The next day, Granny Wu came running from the front courtyard's reception room. "Madam, the second master of the Marquis's mansion has sent an invitation to see you. The Earl is receiving you in the front hall."
Jiang Shiyi straightened up. "Help me up to wash and get ready. Go and bring the Third Miss over as well."
Xu Shaoqing was quickly brought over by Guixiang and Guilan. She saw Jiang's pale face and felt slightly flustered.
Jiang ignored her and continued to have Granny Gui comb her hair. After they were all dressed up, the group headed to the reception room.
Marquis Anbo had already made preparations, using a screen to separate the front hall from the back hall. Madam Jiang sat in the back hall with her daughter.
After settling them in, Granny Wu went around to the front hall. Xu Wei knew immediately that they had arrived.
"Brother Gu, what brings you here today? We've already had a few rounds of drinks, so please speak frankly."
The second master put down his wine cup with a grin.
"I heard that at the Qingfeng Banquet of the Xu family not long ago, your third young lady and my son both fell into the water. I secretly think that this was a match made in heaven, a perfect couple."
Jiang frowned behind the screen, and Xu Wei spoke up urgently.
"I told you before that such matters should be formally inquired about by a matchmaker."
But you, sir, have a forehead so large it seems a horse could run across it (an insult implying your shamelessness!), personally engaging in this lowest of professions. Yet, having neither an official appointment nor a good reputation among the people, you are naturally even less than a member of the lowest class. Get out of here!
Xu Shaoqing panicked when she heard the two arguing. She had already realized that the man outside was Gu Sanlang's father.
What should I do if my father is so disrespectful?
She almost cried out to comfort her, but Gui Xiang quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Jiang Shiyi had Guixiang pull her closer and, with a hint of disappointment, began to reason with her.
"If his family really had feelings for you, they should have sent a matchmaker to your door as your father suggested."
Do you know why the second master of the Marquis's mansion came by himself? He was afraid that if we didn't respond, Gu Sanlang would lose face.
But if you're going to be ashamed, their behavior is like stomping your face on the ground. Do you understand that?
After hearing this, Xu Shaoqing gradually calmed down. Guixiang released her hand from her mouth.
At this moment, the Earl in the front hall, perhaps furious, cursed again.
"You can't talk about ice with a summer insect. I hope Brother Gu understands this point. As for your son, I privately think he should reflect on his own shortcomings. Farewell!"
Upon hearing such humiliation, the second master was already trembling with hatred before he even left the front hall.
Xu Shaoqing couldn't listen anymore. Her father's words were too harsh. How was she supposed to face Gu Sanlang in the future?
He pushed Gui Xiang and the others aside and rushed forward, saying, "Uncle Gu, please wait. My father's words were rather rash and impulsive. Please forgive him."
Upon seeing Xu Shaoqing, the Second Master was overjoyed and laughed heartily twice, glancing at Master Xu with both eyes.
"In that case, Lord, just wait for me to find an official matchmaker. It won't take much trouble."
Now, it was Lord Xu Wei who was trembling with anger.
After the second master left, Xu Wei and Madam Jiang sat at the head of the table, while Xu Shaoqing knelt below them.
Xu Wei sighed heavily, feeling rather disheartened about his daughter.
"Are you really sure you want to marry the third son of the Gu family? Has your mother explained the pros and cons to you?"
Xu Shaoqing looked at her mother, Jiang, whose expression was cold and indifferent, and it seemed that she would not say a good word for her at all.
Xu Shaoqing dared not disobey her father, but she really couldn't bear to part with Gu Ting, so she nodded gently.
Before Xu Wei could react, Jiang coldly said, "Fine, just you wait. I'll make your wish come true."
Gui Xiang helped her up with both hands and then took her leave from the couple. After slowly leaving the reception room, she helped the young lady back to her own courtyard.
Seeing Xu Shaoqing sitting at the dining table with a hearty appetite and a happy expression, Gui Xiang felt increasingly bitter.
Guiqin was both shocked and furious after hearing Guilan's account of what happened in the front yard.
"Is what Guilan just said true? The Marquis's mansion humiliated the Earl, and Miss went to his defense? Did the Earl and his wife agree to Miss marrying into the Marquis's mansion?"
Gui Xiang nodded and sat down in front of her bed, looking completely bewildered.
"So what should we do next?" Guiqin asked her again.
"I don't know, let's just take it one step at a time."
Guiqin came over and sat down with her. The two of them were speechless and stunned.
Xu Wei and Jiang Shiyi hadn't returned to the front hall yet. Jiang Shi smiled slightly.
"Let's give her to the third brother's family for adoption, otherwise she'll be a menace sooner or later."
Xu Wei's third brother, Xu Yan, went to sea last year, but his boat capsized.
Having no heir at a young age, the clan sent a letter selecting a seven or eight-year-old child who was quite intelligent in his studies and conduct.
We are currently discussing adoption matters. Generally, if there is no adopted daughter, the adopted son is adopted when he is still young.
Xu Wei gave a wry smile. "I sent a letter back to my hometown, saying that I couldn't bear to part with Xu Yan and that I wanted him to have both a son and a daughter."
Unbeknownst to her, tears streamed down Jiang's face. She took a handkerchief, wiped them away, and nodded.
…………………………
The prince sent someone to deliver a purse. When Granny Sun opened it, she found five small silver ingots weighing two taels each and two gold ingots weighing five taels each.
The reason given was that Granny Sun was asked to make some novel snacks as gifts. The young master wanted to give them to some of his friends of the same age.
It's impossible for all the successful candidates from the same cohort to stay in the capital. Some have already made connections and chosen their posting locations in other places. In the past few days, a group of them have been going to take up their posts one after another.
The prince thought that the pastries his aunt made were quite interesting, so he asked his servant to bring him a purse and ask her to make some to give to his friends.
Grandma Sun chose three items: crispy rice crust, spicy strips, green apple, and dafuku.
Because of the large quantity prepared this time, the prince had his servants buy and deliver the rice, flour, and pastries from the main kitchen.
Wang Yan couldn't just take the money without putting in any effort, so she didn't go home this time during her vacation. Instead, she and Chunye helped Aunt Sun and Fuling in the kitchen.
Seeing that what was delivered wasn't just apples, but also a basket of oranges and pears taken from the freezer, Grandma Sun smiled.
"You little girls are in for a treat today. I'm making you a dish called Orange Jade Raw."
Isn't it a blessing to be able to enjoy this delicious food in April? Wang Yan and the others immediately lost their motivation to work and rushed to the small kitchen as soon as it was lunchtime.
Peel and cut the oranges into large chunks, slice two pears and cut them into large square chunks as well, then grate some orange jam. Add a pinch of salt to enhance the sweetness, and drizzle with a little honey syrup.
Let it sit for half an hour, allowing the oranges and pears to release their fruity aromas and infuse each other with flavor before eating.
Its texture is like jade, its sweetness like honey, and its orange and jade complement each other. It has a fresh and natural aroma when you eat it, and its sweetness enters the lungs, strengthens the spleen, and promotes the production of body fluids.
Paired with a cup of freshly brewed fragrant tea, sit on a stool outside the kitchen, and feel the gentle spring breeze on your face. Nothing could be more pleasant.
After leisurely finishing my meal, I quickly got to work making fruit daifuku. This time, I made not only apple daifuku, but also some orange and pear daifuku.
To make the glutinous rice skin for daifuku, I also ground some orange jam and added the remaining orange juice, after filtering out the pulp, to the cornstarch.
The outer layer is orange, clear and bright, and looks quite beautiful.
The four of them worked all day and produced 20 food boxes.
Each box contains ten items arranged in three layers. The bottom layer contains tightly wrapped spicy strips. The second layer contains ten packs of rice crackers. The top layer contains 30 daifuku (mochi) wrapped in ice.
After the young master took it and examined it, he was indeed very satisfied. He then rewarded the young master with another packet of copper coins.
Grandma Sun didn't take any of the money; she gave it all to Chunye and Fuling, who had also contributed a lot today.
She then took an empty purse from her room and told the two of them to divide the money equally, each taking half.
Chunye was so happy that she hugged Fuling and spun around in circles. Even though she could only get half, it was still a month's worth of money.
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