With Chen Jianfang's escort, Chen Zuo Niang's marriage went particularly smoothly - Xuancheng allocated another 400 taels of silver, plus the 400 taels of silver already in the clan, there were barely 800 taels left. Xianjin transferred more than 200 taels from the shop, and the total amount was more than 1,000 taels for Zuo Niang as a dowry.
According to Zhang Ma's on-site investigation, the seventh great uncle and his son were very satisfied with Zuo Niang's dowry. Not only did they write a letter to express their gratitude to Madam Qu's ancestors for eighteen generations, they also showed off everywhere. For example, when they were drinking tea, the seventh great uncle interrupted the conversation at the next table and said, "...Hey? How did you know that our daughter had a dowry of one thousand taels?"
Aunt Zhang made a summary speech, "...I suggest that Uncle Seven write a sign that says "My daughter's dowry is one thousand taels" and hang it around your neck wherever you go."
Xianjin was speechless for a while.
The arrogance of the Seventh Great-Uncle naturally caused fierce dissatisfaction among the other married girls of the Chen family. Even the side branches who were thousands of miles away went to the old lady Qu in Xuancheng Prefecture to complain about the injustice. The old lady Qu was quite efficient and said directly, "In the future, when the family gets married, we will abide by a rule. When a man marries, the bride price is an even number of his wife's dowry. When a woman marries, the dowry is half of the bride price of her husband's family. For girls who marry a scholar or above, the store in the county government where they live will pay an additional 200 taels of silver as dowry. For girls who marry a juren family, the store in the county government where they live will pay an additional 200 taels of silver as bride price."
This... is very clear, and by the way it determines the marriage direction of the Chen family's children.
The ultimate goal is to marry a scholar, and the basic goal is to marry someone of equal social status.
This basically eliminated the class dislocation in marriage among the Chen family’s children.
Xianjin pondered for a moment, then looked at Chen Jianfang, who was sitting opposite her, eating quietly with his eyes downcast - his future wife must also be from a family with a stable property and whose fathers are officials, right?
Moreover, Chen Jianfang's appearance and character are indeed worthy of the description of a modest gentleman who knows how to act and behave properly.
Xianjin lowered his head and took a sip of soy milk, frowning. The soy milk today was not tasty. Aunt Zhang put some peanuts in it, so it tasted a bit astringent.
"What's wrong?" Chen Jianfang asked softly.
Xianjin shook his head, and after a while he smiled and said, "Soy milk doesn't taste good."
Chen Jianfang was stunned for a moment, lowered his head and took a sip, frowning slightly in confusion.
It tastes quite good.
It is neither sweet nor bland, and has the fresh fragrance of grains, the oil of beans, and even the unique aroma of crushed peanuts, walnuts, sesame seeds... mixed together, which is very filling and satisfying.
It is consistent with Zhang's mother's usual craftsmanship.
But Xian Jin said it was not tasty...
Chen Jianfang hesitated and said, "How about you eat two more steamed buns? The combination of sweet and salty is more refreshing."
Chen Jianfang advised very seriously, with an expression as serious as that of a big brother applying film under the overpass.
Xianjin picked up the steamed bun and took a bite, then looked at Chen Jianfang, who was staring at her with burning eyes, quietly waiting for her evaluation of "Steamed bun with soy milk".
Like...like a gentle and pitiful golden retriever.
Xianjin's mood improved and he nodded with a smile, "It tastes better now."
Chen Jianfang also laughed.
Chen Fu, who was sitting diagonally, finished a bowl of century egg and lean meat porridge with a sip of air, and stretched his claws to the red bean paste buns nearby. When he raised his eyes, he saw two young men smiling at each other, one gentle and the other cheerful, both of them looked very happy.
Chen Fu was unhappy and immediately lost the mood to eat the bean paste buns. After Chen Jianfang went to school, he buried his head and gossiped to Xianjin behind his back, "...He didn't pay a penny, but we paid silver and paper, but others praised him for being responsible... He's just like his father, taking the most money, doing the least, and still getting everyone's praise..."
Chen Fu snorted coldly, "He was so gentle to you, just to coax you into paying for him! Tsk tsk tsk, you're still smiling at him. You're still smiling at him while you're setting up the ladder for him!"
Xianjin turned around and seemed to see an old lady at the entrance of the village sitting on a long bench gossiping.
Xianjin wiped his sweaty forehead and stuffed a handful of crispy melon seeds into Chen Fu's hand.
Dad, keep building it!
Even food can’t stop your mouth!
......
Towards the end of August and the beginning of September, the flood season arrived, and the Wuxi River in Jing County also rushed along with the crowd. There were several major events in Jing County these days. One was the marriage that the seventh uncle of the Chen family had "announced" for a long time. The Zhang family of the tea shop in Huai'an Prefecture invited several wives of successful candidates who had both sons and daughters to propose marriage. The betrothal gifts stretched from Shuixi Street to Shuidong Street, and before the beginning or the end was seen, the first one seemed to be a statue of Guanyin with a green body, followed by two energetic fat geese, which was almost reaching the ceiling for merchants to get married.
The second thing is about the county magistrate Cui Heng. It is said that Cui Heng has been very close to the prefect Xiong of Xuancheng Prefecture in recent days. They even went to Xiaodaoxiang together to drink plum wine several times. Xiaodaoxiang's idol, the young master, used this as a gimmick, and the slogan was thought up by Xianjin - "Fifty cents, and you can have the taste of the prefect."
With a pun as the main feature, Xiaodaoxiang’s plum wine became an instant hit.
The third thing is related to Xianjin.
The "sub-brand" of Chen Ji on Shuixi Street has opened.
Ten days in advance, Xianjin covered the signboard and courtyard of Chen Ji on Shuixi Street with oil-soaked cloth. From the outside, nothing could be seen except the black oilcloth.
On the ninth day before the opening, early in the morning, someone with sharp eyes saw several large characters written in white ink mixed with silver powder and gold foil on the oilcloth: "Guess, what kind of store I am?"
Someone laughed and said, "What kind of store could it be? It's opened by the Chen family, so what else could it be? A paper shop!"
No one takes it seriously.
On the eighth day before the store opened, the message on the oilcloth was changed - "Guess correctly and you'll win two ounces of silver!"
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