Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 190 - 147 Marrying Out_1

Chapter 190: Chapter 147 Marrying Out_1

Qian Yijin took the deer whiskers and ginseng, asking how much more money needed to be supplemented. Zhang Zhongkun said, "It’s exactly even; no need to look for change. Those large pieces of deer whiskers are worth enough to offset the value of this portion of deer whiskers and the ginseng."

Though Zhang Zhongkun said it was so, the younger siblings still knew that their family had gained a bit of advantage. Even though they had gotten a better deal, it couldn’t have been much, so they didn’t bring up the matter of money again. For two families with such a good relationship, it seemed somewhat improper to be nitpicky about a little money.

Zhang Zhongkun also mentioned that Young Master Liang would be coming to Xishan County from Capital City early next month. While following Master Beikong to "learn martial arts," he would also stay with the Zhang family for a few days, so Lady Song should prepare to welcome the honored guest. At the same time, he said Shopkeeper Cui would be accompanying Young Master Liang on his return.

Having been awaiting word from Shopkeeper Cui, Qian Yixiu, upon hearing Zhang Zhongkun’s words, could only continue to wait patiently.

In the courtyard, the rosebuds were blooming brilliantly, clustering and climbing over a section of the wall. The peach trees already bore greenish small peaches, while the jujube trees were festooned with tiny yellow flowers.

In the midst of the splendid springtime, Qian Hua went to Mengxi Village and collected the rent for those eighty acres of farmland. After paying taxes, they were left with forty-two taels of silver. Having harvested the young vegetables, the tenant farmers began preparing to plant the rice seedlings.

The small landlord, Third Old Master Qian, holding the silver, couldn’t stop smiling, for with land to his name, he would never worry about going hungry.

Qian Mandie’s wedding day was quietly approaching. The Qian family’s first wife was busy preparing for her marriage, and the third branch was also considering what gifts to send as dowry additions.

Qian Mandie was a delightful and diligent young woman who had often come to help with chores at Qian Manxia’s when the third branch was in its hardest times and also extended great kindness to Cheng Yue. It could be said that she was Qian Manxia’s only confidante during those years, and besides Little Monk, the only outsider Cheng Yue was willing to spend time with.

Considering her future in-laws were known for being stingy, Qian Sangui and his wife thought about what to give her that she could use after getting married, something practical yet not too ostentatious.

After much deliberation, they decided to secretly gift her five taels of silver, and publicly, they offer a bolt of water-red silk damask from the Zhang family, and they even went to town to purchase a carved silver hairpin. Just the silk damask and the silver hairpin were worth at least five and a half taels of silver, which was a considerable gift in the countryside.

Lady Qian Manxia made a set of Capital City-style silk summer gowns for Qian Mandie, knowing her love for beauty. She also gave her four provincial-style silk flowers and a box of fragrance grease.

Cheng Yue, Qian Yijin, and their mother each gave separate gifts as well. The siblings took their pocket money to town and purchased a pair of silver agate earrings. Although they weren’t large, they sparkled beautifully when worn. These earrings cost the siblings eleven small silver ingots, nearly exhausting all of their saved private money.

Even Qian Xiaoyu sent her two embroidered silk handkerchiefs.

The third branch’s five taels of silver were given secretly, yet all the other gifts combined still made the villagers envious and talkative for a long time.

Qian Dagui and his wife, especially Lady Wong, were deeply grateful to the third branch’s family, with Lady Wong feeling particularly moved. She had always been competitive and strived to outdo others. After much effort, she finally managed to "marry above their station," proud that her daughter would become a town resident, which appeared to bring prestige to their family. Even when there were unfavorable rumors about that family, and Old woman Qian disapproved, she could not bear to cancel the match, once thinking it was mere jealousy of their good son-in-law.

As the wedding date grew closer, her fears intensified. She feared this marriage would turn out like her older daughter’s—impressive on the surface but miserable in reality. If that happened, her heart would ache.

Particularly, the gifts from the Yang family for the betrothal were only Two Guan money. Adding in the pastries, tea, liquor, and fish meat, it likely didn’t even total five taels of silver, even less than what some local families offered. At that time, Lady Wong was so angry she lay in bed for three days, but to the outside world, she feigned happiness, claiming they had specifically told the Old Yang family that they weren’t selling their daughter and didn’t care how much the betrothal gifts were. What mattered was that they treated her well.

Actually, having sold snacks in town for several months, Qian Manhe had heard about the Old Yang family’s behavior and even told Lady Xiao Wong two months prior to remind Lady Xu. But by that time, Qian Dagui and Lady Wong had gone too far to back out, as five of the customary six wedding rituals had already been completed. To break off the engagement without cause would make it difficult for Qian Mandie to receive future marriage proposals.

A few days ago, Yang Youfu’s mother was talking with the neighbors in town, fearing that the Old Qian Family would embezzle the betrothal money. She also said that the Old Qian Family had done such things before.