"Cousin, didn't you say you didn't want to form a marriage alliance with the Lu family? Why are you so eager to prepare for a visit to the Lu family?"
Liu Yuexiang pulled Zhang Lanxiang aside to whisper to her. Originally, she didn't want to go with them, thinking that the countryside wasn't a good place, but seeing how much Zhang Lanxiang wanted to go, she had no choice but to go along.
"Because the Lu family is a benefactor to our family, it is only right to pay them a visit. Besides, the Lu family does not accept lavish gifts, only some food and such. It would show our sincerity if we made it ourselves."
If it were the Zhang Lanxiang of the past, she would definitely have thought the same as her cousin. However, after having more contact with the Lu family, she still felt a sense of respect for them. Moreover, He Jiuniang was considered her benefactor, so she felt she should pay her a visit.
The reason why the Lu family is considered her family's benefactor is related to her father's official position. Her father has not made any significant contributions in this position for many years. Not only can he not be promoted, but he may even be demoted. However, when the Lu family came to the city, her father did not make things difficult for them and even treated them well. Lu Baichuan remembered this favor and kept his father's position. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be promoted next year.
However, these words cannot be spoken carelessly, as it would be a bad thing if they got out. Anyway, it's enough for her family to know.
Because of this, Liu Yuexiang couldn't understand it at all, and always felt that her uncle's family was just trying to lick the boots of the Lu family, which made her increasingly dissatisfied.
My cousin wasn't like this before, how come she's like a completely different person now?
"Cousin, why don't you stay home with me? I don't want to go."
Liu Yuexiang took Zhang Lanxiang's arm and pouted, acting coquettishly.
The country roads are all muddy, and she was worried about getting her new dress dirty, so she was really reluctant to go.
"That won't do. I want to be related to the Lu family through marriage, but I do want to be friends with the younger generation so I can get things through connections in the future!"
Zhang Lanxiang refused outright, and then said, "If you're not going, just stay home. Even if you don't go, you can't visit other people's homes because everyone is going to the Lu family that day. By the way, the second young master of the Li family should also be going. I heard that his family is also interested in forming a marriage alliance with the Lu family."
Li Rong, the second young master of the Li family, is Liu Yuexiang's sweetheart. He caught her eye when they went to pay New Year's visits a few years ago, and she has been obsessed with him ever since.
This factor also contributed to Liu Yuexiang's preference for spending the Spring Festival at Zhang Lanxiang's house in the following years.
"What?"
Sure enough, Liu Yuexiang immediately became anxious. The Li family also wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Lu family, and they even brought Li Rong along. Their intentions were quite clear.
"Does the Lu family have any women of marriageable age?"
Liu Yuexiang stared at Zhang Lanxiang, her eyes filled with urgency.
Zhang Lanxiang nodded: "There really is one. She's the niece of the second branch of the Lu family. The whole family was wiped out when they fled, leaving only that girl. She's now registered under the name of the second branch of the Lu family. I've seen her a few times; she's very beautiful."
Zhang Lanxiang had seen Lianhua selling Lu Hei Ya (a type of braised duck) and feather clothing at a street stall before. She thought Lianhua's beauty was the kind of gentle beauty that made people want to get closer at first glance, and that getting close to her would be a wonderful thing.
Zhang Lanxiang felt that if she were Li Rong, she would definitely choose Lianhua as well, but she didn't dare to tell her cousin this, for fear that her cousin couldn't bear it.
"Cousin! Aren't you still my cousin? How can you take the side of outsiders?"
Liu Yuexiang was already very angry, glaring at Zhang Lanxiang with a huff, feeling that her cousin was no longer close to her.
Zhang Lanxiang really wanted to say that she was telling the truth, but seeing her expression, she held back and didn't say anything.
"Okay, okay, I won't say. So, are you going or not?"
"Go! I won't let the Lu family succeed!"
Liu Yuexiang clenched her fists. Although she didn't think a country girl could be that pretty, her cousin said so, so she figured she couldn't be too ugly. She still wanted to go and see for herself, and also keep an eye on her Rong-gege to make sure he didn't do anything reckless.
Zhang Lanxiang felt speechless. It was clearly the Li family who wanted to curry favor with the Lu family, so how could she say that the Lu family should not be allowed to succeed?
"Cousin, you can't do anything reckless! My parents are taking this visit to the Lu family very seriously. The third madam of the Lu family even treated my illness before, and I also want to get the chance to buy things through connections. You can't ruin it!"
Zhang Lanxiang knew her cousin quite well, and suddenly didn't want to take her along. If she caused trouble, wouldn't all the hard work her parents put into preparing all that stuff be for nothing?
Liu Yuexiang felt a little wronged. In her cousin's eyes, she was the kind of person who didn't know what was important.
Although she was very dissatisfied with the Lu family, she also knew that they were ministers of the second rank. If she really angered them, she didn't know if her father could keep his official position. She wasn't that brainless.
"knew!"
She pouted somewhat unhappily and sat down at the stone table next to her. Zhang Lanxiang didn't know how to talk to her, so she went to the kitchen to help.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Lu family gave red envelopes to all the children in the family. Each child received the same amount, and even the little one who was less than a month old received lucky money.
Each child who comes to visit for the New Year will also receive a red envelope, but the amount is not as large as that given to the family's own children.
Their own children also went out to visit relatives and friends for the New Year, receiving red envelopes and having a great time.
Of course, Lei Zi and Lian Hua felt they were too old to go, so they stayed home and watched the adults play mahjong, which was quite interesting for them.
At first, everyone was discussing what name to give the newborn baby, but before they could decide, the topic veered off course and they started talking about guests visiting the next day.
He Jiuniang said, "Tomorrow, those officials will all bring their families to visit. Their intentions are very clear. Our three children of school age may be in some danger."
Three children of appropriate age: Lei Zi, Lian Hua, and Lu Xiao Yang.
Lu Xiaoyang is now being raised by the Lu family. Although he is only the Lu family's nephew, he is still their nephew and lives there. Their relationship is definitely not ordinary. Some people feel that they cannot get close to Leizi and Lianhua, so they set their sights on Lu Xiaoyang.
"Not only that, the younger ones can also be coveted by others, with arranged marriages or the like."
As He Jiuniang spoke, she drew a card.
Everyone: ...
The topic instantly turned heavy, and I lost all interest in playing cards.
Their children are all supposed to wait until they're eighteen before discussing these things, so it looks like it'll be a few more years.
However, Lu Xiaoyang is the oldest, already seventeen this year, so the probability of her being noticed is still quite high, which is a real headache.
The three of them were so stiff, they were afraid that their families would suddenly arrange a marriage for them.
For a moment, everyone looked at He Jiuniang, waiting for her to come up with an idea.
Lei Zi, in particular, had his eyes glued to He Jiu Niang, hoping she would understand what he meant.
He desperately wanted to tell everyone right now that the person he liked was Lianhua, but he was afraid that saying it would upset Lianhua, so he could only force himself to hold back.
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