搜狗输入法下载ipad版

Chapter 383

Jiang Sheng slapped her thigh, "Oh right, we have to hurry. Third Brother only has three months of leave to find his relatives. He said he\'d give Auntie away in marriage."

"This is the first time our family has hosted such a joyous event, it must be lively," Zheng Ruqian said generously. "I heard aristocratic ladies embroider their own wedding dresses. Auntie won\'t have time for that, but we must buy her a nice one, the best one in Fengjing."

"Then we need to add to Auntie\'s makeup," Wen Zhiyun asked timidly.

So not only did they need to buy the wedding dress and host the wedding feast, but they also needed to buy gifts.

Luckily they had all grown up now, no longer shy, awkward children, and had their own private savings.

The profits from Jiang Sheng\'s nine Treasures Shop and three Family Workshop were in her hands.

The money from Zheng Ruqian\'s vegetable delivery service was in his hands.

The medical hall\'s profits, as well as the fees from deceiving Prince Successor\'s diagnosis were in Wen Zhiyun\'s hands.

Even Fang Heng had two years of military pay saved up.

"Let\'s go, pick out presents for Auntie," Jiang Sheng bounced up first, both feet rhythmically alternating.

Zheng Ruqian followed close behind, "I don\'t know much about women\'s jewelry as a man. Little sister, give me some suggestions, or pick one out for me."

"I don\'t know either, I also need help," Fang Heng quickly caught up to second brother.

With her gentle personality, Wen Zhiyun shyly glanced at her older and younger brothers, then hurried to catch up.

The original group of six siblings split into two groups.

The front four chased and teased and laughed loudly, while the latter two followed with smiles.

"Eldest brother isn\'t going to pick out a present for Auntie?" Chang Yan twisted his head to look back, a rare hint of mischief in his tone, "Have you already prepared, or do you not have money?"

This was clearly a rhetorical question.

Xu Mo gave a helpless smile, "Looks like I\'ll have to issue some IOUs with my schoolmates. But little brother hardly leaves home, does Eldest Brother need to issue some IOUs for you too?"

If it came to hurting each other, it had to be these two.

Chang Yan gave a bitter smile, "No need, Eldest Brother. I have money."

The little fifth brother who lived in the broken temple had no money, but Chang Yan from the wealthy family certainly wasn\'t short on funds.

That cold, hard gold and silver. Like formless cages, benefited their owners yet also shackled them.

Coveted by many, yet revolting to him.

But if it could bring joy to those around him, it seemed to fulfill its value.

That day.

Jiang Sheng picked an intricate coil flower gold bracelet for Auntie, spending several hundred taels without blinking an eye. Usually the candy loving girl treated the sweets like her life, but as they passed snack stands several times, she didn\'t even glance their way.

Zheng Ruqian picked a golden neck collar, said to look especially beautiful on a new bride, extremely luxurious.

Fang Heng chose a jade pendant, asking a skilled embroidery lady to add some delicate lace, tying it elegantly and distinctively.

Wen Zhiyun bought a mandarin duck purse, stuffing it with medicine she made herself, along with some precious nourishing spices. Nowhere else in all of Fengjing would have one like it.

When it came around to Xu Mo, he really did borrow two hundred taels, adding the money left by Zhu Sihun, and prepared dozens of mu of good farmland right outside Fengjing for Auntie Zhang.

The five siblings made no effort to hide or conceal their gifts from each other, mutually praising Eldest Brother Xu Mo’s considerate choice.

When it came around to Chang Yan, this guy acted mysterious, only saying they’d know on Auntie’s wedding day itself.

The others assumed he hadn’t prepared anything, and didn’t ask further.

As dusk fell, the carriage finally arrived back at the compound’s second courtyard.

Clutching the coiled flower gold bracelet, Jiang Sheng’s unable to keep secrets personality made her want to give it to Auntie Zhang early, but wedding eve was the appropriate timing for adding to the bride’s makeup and dowry, in order to count as a surprise.

So where should she hide it?

Under her pillow at night? Auntie would find it when cleaning the room.

In the new bedding? Auntie would find it when airing out the bedding.

At the very bottom of the chest? Auntie would find it when changing clothes.

Until Zheng Ruqian held out a hand, “Give it to me. I know you can’t keep a good fart in, Second Brother will keep it safe for you until the wedding makeup, then give it back to you.”

Only then did Jiang Sheng’s smile bloom, not forgetting to flatter, “Second brother is the best, second brother is the smartest, but don’t let the other brothers hear.”

Zheng Ruqian, “......”

The carriage’s movements carried into the compound, Zhang Xianglian as usual held her wok shovel and opened the door. Seeing their beaming smiles, “Hurry, hurry, hurry, wash your hands and prepare to eat.”

“Auntie,” Jiang Sheng jumped in front of her, “Where’s the head chef? How come he hasn’t come?”

“He’s still working as a chef at the restaurant, how could he come every day.” Zhang Xianglian was a little embarrassed, “Oh don’t fuss, let’s just eat.”

Crispy sweet and sour pork ribs, rich stewed chicken, clear beautiful pan bread. A whole table of all Auntie’s specialties.

Who knew if she’d still get to eat this after Auntie married.

Jiang Sheng felt a complex mix of joy and loss swirling in her heart, lingering there until the meal ended and she finally spoke up to ask, “Auntie have you looked at the astrological auspicious wedding dates recently?”

Just preparing to wash the pots and dishes, Zhang Xianglian froze.

“The yellow calendar auspicious dates, Auntie.” Zheng Ruqian cut in. “Didn’t we say once Big Brother gets first in the exams we’ll arrange your wedding?”

“Congratulations Auntie,” Fang Heng grinned. “Luckily we’re all here, plenty of manpower.”

Outside came a few monkey calls, little Jiang Ji making mischief again.

“I heard from patients yesterday that there are a lot of good dates this month,” Wen Zhiyun said, cheeks cradled cutely and quietly.

Everyone revealed knowing smiles.

Only Zhang Xianglian herself felt a mix of confusion and dizziness. An unbelievable feeling attacking her whole body. The children around her, the pots and dishes and courtyard all warped and blurred, as if she’d fallen into a dream she couldn’t wake from.

She...was getting married?

After the drunk, wife-beating ex-husband. Marrying a truly gentle and considerate man?

Was this real? Was she worthy?

Yet the surrounding sensations felt so real. Chatterbox Little Jiang Sheng jabbering on about something next to her, probably wedding dresses and dowries. She was actually going to have her own wedding ceremony?

Remembering her previous marriage to Zhou Zhiqiang, just wearing red clothes and bowing to her parents to become someone else’s. Like poured out water.

Even if she was beaten, scolded, humiliated. Returning to her parents, just a single sigh: you married out, belong to the Zhou family now. Nothing we can do.

But besides being her parents’ daughter, Zhou’s daughter-in-law, she was still her own self.

Zhang Xianglian, her name was Zhang Xianglian. She came first, before wife, daughter, mother.

“Should buy the dress at Tian Si Brocade Shop, Sister Yao said their embroideresses are extremely skilled.”

“We should decide the cold and hot dishes for the feast early, need to hurry and buy ingredients.”

“Should we find a head chef...”

“Idiot, the Head Chef already has disciples, how could he lack chefs?”

“Auntie, Auntie, what do you think?”

The children chattered around her, asking for her opinion. Zhang Xianglian finally calmed, smiling peacefully and serenely, “Anything is good.”

Everything now, anything was good.