Chapter 216 Jiang Xuan’s Gift
Jiang Xuan didn't think Xiao Yan was daydreaming.
He thinks Daya is just fine.
He is also willing to work with Xiao Yan to achieve this goal.
When they were about to return home, Jiang Xuan suddenly handed something in from outside.
It was a gold hairpin, and like many of the things he had given her before, it also had trumpet creeper on it, Daya's favorite.
"Haven't you already given me a birthday present?" Daya asked.
Jiang Xuan gave her a big box of books.
That was the most precious gift to her.
"Take it." Jiang Xuan said, "Go back and tell them I took you out to buy this. I won't tell anyone that I brought you to see your mother today, and your mother won't know either."
"Even if my mother knew, she wouldn't be angry." Daya said.
"I know. But I think you probably don't want to mention it. You don't want your mother to be sad, and you don't want your mother to be mentioned again."
Daya reached out to take the hairpin and said sincerely, "Brother Jiang, thank you."
Thank you for everything you have done for me, thank you for all your care.
"I also prepared gifts for Erya and Sanya. They're in the drawer under the small table. Open them and see if they're suitable."
When giving gifts to sisters-in-law, the daughter-in-law must approve them before she feels at ease.
Daya opened the drawer, and inside was a pair of exquisitely crafted small bows, which were obviously what Sanya liked.
There was also a piece of red cloth, bulging with something wrapped around it.
Daya opened it and couldn't help laughing.
Inside were twelve small silver ingots, each weighing about two coins, with various auspicious patterns on them.
That’s great. I can get more than two taels of silver. This is what Erya likes.
The reason why Jiang Xuan wrapped it with red cloth instead of a sachet or purse was probably because it was too ambiguous and the distance was not what should be maintained.
Giving money directly is too straightforward, but giving other things can easily seem ambiguous.
Giving her silver ingots is just the right amount and will make Erya happy.
After they returned home, they found that there were uninvited guests in their house.
Lu Qiniang hurriedly said, "Daya, you're back. Come and meet your aunt. Have you forgotten? This is your aunt. She and your uncle went to Tonghuafang to see you before, and she wanted to take you away..."
Daya didn't forget.
She basically has a photographic memory for everyone she sees.
My aunt Wang is a plump white woman who speaks with a smile, making it easy for people to feel close to her.
Daya was also grateful to her.
After all, back then, she and her uncle were the only ones who thought about looking for her and taking care of her.
So she stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully called her "Aunt."
Jiang Xuan tied up his horse and was about to go in, but he heard Daya calling "Auntie". His eyebrows moved slightly, and he stopped and did not continue.
Wang took Daya's hand and said affectionately, "You've grown into a big girl in the blink of an eye. Now you're called Zhao Zhao, right? It's a nice name. Here, this is your aunt's birthday gift to you."
She took off the gold bracelet from her wrist and insisted on putting it on Daya's wrist.
Daya's wrist is very thin, and the bracelet dangles when she wears it.
"Aunt, it's too valuable." Daya wanted to return the bracelet.
"It's just a bracelet, it's nothing. Your aunt is not a stranger." Wang said with a smile, patting the back of her hand. "Over the years, everyone in the family has been thinking about you. Especially your grandmother. She cries every time she mentions your mother and wants to take you back. But you don't know that you look so much like your mother. She's afraid that after you go back, the old ancestor will see you and think of your mother..."
"But," she changed the subject, "you're grown up now. I heard you're going to get married next year? I just told your adoptive mother that she's looking forward to your well-being. The Jiang family is an excellent family, and you're blessed. But -"
"Alas," Wang sighed, "your mother was truly foolish back then. She's relieved now, but she's still somewhat hindered in your marriage."
"Aunt, mother has passed away for a long time." Daya said calmly, "Let her rest in peace."
The implication is, don't mention it again.
Wang was stunned for a moment, and there was a bit more scrutiny in her eyes when she looked at Daya.
How come her demeanor is so much like that of a sister-in-law?
Although gentle, he is also aloof, with an awe-inspiring and inviolable temperament.
"It's like this," Wang said, not forgetting her reason for coming today. "The old ancestor was very happy to hear that you were promised to the Jiang family. But she was also worried that you would suffer because of your status... Our Cui family may not be very famous, but even the concubines in the imperial palace are mostly from the Cui family."
Jiang Xuan understood.
The Cui family has come to recognize their relatives.
"Your mother's previous behavior really can't be brought to light. So the old ancestor thought about it and wanted to recognize you under my name and your uncle's. Just treat you as your uncle's flesh and blood. I know the inside story. You are the flesh and blood of our Cui family. Whether it's dowry or the future, we will not treat you unfairly."
After all, Wang was a girl from aristocratic family, so she explained her purpose in a few words without being annoying.
To dispel Daya's doubts, Wang even pulled Lu Qiniang aside and said, "I've already told your adoptive mother that she's also very willing to let you return to the Cui family. After all, we all want the best for you. You're a daughter of the Cui family, and your parents-in-law and sisters-in-law will look up to you in the future. Zhaozhao, after all, we're all ordinary people, and we'll always treat people differently based on their status. It's always been like this."
"This matter has nothing to do with my mother." Daya said, "Even when you wanted to take me away, my mother was reluctant, but she never stopped you. She hoped that I would live a good life and raised me without asking for anything in return. I have always known this. But -"
"I disagree."
The person who spoke was not Daya, but Jiang Xuan.
He came in from outside, and his tall figure gave people a huge sense of oppression.
Wang was stunned for a moment. Although she had some guesses about Jiang Xuan's identity in her mind, she didn't say it out loud.
"Who are you?"
"This is my eldest brother-in-law!" Lu Qiniang said hurriedly, "Jiang Xuan, this is Daya, oh no, Zhaozhao's aunt, you should call her aunt too."
"We haven't gotten married yet, so we can't yell about it." Wang smiled and said, "The rules must not be broken."
"Yes, yes, yes," Lu Qiniang said, "Look at me, I always forget these things."
Daya frowned.
She didn't like her mother's humble behavior in front of Wang because of her.
Her mother hopes she will return to the Cui family.
The gap in status between my family and the Jiang family, and the huge difference in dowry and betrothal gifts, all weighed heavily on my mother.
Mother has always felt guilty.
But she didn't know that she was the one who felt guilty.
Her mother was afraid that she would be embarrassed if she returned to the Cui family, so she was cautious and humble in front of her aunt.
"You can't yell that," Jiang Xuan said. "The one I want to marry is the daughter of my former master, not the daughter of the Cui family. I, Jiang Xuan, will not forget my past love, nor will I try to climb higher. If it were a daughter of the Cui family, then my Jiang family would not be able to marry her."
He had a cold face and looked completely unkind.
It seemed as if he would immediately break off the engagement if Daya returned to the Cui family.
Daya lowered her eyes and understood everything.
Jiang Xuan didn't let her speak out to offend her aunt, so when she talked about it later, she was forced to do so. She also left a way out with her maternal grandparents so that they could meet in the future.
Jiang Xuan acted as the bad guy and took all the responsibility.
He took full responsibility for all the consequences, including the possible consequences of offending the Cui family.
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