Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1604 - 817: Visiting Relatives (Part 2)

On the cabinet, besides the two bags of yuanxiao sent by Manman’s Family, there were also pastries and other gifts they had sent in recent days, filling the cabinet completely. In addition, there were two bags of sod cakes and two small jugs of liquor.

In this era, the sod cakes sold in shops were usually unwrapped, but could be wrapped in one-pound packages based on customer requests, using straw paper with an extra red paper sheet on top, with printed patterns. The patterns were generally simple, like the ones on these two bags, where leaves held a peach, suggesting longevity.

There was no extra charge for such packaging.

If purchased in larger quantities, one could spend a small additional amount to buy a rectangular paper box. The box would also have a red paper matching its size, with printed auspicious and festive patterns. Normally, these boxes would hold two pounds of pastries, which could be selected from the shop to pack into the box. This is generally called a pastry box.

The pastry box is more respectable than the straw paper wrapping, and the contents are generally higher-end pastries compared to sod cakes.

These two bags of sod cakes and two jugs of liquor were clearly sent by Younger Lady Zhou’s family.

Lian Manman’s gaze moved from the cabinet to the guests sitting on the kang.

Younger Lady Zhou and Lady Zhou sat side by side, their statures similar. Lian Manman scanned Younger Lady Zhou, noting her fair complexion, more similar in appearance to Lady Zhou than Lady Da Zhou. Comparing the two, Lady Zhou was certainly a beauty in her youth, but Younger Lady Zhou was even more beautiful.

Younger Lady Zhou wore an all-blue attire, common for slightly older tenant farmers in that era. Lady Zhou was also neat and tidy, but not quite as impeccable as Younger Lady Zhou.

Younger Lady Zhou had jet-black hair, not a single strand of gray, styled into a chignon at the back of her head. Two gilded silver hairpins adorned her chignon, her ears held red gold fine twisted wire earrings, and her two hands resting on her lap were very clean, each ring finger wearing a stirrup-shaped gold ring.

Judging by Younger Lady Zhou’s attire and appearance, she was a woman who had always lived well.

Younger Lady Zhou’s husband, Shang Huaide, had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and an average stature. He also wore an all-blue outfit, tidily dressed from head to toe. It seems that, in their youth, he and Younger Lady Zhou were very well-matched.

Younger Lady Zhou’s son and daughter sat beside her. From Lady Zhou’s conversation, Lian Manman learned that the girl’s name was Shang Baorong. She appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, with a large braid swept back, also adorned with a gilded silver hairpin, and a red silk flower. She wore no rings, but occasionally revealed her wrists, on which she wore two hoof-shaped garlic head bracelets.

Shang Baorong’s skin clearly took after Younger Lady Zhou, very fair, her facial shape identical to her mother’s, though her eyebrows and eyes resembled Shang Huaide’s, with thick eyebrows and large almond-shaped eyes, revealing small sesame-like teeth when she smiled.

A beautiful, quite cheerful-looking girl.

Shang Baorong had small feet. When on the ground earlier, Lian Manman noticed her sharp, delicate shoe tips exposed while walking. Those embroidered shoes must be quite beautiful, and her small feet inside should be the highly coveted three-inch golden lotus of many men in that era.

Beside Shang Baorong sat the younger son of Younger Lady Zhou and Shang Huaide, named Shang Baogen. Shang Baogen wore a cotton brocade outfit similar to Shang Baorong’s. The fabric of the siblings’ clothing was superior to that of their parents’. Lian Manman knew Shang Baogen was fourteen this year, but he appeared somewhat thin. Unlike his parents, Shang Baogen had a long face, single eyelids, and slightly smaller eyes, though his skin was also fair and clean, looking less like a farmstead child, more like a wealthy family’s young master.

Thinking about this, Lian Manman couldn’t help but chuckle. She remembered hearing from Wu Yugui’s wife previously that Shang Huaide was a tailor, never a tenant farmer.

This Shang Family appeared to have some savings, certainly a wealthy family in the village.

"Is this your second girl? Named Manman, right? She’s truly well-formed. How old is she now? Has she settled on a marriage?" While Lian Manman was pondering, she suddenly heard Younger Lady Zhou ask.

Younger Lady Zhou’s voice was clear, not slow-spoken like Lady Da Zhou, but quick-paced like Lady Zhou, her tone was high, her gaze at Lian Manman slightly sharp.

"...Thirteen this year..." Lian Manman replied. Regarding the marriage question, she pretended not to hear.

"Hasn’t settled on a marriage yet," Lian Shouxin responded, "She’s still young, we’re thinking to keep her a few more years."

"Oh," Younger Lady Zhou nodded, turning to Lady Zhou, "Kids today enjoy life, back in our day, we were all married off by fourteen or fifteen."

"Once she’s of age, it’s time to settle on a marriage, it’s not good to keep a girl too long." Younger Lady Zhou said to Lian Shouxin.

"...How old is Baorong’s aunt this year? Has she settled on a marriage?" Just then Lady Chiang entered, smilingly asking Younger Lady Zhou.

"She’s sixteen this year," Younger Lady Zhou glanced at Shang Baorong, her eyes filled with affection, "This child is simple-minded, previously outside, we planned to return, so we haven’t settled on a marriage for her. Our eldest had no choice, he reached the age, but now he’s far away, who knows when we’ll see him next."

"Is Third Aunt and Third Uncle not planning to return?" Lian Shouxin asked.

**

Here’s a second post, seeking pink support. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)