The Fallen Medicine Woman: The Daily Life of Chun Nuan-Chapter 157 - 123: The Confidence Given by the General
Xiao Chunyu never expected that Uncle Ma came looking for her following the orders of Xia Guangcheng to add to her dowry.
"These are all taken from the General’s private vault, and they’ll be delivered to you tonight."
Moving them from the neighboring estate to her own, and then having them carried laboriously to the General Mansion.
Xiao Chunyu felt that this process was somewhat time-consuming and laborious, but admittedly, Xia Guangcheng really cared about appearances. No, no, it shouldn’t be said that way, he cared about her and wanted to support her.
Because he knew that the Xiao family, long since seized and confiscated, was not a family she could rely upon. The dowry she brought to the Wu family was swallowed up when Wu Yuanping viciously divorced her, leaving her as an abandoned woman, and the Wu family was eventually confiscated and turned public. Under normal circumstances, she indeed couldn’t provide any dowry.
A woman’s greatest confidence in marriage is her dowry.
The long list compiled by Xia Guangcheng consisted of items from his private vault, moved over to her side, presented to the world as her dowry list. This was his gesture of saving face and also of bringing himself peace of mind.
"Please have Uncle Ma convey my gratitude to the General."
"Miss, the General said everything is under his control, so you needn’t worry."
"Alright."
After seeing Uncle Ma off, looking at the long list, Xiao Chunyu’s nose tingled: It turns out that the differences between people are so vast!
She suddenly hated herself for being so blind back then, being an obedient girl, yet she was beguiled by a few words from Wu Yuanping!
Encountering such a scumbag in the best years of her life.
And the one who held her in the palm of his hand was the one who pulled her out of the mire and wanted to reshape her, to give her enough honor and glory, allowing her to stand radiantly before the world.
How could she not be moved!
"Miss, General Xia..."
Her mistress stood there in silent contemplation, while Molan drew in a sharp breath upon seeing the list, realizing what a truly prestigious family is like.
General Xia’s private vault was secretly serving as Miss’s dowry, with items ranging from gold, silver, jewelry, and ornaments to antiques and the works of esteemed scholars, as well as estates and shops, far surpassing the dowry the Xiao family prepared for the eldest miss in the past.
"They’ll be delivered by nightfall." Xiao Chunyu was indeed surprised; who knew he had such an extensive private vault and had been accumulating it all along? "What you should focus on now is how to arrange these items."
"Yes, I’ll get right on it, milady."
Previously intimidated by General Xia, Molan’s perception of him instantly changed. How bad could a man be who is willing to give his entire fortune as Miss’s dowry?
No, in every possible way, General Xia seemed more appealing than that Wu fellow.
So, this must be fate’s unique compensation for Miss this time, as she was finally going to enjoy better days. As someone who serves by Miss’s side, she was genuinely happy!
Just as Molan stepped out, Jian Lan came to report.
"Madam Xu has arrived."
Madam Xu?
Xiao Chunyu was momentarily stunned; the title sounded a bit unfamiliar.
But upon seeing her, she smiled warmly: Isn’t it just Madam Xu!
In the past, when she visited the Xiao family, the servants of the Xiao Mansion would respectfully call her Aunt Xu.
Since the Xiao family incident, no one from the Xu family came to visit, not even a servant; all kinship ties were severed with the Xiao family.
Since then, there had been no relatives or friends, just a surname followed by an honorific.
"Chunyu pays respect to Madam Xu."
Regardless of her feelings, as a junior, it was proper to initiate a greeting.
"Child, why are you so polite?" Madam Xu was momentarily taken aback by the address, but ultimately had to accept it as reality; this was the reason the old master and mistress sent her.
"You’ve lost weight, you poor child..." Madam Xu began wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Madam Xu, there’s no need to be upset, Chunyu is doing well."
Commenting on someone’s weight at this time was too obviously staged; Xiao Chunyu didn’t want to act along, as it was exhausting both physically and mentally.
"Chunyu, you must take care of yourself up there; how have you become so thin?"
"Madam Xu is right. I must remain well for my daughter to be well, so I’ve always been careful," Xiao Chunyu said lightly. "It’s not that I’ve gotten thinner, I’ve just been watching my diet to avoid gaining weight, lest the General have to refit my wedding clothes from the dressmaker."
Xiao Chunyu did it on purpose; it may ever remain an impossible thought for you, that the woman mistreated by the Wu family would marry General Huaiyuan.
"Wedding clothes should be embroidered personally..."
"There’s little difference between embroidering wedding clothes oneself and having them embroidered by a seamstress. Back then, Chunyu, full of joy, stitched her own phoenix coronet and robes, married in splendid red, only to end up in such a fate."
Xiao Chunyu was not afraid of bringing up past matters, as speaking herself made their weight light, but from others’ mouths, they were a piercing pain.
"It’s not fair to say it that way; it was the Wu family’s lack of fortune."
Recalling the past made Madam Xu somewhat embarrassed; she knew today’s task was a hard one. The old lady cunningly held onto the house’s accounts tightly, but when it came to losing face, it was left to her.
Truly, as a fellow woman, Madam Xu felt that the Xu family acted excessively.
Of course, as a Xu family woman, she didn’t want any ties with the Xiao family back then.
She had once thought if Mrs. Xu divorced and returned to the family, they couldn’t have let her live in the mansion, and would have sent her to live out her days on some estate.
When news of Xiao Chunyu’s petition against them spread across the Capital, Madam Xu was taken aback, relieved that they hadn’t considered marrying her eldest son into the Xu family as a daughter-in-law.
Indeed, her eldest son, Xu Zhengyang, had once suggested marrying cousin Xiao Chunyu.
The staunchest opposition came from the old master, which prevented her from becoming the villain.
Now looking at Xiao Chunyu, whether in aura or appearance, she surpassed her.
Indeed, she was now the wife of a third-rank military officer, a stature far above that of the small Xu family.
Her emotions were mixed; the one she had once looked down upon had become unattainable.
Despite her efforts to restore familial ties, Xiao Chunyu, like a soft cotton ball, gently deflected all her attempts.
It was evident she only wished to maintain a distant relationship with the Xu family, no longer considering it her maternal family.
"Chunyu, have you found a Full Fortune lady? If you don’t mind, could your aunt take that role?"
On this point, Madam Xu was quite confident, as she had a son and a daughter, a harmonious marriage, and healthiness, with both her in-law and parental families in good health, fully qualifying to be a Full Fortune lady.
"Thank you, Madam Xu." Xiao Chunyu smiled, "But the General made arrangements long ago, inviting the old wife of the Grand Preceptor’s household to serve as my Full Fortune lady."
The old wife of the Grand Preceptor’s household, now that was someone truly fortunate in the Capital. Both she and the Grand Preceptor were eighty-nine years old, in vigorous health, with a large family, prosperous lives and fortunes; having her as a Full Fortune lady was a rare honor in the Capital.
"The old wife of the Grand Preceptor’s household, that’s wonderful, truly blessed."
"Yes, I believe she is quite blessed too."
