The betrothal gifts were carried through the gate of the Wu family one by one.
The servants of the Wu Mansion spread rumors about how expensive the Zhang family's betrothal gifts were, and also about the amount of the betrothal money.
The Seventeenth Mother was in the boudoir at the moment, and she also ordered the female servants in the room not to come in or out, but she still couldn't stop the female servants in each room from passing in gossip.
What did my uncle give me again?
So what about my uncle?
My uncle values our girls so much.
As for Wu Mansion, Li Taijun was also very happy and felt that it was very honorable. Everyone in the Wu family knew that this uncle came from a poor family, but being able to offer these betrothal gifts showed his sincerity.
Li Taijun told the Zhang family that the gifts from the Zhang family were too precious, and that his own daughter was just an ordinary girl, so why should she value it so much.
These words have also reached the ears of the Seventeenth Mother. Complaining about the old lady's behavior, isn't it demeaning her own girl in front of outsiders? How can anyone put it so plainly? It seems that he is not worthy of the Zhang family's betrothal gift.
The Seventeenth Mother said in a reasonable and reasonable manner: "This is extremely blaming. If the two families are in harmony, there will be no other troubles, so we have to say it."
After Li Taijun finished speaking here, he not only added the valuable jewelry, gold and silver and the entire bride price to the Seventeenth Niang as a companion, he also added three hundred acres of the suburbs of Bianjing to the Seventeenth Niang's dowry. of fine farmland.
Anyway, no matter how much the Zhang family gave, the Wu family not only used most of it as a dowry, but also doubled it as a supplement. These are all real benefits.
If he had been married to a prime minister's family like the Xia family, the Lu family, and the Wen family before, the Wu family would have been gossiped about by others, talking about trying to please the in-laws, etc. However, no one in the Zhang family would have said that, because Zhang Yue was from a poor family, and Wu The reason why the family gave more dowry was so that their daughter could live a better life in the future. This made it less likely for others to gossip about her, and instead they praised the Wu family for their generosity.
But Seventeenth Niang understood that when the two families were discussing the marriage, Li Taijun had explicitly hinted more than once that if the Zhang family paid more for the bride price, it would be put into Seventeenth Niang's dowry, and the Wu family would double the amount in the dowry.
The significance of the betrothal gift and dowry is not just to live up to the expectations. Taking out so many betrothal gifts from a poor family like the Zhang family is equivalent to draining part of the Zhang family's financial resources, although in the end it was returned to the Zhang family in the form of a dowry. family, but the dowry is actually in the hands of Qi Niang.
It is up to the married woman to decide how to use the dowry in the future, so that the married woman can have security in her husband's family.
For a wealthy family like the Wu family, no matter how much the dowry is, they can afford it. However, as far as Seventeen Niang is concerned, the more the dowry is, the more she will be valued by the Zhang family, and she will naturally take over the family. Financial power will also have a strong say in the family in the future.
This ensures that Zhang Yue and the Wu family are in the same boat.
Of course, this is also a conspiracy. Everyone in the Zhang family is not that stupid to see this, so they know it well.
Marriage is the so-called alliance!
No friendship or intimacy unless you receive money.
When a man and a woman discuss marriage, they must first write down the family property of both parties on it.
After that, they gave gifts to each other, and every time they gave each other gifts, they always had the meaning of bargaining.
Love between a man and a woman is a matter between two people, and marriage is a major event related to the alliance between two families. Marriages between upper-level officials are more concerned about the interests and benefits, but less so in the Zhang and Wu mansions.
Now that the Zhang family had given the betrothal gift, Li Taijun immediately fulfilled his promise and added to the original dowry to Seventeen Niang three hundred acres of high-quality farmland on the outskirts of Bianjing, as well as twenty or thirty villagers who managed the village. The body deed was also given.
This shot is really grand.
Seventeen Niang remembered that this was the dowry for Li Taijun when he married into the Wu family. The three hundred acres of farmland produced more than two hundred dollars every year, even in troubled years.
Mrs. Wu and the 15th Niang had both coveted it, but none of Li Taijun's four biological daughters gave it to any of them. The 17th Niang thought that Li Taijun would leave her two sons, but she never thought that she would give it to herself in the end.
As for Seventeenth Mother, she also has a lot of things to deal with in her room.
Many of the female envoys beside her have been with her for many years and are used to enjoying wealth in the Wu Mansion.
The first-class female envoys who seemed to have followed Li Taijun in the Wu Mansion could receive two taels of silver from the accountant every month. The second-class female envoys could also receive one taels of silver per month. As for the new entrants, they were not given any money.
Although there is not much money per month, there is a supply of clothes for all seasons, and the clothes they wear are all Qiluo Lingyu. In this regard, the Wu family has never been unkind to the servants. The servants are not given the obedience of washing their hair and mending their flaw, because the servants are also the face of the Wu family.
In addition to clothes and food, the Wu Mansion's female envoys are all the same on weekdays. People at a table can eat five dishes and two soups, and they can also eat mutton twice a month.
In addition, during the New Year's Day, the host's family often gave out many rewards. In addition, when he was sick, he also asked a doctor to treat him, and the money for soup and medicine was paid by the Wu family.
Therefore, although the ordinary female envoys of Wu Mansion were serving people, their lives were much better than those of ordinary women in ordinary families.
However, after marrying into the Zhang family, Shi Qiniang and her nuns made it clear that the monthly payment would be halved, and the clothes would be reduced to two pieces of cloth a year. As for the food supply, it would be far less than when she was in the Wu Mansion. After all, Zhang Yue Zhang usually In fact, what I eat is nothing more than this.
After hearing what Seventeenth Mother said, everyone understood that they were going to the Zhang family to endure hardship. Although the Wu family is not as strong as before due to Wu Yu's death a few years ago, it is much stronger than those run-down official families who are "deserted in front of their doors".
Therefore, the people around Seventeenth Niang asked for various reasons to stay in the Wu Mansion and did not want to marry her to the Zhang family. Not only did Seventeenth Niang not stay with them, but they also made arrangements for them to have another place in the Wu Mansion.
Of course, there are many nuns who are willing to follow. In addition to those who really have a deep relationship with Qi Niang, there are also some who have other thoughts.
Those who are willing to follow are certainly not stupid, so they go through hardships and hone themselves. What they focused on was Zhang Yue's future. The Zhang family doesn't have many servants, so they don't have to worry about being squeezed out in the future. At the same time, Zhang Yue will most likely become famous in the future, so those who follow his mistress will definitely follow the rising tide.
Therefore, they were all prepared to follow Seventeenth Mother to the Zhang Mansion and endure hardship for a few years. As long as they got over it, they would have a good life in the future.
Most of these people are young and ambitious.
Among them were two female envoys who had met Zhang Yue and had helped deliver the message. They were willing to marry the Seventeenth Mother, but they had other plans. They were the ones who were most eager to inquire about Zhang Yue's news in the house, and they were always excited when talking about my uncle.
The Seventeenth Mother knew what the people around her meant, so she did not bring the two female envoys as dowries or arrange for them to stay in the Wu Mansion. Instead, she found a good family for them and gave them a generous dowry. The two of them will have no worries about food and clothing in the future.
The two female envoys shed tears for a while after hearing this. The Seventeenth Mother was also heartbroken when she saw this, but she had to do this.
In addition, the Seventeenth Mother also screened out a few female envoys who were obviously ambitious or who behaved inappropriately.
After such a reduction, there were only a few people left in the Seventeenth Mother's room. The Seventeenth Mother understood that it was not good to bring too many people with her as a dowry when she married into the Zhang family. After all, Zhang Yue's brother and sister-in-law lived together.
There were not many people waiting around them. What would they think when such a large group of people passed by?
However, the Seventeenth Mother went to Li Taijun and asked three old nuns and capable female envoys who had served for many years to dowry her. Finally, the arrangements were made and the number of dowryers was controlled to less than ten.
You must know that when the fifteenth mother married into the Wen family, she brought fifty or sixty people with her.
However, although there were fewer people around Seventeen Niang, everyone was cautious, respectful, and capable.
As the wedding day approaches, Jiayou's sixth year has passed.
After the appointment, men and women are not allowed to communicate with each other, and no one will visit each other if nothing happens, let alone meet each other.
Zhang Yue handed over the house from Langzhong Cheng, obtained the red deed, and once again became a homeowner in Bianjing.
After buying a house, it is inevitable to entertain relatives and neighbors. The principle that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors is the same no matter what time it is.
On this day, Zhang Yue was at home. Suddenly Wen Jifu and Ouyang Fa came to visit, and Zhang Yue went somewhere.
Zhang Yue was about to ask, but when Wen Jifu arrived, Ouyang Fa said nothing. Zhang Yue got into the carriage and went together.
Zhang Yue looked at these two people and thought it was a Hongmen Banquet?
The three of them arrived at a farm on the outskirts of Bianjing City.
Entering the main courtyard of the farm, I saw four people sitting under the tree, all young people in their twenties.
They watched Zhang Yue enter with smiles on their faces.
Zhang Yue wondered, what kind of battle is this?
But the person who saw him laughed and said: "I have heard about the title of Zhuang Yuan Gong for a long time, but I have never seen him. Now Brother Tuowen and Brother Ouyang have really got what they wanted."
Zhang Yue saw that this man's gestures were extraordinary, so he raised his hands and said: "Nice to meet you, please forgive me for my poor eyesight. I don't know your name?"
The other party smiled and said: "I am Grandmaster Han, and my father is embarrassed."
Zhang Yuexin thought that the man in front of him was actually the son of Han Jiang. Han Jiang was another general of the reform faction in history, and he and Wang Anshi quoted each other.
The other three people on the side also stood up.
One of them was named Xia Boqing, and the other two were cousins. One was named Lu Xiji, and the other was named Lu Jiawen.
After hearing the names of these three people, Zhang Yue finally knew what kind of game this was. It was the in-law game of the Wu family.
It turned out that due to Seventeenth Mother's marriage, the second daughter and three daughters of the Wu family also traveled from Xijing to Bianjing respectively.
The second daughter of the Wu family married Lu Xiji, who was the second son of Ren Tianzhang Pavilion and a student of Lu Gong's works, and the grandson of the former prime minister Lu Yijian. Although Lu Xiji inherited the influence of his ancestors, his father and ancestors were all high-ranking officials in the court, so in order to avoid suspicion, he and his brothers did not serve in official positions.
He is now in Xijing, where he, his elder brother Lu Xizhe, and his younger brother Lu Xichun all worship under Shao Yong's family. Now the Wu family's wedding has come to Bianjing.
Lu Yijian's family had great influence in the court. Lu Yijian's uncle was the Prime Minister Lu Mengzheng. Lu Yijian himself had been in the position for twenty years. Historically, there were seven members of the Lu family who were in charge of government affairs for seven dynasties.
Today, the Lu family is the most prosperous clan in the world.
The third daughter of the Wu family married Xia Boxing. Xia Boxing was the son of Xia Anqi, a direct bachelor of Longtuge and an attendant, and the grandson of Xia Song, the former prime minister. Xia Song and Xia Anqi have passed away successively, but the Xia family still has considerable influence in the court.
After the two came to Beijing, they made an appointment with Wen Jifu and Ouyang Fa to get together with everyone who was the son-in-law of the Wu family. Wen Jifu naturally agreed, but as he was sociable, he made an appointment with Master Han.
Grandmaster Han was a refreshing person. He came forward to form a bureau and invited them to the Han family's annex on the outskirts of Bianjing.
Why did Han Zongyan come forward? Because Wu Yu's eldest daughter married Han Zongyan, the son of Han Yi's eldest son Han Gang, and Han Zongshi's father Han Jiang was Han Yi's third son, so he was also related by marriage to the Wu family.
Historically, Wang Anshi recommended Wu Chong to Song Shenzong as the privy envoy. Song Shenzong didn't want to use it and said to Wang Anshi, Wu Chong is your in-laws. Han Jiang on the side came forward and said, Wu Chong is also Chen's in-laws.
Zhang Yue greeted everyone one by one, and when Lu Jia asked at the end, Zhang Yue bowed to him.
This man had a nice smile. Zhang Yue looked at him and secretly wanted to laugh. Like Lu Xiji, he was the grandson of Lu Yijian.
During the Qingli New Deal, Lu Yijian and Fan Zhongyan fought fiercely. When Lu Yijian's sons came to power, they also fought fiercely with Wang Anshi during the Xifeng Reform.
But what about Lu Jia asked?
As a member of the Lu family, he should side with the conservatives, but he supported the reform.
Lu Gongbi and Lu Gongzhu decided to impeach Wang Anshi in a memorial, and the matter was made public within the Lu family. However, Lu Jiawen secretly stole the memorials prepared by Lu Gongbi and Lu Gongzhu to impeach Wang Anshi and secretly gave them to Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi was informed of the content of the impeachment in advance and thus escaped disaster. After this incident spread, Lu Jiawen was regarded as a "family thief" by the Lu family, and was removed from the family tree, and was no longer included in the Lu family's family tree.
Zhang Yue thought he wanted to sit down and chat with them. Anyway, he came to Bianjing just to hang out in circles.
Unexpectedly, Master Han said to Zhang Yue: "My father wants to meet the Number One Scholar!"
Zhang Yue was stunned when he heard that Han Jiang actually wanted to see him.
Han Jiang once served as Yushi Zhongcheng, but was dismissed for impeaching Fu Bi. Now he is out of town and just returned to Beijing to resume his duties.
Although he was demoted, he was still the official Zuo Jianyi and had served as Yushi Zhongcheng. At the same time, Zhang Yue also knew that Han Jiang was a resolute reformist.
Han Jiang's political views also influenced his younger brother Han Wei.
Han Wei was a good friend of Wang Anshi. He, Sima Guang, Wang Anshi, and Lu Gongzhu were known as the Four Jiayou Friends. Han Wei later served as Song Shenzong's teacher when he was in his dormitory. When Song Shenzong agreed with Han Wei's novel ideas, Han Wei always said that it was nothing and that these were the views of my good friend Wang Anshi.
Han Jiang and Han Wei both recommended Wang Anshi in front of Song Shenzong. Without them, Wang Anshi would not have been prime minister. However, they later disagreed with Wang Anshi and were kicked out of the court.
Grandmaster Han said to Zhang Yue: "My father will leave Beijing the day after tomorrow, but he wants to see the style of the current number one scholar, so I asked Zhou Han, Bohe, and you to have a family dinner in the evening."
Zhang Yue was stunned.
Han Jiang paid homage to the prime minister four times in the Shenzong Dynasty, but Wang Anshi was still dragged into Zhongshu by him. The other party was also an in-law of the Wu family. Now, was he included in the other party's investigation?
It is indeed a method of employing people in politics.
Choose capable people from acquaintances, choose acquaintances from capable people.
All in all, one needs both familiarity and ability, both of which are indispensable. At the same time, the most important thing is political opinions, both of which support reform.
Zhang Yue said: "It is a great honor for Zhang to be granted an audience by Mr. Han."
So Master Han took Zhang Yue to a small pavilion and saw an old man in his fifties looking at the scenery of the manor from the window.
This old man is Han Jiang.
