After dinner, Xiao Lie, Bai Lixi, and the others stayed a while longer before leaving.
Once they had left, Shen Shixu went to find the steward and asked how the Homecoming Gifts for tomorrow were coming along.
The steward told him that everything had been prepared according to Xiao Jinyi's instructions, then asked whether he had any other requests so he could make further arrangements.
Xiao Jinyi attached great importance to the Homecoming Gifts. In Great Qian, it was said that the more gifts a son-in-law brought on the homecoming visit, the more pleased he was with his spouse.
It was also a way of showing how highly he regarded his in-laws, so Xiao Jinyi had ordered three large cartloads of gifts prepared for tomorrow's visit, enough to rival the betrothal gifts of a wealthy family.
Shen Shixu looked at the list the steward handed him. It included dozens of bolts of silks and satins, dozens of boxes of tea and pastries, two chests of jewelry, two chests of silver, a chest of gold, fresh fruit and vegetables grown on the estates belonging to Prince Jing's Residence, two pigs, a sheep, and a cow. There were even two shops in the Capital.
After reading the list, Shen Shixu asked Xiao Jinyi whether they should bring a little less. There was far too much.
"Absolutely not!" Xiao Jinyi took Shen Shixu's hand and led him back, saying as they walked, "These Homecoming Gifts all reflect on your standing. We can't leave out a single thing. If anything, I think we haven't prepared enough!"
Hearing that he wanted to add even more, Shen Shixu hurried to persuade him otherwise. "This is plenty. Please don't add anything else."
Xiao Jinyi listened to him. If he said not to add anything, then he wouldn't.