, they fill white flour, red yeast water, cloves, and cardamom, very particular......" He talked endlessly, his topics were like a horse galloping in the sky, forcing the mistress and the five girls in the house to laugh out loud. However, the eleventh girl felt that this man talked too much and often exaggerated, being somewhat frivolous. But the mistress liked him very much, and even sent someone to buy food from Year Cake Li's place.

  Eleventh Sister looked at the thing that resembled rice cake but was called enema, and didn't dare to eat a single bite. On the other hand, Tenth Sister ate it with great relish.

  As a result of this episode, Mrs. Wang and Qian Gongzi became less formal and more intimate with each other.

  Qian Gongzi then asked the old lady, "Next to the Temple of Protection there is a teahouse called 'Shunde Zhuang' where a troupe specializing in Yu Hang opera performs. Would you like to go and listen?"

  The lady smiled and said: "No need. We'll just sit for a bit and then leave."

  Just then, a woman's voice came from outside: "Is this the female quarters of the Yu Hang Luo Fu family? Our lady is the wife of Taiyuan Prefectural Governor Jiang."

  The eleventh girl's body stiffened as she listened.

  She was puzzled when she heard about coming to Huguo Temple, now she finally understands!

  Wuniang and Shiniang, who were sitting on either side, seemed to be unaware of what was happening. They sat there, each going about their own business, without showing any difference in their behavior because of the impending arrival of Mrs. Jiang.

  She then heard Qian Gongzi exclaiming in surprise: "Could it be that the Honorable Jiang of Le'an Jiang's family is not here?"

  "That's right." The old lady smiled and responded, then Mr. Qian laughed and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave with Brother Zhenxing for a while." As he spoke, there were footsteps outside the house.

  The fifth daughter saw the eleventh daughter leaning against the door listening to the outside noise, and ran over laughing: "Eleventh sister, what are you listening to?" She was much more affectionate than usual.

  Eleventh sister knew she was being isolated by Ten sister, so she found it very boring. She smiled at Ten sister but replied to Fifth sister's words: "Mother seems to have met an acquaintance."

  The fifth daughter had also heard the noise earlier, and now that the eleventh daughter mentioned it, she too calmed down to listen carefully to the outside commotion.

  In the rustling sound of clothes, a strange but enthusiastic female voice came: "Madam Luo, this is really fate. I happened to return to Yanjing and didn't expect to meet you here. Although we are meeting for the first time, I am like sisters with Yuan Niang, so I especially came to pay my respects. If there's anything improper, please forgive me." The words were extremely polite and affectionate.

  "Mrs. Jiang is too polite." The two women chatted as they took their seats, host and guest.

  Mrs. Jiang exclaimed: "How come I haven't seen any of the young ladies from your family? Yuan's mother said they are all as beautiful as heavenly fairies!"

  "That's Yuan Niang lifting up her own sister!" The old lady modestly called out to Permit Mother to bring out the three of them, Wu Niang and the others, to meet the guests.

  Mrs. Jiang was in her thirties, with a pair of long eyebrows that reached the temples, extremely beautiful, but with a pair of eyes that were particularly sharp. When her gaze fell on Shiyi Niang, Shiyi Niang felt as if she had been illuminated by a searchlight, feeling very uncomfortable.

  "They are indeed as beautiful as heavenly immortals." Mrs. Jiang gazed at the three sisters who were paying their respects to her, clicking her tongue in admiration, and rewarded each of them with a string of sandalwood beads and a pearl hairpin.

  The lady was modest for a moment.

  Mrs. Jiang asked them how old their sisters were? How was their needlework? Could they read and write?

  Although he was asking the three sisters, his gaze lingered on Wu Niang's body for a longer time.

  They all responded to Mrs. Jiang's words, and then Mrs. Jiang was about to get up and bid farewell: "...my mother has been a vegetarian for many years, and she doesn't manage the household affairs much, leaving everything to the housekeepers, so it's a bit messy. I also need to go back to my parents' home to take a look." Sighing deeply, "It would be great if my younger brother could get married soon. Then I wouldn't have to run around like this."

  "You are the eldest sister-in-law, even if you marry a younger brother's wife, it would still be the biggest. The old lady said politely, "This burden is probably too heavy to put down!"

  Mrs. Jiang chuckled: "At that time, it's just a matter of sticking some silver coins, as for the housekeeper, I won't be able to take care of it."

  The two of them chatted and laughed as the lady of the house personally escorted Mrs. Jiang to the door, then ordered the carriage to return home: "We're going to Third Lady's place for dinner."

  What great enthusiasm!

  The eleventh daughter couldn't help but mutter to herself in her heart. But judging from Mrs. Jiang's expression today, she estimated that the eldest fifth daughter was relatively satisfied. It can also be inferred that either Wang Gongzi is not young, or his family is eager for him to marry and have children to open up a new branch for the Wang family.

  On the road, Qian Gongzi asked Luo Zhenxing: "How did your family get to know the people of Le An Jiang's family?"

  Luo Zhenxing smiled and said: "Our family is not familiar with them. They seem to be very familiar with my elder sister."

  Qian Gongzi nodded, with a hint of envy flashing in his eyes: "It's great to be like you guys, wherever you go, there are relatives and friends."

  Luo Zhenxing smiled.

  Qian Gongzi said: "Speaking of which, Uncle Bo and the two uncles are all waiting for a vacancy, right? And doesn't Guo Shu Ye do anything about it?" His eyes flickered slightly.

  Luo Zhenxing was taken aback for a moment before reacting, realizing that Qian Gongzi's "Guo Shu Ye" referred to his brother-in-law Xu Lingyi, the Marquis of Yongping.

  He looked at Qian Gongzi with an anxious expression, and smiled faintly: "Brother-in-law told Father not to worry."

  Qian Gongzi nodded thoughtfully and asked Luo Zhenxing, "Do you often go to Hou Ye's house? How does he treat you? I've heard that his temper is very gentle, is it true?"

  "I don't go there often!" Luo Zhenxing said with a smile, "And I don't have much contact with him either..."

  Qian Gongzi's eyes had a faint disappointment.

  Lu Zhenxing understood and said, "However, he treated me quite well. I heard from Ji Jiu that my brother-in-law had specially gone to find him, asked about my studies, and entrusted him to take good care of me. I was quite surprised when I heard this. Just the day before Ji Jiu told me this, he had especially invited me to drink wine at Chunxi Building, although he also asked me questions about my studies, but didn't mention going to find Ji Jiu at all. It seems that he was afraid that I would become complacent and neglect my studies."

  Qian Gongzi's spirits lifted, and he laughed: "Does your brother-in-law also like to drink at Chunxi Tower? I do too. What does he like to eat? Is it sturgeon, puffer fish, water eight fresh or deer meat?"

  Mandarin fish and puffer fish are available in April and May, water caltrop is fresh in summer, and deer meat is available in autumn and winter.

  Luo Zhenxing was deeply impressed by Qian Gongzi for a moment.

  He read books well and was also good at socializing... For a while, he had the intention of making friends.

  "What you said, they all have in their own house, why would they go to Chunxi Building on purpose." Luo Zhenxing noticed Qian Gongzi's expression.

  Qian Gongzi's smile was somewhat unnatural: "It's also, he is the uncle of the country, the Marquis of Yongping, and the Spring Xi Lou is good, but it can't compare to the royal banquet. There's nothing to be proud of."

  This is already the second time mentioning that Yongping Marquis is the imperial uncle.

  Luo Zhenxing's heart was somewhat certain.

  He smiled and said, "I don't know what my brother-in-law likes to eat, but my third aunt loves to eat the roasted suckling pig at Chunxi Building..." He suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no, I forgot! I should order one from Chunxi Building and bring it over to make my third aunt happy too."

  Qian Gongzi hastily said: "The Third Aunt you mentioned, is she the young lady of the Liu Ge's old house?"

  Luo Zhenxing nodded: "Liu Ge Lao has already retired and returned to his hometown."

  Qian Gongzi smiled and said: "Even so, I've heard that Li Ge Lao's new tea tax is having a lot of difficulties!"

  Luo Zhenxing chuckled: "Today we're visiting relatives, let's not talk about these things, let's not talk about those things!"

  Qian Gongzi smiled and said, "Indeed!" He then continued, "Since that's the case, I also can't go to fight the autumn wind with empty hands. Like this, I'll hurry on horseback and have a suckling pig delivered to San Shu's house from Chunxi Building."

  From Luo Daren to "Third Uncle"…

  Luo Zhenxing smiled and looked at him: "No need, no need. How can I let you spend money."

  "If you go on like this, we won't be brothers anymore." Qian Gongzi was very straightforward and didn't wait for Luo Zhenxing to respond before he whipped his horse and left.

  Qian Gongzi had already prepared the roasted suckling pig before the Luo family arrived at Qian Tang Hutong, and was waiting with two attendants from Chunxi Building at the gate of Luo Huaiyi's residence.

  Lu Zhenxing was stunned, then discovered that the jade pendant carved with the pattern of "step by step promotion" which Qian Gongzi had always hung on his waist was gone.

  He nodded secretly and knocked on the door of Third Uncle's house.

  Third Mistress saw them and was overjoyed, hastily calling out Third Master to entertain the guests, while she personally busied herself preparing dinner.

  The hostess stopped her: "There's also a roasted suckling pig outside, bought by Xing Ge. Just let the kitchen prepare some small dishes casually. We sisters-in-law sit down and have a good chat."

  Third Aunt was even more delighted and called the mothers to take the roasted suckling pig to the kitchen, then pulled Eldest Aunt's hand and went to the main hall.

  Everyone sat down, and the hostess asked about Fifth Master and Sixth Master.

  "Off to school you go." Third Madame's smile was somewhat forced, "Master is stuck in Yanjing, can't delay the children's studies, right? Conveniently, the Zhongshan Marquis' family school is just a block away from here, so I sent the kids there."

  The lady was somewhat surprised: "Are you quite familiar with the Tang family of Zhongshan Houfu?"

  Don't wait till tonight, get up early tomorrow and take a look!