After a long day, Jiang's mother was really exhausted, but she couldn't fall asleep.
"What's wrong? Did something happen at Minru's?" Jiang's father heard his wife tossing and turning and assumed that something had happened at his sister's house.
Why do you ask that?
Jiang's mother was surprised that Shuheng's father was also awake. He usually had a very regular lifestyle and went to bed at the same time every day.
"You kept going on and on, and then you were all harsh with Lanlan at dinner."
They've been married for so many years and know each other very well.
“I’m worried about Lanlan’s marriage. She’s fourteen now and it’s time for her to be on the dating list. But she’s been staying at her aunt’s house for a while now and her mind is wandering. If I don’t go pick her up, she won’t come back.”
"Did she cause any trouble?"
Mr. Jiang was a little skeptical. His youngest daughter was a bit spoiled, but not so much that she was completely ignorant. She had learned all the necessary skills: needlework, cooking, and she could read and do accounting. It would be easy for her to find a decent family in the neighborhood.
"No, her aunt is quite strict, so she and Du Mei don't go out much. It's just that she's envious of the life Du Mei lives at her aunt's house."
Today, her aunt brought up Lanlan's marriage prospects. The girl implied that she wanted to find someone with similar or even better circumstances than her aunt's family. To put it nicely, our family is a scholarly family, after all, we have two scholars and one child prodigy in our family.
But our family's situation is what it is; we're slightly better off than the average farmer—enough to make ends meet, with a little money left over. However, we can't compare to a family like her aunt's."
Jiang's mother didn't want her daughter to marry into a family that was too prestigious, because if anything happened, the family wouldn't be able to help.
"We're not a good match, and Lanlan's personality isn't suited to marrying into a wealthy family. Let's find a well-off family nearby, with easy-going in-laws and sisters-in-law, and a respectable family. If anything happens, we can talk to them."
Jiang's father also did not want his youngest daughter to marry into a family that was not a good match for him, fearing that she would be mistreated.
"That's what we thought, but when Lanlan saw that her aunt lived in a bright and spacious house with servants to wait on her, and that she lived a life where everything was done for her, she became restless."
Before, when she was young, her visits to her aunt's house were always day trips, and her aunt's family wasn't as well-off as they are now, so she didn't have a deep understanding of it. This time, however, she stayed for over a month and experienced the benefits of being waited on, and she now longs for the life of the wealthy.
Jiang's mother was somewhat worried, fearing that her youngest daughter would be unable to let go of her worries and would strive relentlessly for her so-called good life, which might end up hurting herself.
"Don't worry too much. Marriage is a major life event, and it's a matter of parents' wishes and matchmakers' words. What can she do if she has any ideas? There's nothing we can do if we disagree."
Jiang's father had a simple idea: since ancient times, marriage has always been decided by parents. How could a girl decide for herself which family to marry into?
Jiang's mother was uncertain. She knew her own child well. Lanlan was a very independent-minded child, and she hoped that nothing unexpected would happen.
As night deepened, the couple said nothing more.
While Jiang's parents were talking about Jiang Lan, Jiang's sister-in-law was also thinking about her sister-in-law.
This was her first time visiting her aunt's new house; her in-laws and husband had gone to help with the move.
Today at my aunt's house, seeing her two-courtyard house, complete sets of furniture, and servants coming and going, it really opened my eyes. I never knew life could be lived like this!
The aunt's daughter-in-law wore a cotton dress, and her hair was adorned with silver hairpins, each decorated with a flower pattern—and there was more than one. Behind Du Mei stood a young maid, while an old woman worked in the kitchen…
All of this filled Lin Wanru with excitement. When would she be able to live such a life?
Her father-in-law has given up on the imperial examinations, and her husband is currently only a student at the lowest level (童生), with no idea when he'll be able to pass the county-level examination (秀才). Shuyun failed the provincial examination this time and has returned from the county school to study on her own, feeling her chances of passing are slim.
The prospect of having servants in the family seems like a distant dream. However, today my sister-in-law hinted that she wanted to marry into a wealthy family; if she succeeded, the family would benefit. Unlike Jiang Qi, who married the son of a scholar, whose future is uncertain, and who benefits the family from his marriage.
If her sister-in-law marries into a wealthy family, her son Chutong will also be able to benefit from this and marry into a good family, thus escaping poverty completely.
Jiang's wife had many thoughts running through her mind. She wanted to talk to her husband about them, but unfortunately, he was already asleep, snoring loudly. She had an impulse to kick him off the bed, but in the end, it was just a thought, and she didn't act on it.
The people in the east and west wing rooms slept soundly, without having many thoughts.
The next morning, Mu Yi'an woke up naturally. She was still not very good at telling time, and looking at the sun, she didn't know what time it was.
After getting up and washing up, I still have to make breakfast, and after that, I have to cut grass for the sheep. Time is very tight.
Breakfast was simple and didn't take much time. Fortunately, Jiang Shuyun had learned how to milk goats, so he could milk them after his morning exercise.
After Mu Yi'an prepared breakfast, she boiled goat milk. By the time they finished eating, the goat milk was ready to drink at the perfect temperature.
Perhaps because she had been criticized, Jiang Lan didn't say anything during breakfast, but her brows remained furrowed.
Jiang's mother looked serious, and everyone ate their meal quietly without causing any trouble.
"Mother, I've finished eating. I want to drink goat's milk so I can go to school."
Shao Ming put down his chopsticks and waited for his mother to pour him goat milk.
"Okay, go get your schoolbag first, and I'll empty it for you right away."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
