The men of wealthy families typically had multiple wives and concubines. The aunt's niece was fair-skinned and not unattractive. Dressed in fine clothes and adorned with jewelry, she was no less appealing than Qi Zhenzhen. She would be more than enough to serve as a concubine. The more Madam Zhang thought about it, the more excited she became, wishing she could immediately return to her maiden home and bring her niece before Gu Sinian for him to see.
Fortunately, she restrained herself, knowing such matters could not be discussed in public and required a suitable opportunity.
After the meal, everyone returned to their respective rooms.
The next day was the day for presenting gifts to Song Mingyue. After breakfast, Qi Zhenzhen, along with the women of the Lin family, headed to the Song residence. On the way, they encountered many villagers who greeted Qi Zhenzhen with smiles and politeness.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded and responded to each greeting.
Seeing that she was not aloof, some bolder villagers followed, walking with her towards the Song residence.
The Song residence was bustling with activity that day. Besides Song family relatives and villagers, there were also old friends of the village head, Song, and representatives from the Wen and Xun families.
Many people stood in the spacious courtyard, with Madam Chen and Madam Yu busily attending to them.
"Zhenzhen, you're here. I don't have time to greet you properly," Madam Yu said to Qi Zhenzhen, her words coming out rapidly as she saw Qi Zhenzhen and the Lin family members enter. "Take your maternal grandmother and your two maternal aunts to Mingyue's room to sit. Ruixue, you help Zhenzhen entertain your maternal relatives."
The familiarity in her tone was evident to everyone. More importantly, Qi Zhenzhen did not seem upset by these words. This led the villagers to marvel at how close the Song and Qi families truly were! They couldn't help but regret not being friendlier to the Qi family mother and daughter back then, thinking how they would be benefiting now. Song Mingyue, the daughter of the Song family, had specifically returned for the occasion and brought many gifts, more than they might earn in a lifetime.
Qi Zhenzhen naturally paid no mind to their thoughts. She skillfully led her maternal grandmother and two maternal aunts into Song Mingyue's room.
Inside, three women were already seated. Upon seeing Qi Zhenzhen and her group enter, they all stood up in unison, exchanged brief greetings with Qi Zhenzhen and her companions, and then took their leave from Song Mingyue.
Song Mingyue, with a smile, escorted them to the door before returning to attend to Madam Lin and the others.
"Grandmother, please sit," Song Mingyue said, helping Madam Lin to a seat. "I apologize for troubling you to travel such a long distance."
"Mingyue, you speak as if we are strangers. You and Zhenzhen are like sisters, and I consider you my own junior. You are about to marry, a significant event. Of course, this old woman must come to share in your joy," the elder lady said, patting Song Mingyue's hand with a smile. "Here, this is the dowry gift from your grandmother. See if you like it."
Song Mingyue opened the cloth bundle and was momentarily blinded by the dazzling pure gold jewelry. Her first reaction was that it was too precious.
Most of the guests presenting gifts that day brought a few bolts of cloth or a few hundred coins. Those with closer relationships offered slightly more valuable gifts, typically silver earrings, silver hairpins, or silver bracelets, often hollow.
However, the Lin family's gift was not only pure gold but also heavy, and the design was the most fashionable of the time.
"Grandmother, Mingyue cannot accept this." Song Mingyue re-wrapped the cloth bundle and tried to place it back into the elder lady's hands.
The elder lady chided her, "You call me Grandmother, yet you refuse my dowry gift. What kind of logic is that? Do you just call me Grandmother casually?"
"How could I!" Song Mingyue waved her hands. "But this is truly too precious, I..."
"Just accept it. This is something Grandmother specially prepared for you," Qi Zhenzhen persuaded her. "If you feel indebted, you can make it up to me when I get married. I promise I won't find it too valuable."
Since Qi Zhenzhen had said so, Song Mingyue had no choice but to accept and chat with the elder lady. They hadn't talked for long before more people began to arrive. The room was not large enough to accommodate too many people, so Qi Zhenzhen and the Lin family members took their leave.
"The Song family is truly well-liked. So many people have come to present gifts," Madam Zhang remarked with emotion on the way back. When she got married, not many people came to offer gifts, and what they brought was rather meager, mostly pillowcases. Even those, she hadn't taken all of them when she married; her mother had taken some for her brother and his wife.
The difference between the two occasions was stark.
"The Song family is a prominent family, and he is the village head. It would be abnormal if few people came," the elder lady replied slowly. "Do you think your Zhang family is like that?"
Madam Zhang's expression faltered. She gave an awkward laugh and dared not speak further, fearing further taunts from her mother-in-law.
"Miss Qi, it's been a long time," a young man walking towards them greeted Qi Zhenzhen warmly.
Qi Zhenzhen stared at him for a moment before her memory connected the person before her with the boy she remembered. It was Du Xiang. He had grown taller, become darker, and lost all his scholarly air. At first glance, he seemed like a different person, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed him.
After she had rescued him from the mountains, the Du family was initially grateful. Later, however, rumors surfaced that nearly ruined Qi Zhenzhen's reputation, causing her great anger. She had severed ties with the Du family. At the time, Du Xiang, in a fit of impulse, had declared he would not pursue the path of imperial examinations. Afterward, he disappeared. Only Du Xiang's grandmother and mother remained in the village, and no one knew where Du Xiang had gone, not even his own family knew his whereabouts.
Qi Zhenzhen was somewhat surprised to see someone she thought she would never meet again suddenly appear before her.
"It has been a long time," Qi Zhenzhen said, not intending to dwell on past events. Moreover, at that time, Du Xiang had not done anything to harm her; it was his mother alone who had caused trouble from beginning to end.
Du Xiang grinned, his smile bright. "You're still willing to talk to me. I thought you would avoid me like the plague."
Qi Zhenzhen smiled. "Why should I avoid you?"
Indeed, from beginning to end, she had done nothing wrong and had even saved his life. It was he and his family who had caused her harm. They were the ones who should feel guilty and avoid her, not the other way around.
Du Xiang chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I'm no longer studying. I used to think studying was my only way out, but now I see that's not the case. I'm a traveling merchant now. I'm doing well and have earned some money, enough to ensure my grandmother and mother live better lives. They no longer dwell on me not studying. Our family is living well. I've returned this time to take them away. I've bought a house in the south, and we won't be returning here anymore."
Qi Zhenzhen listened attentively to Du Xiang, smiling. "That's very good. Congratulations. I believe your future will be even brighter than it is now."
"I..." During his time in the south, things had not been smooth sailing. He had endured some hardships before he could establish himself. He had initially thought he was just a bookworm who knew nothing, but after cutting off his retreat, he discovered he had a talent for business. In just half a year, he had bought a house and accumulated savings. The driving force behind his perseverance was the guilt he felt towards Qi Zhenzhen.
He wanted to apologize to her. He also wanted to ask her if she truly had no feelings for him.