Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 460 - 418: I’m Entrusting Her to You

After Yu Xiaolian and her entourage returned home, Yu Xiaolian instructed the kitchen to prepare a meal, with plenty to eat and drink, just like a New Year’s celebration. She wanted to host a feast for friends and family.

Although Su Jingchen achieved the top scholar title, they did not celebrate ostentatiously in the Capital. But now that they were home, there had to be some festivities.

Sun Shi asked Yu Xiaolian, "Did the son-in-law really become the top scholar?"

Even though Yu Xiaolian had mentioned it in a letter once, seeing Yu Xiaolian nod and confirm it made Sun Shi still feel it was too surreal.

Her son-in-law was the top scholar, and Sun Shi beamed with pride and delight.

"Where is the son-in-law? Why didn’t he come back with you?"

"He went to Bridge Alley first and should be here tomorrow morning." Yu Xiaolian had originally planned to bring Su Jinghua directly to Taohua Village, but Su Jingchen said he needed to take Su Jinghua to pay respects to Su Dafu first, and only after that would he come to Taohua Village.

As for why Yu Xiaolian did not go to pay respects to Su Dafu, it was because the customs in Great Liang did not permit women of a different surname to pay respects to ancestors, unless the family was without men and had no descendants. Only in such cases would the wife step forward to perform the rites.

There were also special circumstances where neither the descendants nor sons and grandsons were in the city. During the Qingming Festival or Ghost Festival, when there was no one to pay respects, the wife, being a person of a different surname, might be allowed to go to the ancestral grave for this purpose.

"Lian’er, is what you said about the new laws true?" Sun Shi suspected that Yu Xiaolian mentioned the new laws only to scare Jiang Dingcai and his family so they wouldn’t dare to report to the authorities.

"Of course it’s true. The new emperor has ordered many laws to be revised and they will soon be implemented everywhere."

Sun Shi furrowed her brow. "So the new laws haven’t been officially notified yet? If the Jiang family reports to the authorities and the County Magistrate judges the case by the old laws, won’t your uncle and the others have trouble?"

Yu Xiaolian waved her little hand. "Don’t worry, Luocheng has a new County Magistrate, who came north with us from the Capital and arrived in Luocheng today as well. He is a student of Elder Fu and is said to have participated in the revision of the new laws. He is most familiar with them."

"Ah?" Sun Shi was surprised. "Wasn’t the County Magistrate in Luocheng new? How come they’ve changed already?"

"When a new ruler comes to power, he brings new subjects. What’s strange about that? Not just small County Magistrates, even high-ranking ministers will eventually be replaced with people Trusts as Jun Tingye secures his throne."

Sun Shi felt somewhat reassured and found the peace of mind to talk to Yu Xiaolian about Sun Manyun and Jiang Dingcai’s situation.

"The Jiang family’s actions are really shameless. They first had their eyes on Manjiao from your fifth great-uncle’s household, and when Manjiao refused, they began to target Feixue from your Manying brother’s family.

Feixue and Manjiao had a good relationship and neither of them was interested in Jiang Haifu, so then he set his sights on Manyue.

Shamelessly, they said that Manyue, being fatherless, was unworthy of Jiang Haifu, and demanded a substantial dowry from your fourth great-uncle to consider marrying Manyue.

Since Manyue started learning to make cosmetics in your workshop, she has gained a lot of knowledge, and she didn’t hesitate to reject Jiang Haifu. Who would have thought Jiang Haifu would stop her on the road? Besides, it’s your father’s fault. He needed the cart yesterday afternoon, so Mancang didn’t send Manyue back, and she wanted to be home for her mother’s birthday, so she walked back alone.

Alas, who would have thought she would run into Jiang Haifu on the road? Jiang Haifu must have been drunk as he wouldn’t let Manyue go.

Even though Manyue threw down the things she bought for her mother and ran away, the edge of her sleeve was torn by Jiang Haifu and many in the village saw it. How do you think Manyue will live with such a reputation?"

As soon as Sun Shi finished speaking, Sun Wulin’s wife came in with Sun Manyue, her pace hurried. Upon entering, Sun Wulin’s wife pushed and prodded Sun Manyue to kneel before Yu Xiaolian.

"Fifth aunt, what are you doing?" Yu Xiaolian hurriedly stood up from the chair and went over to help Sun Manyue up.

Sun Manyue shook her head as she cried. Back home, her mother had already explained the pros and cons to her, and she felt that her mother’s reasoning was sound; her only way out was to follow Yu Xiaolian to the Northern Land where no one knew of this incident, and there she might marry into a good family.

Sun Manyue refused to get up, and Yu Xiaolian could do nothing but look to her mother anxiously.

Sun Shi asked Sun Wulin’s wife, "Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Why are you making Manyue kneel? She has done nothing wrong!"

Sun Wulin’s wife held Yu Xiaolian’s hand, her voice carrying a trace of entreaty, "Xiaolian, Manyue’s reputation is ruined. If she stays in the Luocheng area, she probably won’t be able to marry well. I’m entrusting her to you, take her to the Northern Land!"

Yu Xiaolian frowned, "Fifth aunt, you want Manyue to go with me to the Northern Land?"

Sun Wulin’s wife continued, "Over there in the Northern Land, no one knows about this incident with her. Perhaps she can find a good family!"

Yu Xiaolian helplessly said, "Fifth aunt, you’re confused. In the Northern Land, Manyue would be alone without anyone to rely on. What well-off family would want an orphaned girl with no father or mother? 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

And even if Manyue finds a prosperous family, what marriage doesn’t have friction? If the man turns out to be a bad person and bullies Manyue, she wouldn’t even have her family to return to."

At this time, women’s status was low, without the support of their family. What woman didn’t suffer mistreatment from her husband’s family?

Of course, there are good men, but they are rare, one in ten thousand. Would Sun Manyue have such luck to meet one?

"But you are there. I thought... since you are in the Northern Land too, that’s why I’m comfortable letting her go with you!" Sun Wulin’s wife has been worried sick since last night.

Just now, their whole family sat down to discuss once more and unanimously agreed that sending Sun Manyue to the Northern Land was the best solution.

"But I might not stay in the Northern Land for long. As soon as Su Jingchen’s position is relocated, we might leave the Northern Land at any time, and then Manyue would be left all alone there!"

Yu Xiaolian looked at the two people overcome with worry and continued, "I do have a solution that works in everyone’s best interest, but I don’t know if you, aunt, would agree?"

Sun Wulin’s wife truly believed Yu Xiaolian to be smart, so without hesitation she nodded, "You have a good idea? Then quickly, tell us, your aunt will do anything you ask!"

Yu Xiaolian said, "It’s that your entire fifth branch relocates to the Northern Land. This way the Sun Family ancestral tomb will still have someone to pay respects to every year, and perhaps you might find my fifth uncle Wulin there and reunite your family.

The only question is whether you’re willing to leave everything behind here?"

Sun Wulin’s wife was taken aback by Yu Xiaolian’s proposal, hesitating as she said she needed to think it over.

Yu Xiaolian took the chance to help Sun Manyue up, "You have the skills I taught you. You can open a cosmetic shop there and support the family, but your mother and the rest must go with you, otherwise I won’t take you alone with me because I’m afraid that after I leave Yangcheng, you’d be bullied."