The Wu family had three daughters and a pair of sons. The second daughter died young, leaving only one pair of children, each with the elegant and majestic appearance of the Tao family. The boys were dignified and handsome, while the girls were beautiful and lovely. Sitting in a row, they were truly a pleasure to behold.

  Taoshi praised them, calling each of them to come forward and give a gift. The gifts were very generous: the boys each received a pair of jade pendants, one with a high-quality inkstone; the girls received a pair of red coral hairpins, a pair of honey-colored earrings, and some fabrics that had been specially brought from Taoming Fu, as if to make up for the good treatment they had previously received from their brother and sister-in-law. Lin San Old Master wanted to save face, so he also gave each of the Tao siblings a pair of fine brushes in an acid-branch wooden box.

  Lin Jinyong presented the shoes made by Lin Jinyin. Wu Shi and Tao Shunqin each had a pair of home-made and outing shoes, with five blessings embroidered on the toe, using exquisite materials and fine workmanship. The rest, including Tao Fengtang, only had one pair, but what was different was that the sole of Tao Fengtang's shoe was embroidered with the words "peace" and "safety", which were loudly announced by ten-year-old Tao Fengjiu, causing everyone to rejoice.

  It was night, the Tao family had a banquet at home. Everyone was having a good time eating and drinking, chatting and laughing without mentioning anything unpleasant. Halfway through the banquet, Mrs. Tao got a bit drunk and pulled Mrs. Wu aside to speak in a low voice: "If it weren't for you all protecting me, I'm afraid I'd still be lying in bed right now..." She choked back tears as she spoke.

  Lin Jinyong hurriedly stopped her: "Mother, on such a happy day, why say these things? Don't drink anymore." He took the wine from her hand and accepted the hot towel handed over by the maid, wiping her face and hands, then fed her a cup of strong tea to sober up.

  Tao also followed his daughter's intention, letting his daughter serve him, and comfortably watched Wu smile: "Look, now this girl is in charge of me." "She's really a good girl." Wu smiled with her eyes narrowed: "I'm relieved. Earlier, I saw that the girl was silent all day, and she looked thin and weak, so I worried that she would be bullied and not dare to speak out. From last year when your family's old lady had a birthday, until now, I'm really relieved." Before the words fell, Tao San's daughter Feng Xiang also took the hot towel handed over by the girl to wipe her face, and said coquettishly: "Mother, don't envy Auntie, you have me."

  The eldest daughter Feng Qing ordered the cold dishes to be taken away and replaced with hot ones, also joining in the fun. The two sisters surrounded Wu Shi, wiping her face and massaging her shoulders. Wu Shi was in a great mood, laughing: "Look, it's really worth raising them with good intentions. Now that Feng Qing is managing the household, I'm happy to be carefree."

  Phoenix feeds Wu Shi a cup of tea: "Thanks to my daughter for giving me the opportunity." Wu Shi smacked her lips and deliberately asked strangely, "Why is this tea sweet?" Tao Shi laughed and said, "Of course, it's sweeter when daughters are filial. Phoenix, pour another pot for your mother, anyway, it's sweet."

  "You naughty thing, corrupting my daughter." Wu pinched Tao, who smiled and said: "I learned it from sister-in-law!" The sisters-in-law burst out laughing together.

  Lin Jinyong's heart felt a pang. Eldest sister married far away, this was her last birthday with Wu Shi at home, afterwards, Wu Shi's illness got more and more severe, Lin Jinyong entered the house in the second year and lay in bed, struggling to hold on until Lin Jinyong gave birth, then left the world.

  The eldest sister rushed back overnight, but couldn't see her one last time, and almost fainted from crying in front of the coffin... The child wanted to take care of her, but she didn't wait. Lin Jingrong gently hugged Tao Shi's arm, leaned her head on Tao Shi's shoulder, and softly called out: "Mother..." Tao Shi smiled and rested her head against her daughter's: "What is it?" Lin Jingrong sweetly smiled: "Nothing, I just missed you." Feng Xiang teased Lin Jingrong with a smile: "Shameful, shameful, such a big person still acting like Little Seventh Brother." Wu Shi wrapped her arms around Lin Jingrong's small waist and pulled her into her embrace, laughing: "Come, come, don't be jealous of your cousin, you have me too."

  Lin Shenzhi, with a big smile on his face and rosy cheeks, ran in from outside and buried himself in Mrs. Tao's arms, saying: "Mom, can we stay at Uncle's house for a few more days? I like playing with Big Brother and Second Brother." Feng Xiang teased him: "Little Seventh Brother only likes Big Brother and Second Brother, doesn't he like me and Big Sister? What's the logic? I'm heartbroken." Lin Shenzhi blushed and turned his face to look at her sideways: "You're a girl, you can't just say you like someone."

  "You little brat, what do you know about men and women?"

  Everyone burst out laughing at once, tears of laughter streaming down their faces.

  When the moon was high in the sky, the banquet finally dispersed. Long after that, Lin Jingrong still remembered the joy and ease of this night, and whenever she felt unwell, thinking about it made her feel warm again.

  On the second day in the early morning, Lin Jingrong was still lying on the bed when Feng Xiang came knocking on the door: "A Rong gets up, we go out to have fun."

  Lin Jinyong suddenly sat up with a start, hardly daring to believe his ears: "Go out on the street?"

  It's not easy to go out of the Lin family, first need to get Mrs. Tao's consent, then need to get Old Lady Lin's consent, and also need to disturb the Zhou family to send a car and horse, and also need to find a servant girl to follow and take care of things, all sorts of difficulties, all sorts of not easy. In vain she had been thinking for a long time, thinking that after Wu's birthday, she would wait for an opportunity to slip out and go for a stroll, and then take the chance to go to the market, how come as soon as she woke up someone called her to go out and have fun on the street?

  Tao Fengxiang saw her silly appearance and couldn't help but laugh: "Haha, I knew you'd make this face!"

  "It turns out that my cousin was cheating me." Lin Jiner sighed, got dressed and washed up: "I said it wouldn't be so easy, you just bully me, an honest person like this."

  Tao Fengxiang saw her dazed and slow, couldn't help but laugh: "Silly, really going out to play, hurry up! Big brother has already put on the car cover, bring your hood, windbreaker and face mask together."

  Lin Jinyong hastened his pace: "Aunt wants to give birth, can't we help at home?"

  "Who is so kind as to let us go out on the street?"

  "You're really worried, I've already prepared everything, how can we wait until now?" Tao Fengxiang thought Lychee's movements were slow, so he snatched the comb and quickly helped Lin Jinyong braid two pigtails, put on a few pearl flowers, and smiled: "It was Wu Ergou who told my father last night that he wanted to go out and have fun, Brother will accompany him, your cousin and little Seventh Brother also want to go, I want to go too, so I said you want to go too. My mother and aunt were in a good mood, so they agreed. You must not betray me later."

  Lin Jinyong thanked her, but she didn't even have time to do so, how could she betray her? At the moment, they received the news and the two sisters-in-law went hand in hand to see Tao Shi and Wu Shi.

  "Wu was discussing Lin Yizhi's marriage with Tao: "The two families you mentioned in your letter, I've inquired about them. The girl from the Bian family is 16 years old this year, a bit older, but she looks decent and her temperament seems okay. Unfortunately, her mother died early, and her father passed away when she was 13, so she's been delayed in getting married due to mourning. Her family is quite well-off, but it's managed by her elder brother and sister-in-law, I don't know if they'd be willing to provide a dowry. Your sister-in-law introduced the Fan family from the west of the city, also a scholarly family, their grandfather was a jinshi and served as an education official, but this girl is a concubine's daughter, her stepmother is very strict and has never been seen taking her out as a guest, I don't know about her character or personality, and the dowry probably won't be too much."

  Mr. Tao heard Mr. Wu's intention was inclined to the girl of the Sun family, but in his heart he was somewhat dissatisfied with the girl's age, both parents had passed away, and her mother had died early, and she was also a legitimate daughter, who knew whether she could obey after marriage? The Fan family's daughter was an illegitimate child, suppressed by her stepmother, perhaps more understanding of restraint, so he said: "The dowry can be discussed slowly, why not take a look at the Fan family's girl first."

  How can a concubine's daughter compare to the legitimate daughter? Besides, Miss Sun has seen her herself and had a good impression. Mrs. Wu was somewhat disapproving but didn't dare to advise against it, so she smiled and said: "Alright, after all, we're just taking a look for now and not making any immediate decisions. If it really doesn't work out, we can always consider other options. Have you looked at the ones from Qingzhou?"

  Tao said, "You also know the situation in Qingzhou. We all know each other's roots and bottoms, and it's really hard to find a suitable family. I think highly of them, but they don't think highly of me; they think highly of someone, but I don't think highly of that person. In short, it's not suitable. How is the family style of the Fan family?"

  "Wu said: "The Fan family has many concubines and children, but they are all well-behaved and have never been involved in any scandals."

  ”

  Lin Jinrong walked in and happened to catch the tail end of their conversation. Instantly, she became extremely vigilant, but then smiled and said, "What were Mother and Aunt talking about?"

  "Mind your own business, kid. Come here, I have a few words to tell you. You can go out and take a look, but let Gong Mama follow you. Listen to your big brother and Gong Mama, don't make trouble, don't run around, and don't bother your siblings. Take care of your seventh brother."

  Lin Jinyong thought to himself, in the next few days, the Tao family wouldn't be able to settle Lin Yizhen's marriage either, so he smiled and agreed, promising to bring Lin Shenzhi back whole and intact, without causing any trouble.

  Tao Fengxiang also promised to take good care of Lin Jinyong. Wu smiled and said, "You're another one who's easy-going? Don't be instigating your sister."

  Tao Fengtang walked in with a smile: "Alright, I'll leave it to my son. I guarantee he'll bring back all the younger brothers and sisters safely."

  After seeing several children leave, Mrs. Tao lowered her voice and said to Mrs. Wu: "Sister, I have something to entrust you with. Our daughter is not young anymore, it's time to think about her marriage. This girl really can't be judged by appearances, she has a strong personality and has done some things that are unforgettable. Take a look, are there any wealthy and honest families in Qingzhou with suitable age and social status? I don't ask for a scholar-official, just someone as kind, considerate and capable as Feng Tang would be fine."

  "Wu hesitated, holding her chin and said: "If it were someone else's marriage, I could speak up easily, but since it's my own niece, I find it rather difficult to say anything for the time being. It doesn't seem quite right, let me ask around slowly. Isn't there anyone suitable in Qingzhou? Has your family's young master been decided on? If not, your family's old lady won't agree, will she?"

  "It's really funny, let them choose for themselves. " Tao said angrily: "It's almost done."

  "Whose house is the flower falling on?"

  Mrs. Tao burst out laughing: "Sister-in-law, this description is great! Lu Xian's child really looks like a flower, if not mistaken, it should be the second daughter. The first daughter has already been arranged to marry her uncle's family's cousin. You don't know how fiercely they competed for that earlier... Only the two sisters-in-law got closer and closer, laughing loudly as they talked.

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