"Opening the ancestral hall?!" In Yinyu Hall, Yuan Yunzhong looked at Zheng Quan with some surprise.
Zheng Quan "Hmm"ed and gestured for the servant boys to carry heavy chests into a corner of the hall while saying, "All of these are gifts that our young miss brought back for you from Nanjing."
As he spoke, he also took out a list of gifts for Yuan Yunzhong, "The items are all here."
Yuan Yunzhong looked at the bright red and gold-sprinkled list and felt it was a bit dazzling to the eye.
He had thought that Song Jiyun would come in person.
Moreover, only when giving gifts would one use a gift list; who among family members would fuss over such things?
He couldn’t be bothered to accept the gift list.
Seeing this, Shao Qing hurriedly darted over from the side, not only taking the gift list but also cheerfully patting Zheng Quan on the shoulder, saying, "Hey, Old Zheng, when you go back, give our young master’s best regards to Boss Song, and tell her our young master will invite her for a meal another day."
After finishing, he suddenly realized that he had become too unrestrained after spending these days with Song Jiyun and had forgotten how fussy their young master was. By making such a reckless promise without their young master’s approval, he knew that although their young master might not say anything upfront, he would definitely take him to task later.
But, he could hardly be blamed, for who wouldn’t recognize one of those chests?
Inside that chest was a bamboo dragonfly.
And it was no ordinary bamboo dragonfly.
This bamboo dragonfly was two feet long and half a foot wide; it was unclear what it was made from. If you attached it to specially made leather cords from their household, wrapped around a roasted sweet potato, and vigorously threw it up into the air, the bamboo dragonfly would spiral and buzz around, not falling down for a good quarter of an hour.
People in Nanjing City who enjoyed such spectacles had made it so crowded around the Qinhuai River that it was impossible to move.
It was sold for two thousand taels of silver apiece!
At that time, Boss Song had also found it quite interesting and bought two. She thought they were for her two sisters, but she ended up giving one to the young master.
He wanted to play as well!
Thinking of this, Shao Qing stubbornly glanced at Yuan Yunzhong.
Their young master wasn’t even angry!
He had personally escorted Zheng Quan to the gate!!
Zheng Quan was also taken aback.
He knew just how haughty Yuan Yunzhong was, as he had witnessed it these past days.
The moment he stepped through Moonlight Gate, Zheng Quan stopped and stammered, "Young master, please, there is no need to see me out!"
Yuan Yunzhong had no intention of sending him any further, yet he didn’t turn back, instead instructing him on one matter, "Let the Song Clan know tonight that your young miss has made a fortune in Nanjing."
Zheng Quan was puzzled and said, "The owner once said that we should ’get rich quietly.’"
Implicitly, they couldn’t do this, as he had to listen to Song Jiyun.
Yuan Yunzhong felt frustrated.
If it weren’t for making the news more credible, why would he use Zheng Quan?
"If you want your young miss to get her wish tomorrow, then say things as I’ve told you," Yuan Yunzhong commanded strongly.
The more Zheng Quan interacted with Yuan Yunzhong, the more fearful of him he became.
He dared not oppose Yuan Yunzhong, but he could tell Song Jiyun and let Song Jiyun decide what to do!
"All right!" Zheng Quan nodded obligingly, exited from Yinyu Hall, and headed straight to Song Jiyun, only to find that Song Jiyun was still at Madam Qian’s place and hadn’t returned, so he made his way there instead.
From afar, he could hear bursts of laughter and merry voices from Madam Qian’s courtyard.
It was Song Jiyun explaining to Song Jiyu and Song Jixue how to play with the bamboo dragonfly.
The eaves of the main house were crowded with maids and elder women keen on the spectacle.
Seldom seen holding a hand warmer, Song Jiyun stood in the courtyard, her face flushed and calling loudly to Song Jixue, "Over there, that way!"
As for Song Jixue, she was already wildly entertained. She not only chased after the bamboo dragonfly but also shouted loudly to Song Jiyun, "This is so much fun! Sister, I want to take it tomorrow to let brother-in-law have a turn as well!"
It wasn’t until Song Jixue, holding the dropped bamboo dragonfly in her arms, ran over that Song Jiyun took a handkerchief from one of the elder women to wipe off the sweat from her forehead, saying, "It’s too late today, be careful the bamboo dragonfly might fly off and not come back. Let’s play again tomorrow."
Song Jixue obediently nodded her head and was led by Song Jiyu to freshen up.
Song Jiyun and Zheng Quan went to the neighboring tea room.
"Why have you come so late?" she casually brewed a cup of tea for Zheng Quan, stretching her hands over the brazier to warm them.
The winter in the north of the Yangtze River was also damp and cold, no matter how many years had passed, she still longed for winters with heating.
Zheng Quan conveyed Yuan Yunzhong’s words to Song Jiyun.
Song Jiyun was momentarily stunned, then the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up into a smile.
"Do as he says!" she whispered softly, "He is also looking out for my welfare!"
Zheng Quan was even more confused.
But Song Jiyun didn’t explain and he didn’t ask further, leaving to arrange this matter.
Leaning against the brazier, Song Jiyun let out a chuckle after a long moment.
Song Jixue, tidied up by her maids and old women, peeked her head from outside the door, "Sister, what are you laughing at?"
In her memory, her sister had never laughed like this before.
It was like a peach blossom blooming at the tip of March branches, tender and beautiful like the spring flowers, yet also as bright and clear as a spring day.
Her father used to laugh like this when he was away.
When she asked her mother why she laughed, her mother told her that it was because she was thinking of her father.
"Sister, are you also thinking of your brother-in-law?" she ran in and grabbed Song Jiyun’s hands.
Song Jiyun gently stroked her head.
The winter nights were long, and the scent of the orange peels next to the incense burner was fresh. The longan was roasted until it "popped" open, revealing the crystal-clear pulp inside.
*
Before dawn, the news that the Song Clan was opening their ancestral hall had spread throughout the streets and alleys of Jingde Town.
By the time the Song Clan members opened the large doors of the hall, cleaned the courtyard, wiped the tables and chairs, and prepared the refreshments, the outside walls and trees of the hall were already crowded with onlookers.
Everyone was waiting to see the excitement of the Song Family.
And all those who were qualified to come did come.
In the spacious hall with three large rooms and a double-entry courtyard, it was a sea of people.
In twos and threes, they discussed the opening of the ancestral hall, their voices not loud, but the exchanges were noisy like a marketplace.
Song Jiyun was quite surprised when she saw the scene as she entered.
She had thought the Song Clan would only invite the elders and respected seniors.
Accompanying her was the son of Eleventh Grand Master Song, whom Song Jiyun was supposed to address as "Ancestor Uncle Xi." He whispered quietly, "Everyone heard and wanted to come!"
Which meant they couldn’t stop it.
She wondered if it had anything to do with the message Yuan Yunzhong had asked Zheng Quan to pass on yesterday?
She calmly walked through the courtyard and into the main hall.
There was a silence where she passed.
And more intense conversations would spring up behind her than before.
The weak winter sunlight shone through the skylight, scattering over the flagstones.
When the clan elders saw her, several couldn’t help but stand up; when they saw others sitting unmoved, some looked embarrassed and quickly sat back down, while others, unconcerned, greeted Song Jiyun actively, "Boss Song has arrived, have a seat! Have a seat!"
Song Sanliang and his mother, who were standing by waiting for Song Jiyun, suddenly turned grim-faced.
These were people who had accepted their generous gifts.
Song Jiyun smiled slightly, as if she had seen nothing, exchanging pleasantries with the crowd in the hall.
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