Chapter 69: Reward for the New House

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said, "What's the big deal? We can just search on Baidu, there are plenty of free things to watch. In the future, we'll all be living under one roof, no need to bother with so many formalities." He then asked, "Should I give them red envelopes?" His eyes were hesitant, looking indecisive.

  After all, she's still a kid, and it's possible that speaking up like this takes a lot of courage...

  Liang Jimin's heart softened as he looked at Shen Muqing's gaze, which had become very warm: "You've been serving me since I was a child, of course it would be better if you gave me a red envelope."

  Shen Mu nodded and consulted him: "Madam gave me several kinds of red envelopes, the most was ten taels. Giving two ten-tael red envelopes, is it not enough?"

  Really generous!

  The Shen family has been in office for generations, but those who have not mixed in the official circles do not know the hardships of the official circles... If they are not greedy or corrupt, and only take their normal salary and fire expenses, they can accumulate a small fortune over time. When they retire, they can return to their hometown and buy a few acres of good land to support themselves in old age, that would be good enough. Moreover, Shen Zhen has always been honest and clean... This time, when marrying off his daughter, the Shen family probably spent all their savings...

  Thinking of this, Liang Jieming only felt a sour heart, and his tone became even softer: "No need to give so much. Giving eight cents of silver ingot is enough. In the future, when sending people away, if you give too much at first, and then give less later on, others will feel uncomfortable."

  After this conversation, there was naturally more between them.

  "Is there anything else I should pay attention to?" Shen Muqing asked Liang Jimin.

  "It doesn't matter," said Liang Jimei with a smile, "We have our elders above and younger ones below, as long as we don't take the lead in doing something that's not our place."

  Shen Mu Qing nodded repeatedly, when suddenly someone outside the window whispered: "Third Master, Third Master, it's time to toast!"

  Half a time has passed so quickly...... It seems that getting along with Liang Jiemin is not as difficult as I thought.

  Shen Mu let out a quiet breath of relief and gained a bit more confidence in the future.

  Ke Liang Ji Min's face showed a few moments of hesitation, and he did not immediately get up.

  Although Shen Muqing didn't know why Liang Jimin was hesitant, he thought that at the banquet there would definitely be many elders and dignitaries. If they were to feel that Liang Jimin was arrogant because of being late with his toast, it would be a very troublesome matter - in the feudal imperial court's officialdom, seniority and hierarchy were paramount.

  "Is there something wrong? If I can help, just tell me."

  Li Ji Min hesitated: "I told Yu Hui before to come and accompany you early - you just arrived, alone... I'll wait for Yu Hui to arrive before leaving!"

  Deeply moved and stunned into silence.

  It turned out that Liang Jimin was afraid that she would not be used to it after just getting married...

  The string hidden in the deepest part of his heart was gently plucked.

  Her tone became unexpectedly gentle: "Don't worry, you go quickly!"

  "What about you?" He still looked worried.

  "I'll just call over one of the maids by my side to keep me company."

  Liang Jimin thought for a moment and felt it was feasible.

  Even so, he still called for Qingxin: "You find a way to bring the second lady over and tell her that San Shao is alone in the house!" Then again, he repeatedly instructed Shen Muqing: "Later when I leave, someone will come to comb your hair, remember to wash your face. After you've combed your hair, relatives from the family will come to see you, don't be nervous, just sit still. If others ask you something, answer if you can, smile if you can't, and whatever you do, don't ignore them." He also instructed Luomei and Zhūji: "I'll leave Shízi outside the house, he's the one wearing a green silk jacket with a blue-green cloth belt around his waist. If you see that the lady is uncomfortable, have him come call me."

  Luomei and Zhuiji both bowed their knees and replied "yes".

  As soon as Liang Jimin left, both of them revealed excited smiles.

  "One of them said: 'Miss, your husband treats you really well. Now, madam can rest assured.'"

  "One said: 'Amitabha Buddha, my heart has finally landed.'"

  Shen Mu thought for a moment, nodded, and a smile appeared on his face for the first time today.

  ******

  Madam Liu brought Mrs. Quanfu to help Shen Muqing with her hair and makeup.

  It wasn't until then that Shen Muqing realized her makeup had been a mess for some time already.

  She thought of Liang Jimin's subtle reminder and was slightly distracted.

  Later, when Liang Jimin speaks, you must listen carefully and think carefully, otherwise you will definitely not be able to understand the meaning of his words.

  She couldn't help but let out a soft sigh as she thought of these things.

  I'm already married now, but not in the Shen family. I need to change my careless attitude towards things!

  Shen Muqing's hair was black and shiny, but not very thick. To style it into the popular peony bun that women were wearing these days, she had to use a hairpiece. Her hair was pulled so tightly that it hurt, and Shen Muqing couldn't help but touch her temples from time to time.

  Mrs. Liu kept reminding her on the side: "Bear with it for a while, and after these two days, you can resume your normal life."

  Shen Mu nodded slightly.

  The Liang family has already sent someone over to urge Mrs. Liu to take her seat - once Mrs. Liu takes her seat, the womenfolk of the groom's side can enter the bridal chamber to see the bride.

  Madam Liu looked at the small person with a head full of pearls and jade, who seemed a bit top-heavy, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She leaned in close to her ear and whispered: "Don't be afraid, Yu Hui will accompany you for the next few days."

  Shen Muqing knew that this was the condition under which the Li family had agreed to her marriage, and she hadn't planned a traditional wedding night anyway. So when Madame Liu said this, she nodded in agreement.

  Mrs. Liu saw her nonchalant appearance and thought of her age, so she softened in her heart, helped her tidy up her collar, and then went out with the people from the Liang family who were urging them to take their seats.

  Shen Muqing sat on the bed for a while, and then she saw women wearing green jackets with red silk flowers on their heads, pushing and shoving each other at the door, peeking inside. Someone there whispered, "Do you see? Do you see Third Young Mistress?"

  Someone let out a cry of "Aiyo" and tumbled in.

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile, calling out to Luo Mei: "I reckon it's the Liang family's servant, give them a red envelope with eight cents as a reward."

  Before marrying off, Li prepared red envelopes with different amounts of money: five jiao, eight jiao, one yuan and ten yuan.

  "Miss, isn't it too much?"

  "We're new here, we have to rely on our reputation to win people over." Shen Muqing said in a low voice, "Mothers with status and dignity are after all in the minority, if something really happens, we still need to ask these people for help."

  Luo Mei nodded and handed each of them a red envelope with eight silver coins: "This is Third Young Master's wife's reward, saying everyone worked hard today."

  The older women hastily took the red envelopes from Luomei, thanking her with phrases like "Thank you, Third Young Mistress." The younger ones looked a bit embarrassed and only murmured their thanks after Luomei handed them the envelopes. Among them was a young girl, fifteen or sixteen years old, with black hair adorned with a bun and two or three pearl-inlaid gold pins inserted at an angle, wearing agate earrings, and having almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks, looking very pretty. Just as Luomei's red envelope was about to be handed to her, she took two steps back and skillfully avoided it.

  Shen Muqing stared blankly.

  Is it because she's a madam from which house, so she doesn't deign to be with these lowly people?

  She was even more concerned about this little girl.

  A woman who had received a red envelope was shouting in the courtyard: "Come quickly, Third Young Mistress is giving out red envelopes and is being very generous, each one has eight mace of silver."

  As the cry rose, more women rushed to the door. There were also a few women wearing silk jackets and gold bangles, looking very dignified.

  Zhu Qi looked on and quickly opened the box again, took out some red envelopes, and walked to the door to help Luo Mei distribute them.

  The people outside the door immediately made a loud noise and crowded even more fiercely.

  That little girl was sandwiched between the group of emotionally agitated women, like a small boat drifting helplessly on the waves, making people feel pitiful. But she not only didn't avoid them, but instead squeezed to the door and tightly grasped the door frame to look inside.

  The eyes of two people met.

  Shen Muqing smiled at the little girl.

  Who would have thought that the little girl was shocked and turned pale as soon as she saw him, and immediately squeezed out.

  Shen Muqing found it strange and walked a few steps forward on tiptoes to look outside.

  The sky outside had already darkened, and although the large red lanterns hanging under the eaves were bright and fiery, they couldn't illuminate the dark corners of the walls.

  The little girl's figure has vanished out of sight.

  Shen Muqing immediately called for Yuegui and described the little girl's appearance: "She shouldn't have gone far, let Li Mama ask around to see which house this little girl is from."

  Bay leaves responded with swift steps and left.

  Someone in the courtyard said unfairly: "...... You've already got a red envelope, why are you still crowding in to ask for more..."

  Someone said disapprovingly: "Eighty cents in silver is more than what the old lady gave to Big Sister-in-law when she was alive... If you don't want it, then don't go..."

  "Doesn't anyone care where this is?" A severe female voice suddenly sounded from outside, "What a racket! The old lady will be here any minute."

  It's unclear whether it was the person himself who had such prestige, or if the sentence "the old lady is about to arrive" took effect, but immediately the courtyard fell silent, and the women who were originally crowded at the door also slipped away one by one.

  A woman in her forties walked out with a big smile on her face.

  She wore a dark green velvet jacket, with a big red silk flower on her head, and the crimson gold earrings and golden horseshoe-shaped rings on her hands shone brightly in the lamplight.

  She knelt down and gave a courtesy to Shen Muqing: "Third Young Mistress, I am Wang Mama from the mistress's quarters."

  Luomei immediately took out a red envelope from her purse and handed it to Wang's mother: "Wang's mother has worked hard."

  Wang's mother quietly pinched the red envelope in her hand, and the corner of her mouth immediately curled up. Her voice was very gentle: "Third Young Mistress, the Old Madam will be here soon. The madam asked me to come ahead of time to inform you."

  Shen Muqing smiled and nodded at her, then sat back down on the bed.

  Plum Blossom stuffed another red envelope into Hong's hands: "Thanks a lot, Aunt Wang."

  The king's mother smiled and accepted it. However, she saw that Lu Mei was young and dressed as a woman, with a round bun and wearing a woolen flower, looking puzzled on her face, saying: "This... how should I address you?"

  Luo Mei smiled and said: "My husband's name is Lin Rui Chun."

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