Traveling to Daliang Kingdom starts from falling into the water

Unlike my usual routine of visiting a few workshops, today I had a complete holiday and enjoyed myself to the fullest. On my way back, the sun was already setting, and the evening glow was enchanting.

I rushed back to Yuyuan, where the little boy was having a pleasant conversation with his older brother, Xiao Suocheng. Hearing the noise, he looked up.

A soft "Ah...ah..." sound rang out, and the little hand stretched out. He smiled, instantly causing his father, who was rushing towards him, to laugh out loud in response.

My son, my good son, you know your father is back. Come, give your father a kiss. Are you happy today? My good son, have you missed your father...?

Zhou Banxia secretly provided voiceover for a certain foolish father. Sure enough, before she could even take another step forward, the exaggerated voice of that foolish father came through.

I really want to cover my face.

Sure enough, they were all laughing hysterically.

"Mom, sister-in-law, Baoya." Zhou Banxia greeted them, taking Xiao Changsuo's hand in hers. "Our young master has been looking after our two younger brothers again today."

Little Changsuo's face turned red, and he waved his other hand, "It's not sad, Auntie. My little brother is so good and obedient. They didn't cry at all today."

"Is it because they're following their older brother's example, or is it because our little Changsuo has set a good example? Mom, where's Dad? He's still busy outside and hasn't come back yet?"

Liu quickly stopped her daughter-in-law, who was about to bow as she approached, saying, "She'll be back soon. I reckon she'll be coming back from your uncle's place by now."

"The wedding date for Erniu has been set. It will be the ninth day of the fifth lunar month. As the day draws near, our grandfather is waiting for our father and third uncle at our uncle's house in the afternoon."

Liu suppressed a laugh and glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law, who was rushing to report the news. After listening, she thought to herself, "Why didn't you finish what you were saying?" "Your grandmother came here first this morning."

Your dad said to first see how your third uncle and your second uncle would give gifts. Your grandma had lunch at our house and returned less than an hour later, your grandpa went to your second uncle's house.

When Erniu gets married, your mother and father, as her second uncle and aunt, will probably give generous gifts. You two, as her cousins, can just add to Erniu's dowry, just like Wulang's wife.

Understood. Since the family hasn't separated, it's considered as one family giving gifts.

Zhou Banxia nodded to show that she understood. Before she could ask what Wu Lang's wife was preparing for Er Niu's dowry, the answer came.

Ma Shan immediately chimed in, "Wu Lang's wife said she's too heavy-hearted to go to the old courtyard for the dowry, and asked Third Aunt to bring a pair of pillowcases for Er Niu on the day of the dowry."

Zhou Banxia thought so too. Compared to the custom in rural families where a sister-in-law would give a handkerchief to her sister-in-law, this gift was not considered a small one.

"What are you planning to give? I'm thinking of asking our mother for advice, just like Wu Lang's wife. She said I can give whatever I want. Do you think that will be embarrassing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Banxia glanced at Liu Shi and saw that her mother-in-law had already turned around to dote on her son and grandson. She quickly shook her head at Ma Shan and pointed in the direction of the Ma family.

What do you mean?
Ma Shan subconsciously looked in the direction she was pointing, but there was no one there. It wasn't you two who came back; even the wet nurse had gone out. There was no one else in the house.

"My aunt."

Who?
My mother?

Oh, so you want me to consult my mother? Ma Shan finally understood what she meant. "My mother said that I'm not as good as Wu Lang's wife, and I'm not presentable to her."

Hearing this, Zhou Banxia couldn't help but laugh, "Then what did my aunt ask you to add?"

"Let me see what Mom and you are going to give, and then I'll see what the eldest brother's wife and the other sisters-in-law are going to give to their younger sister. It's giving me a headache." These were the kinds of things Aunt Ma would say. Zhou Banxia nodded silently and thought for a moment. "Then let's see what the eldest sister-in-law and the others are preparing first, and then we'll follow them, okay?"

"Don't worry about not making it in time if the date gets closer. Whatever they want to give as gifts, just get a couple from me. It's not a big deal, no headache."

Ma Shan couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You don't know anything. What's yours is yours. You even ask me to do makeup for people. How could I not take advantage of you enough?"
I'm not only having a headache about what to give as a dowry, but you didn't hear me say that my mother also wants me to see what my sister-in-law and her sisters-in-law are giving to my sister-in-law.
"With just your aunt and the eldest son's wife, they might already have a plan in mind to fool you. On the surface, the eldest son's wife and the fourth son's wife have given you gold and silver."

What does that have to do with me?
Erniu isn't Baoya.

"If you don't add a silver hairpin to your dowry when the time comes, I'll be worried sick for you. If this sets a precedent, how will you give gifts when your seventh, eighth, and ninth sons get married?"

“Yes, how to give a gift is a headache—” Zhou Banxia couldn’t help but laugh. “My dear sister-in-law, don’t worry, we still have our mother to support us.”

Do they really think our mother is easy to bully? They dare to try and fool us with gold and silver, but our mother will definitely make them backfire, turn their pretense into reality, and they'll have their day."

She truly is my wife!
Son, did you hear that?

Your mother is good at sweet-talking people; she has such a sweet tongue that even your grandma can't help but smile when she hears it.

"It's just that our mother is too lazy to argue with them. Let's not talk about this anymore. I went out with Brother Liu today. Peach Garden is really nice."

How about we go there for a few days when my brother has a day off? It's a huge place, and it would be even better if my uncle and aunt could come and stay for a few days too.

Also, it's not far from town, so it's inconvenient for your brother to travel back and forth. When he gets back, please remember to discuss with him which day to depart, okay?

Gu Wenxuan was about to tell his mother about the preparations his wife had made for his parents to visit Taozhuang for a few days when he heard outside that the county magistrate had sent someone to deliver a letter to the Second Master. It sounded like Uncle Changqing had just received the order and that Gu Dachang's family had personally delivered it to the main courtyard.

This guy really doesn't give them a chance to catch their breath. He let the two of them have a good day of fun, and as soon as they got home, he sent someone to deliver a message.

She handed her son, whom she was holding, to his grandmother and hurried out of the hall. Gu Dahua's wife was carrying a large tray in both hands.

If it's not a letter, why is there such a long and narrow brocade box? What's the purpose of this? It's like sending a congratulatory gift. There's no need to put any blueprints in a brocade box.

Listen to this: his own mother, who was carrying his grandson, asked Gu Dahua's family in confusion, "Whose household is sending such a generous gift at this hour?"

It's no wonder his mother asked that question, because every box on the large tray was made of bright red brocade fabric, with gold thread interwoven patterns.

The gift was meant to be a precious and valuable present; it was not something that a wealthy or powerful family would use to casually pack a gift in such a brocade box. And to make matters worse, it was delivered at the hour of You (5-7 PM).

No one believed that the gifts the couple bought for their family today were lavish gifts from some noble family.

"Reporting to Madam, the head steward said that the county magistrate sent someone to deliver it to the Second Master. The messenger didn't say much, and ran away as soon as he learned that the Second Master was at home."

Is he a tiger?

Gu Wenxuan was too lazy to ask which of Qian Huaizhi's companions had come and immediately fled. It was definitely not Qian Huaizhi's personal attendant or steward who was running for his life.

Only Qian Huaizhi's two personal guards still take their unreliable master's jokes seriously, as if they're afraid he might pick one of them to keep someday. (End of Chapter)