Because this teahouse was close to the Imperial Academy, Yanran often came here.
She recognized the voice; it was the shopkeeper's.
The shopkeeper is usually always smiling, why is he so magnanimous today?
Judging from the implied meaning, it seemed that the person was reprimanding the waiter who had asked for leave.
The waiter said with a forced smile, "Shopkeeper, please don't be angry. I really have some family matters to attend to. Please deduct my wages, even for a few days."
Yanran was completely confused.
"Tell me the truth, what are you doing home?"
"Hey, isn't it time to plant wheat? This year, a batch of wheat seeds was transported from the south, and they're half the price of previous years, but you have to rush to buy them. You know, my family relies on my older brothers, and I can't really help out usually. I was thinking of going back to help make up the numbers so we could get some wheat seeds... They're sold by the head, ten catties at a time, and if you want more, you have to go back and queue up again..."
Is there really such a good thing?
There's no news of a bumper harvest this year, and rice and flour prices are about the same as in previous years—these are things Linlin has been keeping an eye on. Yanran goes to his place every day and overhears a bit of it, so she knows all about it.
But why is wheat seed half the price?
That's very strange.
The teahouse owner clearly didn't believe it either, saying, "Could there really be such a good thing?"
"Originally, there wasn't one," the waiter said. "It was a high-ranking official from the south whose mother was ill, and he was doing good deeds to accumulate good fortune for her!"
"The high-ranking official from the south?"
"Yes, yes, it seems to be the Wen Family."
"That's about right. Other families aren't this wealthy and powerful. Alright, let's go, let's go!" the shopkeeper said irritably.
He also knew how important buying wheat seeds was for farming families.
Yanran her chin on her hand, realizing it was Mianmian's home.
Is he Mianmian's older brother?
But if her mother was ill, why didn't Mianmian come to her mother, the imperial concubine, for help?
She sensed something was wrong.
After leaving the teahouse, Yanran bought a few trinkets by the roadside, tucked them into her bosom, and rode her horse towards the Huai Family.
Mianmian was talking to her mother-in-law, Lady Yao, when Xiaobai was crawling around on the kang (a heated brick bed). When she saw Yanran come in, she immediately stopped and looked at her with curious eyes, showing no signs of shyness.
Indeed, children who grow up surrounded by admirers, with countless wet nurses, maids, and servants around them, and several layers of elders above them, are generally not shy around strangers.
Yanran greeted Madam Yao and Mianmian with a smile, then took out toys from her bosom and piled them on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Then, without even looking, Xiaobai bent down, opened her chubby arms, and grabbed all the toys into her lap. Then, she backed away with her little bottom, pulling all the toys along with her...
Yanran burst into laughter.
You little money-grubber!
She truly deserves to be called a daughter of the Huaishang!
This stinginess is truly surpassing even the master's.
According to Madam Yao, Huaishang wasn't this stingy when he was a child; he just grew up to be a bit clumsy.
Xiaobai is amazing; he's born with a stingy nature.
Huaishang felt a great sense of relief, and even hummed a little tune whenever he thought of it—this little darling, she's got no air leaks at all, truly worthy of being his daughter.
Madam Yao laughed and scolded, "Why do you look like your father? You don't resemble your grandmother or mother at all."
Mianmian, slightly plump after giving birth, had a rosy complexion. "Sui Huaishang so good, I just spend too much money. Yanran, come and try some longan, my elder brother had it delivered from the south by express horse."
Money talks.
In Mianmian, you can often find rare snacks and fruits from all over the world.
Yanran tasted two but found them too sweet. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and said, "I heard something outside and wanted to ask you about it."
Based on the current situation, it seems to be a rumor.
If her mother were sick, would Mianmian still be so unconcerned?
"You say."
After hearing Yanran's explanation, Mianmian was also bewildered. "My mother is doing well. Just a few days ago, she even had two boatloads of dowry sent to Xiaobai."
Yanran: "..."
Holy crap, that's incomparable.
Xiaobai is so young, yet her maternal family has already started preparing her dowry, and it's being prepared by the boatload!
When Xiaobai gets married in the future, won't her bridal procession stretch for miles?
Mianmian explained that in her hometown, weddings are very elaborate, and some items, such as the canopy bed and the elaborate sedan chair, are prepared several years in advance...
Huaishang said: Bad habit!
He doesn't want to marry off his daughter; he wants to find her a husband so that someone else won't benefit from her marriage.
"... And I've never heard of selling wheat seeds at half price," Mianmian. "The Wen Family has always been low-key. Our ancestor said, 'A tall tree catches the wind.' Even when they send things to Xiaobai and me, they unload the boat at night and have someone deliver them before curfew."
"So, it's not the Wen Family?"
"Hmm. I'll have someone go and check again to confirm," Mianmian said. "How big of an impact is this?"
She was a little confused; wasn't this doing a good deed?
Regardless of whether it was the Wen Family or not, the common people benefited.
Yanran stroked her chin thoughtfully. "It's nothing, I just have this indescribable feeling. Okay, once you've found out, just have someone pass on the message. Xiaobai, come here and let your big sister give you a hug."
Xiaobai hugged the pile of toys, watching Yanran warily, as if afraid she would snatch them away.
Yanran burst into laughter.
"They're a Wuji match for our Wuji," Yanran said. "Wuji carries things around and spills them all the way."
She lingered at the Huai Family for a while longer before going home.
That evening, Mianmian teased Huaishang, "I've finally found a husband for Xiaobai."
Huaishang, who was about to take off her clothes, stopped upon hearing this and sat on the edge of the bed, asking sternly, "Who? Don't you dare agree to any arranged marriages, I won't agree!"
Mianmian understood his feelings best, and said with a smile, "Wuji! It's only right to keep the good stuff in the family. You wouldn't be willing to give up your dowry if you married someone else, but you should be willing to give it up if you're with Wuji, right?"
Huaishang's true love for the Prince of Jin far surpasses that for her.
For example, he was willing to spend a hundred taels of silver to find a woman for the Prince of Jin, something he himself would never have done.
Unexpectedly, Huaishang glared at him angrily. "No way! Why should my daughter marry someone of higher status and suffer humiliation? When the time comes, we'll find a husband among those who pass the imperial examinations, someone good-looking and obedient."
He thought for a moment, then said, "Someone like Wen Heng is barely acceptable."
Wen Heng, who was applying a face mask to Jiang Ruo, sneezed twice.
Jiang Ruo said, "Is it getting a bit cold? I'll have someone bring in two charcoal braziers... Ah, you should have them brought in."
How could she forget that she stayed at Wen Heng's residence at the Imperial Academy tonight instead of going home...
This shabby room, sigh.
Wen Heng suffered.
She sent someone back to tell her parents that she had slept at Yanran's place; she also told Yanran to make sure the lie was covered up for her.
Yanran snorted and told the maid, "Tell your county princess that she's pregnant, so don't even think about framing me!"
That function is not available!
As the night grew quiet and the water clock stopped, the loving couples in each household were already asleep, embracing each other like Yuanyang with their necks intertwined.
Yanran didn't sleep very well; she had a dream.