Chapter 171: Chapter 171: The Roulette (Part 2)
Maid Siliu shook her head anxiously, "I’ve already borrowed from Nanny Duan for my wedding, causing much inconvenience for Fourth Miss. How can I take more from her?" Tong Xiyan glared at her, and Siliu shrank back, looking at Xiqiu. Xiqiu smiled and nodded, "Since Fourth Sister is giving it to you, just take it."
Siliu received the pocket and the box, kneeling on the ground to kowtow to Tong Xiyan.
On the other side, Tong Xiyu hesitantly took out a pocket to give to Siliu, "I don’t have as much as Fourth Sister, but it’s a token of my affection." Siliu took it and discreetly weighed it in her hand. It was slightly lighter than Fourth Miss’s, roughly seven or eight taels. She smiled and kowtowed to Tong Xiyu.
Xiqiu then invited Tong Xiyan and Tong Xiyu to sit inside. Meanwhile, Caijuan from Madam Mei’s side arrived at the residence, also bringing ten taels as a contribution, and Madam Xia’s was sent over last night with ten taels and a set of silver hairpins. Siliu knew that aside from her monthly allowance, Madam Xia had no extra money. Even when the young lady was sick and Madam was so worried, she couldn’t gather any money, so Siliu didn’t want to take her money. Xiqiu smiled and stopped her, letting her accept it, saying it was Madam Xia’s heartfelt intention... Madam Luo’s gift was entrusted to someone and brought back from Yongzhou early in the morning.
Tong Shen Zhi sent a jade carving of Guanyin delivering a child, and Tong Minzhi gifted a plump silver pig, which Xiqiu recognized as the New Year’s gift Xiao Yanyi gave him the previous year. Several prominent nannies in the mansion each added two taels of silver, and a few of the fellow maidservants each contributed one tael. Over at the second household, the Second Lady sent fifteen taels, Tong Xijia sent five taels, and Tong Quanzi gave a silver lock, which seemed like the one he used to wear.
Tong Xiyan looked at the pile of items on the kang, smiling as she said to Siliu, "Among our sisters, you are the first maid to get married. You must live well after the wedding. Being the first means setting a good example for others."
Siliu blushed, lowering her head and saying, "It’s all thanks to Fourth Miss’s blessings!"
Tong Xiyu wanted to say some auspicious words, but looking at the pile of things, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness in her heart, and the thought of the deceased Caitao held her back. Her mouth opened several times, but no words came out.
Xiqiu was happy and didn’t bother with her. She invited the two to sit, smiling as she looked at Xinzhu and Xinmei, teasing Tong Xiyan, "You needn’t be envious. Who knows, you might experience something like this yourself this year." Xinzhu and Xinmei both blushed, stomping their feet as they addressed Tong Xiyan, "Fourth Miss, look at Sixth Miss, she’s always teasing us."
Tong Xiyan covered her mouth and laughed, "What you said is a reminder, I will go ask Mother to arrange it, sending people off so I can enjoy some peace and quiet."
"Miss!" Xinzhu and Xinmei’s faces turned bright red, they glared at Tong Xiyan before darting out.
The room full of maidservants joined in the laughter. Tong Xiyan raised her hand and began pointing one by one from Sixing, saying, "You all needn’t worry, it will be a matter of just a couple of years before you’re all married off. Even if Sixth Sister doesn’t arrange it, I’ll take care of it for you."
Sixing, Chunyan, and Chunliu, all their faces changed.
"Alright, alright!" Xiqiu laughed, interrupting Tong Xiyan, "I feel like it’s not a wedding event in my room, but someone in your room getting married."
Tong Xiyan couldn’t stop laughing and looked genuinely happy. Seeing her like that reminded Xiqiu of the unusual behavior of Lady these past few days.
Tong Xiyan leaned closer to Xiqiu, whispering, "Did Third Sister not send any contributions?"
Xiqiu pressed her lips together, smiling as she shook her head, realizing Tong Xiyang truly intended to sever ties with their sisters.
In the afternoon, Xiqiu accompanied Siliu to kowtow to Lady before heading to the second household to pay respects to the Second Lady. She was accompanied by Nanny Song to the rented residence.
At Manager Lai’s Mansion, there was also much excitement, with news that a feast would start from the next day, lasting three days... Xiqiu was overjoyed with Manager Lai’s high regard for Siliu, suggesting that she wouldn’t suffer after marrying into the family.
On the wedding day, Sixing, Chunyan, and Chunliu led two elder women over to help, leaving Xi’er in the room, while at the mansion, Nanny Duan and Nanny Qian had already gone over at 3AM as one was the Quan Furen and the other the matchmaker. Lady appeared quite delighted, saying to Xiqiu, "It’s been so long since the household had a happy occasion, it’s quite lively."
Xiqiu smiled, "It’s because of Mother’s generosity that they dare to make such a fuss." All the servants in the mansion had clandestinely arranged their shifts to attend the feast, eager to celebrate either on the first or the next day.
Lady glanced at Tong Xiyan with a smile, her joy evident, "It’s just borrowed festivities." She didn’t mention Tong Xiyan’s marriage, prompting Xiqiu to secretly wonder if, like Xu Tianqing, they were waiting for accomplishments before proceeding with marriage?
If so, then by the latest next spring, would Tong Xiyan’s marriage be settled?
A few days later, Siliu returned home, with Xiqiu seated in the main position. Siliu entered and kowtowed to her. Fugui, being unable to enter, waited outside for her. Xiqiu had someone help Siliu up, smiling and observing her, noting her round eyes still smiling like crescent moons, her complexion more rosy than before, looking very healthy.
Sixing and others covered their mouths, laughing. Nanny Song stood aside, smiling, "Getting married truly makes a difference. I see Maid Siliu... no, Fugui’s wife, becoming more and more beautiful."
Siliu’s face turned crimson, lowering her head shyly. Xiqiu smiled, pulling her along, "How come after getting married, you’ve grown thin-skinned?" Seeing her like this, it seemed Fugui treated her very well.
Since it was merely a homecoming, and because Siliu was married off from her young lady’s room, Xiqiu couldn’t keep her for a meal. After chatting with Siliu, she accompanied her to kowtow to Lady, and it was there, behind a screen, that Xiqiu finally saw Fugui. He was very robust, a fine blend of good traits from both Manager Lai and Laiwang’s wife, appearing clever yet not frivolous.
Xiqiu was sincerely relieved, hopeful that she hadn’t chosen the wrong person for Siliu.
Time is the best measure of a person. By the end of June, Siliu was found to be pregnant. News spread throughout the mansion that after finding out about her pregnancy, Laiwang’s family didn’t let her do any chores, and even for daily tasks like washing her face and feet, they had Fugui help her. Nanny Song even teased that no matter how lucky Siliu was, it was Xiqiu who picked well, choosing someone as wonderful as Fugui, a rarity even in this world.
When Xiqiu heard about it, she was delighted. She and a few others stayed in the room all day, making a chest full of clothes for the child, enough to wear from birth until five years old. Seeing the clothes, Laiwang’s wife came in on behalf of Siliu to give Xiqiu a profound bow and grand courtesy.
Tong Xihua passed the three-month danger period and returned to the Tong Mansion once, accompanied by Xiao Yanyi. Tong Xihua called her sisters over, gifting each a set of headpieces and a set of Qixi needles, her face full of joy, "Don’t open them yet. Wait until Qixi, then reveal them and toss the needles, and remember to tell me the results, so I can hear what you all received."