Di Ming

Chapter 114 Do you dare?
As soon as the words were spoken, two beautiful young girls, like twin flowers in bloom, emerged from behind the screen. They were smiling and chatting, their innocent and pure beauty as delicate as flower buds. They were Zhuang Shu and Tang Rong.

"Greetings, we are your servants." The two young women bowed in accordance with custom.

Zhu Yin, like a little adult, clasped his hands in greeting and said, "This humble student is courteous."

The two women returned the greeting with a bow.

The elaborate rituals and formalities made Zhu Yin quite impatient.

But that's just how customs and traditions were back then.

After exchanging greetings, Zhuang Shu smiled and said, "Father, Zhihu is going to study in Nanyong. Will he pass the imperial examination next autumn?"

Although she asked with a smile, her eyes were full of anticipation.

Tang Rong covered her mouth and said, "Cousin, you probably want to pass the exam even more than Little Tiger himself, right?"

Ever since Zhu Yin uncovered the Jesuits' grand conspiracy at the Confucius Temple, the two women have been talking about him with great interest and admiration.

Zhuang Tingjian knew his daughter's feelings. At ten years old, she was already very sensible.

He was also pleased to see it happen. Fourth Sister was proud and intelligent, and it was rare for her to take Zhu Yin seriously.

But he still shook his head, "That's the provincial examination, it's not that easy. Next year is just to get familiar with it, passing the exam is too difficult. The provincial examination the year after next is more likely."

"The next time?" Zhuang Shu asked, beaming. "That's only four years from now. Zhihu is only thirteen years old. If he can pass the imperial examination at thirteen, he'll be only one year older than Yang Tinghe."

Everyone knows that Yang Tinghe passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve, making him a rare child prodigy in the dynasty. He later rose to the position of Grand Secretary and held power in the government for many years.

Zhuang Tingjian nodded and said, "With Zhihu's intelligence, even if he doesn't pass the exam in four years, he will definitely pass it in seven years. Even in seven years, he will only be sixteen, still a precocious child."

Upon hearing this, both women's eyes lit up with admiration.

Even passing the imperial examination at the age of sixteen is a remarkable achievement.

Zhu Yin, however, was inwardly skeptical.

Nobody thinks I'll win next year? What if I do win next year?

Even if Zhuang Tingjian changed his age in the records to be one year older, if he passes the imperial examination next year, he will still be an eleven-year-old successful candidate, one year younger than Yang Tinghe!
If I really win next year...

Thinking of this, Zhu Yin felt a great sense of anticipation.

He remembered all the questions for the imperial examinations during the Wanli era. With his historical cheat codes, passing the examinations was like catching a bird in a cage—a sure thing.

The main hurdle is the provincial examination, which requires exceptional skills.

He later lived in Southeast Asia and studied Chinese classics, history, philosophy, and literature from a very young age until he returned to China at the age of eighteen and entered a special security academy.

Over the past ten years or so, I have become very familiar with Confucian classics.

Many Chinese families in Southeast Asia who remain devoted to their motherland regard preserving traditional Chinese culture and customs as a bond connecting them to their homeland. Some Southeast Asian Chinese are actually more deeply rooted in Chinese tradition than later generations who have lost theirs.

Zhu Yinqia was born into such a "more Chinese" Chinese family.

He's also quite skilled in calligraphy.

Zhu Yin had a solid foundation. His Confucian scholarship was by no means inferior to that of an average scholar. Considering that scholars in the Ming Dynasty had a very narrow knowledge base, focusing only on the Four Books and Five Classics, he certainly surpassed the average scholar in terms of classical learning.

He read all the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections outside of Confucianism, as well as various other classical and miscellaneous books. How many scholars in the Ming Dynasty would read such books? Many Ming Dynasty scholars who only knew how to take the exams didn't even read history books.

He also read quite a few eight-legged essays. He had read many famous eight-legged essays from the late Ming to the Qing dynasties.

If you study at the Imperial College for a year and delve into the eight-legged essay, your chances of passing the imperial examination will be at least 50%!
They are absolutely evenly matched.

If he passed the exam, he would be the youngest scholar to ever pass the imperial examination in the history of the Ming Dynasty. This dazzling achievement alone would pave a smooth path for his official career, making many things much easier for him.

Become famous as early as possible!
Zhu Yin suddenly said as if possessed, "Uncle, what if, just what if, I were incredibly lucky and passed the provincial examination next year?"

He had asked this question before, but today he asked it again, somewhat unwilling to give up.

I refuse to believe I won't pass the exam next year!
Hmm? Zhuang Tingjian couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

Zhuang Shu and Tang Rong both covered their mouths and chuckled.

"It's too difficult." Zhuang Tingjian shook his head. "I told you before, don't have this hope. Although you are considered a precocious prodigy, you are not even a scholar."

"But passing the imperial examination for the title of Juren is much more difficult than passing the examination for the title of Xiucai. Nowadays in Southern Zhili, only one out of hundreds of Xiucai can pass the Juren examination. It's almost one in a hundred!"

"Moreover, the provincial examination also requires a second round. Xu Wei took the Zhejiang provincial examination and ranked first in the first round, but he failed the second round and was still not accepted. This shows how difficult it was."

Zhuang Tingjian couldn't help but feel a little smug as he said this.

Because he himself is one of the best among the hundred.

Otherwise, why would they say "a Juren is as valuable as a Jinshi" (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), or "a Jinshi is as valuable as a Juren" (a successful candidate in the metropolitan examination)? This doesn't mean that a Juren is more noble than a Jinshi, but rather that passing the Juren exam is much harder than passing the Jinshi exam!

The selection rate for the Jinshi degree was roughly one in ten, while for the Juren degree it was roughly one in a hundred. The difficulty of admission differed greatly.

Zhuang Tingjian continued, "For students taking the provincial examination, there is another hurdle: the number of examination slots."

"Not all scholars are qualified to take the exam. Take Jiangning County for example. Although it is a county in the capital, there are only two hundred places available for the exam."

"Jiangning County has a population of one million, with over a thousand scholars, plus those registered as students of the Imperial Academy, totaling more than 1,200 people."

"More than 1,200 people are competing for 200 exam slots. Can you do the math?"

Zhu Yin said solemnly, "At most, only one-sixth of the scholars and officials will be able to obtain a spot to participate in the provincial examination."

Many people in later generations believed that in the Ming Dynasty, as long as one passed the county-level examination, one could participate in the provincial-level examination, which is obviously a huge misunderstanding.

Zhuang Tingjian nodded and stroked his beard: "So you think that being able to compete for one-sixth of the examination slots makes one a scholar or student of the Imperial Academy with excellent character and conduct?"

Zhu Yin frowned. "Please enlighten me, Uncle."

Zhuang Tingjian said, "These two hundred spots are already far more than the available spots, and at least fifty of them are reserved for people with connections!"

"There are only a little over a hundred spots, which are truly reserved for outstanding students with excellent academic performance and character. This is indeed unfair, but that's the reality."

"As a result, many outstanding scholars, who were clearly ready to take the exam, were delayed in getting the chance and wasted their lives."

Zhu Yin tacitly agreed. How could he not know that his place in next year's provincial examination would definitely be reserved for someone with connections?

Otherwise, he was just an exceptional student, having been enrolled for less than a year. What qualifications did he have to participate in the provincial examination?
This shows that the fairness of the Ming Dynasty's imperial examinations was greatly compromised.

However, he himself will also be an unfair beneficiary!
Zhuang Tingjian added, "Therefore, after you enroll, you must study hard and catch up. The more points you have, the less people will gossip about you."

"Otherwise, even if you can participate in the provincial examination, you will become the target of public criticism."

"Although the chances of passing the exam next year are slim, it is still a rare opportunity to familiarize myself with the material, and it should not be wasted."

Zhu Yin understood that he had begun to enjoy privileges.

Because they've climbed the social ladder by associating with the powerful and wealthy, they've already stepped onto the ship of privilege.

In Magistrate Zhuang's view, even if he fails the provincial examination next autumn, it will only serve as a familiarization with the examination process.

However, this would take up a spot. Meanwhile, a scholar who actually had a chance of passing the exam would lose his spot.

This reveals the dark side of the Ming Dynasty's imperial examination system.

After Zhuang Tingjian finished speaking, he took out a thick silk bag that had been prepared in advance from the cabinet and pushed it in front of Zhu Yin.

"These are my exam notes and reflections from when I took the provincial examination. I took the provincial examination three times, and my experiences in the examination are all contained here."

“Child Tiger, I cherish these handwritten notes very much and never show them to others easily, nor do I wish to publish them.”

"Today, I will give it to you."

Zhuang Tingjian had always cherished this set of imperial examination notes, originally intending it for his son to study. However, he had a daughter but no son, which was a great pity. Today, he gave it to Zhu Yin, thus entrusting it to someone else.

"Thank you, Uncle, for bestowing this knowledge upon me!" Zhu Yin stood up and bowed deeply. "I am deeply grateful and will never forget it."

Everyone knows how important the experience of someone who succeeded in the imperial examinations is.

Zhuang Tingjian took the provincial examination three times and finally passed with flying colors; one can imagine the effort he put in.

These insights into the imperial examinations were extremely important for a newcomer like Zhu Yin.

Zhuang Tingjian said, "No need to thank me. Take it back and study it carefully. You will surely pass the exam in seven years."

Zhuang Shu was very happy to see that her father had given Zhu Yin all the summaries of his experience in the imperial examinations.

If Zhu Yin succeeds in the imperial examinations and enters officialdom, and she marries him, then she will have the opportunity to become a Lady of Imperial Decree, enjoying the honor of her husband's rise to power.

At that time, would my older sister still dare to show off her brother-in-law's early success in front of me?
My brother-in-law passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty and is indeed a talented young man, but my sister praises him to the skies, which is really annoying.

She hasn't even passed the imperial examination yet. Wouldn't her elder sister be even more proud if she did?

However, whether or not to make Zhihu her husband cannot be rushed. At least we need to see how confident he is of passing the imperial examination.

As for his childhood sweetheart Ning Dajiao... hehe, let alone before they're married, even if they were, he could divorce her later.

A large-footed orphan girl who has lost both her parents and is now fighting against herself? Can she win?

If the young tiger can't amount to anything, so be it. But if it can, then Ning Dajiao can just go cool off somewhere else.

Zhuang Tingjian added, “Lord Tian also appreciates you. But the imperial reward has to go through a process, and you can forget about it in less than a few months. I estimate it will be at least next spring.”

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "I don't care about that. Serving the court is a man's duty. Why should I ask for a reward?"

He knew that once something went through the official procedures, it would inevitably take a very long time.

Historically, the rewards for beheading Japanese pirates, Tatars, or Jurchens often took up to six months to be issued. This prolonged delay caused resentment among the soldiers.

By the time the rewards were issued, the meritorious soldiers had already died on the battlefield.

The promised reward from Hai Rui's side hasn't been delivered yet.

Zhuang Tingjian shook his head: "You child, you're just a cunning rascal, saying one thing and meaning another, lacking even a third of a gentleman's kindness."

Zhuang Shu's eyes crinkled at his words. She didn't like upright gentlemen; she preferred a "little rascal" like Zhi Hu.

Of course, this is all predicated on the young tiger achieving fame in the imperial examinations; otherwise, all talk is meaningless.

Zhu Yin chatted with Zhuang Tingjian for a while longer, then took his notes, said goodbye, and left.

Zhuang Shu and Tang Rong saw him off to the door.

Tang Rong knew that the Zhuang father and daughter had something to say to each other, so she didn't go into the study again.

Seeing that only the father and daughter were in the study, Zhuang Tingjian spoke up:
"Shu'er, you've always been very opinionated, and I've always spoiled you, not wanting to interfere in your affairs. Even with a marriage arranged by your parents, I've let you have your way. But have you thought it through? Do you really not want your father to explain things to Zhihu?"

The so-called "clear explanation" means that a matchmaker should be sent immediately to arrange the marriage.

He took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Zhu Yin is a rare child prodigy. Of course, child prodigies have never necessarily succeeded in the imperial examinations. But even if he fails in the examinations, he will surely achieve something in his life. Even if he can't become an official, he can still become a wealthy man. Your father has this insight."

"While he's still young and hasn't made a fortune yet, let's find a matchmaker for him, and then the marriage will be arranged."

"But if we continue to wait, someone might beat us to it, or things might get complicated, and by then it will be too late."

Zhuang Shu said with her own opinion, "I have thought about it. As Father said, many child prodigies have failed in the imperial examinations. Although I am young, I know that to become an official through the imperial examinations, talent alone is not enough; good fortune and destiny are also indispensable."

"Then there was Xu Wenchang, who was exceptionally intelligent at the age of nine, able to compose poems on the spot. He was a famous child prodigy, with extraordinary talent known throughout the land. But what was the result? He failed the imperial examination in the end, and I heard that he is now poor and destitute, separated from his wife and children, and makes a living by selling paintings."

"Although Zhihu is a child prodigy, how does he compare to Xu Wei back then? What does it matter if he's a child prodigy or a child of immortality? If he can't pass the imperial examination, he's just an ordinary child. What's the point of talking about him?"

"Marriage is a lifelong matter, concerning one's honor, disgrace, wealth, and status. How can I not be extremely careful? If I were to marry a child prodigy like Xu Wei, whose career prospects are hopeless, wouldn't it be too late to regret it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Tingjian sighed and said, "Shu'er, you are so mature and rational, your father doesn't need to worry about you. But... your mind is ultimately too materialistic." Zhuang Shu smiled and said, "Even if my mind is a bit materialistic, I can guarantee that I won't make mistakes. I'd rather miss an opportunity than make a mistake."

"Better to miss an opportunity than to make a mistake." Zhuang Tingjian pondered the ten-year-old girl's words and gave a wry smile. "It's rare for someone so young to be so calm. It's a pity you're not a boy. Well then, since you've made up your mind, I won't interfere."

Zhuang Tingjian originally intended to use this opportunity to have a matchmaker arrange the marriage, something Zhu Yin would surely have been eager to do. As for Ning Caiwei, being a concubine wouldn't be a bad thing.

However, although her daughter favored Zhu Yin, she was afraid of betting too early and making a mistake. She was the type to wait and see before making a bet, and was unwilling to gamble at all.

Fourth Sister has high aspirations; she wants to marry a promising scholar or a high-ranking official, and she won't easily settle for a child prodigy.

.........

Leaving aside the Zhuang family father and daughter, Zhu Yin left the county government office and suddenly felt a little uneasy.

He wasn't stupid; how could he not see the difference between the Zhuang family father and daughter towards him?

It's obvious that they're trying to arrange a marriage.

Although Zhuang Shu is young, she is very cunning and has designs on me.

No way, no way, will a matchmaker come knocking on my door soon?
While a refusal is certain, doing so would offend the bookmaker.

Zhu Yin couldn't help but understand Tang Seng's predicament.

His performance was so outstanding that even at such a young age, a female demon had her eye on him.

"Achoo!" Zhu Yin suddenly sneezed and touched his nose. "Who's talking about me?"

He returned to the second-floor living room of Tianyu Pavilion on Pailou Street and found Ning Caiwei receiving a disheveled middle-aged man.

“Mr. Yang, I know you are the most overlooked painter in Confucius Temple. Your paintings are so realistic that people say they lack artistic conception and are not worthy of high art. This is a big misconception.”

"This school of realist painting should also have a place. How can it be considered inferior? We invited Mr. Yang here today, of course, to rely on his skill."

Ning Caiwei spoke in a serious and methodical manner, which surprised Mr. Yang on the other side. How could such a young girl be so mature and experienced like a little adult?

Zhu Yin sat down on a stool nearby, poured himself a cup of tea, and smiled and nodded to Mr. Yang.

Mr. Yang was stunned for a moment.

The boy's every move was quite sophisticated, unlike that of an ordinary child.

Zhu Yin knew that in the ancient Chinese art world, there had always been a school of realistic painting that excelled in simulation techniques.

The lifelike figures they painted were in no way inferior to Western sketching techniques; they were so lifelike that they captured the essence of the subjects perfectly.

However, Chinese painting prioritizes artistic conception and spiritual resemblance, while disregarding realistic painting techniques.

Therefore, painters skilled in realistic painting techniques were relegated to the role of craftsmen and were not valued by literati painters who favored freehand style.

This painter, Yang, possessed incredibly lifelike realistic painting skills, yet he lived a life of poverty and hardship, and was looked down upon by his contemporaries.

Ning Caiwei invited this realist "painter" with the best technique in Confucius Temple, obviously wanting to create print advertisements.

Whether promoting jade or candy, highly realistic promotional paintings were needed. In ancient times, without photography technology, realist painters were the only option.

She personally poured tea for the painter Yang and said with a smile:

"I would like to hire you, sir, as the exclusive painter for Ningyin Trading Company, with a fixed monthly salary of five taels. There will also be a bonus of one to five taels for each painting, and additional rewards during festivals..."

What? Painter Yang could hardly believe it; such a good thing could happen.

Is this a windfall? Has my luck finally turned around?
Thinking of his wife and children at home, who were crying for his milk, and the sneers of his relatives and friends, he replied without hesitation, "I'm willing to serve, I'm willing to serve..."

Ning Caiwei stopped the conversation, hesitated for a moment, and then said calmly amidst the other party's unease, "Mr. Yang, please don't rush to agree. I also have conditions."

Painter Yang's heart sank, and sweat instantly beaded on his forehead. He said dryly, "Please, Master Ning, speak plainly."

At this moment, he was filled with a sense of gain and loss.

Ning Caiwei and Zhu Yin exchanged a glance, and then she spoke slowly and deliberately:
"It means you can only serve my Ningyin Trading Company. Once the contract is signed, you cannot paint even one picture for any other merchant. If you breach the contract, you will be compensated ten times the amount."

Painter Yang was overjoyed. "Of course! Not to mention ten times the amount, if you paint a picture for another merchant, a hundred times the compensation is fine too!"

He thought it would be some harsh conditions, but it turns out it was just like that.

Ning Caiwei nodded: "Then let's sign the contract today. From now on, Mr. Yang will be the full-time painter of my Ningyin Trading Company."

The painter, Mr. Yang, was very excited and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "I wonder what the master would like me to paint?"

He immediately changed his address to "owner".

Ning Caiwei said, "Jade!"

“Jade?” Painter Yang was taken aback.

Ning Caiwei defined it as: "Men wear white jade, and women wear jadeite."

"The man wears white jade, the woman wears jadeite?" Painter Yang murmured these eight words, but couldn't recall the phrase.

Men wearing white jade is a given. Since ancient times, jade has been regarded as an object of virtue and has always been a favorite of men. Women wearing jade also exists, but it is less common.

But a woman wearing jade is unheard of.

But Ning Caiwei said, "This is a quote from an ancient book. It says that women wear jadeite, which is the finest form of jade. Jadeite is crystal clear, pure and flawless, with a lotus-like green color, untouched by any dust. Isn't this the quality of women in our Great Ming Dynasty?"

"Moreover, jade is rare and precious, just like a beautiful woman, hard to find in the world. Indeed, jade is like a virtuous lady, and white jade is like a gentleman."

"Jade brings good fortune and auspiciousness, nourishes yin and calms the mind, and prolonged wear can connect one with the spirit."

"Therefore, when a woman wears jade, it is a perfect match, complementing and enhancing each other's beauty..."

Ning Caiwei's brand planning and advertising copy captivated the painter Yang, inspiring him to yearn for the jade.

Jade is like a graceful lady. A beautiful lady is the object of a gentleman's affections. Jade is indeed like that.

But does such crystal-clear, pure jade really exist in the world?
Ning Caiwei patiently guided him, saying, "Mr. Yang, have you ever seen the greenest tea leaves after the spring breeze in February? They are about that color, but even greener. And they are as clear as ice."

"Such a beautiful stone deserves the name 'jadeite'."

Painter Yang asked, "Does the master want me to paint jade jewelry?"

Ning Caiwei shook her head: "It's about painting people! Painting women of unparalleled beauty, women adorned with jade. They're wearing jade chains, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, hairpins, rings..."

Painter Yang nodded and said, "I understand. I will study it carefully when I get back. Do you have any actual examples for me to see?"

Ning Caiwei said, "There's no physical object yet. Just imagine and draw it, draw it however you want it to look good. There's only one requirement: it has to look good. Just think of it as a green dream. Draw this green dream."

She gave the painter Yang some more instructions, then signed a contract with him, pressed her small handprint on it, and paid him a monthly salary of five taels of silver in advance.

Finally, the painter Yang left happily and excitedly with five taels of silver.

Ning Caiwei saw the painter Yang off, then clapped her hands and laughed:
"To promote a new product, it takes a long time to cultivate the market, at least two or three years. I still have many stories to tell. I want to deeply connect jade with women and marriage. I want to establish the idea that men should wear white jade and women should wear jade."

Zhu Yin said nonchalantly, "Don't forget, we only have a few thousand kilograms of jadeite material. But the core jade mining area has been occupied by the Burmese and no longer belongs to the Ming Dynasty."

“I remind you again, don’t do the work for the benefit of the Burmese.”

Ning Caiwei looked at Zhu Yin with sparkling eyes, "Do you know how big the business will be once jade becomes popular? The wealth involved will exceed your imagination! I want to build Chinese jade into a world-class brand, replacing diamonds in the future."

"Therefore, the core jadeite mining area must be ours!"

She clenched her small pink fist: "Even if we have to train a Daishan Army overseas, we must still launch an attack on Myanmar and take back that land!"

"Don't worry, we won't do the work for the Burmese. It's up to you whether you dare to do it. Little Tiger, do you dare to be the military governor of Daishan?"

Zhu Yin clapped his hands. "What a joke! Ning Caiwei, what wouldn't I dare to do! In a few years, I'll use the name of pirates to beat the Burmese to a pulp and reclaim the Three Xuan and Six Wei!"

"Let's see if I dare! I know you're trying to provoke me, but I'll take it anyway!"

Ning Caiwei laughed, "Tiger spirit! You truly live up to your nickname, Little Tiger. You said it yourself, so I'm just waiting. Once we use the money we earn to strengthen the Daishan Army, we can make our move."

She suddenly remembered something, "You went to see your Uncle Zhuang, and the enrollment issue was settled?"

“It’s all settled.” Zhu Yin took out the official document and the token. “You can enroll anytime. I am already a student of the Nanjing Imperial Academy. You can call me Zhu Jiansheng.”

Ning Caiwei immediately beamed with joy, "If I really become a student of the Imperial Academy, then I have a good chance of passing the imperial examination. Sister, there's hope that I can become an official's wife, hee hee."

Seeing the expectant look on her face, Zhu Yin suddenly asked, "What if, I mean, what if, like Xu Wei, I could never pass the imperial examinations and become an official?"

"Huh? Can't be an official?" Ning Caiwei was taken aback. "If we really can't be an official, then we won't be. At worst, we can use money to bribe our backers. If our backers fall, or if the government wants to take action, we'll go to sea."

"It would be best to become an official, of course, but don't feel pressured if you can't. Your career path also depends on fate."

Zhu Yin laughed, "Now that you say that, I feel no pressure."

Ning Caiwei rolled her eyes at him. "When did I put pressure on you about the imperial examination? It's not that easy to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) or a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the metropolitan examination)."

As the two were talking, Ding Hongying suddenly came upstairs and said, "Aunt Wei, Uncle Hu, Madam Tian has sent someone to pick us up. She said we're going to a family banquet at the garrison commander's residence."

Zhu Yin joked, "Now that Lady Caiwei is the garrison commander's niece, she's risen to a high position like a phoenix. She'll have to take good care of me in the future."

Ning Caiwei chuckled, "I'm not going to look after you. I'll send you to the palace to serve the emperor too."

Ding Hongying's expression was strange.

No… Uncle Tiger, Aunt Wei, I’m still here.

The two then went downstairs, selected several jade items, packed them in a sandalwood box, and boarded the carriage together, heading towards the garrison commander's residence.

The second time I went to the garrison commander's residence, I went directly through the side gate and into the secluded back hall of the magnificent courtyard.

As dusk fell, with the setting sun still lingering on the mountainside, the magnificent garrison headquarters was already illuminated with lanterns.

One by one, the glass palace lanterns lit up, making the entire garrison headquarters resemble a palace.

Upon reaching the rear hall's ceremonial gate, the two alighted from the carriage together, and someone immediately called out, "Lady Caiwei has arrived!"

Just by looking at this posture, you can tell that Ning Caiwei's status is no longer what it used to be.

Then a group of eunuchs and maids escorted a woman in her early twenties out. The woman was adorned with jewels, dressed in luxurious clothes, and was extremely beautiful.

She stepped forward gracefully and said with a smile, "Sister Caiwei, you've arrived. I am your cousin-in-law, and I've been ordered to welcome you here."

It turns out that this woman is Xie Langhuan, the legal wife of Tian Zheng, Tian Yi's son (adopted son).

"Greetings, cousin-in-law!" Ning Caiwei bowed gracefully in return, only to discover that her cousin-in-law also had unbound feet.

That's understandable; the mother-in-law has big feet, so of course she'd want to marry a daughter-in-law with big feet.

Otherwise, wouldn't they be an eyesore every day?

Zhu Yin also cupped his hands and said, "Younger brother greets cousin-in-law."

Xie Langhuan covered her mouth and chuckled, "You must be Zhu Yin, right? You and our cousin are quite a good match."

Zhu Yin was speechless. Ning Caiwei is clearly my family's, how did she become yours?

The group entered the ceremonial gate together, and then another group of people surrounded a young man as he arrived.

The young man was tall and burly, and chuckled:

"My cousin is here!"

P.S.: Envious, aren't you? Caiwei has climbed to a higher social status so quickly. Another 7,000-word chapter today! So many requests, I'm practically rolling on the floor! Those who are supporting my reading, please send an auto-subscribe! *crying* Thank you, goodnight!

(End of this chapter)