Chapter 412: Chapter 145: Colored Ribbon
Zhuang Ruolan had been in her postpartum confinent for forty-five days, and these days had passed quite smoothly. After she ca out of the confinent, Zhuang Ruolan summoned the steward in charge of the dye workshop.
Zhuang Ruolan caressed the fine, smooth, red cloth, “Is this dyed by our Clothes Workshop?” If so, it would prove that the secret recipe given by Yueyao was authentic.
The steward’s face was bright with joy, “Yes, young lady, this was all dyed by our Clothes Workshop.” The steward didn’t know where Zhuang Ruolan got the secret recipe from, nor did he know what it was, but to him, it was a great piece of news.
Each color required different materials, so Yueyao gave Zhuang Ruolan eight dye recipes that day, apart from those for different shades. The most difficult and secret recipe was still in Zhuang Ruolan’s hands; she hadn’t distributed it yet.
Zhuang Ruolan muttered to herself, “If the last recipe also turns out to be true, we’re going to make a fortune.” Now that they had produced seven colors of cloth and dyed them excellently, the dye was still not as precious as if they had the last recipe. If the initial recipes were correct, the last one surely wouldn’t disappoint.
Yueyao had drawn all the sceneries she saw at Hualin Temple, and after finishing her painting, she showed it to Nanny Hao, “Nanny, how do you think this painting compares to the actual scenery?”
Nanny Hao observed it carefully and then laughed, “The painting is very well done, but I feel like sothing is missing.” Nanny Hao couldn’t pinpoint exactly what, but she felt sothing was lacking.
Yueyao thought deeply, and after contemplating fruitlessly for half a day, she simply put down her paintbrush and went for a walk in the courtyard. When she saw the goldfish in the water tank, her eyes lit up. Returning to the studio, she began to paint again, this ti adding several carp blowing bubbles in the pond. After completing the painting, she showed it to Nanny Hao once more.
Nanny Hao said with a smile, “It looks much better now.” The addition of a few fish in the water added a touch of liveliness. Otherwise, a solitary pond with unopened lotuses felt very dull to the viewer.
Yueyao couldn’t help shaking her head; her skills were still not up to par. Had she been a master, just a painting of lotuses would have been considered a fine work of Sergeo.
Yueyao rembered Teacher Wen and couldn’t help but mutter to herself; she had sent several letters to Jiangnan, so why hadn’t the teacher replied to even one? Wouldn’t Teacher Wen be willing to answer even a few of her questions? That wouldn’t be like him at all! Eventually, she gave up. After all, Mr. Yu Shan had said that if she had any questions in the future, she could co to him.
Zhuang Ruolan had arranged suitable candidates, and they had started to select a location for the shop. At this ti, Ma Chengteng invited her to the study to discuss Ma Peng’s prospects for marriage.
Zhuang Ruolan nearly choked with indignation. Her uncle had accused her daughter of having misfortune, and she had not yet settled that account; now he actually wanted her to help with matchmaking. “Father-in-law also knows that this past year I’ve mostly stayed within the mansion and haven’t been out much. I’m not quite familiar with outside matters. When I find soone suitable, I will let father-in-law know.” Disgruntled as she was, directly refusing would offend the father-in-law’s pride. Zhuang Ruolan adopted her usual tactic, the delaying strategy.
Sotis, Zhuang Ruolan found Ma Chengteng quite baffling. To call him foolish wasn’t right because, after all, he had been an official for so many years without major failures. But to say he was clever? That was definitely not the case. A clever man would not let Ma’s Mansion beco a laughingstock in the Capital City, nor would he allow his stepchildren to be raised useless, and he certainly would not send his daughter away at a critical mont. A wise man would never do such things.
Zhuang Ruolan could only be thankful that her husband had always been clear-headed, never doing anything foolish. This was a silver lining in an unfortunate situation.
As soon as Ma Peng returned, Zhuang Ruolan inford him of this matter.
Ma Peng, with a frosty expression, said, “Ruo Lan, do not get involved in this matter. If father asks you about it, just pass it on to . To propose for him is to harm so other family’s good girl.” The so-called difference between the close and distant. Ma Yue had claid that Keyue’s birth characters were bad, and Ma Chengteng was quite angry, but he had gradually let the matter go. However, Ma Peng was different; Keyue was her biological daughter, her first child. Ma Peng was so fond of her that she couldn’t bear to see her suffer the slightest indignity. And now Ma Yue, who always looked down on the dull and foolish Ma Peng, had said that Keyue’s birth characters were bad, which infuriated Ma Peng even more. The relationship between the two brothers had never been good, but in the past, Ma Peng, who did not have Ma Chengteng’s favor, would silently endure it. Now that Ma Chengteng wanted to take advantage of him, that was out of the question.
With her husband’s support, Ruo Lan felt relieved. However, to appease Ma Chengteng, she still considered two girls: one was the daughter of a rchant family with a considerable dowry, and the other was the second legitimate daughter of a seventh-rank governnt official, although this girl was average in both looks and talent.
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