“Yuanshan is Jingshui’s older brother, and you are my in-law, so we are all family. I have a few girls here who are quite eligible. I’ve already made arrangements. Their families are all of good character and much more reliable than those introduced by matchmakers. When Yuanshan comes back tonight, tell him to come to my house for a meeting first thing tomorrow morning. Remember to tell Yuanshan to dress neatly and cleanly.”
Since they hadn't met in the past two days, Yan Xia hadn't told Wang Yuanshan about it yet.
"Oh? A girl from town? No way! She's too good. My family from Yuanshan isn't good enough for her! We'll just find a girl from the village. Marriages should be between equals. Otherwise, it would be a disservice for her to marry into my family."
Xu Chunxia was self-aware; although her family was much better off, she was not worthy of marrying a girl from town, so she politely declined Yan Xia's offer.
"After Yuanshan gets married, I will make him a manager. After all, this position is vacant. Rather than letting an outsider do it, it's better to give it to Yuanshan. He is Jingshui's older brother, and we are family. So Yuanshan's wages will increase in the future, to about three taels a month. This month's wages are worthy of them. Mother-in-law, don't refuse. Why don't you and Yuanshan come to my house to meet me tomorrow? What if it's a good match? Anyway, there's no news from the matchmaker you found."
Earning three taels a month is not a low income in this town.
Some shopkeepers only earn two taels of silver a month.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Xu Chunxia was tempted.
The two chatted about this matter for almost half an hour. By the time Yan Xia left the Wang family with Jing Shui, Xu Chunxia was already thinking about what to wear the next day.
Fifteen minutes later,
Yan Xia drove the carriage away from Baihua Village.
The wooden wheels creaked on the rugged path. Yan Xia sat outside the carriage, whip in hand, gazing at the scenery.
Since she hadn't taken a nap at noon, Jing Shui lay half-reclined in the carriage for a short rest.
A gentle breeze rustled through the rice paddies, creating a golden expanse that filled the eyes.
The autumn harvest is just around the corner, and the rice in the fields is already ripe.
The rice stalks bent over and swayed in the wind.
There is a stream to the left of the path. It is long but narrow, and the water is crystal clear, flowing gently with ripples in the wind.
Because the path was uneven, the carriage moved very slowly. It wasn't until it slowly reached the main road that Yan Xia began to whip the horse.
"Snap—" The whip made a crisp sound, and the horse, startled, sped up.
As they traveled further and further away, the carriage kept running and running, until smoke rose from the chimneys of the villages they passed through, and until the sunset painted the sky and reflected on the river.
Yan Xia arrived in Shuangqiao Town in the evening.
The guards at the city gate only glanced at Yan Xia before letting her pass.
The carriage arrived smoothly at their doorstep, where Xiao Ji was actually waiting.
"Auntie, Jingshui, you're finally back!"
"Dinner is ready, just waiting for you to come back and eat."
The moment Xiao Ji saw Yan Xia, the corners of her mouth turned up even higher.
"Silly girl, aren't you tired of standing? Just wait at home," Yan Xia said with a laugh.
She and Jing Shui got off the carriage, handed it over to the gatekeeper, and then went inside with Xiao Ji.
As soon as I walked into the courtyard, I smelled the aroma of food.
Yan Xia sniffed.
My stomach started growling.
"Auntie, the kitchen made your favorite braised chicken with chestnuts today."
"Really? Then I'd better hurry." It's almost September, which is indeed the season for eating chestnuts.
Yan Xia was really craving this.
She quickened her pace and walked to the second courtyard, where her family had all returned and were sitting in their seats waiting for them.
After the two women sat down, a maidservant brought a basin and helped them wash their hands before the family began to eat.
Yan Xia's first chopsticks were for chestnuts. The chestnuts here are not big, somewhat like modern wild chestnuts, and you can fit two in one bite.
With each bite, the chestnuts are sweet and soft, the aroma of chicken and the broth permeating the meat. The two combine subtly, creating a sweet and salty flavor that lingers on the tongue. It's so delicious it'll make you feel like you're flying.
Yan Xia unconsciously narrowed her eyes.
Then, she picked up another piece of chicken.
In contrast to chestnuts, the chicken is stewed until it's very tender, falling off the bone with a gentle bite. The fat is absorbed by the chestnuts, so the chicken isn't greasy at all.
Yan Xia ate most of the dish by herself.
She ate three bowls of rice before she stopped.
"Oh dear, I'm so full, Xiao Ji, come help me inside to lie down. I'm not going for a walk today, I can't walk anymore."
Yan Xia's belly was swollen high, like a pregnant woman who was four or five months pregnant.
After returning to her room, she took out a book and leaned back on the chaise longue, reading it slowly. The room was brightly lit by several candles.
When her stomachache subsided, she took a bath. The bathtub was filled with flower petals, each one carefully washed by Xiao Ji to ensure there were no insects hiding inside. After soaking for half an hour, her whole body smelled of flowers, and Yan Xia's cheeks were flushed. She changed into her nightgown, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep.
Soon, night fell.
The sky was filled with stars.
The entire Yan family mansion fell into a deep sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already broad daylight.
"Xiao Ji—" After waking up, Yan Xia stretched and sat on the bed calling out Xiao Ji's name.
"Auntie, you're up! I'll get you some water to wash up right away," Xiao Ji said, opening the door as soon as she heard the voice.
"No rush, go to the closet and find me an outfit to wear today, something festive."
Today, Yan Xia felt like she was no different from a matchmaker, having to act as a go-between for both sides.
Naturally, one should dress in a festive manner.
"Alright, Auntie, is this pomegranate red gauze shirt paired with a floral floor-length skirt okay?" Xiao Ji was quick; she went to the inner room, opened the wardrobe door, and presented Yan Xia with a matching outfit.
Yan Xia heard this and looked over.
She shook her head.
"Too flashy, no way. I'm not the star of the day. Don't you have a begonia-red brocade spring shirt in the closet? Wear that. It's a little cool in the morning, so it won't be too hot. Wear a lotus-colored thin skirt underneath and a cloud-patterned gauze shirt on top. Take it off when it gets hot at noon. It's festive and dignified, and it won't steal the spotlight."
As Yan Xia spoke, she pointed with her finger, as if afraid that Xiao Ji wouldn't be able to find it.
"Yes, I see it." Xiao Ji took out the clothes Yan Xia wanted, put them on the bed, and helped her get dressed.
"Auntie, these bright green shoes don't quite match. How about I get you some ebony ones instead?"
After getting dressed, Yan Xia was about to get out of bed when Xiao Ji stopped her and suggested that she change her shoes.
There's an old saying that goes, "Red and green together are a terrible combination."
Yan Xia found the bright green shoes an eyesore.
Yesterday, it looked fine when paired with plain-colored clothes.
If paired with the red outfit I'm wearing today, it would be absolutely hideous.
"Okay, go get it." After she spoke, Xiao Ji immediately stood up and went to the inner room.
Yan Xia's clothes and shoes were all in the inner room, where there were three cabinets, two shoe cabinets, and a box of jewelry. The shoe cabinets were full of her shoes, and in the bottom corner, there were also three pairs of Xiao Ji's shoes.
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