By lunchtime, Li Zhijun, quite thoughtfully, had arranged three tables in a large hall for his relatives along with Mrs. Mo and the County Magistrate’s Wife and her daughter.
At Ye Shiqi’s table, it was all girls, including cousins and her five sisters. Si Ma Roumei also squeezed in, necessitating two tables to be joined together.
Another table hosted Mrs. Li with other relatives, Mrs. Mo, and the County Magistrate’s Wife.
The dishes were quickly served, with fish as the main attraction, followed by chicken, duck, goose, pork, beef, and lamb—a table brimming with dishes, including soup.
Sitting next to Ye Shiqi were her cousin from her uncle’s family, followed a bit further by her cousin from her elder aunt’s family, and then her cousin from her Young Uncle’s family.
It was said that none of them were yet betrothed, not for lack of suitors but because they hadn’t made their choice, feeling that the right match hadn’t yet come.
Ye Shiqi heard from her mother that since her uncle’s family had come into good fortune, they had new criteria for selecting a son-in-law; they definitely wouldn’t choose a farmer, at least opting for a more well-off family.
They didn’t expect them to marry into very wealthy families, but character was an important criterion in their selection.
The elder aunt’s family, being wealthier, also raised their standards for choosing a son-in-law.
Ye Shiqi felt there was nothing wrong with this approach. Regardless of her own future, she wouldn’t marry a lazy man lacking ambition, especially one who only thought of farming.
It wasn’t that she looked down on farmers; she came from a farmer’s background herself, so how could she look down on farmers? Being a farmer too required methods to prosper and provide for one’s family while bringing a good life to those around them.
Ye Shiqi thought that if a woman must marry, why should she marry a man who would make her suffer? She’d rather choose freedom. This idea might not work in ancient times, where perhaps becoming a nun was an option.
After the meal, the ladies didn’t leave; they chatted and strolled around, looking for amusement, much like men enjoying carefree travels.
From this banquet, Ye Shiqi learned that Zhong Xingwang had taken an interest in her elder sister. Could her trip to the Capital City be moved up?
She also heard Mrs. Mo say that in a month, her family of four would follow Zhong Xingwang to the Capital City, and they would seldom return afterward.
Ye Shiqi was now intrigued by the Capital City, wondering if she could go ahead with her family, buy a house there, and venture into the business market.
She thought it might be difficult; her parents, born and raised here, were accustomed to this place, which had holdings, and there was also her grandparents and Aunt Lai. Following them might mean continuous unrest at home.
She personally went to find Zhong Xingwang and directly asked the man’s intentions, ensuring that the matchmaking was not merely for fun.
She couldn’t allow her elder sister to be taken as a concubine into his family. Her parents might compromise, but she could not.
Ye Shiqi, merely eight or nine years old, arranged to meet Zhong Xingwang in the outer parlor for a chat—such a meeting, even if known to others, wouldn’t give rise to filthy thoughts of secret romantic encounters.
Those young masters would only think that this was a younger sister-in-law discussing terms with her brother-in-law, humorously imagining a hint of flirtation.
Zhong Xingwang was both excited and unsure what tricky question this clever little sister-in-law would pose.
"Brother Wang, how old are you?" Ye Shiqi sat down, tea for two was served, and then she directly broached the topic.
"Little sister, I am 22 this year." Zhong Xingwang smiled warmly, feeling like he was talking to an elder rather than a young girl, facing a personality even more demanding than his mother, he had to handle it carefully, or his bride-to-be might slip away.
Ye Shiqi..., 22, in her former life that would mean just graduating college or still studying, but in ancient times, it was different, he definitely needed some straightening out!
"Brother Wang, are you pursuing scholarly honors?"
Zhong Xingwang..., being asked so meticulously by his sister-in-law, he responded even more cautiously, "I am currently a Scholar, maybe going further will be tough, but my family hopes I can at least achieve the rank of a higher scholar."
"Oh, then you mean you will continue studying even after marriage? How will you provide for the family? Do you plan to be an official in the future?"
Ye Shiqi thoroughly investigated questions her mother hadn’t even considered, not wanting her elder sister to fall into a trap of supporting a husband engrossed in his studies.
Zhong Xingwang..., truly challenged by his sister-in-law, he left all his family’s business to his elder brother; he just studied and attended to nothing else. Now he was truly cornered. Certainly, after marriage, they’d have to split the household; if they didn’t and lived together, it would be bearable if family members supported his studies, but what about his wife and children?