The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 335 A Pleasant Reassurance
Yusheng Residence is a row of five large rooms, three of which are not partitioned. Several large pieces of furniture are placed there, with a large rosewood table in the middle, piled with various calligraphy works by famous people. On both sides is a large Ru kiln flower vase, filled with flowers, some real and some fake.

Sister You gently placed her hand beside the orchid carved entirely from jade, and the surprise in her eyes slowly turned into delight.

It turns out that my sister really does live a good life in this family.

Looking at the huge painting of misty rain on the west wall, Old Lady You knew it was no ordinary painting, even though she didn't know who painted it. Just by looking at the seals on it, she knew it was no ordinary painting.

"Mom, there isn't a single mosquito."

Second Sister You whispered to Old Lady You, "The screens on their windows are so beautiful."

"Where is that window screen paper?"

As Old Lady You entered the gate of Yusheng Residence, she touched the emerald green floral gauze curtain that the maid had lifted. "Didn't you see that it's the same as the gauze curtain hanging on the gate? This must be made of gauze or something similar."

"That's a single-layer gauze!"

The voice of Madam You as she entered was crisp and clear. "I brought several bolts of Yuhua brocade, Tianxiang silk, and soft gauze. Mother and sister, please see which colors you like, and I'll have the sewing room make two sets for each of you in a bit."

what?
They even make clothes for you?
The fabric of the clothes was something they had never heard of before.

As the maids filed in carrying bolts of fabric in various colors, Old Lady You couldn't help but smile.

Sure enough, the eldest sister hadn't lied to her; she was the true matriarch of the family.

Otherwise, with such a nice courtyard and such fine materials, how could they be allowed to touch them?

"At Madam Shen's place..."

"That's what my mother-in-law meant."

Madam You knew what she was worried about, and smiled as she held up the gray-green Yuhua brocade against her. "This color will make Mother look even fairer. How about Mother have a set made from it?"

"Okay, okay, everything is fine."

Grandma You patted her daughter's hand, feeling completely relaxed and comfortable.

She looked at the pale yellow, silver-red, and orange-red colors, all of which were suitable for her second and third daughters.

Clearly, both Madam Shen and the eldest daughter had put their hearts into it.

"Whatever makes you happy."

Madam You was also very happy and beckoned to her two younger sisters, "Second sister, third sister, what are you waiting for? Come and choose!"

Several years have passed since we last met, and both of my younger sisters have grown into even more beautiful young women.

The second sister looks gentle and quiet, while the third sister is cheerful and outgoing.

It was pretty much what she imagined.

"Thank you sister!"

Sister You quickly chose pale yellow and orange-red.

"Big sister, I like light green and silver-red."

The third sister looked at her eldest sister with eyes full of joy.

Madam You touched her little face. "I'm glad you like it. I'll get you some more jewelry later."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Little Magpie called out to Sister Green Bamboo from the courtyard.

"Is Grandma here?"

Qingzhu brought over several maids, each carrying a box.

Xiao Que'er helped lift the gauze curtain, and Qingzhu smiled as she led the people in. She bowed to Old Madam You and the three You sisters, saying, "Madam recently acquired some new jewelry. Today, seeing that the two young ladies liked it very much, she specially ordered me to send it over for them to use."

The lady also said, "Madam, don't be jealous. She gave you the set you looked at last time to use for your yard."

"Madam underestimates me. Do you think I'm the kind of person who would be jealous of my own sister?"

Madam You chuckled, "But I won't return what's delivered to me."

Qingzhu smiled with her lips pursed, "Madam said that you would take advantage of her and then act innocent, but there's nothing we can do. She treats you like a daughter, so we can only put up with it."

His words made everyone in the room laugh.

Old Lady You, her second sister, and her third sister also knew from their comfortable attitude towards each other that Lady You was truly favored by her mother-in-law.

That's good! They were delighted and couldn't help but straighten their backs a little.

That evening, Jia Zhen, who had just finished court, and Jia Rong, who had just finished school, specially accompanied Shen Ning and Old Lady You for a few drinks before leaving.

It's not that the whole family can't sit at one table, but Shen Ning had already instructed that a table be set up outside for the father and son.

She didn't want Jia Zhen and Jia Rong to have much contact with You Erjie and You Sanjie.

However, Jia Zhen, as the brother-in-law, had to interfere in their marriage.

Whether it's the Imperial Guard or the Five Cities Garrison, there are many people suitable for Sister You Er.

After the banquet, Qin Keqing accompanied You Erjie and You Sanjie out. Shen Ning, seemingly concerned, directly asked about Old Mother You.

"How old is Second Sister this year? Isn't she old enough to be married by now?"

She asked Old Lady You, seemingly out of concern.

"Second Sister is fifteen this year."

Old Lady You sighed, "But back in that family, I was betrothed to the child of Zhang Ping, the head of the royal estate, when we were still babies."

With Madam Shen's shrewdness, she couldn't possibly be unaware of her situation.

Grandma You didn't hide anything. "Later, our family had a misfortune, and so did theirs. We had no contact for more than ten years. Our family members wanted to look for him, but he got sick and that was delayed again."

She looked earnestly at Shen Ning, "I've come here this time also to trouble my in-laws to help investigate the Zhang family."

Was there a marriage certificate drawn up at the time?

"no!"

Old Lady You quickly shook her head.

Although there was no marriage certificate, some people still knew about the arranged marriage between the two families.

Shen Ning understood somewhat from her expression.

People in this era value integrity and keeping their promises. Even if they look down on something, they'll still have to resolve it if they have something on their mind.

"Xiaodong, go and have Xing'er inquire about it."

"Yes!"

Xiaodong quickly withdrew.

“Arranged marriages from the womb are extremely unreliable!” Shen Ning added, “If the other party’s child is a good-for-nothing, are we supposed to send our precious daughter over there to suffer?”

“Madam is right!” Madam You quickly interjected, “Mother, if the Zhang family’s children are not good enough, why not give them a few taels of silver and let my second sister find another husband?”

The second sister has a somewhat soft personality; it would be best if she married into a family with good morals.

The Zhang family hasn't contacted home for so many years; it's either because they look down on us or they have other plans.

Or it could simply be a case of "riding a donkey while looking for a horse."

While keeping them on hold, she was also looking for someone better.

In Madam You's mind, with her father gone, the You family had long since fallen into ruin, and the Zhang family probably just pretended nothing had happened. Otherwise, why hadn't they sent a single letter in so many years?

"Ah~"

Old Lady You sighed, "Actually, that's what I meant too."

Madam Shen and her eldest daughter have both made their points so clear. If she were to feign loyalty and commitment, she would only end up harming her own daughter.

Old Mrs. You readily admitted to the matter, saying, "Back then, it was my husband who, in a moment of drunken excitement, arranged this marriage. Over the years, I've regretted it countless times."

Fortunately, it's not too late to salvage the situation.

In the Dream of the Red Chamber, Zhang Hua seems to be extremely useless.

But thanks to Sister You, he actually gained a lot of money.

It could be said that he ate several of them.

Although it was Wang Xifeng who made him eat it, he and You Shi were ultimately involved in the Jia family's case. Shen Ning didn't mind helping You Erjie out.

Madam You of Ningguo Mansion was the matriarch of the family. If her younger sister, or even her stepsister, were to become someone's concubine, it would be a disgrace to her.

However, Sister You San...

The tragic end she and Liu Xianglian suffered in "Dream of the Red Chamber" is truly heartbreaking.

"By the way, how old is Third Sister? Was she also betrothed in childhood, like Second Sister?"

"No no."

Old Lady You quickly shook her head.

She already regretted ruining her second daughter's life and had argued with that person several times. How could she agree to ruin another daughter's life?
"Third Sister is thirteen this year. She has a bit of a temper. There aren't many good families in the countryside."

Old Lady You blushed slightly, "Now she's going to live with her sister..."

"Don't worry, her sister and brother-in-law can handle it."

Shen Ning smiled and didn't make things difficult for her.

The Jia family's help in persuading others is at least ten times better than the mother and daughter struggling on their own, if not a thousand or a hundred times better.

“This matter should be handled by her sister and brother-in-law.”

"Yes, that's right." Madam You smiled and patted Old Madam You's hand. "Mother, don't worry, from now on, my husband and I will take care of our two younger sisters' affairs."

In the Jia family, it wouldn't look good for her if her two younger sisters married down to lower social classes.

She used to struggle to support herself, so it was one thing to lack the ability, but now that she has power, connections, and money, how could she not find two better families for her younger sisters?

While she couldn't find a noble or high-ranking family to marry into, it would be a piece of cake for her to marry her sisters into scholarly families or families of low-ranking military officers.

"...Thank you for your kindness, Madam!"

Grandma You was both gratified and grateful.

When the Jia family chose their eldest daughter as their second wife, she didn't actually think highly of it.

At that time, although the Ningguo Mansion was still called the Duke's Mansion, everyone knew that the family had actually fallen into ruin.

Jia Zhen has always had a reputation for being a troublemaker.

Even the defeated Ningguo Mansion was still a good match for the You family.

woman!
Actually, it's all about living life no matter who you marry.

Poor families don't have multiple wives and concubines, but is it because they don't want to?

They have no money, they can barely fill their own stomachs, and they don't have time to think about such things.

Old Lady You herself came from a poor background and knew all too well that the poorer the family, the harder it was for a woman.

If you don't eat or dress well, you'll get scolded by your mother-in-law and beaten by your husband.

If the harvest is bad, it might be sold off directly.

In wealthy families, if a man treats you well, you should reciprocate with more care; if he treats you badly, guard your heart, enjoy the good life, and you'll find true freedom.

That's what she thought, and that's what she told Madam You.

Unexpectedly, the Jia family, which I didn't have high hopes for, turned out to be the best place for my eldest daughter.

"My daughter has been living a good life in your home."

"You're too kind, in-laws."

Shen Ning glanced at Madam You with a smile, "To be honest, my daughter-in-law is a hundred times better than my son. Because of her, I can put my mind at ease and not worry about anything."

Jia Zhen couldn't feel at ease.

She dared not let her guard down when it came to Jia Rong.

Of all the people in the Ningguo Mansion, Shen Ning trusted You Shi the most.

In front of Old Lady You, she praised Madam You for a long time before seeing them off.

Only then did Old Lady You truly feel at ease.

“I saw it; your mother-in-law truly treats you like a daughter.”

Old Lady You held Madam You's hand and walked slowly along the path cleared by the maids. "Eldest sister, you must be a good daughter-in-law."

"Ok!"

Under the moonlight, Madam You smiled and said, "Mother, don't worry. Actually, before you came, I always called my mother-in-law 'Mother'."

But when her stepmother arrived, to prevent both of them from responding at the same time when she called for someone, she changed her name back to "Madam".

"How could I not know that my mother-in-law treats me well?"

Madam You touched the face of her third sister who had followed her up. "You don't need to worry about your two sisters' marriages. I've already saved up some dowry for them."

"As for the son-in-law..."

"He doesn't care."

Madam You laughed, "When my mother-in-law divided the property among me, she wanted me to have enough money so I could do whatever I wanted."

Doesn't her mother-in-law know about her family's situation?

But her mother-in-law still transferred the estates and shops to her name.

How much money did "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" make for her bookstore?
What's more, now there's "The Return of the Condor Heroes" too?
Now that Madam You has money, she doesn't mind spending a little on her two well-behaved younger sisters. "Besides, she has always valued girls. If she hadn't been trying to help her second and third sisters, she wouldn't have said those things today."

Saying those things meant protecting his two younger sisters.

"My husband always listens to my wife and has always been very good to me."

Since they started eating together more often, Jia Zhen has become increasingly kind to her.

Sometimes, Lady You couldn't help but suspect that her mother-in-law limited everyone's daily meals just so that Jia Zhen could spend more time with her.

"What about Rong-ge'er?"

Sister You couldn't help but ask her older sister, "Now that you're pregnant too, what about him...?"

"He's always wanted a younger brother."

Madam You laughed, "My sister doesn't know, our family is small, and we have to rely on him alone for everything." She then sighed, "Several times when things have happened in the family, it was his small shoulders that took on everything."

Especially when my mother-in-law gave birth to my younger sister.

At that time, Jia Zhen was assassinated, and the mother and son depended on each other for survival...

"When the child found out I was pregnant, he was so happy. Whenever he had time, he would bring his sister-in-law to my room to read. Even when he didn't have time to come over, he would force my uncle to read."

Speaking of Jia Rong, Madam You's eyes were full of smiles. "Mother and sister, don't worry, my mother-in-law taught him very well. Rong-ge'er is polite and filial."

Her stepmother never mistreated her, but she suffered the same hardships as her mother from a young age.

Even though the nanny on Rong'er's side kept a close watch on her after she became Rong'er's stepmother, as if she wanted to harm Rong'er, she didn't care.

She always provided the best supplies to that courtyard.

When my mother-in-law returned from the Taoist temple, she was exactly the same as before.

Madam You always believed that children without mothers learn to be independent early, and no matter what, she always knew what was going on.

Sure enough, that's how it is.

“When he comes across something delicious or fun outside, he gives it to his mother-in-law, but he never forgets me.”

This is enough.

Now, Madam You is worried that she is carrying a girl.

Although Jia Zhen said he would love either a boy or a girl, and that he would love a girl more, Lady You actually hoped to have a boy.

It's not that I don't like girls, but boys are better able to protect this family.

If anything happens, fathers, sons, and brothers can do it together.