Chapter 289 Visiting the Cao Family to Offer Betrothal
Zhao Ergou looked at the woman and the child in her arms.
For some reason, he inexplicably thought of a scene from his childhood.
That year, Si Dan was only three years old, and he was not even ten. When the two of them were playing in the yard, they saw their mother come out of their grandmother's room with a large bag of grain on her back. They knew that it must be sent to their maternal uncle's family.
The two were so hungry they were dizzy and disoriented; how could they just stand by and watch the food be sent away?
So he chased after him, but lost him.
The two lost their way in the mountains, exhausted and hungry. Finally, they came across a family. He knelt on the ground, holding Sidan, and begged them for water. But the family wanted to take Sidan away to carry on the family line. Fortunately, his grandparents arrived with help, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.
As memories returned, the child before him gradually overlapped with the young Si Dan.
He knew very well what it felt like to be hungry.
He loosened the reins and pulled two copper coins from his sleeve...
"Ergou!"
Cheng Wanwan's voice came from inside the carriage.
She kept an eye on the young man's actions and could understand why he took out money when he softened.
However, she could not allow such a thing to happen.
She said coldly, "It's getting late, let's go."
Zhao Ergou put the two coins back.
Before the carriage had gone far, a commotion arose behind them.
Cheng Wanwan turned around and saw a slightly wealthy woman being attacked by twenty or thirty refugees by the roadside.
The woman took pity on the refugee and gave him a steamed bun.
Seeing a glimmer of hope, the other refugees all gathered around, and the woman's valuables were immediately stolen. Her gold hairpin was pulled from her hair, her hair was disheveled, and she collapsed onto the street in a sorry state.
Zhao Ergou, still shaken, stammered, "I finally understand why Mother told us to be indifferent to the refugees."
When the village posted the notice, he didn't quite understand it. In his opinion, he should help as much as he could.
But now he knows that helping is tantamount to self-destruction.
“It’s not about being indifferent or refusing to help, but about finding the right time to help those who deserve it.” Cheng Wanwan lowered the carriage curtain. “This isn’t your concern. Let’s go.”
The carriage smoothly arrived at the entrance of the Cao family residence.
The Cao family's vermilion gate was exceptionally grand, with two stone lions at the entrance and large red lanterns hanging under the eaves.
As soon as the gatekeeper saw Matchmaker Zhao, he knew what it was about, because Matchmaker Zhao had come several times in the past few days. The gatekeeper immediately said, "Please wait a moment, I will go and fetch the master right away."
The matchmaker, Zhao, waved her handkerchief and said, "Call out a few more people to carry the things."
The carriage contained a generous betrothal gift, which needed to be carefully carried inside.
The servant rushed into the house like the wind to find the master.
Just as they entered the flower hall at the entrance of the courtyard, they bumped into Madam Qi, who was about to leave.
Madam Qi angrily rebuked, "Such recklessness! What serious incident has occurred?"
The servant's eyes darted around. The master had specifically instructed that the lady not to be informed of the matchmaker Zhao's visit.
Qi's eyes narrowed. A mere gatekeeper wouldn't dare to hide anything from her, the lady of the house. It seemed that it was that scoundrel Cao Defu who had personally instructed him.
She said calmly, "Alright, you may leave."
The servant breathed a sigh of relief and ran away.
Madam Qi coldly glanced at the maid behind her: "Go outside and see who's here."
The maid curtsied and walked out of the house, then quickly returned and reported, "It seems to be Madam Sui... but I've only seen Madam Sui once, so I'm not sure..."
Just then, Cao Defu, beaming with health, walked into the Cao family ancestral hall, offered incense, and ordered his servants to set off firecrackers.
Seeing this, what else could Qi not understand? Someone had come to propose marriage.
After going through so many procedures, we finally reached the betrothal ceremony, and the marriage was practically settled. How could she, the matriarch of the household, only find out about such a big thing at this crucial moment!
Qi felt a surge of blood rushing to her chest, but she pressed it down firmly.
She straightened her hair, walked to the entrance of the ancestral hall, and waited quietly.
According to the customs of this dynasty, when the betrothal gifts arrive, the bride's family must burn incense and set off firecrackers to inform their ancestors.
After offering incense to his ancestors, Cao Defu's gaze fell on a plaque, and he said slowly, "Our Yingying has grown up and is about to get married. I hope that you, as her mother, can bless Yingying and her husband to live in harmony and grow old together."
He silently lit the incense, placed it in the incense burner, and then turned and walked out of the ancestral hall.
As soon as he reached the door, he saw Qi standing there and was startled: "W-what are you doing here?"
Madam Qi had completely calmed down, and she smiled: "Master, you were too wary of me. Such a big thing, and you only let me know at this time."
Cao Defu feigned ignorance: "I don't understand what you're saying."
“The matchmakers are waiting outside, and the betrothal gifts have all arrived. What, is the master still trying to hide it from me?” Madam Qi said with a forced smile. “As the lady of the house, I should personally greet my future mother-in-law.”
"What does this have to do with you?" Cao Defu sneered. "Yingying isn't your biological daughter. Her marriage is none of your business. You should go about your business."
Qi was so angry that he fell backward.
As the matriarch of the household, she doesn't interfere in the marriage of the eldest daughter of the main wife. Does she want to be criticized for this? Because of Cao Yingying's escape, her reputation in Hekou County is not good. She should try to salvage it at least a little. Even if it's just for the sake of saving face, she has to handle this matter properly.
She forced a smile and said, "Yingying calls me Mother, and this is the most important event in her life, so I must attend. Besides, the Zhao family has no in-laws, and the master is a strong man. It would be impolite to entertain a widow, and it wouldn't sound good if word got out."
Cao Defu flicked his sleeves and strode towards the gate.
Qi quickly followed.
"Greetings, Madam Sui!" Cao Defu laughed heartily. "Madam Sui, Matchmaker Zhao, Jingcheng, please come inside quickly."
The seven or eight servants quickly boarded the carriage and carried down the large red betrothal gifts.
There were twelve gift boxes in total, all packed full.
These include: wild geese, marriage certificate and gift invitations, lucky cakes and dumplings, candied winter claws, noodles, candy, tea... capons and ducks, pig's feet, mutton, wine... large red candles, incense... fabrics, jewelry, headdresses, rouge...
The servants of the Cao family carried the betrothal gifts into the main hall.
Qi smiled outwardly, but inwardly she felt disdain.
With such a meager dowry, he dares to dream of marrying Miss Cao. He's not even as good as the old man Dou that she found for her.
She thought Cao Defu would find Cao Yingying a wonderful person, but in the end, this is it?
She had planned everything for nothing.
Cheng Wanwan was a shrewd person. When she saw Qi's smile, she understood Qi's inner scheme.
Yingying will be like a daughter to her from now on. Since she has come to the Cao family, she must make Yingying proud, so that she won't be trampled on openly or secretly by some ignorant people.
She smiled and said, "Could you please read the gift list, Matchmaker Zhao?"
This was the first time Zhao, the matchmaker, had seen the detailed list of gifts. She cleared her throat and began to read it down in order. The first few items were all standard betrothal gifts and nothing unusual. But when she heard the rest, Qi was completely stunned.
"Golden silk, clear green, and ethereal bracelet!"
The name sounded too complicated, but once the box was opened and the contents were seen, Qi Shi understood what it was.
It's a rare green jade, as clear as water and as hard as jade. This bracelet has nine beads, and it must cost at least a thousand taels of silver to buy.
Cheng Wanwan smiled slightly.
This is actually a crystal bracelet. In ancient times, crystal was called water jade or jade essence. It was mainly used in medicine. The Compendium of Materia Medica states that crystal is pungent, cold and non-toxic, and is used to treat lung abscesses and spitting pus. Of course, it was also used to make jewelry, but the price was extremely expensive. A small crystal pendant would cost at least three to five thousand taels of silver.
She bought it in the mall for more than 10,000 coins, which is more than ten taels of silver.
"Gold and jade beaded plum blossom hairpin!"
"Clear Waves and Pear Blossoms: A Glass Hairpin with Swaying Ornaments!"
The last gift box was full of jewelry and headdresses, all of which were things that the Qi family had never heard of or seen before.
Qi's most expensive headdress set was worth over five hundred taels of silver, and she only wore it on important occasions. But compared to these other pieces of jewelry, it looked utterly ridiculous... Where did Lady Sui get these things? Why are they so gorgeous, so exquisite, so eye-catching... Could they be gifts from the Emperor?
Suppressing her astonishment, Qi said dryly, "Very good, very good..."
The bitterness in her heart overflowed through those few words, filling the whole room with a sour feeling.
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