Xu Zhi was very happy, but even more so, she was moved. She was getting married in Ganzhou, and her family members had traveled thousands of miles just to come and see her off. This was something Xu Zhi never dared to imagine.
The sisters in the mansion always got along well. After they had greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries, Xu Zhi arranged for people to serve the sisters who lived in the backyard.
After her sisters went back to their rooms to wash up, Xu Zhi went to the side hall to see the servants setting up the dining table and preparing dinner.
When Zhang Zhaoci saw Xu Zhi coming over, he waved to her and said, "Xiao Jiu, come here."
Xu Zhi skipped happily over, a common action for teenage girls in modern times. Seeing this, Zhang Zhaoci's eyes welled up with tears. She felt that her daughter was having a really tough time.
Zhang Zhaoci opened her arms and hugged Xu Zhi, who ran up to her. Xu Zhi was initially uncomfortable, but gradually, she found her mother's embrace so warm. She snuggled against her mother's chest for a while, then blushed and left Zhang Zhaoci's embrace, saying, "Mother, I am really happy and touched."
Zhang Zhaoci touched Xu Zhi's hair. Although Xu Zhi had begun to develop, like a newly sprouted willow tree, she was not as tall as Zhang Zhaoci, only about as tall as his shoulder.
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Your sisters are here to see you off at your wedding. You are brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters whose bones are connected even if they are broken. They will also be your family members who will look after each other in the future."
Xu Zhi nodded and said, "Mother, I know."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "These few days you should have a good time with your brothers and sisters. It's fine if you're not married, but once you're married, it will be quite difficult to get together in the future."
Xu Zhi sighed and said, "Mother, I think it's alright for my brothers. After all, even if they become officials in other places after they get married, they can still come home to see each other during festivals. But we sisters are like dandelions. After we get married, we are scattered to different places. Sometimes we have to go to different places with our husbands because of their jobs. It's really hard to see each other."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Who can argue with that? So, while you're all still at home, let's spend more time together, have some fun, and have a good chat."
Zhang Zhaoci thought to himself, "It's only in such a backward era that I can think about how easy it would be to get together in modern times, even abroad. There's nothing that a plane ticket or a high-speed train ticket can't solve."
After everyone had freshened up, two more tables were added to the side hall. Zhang Zhaoci did not allow a screen to be placed on them, and the family enjoyed a lively meal together.
After dinner, Xu Mian took her younger sister to Xu Zhi's boudoir.
Of the seven unmarried girls in the family, all but Xu Yao, who was in Liaodong, were present.
Xu Tong looked at the wedding dresses and veils that had been made in Xu Zhi's room, gently touched them, and said, "They are so exquisitely made."
Xu Mian gently tugged at her sleeve. Xu Zhi naturally saw Xu Mian's action, smiled softly, and said, "Sisters, please sit down. I'll serve you tea."
Xu Mian said, "Ninth Sister, we're all family, no need to be so polite."
Xu Tong said, "Yes, Ninth Sister, I never imagined that Ganzhou was so far from the capital. But traveling this far has really broadened my mind."
Of the Xu family's daughters, Xu Gao is the most sensible, after all, she is the eldest daughter and granddaughter of the Marquis's mansion, and has been carefully nurtured since childhood. The second daughter, Xu Tao, is gentle and obedient. The third daughter, Xu Mian, is somewhat timid, but she is very kind to her younger siblings. The fourth daughter, Xu Yao, is the most flamboyant and somewhat domineering of the nine daughters. Then there is Xu Tong, who, because she is the Marquis's granddaughter and is loved by her parents, is not as reserved in her speech and actions as Xu Mian, but speaks her mind and is straightforward. As for the twins, Xu Gui and Xu Ju, they are sweet little girls. When their older sisters talk, the two of them sit together, listening to others with smiles. The eighth daughter, Xu Li, is Xu Qu and Zhou Shi's only daughter. She has been pampered since childhood. Although she is two months older than Xu Zhi, she is innocent and carefree.
The girls in the family only knew that Xu Zhi was getting married at a young age. They could figure out the details, like Xu Mian and Xu Tong. In large families, things were very important, and girls usually waited until their older sisters got married before getting married themselves. As for Xu Zhi, it was very rare.
Xu Mian was somewhat sensitive about such matters because she was currently engaged in marriage negotiations. She had asked her mother, Chen, about it, but unfortunately, Chen was only the daughter-in-law of a marquis's brother, and her family was not particularly prominent. She had never had much of a presence in the household. Chen had only heard that the old lady of the Zheng family, whom she had only heard of but never seen, had personally come to the mansion to plead with her grandmother. Although her grandmother was unwilling, the old lady of the Zheng family had pleaded several times. It was out of consideration for the camaraderie between the second master of the Zheng family and her ancestors who had fought side by side on the battlefield that she reluctantly agreed, even though Xu Zhi's older sisters were still unmarried.
Madam Chen did not believe these official statements, but since the elders in the family did not say anything, Madam Chen did not inquire. Having lived in this family for so many years, she deeply understood a principle: it is good to have a big tree to lean on. Although she had the Marquis's mansion as her backing, she actually had the old lady and the Marquis as her backing.
Chen benefited a lot from this family. The estates and shops that the old lady had given to her granddaughters-in-law had left them with extra money, which not only improved their own living standards but also enabled them to help their maternal families. Even if their maternal families didn't need their help, having money in their hands made them feel more confident and respected by their maternal families when they returned home.
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