First of all, furniture. Originally, this was to wait for the big set, and then the number of new houses. It's hit, but now the wedding is obviously going to be held in the new Beizi Mansion, but this mansion has just started, and I don't know when it will be completed. However, with the detailed drawings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, most of the furniture can be prepared in advance, and there is time to carefully purchase them.

Speaking of furniture, the most precious material is, of course, red sandalwood, I heard that in the dowry given by the second room, almost all the furniture is made of red sandalwood. However, now red sandalwood is rare, and it has almost been monopolized by the palace, that is, people like the second uncle Xingbao who have a way in the internal affairs office may find so many. In the past two years, he has paid careful attention to it, and he has collected a small piece of red sandalwood, as well as a few boards of huanghuali. That's just enough to make a bed or a cupboard, and good yellow pear wood is now becoming less and less common.

Shuning does not agree to use these two materials, it is difficult to find and not to say, and the price is still very expensive. Although my family's income is good now, it is still far from those rich families. So she proposed: "It's good to use nanmu." The materials are expensive and easy to obtain. The furniture in the bedroom is made of nanmu, and the rest is made of sour branches. I remember that the black sour branch is very similar to red sandalwood, and maybe it can bluff people. ”

Shi hesitated: "There are not many craftsmen in the north who are good at making sour branches, right?" Then you have to go south to buy it. She paused and said, "Then let's just go to the south to procure, it's still early." It's easy to find good materials in Guangzhou, and it's cheap, and don't you like the kind of two-step bed? ”

Shuning thought for a while, nodded and said, "That's fine, but the furniture in Guangzhou is too gorgeous, and I still like the simplicity and generosity of the Soviet style." Why don't you ask someone to buy timber from Guangzhou and transport it to Suzhou to fight? I remember that there was also Nanmu in Gangnam. ”

Shi agreed: "Okay, let's ask Huo Comprador to help with this." I simply asked him to do other things together, he was familiar with that side. Shuning asked suspiciously: "What else is there besides furniture?" We already have jade carvings and vases. Shi nodded her forehead and said, "Silly girl." How is that enough? Prepare some jade. In addition to doing it like an accident, in recent years, it has become fashionable in Beijing to add a pair of bonsai to the dowry, and the more expensive the better. In the dowry of Wufujin, there is a pot of colorful jade Ganoderma lucidum and a pot of coral peony. We couldn't compare, so we had to think of something else. It is easy to find jade in Guangzhou, and it doesn't cost much to take some medium ones to make a green bamboo bonsai. The other pot is made of agate stone and the like. ”

She took a sip of tea and smiled slightly: "Also, don't many people in Beijing like to buy a clock or something like a façade now?" A small pocket watch in Beijing costs thousands. A grandfather clock costs four or five thousand taels. Let's simply go to Guangzhou to buy it, there are many and good clocks there. With your sister-in-law's family here, you must be able to save a lot of money. ”

Mom's good calculations......

Shuning admired, but she was a little worried, Huo Comprador was willing to help with these favors, after all, the two sides had only maintained general contact in the past few years, not close, and there was nothing good for him. Shi dispelled her concerns: "He wrote a letter a few days ago, saying that he wanted to set up a treasure in Beijing. Please help us take care of it. He is a foreigner, and it is not easy to gain a foothold in the capital, so we can ask your eldest uncle to say hello to the city guard, and then say a few words to Shuntianfu, which can save him a lot of trouble. ”

Yu Heng has been in Shuntian Mansion for many years, and he is still very influential among the small officials, and Zhang Bao gets along with him. I also know a few people, this kind of thing is indeed just a gesture, but how Huo Comprador will do business in the future depends on his own ability.

The mother and daughter discussed for a while and decided on the charter. The clan also added an additional pearl purchase site. Because I heard that there are also people who raise pearls in the south, although they are not as valuable as those outside the Guan, but the quality is good, and the price is not high. These beads don't come in handy, but they're a good embellishment.

As he spoke, Su Yun reported that the Nala clan had arrived. Shi and Shuning didn't know what was going on, so they got up and greeted them in, and after a few words of greeting, Nala said what he meant.

It turned out that Su Su, who married into Prince Kang's mansion, was eight months pregnant. It's almost production. He was in Shandong, and he planned to go to Beijing to take care of his daughter, but he didn't expect his son Asen to suddenly fall ill, and she couldn't get out. I had to write to my mother's family for help. In particular, she heard that there was a daughter-in-law who specialized in waiting for pregnant women and newborns in the third room, so she wanted to borrow a few.

He quickly agreed. said that he would send two people to King Kang's mansion, and it would not be too late to return the child when he was full of moon.

Nala hesitated a little: "Prince Kang is our master, so isn't it okay to send two people?" Brother Duan's daughter-in-law and Brother Ming are in good health, and the people around them are also knowledgeable, so it doesn't hurt to have a few fewer people, right? ”

Shu Ning frowned slightly when she heard the word "master" next to her, but quickly lowered her head and drank tea to cover up.

Shi said lightly: "There must be a grandmother in the palace who specializes in taking care of pregnant women, and the mother's relatives send too many people to go, won't it be a loss of face in the palace?" Two people are enough. What's more, didn't Shu Mulu's family send someone to report the news yesterday, saying that the big girl has a body? She's been out for two years, and that's a big deal. His family is small, and I wonder if I should send someone there. As for the rest of the one, Brother Ming is not yet a year old, and he has to leave someone around to wait. ”

Nala's face was a little unnatural: "The third brother and sister are still thoughtful, I still think that Fang Yatou has only been more than two months, and I have to stick to the Su Yatou first." She casually found a topic to talk nonsense, and then took her leave.

On the way back to the room, she couldn't help but feel sour. Fang Ning is older, and she married early, so it's okay; But the younger ones are about to have children; Shuning, who has three rooms, is preparing a dowry recently, and wants to leave the cabinet within the next year. These girls have had good results, but there has been no good news from Wanning's side. Since her husband gave the order, she has only visited her daughter in person during the Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year's Day and Lantern Festival. Although her daughter has settled down a lot, the fourth elder brother has never been alone with her, and only a few times when she was with other female dependents, the two had a few conversations that were not salty or light. If this continues, what should Wanning do? Especially when I heard that Sifujin is about to be produced, and next year is the year of the draft.

She returned to the bamboo courtyard all the way in distress, but saw her daughter-in-law Li holding Man Rui and standing in front of the courtyard with her tits waiting for her. Li Shi took a step forward and said, "Eniang, Brother Man is spitting up milk again, what should I do?" Nala reflexively almost said the words "go find the people of Meiyuan", suddenly remembered the words of the clan, sighed secretly, stretched out his hands and said, "Show me." ”

But he said that he just sent gt=.+. Shuning couldn't say that it was because of the words that the Nala clan said that Prince Kang was the master of their family, so he opened the topic and said: "It's nothing, it's just that Cousin Su is pregnant, and we only heard about it during the Chinese New Year, I only learned today that it has been eight months, but I couldn't hear any rumors before, is it that Prince Kang's mansion has strict rules, and has always been in charge of the people in the mansion and can't spread the news?" ”

Thinking that she was worried about Su Su, she smiled and said, "The rules of King Kang's Mansion are stricter in the latest chapter of Infinite Evil Intent. Ordinary people can't get into the door easily, but I heard that your cousin-in-law is a wife

and don't worry too much. And after you get married, you will be able to see your cousin again in a bright and bright manner. ”

Shuning smiled and continued the topic that had just been interrupted: "What furniture do you think E-Niang should make first?" Shi said: "I think that after the top cabinets, bookshelves and multi-treasure shelves are repaired, it is not too late to measure the serious size and then go to the building, and these can find good craftsmen in Beijing." Others, the step bed, the Luohan bed, the beauty couch, the cabinet and the three, the table and chair, and the hanger screen should be laid as soon as possible. There is also a bamboo pier round stool......"

She suddenly remembered something, clapped her hands and said, "I almost forgot, I should have bought the chair covers, bed curtains, door curtains and curtains together, as well as silk materials and large embroidery work...... Horizontal and vertical have to go to Suzhou, let's do it together. ”

Shuning hesitated a little: "Didn't you say that Sister Qiaoyun and they are leading people to do it?" Shi smiled: "They make a lot of purse quilts and noodles, which is not enough." Your wedding garments, except those made at home. I also have to go to Suzhou to buy some good ones. The material and bamboo work there are better than those in Kyoto, and the cost is less. That's it. ”

The mother and daughter discussed one by one, wrote a list, and thought about the style, style, clothing, and pattern of the furniture to be played, and it took two days before the final decision was made.

But when it comes to who to send to procure this. They were worried. The most ideal is of course Changfu, but he has already planned to go back to Baoding to accompany his husband in a few days, and there is no reliable housekeeper in Beijing, who will take care of foreign affairs? They don't trust the local stewards of the house. It's still suitable for Changgui, but it's too busy.

In the end, Jin Bao helped, and among the children of the clan, he chose two nephews who had some experience and were reliable, one was called Fu Ning and the other was called He Ning. Help the three rooms to buy a dowry in Shuning. Funing went to Suzhou, and Hening went to Guangzhou. The clan sent Changgui and Zhou Zhou Lin to follow, and asked them to bring three thousand taels and eight thousand taels of silver tickets respectively and a letter to Huo Comprador to set off south.

He left first in a few days. Before leaving, I asked people to put together what my sister-in-law had learned in the past few months into a booklet. Even a few prescriptions of medicinal diet for maternity tonic and safe birth charms were quietly sent to Sibeile Mansion. He also explained a lot to his daughter.

Zhenzhen gradually took over the task of the housekeeper, and before Shuning could take a breath, she had to start preparing for the marriage, while rushing to make all kinds of needlework, such as wedding dresses, uppers, purses, etc., while doing skin care and body conditioning, and at the same time paying attention to the preparation process of various dowry items, she was so busy that she was dizzy. I thought there was plenty of time, but for some reason it seemed to be in a hurry, if it weren't for Zhenzhen and her second sister-in-law ordering her to sleep for four hours a day, she really wanted to break one day into two days.

It wasn't until one day, when she accepted all kinds of daily porcelain, combing his family, and toiletries, placed orders for boxes, boxes, and mirrors, and made gifts with Zhenzhen for the full moon of the big brother of the Four Belles Mansion, that she heard the news that Galdan had committed suicide and his daughter had surrendered with the crowd. The two sisters-in-law were happy that Duanning would be back soon, but the people below suddenly sent a letter, which was written by Su Wanda from Shandong, saying that he was about to expire his term of office and would arrive in Beijing soon.

Shuning was in a trance, had it been three years? Time flies. So, it's almost time for my dad to be in office? She thought about it in her heart, it turned out that she was going to be drafted again next year, and the show girl who had a relationship with her was probably only two cousins, right? I don't know what will happen.

However, there was not much time left for her to sigh, so she ordered someone to inform the family members who stayed in the Su family's courtyard to clean the house, and she got busy again.

In mid-May, the Holy Driving Class returned to the court. Soon, Prince Jian's Mansion sent someone to ask Shuning about the size of her clothes and her small day. Zhenzhen came forward to receive her, and hurriedly sent a letter to Baoding to inform her.

A month later, the Ministry of Rites set the date of the wedding on September 20, and then sent officials, represented by a member of the Zongren Mansion, to accompany the people of Prince Jane's Mansion to the Baron's Mansion for the ceremony.

There were six gold rings, seven colored clothes for the bride, five satin mattresses, plus four hundred taels of silver and a horse, which was part of the etiquette system. In addition, Prince Jian's mansion also prepared four boxes of gold and silver jewelry, double goose and double wine, lamb legs, elbows and all kinds of steamed food, dragon and phoenix cakes, crystal cakes and all kinds of happy snacks, red dates, peanuts, longan, chestnuts and other four dried fruits, and apples and other four fresh fruits. Before and after, there are 12 salutations.

Xianning took on the heavy responsibility of unpacking, according to his mother's instructions, made three gestures to the gift box, and slapped the gift box three times with his hand, before tearing off the seal in front of everyone, and also got a red satin embroidered purse full of small silver ingots.

Prince Jian succeeded Fujin and the head of the clan, and both families had relatives and daughters to attend the ceremony. Shuning sat quietly on the edge of the bed as if she had been a little timer, letting Borzigit bring her a golden ring, and listening to her say some auspicious words, her heart was full of joy.

On behalf of his family, Duan Ning returned half of the two geese and double wine to Prince Jian's mansion, and then distributed the wedding cakes and snacks to relatives and friends. All relatives and friends have "added boxes" to Shuning. There are those who send rouge palace powder clothing, some send handkerchiefs, purse sweat towels to fan the ground, some send pastel idle color porcelain, some send gold and silver collars and gold ear diggers, some send gold earrings and gem earrings, and some send gold bracelets, pearl strings or gemstone rings, everything, and the amount is quite sufficient. Shi, Duan Ning, and Zhenzhen smiled and thanked the people who gave the gifts one by one, and the former ordered the people below to display the gifts on the Rongqing Hall and send someone to guard them.

After Dading, the Beizi Mansion was finally completed. He sent someone to measure the size of the house, and sent someone to make boxes, cabinets, shelves and other things. There is also good news from Suzhou and Guangzhou. Thirty percent of the clothing and bamboo work in Funing has been completed, and he even bought rouge powder and the most famous flower water in Yangzhou. On Hening's side, after purchasing timber, he actually met a group of Suzhou carpenters, who came to make furniture for an official who was going to marry his daughter, but he didn't expect that the daughter of that family suddenly fell ill and died, and the family was sad, so they had to send them away. They don't know what to do about the return journey. Seeing that their craftsmanship was good, He Ning thought of saving some work, so he found a courtyard in the city of Guangzhou, so that these craftsmen could make furniture nearby, and he had more time to wait for the jade craftsman to finish the embroidery bonsai.

Su Wanda released another Fuzhou general sentence, but he was quite satisfied. Before leaving, he didn't send any very expensive gifts, only a box of four treasures of the study, but there was actually a box of purple jade light ink made by Cao Sugong. Shuning personally wrote a letter to express her gratitude, and carefully put away the ink.

He also did a lot of things in Baoding, and the medicinal materials and spices were almost collected. Duan Ning sent a letter to a friend in Fengtian, asking them to help get some fur and make a big sweater for the girl to dowry. As the dowry became more and more complete, the wedding day drew closer and closer.

September, in the blink of an eye, has arrived.