As the sun crept over the eaves of the general's mansion, Liu Shi stepped into Shen Weiwan's courtyard. She was followed by two maids, one holding a golden bird's nest and the other holding a brocade box. From a distance, she looked like a "kind aunt coming to give benefits."
Chuntao was drying herbs in the corridor. When she saw Liu coming, she ran into the house and announced, "Miss, the Second Madam is here, and she's holding a bird's nest!"
Shen Weiwan was drawing her eyebrows in front of the mirror, and when she heard this, she curled her lips. He's here? It was half a cup of tea earlier than she'd calculated. She threw her eyebrow pencil away, slumped onto the bed, pulled the quilt over half her face, and said in a weak voice, "I have a headache. I don't want to see anyone."
Chun Tao was anxious: "Miss, the Second Madam is at the door!"
"A headache is a headache," Shen Weiwan said sullenly, "Let her wait outside."
As soon as the words fell, Liu's tearful voice floated in: "Wanwan, aunt heard that you were not feeling well, so she specially stewed bird's nest for you to nourish your body~"
As she spoke, she had already lifted the curtain and came in, the scent of powder on her body was so choking. She walked to the bedside, stretched out her hand and wanted to touch Shen Weiwan's forehead, her tone was so tender and heartfelt: "My dear niece, what's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"
Shen Weiwan rolled her eyes in the quilt, sat up suddenly, and a wronged smile instantly appeared on her face: "Aunt! Why are you here?"
Her action was so fast that Liu's hand froze in mid-air, and the fake smile on her face almost fell off. Shen Weiwan, however, acted as if she didn't see it, grabbed Liu's hand, and rubbed it against her face: "Aunt's hand is so warm, Wanwan has a headache, and it feels much better when she sees Aunt."
Liu was taken aback by her sudden affection, but then she regained her compassionate expression: "Silly child, why are you being so polite to your aunt? Look at you, your face has become thin and pointed. Drink this bird's nest quickly."
She winked, and the maid immediately handed over the bird's nest. Shen Weiwan took it, but did not drink it. She just stared at the brocade box behind Liu, her eyes sparkling: "Aunt, what's in the box? Is it a gift for Wanwan?"
Liu was delighted, secretly thinking that this silly girl was indeed easy to deceive, but she sighed on the surface: "Alas, it's not for you. I want to discuss something with you."
She took Shen Weiwan's hand and led her to the table, her tone softer: "Wanwan, you also know that your cousin Ruorou has reached the age of marriage. A few days ago, the family of the Minister of Personnel sent someone to propose marriage. They fell in love with your cousin and said that they were attracted by her dignified character..."
Shen Weiwan nodded as she listened, but she sneered inwardly. The Minister of Personnel's family? She remembered that in her previous life, this marriage was arranged, but within two years of Shen Ruorou's marriage, she had already caused unrest in her husband's family. In the end, it was only Liu who used money from the General's Mansion to settle the matter.
"...It's just that the other family has high demands. They want a red gold hairpin as a betrothal gift," Liu finally got to the point, her voice lowered with embarrassment. "I was thinking, the red gold hairpin your mother left you is just sitting there anyway, why not give it to your cousin first? Once she gets married and becomes successful in the future, she won't need to rely on your benefits anymore."
Here it comes! Shen Weiwan understood in her heart, but her face showed an embarrassment, and her fingers twisted the corners of her clothes: "But... that is the thought my mother left me..."
"Silly child, can you eat longing?" Liu patted the back of her hand and said earnestly, "If your mother is still alive, she would also hope that your cousin will marry well and support you, right? Look at you, a girl, what's the point of guarding that hairpin? Why not do a favor? In the future, your cousin will remember your kindness and can help you."
Shen Weiwan raised her head, blinked her big "innocent" eyes, and nodded fiercely: "Aunt is right! Wanwan listens to Aunt!"
Liu was so happy that she almost laughed out loud, but she still pretended to be kind on the surface: "Good child, I knew you were the most sensible. That hairpin..."
"But," Shen Weiwan suddenly interrupted her, tilting her head, looking serious, "Aunt, I have always placed that hairpin in front of my mother's tablet. My nanny said that if you move the relics of the late lady, you must follow the rules, otherwise it will disturb her heroic spirit."
Liu frowned: "What rules?"
"It's 'cleaning your hands with five grains'!" Shen Weiwan said seriously, "Nursing mother said that you have to fry five kinds of precious grains, mix them with clean water, and wash your hands 749 times before you can touch the late lady's things."
"Wash your hands after eating grains?" Liu was completely bewildered. How could she have never heard of this rule? Perhaps this silly girl had made it up herself?
Shen Weiwan seemed not to notice her doubts, and pulled her out of the house: "Aunt, look, I'm ready!"
Sure enough, on the stone table in the yard, there was a large earthenware basin filled with yellow millet, black beans, and... a lot of coarse sand and pebbles. Next to it was a bucket, the water in it also looked a bit muddy.
Liu's face instantly fell: "Wanwan, what are you doing? How can this be grain? There's sand in it!"
"Oh, auntie," Shen Weiwan said with an innocent look, "These are the five grains! Look at the millet, soybeans, and black beans, how precious they are! The sand is to remove bad luck! The nanny said that when washing, you have to rub it hard to remove all the bad luck, then my mother will bless my cousin to marry well!"
As she spoke, she enthusiastically took Liu's hand and pressed it into the earthenware basin. "Aunt, you love me the most. You will definitely be willing to wash my hands for me to honor my mother, right? Look how precious this grain is. Rubbing it can drive away bad luck!"
As soon as Liu's hand reached into the pottery basin, she was scratched by the rough sand and stones and grimaced. It felt like putting your hand into broken glass, painful and itchy. She wanted to pull her hand out, but Shen Weiwan held it tightly.
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