The first update, the first day of March, asking for monthly tickets.

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Lian Zhizhi’s face turned slightly red.

Concerning Lian Zhizhi’s dowry, Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin actually started preparing it gradually after Lian Zhizhi got engaged. For example, when they went to Taicang, Lady Zhang bought a lot of cotton, which was to make bedding for Lian Zhizhi’s dowry. Similarly, when Lian Shouxin bought wood for building a new house, he bought extra, which was also for Lian Zhizhi’s dowry, like various cabinets, boxes, and even bins for future generations. Now, in the courtyard of the Lian Family, there are carpenters working on these carpentry tasks, with Lian Manman’s family’s father providing food and accommodations and paying wages.

As for other dowry items, Lady Zhang is also preparing them bit by bit.

For tenant farmers’ families marrying off a daughter, having two pieces of gold-plated silver jewelry is considered quite good. Gold hairpins and cloth skirts are the most common situation for tenant farmers. However, given Lian Manman’s family’s current situation, it goes without saying that there will not be a shortage of gold jewelry for Lian Zhizhi’s dowry.

So, when Lian Manman saw Lian Zhizhi choosing the Dragon and Phoenix Bracelet, she deliberately teased her.

"Zhizhi, pick whatever you fancy," Lady Zhang said.

Although Lady Zhang said this, Lian Zhizhi, being a very sensible girl, only picked a pair of Red Gold Dragon and Phoenix Bracelets, a pair of Golden Cloves, and two gold hairpins before she refused to pick any more.

"These can be worn during the New Year. When it comes time to truly prepare my sister’s dowry, we’ll commission a jeweler to craft the full set of headpieces," Lian Manman thought for a moment and said.

Lady Zhang felt that Lian Manman’s suggestion made sense and nodded in agreement.

After helping Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi choose, Lian Manman didn’t forget herself. She picked a pair of Shrimp Whisker Bracelets for herself weighing one ounce each, and another similar pair for Lian Zhizhi. Additionally, she chose Red Gold Dragon and Phoenix Bracelets, Golden Cloves, Small Phoenix Tail Gold Hairpin, and Pearl Inlaid Small Gold Hairpin for herself. She also selected Red Gold Hair Press and Flat Hairpin, one set each for herself and Lian Zhizhi. Moreover, Lian Manman picked several Gold Rings, some plain and others inlaid, planning to share them with the family and possibly give some as gifts.

Besides that, Lian Manman picked four sets of Red Gold Jade Necklace collars, and four different styles of Gold Lock Pieces, one set each for Wu Lang, Lian Zhizhi, Xiao Qi, and herself. They already had one set of silver ones, so now they could perfectly add a gold set.

After choosing the gold jewelry, Lian Manman, Lian Zhizhi, and Lady Zhang together selected some exquisitely patterned silver jewelry. As they were about to leave, the shopkeeper at the Silver Building brought out several pairs of incredibly beautiful Gold Inlaid Jade Bracelets. Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi each picked a pair. The trio spent an entire package of silver coins and each gained a box full of gold jewelry, with Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman getting the most, while Lady Zhang refrained from buying much.

Finally, Lian Manman asked the shopkeeper at the Silver Building if there were any skilled artisans who could craft a full set of wedding gold headpieces and asked the shopkeeper to recommend one. Lian Zhizhi was not in a hurry to get married, but the headpieces could be crafted slowly in advance, as intricate work takes time.

After leaving the Silver Building, the family went to a fur store. Since they had already informed the shopkeeper, upon entering, they were invited into an elegant room for tea, and the shopkeeper personally brought out the finest furs for them to choose from.

Lian Manman chose several gray squirrel, silver squirrel, and fall mink pieces.

Lian Manman planned to make a gray squirrel-skin skirt, a gray squirrel-skin coat, and a silver squirrel vest for herself. As for the mink fur, she planned to make a Zhaojun Set and a large mink fur cloak.

Considering her growth stage, Lian Manman decided not to make too many clothes, anticipating they might not fit well next year. Otherwise, she would have surely made a few more pieces. Lian Zhizhi, however, only wanted a gray squirrel vest.

"Manman always needs to go out, and I don’t, so why make so many clothes," Lian Zhizhi said.

In truth, Lian Manman understood that Lian Zhizhi had checked with the shopkeeper about the prices of gray squirrel fur, silver squirrel, and mink fur and found them too expensive. With the recent expenses at the jewelry store in mind and knowing the family needed to spend a lot on her dowry, Lian Zhizhi wanted to be thrifty.

While thrift was not necessary, unnecessary spending could be avoided. Even the least frugal of the three, Lian Manman, was quite rational when it came to spending.