The last day of September, asking for pink.

... 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Younger Lady Zhou didn’t come, but Shang Huaide and Shang Baogen accompanied Shang Baorong. Shang Baorong was invited by Lady Zhang to the backyard for a chat, while Shang Huaide and Shang Baogen stayed in the front yard talking with Lian Shouxin.

Lian Manman saw Shang Baorong arriving and also came over from the west room to accompany her.

Shang Baorong was dressed in a red jacket and green skirt, her hair neatly coiled up with two hairpins and two wool flowers inserted. A young girl about to get married inevitably carries some bashfulness on her face, along with unconcealable delight. Shang Baorong was already beautiful, and at this moment, she looked even more vibrant.

The love of beauty is universal; everyone loves to see charming people. Lady Zhang liked Shang Baorong’s personality, so she treated Shang Baorong with genuine warmth.

"...Among all the nearby villages, there’s no one with a look and personality that surpasses yours. The Old Guan Family is truly blessed to have you..." praised Lady Zhang.

Although Shang Baorong was cheerful, she felt a bit embarrassed being praised so and lowered her head, revealing a segment of her snow-white neck. Lady Zhang noticed this and again gave Shang Baorong a thorough glance, nodding repeatedly.

"You have a good appearance and figure, the Old Guan Family is really lucky!"

Shang Baorong’s skin was fair, and her figure slightly plump. These were precisely the characteristics most valued by everyone in this era when judging brides. With these two traits, even if Shang Baorong’s facial features were ordinary, she would be considered beautiful by many, not to mention her features were quite handsome.

Although Lady Zhang and Shang Baorong were of the same generation, their ages differed greatly. Lady Zhang sometimes viewed Shang Baorong with the eyes of an elder looking at a younger person. Her fondness for Shang Baorong was mixed with a bit of her own little intentions.

Lian Manman noticed it from the side, finding it amusing in her heart.

"Fourth sister-in-law, what’s going on with you today? Why are you only talking about this? They talked seriously to you. On that day, you must come, and Manman also... My family lives separately here, without any other close relatives. Among the closest is your side, and I get along best with you." Shang Baorong lifted her head, blushing, and smiled at Lady Zhang.

It turns out that Shang Baorong came today specifically to invite Lady Zhang to the Guan Family’s wedding feast on her wedding day.

Planning to stay in Prefecture City for a few days, with many things needing to be arranged both at home and outside, Lady Zhang had been quite busy these days and originally did not plan to attend the Guan Family’s feast. However, when sending ceremonial gifts and being asked, Lady Zhang revealed this intention.

Now, with Shang Baorong coming to invite her personally, Lady Zhang was somewhat troubled.

"I know you have many things going on, and you’re busy. If you come, just sit for a moment and then leave. After all... for nothing else, consider the bond we’ve built over the years." Shang Baorong grasped Lady Zhang’s hand, gently shaking it with a pleading tone.

Shang Baorong spoke truthfully. The Shang Family was the only household here, without other close kin, except for Lady Da Zhou and Lady Zhou, their two relatives by marriage. Although over the years, the Shang Family had broadly extended wedding invitations at Thirty Mile Camp and in the town, truly close connections were few. Besides, they were just ordinary village neighbors, not like family or relatives.

In matters of marriages and funeral rites, the more relatives present, the more respectable it seemed. The Shang Family living alone, with Shang Baorong only having one brother, if few relatives attended, it would make her maternal family seem even lonelier, leaving her more subdued at her husband’s home and husband’s village thereafter.

Moreover, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang as relatives were different from other relatives. Whether or not they attended mattered greatly to the Guan Family, Shang Family, and Shang Baorong.

Lady Zhang liked Shang Baorong and naturally hesitated to think of her as opportunistic. Since Shang Baorong pleaded this way, her heart softened. Although the family had agreed not to attend the feast, she felt a dilemma and instinctively looked at Lian Manman.

Shang Baorong then let go of Lady Zhang’s hand, turning to grip Lian Manman’s.

"Manman, you and your mother should come along. Zhizhi, Er Ya, Yaya, and Yeye should all come, Jiayu also said she would come, you’ll have companions, and everyone together will be bustling and lively... I truly have no closer people, except you." As Shang Baorong spoke, her eyes began to redden.

"...It’s really a matter, otherwise I would certainly go. As relatives, you don’t need to specifically invite. Yes." Lian Manman said with a smile, seeing Shang Baorong a bit downcast, and then added, "You’ve especially come, how could my mother and I forget your kindness... We are close normally, everyone knows that."