Transmigrated as A Farm Girl Making Her Family Rich-Chapter 233 - 232 Red Lanterns Hung High
Chapter 233 -232 Red Lanterns Hung High
Ye Shuying patted Ye Shuzhen’s arm and whispered, “Shuzhen, you’ve grown up, you’re sensible now.”
Ye Shuzhi also nodded, unable to sit conveniently on her sister’s bed, she leaned on a chair, her hand still protecting the child in her belly.
“Tomorrow you’ll be the bride, Little Sister, and as your Second Sister, I can’t be by your side to watch you get married. No matter where I am, I will bless you to be happy.”
Ye Shuzhi said this following a superstition, a common belief that a pregnant woman should not witness the bride leaving her home or entering the groom’s home.
It was said there might be a clash of luck. These were old sayings, and when she had arrived, even her mother-in-law had spoken about it. Tomorrow, she would only dine with the family and guests, just like at the ancestral hall. Today she had already sent a gift, so there was no need for her to come, dining at the ancestral hall would suffice.
The two younger sisters entered Ye Shuzhen’s room, the bride-to-be, while Mrs. Li, like her husband, was busy.
Both had to entertain the guests and manage affairs, as the country folk had many customs to observe, not all of which were exactly practical to perform.
Often, relatives would help out, making some food on the spot, offerings to the gods that would be shared with the family after the bride’s departure.
When the groom’s party sent gifts, it was up to her and her husband to receive the guests. They could not count on the younger sisters, nor on the father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Her daughters helped with what they could, and to avoid causing any chaos, the youngest daughters watched over the little son.
With so many guests and more people at home, there was a greater fear of strangers mingling in, and the children had to be kept safe in their rooms.
In the countryside, children going outside always risked encountering child traffickers. As a now affluent family, they feared those heartless people even more, worried about kidnappings.
Mrs. Lai was not idle even though she couldn’t take charge, clutching a backpack, keen to collect any red envelopes from relatives and friends as they arrived.
She would also eagerly claim any superior gifts, whether she took them as part of her daughter’s dowry or kept them for future gifting or her own use. To her, these were rightfully hers.
This was her last chance to marry off a daughter, the final big haul.
The betrothal gifts that had been sent over, including the gift money, she had already stashed away, purportedly as part of her daughter’s dowry.
Mrs. Li and Hongji had no choice. This wedding, although facilitated by the arrival of goods from the groom’s side, had also cost a considerable sum of money.
Not to mention, they had to provide a dowry, as the grandparents expected them to furnish their daughter’s marriage portion.
Out of the 100 taels of gift money, Mrs. Lai had taken 80. Hongji and his wife were left with only 20 taels, which was not even enough for the banquet.
Fortunately, the couple had been prepared and had not counted on getting their hands on this gift money.
What had become a habit was now the norm. Hongji had prepared a generous dowry for his sister, which also included contributions from his future brother-in-law, who knew of their mother’s greed and had not sent all his wealth here.
Some matters were kept hidden from the family, a consensus reached between him and his brother-in-law.
The Ye family home was decorated with festive lanterns and red curtains, and occasionally, children brought by relatives would hop around in the courtyard.
In the sisters’ room, Ye Shiqi tapped her little brother’s chubby cheek. The infant, only four months old, had round eyes and plump cheeks, kicking his legs and waving his hands like lotus roots.
In the somewhat hot weather, the baby was dressed lightly, still in diapers, with no worry of him catching a cold.
Ye Shiqi poked the little one’s cheeks, and the baby giggled. He was able to roll over, but probably due to being chubby, he did it unsteadily.
“Qing, your little brother is not as easy to take care of as you were. You never even needed diapers.”
Second Sister Ye Fengqi watched and discussed this. She said so, and the maids assisting her were very curious. Both maids were only seven or eight years old and had been through the birth of younger siblings.
The Fifth Miss did not even use diapers when she was born, something they had heard several times. They had no reason to doubt the words of the Ye family. The Little Lady was the smartest one, smarter than the other ladies who were just a bit older than she was.
“Of course the Fifth Miss is amazing—she’s the village genius,” said a maid with a pointed face. Even though she had not been well off before joining the family, with sallow, yellowish skin, her condition had improved after several months in the Ye household. Her hair got better, and her skin became rosier, but her face still remained thin and pointed.
It was said that she had six sisters. Their parents, seeking to have a son, could not afford to raise so many daughters, so they sold her and another sister to a wealthy family. It wasn’t a death contract; she could be lively until she reached fifteen or sixteen and then allowed to return home.
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Later, their mother gave birth to another sister, and finally, a brother. They envied the parents of the Lady, who were rural folks that managed to become wealthy. Although the Lady and her siblings had a rough childhood, at least they were not sold to others.
Now that her parents were better off, she could be a Miss, educated, well-fed, and without needing to work. They always believed it was due to many good deeds done in a past life that they were blessed in this one.
“The Fifth Miss didn’t need diapers as a child. Second Sister, did you need diapers when you were little?”
Another maid with a round face spoke. She was naturally round-faced, which never let her look too thin.
Having eaten well for several months in the Ye household, her round face looked a bit plumper, quite different from the sharp-faced maid’s facial type.
“Why are you asking about me again? I certainly would not wet the bed!”
Ye Fengqi hardly remembered those early childhood days. She only had vague memories of being a few months old and getting used to it. During the hot weather, diapers could cause diaper rash.
They had no choice with the little brother; they just had to be more attentive from time to time because if they were not careful, he would “make a map.”
“Heh heh.”
After a shared laugh, everyone glanced toward the noisy commotion outside the gate. Voices were too chaotic to make out what a few aunts were saying.
“Now that Auntie is finally married off, our days ahead should be easier!”
Ye Fengqi brought up this topic, and the two maids exchanged glances, not daring to utter a word. Gossip about the masters was something they, as maids, dared not engage in—it was unspoken rule.
“Whether she was here or not, it was never too exciting in our house without her.”
What Ye Shiqi didn’t mention was that without Auntie at home, Grandmother couldn’t stir up trouble; without someone to join in her complaints, it became duller.
“Hmm, that’s exactly what I mean. From now on, whatever Grandmother says, we just ignore her and let her lose her steam.”
“We should keep our thoughts to ourselves and not voice them, for walls have ears.”
Ye Shiqi had noticed those relatives, their idle children running around the yard, naturally very curious and peeking into the rooms of the courtyard. They were paying attention and had gathered around their door to watch.
Candy and seeds among other edible delights were common at wedding banquets, greatly appealing to the children who were as happy as if it were a festival.
