Jiang Shuwen's resignation was not something that could be accomplished in a day or two, so Li Qiuniang took the children and returned to Jiangjia Village first.
Meanwhile, the matchmaker, Huang, came to visit again.
"Madam Jiang, this is the betrothal gift list that Doctor Chu gave to your aunt, as well as the date for the betrothal ceremony."
Mu Yi'an took it and glanced at the date; it was six days from now.
There's still time. Send a message to Jiang Shuyun; barring any unforeseen circumstances, she can make it back.
"I have no problem with that, Matchmaker Huang. I'll have to trouble you to go to our old family home and talk to my parents-in-law."
"No problem, it's my duty."
Mu Yi'an looked at the betrothal gift list again:
Dowry: The Chu family gave 660 taels of silver, which was the groom's way of acknowledging and thanking the bride's parents for raising their daughter.
It was quite a lot. In Jiangjia Village, the betrothal gifts were usually several taels of silver. How much was it for her back then? I think it was ten taels, but I can't remember exactly.
Offerings such as cakes, seafood (e.g., abalone, sea cucumber), and black moss (e.g., moss), symbolize wealth and prosperity.
Three sacrificial animals: including chicken and pork, to express sincere respect for a bountiful harvest.
Wine, dried longan, dried lychee, and fresh fruit: Wine represents intense love, dried longan and dried lychee symbolize prosperous offspring, and fresh fruit symbolizes vigorous growth.
Tea leaves and sesame seeds: These metaphorically represent the unwavering commitment a woman must make once she enters into a marriage contract.
These are standard items, and Dr. Chu has prepared everything perfectly.
There are also a set of gold and silver headbands, jade bracelets, gold bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry.
Several sets of clothes, several bolts of cloth, several pieces of silk, and several pieces of porcelain...
In total, the betrothal gifts amounted to thirty-six items, and all of them were genuine, with no fakes or misleading items.
Mu Yi'an truly did not expect that Doctor Chu would prepare such a large dowry, comparable to that of some daughters of officials.
“Matchmaker Huang, Dr. Chu is very sincere, and we know that. Then we'll trouble you to make a trip to Jiangjia Village and discuss it with my in-laws.”
"No problem, it's my job."
Mu Yi'an asked Sister Fang to accompany Matchmaker Huang on the trip so that he could hear about the arrangements made by Jiang's parents.
After seeing off the matchmaker Huang, Mu Yi'an summoned Butler Li.
"Manager Li, go and inquire about carpentry shops. We need to prepare a dowry for my great-aunt."
"Madam, what are you planning to do?"
"Make a complete set, from the canopy bed to the chamber pot. Choose practical wood, after all, our family's resources are limited, and we can't afford to make something like Phoebe zhennan wood."
Butler Li immediately understood that Madam wanted to provide a practical dowry for her aunt.
After receiving his assignment, Steward Li left. Mu Yi'an thought about the money in her hand and prepared five hundred taels of silver as a dowry for Jiang Qi, and another hundred taels of silver as a dowry. This was within her means.
Jiang's parents won't keep the betrothal gifts from the Chu family; they'll basically let Jiang Qi take them all, making her dowry quite substantial.
At this time, Huang, the matchmaker, and her colleagues also arrived at Jiangjia Village.
"Matchmaker Huang, we've arrived."
Sister Fang led the matchmaker, Huang, into the courtyard of the old house, where Granny Xing was washing clothes.
"Sister-in-law Fang, what brings you here?"
"I'm here to see the old master. The old lady needs something. Is she home?"
"The old lady is at home, and the old man is at the school next door."
Granny Xing wiped her hands clean and led Sister Fang and the others into Jiang's mother's room.
When Sister-in-law Jiang and Jiang Lan heard the commotion and came out, they only saw the backs of the group.
"Greetings, Madam. Matchmaker Huang has come to deliver the betrothal date and the list of betrothal gifts."
Sister-in-law Fang bowed, and Matchmaker Huang presented her with a list of betrothal gifts and a piece of paper indicating the date of the betrothal.
Jiang's mother was not very literate, so she did not open it.
"Old Lady Xing, go next door and call Shuheng's father back."
Granny Xing went out and walked away from Sister-in-law Jiang and Jiang Lan.
"Mother, have we had guests?"
"Yes, the matchmaker, Huang, has come to deliver your sister-in-law's betrothal gift list and the date for the betrothal ceremony."
Jiang's mother looked at her eldest daughter-in-law and youngest daughter as they entered and said a few words.
Jiang Dasao and Jiang Lan were both very curious about the Chu family's betrothal gifts, and also about what Doctor Chu looked like.
Jiang's father returned quickly. He came in, sat down, and picked up the paper on the betrothal gift list. The date was set quite well, with plenty of time.
He picked up the betrothal gift list again and looked at it carefully. Why was there so much?
"Matchmaker Huang, we will have Jiang Qi take these betrothal gifts back as part of her dowry."
"Grandpa Jiang, I will pass this on. You are truly loving parents."
Matchmaker Huang knew exactly how much the betrothal gifts were; they cost nearly two thousand taels of silver.
"Matchmaker Huang, when it's time to present the betrothal gifts, you must come to our old house. The betrothal gifts will eventually be transported back to the county town, where Jiang Qi will get married."
As soon as Jiang's father finished speaking, Huang the matchmaker knew what was going on.
Jiang's sister-in-law looked unhappy. What was she doing? Who was she wary of?
Jiang Lan looked at her father, then at her mother. Could it be that her eldest sister's betrothal gifts were very large?
Jiang's mother had discussed the betrothal and dowry matters with Fang's sister-in-law, things that she wanted to explain to her second daughter-in-law.
"Grandma, I've got it."
After hearing what Jiang's mother had told her, Sister Fang left with the matchmaker, Huang.
Inside the Jiang family house, neither Jiang's sister-in-law nor Jiang Lan saw the betrothal gift list, and they were very curious.
"Father, what are the betrothal gifts listed by the Chu family? How much is the betrothal money? How much will it amount to in total?"
"You'll know when the betrothal gifts arrive, what's the rush?"
Ignoring the gazes of the others, Jiang's father turned and went to the school.
In the county town, the matchmaker Huang went to the Chu family and told them about Old Master Jiang's plans.
Doctor Chu didn't think that much about it. Back when he married An Ran's mother, the dowry was also thirty-eight taels.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
