Chapter 177 - 176: Cousins Going on Matchmaking Dates

Chapter 177: Chapter 176: Cousins Going on Matchmaking Dates

After finishing her modern tasks, Lin Wanwan pushed open the Space-Time Gate and returned to the Great Tang.

Little Qingyu was already awake and was sitting on the bed about to cry. The little one was only five years old, still in the age where she couldn’t be without adults, and would be scared if she found no one on the bed.

Lin Wanwan smiled as she pulled open the bed curtain: "My darling, you’re awake, mom is here!"

Little Qingyu jumped toward Lin Wanwan, hugging her neck and leaning on her for a while.

Yun Shang’s voice came from the doorway: "Lady, are you up? Shall we come in?"

"Yes, come in."

The door creaked open, and three maids entered in single file, carrying either a basin of hot water or a cup for washing.

Little Qingyu let go of Lin Wanwan, sitting on the bed and allowing Lin Wanwan to dress her.

Yun Shang tied up the bed curtain with a ribbon, smiling: "The lady slept really well today, it’s already the mao hour, and there wasn’t a sound. We were about to wake you up, it’s time to greet the old lady."

"Yes, I did sleep well last night." Lin Wanwan finished dressing Little Qingyu and walked to the dressing table, taking the washing cup from Hua Nong’s hand to brush her teeth, then sat on the stool as Hua Nong washed and applied skincare and makeup on her face.

Hua Nong was practically Lin Wanwan’s makeup artist now, having learned after just a few lessons. Although not incredibly intricate, she had no problem applying an even base makeup.

Thinking of the foundation, Lin Wanwan said: "Hong Yan, after a while, deliver those few bottles of powder I made to my cousins and aunts, and let them try it out."

"Got it." replied Hong Yan, who was combing Lin Wanwan’s hair.

These were the foundations Lin Wanwan had bought from the modern era half a month ago, repackaged and meant to be gifted. Since she had been living at Ge Xian Temple, there hadn’t been a chance to deliver them to her sisters.

"Yun Shang, you take a few bags of activated carbon and come with me to see the old lady."

"Yes!"

The maids quickly dressed and groomed Lin Wanwan and her daughter and then pushed open the door, heading straight to the Lotus Courtyard.

The Xiao mother had already finished her breakfast, served by the daughters-in-law, and was sitting in the hall chatting with the younger ones who had come to pay respects, her laughter echoing outside the room.

A little maid sitting on the courtyard steps saw Lin Wanwan arrive, and one hurried to greet her, while another turned to report: "Lady Lin has arrived."

"Please, do come in," Xiao mother’s cheerful voice came out.

The maid lifted the curtain, and Lin Wanwan led little Qingyu inside to pay their respects: "Greetings to grandmother."

Little Qingyu said in her childish voice: "Greetings to the old lady."

"Good, good, come and sit. It’s such a cold day, you must be frozen coming here so early, have a cup of ginger tea to warm up."

Lin Wanwan laughed: "It’s fine, the cloak is really thick."

Then she paid her respects to Xiao Ronghua and her second aunt-in-law in the room.

Lin Wanwan looked at Hua Nong, signaling her to present the gift. Hua Nong hurriedly handed the activated carbon she was carrying to an old nanny in front of Xiao mother.

"This is the activated carbon I made recently. It can remove impurities from well water. Place it at the bottom of the water jar, add some clean sand and a pack can last for over a month. Grandmother, please try it."

Xiao mother smiled as she took a pack in her hand. Since it was packed in a cloth bag, it didn’t reveal much, so she chuckled: "Wanwan, you are so thoughtful."

The second aunt Wang laughed: "I’ve heard my sister-in-law talk about this wondrous thing for a while, but since Wanwan has been staying at Ge Xian Temple, I hadn’t had a chance to ask. Today I finally get to see it. Mother, quickly try it out, so I can also see. I’ve heard adding this makes well water clear and delicious like mountain spring water."

Lin Wanwan smiled: "It just removes some of the saltiness and bitterness from the well water. It’s still different from mountain spring water. If the second aunt likes it, I’ll have Hong Yan send a few bags over to your courtyard later."

"Oh, I won’t be polite then, haha." Wang smiled happily.

After chatting for a while, Lin Wanwan took her leave to go back with little Qingyu to eat breakfast. They still needed to head to Ge Xian Temple soon after.

Lin Wanwan needed to continue studying medicine with Old Sun, while little Qingyu was to learn literacy with Old Cao.

Before finishing breakfast, her twin cousins came over.

"Cousin Wanwan, the powder you gifted is really great. I tried it as soon as I got it. How does it look?" Even before entering the door, Xiao Liwei was already calling out.

The twins were the liveliest among the Xiao sisters, always smiling and adept at acting coy. Though born of concubines, they didn’t appear shy or reserved at all.

It’s clear Madam Yuan, as the main wife, didn’t oppress them much.

To Madam Yuan, raising the daughters well was important. After all, only with proper upbringing could they secure a beneficial marriage alliance for the family.

Marriages among the Tang people were often alliances of interest, something Madam Yuan, from Jiangnan’s Yuan family, was well aware of.

Currently, the aristocracy of Great Tang was as focused on marriage alliances as on advancing in government. The eight great Jiangnan families ensured the purity of their bloodlines through intermarriage among direct lineages, not marrying out.

But since Lin Wanwan’s maternal family was a branch of the Xiao family, their standards weren’t as strict and they would marry into the newly rising gentry.

However, Madam Yuan herself was of noble birth, so she didn’t wish for her daughter to marry out. Her vision for finding suitors for the daughters was intermarriage among the eight great families. As for the marriages of the concubine-born daughters, they had to pave the way for her direct daughters and sons.

The twins entered the room, and Lin Wanwan instructed Hua Nong to serve each a bowl of cherry curd.

"Cousin Wanwan, you have so many delicious and beautiful things here." The twin sister Xiao Shulian commented.

"Indeed!" Xiao Liwei added, "By the way, cousin Wanwan, are you going out today?"

Lin Wanwan replied: "Yes, I need to follow Old Sun to study medicine."

"Oh, that’s a shame. We are all going to Lingyin Temple today, only the eldest sister is staying in because her foot isn’t fully healed. Hehe, my sister is going to see someone." Xiao Liwei said with a laugh.

"Ah, stop talking nonsense!" Xiao Shulian glared at her sister Xiao Liwei, "Just because we’re all going doesn’t mean it’s for me."

"Hehe," Xiao Liwei giggled, not arguing back.

Curiously, Lin Wanwan asked: "Which family’s gentleman is it?"

Xiao Liwei answered: "The He Family."

Lin Wanwan inquired: "The same family as He Miao?"

Xiao Shulian nodded a bit awkwardly: "It’s all mother’s decision."

Lin Wanwan nodded: "Oh, that’s truly a pity. I won’t be able to help you take a look today. You must observe carefully yourself. By the way, will that He family gentleman be there?"

"How could he be, naturally it’s the first lady of the He family coming to have a look. It wouldn’t be appropriate for a young gentleman to meet my sister directly."