can't help much, but we have troubled you many times. 。"Li Laoer spoke from the heart, and there was a hint of guilt in his words." 。Mr. Wen actually laughed, "We are comrades who were born and died...A clever little girl tugged at Miss Peng's sleeve and whispered, "Miss, please invite the County Princess and Madam into the house."
"Oh, yes, yes." Miss Peng became even more flustered and hurriedly invited the old woman and Jia Yin into the house.
The house wasn't furnished with any valuable decorations. The most common sights were embroidery frames and books, all neatly arranged and kept very clean.
Jia Yin was young, and no one would mind if she said something wrong. She pretended to be curious and playful, asking questions constantly.
"Sister Peng, do you embroider every day You're so skilled, I can only sew sachets."
"Sister Peng, you've read so many books!"
Miss Peng was very patient and answered all questions. Jia Yin got her embroidery threads tangled, but Miss Peng didn't get angry at all. Instead, she was worried that Jia Yin might prick herself with the needle and quickly put it away.
Old Mrs. Li watched on the side, occasionally interjecting a few words, and became more and more pleased with what she heard.
Seeing Grandma's joyful smile, Jia Yin felt content and withdrew, taking the young maid to relieve herself.
The little maid led Jiayin out of the room and into the next one, thus giving the old woman and Peng girl their privacy.
Miss Peng wiped her handkerchief, hesitated for a moment, and then knelt before Old Madam Li. “Madam, it was my fault. I’ve been relying on Brother Jiahuan to secretly sell my embroidery work for me. I… in short, please don’t blame Brother Jiahuan, it’s all my fault. I am willing to compensate, as long as I am able.”
Li Laotai reached out her hand to help her, feeling the thin calluses on her fingers and sighing softly.
Since she was a child, she had no mother and her father was careless. Living under the hands of her stepmother and concubines, this girl truly suffered a lot.
"Child, it is indeed wrong for you to secretly communicate with Jiāhuān, but Jiāhuān has spoken of your hardship and your desperation. Our family does not hold any resentment towards you."
As for Jia Huan, he is a son of the Li family. He acts recklessly and doesn't care about his older brothers who are studying at the academy. This is his fault. The family punishes him, it's also a lesson he needs to learn. No one can replace that, do you understand
Miss Peng bit her lip, feeling increasingly guilty and anxious, but she didn't know how to stop or compensate.
The old woman couldn't bear to see her worry, so she asked: "Child, last night I asked Jiahuan, he said he was willing to marry you and treat you well for a lifetime. Today I came over just to ask about your thoughts. If you have the same feelings, I will go to your father to discuss your marriage."
"Let me tell you, with how much you and Jiahuan have been running around before, it's inevitable that the servants in your household would have discovered it. You two couldn't possibly keep it hidden from prying eyes. Now that you are married, this is naturally the best outcome. Even if people gossip about a young couple being so close, it wouldn't be considered too inappropriate.
"
"But if you dislike him and don't wish to marry him, just tell us the truth. Our family will do our best to help your father keep this a secret, protecting your reputation and not hindering your future marriage prospects."
Peng girl did not expect the old lady to ask so directly, she was both ashamed and flustered for a moment, really wanting to find a crack in the ground to hide in.
The old woman couldn't delay too long. After thinking for a moment, she said again: "That's it, if you are willing, nod your head, if not, shake your head."
Peng girl hesitated for a moment, but mustered her courage to look up at Li Lao Tai, tears streaming down her face. "Old Madam, Jia Huan told me many things about your family, and I was very happy to hear them. Since I was young, I didn't have a mother, and I also want a warm and lively home like yours..."
“Alright, alright, good child, don't cry!” Old Mrs. Li hurriedly hugged her and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Grandma knows, just settle down and live your life peacefully. As long as you and Jiahuan are one heart, Grandma will do whatever it takes to get you two together!”
Peng girl instinctively leaned into the old woman's arms, feeling more clearly the warmth in her embrace. Her tears flowed even harder.
For so many years, no one had held her since her mother died.
She had endured for so long, and now that she finally rebelled, was she just fighting for a better future for herself
Just at this moment, she found it hard to believe, it must be her mother's spirit in heaven, watching over her!
Jia Yin was playing in the courtyard, looking this way at the flowers and that way at the grass, talking to the little maid. She felt she had gotten a good grasp of things, and also tired with a dry mouth and throat, so she called for her grandmother.
Miss Peng's eyes were red-rimmed as she sent the old woman out.
Jia Yin ran over and hugged Peng's neck, kissing her on the cheek. "Pengjie, I like you!"
Miss Peng blushed again and lightly kissed him back, whispering, "I like you too. Come find me when you get to Los Angeles."
"Well then, sister, you come play in our mountain valley later, and I won't charge you!" Jia Yin patted her chest confidently, looking very generous and righteous. Everyone laughed at this.
Soon, Old Mrs. Li led Jia Yin back to the front courtyard.
Miss Peng stood at the door, watching all the way. When she turned back, she saw someone peeking from a distance. But her heart was no longer filled with the previous frustration and anger.
Afterward, she would marry into a lively and harmonious large family.
What concubines, what illegitimate brothers, even whether her father would remarry, all of it was irrelevant to her!
"Xiaoyue, Xiaoyue! Help me open the box and find the red embroidered booklet!"
The little maid was overjoyed and skipped about to help her young mistress find things.
In the front yard study, Mr. Peng was speaking with the Li brothers.
He originally thought the atmosphere would be a little awkward, after all, Li Lao San was a carpenter who also worked as a cook, and Li Lao Si was a martial artist. He, a scholar, didn't have much in common with them.
Not wanting to, Li Laosì traveled all over the place, broadening his horizons. Before he set out on expeditions, he carved a path for himself through sheer determination.
Now that he's already the president, the next step up is to become a general.
Though Li Lao San wasn't as skilled as his younger brother, he still fought his way from the north to the south with great determination.
I've killed wolf packs, fought tigers and leopards, wiped out bandit groups, you name it, I've done it.
Three people chatted and drank tea, surprisingly lively.
Until Lao Tai Li brought Jiayin back, Mr. Peng still had some unfinished business.
Li Laotai felt confident now and decided to be straightforward. "Mr. Peng, with a daughter in the family, many suitors would come knocking. I just saw that our young lady is well-behaved and gentle, and I quite like her. I wonder if our two families have this fate to become in-laws"
"Although my grandson isn't very capable now, he's still young and has time to improve. My eldest son is coming back from the south soon and plans to reopen Sijiaju Restaurant. When that happens, my grandson will definitely become the head chef and manage it all. I promise, Miss Peng won't have to suffer anymore."
"Furthermore, as a sign of sincerity, our family is willing to offer two hundred handwritten books as a dowry. The rest will be prepared according to the custom, neither more nor less. Sir, would you kindly consider this further"
Mr. Peng clenched the teacup in his hand, a surprise of delight in his heart.
If he had been asked before, he certainly would have refused.
But now that her daughter has done such a thing and it's spread, their whole family is ashamed to show their faces.
And the Li family had a county princess, land grants, and a son who was an army commander. Suddenly, their status rose.
This constant push and pull, they've pretty much reached their peak in terms of social climbing.
Not only did Li's family not use this to take advantage, but they were even more sincere than before.
If the dean knew, he'd probably want to give birth to a daughter right now and send her to the Li family! What else could he possibly object to!
“The old madam took a liking to my ugly girl, it's her good fortune.” of the two maids. “I, Princess Three, came here with County Master Kang Le to pay respects to our grandmother. You bunch of dog slaves left us in a side hall for half an hour! No hot tea, no charcoal...