After finishing their meal and tidying up, Qi Zhenzhen pulled Song Mingyue to look at the things she had brought back.
They had only looked at a few items when visitors arrived.
"May I ask who you are looking for?" Qi Zhenzhen asked, looking curiously at the three people in front of her.
Although dressed as men, it was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye that they were women.
"We have traveled overnight and are now a bit tired. We are looking for a place to stay. We wonder if it is convenient?" the taller one among them spoke. Judging by the voice, it was difficult to tell if it was male or female.
The Qi family was located at the foot of the mountain. To reach the Qi family from the main road, one had to pass through the entire village. It was rather strange for these people to be looking for a place to stay and end up at the Qi family's.
"Did you come from the mountain?" Qi Zhenzhen asked, sizing them up.
"Miss has sharp eyes. The three of us did indeed come down from the mountain. To be honest, Miss, I am here to collect herbs on Tiger Tooth Mountain and have been in the mountains for several days." the leader said kindly.
"After being in the mountains for several days, would your clothes still be this clean?" Qi Zhenzhen retorted.
The leader paused for a moment, a look of embarrassment appearing on his face. "I have been clean since I was young and cannot stand being dirty. Therefore, I bring several changes of clothes when I go into the mountains to collect herbs. Here, the baskets they are carrying are filled with clothes and other things I need daily."
This explanation seemed plausible enough.
"Please come in." Qi Zhenzhen ushered them inside and asked Feixu and Erxi to bring out snacks and tea to entertain them. She herself pulled Song Mingyue to continue looking through the items she had brought back.
"That taller young man is really handsome," Song Mingyue murmured softly. "If he were to wear women's clothing, he would definitely be a beauty."
"You are right, that is indeed a beauty, a beauty disguised as a man."
Song Mingyue looked surprised. "Why would a young lady dress as a man?"
"She is a doctor, collecting herbs in the mountains. Perhaps for convenience," Qi Zhenzhen said, taking out a box. "Look at these pieces of jewelry. Do you like them? I plan to use them as part of your dowry."
They were strung together by Qi Zhenzhen herself with various colored gemstones, and they were exquisite.
Song Mingyue's attention was immediately diverted. She had money and often went to jewelry shops. She had seen many beautiful pieces of jewelry, but none of them could compare to the set Qi Zhenzhen had taken out. They shimmered and sparkled, captivating the eye.
"This, this is too precious," Song Mingyue stammered after a long pause, regaining her voice.
"Didn't we agree? Whoever gets married first, the other must send a grand gift? Are you satisfied with mine?" Qi Zhenzhen asked with a smile. "I put a lot of effort into making each piece, and my fingers are red from the work."
After her surprise, Song Mingyue was filled with emotion. No matter how precious the items were, they could not compare to the heartfelt intentions of a good sister.
"I like it, I like it very much, I like it extremely much," Song Mingyue said earnestly, holding Qi Zhenzhen's hand.
"Like what?" Yu Shi's voice rang out. "Oh, they are really beautiful."
"Mother, these are the dowry gifts Zhenzhen wants to give me," Song Mingyue said, pulling Yu Shi to look as well. "Zhenzhen made them herself. I like them so much."
The sisters had a good relationship, and Yu Shi was naturally very happy. Selfishly, her daughter would live in the capital after getting married. Zhenzhen had a noble status, and her in-laws were also of high standing. If they remained friends, Zhenzhen would naturally look after her own daughter in the future. Moreover, she genuinely liked Qi Zhenzhen.
"Why do you go to so much trouble? We are already happy enough that you have returned," Yu Shi said, playfully chiding Qi Zhenzhen as she held her hand.
Qi Zhenzhen blinked and said playfully, "Mingyue's lifelong event. If I don't put in the effort, what if I'm held accountable later?"
"Okay, you actually made fun of me like that."
The two of them playfully tussled, their laughter filling the air.
"Who are those three young people that Feixu and Erxi are accompanying in the main hall? They look unfamiliar. Are they Zhenzhen's friends?" Yu Shi asked. "Why didn't I see them yesterday?"
"Mother, they are not Zhenzhen's friends. They just arrived and asked for some tea. Also, those are not young men, but three young ladies disguised as men. They are doctors collecting herbs in the mountains," Song Mingyue interjected.
Yu Shi hummed in acknowledgment. "Those people have fair skin and tender flesh. They don't look like they often go into the mountains at all."
Qi Zhenzhen's brow furrowed slightly. That was right. She had only noticed their clothes were too clean and tidy, but she had overlooked their complexions. They showed no signs of wind and sun exposure. What was their background? Were they passing by coincidentally, or did they come with intention?
"Auntie, Mingyue, you two stay here and watch. I'll go and entertain them," Qi Zhenzhen said, then went to the main hall.
The leader was talking with Feixu and Erxi, a faint smile on his face. They seemed to be getting along well.
"Miss," Feixu and Erxi called out in unison when Qi Zhenzhen arrived.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded, her gaze falling on the three of them. "This is a humble place in the mountains. Please forgive any lack of hospitality."
"The tea is very fragrant, and the pastries are also good. How can you say there is a lack of hospitality? On the contrary, we intruded upon your home uninvited, causing much disturbance and being presumptuous." The leader said, "I was just speaking with the two sisters and heard that the young lady who just left is about to have a happy event. I have not yet offered my congratulations. We are grateful for your hospitality. Please accept this jade hairpin as a congratulatory gift from the three of us."
With that, he handed over a jade hairpin, which was warm in texture and exquisitely carved.
Qi Zhenzhen did not reach out to take it. "It was merely a cup of tea and a few pastries. How can we accept such a valuable gift from you?"
"The three of us still have to continue our journey. We were thinking of troubling Miss to prepare some food for us and also give us some small change..." The person seemed extremely embarrassed. "We lost our money pouch in the mountains. It is quite inconvenient to travel without money."
Judging by their demeanor, they did not seem to be lying.
Qi Zhenzhen thought for a moment, accepted the hairpin, and instructed Erxi and Feixu. One went to prepare food, and the other returned to the house to get money.
After preparing the items, the three did not linger and left the Qi family with expressions of gratitude.
Qi Zhenzhen then gave the hairpin to Song Mingyue.
"Since they gave a congratulatory gift, shouldn't we invite them to stay for a wedding banquet?" Yu Shi asked.
"They are not relatives or acquaintances. Why should they stay? Besides, I asked Feixu to prepare thirty taels of silver for them, which I consider to be the equivalent value of the jade hairpin. I'll just buy it and give it to Mingyue. There's no need to keep them for a meal. I find it a bit strange. If they really wanted to stay, I would have to wonder if they had ulterior motives," Qi Zhenzhen said.
"You," Yu Shi chided playfully and said no more, focusing on the items Yun Shi had sent her, occasionally muttering that Yun Shi was too extravagant.
In the late morning, more visitors arrived at the house. This time, they were familiar faces: Song Lizheng and Song Yan.
Song Lizheng seemed a bit reserved, speaking somewhat uncomfortably. Song Yan, on the other hand, was poised and graceful, showing no signs of fear or trepidation due to Qi Zhenzhen's current status.