Chapter 34 The Miss's Marriage
Madam Liu said with concern, "But Qi'er won't be attending the prefectural school, so where can we find a suitable teacher to teach him? He'll be participating in the autumn imperial examinations next year."
Magistrate Meng smiled slightly: "I intend to teach them myself."
Mrs. Liu was both surprised and delighted: "Sir, you are so busy with official duties, how could you find the time..."
Magistrate Meng said in a low voice, "The autumn imperial examination is next August, which is still a year away. I will teach him to study well. With Qi'er's talent, he should be able to rank at the bottom of the list. But even if he ranks at the bottom, he will still be a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination). Then he can go to the prefectural school. If Prefect Song wants to make things difficult for him, he will have to think twice..."
Making things difficult for a scholar is not the same as making things difficult for a graduate. Graduates from the same cohort can also form a united force. If Prefect Song uses underhanded methods to deal with Meng Guanqi and offends the graduates, the graduates can directly file a petition to the emperor. Prefect Song has no deep-seated hatred for him, so it's not worth risking losing his job.
Because of his mistake, the innocent Meng Guanqi was implicated. Now he can only try his best to shield his son from the bloodshed outside. Once his son has grown up and obtained the title of Juren, he can let him study peacefully at the prefectural school.
After studying at the prefectural school for three years, he returned to his hometown, the capital, to participate in the imperial examination. With the emperor far away and the mountains high, how could a mere Prefect Song possibly stop him?
Liu's eyes welled up with tears. Everyone said that Magistrate Meng was gentle but actually weak and incompetent, but she never thought so.
My husband only appears foolishly wise in order to protect his family. You can tell from all the things he does for Qi'er. He understands everything perfectly well.
Liu nestled tenderly and sweetly into her husband's arms. Since he was willing to personally teach Qi'er, she would also take good care of the inner courtyard and not let her husband worry about the affairs of the inner courtyard.
Magistrate Meng said, "For the next year, my attention will be focused on Qi'er. I will leave the household affairs to you, Madam. Liniang is twelve years old this year, and it is time to inquire about her marriage. I hope you will take good care of her."
Madam Liu retorted, "Even if you hadn't told me, I would have known what to do. I was already planning to make her some new clothes and take her out to meet the ladies of Biyang County..."
Magistrate Meng said gently, "Madam, you should decide what to do. We don't have many children in the family, and we can't mistreat them."
Liu agreed wholeheartedly.
Although Magistrate Meng was an illegitimate son, he was still the son of a former Minister of Rites. He only had one wife and one concubine, which was rare in the entire capital.
Because she only had one concubine, Liu and Luo rarely argued or fought over her. In addition, since she had no daughter, she was always kind and gentle to Meng Liniang.
As expected, Lord Meng kept his word. Starting the next day, Meng Guanqi no longer needed to go to the county school. Instead, he stayed home and began reading the books his father had assigned him. Liu Shi also kept her promise and finally began to prepare to take Meng Liniang out for social events.
Aunt Luo had been eagerly awaiting the news that Madam was taking Miss to the birthday banquet of Old Madam Zheng, the richest man in Biyang County. She also sent Granny Qi with new summer clothes: two newly made ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), a brand-new silver headdress, a gold bracelet, a pair of gold and jade earrings, and several of the most fashionable hair ornaments on East Street, one of which was a delicate apricot and the other a twin lotus. They were exquisitely crafted, small, brightly colored, and lifelike.
Aunt Luo hadn't seen such bright and beautiful things in a long time. Although it wasn't for her, but for her daughter Meng Liniang, she was still extremely happy. She picked up the skirt and urged Meng Liniang to put it on and dress up nicely: "I never expected that there would be such bright and beautiful things in Biyang County. I thought that we couldn't even find a piece of good fabric in this poor, remote place. Miss has been here for so long, and this is your first appearance. You must dress up nicely to amaze everyone. It would be best if you could also make a few close female friends. Aunt Luo can't go out and knows nothing about what's happening outside. Miss, please tell me more about who you meet when you come back. We can't follow the example of those rural families who arrange marriages without anyone knowing..."
Meng Liniang was gentle and delicate, and still young. When she heard her aunt talking about her marriage, her cheeks flushed red, and she said reproachfully, "Aunt, what are you saying? Father and Mother will naturally make plans for the child in this matter..."
Aunt Luo immediately retorted, "My child, you must be more careful. A woman's marriage is like a second reincarnation. Finding a good family is more important than anything else. You should pay close attention to those who are of noble character and have a wealthy family. Although your father's official position is not high, he is still the magistrate of Biyang County. He can make decisions on many things. If you can find a local wealthy family here, you will have no worries about life in the future, and your aunt will not have to worry about anything for the rest of her life."
Meng Liniang was too shy to argue with Aunt Luo, so she had her maid Baoqin help her change her clothes.
Seeing her daughter's naive and innocent appearance, Aunt Luo couldn't help but sigh. Her personal maid, Xiumei, served her a bowl of tea: "Aunt, the eldest daughter is the only daughter in the family. Madam will not neglect her. Please rest assured."
Aunt Luo sighed, "How could I not know? But no matter how good Madam is to Liniang, there's still the eldest son ahead of her!"
Xiumei was puzzled: "Would the eldest young master possibly stand in the way of our young lady's marriage?"
Aunt Luo said in a low voice, "You don't understand. We are an official family, not some poor, lowly family. The eldest son passed the county-level exam at such a young age, and he might even become a provincial-level scholar next year. A provincial-level scholar at fifteen is extremely rare, if not nonexistent, then very rare. How many people will be optimistic about the eldest son's future? But we know our own situation. It's just a facade of success. In reality, we don't even have anyone to speak up for us in official circles. Although Madam has never mistreated the eldest daughter, compared to the eldest son's future, isn't it easy to tell who is more important?"
Xiumei looked blank, unable to understand what she was saying.
Aunt Luo sighed. Xiumei was already her personal maid, but in terms of cleverness, she was far inferior to Yingchun, who served the madam. Even though she had explained it so bluntly, Xiumei still didn't understand: "I'm afraid that the madam feels that the eldest young master's career is unsuccessful due to a lack of support, so she's betrothing Miss to some poor scholars, hoping that he can also pass the imperial examinations in the future and become an asset to the eldest young master..."
Xiumei then realized: "Auntie is worried that those poor scholars will not pass the exam and will suffer because of their poverty, which would be bad for our young lady?"
Aunt Luo said, "If a poor scholar can pass the exam, that would be good. But what if he can't? He'll only be poor. I don't dare to hope that Miss will be lucky. She's the child who came from my womb. I just wish that she will live a rich and happy life." In her opinion, money is far more practical than power.
Besides, if Meng Liniang had only married an ordinary rich farmer, she would never have to worry about making a living. With a father who was a county magistrate and a promising brother, her family would be her greatest support, and her husband's family would not dare to look down on her. That would be the best life she could have.
Hearing this, Xiumei sighed, "But we can't make that decision..."
Aunt Luo was taken aback and silently lowered her head: "You're right, we can't make the decision... We only hope that Madam can consider Li Niang's situation, since she is the master's only daughter, and give her a better chance."
Thinking of this, she suddenly gritted her teeth: "If the family she finds for Li Niang is not good, I only have one daughter, and I will fight for it with my life."
The next day, Aunt Luo went to pay her respects to Madam Liu and mentioned that they were going out the next day: "Madam, are you taking Miss out tomorrow?"
Liu looked up and said, "Yes, what's wrong?" Could it be that Luo also wants to go along?
Aunt Luo said with a smile, "Madam, it's like this, I want Xiumei to accompany the eldest young lady, otherwise it would be too inappropriate for outsiders to see the eldest young lady of the dignified county magistrate's family with only a maid by her side."
Liu was taken aback. This was something she had overlooked. She glanced at Yingchun. She had originally planned to take only her. If Luo gave Xiumei to Meng Liniang, then as a mother and the county magistrate's wife, she would have fewer maids than her young lady. How could that be right?
It seems we really can't afford to be stingy, lest we be looked down upon: "Alright, have Li Niang bring Xiu Mei along."
Aunt Luo went downstairs happily.
After she left, Liu said leisurely to Granny Qi, "Granny, come with me tomorrow. Surely I can have more people with me than with Miss?"
Granny Qi bowed and said, "Yes." It was a pity that Liu Zhi was only ten years old and still a child. It was inappropriate for her to follow behind the madam. Otherwise, she wouldn't have needed to go.
That evening, Li Xiaoxiao received a message from Liu Shi, and her eyes lit up: "Me too?" How could such a good thing happen?
Yingchun said with a straight face, "It was Madam's order. I'm just here to deliver a message."
Li Xiaoxiao was almost driven crazy by being locked up. She was willing to do anything as long as she could get out. She said excitedly, "Okay, I will definitely leave on time tomorrow."
The next day, she got up early and finished her chores. Madam Mao already knew that Madam wanted Li Xiaoxiao to go with her. Seeing how happy and carefree she was, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart. There were still too few servants in the house, and even Li Xiaoxiao had to go to make up the numbers.
Others were fine, but Li Xiaoxiao had to remind her: "No one can stop you from being wild at home, but don't go crazy outside. Also, eat as much as others eat, don't complain like you're starving. You represent the face of our county government. If you're really not full, I'll cook you noodles when we get back..."
Li Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously: "I understand!"
At the end of the next day, the sound of horses' hooves sounded outside the gate, and the carriage carrying Madam Meng and Meng Liniang, surrounded by a group of maids and servants, headed towards the Zheng residence.
The Zheng family's residence was located about two miles east of the county government office. The carriage arrived in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick. The head of the Zheng family, Zheng Yu, and his wife, Madam Li, greeted the guests at the gate with their son and daughter.
Liu, being the most distinguished, arrived last. She displayed this air of importance naturally. No matter how strong her family appeared on the outside but weak on the inside, to outsiders it still seemed like a magnificent and imposing place.
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