Chapter 422 Raising a Daughter-in-Law
The next day.
The female manager of Jinxiufang arrived and was led by a maid to Weiruixuan to take Meng Jinyao's measurements.
Meng Jinyao was initially stunned. When she learned that her husband had sent the shopkeeper, she was overjoyed. She really didn't expect that her husband would think about whether she had new clothes to wear while he was away on a long trip and had arranged everything for her.
After taking the measurements, the female shopkeeper handed Meng Jinyao the sample catalog to choose from.
Looking at the catalog, Meng Jinyao saw that the styles were all nice, so she directly selected six sets that she liked and then handed the catalog back to the female shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper beamed with delight when she saw the six outfits Gu had chosen. They were the six most expensive and the most beautiful. Ordinary officials and their families wouldn't be so extravagant as to order six outfits without even asking the price. The fabrics were of the highest quality, with intricate and gorgeous patterns, some embroidered with gold thread and others with silver thread. Such bright and luxurious dresses could only look good on a beautiful woman like Madam Gu with her striking features. A woman with a more delicate appearance wouldn't be able to pull them off.
The female shopkeeper smiled and complimented, "Madam has excellent taste."
Meng Jinyao smiled and nodded. She also thought she had good taste. She had heard that it was difficult to wear clothes well when you were pregnant and later in the pregnancy, and some people even gained weight during pregnancy and childbirth and couldn't lose it. So she took advantage of the fact that she was still in the early stages of pregnancy and not yet overweight to wear more nice clothes, so that she wouldn't not be able to wear them well later when she gained weight.
Of course, even though she might gain weight during pregnancy and might not be able to lose it, she didn't regret it. There are gains and losses in everything. Gaining a lovely child makes gaining weight a good thing.
Meanwhile, when Old Madam Gu learned that her daughter-in-law's clothes would cost more than two hundred taels of silver, she was completely stunned. She knew that her grandchildren only received a few taels of silver a month, and her son and daughter-in-law would receive two taels more than her grandchildren. She looked at Granny Feng and asked hesitantly, "Is raising a daughter-in-law really that expensive?"
Granny Feng paused for a moment, then replied, "Madam, other people's daughters-in-law probably don't cost that much money, but this is the standard for raising a wife for the Marquis. Madam must be spending money according to the Marquis's standard."
Madam Gu nodded: "It's alright, I can afford it. Anyway, I can't take my dowry and money with me to the grave. They'll all be theirs in the future. It's no big deal to spend it on Ayao now."
Upon hearing this, Granny Feng laughed and said, "Madam, people are indeed fickle. You weren't like this before."
Old Madam Gu looked bewildered: "What do you mean by that?"
Granny Feng replied, "You used to teach the Marquis that although the Gu family has a huge fortune, it was not easy for our ancestors to accumulate it. As descendants, we should be diligent and thrifty and never be spendthrifts who are extravagant and wasteful. Now, for the sake of you, Madam, your views have changed."
Madam Gu was stunned after hearing this. She had taught Yaoling this way before, and Yaoling listened to her. She was not extravagant and wasteful. Even when she bought new clothes, the mansion would make them according to the allowance every quarter. She would never buy them herself. She would eat and drink either at home or at the Dali Temple, except when she had appointments with friends and colleagues.
In response, Madam Gu had her own explanation: "Raising a daughter is not the same as raising a son. A son can live a good life even if he is rough around the edges, but a daughter needs to be more refined. I just didn't have a daughter, otherwise I would have given her all the beautiful clothes and jewelry she wanted. Now that I have a daughter-in-law, it's the same for her."
Granny Feng smiled gently.
-
During the days that followed, while Meng Jinyao was resting at home during her pregnancy, various shopkeepers would come to deliver things from time to time, all saying that they were on the orders of Lord Gu.
In autumn, skin is prone to dryness and cracking, so the owner of the rouge shop would bring several of the best-selling hand, lip, and face creams from their shop, as well as different scents of the same product, for Meng Jinyao to choose from.
The jewelry shop owner also brought his shop's new designs to Meng Jinyao's door, allowing her to choose one and have it made by a craftsman.
The maids also bought pastries from Yipinzhai, saying that the Marquis had ordered them to be bought, as well as other snacks.
Meng Jinyao was initially saddened by the separation, but after being cared for by her husband every now and then, the pain of separation lessened considerably. She was all smiles every day, and her daily routine and walks became regular.
Zhang and Chen were filled with envy. They were both men, so why were other people's husbands so good? They even had to arrange all these things before going on a long trip.
Even Gu Xuanyi, who returned home after her divorce, regained some confidence in marriage.
When Madam Gu knew that her daughter-in-law was happy, she felt that the money was well spent. When her daughter-in-law was in a good mood, the child would grow well. With both mother and child doing well, her son could work in Hangzhou Prefecture with peace of mind.
Suddenly, Madam Gu said, "I haven't been out for a long time. The weather is nice today, let's go out for a walk."
Upon hearing this, Granny Feng was surprised. Her mistress had become quite old and rarely went out, except when she did go out to the temple with her old ladies to burn incense. So she asked, "Why does the old lady suddenly want to go out?"
Madam Gu replied, "Now that it's getting cold, let's go to the orphanage and donate some money so that the children there can get some warm clothes."
Granny Feng: "The old lady has the heart of a bodhisattva."
Madam Gu said, "Do more good deeds to accumulate blessings for your descendants. By the way, have someone go to the pastry shop and buy more pastries that the children like, and then send them to the orphanage."
-
Wei Rui Xuan.
Ningdong was worried that reading would hurt her master's eyes, so she read to him herself. The book she was reading to him was a travelogue.
Meng Jinyao listened with great interest when Chunliu suddenly came in and reported, "Madam, the second young master of the Meng family has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao smiled and hurriedly said, "Quickly invite them over." Then, she instructed Ningdong, who was standing beside her, "Ningdong, quickly prepare tea."
Not long after, Meng Chengzhang came in.
Meng Jinyao looked at her younger brother, whom she hadn't seen for quite some time, and noticed that he had grown quite a bit taller. The fourteen-year-old boy had delicate features, long black hair, and wore a long robe, exuding the gentle and refined air of a scholar.
Meng Chengzhang also looked at his elder sister and found that she looked very healthy and was looking at him with a happy expression, so he knew that she had been doing well lately.
After he sat down, he said, "Big sister, I came back the day before yesterday, but I was late and didn't get to see you. Yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there was a banquet at home, so I couldn't get away. That's why I came today."
Meng Jinyao nodded and said, "I know. Xiuwen came back quite late the day before yesterday. You all came back together, so it must have been quite late too."
Meng Chengzhang said, "No need to ask, I know that my elder sister has been doing well lately."
Meng Jinyao gently stroked her belly and smiled, "It's all good. Now that I'm pregnant, the maids are taking even better care of me, my sisters-in-law are getting along well, the elders are kind, and the younger generation is very respectful to me. There's nothing unpleasant about it. How have you been lately, Second Brother?"
Meng Chengzhang replied, "I'm fine too." He smiled as he spoke, "However, our father hasn't been doing so well lately."
Meng Jinyao was taken aback, then asked curiously, "What's wrong with him now?"
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