Lin Wanwan came out of the Bamboo Garden with complicated thoughts. She always felt like she had returned to the human world from a strange and bizarre world.
"Hongyan, why are all the slaves here so miserable? Isn't this arranged by my aunt?"
Hongyan looked back at the Bamboo Garden with the door tightly closed, and whispered: "This is all brought by Xiao Niang. I heard from people in the house that because she was born with an abnormality, she could not see normal people around her.
, will be beaten away by her. The elders in the family had no choice but to find many people from all over the world to come and serve her, and they all grew up with her."
"Since she is a direct descendant of the Xiao family's imperial uncle, why would she come here to stay as a guest?"
Hongyan paused for a moment after hearing the words, and then said: "Although the two families have been married for five years, they are close to each other because Xiao Xiaoniang's grandmother and our old lady learned etiquette from the same nanny when they were young. This time
Xiao Niang came to seek treatment from the Medicine Buddha in the Medicine Hall of Lingyin Temple, so she naturally settled here.
Except for going to Lingyin Temple every half month to burn incense, she never attends social events and stays behind closed doors all day long. Madam has visited her today, so it’s okay to know that there is such a lady in the house. She will probably not be able to touch her in the future.
"
Lin Wanwan nodded, assuming she understood, and dropped the topic.
On the night of the third day of the Lunar New Year, after a family dinner, Lin Wanwan recognized her "relatives" from the Tang Dynasty. The other party had no doubts about her identity. After all, her identity was confirmed by the Xiao family's Qiliangfang.
Moreover, she also has a "Three Character Classic" which is famous in Qiantang.
Xiao had no reason to question such a granddaughter who had a fortune and a great reputation.
Lin Wanwan did not object to being confirmed as this identity. After all, this could be regarded as a stepping stone for her to enter the upper class society of the Tang Dynasty.
In an era like the Tang Dynasty, where family origin, hierarchy, and class were highly valued, it was very difficult to create a family out of thin air, especially for women.
If you want to enter the upper-class gentry circle, just having money is absolutely not enough. After all, the branch of the Hou Taolin family is already a poor family. If it were not supported by an ancestral temple, it would be enough to be called a farmer.
But the Xiao family is different. Even if they are separated, they are still the Lanling Xiao family. Throughout Jiangnan, this surname represents nobility and status. No matter where they settle, they can quickly gain recognition from the local upper class.
Accept.
As for Lin Wanwan, even though she had produced a high yield of grain in Luan County and her reputation as a famous doctor spread throughout the country, and almost everyone nearby had heard of her wealth, she still would not have a noble lady come to visit her.
, nor will she be invited to join it, nor will a man from a promising family come to propose marriage.
The poor and humble family had invited a matchmaker to come to their house, but as soon as they entered the village, she was kidnapped by the Lin clan leader and asked to be a matchmaker for Lin's good sons. As for Lin Wanwan's family? They couldn't even get close to the threshold.
For men in Guanzhong of the Tang Dynasty, what they most wanted to marry was the daughter of the five surnames and Qiwang; and here in Jiangnan, the daughters of the old gentry clans of the five surnames and nine families were the daughters of the Lanling Xiao family, the Liu family, and the Wujun family.
Zhang family, Lu family, Gu family.
Among them, the Xiao family, whose ancestors gave birth to emperors, is the most noble and prominent (after becoming emperor, they even named Xiao He as their ancestor, but the authenticity cannot be tested).
In addition to the ranking of the old gentry with five surnames and nine families, Jiangnan can be divided into the four major surnames of overseas Chinese: Wang, Xie, Yuan, and Xiao, and the four major surnames of Wu: Zhu, Zhang, Gu, and Lu.
Men and women born in these families are the most popular in the marriage and social markets in Jiangnan.
Therefore, the recognition of Lin Wanwan and Xiao's mother-in-law is indeed a thing that is beneficial to both parties. The noble family is not only an identity, but also a protective talisman.
When it was tea time after dinner, second uncle Xiao Zhen and third cousin Xiao Jingkun spoke frequently. Lin Wanwan was amazed by this interesting father and son pair.
Through the other party's conversation, she could only sigh: A branch is always a branch, and a second wife is always a second wife. Different responsibilities, different educations, and naturally different personalities. No wonder the second uncle took a merchant girl as his concubine.
Compared with the calmness of the first uncle's family, the second uncle's family are like actors in a comedy.
Over a cup of tea, third cousin Xiao Jingkun mentioned a certain "Mrs. Lu" countless times, which made Lin Wanwan dumbfounded. If it weren't for the fact that Mrs. Lu was old enough to be Xiao Jingkun's mother, Lin Wanwan would have thought that she had a crush on Lu.
Madam - no, it's Ming Lian.
Didn’t we agree that feudal society would be conservative? What kind of trick is this?
However, when the people in this family heard "Mrs. Lu" being mentioned constantly, they all took it for granted and their expressions did not change. This shows that Xiao Jingkun mentioned it a lot on weekdays.
After talking about it, Xiao Jingkun suddenly said to Lin Wanwan: "Mei Wan, you will have the honor to meet Mrs. Lu tomorrow. We only found out the news about you when Mrs. Lu passed the message to us. You have to thank Mrs. Lu."
.
Knowing that you came to Qiantang today, Mrs. Lu specially ordered the servants to send invitations and invite us juniors to attend a dinner party at the Lu family tomorrow. This is all for the sake of our Xiao family, so you can only have this opportunity.
.”
Lin Wanwan gave a cold yet polite smile: "Thank you very much, but I don't know this lady, but I don't know how she got the news about me."
Xiao Jingkun said proudly: "Because you saved Brother Zifang, he is Mrs. Lu's direct nephew. When he was seriously ill last time, Mrs. Lu heard the news and invited all the famous doctors in Hangzhou Prefecture to treat him. It's a pity that they didn't
It works, Wanmei, you are the best."
After talking for a long time, it turned out that she was Xiao Chong's aunt, and the news leaked from her. Lin Wanwan finally understood.
"So, I really have to thank Mrs. Lu. Grandma, I really want to thank you tomorrow. If it weren't for her enthusiasm, I wouldn't know that my grandmother is still alive in this world."
Xiao's mother, who had been sitting in the main seat and happily listening to the chatter of the juniors below, smiled when she heard this and said: "Okay, okay, go and have a good time with your brothers and sisters tomorrow. There are nice flowers planted in the Lu family's garden."
Xiao Jingkun took over and said: "Mei Wan, I believe that when you meet Mrs. Lu tomorrow, you will definitely be able to learn a lot of etiquette from her. She is a direct descendant of our Xiao family's Qiliangfang. She is graceful, noble and amiable."
Lin Wanwan showed an uncontrollable smile, reluctantly picked up the cup of freshly brewed tea that Sister-in-law Zhu San had just handed over, and took a sip regardless of the taste to prevent herself from laughing out loud.
She could feel that Mrs. Zhu was very ashamed of her husband's boastful remarks, but she acted very calmly. This noble lady's self-cultivation was absolutely superb.
For example, at this moment, the tea she handed over was just right, saving both Lin Wanwan and Xiao Jingkun from an embarrassment.