The three old women with the highest seniority got along harmoniously, so naturally the daughter-in-laws below were all carrying smiles on their faces, listening along, or occasionally interjecting a few words or two. During this time, even if they had some petty conflicts between one another, they still wouldn’t be stupid enough to bring it out to the forefront.
“Having not been in the capital these years, those good-for-nothings in our family have troubled older sister-in-law to look after. This is rather my fault.”
“We’re all one family. Saying this kind of thing, aren’t you being too distant with me?” Chen Old Madam’s mother was born from a military family. Because of such a mother’s influence, her personality was rather straightforward. Only after getting older, did she gradually start to restrain herself. However, facing this old childhood friend, she seems to have somewhat reverted to her old ways again.
Luo Old Madam felt helpless towards this. If she really keeps on going like this, afraid Chen Old Madam really will get impatient with her. Thus, she began chatting about the youngsters in the family.
And as expected, they naturally chatted onto Jing Wan’s marriage. “I’ll be blunt with older sister-in-law, this time coming to the capital, although it was planned in advance, a part of the reason was also because of this granddaughter of mine. If we can find for her a good husband, then this worry of mine can finally be put to rest.”
Previously, she could already tell that Luo Old Madam treated Jing Wan differently. Before they’d entered the capital, she had also heard some things, just she didn’t expect that it was actually this level of care. “For the time being, tell us what kind you want to pick?”
When it came to Jing Wan, Luo Old Madam naturally wouldn’t be polite, “First, his character has to be good, and needs to have ambition. As for appearances, he doesn’t need to be too handsome, but at least needs to be proper. His family situation needs to be simple, especially the future mother-in-law must not be scornful. Best if their personality is more gentle. Our family’s second son will probably be just that in this lifetime, so I won’t ask for the other party’s family background to be extremely good either. It’s enough as long as he can be good to Wan Wan.”
“This requirement of yours, to say it’s high, it’s not high. But to say it’s low, it really isn’t low either.”
“This requirement still not low? It’s already pretty good that I didn’t ask for the other party to not take concubines, not have tongfangs[1], and only have our Wan Wan in his eyes.” Luo Old Madam was a bit unsatisfied with Chen Old Madam’s words.
Once her words were out, it really shocked everyone. Who picks son-in-laws like this?
Chen Old Madam sighed, “Not taking concubines and having no tongfangs, I won’t say for now, but seeing your thoughts, at least can’t go overboard. Things like favoring the concubine and neglecting the wife furthermore can’t happen. A lifetime is a very long time. That’s why it’s natural we need to be more meticulous in picking. And we can’t just look on the surface only, need to properly inquire. Currently, I’m more familiar with the capital than you. Give me some time, I’ll nicely ask around for you.
“Then many thanks, older sister-in-law.”
“Alright, stop putting an act on for me. When you were younger, when have you ever been polite with me before?” Chen Old Madam said with a laugh.
“That’s because sister-in-law have always yielded to me.” Luo Old Madam also laughed.
“Mother, if I have to say, there’s a good candidate available right now. Min boy should be able to fulfill paternal aunt’s requirements on all sides.” In the seat below, a woman was leisurely peeling almonds, but not eating them, only placing them aside on a plate to the side.
Just as the words dropped, a woman sitting across from her glared at her. That expression in her eyes like knives, stabbing into her with full force. But not only did she not show weakness, she even straightened her back and stared straight back at the other party with a full smile on her face.
Being reminded by her, Chen Old Madam clapped her hands, “That’s right, how could I have forgotten about Min boy.”
“Min boy? That one from earlier just now?” Luo Old Madam, at the time, still hadn’t calmed down yet, so she didn’t see very clearly either and didn’t have much of an impression.
He was Luo Old Madam’s third younger brother’s eldest di grandson, Chen Zheng Min, 16 years old. Because this time he’d entered the capital to take the imperial examination, he was currently residing in his eldest great-uncle’s home.
“That’s right, Min boy has been living here for the past few months. His conduct and moral character, if not perfectly hundred percent, it was still a seventy at least. He’s well-mannered, modest, and well-educated. Your older brother even said, if there’s no mishaps, this time he can definitely place within top ten of the 2nd class candidates[2]. If his luck is even better, it’s even possible that he might be like younger brother-in-law that year and become the ‘flower snatcher’[3]. Most importantly, there was once this shameless girl throwing herself at him, but he wasn’t moved the slightest. He handed her over to me to handle, not going over even by a bit. He very much has a sense of propriety.”
Luo Old Madam was somewhat tempted. He certainly sounds like a pretty good candidate.
“After he came to the capital, third younger sister-in-law also wrote to me. If suitable, look for a good wife for him in the capital. What kind of temperament your family’s Jing Wan has, I don’t know, but with my understanding of you, she must definitely be a good girl. Furthermore, looking at third younger brother-in-law and the other’s intentions, they seem to hold extremely high expectations towards Min boy, so they won’t mind him staying in the capital. And with younger sister-in-law’s husband’s ability, accomplishing this bit naturally isn’t difficult either. This way, your family’s third girl won’t need to marry far away either. The more I say, the more I feel they’re very compatible. And the days also coincide very well, as if it’s fated by the heavens.” Chen Old Madam spoke as she repeatedly nodded.
“Mother, husband is also in the front courtyard. This year, isn’t he also participating in the imperial civil service examination[4]. He’ll probably come across that Min boy and will have lots to discuss. How the other party is like, more or less, he will know a bit. When we return we can ask husband, then later you can meet that Min boy again.” Wu-shi said. However, Wu-shi didn’t hold too much expectation towards her own husband. Else, he would’ve already entered the capital and set his mind on studying, why would he wait and come together with the old madam? In the earlier years, perhaps she still held hope, but now, it didn’t matter.
“Saying it like this, I seem to recall that Min boy had also gone over to your house a few times. Heard one time younger brother-in-law even personally gave him pointers. Younger brother-in-law’s impression of him is also pretty good, you can also go back and ask.”
Luo Old Madam nodded her head. To be able to get noticed by her own husband, meant that this child, at least in certain areas, really wasn’t bad. Thus, she had an idea in her heart.
Chen Old Madam recalled another matter, “Since you’re preparing to pick a husband for her, why don’t I see your family’s eldest daughter-in-law and her own mother making some movements?”
“I didn’t tell them beforehand. If I let the eldest one’s (wife) go search, most likely she will take the eldest one’s official career’s future prospects and interest into consideration. And if I were to clearly explain to her the conditions, then she probably won’t put that much effort into it. That isn’t what I want to see. As for Wan Wan’s mother, that one is just too carefree and doesn’t focus on her proper duties. Wan Wan’s marriage, I’ve never intended to let her interfere.”
Chen Old Madam also laughed, “Your family’s second one’s wife, that is called good fortune.”
“For the children, it certainly isn’t some good fortune.”
In the end, only Luo Old Madam and Chen Old Madam stayed behind to have a private talk. The others all dispersed.
The Chen family’s second branch’s daughter-in-law followed behind Chen Second Old Madam. One of them, the one with the maiden surname Yun, eventually couldn’t hold it in anymore, “Mother, that Min boy is the one I’ve picked out for my niece from my maiden family. For what reason can they just snatch him? Also, Ruan-shi that slut, clearly knew my intentions, yet deliberately went against me.” She angrily pulled the handkerchief. Her eyes looked as if fire would come out at anytime.
Chen Second Old Madam, yet, continued to walk forward, neither slowly nor quickly. The other madam beside her also didn’t pay her any attention.
“Mother, why don’t you think of something.” This damn old woman, what gentle? It was really just being weak, not knowing to fight, not knowing to steal. Otherwise, their second branch would definitely be better than it was now. It really was infuriating.
Perhaps Chen Second Old Madam was extremely annoyed by her. She stopped and turned around, “Picked out for your niece? How shameless do you have to be to be able to say this?”
“What’s wrong with that?” Yun-shi stuck out her neck and retorted.
Chen Second Old Madam laughed. Yun-shi had never seen her mocking like this before. “That niece of yours doesn’t know shame, more than once coming to bother Min boy. Min boy has a good temper, that’s why he left her some face. Do you think what she’s doing is very correct? Oh but, then again, in the beginning, didn’t you also dealt with my son like this. As expected, birds of a feather flock together.”
Yun-shi’s cheeks were thoroughly swollen red. “Mother, you can’t spit slander like that.” She gritted her teeth and angrily said.
Chen Second Old Madam completely didn’t take her anger seriously. “Whether or not it’s slander, you know best in your heart. Considering my son’s sake, let me give you a word of advice. That bit of tricks of yours, handling that stupid son of mine, fine whatever. But right now, your eldest aunt (in-law) has the intention to matchmake Min boy with your paternal aunt’s (in-law) family’s child. If similar methods are used on Min boy again, how could she possibly continue to tolerate that niece of yours. If she continues to be obstinate and foolish like that, just wait till your eldest aunt deals out the extreme means, for sure to have her reputation be completely destroyed. Afterwards, all the girls of your maiden family will all have to suffer the consequences too. Don’t, when the time comes, cause someone to lose their life. Then, with you included, you’ll all be your maiden family’s sinner.”
Yun-shi first was somewhat conscientious, then afterwards, startled. “Mother, you’re joking right? Eldest aunt would do that?”
“How many days have you known her? When she’s amicable, naturally she’s friendly, but if you step on her bottom line, she definitely won’t be compassionate and lenient. My words end here.” Chen Second Old Madam knew how this daughter-in-law of hers thought, but she didn’t particularly care much. It was precisely because she neither fought nor stole that there is today’s second branch. And eldest brother-in-law was willing to support her grandsons. If Yun-shi dared to mess up this matter, don’t blame her for making her son divorce this wife. After all these years, that bit of fondness that her stupid son had towards Yun-shi’s beauty was already gone. And Yun-shi didn’t give birth to any grandsons for her either. If she really wanted to have her divorced, it was only a slight effort.
[1] Tongfangs – Low status ‘concubines’; usually former servant girls
[2] Second Class – Unsure exactly what the range for this class ranking is but it starts below 3rd places, so 4th place and lower, until reaches third class. First Class only consist of the top 3 scorers.
[3] Flower Snatcher – The title given to the third place scorer of the Imperial Exam.
[4] Just know that it’s different from THE imperial examination; I think this one is also for becoming an official, it’s scheduled once every three years.
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