Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 828 Compared to the daughters of the Chai and Rong families, how much is more? [Thank you! Thank you again! 7k words owed]

Bianjing,

Outside the inner city wall,

"White peaches! Freshly harvested white peaches from Weizhou! Thin-skinned and sweet Weizhou white peaches!"

"Golden apricots! Crisp, sweet, and refreshing golden apricots!"

A peddler carrying a load of fruit walked through a street, calling out his wares.

After glancing up at the bright sun in the sky, the peddler walked to a wall and stood still, continuing to shout his wares loudly.

After shouting four or five times,
The peddler saw that no one was buying his goods.
He then packed up his carrying pole and prepared to continue walking elsewhere.

After carrying the shoulder pole for more than ten steps,

Suddenly, a woman's voice called out from behind: "Peach seller! Don't go yet!"

Upon hearing this, the peddler immediately stopped and turned around, replying, "Alright! Don't move, I'm coming!"

He then walked towards the woman holding the child with a smile on his face.

Upon approaching, the peddler looked up at the two characters 'Wei Residence' hanging on the gate before lifting the cloth covering the fruit.

"Look, these are newly harvested white peaches from Weizhou."

As he spoke, the peddler smiled and nodded to the old woman who was being helped out of the shop by a maid.

But the old woman didn't react; she just stared blankly in the direction of the peddler.

"Can I have one to try?" the woman holding the child asked.

As they were talking, the woman noticed the peddler's gaze and explained, "My old lady has an eye condition, so she can't see you clearly when you greet her."

"Oh!! I see!"

As he spoke, the peddler picked up a peach and handed it over: "Try it, if it's not sweet, I won't charge you."

The maid holding the child took the peach, tasted it, and nodded repeatedly: "These peaches are really sweet. How much are they per pound?"

"A gift of five coins"

"Pick out five jin for me."

"okay."

As the peddler was picking out peaches, he looked up and glanced at the old woman who had just walked out the gate.

At this moment, the old woman was already sitting on the bench under the shade of the tree at the door. The peddler watched her doing needlework without even looking at her, his eyes filled with surprise.

"Your old lady is really amazing! Even with her poor eyesight, she can still do her work," the peddler praised.

“That’s right!” the woman nodded. “My grandmother has been doing needlework for decades.”

Hearing the two talking, the old woman sitting in the shade of the tree smiled and nodded in their direction.

I just paid the money.

Another neighbor from the vicinity of the house went out.
Upon seeing the maid buying peaches, a woman asked, "How are the peddler's peaches?"

The maid naturally showered him with praise.

So the peddler made a few more deals.

Just as the peddler was making his business, a carriage stopped in front of a house not far from Wei's residence.

A woman got off the carriage with her maid.

After paying the fare, just as the woman was about to enter the courtyard, a maidservant pointed at the peddler in front of the Wei residence and said a few words.

Then, the master and servant walked over here.

After casually inquiring about the peaches and hearing the praise from the other buyers, the maidservant decided to buy two jin as well.

The old woman sitting under the shade of the tree listened for a moment, then asked the maid beside her, "Who is it? The voice sounds unfamiliar."

"The old lady is a new neighbor who just moved in yesterday. She is an older woman and a housekeeper."

After buying the peaches, the maid, holding the child, added, "I heard that lady's surname is Jin."

"Oh!" The old woman smiled and nodded.

As the maidservant was selecting fruit from the peddler's basket on the ground, the well-dressed lady standing beside her also looked at the old woman under the shade of the tree.

She had only glanced at the old woman out of boredom, but upon seeing the old woman's appearance, the well-dressed lady paused for a moment.

Then, the old woman glanced at the old woman under the shade of the tree several more times.

The two maids were somewhat puzzled.

After the maid paid the money and was about to leave with the lady, the lady whispered a few words to the maid.

The maidservant then looked at the old woman as well.

Subsequently,

The master and servant walked straight towards the shade of the tree.

The two maids exchanged a glance, then stood up, bowed, and said with a smile, "Greetings, Madam."

The older woman nodded with a smile, still looking at the old woman, and said with a smile, "Please forgive me, Madam, I haven't had a chance to visit our neighbors since we moved in yesterday!"

"You're too kind, madam," the old woman said with a smile as she stood up.

"Excuse my boldness, but today I noticed that you look vaguely familiar, madam. Your appearance is somewhat similar to an elder from Shanyang County."

Upon hearing this, the old woman paused, "Shanyang County? May I ask which family you are from, madam? This voice sounds quite unfamiliar."

Before the old woman could speak...

A voice called from not far away, "Mother, we're back."

"Greetings, my lord, madam." The maidservant beside the old woman hurriedly bowed.

While talking,
Jiang Shangfeng led Wei Yuyi to the front of his house.

Wei Yuyi looked at the woman standing in front of her mother with suspicion and asked, "Who are you?"

"Madam, this is our neighbor who just moved in yesterday," the maid introduced.

Wei Yuyi immediately smiled.

Wei's mother, who was standing nearby, said, "Yu'er, this lady just mentioned Shanyang County. Ask her carefully; perhaps she really is an old friend."

"Shanyang County?" Upon hearing this, Wei Yuyi frowned slightly and scrutinized the master and servant in front of him.

Madam Jin looked delighted and said with a smile, "You are Yu Yi? I almost didn't recognize you after all these years!"

As she spoke, Madam Jin took a step forward, intending to put her arm around Wei Yuyi's shoulder.

But Wei Yuyi stared at Madam Jin, and took a step back with an unfriendly expression.

"This"

Madam Jin looked surprised; the scene of recognizing an old friend was somewhat different from what she had imagined.

Seeing Wei Yuyi's expression, the maidservant quickly said, "Madam, my mistress is a relative of the Kang Prince's family. She is a concubine in the Kang Prince's mansion, and her husband is..."

Madam Jin turned around and scolded, "Shut up! Why are you saying this?"

The maidservant quickly lowered her head.

Madam Jin looked at Wei Yuyi, then at Wei's mother, and asked with a puzzled expression, "Yuyi, what's wrong with your aunt's eyes? Is your sister Shuyi alright?"

As she spoke, Madam Jin glanced at Jiang Shangfeng beside Wei Yuyi and asked, "Is this your husband?"

Jiang Shangfeng looked at his wife's expression and understood what was going on, so he kept a cold face and didn't say anything.

Wei Yuyi took the son from the maid's arms, ignoring Madam Jin, and said, "Mother, let's go inside."

"Hey! I say, you're all so rude! My mistress speaks so kindly, how can you not know what's good for you?" the maid frowned. Madam Jin waved her hand to silence the maid, then took two steps forward and tugged at Wei Yuyi's clothes, asking in confusion, "Yuyi, what's wrong with you? Have you forgotten that when you were little, your sister Shuyi and I were very close!"

"I once..."

Wei Yuyi shook off Madam Jin's hand, glared at her, and said coldly, "Don't mention my sister!"

"Don't mention your sister?"

Wei Yuyi stared into Madam Jin's eyes and said bluntly, "That's right! You have no right to mention my sister!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Hmph! Let's go!"

Wei Yuyi led his family directly into the courtyard.

"Clang."

The courtyard gate was also closed.

Outside the door, the neighbors who bought peaches also looked on in surprise at this scene.

Madam Jin stared blankly at the closed door.

"Madam, I'll go and inquire about it."

"it is good."

The maid then took two steps toward the neighbors and asked with a puzzled look, "Fellow neighbors, may I ask where this Lady Wei and her husband work?"

“My wife has been a friend of this family for many years, but it seems they don’t really want to acknowledge us anymore.”

The neighbors who had been watching looked at each other, and someone said, "Madam Wei is the manager of the Bai family's salt shop."

"A salt shop? No wonder!" the maid exclaimed. "To be able to open a salt shop in the most prosperous place in the world, there must be a powerful figure behind it."

"Madam, you're right, the Ningyuan Marquis's residence is right behind the Bai Family Salt Shop!"

Jiying Lane,
The Sheng family,

Shouantang,
Minglan, dressed in a light green summer dress, sat on the old lady's lap, holding an embroidery hoop.

Looking at the old lady's kind face, Minglan asked in confusion, "Grandmother, how did you know that Aunt was troubled?"

The old lady said, "Ming'er, these days every time your aunt comes, her eyes are filled with smiles. But today, the smiles are gone from her eyes."

Minglan scratched her temple with her little finger in confusion: "Granddaughter, how come I didn't notice?"

The old lady shook her head helplessly: "Your mind is on embroidering, how can you have the energy to look at this?"

Seeing Minglan's expression, the old lady reassured her, "Don't worry! Your aunt's eyes have just lost their smile, but there's no worry in them, so it should be nothing serious."

Upon hearing this, Minglan glanced in the direction of Jin Anzhai with some concern.

Jin Anzhai
Inside the house were the Wei sisters, Shuyi and Xiaodie.

"If she hadn't mentioned Shanyang County, I really wouldn't have recognized her! I never expected she would have the nerve to acknowledge us!"

Hearing Aunt Wei's words, Xiao Die glanced at Wei Shuyi: "Little Mother, do you think that Madam Jin doesn't know that her words back then caused such terrible consequences?"

Aunt Wei's eyes widened: "Xiao Die, does that woman surnamed Jin not know what the consequences will be? I think that woman surnamed Jin said those things in public, she was trying to ruin the marriage!"

"She'd love for the guy who bullied her to never marry a good man!"

Xiao Die continued to look at Wei Shuyi, and said uncertainly, "But the fact that she dared to acknowledge her aunt means that she has no guilt in her heart, doesn't it?"

"That person seems innocent. The trouble he caused the Wei family must have been unintentional, right?"

"Hmph!" Aunt Wei sneered, "She didn't acknowledge us earlier, she didn't acknowledge us later, but tomorrow she's marrying into the Prince's mansion, so she'll come to acknowledge us!"

Seeing Wei Shuyi's ambiguous expression, Aunt Wei said, "Sister, say something!"

Wei Shuyi said, "Back then, it was my own fault for standing up for others and fighting for justice. Otherwise, I wouldn't have caused trouble for my family. You can't blame others entirely."

Aunt Wei frowned and was about to speak when Wei Shuyi waved her hand to interrupt her and continued, "But, after the incident at home, I wrote her a few letters when she came to Bianjing. I hoped to get help from her family to help my father."

"Several letters were sent, but not a single reply was received."

After saying that, Wei Shuyi gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Xiaodie's eyes widened.

Aunt Wei exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, how come I didn't know about this?"

Xiao Die chimed in, "Young lady, I take back what I just said! So that woman surnamed Jin knew all along what happened to you!"

“The Wei family was in such dire straits back then. As the legitimate daughter, she would have found a way to help you, but she turned a blind eye!”

Wei Shuyi shook his head: "Alright, tomorrow's auspicious day is almost here, let's not talk about those unpleasant things."

Aunt Wei and Xiao Die nodded in agreement.

Then, Xiaodie looked at Wei Shuyi's attire and said, "Young lady, your clothes and jewelry are so much better than before."

Aunt Wei nodded repeatedly from the side.

"It's all thanks to the kindness of the old lady, the master, and the eldest daughter-in-law. They've bestowed upon us a lot of fabric and precious jewelry before." Wei Shuyi smiled and said, "When I went to pay my respects early yesterday morning, the eldest daughter-in-law said that on the day of the wedding tomorrow, it wouldn't be good to let outsiders laugh at the Sheng family."

Aunt Wei blinked and asked in surprise, "Sister, does that mean that Madam Wang will let you show up on the wedding day tomorrow?"

Wei Shuyi smiled and nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Xiaodie's face lit up with an excited smile: "That's wonderful!"

“Mama Cui, who serves the old lady, said that it was the eldest daughter who sent Cui Chan to deliver the letter to the Sheng family,” Wei Shuyi said with a smile.

Aunt Wei exclaimed, "As expected of the eldest daughter of the Sheng family, Miss Hua Lan is truly remarkable!"

After saying that, looking at Wei Shuyi who was shaking her head, Aunt Wei asked, "Sister, what do you mean by shaking your head?"

Wei Shuyi looked at Xiaodie, who was also puzzled, and explained, "Ming'er came to my place yesterday and said that this matter was actually entrusted to the eldest young lady by the Princess Consort of the Prince."

"A noblewoman from the Chai family?" Aunt Wei was very surprised.

Wei Shuyi nodded slowly: "Yes."

Xiao Die guessed, "Little Mother, do you think it's because of the embroidery you did for the Chai family before?"

Wei Shuyi slowly shook his head: "You received the money. The Chai family is very generous, providing both materials and extra wages."

"This is all because Prince Xu petitioned the Emperor for a marriage decree, and tomorrow the child will be raised by the old lady's side."

"I'm only able to come in front of everyone and attend tomorrow's wedding because of this."

Xiaodie smiled and nodded. After exchanging a glance with Aunt Wei, Xiaodie reached into her sleeve and took out a piece of paper.

"Young lady, Sister Wei and I have discussed it, and the Prince's mansion is not like other families."

Wei Shuyi shook his head and pushed the papers on the table back: "Sister, Xiaodie, the dowry for tomorrow was personally handled by the old lady, and the eldest daughter-in-law contributed money that was comparable to the eldest daughter's dowry. I also have some extra money on hand, which is enough."

Aunt Wei: "But..."

Wei Shuyi said firmly, "There are no 'buts'! Compared to the daughters of the Chai and Rong families, how much is more?"

"Besides, all the happy events in the Sheng family happened one after another. You've given them all to me. What are you going to do next?"

"Putting everything else aside, Xiaodie, your husband was able to study at the Li family all thanks to Madam's favor. When Changbai and Rulan get married, how could the Ni family possibly send a small wedding gift?"

Xiaodie was speechless for a moment.

"Keep these things safe. You can give them to the Sheng family when they get married."

Xiaodie and Aunt Wei exchanged a glance, then looked at Wei Shuyi's expression before sheepishly putting the things away.

“That’s more like it!” Wei Shuyi said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)