The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 283

The women of the Xiao family have returned to Beijing.

Sure enough, those who couldn't sit still arrived.

“Madam, the Li family has sent an invitation, saying that the old lady’s youngest grandnephew will be getting married next month.”

Marriages are not permitted during the national mourning period; ordinary people only need to observe a 100-day mourning period.

Therefore, since the mourning period is this month, an auspicious day was chosen next month.

"okay, I get it."

The maternal family of the old lady of the Li family.

When the sun set and the family fell into trouble, the Li family did not send anyone to pay attention to it.

Back then, everyone avoided getting involved with the Xiao family.

The old lady didn't say anything when she went to Changzhou, but she harbored resentment in her heart.

Back when the old master was alive, all the patients in the Li family, big and small, asked him to treat them. Not only did he not charge them, but he also paid out of his own pocket for a lot of good medicine.

The Li family has a son-in-law who is a royal physician, and the level of care he receives is comparable to that of a noblewoman in the palace.

Back then, everyone treated the old lady with great courtesy.

During holidays and festivals, they would receive generous New Year's gifts. At that time, they wished they could worship the Xiao family as their ancestors.

When the old man got into trouble, they stayed far away.

It seems perfectly reasonable, but this hurdle, with the old lady's passing, can never be overcome!
"Madam, Madam Xu of the Xu family requests an audience."

Unlike the Li family, who sent invitations, Madam Xu came directly to their door.

Having no other choice, Madam Xu went to see her sister-in-law.

"My dear sister, you've suffered so much."

Madam Xu, with tears streaming down her face, recounted the worries they had when they went to the Xu family in Changzhou.

Even Xu almost believed what he said.

"Fortunately, the worst is over now. Little sister, you don't know, but the old lady has been talking about you constantly these past few days while she's ill, saying she doesn't know if she'll be able to see you one last time..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Xu frowned: Is Mother seriously ill?

Why didn't Chunyu mention this before?
“Little sister, you must be tired since you just got back today. Take a rest and go back to the Xu residence tomorrow to see the old lady and put her mind at ease.”

"okay, I get it."

Xu was somewhat skeptical of her sister-in-law's words.

After seeing Madam Xu off, Madam Xu rubbed her temples.

It really is... I haven't seen my mother for seven years, or perhaps she really is sick and has gotten old.

I should go to the Xu residence tomorrow.

Similarly, the Xu and Huang families shared the same idea.

There's no other reason than that my maternal family is my root.

There were reasons why they left for Changzhou back then. Their families abandoned them back then, and there was nothing they could do about it.

Now that we're back in Beijing, this broken road naturally needs to be reconnected.

Another reason for their visits was to arrange marriages for their children.

"Madam, the gatekeeper reports that a matchmaker surnamed Yang is requesting an audience."

This is really...

The matchmaker came to the door to arrange a marriage.

Speaking of which, Chun Shu and Chun Yan should have been married long ago.

I had been on dates in Changzhou, but I was too picky and the options weren't right, so I dragged it out until I was almost twenty.

At this age, it's considered a very difficult problem in Beijing.

Of course, there is someone who is even more difficult than them, namely Miss Qiu Yan, who is the same age as Chun Nuan and is still unmarried.

Knowing that Madam Qiu had been very kind to Yu'er, Madam Xu thought she would visit her in a few days.

If there's one minor figure in the capital you can't afford to offend, it's the matchmaker.

If you offend them, it will be difficult for your child to get married.

Therefore, Madam Xu had someone come in first to welcome them.

"This old woman greets the First Madam."

"You mean Granny Yang?"

"Yes, yes, Madam has a good eye. Back when the eldest young lady got married, it was this old woman who acted as matchmaker."

At this moment, Ms. Xu had an urge to have someone throw her out!
How did she do it?

Did she not know that Chunyu was having a bad time back then?

They still dare to talk about what happened back then.

"Whose family is Granny Yang trying to arrange a marriage for?"

"On behalf of your Chunyan girl."

Granny Yang spoke eloquently, but finally got to the point: it was a twenty-three-year-old man whose wife had died, and crucially, he was a complete novice.

"Granny Yang, I'd like to ask, what made this man think of proposing marriage?"

First, his wife died; second, he was a nobody. He seemed to have some wealth, but what good was that?

At twenty-three years old, he had nothing, no official title, no job, and spent his days fooling around with chickens and dogs.

"The old woman is thinking that the Xiao family's daughters are all getting old, so we'll keep an eye out and if there are any suitable young men around, we'll come over and talk to them."

They'll find a couple, and the matchmaker's fee is quite generous.

"You've really gone to a lot of trouble." This infuriated Madam Xu. "Someone, escort Granny Yang out of the mansion."

Seriously, I really want to add a big one.

Has the Xiao family's daughter really fallen to this level?
"No, no, no, Madam, you must know that the Xiao family is nothing now. Look at your Xiao family, you have no scholars, no servants, no..."

"The Xiao family, now that I'm here, is that enough?"

Panpan, who had been playing with Xiao Muyang, arrived in the front hall at some point.

She stood in front of the matchmaker, hands on her hips, and asked.

"Oh, is this a girl from the Xiao family? Which branch is she from? She'll never get married if she's this willful."

"Someone, come and slap me in the face."

Panpan was so angry that she immediately shouted for a fight.

"Yes, princess."

The girl thought that this old woman was really ignorant and dared to talk about the princess.

"Princess, you are..."

“I am Princess Anping, personally bestowed by the late Emperor.” Panpan sneered, “And I am also the granddaughter of the Xiao family. You say the Xiao family is nothing now, but with me here, the Xiao family is not a place where you Tom, Dick, and Harry can run wild.”

"I'm sorry, Princess. I was just being cheeky and let it slip. I'm so sorry, Princess. I was wrong, I was wrong..."

I know I was wrong, but it's too late.

"Twenty slaps to the face," Panpan said. "Furthermore, if you dare to tell anyone about what happened today and smear the Xiao family, I will destroy you."

"No, no, Princess, spare my life! Princess, spare my life!"

No amount of pleading was needed; she was slapped twenty-one times across the face, knocking out two teeth and leaving her bruised and swollen. Finally, Panpan had her thrown out.

"Look carefully, it was I, Princess Anping, who hit you."

"Princess, spare me! I will never speak nonsense again."

He was beaten and then asked her to be merciful; there's really no one like him.

"Get out of here, and never set foot in the Xiao residence again."

"Yes Yes Yes."

Granny Yang scrambled away.

Looking at Panpan, Madam Xu felt a mix of emotions. She really couldn't believe that the Xiao family's reputation still depended on this little child, Panpan.

Of course, a higher rank can have an advantage, and Panpan's move today was indeed impressive. Even if Granny Yang went out, she wouldn't dare to say a bad word about the Xiao family.

This incident also reminded the Xiao family that it was time to put the marriage arrangements for their daughters on the agenda.

The Xiao family held their first family meeting since returning home.

"Chunyan and Chunshu, this is mainly about your marriage. What kind of family do you want to marry into?"

Seven years of hardship have made the two girls no longer naive.

His face showed composure and wisdom.

"Mother, I'm not in a hurry."

"Aunt, I'm not in a hurry."

It's just getting married, isn't it?

If you meet a good one, marry him; if not, it's better to stay single.

"Did you two plan this out?"

Xu thought to herself, "How can I not be anxious?"
These two kids, are they trying to make the emperor more worried than the eunuch?

"If there's a good family, we'll marry into it; if not, we won't."

"How can you not get married?"

Huang could no longer tolerate it: "What will people say about the Xiao family if we don't get married?"

"Third Aunt, what if we rush into marriage and end up unhappy?" Chun Shu rarely indulged her: "Marriage is for happiness, not for face. The Xiao family's face doesn't need to be supported by my and Yan'er's marriages. What truly supports it is the abilities of the Xiao family's sons."

It would be much simpler to have Chun Ning and the others take the imperial examinations than to arrange marriages among a few girls.

"Yes, I think Sister Shu is right."

Xiao Chun-ning also stepped forward: "Aunt, Mother, Third Aunt, Chun-ning has asked, and the descendants of the Xiao family can also take the imperial examination."

"Really?"

The most excited person was Huang Shi. So, Chun'an can go to school and take the imperial examination to become the top scholar?

"Yes, I can take the exam. It just so happens that the Emperor has opened a special imperial examination, so I've decided to take it."

"Chun Ning, you've neglected your studies for so many years, and yet you still..."

"Can it work?" Xu didn't say those words out loud.

"Mother, don't worry, your son has never given up on his studies."

This was what his older sister told him: he must not give up his studies, he must be prepared, and opportunity favors the prepared. He waited seven long years for this day!