Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

Just as Old Master Yang and the villagers arrived at the door carrying the fir beams for the house, they heard Granny Zheng's loud voice. She stood with her hands on her hips, boasting in front of everyone: "Listen up, all of you! My niece, Cuiju, has been married into the Song family by Young Master Song!"

"That Song Zhifeng is both talented and handsome. He'll definitely pass the provincial examination next year and become a scholar. He'll be an official in the future!" She became more and more smug as she spoke. "Young Master Song went on a hunger strike at home to protest for Cuiju's sake. Lord Song had no choice but to agree to the marriage. Cuiju will be a proper lady of an official's family, enjoying endless wealth and honor!"

As she spoke, she pulled out a packet of wedding candy from her bosom. It was made of white flour and brown sugar, and the villagers could only eat it during the Lunar New Year.

As she stuffed the fruit into the villagers' hands, she called out, "Everyone, share in the joy! Who knows, following Cuiju might bring you some good fortune in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Cuihe's face instantly darkened—she finally realized that Luo Cuiju had borrowed her only nice dress not to visit relatives, but to seduce Song Zhifeng.

Filled with regret, she looked at the wedding candy Yang Ersha handed her, waved it away with disgust, and turned away sadly.

Some villagers who knew the truth couldn't help but expose it: "Stop exaggerating, Zheng Po Niang! Who doesn't know that Luo Cuiju went to the Song family as a concubine? The Song family already had two concubines. Even if she went there, her status would be lower than that of a maid in the household. What kind of official's wife is she? It's pure self-deception!"

When Zheng's lie was exposed, she became furious and retorted defiantly, "What's wrong with being a concubine? Being an official's concubine is better than farming in the village! As long as Cuiju can give birth to a son, she can rise in status through her son and live a stable life. It's much better than you people who toil in the fields!"

But most of the villagers looked disdainful, and no one envied her. When Zheng Po Niang saw this, she was so angry that her face turned ashen. She glared at everyone, angrily flung her sleeves, and left cursing.

After Granny Zheng left, the villagers' eyes all fell on the cedar beam, praising it: "This timber is truly excellent, straight and thick, with lush branches and leaves. It's perfect for making a roof beam!"

Grandpa Yang smiled and nodded, his tone resolute: "I've calculated the date, and three days from now is the auspicious day for raising the roof beam. We'll raise the roof beam of the new house then, for good luck."

Upon seeing this, Tang Susu immediately announced, "On the day of the roof-raising ceremony, we will hold a banquet to entertain all the villagers and workers. It will be a lively occasion, and everyone can share in the joy of the new house."

The villagers were excited when they heard this – it was estimated that more than 20 tables would be set up, and Yangqu Village had not held such a large banquet in a long time.

Tang Susu had already planned it out: she asked Zhimao's mother to cook, with seven dishes per table, including braised pork, fried meatballs with wild vegetables, pork bone, tofu and cabbage soup, stir-fried green beans, stir-fried wild vegetables with eggs, stir-fried green vegetables, and stir-fried pork slices with seasonal vegetables. She also specially prepared wine for the workers so that everyone could eat and drink well.

The day before the roof beam was raised, the Tang family courtyard was bustling with activity, with everyone busy preparing for the banquet.

Two large stoves were set up in the courtyard, one for cooking rice and the other for cooking dishes, creating a lively atmosphere.

The family had a clear division of labor: Old Mrs. Yang, Mrs. Wen, and Mrs. Shen were gathered around the stove, focusing on cutting meat and preparing vegetables;

Zhimao's mother and Shugan's mother deftly made wild vegetable and meat fried balls, piling up a whole basin of golden balls;

Tang Susu was tending the braising pot, focusing on braising the meat, and the rich aroma wafted far and wide.

The children, carrying small bamboo baskets, went into the mountains to pick fresh wild vegetables, chattering and making a lively scene.

Looking at the pork on the cutting board, Madam Shen couldn't help but mutter with heartache, "So much meat and so many ingredients, it's such a waste. Just make something simple."

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Yang immediately scolded, "What do you know! The house-raising banquet is a big event, concerning the fortunes of our Tang family. We must be generous, not stingy! If the workers are well-fed and well-drinked, they will work harder and build a sturdy and durable house. As the old saying goes, 'A house with a beam in it has a full granary.' We can't skimp on these things!"

After being scolded, Shen dared not speak again and could only lower her head and continue working.

The women worked from dawn till midnight, their hands and feet never stopping;

Tang Lifu and Yang Gousheng stayed in the courtyard all night, watching over the ingredients and tiles, afraid that something might go wrong.

The auspicious day for raising the roof beam finally arrived. As soon as dawn broke, the Tang family courtyard was already bustling with activity.

Grandpa Yang had set up the offering table early in the morning, covered with a red cloth, and placed a rooster, a pig's head, pork, and wine cups on it, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere.

Tang Chengyu then wrote a couplet for the new house and pasted it on the door frame. The calligraphy was neat and the meaning was auspicious.

Then, the beam-worshiping ceremony officially began. The bricklayers and carpenters carried wine, sprinkling it while reciting prayers to honor their ancestors, pray for good fortune, and wish for the Tang family's new house to be peaceful and prosperous for their descendants.

After the beam-raising ceremony, the most crucial step, the raising of the beam, begins.

Eight tall, handsome young men carefully pulled on the roof beams, holding ropes. The old carpenter stood on the roof, his expression serious, giving precise instructions, not allowing the roof beams to deviate even slightly, for fear of making the slightest mistake.

After half an hour of hard work, the roof beam was finally firmly placed on the new house.

Next, the most exciting part, the beam-throwing ceremony, began—Yang Gousheng and the old carpenter stood on the roof beam, holding wedding cakes, candies, and red date pastries in their hands, tossing them down while shouting auspicious words.

The entire village, young and old, gathered in the courtyard, scrambling for the wedding cakes and candies thrown down. Children jumped and skipped, while adults laughed and chatted, filling the courtyard with a festive atmosphere.

Nearby, someone lit bamboo, and the crackling sound, instead of firecrackers, added to the lively atmosphere and dispelled any bad luck.

After the beam-throwing ceremony, the banquet officially began.

More than twenty tables were neatly arranged in the courtyard. Women carried steaming dishes and moved among the tables. The aroma of braised pork, the crispiness of fried meatballs, and the freshness of soup mingled together, filling the air with fragrance.

The villagers and workers sat together, eating meat and drinking wine heartily, chatting and laughing. The scene was grand and festive, and the whole Yangqu Village was immersed in this lively atmosphere.

The grand opening banquet began in a lively atmosphere, with seven main dishes on each table, accompanied by fragrant millet rice, enough to fill you up. This was already considered a top-class banquet in Yangqu Village.

The villagers all brought gifts to the banquet, ate to their hearts' content, and promised to put in even more effort when the roof tiles were laid.

Tang Susu took charge of the meal, while Tang Lifu and Yang Gousheng went from table to table toasting, behaving appropriately and with impeccable manners.

The women of the Yang family ate separately in the kitchen, with the same dishes as those served outside, without any special treatment, and everyone ate to their heart's content.

During the meal, seeing the Tang family's thriving business and impressive house, Shen felt envious and secretly pulled Tang Susu aside, wanting to use her connections to find her husband an easy job.

Tang Susu refused outright, only agreeing to arrange farm work during the autumn planting season.

Shen's plan failed, and her face turned pale and then red. She retreated to the side in a huff.

Just as things were getting lively, a cold shout suddenly came from the courtyard gate.

Old Mrs. Tang stormed in with a dark face, followed by a pockmarked man with a face full of moles—the very new husband she had forcibly chosen for Tang Susu.

She was furious when she learned that the Tang family had held a beam-raising banquet but had not invited any members of the Tang family.

Tang Susu walked out slowly and said calmly, "The house is full of guests today, and there are no extra seats. You are not welcome to take your seat."

Old Mrs. Tang gave a forced smile, pretending to say "I've come to add to the joy," but her words still implied that she wanted to force Tang Susu to remarry.

Tang Susu remained calm and turned to call Tang Chengyu over. In front of the whole village, she said, "Chengyu is almost seventeen and it's time for her to get married. As the eldest sister, I want to personally make the decision on her engagement."

Old Mrs. Tang flew into a rage on the spot, pointing at Tang Susu and yelling, "You're a widow, you have no right to interfere in my precious grandson's marriage!"

Tang Chengyu stepped forward, her tone firm: **I'll do whatever my eldest sister says.**

In short, he completely sided with Tang Susu.

Old Mrs. Tang was so angry that she trembled all over and revealed on the spot that she had already accepted two taels of silver as a betrothal gift from the other party, and the marriage had been arranged long ago!

Tang Chengyu immediately said: I will return the gift money to you and give you an additional two hundred coins. Don't bother me again from now on.

Ma Zihan refused to give up, stepped forward and grabbed Tang Susu's arm, trying to forcibly take her away.

The burly men in the courtyard all stood up at once, forming a human wall to protect Tang Susu, and angrily rebuked the man with pockmarks.

The pockmarked man kept taunting and provoking Tang Lifu, who could no longer tolerate it. Tang Lifu struck him hard on the back with a stick, knocking the man back on the spot.

Just as the scene was in chaos, a carriage creaked to a stop in front of the Tang family's house.

Wang, the matchmaker from Dongtai Town, stepped out of the carriage and walked straight into the courtyard, loudly announcing her identity: "**I have been sent by Magistrate Lu to propose marriage for Miss Tang Susu!**"

The attendants followed and carried down box after box of betrothal gifts tied with red silk, piling them up to the brim, causing an instant sensation.

Lu Hao was both surprised and delighted, thinking that his father was going along with his wishes and that he would soon be able to recognize Tang Susu as his mother.

Tang Susu was stunned on the spot, and the smile on her face gradually disappeared.

She thought Lu Hao was just being childish before, but she never expected that Magistrate Lu would actually send someone to propose marriage.