Madam Yun understood the meaning behind his words.
Little Youran blinked her big eyes at the old lady, thinking to herself, "Let you hate me for a while longer, because you'll be grateful to this great-auntie someday!"
Madam Yun finally nodded and said to Granny Li, "Go and fetch my dragon and phoenix jade pendant."
Granny Li understood the meaning behind their words and became slightly agitated. She got up to rummage through the cabinet and quickly brought over a box, which she then opened.
When Zhou saw it, she was shocked.
It turned out to be a pair of translucent purple jade pendants.
This pair alone must be worth a fortune.
But... she tentatively asked, "Mother, I'm afraid this... won't pass that application process?"
Madam Yun said lazily, "This is my dowry, which I've always kept hidden with me and isn't listed in the household register. Besides, the gifts that were crossed out in the register have already been broken. As your great-aunt, who would dare to say anything if I, an old woman, were to make up for it?"
At this moment, Zhou was filled with joy and relaxation, and her life afterward was all set.
She nodded to Xiao Youran and her brother, saying, "You should accept this gift from your elders with gratitude."
Jiang Youchen stepped forward and took the box, but Jiang Youran shook her head, "Brother, this won't do."
Jiang Youchen looked over in confusion.
Xiao Youran patted her side, "I have to keep it on my body. Otherwise, the soldiers guarding the door can just snatch it away."
Mrs. Zhou slapped her forehead and tapped the little girl, "You're quite the clever one."
She took two steps forward, took out two pieces of jade from the box, hung one on Xiao Youran's waist, and hung the other on Jiang Youchen's belt.
The rope was a bit long, so she pulled it out and tied a pretty bow on her belt.
Xiao Youran gave her a thumbs up, "Your great-aunt is so skillful!"
Zhou looked at her in astonishment, then at Jiang Youchen.
Jiang Youchen also looked slightly surprised.
This usually audacious, arrogant, and domineering younger sister actually has a day when she praises others.
He blurted out, "Are you sure you're not being sarcastic?"
Xiao You Ran: ……
What kind of brother would sabotage you like this?
She rolled her eyes. Okay, compared to her previous self who used to curse at the drop of a hat, has her persona collapsed?
She immediately retorted, "Are you crazy? I exaggerated my aunt's reputation, why are you questioning it?"
Jiang Youchen: ...
Okay, you're still that swearing little sister.
At this moment, Madam Yun waved her hand, "There are still three other households to go. Hurry up, those brats are probably checking the backyard soon, aren't they?"
Madam Zhou nodded and looked at Granny Wang, "Granny Wang, could you please take the two siblings there? I have some things to discuss with my mother right now. Finally, would you please come to my room?"
Granny Wang readily agreed, "Young Master, Miss, please come with me."
Jiang Youchen nodded and gestured for him to proceed.
Xiao Youran glared at her older brother, snorted, and took the lead, walking out on her short legs.
After the group disappeared from sight, Zhou sat down and said softly, "Mother, my cousin meant well, and I was just thinking that it's okay for us to suffer a little, but it's important for you and the younger ones like Jiao'er. Their idea is not bad; they can take as many people as they can with them, at least to tide us over for a while."
Madam Yun sighed, "You are the head of the household, you have worked hard."
Zhou asked again, "There is one more thing I would like to ask you about. Just now, Lord Lu, the commander of the Five Cities Garrison, mentioned that there may be different interpretations of being demoted to commoners. Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, apart from scholars, the other three types of household registration can be changed. He told us to make plans as soon as possible."
Madam Yun's first thought was that the merchant family was involved.
Because she was also a member of the Su family, a wealthy family in Dingzhou, originally from a merchant background.
However... the Great Zhou Dynasty stipulated that sons of merchants could not take the imperial examinations and enter officialdom within three generations. This is why the Su family has always been a merchant family and none of their sons or nephews have entered the court to serve as officials.
Seeing the hesitation in her expression, and that she hadn't blurted out the suggestion to switch to merchant status, Zhou dared to continue, "I've thought it over. A craftsman's registration requires a skill, and we, the elderly, weak, women, and children of this household, probably don't have any craftsmanship skills, so that's fine. Merchants are prohibited from taking the imperial examinations for three generations, which I'm afraid isn't suitable either. So, I'd like to boldly suggest switching to agricultural registration?"
Madam Yun's face showed pain.
The Su family was wealthy, and she had been living a life of luxury since childhood. After marrying into the Marquis's mansion, she continued to enjoy wealth and honor. She never imagined that one day she would have to become an old peasant woman in some village.
It's unbearable to look at.
Madam Zhou also tried to adjust to the huge disappointment in her heart, and sighed, "Mother, this concerns the entire household of four branches. Why don't we invite the other three branches to come and discuss it together?"
Madam Yun closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her eyes filled with determination. "No need. Let's keep the farmer's registration. With Ya Rong and her son... and with the help of the Jiang siblings, we can at least buy a mountain or a farm. Life shouldn't be too difficult then."
Ya Rong was Su's maiden name.
She thought about it and decided it was best not to involve the Su family, so she changed her address to the Jiang siblings.
Madam Zhou nodded, "Indeed! Before, my daughter-in-law was worried that we would be penniless and have trouble finding food and lodging. The Jiang siblings' trip here has solved our urgent problem."
What she was really thinking was that she wasn't worried about the second wife's sharp ears and eyes, but she was afraid that the third wife's sister-in-law was short-sighted, and the fourth wife didn't have much of a foundation. If she angered that little brat, it would make her and her brother lose face.
But then I thought, it's good that I had Granny Wang accompany me; she'll probably be able to help out a bit.
Madam Yun then asked, "Then you should go and inform Lord Lu first, and get the agricultural registration done as soon as possible so that we can leave the manor earlier this afternoon and find a place to stay."
The court gave us three hours, which meant we had to leave the residence around dusk.
Zhou agreed and stepped out of Fu'an Hall.
As she had expected, after Jiang Youran and her brother expressed their feelings of parting and requested a belated gift from the second wife, Madam Li, half surprised and half excited, presented the gifts. She gave the brother a gold necklace and a heavy gold hairpin, which she placed in Jiang Youran's hair. Then she went into the inner room for a while and came out with a purse and a square-shaped package. "These are the original gifts from that day. You can put them in your pockets."
When she received the imperial decree, her twelve-year-old son, Yun Tianbai, and the three male members of the Yun family, Yun Rui (the third master) and Yun Zheng (the fourth master), were taken away directly by the Five Cities Garrison. She and her sisters-in-law wept bitterly, and then she cried again in front of the old lady. Her voice was a little hoarse when she spoke.
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