CH 93

The end of the year was approaching, and Mrs. Liang’s new clothes were ready. Mo Yan used a piece of relatively cheap brocade from Jiaolan Courtyard to make it.

The pattern of the brocade was noble and majestic. It would be considered outstanding not only in Chenzhong Village, but also the neighbouring towns and cities. Mrs. Liang even said it was better than her wedding dress, and she regretted not using it for Mo Feng and his father.

Liu Yuyan’s wedding dress had also been embroidered, and tomorrow would be her wedding day. Usually, the dowry was sent to the bride’s family one or two days in advance, and the wedding also had to be on an auspicious day. Liu Ruyan decided to receive the dowry today and get married tomorrow.

Early in the morning, there were sounds of joy in the street, attracting spectators to gather in succession. The businessmen weren’t even focusing on doing business.

Liu Fengchun was the governing official of Qianshui City. His daughter’s marriage wouldn’t be worse than others, be it her dowry or the grandeur.

His in-laws are from here, but the dowry delivery team still went around Qianshui City once. Fortunately, today wasn’t a market day, or it’d take half a day.

It was unlucky to travel southward on happy occasions, so they started to east and travelled a circle clockwise.

The members of the dowry delivery team were all young and strong men, all of which were dressed in black and green, with red capes. The leader was Liu Ruyan’s cousin. His appearance was somewhat similar to Liu Fengchun’s and he was full of energy.

The entire set of mahogany furniture required over 20 people to lift. This group of people marched along the official road, attracting passersby to stop and watch.

Ms. Hua also stood by the side of the road to watch, “The dowry delivering process is already so ostentatious. I don’t know how lively it will be for the big wedding tomorrow.”

Shopkeeper He from the nearby grain shop said, “The governing official marrying away his daughter is an extraordinary sight indeed! He’s a governing official, of course he’s rich.”

How’s a governing official rich? It’s a role smaller than a minor official, there was no way he had that much money.

Ms. Hua spoke again, “Now that the Ng family are in-laws with the Liu family, who will dare to mess with them in Qianshui Town from now on?”

“Isn’t that your family? Speaking of which, Liu Fengchun’s husband is your husband’s cousin!”

“They’re third cousins. Besides, a family of our stature can’t be compared to them.”

Mr. Cao was probably the only one who didn’t come out to watch. Mo Ling and Mo Yan were also standing in front of their shop. Seeing the dowry delivery team was turning a corner, everyone slowly dispersed. No one noticed a carriage driving up the official road.

Ms. Hua didn’t go back to the courtyard, but went into Mr. Cao’s clinic. She knew that there were no patients there at the moment.

“Sir, what do you want for lunch, congee or noodle soup?”

Mr. Cao, who was standing in front of the medicine cabinet, turned around and said with a pleasant face, “Don’t bother, I’ll just eat something random. Besides, Yan’er sells congee at her storefront, so I’ll just buy a bowl.”

“How can store-bought congee be the same as the congee I made specially for you?”

Ms. Hua’s words had just fallen when she heard someone behind her say, “My husband’s really well-connected! There are people thinking about him everywhere!”

She turned around and saw a well-dressed lady standing by the door of the clinic. Mr. Cao said happily “Why did you come back all of a sudden?”

It turned out Mrs. Cao had returned from the metropolis. Ms. Hua had never seen her before, as she never went to the clinic.

Mrs. Cao dabbed the handkerchief on the corner of her mouth, “Is it because I didn’t send you a message earlier, was I too abrupt?”

Mr. Cao pretended to be angry and said, “Why did you say that? I couldn’t be happier that you came back. How’s Zhang’er?”

“Look, you still miss your son more.”

While they were speaking, Cao Zhang also got off the carriage, followed by Mr. Tian, who was carrying a backpack. Cao Zhang first went to greet his father, and then turned to the small shorefront next to him, “Yan’er, you have a storefront now!”

She replied, “It’s getting cold, so I found a shelter from the wind.”

Business was slow, and Mo Yan was stamping the wrapping paper with the seal of ‘Yanling Storefront’.

“What are you doing?” Cao Zhang asked.

Mo Yan kept working with her head down, “These are used to wrap dried fruit. I’m stamping my storefront’s name on it so that people will remember it.”

“Yan’er, you are so smart, there are dried fruit shops in the metropolis like this!”

Mrs. Cao called out to Cao Zhang, “Zhang’er, let’s go home so we don’t disturb others’ business. Haven’t you had enough of these things in the metropolis?”

Cao Zhang had no choice but to say goodbye to Mo Yan, and follow his mother back into the carriage.

Mr. Cao turned around and asked Zhao’er to lock the door, then also got into the carriage with his wife and son, leaving only Ms. Hua standing by the door of the clinic dumbly.

After they had gone far away, Mr. Tian came to the stall and called “Ling’er” submissively.

Mo Ling, who was chopping meat, looked up at him and said coldly, “Why aren’t you going to Mr. Cao’s home?”

“I’m going back to my home. It’s in the Tian family manor to the north.”

He reached into the bag, pulled out a small, long and thin box, and handed it over, “Ling’er, this is a high-quality lake brush. It was brought from the south by Mrs. Cao’s relative.” [1]

Mu Ling stopped cutting the meat, put down the kitchen knife, and stretched out her two greasy hands with scars, “Look at my hands, I dare not dirty your treasure.”

“This is for you.”

Mo Ling smiled, “I’d rather have a new knife. It just so happens that my knife is getting old, so it’s time for a new one.”

Mr. Tian’s hand stopped in mid-air. It would be embarrassing to take it back, and it would be embarrassing not to take it back. Mo Yan said, “Sir, this is a good brush, you should keep it for yourself! It will be used to answer questions in future imperial examinations.”

He had no choice but to put the pen back into the bag, and say in a low voice, “I haven’t saved up twenty silver taels yet.”

This had a double meaning. He didn’t leave Chenzhong Village to escape, but to make money, and he still had Mo Ling in his heart.

Mu Ling picked up the knife again, and she chopped the meat with more force, “Sir, there is a lot of smoke here, it’s not suitable for you to stay long.”

At this time, someone came to buy something, “I want a twenty dollar side dish, and five salted duck eggs.”

Mo Ling was busy and ignored him, so he had no choice but to turn around and leave, walking north along the official road towards the Tian family manor.

“Sister, it’s almost the New Year, we have to get ready for it. I’ll go to the basket weaver to pick up the small bamboo baskets and gift baskets.”

“That’s quite a lot of stuff. Although it’s light, you can’t carry it by yourself. Let’s go together later.”

“Alright!”

While business was slow, Mo Ling and Mo Yan went to the basket weaver’s together. The one hundred small baskets and dozens of gift baskets they asked for were so unwieldy that the two couldn’t take them on their own.

The old man said, “Leave me an address, and my son will send them to you later.”

“The courtyard behind Mr. Cao’s clinic.” Mo Yan replied.

“Isn’t that the Ng family’s courtyard?”

“Yes, we rented it.”

Post-translation notes: Winter break hopefully means more chappies for all of you. As always, thank you for reading!

[1] He’s trying to win Mo Ling back with…a brush? Couldn’t he have sold that to earn more money for the goal of twenty silver taels?