Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Two chapters merged into one
The dowry is generous, and the person who gives the dowry also has face.
Rong Niang also brought two maids over to help. Juxiang put the table and chairs in order. Then she saw Aying opening the box and taking out a red silk curtain. The curtain was embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. The embroidery was very delicate, like a dragon swimming on the thread.
"Was this embroidered by Jinniang herself?" asked Rongniang.
Ah Ying smiled and said, "Of course, it looks really nice with this white jade hook."
Several people hurriedly set up the tent and began to make the bed. Ah Ying had received instructions in advance and brought out a soft satin quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks and peonies.
Then she put up the chair covers, table curtains, and door curtains one by one. Juxiang moved the copper-base, orange-red gauze lamp as tall as a person to the bedside and wiped it with a cloth. Seeing that she was using too much force, Ah Ying couldn't help but say, "Be more careful. This lamp cost three strings of cash."
It was only a few days ago that the girl said that she had collected enough money for her dowry, so she bought this lamp. I felt very painful for a long time.
But I have to say, with this lamp, the atmosphere in the room is completely different. The girl really has good taste.
Rong Niang also sighed: "I didn't expect Jin Niang to have saved so much money by herself."
“It’s all accumulated over the years.” Aying said with a smile.
After saying that, she put all the clothes she would wear these days in the closet. Actually, these were the clothes that the girls passed out to attract customers, but they were almost 90% new. After ironing, they looked almost as good as brand new. When she took them out, she could see the envious looks on the faces of Rong Niang and the other maids.
Rong Niang also felt that the tidying was almost done, and looked at the surrounding environment. There were three main rooms and two side rooms, and outside was the Jiang family's garden. The flowers in the garden were in full bloom, and the area was about an acre in size. There was also a small pond and a waterside pavilion in the front. It was truly worthy of being a wealthy family.
She used to think that her house with three courtyards was big enough, but now she knows that there is a difference between a house with three courtyards and a house with three courtyards.
No wonder Jinniang worked so hard to prepare such a dowry.
So, I have to work hard too.
Rong Niang's maid also whispered: "Madam, this courtyard is like a cross-courtyard. The main courtyard is on the east side, but this one is better."
"Well, when Master Jiang heard that he was the youngest son in the family, he naturally gave such a good place to the couple to live in." Rong Niang said.
They sat outside under the eaves for a while. When they went back in, they saw Ah Ying had taken out all the tea sets and placed them on the crane knee table in front of the beauty couch. Rong Niang couldn't help but praise: "Aying is really capable."
Young and well organized.
Ah Ying smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment. Our girl asked me to bring some snacks over. It's just right for everyone to have some."
Who knew that just as she took out the snacks, she saw a maid with a round face coming over. She had a bun on her head and looked very friendly. She bowed to Rong Niang and said, "Aunt, I am Meng Dong, the maidservant beside the Madam. This is the food that the Madam asked me to bring. Please eat some first."
Rong Niang smiled and said, "Mrs. Jiang Liu is so polite."
After saying that, Meng Dong asked the two little girls who followed him to serve the meal. It was not a feast, but just four dishes, one soup and an extra dessert. Seeing that Rong Niang didn't move, Ah Ying thought she didn't want to pay, so she quickly took out a purse from her sleeve and handed it to Meng Dong: "Thank you, sister."
Meng Dong still refused, but A Ying stepped forward and pulled her, saying, "Sister, this is what our wife asked me to bring. When she comes over tomorrow, I'm afraid she will give me a generous reward."
As soon as Meng Dong heard that it was given by Jinniang, he accepted it.
After going out, he opened his purse and saw that it was filled with eighty heavy coins tied with a red string. Meng Dong thought to himself, Madam Wei is indeed rich.
Rong Niang couldn't help but say: "The bride hasn't even entered the house yet, why are you already giving her tips? It's too much of a waste."
"I was also following our young lady's instructions. That girl is from the Sixth Madam's side. As the saying goes, it's easier to meet the King of Hell than to deal with little devils." This past year, Aying has been dealing with all kinds of guests every day. The young lady would review with her every night, telling her how to deal with each person. Naturally, she has become much more capable now.
At midnight, Ah Ying was about to go back. She had to help Jin Niang get on the bridal sedan the next morning, so she told Ju Xiang, "Stay at the door. There are valuables in here. Don't let anyone steal them."
Although the two of them didn't get along well in the Wei family, outside, Juxiang still listened to Aying's words: "Don't worry, I will never leave the house."
Ah Ying said to Rong Niang again, "Miss, I'm sorry to bother you."
Rong Niang waved her hand: "Go quickly."
When Ah Ying went out, Chen Xiaolang was standing by the door. He couldn't help but smile and said, "Busy man, go back. The girl asked me to buy your favorite buttered abalone and conch as a reward for you."
"The girl still remembers me." Aying was a little proud.
After returning, Aying naturally told Jinniang that the Jiang family's house had three courtyards and a garden, and how beautiful and grand it was. However, Jinniang was not very impressed.
The only man from the sixth branch of the Jiang family who could become an official has been adopted. The sixth master prides himself on being a scholar, but is ignorant of mundane affairs and is a dilettante. She has asked Xiang Ming about this and heard that the sixth branch of the Jiang family is now just an empty shell. Mrs. Jiang the Sixth is in poor health and has even told her mother about the division of the property, which is probably not something that can be done in a day or two. I'm afraid I won't be able to stay in the Jiang family for long.
But she couldn't explain this to Ah Ying, so she just asked, "Did those He Lou leaders scare them?"
"That's right, you've thought it through very carefully. The other big boxes containing clothes were locked and couldn't be moved, but the jewelry were all in boxes. As soon as I turned around, some sedan chair bearers and some onlookers came up to me and tried to sneak a few away." Aying said.
Jinniang's jewelry is all kept by her side, so how could such real gold and silver leave her sight?
Those lifelike He Lou headgear were originally just for them to take a look at. When she put them on, they would be real, so who would say anything?
There are many people who steal things from the bride during the wedding period, and most of them are acquaintances. It would be bad if you caught them, but if you don't catch them, you will suffer in silence.
Jinniang smiled and said, "You have worked hard today, Ah Ying. I have Ah Ying alone to resist thousands of troops. Go to bed early, because tomorrow Mrs. Cha Dai will come to my house to help me dress up."
In fact, before Aying came back, Jinniang had already put a lot of lucky money in a frame, which was to be distributed to the people on the man's side tomorrow. Jinniang asked Xiaolang to exchange a total of 3,000 copper coins. This money was given by her parents, and they would not let her pay for it.
I can’t think about it anymore. I should go to bed early. Jinniang closed her eyes and thought of the fire avoidance map her mother had brought. She couldn’t fall asleep again. Men and women are not just about living together, but also about physical intimacy and love between men and women…
But she resisted the thought of falling in love with someone she had only met a few times.
However, Jiang Xian was in a completely opposite mood from Jinniang. He came to take a look at the new house in the evening, specially bringing lucky money. The house was already well decorated, with a brand new door curtain hanging at the door. The curtain was made of pine green base with various plum blossoms embroidered on it. The curtain body had two pieces of soft red satin, the upper and lower pieces were joyful, and looked elegant and festive.
There was no floor-standing shade or screen in the middle, but instead two small vertical display cabinets on which were placed porcelain vases, books, silk dolls, puppets, and clay figurines. A hibiscus gauze curtain was spread between the two display cabinets. Upon entering, there were tables and chairs, as well as a small couch. In front of the couch was a crane-knee table, and in front of the beauty couch there was a large floor-standing vase with pink and white roses in it.
Lifting the lid of a moon-white tent sprinkled with gold, one can see the living area, which has a mother-of-pearl bed and an orange-petal gauze lamp in front of the bed, which is quite cozy. Next to the lamp is a thin ivory table with a few snacks on it. On the west side are the embroidery frame, needles, thread and ruler, and on the east side is a long desk with the four treasures of the study, a pen holder, and calligraphy and paintings on it.
Next to the window was a small dressing table, on which was a mahogany inlaid eight-treasure box...
The more he looked at her, the more he looked forward to Jinniang marrying him. However, facing Rongniang and the others, he had to remain calm: "I'll trouble you today."
Rong Niang smiled and said, "You are too polite, brother-in-law."
Jiang Xian bowed again, walked out with his hands behind his back, and waited for the arrival of tomorrow morning.
When Rong Niang opened the lucky money given by Jiang Xian and took a look at it, she couldn't help but think maliciously that if Ying Niang knew that she could get two taels of silver by waiting for one night, would she regret not coming?
The next day, before dawn, Jinniang was woken up from her bed by her mother. Juxiang was not at home, so her mother prepared tea and food for her in the morning and asked her to eat more and prepare to take a bath and dress up. Jinniang yawned and said to Luo Yu'e, "Didn't my daughter sleep well last night?"
"When you're getting married, you're always excited." Luo Yu'e could understand it very well, as she had also been through that time.
Jinniang smiled and said, "It's not because of this. It's just that I always feel uncomfortable when I suddenly leave my home and go to someone else's home."
"Girls always have to get married. Fortunately, my son-in-law is a good one, and you can't find one even with a lantern. Although your mother is very reluctant to let you go and wishes you could stay at home, your parents can't stay with you forever." Luo Yu'e said what was in her heart.
Jinniang had no intention of arguing. Even among modern parents, there are many who force their children to get married. In ancient times, her parents already respected her to a certain extent.
After wiping her body with jasmine soap and applying a thick layer of ointment, Jinniang first put on a silk indigo-blue tube top with a floral pattern printed on it, then put on a crotch-closed trousers. Over the trousers she put on a bright red gilt skirt with a pattern of lanterns, and then a long crimson silk jacket with an edge decorated with gold peony patterns. After she had done her makeup and put on powder, she put on a large-sleeved gown and a shawl with a pattern of bright red peony and magnolia.
If a woman does not have an imperial decree, she is only allowed to wear a xiapei on her wedding day.
The wedding dress of Jinniang was made with great effort on the shawl. The base color of the shawl was the same as the sleeves, both were bright red, and it was also embroidered with peony and magnolia patterns, mostly connected by branches and leaves. The color of the leaves was the same dark green as the bodice, and Jinniang then outlined the outside of the leaves with gold powder.
Even the wedding dress that Miss Zhou wore when she got married might not be as good as hers.
A wedding dress can only be worn once, but it is worn at a very important moment in one's life. It may be difficult to become an imperial concubine in this life, but it is still possible to wear it when getting married.
"Miss, Mrs. Pan is here." Aying said.
Jinniang smiled and said, "Please ask her to come over."
Mrs. Pan was the one who wore the mask. As soon as she saw Jinniang, she bowed to her husband. She somehow took out two crossed thin threads and, after applying rouge and powder, rolled them quickly on Jinniang's cheeks and neck, causing her some pain.
Mrs. Pan smiled and said, "Madam, this is a facial treatment. All brides need a facial treatment. This way, their faces will be as smooth as a peeled egg."
Jinniang took the bronze mirror and looked at herself. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but her face seemed to have become much smoother and whiter.
Mrs. Pan was drawing eyebrows and putting on makeup for Jinniang. When she saw that Jinniang had prepared Yu Meizi, she just smiled and said, "This thing should be applied between the eyebrows to make you look really radiant."
Jinniang glanced at Aying and signaled her to learn from her. If she could prepare both ornaments and embroidered clothes in the future, she could provide a one-stop wedding service. Through her marriage, she really discovered many business opportunities. No matter how stingy a person is on weekdays, they will make a big event like marriage a grand occasion.
While Jinniang was wandering in space, Mrs. Pan combed her hair into a cloud-shaped bun for her forehead, and put on the gilded silver and gold crown with a Hundred Flowers and Ruyi pattern sent by the Jiang family. Silk flowers were placed on the crown, and on both sides of the crown were the gold hairpins with peony patterns given by Wu. Her temples were decorated with pearl combs.
Jinniang exchanged these two pearl combs for a roll of embroidered Buddhist scriptures. At that time, two rolls of the embroidered Buddhist scriptures were sold, and one roll was still unsold. A jeweler happened to come to the store to make clothes, so he directly exchanged the two pearl combs, a clamp bracelet ring, a lychee-shaped ring, and ten insect kudzu seeds from Southeast Asia.
It just so happened that she took them all out and wore them today. On her ears she wore the gold lychee earrings that the Zhou family had awarded her, and on her wrist she wore the gold bracelet with floral patterns that the Jiang family had given her.
On the way, Mrs. Pan wanted to sell her jewelry and flowers, but Jinniang resisted the temptation.
After finishing her makeup, she stood up and put on her long sleeves, and hung the gold pendant on the bottom of the shawl. Ah Ying helped her sit down on the bed and put the veil aside so that she could put it on when she got into the sedan chair.
At this time, it was already afternoon, and Jiang Xianye had already set out from home. He was originally very handsome, and this time he was wearing a brocade fu hat and a groom's robe, which made him even more handsome and outstanding. Liu Dalangjun also came to attend the wedding. Seeing Jiang Xian preparing to marry the bride, he sighed quietly, thinking that he was really one step late.
Liu Jixiang felt that it was the rumors that prevented Jiang Xian from marrying him, so he prepared to find a good marriage for him. Bai was also a daughter of an official, and her father was a straightforward and honest man. He did not expect that Jiang Xian would be married so quickly.
But at this time, he didn't say anything more, but just stepped forward to wish Jiang Xian great success in the future.
Jiang Xian was riding a horse forward, with the Jiang family members and instigators behind him. Although they were all Jiang family members, many of them were not doing well. Some of them went to the Sixth Madam to beg to come over. When the time came, the bride would give them bonuses and lucky money, and even arrange for wine to entertain them.
Tianshui Lane is near Daxiangguo Temple. It is densely populated and lined with large businesses. Everyone saw Jiang Xian rein in his horse and stop at a storefront with three wide rooms. There were two small doors on the east side, a few pots of flowers at the door, and a "happiness" character pasted on the door. It turned out to be this business.
Jiang Xian dismounted and knocked on the door. The people guarding the door were Feng Sheng, An Ping, and Yang Ge'er. Yang Ge'er was laughing and said, "I've heard that my brother-in-law is very talented. Why don't you write a poem to urge him to get ready?"
Jiang Xian recited it effortlessly, and everyone cheered. Feng Sheng said, "The poem is done, but it depends on whether our groom is sincere."
Jiang Shiwu and his companions immediately handed over two pieces of colorful satin, and the Wei family quickly opened the door. Jiang Shiwu was shocked, and quietly pulled Jiang Xian aside and said, "The last time I went to the Deng family to get married, it cost me nearly twenty taels to get in. The Wei family is pretty good."
At least they are not greedy people.
Jiang Xian smiled even more happily.
At this time, the Wei family was preparing two banquet tables in the corridor, inviting the Jiang family to the dinner. No one had distributed any souvenirs yet. Someone secretly opened the boxes and saw that they contained wedding candies, snacks, tea leaves, and sachets, all beautifully packaged. The Wei family even gave each musician a reward of twenty copper coins wrapped in red paper.
Feng Sheng, who was accompanying them, was eloquent and well-mannered, Yang Ge'er was a scholar and polite, and An Ping was warm-hearted and helped pour wine for everyone, so the occasion was not bad.
Jiang Shiwu was still muttering to himself, aren’t they talking about the Wei family merchants? How come she is so thoughtful? It's much better than the family of Deng, the official's daughter.
When Jinniang heard that the groom had arrived, she packed her jewelry box and asked Aying to take it over later.
Aying also hurriedly covered Jinniang with the veil and waited for the auspicious time to send her out. Jiang Xian didn't drink much, just took a few bites. The dishes on the table looked good, so he nodded secretly.
Instead, Jiang Yan advised: "Sixteenth brother, you can't eat tonight because of your disturbance, so eat something now if you can."
Jiang Yan was an experienced person. It was the same when he married Peng. They were so hungry that they were almost starving.
Jiang Xian seemed to hear nothing. He just waited for the auspicious time to arrive, then he stood up like lightning. When he saw Jinniang being helped out, he clenched his fists slightly.
Because Jinniang was covered with a gold-embroidered crimson gauze veil, she could actually be seen very clearly, and she did not look invisible like in TV dramas. She saw Jiang Xian, who was wearing a green robe he made himself and a silk fu hat, waiting for her to come down motionlessly. When he walked to the front, he turned around and looked at her. Somehow, she felt relieved.
After leaving the Wei family's house, she was helped by Aying to get into the bridal sedan. After the curtain was lowered, it became a new world here. Jinniang only heard the sound of continuous firecrackers outside. She seemed to hear the voice of the head of the group talking, and brother-in-law Feng sent brother-in-law An to set off another set of firecrackers.
"Lift the sedan."
The sedan chair was lifted up, and Jinniang felt that it was slowly moving away. Jiang Xian looked back at the sedan chair several times. He always felt that his eighth sister-in-law was always stingy and the sedan bearers she hired were all inferior. He also felt that the wedding sedan chair was too small, which was very unfair to the bride.
The sedan chair was indeed not very big. Jinniang was already wearing a lot of clothes, and now her back was sweating. She quickly took out her mirror and patted her face with a powder puff a few times, otherwise her makeup would come off.
Fortunately, they arrived at Nanxunfang in about half an hour, but the people surrounding her outside would not let her get off the sedan chair. Ah Ying gave them some lucky money. After she got off the sedan chair, the bridesmaid holding a flower basket began to scatter wedding candies and copper coins, and the children all scrambled to pick them up.
Juxiang came out of the door, and together with Aying, they supported Jinniang on each side and walked in on the green cloth strip. They heard that the bride had to keep her feet off the ground. Jinniang looked at Jiang Xian's house through the gauze veil. They entered from the main door, walked through the corridor, passed the moon gate, and walked up to the corridor on the other side.
At the end is the new house. There are lanterns hanging outside the house and a saddle.
The bridesmaid smiled and said, "The bride should step over the saddle, and everything will go smoothly in the future."
But Jinniang found that she had made a mistake. She thought she had it all planned out, but the pants she wore today were too narrow and the saddle was too big. Oh my God, she seemed unable to cross it...
Jiang Xian saw Jinniang pause for a moment and no longer walked as quickly as before. He thought to himself, could it be that Madam Wei doesn't want to marry me?
"What's wrong?" He walked closer and asked.
Jinniang didn't expect that he, who was walking in front, would come over, so she whispered, "The saddle is too big, I'm afraid I can't get over it."
Jiang Xian suddenly realized. He handed the board in his hand to the maid, and floated over from the saddle holding Jinniang. When Jinniang came over, she was a little dazed, thinking that there was still such a way...
After the bridesmaid led her into the bridal chamber, she let her rest for a while, while Jiang Xian was allowed to sit on the throne in the central hall of the outer room to perform the ritual. The etiquette of sitting high is that the groom sits on a high seat, and everyone has to pour wine to invite the groom to come down. The matchmaker pours wine, and the groom drinks a glass. Then the aunt or aunt-in-law pours wine, and the groom drinks a glass each. Finally, the mother-in-law pours wine, and the groom can get down and go back to his room.
Ah Ying smiled and said, "No wonder the wife followed us just now."
Jinniang looked around and saw that they had cleaned the room very well. She couldn't help but praise them, "I will reward you well tomorrow."
Two moments later, Jiang Xian came back to the bridal chamber. He sat on the left and Jinniang sat on the right. At the same time, the bridesmaid hung a piece of new satin on the door curtain outside. The lower end of the new satin was torn into pieces, and the guests outside scrambled for the small pieces of the new satin. This was the so-called lucky money and red envelope.
"Are we still going out?" Jinniang asked Xiniang in a low voice.
The bridesmaid didn't seem to hear and didn't answer, but Jiang Xian had sharp ears and immediately replied, "We still have to go out and greet our parents, and then the blessed man will lift the veil."
"Oh." She thought it was the man who lifted the veil.
Sure enough, the bridesmaid took the red and green satin and tied it into a heart-shaped knot. One end was hung on the tablet in Jiang Xian's hand, and the other end was placed in Jinniang's hand. Jiang Xian took her to the central hall to worship the ancestral temple.
Mrs. Quanfu stepped forward and lifted the veil for Jinniang. Jinniang wondered if her makeup was smudged as why everyone was staring at her.
Looking at Jiang Xian again, after all, she and Jiang Xian were the most familiar with each other in this room. He was also staring at her intently. Jinniang lowered her head slightly. Jiang Xian was thinking about Li Bai's poem "The willows are golden and tender, the pear blossoms are white and fragrant", which was very suitable for his wife today.
According to Quanfu's instructions, after the ceremony at the ancestral temple, the woman would lead the man back and the two would sit down in the bridal chamber. The bridesmaid scattered gold, silver, colored coins, and various fruits on them, while chanting words of blessing. Jinniang was accidentally hit on the head by a walnut, but she had to endure the pain and perform the ceremony of bun-tying her hair.
They each cut off a lock of hair, tied them into a love knot using colorful satin, hairpins, and combs, and placed them in a wooden box. Then they had the wedding ceremony.
The bridesmaid handed them a pair of cups tied with silk. At this time, Jiang Xian was very close to her. Jinniang saw that there seemed to be a mark on his forehead, which made her feel a little more balanced.
After they finished drinking, the bridesmaid placed the wine cups, one upside down and the other closed, in a pile and threw them under the bed. She also asked Jiang Xian to take the flowers off her crown. Jiang Xian tried for a long time, but a strand of hair got caught on it, which scared him. After he finished picking the flowers, Jinniang wanted to unbutton Jiang Xian's green robe.
The buttons on the green robe were made of jade that she bought from Southeast Asia. She skillfully cut them off with scissors and placed them under the bed along with the flower crown.
The two of them went like spinning tops to pay their respects to their parents-in-law, parents, relatives and friends. At this time, Mr. Jiang Liu and his wife, Wei Xiong and his wife were all there, and even Mrs. Jiang and the third girl came.
The Jiang family members were all praising them: "They are really a talented man and a beautiful woman, like a golden boy and a jade girl."
Madam Jiang Qi was saying to Madam Jiang Liu, "We all said that Shiliu Lang was born good-looking, but we didn't know who would be his match. Now they have found a person like this in a painting. With this appearance and figure, I'm afraid he would be better than our granddaughters-in-law."
Luo Yu'e and Wei Xiong also found this helpful.
Another elder joked: "Look at the groom looking at our bride, he can't take his eyes off her, it's so hot."
"Don't be impatient, Shiliulang. We will be entering the bridal chamber soon."
Amid the crowd's clamor, Mrs. Jiang Liu breathed a sigh of relief. From then on, the rumors about her son were self-defeating. Luo Yu'e also breathed a sigh of relief. Her daughter was finally married. With such a good husband, she should enjoy him well.
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