Upon hearing the news, Jiang Da Gumu, who was already married, hurried back to her maiden home.
"My husband's younger brother has a son who is nineteen this year. He's strong and sturdy—I've watched him grow up since he was little. He's honest and dependable. Why not let Xiao Mai marry him? That way I can look after Xiao Mai too. What do you think, Da Sao?"
Jiang Da Sao didn't dare arrange another marriage for her daughter so casually. What if this one turned out to be another pretty face with no substance? That would only harm her daughter.
"Husband, what do you think?"
Jiang Lao Da was a simple, honest man who took half a day to get a word out. Jiang Yu suggested:
"Why not invite him over under the pretext of visiting relatives? We can meet him first and then decide."
"Alright." Jiang Lao Da nodded.
On a bright spring day, several Jiang family girls and older boys went to town to buy supplies. The younger children clamored to go along too. Jiang Feng hitched up the ox cart and took all his siblings with him.
Jiang Old Grandfather wrote down the shopping list on paper while Jiang Nǎinai added a few items beside him.
"Buy one jin of salt, two jin of white sugar, and two egg-laying hens."
The Jiang daughters-in-law chimed in: "And we need to get some fabric too."
Jiang Nian laughed: "We know! We'll make sure to get all the aunties their favorite patterned cloth."
"Grandma, I want meat!" Jiang Dou and Jiang Ya clamored nearby.
"Alright, alright, we'll buy some." With silver at home, Jiang Nǎinai had become much more generous. "Buy five jin of pork."
Jiang Da Gumu stared in astonishment. "Father, you've struck it rich! Why are you buying so much?"
The Jiang family members fell silent. Jiang Old Grandfather coughed and explained:
"Last time your third brother went hunting, he caught a rare creature and sold it for a hundred taels of silver. We thought we'd improve the children's meals a bit."
"A hundred taels!" Jiang Da Gumu was stunned. Living in town with her husband who was a respectable teacher, she had never possessed a hundred taels herself.
After the younger generation left, Jiang Da Gumu lingered in her mother's room to complain.
"Mother, you have no idea how hard my life in town has been. Don't be fooled by my decent clothes—it's all for appearances. My husband only earns three taels a month, which is barely enough to feed the whole family. We're barely making ends meet."
Jiang Nǎinai immediately understood what her eldest daughter was after. Since the family had money now, helping her out wouldn't be unreasonable, but she worried her sons and daughters-in-law might object if they found out.
"I'll give you ten taels of silver, but you mustn't let your sisters-in-law know."
"Yes, I promise!"
Jiang Da Gumu was overjoyed. She had expected her mother to give her two or three taels at most, never imagining she'd get ten all at once. Divided among the family branches, that hundred taels would only amount to over ten taels per branch—and she alone had gotten ten!
"Mother, you really do love me best!"
Jiang Da Gumu beamed with delight. Jiang Nǎinai guiltily avoided her gaze and went to fetch money from under the cabinet. She knew the daughter she'd raised—not bad at heart, just somewhat greedy and vain, always competing with her siblings. If she learned the family actually had five thousand taels, she'd surely raise hell.
"Here, take it. Keep these ten taels as your private savings. Buy whatever you need."
Jiang Da Gumu took the money bag and opened it to confirm it contained ten taels. After putting away the silver, she stood up.
"Mother, it's getting late. I should be going. I'll bring my nephew for you to meet first thing tomorrow morning."
"Leaving so soon?" Jiang Nǎinai asked. "Won't you stay and have a meal with your mother before you go?"
"No!" Aunt Jiang frowned with worry. "My son has been complaining about stomach discomfort lately and can't do without me. I need to go check on him."
"Oh, then you should go." Grandma Jiang saw her out. When she returned inside, Grandpa Jiang asked.
"How much did our daughter manage to coax out of you?"
"What are you talking about!" Grandma Jiang sat on a stool mending clothes. "We have so much money at home now, what's wrong with giving some to our daughter? Don't be fooled just because she lives in town – her life isn't easy either."
"Did I say you shouldn't give her any?" Grandpa Jiang sighed.
"It's not that I want to guard against our daughter, but against her in-laws. With three daughters, if they all find out, they'll definitely tell their in-laws, who will pressure them to come ask for money. That would just create trouble."
Grandma Jiang nodded. "I understand. Having too much money can become a curse."
Grandma Jiang said, "I plan to use the silver to buy land and grow more crops to store grain. These times are so chaotic – who knows when fighting might break out? When that happens, even having money won't guarantee you can buy food."
"I'll follow your lead." Grandma Jiang said obediently. Grandpa Jiang asked, "Now that the family is well-off, why are you still mending those old clothes?"
Grandma Jiang smiled. "I'm used to wearing old clothes. For working in the fields, new clothes aren't suitable anyway. Old clothes are more comfortable."
Taoyuan Town.
As soon as the Jiang siblings arrived in town, they eagerly rushed into the pastry and preserved fruit shop. Jiang Yu, being the eldest, was in charge of the little ones.
"Big brother, I want to eat the sweet rice balls with red bean paste.Jiang Li, held in Jiang Feng's arms, pointed at the snow-white rice balls while acting cute.
"You look like a sweet rice ball yourself!" Jiang Feng pinched her chubby cheeks. Jiang Nian smiled and bought the pastries her younger siblings liked.
After buying pastries, the group went to the fabric shop to get cloth for their aunts. They bought three entire bolts of fabric, and the shopkeeper gave them some floral scrap fabric as well. Jiang Sui and Jiang Xiaomai delightedly played with the floral scraps.
The ox cart was loaded with their purchases when a horse came charging through, followed by two teams of government soldiers. Jiang Yu pulled his siblings to the roadside to avoid them.
A soldier on horseback shouted, "The Imperial Envoy is arriving! All pedestrians make way!"
The commoners along the road knelt on the ground. A magnificent carriage passed slowly, guarded by soldiers both in front and behind. After the carriage passed, Jiang Yu quickly pulled his siblings back to Yong'an Village.
Inside the carriage sat the Crown Prince, who was heading to the Prefectural Residence in Ruyang Commandery. Prefect Qi waited at the city gate with his four sons to welcome him.
As the Crown Prince stepped down from the carriage, Prefect Qi smilingly went to greet him.
"Your servant pays respects to the Crown Prince."
The four Qi sons knelt behind their father. The Crown Prince looked down at the father and sons, then after a moment lazily laughed.
"Rise."
"Thank you, Crown Prince." Prefect Qi stood up but remained bowing. His four sons stood straight behind him, each exceptionally impressive and dignified – even more so than the Crown Prince.
The eunuch beside the Crown Prince raised a finger, "How dare you! How dare you look directly at the Crown Prince!"
Prefect Qi's heart tightened. He turned to glare at his sons. "All of you, lower your heads."
Qi Ji obediently lowered his head. Qi Heng also lowered his gaze. The third son Qi Mo and Qi Xun looked displeased. Qi Heng tugged at them, and the two reluctantly lowered their heads.
Everyone present stood bowing with lowered heads, making the Crown Prince appear lofty.
"Prefect Qi, what entertainment does your Ruyang Commandery offer? If I don't enjoy myself thoroughly, I'll hold you accountable." The Crown Prince threatened him with a smile.
Prefect Qi bowed with cupped hands and said, "I wonder what aspects His Highness the Crown Prince favors. This humble official will certainly make arrangements with utmost care."
He had long since discerned the Crown Prince's preferences, yet dared not act on his own initiative. If every arrangement perfectly suited the Prince's tastes, given his suspicious nature, he might suspect being surveilled. The Prince must voice his desires himself, after which the Prefect would pretend to have just prepared everything, thus satisfying him.
"I have heard that Ruyang Commandery boasts beauties fair as jade, with dance moves ethereal as celestial beings. Might I have the privilege of witnessing this?"
Prefect Qi smiled and replied, "What a coincidence! In my humble residence, there is a troupe of dancing girls, each as beautiful as a fairy and exceptionally graceful in their movements."
The Crown Prince remarked sarcastically, "I never would have guessed Prefect Qi to be one who knows how to enjoy life."
Prefect Qi promptly knelt down and said, "Your Highness, these dancing girls are all pitiable women. I merely provide them shelter. Teaching them dance is intended to help them secure a livelihood in the future."