Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 610 - 307: Relatives by Marriage_2

Chapter 610: Chapter 307: Relatives by Marriage_2

Next, Lady Liu led her three children to pay their respects. Lady Liu’s skin was not particularly fair, and her appearance was passably delicate, somewhat resembling the people from Quanzhou Province. She spoke with a strong southern accent, but she was cultured and polite, moved with appropriate grace, and gave a good impression.

The eldest son, Wu Zhongwei, was nine years old, the second son, Wu Zhongwei, was six, and the youngest daughter, Wu Zhonglian, was three. All three children inherited the Wu family’s good looks and were even more attractive. Especially Wu Zhonglian, Little Sister Lian, had pearly white teeth and rosy lips, sweet and adorable, bearing a striking resemblance to a young Qian Manxia, just a bit plumper. Lady Wu and Qian Yixiu both adored her greatly, taking turns holding and kissing her. Qian Yixiu even said she would take her to stay at Xiangxue Courtyard that night, to which the little girl graciously nodded her agreement.

Pan Yue also liked her, saying, "Little Sister Lian is beautiful, just like the young aunt used to be." She even took off a gold lotus hairpin inlaid with jade from her own head to give to her, marking the first time Pan Yue had voluntarily given a gift upon meeting someone. It showed just how endearing the young Qian Manxia had been, allowing Little Wu Zhonglian to bask in the reflected glow.

Lady Wu also gave Lady Liu and the children gifts for their first meeting.

After they left for Guixiang Courtyard to wash up and rest, Lady Wu couldn’t help but grit her teeth and curse, "My sister-in-law is foolish, too. Her brother pocketed our lifesaving silver, and we suffered terribly because of it. Yet she has the audacity to plead on his behalf. If not for the sake of my own brother’s face, I would have spat in her face."

Qian Sangui was also a bit angry, snorting, "Another one who doesn’t know better, keeping quiet about her brother, my cousin’s, misdeeds. Now she expects our family to let Wang Shoushi off the hook. Honestly, this world has all types of people."

Lady Wu then muttered more complaints before sending someone to fetch Qian Manxia and her three children from the Wan family’s home to meet with the uncle’s family.

As dusk fell, Qian Manxia and her three children arrived, and Wu Zuzhi, along with the neatly dressed Lady Liu and her three children, also came to the main courtyard. However, Lady Wong did not come—probably because Wu Zuzhi was angry and did not allow her.

After their greetings, Qian Manxia was immensely fond of Little Sister Lian, who looked even more like her than her own daughter did. She held and played with her for a while, then took a jade hairpin shaped like a plum blossom from her hair to give to her as a meeting gift.

When Qian Yixiu saw that Qian Manxia looked much better than during the Lunar New Year festivities, she pulled her aside to ask quietly, "Aunt, is your mother-in-law still thinking of taking a junior wife for uncle?"

Qian Manxia chuckled and tapped her on the forehead, whispering, "Such a meddlesome little butler you are," and then added with a laugh, "Things are much better now. As soon as I got home that day, I gave them the fabric and jewelry gifted by the Empress Dowager. My mother-in-law said those things were an honor and should be kept for my sister-in-law’s dowry. My sister-in-law kept asking if my brother’s wife really had such favor with the Empress Dowager... I told my aunt about the Jinxiu Embroidery Workshop’s willingness to cooperate with them, and she was overjoyed. My sister-in-law’s husband went to see Shopkeeper Qian right after the new year to propose selling some rare items themselves. Shopkeeper Qian gave them quite a bit, and at fair prices too. He also said that in the future, if there were good items, they would share them with us. These days, their shop’s business has picked up significantly, not only because the rare items sell well, but even the old stock is moving faster. My aunt remembers the favor and even bought me some jewelry. My mother-in-law feels the person she has wronged the most is my aunt. Seeing her business do well also makes her happy. My father-in-law and husband have been speaking up for me, but my mother-in-law doesn’t want to listen. She accuses them of neglecting the suffering of their women and taking the side of those who enjoy life; the more they talk, the angrier she gets. But when my aunt says something, it resonates with her. Lately, my aunt often talks her around, and my mother-in-law seems to be coming to terms with things. Only my sister-in-law is still a bit willful and mouthy. I just consider her to be a child who doesn’t know any better and assume she’ll improve when she grows older..."

With the small crisis concerning the junior aunt temporarily resolved, Qian Yixiu and Lady Wu were reassured.

Lady Wu said, "That girl should be fifteen by now, right? Everything will be better once she’s married off."

Qian Manxia replied, "My sister-in-law is quite pretty, and my mother-in-law is intent on finding her a match from a better family; she’s being selective."

That night, Qian Yixiu took Wu Zhonglian to Xiangxue Courtyard. Qian Yixiu thought about how her junior aunt’s childhood was too harsh, yet she had been so sensible it broke her heart. Back then, she was a mere ghost, unable to assist her. Therefore, she wanted to make up for it with Little Sister Lian.

The next day, Wu Zuzhi’s family invited the Qian family, as well as the Pan and Wan families, to dine at the Sanyuan restaurant. He also inquired whether they ought to invite the Liang family, given their considerable help.

Qian Yixiu smiled and said, "No need. We will repay their kindness in the future. It’s just a meal among a few relatives; an outsider would disrupt the mood."