The daily life of a peasant girl taking the imperial examination

The Great Xia Law stipulated that when a woman divorced her husband's family, the husband's family had to return all of the woman's dowry. In some special circumstances, the husband's family even had to pay additional alimony.

With this law as a guarantee, when Zhao Jinzhu went back to her room to pack her luggage, she only hid the banknotes, land deeds, and some valuable but inconspicuous items in her bundle.

When they were almost done packing, Zhao Baozhu saw her older sister, Zhao Jinzhu, furtively take out a small item wrapped tightly in a handkerchief from a hidden compartment in a dressing box. "Take this with you too."

As she spoke, in front of her mother and sister, she carefully opened the box, and Zhao Baozhu saw a yellow bar of soap standing out in front of her.

Seeing this, Li Dongmei pulled her youngest daughter, Zhao Baozhu, and said:

"This was secretly bought by your sister through her half-sister who married into the Jingling Prefecture. She thought that we didn't have such good things in Yunshui Town, so she specially bought it to broaden your horizons..."

Don't underestimate this small piece; it's very precious, costing ten taels of silver!

"So expensive?" Zhao Baozhu opened her mouth in shock, while casually glancing at the exquisite box slung over the maid's arm.

Seeing her sister's state, Zhao Jinzhu suddenly remembered that when she first learned the price, she wasn't much better off than her sister. So she patiently explained:

“There’s a reason why things are precious. Look at my sister. Since she became pregnant, she hasn’t been getting enough rest, so her complexion is not only sallow but she also has a lot of pimples. But since she started using this soap to wash her face, look how much better her complexion looks.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Baozhu looked over in the direction her sister had pointed, and indeed, it had become much smoother.

You should know that her sister used to love eating greasy food, which is why she often had some unsightly pimples on her face.

However, just now, Zhao Baozhu carefully observed her sister's face and found that even the blemishes left over from before had faded considerably.

I have to say, it's truly amazing!

Thinking this through, Zhao Baozhu cautiously probed:

"Sister, did you buy this soap from a shop called Guyunxiangfang in Jingling Prefecture?"

Although it was a question, the way she asked it made it sound unusually certain.

"Yes."

After replying to her sister, Zhao Jinzhu glanced at Zhao Baozhu with a puzzled look:

"How did you know? Has this soap spread all the way to Yunshui Town?"

Listening to her two daughters' conversation, Li Dongmei was puzzled. She knew that her youngest daughter had been extremely fond of the small bar of soap she brought back from her last visit.

But why was the younger daughter so calm this time, even though her eldest daughter bought her a whole piece?

However, before the two could think for long, Zhao Baozhu smiled and took a delicate little box from the maid's hand, and opened it in front of them.

Li Dongmei and Zhao Jinzhu saw that the box inside was an exquisite little wooden box they had never seen before.

Even so, the two of them recognized the four large characters on it.

Ancient Charm Fragrance Shop.

"Where did this come from?"

"Father is being so generous?"

Li Dongmei and Zhao Jinzhu both said in unison.

In short, seeing such exquisitely packaged soap, you can be sure it won't be cheap.

Zhao Jinzhu even mentally estimated the price: the piece she bought cost ten taels of silver, while the one her sister Zhao Baozhu had, barring any unforeseen circumstances, was likely worth more than double that.

Li Dongmei had the same guess as her eldest daughter, but the difference was that she believed such expensive soap could not have been bought by her husband Zhao De. After all, although their family was relatively well-off after so many years of marriage, Zhao De, who had come from a poor background, was quite frugal.

In other words, we won't spend too much money on unnecessary things.

Even so, he was very willing to spend money where necessary. For example, when his eldest daughter got married, Zhao De wished he could give all the valuable items in the house to his eldest daughter as part of her dowry.

Seeing the shocked expressions on her mother's and sister's faces, Zhao Baozhu felt quite smug:

"Mother, sister, this is a gift personally delivered by the Yunren family."

As soon as she finished speaking, ignoring her mother and sister's surprise, she excitedly opened a small wooden box and showed it off to them:

"See that, Zhuge Manufacturing? If my father and I are not mistaken, that popular Guyun Incense Shop in Jingling Prefecture must be related to the Yunren family."

At this point, she frowned and pondered for a moment, then continued:

"However, I think this is Yun Shu's family's business, only because this soap has only become popular in the last few months, and that period just happened to be the time when Third Uncle and Third Aunt took Yun Shu and the others to Jingling Prefecture to participate in the prefectural examination..."

Li Dongmei: "......"

Zhao Jinzhu: "......"

Her daughter/sister, this future in-law, is really quite something!

Surprised as she was, Li Dongmei, having been through it all, couldn't help but warn her daughter beforehand, seeing her daughter's behavior:

"You know this is Uncle Yunren's business, that's good. Let me tell you, Yunren's family hasn't divided the inheritance yet, but you need to know your place. You absolutely can't covet what isn't yours, do you understand...?"

Otherwise, your mother will break your legs.

Li Dongmei said fiercely, which startled Zhao Baozhu. However, after she recovered, she complained to her mother with dissatisfaction:

"Mother, what are you thinking? You know what kind of person I am... The reason I'm so proud is simply because I feel that Yunren and her family have taken a liking to our family, which is why they sent such an expensive gift... I'm just happy!"

She paused for a moment, her hand casually touching the delicate tassel ornament in her hair. "See this? Your precious son-in-law specially brought this back for our daughter from the Han Dynasty Music Bureau. Isn't it beautiful?"

Li Dongmei: "......"

Zhao Jinzhu: "......"

Seeing their daughter/sister looking so smug, the mother and daughter rolled their eyes in perfect unison.

Look at this, where is the modesty a young lady should have? Look at how she said that, still using the word "treasure," especially the word "specially," which she emphasized.

She seemed afraid others wouldn't know how good Yunren was to her.

Just as Li Dongmei and Zhao Jinzhu were about to say something, Zhao Baozhu, seeing this, quickly spoke first, tapping her finger somewhat shyly:

"Mother, sister, there's something I want to say, but I'm too embarrassed to. Hehe, what do you think, should I say it or not?"

Seeing this familiar scene, alarm bells went off instantly, especially for Li Dongmei, who waved her hand very decisively:

"If you're too embarrassed to say it, then don't say it."

Zhao Jinzhu continued her mother's words, saying:

"Yes, little sister, don't make things difficult for yourself. Mom and I don't really want to hear it either!"

Zhao Baozhu: "......???"

All she wanted was for her mother and sister to sponsor her with some money!

Waaah, why is it so difficult?

......