"Good taste!" Madam Liu proudly said, "When I enter the residence, I am her mother and I could easily create problems for her. It was only a marriage, as long as Yan'er like, I will get it for you."
Nan Yan was very satisfied and coyly said again, "Mother, I also want her dowry."
"This is even easier. Since her marriage is already in my hands, as long as I ask her to hand over her dowry, wouldn't she obediently do so?"
Both mother and daughter thought about the good life ahead of them and couldn't help smiling widely.
...
The wedding day was approaching and the Nan residence was getting busy.
At first, Old Madam refused to let Madam Liu enter the residence but since Nan Baoyi had a big surprise for her, how could she not let it happen?
And so, she pretended to persuade her and Old Madam finally gave in.
The maids were hanging lanterns in the garden and from time to time they stole a glance at the pavilion.
Their Fifth Miss was practicing calligraphy every day quietly over there as if she was not bothered by her stepmother's arrival.
Nan Baoyi did not notice their sympathetic gazes.
Xiao Yi ordered her to write twenty pieces of paper worth of calligraphy and she was going crazy.
She used a white jade paperweight to hold down a piece of paper that was already written and took out another piece.
She was just about to lift her brush to dip in ink when He Ye excitedly ran in, "Miss we found the hoodlum that you were looking for!"
Nan Baoyi wrote enthusiastically, "Tell me, how bad of a hoodlum is this person?"
"His name is Niu San, since young, he has been doing nothing and idle around aimlessly. When he was older, he got addicted to gambling and even sold his ancestor's land and house in exchange for more gambling capital. Not only that, after he lost that money, he even sold his wife and kid! Right now he is left with nothing and spends his days cursing in the streets. People avoided him when they saw him."
Nan Baoyi added the final stroke.
The two characters "Xiao Yi" looked lively on the paper. The script was elegant and stylish.
"When Second Brother's name is written properly it really looks good."
She calmly put down her brush and took out the indenture and a banknote from her pocket.
She handed these two items to He Ye, "Give these to Niu San, you must tell him this… After it's done, I will give him another five hundred gold."
He Ye put the items in her pocket looking seriously and left.
Nan Baoyi walked out of the pavilion.
The spring wind was cold and the sunset left behind a sky of red. She stood alone in the middle of a sudden breeze, her hibiscus-colored dress circled around with the wind and her dark long hair flowing.
She had placed her bet.
This time, she would not have mercy.
...
The evening view of March came about, kites sweeping across the blue sky. It was finally time for the Nan residence to have the wedding.
Today was Father's big day.
Nan Baoyi wore white underclothing and a red dress, combing her hair in her usual two buns and put on two delicate golden bracelets on her wrists, looking festive.
While on her way to the front yard, she bumped into Xiao Yi.
She fans herself with a white fan and said sweetly, "Second Brother still looked handsome today with rare grace and elegance in the world!
Everyone would be happy to hear such sweet words in the morning.
Nan Baoyi felt that Xiao Yi would be happy also.
Xiao Yi glanced at her.
This twelve-year-old little girl looked fair and charming with auspicious words flowing out of her small mouth.
Although he knew she was only trying to suck up to him, listening to these words early in the morning could still make a person feel good and happy.
He said, "Is everything prepared?"
"Don't worry Second Brother, everything is prepared. I was personally trained by you, how could Liu Xiaomeng fight against me?"
While she was saying this proudly, a sudden group of chattering was heard from the front.
She looked over.
Nan Yan was leading a few little girls of the same age around the residence.
They also noticed Nan Baoyi and looked at each other at a loss.
Nan Yan was not too willing to introduce her to them.
But hitting each other in the middle of the walkway was not a good idea too, so she forcefully said, "This is my Fifth Sister, Baoyi. Baoyi, these are a few of my friends. Daughter of the Wang banker family, Zhang Yu. Daughter of the rice shop in East Street, Liu Ling, and eldest daughter of Luowa shop, Jiang Xiaolian.
Nan Baoyi smiled while greeting them.
Not that she wanted to look down at them for being born in small poor families, but birds of a feather flock together. If they could hang out and spend time with a girl like Nan Yan, they definitely would not be good people as well.
From the looks of it, the three girls were greeting her but their gaze was fixed at Xiao Yi.
That glowing look was like a farmer looking after a pig that was about to escape its pen.
However, her Second Brother was good looking and it was hard to blame them for falling for him at first sight.
Zhang Yu blushed and tugged Nan Yan's sleeves, saying coyly, "Yan'er you haven't introduce us to this Young Master."
Nan Yan's attitude was casual like she was introducing a nobody, "Oh him, he is an adoptive child in our residence, surnamed Xiao."
Adoptive child…
These girls suddenly changed their look.
Only an adoptive child, even if they got along well with him, he would not be getting Nan residence's wealth in the future so why waste time on him?
Their gaze fell upon Nan Baoyi again.
She was definitely the official daughter of the First Wife in the Nan residence. Her gold bracelet alone was worth a lot of money.
Zhang Yu's eyes brightened and held Nan Baoyi's hand affectionately, "I have a good relationship with your Big Sister so I feel close just looking at you. This jade hairpin was given by my mother and now I'm giving it to you. People in Jinguan City pay particular attention to reciprocity as a courtesy, so Baoyi has to give me something too! Honestly speaking, I really want that pair of gold bracelets on your wrist!"
She affectionately removed her jade hairpin from her hair and pushed it to Nan Baoyi.
Seeing this, the other two girls also hurriedly gave her gifts.
Nan Baoyi looked at the jade hairpin, a handkerchief, and a pouch in her hands and fell silent.
This jade hairpin was of poor quality, not even her third-ranking maids used these.
The handkerchief was only ten taels for three pieces of handkerchief, and the pouch was five taels per piece.
These three girls were bold trying to use these items to exchange for her jewelry!
She glanced at Nan Yan and smiled lightly implying something.
She did not say anything but Nan Yan already felt embarrassed.
People of the same kind stayed in the same circles. The people in Nan Baoyi's circle would never do such an embarrassing thing.
She blamed her mother for inviting these poor friends over to the wedding and she had to take care of their daughters. She lost her face!
She desperately tried to signal Zhang Yu and the rest with her eyes but the three of them only paid attention to whether or not they could get Nan Baoyi's gold bracelets. They had the mentality of getting whatever they can whenever they can and could not care less about her face.
Nan Baoyi returned the items to the three of them.
She continued to slowly fan herself with the white fan, "Sisters, Baoyi appreciate all your kindness. However, reciprocity only works among relatives and friends. I just met you and our relationship has not reached that reciprocity level yet."
Zhang Yu became furious, "Are you saying our things are not expensive enough and not worth being used by you? Nan Baoyi, we sincerely wanted to be friends with you. You are too snobbish!"
"That's right, it's only a little extra money and already you want to look down on people? Nan Yan, your sister is too hard to get along with! You are her Big Sister, why don't you teach her a lesson?"