After hearing what Lin Mao said, Lin Hairu was actually a little moved.
Yes, my eldest brother and his wife have very good tempers. The sisters-in-law of the Lin family are very affectionate with each other. Moreover, they married Yining into the Lin family. The Lin family is her territory! And Lin Mao is here. Lin Mao is also a man who walks sideways in the Lin family.
"That's what I said..." Lin Hairu's lips were dry, still feeling that it was too sudden. She had originally thought that cousin Gu Jingming from Yining was better. Gu Jingming's family was more prestigious than the Luo family, and most importantly, he looked very reliable.
"But if you were as calm as Jingming, I wouldn't be worried."
Lin Mao frowned slightly. He knew Gu Jingming was popular with the girls. Both daughters of the Luo family were enamored with him—whether it was his looks or his family background. When he was in Yangzhou, many girls also liked him, but they were wary of his unpredictable nature. He used to be carefree and relaxed, but if he started a family, people would inevitably think he wasn't serious enough.
What's so good about Gu Jingming? He smiles all day long and is gentle to everyone, and never reveals his disgust and contempt for others.
"There's no rush now." Seeing him deep in thought, Lin Hairu immediately racked her brains to persuade this witty nephew, "Why don't you wait another three years? If you really want to marry Yining, then take the imperial examinations or do something useful. Yining's third brother is a top scholar, and her father is a Jinshi. Do you think they would look down on you for not having accomplished anything? If you really want to marry her then, I'll think you're sincere and will definitely agree."
The words "accomplish nothing" had no killing power on Lin Mao, but when he heard it today, his eyebrows jumped.
It's not that he can't read, it's just that he was born into a wealthy family and was always spoiled because he was too smart, so he lost interest in such things.
Although my aunt is usually confused, she can actually make sense when she says something. If he gets an official title and comes back to marry Yining, I'm sure his future brother-in-law won't object.
Lin Mao thought about it before nodding: "In that case, let's wait another two years."
Lin Hairu was delighted to hear this. She had long seen how smart Lin Mao was. If he really wanted to study, he would definitely have no problem passing the imperial examination! If her sister-in-law knew that she had persuaded Lin Mao to go back to school, she would definitely want to send her a golden Buddha statue. She asked excitedly, "So you want to study?"
Lin Mao glanced at his aunt and said slowly, "Who said I was going to study? Ten years of hard study will only get me a small official position. Besides, I don't have Luo Shenyuan's talent, so I have my own plans." He put down the teacup. "Thank you for the tea, aunt. I will come back to propose marriage in three years. It's better not to tell my cousin Yining about this, so as not to scare her."
Lin Hairu thought to herself that she certainly wouldn't tell anyone, and then she watched Lin Mao say goodbye to her.
When Yining came to Lin Hairu's house for lunch at noon, she saw her stepmother looking her up and down. She was a little suspicious: "Mother...what are you looking at?"
Lin Hairu looked him over several times and forced a smile. "Nothing much. I made you a steamed pear for lunch. I'll have someone bring it to you. This afternoon, we'll go together to watch your eldest brother's wedding ceremony."
The steamed pear was placed on a snow-white porcelain plate, filled with glutinous rice, Sichuan loquat, and wolfberry, and poured with two spoonfuls of honey. It smelled sweet and delicious.
Just after lunch, Luo Yilian brought Xuan Ge'er over and wanted to go to the main house together.
Xuan Ge'er took his sister's hand and said to her with a smile: "...My father asked me how my studies were going, and I told him that my sister taught me to recite poems. My father was very happy to hear that!" He said as he walked into the house.
Xuan'er grew up gradually. It was obvious that he didn't look like Aunt Qiao. Instead, he looked like they were cast in the same mold as Luo Chengzhang, but more immature.
Lin Hairu felt a little uncomfortable when she saw it, and when she heard them talking about fatherly love and filial piety, she calmly asked Luo Yilian to take her brother to sit down first. She went to the inner room to change clothes and left together.
Luo Yilian touched his brother's head, and Xuan Ge'er was even happier. Luo Yilian then slowly said, "Xuan Ge'er, why don't you call me Seventh Sister?"
Xuan Ge'er seemed to have just noticed Yining, and at Luo Yilian's urging, he called out, "Seventh Sister!"
Yi Ning put down the spoon in her hand and smiled at him: "Brother Xuan seems to have grown taller."
Xuan Ge'er nodded. He twisted Luo Yilian's hand and stretched his neck to look into the inner room. He saw a Guanyin statue enshrined on the long table in the west room. He asked Luo Yilian, "Sister, is that Guanyin Bodhisattva?"
Luo Yi caressed his brother's back and told him softly, "This is Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth. She is sending a younger brother to Xuan'er. In the future, Madam will give birth to a younger brother for Xuan'er."
Xuan Ge'er wrinkled his nose and suddenly said, "I don't want a brother! I don't like a brother!"
Yi Ning kept smiling. Xuan Ge'er was just a child, and it would be her fault if she argued with him.
Luo Yilian seemed to think he had said something wrong, so she put him down and let him play aside, saying with a smile, "Seventh sister, don't blame me. Brother Xuan was just joking."
"I'm his sister too, so it's okay." Yining nodded to Xuezhi, "Give Brother Xuan some walnuts."
In the afternoon, they went to the eldest wife's house together. The eldest wife was preparing the wedding gift, a full twenty loads, to be carried to the bride's house.
Luo Huaiyuan was to marry the daughter of Mr. Zhou from the neighboring Xushui County, which wasn't too far away. Perhaps feeling a little nervous before the wedding, Luo Huaiyuan retreated to the front yard, where Chen and the other wives were chatting and laughing in the main room.
Seeing Lin Hairu leading the second wife's children over, Chen specifically called Yi Ning over and introduced her to the ladies: "This is Yi Ning, Shen Yuan is her third brother."
When the wives heard Luo Shenyuan's name, their eyes lit up. Yi Ning noticed, especially those with daughters waiting to be married.
In reality, she wanted to tell these ladies to forget about it. A man like her third brother wouldn't get married unless he passed the imperial examination. And when Luo Shenyuan passed the imperial examination next spring, the number of suitors would be even greater. How could Luo Shenyuan not understand this? He would never get married now.
The ladies pulled Yi Ning over and praised her for a long time. Luo Yi Lian sat on the bench nearby, drinking tea, her smile a little stiff.
Chen would never introduce her, a illegitimate girl from the next room, to these prominent ladies.
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