Chapter 303: One of the Many Rice Buckets of the Wen Household
Watching the lively, bustling spectacle outside, the villagers began whispering among themselves, wondering if something good was happening to the Wen family again.
Old Madam Luo brought Old Mistress Qiu inside to sit down, and called both of her daughters-in-law over to keep Madam Qiu company. As for the arrangements outside, Nanny Shi was on hand to manage everything thoroughly.
“Sister, Rongrong told us everything. We owe so much to your family for helping her during this time. Speaking of which, it’s all my fault. When the Xie family came to propose marriage back then, I felt it wasn’t suitable—after all, she was marrying over to be a stepmother. Later, the Xie family promised that the eldest son wouldn’t be raised at home, which finally swayed us.
“If I had known earlier that this Xie Yushan was such a person, then no matter what, even if they had talked until the heavens fell, we could never have married Rongrong to a place so far away!” As Old Mistress Qiu spoke, tears began to well up in her eyes once more.
Beside her, Madam Qiu hugged her daughter with a heart full of aching affection, her eyes also reddening with self-blame and regret.
For a moment, Old Madam Luo didn’t know how to comfort the old lady either. She simply waited until she had cried her fill and composed herself before speaking: “It’s all in the past, so let’s not bring it up again in the future. It hasn’t been easy for you all to make such a long journey, so stay here for a while longer. Rongrong’s estate is close to our house as well. Whenever you have free time, come over to my place to sit and relax.”
Only then did Old Mistress Qiu’s emotions stabilize. Looking at Lady Li and Lady Cai, she asked, “Are these your two daughters-in-law?”
Old Madam Luo nodded and hurriedly signaled for the two to come pay their respects to Old Mistress Qiu.
“Greetings to Old Mistress. Please set your mind at ease—Rongrong’s good days are all ahead of her,” Lady Li said with a smile.
Lady Cai wasn’t good with words, so she merely offered a slight curtsy and stood obediently off to the side.
Old Mistress Qiu glanced at Madam Qiu, who immediately signaled the maid who had followed them inside to bring the items forward.
“These are gifts for the two of you. Quickly see if you like them.” Old Mistress Qiu had the maid present the items—two exquisite boxes, which, when opened, revealed brand-new sets of hair ornaments suitable for women of their age.
The eyes of both women lit up.
Old Madam Luo, however, knitted her brows slightly. “Coming over is enough, why bring gifts as well?”
Having been primed by Qiu Rongrong in advance, Old Mistress Qiu reached out to pat Old Madam Luo’s hand, saying, “It’s nothing much, just small tokens for the younger generation. By the way, where are the other two girls?”
Wen Yao had been with them all along, yet the other two girls of the Wen family were nowhere to be seen. Only then did Old Madam Luo say, “Yao Yao, go call your elder sister and younger sister over.” Turning back to her daughters-in-law, she saw that neither had reached out, and the items were still held by the maid.
“Since Old Mistress Qiu is giving them to you, just accept them.” With guests present, they couldn’t turn down the guests’ gesture; they could find an opportunity to return the favor in the future.
Lady Li was straightforward and possessed a boisterous, casual nature by default. Hearing this, she burst out laughing: “Mother, can we accept them?”
That single sentence brought a chuckle to Old Mistress Qiu. Old Madam Luo offered a look of feigned annoyance, pretending to be angry: “What kind of talk is that? You make it sound as if I normally mistreat you two.”
Only then did Lady Li take the items handed over by the maid, smiling: “Of course that’s not the case! Mother is the best mother-in-law in this whole world.”
Lady Cai nodded along. Aside from nodding, she didn’t know what else to say either. Lady Cai possessed clear self-awareness—knowing she wasn’t good with words, following Second Sister-in-law was the right move.
Old Madam Luo glared at the two: “Haven’t you thanked Old Mistress Qiu yet?”
Only then did Lady Li and Lady Cai hold their gifts and bow to Old Mistress Qiu.
Old Mistress Qiu nodded repeatedly, praising Old Madam Luo: “These two daughters-in-law of yours are truly wonderful.”
Old Madam Luo touched her hair bun with considerable pride; that merely proved she possessed good judgment.
Before long, Wen Di and Wen Ying were brought over by Wen Yao. Fortunately, Wen Ying knew to restrain herself today, behaving obediently and paying her respects properly all along the way. Old Mistress Qiu presented each of them with a set of gilded hair ornaments. Even Wen Yao received one—all in styles fashionable for young girls at the moment.
Madam Qiu presented her prepared gifts as well, making the atmosphere thoroughly harmonious.
However, things were not quite as seamless on the male guests’ side.
Old Man Wen had been sent out, leaving him with no choice but to stay with his sons to entertain Master Qiu and Eldest Brother Qiu.
Although Wen Xiuyi was a minor official, he was still a member of the bureaucracy after all. What’s more, among this group of men stood a county magistrate, a world-renowned scholar, and an imperial heir. Had Guan Shengrui not been called away by Xie Anyi and the others, there would even be a young master from a princess’s household.
Upon entering the room, Master Qiu and Eldest Brother Qiu prepared to bow to Li Yi.
Li Yi let out a helpless sigh; had he known earlier, he would have gone over to the children’s table instead.
“Master Qiu need not be so formal. You are guests today, so dispense with these rigid etiquettes,” Li Yi spoke up, and only then did Master Qiu and his son stand up.
They were about to bow to Qiu Zhi as well, but this time Qiu Zhi spoke up directly: “Is it not tedious to bow to everyone one by one like this? It’s been said that everyone here is family, so stop putting on these empty formalities.”
Sharing the same surname, Master Qiu naturally knew of this grand scholar who shared his family name. Learning that he had actually stepped forward to back up his daughter, Master Qiu felt an excited and joyful surge in his heart, agreeing repeatedly.
The Qiu family was merely one among the numerous merchant households in Jiangnan. Where money was concerned, they earned a great deal, but to claim they had reached the level of being wealthy enough to rival a nation was still far from it. Toward these figures of status and rank, they naturally did not wish to offend them.
Though their daughter had prepared them in advance, telling them these people were all exceptionally good and easy to get along with, the father and son still felt somewhat restrained.
“Uncle Wen, Master, I’ll go over to Datou’s side to take a look. You gentlemen carry on,” Li Yi slipped away directly.
Hearing this, Master Qiu and his son rose to see him off, only to find that Wen Xiuyi and the others hadn’t even lifted their rear ends from their seats, merely nodding: “Go ahead.”
And so Li Yi simply walked off.
Just walked off…
Before leaving, he had even offered a subtle nod to the father and son.
Among the royal relatives and high officials Master Qiu had encountered before, which one didn’t have their nose pointed straight up to the sky? Never mind understanding etiquette like this—even if merchants rushed forward to curry favor, those nobles wouldn’t give them a good look.
Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—who told merchants to sit at the very bottom of the social hierarchy?
With Li Yi gone, seeing that the father and son were still out of it, Old Man Wen spoke up to greet them: “Well now, Rongrong’s father, drink some tea, drink some tea! This tea was roasted by our own family; give it a try.”
Only then did Master Qiu snap back to reality.
“Ah, yes.” As a result of drinking too quickly, he actually scalded his mouth.
Old Man Wen could hardly bear to watch: “Aiya, what’s your hurry?”
Filled with embarrassment, Master Qiu hurriedly offered his apologies: “I am truly embarrassed. I was temporarily nervous, so I ask for your forgiveness.”
Old Man Wen had no idea what he was nervous about. Under normal circumstances, it ought to be common folk like them feeling nervous upon seeing gentlemen like these, yet now things were completely reversed.
Qiu Zhi, however, knew perfectly well what Master Qiu was nervous about.
Li Yi’s identity stood right there, after all.
Yet what Master Qiu did not know was that once anyone stepped through the door of the Wen household, whether they were an imperial heir, a prince, or a grand scholar, they were all merely one of the many rice buckets of the Wen household.
