Engagement, engagement, engagement.
She had been racking her brains trying to figure out how to avoid marriage or at least postpone it. Now she was being told she was already betrothed?
It was like a bolt from the blue.
After a long pause, Qi Zhenzhen swallowed hard, "Mother, are you serious? I'm betrothed?"
Yun Shi nodded, "The Lu family from Jiangbei. Your father made the arrangements back then. I even met the child. A handsome, well-behaved young boy, mature and polite. He's a good child."
Ten thousand phantom horses galloped through Qi Zhenzhen's mind. Was Heaven playing with her like this?
"Is the Lu family a prominent clan?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"Yes, in Jiangbei, they are one of the top families. The Lu family members are all ambitious, and many are now officials in the court." Speaking of the Lu family, Yun Shi's face showed a hint of a smile. She hadn't told Zhenzhen about this before, but she had had several dreams where Zhenzhen's marriage was troubled. She was worried, and compared to her dreams, the Lu family was clearly the best choice.
Qi Zhenzhen pondered for a moment, a flicker of joy in her eyes, "Prominent families value their reputation. Given my current situation, will they find a way to break off the engagement?"
Yun Shi was greatly alarmed. She hadn't considered this, but her daughter was right. She had fled the estate with her two children to escape becoming a concubine. Zhenzhen and Yi'er's reputations...
If the Lu family found out, they would surely be displeased, and then this marriage...
Yun Shi shook her head, not daring to think further, "No, the Lu family wouldn't be that kind of family. Zhenzhen, don't you remember? You've met that child. He loved playing with you and even gave you a small stone. You treasured it so much that you had a maid string it for you, and you wore it around your neck."
That stone, she had hung it on the hitching post when she went horseback riding. She vaguely remembered that the original owner had cherished the stone, but she had no memory of that young master of the Lu family. Perhaps the original owner was too young then and had forgotten? And because she liked the stone at first, she kept wearing it as a treasure?
"Mother, I don't remember that child from the Lu family. As for the stone, I don't know where it went," Qi Zhenzhen said. "Perhaps the Lu family has also forgotten about this matter, just like me."
Yun Shi was very anxious, rubbing her hands repeatedly, "No, no, a family like the Lu family would not be so casual about promises made. It was agreed back then that after you came of age, the two families would start discussing marriage."
In Da Feng, girls came of age at fifteen. She was only twelve, so there was still room for maneuver.
Qi Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief, "Mother, then we'll wait until I come of age and see the Lu family's attitude."
That's all they could do. Yun Shi was anxious but had no other recourse.
If she returned to the manor and served Qi Tianming attentively, would Zhenzhen's marriage prospects be smoother?
Life passed peacefully. Yu Shi managed the workers, and Li Shan's wife would come over to chat from time to time. Yun Shi no longer spoke of her dreams, and Qi Zhenzhen also put the engagement with the Lu family out of her mind. It was something for several years later, and worrying about it now would make life unbearable.
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the kimchi work stopped. They had been rushing to finish the work these past few days, and they had stored enough to supply the grocery store until it closed. The family would resume work on the eighth day of the first lunar month.
Qi Zhenzhen gave each of the workers a red envelope containing five days' wages, and in addition, a piece of meat.
The overtime pay was already double, and now with the red envelopes, the working women were all beaming, promising to work even harder next year.
"Zhenzhen, can you save some of the kimchi we have stored for us?" Yu Shi discussed with Qi Zhenzhen. "On the twenty-sixth, Ze Ge'er will be going to his future father-in-law's house to deliver New Year's gifts."
Song Mingze was engaged? Qi Zhenzhen felt a sigh of relief. If that was the case, she didn't have to worry. Perhaps Song Mingze was just flustered that day.
"Alright, I'll save a few jars for you," Qi Zhenzhen replied. "I didn't hear Auntie mention this before. Aunt Song is really efficient in her dealings."
"My sister-in-law has always been efficient. She even thought about you before, thinking you had a good temperament, were good at managing a household, and could earn money. She wanted me to probe your intentions. Mingyue muttered a few words to me, and I gave up the idea, making excuses for her. Aunt Song was quite regretful," Yu Shi said, revealing what had happened before without revealing too much.
Qi Zhenzhen understood and said with a smile, "Thank you, Auntie. Auntie understands me best and knows that I am only twelve years old and it is too early to discuss marriage."
Yu Shi chuckled, "You clever girl. Auntie naturally knows that your marriage is not in this small mountain village."
Qi Zhenzhen feigned shyness and lowered her head.
After chatting for a while longer, Yu Shi got up to leave. Today was the Minor New Year, and there were still many things to do at home.
After seeing her off, Qi Zhenzhen's expression turned serious. She hadn't expected Song Mingze to have had designs on her. Fortunately, he wasn't foolish and hadn't publicized the matter, otherwise, it might have affected the relationship between the two families. She hadn't expected Chen Shi to have settled her engagement so quickly, and she didn't know which family's daughter it was. However, this matter didn't seem to have anything to do with her, did it?
Qi Zhenzhen shook her head and moved out the money box.
There was a stack of silver notes and some small gold ingots.
This was the profit from less than two months, over two thousand five hundred taels.
Even if the kimchi business stopped now, this money would be enough for the three of them to live a leisurely life in the countryside for the rest of their lives.
But Qi Zhenzhen knew this was impossible. Her mother was not a free person, and she and Brother Yi took the surname Qi. And regarding what Qin Lang had said, if her mother really found out, she would definitely seek justice. Therefore, this money was truly not enough.
Taking out four silver notes, Qi Zhenzhen put them in her purse, greeted Yun Shi, and went to find Song Yan.
Earlier, Chief Song had told her that the money could be given directly to Song Yan.
When Qi Zhenzhen arrived at Song Yan's house, the courtyard gate was open, and the courtyard was piled with things. Song Yan, with a headscarf tied around his head, was cleaning the house, covered in dust.
Today was the Minor New Year, and according to folk customs, the dust was to be swept away on this day, and every corner of the house should be cleaned thoroughly. Clearly, Song Yan was doing just that.
"Why has Miss Qi come at this hour?" Song Yan asked, holding a feather duster in one hand and a rag in the other, looking a bit awkward.
He was tidying up the room, and there was nowhere to stand. Talking in the courtyard felt a bit inappropriate.
"You're busy, it was my oversight. There's nothing else, I just came to deliver this year's dividends, four hundred taels of silver." Qi Zhenzhen handed the silver notes to Song Yan. "Chief Song said you are fully responsible for the clan school, and the money is also given to you. I just finished calculating the accounts, so I brought it directly. You can then plan accordingly."
Song Yan put down the rag he was holding and took the silver notes. "Miss Qi is truly dedicated to the village."