The He family originally came from Baishitan in southern Jiangsu. Because He Hongwen's grandfather, Mr. He, was serving as the Minister of the Imperial Household, this branch settled in the capital. The He Mansion was a house with three courtyards in front and back. Minglan had been there several times before and knew that the He family's old couple, the second master He and his family, and He Hongwen and his mother lived in the mansion.
The sun at the end of June was already quite hot. Minglan sat on the right side of her grandmother, waving a large cattail leaf fan all the way, fanning herself and the other two to keep cool. It took more than half an hour for the carriage to arrive. The maid of the He Mansion was already familiar with the Sheng family's grandfather and grandson. As soon as they saw each other, she greeted them with a smile on her face, supported them, and led them into the flower hall in the back garden with an umbrella.
The He family's residence was farther from the imperial city, and the surrounding area was covered with shady trees. As soon as she entered the back garden, she felt a burst of coolness. Minglan exhaled a breath of hot air, pressed her handkerchief against her cheek, and asked Danju to check if her makeup was messed up. Danju whispered, "You just put on a layer of perfume, and you didn't even put on powder. Even if you're sweating a little, it's not a big deal."
Xiao Tao glanced at Minglan's delicate skin, which had almost no pores. "Don't worry, young lady, there's not even any sweat."
After passing through a door with hanging flowers and walking around the main courtyard, they stepped into the back flower hall. They saw that the windows on all four sides of the hall were open. A large round table in the middle was placed with various fresh fruits and snacks, and there were soft rattan chairs on both sides. A copper basin with some ice cubes was placed on the ground at the willow-leaf door on the upwind side. The ice melted and the cool breeze brought a comfortable feeling to the room. The old lady and Minglan were both refreshed.
Old Madam He was sitting at the head of the table, smiling as she stood up to greet the guests. "My dear sister, are you feeling better? Come, let me take your pulse first!" She reached for Old Madam Sheng's wrist, but she flung it open and grumbled, "How can you be such a host? Guests have arrived, and instead of inviting them to sit down or serving them tea, you're actually asking them to take your pulse! What's going on? Are you afraid they won't know you're the daughter of the renowned doctor Zhang?"
The women standing around laughed together. A middle-aged woman wearing a light yellow silk jacket embroidered with flowers and birds, and a plain skirt with embroidery, came over and gently supported Madam He. She said with a smile, "You don't know, old lady, how much I miss you at home. It took so much effort to finally get you here."
As she spoke, she invited the grandparents and grandchildren of the Sheng family to sit down, and familiarly called the maid to serve them warm summer-relief soup. Minglan bowed first to pay her respects to the Second Madam He, then turned gently and paid her respects to He Hongwen's mother who was standing quietly beside her, and then sat down on the rattan chair at the bottom.
After everyone was seated, He Hongwen's mother stood up and bowed to Old Lady Sheng. Her voice was like the sound of a weak wind: "Thanks to your kindness, my sister and her family now live in that wonderful courtyard. I would like to thank you on behalf of my sister and her family." Old Lady Sheng waved her hand gently and declined, "It's okay. In life, we should always help each other."
He's mother was frail and thanked him several times, her face turning pale. Old Madam He quickly asked the maid to help her sit down.
Madam He was slightly plump, with a round chin. She spoke very thoughtfully, evidently someone with many years of experience managing household chores. She smiled attentively and said, "I heard your family is going to have a wedding soon, so I'd like to offer my congratulations! Madam, please don't be stingy with a glass of wedding wine for us later!"
Old Madam Sheng was quite relaxed at the He residence, jokingly saying, "As long as you've prepared the necessary gifts, you can come!" Old Madam He scoffed, laughing, "You used to call those gold and silver 'a-du-wu' (objects), but now you're getting more greedy as you get older! What can we do?"
Old Madam Sheng glared deliberately and said, "Even based on what you said, you have to pay double!"
"This wedding wine is too expensive! My daughter-in-law, let's not go!" Old Madam He also pretended to be angry.
Mrs. He stood beside her mother-in-law, fanning herself gently and smiling, "Don't worry, mother. I'm a good fortune teller. I know there's going to be a wedding banquet at the Sheng Mansion, and you won't be left out! When that happens, even if I have to spend a lot of money, you'll be happy!"
There was something suggestive in his words, and his eyes also swept over Minglan who was sitting below; both Old Lady He and Old Lady Sheng had smiles on their faces.
Minglan was sitting in a cool, draft-proof position. She had just cooled down a bit, but when she heard this, her face flushed again. She lowered her head and refused to speak. Seeing her shyness, He's mother, who was sitting opposite her, couldn't help but whisper, "Second sister-in-law!" Then she walked over, gently patted Minglan's shoulder, and said gently, "Good girl, it's cold here. Sit somewhere else."
Minglan stood up obediently and sat opposite He's mother. Then He's mother took Minglan's hand and asked in a low voice, "How are you feeling recently? Are you still doing embroidery? Don't overwork yourself and hurt your eyes." Minglan felt the dry and cool palm of He's mother's hand and felt very comfortable. She answered the questions softly one by one.
As Mother He asked, she scrutinized Minglan. She wore a knee-length, pale green soft gauze blouse, a pleated skirt of snow-white satin with a cloud pattern, and a dark green, thin, brocade bodice with floral patterns. Her sleek black hair was tied up in a bun, half-tied, with soft bangs covering her forehead. She wore only a pair of kingfisher-inlaid, gold- and silver-studded flowers inlaid with pearls and a small crescent-shaped white jade comb tucked behind her bun. She looked like a tender, green onion, reflecting her rosy face, so delicious it made one want to take a bite. Mother He was delighted, and as Minglan became more affectionate and amiable, she whispered a few more summer tips.
Old Lady Sheng glanced sideways and saw that He's mother and Minglan got along so well, and she felt relieved and comforted. She raised her eyes to look at Old Lady He beside her, and saw that although she was also smiling, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, as if she was worried about something.
There are two very tall gardenia trees planted outside the flower hall. It is the best time to bloom. The petals are green and the flowers are white. The breeze carries bursts of fragrance into the flower hall. The women in the hall are sipping fragrant tea and listening to the two old people talking about old times. Mrs. He Er joins in the fun from time to time, and everyone feels very happy.
Laughter filled the hall. As she spoke, Madam He began to talk about He Hongwen, who had gone out to buy medicinal herbs. She spoke with considerable pride. Just as she was saying to Madam Sheng, "It's time for Hong'er to get married," a maid hurried in to announce, "The concubine of the Cao residence has arrived."
Then, as if a cold wind suddenly blew in the hall, the smile on Mrs. He's face gradually faded, and her eyes swept over He's mother who was sitting below her. He's mother lowered her head and moved her body uneasily.
Mrs. He Er saw her mother-in-law nod slightly, then she said loudly, "Why don't you come in quickly?"
Minglan raised her eyes to look at Old Madam Sheng, only to see that she looked normal and unconcerned, so she sat down steadily. Not long after, a maid opened the curtain and two women came in. The first woman in front was about fifty years old, with an old face. Even with thick powder on her face, it could not hide the dark, yellow and rough skin. Only her eyebrows and eyes bore some resemblance to He's mother; the second woman in the back was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with her head hung low, her back hunched, and her figure very thin. She was wearing a silver-red brocade dress, but the dark gold embroidery on the collar and cuffs was faded, obviously the clothes were old and worn, and her hands exposed outside looked skinny and shriveled.
Madam He looked unhappy and sat there in silence, not wanting to introduce anything. He's mother had no choice but to stand up and said to Madam Sheng awkwardly, "This is Hong'er's aunt, and this is his cousin, nicknamed Jinxiu."
Mrs. Cao quickly pulled her daughter to pay her respects to Madam He and Madam Sheng. Madam He waved and invited her to stand up, and asked Madam He Er to prepare seats and tea and fruit. After everything was done, Mrs. Cao immediately started talking, praising the beautiful scenery and bright and spacious flower hall, and praising Madam He Er for her cooking skills, saying that the summer-cooling soup was delicious and the tea and fruit were tasty. She even hurriedly asked Cao Jinxiu to come forward to serve Madam He, changing the tea and picking fresh fruit. She kept flattering her, but Madam He ignored her and her expression became even more fierce.
When He's mother saw this, she became even more frightened and dared not speak; even He's second wife was silent.
Mrs. Cao was still chattering, but when she saw that Madam He was paying little attention to her and her daughter, she gradually became quieter. Madam He turned around and spoke to Madam Sheng, "In September, Ming will be coming of age. Have you decided who will be the one to give her the wedding tiara?"
Old Madam Sheng smiled and said, "You are the most fortunate among the old sisters, so it is naturally you. I wonder if you are willing to do it?"
Madam He had already planned this, and upon hearing this, she clapped her hands in delight and said, "That's great! Don't worry! I'll go get a hairpin ready right away, and it'll definitely be worthy of your precious granddaughter!"
Mrs. Cao saw them talking to themselves, completely ignoring her and her daughter, and she couldn't help but feel sullen. She immediately turned and looked at Minglan. Minglan couldn't dodge and was grabbed by her arm. She only heard a burst of giggles: "Oh, she is really a lovely girl carved out of jade! Look at her eyebrows, her figure..."
Seeing her frivolous words and the mention of Minglan, Old Lady Sheng couldn't help but frown. But Mrs. Cao kept on saying, "Wow, what a beautiful girl! Speaking of our Jinxiu, she has been praised by everyone since she was a child. It's a pity that she didn't have such a good life as Miss Ming! She went to that ghost place to suffer at such a young age. Now she doesn't look very energetic. If she could eat well and drink well to recuperate for a while, she would definitely be as good as anyone who went there!" As she spoke, she touched Minglan's clothes.
Minglan subtly exerted force on her arms, bent her elbow, and deftly freed herself from Mrs. Cao's grip. She slightly sideways, dodging the attack. She was secretly surprised. Mrs. Cao and Mother He were sisters, so how could one of them look like a vulgar village woman? Glancing to the side, she saw Mother He's face flushing red and pale with embarrassment, helplessly watching her sister make a fool of herself. Cao Jinxiu, standing nearby, kept her head down. Minglan took a closer look. Her skin was slightly dark, her face was weathered, and she was thin and emaciated. Her appearance was truly unremarkable.
Since they were guests, the He family couldn't say anything, so Mrs. Cao became even more proud. She turned to Mrs. Sheng and said, "My sister told me that you and my sister's mother-in-law are very close friends. I'm not embarrassed. Our Jin'er and my nephew Hong'er have been childhood sweethearts. They have such a deep bond... I'm not bragging, but when our family left Beijing, Hong'er chased after us, crying and calling out to Jin'er! With such a bond, our Jin'er naturally..."
Old Madam He's face changed, and she slammed the tea bowl down on the table. With a crisp sound, the lid of the bowl broke on the table. Second Madam He and He's mother knew her mother-in-law's temper. She was cheerful and liked to joke when nothing happened, but when she got angry, she would be so hot-tempered that she would even scold the old man. They were so scared that they stood aside.
Madam He was furious, but she smiled. She slowly plucked a lapis lazuli Ruyi hairpin carved with the characters for "happiness and longevity" from her hair and placed it on the coffee table. She pointed at it and said, "Madam, I've always wanted to give Jin'er a hairpin. Today, while everyone is here, if you don't mind, you can take it."
Mrs. Cao was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. She stepped forward, stretched out her hand to take the hairpin, and repeatedly praised it with gestures. Mrs. He had a strange smile on her face and said slowly, "Now that you have the hairpin, tell Jin'er to put her hair up. It's time to change her clothes. No woman should dress like a girl anymore!"
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a silent thunderclap sounding over everyone's head in the hall. Cao Jinxiu raised her head suddenly, her eyes filled with tears, and she was stuck to the ground like a piece of wood, unable to move. The expressions of everyone in the hall changed suddenly.
With a bang, Mrs. Cao panicked and dropped the hairpin to the ground, breaking it into two pieces. Old Madam He turned around and sneered at Mother He, whose face was as pale as death. "It seems your sister despises this hairpin of mine!"
He's mother was also frightened and her hands and feet were shaking. She looked at Mrs. Cao in disbelief, her eyes full of surprise and suspicion. Mrs. Cao avoided her sister's gaze, gritted her teeth secretly, then forced a smile and said to Mrs. He: "Madam, are you mistaken? My Jin'er is not born yet..." Mrs. He waved her hand to interrupt her words, grabbed Cao Jinxiu's wrist beside her, and clasped her pulse with three fingers. Then she stared at Mrs. Cao and smiled coldly.
Mrs. Cao was horrified and recalled what her younger sister had said before: Madam He had studied medicine since she was young, and she could guess whether a woman was a girl or a woman just by looking at her figure, and she could tell nothing by taking her pulse. Thinking of this, she immediately broke out in a sweat and looked at her younger sister at a loss, only to find that she also looked distraught.
Seeing this, He's mother understood clearly. Her mother-in-law had probably suspected something long ago, but she hadn't said it out of respect for her own pride. But now, she had spoken out in front of the Sheng family's grandparents and second sister-in-law, not only making her stance clear to the outside world, but also indirectly expressing her strong dissatisfaction with the Cao family. He's mother had been widowed at a young age, and had been able to live a stable life for more than a decade, raising He Hongwen to become a talented person, thanks to her mother-in-law's great help. She had always respected Madam He, and now she saw that she was obviously furious, and she was also afraid.
After that, no one had the heart to appreciate the flowers. Old Lady Sheng said that she was not fully recovered yet and took Minglan with her to say goodbye. Old Lady He held her hand and talked to her for a few words. Second Madam He accompanied her all the way to the door, her mouth full of apologies. She also packed the daily summer herbs she had prepared in advance into a box and took it away before respectfully saying goodbye.
After getting on the carriage, the grandfather and grandson were silent for a long time.
Minglan lowered her head and thought. When she first met Madam He, she only thought that this old lady was generous and easy to talk to. But now she thinks that when Mr. He was young, he was a playboy and had many concubines, but after decades, he didn't have a single illegitimate child. Now they are an old couple, and Madam He has control over the whole family. She can divide the family as she wants and give He Hongwen and his mother as much property as she wants. Neither her husband, son, nor daughter-in-law said a word, and they lived a very comfortable life.
Today, she unleashed a deadly, ruthless attack. How could such a person be simple?! The inner chamber is like an arena of exquisite forbearance. Those who can ultimately survive are either born with good luck like Yu Yanran's grandmother, or they all have some skills!
After a long while, Minglan finally sighed and said, "Fortunately, Grandma He is here."
Old Madam Sheng had a profound expression, her eyes flickering with disapproval. "When two families marry, it's all about mutual consent and everyone's happiness. If it has to rely on the old lady's suppression, it's not a good marriage. Let's wait and see. I don't know what Hongwen's mother means..."
…
At this time, He's mother was standing in the inner room of Old Lady He, full of panic. There were only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the room. The doors and windows were closed tightly. The room was a bit stuffy, but He's mother still felt a chill on her back.
"You've lost your mind!" Old Lady He slammed her palm on the coffee table, causing the tea bowl on top to bounce. "You clearly knew what I meant, yet you still informed the Cao family about today's meeting! What are you thinking?! Do you really want Jin'er to be your daughter-in-law?!"
Mother He looked flustered and quickly shook her hands: "No, no, no, I love Minglan very much, how could I..." Her eyes became hot and she choked with sobs, "But my sister kept begging me, and I... my wife's family only has this sister left!"
"You!" Old Lady He was filled with resentment and scolded, "You are just soft-hearted! Let me make it clear to you today. Our He family is not the kind of family that despises the poor and loves the rich. If we had arranged a marriage between our daughter and Brother Hongwen before the Cao family got into trouble, I would have accepted this granddaughter-in-law even if I am laughed at now! But don't forget, it was the Cao family who despised you, an orphan and a widow, with no one to rely on. Back then, the Cao family was very arrogant, and they kept saying that they would marry their daughter off to a wealthy family! Humph! Now, look at them, their family is ruined and destitute, and they remember that they have a sister like you and a nephew like Hongwen!"
At this point, Old Lady He raised her voice and angrily said, "What's particularly hateful is that they actually dared to deceive my family. They clearly aren't virgins anymore, yet they still tried to hide it from everyone! It's truly despicable!"
Mother He sobbed and spoke haltingly, "Just now my sister told me that when they were in Liangzhou, they really couldn't make ends meet. They were forced to become Jin'er's concubine to that military officer. But who knew that within a few months, there would be a general amnesty. Now the Cao family is filled with regret!"
"So what?" Old Lady He glared. "They're delusional first and deliberately deceiving you later. Do you really want to fulfill your sister's wish and marry such a poor woman to your son?!"
A widowed mother has always put in much more effort than an ordinary mother in raising a son. He's mother also wants her son to become successful, but she is weak in nature and easily influenced. She softened her heart when her sister cried and pleaded. Now that things have come to light, she is at a loss as to what to do with the deep sisterly love on one side and her son's future on the other.
Finally, Mother He wiped her tears and looked up, saying, "Mother, I've made up my mind. My daughter-in-law is still better than Ming! ... But just before my sister left, she begged me again, saying that even if Jin'er became a concubine, it would be fine. Mother, what do you think?"
"Don't even think about it!" Old lady He slammed her palm on the table again, gritting her teeth while speaking, but seeing the frightened face of He's mother, she quickly took pity on this young widowed daughter-in-law, and softened her voice and said, "Daughter-in-law, think about it carefully, this marriage with the Sheng family is the best. Your father-in-law is old, and he will retire in a few days. By then, your father-in-law and I will either return to our hometown in Baishitan or follow his uncle to take up his post. Who will Hongwen rely on then? You have to find him a reliable in-laws! We can't marry the daughters of wealthy families, and those of poor families are not good either. It's not easy to find a daughter-in-law from a poor family. "The concubines' daughters of ordinary families are not presentable. You have chosen one yourself. Is there anyone more suitable than Minglan? Her father and brother are both officials in the court, and the family is wealthy. Although she is a concubine's daughter, her appearance and temperament are first-class. She is loved by her father, brother and sister-in-law at home. She was also raised by my elder sister. In the future, even if you three live alone, she can still manage the housework steadily, take care of the mother-in-law, and assist her husband! I have been looking for her for so many years, and Ming girl is the most suitable. But the Cao family is making trouble now! Be a concubine?! Humph! The daughter-in-law hasn't even entered the door, but even the concubines are prepared. I don't have the face to tell my elder sister!"
He's mother was moved by what her mother-in-law said. She slowly wiped away her tears and said in shock, "Mother is absolutely right, but...what should I do about Jin'er?"
Old Lady He said coldly, "She has her own parents. You're just her aunt, so worry less! I've helped her find a house, provided for the household expenses, and found her a job. Do you think I have to manage the Cao family for the rest of my life?! Also, sew your fingers together for me! I gave you a generous share of the family property from the eldest and second sons to give to you, an orphan and a widow. It's for Hong'er to start a family in the future, not for you to subsidize the Cao family. You have to distinguish between your son and the Cao family! The Cao family has men and sons, hands and feet. Do you think the whole family should be supported by the He family? In this world, there is only emergency relief, not poverty relief! It's okay for me to manage the property for you now, but after I die, with your soft temper, if you don't find a reliable granddaughter-in-law, maybe all of these will be surnamed Cao! I've made it clear to you. After all, you're the one who's looking for a daughter-in-law. Think about it yourself!"
These words were very harsh and contained deep meaning. He's mother was shocked and knew what her mother-in-law meant. She dared not say anything.
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