Chapter 191: Gains and Losses

First they sat together and talked for a while, then gave the things to Zhou Ruoyi.

Zhou Ruoyi received the gift and thanked her happily, "Thank you, Sister Su. I will definitely wear this safety lock every day."

After saying that, he put the safety lock around his neck and then looked at He Yanxiu with a smile.

"Thank you, second cousin. I will study hard and live up to your expectations."

He Yanxiu, "..."

If I had known earlier, I should have left these four treasures of the study for Su Yujin to buy, and it wouldn’t have become like this.

However, although Zhou Ruoyi is very young, he speaks with clear pronunciation and bows properly, just like a little adult. He is really likable.

He Yanxiu suddenly understood why Su Yujin's smile was always softer when facing Zhou Ruoyi.

"Well said, you have great ambition." He Yanxiu nodded approvingly, "You will become a great man in the future."

Mrs. Zhou and Mrs. Li looked at each other and smiled upon seeing this.

The Zhou family has been merchants for generations and seems to have no affinity with studying.

Although this dynasty is not too strict towards merchants, and there is no question of their status being lower, but due to the customs and concepts of past dynasties, people still prefer that someone in the family can succeed and become an official.

Although Zhou Ruoyi is not very old now, he studies hard and is quite talented. If he continues like this, even if he may not be able to pass the imperial examination, if he can pass the examination and become a scholar, it will bring honor to the family.

At this time, Mr. He gave the four treasures of the study and said something like this...

Su Yujin had heard vaguely about this second cousin in the past, and it was said that he was an official in the capital.

As a young talent, his future is probably even more limitless and he has excellent vision. His words are auspicious and a good start.

"Mr. He, you are too kind."

Old Madam Zhou smiled and asked her servants to bring some new snacks.

After talking for a while and having some snacks, someone came over to say that lunch was ready.

Crystal shrimp dumplings, sweet and sour fish, roasted lamb, secret Dongpo pork elbow, cabbage Ruyi rolls, osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root, ham and winter bamboo shoots, fried lettuce, eight-treasure rice, and hibiscus tofu soup.

After the meal, red dates and pear soup was served.

The few people were talking until the sun was setting. Seeing that Old Madam Zhou looked a little tired, Su Yujin and He Yanxiu stood up and said goodbye.

After seeing the two off, Li sent Old Madam Zhou back to the courtyard to rest. She accompanied Zhou Ruoyi to count the gifts received today.

In addition to Su Yujin and He Yanxiu's gifts, there were also gifts from some of the big shopkeepers, and gifts from the housekeepers and personal servants, including brushes, rice paper, paperweights, shoes and socks, clothes, snacks, and small items...

More or less, expensive or cheap, it is always a token of thought.

Zhou Ruoyi is a child after all, and he is very happy to receive so many birthday gifts. He looks at this, takes that, and can't let go of them.

Li's face was full of love and doting as she helped to sort and put the things in place.

Li opened a brocade box, inside of which was a jade ruyi inlaid with gold.

“This is…”

"I heard from the housekeeper that this was given by Manager Yun from Yunzhizhai." Zhou Ruoyi said with a smile.

Sent by Yun Yongnian.

No wonder it was such a valuable gift.

No wonder he would send Ruyi...

Seeing Li in a daze, Zhou Ruoyi blinked, "What's wrong with mother? But what's wrong with Ruyi?"

"Nothing wrong." Li came back to her senses, touched Zhou Ruoyi's face, and smiled, "I was just thinking that this gold and jade ruyi is a wish for good luck and happiness. I think it is also hoping that you will have a smooth life and everything will go well for you."

"It's not just me who wants everything to go as I wish. Mother, grandmother, Sister Su, Second Cousin He, and everyone else also want everything to go as they wish." Zhou Ruoyi narrowed his eyes and two small fangs appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"Yes." Li responded with a smile.

But his eyes were filled with an indissoluble gloom.

Everything goes as planned. How can everything go as planned in this world?

What you want is always something you can only encounter but cannot seek for, and to gain something, you must eventually give up something.

Li took a deep breath, forced the mist in her eyes away, and then looked at the sky outside, "It's getting late, tell someone to set the table."

"Eating so early?"

After lunch, Zhou Ruoyi felt like there was still some food in his stomach that had not been fully digested.

"If you are not hungry, eat less. I have specially asked the kitchen to prepare some light and easily digestible meals." Li smiled and said, "Today is your birthday, so of course you have to eat dinner early and then go to fly the Kongming lanterns early."

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According to local customs, children under the age of twelve must release Kongming lanterns on their birthdays. The lanterns must be filled with blessings from their elders and lit by the children. The higher they rise, the better.

This is the happiest thing for children on their birthdays, and it is also what the elders care about.

Zhou Ruoyi nodded quickly and said, "Yes, mother."

The mother and son chatted and laughed, and left Zhou Ruoyi's study together. ——He Yanxiu stayed in Qinghe for a few more days.

Seeing that it was almost Laba Festival, He Yanxiu was worried that he could not take leave for the banquet in the palace, so he decided to take Xing'an back to Beijing.

Before leaving, he gave Su Yujin a silver note worth five hundred taels.

"The New Year is coming soon, you can use this to buy some New Year goods. If I have time after the New Year, I will come to see you again and see if I can get some rewards from the palace. If there are any good ones, I will bring them to you."

"Thank you, Second Master." Su Yujin didn't hesitate to collect them all, but she also raised her eyebrows.

This money was for the New Year's goods, not for the jade pendant she bought last time? Should she just write it off vaguely, or should she just separate the two and keep it in mind?

Touching the thick stack of banknotes and thinking about the fact that He Yanxiu had bought her a lot of high-quality fabrics, vases and other ornaments in the past few days, Su Yujin felt that she should choose the former.

After all, He Yanxiu was generous and magnanimous, and she couldn't learn from him to be petty and only accept money from others but not allow herself to spend a penny, and be a miser.

Thinking this, Su Yujin locked the banknote in a small box and hid it in a safe place.

Just as I finished all this, Zhao and Yu Yongye came to the door.

I come here today to ask for an appointment.

The man would ask someone to choose a good day based on the man and woman's horoscopes, then he would bring generous gifts to the woman's home and ask her to agree to the date of the wedding.

The date was set for the eighth day of May, an auspicious day for everything.

Asking for a date is just a courtesy, and unless the family is particularly particular about it, the woman will most likely not object.

Su Yujin and Shuang Ye discussed it for a while and felt that there was nothing wrong with this date, so they agreed.

After setting the wedding date, the next step is to prepare for the wedding.

The man prepares various etiquette and items for entertaining guests on the day of the wedding, decorates the bridal chamber, etc. The woman also prepares etiquette items, but more importantly, she prepares the daughter's dowry.

(End of this chapter)