Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

As soon as Madam Liu stepped out of her courtyard, she saw her younger sister approaching gracefully from afar, accompanied by a maid. The girl wore a pale yellow, floor-length skirt embroidered with plum blossoms and water patterns, over which was a moon-colored satin cloak embroidered with magnolias and butterflies, and underneath, a light green brocade bodice. The girl had a small, delicate face, with a pair of clear, dark eyes beneath her arched eyebrows. Looking up, she saw Madam Liu waiting for her. The girl lifted her skirt and quickly walked a few steps to Madam Liu, waiting for her to approach.

Madam Liu looked her younger sister up and down again, thinking she looked really good. However, being uneducated, she didn't know how to describe it, but she simply felt her sister looked beautiful. So she nodded in satisfaction, took Liu Xiaocui's hand, and said...

"Our guests are arriving soon, please come with me to greet them!"

"Hmm," Liu Xiaocui's face was a little red. Thinking of what her sister had said to her yesterday, her face unconsciously felt hot.

The first to arrive were Mr. Shen and Mrs. Shen. The two families were close, and Mrs. Shen thought that arriving early would also be helpful to Liu Shi.

After getting off the carriage at the second courtyard's hanging flower gate, the two sisters, after exchanging greetings, helped Madam Shen walk inside.

"Is everything arranged?" Madam Shen asked.

"It's mostly done, but I'm just worried that the girls might be clumsy and make some mistakes."

"We're all family here, so please relax and don't be too nervous," Madam Shen reassured her.

"Thank goodness you invited me to the opera. I've felt so uneasy these past few days since Luo'er left. Although he wasn't home often before, I always felt at ease knowing he was either with you or with the Grand Tutor. But this time, going to the capital with him, I felt so empty and uneasy."

Madam Shen held Liu's hand and told her about the troubles in their hearts.

Hearing Madam Shen's words, Madam Liu sighed and said, "I'm in the same situation. I can't muster any interest in anything. My husband saw that I couldn't stay like this, so he thought of hiring an opera troupe to perform for a couple of days, so everyone could have some fun and not just sit at home daydreaming." She then turned to Madam Shen and said...

"The village is going to hold a five-day festival, why don't you stay at home for a few days and enjoy the festivities?"

"Oh, no, there's always someone at home who can't be absent. Just seeing my daughter and me today and talking to her makes me feel much better."

As they were talking, a maidservant came to report that Madam Jin, who had come from good fortune in town, had arrived with her daughter-in-law and youngest daughter. Upon hearing this, Madam Liu hurriedly said to Madam Shen...

"Auntie, please rest for a bit. I'll go greet them."

Madam Shen knew that she was the head of the household and had many things to do today, so she quickly told her...

"Go ahead and do your thing, I don't need you to stay with me."

Lady Liu then arranged for a maid to take good care of her before hurriedly leading her younger sister toward the second gate.

Before they even arrived at their destination, they saw Aunt Ma leading people in.

"Oh dear, sister-in-law, I'm late. I hope you'll be magnanimous and not be angry with me." Liu greeted Mr. Jin's wife with a smile as soon as she saw her from afar.

"I know you have a lot to do today, so why would I be angry with you for that? But you can't skimp on your special fruit drink today." Mr. Jin's wife looked a lot like him, with a plump and rounded figure.

"That's a generous amount of fruit juice prepared today, so please feel free to drink as much as you like, sister-in-law." The two had already exchanged greetings, and then it was the younger generation and the elders exchanging greetings. After everyone had finally exchanged greetings, Madam Liu led them to the flower hall where Madam Shen was sitting.

In the flower hall, after another round of greetings, they sat down again.

Madam Jin's daughter-in-law followed closely behind her mother-in-law, while Madam Jin's daughter, Jin Manman, pulled Liu Xiaocui aside to talk about the new embroidered patterns.

Just as Madam Liu sat down, another maidservant came to report that guests had arrived. Madam Liu rose, apologized to the two maidservants, and went out to greet the guests. But as soon as she stepped out of the main hall, she beckoned a maidservant to come over.

"Go to the old house and see if anything has happened. If nothing is wrong, tell the ladies there, the young lady, and the eldest mistress that the guests have arrived and to come over quickly. If something is wrong, come back quietly and let me know later."

Upon hearing Liu's instructions, the little girl gave a crisp reply and ran off.

Madam Liu was also a little puzzled. She had gone to the old house yesterday to invite them to come and help entertain the guests today. They should have arrived much earlier, so why hadn't a single one come yet?

Suppressing her doubts, Madam Liu went to the second gate to welcome the guests in.

However, Liu didn't have to wait long before she saw her eldest and second sisters-in-law arrive with Changsheng's wife, as well as Qiuyu and Dongyu. They were clearly dressed up specially. The Zhang family's old house was not short of money these days, and none of them lacked jewelry. Knowing that Liu had invited business associates to her home today, they naturally wanted to make their family look good.

But seeing that the old lady hadn't come over, Liu suppressed her doubts and first introduced the guests in the room to her two sisters-in-law.

Among the guests, the young wives were entertained by Jin Xiaoqiao from the Changsheng family, while the unmarried girls were entertained by Qiuyu, Dongyu, and Liu Xiaocui.

With their arrival, Madam Liu immediately felt much more at ease.

Once all the guests had arrived, the show was about to begin. Liu quietly asked her sister-in-law, Wang.

"Sister-in-law, is something wrong at the old house today? Why didn't the old lady come over?"

Wang glanced around, and seeing that everyone was intently watching the performance on stage, she whispered...

"Qinghe is back, crying."

"what happened?"

"Fang Zhiming has been keeping a mistress outside, and now he's come to our door with a child." Wang said, feeling utterly disgusted.

"Sigh!" After hearing Wang's words, Liu really didn't know what to say. She had known all along that he was no good and was capable of anything.

Liu reached out and patted Wang's arm reassuringly.

"Forget about those upsetting things, let's have a good time today."

Wang sighed deeply.

"You're right. Anyway, we can't control Qinghe, so why bother with her affairs!" With that, she picked up her cup and drank the fruit drink in one gulp. The maidservant who was serving behind her saw this and quickly refilled the cup with fruit drink as soon as Wang Shi put it down.

As noon approached, a thrilling martial arts performance on the stage concluded. The ladies in the audience tossed their jade pendants, beaded necklaces, rings, and silver coins onto the stage as rewards. Lady Liu also had her maidservant present ten taels of silver to the troupe leader. The troupe leader, along with all the actors, kowtowed on stage to thank the distinguished guests for their gifts.

Madam Hu was very satisfied with Liu Xiaocui's hospitality today, and the more she looked at her, the more satisfied she became. She also knew why Madam Liu had specially invited her son, and she had the same idea. So after the lunch banquet, she said that she felt a little dizzy and wanted Xiaocui to help her to rest.

Liu understood what was meant, but as the elder sister, she couldn't go along, so she gave a wink to Aunt Ma, who was beside her.

“Aunt Ma, I can’t leave here. You stay with Miss Cui and help take care of Madam Hu.”

"Yes, madam. This old servant understands."