Yan Qingqing's promotion to the rank of Second-Rank Lady, though it had little impact on ordinary people.
However, it had a significant impact on the wealthy and officials of Chengyang County.
Its impact was profound not only on Chengyang County, but also on the prefectural city.
Because in the entire prefectural city, apart from the Provincial Administration Commissioner Mei, Yan Qingqing was the highest-ranking official.
The saying that "when people are well-fed and warm, they think of lustful desires" is absolutely true, especially for officials. Regardless of whether they are ambitious or not, they will never lack proper manners.
Although the prefectural city was a bit far, people came to deliver gifts four days after Yan Qingqing was promoted.
Of course, these gifts vary in quantity and value.
Yan Qingqing instructed Yuan Huiniang to categorize and catalog these gifts, and then had Ruyi put them into storage.
Li Jiading's banquet was held on July 20th.
Before we knew it, it was the fifteenth of July, the Ghost Festival.
It has been almost four years since Li Erniu passed away. In ancient times, people usually observed a three-year mourning period.
Therefore, the atmosphere at the Li family's home during this year's Central Plains Festival was not as somber.
However, given Yan Qingqing's status and position, this year's Ghost Festival was celebrated with more solemnity than in previous years.
Yuan Huiniang had instructed her servants to prepare the sacrificial offerings well in advance. Then she came to ask Yan Qingqing for instructions.
Yan Qingqing was busy counting how many gifts she had received this time.
This is quite a sum; if these items were converted into silver, they would probably amount to seventy or eighty thousand taels.
Yan Qingqing couldn't stop smiling; no wonder everyone wants to be an official.
She wasn't accepting bribes, so she felt perfectly justified in taking these things.
She's already a high-ranking noblewoman, and so many people are trying to curry favor with her. If she truly held real power, who knows how many gifts she would receive.
After entering the room, Yuan Huiniang reported to Yan Qingqing on the preparations for the Ghost Festival.
But after talking for a while, he found that Yan Qingqing didn't react at all, so he asked helplessly, "Mother, do you think the incense, paper money, and sacrificial offerings for my father are a little less?"
Yan Qingqing was taken aback when she heard this. Wasn't Yuan Huiniang's father still alive? Then she realized that she was talking about Li Sanniu.
Yan Qingqing immediately slapped her forehead. The Ghost Festival was just around the corner, how could she have forgotten about it?
Then, looking at Yuan Huiniang, she said, "I was just checking the accounts and didn't hear what you said. You were talking about your father's offerings, right?"
Actually, no matter how elaborate the funeral arrangements are, it's all for naught. Nothing beats a bowl of plain water while the person is alive.
You and the boss can handle this; there's no need to make a big fuss about it.
Yuan Huiniang nodded upon hearing this. In fact, she had noticed it over the years: her mother-in-law didn't have much affection for her deceased father-in-law.
She never paid any attention to the ancestral worship during the Ghost Festival and Qingming Festival. In her mother-in-law's room, or even in their current home, she couldn't find a trace of her father-in-law's existence, because there wasn't a single one of his old belongings.
Yuan Huiniang thought for a moment and then stammered, "Mother, I overheard Grandpa and Mayor Grandpa discussing how they wanted to re-erect Father's tombstone and build a large-scale tomb."
They said that the father is no longer worthy of the mother's current status.
If we don't build a tombstone soon, I'm afraid no one will remember my father anymore. And when he's buried in the underworld, he'll be so crushed he won't be able to lift his head."
Yan Qingqing was both amused and exasperated. Li Kaishan and Old Master Li were really thinking ahead.
However, they never mentioned this to me.
Building a tombstone is a minor matter, and it would also benefit Yan Qingqing's reputation if word got out, so Yan Qingqing wouldn't necessarily refuse.
However, she did have conditions.
She did not want to be buried with Li Erniu a hundred years later.
It wasn't that she looked down on Li Erniu, but rather that she didn't want to lie down with a stranger.
But that's a long way off. She's still young and far from death.
Yan Qingqing replied, "Let's talk about this later."
Just do it according to what you've prepared.
Yuan Huiniang quickly agreed.
Although Yan Qingqing had said to keep everything simple, it was still quite grand compared to other families.
In particular, all the younger members of the Li family who were able to attend were present, and Li Xiangjin and Li Xiangyin even prepared separate offerings.
They've been doing this for the past two years, so it doesn't seem too abrupt.
Unexpectedly, Li Xiang'an and the others returned on July 18th.
As soon as Li Yueniang entered the courtyard, she shouted, "Mother, we're back!"
Upon hearing the noise, Li Xiangyang, who was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, stopped his horse stance and ran quickly towards the courtyard gate.
As soon as Li Yueniang saw Li Xiangyang, she quickly picked her up and said with a look of disgust, "Xiao Qi, how come you've gotten so heavy again? Look at all the fat on your body, I can hardly carry you anymore."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyang snorted and climbed off Li Yueniang, then looked at Li Xiang'an with a wronged expression.
Li Xiang'an doted on his younger sister the most, so he quickly picked up Li Xiangyang and glared at Li Yueniang, saying, "No wonder Xiao Qi doesn't like you. Look at what you're saying."
Our little Qi has clearly grown taller, and she's also become stronger from practicing martial arts. I heard from Mom that our little Qi is really good at martial arts lately.
Second brother believes in you, keep it up!
Li Xiangyang puffed out his small chest and gave Li Yueniang a haughty look.
Seeing that Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangyang were on the same page, Li Yueniang rolled her eyes and said, "Fine, fine, fine, you two are siblings, and I'm just an outsider."
You two can stay here and be lovey-dovey, I'm going to find Mom.
After saying that, he went into Yan Qingqing's room.
Yan Qingqing had just woken up from her afternoon nap when she heard Li Xiang'an and Li Yueniang's voices. She initially thought she was hallucinating because she was still half asleep.
But when she saw Li Yueniang enter the house, she realized they were really back and asked happily, "Yueniang, why are you back?"
Before Li Yueniang could answer, Li Xiang'an's voice came in: "Of course I came back to congratulate Mother."
After saying that, Li Xiang'an put Li Xiangyang down and knelt down, saying, "Mother, your son is back. Congratulations on your promotion to the rank of Second-Rank Lady Mingzhao."
After saying that, he respectfully kowtowed to Yan Qingqing.
Li Yueniang and Li Xiangyang, who were standing nearby, followed suit and knelt down to kowtow to Yan Qingqing.
For some reason, Yan Qingqing was somewhat moved at this moment.
Then he quickly helped the three of them up and said with a smile, "It's good that you're back safe and sound. There's no need for so many formalities among family members."
After Li Xiang'an and Li Yueniang sat down, Yan Qingqing asked them about the situation in the prefectural city.
Li Xiang'an smiled and said, "With the reputation of our Canghe Li Ji and the help of Madam Liu, things will naturally go smoothly."
Most importantly, the people Mother sent over were incredibly useful.
Li Yueniang chimed in, "Madam Liu also introduced me to several skilled embroiderers."
The embroidery workshop has been stabilized.
I originally planned to stay in the prefectural city a little longer and bring back some local specialties for everyone, but my second brother insisted on rushing back. If you didn't know he was coming back to congratulate Mother, you'd think he was in a hurry to get married.
Li Yueniang's words contained a lot of information, and Yan Qingqing looked at Li Yueniang with a gossipy expression, waiting for her to continue.
However, Li Xiang'an glanced at Li Yueniang and said coldly, "If you're so bored, go read more books. A girl like you, always so unruly, how will you ever get married?"
Upon hearing this, Li Yueniang shrank back, as she had always been somewhat afraid of Li Xiang'an.
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