Chapter 949 Five More Years (Part Two) Old Friends
In Li San Niang's small home, including the courtyard, there were only five tables set up. She invited only close relatives and didn't invite any officials.
In recent years, Li Erlang married the youngest daughter of his superior. The two acted quickly, having two sons in three years, and were very happy together.
Meanwhile, Li Dalang and Jiang Shengnan, who lived in the border town of Shule, never had the chance to return to Chang'an in the past few years.
Because of this, Li Dalang, who took Jiang Shengnan back to Shule that year, worked very hard, and Jiang Shengnan became pregnant at the end of the year.
After getting pregnant, giving birth, and raising her children, Jiang Shengnan became pregnant again when her first son was almost two years old.
After their second child was born, another son, and finally when both children were old enough to live with their grandparents, the couple decided to take a vacation and return to Chang'an for a visit.
After all, it had been four years since they last met, only exchanging letters and sending New Year's gifts back and forth every year through bodyguards. He still longed for Chang'an.
But just as Jiang Shengnan received Li Sanniang's letter saying that Luzhuer was to be engaged to Tang Dalang, in early April, she found herself feeling unwell. Sure enough, she consulted a doctor who diagnosed her with pregnancy, and it turned out she was pregnant again.
As a result, things were delayed, and the two had no choice but to pack a cartload of gifts and hire a bodyguard to escort them back to Chang'an so they could congratulate Lu Zhu'er.
As for Li Sanlang, he remained very composed. After Li Erlang got married, he told his second brother that he had taken a liking to a girl from a family in Sunjiayao outside Chang'an.
Li Sanlang was actually the most neglected person in the Li family. He had two close brothers, even though he was the eldest son of Li Erxiong and Li Ersao. In the Li family, Li Dasao had already given birth to Li Dalang and Li Erlang before he was born.
It's not that Li's mother didn't like him, but with so many children, it's inevitable that she would overlook one or two of them.
Besides, Li Silang was a crybaby when he was a child, so Li Erxiong and Li Ersao would inevitably pay more attention to a child who cries.
Later, Li Ersao gave birth to Li Wulang. Due to the conflict between Li Ersao and Li Sanniang, Li Wulang had to watch them every day when he was young. It was only when Li Wulang grew up and it was time for him to be educated that Li Ersao forcibly took him in and corrected many of his bad habits.
But by then, Li Sanlang had grown up and had taken over his second brother Li's job, collecting medicinal herbs with people in various villages outside Chang'an.
Therefore, when Li Sanlang came to tell Li Erxiong that he wanted to get married, it really surprised Li Erxiong.
In just three days, Li Erxiong took out half of his family's money and bought a courtyard for Li Sanlang in Liuer Lane, three streets away.
This was something Li San Niang heard from Li Da Sao when she returned to the Li family home after her shift. She said, "His second uncle and mother said that they owed San Lang a lot, but fortunately San Lang grew up well and didn't go astray."
They said they wanted to keep Xiao Wu by their side to take care of him in his old age, while Sanlang and Silang would be separated. Since Silang was still young, he would stay with the couple for now.
So, they bought them a courtyard and separated their households, saying that once Sanlang gets married, the young couple can live their own lives.
Li San Niang thought to herself, "Second sister-in-law must be unwilling, but she probably can't go against her second brother's wishes."
So, when Li Sanlang got married, Li Sanniang and Li Dasao had already discussed it and called Li Sanlang over separately, giving him two small boxes of silver.
Li Sanlang was unwilling to accept it.
He kept declining, but in the end Li San Niang said, "You can't refuse a gift from an elder. You have to make a living and you need money everywhere."
Besides, I gave money when your eldest and second brothers got married, and since you are my nephew, you should also have a share.
Saburo, here you go.
Li's parents also received a separate allowance, which was customary; it was given to Li Dalang and Li Erlang when they got married.
Li Sanlang has a good temperament, and this allows him to live independently outside the household, which is better than living with his parents-in-law.
Of course, every now and then, Li Sanlang would bring his wife to visit and do some chores at home.
Now, Li Sanlang and his wife have a son and are living a very happy life.
Li Silang, on the other hand, grew more and more mature as he grew older, and deliberately delayed his marriage.
Why?
He followed Li Erlang's path and went to take the imperial examination!
He's already a scholar!
Who would have thought that the little boy who used to cry and throw tantrums would become such a polite and refined gentleman?
Once one has achieved official rank, it's easy to find a wife, but which man who wants to become an official doesn't want to find a woman from an official family?
Just like Li Erlang, who married the daughter of the superior family, his official career wouldn't necessarily be smooth sailing, but his father-in-law's family would naturally help him out in the future.
Therefore, Li Silang's marriage was delayed, and it was delayed until Luzhu'er got engaged.
Li Wulang is still young and is still memorizing the pharmacopoeia.
Xiao Liulang is not even considered old; he is sent to the academy to study every day.
Today, apart from Li Dalang, all of Li's cousins of the same generation as Luzhu were present. Even though Xiao Liulang couldn't do anything, he was still standing in the courtyard watching.
Li San Niang, who was standing at the door to greet guests, suddenly saw a magnificent carriage parked at the door. Looking at the style of the carriage, she wondered which side of her family this was.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a slender hand reached out. When the person came out, it turned out that the person with the double buns was just a maid. The maid stood still and pressed against the carriage curtain, and Li San Niang then saw the mistress inside peeking out.
Upon closer inspection, Li San Niang was somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected that this person would come in person without her sending an invitation.
Who is this visitor?
She was the girl named Pearl from the Song family who once regarded Li San Niang as a "love rival" and who once liked Xu Jingzhen.
To Li San Niang's surprise, Song Zhenzhu led a beautiful little girl who looked no more than two or three years old out of the carriage.
"Third Sister! Great news!"
"Madam Song! Thank you for your presence!"
Seeing Li Sanniang looking at the little girl beside her, Song Zhenzhu happily introduced her to Li Sanniang: "This is my little girl. Look, isn't she beautiful? She's even cuter than Luzhu was when she was young!"
Li San Niang naturally nodded in agreement, but in her heart she thought that no young lady could compare to Lu Zhu'er.
Seeing Song Zhenzhu lead the little girl inside, Li Sanniang looked up at the sky, thinking that no one else would come to offer congratulations, and then turned to go into the courtyard.
Before she could even turn around completely, she heard Qiu Xiang behind her call out, "Third Sister, look!"
Turning around, Li San Niang was genuinely surprised to see Mr. Bu Ke riding towards her in an indigo-blue outfit, bathed in sunlight.
Li San Niang descended the steps and went forward to greet Mr. Bu Ke.
Mr. Bu Ke dismounted, casually flicking his robes to maintain his air of a noble young master.
"Why have you come, sir? Didn't you already send a gift?"
Mr. Bu Ke chuckled: "Pearl is overjoyed, how could I not come?"
She used to call me "Father" when we were young, so I'm the one who should be here on days like this!
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