Chapter 662 - 342: Snobbish Servants (2)

Chapter 662: Chapter 342: Snobbish Servants (2)

Liu Yunlan was delighted to hear this. After some thought, she said to Shi Tou’s mother in earnest, "My parents and my younger brother are all honest people, but they’re a bit soft-hearted and easily swayed. That’s why I want to help my brother find someone with a stronger personality, someone who can take charge of the household. If your paternal cousin’s daughter really has a temper like yours, Auntie, that would be for the best. I’m just worried she’ll think our Yungen isn’t ambitious enough and look down on him."

Shi Tou’s mother smiled. "Now that you’ve put it that way, I know what to do. I’ll go ask my cousin’s wife and see if she’s willing to arrange a meeting. If you ask me, it’s a good match. Your family is small—just one younger brother, which is much less complicated than a huge clan. Not to mention your family’s finances. They’ve been saving for years, and with you and Qingmu helping out, they’re better off than most. Even if your brother is on the quiet side, that’s fine. A wife who can take charge when she marries in will face less trouble. Marrying a capable man is great, of course, but marrying an honest boy makes for a worry-free life. Some people specifically look to marry into an honest family, afraid that if the in-laws are too domineering, the wife will have a hard time."

Liu Yunlan quickly said, "My family isn’t domineering at all. My parents and brother just can’t make up their minds about things. That’s why we need a feisty, decisive daughter-in-law, to keep them from being taken advantage of. Last time, someone tried to talk them into starting some business at the market. Thankfully, my brother came and asked me and Qingmu first, so we stopped him. Otherwise, they would have lost everything. Auntie, you tell me, with them being like this, how can I rest easy without finding a sister-in-law who has a mind of her own? If you’re going to help make this match, you have to explain my family’s situation in detail to your cousin and his wife, and you have to make it clear to their daughter, too. You can’t exaggerate on my family’s behalf. We don’t want any misunderstandings that could lead to resentment after the marriage."

Shi Tou’s mother laughed. "Don’t you worry. Would I do something so muddle-headed? I think it’s best to wait until after they’ve met. If the two youngsters take a liking to each other and are both satisfied, and if your brother is willing to listen to his wife in the future, then their life together will surely be a good one. My cousin’s daughter is a capable girl, too. She might not be quite on your level, but she’s not far off."

The conversation left Liu Yunlan feeling both happy and worried. She was happy because if such a wonderful girl really could be matched with her brother, she wouldn’t have to worry so much about her maiden family anymore. But she was worried that such a wonderful girl would likely look down on her Yungen, and her heart was in a flutter.

Juhua and Yun Ying, who were busy nearby, saw the two women arrange a potential marriage in just a few words. They couldn’t help but exchange a smile and start chatting softly.

Yun Ying told Juhua that Li Changyu’s wife was very gentle, a well-bred young lady. She had come to the countryside and liked it, but she didn’t have anyone to talk to. She just embroidered and tended her flowers all day and was terribly bored. So, Yun Ying had invited her to come visit them by the mountain, saying the women there were all very nice.

"You don’t mind, do you? She seems like a good person, and I’m sure you two would get along, so I invited her," Yun Ying explained.

Juhua laughed. "Why would I mind? I’m just worried she won’t be used to it here. We’re just simple country folk, not so refined or versed in etiquette. We’re used to being casual, not like them, with their very particular manners in speech and behavior."

Hearing this, Yun Ying looked Juhua up and down, pursed her lips dismissively, and simply ignored the comment.

As they were discussing Li Changyu’s wife, that same wife, Mrs. Gao, was feeling uneasy. She had been feeling sluggish for the past two days, so Li Changyu had asked Yun Ying to check her pulse. After chatting with Yun Ying for a bit, Mrs. Gao discovered this doctor was completely different from the local villagers. She was so pleased that she insisted Yun Ying stay for lunch, and even after the meal, she was reluctant to let her leave.

Yun Ying understood what she was feeling and suggested that once Mrs. Gao felt better, she should take a walk over by the mountain. She mentioned that she was staying with the Zheng Family, whose daughters and daughters-in-law were all good people, and that visiting them might help alleviate her boredom.

Although Mrs. Gao nodded in agreement, she didn’t take it to heart. ’How could a new bride like me just go visiting people’s homes?’ Besides, she found it impossible to converse with these country folk. Her parents-in-law and grandfather-in-law were all good people, and as a well-read and sensible young lady, she was naturally respectful and filial toward them. But in her heart, she felt ill at ease with everything and found it very difficult to get used to living there.

But Li Changyu wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.

Li Gengtian had become a wealthy landowner and had hired a steward and foremen to manage the fields and household affairs. He had also added another courtyard to the house and built a new garden and pond. Even so, things were still a bit chaotic, leaving Li Gengtian overwhelmed. That was why Li Changyu had left his business in the city to be managed by his subordinates and had returned to help his father get things in order.

He spent all day rushing between the various Zhuangzi. When he came home, it was only for a moment before he was off again. But he was always attentive to his wife and naturally understood how she felt.

One day, he finally finished arranging the work in the fields, instructing the foremen to plant everything according to his plans. This freed up his time so he could focus on keeping Mrs. Gao company.

"My lord, what is this...?" Mrs. Gao asked Li Changyu hesitantly, looking at the simple set of cotton clothes before her.

Li Changyu said with a wide grin, "Wan’er, Mother made these for you. Your clothes are wonderful for wearing in the city, but they aren’t quite suitable or convenient for the countryside. So I asked Mother to make you a couple of outfits. They’ll be good for when I take you out for a walk tomorrow."

Mrs. Gao quickly replied with a hint of reproach, "My lord, how could you ask Mother-in-law to make clothes for me? Even if you thought my clothes were unsuitable, you could have just told me. I would have had Nanny Wang make some. You should never have troubled Mother-in-law to do it herself."

Just as Li Changyu was about to speak, he caught sight of Nanny Wang looking at the cotton clothes on the table with an expression of disdain and was suddenly furious. ’This old crone thinks the clothes are shabby and crude, doesn’t she? It makes sense. Ever since we returned home, all of the servants attending to Mrs. Gao have had this disdainful attitude, finding this inconvenient and that not to their liking. They don’t dare complain openly, but they mutter about it in front of Wan’er until she scolds them. Of course a country bumpkin’s home like mine wouldn’t impress these servants of the wealthy—hell, before all this, my family couldn’t even be considered nouveau riche!’

Li Changyu said coldly, "How could we do that? Even if we have Mother do it herself, we could never trouble Nanny Wang’s precious hands. Those hands are meant for fine silks and satins. How could they possibly work with coarse cotton and linen? Wouldn’t that be a great injustice to them?"

Seeing Li Changyu’s face suddenly turn cold, Mrs. Gao quickly stood up and pulled on his arm. "My lord, why would you say such a thing? Nanny Wang, what did you do to displease the Second Master?"

Nanny Wang said plaintively, "Miss, I haven’t said a single word!"

Li Changyu laughed. "Of course you didn’t have to say anything, because you couldn’t even be bothered. You think wearing these clothes would be a disgrace to your mistress, don’t you?"

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)