Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Xiu Luan was overjoyed. This was the first time in her life that someone had specifically invited her. However, she overlooked one thing: the other party might have invited Liu Ye'er and Rui Qian specifically, and invited her as a side effect. Seeing her jubilant appearance, Liu Lian couldn't bear to dampen her spirits, so she refused to point this out and instead glared fiercely at Rui Qian, who was trying to point it out.

Ruiqian's heart melted: What a lovely girl! Look at her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering, her sclera so large, even prettier than Fei Mei'er's! And look at her little mouth, so cutely pouting. She must be doing all this to make her sister happy because of me! She'd even kick a thug, would she be afraid of her sister? It's all because of me that she's not arrogant despite all the credit! The distracted boy absentmindedly flipped through the account books, daydreaming about a bright future, until his father smacked him on the head several times before bringing him back to his senses. As he flipped through the account books from previous years, he said, "Reed mats, oilcloth, granaries, and cloth bags are all prepared. Sickles, wooden hoes, bamboo brooms, chaff cutters, rakes, and windmills have all been repaired and purchased. We've prepared a hundred straw hats, a month's worth of rice, flour, oil, and salt, and ample fodder. We've also found two more women to cook, who will come tomorrow. The cart driver will arrive tomorrow, bringing back sixteen wheat harvesters. The foreman has taken the harvesters down to inspect the stalking work. I've selected thirty women from those working in the mulberry orchard to come tomorrow to tie the wheat stalks. I'll bring some mung beans from home tomorrow; in this hot weather, the harvesters should have plenty of mung bean soup. Father, is there anything we're missing?" Ruiqian was a little smug.

Master Liu asked, "Have you prepared ginger and brown sugar? What about medicine for heatstroke? Tea? Have you prepared medicine for knife wounds? Have you checked all the carrying poles, baskets, and earthenware pots for delivering food and water? Are there enough pots, stoves, steamers, bowls, and chopsticks? Has the dining area been prepared? How much fire rope have you prepared? When the cart driver arrives, are there enough troughs for the animals?" Looking at his uneasy son, Old Man Liu smiled slightly and decided to give him another heavy blow: "Have you prepared the sack straps?"

Ruiqian almost burst into tears; none of these accounts showed it! Seeing his son's pained expression, Old Man Liu was greatly relieved. Forcing a smile, he comforted his son, "You're grown up now. You'll have to be independent and consider everything carefully, otherwise the servants will take advantage of you. This year, we want to add another two thousand acres of land, but that won't work just by looking at the accounts!" Ruiqian nodded in sincere agreement.

“In previous years, your elder brother and sister-in-law took care of these things, and they would bring things like mung beans and brown sugar from home. That’s why these things aren’t in the accounts here. Make a list and bring them over tomorrow. Go out and take a look around more often. You need to know which plots of land will ripen first, which will ripen later, and which plots to save for seed!”

Ruiqian nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Father, what's the brown sugar for?" Master Liu replied casually, "In case someone gets caught in the rain, we'll make ginger and brown sugar water to ward off the cold. We can't let anyone get sick, can we? Silly son, getting the work done is the most important thing. We're worried about our wheat!" With that, he patted his son's shoulder and left. Master Liu had originally intended to pat his son's head, but he found that his son had grown taller than him. He sighed inwardly, thinking, "The Liu family has finally produced someone capable."

Master Liu was a shrewd man. He knew perfectly well that his eldest son was useless, only good at maintaining the status quo and not at expanding. His second son was only good at frivolous pursuits and couldn't expand, and he was afraid he couldn't even maintain the status quo. But heaven rewards those who persevere, and thankfully, his third son was a good man. He was both intelligent and humble, and he could learn anything he was taught and master it! It was time to find him a wife, but he didn't know which family's girl was good, so he would have to trouble his mother to find one.

Ruiqian was very excited. Although he hadn't done things perfectly, his father not only didn't scold him but also gave him some pointers, which showed that his father valued him highly. He had learned a lot from his father over the past year and was almost old enough to be used as an adult! At this moment, he sincerely admired his father.

The chubby girl, Xiangxiang, was the only daughter of Zheng Tu, who owned a braised meat shop. His wife had only given birth to one daughter, and after her death, Zheng Tu never remarried, employing an old woman to manage the household. As Xiangxiang grew older, she helped her father run the butcher shop, and the family was quite well-off. For some reason, this girl grew fatter and fatter. She was fifteen, but there was still no sign of marriage. A few days ago, she was bewitched by Liu Waimao, who not only fed her meat but also stole money for her. When Zheng Tu discovered this, he scolded Xiangxiang and locked her in the house. Xiangxiang managed to escape, only to find that Waimao was already having an affair. Enraged, she argued with him, wanting to get back the token she had given him. Waimao, however, refused—his purse contained his entire fortune, as precious as his life! After being humiliated, Xiangxiang returned home refusing to eat or drink, contemplating suicide. Her father, quick-witted as ever, suggested they prepare a feast to thank those who had helped her. Xiangxiang agreed, struggling to get up and help with the preparations, which helped her abandon her suicidal thoughts. Early the next morning, Zheng Tu personally went into town, buying roast chicken, preserved duck, lamb legs, preserved eggs, and other delicacies, along with various kinds of braised meats, intestines, hearts, livers, and kidneys from his own kitchen. He sliced ​​several plates, creating a colorful and lively display. While his wife busied herself in the kitchen making pancakes and slicing meat, Xiangxiang went to the alley entrance to greet the guests.

The guests couldn't possibly arrive this early.

Xiangxiang wore a cherry blossom-colored, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), a white gauze shirt, and a long, light blue ribbon tied in a knot. Her jet-black hair was styled in two buns, adorned with light blue gauze flowers. Her fair face was powdered, rouged, and lipstick painted. Standing under the tree, a gentle breeze stirred the slender willow branches and her beautiful dress; anyone who saw her would have to applaud her.

Xiangxiang is actually demonstrating to the world.

Zheng Tu gazed at his daughter from afar, a pang of sadness in his heart. Dust swirled in the wind, blurring his vision. He couldn't believe how much his daughter, the oil-fried dough twister, had grown up, and how beautiful she was when dressed up! Such a beautiful daughter had almost been lured away by a scoundrel—that scoundrel, with a wife at home, dared to make a move on his own daughter! He was truly courting death! For the first time, this rough and straightforward man felt a tenderness in his heart: he couldn't let his daughter help out at the shop anymore. He needed to buy her some decent clothes and jewelry, and dress her up properly. Zheng Tu's daughter had helped out at the butcher stall mostly to keep her under his watchful eye, but it had unwittingly become a waste of her time.

Passersby on the street were all amazed by the girl's beauty. You see, a family that sells braised meat must have good nutrition, and good nutrition must result in a good complexion. The ancients often praised a woman's beauty by saying she had "a certain charm," which makes a lot of sense! A fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl is like a delicate flower bud about to bloom, charming without even realizing it.

Absolutely beautiful!