Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 529 - 0494: Facing Lou Family, First Round Victory (1)
Before the housekeeper from the Lou family could speak, Second Lady Liu said, "Although we’re from the countryside, in our customs, it’s our relatives of equal status who welcome the bride, not helpers. Is the prefecture’s tradition different? Have servants welcome the bride?"
Second Lady Liu’s few words made the faces of several housekeepers from the Lou family turn red and then pale.
There were still guests coming in and out, so they couldn’t have an argument.
They just kept smiling and speaking kindly.
"Our young mistresses are busy, they will come to welcome the bride later, the auspicious time is almost here, please have the bride get off the carriage quickly."
Second Lady Liu still ignored them.
This stalemate quickly drew the attention of Li Xingsheng on the other side.
He asked Liu Er and the Liu brothers to keep an eye on the dowry gifts, then strode this way.
Lou Chengye also followed over.
He looked around and discovered the reason Li Yu En refused to get off the carriage.
Lou Chengye looked at the housekeepers, "Is this arrangement a way not to welcome us back? If so, just say it outright, why act in such a ridiculous manner?"
The faces of several housekeepers from the Lou family looked even worse.
Fifth Young Master Lou had quite a brash temper and was unreasonable.
As Lou Da was arranging the carriages and saw the commotion over there, he called his wife, "Go and see what’s happening."
Lady Lou was examining the few people doing the welcoming, and after she spotted the issue, she didn’t go to join the fuss.
When Lou Da spoke to her, she wasn’t in a hurry, just saying, "This must be Mother’s arrangement, I wouldn’t be of any help if I went."
Concerning the Li Family’s status, it’s not to be talked about recklessly, especially not now.
Her own wife underestimated the Li Family so much, still treating them as country maidens. Lou Da was annoyed inside but could only say, "Letting it stay tense like this is making us a laughingstock. Besides, Mother arranged for us to welcome Miss Li, and you leave her at the door unattended? Mother didn’t instruct you to do this, did she? Be careful not to do things poorly; if Mother blames you, don’t say I didn’t warn you."
This reminder gave Lady Lou quite a scare.
She had been preoccupied with watching the spectacle at the gate and forgot about the task.
She was supposed to be the main person to welcome the bride!
Lady Lou addressed the maids beside her, "What are you waiting for? Go and invite the bride off the carriage."
Once she spoke, several maids and matrons approached Li Yu En’s carriage, "Bride, you have arrived at the house, please get off the carriage."
"Sister-in-law, the auspicious time is almost here, quickly get off the carriage," Lady Lou said with a smile as she arrived at the carriage.
Seeing the help had arrived, several wedding maids and housekeepers from Lou Mansion also urged Li Yu En.
Inside Li Yu En’s carriage, Second Lady Liu discreetly lifted the curtain to look outside, noticing only Lady Lou had arrived, along with a few maids who followed her to the Li Family; none of the other Ladies from the Lou Family came. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Second Lady Liu softly told Li Yu En about the situation outside.
Li Yu En yawned, "They don’t seem to welcome me into the mansion, so I’ll just nap a bit longer. When the Lou Family truly welcomes me, that’s when I’ll enter."
Second Lady Liu laughed, "Miss Li is absolutely right."
Li Xingsheng came over, casting a glance at the dismissive Lou Family members, and coldly laughed, "Who would have thought the great Prefect’s house treats people like this? If you wish to marry, do so; if not, say it straight. Why this belittling act? Are you afraid the city won’t notice you’re marrying someone of low status?"
Lou Chengye’s face was also quite displeased, "Second Brother, don’t be upset. I won’t let anyone look down on Yu En."
"They already have," Li Xingsheng sneered while flicking his sleeves.
No matter what Lady Lou said, Li Yu En simply refused to get off the carriage.
Li Xingsheng resolutely wouldn’t let his sister get off the carriage either.
The stalemate lasted for quite a while, finally alarming Prefect Lou in the mansion.
Prefect Lou was talking with guests; upon hearing this news, he came to find Lady Lou personally.
Lady Lou was presently pretending to be sick.
With guests at home, Prefect Lou couldn’t lose his temper; he could only instruct the second, third, and fourth sons to come, ordering all three families to go to the mansion gate to welcome the Li family.
The three sons were not very pleased.
The three wives even secretly rolled their eyes.
But with Prefect Lou’s personal orders, how dared they disobey? They all headed to the mansion gate.
Lady Lou saw her three sisters-in-law, feeling relieved.
If anyone mocked her for welcoming a village girl into the mansion, she wouldn’t be the only one laughed at. Look, she had three companions here.
The other three inwardly blamed Lady Lou, see, she thought she was tough, why couldn’t she convince a village maiden?
Where was her usual prowess?
All bluffing, wasn’t it?
The four ladies of the Lou family stood by the carriage on either side, with housekeepers and wedding maids standing beside them.
Lady Lou spoke towards the inside of the carriage, "Sister-in-law, the weather is chilly outside, please get off the carriage."
The other three Ladies of the Lou Family followed her lead and repeated.
Lou Da brought Lou Chengye to also participate in the welcoming.
The other Young Masters of the Lou Family accompanied Li Xingsheng in conversation.
Seeing Li Xingsheng, they were secretly surprised, Is this a farmer from the village?
Not at all alike.
Actually more handsome than any young man in the city.
Several of the young men from the Lou Family even began to feel jealous.
Li Xingsheng, wanting to earn face for his own sister, casually cupped his fists toward a few of the Lou young men, saying, "I thought the Lou Family had forgotten today is the day to receive the bride, but it seems I was mistaken. Turns out you were all home."
The three young men from the Lou Family, "..." What arrogance, who do you think you are!
Given the location at the mansion’s gate, the three found it hard to show any expressions to Li Xingsheng.
Li Xingsheng didn’t pamper them at all, flicked his sleeve, and walked away.
Inside the carriage, Second Lady Liu secretly lifted the curtain to look out, noticing some more elegantly dressed young women arriving, adorned in bright colors and covered in jewelry, hearing the servants calling "Second Mistress, Third Mistress," she guessed these were other ladies of the Lou Family.
She then softly said to Li Yu En, "Miss Li, everyone from the Lou Family has arrived, and the formalities are complete. Let’s not overdo it, you can get off the carriage now."
Liu Er Niu picked up the red bridal veil discarded by Li Yu En and shook it.
Li Yu En stretched lazily, yawning, "I’ll get off the carriage when my second brother calls me, but I haven’t heard his voice yet."
Second Lady Liu laughed and said, "Miss Li is right."
Only after the ladies of the Lou Family invited several times did Li Xingsheng approach the carriage curtain, and said inside, "Aunt Liu, help the bride off the carriage."
"Alright, Second Master." Second Lady Liu took the veil from Er Niu’s hand, shook it smooth, and placed it over Li Yu En’s head.
Li Yu En was still rubbing her eyes, looking as though she hadn’t slept well.
Second Lady Liu quietly reminded her, "Miss Li, once you get off the carriage, you mustn’t stretch and yawn like this. Remember to maintain face, alright? If you make a mistake, I will tell Mrs. Li."
Mentioning her own mother and thinking of her mother’s stern expression, Li Yu En’s drowsiness quickly vanished.
"Alright, I understand." She sat up properly.
Second Lady Liu adjusted her hair bun, then placed the veil over her head again, giving nods to Er Niu and San Niu, indicating for them to step off the carriage first.
The two little girls stepped off the carriage one after the other, lifting the curtain.
Following was Second Lady Liu, who reached out to support Li Yu En.
Li Yu En extended her right hand to place it on Second Lady Liu’s hand.
The women from the Lou Family surrounding the carriage were all shocked.
The bride’s hand was fair and tender, like a new lotus root; was this a rural girl’s hand?
Li Yu En’s figure was plump, and so were her fingers.
But her hands were not shapelessly plump, rather they were dexterous, with the fingertips slightly lifted and small dimples on the back of her hands.
Her hands were especially white, making the jasper and gold rings on her fingers stand out prominently.
The vermilion bridal gown complemented the porcelain-like white of her hands, making them look stunning.
Having seen many different women’s hands, the women of the Lou Family were all surprised.
Lady Lou called over Second Lady Lou to each take one side to support Li Yu En.
Li Yu En remembered the rules of the Prince Mansion.
She raised her hands high, waiting for them to support her.
This infuriated the two women, causing their eyebrows to rise sharply.
Is she treating them as servants?
To make them support her in this way?
The two didn’t move, and neither did Li Yu En.
Her hands remained lifted.
Lou Chengye said coldly, "If the two sisters-in-law are unwilling to support the bride into the mansion, please step aside. I will find other sisters-in-law."
Mr. Lou, with a cold face, gazed at Lady Lou.
Lady Lou had no choice but to support Li Yu En.
Second Lady Lou glanced at Lady Lou and also supported Li Yu En.
Li Yu En’s hand rested on theirs, forming a stark contrast.
As if lily petals were placed in a black dish.
Lady Lou and Second Lady Lou’s hands were that black dish.
This made them so angry they wanted to withdraw their hands.
But the road was long, from the mansion gate to the main hall took several hundred steps.
As the bride entered the mansion, a burst of firecrackers sounded.
Attracting passersby and everyone in the Lou Mansion to come and watch the commotion.
News had long spread that Fifth Young Master Lou was marrying a daughter of a rural teacher, everyone came to watch the scene, to see how rustic the Lou Family’s country bride might be.
The veil covered her face, concealing her looks.
Everyone only saw a pair of snow-white hands resting on the hands of the two Lou Family Ladies; those hands were prettier than theirs.
The long vermilion bridal gown was meticulously crafted; the tassels and silk bands on the garment didn’t sway wildly with Li Yu En’s steps.
The headdress on her head remained as steady as still.
Her steps were light, her demeanor elegant, overshadowing the composure of all surrounding women.
Onlookers were taken aback; was this a country girl?
