Chapter 2444: Marriage
Bai Heng thought this was impossible. As the saying goes, "Who would be willing to spit out what they've eaten?"
Bai Min looked at him with a half-smile and said, "Didn't I say it? This matter doesn't depend on whether people are willing or not, but on whether they are powerful or weak. Yes, the Fourth House doesn't have the power to ask the clan to hand over those things, but the family does."
"If the clan gives the order, will you give it to me or not, Fifth Brother?"
Bai Heng was silent.
Bai Min stood up, flicked the nonexistent dust off his robe, and said, "I'll write to my elder brother and uncle. This is a serious matter. Since the fourth branch has brought it up, we must seize the opportunity to repair our relationship. If we play dumb, we'll have trouble even maintaining a positive attitude in the future."
He said, "Bai Shan is already a viscount even before he even reached adulthood. Most importantly, he's a Jinshi (Jinshi) and will soon be selected for an official position. It's obvious to the naked eye that no other child in the Bai family can compare to him. Do you really want to become his enemy?"
Bai Min turned and left.
The place they live in now is a villa that their family bought in the capital, which is also in the inner city. After all, they are a noble family and the direct branch of the family, so they can still afford this little bit of capital.
The two families bought the same house at that time, and the main family also had a house in the capital, but it belonged to the eldest branch of the direct line.
It's okay for their children who come to Beijing to study to stay there for a while, but it's not easy for those with families to live there.
But there were many Bai clan members who came to join in the fun this time, and not everyone could afford to buy a house in the capital, so they either had to live with the brothers Bai Min and Bai Heng, or rent a house nearby.
It's still a bit crowded, with two families probably squeezed into one small yard.
So when we went to Zhou's house, we saw that not only did Old Madam Liu and Zheng occupy such a large courtyard, but the entire three courtyards on the east side of the Zhou house were under the control of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
With so much money, they could only buy a small courtyard with two entrances in the capital, let alone a courtyard. Even that was a bit of a discount and could not fit into three carriages.
At the Zhou residence, after seeing off all the guests, the smile on Old Madam Liu's face fell. She exhaled tiredly, held Zheng's hand and walked back, reviewing the people she met and what they said today in her mind as she walked.
After he finished thinking about it, he turned around and asked Zheng, "How long have Shanbao and the others been out?"
Zheng knew her mother-in-law's habits and knew that she had finished thinking about something, so she immediately said, "It's been almost an hour. She said she wanted to go to Huguo Temple to enjoy the lake."
Madam Liu smiled and said, "Let them have fun. Once you start working, you won't have so much free time."
Zheng also nodded, agreeing deeply.
Madam Liu continued, "Once he starts working, we will discuss the marriage with our in-laws."
Zheng couldn't help but ask, "Mother, then...do we have to get married here?"
Madam Liu smiled and said, "Of course we can't get married here. I want to buy another courtyard in Changqing Lane. I've already asked someone to look at it. It's a two-story courtyard with a small garden. It's similar to where Dalang and his family live, but it has a better orientation and is spacious inside. It's much better than the one in Erliu Lane."
"After they get married, we can live in both places," she said. "As for living quarters, Zhou's house is naturally the best. It's convenient for Shanbao and the others to come and go, and it's faster even for them to go on errands. You don't need to worry about what others say."
Zheng said, "I know. If I cared about what those people said, my mother and I would have died long ago."
Madam Liu smiled, patted her hand and said, "That's the truth. Practicality is the most important thing. They will have a child with the surname Xia in the future. If we take these rumors seriously, not only us, but also the unborn child will not be able to survive."
Old Madam Liu has lived in all kinds of rumors for most of her life, and has already developed her own set of cognitions. Zheng has always been her leader. Although she has a soft temper, some of her cognitions are the same as her mother-in-law.
When Zheng heard that they would still live in Zhou's house after marriage, she became happy and decided to go back and renovate the greenhouse so that she could plant the several kinds of flowers she had wanted to plant before.
At this time, Qian was also discussing Manbao's marriage with Old Zhou. "The Bai family just leaked the news that when Bai Shan becomes an official, they will come to propose marriage."
Old Zhou immediately sat up straight and asked, "Did the in-laws say where they were going to get married?"
"It seems they're planning to buy a house in Changqing Lane."
Old Zhou couldn't help but grumble, "Why buy another house? Don't they already have two courtyards in Beijing?"
He muttered, "Is the yard over there as big as ours? It doesn't matter where you live, why bother buying one?"
Qian glared at him and said, "Manbao will eventually get married, and Baishan isn't marrying into the Bai family. She'll naturally marry here and then go to the Bai family. Why are you in such a hurry? After the first month, they'll naturally move back home."
Old Zhou perked up, "Did Madam Liu say that?"
"Although she didn't say it explicitly, I understood her intention." She smiled faintly and said, "That's why I say this marriage is a good one. We know each other well, and the old lady is generous. She won't be like those other women who blindly suppress their sons and grandsons and refuse to let them get ahead."
Old Zhou muttered quietly, "I didn't say I disagreed with this marriage... So what date should they choose? It's already April, so the wedding should be in August or September, right? Or after winter? In winter, hot pot is delicious, and the banquet is easier to arrange."
Qian said bluntly, "I think August or September is a good date. Let's see what date they report first. By the way, I was just about to tell you that someone has proposed Li Ru's marriage today."
"Whose family?"
"You also know the young master of the Liu family who often comes to our house to play."
Old Zhou's mouth dropped open, and after a moment's pause he came to his senses and asked, "Isn't their family very powerful? Lord Liu is even the Minister of State. I heard from Manbao that he's in charge of all the officials' salaries, and he manages all the money and grain in the country."
Qian was a little worried because of this. "That's why I didn't agree right away. This pot is too big, and our lid is too small. I'm afraid it won't be able to cover it."
She said, "Wait until Manbao comes back and ask her. We should also ask Liru. She wants to be an official like her aunt in the future. I have observed in the past two years that these wealthy families in the capital don't seem to be very happy about their daughters-in-law becoming officials."
Old Zhou curled his lips and said, "That's because they eat too well. It's not bad to have a wife who can be an official. It's not only respectable but also can support the family. Look at Datou's wife, they live such a good life. The family should respect her a little more."
Yes, Liu Sanniang is the most respected person in the Zhou family besides Manbao, because she is an official!
This honor was specially given by Old Zhou, and Qian had no objection, so now even Zhou Lixue is determined to marry a wife who is an official in the future.
See you tomorrow
(End of this chapter)
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