The Evil Man’s Lazy Lady Chapter 46 (Part 3)
Chapter 46: Betrothed (3) Original translation is from tenderflower's blog.
On July 20th, Shu Zhan was going to the prefectural city to take the examination, so after the Shu family discussed with Cheng Qingran, they set the xiǎo dìng date on the 16th of July, an auspicious day.
(T/N: 小定/xiǎo dìng, I’m not sure how to translate this, but it means that in the old days, the initial procedure for concluding a marriage, the man’s family gave the woman home-use jewelry as a betrothal gift/bride-price. So let’s just call it betrothal gift or bride price)
Today, the sun was shining and there was a cool breeze. It was an excellent day.
The Qin family rushed over early to prepare the banquet together with the villagers who helped. In the spacious yard of the Shu family, ten large mahogany tables were set up to entertain guests.
Shu Wan wore a bright red festive silk dress and sat shyly on top of the heated-brick bed in the west wing with the old madam and two daughters-in-law talking beside her. Shu Lan, in a pink skirt, sat obediently beside her older sister. Although she didn’t understand what everyone was saying, her grandmother and aunts had warm smiles on their faces, and she followed with joy. It turned out that getting married was such a good celebration. Looking at her well-dressed older sister, Shu Lan suddenly felt like her older sister was more beautiful than ever today.
As soon as the auspicious time arrived, Cheng Qingran rode a high-headed horse and personally brought a small betrothal gift.
The first lift was a pair of wild geese with red silk tied around their necks. They were carried by the two young servants in high spirits. At first glance, they were carefully taken care of. This pair of wild geese alone attracted cheers, not to mention the eight large mahogany boxes behind them. Although the boxes were closed, just by the look of the young servants panting, they knew the inside was real material.
However, no matter how lamentable the ceremony was, most of the villagers’ eyes still fell on the beautiful and unparalleled Cheng Qingran. Such a fairy-like person and the family was so rich. The eldest daughter of the Shu family really had a great blessing!
The big girls and the little daughters-in-law were both envious and jealous, but they could only watch the gift-giving team go away.
Shu Zhan and Xiao Lang, as well as the three handsome men of the Qin family, lined up at the entrance with their heads held high and welcomed Cheng Qingran and everyone in.
Cheng Qingran solemnly greeted Shu Maoting and Qin-shi and also met with the elders of the Qin family. No matter what other people asked, he answered fluently and with ease, even in his busy moments, he did not forget to glance at his future younger sister-in-law.
The more Shu Lan looked at Cheng Qingran, the more pleasing to the eye. He was born so handsome and so was her older sister. The two of them must be a good match when standing together.
She was smiling happily when someone suddenly gave her a strong hit on the back of her head. Looking back, she saw Xiao Lang waving at her as he walked out.
Shu Lan angrily ran after him: “Why did you hit me?”
Xiao Lang pointed to the pair of wild geese that were placed in the yard for everyone to see, and lowered his head to ask her: “Do you like those things?”
It was only today that he learned when he got married, the man would give these things. He heard from his aunt that it was still a small marriage, and the big one would give more dowry gifts. In this case, he should take a good look at it. When he married the lazy girl in the future, he must give more than Cheng Qingran.
Shu Lan glanced at the pair of wild snow-white geese, shook her head, and said, “I don’t like it. It’s not as pretty as Quanquan and Quanquan can still speak.”
Xiao Lang twitched the corner of his mouth. The answer he was expecting was that she liked it, and then he would tell the lazy girl he would give her more in the future, but he still overestimated her thoughts.
At lunchtime, the Qin family and other female guests took their seats in the west wing, Cheng Qingran and others sat in the east wing, and the villagers who helped out ate in the yard.
Big fish, lots of meat, good wines, and good food, everyone ate until the sun slanted, and then they left one after another.
Shu Lan’s two aunts helped Qin-shi clean the house, washed dishes, and sat for a while before the family got in the carriage as well as Shu Zhan.
Qin-shi watched them leave, washed her hands, and went back to the house. Seeing Cheng Qingran lying on the heated-brick bed, sleeping with a blushing face, she thought of the way her prospective son-in-law was being drunk by her son and nephews, she said to her husband who was also drunk: “It’s really hard for him today. I’m afraid he has never drunk so much wine before? So is Ah Zhan. How old is he? He actually learned from Qin Ming to force him to drink a big bowl of wine. Just wait, he will feel better tomorrow morning!”
Shu Maoting smiled and listened to his wife’s nagging. He also lay on the other side of the heated-brick bed, and said, “No more, I’m sleepy too, I will bother you...” Halfway through, he fell asleep.
Qin-shi glared at her husband angrily. When she looked back and saw Xiao Lang and Shu Lan squatting in the kitchen to tease the pair of wild geese, she said to them, “You two look after the house. I’m going to return the borrowed bowls and chopsticks.”
Xiao Lang immediately stood up: “Aunt, let me go with you!”
Qin-shi shook her head: “Sister Wan is inconvenient to go out of the house today. You stay at home and help me watch so if someone comes, there will be someone to greet them.”
Xiao Lang thought about it too and did not insist.
As soon as Qin-shi left, someone lying on the heated-brick bed pretending to sleep immediately opened his eyes. He put on his shoes and got out of the heated-brick bed with light movements. Hearing that there was no movement in the kitchen, he knew the two little guys had gone to play in the yard, so he lifted the curtain of the door and walked out.
Shu Lan’s low laughter came from the yard, Cheng Qingran tickled the corner of his lips, straightened his clothes, and walked towards the opposite side.
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