The wind is gentle and the fun is endless

The gentle spring breeze makes people feel warm.

The next day, Miss Feng Huanhuan and her servant took a quick tour of the main commercial streets of Shanghuai City. After having a simple meal in a tavern around noon, they set off back to Heyang.

Although Heyang and Shanghuai were both under the jurisdiction of Yizhou Prefecture, they were separated by the Lianling Mountains and a narrow river called Qiaohe. Qiaohe River flowed around the foot of the northern mountain of Lianling and ran eastward. There was a stone bridge connecting the two banks at the narrowest part of the river, and there were also ferries connecting the two banks at the widest part of the river.

Most of the areas under the jurisdiction of Yizhou Prefecture are south of the Lianling Mountains, with a warm and humid climate and a prosperous people's livelihood. The richest place is Shanghuai, which is adjacent to Lianling Mountains and is also the seat of the prefecture. Heyang is the only area under the jurisdiction of Yizhou Prefecture that is north of Lianling Mountains and Qiaohe River. The warm wind from the south is often blocked by the mountains and does not reach Heyang; the cold north wind from the north often rages in Heyang without hindrance, making Heyang always a little colder than the south of the mountains, and even spring comes later.

Huanhuan and his companion walked along the mountain road and crossed the Qiao River by ferry. It was almost sunset when they arrived home. As soon as they entered the house, they heard the servants say that two groups of guests had arrived today. The second group was chatting in the hall. This was not an unusual thing, but when she heard that it was related to Huanhuan, she curiously tilted her ears and listened in the inner room.

The matchmaker who came was from Shanghuai City. She was really quick, even more agile than Huanhuan and the others. She kept praising Huanhuan, saying how gentle, pretty, good at needlework, and talented... Generally, the way of praising people when proposing marriage is similar, but after hearing her describe it in such detail, people who didn't know would think they had known each other for more than ten years. Then she said that the man was from a wealthy family in Shanghuai City, with many talented people and a good family tradition. Although the young master Zhang who was seeking marriage was a bastard, he was the only son in the family...

Huanhuan did not continue to listen and walked towards her room. The maid Xiaoyu followed her and asked softly: "Miss, why don't you listen?" Feng Huanhuan replied: "Every time the matchmaker talks a lot of nonsense, but in the end, when it comes to betrothal gifts and dowry, it's always the same and there is no follow-up." The maid Xiaoyu said anxiously, "Miss, don't say that. Didn't the young lady also say that she could give part of her dowry to you as a dowry?"

He slowly retracted his steps, turned around, and said to Xiaoyu seriously, "Xiaoyu, don't mention this matter again. Although my sister-in-law said this, if I accept her dowry, not only will my father lose face, but how will my brother face my sister-in-law and her family? My mother will not be able to hold her head up among relatives, friends, and neighbors. So this matter must not be done, remember?"

Xiaoyu's tone was filled with a hint of grievance after hearing this. "I know. Miss, you come from a scholarly family, you are smart and gentle, you are good at needlework and have talent, you are a beautiful woman that people love. You will definitely be able to find a good marriage."

"Our Xiaoyu's mouth is getting sweeter and sweeter." He patted the little maid's shoulder gently and continued, "Don't worry, your young lady won't be negative and lost. Let me tell you, our business has made great progress this time in Shanghuai City. Did you notice the busiest street in Shanghuai City that we visited today?"

At this point, Huanhuan deliberately cleared his throat and said mysteriously, "I heard before that the largest rouge shop in Shanghuai City is Zhang's. Today, I saw on the street that it is barely as big as the medium-sized rouge shop in Heyang. It can be seen that the sale of rouge in Shanghuai City is indeed not popular. Shanghuai and Heyang are separated by mountains and rarely communicate with each other. The rouge from Heyang has not yet been introduced to Shanghuai. This time, I will put a batch of rouge from Qiao's in Yihong Pavilion for them to use. If they approve of our goods, then our business will have hope."

The Feng family put all their efforts into giving betrothal gifts to my sister-in-law Pei's family, and did not leave any dowry for Huanhuan. Even the dowry prepared for Huanhuan by her maternal grandparents was given away as a betrothal gift. Huanhuan actually had no objection to this, but she was always thinking that she could not just sit and wait for others to arrange things for her, and she had to do something herself.

Although Heyang City is only a small city, the rouge business in Heyang City is well managed. As the saying goes, "If I lose Yanzhi Mountain, my married woman will lose face." Rouge has long been an important item in women's lives. Ten years ago, a local family named Qiao returned to Heyang and introduced the raw material of rouge, red and blue flowers, to Heyang for planting, and made rouge from the flowers. After nearly ten years of careful research and development, Qiao's rouge craftsmanship and quality have reached a superior level. The single rouge is classified by color and fragrance, with a wide variety of varieties, and foreign merchants often come here to visit.

Influenced by Qiao, many people in Heyang have planted red and blue flowers and sold rouge in recent years. Qiao Ji is the leader, but other brands are also doing well. Huan Huan had long wanted to sell rouge, but there were many links in it, and she didn't know where to start. She felt that this trip to Shanghuai City was a rare opportunity, so she brought Qiao Ji's rouge to see if there was a chance to sell rouge. Unexpectedly, a rough understanding made her feel that there was a lot of potential in it, making her eager to try.

After Mr. Feng Jin sent the matchmaker away, he called in Mrs. Feng Jiang, his son Feng Shunqing, his daughter-in-law Pei Xiushan and Huanhuan to discuss the matter with them.

Master Feng spoke first to Huanhuan, "Huanhuan, your sister-in-law got an invitation from her parents' home for you to attend the outing banquet in Shanghuai City in the hope that you can meet a good son-in-law. I'm sure you understand this."

He said slowly, "Yes, and thank you sister-in-law for your kindness."

Madam Pei Xiushan, who was pregnant, said happily, "Speaking of which, my sister's trip to Shanghuai City this time was also a coincidence. I originally wanted to try to find a marriage for Huanhuan in my mother's family, and it happened that the steward of Lord Li in Shanghuai Prefecture sent an invitation to my family to attend the outing banquet. As for this outing banquet, everyone knows that half of its function is for young people to get to know each other. I told Lord Li's steward about my family and Huanhuan's situation, and asked him to report what I said to his Lord Li after returning home. I never thought that Lord Li was really worthy of being my father's old friend, and he soon sent an invitation to our family."

Mrs. Feng smiled and said, "Anyway, this is all thanks to Xiushan."

Mr. Feng nodded and continued, "Today, two groups of guests have come to our house. They are matchmakers from Shanghuai City. They briefly described the situation of the two young masters from Shanghuai City. Your brother and I received the matchmaker together. Let him tell you about the situation of these two young masters."

Feng Shunqing, Huanhuan's elder brother, took over the conversation and said, "The first matchmaker who came today is looking for a marriage for the fifth son of Mr. Li from Shanghuai City. According to the matchmaker, Mr. Li retired from the seventh-rank official position of the Ministry of Personnel and returned to his hometown. He is now teaching at home. His fifth son is twenty-three years old this year and has passed the examination for a scholar."

Hearing this, Mrs. Feng Jiang said, "They are just like our family, also a family of scholars."

"That's right." Master Feng took a sip of tea and continued, "This second matchmaker is here to propose marriage for Master Zhang Wenxi of the sixth branch of the Zhang Mansion in Shanghuai City. According to the matchmaker, the Zhang Mansion is a high-ranking and wealthy family in Shanghuai. Although Master Zhang Wenxi is a bastard, he is the only son of the sixth branch. That's all for now."

After Master Feng finished speaking, the eyes of the whole family fell on Huanhuan. Huanhuan lowered her head, thinking that if she mentioned the dowry, the two young men who came to propose marriage might also back off. However, she couldn't bring up the dowry in front of her father and brother, so she hid her thoughts and said, "It's up to my father and brother to decide. Huanhuan has no objection."

Hearing his daughter say this, Master Feng asked his son Feng Shunqing next to him what he thought. Master Feng said in a responsible manner to his younger sister, "Although Shanghuai City is the seat of Yizhou and has a vast area under its jurisdiction, it is far away from Heyang by the mountains, and the geography, climate and even customs are different. We can't just listen to what the matchmakers who came here today have to say about the two young masters. As the saying goes, listening to one side leads to ignorance, but listening to both sides leads to enlightenment. I think we should first inquire carefully from the acquaintances in Shanghuai City, especially about their family style, character and knowledge, and then make a decision after inquiring."

Mr. Feng nodded repeatedly and said, "We have already told the matchmaker about the dowry. We don't ask for a betrothal gift. We just hope that the other party is a good person with good character and knowledge, and can respect each other and grow old together with your little sister. That would be the best."