The matchmaker invited by the Liu family came to the door quickly, and before Xiao Nian, he came to the door with a pair of silver geese and four-color gifts.

This is the first step in the Six Rites, Nacai.

Nowadays, the wedding and funeral in the capital is extravagant, Nacai was a pair of live geese in the old ceremony, but now it is difficult to find live geese, most people like to use golden geese, and add many kinds of gifts. Like the Liu family, they are hired with a pair of silver geese, and they are still hollow, which can already be regarded as shabby.

The matchmaker was full of smiles: "Liu Hanlin admires ancient rites the most, he doesn't like extravagance, and the house is not too lazy." ”

This is a big deal, since Jiang Xi's family has not moved out to live now, it is naturally a happy event for everyone in the house, and everyone has gathered in the front hall. Xiao Shi also smiled with a spring breeze on his face: "Look at what you said, since it is an ancient ceremony, how can there be a slack talk?" ”

Cao Shi looked at the two silver geese, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of several maids quietly glancing at each other, and he felt a little uncomfortable. She is a person who can't hide it, although she tries her best not to show a trace, the corners of her eyes and eyebrows are still exposed.

These official matchmakers are all the best among the people, and they are good at observing their faces, and they immediately saw Cao's thoughts, so they smiled and said: "This time, I have to ask the girl in the house to go back and make a match." After a pause, he smiled and said, "Originally, this matter should be visited in a few days, but Liu Hanlin is now outside, and Mrs. Liu is afraid that it will be inconvenient for her to be a woman's family, so she asked me to discuss, so she simply invited the girl's Geng Tie's house today." ”

According to the ancient rites, the matter of asking for Geng post should be after Nacai, and he will come to the door again every few days, and he will bring another gift, and he will come to ask for it. Although Jiang Yanhua's eight characters have already been taken together, this step is indispensable. After everyone heard the first half of the sentence, some people were already laughing secretly - the Liu family seemed to be extremely poor, and in order to save a gift, they simply combined the two steps of asking for a name and Nacai. After hearing the second half of the sentence, Cao couldn't help but say, "Where did Liu Hanlin go?" ”

The official media was waiting for this sentence, and when they heard the words, they smiled and said: "It's not that the two counties of Lantian and Luonan have just been hit by the epidemic this year, and the emperor has mercy and sent people to these two counties to check the winter and prepare for spring plowing next year, and he chose an adult from the household department." Liu Hanlin was also from a poor family, so he specially ordered him to follow, so as not to make a false report. ”

In fact, there is a lot of water in this statement. It is true that the emperor sent people to check the epidemic area, but Liu Zhijing was not ordered by anyone. In fact, the emperor did not make an order to let the Hanlin Academy also go to people, and this errand was begged by Liu Zhijing himself. Of course, from the point of view of procedure, it can be regarded as Shangguan ordering him, but the word "specially" was added by the official media, which sounded as if he had received special attention from someone, and it was very beautiful.

Where did the Cao family know the doorway here, and when Liu Zhijing was really favored by Shangguan to go out, Fang Cai's displeasure was suddenly thrown out of the clouds. She has also inquired these days, and knows that Shu Jishi is watching the government in the Hanlin Academy, and in the future, it will be good to be in various ministries or released as officials, so naturally the more favored he is, the better his future will be. Therefore, Fang Cai's dislike turned into a day of joy, and he hurriedly asked someone to take out the written Geng post and hand it over to the matchmaker.

This Geng post was written by Jiang Xi himself. With a mud gold red post, there are not only eight characters of birth date on the top, but also the name of Jiang Yanhua is indicated, but the three generations of ancestors at the bottom are written by the Jiang family.

The Cao family was originally concerned, but he was afraid that Jiang Xi would write his ancestor and father into the name of the Chen family, and when he got his hands on Jiang Yanhua, he saw it and said that it was the Jiang family who wrote it, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

This official matchmaker also knows a few words, took the post and saw that all kinds of things were complete, so he sat down for a short time, put away the post and said goodbye with a smile.

As soon as the matchmaker left, Xiao Shi smiled at Cao Shi and said, "This is to congratulate the third brother and sister." If you want to come to a better day, the three brothers and sisters of this dowry must be prepared quickly, and those of us who are aunts will also wait to add makeup to Sister Yan. ”

As soon as he said this, Cao's heart suddenly became apprehensive again. Jiang Yanhua wants to prepare a dowry, naturally Jiang Xi pays for the money, but this time the incident is like this, how much dowry will Jiang Xi prepare for Jiang Yanhua?

Taohua is also talking to Jiang Xi about this issue.

When it comes to marriage, the girl's family should not come forward, so Taohua didn't go to the front, but just heard the bellflower run back to report the news, focusing on the fact that the Liu family only sent a pair of hollow silver geese and took Geng Tie away by the way, of course, it also said that Liu Zhijing was not in the capital.

Taohua just smiled after hearing this, and asked Jiang Xidao: "Daddy, how much dowry should you prepare for Sister Yan?" ”

Jiang Xi thought for a while: "Although she is from the Chen family, but over the years, she has also been really filial to me, the public is 1,500 taels, I will add 500 taels to her, and then add 500 taels for your wife." ”

The total is two thousand five hundred taels of silver, if this money is placed in Wuxi, it can be obtained, but if it is in the capital, it is a little meager. If there is a field in the dowry, it is the best, but here in the capital, two thousand five hundred taels of silver can not be used to buy a field shop, not to mention that it has to be used to make furniture......

Taohua thought about it in her heart: "Then I'll add five hundred taels too." You always have to have a few activity money in hand. ”

Jiang Xi did not stop it: "You add it to her, that is your sisterhood, and my father will not stop it." But you don't have to think about it, I originally wanted to prepare two thousand taels for her, but now three thousand taels is a lot, our family is like this, although she married into the Hanlin family, there is no reason to take your things. ”

Taohua couldn't help but smile: "Dad, I know-" In the end, no matter how Jiang Yanhua changes his surname, it is impossible to be the same as Jiang Xi's own daughter. To say that three thousand taels of silver is not a lot, even in the capital, if you marry into a common people's family, this is already a rare and rich dowry.

The two of them said, and Poria over there had already come over to invite Jiang Xi: "The official media has already taken the Geng post, and the wife asked the master to go and see the Liu family's Nacai ceremony." ”

Just a few gifts are nothing to look at, this is naturally just an excuse, sure enough, Jiang Xi just passed, and after saying a few words, Cao Shi said cautiously: "The eight characters have been combined, and it is said that Sister Yan is a wangfu, and Liu Hanlin's eight characters are very harmonious, and I want to come to the Liu family to do things in a hurry." It's just Sister Yan's dowry......"

Jiang Xi knew that she was going to mention this, and immediately said Fang Cai's words, and said lightly: "Here in the capital, it is difficult to buy fields, and the shop also needs to be searched for to see if it can be found, and other furniture and jewelry, you can plan it yourself." As for the dowryman, she may bring all those who serve her now. ”

When Cao Shi heard the number of three thousand taels, he was just happy in his heart, and then he heard that the fields and shops were uncertain, so he was a little anxious: "Master, this-" She also knew that she had to have these things in order to have income all the time.

"The capital is not as good as Wuxi, you should know." The money to buy an acre of land around the capital can buy one and a half acres in Wuxi, and they are all owner-owned, and you have to try your luck if you want to buy a suitable one, let alone a shop.

The Cao family thought about it in his heart, and suddenly felt that he couldn't buy anything for three thousand taels, so he had to say in a hurry: "Master, the Liu family is the ...... of Hanlin in the end."

Jiang Xi has been in a very bad mood for Jiang Fanghui's affairs in the past few days, and he can't even read the lone book borrowed from Ouchi, so naturally he is not in the mood to entangle any dowry with the Cao family, and said impatiently: "Then it also depends on how many dowries the Liu family has." ”

The so-called come and go, today's rules are almost all after the male family is hired, and the female family adds another value to the original dowry as a dowry. Judging from today's gifts, I am afraid it is difficult to imagine that the Liu family can give a dowry of three thousand taels, so that Jiang Yanhua's dowry is already extraordinarily rich, and the Liu family is impeccable.

Cao Shi was blocked, and he had nothing to say to the pair of hollow silver geese on the table, so he had to watch Jiang Xi go out, and then he showed a sad face: "How is this good?" ”

Poria hurriedly comforted: "Don't worry, wife, maybe the Liu family will have a lot of dowry, and ...... when the time comes" Speaking of this, I can't go on, to say that the Liu family's dowry will be higher than three thousand taels, which is really a bit deceitful.

Jiang Yanhua came out of the back room and said in a low voice: "Mother, three thousand taels is a lot." Although she doesn't care about her family, she also knows that the Jiang family's annual medicine hall Zhuangzi adds up to about this amount, and Jiang Xiken takes out this money, which is really not less.

Cao Shi said worriedly: "But this is in the capital, you are still married to Hanlin, and the dowry is less, isn't it a joke?" It's just that everything in the capital is expensive, and it's not easy to have a good time. ”

Jiang Yanhua smiled bitterly, and then cheered up again: "A good girl doesn't wear wedding clothes, if he earns it himself, why worry about a bad life?" ”

On the issue of dowry, the Cao family is not the only one who is considering. At this moment, Mrs. Liu was talking to the official media in the room, and Jiang Yanhua's Geng post was placed on the table in front of her.

Liu Zhijing was not there, and Geng Ti was handed over to Mrs. Liu, but although she had a Hanlin son, she only knew a few simple words, and she couldn't understand it when she held Geng Ti. However, she has her own shrewdness, and took the post with eight characters given by the first Xiaoshi, compared it word by word, and found that there were no mistakes or omissions, so she was relieved.

The official media rarely sees such fine people, and can't help laughing: "Is the old lady still afraid that she will not be able to book the wrong one?" ”

Mrs. Liu put away the Geng post and said with a smile: "Don't laugh, I don't know a few words, my son is not at home, I'm afraid of something wrong, right?" ”

The official media smiled: "What can go wrong, I went to Jiang's house today, and everyone was happy." It's not, Geng Ti just gave it to me, and I changed someone else's home, I'm afraid I won't want to. It can be seen that the family affair between the house and the Jiang family is a match made in heaven, so it can be so smooth. ”

Mrs. Liu smiled from ear to ear. When the official media saw this, they said: "After the eight characters are met, the government should be hired, and it is better to prepare as soon as possible." ”

Speaking of the dowry, Mrs. Liu coughed unnaturally: "Now the atmosphere in the capital is not as good as before, and the red and white affairs are very extravagant. I heard my son say that in the past, this ceremony was a ceremony, just to show the mutual respect of the husband and wife, or Nuwa Niangniang's set, what kind of 'skin' to use, I heard that it was two skins. Nowadays, this kind and such a thing is not all for the sake of supporting the façade, but it has been wasted. ”

The matchmaker only mentioned a pair of silver geese and four-color gifts to the door today, in fact, he also felt a little shabby, and at this time, listening to Mrs. Liu's meaning, I am afraid that the dowry will not have many things, and I can't help but complain secretly. Although it is a long-faced thing to be a matchmaker for Master Hanlin, if the Hanlin family doesn't care much about face, where will she find this face?

"Nowadays, the atmosphere is more generous, and it is also a peaceful and prosperous era, and the generous dowry is not what it looks like is a Vientiane Shengping?" The matchmaker is really bitter, "Besides, this dowry is indeed a face, and the customs are like this, so everyone must do the same." ”

Mrs. Liu looked upright: "My son reads the book of sages and says that sages don't pay attention to this. The ancient virtuous king, Yao Shun or something, the world is his, and he also pays attention to frugality on weekdays. I didn't even wear silk clothes when I heard of the sacrifice. Even after death, he refused to be buried, and he didn't hear of any heavy gifts for marrying a concubine. ”

How did your old man get involved with a thick burial and a good hire? Matchmakers have a clever mouth, although this official media is not particularly outstanding in this industry, but they have always felt that they have sharp teeth, but when they met Mrs. Liu at this moment, they could only be ashamed of themselves, so they had to throw out a killer idea: "Old lady, now this dowry is more fashionable than the dowry, you see——"

Mrs. Liu immediately changed her expression: "This dowry is a dowry, and the dowry is a dowry." It is said that my family does not pay attention to the dowry, it is all my daughter-in-law's own things, can't my family still remember? It's just that Jing'er is Hanlin, no matter whose daughter she is, she will marry Mrs. Hanlin, and this dowry should always be in line with her identity. ”

Isn't this an empty glove white wolf? It's a high-sounding thing. The matchmaker scolded secretly in his heart, but he had to say: "The Jiang family will not treat their daughter badly." ”

Mrs. Liu nodded with a smile. The official media felt that there was nothing to say, so they got up to say goodbye, and before leaving, they couldn't help but admonish: "The old lady might as well discuss it with Master Hanlin." "Master Hanlin always wants to save face, right?

Mrs. Liu smiled and said, "My son knows." has always been poor and self-controlled, and he doesn't live on his daughter-in-law's dowry, all he wants is this gift. I've already prepared all the things for the next hire, and I'll trouble you in a few days. ”

Bow to the. I really don't expect my daughter-in-law's dowry, so I just said that the dowry should be in line with the identity! The official media scolded in their hearts and went out, and sighed when they went out, they knew that Mrs. Liu was such a person, and they really shouldn't have taken this matter. originally thought that the two families had been combined, so she just had to be a ready-made matchmaker and take the money from the matchmaker. Who knows when things are done, and sure enough, there is no free meal in this world......

The eight characters, that is, the so-called asking name, after divination and auspiciousness, is Najib, which means that the auspicious omen of the fortune is notified to the woman's family, and at the same time the letter of appointment is handed over, and this family matter is settled.

According to the rules, because the woman's eight characters are to be sent to the ancestral temple for divination, it will take some time. But because this combination of eight characters had already been done beforehand, the official media came to the door again on the third day after the name was asked.

Taohua listened to Kikyo in the house say that the official media came to Najib, and couldn't help frowning: "Tomorrow will be Xiao Nian." "The family is busy with the sacrifice stove, preparing for the Chinese New Year's Eve family banquet, and I don't know how many things to be busy, why did the Liu family send a matchmaker to the door at this time? I don't know the etiquette, right?

Mint was rolling a circle of patterns on the cuffs of her newly made dress, and when she heard this, she said, "The girl cares about this, there is a wife Zhang Luo horizontally and vertically." "Anyway, the Cao family is idle and idle, most of the New Year's affairs in the east side courtyard have public, and the rest are Taohua in Zhang Luo, so the Cao family will go to Jiang Yanhua's family affairs.

Kikyo smiled and said, "Sister Mint said yes." But I see that the matchmaker didn't get a lot of money today, and it was about the same as Nacai's day......"

Taohua gently pressed Jiang Bohua's raised head to read the book, and motioned to the bellflower to stop talking about this topic with her eyes, and then said: "The next hire is the most important, and the front is just polite." "This family affair Cao and Jiang Yanhua are both in love, and even the eight characters are quietly given to others in advance, at this time, to be picky about gifts, isn't it asking for trouble?

That's exactly what Cao thinks. Looking at Najib's gift, she was also a little uncomfortable, but thinking about Liu Zhijing is Hanlin, and what the matchmaker said was appreciated by the boss and specially brought to the epidemic area, the discomfort was thrown away again. Looking at the big red appointment letter on the table, he couldn't help but smile: "It's settled." ”

Although it has not yet been a big gift, but with this letter of appointment, it is equivalent to an engagement, if there is no major event, this family affair will not be returned, it is almost a certainty.

After today's letter of appointment, Jiang Xi must be present, so he also followed into Cao's house, and at this moment, after listening to Cao's words, he said: "Since it has been decided, let's start buying a dowry after the year." There's a list here, you can see for yourself, and tick it out if you want something. ”

This list was made by Tuo Chunhuaxuan's shopkeeper after inquiring about the prices in the capital, which also included a shop, but the land was not suitable. Jiang Xi gave the list to the Cao family and turned around and left.

Today is a good day for Jiang Yanhua, she wants to avoid it, she hid in the house early in the morning, Jiang Xi came out after Jiang Xi left, and when she saw Cao Shi holding the list in a daze, she knew what she was thinking, and stepped forward to pull out the list and looked at it herself, and said: "Mother, let's take this shop down." ”

Cao Shi said worriedly: "This single shop will cost 1,500 taels." "Half of the silver was gone at once.

"Then I'll have less of the other stuff." Jiang Yanhua said decisively, "Those furniture and clothing don't have to be too particular - I heard that the Liu family's house is not spacious, and it is useless to prepare too much." "The same wood, Wuxi is only half the price here, it's a big loss.

"But this-it's not good-looking...... "Giving a dowry is a pomp, and as soon as the things are sent out, I can see that the daughter-in-law who entered the door is confident. The furniture is all big, so I point to them for face.

Jiang Yanhua smiled: "The face is all for others to see, why bother." He said this, but his heart felt bitter. The Communist Party of China has so much silver, if you want to gain face or you can't have a lining, Cao is not unaware, and he is still here to say over and over again, in addition to making people unhappy, what is the use?

The Cao family has never made up her own mind, but since Jiang Yanhua took the idea, she also listened, first picked up the pen to hook the shop down, and said: "I'm afraid that I will be taken away by others, so it's good to settle this matter first." "Your father said that he didn't care, but he still cared, otherwise how would he inquire so clearly." ”

Jiang Yanhua looked at the list again and said, "I'm afraid that this list is not listed by my father." There are a lot of trivial things on it, where does Daddy have time to inquire about them one by one. Most of them are entrusted to someone. "It's only been how long Jiang Xi's family has been in Beijing, and there are a number of people waiting to go out, not to mention that they haven't seen and asked their subordinates to go out to inquire, even if they go, they won't be so clear.

Cao Shi smiled: "It doesn't matter who inquired, even if you entrust someone, it is also your father's heart." ”

Jiang Yanhua said: "I am naturally grateful to my father, but I don't know who my father trusted, just don't be coaxed." ”

Saying this, Cao also thought about it: "I haven't seen your father make friends with anyone in the capital - maybe it was written by your uncle and grandfather." ”

Jiang Yanhua didn't say anything, but she knew in her heart that it would never be possible. In the Jiang family's room, the Xiao family was more enthusiastic about this family matter, but they would never bother to come here. As for Mrs. Jiang, I'm afraid she has never really treated her as a granddaughter, so how can she do this?

After Cao Shi concentrated on sketching on the list, Jiang Yanhua beckoned Poria out and said in a low voice: "You go and inquire, who is asking about this list outside?" ”

Poria had something in her heart, so she responded casually, and said with a smile: "The girl has that shop, but someone has to go to Zhang Luo to ......."

Jiang Yanhua glanced at her and smiled faintly: "You are right, I have to have a reliable person to go, so I can rest assured." ”

Poria looked at her with a blank eye, and said: "The slave's father used to manage the accounts in the medicine hall for many years, but he only went home to raise it because he was sick later, and he has actually recovered all these years......" Her father got severe typhoid fever that year, turned into lung disease, and went to Zhuangzi to raise it for two years, and the original errand was naturally lost. However, his family is an old servant of the Jiang family, and they are loyal, after they recovered from their illness, Jiang Xi asked them to watch the medicine field in Zhuangzi, but in Poria's opinion, it is far better to go to the house of Master Hanlin on an errand, not to mention that if you can be the shopkeeper in the shop, it is not much better than farming in the countryside?

Jiang Yanhua didn't know the idea of Poria Cocos, but she did need someone to marry a helper, these old servants of the Jiang family may not be willing to follow her, it is impossible to ask for a Poria cocos and bring a family, so she nodded slightly: "You do things properly, and your father and mother want to come the same." ”

Poria suddenly raised her eyebrows and danced: "The slave must inquire about the matter clearly." At this time, he turned his attention to what Jiang Yanhua had just ordered, "It's just that the girl is asking about this, what is she doing?" ”

Jiang Yanhua hesitated for a moment and said, "It's nothing, I just want to know." "During this period of time, someone first sent a lot of paper and pencils, and then there were good furs, and now it is this list again, she always suspects that this is all because of Taohua, and I really want to know if Taohua knows someone outside......