You Jin promised Mrs. Su to reason with You Zhu. But she was busy with things these few days, so it got delayed for a while. When he was almost done with the things at hand, it was a few days later.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the grass and trees gradually began to dwindle, while the ears of the grains were heavy. It looked like a golden sea from a distance. It was the harvest season.
Today was Su Family's villa's sickle starting day. All the members of Su Family went to Houjiawan to 'reform through labor'. Even recently stable pregnant You Bao and eight months pregnant You Yin pleaded with family members. It was rare chance to follow out to enjoy the wind.
"These days go by so fast. Little Eighth is almost eight years old in a blink of an eye." Sitting in the shade of a tree outside the blue brick house by the lotus pond and feeling the cool autumn wind, You Yin caressed her already protruding belly. She watched the sisters not far away and her eyes narrowed with a smile.
Sitting next to her, You Bao also smiled and looked at her husband, who had never done any chores since birth, happily followed her second brother-in-law to the field to harvest crops. She cheerfully said: "I heard from Mother-in-law say children grow up at the slightest wind. When Second Elder Sister gives birth, I am afraid that there will be more emotion at that time!"
The two sisters were chatting one after another. The attendants and maidservants were keeping guard from afar and didn't come up to disturb with their madam.
As for Su Family's field. There was the addition of two son-in-laws, Han Li and Fourth Wei. Both wore fine chinese style cotton jackets and pants. They led Han Er Hua, who was already eleven years old, and Su Kang, who was almost eight years old. The four male neatly stood in a row, wielding a sickle to cut rice. The rest of them were all experienced workers. Only Fourth Wei was working in the fields for the first time in his life. So he was a little clumsy. Seeing Su Kang giggling: "So Third Brother-in-law has shortcoming too!"
Han Er Hua, who was on the right side of him, also grinned.
Wearing a big straw hat, Fourth Wei panted and wiped off the bean-sized beads of sweat that flowed from his forehead. His lips were a little dry. He smiled: "Each industry got their own specialties. I also can't be good at everything." The backstory of today was that he heard his wife mention Su Family's sickle starting day and wanted to come out to enjoy the wind after studying at home for so long.
Although he was sweating all over and his mouth was a little dry and the bamboo green cotton clothes had been soaked long ago, he felt refreshed and the stuffy air lingering around him was also cleared away. Comfort coursed all over his body .
Under the leadership of You Jin, the four younger sisters, including You Ling and You Luo, waved the sickle to cut rice from the other end. The sisters were all dressed in neat clothes. To prevent the hands from being rough, there was also a pair of deerskin gloves for each person. These were cheap.
"Eldest Sister, can I pick sweet-scented osmanthus after the rice is harvested?" Seven-year-old You Duan was at the age of playing. Before the rice was finished harvesting, her mind was on shaking the sweet-scented osmanthus.
You Jin looked at a nearly half line of rice and wiped the sweat from her forehead: "After harvesting the rice, go back and freshen up. Then go out after the high sun." Although it had already entered autumn, the name of the autumn tiger wasn't called in vain. Tthe sun was still blazing hot at noon.
As the sun was getting higher and higher, everyone in Su Family headed toward Su Family's villa courtyard in Houjiawan. In the courtyard, the servants of Su Family had already prepared hot water and soap for the masters to wash up.
***
"I haven't come to Houjiawan for a long time. Today is a rare chance to relax." You Zhu and You Jin walked side by side and chatted. The servants of Su Family followed the master far away, never disturbing the master's peace.
You Jin looked around. There were abundant harvests far and near. She suddenly felt her mind open up and her chest relax. She said: "After being closed at home, got to go out for a walk. If not, people will be exhausted."
You Zhu originally had an outgoing and lively personality. She also liked to make appointments with her classmates to enjoy flowers and have tea after school. But recently, she had become a little abnormal. Every time she returned from school, she learned to handle household matters by her side. This made You Jin notice some thoughts.
"Nowadays there are many people in the family and we have worked so hard for some years. We should relax." You Jin looked at You Zhu with a smile on her face. The two sisters had already walked to a pavilion built by Su Family and sat down. The servant still kept a distance away: "Eldest Sister's biggest wish is that you all can be happy. As for the outside matters, just let Eldest Sister worry about it."
When You Zhu heard what Eldest Sister said, she knew that Eldest Sister had guessed her thoughts. Her jade face was slightly red and she replied: "I am sixteen now. I can share the burden with Eldest Sister."
She knew very well how much Eldest Sister had put in for this family over the years and can't bear for her to worry about family affairs after getting married.
You Jin reached out and tapped You Zhu's forehead: "You! It goes without saying I have to worry about our family's affairs. Eldest Sister understand your thoughts. Even if I get married, I'm still the daughter of Su Family, right? Eldest Sister had discussed with Mother. The family asser will divide into two parts, one in Luohe Prefecture and one in the capital City. Luohe Prefecture will be managed by Mother, you, and You Yin. While I take care of the capital. What do you think?"
This was decided after several days of discussion between You Jin and Mrs. Su. Su Family's business was originally due to the hard work of the three sisters, You Jin, You Yin, and You Zhu. Even if they got married, they were still in Luohe Prefecture. Besides, there was now specialized personnal in charge of each of the family's asset. Even if they manage something, it was only the checking the account ledgers every month and occasionally inspection. In addition, Han Li and Xu Mao Lin weren't pedantic people. They will not object to them wanting to help take care of the family business.
As for You Bao who married into a literati family. With Fourth Wei's talent, it wasn't known whether he will earn a mandate title for her in the future. In addition, You Bao had a soft temper. Currently her dowry shop, 'Drunk Rouge', which was opened together with Mrs. Han, had opened a second branch. For You Bao's consideration, she was excluded.
"But..." You Zhu was still a little hesitant. After all, a woman was still involved in the affairs of her maternal family after she was married would stir a lot discussion when people outside know about it, no?
Seeing her hesitation, You Jin said with a smile: "Living in this world is to live for yourself. Why care about what other people say or do? Let's live our own affairs behind closed doors."
Of course, You Jin didn't like her younger sister delay her lifelong happiness for the sake of the family. As long as her family lives happily, why do care about nonsense?
Su Family now had nearly 500 mu of fertile land and 300 mu of dry land. After the autumn harvest, more than 20,000 jins of grain were put into the granary. It was another bumper harvest year. Many long-term workers also received the grace of the owner family and got three days off.
As for You Zhu, her mind finally came around and figured it out. In October, Xu Family sent a matchmaker to propose marriage again, Su Family agreed.
Carefully putting away the little engagement sent by Xu Family, the last big stone in Mrs. Su's heart can be regarded as dropped: "It finally can be regarded as settled."
Old Third problem was finally solved.
Now the marriages of eldest to fifth child of Su Family have all been settled. Except for You Yin, who was married to Han Li, who had no official status, most of the others were from a scholarly family. Among them, Eldest Daughter married the highest and to the dynasty's upstart, Commandery Duke Xiao Lin Yu. Many people in Luohe Prefecture watched with cold eyes as the marriages of the daughters of Su Family were gradually settled and thought to themselves- if anyone can marry a daughter of Su Family, they would be brother-in-law with Offiical Wei's family, Academy Head Cui's, third-rank Marquis Xu's family, second rank commandery duke!
Now there were only sixth, seventh, and eighth daughters as well as only son of Su Family who hadn't yet been engaged. Putting aside the fact that Su Family's daughter receiving signage from his Majesty and their temperament and appearance were top notch, just the ten miles of red dowry when the three daughters gets married made countless people's eyes flame up! Therefore, there were more people who knocking at the door to propose marriage.
However, Su Family wasn't as ignorant of common affairs as before. She also roughly knew that most of the people who come to propose marriage aiming for their family's name. She was becoming more and more attentive to the marriage of the remaining children, for fear that picking a wrong one would ruin the child's life.
Back to Mrs. Han, Yue Wen Sheng's marriage had also been settled. It was the niece of Academy Head Cui in Luohe Prefecture. Her maiden name was Cui Zhi Lan. This Cui Zhi Lan was sixteen this year. Her character and temperament were first-class. She was literate and dignified. Because her mother dying from illness three years ago, she was in mourning for three years. This year's august, she got out of filial piety. This was why her marriage was delayed.
Mrs. Han was also very satisfied with this marriage. Cui Family was also very satisfied with young scholar Yue Wen Sheng. The two families hit it off and set the wedding date in May next year. After all, Yue Wen Sheng will go to the capital to take the exam in March after the beginning of spring. Now was no time for distractions. Cui Family was also a literati family, so they naturally understood the importance of the exam and agreed.
As for the marriage of the youngest son, Yue Wen Yu, it settled. He was engaged to the youngest daughter of Third Master Huang's family, whose boudoir name was Huang Yun. She was only fourteen this year and was about the same age as Yue Wen Yu. Because of the custom of not holding two marriages a year and because Huang Yun was still young, their marriage was fixed in February of the following year.
The marriages of the two sons have been settled when the good news of You He's joyous news arrived from Liu Family's side. Mrs. Han's complexion had become better and better in the second half of the year and looked several years younger than when she first arrived in Luohe Prefecture two years ago.
***
Back to on the capital side. Xiao Lin Yu took a two-month long vacation on the grounds of marriage leave.
His Majesty and Xiao Lin Yu have somewhat friendship between them in private. Naturally, his Majesty knew that he had a fiancée whom he had been pining for for a long time in his hometown and generously approved the two month leave. In addition, he rewarded him with six pairs of jade scepter, eight bolts of top quality material, two red coral pearl, and six pairs of happy bracelets to achieve the max ostentation for him.
On the ninth day of November, 16 days before the big wedding, Xiao Lin Yu rushed back to Luohe Prefecture. This was his wedding with You Jin It went without saying he had to prepare everything himself.
In Luohe Prefecture, Xiao Lin Yu bought back the Xiao's courtyard back then as Third Yu. Although no one lived in it, there were servants to take care of it all the time. Everything was fine. Perfect as a marriage house.
As early as October, Mrs. Yu received a letter from her son, saying that he would have a big banquet in the city. She also estimated that the banquet would be big as her son's status was precious now and planned it carefully, for fear of embarrassing her son.