Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 585 - 301 Discussing Marriage Relations_2

"There’s no need to mention things like third or fourth anymore; our current circumstances are better than those of our mother’s and in the future when Zhizhi marries into their family, she won’t suffer. She won’t even need to work the fields.... Your Third Aunt Wu, after observing her these days, I’ve found her to be a dignified and amiable person who speaks reasonably. She’s shrewd, and having them as a united family in the future is not a bad thing."

Lady Zhang kept talking at length, and both Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi listened with smiles.

Seeing Lady Zhang’s attitude and the Wu Family’s eagerness, it was evident that both parties were very satisfied with the marriage. Lian Manman also felt that the Wu Family and Wu Jiaxing were excellent prospects for Lian Zhizhi.

Speaking of the Wu Family’s eagerness, they were indeed anxious; by the next day, they had invited a matchmaker to their door.

It was the well-known Matchmaker Wang from the town, who came to ask for Lian Zhizhi’s birth date and time.

This was a marriage that the two families had already discussed privately, and the matchmaker was simply running an errand to collect the ready-made matchmaker fee, so Matchmaker Wang was naturally pleased.

With Wu Lang and Xiao Qi off to school, Lady Zhang took out a piece of red paper and asked Lian Manman to write on it.

"My eldest girl can also write, and she knows how to manage accounts," Lady Zhang told Matchmaker Wang, "but this note, it’s not appropriate for her to write herself." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Lian Manman sat at the table, listening to Lady Zhang recite Lian Zhizhi’s birth date and time, and neatly wrote it down, silently laughing to herself as Lady Zhang also knew how to praise her own daughter in front of others.

For a girl from a tenant farmer’s family to recognize even one or two characters was extremely rare. Lian Zhizhi’s ability to write and calculate earned Matchmaker Wang’s effusive praise.

Matchmaker Wang drank some tea, took the red envelope sealed by Lady Zhang and left with Lian Zhizhi’s birth date and time.

Just as Lady Zhang already knew of Wu Jiaxing’s birth date and they had privately checked their astrological compatibility, the Wu Family had also earlier inquired about Lian Zhizhi’s birth date. So, this process of matching birth dates and times was simply a formality. What followed was choosing an auspicious date to set the engagement, which in their local speech meant placing a small engagement, and in literary terms was called a written engagement, also known as sending the betrothal gifts, or accepting luck.

After the written engagement, the marriage was set in stone, unchangeable.

Amidst joyful occasions, Lady Zhang’s smile had not faded in these days, and her steps seemed lighter than usual. The previous market day, she took Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman to the market, and after buying several pieces of fabric, she spread them out on the kang to cut and sew after lunch.

It was getting warmer, and they had already planned to make new clothes for the family. With Lian Zhizhi’s engagement, she needed to be dressed beautifully on that day. Lady Zhang specifically bought two bright pieces of fabric to make two jackets for Lian Zhizhi.

"...Manman, you make two jackets and two skirts for your sister first. I’ll make you one set for now. After we get through this busy period, I’ll make you another set," Lady Zhang said while working and discussing with Lian Manman.

"Mother, focus on my sister’s clothes first. Mine are not urgent," Lian Manman replied.

Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye were eating lunch at the shop, and at this time, they did not return home but instead helped Lady Zhang make clothes for Lian Zhizhi.

"Sister-in-law, you’ve finally made it through," said Lady Zhao, somewhat enviously.

"Don’t worry, Yeye will also have her day," Lady Zhang replied with a smile.

Lady Zhao sighed softly. Lian Yeye would indeed have her day to get married, but when that time came, would she be in charge of preparing new clothes for Lian Yeye? Could she find a good family for Lian Yeye to marry into? In the Lian Family, these matters were all up to Lady Zhou; she had no say at all.

"By the time it’s Yeye’s turn, it’ll be another three or four years. What the situation will be then, it’s hard to say now. You and her third uncle are still in your prime; once her third uncle masters his trade, things will only get better," Lady Zhang consoled her after sensing Lady Zhao’s melancholy.

"It would be better if our family could separate and live on our own sooner," said Lian Yeye.

No one continued the topic of Lian Yeye’s separation; in the Lian Family, talk of splitting the family was a sensitive subject. The Third Branch of the family could only propose division if Lian Shouyi himself brought it up. However, since he had raised the issue once before and then never dared to mention it again.

"...On the day of the small engagement, we must invite the Wu Family and the matchmaker to a meal, which will require at least one or two tables of food..." Lady Zhang continued.

"I’ve already set aside the money. Mother, let’s discuss and decide what dishes to prepare," Lian Manman said, then asked, "Mother, should we hire a chef, or shall we cook ourselves?"

"We’ll cook ourselves," Lady Zhang decided after considering, "It’s just two tables, we can handle it ourselves." Plus, it would be a chance to show off Lian Zhizhi’s cooking skills, which would bring honor to both the Lian Family and the Wu Family.

Lian Yeye stepped out of the room and hurried back in after a while.

"I saw Fourth Uncle in the garden being called away by Si Lang," Lian Yeye reported.

"Ah, Si Lang is looking for my father? Where did they go?" Lian Manman quickly asked.

"They went into the village, I think they’re heading home," Lian Yeye replied.

"At this time, neither too early nor too late, it must be either Grandfather or Grandmother who sent for Father; with Grandmother’s authority prevailing," Lady Zhang said. In the Lian Family, Lady Zhou didn’t go out easily, preferring to have her grandchildren run errands and relay messages.

"I’ll go have a look," Lian Manman said. Whether it was Old Master or Lady Zhou calling for Lian Shouxin, it was certainly important. And it certainly wasn’t to give Lian Shouxin anything. Now that they were eating dinner at the ancestral home every night, if they couldn’t wait until then and had to send for someone, it was clearly urgent, a major matter.

Lian Manman hurried off the kang, put on her shoes, and ran towards the ancestral home.

"Sister Manman, I’ll come with you," Lian Yeye followed.

Upon entering the gate of the ancestral home, Lian Manman saw Zhao Xiu E standing with her ear to the window of the Upper Room.

Seeing Lian Manman, Zhao Xiu E immediately put on a smiling face, gestured shush towards Lian Manman, and then pointed towards the inside of the Upper Room.

Lian Manman didn’t pay her any attention and went straight into the Upper Room.

××...××

Sending the second update, fallen to eleventh place, need pink i-n-g. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)