Lianhua was also a little nervous. She had no intention of getting married at all. She just wanted to do business, make money, and repay her family.
But as she got older, she couldn't keep putting it off, and she didn't know what to do.
I wish I could never get married.
He Jiuniang noticed their gazes and laughed, "Why are you all looking at me? I'm just telling you to be more careful and not to agree to these things so easily. Also, it's your own marriage, and you have to be the ones who like each other. We, as elders, can only help you make an assessment; the final decision is still in your own hands."
He Jiuniang is a modern person and strongly disapproves of arranged marriages in this era. She still has some influence at home, so she brings it up, not only for the children but also for the other adults in the family.
Parents all want what's best for their children, but they can't make all the decisions for them.
When the children heard He Jiuniang say this, their eyes lit up. Although the others disagreed slightly, they thought about it carefully and realized that it made sense, so no one said anything. After all, what the third sister-in-law said had a certain influence, and she was very concerned about the children's education, so they were convinced.
"Thank you, Third Aunt!"
He Jiuniang then joked, "What I say doesn't count. You'll have to ask your elder and second sisters-in-law for the specifics. Besides, maybe you'll find someone you like tomorrow and beg us to arrange a marriage for you!"
"No, no! Right now, I just want to learn how to do business!"
Lianhua hurriedly expressed her feelings. As soon as she said this, He Jiuniang gave Leizi a meaningful look, and Yu Shi also gave Leizi a resentful look. This kid has not succeeded for so long, it's making people anxious.
If he doesn't take action soon, the lotus will be snatched away by someone else!
In fact, Madam Yu wanted to talk to Madam Qin directly, and then find an opportunity to talk to Lianhua. Even if they didn't get married for the time being, they could still finalize the marriage in advance so that no one else could have designs on Lianhua, and she would feel more at ease.
Lu Xiaoyang also stated that he only wanted to do business, and that he could only keep the lotus flower he liked in his heart. As for other girls, he had not met anyone he liked yet, and besides, his current situation was not suitable for thinking about those things. He also needed to atone for his sins.
"I……"
Lei hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. He wanted to say that he was single-minded, but Lianhua was sitting right next to him, and he really didn't want to go against his conscience.
After stammering for a moment, he finally said, "I still want to wait until I pass the imperial examinations before I consider it!"
Yu was disappointed in his son, thinking, "Is passing the imperial examinations really that easy these days?"
Is it possible for just anyone to pass the imperial examinations and obtain official rank?
Although she thought her son was quite outstanding, there are always people better than him. If he didn't pass the exam, wouldn't they be unable to get married?
That way, all the lotus flowers will be snatched away by other boys!
But Boss Lu was just chuckling to himself, thinking his son was ambitious and as proud as a fool.
Mrs. Yu felt like she couldn't breathe. At this rate, when would she ever be able to hold her grandson?
She adored her second son, who had just been born. She had no hope of having an older son, and even less hope of having a grandson. Could she really be considering having another child?
It doesn't seem like it's impossible...
After He Jiuniang's reminder, everyone understood, especially the men in the family. They shouldn't casually agree to anything at the dinner table, nor should they boast in front of outsiders. This is a big taboo, as loose lips sink ships. They should just talk less and eat more.
Old Man Lu, Madam Sun, and the group of children were all experienced; they had previously attended Qian Xing's banquet and had no problem handling it. However, it was the first time that Madam Yu and the others were hosting so many high-ranking officials, so they were somewhat apprehensive.
However, no matter how difficult the situation, we must face it. We must not show weakness or embarrass Lu Baichuan.
The next morning, Yu got up early to prepare. Although the guests would not arrive until noon, the necessary things had to be prepared in advance. However, this time He Jiuniang did not intend to make Yu work too hard. She was pulled into the house by He Jiuniang after working for a short while.
"Sister-in-law, we have guests at home today, so you don't need to do anything yourself. Our job is to chat with the ladies who come to visit. We can't let people think that the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family is personally cooking for them."
He Jiuniang helped her sit down on a stool and personally did her makeup.
Ms. Yu was a little uncomfortable; she had never had such a grand look before.
"But my sister is a cook. It's common knowledge that I own a restaurant in the county town."
“That’s different. That’s business. But today, all the visitors are officials and their families. We can’t let them outdo us.”
He Jiuniang knew that some of the visitors came with a disdainful attitude. If they saw Yu Shi personally cooking to entertain them, even if they flattered her on the surface, they would look down on Yu Shi behind her back. In the future, when they were not here, her family would be easily bullied. This was the time to establish her authority and put on airs so that no one would dare to look down on her.
Yu was initially a little embarrassed, but when she saw that her mother-in-law, Sun, was dressed up like a noble lady, she immediately felt no more embarrassed. If her mother-in-law could be so composed, she was no less capable than her, so He Jiuniang didn't need to persuade her anymore.
Lu Guilan and Madam Shen also dressed up in their finest attire. They usually didn't wear makeup, so the sudden collective makeup made them feel a little awkward. They blushed as they looked at each other, never expecting to look so beautiful.
"This looks better! You should dress up more often in the future and think more about yourself while you're young!"
Today, He Jiuniang personally did everyone's makeup, which was elegant and exquisite, making everyone feel like they instantly looked ten years younger.
Lu Guilan nodded vigorously: "Third sister-in-law is absolutely right. If I go out like this and stand next to Tiger's father, people will think I'm his daughter, hahaha!"
Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but laugh, recalling Zhang Song's haggard appearance after returning from the grasslands after several months. They thought, "He's already like this after just one trip; what will happen if he goes there often in the future?"
Fortunately, He Jiuniang had already promised to prepare some men's skincare products for them in a few days, otherwise Lu Guilan and Shen would have really worn their own men down to the point of being like fathers.
Looking in the mirror, Madam Shen exclaimed, "Wow, I've never looked this good even when I was a young woman! Third Sister-in-law, you're amazing!"
"Isn't that right? My skin used to be dry and rough, and upon closer inspection, it had all sorts of wrinkles. But now it's completely smooth and radiant, even without makeup. This is all thanks to the skincare products my sister-in-law has been using on us!"
"Third sister-in-law's skincare products are so good, why don't you open a rouge shop? The business would definitely be booming!"
"I do have that plan, but I'll decide to go to the capital first."
"Oh dear, then I'll have to invest some money!"
"I also!"
...
The Lu family's house is still the same kind of brick house they built at the beginning. Although it is not as grand as other people's mansions, it is spacious and beautifully decorated, simple and elegant.
Moreover, the yard was planted with many exotic flowers and plants, some of which were dug up in the mountains, and others that He Jiuniang bought from somewhere. Anyway, they were very beautiful and could bloom even in the dead of winter, adding a lot of color to this snowy season.
As soon as the magistrate and his entourage entered the Lu family's gate, they were drawn to the flowers and plants. Old Man Lu and his family came out to greet them, and everyone had a real meeting. They were all impressed by the Lu family's demeanor.
Is this family really from humble beginnings?
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