WSMTATMC C144

Chapter 144

 

The sixth day of the sixth lunar month was set as the date for the betrothal between the two families.

Early in the morning, Madam Li called her daughter up to be washed and dressed. She changed into a pale green satin skirt, her hair combed into a flowing fairy bun, and pinned with the white jade hairpin that Liu Changyi had gifted her. The young girl’s face was delicate and fair; with just a touch of powder she became so beautiful that one could hardly look away.

Looking into the mirror, Madam Li sighed. “Qingyun, you truly are lovely.”

“Of course, I take after my mother. Naturally I must be lovely.”

Madam Li shook her head. “No, you resemble your father more. Your brows, your eyes, and the bridge of your nose are exactly like his.”

Her husband had not been a bad-looking man; otherwise, why would Madam Li have chosen him at first sight back then? The only flaw was that his skin was somewhat darker, and Chen Qingyun had inherited this, which made her always a little jealous that her elder and younger brothers were fairer than she.

“Just thinking that the child I have raised for so many years is now to become someone else’s wife makes me reluctant to let her go.”

Hearing her mother say this made Qingyun’s nose sting. She wrapped her arms around her mother’s arm and whispered, “Then I won’t marry. I’ll stay with Mother my whole life.”

Just then, Wang Ying came in with Yuanbao, teasing: “If you don’t marry, I fear Young Master Liu will just stand at our gate and turn into a longing stone for his wife.”

This was no exaggeration. A few days back, when the brothers returned from the prefectural school, Liu Changyi had ridden in the Chen family carriage just for the chance to see Qingyun. He waited an entire morning but missed her. Just as he was leaving, he happened upon Qingyun and Wang Ying returning from outside. He stood at the gate staring blankly, even after Qingyun went into the house, still stunned in place—earning hearty laughter from Wang Ying.

“Sister-in-law~” Qingyun, teased so, pressed her tears back again.

“Alright, come now, finish getting ready. Soon we will go together to Hongyun Restaurant. Both of Liu Changyi’s elder sisters have come all the way from the capital especially for this betrothal.”

Madam Li grew nervous. “I’ve heard they are both official wives. I wonder if we will get along.”

“Don’t worry. From Liu Uncle and Aunt’s temperament, it’s unlikely their daughters will be difficult.”

Outside, Chen Qingyan and his two brothers were dressed and prepared as well. Elder Liang had also been invited to attend. Chen Bo and Shun drove two carriages: one for the men, while Madam Li and Fang Ling took the children in the other.

Hongyun Restaurant stood in the northern part of the city, one of the few proper establishments on Zhongtong Street.

The real proprietor behind it was Qin Furong, though she no longer managed its daily business but leased it out, collecting only rent and dividends annually.

After a quarter hour’s ride, the carriages stopped at the restaurant gates. A servant hurried in to report, and soon Master and Madam Liu came rushing out to greet them.

“Our in-laws have arrived, quickly, come in.” A large crowd of kinfolk ushered them into the restaurant.

That day, the Lius had reserved the entire establishment. Inside, aside from their own and the Chens’ relatives, there were also classmates of Liu Changyi from the prefectural school.

Knowing that he was betrothing today, they joyfully asked leave to attend the celebration.

After Liu Changyi greeted everyone, he led the Chen brothers into an elegant private room.

One table was full with prefectural classmates. They invited Chen Qingyan and Chen Qinghuai to sit. Thinking they were just invited guests, they began joking.

“We still don’t know which beauty Changyi is marrying—he was so nervous he went to the latrine three times just now.”

“Bah, nonsense, he’s marrying Big Brother Qingyan’s own younger sister.”

“What?!” Cries of surprise rang out.

“No wonder—close neighbors enjoy the first advantage!”

“No wonder he has always treated you like a real brother. Truly, you’re becoming real brothers by marriage!”

“Come then, a cup of wine as penalty, hiding this from us!”

Liu Changyi laughed, took up the cup, and drank it in one draft. Immediately the mood grew merry. Normally at school everyone focused on study and had little chance to sit down together; today, at last, they bonded with the three Chen brothers.

“At the prefectural school, most dared not talk to you, fearing disturbing your studies.” This was said by Song Shian, a friend of Liu’s who had once vouched for the Chen brothers.

Chen Qingyan laughed. “You exaggerate.”

“It’s true!” another round-faced youth chimed in. “Especially you, Qingyan—everyone thinks you’re like a mysterious hidden master.”

At this, the whole group burst into laughter, easing the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, among the women it was lively as well. Liu Changyi’s two elder sisters were present: the eldest, Liu Zhu, and the second, Liu Long. Both resembled their brother with round faces and large eyes.

The eldest sister’s character mirrored Qin Furong’s, even her tone of voice sounded nearly the same. On meeting Qingyun, she immediately took her hand and exclaimed, “Oh my, little sister, you’re truly beautiful! That fool of a younger brother at least has the sense to have good vision!”

The second sister, more reserved like their father, praised softly: “You are very lovely, little sister.”

Chen Qingyun flushed crimson at the praise and bowed shyly to greet her sisters-in-law.

“No need for formality. Please, sit down.”

Wang Ying and the others also entered. The table here was filled entirely with family: Chens and Lius together.

Qin Furong guided Chen Qingyun in recognizing relatives: aunts from the Liu side, aunts from the Qin side. One by one, Qingyun offered the proper greetings.

The eldest aunt was a straightforward woman. She had already prepared a gift: a hundred-tael silver note in a pouch. “Good child, take this.”

It was an enormous sum for her. Chen Qingyun hesitated; as a girl from a modest household, she had never handled more than two taels of allowance before.

Seeing her unease, Qin Furong quickly took the pouch on her behalf. “It’s her goodwill, you cannot refuse.”

“Thank you, Aunt.”

The elder aunt laughed warmly. “That’s right, your aunt gives you this, you must accept.”

The second aunt presented a set of jewelry pieces to add to the bridal trousseau, so that when the eventual marriage took place, nothing further would be needed.

The set was made of pure silver, inlaid with red and blue gemstones, easily worth over a hundred taels. Both aunts were lavish in their giving.

Once they finished, the two Qin aunts also offered gifts. Both openhanded and well-off, they would not miss the chance to give generously on such a joyous day.

The elder aunt gave a pair of jade bangles, of fine quality without a flaw, running with a luster like liquid.

These had a story. Uncle Qin Zhong, a military officer, had years earlier led a campaign to quell bandits in Tongzhou. When looting their lair, he unearthed a chest of gold, silver, and jewels. According to custom, such spoils were not reported but divided among those who found them. Qin Zhong distributed the gold and silver among the soldiers, leaving the jewels. Among them was this pair of bangles.

He had originally intended them for his younger sister. Qin Furong, worried about her sister-in-law’s jealousy, never accepted them. Unexpectedly, now they were handed out as dowry for a daughter-in-law.

They were precious, certainly worth hundreds of taels. Were it only up to the aunt, she could hardly have parted with them, but since their elder ordered it, she had no choice.

“Hurry and thank your aunt.”

“Thank you, Aunt,” Qingyun said, holding the box with extreme care, as though it might fall at the slightest slip.

The younger aunt, frail in body and pale in complexion, praised Qingyun softly and produced another box containing a pair of gold hairpins—worth another hundred taels.

Finally, Liu’s two elder sisters presented their own gifts: Elder Sister Liu Zhu gave a southern pearl necklace, and Second Sister Liu Long bestowed a pair of jeweled hair ornaments. Being juniors, their gifts were thoughtful but appropriate in rank.

Wang Ying was frankly astonished at the Liu family’s wealth. Ancient or modern, that gulf between rich and poor remained—a barrier spanning generations.

With gifts given, everyone sat down to speak of the marriage.

Qin Furong said: “The wedding date has been set for the eighth day of the tenth month. The abbot from Qingfeng Temple chose it. That leaves four months, just after the provincial exam is over.”

Madam Li, for once speaking up, said: “An excellent date—the weather will be neither hot nor cold.”

Liu Zhu added: “I’ve discussed it with my sister. After this trip, we may as well not return to the capital. We’ll stay here several months until our brother is married, then go back. Saves the trouble of going back and forth.”

Indeed, traveling from the capital to Fucheng was half a month’s journey—no easy task.

Since this time they had brought their children along, they decided their husbands would return closer to the marriage to save disruption of court duties.

Qin Furong smiled. “That would be best. You haven’t been back for so long; this time, stay longer for a proper reunion with family.”

Liu Long turned to Qingyun. “You must come play with us, little sister—and the two younger brothers beside you as well.”

Wang Ying and Lin Sui quickly agreed. They were younger than the Liu sisters anyway, so being called younger brothers was fitting.

Over the meal, the Liu mother and daughters were warm and welcoming. No one was left out; even quiet Lin Sui found himself joining in lively conversation. Wang Ying could see he was envious of Qingyun, yet more than that, he blessed her sincerely. He was, at heart, a gentle youth who truly rejoiced in his sister’s good fortune.

Apart from these tables, Master Liu also invited other relatives and friends.

One table was reserved for his own kinsmen—Liu uncles, cousins, and two brothers-in-law, as well as Qin family uncles.

The other table was made up of colleagues, including Elder Lu and Elder Liang.

With family, conviviality ran hot—Qin’s two martial uncles downed wine heartily, sparking noisy revelry among the rest.

Liu himself gave up after only two cups, excusing himself to slip to the other table.

There, with colleagues, the mood was far more refined—discussion of state policies mixed with dining.

Among the guests were Wang Tongzhi, Zhao Tongpan, Registrar Feng, and some officials from the Six Ministries. The prefect himself was absent on business but sent a congratulatory gift.

Most were there in respect of Liu’s elder brother. For Liu himself, a mere idle seventh rank, few would have come otherwise.

Seeing an old friend, Wang Tongzhi mentioned the incident of wrongful accusation some time back. “That boy Qingyan has real integrity. Faced with such a matter, he showed neither elation nor alarm. He still rose early, studied until sundown, exactly like Elder Liu back then.”

The “Elder Liu” referred to was Liu Changyi’s uncle Liu Yaozhi, who, in the seventeenth year of Wuxing, had been falsely imprisoned before eventual vindication. It was said he read continually even in prison.

Elder Liang was startled—his students had never told him of it. He couldn’t help but ask for details.

Wang explained the entire case. “It was fortunate that Qingyan’s husband was perceptive and clever. With only a few words, he unraveled the scheme, and the plotter was forced to confess.”

Elder Liang stroked his beard. “I did not expect such a thing. Thank you, my lords, for your assistance.”

“Why thank us? We are not outsiders.”

At this, Zhao Tongpan coughed and said, “I’ve never asked—what exactly is the background of the Chen family? Why have I not heard of them before?”

Master Liu answered evenly, “They are not native to Jizhou. They moved here just last year.”

Zhao curled his lip and sipped wine to mask his displeasure. He too had a daughter and once sought a marriage tie with the Liu family. His wife had brought it up several times, yet Madam Liu had always ignored it, as if they were overly eager.

He had thought the Liu family had set their sights high. Never did he expect they would marry into a household of such humble origins.

Footnotes:

1. Flowing Fairy Bun (流仙髻, Liúxiān jì): A traditional elegant hairstyle for young women, often used in weddings or formal occasions. 
2. 望妻石 (Wàng qī shí): “The stone that longs for the wife,” a famous idiom referring to stones shaped like people gazing longingly, used to describe faithful devotion or waiting. 
3. Tongzhi / Tongpan (同知 / 通判): Ming–Qing bureaucratic titles; Tongzhi was a deputy prefectural magistrate, and Tongpan was an assistant prefectural judge. 
4. Seventh-rank idle post: A minor bureaucratic position without real power, emphasizing Master Liu’s modest official status compared to his elder brother. 
5. Provincial Exam (乡试, xiāngshì): A major level in the imperial examination system, qualifying licentiates to move forward to higher examinations.