Chapter 1076
: Coming of Age [3]
Chapter 1076: Coming of Age [3]
"Good heavens! By the Lantern Festival, Xiao Mi will be fifteen, her coming-of-age ceremony! Does that mean our families will have to hold at least two celebrations this year?" Granny Qin exclaimed excitedly. "What about Xiao Mi's coming-of-age ceremony? Our Xiao Mi is a celebrity, the granddaughter of a fifth-rank official. Shouldn't we have a grand celebration to collect a bunch of congratulatory gifts?"
Last year, when Ertao came of age, just a few women from different families got together and had a meal.
But Xiaomi's status, ability, and prestige are all top-notch in Taifeng Town, and many families want to curry favor with the Fifth Sister-in-law's family. If we don't hold a big event, won't we lose the opportunity to earn a lot of gifts?!
Qin Xiaomi glanced at her sideways: "What do you want to do? I don't need those gifts and connections. No, it's tiring. Let me just sleep in for the day."
The grand coming-of-age ceremony is for the ladies of a noble family. She is just the granddaughter of an old farmer in this life, so don't ask her to do this kind of physical work, she won't do it.
"Oh, how can we not do it? If we don't do it, we will lose money. We can make money!" Qin Liupo talked about business and, as expected, was scolded again.
"How can a girl's coming-of-age ceremony be measured by profits and losses? Sixth sister-in-law, if you continue to be so reckless with your words, you will not be recognized as your fifth sister-in-law!" Grandma Qin was really angry.
Qin Liupo was so frightened that she immediately behaved herself well. She didn't dare to say another word until she finished eating the fermented rice wine and returned home.
However, Grandma Qin still wanted to hold a coming-of-age ceremony for Qin Xiaomi.
At night, I took Aunt Qin with me to discuss things with Qin Xiaomi.
No matter how much she tried to persuade her, Qin Xiaomi still refused to agree. She started crying and even brought up the deceased Qin's father and mother.
Qin Xiaomi had no choice but to compromise, saying, "Then let's have a small event, just a meal for our families. As for the main guest, let's ask Grandmother Guan to be the main guest. She has the status, and most importantly, she is open-minded, easygoing, and understanding. We don't need to get to know each other anymore, and I don't need to be insincere."
If she invites someone else to be the main guest, she'll have to put on an act with them, which is too tiring. In that case, it would be better not to hold the coming-of-age ceremony at all.
"You silly girl, you don't even care about your own coming-of-age ceremony." Grandma Qin complained, but finally agreed: "Alright, I'll listen to you. Grandma will go and invite Old Madam Guan to be the main guest of honor."
After saying this, fearing that Qin Xiaomi would go back on her word, he pulled Aunt Qin away.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law drafted an invitation overnight to invite Madam Guan to serve as a judge, and they were just waiting to send it out the next day.
The next day, the second day of the Lunar New Year, there was a light snowfall, but it could not stop the married aunts from returning to their parents' homes. Aunt Qin also returned to her parents' home today.
Since yesterday, the Qin family has been preparing to host the New Year's banquet for the aunt.
Early this morning, the whole family got up, dressed up, and waited for Qin Xiaogu to return to her parents' home.
Shortly after the hour of Chen arrived, the Guan family's vehicles arrived at Xinda Street. There were three vehicles, one with people in it and two with gifts.
As the vehicle passed by Qin Liu's house, the old woman's eyes lit up with envy. She turned and glared at Qin Mei in the front bunk: "You still have the appetite? Look at the gifts Shu'er's in-laws gave her, so respectable. Er Tao might have been given to Qiao Songguo, and she won't have to worry about the future. Only you are still an old maid at home!"
This?
Lu Jiu and Han Wanniang were at a loss. They wanted to leave but were afraid that their sister-in-law would be scolded too harshly and they would not be able to help in time.
Staying here would be too embarrassing.
Qin Mei was very calm and continued to eat her mutton offal noodle soup. "I paid my share of the household expenses, so how could I not be able to finish it? What's wrong with being a maid? I'm just an old maid. I haven't done anything to harm anyone, and I can afford the fine for not getting married. Not only my mother, but even the government can't say anything to me."
"Hey, you, you!" Qin Liupo jumped up in anger and pointed at Qin Mei and said, "Then move out. This is your brother's house, not yours. You can't let an old girl live here."
"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about?!" Qin Ying and Qin Jie were angry.
Lu Jiu and Han Wanniang also said, "Mother-in-law, it's New Year's Day, your words are too harsh."
Qin Liupo felt a little guilty when her sons and daughters-in-law scolded her, but she stiffened her neck and said, "What's wrong with me? Which family would let an old lady live in their home until she dies? Not to mention old maids who don't want to marry, even those who marry and return to their parents' home will be kicked out by their parents' family if they stay there for too long."
"Don't blame me, that's just how things are in this world. If you want to blame someone, blame the world!" "Meizi, with us here, you can live peacefully until a hundred years from now." Qin Ying and Qin Jie expressed their support, but looked at her with great concern, afraid that their younger sister would not be able to bear it and would burst into tears.
However, you're worrying too much.
Qin Mei had long been immune to Qin Liupo's vicious words.
and……
"Mom is right. This is indeed the fault of the world, and the rules have always been like this. But now I have the ability to break these rules." Qin Mei finished the last mouthful of mutton offal noodle soup and smiled, "As long as I am strong enough, I don't need to be annoyed by the world, the rules, or anyone or anything."
The sound was not loud, but Lu Jiu and Han Wanniang were so shocked that their scalps tingled and they felt an unknown sense of relief.
The sister-in-law's words were encouraging, and they were words they wouldn't even dare to say in their dreams!
"As for moving out?" Qin Mei said, "Don't worry, mother. I won't stay in your house for too long. After all, you can tolerate me, but I can't tolerate you."
Qin Liupo said disdainfully: "Do you think it's a good thing for a woman to live alone? Don't get carried away, or you'll suffer endlessly!"
If a widow loses her husband, she will be treated as a secret prostitute. How can you, an unmarried girl, live alone and still be a human being? You will become a plaything for all men!
Qin Mei: "Thank you for the reminder, mother. But don't worry, if I live alone, I will definitely train a group of death-indentured servants first. Anyone who dares to break in will be carried out."
She had escaped famine and witnessed how the widow Peng Su was surrounded and hunted. She knew how dangerous it was for a single girl to live, so she was full of murderous intent and kept strengthening her abilities.
Qin Mei stood up and before leaving, she comforted her brother and sister-in-law: "Brother and sister-in-law, don't worry that I will be upset if mother scolds me like this... Well, this is a test that an old girl must go through. If you can't even withstand this test, then you have no right to talk about living alone."
After saying this, he bowed and went back to the small courtyard at the back of the house to practice archery.
Lu Jiu and Han Wan Niang couldn't understand Qin Mei's words, but they felt that she was incredibly resilient, and they also felt a sense of admiration and anticipation.
I hope she succeeds and shows them a different way of life.
……
Grandpa Qin's house was bustling with activity because Aunt Qin had returned to her parents' home.
Qin Xiaogu and his wife brought a cart full of gifts for her family, one for each person. Qin Xiaomi received a box of pearl flowers and a piece of brocade.
Qin Xiaogu said, "Don't despise them. These are valuables that can be used as silver. They are better than the silver bills you mentioned."
After marrying into the Guan family, her husband and grandmother taught her a lot, and she finally understood why Xiaomi always said that banknotes were waste paper.
When supplies are insufficient, no matter how many banknotes you have in your hand, they will be useless.
The wealthy and powerful families still follow the old rule of bartering, for example, a batch of brocade can offset a certain amount of payment for goods.
"Hehe, what are you talking about, aunt? I don't dislike it at all. I like it very much... Your niece thanks you, aunt and uncle." Qin Xiaomi took the gift, bowed to them, and took the gift back to her room and put it away.
He came out again and took Qin Xiaomi's pulse: "Hmm, not bad, the pulse is strong and rolling forward like a pearl falling, the pregnancy is very good, she can bounce around without any problems."
"That's good, that's good." Grandma Qin was very happy and told Aunt Qin: "You still have to be careful. It's snowing and the roads are slippery now."
"Well, don't worry, mom. I'm paying attention." Qin Xiaogu's hand touched her lower abdomen, her face full of the smile of a new mother. It can be seen that she is happy to be pregnant and give birth to a child.