Previously, the Marquis knew that she was keen on collecting pearls and gems, so he asked for a master craftsman from the Imperial Workshop.
This master craftsman has spent his whole life making jewelry. Now that he's old, his hands aren't as steady as they used to be, and his eyesight is failing.
Logically speaking, it would be best to go home and enjoy one's old age, but unfortunately, one's children and grandchildren are unworthy, and even survival is difficult.
Therefore, I heard that the Marquis's mansion hired him as a retainer, paying him a hundred taels of silver a year, and he was only required to make small things and jewelry for the princess.
He readily agreed, and so his children and grandchildren went to work on the Marquis's estate. He just waited for the young princess to assign them tasks.
Previously, he had just received a transparent gem and was having a headache about not being able to act like a princess.
This sudden, urgent task is a good opportunity to showcase my skills and also give me a change of pace.
So, on the afternoon of the following day, the head steward of the Marquis's residence personally brought a congratulatory gift and a box to the door.
The gift was of course intended for Mr. Wen and Mrs. Cui, but the box was given directly to Jiayin.
The head steward, bowing slightly, explained clearly to his young master, "Master Shi said that those transparent gems are very hard, and he needs more time to work on them. Please grant the princess some more time!"
Jiayin waved her hand dismissively and said, "Uncle Butler, please tell Master Shi that I'm not in a hurry. Let him think about it carefully."
"Thank you for your understanding, Princess." The head steward smiled and turned to praise Old Madam Li, "Princess is so kind and generous, and has always been so understanding."
Grandma Li couldn't stop smiling. "This child is naturally kind and righteous. He never makes things difficult for others and is also very generous!"
“Take snacks for example. Every time she gets a snack box, everyone in the family, young and old, shares it before she puts it in her own mouth. She doesn’t hoard food at all.”
After saying that, she remembered the wedding banquet tomorrow and asked, "The Liu family has set the wedding for tomorrow, and both the village and the Cui family are going to hold banquets. Which side will the head steward go to drink at?"
“Of course, come to our house!” the head butler immediately replied. “Our family is large and lively, and the Fourth Madam’s cooking is top-notch! These days, countless people in Xindu are scrambling to book her private meals, and they still can’t get a reservation. Of course, I have to come and satisfy my craving.”
Hearing this, Old Lady Li was even happier.
After exchanging a few more casual words, the head steward prepared to return to the city.
Jiayin asked Shuiling to bring him a basket of fruit, then he grabbed the box and skipped off to the Cui family's courtyard to find Mr. Wen.
Mr. Wen has been waiting for more than ten years, and his dream is finally about to come true. He has been extremely excited these past two days.
In public, he had to pretend to be calm, but in private, he was so excited that he couldn't eat or sleep. Right now, he was practicing calligraphy, trying to calm himself down.
Suddenly seeing Jiayin running over, Mr. Wen put down his pen and asked, "Where are Shuiling and Shuiyun? Why aren't they here serving you?"
Jiayin patted the box in her hand with a grin, "Because I have a secret to tell my senior master, I didn't let them come over."
"Oh, what secret? Did you get into trouble and need your senior uncle to plead for you?"
Mr. Wen didn't take it seriously. Although the little girl was smart, she was still just a child.
As a result, Jiayin quickly opened the box in her hand, and inside was a pearl crown the size of a palm.
Each pearl shimmered with a lustrous light; though none were very large, they were perfectly round.
The meticulous craftsman threaded silver wire through it and twisted it into a hair crown.
Sunlight streamed through the window cracks, casting rays of light onto the jeweled crown, making it shine brilliantly and look incredibly beautiful!
Not to mention Mr. Wen, even Jia Yin was stunned.
Master Shi is truly amazing; he managed to turn pearls into the appearance of gemstones.
"Fu Niu'er, what's wrong with you...?" Mr. Wen guessed a bit and asked tentatively.
Sure enough, Jiayin steeled herself and pushed the jeweled crown in front of him, saying, "Uncle-Master, this is for you. Keep it and give it to Aunt. I wish you and Aunt a lasting and happy marriage!"
Although Mr. Wen was penniless, he still readily accepted the gifts from the Li family, including new clothes, shoes, socks, bedding, and ornaments.
Because he knew that his relationship with the Li family was for life, and that he would have a chance to repay them someday!
But now he was being asked to accept a congratulatory gift from a young girl, a piece of jewelry specially prepared for him, to be given to his wife. He felt both touched and ashamed.
He's such a grown man, yet he still needs a child to worry about him...
"Fu Niu'er, your master can't take it, you keep it for yourself..."
Jiayin picked up the jeweled crown and placed it directly into Mr. Wen's hand, almost gritting her teeth as she said, "Uncle-Master, please don't be so polite. If you keep being so polite, I'm afraid I'll regret it!"
Mr. Wen was stunned for a moment. Seeing the little girl's eyes fixed on the pearl crown, looking as if she were heartbroken, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Alright, alright, I'll accept it on behalf of your aunt. She'll give you an even better one later!" Mr. Wen quickly placed the pearl crown in the drawer, completely blocking Jia Yin's reluctant gaze.
Jiayin glanced at the box and saw that there were still a few hairpins, some earrings, rings and other small items. She knew that Master Shi had made these with the leftover beads.
So she said hello, jumped down, grabbed the box, and ran off.
Mr. Wen called out to her from behind, telling her not to fall.
Tao Hongying was busy in the kitchen with several village women when her daughter suddenly tugged at her sleeve, startling her. "What's wrong, Fu Niu'er? Are you hungry?"
"No, Mother, come here!" Jiayin pulled her mother to sit on the threshold, then took out the most beautiful hairpin from the box and put it in her mother's hair.
Tao Hongying tried to dodge, saying, "Oh dear, I'm cooking right now, there's so much oil and smoke, wearing such a nice thing would be a waste."
"No, Mother looks better wearing it!" Jiayin insisted, taking off the silver clove from her mother's ear and replacing it with a pearl pendant. Finally, she kissed her mother with satisfaction and went back to her room with a smile.
"This child is getting crazier and crazier as he gets older!" Tao Yongying scolded playfully, but her face beamed with joy. She carefully adjusted her hairpin and went back to her work.
Soon, Old Lady Li, Hui Niang, Sister Liu, Dong Mei, and Granny He, who were sewing in the room, also received jewelry from the chubby girl, and they were all surprised.
"Is this the second time?" Hui Niang said with a smile, holding the pearl pendant in her hand. "Last time we went to a banquet, Fu Niu insisted on dressing up her, and I benefited from that."
Sister Liu joked, "This is my first time. It seems I'll have to come and help you with chores more often in the future. Maybe I'll have a whole box of them in a year or two."
Everyone laughed and started planning how they could make a new dress, shoes, and socks for the little girl once they had some free time in the next few days.
The children are affectionate and generous to them, so they don't want to take advantage of the children.
Grandma Li was forced by her granddaughter to wear a pearl necklace and a ring.
Actually, at her age, it's not appropriate for her to wear these things, but she still tucked them away.
The group continued doing their needlework while chatting idly.
Jiayin lay next to her grandmother, rolling around in various directions.
Thinking about the jeweled crown she had just seen, she was determined to have Master Shi make her wear another one in the future.
No, two!
She wears one, keeps one to look at when she's not wearing it, and there are quite a few pearls stored in the spaces on either side!
Thinking this, she closed her eyes, letting her mind wander through her inner world, taking stock of her little treasure trove, and soon fell asleep...
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