Chapter 716 It's a waste to stay at home

More importantly, because she couldn't conceive, Meng Yunlan had promised Qiao Zhiyu that she could marry Gu Qianling as a concubine, on the condition that if Qiao Zhiyu gave birth to a son, he must be given to her, the legal wife, to raise, and Qiao Zhiyu would pretend that she had never given birth to the child.

Qiao Zhiyu agreed.

However, Meng Yunlan later changed his mind, and this matter became a source of anxiety for Qiao Zhiyu.

She refused to consider anyone else and ignored her mother's advice, determined to marry Gu Qianling.

Looking at Qiao Zhiyu's clenched hand, Shen Wantang knew she had made the right decision to come today. She said calmly:

“Miss Qiao, there is no need to belittle yourself. You are beautiful and come from a good family, which already surpasses many women in the capital.”

"As the saying goes, clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse. Dress yourself up nicely and go out for a walk. You might just encounter a good opportunity."

"It's not good to stay cooped up at home all the time, not care about dressing up, not socialize, and just wallow in self-pity."

A hint of embarrassment, even awkwardness and stiffness, appeared on Qiao Zhiyu's face.

Because Shen Wantang punctured her fragile exterior in one fell swoop.

She really didn't want to go out, let alone socialize, because she was afraid of hearing people talk about her, mock her, and some people even gossiped about her to her face without any politeness.

She doesn't even have a single friend anymore.

She doesn't dress up, but that doesn't mean she doesn't like to dress up; on the contrary, she actually loves to dress up.

She didn't dress up simply because she was too poor. She didn't even have money to buy rouge and face powder, let alone fashionable and pretty new clothes.

My father was a censor during his lifetime. He was stubborn and would remonstrate with the emperor again and again if he did something wrong, even to the point of dying for his cause. The emperor was very unhappy and would demote him time and time again, and often deduct his salary for a whole year at a time.

Therefore, the family has always been struggling financially.

Originally, they could barely make ends meet with their mother's dowry, but their father also liked to help his fellow villagers and his poor relatives. Today, someone would come to their door asking for help, and he would give them ten taels; tomorrow, someone would come to their door crying, and he would give them fifteen taels; the day after tomorrow, someone would have an emergency at home, and he would give them twenty taels...

He didn't bring a single penny home, and even used his mother's dowry to help others. As a result, the family became even more strapped for cash.

His mother argued with him countless times, but it was no use. He even complained that his mother was too selfish, that she was a woman with foolish views.

Later, when her father fell ill, her mother sold all her dowry and pawned all her valuable jewelry and clothes to seek medical treatment for him.

After the dowry was all used up, the father's illness still did not improve, so the mother had to borrow money.

However, all those people who had previously received help from her father now avoided her. Her mother was turned away countless times before she finally managed to borrow ten taels of silver.

But this amount of money was a drop in the ocean and could not cure the father's illness at all.

Forced into a corner, the mother had no choice but to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates.

Her father, even on his deathbed, still fantasized that the fellow villagers he had helped and the relatives he had assisted would repay him, his great benefactor, many times over once they became successful.

When he breathed his last, his mother cried her heart out, but Qiao Zhiyu felt a sense of relief—he was finally dead. If he hadn't died, she and her mother wouldn't have been able to survive.

After her father died, she and her mother worked as needlework to pay off their debts.

Five years have passed, but the loan shark debt is still not paid off. With interest compounding, they still owe more than 600 taels of silver.

So poor, how could she afford to dress herself up?

Even the clothes she wore to receive guests today were the only ones without any patches.

Therefore, it is easy to imagine how attractive the new brocade dress that Shen Wantang brought her was to her.

"cousin."

Shen Wantang changed her form of address, stood up and took Qiao Zhiyu's hand: "Since you are my sister-in-law's cousin and a few years older than me, it's alright for me to call you cousin, just like my sister-in-law does, isn't it?"

Qiao Zhiyu was very puzzled, wondering why she had come today, and what her purpose was in suddenly calling her cousin.

She doesn't have a good relationship with her cousin Meng Yunlan. If Meng Yunlan finds out that Shen Wantang came to see her, she will definitely be unhappy.

Even with her many doubts, Qiao Zhiyu refused to let go of this lifeline, as it was her only chance to get close to Gu Qianling!

She also took Shen Wantang's hand and said affectionately, "I'm so glad you don't mind calling me 'cousin'! It's my blessing to have a sister like you!"

Shen Wantang smiled kindly: "Since that's the case, sister, please don't stand on ceremony with me. You can accept this outfit. With your fair skin, this royal blue looks best on you."

As she spoke, she picked up the box and placed it in Qiao Zhiyu's hand.

Qiao Zhiyu held the box, looked at Shen Wantang, and then at the gold-embroidered brocade dress she had always dreamed of. She almost burst into tears!

Such luxurious and beautiful clothes, and they just fell into her lap so easily?!

Even if you don't wear this garment, you could sell it for at least five hundred taels of silver!

She was unwilling to refuse any longer, otherwise what if Shen Wantang thought she didn't like it and wouldn't give it to her?

She quickly replied, "Thank you so much, little sister! I'm so grateful that you thought of me. If you ever need anything from me, just let me know!"

Shen Wantang remained amiable: "It's just a piece of clothing. I'm glad you like it, sister. There's no need to be polite. I was a bit presumptuous just now, and I hope you won't take offense. I just thought it was a pity for you to stay at home, being so young and beautiful. You should go out more. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Not at all, not at all. You're absolutely right. I really should go out more!"

You should especially take better care of your family!

"Sister, would you like to try this dress on and see if it fits? I'd really like to see what you look like in it!"

Qiao Zhiyu was even more eager than Shen Wantang to see what she would look like in this brocade dress.

Her eyes lit up: "Then wait here for me for a moment, little sister. I'll go behind the screen to change and show you."

Shen Wantang smiled and nodded: "Okay, sister, go change!"

Qiao Zhiyu, holding the clothes, happily ran behind the screen.

A short while later, she came out wearing her new clothes.

The overly luxurious fabric made her feel a little uncomfortable: "How do I look... alright?"

Shen Wantang exclaimed, "It's amazing! It looks great, it's beautiful, and it suits you perfectly!"

"real?"

Qiao Zhiyu's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked to the bronze mirror, looking at herself from left to right. She exclaimed happily, "It really looks good! And I didn't expect it to fit me so well!"

Shen Wantang smiled faintly.

Of course it fit perfectly. Before leaving the house, she specifically asked someone to tighten the waist of the dress.

Because she and Qiao Zhiyu are about the same height, but Qiao Zhiyu is thinner overall.

With her waistline cinched, Qiao Zhiyu could wear it out today.

Shen Wantang chuckled and said, "It's getting late, I should go too."