Chapter 551: Unrivaled
The girl left with regret, was pointed at and talked about, and was soon tied up and taken back home by the servants.
Many years later, Wen Yan occasionally heard people mention her.
They said that her reputation was ruined because of her confession in the street, and it would be difficult for her to find a husband.
A year later, she married a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination), and they were sent to serve as officials in the local area.
Because she was well-informed and knowledgeable, she provided a lot of help to her husband in his career.
With the support of her parents' family, she was loved by her husband and lived a very happy life.
A brave, intelligent and clear-headed girl deserves happiness.
Soon, the betrothal gifts arrived at the Ning family.
The Ning family was bustling for a while.
Everyone came to join in the fun and see the betrothal gifts.
The main branch of the Ning family, which had split up long ago, came back again.
Not only because Ning Tan married into the general's mansion, but also because of those boxes of enviable betrothal gifts.
They even wanted to rob.
"This red coral ornament goes perfectly with the warm room in my grandmother's courtyard. I'll take it back as a gift to her."
The second wife also said: "This jade Buddha is also very exquisite. It happens that the Bodhisattva in grandma's small Buddhist hall is made of porcelain, so this one can be used to replace it.
I took it all back with me.”
As they talked, they started to move things.
Ning's mother was so anxious that she was about to cry.
She hesitated and said, "No, no, big sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, if these belong to our family, I will definitely not object to giving them to grandma.
But these are the betrothal gifts sent by my in-laws..."
"My family is already poor, and we can't afford a decent dowry. These things will be carried back with the dowry on the wedding day."
"Sister-in-law, I don't like what you said.
Since it is a betrothal gift that has been delivered to our door, it is natural for our Ning family to have the final say on how to arrange and deal with it.
Just because you and your third brother can't get into the general's mansion, you look down on your brothers from your in-laws' family!
As the future son-in-law of the Ning family, General Meng shouldn't be so stingy as to be reluctant to show filial respect even to his grandmother!
Or, sister-in-law, are you still angry with us because of the division of the family property?"
The two women sang in unison.
Not only did he frame Ning's mother, but he also implicated Meng Xiyan.
If he wasn't careful, Meng Xiyan's reputation of being disrespectful to his in-laws' grandmother would spread.
But Ning's mother was tongue-tied and could not utter a word to refute.
She was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes, and the handkerchief in her hand was almost twisted into a knot.
Wen Yan burst out laughing: "It's so funny!
Isn't it said that the Ning family is a family of scholars, honest and polite? How come the wives they marry are each more greedy than the other?
Did your son pass the imperial examination?
Has your daughter found a husband?
Just come and arrange how to spend other people's betrothal gifts!"
"Who are you? When are you allowed to speak here?" Mrs. Ning frowned and started to attack Wen Yan.
Wen Yan doesn't spoil her.
She raised the box in her hand and said, "Of course I'm here to add makeup to Miss Ning Tan. You two are Miss Ning Tan's aunts, right? What did you add to her makeup?"
The two aunts looked at each other and saw guilt in each other's eyes.
The two of them groaned, "Why should we add makeup to our clothes? Should we let you, an outsider, know about it? You're really meddling too much!"
Wen Yan smiled but did not refute.
Instead, place the box next to the betrothal gifts.
The person in charge of recording immediately stepped forward to check the registration: "One glass bead lamp."
The moment the man opened the lid of the box, everyone stretched their necks to look over.
The glass bead lamps sparkle in the sun, reflecting the sunlight onto the eaves, which is colorful and beautiful.
Someone recognized the lantern: "Isn't this the glass bead lantern used for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"At that time, I could only see it from a distance, but I already thought it was beautiful. Now that I see it up close, I realize how breathtakingly beautiful it is."
"I remember how it came into her hands when it was won by a peasant woman."
"I really liked this glass lamp at the time, so I traded it with the woman."
Wen Yan smiled and turned to look at the two aunts of the Ning family: "Adding to the dowry is just a token of your appreciation. Whether it's priceless gold and jade jewelry or a handkerchief embroidered by yourself, it's all a blessing.
The two of you are being so secretive, could it be that you haven't prepared any makeup at all, but instead want to take something back with you?
Wow, everyone says that the Ning family is a family of scholars, with generations of upright people, and they attach great importance to etiquette and laws.
The Ning family is not so poor that they can't afford to eat, so how could they have reached the point of stealing their niece's betrothal gifts?
If your actions were to get out, the Ning family's century-long reputation would be ruined."
Wen Yan deliberately raised the volume.
Everyone present heard it clearly.
The two aunts lowered their heads in embarrassment and left the crowd in a secretive manner.
Wen Yan sneered in his heart. This was too scary.
After Meng Chifei finished adding makeup, she went to talk to Ning Tan.
Ning Tan felt a little absent-minded.
She won't tell you even if you ask her.
Wen Yan and Meng Chifei looked at each other and tacitly agreed not to ask any further questions.
Meng Chifei warned her, "You and my brother will soon be husband and wife. Husband and wife are one. If you have any questions, go to him for help."
"I will, thank you." Ning Tan forced a smile.
Wen Yan and the others sat for a while and then left together.
The two of them no longer paid attention to what made Ning Tan worried.
Time passed quickly and it was already the middle of the month.
Meng Xiyan's wedding date is approaching.
Wen Yan was also very busy.
She was busy counting the accounts.
Clothes, spices, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, marinade ingredients...
In addition to the shops in the capital, there were also shops that distributed to other prefectures in Dayong, and they also transported their account books and silver to the capital.
After settling the accounts, she also has to distribute the money to each family.
In short, she wished she could have three heads and six arms so that she could do the work of two people.
However, seeing the considerable amount of money, all the hard work is worth it.
As long as Qingchuan comes back to record the account, she will know the exact amount of money she earned this year.
In the blink of an eye, it was Meng Xiyan’s wedding day.
The marriage was originally handled by the Ministry of Rites.
Add to that the ten-mile-long red wedding dress and one hundred and eight loads of dowry.
This kind of standard was applied even to the marriages of the daughters of noble families.
Before the ceremony, another imperial decree came from the palace, conferring upon Ning Tan the title of fourth-rank lady and bestowing upon her a pair of jade ruyi.
When the news spread, all the girls in the capital envied Ning Tan, regardless of whether they came to watch the ceremony or not.
So what if I’m disfigured?
So what if I'm a widow?
In just three or four months, Ning Tan transformed from an unknown widow into a fourth-rank lady.
She also married the dream lover of countless girls in the capital.
How can one not be envious and jealous?
For a time, Ning Tan became a hot topic in the capital.
Wen Yan still struggles with the account book every day.
Sometimes one game can last until late at night.
Ying Zhilin struck a seductive pose on the bed: "Madam, am I not more attractive than those account books?"
Wen Yan nodded: "Indeed, you are more attractive."
Ying Zhilin wailed sadly, "How about I help you? I'm very quick with my accounts."
"No need. You're tired enough investigating cases during the day. I can still do this little thing."
Ying Zhilin moved a chair and sat next to her, resting his head on her shoulder: "Madam, are you really not going to favor your husband tonight?"
Wen Yan was amused by him and patted his head: "Be good, I will accompany you after you finish reading this book."
"Then I'll stay with you."
Three days before New Year's Eve, Wen Yan finally met Qingchuan.
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