Chapter 47: Chapter 46 Betrothal Reception Chapter 47: Chapter 46 Betrothal Reception Mr. Liang was born into the Liang family of Jing’an, while Ms. Lin came from the Lin family of Jing’an.
However, the Lin family, compared to the Liang family, is insignificant, which is why she understands the hardships of small merchants even better than Mr. Liang.
Previously, they lived under the protection of the Liang family, and although they were not highly regarded, at least they did not have to worry about food and drink. But now, they have separated from the Liang family of Jing’an and started their own establishment.
For illegitimate children like them, once they leave the clan, they can only fend for themselves.
Perhaps they could still rely a bit on the Liang family, but at best, they would only have a relatively stable livelihood.
For instance, with the backing of the Liang family, they have stable supply channels for their cloth business.
But that is all the Liang family can provide; to live better, they have to rely on themselves.
If in the future they can achieve great success and catch the eye of the Liang family, they might be able to rejoin the Liang family; otherwise, they would remain just a small merchant.
“But we don’t know the Yang family!” Mr. Liang expressed his concern.
It’s not that he thinks the Yang family is bad, nor did he find Yang Zhenshan disrespectful yesterday, he is simply worried about the unfamiliar Yang family.
It’s his daughter he’s concerned about; he fears that she might marry into a bad family and suffer in the years to come.
“Why not go and find out then?”
“Yang Family Village isn’t far from the town. If needed, just go visit the Yang Family Village!”
Ms. Lin said discontentedly.
Her husband is good in many ways, but he lacks decisiveness.
He always panics and can’t make decisions when something happens.
“Should I go find out?” Mr. Liang hesitated.
“Go quickly and come back quickly!” Ms. Lin promptly urged him.
Without wasting any more words, Mr. Liang immediately left for Yang Family Village.
After Mr. Liang left, Ms. Lin glanced humorously toward the inside of the room.
“Your dad has left, why are you still hiding?”
Hearing this, Liang Zhen came out from the inner room, her face flushed with shyness.
“Mom!”
“Come here!”
Ms. Lin beckoned, called her over, and straightened the double buns on her head.
“Mom, I don’t want to get married yet!” Liang Zhen said shyly, her head bowed.
Ms. Lin shook her head gently and smiled tenderly, “You’re not a little girl anymore; it’s time to talk about marriage.”
“But I want to stay with you and dad for a few more years!” Liang Zhen looked up, her bright eyes filled with worry and reluctance.
“It’s not about getting married right now. Even if we arrange a marriage, I will keep you for another two years,” Ms. Lin chuckled as she poked her forehead.
Liang Zhen is only fourteen years old this year; although she’s at an age to discuss marriage, there’s no rush to marry her off.
“But!” Liang Zhen was still uneasy.
The young girl felt anxious about marriage; having grown up in the Liang family, she knew many of the family’s dark secrets – she had also heard numerous tragic stories about married women.
Ms. Lin guessed her thoughts, yet she said lightly with ease, “Although your dad is a bit muddleheaded, he loves you deeply; he wouldn’t let you be a concubine.”
Mr. Liang was a child born out of wedlock, and was therefore particularly sensitive about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate offspring.
He didn’t want his daughter to be a concubine, nor did he want his descendants to be illegitimate.
That was one of the reasons he willingly left the Liang family.
In the Liang family, he couldn’t even decide on his daughter’s marital matters, let alone anything else.
…
It is unclear how Mr. Liang inquired about the Yang family, but a few days later, Mrs. Wang brought back a reply.
Mr. Liang preliminarily agreed to an alliance through marriage between the two families, but an official meeting between both families had to occur first.
The very next day after receiving Mrs. Wang’s reply, Yang Zhenshan, accompanied by Yang Mingzhi, officially visited Mr. Liang.
The visit was nominally about friendship, but in reality, it was for matchmaking.
The pretense of friendship was to preserve both families’ dignity; if the marriage proposal fell through, it wouldn’t harm the reputations of both families.
This was an idea proposed by Mrs. Wang.
According to her, that’s how talks of marriage are conducted – they find reasons for the families to meet several times, and if suitable, the marriage is settled.
During this visit, Yang Zhenshan not only met Mr. Liang but also encountered Ms. Lin.
Although Ms. Lin is a woman, she is much shrewder than Mr. Liang.
At noon, Yang Zhenshan stayed at the Liang family’s house and shared a drink with Mr. Liang.
After three rounds of drinks, the two men became more familiar with each other.
“Brother Yang, although I’m a bit slow, I know I can’t return to the Liang family now!”
“I don’t care much about the Liang family, but I have a grievance that I can’t swallow!”
“They look down on me, just drove me out like that, I feel so unwilling!”
Mr. Liang, not being a heavy drinker, after a few cups of alcohol began to speak his mind.
“Haha, just the Liang family, if you can’t go back then so be it. I believe as long as Brother Liang puts in effort, you will surely achieve great success in the future!”
“When the time comes, even if the Liang family wants Brother Liang to return, it will depend on whether Brother Liang wants to!”
Yang Zhenshan said agreeably.
“You’re right, if the Liang family wants me back, unless my eldest brother comes himself, I will absolutely not return,” Mr. Liang said, his face flushed and tongue heavy.
“Come on, let’s drink!” Yang Zhenshan gestured to him to drink.
This fellow, he’s seen right through him.
Just a simple-minded person.
Such a person may seem a bit foolish, but they are the best to associate with.
Because they do not play tricks with you.
Compared to those who say one thing to your face and another behind your back, Yang Zhenshan much prefers to be on good terms with Mr. Liang.
After a few more drinks, Mr. Liang completely collapsed onto the table.
But his son, Liang Xiu, still sat at the table, a six-year-old child acting like a little adult, entertaining Yang Minghao.
“If you dare to bully my sister, I will fight at the cost of my life to bite you!”
Yang Minghao, watching his future little brother-in-law, awkwardly scratched his head.
This little brother-in-law is quite fierce!
What to do?
His face turned red, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out his words, “I won’t bully your sister!”
“That’s good! Don’t think that just because I’m young I can’t stand up for my sister. Remember, my sister has brothers too,” Liang Xiu said with a seriousness and gravity on his rounded face that didn’t match his age.
Next to him, Yang Zhenshan listened to these words, a slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth, then lifted his cup and took a drink.
“Brother Xiu, rest assured, I can guarantee that your sister will not be mistreated in the Yang family. If anyone bullies her, I will stand up for her!”
Yang Zhanshan said with utmost seriousness, not underestimating this child.
Liang Xiu looked up at him and then nodded, saying, “I believe in you, Uncle!”
Mr. Liang as a father seemed somewhat unreliable, but his son seemed to be very clear-headed.
At such a young age, he already knew how to support his sister.
Moreover, his actions, although very naive, made Yang Zhenshan believe that this boy had the potential to grow up successfully.
Having had their fill of wine and food, Yang Zhenshan stood up to take his leave.
A few days later, Mr. Liang brought his wife and children to visit the Yang family, and Yang Zhenshan again hosted them warmly.
Then, Yang Zhenshan began preparing gifts for the betrothal.
The betrothal, also known as engagement, according to local customs, involves the man’s family sending matchmakers to propose to the woman’s family with gifts. Once consent is obtained, they formally invite matchmakers to present the “betrothal gifts.”
In the countryside, some of these ceremonies are simplified since life is tough for everyone and extravagance is impractical.
But now that the Yang family had prospered, Yang Zhenshan felt that the necessary rituals should not be neglected.
Since the banquet last time, the Yang family had gained reputation in Anning County as one of the leading households, perhaps not comparable to the prominent clans, but definitely among the wealthiest families within a ten-mile radius.
Thus, Yang Zhenshan prepared over thirty different gifts for the proposal, including several valuables, giving ample face to the Liang family.
Outside the Liang family’s cloth shop, Mr. Liang, looking at the gifts being carried in and with a flush on his face, was excited and exhilarated.
“This marital engagement is splendid!”
He complimented to Mrs. Liang.
Mrs. Liang also breathed a sigh of relief; although they had met with the Yang family several times, things hadn’t been finalised and they had been uneasy.
Now seeing the Yang family’s great regard for their daughter, they felt completely reassured.
After the betrothal was concluded, the next step was matching the horoscopes, something Yang Zhenshan no longer needed to worry about, as Mrs. Wang and the Li family would manage it.
As for the wedding, both families had agreed to hold it in two years, by which time Yang Mingzhi and Liang Zhen would be only sixteen, and getting married at that age wasn’t considered late.
Once the marriage was arranged, Yang Zhenshan began to pack up, preparing to head to Chongshan Pass.