Fragrance Returned

At the beginning of the next day, Ding Zhuang, Ding Zhao, Zhang, and Ding Xiang packed up their belongings and left the courtyard with their gifts.

Today Zhang's makeup was done with Lilac's help. Wearing a dark rose red jacquard light-breasted jacket with a row of black phoenix tail buttons in the middle, a pale lotus-colored horse-faced skirt, and three red gold hairpins, one long, two short, on her head.

The clothes and jewelry are quite satisfactory, and the newly launched large phoenix tail buckle is very distinctive.

Lilac was wearing a pale pink embroidered jacket, a silver-red solid skirt, a cyan belt, and a beaded hairpin on her head.

Ding Xiang held Zhang's hand and felt that her palms were wet with sweat.

Ding Xiang comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid, Mom, I'm here."

Mrs. Zhang looked at her little girl and felt that she was very worthless. He smiled and said, "My daughter is here, so I won't be afraid."

Ding Zhuang was wearing a navy blue silk robe, looking like a gangster boss, with a certain magnanimity.

Ding Xiang secretly thought that grandpa would be more majestic and dignified if he were wearing a military attaché uniform.

Ding Zhao was wearing an azure silk robe, he was calm and stylish, and he looked like a successful and wealthy businessman.

Now some people call him Ding Dahu.

I didn't take my own mule carriage today, Zhu Mansion sent three carriages.

Ding Zhao went to Lu Mansion and took a separate car to leave first. Ding Zhuang went to Sun Mansion in one car, and Zhang and Ding Xiang went in one car.

Yesterday, Manager Tang of the Zhu Mansion sent a message to the Lu Mansion and the Sun Mansion on behalf of the Ding family. Of course, when I went to the Lu Mansion, I couldn't say that Ding Lichun's father was visiting me, but that Minister Tao had letters and gifts sent to me.

Zhu's Mansion and Sun's Mansion were not far away, and the carriage arrived in more than two quarters of an hour.

After entering the corner gate, Ding Zhuang was invited to the outer courtyard with letters, gift lists and gifts. Zhang and Ding Xiang went to the inner courtyard in a sedan chair, while Ling'er and the girls from Ding's house walked beside them.

It was the first time for Ding Xiang to ride in a sedan chair, and the bumps and bumps were a bit novel.

The sedan stopped in the main courtyard.

In the middle of the courtyard is a green pond, surrounded by bustling flowers and birds singing.

At this time, the sun was shining brightly, and the girl who led the way led them along the corridor. The bird in the cage overhead suddenly became restless, chirping as if it was about to rush out of the cage.

The girl muttered, "Noisy."

The girl at the front door opened the soft curtain and loudly reported in, "Mrs. Ding and Sister Ding are here."

Enter the house and go around the seven screens.

The girl took them to the east side room, which was filled with flowers and a faint fragrance.

Sitting on the Arhat's bed was a beautiful middle-aged woman in gorgeous clothes, and a beautiful little girl sitting beside her.

Ding Xiang has heard from the servants of the Zhu family that Sun Shen will have two sons and one daughter. The eldest son, Sun Yuhao, was seventeen years old and came to Ding's house. The second son, Sun Yuxiao, is fourteen years old and studying at Fucheng Academy.

These two sons are Mrs. Sun’s biological children.

My daughter, Sun Mingjing, is nine years old and is a concubine.

Previously, Ding Xiang heard Ding Zhuang say that Mrs. Sun had no daughter. It turned out that she had no biological daughter.

Mrs. Tao brought gifts to General Sun, Mrs. Sun and brothers Sun Yuhao, but not to this girl, who was probably not very popular.

The Ding family didn't prepare any gifts for her because they didn't know this person existed. I found out later and got four pairs of dunks from somewhere else.

Mrs. Sun leaned over and said with a smile, "Mrs. Ding, Sister Xiang."

When Ms. Zhang was about to kneel down, the girl next to her quickly supported her. Ms. Zhang bowed down and said, "Ms. Ding Zhang, a civilian woman, has met Mrs. Sun."

Mrs. Sun pointed to the first chair on the right, "Mrs. Ding, please sit down."

Mrs. Zhang sat down.

Ding Xiang came to Mrs. Sun and knelt down, kowtowed and said, "Ding Xiang pays homage to Mrs. Sun."

Mrs. Sun smiled and said, "Get up quickly and come here. I have heard from Sister-in-law Qian that this child is very painful."

She pulled Ding Xiang and sat down next to her. A girl presented a brocade box, and Ling'er stepped forward to take it.

Mrs. Sun pointed to the little girl next to her and said, "This is Girl Jing, just call me Sister Jing."

Ding Xiang stood up, bent her knees and shouted, "Sister Jing."

Sun Mingjing smiled brightly and said, "Miss Ding, I heard my elder brother talk about it, and he also said that the things sold in your embroidery shop are very beautiful."

Instead of following Mrs. Sun's instructions and calling Dingxiang "Sister Ding" or "Sister Xiang", she called her by her first name. They also specifically pointed out the shops owned by the Ding family, which meant that they were merchants and she was the daughter of an official family. She wanted to separate her identity?

This little girl is only nine years old and has so many tricksy minds.

Ding Xiang pretended not to notice and said with a smile, "It's okay."

I didn't bother to talk to her any more.

Mrs. Sun was already unhappy with Sun Mingjing's rudeness to Mrs. Zhang. Although Zhang is a merchant, he is an elder and his guest. As a junior, Sun Mingjing should stand up and say hello.

Later he did this to Lilac.

A trace of cruelty flashed in Mrs. Sun's eyes, and it disappeared in an instant. She hugged Ding Xiang and said with a smile, "It's too polite to call me Madam, call me Auntie. Girls are good, they are delicate and soft, and they are more popular than boys..."

Even more rare than a concubine.

Sun Mingjing's smile became more sincere when she saw that her aunt was so respectful to the merchant's daughter.

Ding Xiang hummed to herself, where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and where there are concubines, there is right and wrong.

Why should a man have to enjoy the blessings of others? Isn't it better to be like his grandfather and father?

Several people talked for a while, mainly Mrs. Sun and Ding Xiang.

Mrs. Sun smelled the medicinal smell on Lilac and asked why.

Ding Xiang used the "lost soul" rhetoric again.

Mrs. Sun noticed the buttons on Zhang's clothes and said, "This is a new product from Jiulu Zhixiu Pavilion. It looks good."

Ding Xiang smiled and said, "Yes, this is a large phoenix-tail buckle, which will be officially launched at the beginning of next month. I brought twelve pairs of Song brocade and gold-threaded ones to my mother-in-law, eight pairs of large ones with long bras, and four pairs of small ones with tops. I also brought four pairs of flower basket dunks to Sister Jing, which are also new products."

Mrs. Sun's smile deepened.

Sun Mingjing also likes beautiful buckles. When she heard that she had bought a new buckle for herself, her smile became even sweeter.

Ding Xiang said that Tao Weng and his wife had brought letters and gifts and sent them to the front yard.

Mrs. Sun said, "Old Mrs. Tao was born into a noble family. I really didn't expect that she could follow Mr. Tao to live in the countryside."

Ding Xiang asked curiously, "What official was Tao Weng before?"

Mrs. Sun said, "Master Tao was an official from the Ministry of Rites to the Minister of Rites. He was upright and tough. He resigned angrily because of political disagreements with...some officials. His eldest son was an official in the capital, and his second son was an official in Shaanxi. After he became an official But he didn't stay at his son's house to take care of his old age, and took the old lady back to his hometown."

In this era, the minister was a second-rank official, and the minister was an absolutely powerful figure. Tao Wengneng resigned resolutely, and he was greedy for power.

Ding Xiang liked the old man even more.

At the beginning of noon, Mrs. Zhang said goodbye.

Mrs. Sun smiled and said, "I have asked the housekeeper to let the old shopkeeper drink. You can finish your lunch before leaving."

After finishing the meal, a few people chatted and laughed for a while, and the woman in the front yard came to report, "The old shopkeeper invited Mrs. Ding and my sister to the front yard."

Zhang and Dingxiang stood up and left.

Mrs. Sun took Ding Xiang's hand again and said, "Xiang Xiang has nothing to do, come and talk to me."

As soon as the Zhang mother and daughter left, Mrs. Sun's face dropped.

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