Chapter 18 Establishing a Household for Daughters
Li San Niang was also quite surprised that the Qian family was so generous. A thousand taels of silver, plus fabric, pastries, and other gifts, was no small expense.
Is it true that wealthy families can just spend money however they want?
Li San Niang was very envious; having money is something to be envied in any time and space.
Although Li's mother said in front of everyone that the money was given to Li San Niang by the Qian family alone, and only to Li San Niang, not to the Li family.
However, Li Sanniang felt that it would be too difficult to find a suitable house in Chang'an City under the current circumstances, not to mention that she wanted to establish a female household and raise Luzhu'er alone.
So, that night, Li San Niang still brought the small silver box and knocked on the doors of Li Da Xiong and Li Da Shuang, as well as Li Er Xiong and Li Er Shuang. Except for Li Er Shuang, who was still in confinement and needed to take care of Xiao Wu Lang, everyone gathered in Li's parents' room for a second family meeting.
Li San Niang mainly explained two points. First, the divorce and return home to establish a female household with Lu Zhu'er was basically completed, and all that was left was to go to the government office with her father tomorrow to complete the formalities. However, the small house she bought was not conducive to raising Lu Zhu'er alone, so she still wanted to continue living in the Li family's house.
Secondly, since he and Luzhu'er needed to continue relying on the Li family, they couldn't ignore the survival needs of the other members of the Li family. Li Dalang would be fifteen after the New Year, old enough to be a prospective bride. If things went smoothly, he might get married next year, and have children the year after. Therefore, a separate courtyard was crucial for Li Dalang, who was reaching that age.
At this point, Brother Li said that he did not plan to let Li Dalang get married and have children so soon, saying that it would be fine to wait until Li Dalang was almost twenty and came of age.
After listening to Li Daxiong's words, Li Sanniang still spoke up, "Even if we have to wait until Dalang turns twenty to consider marriage, we should at least give him a courtyard sooner. After next year, Dalang will be considered a middle-aged man and will no longer be a child. Doesn't Dalang also have requirements for his martial arts skills? Then we should give him a courtyard even more."
Those present, upon hearing this, pondered inwardly, for Li San Niang's words made sense.
“Father, Mother, this is what I’m thinking. Since I’ve gotten this sum of money by chance, I’m thinking of using it. I’ll use this thousand taels to buy the courtyard where I and Luzhu live now. I asked Chen Yalang, and the Zhou family next door is thinking of selling part of their house. They said that their eldest son doesn’t plan to settle in Chang’an and wants to return to his hometown. They only plan to keep one storefront and a few rooms, and sell the rest.”
Before Li San Niang could finish speaking, Li Da Xiong, at Li Da Sao's prompting, said, "Then I'll take advantage of you. Consider this money a loan from Father and Mother. My son's mother and I will add another five hundred taels, and then we'll go ask Master Zhou if we can buy a few rooms."
“Third Sister and Eldest Brother are both right. It seems that life in Chang’an will get better and better in the future. Even though the city has been expanded three times, houses in the city are still precious. Second Brother and Third Brother are only three years younger than Eldest Brother. It would be best to prepare early. My son and Third Brother’s mother can’t contribute much, but three hundred taels is still manageable. It would be good to buy one more room.”
Mr. and Mrs. Li were pleased to see that their three children were not fighting over anything, nor were they so short-sighted as to be obsessed with money. After all, it wasn't uncommon for neighbors to fight each other over a room.
Mr. and Mrs. Li exchanged a glance and nodded. Mrs. Li then smiled at the three siblings and said, “You three are all my children, but Third Sister is our daughter, whom we had unexpectedly in our old age. Your sister is more than ten years younger than you and has been intelligent since childhood, so your father and I naturally dote on her more. Since Emperor Wu ascended the throne, although your life has become better and better, the world is still difficult, and the constraints on your daughter are still greater. It is not easy for Third Sister to divorce and return home to raise Dewdrop alone. Besides us, who else can she rely on?”
Upon hearing this, Li San Niang thought of a saying: "Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them."
"Mother, your son..."
Mother Li raised her hand to signal Li San Niang to wait a moment before continuing. She looked at her two sons, one daughter, and her eldest daughter-in-law and said, “You can help each other and have not forgotten your childhood friendship because you have your own families. No one wants to take advantage of the family. I am very pleased. Your father’s teaching of you to read, write, and understand principles was not in vain.”
Third Sister earned this money through her own abilities. Eldest Brother, you've only just started working in the Imperial Guard and you have a lot to deal with. Your family can't help you with this, so you'll have to rely entirely on yourself.
Erlang spends his days helping to manage the family's clinic and medicine cabinet. Every ten days, he also goes to the countryside to collect medicinal herbs. Your elder brother is busy most of the time, and you are the one who helps raise and educate the children in the family.
It's not easy for Dalang's wife either. Your father only has to see patients, and I'm away from home two out of three days. Everyone in the family, big and small, is taken care of by Dalang's wife.
Erlang's wife isn't here, but her kindness is remembered by her mother.
Therefore, your father and I have long discussed using public funds to buy a few more rooms nearby, so that the children can live there in the future. Since Third Sister is willing to pay for the small courtyard she lives in now, adding this thousand taels will be enough to buy a slightly larger courtyard.
"Tomorrow, Erlang will go and inquire with Master Zhou."
“This house is one that I earned through my own hard work when I was young. Third Aunt also bought this house. Your mother and I don’t need you to contribute money to buy another house. You should also remember how good your little sister is to you. You are the ones taking advantage of your little sister! After your mother and I pass away, you can divide these things equally.”
"Father, I certainly remember my little sister's kindness. Father, please don't say that. You and Mother should live to be a hundred years old, so that we can take good care of you."
After Brother Li said this, Li San Niang and the others quickly echoed his words.
"Haha, it's good that you mean well. A person's lifespan is determined by fate."
“Mother, since I will be staying at home with Luzhu from now on, I feel that I should also pay some money to the public account every month, just like my elder brothers.”
"You should discuss this with your sister-in-law."
Finally, Li San Niang left behind the small silver box containing a thousand taels of silver and went back to sleep with peace of mind.
The next day, the sun shone brightly, a perfect day for getting things done.
Li San Niang took the house deed she bought in the blacksmith alley, the divorce agreement, and the marriage agreement with Lu Zhu'er. Li's father took his own household registration certificate and house deed and went to the Ministry of Revenue to find Li Lingshi. They submitted these documents within half a month and established a female household registration!
Then I moved the dewdrop to my own household registration, and it's complete!
Just as the official seal was affixed, an electronic male voice, audible only to Li San Niang, echoed in her mind: "Congratulations, host, on completing mission three. The reward has been placed in your backpack. Please collect it from your backpack."
At this moment, Li San Niang understood why many outstanding women in modern society are keen to buy their own houses. After all, having a house means having your own household registration, and you are the head of the household. This feeling is really not bad!
After finishing these matters, Li San Niang and Li's father went to find Li Ling Shi, thanked him again with deep emotion, and asked for Li Ling Shi's address, planning to send some gifts to his home later.
On the way home by donkey cart, at the gate of the neighborhood, he went to see Sun Fangzheng again, bought four gifts to thank him once more, and made an appointment to invite Sun Fangzheng to a tavern for a meal the next day.
Mr. Li said that he would thank Uncle Li in person later, and that Aunt Li should not worry about it.
On the way, Li San Niang discussed with Li's father that today was a good day and they should celebrate. Why not buy two roast geese and a pot of wine, and then have a good meal together when the whole family gathers in the evening?
Li's father readily agreed.
As soon as the donkey cart arrived at the clinic, Aunt Wang, a neighbor, came to greet it. Before Aunt Wang could get close, Zhou's wife and Sun's wife, who had been sitting and chatting on the street, came over with their needles and thread.
Unfortunately, they were all old neighbors, some of whom had watched Li San Niang grow up. As long as you don't have overwhelming power, there are always some interpersonal relationships that you can't escape.
Father Li was most annoyed by the gossip of these old women. He gave Li San Niang a helpless look, picked up the roast goose, bowed to the old women around him, and went straight to the clinic, leaving Li San Niang with a small wine pot and an awkward smile on her face.
The question is, "Whose family put on such a grand show yesterday?"
The person who asked, "Why did you bring so many gifts to the Li family?"
There was also the question, "Third Sister, did you really divorce with Dewdrop in tow?" When this old lady asked this question, she was met with a glare from an old woman next to her. "You should know it in your heart, why do you have to ask her in front of her and embarrass her?"
Li San Niang suppressed her helpless smile, thinking to herself that the human desire for gossip truly doesn't diminish even across time and space.
But it's quite rare to see an old lady like this who exposes other people's shortcomings.
Although divorce is not something to be praised in modern society, it is not shameful either.
After all, what's the point of forcing two people who can't get along to maintain a facade of harmony while their hearts are estranged, all for the sake of saving face?
Nowadays, even though there are quite a few women from the upper class, from Princess Cheng'an to wealthy families, who have divorced and returned home to raise their daughters, it is still a novelty among ordinary people. Everyone has a sense of curiosity, which is understandable.
But why do you insist on confronting the woman involved in the incident on the street, making her feel embarrassed? It's simply because you're jealous of the Li family. You see them living well, and you can't compare to them in other aspects, except for the fact that Li San Niang and Li Guijia are the only connection you can talk about.
Li San Niang turned her head and looked carefully at the old woman who had asked the question. She was wearing a dark brown headscarf and a modified short brown dress. Her face was not very fair and she had many wrinkles, but she was not short. Before Li San Niang could remember who this was, Li Da Sao came over.
"Oh dear, ladies and grandmas, please leave my third aunt alone. There's a ton of work waiting for her to do at home, so I don't have time to chat with you. It's almost lunchtime, aren't you ladies going home to get busy?"
As he spoke, he took the small wine pot from Li San Niang and headed home.
Li San Niang stopped Li Da Sao from pulling her home, turned around to face the old woman who had just spoken ill of her, looked her up and down, and then back up again, and said slowly, "Auntie, please forgive me, although I am still young, I really don't remember which neighborhood you are. Yes, I, Li San Niang, have returned home with my daughter, Lu Zhu'er, after a divorce. I suppose you have seen my parents and my two brothers bringing back my dowry. I think you asked this because you are worried that your child might get divorced. I wish your child will never divorce, and that you and your spouse will live in harmony and grow old together."
The elderly woman was left standing there looking embarrassed. Seeing that there was no more excitement to be seen, the others turned and went home to start their own fires and cook.
Why bother arguing with someone like that?
"Hmph, sister-in-law, I can't stand the way she's always trying to make fun of me, it's so annoying."
"You're still the same old you!"
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