When returning home on the third day, Mrs. An personally took Zuo Yunshu to the warehouse to pick out gifts a day in advance.
Although Madam An had already told her to choose the items in the warehouse herself, Zuo Yunshu only thought it was a polite remark and didn't dare to actually do it!
The items I picked out were not expensive, but they were acceptable.
When Madam An saw this, she immediately frowned and said, "Yunshu! This is your third visit to your parents' home, which is more important than any other time you will ever visit them. Bringing just these is not enough!"
As he spoke, he personally directed the maids and servants to carry out some porcelain, calligraphy and paintings and many other fine things from the warehouse.
Then she took her hand and walked with her, saying, "Yunshu! Mother knows that you are a clear-headed and contented girl, but since you have married into our An family, you are now a family. In the future, don't treat yourself as an outsider and don't let yourself be wronged.
We work so hard to run the household business, and men work so hard outside, isn't it just to have face and presence when we go out, so that we won't be looked down upon?
From now on, don’t save money on these things. If you lose money, you can always find a way to earn it back.”
Zuo Yunshu felt warmed and fortunate to hear Mrs. An's words. She thought that she must have accumulated great virtue and done so many good deeds in her previous life to be able to marry into the An family in this life!
The next morning.
The entire An family, including the old lady, stood at the gate of the mansion, watching An Yichen and Zuo Yunshu return home, and only turned back after they were far away.
The Zuo family knew that today was the day Zuo Yunshu would return home, so they had already made preparations with the whole family.
I estimated that it was about time, so I waited at the door.
Soon, three carriages with the logo of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion arrived.
After the carriage stopped, An Yichen got off first, bowed to the people from the Zuo family who were standing at the door to greet them, and then turned around to help Yun Yunshu get off the carriage.
Lord Zuo and Madam Zuo smiled even more brightly when they saw how much their son-in-law loved their daughter.
When she saw the two carriages behind were loaded with return gifts, she knew that her daughter was favored by her in-laws, and Mrs. Zuo finally put her mind at ease.
After the family welcomed them in and exchanged greetings for a while, Lord Zuo took An Yichen to the study to appreciate the calligraphy and painting that they had specially given him when they returned home.
Mrs. Zuo also took Zuo Yunshu back to her courtyard to talk privately.
When Zuo Yunshu told her mother about her three days at An's house and what her mother-in-law and grandmother had said.
Her mother immediately put her hands together with a pious look on her face, looked up at the sky and said, "Thank you, Bodhisattva, for blessing my son to find a good man."
Then she began to teach Zuo Yunshu, "Although your mother-in-law said that you don't have to visit her morning and night, you can't really sleep until noon!
You should not neglect to show respect to your parents-in-law and grandmother on a daily basis. Since you are the eldest sister-in-law, you have to take care of your two younger brothers-in-law.
Even family members need to care about each other, otherwise the relationship will fade over time."
Zuo Yunshu nodded obediently, "Don't worry, mother, I always remember what you taught me before.
Even though her parents-in-law and elders were kind, her husband loved her, and her brothers-in-law respected her, she never became proud and complacent, and indulged herself in willful behavior.
I still get up early every day as usual, and personally prepare a health-promoting soup for my mother-in-law and grandmother, and a midnight snack for my husband and brothers-in-law."
Madam Zuo shook her hand with relief, "I'm relieved that you know how to behave.
As for the matter of housekeeping, since your mother-in-law is willing to let you take charge, then you should learn from her and ask if you don't understand.
Think more about things, think clearly before doing them, and never do anything that will disappoint others.
If you inevitably make a mistake, don't be afraid, tell your husband and let him help you with advice.
A woman cannot be considered virtuous without talent, but she cannot be too strong-willed either. She must know how to show weakness at the right time..."
Zuo Yunshu listened quietly to her mother's teachings. Only at this moment did she truly feel that the words that she had previously considered nagging would not be heard often in the future.
Mrs. Zuo talked about whatever came to her mind, sharing as much of her personal experience as possible, hoping that it would be helpful to her daughter in the future.
Finally, she remembered her daughter's words that her mother-in-law allowed her to return to her parents' home at any time, and she couldn't help but remind her, "Although your mother-in-law allows you to come back often, you shouldn't really go back to your parents' home all the time."
Zuo Yunshu hugged her mother's arm and said coquettishly, "Why? Don't you miss me?"
Madam Zuo shook her head helplessly and put her arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Of course I miss you, but it's for your own good that I don't let you come back."
"You're not the same person you were before. You used to be a family girl, but now you're married. It's not right for you to come back without bringing something. But you should bring something back often! What will your in-laws think?
Even if your in-laws don’t say anything, outsiders will.”
Madam Zuo pinched her throat and jokingly imitated the gossips of those women and said to Zuo Yunshu, "People will say, oh! That girl from the Zuo family! She's already married, but she still goes back to her parents' home all day. Doesn't she have anything to do at her husband's house?
If you can't bear to leave your parents' home, why did you marry there in the first place? You might as well just stay there for the rest of your life.
And she always brings something back with her. She wants to use the money from her husband's family to support her parents' family!
You can't marry this girl from the Zuo family!"
Zuo Yunshu was amused by Mrs. Zuo's humorous tone and laughed, "Mom, you imitated it really well." But although she said it with a smile, she also took it in her heart.
His own daughter knew the truth, and seeing that she had taken his words to heart, he did not mention it again.
Then he talked about something else.
“Don’t show off to everyone how good your life is in the An family.
The human heart is the most complicated. Some people just can't stand seeing others do well.
Especially for women, if one out of ten can meet a family like the An family, it would be a blessing from the Bodhisattva.
If others are having a hard time, but you are doing well, you will easily be looked down upon by others. If you encounter someone with bad intentions, they will easily trip you up, and you will have no place to cry."
“Also, please don’t interfere in the official business of your husband and father-in-law.
If your father or the concubines in the mansion come to you privately and ask you to ask your father-in-law and husband for official positions or something else on behalf of your half brothers, you must not agree, so as not to offend your in-laws and incur hatred if you fail."
Zuo Yunshu held Madam Zuo's hand tightly, "Other mothers hope that their daughters can help their families after they get married, but you are different."
Madam Zuo gently caressed her daughter who was snuggling up to her, "Your father and his family are seeking family honor, but mother only wishes my daughter a smooth and happy life.
Your brother has studied for so many years and now he has passed the imperial examination and been assigned an official position. If he has the ability to achieve something, his future will naturally be bright.
As for the rest of the illegitimate sons in the mansion, mother has done her best to help them. If they are incompetent, they can only blame themselves. No one can hope to help my daughter."
…
The mother and daughter kept chatting in the room until the servant came to inform them to go to lunch and then they left the room.
After lunch, Mrs. Zuo winked at Zuo Yunshu, and she made an excuse that she had something to do at home, and took An Yichen home early.
The concubines who had been waiting for an opportunity in the backyard were so angry that they stomped their feet. If they had known earlier, they would have rushed into the eldest lady's yard.
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