Chang Yu rarely dressed up. Every morning after getting up, she would simply comb her hair, tie it up with a hairpin, and then go to the shop to work. Her face was always bare, and she never used any makeup or rouge. Her clothes were also always plain.
The main focus is on comfort; if she weren't so good-looking, people might mistake her for a maid from the Yan family.
Today, Chang Yu was unusually dressed, wearing a soft blue shimmering satin dress with cloud patterns. A thin veil was sewn around the hem of the dress, which swayed in the wind like willows by the river, like smoke and mist. Two strands of hair hung down her shoulders, while the rest of her hair was piled up high. Two jeweled crystal hairpins were inserted diagonally into her hair, and some tassels were also adorning her two buns. With the movement of her head, they swayed back and forth with the hem of her dress.
It made the whole person seem more lively.
Chang Yu, you look beautiful today!
Zuo Li was stunned.
He blurted out his admiration for Chang Yu.
A moment later, Zuo Li realized what was happening. He blinked and came to his senses.
"Ahem, Chang Yu is a grown woman now, and she's as beautiful as Aunt Yan. She'll definitely marry a good husband in the future. Alright, I'll go in and sit down first." Zuo Li looked away, coughed twice with his face flushed, and fled through the door.
My steps were so hurried that I almost tripped over the threshold.
"What's wrong with Brother Zuo Li?" Chang Fu was puzzled as he saw Zuo Li like this for the first time.
"What else could it be? He wants to get married, that's all." Chang Lu pursed his lips, taking in Zuo Li's reaction.
"Huh? Who is he marrying? Which girl has he fallen for? I've never heard him mention it before." Changfu still didn't understand, so he asked his younger brother.
"Brother, you're such an idiot." Chang Lu was speechless.
My older brother already has children.
They don't understand matters of love and romance yet.
I really don't know how his sister-in-law trained him.
Zuo Li's reaction just now clearly showed that he had taken a liking to his second sister.
However, Zuo Li is rather old.
Chang Lu felt that his second sister probably looked down on Zuo Li, and besides, he had a scar on his face, which not only disfigured him, but also made him look quite scary when he got angry. His second sister's courage was something else.
Timid as a mouse.
It's definitely not going to work!
Worried that his second sister might overthink things, Changlu didn't bring it up.
So Changfu remained completely in the dark and knew nothing.
Yan Xia, standing to the side, also saw it clearly.
She showed no reaction. She could afford to raise both daughters anyway, and it didn't matter whether they got married or not. If Zuo Li could win Chang Yu's heart, she would agree; if not, it was none of her business.
Although Zuo Li had scars, Yan Xia thought he was strangely manly, and in modern times, he would be very popular with older women.
For example, modern middle-aged male celebrities, JD.com.
Zuo Li is twenty-two years old.
She was considered very old in that dynasty.
In modern times, that would be considered a young, fresh-out-of-college puppy.
Chang Yu was seventeen.
The two are five years apart in age, which isn't too much.
Zuo Li is not as fierce as he looks. He is kind-hearted, filial, loves to help others, and is very righteous.
Yan Xia thought.
If Zuo Li really wins Chang Yu's heart, she definitely won't stop him.
But Chang Yu remained silent.
Yan Xia felt that Zuo Li probably had no chance.
It has to be said that the mother and son were thinking the same thing.
"My dear mother-in-law, you look absolutely stunning today! Goodness, I thought you were some kind of bride standing here. It's really infuriating that even though we're about the same age, I look more than a decade older than you. Sigh, time waits for no one. My face is like old tree bark, all loose and sagging."
Oh, Chang Yu, you're all dressed up today too! You look even more beautiful. You look just like your mother. Look at you, anyone who didn't know you'd think you were some high-ranking official's daughter. That air of elegance is something you can't learn. Auntie wishes you a happy birthday, and may everything go smoothly for you in the future. May you marry a good husband. Chang Fu, I also wish your little dumpling grows up healthy and safe, and that you and Xiao He grow old together in love for a hundred years..."
The second group of guests came from the Wang family.
Xu Chunxia led her son and daughter-in-law off the carriage.
He praised Yan Xia's entire family repeatedly.
“This is a hairpin your aunt gave you. I saw it while we were shopping the other day and thought it was quite pretty, so I bought it. It’s not worth much, you can wear it as you like.” As she spoke, Xu Chunxia opened the handkerchief in her hand and took out the hairpin.
It was placed in Chang Yu's palm.
It was a gilded hairpin, of average craftsmanship, but for Xu Chunxia, it was already at the pinnacle of craftsmanship.
She couldn't afford it no matter how expensive it was.
Chang Yu did not show the slightest disgust.
She smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie. I like it very much. I'll wear it tomorrow."
"Sister Changyu, this is a handkerchief that Yuanshan and I are giving you. The flowers on it are embroidered by me. My embroidery skills are not very good, so please don't mind them."
Then, Qian Wanyue handed over a handkerchief.
The base is pure white, with a peony embroidered in the center.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's lifelike.
"It's so beautiful, Sister Wanyue. If your embroidery wasn't good, all the shops on the street would have to close down. I'll definitely wear it on my waist every day from now on and take it out to use whenever I want. Thank you so much."
Chang Yu genuinely likes him.
After she finished speaking, she took off the handkerchief from her waist and placed it in the hands of her personal maid. Then she put the handkerchief embroidered by Qian Wanyue back on her waist.
This sight put Qian Wanyue's previously anxious heart at ease.
"I'm glad you like it, Sister Changyu. Tell me what kind of patterns you like in the future, and I'll embroider them for you."
"Okay, thank you."
The two held hands and talked for a long time.
"Alright, alright, let your Aunt Xu and the others go in. They must be tired from standing here for so long," Yan Xia said.
Chang Yu let go of her hand.
Xu Chunxia then led her son and daughter-in-law to their seats.
Suddenly, a magnificent carriage stopped outside the Yan residence.
The coachman jumped down from the carriage, took a low stool, and placed it on the ground. A woman dressed as a maid lifted the curtain of the carriage from the inside, stepped out first, and then helped Lu Baozhu, the only daughter of Magistrate Lu, down from the carriage.
Happy birthday, Chang Yu!
My foot had just touched the ground.
Lu Baozhu then offered her congratulations to Chang Yu.
"Miss Lu, what brings you here?" Chang Yu was quite surprised. In the past, when Lu Baozhu came to the shop for sweet soup, she would personally serve it to her. Over time, the two of them would start chatting, so they had a good relationship, but that was all.
There's no need for me to come to her birthday party in person.
Moreover, she did not invite Lu Baozhu.
Who would have thought that the daughter of a dignified county magistrate would call the daughter of a mere merchant "elder sister"?
"You didn't even tell me you were having a birthday banquet. I considered you a good friend. If Zuo Li hadn't asked my dad for a day off today and I hadn't overheard it, I wouldn't have known you were having a banquet. Here, this is a gift for you. Open it and see if you like it."
Lu Baozhu pouted and handed Chang Yu an exquisite wooden box, looking somewhat unhappy.
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