Chapter 379: Shanzimama’s Bitterness

Especially when she heard Taotao say that the barbecue business could make three to four hundred Copper Coins a day, earning over ten silver a month, Shanzimama was so envious she could taste bile in her throat.

When she got home, she gave Shanzi a harsh scolding. "If it weren’t for what you did to offend her family, the two of us would still be living in that courtyard, not paying to rent a place."

"And that barbecue thing, we could definitely do it too! That girl Little Fei is generous. She’d surely give us a grill."

"Just think how much silver we could make in a month!"

"I heard your Second Uncle Gu has bought a lot more land and is planning to build houses. They say everyone is going to build together."

Shanzimama started to cry as she spoke. "We all came from the same village. It would be so nice to live together with our old neighbors, where we could all look out for each other. But instead, it’s just the two of us, a widow and her son, living all alone on the side."

Shanzi grew impatient with his mother’s crying. "There isn’t a single good person in that Gu Family! I wish we could stay far away from them!"

Shanzimama pounded on Shanzi’s back and then had a good cry by herself.

That evening, she counted the few Copper Coins she had left. Gritting her teeth, she decided to attend the Gu Family’s banquet after all.

’The less you visit, the more distant the relationship becomes.’

’Shanzi wronged Xing’er, but our family has done nothing to wrong Gu the Second.’

Now, seeing Gu Fei speak to her so politely, Shanzimama’s heart churned with a mixture of excitement and emotion.

She had arrived early today and had already heard a lot of gossip.

Gu the Second’s family now owned thousands of acres of land, all managed by Gu the Third.

They also had several shops in the city and, she’d heard, had even bought their own seagoing ship. In Shanzimama’s eyes, this was wealth so vast it could blot out the sky!

And rumor had it that Gu Fei, a single girl, had earned it all.

For Gu Fei to still be willing to speak to her now... Shanzimama was truly overwhelmed by the favor.

Gu Fei exchanged a few pleasantries with her and then moved on.

The sound of drums and music came from the entrance; the wedding procession had returned.

Everyone surged toward the entrance. The bridal sedan stopped at the gate, and the wedding chaperone helped Lan Zhi out. Gu Erlang passed a red silk ribbon to Lan Zhi, guiding her as she held one end.

Outside the gate, firecrackers popped and crackled.

A brazier was placed at the entrance, and Lan Zhi stepped over it.

The crowd thronged around the couple as they entered the main hall.

Gu Zhang and Mrs. Chen sat in the seats of honor. After the newlyweds finished bowing to heaven and earth, Fang Fang helped Lan Zhi to a side room.

The young women and wives all crowded into the side room to watch Gu Erlang lift the bride’s veil.

Gu Fei, squeezed in the crowd, watched as Gu Erlang lifted the veil. A collective gasp of amazement went through the onlookers.

"What a beautiful bride!"

Gu Erlang’s face was even redder than the bride, Lan Zhi’s. He held the steelyard rod in his hand, staring dazedly at her.

The crowd erupted in good-natured laughter.

The Quan Furen smiled from the side, taking the steelyard rod from Gu Erlang and handing him a wine cup.

The cups were a matching pair; the other was given to Lan Zhi. A red string connected the two cups. The couple sat side-by-side on the bed and drank the nuptial wine.

The wedding chaperone then scattered red dates, peanuts, longans, and lotus seeds on the bed, a tradition symbolizing the wish for the couple to have a son soon.

Once the spectacle was over, the crowd filed out. In the courtyard, the banquet was about to begin.

The feast was prepared by chefs hired from the city. Gu Zhang and Mrs. Chen had plenty of silver now and were not stingy people, so they had arranged for only the best dishes.

There was wild game, seafood, chicken, duck, fish—everything one could imagine.

Gu Fei called Fang Fang over and asked her to go to the kitchen to get some food to bring to Lan Zhi.

Everyone took their seats and began to eat. They had barely taken a few bites when Gu Fei suddenly heard Ju Hua shout from behind her, "What are you doing!"

Gu Fei whipped her head around to see an old woman with a deeply wrinkled face stuffing a duck leg into her robes.