novelhk Chapter 325 Reencounter with an Old Friend
Chapter 325 Reencounter with an Old Friend
Madam Wan believed that what she said made perfect sense. It was true that prominent families valued matching social status in marriage, but they also valued face.
What kind of good family would marry a widow with a child?
The Countess chuckled upon hearing this: "She's a widow, and my brother-in-law is a widower too. Besides, he's already thirty and still has no children, which is making my in-laws very anxious."
"That's ridiculous. Your in-laws are longing for their grandchildren, are they hoping for someone else's offspring?"
The Countess laughed heartily: "So, Madam Wan, you still don't understand. It's not certain whether a young girl can have children after marriage. But the second daughter of the Si family has a daughter, which means she is healthy and definitely fertile."
The other ladies burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Today, all those present were ladies from various households, without the young ladies, so they spoke much more boldly.
“I think that’s right. My daughter went to the Si family before and met the second young lady’s daughter. She’s beautiful and lovely, and very endearing. If we marry the second young lady, I guarantee that her offspring will be beautiful one after another.”
"Oh dear, the way you put it, I'm quite tempted. My second son is getting on in years and has a bit of a flirtatious streak. No matter how much his older brother or father scolds or beats him, it's no use. With the second young lady's beauty, I'm sure my second son will be smitten when he sees her."
The lady speaking had a second son who was not her biological son, but rather a son born out of wedlock. However, regardless of whether a child was born of the principal wife or an illegitimate son, the marriage arrangements for the children in the family were always the responsibility of the lady of the house.
Si Mutong had been married before, and these prominent families, with their high social standing, would certainly not allow their sons to marry her. Unless she was born out of wedlock, or like the countess's brother-in-law, who had lost his wife and was unwilling to remarry.
"Speaking of the Second Miss's looks, which man wouldn't be tempted? If your brother-in-law marries her, he'll surely have two children in three years, making your in-laws very happy."
For a moment, everyone was chatting and laughing happily, but Madam Wan could only smile awkwardly.
The ladies were having a good time, and naturally they had their own thoughts and felt that they had grasped the general situation.
They originally thought that although the Si family was favored, the three young ladies had grown up in the countryside, and other aristocratic families would mind. So, if they went to ask for their daughters, there would be no competition, and they would definitely succeed.
I didn't expect that after talking about this today, I would find that we all have the same thoughts.
The three young ladies of the Si family had all become highly sought-after.
Unfortunately, two of the three young ladies of the Si family were ill, and no matter how anxious they were, they could only wait.
Many other ladies urged their daughters to contact the Si family more often, hoping to gain an advantage.
The three Si sisters were unaware of these matters. Although the youngest sister knew, she didn't pay much attention to it.
Aside from learning etiquette and managing household affairs, what she thought about most was how to see the Emperor again. But after the Empress Dowager forbade her from entering the palace, she couldn't find an opportunity at all.
The last autumn hunt was such a good opportunity, but unfortunately something went wrong; the Emperor had no interest in it at all.
Now, I've heard that Consort Rong is pregnant.
This was what surprised the younger sister. She hadn't expected that the Emperor was still as vigorous as ever and could get Consort Rong pregnant.
So, if that's the case, will she be able to conceive her own child after entering the palace?
The younger sister looked at Xia'er in the yard.
Xiaoxia is feeding Yidianhong cabbage stalks, and she is very happy.
When she came back, she told her younger sister, "Auntie, Honghong doesn't eat leaves, she eats stalks."
"Really?" The younger sister nodded. "Oh, I see."
Xiaoxia said again, "Auntie is wrong."
"What did your aunt say?"
"My aunt said that Honghong eats carrots and leafy greens. Honghong eats white radishes and vegetable stalks."
Xia'er is only two years old and her speech is not fluent; she can't pronounce some words clearly. But after spending time with her, her younger sister naturally understands what she's saying.
"Oh, I see! Our Xia'er is the smartest!" the younger sister praised.
Xiaoxia ran out happily to find Yidianhong to play with.
She ran while singing the nursery rhymes that Si Muyan had taught her.
"Little white rabbit, white and white, two ears standing up, loves to eat carrots, loves to eat vegetables, hopping and jumping, so cute."
As the younger sister watched, she suddenly remembered that Si Muyan hadn't sung like that in front of her.
She sang: "Little white rabbit, white and white, peel it, chop it into pieces, put it in a pot, cover it, and sprinkle cilantro before taking it out of the pot."
The younger sister frowned, wondering where her older sister had gotten all these strange ideas from. Luckily, Xiaoxia didn't hear them, or she would definitely have started crying.
The next day, when she had some free time, the younger sister went to check on her family's shop.
In two months, it will be the end of the year. This year is also the first year that the Si family has returned to the capital, so naturally they want to make the New Year celebrations very grand.
Next year... she probably won't be home next year.
She also needed to take a good look at the shop's accounts; she couldn't let her eldest sister worry about everything alone.
After leaving the shop, the younger sister was a little tired and said to Ginkgo, "Let's go to the teahouse next door and have some tea."
After saying that, she decided not to get in the car and turned to head towards the teahouse.
Just then, a person walked out of the alley next door, and the two bumped into each other, almost colliding.
The man quickly stepped back, saying, "I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous."
"It's alright," the younger sister replied, stepping back behind Ginkgo.
Looking up, both of them were taken aback.
"Sister Wan'er?"
"Brother Xu?"
This person was actually Xu Feng.
It is said that Xu Feng's relationship with his younger sister ended without a trace. After the Xu family moved from Fenghuang County to Lingnan, they were never heard from again.
Even though the Si family's business had expanded to Lingnan City, there had been no news of the Xu family making any moves.
I never expected to see him here.
When the two old friends met again, they were not only surprised but also pleasantly surprised.
Xu Feng bowed, but resumed his proper etiquette and did not call his younger sister by her maiden name again.
"So it's the Third Miss. It's been over a year since we last met. How are you doing, Third Miss?"
"Everything is fine. I wonder about you, Young Master Xu..."
Xu Feng smiled faintly and said, "Third Miss, I have resumed my original surname, Zhou, and my given name is Zhou Feng."
The two went to a teahouse for a short rest, and the younger sister learned that the Zhou family was also a victim of that disaster back then. The Zhou family was raided, and only Zhou Feng was left. His aunt took him back, changed his surname to Xu, and made him the son of a merchant.
Later, when the Si family regained their noble title, Madam Xu found a way to smooth things over and appease the Zhou family as well.
However, only Zhou Feng remained in the Zhou family. He returned to the capital alone to prepare for the imperial examination.
"After changing back to my original surname, many things are no longer restricted. Merchants used to be unable to take the imperial examinations, but now there is no problem. I plan to make my ambitions known, so that my parents in the afterlife will not worry, and so that my aunt will not be saddened."
The younger sister nodded: "That's excellent. Young Master Zhou was so talented in the past, he shouldn't have been overlooked."