Chapter 638 - 640: Paying a Visit
Chapter 638: Chapter 640: Paying a Visit
At dawn on the second day, Ancient Wen Heng bid farewell to the family members who had come to see him off and began his journey to Shangjing.
Surrounded by her daughters-in-law, Li Cuicui wiped her tears as she walked back.
She had been holding it together before, forcing herself to smile.
"Mother, we should be happy. Seventh is off to do great things." Urged on by a nudge from her husband, Xie Ruyi went over to support Li Cuicui and comfort her.
"I am happy," Li Cuicui said, her voice low. "It’s just... he comes and goes so quickly. I don’t know how many more times I’ll get to see him."
Liu Liu said, "...Let’s not say such unlucky things. Besides, Seventh Brother and his wife are filial. Didn’t they say before that once he’s transferred to Shangjing, they’ll bring you over to live a life of comfort?"
Li Cuicui waved her hand dismissively. "A golden home or a silver home is no match for one’s own humble kennel. I’ve spent my whole life here in Kao Mountain Village, and here I’ll stay.
Alright, you’ve all been busy helping out these past few days. You should all go home."
Still worried, the families escorted her to her doorstep before finally dispersing.
Spotting Li Chuncao standing in the courtyard wiping her tears, Li Cuicui stopped in her tracks. "Now, you tell me, what are you feeling so wronged about this time?
I don’t know where you get all those tears, but let your grandmother tell you something: showing weakness occasionally and using tears can win you sympathy.
But this habit of yours, crying at the drop of a hat, looking like you’ve suffered some great injustice... few people will like that.
This act of yours will only annoy people.
Where did you learn all this? I remember you didn’t used to have this kind of personality."
Li Cuicui tried hard to recall, ’When did this child become like this?’
Li Chuncao said, "Grandmother, Seventh Uncle and the others are already taking so many people with them. Why couldn’t they take me, too? I’ll really help out. I won’t be a freeloader."
"Are you implying that your cousins are freeloaders?" Displeasure rose in Li Cuicui’s heart once again. Her grandsons were already grown. Although following Ancient Wen Heng was a chance to broaden their horizons, it was also to secure a future for themselves.
"I’m different from my cousins. I can help Seventh Aunt with chores in the rear courtyard..."
"Your Seventh Aunt is not short on help. Look at her senior maids—any one of them is worth ten of you.
Besides, with your personality, crying all the time? No household would like that."
This time, Li Cuicui spoke even more harshly, hoping her granddaughter would come to her senses.
"How do you know I can’t do it if you don’t even give me a chance?
I may not have the surname Gu, but I’m the same as my other cousins. If Seventh Uncle is concerned about that, I can change my surname to Gu."
Hearing this, Li Cuicui nearly fainted from anger. She realized she had truly made a mistake back then; she never should have let the child change her surname.
And now, she was actually entertaining such thoughts.
"Don’t mention this again. If you think having my surname, Li, is so bad, then you can change it back to He.
Look at you, always crying. You probably think we’ve wronged you. Why don’t you just go back to your own family?"
Li Chuncao’s expression changed drastically. "Grandmother, are you starting to despise me and my sister, too?"
Seeing her tears starting to flow uncontrollably again, Li Cuicui felt a tightness in her chest. She hardened her heart and said, "I’m giving you two options. Either you return to the He Family, or I’ll find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for you. In a couple of years, you’ll be married off.
Your parents may not care, but as your grandmother, I can prepare a dowry for you.
But I’ll make this clear: the dowry will be more generous than what other girls in the village get, but there won’t be anything more than that.
Think about it yourself. I’m tired. I don’t want to say anything more to you right now."
After speaking, Li Cuicui staggered back to her own side room. The moment she closed the door, her body went weak, and she had to lean against it just to stay upright.
Back in Shangjing, the Gu Mansion received a pile of calling cards the very next day.
They sorted out the cards from families they were on good terms with and set the rest aside.
"Get ready. We’re going to visit the Cao Mansion in a little while."
Ancient Wen Heng said to Jin Qianqian after finishing his morning meal.
Jin Qianqian put down her bowl and chopsticks. "Don’t we need to send a calling card first?"
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "I already sent one before I left the capital. Besides, Mr. Cao is on leave today, so it’s the only day we’re free to visit."
Jin Qianqian asked, "Won’t it be rude for us to show up so suddenly?"
"It’s fine. I corresponded with him before, and he said not to worry about such formalities. We can visit whenever we’re free."
"Alright then," Jin Qianqian said, knowing that for Ancient Wen Heng to say this, he must have already made all the arrangements. "I won’t bring the two children today."
Ancient Wen Heng nodded. "There are some matters I need to ask his advice on, and it would indeed be inconvenient to have them with us. Get things settled at home, and we’ll leave immediately."
Jin Qianqian gave a few instructions, then, attended by Lichun and the others, she freshened up and boarded the carriage for the Cao Mansion.
This was her first time visiting Minister Cao’s Mansion. As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, Mrs. Cao Li was already standing at the entrance to welcome her!
As for Ancient Wen Heng, he had been led into the front courtyard by the Cao Family’s eldest son the moment he disembarked.
"How could I trouble Madam Cao to welcome me personally?" Having met her before, Jin Qianqian walked over and took her hand.
Li Xiangyun grasped her hand in return, her face wreathed in smiles. "Our boys have been under your care for all these years. It’s only right that I should come to the door to greet you."
Li Xiangyun didn’t take her polite words at face value. Truth be told, her own husband had only a purchased seventh-rank official position, no match for a Third-Rank Lady.
The only reason she could host Jin Qianqian was by relying on her father-in-law’s official rank, so naturally, she wouldn’t dare put on airs.
"That’s because the young masters are hardworking and resilient. They’ve helped me a great deal over the years."
This was no mere pleasantry from Jin Qianqian. Whether it was the shops in Shangjing or the sea trade, having the Minister’s sons watching over things had saved her a lot of trouble.
Besides, the Cao Family’s upbringing was excellent. Even when doing menial tasks for her, the Cao brothers worked with all their might, without a hint of the airs of a young master.
"Those blockheaded boys... if you hadn’t given them an opportunity, they’d still be in the mansion living off their monthly silver. They never would have had the good fortune they have today."
Li Xiangyun led her inside. "This mansion is a bit plain, but there’s a nice corner in my rear garden. Let’s go have some tea there."
Only then did Jin Qianqian notice that Mr. Cao was truly a man of military background. Just past the spirit screen, the vast courtyard was surprisingly filled with weapons.
It was a dazzling array of arms, many of which Jin Qianqian couldn’t even name.
On the surrounding courtyard walls, there were even several bows and arrows hanging.
"I must be a laughingstock," Li Xiangyun said, already used to such reactions. "Besides this, there’s also a large training ground in the back. In this mansion, aside from the small corner garden I insisted on creating, it’s very difficult for any flowers or plants to survive."
Jin Qianqian finally understood. ’So that’s why the Cao Mansion rarely hosts banquets. It’s probably because of the venue. They couldn’t very well invite a group of madams and young ladies over to look at weapons, could they?’