After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 514 Shared Joy
"Congratulations to you too!" Shen Yi poured Lu Tong another glass of wine.

Lu Tong shook his head, "I have nothing to congratulate you on."

"Who said that!" Shen Yi leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Brother Lu did a lot of good things for the people when he was the magistrate of Zhaohua County! Not to mention anything else, how much money did the coal mines earn for the county? The people's lives have almost all improved."

In other words, outsiders don't know and still think we're a poor, remote place. Anyone who has been to Zhaohua County would dare say we're poor. Furthermore, with the successful pilot program for the imperial examinations, we've cultivated talent for the court, and who knows, we might even have our names listed with the emperor.

A promotion is only a matter of time!

Shen Yi didn't speak too definitively, but Lu Tong sensed something unusual and his heart suddenly started pounding. "Brother Shen, what do you mean?"

"Shh!" Shen Yi gestured for silence. "Brother Lu, let's drink. Let's not talk about business now."

Shen Yin was able to know these things thanks to the box that Princess Huai'an had Amber give him. He hadn't had time to look at it carefully in the rush, only glancing at it briefly, but those two glances were enough for him to understand a lot.

After calming down, Lu Tong drank several more cups and even played a game with Su Chunlin and Shen Ying.

Seeing that their county magistrate was so approachable, the crowd gradually relaxed.

It's noisy outside.

The backyard isn't exactly peaceful either.

Su Tai had a small table set up separately to entertain the female guests.

Everyone showered Shen Yuezhang with praise.

Madam Xu praised her even more, pulling Shen Yuezhang along and smiling so hard her eyes disappeared, "Auntie knew you were a lucky child, and your parents are reliable too."

Chuncao and Chunxing tried their best to suppress their laughter, thinking that the old lady hadn't said that before, but they dared not expose Xu Shi's shortcomings now.

While Han was overjoyed, she couldn't help but worry, "Xiao Tai, I heard that the hot spring resort in the betrothal gifts is something that money can't buy. With such an expensive betrothal gift, how will we prepare Yue Zhang's dowry?"

She knew her daughter and son-in-law were wealthy, but as Tang said, many things couldn't be solved with money alone. At least, they couldn't afford something like a hot spring resort. Han really couldn't imagine how her daughter and son-in-law could come up with a dowry that was commensurate with the betrothal gifts.

It was only then that everyone realized what was happening, and they couldn't help but worry.

Tang pondered and said, "That is the eldest princess of the royal family. How can ordinary families compare to her? I'm afraid even the most powerful families in the capital might not be able to produce a dowry of equal value."

If you ask me, I'd suggest sending the caravan to the capital to inquire and prepare accordingly, modeling our preparations after those of the aristocratic families.

Su Tai nodded, "Sister Tang is absolutely right. Anything that money can buy is not a problem, and we shouldn't try to buy things that money can't buy, lest we create unnecessary trouble."

Seeing that her daughter had a plan, Madam Han felt relieved. Looking at the beautiful Shen Yuezhang with reluctance, she said with great emotion, "I used to think you were just a little girl, but now you've grown into a young lady and are getting married! Just wait, your grandmother will have to prepare a proper dowry for you!"

Shen Yuezhang hurriedly said, "Grandmother, you can just give me a little something. I have Qingfengzhai, which can make money."

Mrs. Han chuckled and pinched her cheek. "Your money is yours, but what your grandmother gives is her heartfelt gift."

The others nodded in agreement.

The meal lasted from daytime until evening.

Lu Tong and Tang Shi and Lu Xiang stayed at the Shen family's house for another night.

Tang had just returned to her room from her daughter's room when she saw Lu Tong, who was completely drunk. She was furious and slapped him twice. "You're really something! Getting drunk like this in someone else's house! Unbelievable!" Lu Tong rolled over, his face as red as a boiled shrimp. He wasn't angry at being slapped by Tang; instead, he chuckled and said, "I'm just happy!"

"What's there to be happy about? It's not like your daughter is engaged!" Mrs. Tang rolled her eyes.

Lu Tong pulled her into his arms and said in a very low voice, "Brother Shen told me that I might be getting a promotion! Don't you think I should be happy?"

"Really?" Tang's eyes lit up, and she suddenly grabbed Lu Tong's sleeve. "Is the information reliable?"

Lu Tong leaned back, feeling an unprecedented sense of relief. "He's now related to Princess Huai'an by marriage. If what he says isn't true, then who can I trust?"

Mrs. Tang was overjoyed, but then a little annoyed. "Does this mean we have to reconsider Xiangxiang's marriage?"

If Lu Tong hadn't been promoted and Pu Tianci had achieved top marks in the imperial examinations, this marriage would have been a good match. But today, Tang Shi knows that Shen Yuezhang is going to marry the only son of the Princess, which creates a sense of disparity.

Even without Shen Yuezhang's good fortune, her daughter could still find a husband from a family of even higher social standing.

Lu Tong sobered up a bit, suppressed his smile, and shook his head with a serious expression. "If Pu Tianci can achieve top results, we must agree to this marriage! Putting aside everything else, the Pu family and the Shen family have a good relationship, and Pu Tianci is especially favored by Brother Shen and his wife."

If Xiangxiang marries Pu Tianci, our family will at least have some connection with Princess Huai'an. If something really happens in the future, Brother Shen will not sit idly by.

Besides, if Pu Tianci is capable and Brother Shen is willing to help him, Xiangxiang's good days are yet to come! We need to take a long-term view.”

After careful consideration, Tang realized that Lu Tong's words made sense, so she gave up on the idea.

Meanwhile, Han and Su Chunlin, who lived in the next courtyard, were also discussing Shen Yuezhang's marriage.

"My granddaughter's marriage is so wonderful, it's making me, her grandmother, uneasy! Oh dear! I'm afraid the things we prepared for her before are no longer useful!"

When Shen Yi and Su Tai got married, they had practically nothing. In addition, Shen Yi didn't have any proper elders, so Madam Han was extremely worried.

She secretly helped Shen Yuezhang save up her dowry from the moment he was born.

These were all good things they had earned in ordinary times, which they had saved up because they were reluctant to use them. Each child received a share, which amounted to one or two thousand taels of silver.

This amount of money would be a huge fortune for an ordinary family.

Madam Han had already planned to bring out these things when Shen Yuezhang got married, to make her granddaughter proud. But today, she was devastated by the dowry and was really worried.

Su Chunlin remained calm and unhurried. "My granddaughter's wedding is at the end of the year. If all else fails, we can have A-Zhan collect some good things from outside. If that doesn't work, we can find another way. We can give her whatever we have. Or we can use the estate or shops instead!"

Han wanted to make Shen Yuezhang proud, but she couldn't agree with Su Chunlin, so she simply ignored him and went to sleep.

The next morning, the Su family and the Lu family left one after the other.

Shen Yi was feeling unwell from a hangover and planned to rest for another half day before returning to the county town.

Take this opportunity to rummage through the contents of that box and examine them closely.

Su Tai waited for him to open the box.

Seeing Shen Yi take out a booklet, she said, "I also glanced at it yesterday. This is about the connections of officials in Lizhou and their links with the capital. The Princess must be thinking highly of you to give you this."