Zhou Junhong led Chen Zhaoci and Ning Shi to sit on the daybed by the window. There was a small table on the daybed, and a sewing basket on the table. Zhou Junhong must have been doing needlework just now.
Without any formalities, Madam Ning had the gifts placed on a table in the corner of the room. She said to Zhou Junhong, "This large box contains gifts from our matriarch as part of your dowry. These smaller boxes are gifts from me as part of your dowry. These are from your future third aunt. And these smaller boxes are gifts from your sisters. They couldn't come today, so they asked us to bring them to you."
As she spoke, Madam Ning took out a gift list from her sleeve and said, "I've made a list for you. Please check it carefully. You and your younger brother are staying here. If there's anything you need, just send someone to our house to let us know. If you don't want to trouble us, go find our eldest son. He works at the Hanlin Academy and has more free time."
Chen Zhaoci laughed and said, "Look, look, your aunt who just arrived is really good at ordering people around. She's already arranged things for our young master."
Madam Ning smiled and said, "That's because our young master is capable. The capable should do more, right?"
Seeing that Zhou Junhong was somewhat shy, Chen Zhaoci took her hand and said, "We sisters-in-law are used to laughing and joking around. I usually like to tinker with my herbs at home, while your aunt is often out traveling. If you have any questions, just ask her."
Ning nodded and said seriously, "That's really true. I know a lot of people in the capital. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask. If I don't understand something, I'll always try to find out for you."
Chen Zhaoci and Ning Shi worked together in harmony, which put Zhou Junhong at ease. After sitting for a while, Zhou Junhong took her leave.
Watching the Xu family's carriage leave the alley, Zhou Junyan frowned and asked Zhou Junhong, "Sister, what brings these two ladies here?"
Looking at the nearly deserted alley, Zhou Junhong sighed and said, "They've come here to give your sister face, afraid that I'll be looked down upon, afraid that I'll be laughed at for not understanding something."
Zhou Junyan sighed and said, "Marrying into such a high-status family is really not a good thing, sister. I really don't understand how you agreed to this marriage. I wonder how you will fare after you marry into that family."
Zhou Junhong looked at her younger brother, whose brows were furrowed with worry, making him look like a little old man. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Look at you, why are you making such a sad face? Life is what you make of it, isn't it? If you want to make life better, there's always a way to make it better. Alright, alright, let's go see what kind of makeup you've put on me."
After the siblings looked through the list, they couldn't help but look at each other in disbelief. Even with their limited knowledge, they could tell that the glittering gold items and the gems that shone brilliantly in the sunlight were clearly not ordinary goods.
As for the gifts from the Xu family girls, they were all handmade items, such as purses and embroidered handkerchiefs, with fine stitches that showed excellent craftsmanship.
Zhou Junyan grew increasingly alarmed as he thought about it. He leaned close to Zhou Junhong's ear and whispered, "Sister, is it too late for us to elope now?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Junhong gently patted her younger brother's arm and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhou Junyan pointed at the items and said, "Why are you being given such valuable things? Are you trying to trick me into jumping into a fire pit with these things?"
Zhou Junhong was amused by Zhou Junyan's words and said, "What are you thinking? The old lady of the Yongning Marquis's mansion comes from an extraordinary background. I heard that she hasn't been out and about for many years. I'm going to marry her own nephew, so it's not surprising that I give her more things. As for that aunt, she probably thinks that I've jumped into a fire pit for her daughter."
Zhou Junhong smiled and shook her head. After thinking for a moment, she said to Zhou Junyan, "Junyan, after I get married, you will go to Tai'an to study. Once you get there, you will have to take care of yourself."
This was something the Xu family and Zhou Qing had agreed upon. After Zhou Junyan gave Zhou Junhong her dowry, he would go to study at Taishan Academy.
Zhou Junyan's expression darkened upon hearing his sister's words. Zhou Junhong, noticing this, asked curiously, "What's wrong with you?"
Zhou Junyan said, "Sister, I'm worried about leaving you all alone in the capital after I leave."
Zhou Junhong smiled and said, "Isn't your brother-in-law here? What are you worried about? Go and study hard. If you pass the imperial examination, you'll be successful. If you're successful, your sister will be successful. You'll be my support in the future."
Upon hearing his sister's words, Zhou Junyan suddenly felt a greater sense of responsibility. He nodded and said, "Sister, don't worry, I will definitely study hard."
Zhou Junhong tidied up the items and took out her dowry list to look at it carefully.
When Zhou Junhong got married, Zhou Qing gave her this small courtyard in the capital and a small estate in the suburbs as part of her dowry. When he left Liaodong, Zhou Qing gave her 10,000 taels of silver notes and told her to use them to prepare her dowry. Zhou Qing also had some gems and gold that he had saved up, which he also wanted to give to Zhou Junhong, but Zhou Junhong refused.
In the past few days, Zhou Junhong sent people out to purchase some necessary dowry items, and then she found a broker in the capital to buy some land in the suburbs of Beijing. If she could buy an estate, that would be even better.
Zhou Junhong understood very well that although she was married, she could not just abandon the affairs of the Zhou family. Now only her father and younger brother were left in the family. Her father was in the army all year round, and her younger brother was still young. In a few years, he would be getting married. Without money, how could she pay for the betrothal gifts?
Having managed the household for so many years, Zhou Junhong naturally understood the principle of making money from money. In recent years, she used the family's money to open several shops. They weren't big businesses, but she had tasted success. She was determined to run them well in the capital after getting married. There was no reason why she couldn't make a quick and profitable business with the help of two marquis families.
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