When thoughts come to mind, they grow like wild weeds.
But this is not the time to say that.
Yu Tang put this matter in his heart, turned around and took the painting and asked Wang: "Should we put it away or frame it and hang it up?"
Favors are always given back and forth in the family. Some good things will be kept and given away on special occasions. Especially paintings like Zhang Hui's, not only have literary reputation, but are also really good. Giving them to those knowledgeable and educated people is the most decent gift.
Perhaps with this in mind, Zhang Hui only wrote a congratulatory message on the painting of grapes, and simply stamped the other three with her personal seal.
Wang, however, could not let it go and said, "Have a master frame it and hang it in your brother's study. I heard from Madam Wei that Miss Xiang once studied in a private school for ten years."
Hanging these paintings will add a lot of color to the Yu family.
Yu Tang smiled and told him not to say anything.
After the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon rises, the Xiang family sent someone to look at the new house.
The bride's furniture had been prepared a long time ago. This time she came to see the new house to see if there was anything to add or subtract. In fact, she came to urge the Yu family to see whether they had arranged a new house for the newlyweds as promised through the matchmaker and Xiangjia.
Yu Bo had only this one son, and the couple valued offspring very much. Not only did they repaint the three-room east wing as they had promised the Xiang family, they also built a flower wall between the east wing and the main and west rooms, and planted plants such as vines, turning the east wing into a small courtyard. They also built a two-room retreat behind the east wing, which could be used as Xiang's storehouse and a bedroom for the maids.
In order to satisfy the fortune teller, Wang specially took them to see the northern room of the east wing which was converted into a study.
The north room, inlaid with two pieces of transparent glass, is brightly lit. The black-painted pillars are tall and solemn, and the paintings hanging on the walls are elegant and exquisite.
The woman who came from the Xiang family was said to be the Xiang wife's personal maid, who was brought over from the Shen family by Xiang wife. She was probably quite knowledgeable. She did not show any obvious preference for the flower wall courtyard, but was very moved when she saw Zhang Hui's four paintings. She stood there and looked at them for a long time before she smiled sincerely and said to Wang: "My dear wife, you have worked hard. No wonder my aunt always praises my dear wife. This marriage is really well prepared."
The principles are all the same.
Since the Xiang family was satisfied with these paintings, they must be satisfied with Yu Tang's previous idea of inviting all the scholars in Lin'an City to their home.
Wang heaved a sigh of relief and couldn't help but praise Yu Tang: "It was all arranged by our niece. You know, my second uncle is a scholar, and this niece has been studying with her father since she was young. Her vision and knowledge are not better than those of ordinary ladies. I also rely a lot on her for her brother's marriage."
When Mrs. Wei of the Xiang family was matchmaking for Miss Xiang, she had already found out everything about the Yu family.
If the Yu family had not been simple-minded and had a good reputation, Mr. Xiang would not have agreed to this marriage even if he didn't care about his daughter anymore.
The visitor from the Xiang family naturally followed Wang's words and praised Yu Tang again and again.
Wang was delighted and felt that the Xiang family was not as difficult to approach as she had imagined. She showed some sincerity and invited them to dinner.
Kindness is mutual.
Seeing Wang's sincerity, the people in Xiang's family felt relieved and treated Wang sincerely. The two families had a meal in harmony. When the woman returned to Xiang's house, she couldn't help but praise the Yu family in front of Xiang's wife. Xiang's wife laughed and teased the woman: "I don't know what good the Yu family did for you. You were bought off after just one visit. If you go a few more times, I think you will be obsessed with it."
The old woman blushed.
Mrs. Xiang didn't take it to heart. She waved her hand and said, "Okay, you don't need to say more. She can find a good family to live a peaceful life and not cause trouble for her brothers in the future. Why would I make a fuss? Old An is too worried."
The old woman didn't dare to answer.
The Yu family seemed to have accomplished something great. When they gathered together for dinner in the evening, Wang talked quickly about the visitor from the Xiang family.
Yu Bo felt that he had really bowed his head to marry a wife this time. If it weren't for the fact that Mrs. Wei was smart and capable, and the girl she raised would not be bad, and his son really liked her, he would not have been so angry. But he couldn't stand Wang praising the Xiang family. He pushed the silkworm beans that Wang liked in front of her and said, "Just stop talking and eat quickly. It's cold and the food is getting cold."
Wang stopped the topic awkwardly.
Yu Wen, who had been silent the whole time, said to Yu Tang and Yu Yuan, "You two should follow me to the Pei family tomorrow. The chief steward Pei sent someone to deliver a letter this afternoon, saying that the third master Pei wants us to come over to talk to him about something."
It should be about Yutu, right?
Yu Tang thought about it and nodded to Yu Yuan. The next morning, he followed Yu Wen to Pei Mansion.
The Pei family seemed to be an immortal cave that had fallen into the mortal world. This cold winter had just passed, and the trees in their house were still growing very lush. They walked along the bluestone corridor they had entered last time, and it felt like the last time, with no changes.
Yu Tang didn’t understand it before, but after his rebirth, he realized how much manpower and resources it takes to maintain the same seasons all year round.
She thought again of the Pei family’s shop in Hangzhou City.
The Pei family should be richer than they imagined, right?
Yu Tang pondered over it and followed his father and brother to the study where Pei Yan had met them last time.
There was only a little boy guarding the study, no one else.
When the little boy saw someone coming in, he stepped forward and saluted.
Yu Tang recognized the boy as the one she had seen in Zhaoming Temple and the old house of the Yu family. She immediately felt the excitement of meeting an old friend in a foreign land. When the boy served them tea with a serious face, she couldn't help but whisper to him: "Do you still remember me? I remember your name is Ah Ming, is this your name?"
The little boy nodded shyly like a little adult, but when the steward who brought them in was talking to Yu Wen, he showed a festive smile to Yu Tang, pointed at the snacks in her hand, and whispered, "Fennel beans, so fragrant!"
This little clever ghost!
Yu Tang's heart was melted by him. Seeing that her father was still talking to the steward, she asked him quietly, "What is the Third Elder doing?"
The little boy named Ah Ming immediately pursed his lips into a slit and shook his head vigorously.
If the Pei family's steward hadn't been here, Yu Tang would have laughed out loud.
Of course she would not make things difficult for Ah Ming. She touched his head and did not ask any more questions.
Soon, Pei Yan strode in.
The cold air outside made Yu Tang, who was sitting at the door, shiver. He couldn't help but complain to Pei Yan: It's so cold, but he doesn't even light the ground dragon. I don't know what kind of weird thing is this!
Pei Yan wore a moon-white cotton robe today, with a bamboo-colored cloth belt around his waist. Apart from that, he had no other accessories. This time he was truly simple.
Yu Tang looked very uncomfortable, as if something was missing.
Pei Yan seemed very busy. He sat down, raised his hand, and drove all the servants outside. He said to the Yu family, "I asked someone to test the voyage. The map is real. I plan to set the auction date for March 16. What do you think?"
Although he said it was a negotiation, his tone was very firm. It was obvious that he thought this arrangement was very good and the Yu family would not refuse it.
The three people from the Yu family all changed color.
March 16th is Yu Yuan’s wedding date.
Why didn’t Pei Yan arrange it earlier or later, but on this day?
Moreover, when their family proposed to share the auction money with the Pei family, Pei Yan did not agree.
Yu Yuan couldn't help but look at Pei Yan with a hint of suspicion.
He winked at Yu Tang.
Yu Tang saw it, but felt that Yu Yuan was being too suspicious about this matter.
There is a huge gap in strength between the Yu family and the Pei family, so Pei Yan doesn't need to resort to such tricks.
Yu Wenzhe thought that since Pei Yan had chosen this date, there must be a reason. How could he take these two things into consideration?
He was at a loss for a moment and showed some hesitation.
Pei Yan, however, was confused and asked curiously, "Why? Do you think this is a bad day? I invited the Tao family in Guangzhou to help with the trial voyage, and somehow the news leaked out. Now I don't know how many families know the news. I thought, let's not hide it anymore, and move the time to a later date so that those who are interested in bidding can participate. The auction price may not be as high as we thought before, but with so many people, maybe we can make more money."
It can be seen that Pei Yan had no idea that Yu Yuan was married.
Maybe he was busy with Yutu's affairs recently and had no time to pay attention to what was happening in Lin'an City.
Yu Tang said tactfully: "On March 16, my eldest cousin is getting married..."
Pei Yan was stunned. He looked Yu Yuan up and down and asked, "How old is your eldest cousin? Why is he getting married so soon?"
Most boys and girls in Lin'an City got married at the age of seventeen or eighteen. Her cousin's marriage was not too late, but it was not too early either.
Yu Tang said: "My eldest cousin is the only male in our family!"
Pei Yan suddenly realized and said decisively: "Then let's set it for the tenth day of March. What do you think? We should be able to collect the money from the auctions before Master Yu gets married."
My eldest cousin’s marriage can now be arranged properly.
Is that what he meant?
Yu Tang couldn't help but glance at Pei Yan.
I didn't expect this person to be so thoughtful.
"Okay!" Yu Wen thought that the sooner they threw the map out, the sooner their family would be at peace. Of course, the sooner the better. "We'll listen to the Third Elder."
Pei Yan smiled contentedly, called Pei Man in, and said, "The auction is scheduled for the tenth day of March. You should hurry up and send the invitations to the houses we have selected before."
Pei Man retreated in response.
Pei Yan handed Yu Wen the list of people he was going to invite to the auction, and then introduced the backgrounds of each family one by one.
The Guangzhou Tao family, the Huzhou Wu family, the Quanzhou Yin family, the Longyan Li family... any one of them can crush the Yu family.
If they hadn’t asked the Pei family to step in, even if they had the pictures to sell, they wouldn’t have had the life to spend the money!
The more Yu Wen listened, the more he sweated, and the more fortunate he was in his heart that he had listened to Yu Tang's advice.
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