This time, the quantity of veggies they pickled was double that of the first batch, so they used one and a half large ceramic jars.

After the vegetables were pickled, everyone was so exhausted that their hands and feet had gone soft. After tidying up a bit, they all climbed onto the heated brick bed to sleep.

"What should we send for Huahua’s dowry box?" Lady Zhang lay on the bed, unable to fall asleep right away, discussing with everyone what should be added to Lian Huahua’s dowry.

"What are the second and third aunts sending?" Lian Manman asked.

"Your third aunt is fretting over this right now," Lady Zhang sighed.

"Third aunt doesn’t even have a single Wen Money in private savings, what could she send then?" Lian Manman said.

"Strictly speaking, since they haven’t split the household yet, there’s no need to send anything. But it was your grandmother who insisted. She said that, as the niece is getting married, we must send something no matter what, otherwise it would not look good," Lady Zhang said, "Your third aunt told me she has nothing left but a pair of pillowcases she brought as part of her dowry when she got married. It’s the last thing she has, and she was planning to leave it for Yeye, but now she has no choice but to add it to Huahua’s dowry box." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"And what does the second aunt plan to send?" Lian Manman asked again.

"Pretty much the same sort of thing," Lady Zhang said, "What should our family send then?"

"Mother, what do you plan to send?" Lian Manman asked.

Lady Zhang propped herself up and looked at Lian Manman.

"Manman, you know what we have at home, what do you think we should send?"

Lady Zhang sought Lian Manman’s opinion, and whatever Lian Manman suggested, as long as it was appropriate, they would send it.

Lian Manman couldn’t help feeling a bit proud inside; was she now considered as taking over half of the household responsibilities?

"Then let’s do the same as the third aunt," Lian Manman thought for a while then said, "The woolen green fabric that my maternal grandmother gave us hasn’t been used up yet, why don’t we cut three feet of it to add to Sister Huahua’s dowry?"

In rural households, which aren’t wealthy, sending fabric as a gift wasn’t about sending whole pieces, but by the foot. Three feet of woolen green fabric as part of a dowry was considered quite proper.

Lady Zhang, who was always somewhat casual with silver and goods, upon hearing Lian Manman suggest sending woolen green fabric, thought about giving all the remaining fabric to Lian Huahua. However, when Lian Manman mentioned sending three feet, Lady Zhang thought it over and nodded her head. After all, they weren’t a wealthy family and the whole family would need the woolen green fabric for shoes next year.

"Alright, let’s send three feet of woolen green fabric," Lady Zhang said.

A big decision was made in a few words, and it was Lian Manman’s idea. Lian Zhizhi stretched out a hand to pinch Lian Manman, her face beaming with joy. In their hearts, all the youngsters had a consensus: if Lian Manman took charge, it was as if they themselves were in charge.

The next day, everyone still woke up bright and early. Just after washing up, Lian Xiuxiu came over to tell Lady Zhang to go to the Upper Room to cook.

"You’ll have to work a bit harder these next few days," Lian Shouxin whispered.

"Like I need you to tell me that," Lady Zhang smiled and went to the Upper Room.

For the Lian family’s breakfast, they prepared millet rice and stewed tofu. Everyone gathered together to eat, just like before they had split the household. Since Lady Zhang had separated out to head her own family, she had become even more efficient in her tasks while still showing great respect to Lady Zhou, replying to whatever she said with succinct agreement.

Old Master Lian sat atop the kang bed, looking at the room full of children and grandchildren, his smile the broadest of all.

After breakfast, Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli began to set up a tent outside. Lady Zhang, Lady Zhao, and Lady He cleared the dining table and washed all the dishes and chopsticks. Then they discussed going to the west room to bring the gifts for Lian Huahua’s bridal trousseau.

Lian Manman pulled Lian Yeye along with her to follow them.

Lian Huahua’s expression was somewhat reserved, but she could not hide her joy and sat up straight on the kang. Seeing them enter, she greeted them in a soft and delicate voice.

"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt, please have a seat. Elder Sister, help me pour tea for the aunts."

Lady Chiang replied with a yes and made a motion to go brew the tea.

"Jizu’s daughter-in-law need not fuss, we’re all family here, no need for such formalities." Lady Zhang quickly said.

Everyone sat down on the edge of the kang bed, and it was inevitable to praise Lian Huahua a few times before taking out the gifts for the bridal trousseau.

Lady Zhang’s gift was a three-foot length of green cloth, Lady Zhao’s a pair of embroidered pillowcases, and Lady He’s a wooden basin.

"Huahua, don’t look down upon it, your aunt, I’m poor, and this is what I’ve scrimped and saved for from my own mouth. I gathered bits and pieces to buy this wooden basin; it represents all my heart," Lady He said with a wide smile.

Lian Huahua’s gaze merely swept over the three items without lingering. She was, of course, aware of the Lian Family’s situation and naturally would not take the aunts’ gifts to heart.

Lady Gu entered from outside at this point and spoke a few polite words with a smile. Then, women from the village who had dealings with the Lian Family came to bring gifts for the bridal trousseau, and people like Lady Zhang accompanied them in conversation.

Lian Manman stood by and watched, noticing that the gifts were nothing more than a few yards of cloth, pillowcases, basins, and embroidered wrap skins, among others.

The guests couldn’t help but lavish praise on Lian Huahua, saying things like "a phoenix flying out of a chicken coop" and how fair and handsome she looked. They also complimented her for being auspicious, with Lady Gu as her lucky mother and so on.

Lian Huahua remained seated properly on the kang throughout, initially feeling some pride at the endless compliments. However, she soon found the rural women’s language crude, and their praises repetitive, which made her grow impatient and signal Lady Gu with a glance.

Lady Gu immediately understood Lian Huahua’s intent and, with a smiling face, guided the guests to the east room.

Lian Manman lagged behind and closed the door of the west room, not immediately leaving. Consequently, she overheard Lian Huahua and Lian Duoduo complaining inside.

"...Tell Mother, if there are more people from the village coming with gifts, don’t let them come to this room. A bunch of countryside old women, they’re utterly annoying." Lian Huahua, seeing that everyone had left, whispered instructions to Lian Duoduo, "Just look at these things they brought, throw them on the streets of the county town and nobody would pick them up. If I took them to Brother Hailong’s house, I’d be laughed to death."

After the midday meal, Lian Manman stood in the yard, watching Lian Shouxin and Lian Shouli set up a large stove, when she heard the sound of a carriage outside the gate.

"It seems we have distant guests arriving."

*******

First update delivered, a second one will follow later. (To be continued. If you like this work, please show your support with a recommendation vote or monthly vote on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)