Chapter 374: Gift
Editor: Atlas Studios
It was only when she received the engagement token that Li Jinghua finally relaxed. The two families had decided to set the marriage on the 18th of September. Li Jinghua was very satisfied, but her mother, Madam Yuan, felt that this wasn’t doing her daughter justice. “Five months between the engagement and the wedding is too short.”
“Mother, neither of us is young anymore. No harm rushing it a bit.”
However, in Madam Yuan’s opinion, the Qi family did not value her daughter enough. Since her husband and son were already like that, she naturally hoped that her only healthy and able-bodied daughter could obtain more happiness.
Before settling the marriage with the Qi family, she’d only hoped that her daughter would not be pushed out by the clan to make a deal, and that she’d marry a husband of decent character. After settling the marriage with the Qi family, she also hoped that the Qi family would value her daughter more. If she married in such a hurry, not only would the maternal family despise her daughter, but her husband’s family would also look down on her.
Madam Wu was not her daughter’s proper mother-in-law. If she took advantage of this fact, wouldn’t it be an easy excuse for her to torture her?
However, Li Jinghua felt that she was living her own life, and was very satisfied with the current situation. At least, it was much better than before.
She held her mother’s arm and smiled. “Mother, help me embroider my dowry first. If General Qi didn’t respect me, he wouldn’t have chosen me over Second Sister.”
Madam Yuan could only nod reluctantly.
Mu Yangling and Qi Haoran had just entered the Octadic Treasures Restaurant when Qi Haoran muttered, “If the Li family minds this, why didn’t they mention it to Big Brother?”
“They wouldn’t dare. Third Miss Li’s parents don’t have much say in the Li family, so they can’t bring it up even if they want to. Trust me. If you choose some gifts and send them over in Big Brother Qi’s name, it will definitely increase Third Miss Li’s prestige. After she marries over, she’ll do a good job of handling the household matters. By expressing our goodwill first, she’ll naturally repay our goodwill. This will be good for everyone.”
Qi Haoran stole a glance at Mu Yangling and asked, “Did Auntie Shu teach you this?”
“No, I figured it out myself.”
Qi Haoran nodded thoughtfully. “Just like how we were back then, you expressed your goodwill to me first, and then we got together.” At this point, Qi Haoran’s mouth widened in joy.
“… You were the one who asked me for a Winter Solstice gift,” Mu Yangling couldn’t help but say.
Qi Haoran glanced at her and replied proudly, “Yes, I was the one who asked, but how did you manage to give it to me the next day? It’s not store-bought, but homemade. Haha… That means that you’ve long wanted to give me a Winter Solstice gift. Ah Ling, don’t be shy. I won’t tell anyone about this.”
Mu Yangling held it in and couldn’t help but say, “I was going to make that coat for my father.”
“Yes, yes, it was meant for Uncle Mu,” Qi Haoran replied, but he thought that Mu Yangling was just embarrassed on the surface. Since he had benefited from it, he decided not to pursue such trivial matters.
One look and Mu Yangling knew that he wasn’t listening. She could only change the topic and look at the snacks in Octadic Treasures Restaurant.
The snacks at Octadic Treasures Restaurant were very famous in Jingzhao Prefecture, and almost all the rich families had bought snacks here. Hence, Mu Yangling asked directly, “What snacks does the Li family usually choose?”
The waiter serving the two of them quickly named a few snacks and smiled. “Not only does the Li family often order these snacks, but the Jin family and the other squires also like them very much.”
“What do girls slightly older than me like to eat?”
“Mostly jujube cakes and osmanthus cakes, but there are also some with special tastes. I wonder if you’re looking to gift them or eat them yourself?”
“It’s a gift.”
Smiling, the waiter said, “The jujube cake and osmanthus cake are delectable. Miss, if you think that it’s not enough, you can also buy some Almond Buddha’s Hand and Desirable Cake to make four portions.”
Mu Yangling lowered her head and thought for a moment before nodding with a smile. “Then give me a little of each. Wrap it up nicely for me.”
The waiter left happily.
Mu Yangling carried the things back and waved at a more dignified-looking maidservant. She said, “Bring the two of them to the Li Residence and say that this is a gift from our General to their Third Miss. We had no idea of her preference, so we chose randomly. If she wants anything in particular, send someone to the General’s Residence to tell us. We’ll find it for her.”
The maidservant glanced at the Fourth Young Master behind her, took the things with a smile, and respectfully retreated.
When the maidservant sent the things to the Li Residence, Li Jinghua was surprised. Madam Yuan smiled brightly and said, “I didn’t expect General to be a doting man.”
Li Jian was also elated, but then he recalled how tense his niece’s relationship with his family, the second branch, was. After thinking for a moment, he called his daughter over to instruct her to get along well with Li Jinghua during this period of time.
Already annoyed by Li Jinghua’s engagement, Second Miss Li said unhappily, “I’m her older sister and the daughter of the head of the family. Do I have to please her? Father, we’re the Li family of Longxi.”
“Do you think I don’t know?” Li Jian said with a dark expression, “But our Li family has been away from the Great Zhou Dynasty for 20 years and has only been secretly contacting the various aristocratic families. How strong do you think our ties are with them? Qi Xiuyuan is a stepping stone for us. No matter how unconvinced you are, you have to suppress your temper first. After your brothers enter the government and our Li family solidifies our aristocratic status in the Great Zhou Dynasty, you can throw a tantrum however you want.”
Hearing this, Second Miss Li could only suppress her temper and avoid Li Jinghua.
However, Qi Xiuyuan’s gifts seemed to be endless. He sent snacks today, a bolt of cloth tomorrow, and a set of jewelry the day after tomorrow…
They were not very valuable, but one could tell the other party’s sincerity from them. Initially, the Li family and servants had secretly mocked Li Jinghua because of the urgent wedding date, but now, everyone no longer did so. Who said that the Qi family did not value Li Jinghua?
If he didn’t value her, how could he send things here every other day?
It was most likely because General Qi was getting on in age that he had set the wedding date so urgently.
After giving all kinds of gifts for half a month, Second Miss Li finally heaved a sigh of relief. When she felt that the other party didn’t have anything else to give, a bouquet of wildflowers came from the gatehouse. They said that General Qi had plucked them when he went riding in the wilderness and gifted them to Third Miss Li to admire them.
When Third Miss Li received the bouquet of wildflowers, her expression was cold. Then, a smile bloomed on her face. Her eyes were gentle as she inserted the bouquet of wildflowers into the porcelain vase in the room.
This was the first time Wen Cui had seen her mistress smile so brightly. Previously, although she had received snacks and fabric, the young lady had only smiled slightly before asking someone to put them away. However, this time, it was merely a bouquet of wildflowers yet it made her so happy.
The other girls of the Li family were so jealous that their eyes turned red, including Second Miss Li. With red eyes, she asked the girl beside her indignantly, “How am I inferior to Li Jinghua?”
The servant beside her could only comfort her. “Miss, this is just a bouquet of wildflowers. Including the previous things, none of the gifts were valuable…”
“What do you know?” Second Miss Li murmured. “It’s precisely because it’s not expensive that it’s the most precious. Previously, he only needed to instruct someone to buy the pastry and fabric, but this time he personally picked this bouquet of wildflowers…”
Every girl had a “romantic” monster in their hearts. If Qi Xiuyuan kept sending snacks or jewelry, they would just smile. However, these were flowers. Furthermore, they were wildflowers that the other party had seen on the way and sent over immediately.
This was the first time Third Miss Li had returned Qi Xiuyuan’s gift, and it was a lovely and practical pouch.