Chapter 1405: Chapter 1405: Lin Family People

"Sister Yu is married to a young master from the prefecture; Sister Dan also grew up there. Why has she come back to the village to marry? Could it be that she has some hidden illness?"

"Pah, Yanjin’s mother, you’d better keep your mouth shut. That’s the village chief’s granddaughter you’re talking about. If the chief hears this, he’ll definitely expel your family from the clan!"

Shang Yanjin’s mother said, "I’m not saying this for the chief to hear, I’m saying it for the Gu Family People to hear. We’re being kind, we don’t want them to be deceived."

Pah, not wanting the Gu Family to be deceived? Old lady, I see you’re doing this on purpose, trying to ruin the marriage between the Gu Family and the village chief’s family.

Shang Yansheng’s mother immediately walked away, not wanting to be associated with her, fearing her own family would be implicated.

"Ah, pah, coward!" Shang Yanjin’s mother cursed at Shang Yansheng’s old mother.

But she didn’t know the reason Shang Xiudan was marrying back to the village; the Gu Family already knew, and it wasn’t for the reason she mentioned.

"The Gu Family from Da Feng Village has come to propose to the Village Chief Shang’s house! Golden bean pancakes are there for the taking, wedding sweets are free for all!" The matchmaker sat on the front board of the mule cart and shouted to the curious folks of Shang Family Village along the road.

Shang Family Village is wealthier than other villages, but that doesn’t mean they’ve had their fill of everything. Golden bean pancakes and sweets are expensive items, and everyone came up to grab them. After getting the pancakes and sweets, they would say, "Congratulations to the Gu Family, adding prosperity!"

Old Mrs. Yan sat in the carriage, grinning ear to ear, as Jin Niu lifted the curtain for her to see everyone congratulating her family.

She couldn’t help but wipe her tears, "A young man in his twenties, finally getting a bride, and from the village chief’s family no less, truly... thanks to the blessings of your family."

The last part was said to Mrs. Cui.

Mrs. Cui, being the mother of a Small Three-Yuan Scholar, the mother-in-law of a Lord Company Commander, and a squad leader’s mother-in-law, was a person of significant status in the area. This time she was sitting in the same carriage with Old Mrs. Yan to deliver the betrothal gifts to the Shang Family.

"You really overstate it, to be able to settle this marriage is all Qingliang’s doing. Qingliang is a good kid, that’s why the Village Chief Shang’s family took a liking to him." Mrs. Cui was recently very happy, as both of her daughters were married into familiar families and were living well. She couldn’t stop smiling these days, becoming bolder.

Old Mrs. Yan patted her hand, saying, "I’m old, but clear-minded. It’s not just Qingliang; even my family’s fortune is thanks to your family’s blessings."

She also praised Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu is a child who narrowly escaped death, and thus must have good fortune coming her way. Ever since she was hit in the head by the Niu Family’s brothers and came back to consciousness, our families’ fortunes have risen, our days getting better one after another. Now, I even get to ride in a carriage."

The horse is military property, something an average person can’t buy. To purchase it, you need an official position. The carriage they were riding was bought under Gu Jin’an’s name.

Third Grandma chuckled, "Old sister, stop with the compliments, or Dashan’s wife will be embarrassed."

She continued, "Our families have been through life and death together, no need for polite words, this fortune belongs to all of us."

Old Mrs. Yan nodded, "Yes, yes, Third Sister-in-law knows how to speak; our families all share this good fortune."

Ms. Yan was laughing, and this was the happiest she’d seen her mother-in-law in many years: "Mother, your voice isn’t in good shape, so rest for now, and speak again once we reach Village Chief Shang’s house, or your voice won’t hold up."

During the time they fled famine, Old Mrs. Yan’s voice was damaged because she let the children drink more water.

Old Mrs. Yan just laughed, "With you as the mother-in-law, I, the grandmother, just need to sit, no need to say more, no worries."

Ms. Yan, hearing this, laughed along, her laughter echoing outside the carriage.

The people from Shang Family Village heard and knew the Gu Family was overjoyed to be marrying into the Village Chief Shang’s family.

After a little over a quarter of an hour, the procession delivering the betrothal gifts halted at the main gates of Village Chief Shang’s house.

Village Chief Shang’s eldest grandson, Shang Zifu, along with other brothers from the Shang Family, awaited at the entrance. Upon seeing the Gu Family’s carriage arriving, they quickly stood up straight.

The matchmaker dismounted first, leading able women, maids, and musicians playing joyful tunes, and shouted, "Auspicious day and hour, the Gu Family from Da Feng Village has come to present betrothal gifts to the Shang Family. Please open the door to welcome them!"

After three loud shouts, Shang Zifu and the others stepped forward according to custom to greet the Gu Family People.

Once the greetings were exchanged, they opened the main gate, allowing the matchmaker to lead the way with the betrothal gifts inside.

Delivering betrothal gifts is a way for the groom’s family to show respect to the bride’s family. Each item carried required several shouts, and after letting those present appreciate it for a moment, the gifts would then proceed through the gate.

The onlookers eyed the betrothal gifts given by Qingliang’s family with envy, almost drooling.

"I always thought only the Scholar’s Family had money, but didn’t expect Qingliang’s family to be so well-off too. They gave three full sets of golden headwear, six bolts of high-quality fabric, two of which are silks, and gifted 66 taels of silver to build a green brick and tile house, they are truly rich!"

"Exactly, just with such hefty betrothal gifts, imagine how much bride price they’ll give at the wedding!" A woman counted on her fingers and, after a moment, exclaimed, "My God, the village chief’s family will earn at least a thousand taels of silver from marrying off their third granddaughter. Is Gu Qingliang’s family drowning in silver? Are they spending so much to marry a bride? If they saved a bit, they could marry a hundred times!"

The people of Shang Family Village were both envious and jealous.

Shang Yanjin’s mother began devising a scheme, saying to the women around her, "Those Qin, Gu, Luotian families are really rich, and they have many sons and daughters too, right? Do you think we should try to form connections with them?"

One woman cursed, "Yanjin’s mother, are you crazy? Are the doors to the Qin, Gu, and Luotian families easy to approach? Have you forgotten about Shang Laosi’s family? About Mrs. Niu and her kind? And Manager Feng’s family, all who came to ruin. You still want to coax everyone to target their sons and daughters, trying to get us all killed?!"

Shang Yanjin’s mother, having been exposed, righteously retorted, "How is it getting you killed? I’m helping you, as well as helping the Qin, Gu, and Luotian families. When their sons and daughters come of age, they must marry. Our Shang Family Village is doing well. It’s their fortune to form ties with us!"

These words of hers caused all the women nearby to disperse, spitting at Shang Yanjin’s mother, "You malevolent shrew, stay away to not drag us down, the village chief said whoever dares target the Gu Family again will be expelled from the clan!"

"The Jade Pendants! Look, Gu Family’s betrothal gifts include Jade Pendants!" someone exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention.

The people of Shang Family Village looked over to see a red cloth-covered wooden tray holding two concentric jade pendants.

Though the jade quality isn’t top-notch, it’s a rare gesture for a rural family to include jade pendants in betrothal gifts. The Shang Family truly gained face this time.

"Only official families and rich noble families would send jade pendants as betrothal gifts. How generous the Gu family is, willing to give. The village chief’s family has formed a truly favorable match."

The people of Shang Family Village started praising the Gu Family because of the two jade pendants, and Shang Zifu felt quite proud hearing it.

Shang Zixiang, on the other hand, looked towards Lin Guangtong, and seeing the surprised look on his face, finally felt a sense of relief!

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