Chapter 226: Chapter 226
"Those words you said!"
The Princely Heir cleared his throat softly, "I just heard your brother’s voice."
Chai Eying then composed herself, "I’ll go take a look."
The Princely Heir quickly stood up, straightening his clothes that she had wrinkled.
Chai Eying ran outside to see, but there was no trace of the Eldest Young Master Chai.
The Princely Heir stood at the door, flicking his sleeves, "I’ll go check if your mule cart is ready."
Chai Eying laughed angrily, "Alright, thank you, Brother Li, for your concern."
The Princely Heir glanced at her, gave a slight smile, and left.
His figure was tall and elegant, the edges of his blue garment fluttering as he walked.
Chai Eying leaned against the door frame, her gaze fixed on the departing young man’s figure, unable to help but curl her lips into a light smile.
Nanny Jiang and Li Yuzhu made breakfast together.
While everyone was having breakfast, Princess Consort Luling kept adding food to Chai Eying’s bowl.
Breakfast was shrimp pancakes, along with millet porridge.
In front of Chai Eying, there was a pancake that wasn’t finished, and Princess Consort Luling added another piece.
"The shrimp is fresh, it’s the third child who netted them from the ditch. Eat some more." Princess Consort Luling smiled.
Chai Eying smiled and said, "I can’t eat too much, Aunt, please don’t add more."
Li Yuzhu stirred her porridge with a spoon, playfully said, "Mother, my plate is still empty."
"Help yourself." Princess Consort Luling didn’t look at her.
Li Yuzhu, "..." She laughed angrily, alright, her mother is fickle, and she is out of favor.
But shortly after, three pancakes landed on her plate together, "Third sister, eat some pancakes."
The Princely Heir added a piece, Li Xing’an added a piece, and Chai Eying also added a piece.
"See, there’s no need for me to add, right?" Princess Consort Luling said confidently.
Li Yuzhu pursed her lips and smiled, "Thank you, big brother, thank you, Sister Eying, thank you, third brother."
"No need to thank, you’re the youngest." Chai Eying said with a smile.
Princess Consort Luling looked at Chai Eying, her affection growing.
After breakfast, Li Yuzhu and the Princely Heir saw Chai Eying off as she got on the carriage, and the Eldest Young Master Chai rode over on his horse.
He entered the house to greet Prince Luling and his wife before coming to see Miss Chai.
Li Yuzhu put a package of gifts into Chai Eying’s carriage, which was the gift for the Princely Heir’s proposal, prepared by Princess Consort Luling.
Inside were two jars of fine wine, two pieces of fine cloth, and ten pounds of smoked meat.
The Chai Family may not think much of it, but it’s the best gift the Li Family can currently offer.
The Princely Heir had prepared it early in the morning.
Seeing the mule cart empty, Eldest Young Master Chai couldn’t help but ask, "Eying, where’s your luggage?"
The Princely Heir stepped forward and bowed to him, "Brother Chai."
Eldest Young Master Chai was quite surprised by this title.
He was even two months younger than the Princely Heir.
Out of courtesy, Eldest Young Master Chai quickly returned the gesture, "Li Brother, you are very kind."
"Big brother, let’s talk when we get back, time is short, I didn’t have time to pack." Chai Eying was already seated in the carriage, glanced at the Princely Heir, and said to Eldest Young Master Chai as she lifted the curtain.
As long as we return, luggage or not, it doesn’t really matter. Eldest Young Master Chai was not too concerned.
He nodded, "Alright, we’ll talk when we get back."
He cupped his hands to Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu, who were standing by to see them off, "You two, thank you for taking care of my sister for so many days."
"Brother Chai, you’re too polite." Li Xing’an smiled.
The matter of the Princely Heir proposing to the Chai family had already been explained by Princess Consort Luling to the whole family. Li Xing’an has always had a good impression of Miss Chai, and now he held even more respect for the Chai siblings. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn nοvelfire.net
Eldest Young Master Chai waved to everyone, then mounted his horse.
The Princely Heir said, "I’ll see Brother Chai off."
He sat at the driver’s seat next to the coachman.
The driver glanced at him, puzzled.
Even the Eldest Young Master Chai was surprised, why were they still sending them?
He clasped his hands toward the Princely Heir and said, "No need for such courtesy, Brother Li."
Li Yuzhu smiled and said, "Brother Chai, this is my parents’ wish. They instructed my elder brother to make sure Brother Chai and Sister Eying are escorted home. If you don’t let him send, he won’t be able to explain to my parents."
So that’s how it was, Eldest Young Master Chai didn’t say anything more.
He couldn’t refuse the requests of the elders.
Li Yuzhu winked at the Princely Heir, signaling with her eyes, "Good luck, brother."
The Princely Heir smiled slightly, took the whip from the driver’s hand, and drove the mule wagon out.
Chai Eying waved to Li Yuzhu, and they left the Li Family together.
Li Xing’an closed the house door, patted his sleeves, and said with a smile, "Ah, I hope Brother can marry Miss Chai."
Li Yuzhu sighed, "Even if Brother Chai agrees to their marriage, my brother’s wedding will still be quite difficult."
Li Xing’an didn’t understand, "Why? Little sister, what do you mean?"
Li Yuzhu said, "The Chai Family is wealthy, and Miss Chai marrying here is marrying down. Her dowry is a thousand taels, how much betrothal gift can we offer to match it?"
According to local customs, the amount of betrothal gift given by the groom’s side must be matched by the dowry from the bride’s side.
Conversely, the amount of dowry from the bride’s side requires the groom’s side to give an equivalent betrothal gift.
If the conditions of both families are equal, the amount of betrothal gift and dowry are usually negotiated.
For example, when Liu Da Niu got married, Liu Laoda wanted ten taels of silver as a betrothal gift, but the Hu Family couldn’t afford it and only gave eight taels. Liu Laoda then only gave Liu Da Niu an eight-tael dowry.
Liu Da Niu not only brought back the betrothal gift but also took an equal amount of silver as dowry.
The dowry included bedding, pots, dishes, and bowls, a farm cart, some farm furniture.
The four-season clothing and shoes for both of them, and also a set of four-season clothing and shoes for Hu Shuangcheng’s mother.
Li Xing’an was stunned, indeed, how could he forget about this matter?
"Then what should we do? Let her bring less dowry?" Li Xing’an scratched his head.
Li Yuzhu shook her head, "Is that possible? The Chai Family cares about their reputation, would they lower their standards? Eldest Young Master Chai is determined to have his sister marry gloriously, it’s fortunate he’s not raising the dowry amount even more, let alone lowering it? Absolutely impossible!"
Li Xing’an frowned, "That’s bad. All the money our family has together isn’t even a hundred taels."
Li Yuzhu said, "Hopefully, Brother can negotiate well with Eldest Young Master Chai. To marry gloriously doesn’t necessarily require money, but we should prepare both ways. Brother will negotiate with Eldest Young Master Chai, and we prepare the money, trying our best to make the wedding a success."
The Princely Heir accompanied the Chai siblings back to Chai Family’s old house in Taohua River Village where Chai Eying lived.
Eldest Young Master Chai got off the horse and thanked the Princely Heir who drove the vehicle, "Thank you, Brother Li, for escorting us."
The Princely Heir handed the whip back to the driver and returned the courtesy to Eldest Young Master Chai, "Brother Chai, I actually have something I want to talk to you alone about."
Eldest Young Master Chai laughed heartily, "No problem, no problem, please come in and take a seat."
He told another nanny who opened the door to welcome them, "Granny Zhou, please go and prepare some tea and snacks."
Granny Zhou had not gone to Li Family’s house and stayed in the house all along.
Seeing that Chai Eying’s complexion was much better than when she left home, and her previously emaciated face looked rounded, Granny Zhou was happy in her heart, responded with a smile, and quickly went busy.
Chai Eying stepped down from the carriage, glanced at the Princely Heir, gave a faint smile, and followed Nanny Jiang to her own bedroom.
The Princely Heir nodded to the driver, "Uncle Gui, please move the items to the main room; this is for Brother Chai."
The driver replied with a cheerful smile, "Alright."
Eldest Young Master Chai waved his hands repeatedly, "My sister stayed at your residence, inconveniencing you for so many days. We should be the ones to send gifts. Why are you gifting us instead? You’re too polite, Brother Li."
"Brother Chai, let’s discuss it inside."
"Alright, let’s talk inside." Eldest Young Master Chai smiled as he welcomed the Princely Heir into the house.
In the main room, after Granny Zhou brought up tea and snacks, she withdrew. Eldest Young Master Chai personally poured the tea and said to the Princely Heir with a smile, "Brother Li, it’s just the two of us here, feel free to speak."
The Princely Heir rose from his seat and bowed deeply to Eldest Young Master Chai, "Brother Chai, I wish to marry Eying, please give your consent."
Eldest Young Master Chai was so shocked that his hand trembled and scalding tea spilled onto his leg.
The Princely Heir, seeing his twisted facial expression and widened eyes, thought he disagreed and said, "Though my family is currently impoverished..."
"Brother-in-law!" Eldest Young Master Chai put down the teapot, got up, walked to the Princely Heir, and embraced his shoulder, excitedly saying, "Don’t worry about wealth or poverty. Your home’s pretty big, my sister won’t lose out marrying you."
The Princely Heir was confused, "Chai... Brother Chai?"
"Ah, call me older brother. Though you’re two months older than me, who asked you to marry my sister? Sorry, you have to call me older brother." Eldest Young Master Chai laughed heartily.
The Princely Heir, still not comprehending, could only call him "Older brother."
"I calculated, the sixteenth of this month is an auspicious day according to the almanac, let’s set your wedding day on that day." Eldest Young Master Chai laughed heartily.