I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 389 Birthday
On July 18th, the Jin family held a grand banquet to celebrate the birthday of Old Madam Jin.

The servants at the Jin family's ancestral home stayed up all night, setting up the house under the direction of the ladies of the house. The kitchen was bustling with activity, with countless delicacies from land and sea on display.

Grandpa Jin and Grandma Jin got up early and sat on the couch to receive birthday wishes from their children and grandchildren.

As the birthday celebrant, Madam Jin couldn't stop smiling. Her daughters-in-law served her breakfast, and then she took a bath and changed into a deep red Shu brocade dress adorned with five bats symbolizing longevity. She then sat in the main courtyard, exchanging pleasantries with the guests who came to offer their birthday wishes.

The gate of the Jin family ancestral home was bustling with activity. The heads and wives of prominent families in Suzhou had all come, making the Jin family home a lively and bustling place.

"Master Yang and his wife have arrived!"

Upon hearing the sound, Master Jin, who was guarding the gate to greet guests, looked over and saw Old Master Yang and Old Madam Yang getting off the carriage with the help of servants. Behind Old Madam Yang, there was a young woman of about sixteen or seventeen years old.

That was the most talented woman in Jiangnan, the most valued granddaughter of Old Master Yang, and the most outstanding young lady of the Yang family's grandchildren, Miss Yang the Seventh.

Master Jin's eyes lit up, and he strode forward to greet them, saying, "Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang have come to attend the birthday banquet. Father and Mother will surely be overjoyed to know this."

Madam Yang smiled and said, "After I married into the Yang family, I had a very close relationship with your mother. Since your mother got married, we have not been able to stay together every day. As we get older, we have fewer and fewer opportunities to meet. Today is her sixtieth birthday, and I must come to congratulate her no matter what."

"My mother often talks about my aunt. It's a rare occasion to see her today. Uncle and Aunt, please stay a while longer."

As he spoke, Master Jin personally escorted Old Master Yang and Old Madam Yang to the main courtyard.

Having already been informed by the servants, Old Master Jin and Old Madam Jin personally went to the main courtyard to greet them. As soon as the two old ladies met, they clasped hands tightly, and tears streamed down their faces.

"Don't cry, it's your birthday today. It's my fault for making you cry," said Madam Yang, wiping away Madam Jin's tears with a handkerchief. "It's all because your elder brother and I haven't been feeling well these past few years and haven't been able to visit you often."

"What are you saying, sister-in-law? Haven't you and brother sent enough things to the Jin family over the years?" Old Madam Jin said with a forced smile, "I know you and brother care about me, but more than gifts, I want to talk to you and my brother."

"I'll talk to you for as long as you want today! I'll talk to you for as long as you want!"

"My sister-in-law is just teasing me again," Old Madam Jin said, her tears turning into a smile. "We're not in the inner chambers anymore, where we can just laugh and joke as we please."

"Why not? The birthday boy is the most important person. You can do whatever you want today," said Madam Yang, deliberately putting on a stern face as she looked at Old Master Jin. "Brother-in-law, what do you say?"

Grandpa Jin smiled perfectly, "Sister-in-law is right."

"Look, the head of the family has agreed, what are you afraid of!" Old Madam Yang and Old Madam Jin helped each other back to the house and sat down. "We are now half-buried in the ground, and we have so many filial sons and grandsons. It's time to relax and enjoy our retirement!"

Speaking of filial sons and virtuous grandsons, Old Madam Jin's gaze fell on the woman standing behind Old Madam Yang, "Is this Xiao Qi?"

Madam Yang nodded, "Come and greet your great-aunt."

A servant brought over a prayer mat, and Miss Yang the Seventh knelt down and respectfully kowtowed, saying, "The seventh daughter of the Yang family, Mei'er, greets her great-aunt and wishes her great-aunt boundless happiness and longevity."

Two maids presented a screen depicting three immortals celebrating a birthday.

"This was embroidered by Mei'er. I hope my great-aunt won't find it offensive."

"Good child, get up quickly!" Old Madam Jin was overjoyed and pulled Miss Yang Qi to sit beside her, squinting her eyes to examine her carefully. "Look at her appearance, her figure, I'm not bragging, she's exactly like me when I was young!" "Indeed!" Old Madam Yang looked at Miss Yang Qi with affection. "That's why your brother and I cherish her so much. Every time we see her, it's as if you're still at home."

The more Madam Jin looked at Miss Yang, the more she liked her. She wished she could keep her. However, when she thought of her children and grandchildren, those who were of the right age were not, and those who were of the right age were too low in status. Only her eldest grandson was suitable, but he had already married a woman from a humble family.

Although the woman passed away from illness this spring, leaving the position of the eldest grandson's wife vacant, the Jin family's descendants are not yet qualified to have the Yang family's daughter as their second wife.

Madam Jin sighed regretfully.

After dismissing the servants, Madam Yang asked Madam Jin with a smile, "How about I give Xiao Qi to you as your granddaughter-in-law?"

Madam Jin's eyes widened, and she said urgently, "How can this be!" She looked at Miss Yang Qi, who was sitting beside her with her eyes lowered, "The Yang family has enough daughters as second wives, how can we add Miss Yang Qi to the mix! Sister-in-law, don't say anything more, I don't agree!"

Madam Yang sighed, "This is your eldest brother's idea."

Madam Jin was taken aback. "Why is my elder brother doing this?"

In order to save the Jin family, she had no choice but to marry the over-thirty-year-old old man Jin as his second wife when she was in her prime. Her elder brother felt extremely guilty about this and not only made up for it with more dowry, but also forced their father to write her name into the family genealogy so that the descendants of the Yang family would remember her kindness.

“I don’t know the specific reason either,” Madam Yang shook her head, “but your eldest brother told me to tell you that once Jin Ge has finished mourning for his wife, the two children will get married.”

Madam Jin immediately grabbed Miss Yang's hand tightly.

Ever since her incident, my elder brother has hated anyone who uses the marriage of a Yang family girl as a bargaining chip. Now that he is acting this way, I'm afraid something big has happened between the Yang family and the Jin family.

Madam Jin turned to look at Miss Yang.

Miss Yang raised her head, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Madam Jin's heart stirred. Her eldest brother did not allow women to participate in the Yang family's affairs, except for the Yang family's daughters. Xiao Qi was valued by her eldest brother and might know some things that her sister-in-law did not know.

Madam Jin decided to get to the bottom of this matter.

"Sister-in-law, I love Xiaoqi and want to ask what Xiaoqi thinks. I'm afraid Xiaoqi won't dare to speak frankly if you're here."

Madam Yang tried to persuade him, but the marriage of the Yang family's daughters was in the hands of Old Master Yang. What difference did it make whether Xiao Qi was willing or not?

However, after all, she had doted on her child for over ten years, and Old Madam Yang was unwilling to see her jump into a fire pit. If Old Madam Jin had a way to help Xiao Qi and persuade Old Master Yang to change his mind, that would be the best outcome.

Madam Yang stood up. "I've been sitting for too long, and my back is aching. I'm going out for a walk to get some fresh air."

After Madam Yang left, Madam Jin grasped Miss Yang's hand and asked, "Has the Yang family and the Jin family had some kind of falling out?"

Miss Yang Qi knelt on the footstool, pleading, "The Jin family has a handle on the Yang family and is forcing my grandfather to marry me into the Jin family. I beg my great-aunt to save the Yang family and save Mei'er!"

Madam Jin was greatly surprised.