Chapter 315 Three Joys

Song Yan and Zhao Zhangru are both not young anymore, and since both families have this intention, they naturally hope to settle the marriage as soon as possible.

Song Yumin wrote back to his wife, saying that they could discuss the wedding date only after exchanging the Engagement Letter with the Zhao family. However, this year might be the last Spring Festival that Song Yan would spend at the Song family, and they would return to Quzhou before the Little New Year anyway. He asked his wife to prepare and have a good New Year.

As he wrote, a faint sadness welled up in his heart.

Zhao Zhangru had a completely different mood from Song Yumin.

Although the elders said nothing, Zhao Zhangru still learned about her marriage from her personal maid. Since Song Yan was the nephew of Mr. Dou Zhao and had lived in the Dou family for several years, Zhao Zhangru was not worried about his character and appearance. She only felt relieved and happy that she was finally getting married.

But the aunt thought that things in Kyoto were good and cheap, and there was a wide range of choices. Her daughter was getting married, so she might as well buy some decent dowry for Zhao Zhangru while she was still in Kyoto. So she asked Dou Zhao to accompany her to the street to buy things.

Dou Zhao made full use of the advantages of her previous life. She knew exactly which combs were the best and which had the most varieties of combs. As long as her aunt wanted, she could buy it.

My aunt couldn't help but laugh and said, "You've only been in Kyoto for a few days, and you know everything so well!"

Dou Zhao was laughing and running around with his aunt buying things every day. He was very happy.

My uncle replied to the letter, expressing his satisfaction with the marriage and handed the engagement matter over to Dou Shiheng and Ji.

Everyone was surprised, and Dou Shiying was very embarrassed.

Song Mo, on the other hand, was very smart and consoled Dou Shiying, saying, "Since this engagement requires the negotiation of betrothal gifts and wedding date, we have to mediate. It is not reasonable for an aunt to help her niece. People will think that we are in a hurry to marry off our daughter! This is the way it should be."

Dou Shiying was very excited when he heard this, and he kept nodding his head. He didn't even notice that Song Mo was talking about marrying off a daughter instead of a son-in-law. He just thought a son-in-law was better. He was happy to be the boss and watch the fun from the side.

Here, the Zhao and Song families had just exchanged the Engagement Letter, and there, Dou Zhengchang's eldest son Qijin was one month old.

Dou Zhao made an appointment with his aunt, and walked into the Chuihua Gate hand in hand with Zhao Zhangru.

Everyone saw Zhao Zhangru and smiled.

The lively and cheerful Zhao Zhangru's face turned red like the morning glow. Fearing being teased, he no longer dared to act as arbitrarily as before. He just helped Han carry the seven pounds in the house, which made everyone laugh again.

Zhao Zhangru found an opportunity to whisper to Dou Zhao: "I want to get married soon! When I get married, let's see who will laugh at me again!"

Dou Zhao burst into laughter.

Zhao Zhangru pinched Dou Zhao hard twice before stopping.

The two cousins ​​held hands and went to the flower hall where the banquet was set.

Dou Ming is here.

She was wearing a bright red full-sleeved shirt, and even though she had dressed it up nicely, it still couldn't hide her haggard look.

Sixth cousin's wife, Guo, couldn't help but ask with concern: "What's wrong with you? Why do you look so bad?"

After she spat out her lipstick in anger that day, she felt unhappy and had no energy. She invited several doctors, but they only prescribed some tonic prescriptions for her to rest. She was not going to come today, but Wei Tingzhen ran to the Jining Marquis's Mansion early in the morning and insisted that they come over. She said she was not feeling well and asked Wei Tingyu to come alone, but insisted that they come together. She had another quarrel with Wei Tingzhen because of this matter. If Wei Tingyu had not said good things in front of her, she would not have bothered to come!

I guess Wei Tingyu has already started talking to Song Mo by now?

She felt like there was a fire burning in her heart when she thought about it, and her tone of voice was a little stiff when she answered Guo: "I'm fine! I just caught a cold a few days ago."

Guo always thought that Dou Ming had a bad temper. Although she didn't take it seriously, she didn't want to see Dou Ming's expression. After chatting with him for a few words, she went to Dou Zhao's side.

Ji Yong's aunt had a very good impression of Dou Zhao. When she saw Dou Zhao, she couldn't help feeling a little sorry that Dou Zhao couldn't marry into the Ji family, so she spoke to Dou Zhao very enthusiastically.

The Ji family was the Sixth Madam's family, and Ji Song was also a high-ranking official of the third rank. On such occasions, the Fifth Madam would definitely be there, and Cai was a woman eloquent and good at speaking, and she sincerely wanted to curry favor with Dou Zhao. Everyone joined in the conversation, and at first glance, it seemed as if everyone was talking around Dou Zhao.

Dou Ming felt that he could not stay there any longer and glared at Dou Zhao with resentment.

Dou Zhao didn't notice, but Zhao Zhangru, who was looking around quietly because she was bored, noticed it. She whispered to Dou Zhao: "Dou Ming is staring at you. Did you two have a fight? She has a face full of resentment!"

"When did you see me quarreling with her?" Dou Zhao kept a humble smile on his face. He didn't even look at Dou Ming. He whispered to Zhao Zhangru as if he was listening carefully to what Aunt Ji Yong said. "Every time she sees me, she gets angry like a chicken. How do I know what temper she has?" But he laughed even more heartily.

Dou Ming became even angrier, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Dou Zhao was like knives.

After a while, everyone noticed that Dou Ming was different.

Those who knew the relationship between the Dou sisters smiled knowingly and pretended not to see it.

Han was unhappy.

Ever since the incident of the sisters swapping marriages, she felt as if she had been betrayed by someone she trusted, and she became more wary of Dou Ming. In the past, things that Dou Ming did would have made her feel pitiful, but now she thought that Dou Ming was arrogant.

She frowned, blocked Dou Ming's sight, and said, "Fifth Aunt is here! Why don't you come over and talk to her?" and introduced Dou Ming to Ji Yong's aunt.

Ji Yong's aunt seldom went out for social activities, so she had no idea about the twists and turns involved. She talked to Dou Ming with a smile on her face, and Dou Ming felt better.

Because the things thrown at the third-day baptism ceremony are rewards for the midwives and those who helped with the baby's delivery, everyone throws silver ingots. However, the gifts given at the full-month and hundred-day celebrations are for the newborn, and therefore are more valuable.

At the banquet, Han held the child in her arms and showed it to the other female relatives.

Dou Ming gave Qi Jin a pair of pure gold Ruyi bracelets.

In addition to giving Qi Jin a set of 19-liang red gold longevity locks, Dou Zhao also gave Qi Jin two jade artifacts that were specially blessed by the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple, two sets of clothes she had made herself, and a bright red silk-carved cape.

Neither Han nor Ji had expected Dou Zhao to be so generous and they kept saying "it's too expensive".

Dou Zhao kissed Qi Jin on the cheek and said, "Who said I am Qi Jin's aunt?"

Everybody laughed.

Dou Ming was so angry that her fingers holding the chopsticks turned white. She felt that Dou Zhao was deliberately embarrassing her. However, she did not expect that Dou Zhao was raised by Ji Shi, and Qi Jin was Ji Shi's eldest grandson. Since there was a difference in the relationship between them, Dou Zhao's gift was naturally more expensive than others.

Zhao Zhangru pulled Dou Zhao's sleeve and whispered, "Look at Dou Ming!"

Dou Zhao was too lazy to look at her, nor did he want to say anything more to her, so he just went in and out with Zhao Zhang.

Song Mo saw this and asked Dou Zhao with a smile, "Do you like your third cousin so much?"

"I've been playing with her since we were little." Dou Zhao said, straightening his clothes and whispering, "Why did you come to the flower hall?"

Song Mo was annoyed by Wei Tingyu, so he used the excuse that he had drunk too much. Dou Shiying asked his personal servant to take Song Mo to Dou Shiheng's small study next to the flower hall to rest.

He hoped that Dou Zhao would forget about Wei Tingyu from then on, so why would he mention Wei Tingyu in front of Dou Zhao?

He just said that he was a little dizzy from drinking.

Dou Zhao hurriedly said: "Then go and rest!"

Song Mo smiled and nodded, then went to the small study with Dou Shiying's personal servant.

Dou Zhao took some time to go to the kitchen and asked the maid at the stove to make a bowl of sobering soup and send it to the small study.

The maids at the stove did not dare to delay, so they put down what they were doing and immediately helped to make a bowl of sobering soup and sent it over.

Song Mo drank the sobering soup, then lay down in front of the moon-shaped window in the small study, looking at the flower hall where only shadows of people could be seen.

After waiting for a long time until the banquet in the flower hall was over, he found Mrs. Zhao.

"Aunt, have you decided where to hold my cousin's wedding?" he asked with concern. "If we go back to Qingyang, it will take at least two months. And I calculated that my uncle will come to Kyoto to report on his work in the spring of next year. The trip will also take a lot of time. I think it would be better to hold my cousin's wedding in Kyoto when my uncle comes to Kyoto. We can go and join in the fun, I can still help." Then he said, "I heard that you sold all the ancestral property in Xingxiang County for Shougu? Apart from Jiangnan, the land and shops in Kyoto are more profitable than other places. Why didn't uncle and aunt consider setting up some business in Kyoto? If you don't mind, how about I keep an eye on it for you? Then let my third cousin's husband take care of it, which will help him hone his ability to manage general affairs."

Officials from prefectures and counties more than 2,000 miles from Kyoto had to come to the capital once every three years.

Qingyang also falls into this range.

Song Mo's words were gentle and considerate, which made his aunt nod secretly. However, she had spent a lot of money on Dou Zhao's wedding a few days ago, and then she married off her daughter. How could she have the extra money to invest in a business in Kyoto?

Faced with Song Mo's kindness, she could only shirk her responsibility and said, "I still need to discuss this matter with her uncle."

"You wait and see, it won't be too late to discuss it with uncle when he comes." Song Mo smiled, "Actually, my colleague's family has an emergency and needs to sell off part of the ancestral property. I think that farm has a lot of good land and the location of the shop is also good, so I want my aunt to pick up a bargain!"

"How can I pick up your secret?" My aunt could only feel pity in her heart and said with a smile, "When I want to set up a business in Kyoto, I will find you again."

Song Mo agreed with a smile.

When he went home that night, he told Dou Zhao about the incident: "...I originally wanted to pay half of the money, and then my aunt would pay the other half, to buy the farm and the shop. It would be a way to repay your uncle and aunt for their help to you. But your aunt doesn't seem to have much spare money. After all, your uncle has been a county magistrate and a prefect for several years, so doesn't he have this little savings?"

"How many people are like you?" Dou Zhao was moved when she heard it. "Everything you see can make you think of money!" She discussed with Song Mo, "How about we buy the silver first and then slowly think of a solution later?"

"Okay!" Song Mo thought. If the Zhao family had a business in Kyoto, Zhao Zhangru and his wife could live in Kyoto permanently, and Dou Zhao would have someone to keep her company in the future. "But you have to figure out how to get my aunt to accept it! I'm afraid that if I intervene, it will backfire."

Dou Zhaoxian agreed, and Song Mo sent people to take over the fields and shops.

But how do I tell my aunt about this?

Chen Qushui brought Duan Gongyi and others to Beijing.