On the day of Chun Nuan’s full-month celebration, the Xiao family was joined by Mrs. Xu, Mrs. Xu, Mrs. Huang, Chun Shu, and Chun Ning.
"Sister, you are becoming more and more beautiful."
When Zhu Lingling returned, she ntioned that her second sister maintained her figure even after childbirth, and the child looked adorable; this is the blessing of marrying into a good family.
This made Chun Shu, who was in the midst of matchmaking, feel a bit hopeful.
When she saw Chun Nuan, she was taken aback!
Truly, her sister looked even better than she did as a maiden at ho.
A good partner is like nurturing a flower, becoming more beautiful over ti.
Aside from attending the full-month celebration today, there was another matter to attend to, which Chun Shu understood, making her feel shy yet anticipative.
Today, the Zhao family had many guests, with the n in the outer court and the won in the inner court.
Chun Nuan didn’t know many people, but thankfully her mother-in-law Mrs. Zhou and sister-in-law helped to introduce her.
"I heard that the County Magistrate’s wife and the Assistant County Magistrate’s wife are here?"
Mrs. Xu asked her daughter quietly.
"Yes, according to mother-in-law, they are all here. This is Zhao family’s first banquet of such scale."
This left Mr. Zhao and Zhao Chengxun sowhat bewildered.
They pondered for a long ti, concluding that the likelihood was high due to Xia Guangcheng, General Xia, being stationed in Changzhou for so ti.
Everyone knew General Xia’s wife was Xiao Chunyu from the Xiao family, and the Third Young Madam of Hundred Herbs Hall was the second daughter of the Xiao family.
Zhao Minghua being a brother-in-law to General Xia ant that so connections, even if not frequently used, needed to be maintained.
As the saying goes, respect Buddha if not the monk; many attended Zhao family’s full-month celebration with such a mindset.
Currently, the Zhao family may seem indifferent to you, but in the future, they might beco unattainable.
Hence, everyone ca for familiarity’s sake.
Mrs. Zhao, Mrs. Zhou, didn’t anticipate that her grandson’s full-month celebration would beco so lively.
"Mrs. Wang, please co inside."
"Mrs. Sun, welco, welco."
...
Indeed, it was tiring.
Mrs. Zhou generally despised socializing, maintaining only casual relations with a few other ladies, occasionally visiting the won’s tea house in the county to drink tea and chat, she’d certainly not dealt with so many official wives.
Mrs. Zhou had her own confidence.
She wasn’t seeking favors from these ladies; they were guests, treated with the sa courtesy, but she didn’t attempt to flatter them.
Yes, she had this temperant, neither sycophantic nor flattering, conversing more if the chemistry was right, otherwise keeping her distance.
At this point, she was the host, and couldn’t shrink back in the slightest.
The street was constantly filled with carriages, lining up from street head to street end.
Standing at the courtyard gate greeting these guests, Mrs. Zhou stood for half an hour.
Zhao Chengxun was a bit worried they wouldn’t have enough food prepared for the banquet.
He hurriedly asked his son Zhao Minghua.
"Father, rest assured, I’ve already instructed the chef to prepare according to the standard of a flowing feast."
Every ti a table arrived, food and drinks would be provided; actually, these guests were all within Zhao Minghua’s expectations.
When poor at the bustling market, no one asks; when rich in the deep mountains, distant relatives appear; Zhao Minghua understood human nature very well.
Since Xia Guangcheng visited the Xiao family and t the mother-in-law, even those within the large Xiao family turned around, not to ntion others.
These people are pragmatic, always seeing interests.
Riding the wind of General Xia, naturally these people ca to familiarize themselves.
"That’s good, that’s good."
Zhao Chengxun thought his son truly matured much since becoming a father, considering even these matters.
If it were before, he wouldn’t have cared.
So, things really need to land on one’s foot to prompt a reaction.
On the n’s side, Zhao Chengxun and Zhao Minghua were entertaining, while on the won’s side, Mrs. Zhou and eldest daughter-in-law Mrs. Sun were the main ones.
"Nuannuan, aren’t you going out for socializing?"
Mrs. Xu observed her daughter’s lazy leaning in the inner room, with no intent to go out greeting guests, feeling a bit worried.
"Mother-in-law said, that I’m just full-month, and it’s inappropriate to exert myself." Chun Nuan smiled lightly, "I’m to rest in the inner room for now, and later when it’s ti to open seats, I’ll just take Yuanyuan to show face briefly."
Nurous guests ant worries about noise disturbing the child, and tiring the daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zhou arranged everything ticulously.
"This is your blessing."
Mrs. Xu sighed, who would have thought that her daughter, gone from the Capital to Changzhou, would find such a good match?
Who says humble families aren’t good?
Mrs. Xu was now completely satisfied with the Zhao family’s matrimonial match.
Seeing Chun Shu sitting nearby, Mrs. Xu rembered that today she too was supposed to be matched.
"Young mistress."
Bai Zhi ca in to report: "Madam said there are so flowers blossoming in the bamboo grove at the rear courtyard, advising you to take the daughters of the house there to enjoy the flowers."
Enjoy the flowers?
Chun Nuan found it amusing; clearly the Zhou family’s young master was the highlight.
It was a hint indicating Zhou Qinglin was in the bamboo grove, suggesting she take Chun Shu to et him.
"Alright, I got it."
Chun Nuan said: "Shu’er, accompany for a walk."
"Yes, eldest sister."
Chun Shu understood full well, her face imdiately blushing to the ears.
Chun Nuan... still a bit shy.
The bamboo grove behind the courtyard was to the left of Chun Nuan’s quarters, within the inner courtyard, away from the guests.
The eldest lady of the Zhou family walked slowly within the bamboo with her son.
"Qinglin, this is your lifelong matter, you must think it through; we respect your decision."
The eldest lady said: "Doctor Xiao was punished by the Emperor, her female family mbers returned to Shu City due to the Empress Dowager’s favor, while the n stayed entirely in the Northern Desert, unable to return to the Capital anyti soon; seeking marriage with the Xiao family’s daughters, we value their family values and virtues. But, it’s your life, hence you must choose for yourself."
"Yes, mother, I understand."
Zhou Qinglin knew Zhao’s Third Young Madam, his cousin-in-law, was a formidable woman.
It’s said Zhao Minghua, since marriage, was placated firmly.
In Shu City dialect: marrying a fierce wife.
But Zhou Qinglin didn’t perceive it as such.
His cousin Zhao Minghua was not a pushover; he wasn’t easily manipulated.
If the cousin-in-law could manage him, it only proved her capabilities exceeded his.
Marry a virtuous wife, to marry a woman more capable than oneself, what’s such an experience like?
Well, Zhou Qinglin dared not imagine what life would be like marrying such a woman?
Therefore, concerning this Xiao family daughter, Zhou Qinglin held a view of seeing what she was like.
Deep within the bamboo grove, two won appeared, one dressed as a matron, whom Zhou Qinglin recognized as his cousin-in-law, Zhao Minghua’s wife, also known as the legendary female doctor renowned for treating won’s ailnts.
The other was dressed in lady’s attire; not knowing what the cousin-in-law told her, she laughed shyly, with two dimples. Zhou Qinglin found her very endearing.
His heart was sowhat moved.
"Shu’er, I have no particular skills to pass on to you, rely this advice: happiness must be fought for, we shall not marry blindly, life is long, ensure you choose soone compatible."
"Yes, thank you, elder sister, for the guidance."
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