Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 492 - 466 The Same Betrothal Gift, Different Reception (1)
Lou Dalang was very annoyed with this disobedient younger brother, but he couldn’t ignore his father’s orders.
"Understood, Father," Lou Dalang replied.
"Although he’s marrying a village girl, she’s from a scholarly family and a relative of County Magistrate Li. We must not neglect the proper rituals. Wulang ran off without saying how much money he took. Ignore the money he’s taken; let him use it as pocket money. In addition, prepare three thousand taels of silver for him as a betrothal gift. For other necessary items, consult your mother and let her make the arrangements."
Lou Dalang replied, "Got it, Father."
After leaving Prefect Lou’s study, Lou Dalang went to see Lady Lou.
Lady Lou already knew about the youngest son’s marriage to a village girl and was complaining about it.
Lou Dalang mentioned that Prefect Lou had agreed to the marriage and instructed to give three thousand taels of silver to the fifth brother as a betrothal gift, and also requested Lady Lou to prepare some fabric presents.
Upon hearing this, Lady Lou immediately became displeased.
"He can marry whoever he wants, but how can he marry a village girl? After all, we’re the Prefect!" Lady Lou strongly disagreed with the marriage, "Not even a word before deciding on his own? What is the master thinking? He just agreed to it?"
Lou Dalang was really troubled by his stubborn younger brother. Although he didn’t like the village girl either, the brother getting married would mean less trouble, which was good for him.
The father managed governmental affairs, leaving all household matters on his shoulders. If his brother disobeyed, it would mean much more work for him.
Therefore, he deeply wished for his brother’s marriage to settle down.
"Mother, his temperament hasn’t settled because he’s been unmarried. Once he’s married, maybe he’ll become more disciplined and diligently study for a position." Lou Dalang consoled Lady Lou.
Lady Lou massaged her temples, "A village girl, how could that look good on our family’s reputation if it got out?"
Lou Dalang said, "Mother, anyway, since the fifth brother doesn’t like staying at home and enjoys traveling, why not let him stay with the Li Family?"
Lady Lou furrowed her brows, "Wouldn’t that make him a live-in son-in-law?"
Lou Dalang further explained, "Mother, but not getting married would make him look even worse, wouldn’t it?"
Lady Lou remained silent.
She pondered her eldest son’s words carefully, and perhaps, this was the only way?
The youngest son’s temper was truly weird. Those he fancied didn’t fancy him back, and those he’d rather not marry were willing.
Yet for the willing ones, he adamantly refused.
With only average abilities and appearance, he was overly picky about finding a wife.
This time, the youngest son agreed right away, maybe the girl did have some capability?
Alright, as the eldest said, it’s better than having no wife.
Get married first, worry later.
After all, she was a teacher’s daughter, not from the poorest background.
"Alright then, do as your father said," Lady Lou agreed to the youngest son’s marriage, "However, no son from the Lou Family can become a live-in son-in-law. He must return for the wedding ceremony. Tell Wulang if he disagrees, I won’t agree to the marriage."
Lou Dalang nodded, "Understood, Mother."
Lady Lou called for the housekeeper, opened boxes, took out some fabric and also some jewelry for the new daughter-in-law.
Even though she disapproved of the daughter-in-law, Lady Lou did not skim on the formalities.
After all, money wasn’t a problem, and being stingy on such major events would disgrace the Prefect Lou’s reputation.
An inadequate gesture could lead those villagers to judge them as poor officials.
Due to her indifference, though, the gifts weren’t grander than those given to the other daughters-in-law, except for the eldest daughter-in-law, whose dowry was slightly more. The other daughters-in-law received the same, including the fifth son’s future wife.
Three thousand taels for the betrothal gift, plus a gold ornament set worth two hundred taels, a pearl ornament set worth three hundred taels, and additionally twenty bolts of fabric.
It was already dark, traveling would be tiring in the cold night. Lady Lou told her eldest son, "Set off early tomorrow morning, bring four servants and two maids for Wulang, so that the country Li Family doesn’t look down on us."
Lou Dalang replied, "Got it, Mother."
With everything planned, Lou Dalang returned to his own courtyard.
As soon as he arrived, Lady Lou immediately inquired about how her mother-in-law arranged the betrothal gifts for the fifth brother’s bride.
Lou Dalang said, "The same as the others."
The wife of Lou Dalang, who came from a noble official family and was also the eldest daughter-in-law of the family, had a bride price of three thousand six hundred taels, slightly more than the others.
Although the other daughters-in-law didn’t share the same high rank of being a fifth-rank official’s daughter, they also hailed from decent families.
If not from renowned families, their ancestors had held high official positions or had some respected scholarly lineage.
All had a higher status than the village girl from the Li Family whom Lou the Fifth was marrying.
Upon hearing that the bridal gift was the same as the others, Lady Lou softly scoffed, "Mother arranged it like this, doesn’t she worry about what ideas the other daughters-in-law might have?"
Lou Dalang replied, "Mother must have her reasons for doing this."
Lady Lou suggested, "In my opinion, reduce the betrothal gift by half."
Lou Dalang was surprised, "Wouldn’t Mother blame me if she found out?"
"No way, Mother just did this to save face, who knows what she truly thinks about that Li Family girl? Being the elder, she can’t personally reduce the betrothal gift, but as juniors, we needn’t worry about such matters," Lady Lou laughed.
Being the eldest daughter-in-law and the housekeeper, aside from deciding on husbands for the younger brothers, she managed everything else.
Although it appeared to be a Prefect’s house, with many sons to split resources, there wasn’t much money to go around.
She needed to be frugal.
Reflecting on his wife’s words, Lou Dalang nodded, "Alright, let’s see how it goes."
.
Qin Hu, who delivered the letter, stayed in the guest room at Prefect Lou’s house, planning to return to Qingyang County with Lou Dalang the next morning.
Early the next morning, after Lou Dalang and Lady Lou had breakfast, they bid farewell to Prefect Lou and Lady Lou, taking the servants and maids arranged by Lady Lou, and headed to Qingyang County with Qin Hu.
In the rear courtyard of the Prefect’s house, Lady Lou instructed the housekeeper, "Prepare a courtyard for Wulang and his wife to live in."
The housekeeper asked, "Madam, which courtyard should be arranged?"
Lady Lou internally scoffed, which one?
Any at all!
For the welcoming ceremony, she had to maintain appearances and not disgrace the Magistrate, but once inside the Magistrate’s inner quarters, everything was up to her.
Having a village girl live in a large courtyard? Impossible!
If a village girl were afforded a large courtyard, the other four daughters-in-law of noble heritage would have complaints?
A girl with a country background must not surpass others.
"The He Feng Courtyard then," Lady Lou thought it over and said.
The housekeeper was surprised, "Madam, it’s winter, He Feng Courtyard is surrounded on three sides by lotus ponds without any rockeries or trees as wind barriers, making it cold inside when the wind blows."
That place was cold and windy in winter, hot without shade in summer.
A place for occasional summer strolls to enjoy lotus views, or winter snow top views, not suitable for permanent residence.
But Lady Lou said, "At the moment, it’s the cleanest place. Other courtyards either have bad doors or broken windows. Given the short notice, there’s no time to fix things. Just tidy it up and let them stay there for now; post-New Year, we can arrange another courtyard."
After the New Year, when the weather gets warmer, whether they move or not wouldn’t matter much. The housekeeper thought so but didn’t dare say it.
Very well, she would do as Madam arranged.
"Yes, Madam," the housekeeper replied.
Leaving Lady Lou’s courtyard, Lou Family’s housekeeper immediately summoned the matron in charge of chores, and took her to the small courtyard, He Feng Courtyard, to instruct the arrangements made by Madam.
A gossiping matron remarked, "Ah, can people live here?"
"This is Madam’s arrangement, don’t speak indiscriminately, or if Madam hears, you’ll forfeit your New Year’s bonus," the housekeeper ordered.
She knew it was unfit for habitation, but can she oppose Madam’s orders?
"Understood."
The matrons began to work busily.
Some cleaned windows, others scrubbed floors.
As they worked, the matrons whispered to each other.
"Did you know? The Fifth Young Master is marrying a village girl."
"I heard she’s a teacher’s daughter, not really a typical village girl, right?"
"How can she not be? How much knowledge could a rural teacher have? Our Second Young Master’s wife, now she’s from a truly scholarly family. Her grandfather was a renowned scholar who educated students who rose to third-rank officials, could that rural teacher compare?"
"So, Madam arranged for the Fifth Young Master and his wife to live here in this inconvenient He Feng Courtyard? It’s hot in summer, cold in winter, with only five rooms."
"Hence the saying, marry only those of matching households, see? The Fifth Young Masters disobedience has even his own mother dissatisfied."
