Just as Xichun and Madam Fu were sorting through the account books and gifts, Madam Fu indeed had someone notify them, saying that they would meet up with relatives at noon.
"Second Young Madam, we just inquired and found out that yesterday, one of the maids who serves the other households told a girl who claims to be a cousin that the Second Young Master goes out for a run every morning." Xiao Tao, a maid from Xi Chun's room, came over and reported this.
"I understand. Keep an eye on things over there, but don't alert them."
Madam Fu also heard what the two of them were saying, and looked at Xichun with a puzzled expression. Xichun then explained what had happened.
"It seems they have ulterior motives this time. There are indeed a few girls among them who should be your aunt's relatives. Xichun, don't worry, I'll handle this. I won't ruin your reputation." Madam Fu gave Xichun a reassuring look.
Xi Chun was relieved. At the family banquet at noon, the women from several households in the prefecture came over and filled two tables.
"Changfeng's wife, these are your sisters. Come, you girls, come and pay your respects to your second sister-in-law." At this moment, Madam Fu appeared kind and amiable, completely unlike her previous bluster.
"Mother, I'll introduce our family's unmarried daughters to Changfeng's wife. If you meet any promising young men in the future, you should think of them first. We are all family, and family should live in harmony and work together."
This is my daughter, Wen Yuan, who is sixteen years old this year. This is Wen Qin from the second wife's family, also sixteen years old this year. This is Wen Xue from the fourth wife's family, fifteen years old. This is Wen Qi from the fourth wife's family, thirteen years old. This is Wen Qiong from the fifth wife's family, also thirteen years old.
The eldest aunt stepped forward to introduce them, and the younger sisters also stepped forward to greet them. There were two more girls behind them. Seeing that Xichun was looking at them, the eldest aunt led the two girls forward and said, "These two are the daughters of Uncle Wenyuan. They happened to be home this time, so I brought them along to broaden their horizons. This one is called Qiaozhen, and this one is called Lingyun. One is seventeen and the other is sixteen."
"Greetings to my sisters, please all sit down. I should have introduced you yesterday, but I was too busy and neglected the old lady, aunt, and sisters. Please forgive me." Xi Chun's sixth sense told her that the girl waiting on the road this morning might be Pan Qiaozhen.
"Thank you, Second Sister-in-law." The other cousins all replied politely and sat down. Only Pan Qiaozhen secretly glanced at Xichun, but Xichun noticed her and she immediately looked away.
“Sister-in-law, we’ve all benefited from your family’s good reputation this time. None of our ancestors ever passed the imperial examinations. We should keep in touch with our children and ask Changfeng to teach them as well. We’re all family. Only when everyone’s life is better can we truly be happy.”
The eldest aunt stepped forward first, demonstrating the harmonious and loving family dynamic within them.
"I'm just a woman and I don't know anything about studying. You should ask Changfeng's father about this. If you want to stay a few more days, it's only right that we have a chat." Madam Fu didn't take the bait. Now, in front of his brothers, Master Fu was no longer a lowly illegitimate son, but the father of a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. Therefore, he had more say than before.
“We still have a lot of things to take care of at home, so we don’t have time to stay long. But I think the girls could stay with you two and have some fun. It’s their first time in the county town. I heard there’s a matchmaking temple. Third sister-in-law, you should take them to pray there and help our girls find husbands.”
Auntie's words were so blunt that the girls all blushed.
"Yes, my niece from my maternal family can stay here for a few days and learn from her two sisters-in-law how to manage a household, how to be a good wife and mother. If she finds a good husband in the future, I will ask her parents to give you a big red envelope."
“This is not appropriate. Of course, it’s fine for our own daughters to stay as long as they want, but there are men in the house, and our house is not as spacious as yours. It’s easy to offend these girls. This morning, Changfeng told me that he almost ran into one of his cousins when he walked out of the yard. It wouldn’t sound good if word got out.”
“Yes, Aunt, I think both of my cousins have very good personalities. Will they have to worry about not finding good husbands in the future? If they stay at home, people who don’t know the reason behind it might think that our family has ulterior motives. If you both stay here, then no one will dare to say anything.”
Seeing that her aunt was about to say more, Xichun also spoke up to shut her up.
Seeing that she couldn't stay and fulfill her dream of becoming an official's wife, Pan Qiaozhen's expression changed. Pan Lingyun, who was beside her, was sensible and quietly tugged at Pan Qiaozhen's handkerchief to prevent her from being embarrassed in public.
“That’s right, Third Sister-in-law and Xichun are right. Eldest Sister-in-law, I don’t think this is appropriate either. If our own girls were here, we would all be family, and no one would say anything. But it’s not quite right to leave the girls from the maternal family here. If someone goesssips behind their backs and slanders their innocence, you tell me, it would ruin your good intentions.”
Fifth Aunt stood up to support her, and seeing that she couldn't win, Eldest Aunt could only quietly back down and give up on this path.
"Changfeng's wife, you must keep an eye on your sisters. If any family has a young scholar like Changfeng, they must think of their own family."
Fourth Aunt's family has the most daughters, but this time she only brought two legitimate daughters and several illegitimate daughters. She didn't want those daughters to get married in front of her own daughters, and she always wanted to pick a good one for her own daughters. So the eldest illegitimate daughter is already eighteen years old, and she hasn't started arranging a marriage yet.
“We are all family. Third son’s wife, you have to take this seriously. Don’t think that just because you have a son who has passed the imperial examination, you can be arrogant. You must remember what status your concubine has. I am your legal mother. Don’t forget the difference between superiors and inferiors.”
As Madam Fu watched her daughters-in-law put on their respective performances, her composed demeanor vanished, replaced by a mercenary and mean-spirited image.
"Mother, of course we won't forget. I remember exactly how good you were to me when I married into this family." Madam Fu's temper flared up, and she no longer cared about saving face.
Just as Madam Fu was about to get angry, a maid rushed in from outside, shouting, "It's terrible, Madam! Young Madam, something terrible has happened! Master and the eldest master are fighting! You must go and see!"
The maids who served in the front yard, upon hearing this, had no mind to scheme against each other, fearing that something bad might happen. Even Madam Fu was walking briskly at this moment, without needing her aunt's help.
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