Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 796 - 406: Generous Gift_1
At the second watch, seeking the pink hue.
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Today’s female guests were all entertained in the inner residence. Entering through the hallway, one could see a vast courtyard paved with blue bricks, interspersed with lilacs and oleanders. Below the eaves of the Upper Room were four large pots, each holding a pomegranate tree. All around the cloistered walkways, neatly arranged, were seasonal roses in red, yellow, and pink—the blooming roses as large as fists. In addition to the roses, there were also seasonal chrysanthemums in yellow, white, and purple; almost every variety found in Liaodong Prefecture was present.
Some of these plants were gifts, while others were purchased by Lian Manman’s family.
Although it was late autumn and early winter, these plants still adorned the entire courtyard with exquisite beauty and vibrant life.
Old Madam Song had initially said she would come to pay her respects to the archway and congratulate Lian Manman’s family. However, the weather turned cold, affecting her health, and she didn’t manage to visit that day; she only sent Song Hailong and Lian Huahua in her stead.
When Lian Huahua entered the inner courtyard, she was accompanied only by a maid and an old servant woman. Lian Manman knew both of them as they had visited the Lian Family Old Mansion the previous year when Lian Huahua was pregnant and had come to request Lady Gu to look after Aunt Sun and Xiao Hong.
Both of them usually served close to Old Madam Shen.
Although Old Madam Song did not come, her message was conveyed entirely by Aunt Sun.
The gifts brought by the Song Family were very generous.
Two stove screens, one of which was a velvet screen embroidered with a peacock with spread tail feathers, said to be made with real peacock feathers, suitable for slightly cold weather. The other was a screen made of goose yellow silk, embroidered with flowers representing the four seasons, best set out in warmer weather.
A pair of white and blue porcelain vases with twin ears and a big belly, slightly taller than Xiao Qi, were decorations that wealthy families of the era loved to display in their halls. The vases could hold grain or water and be used either for inserting flowers or other decorations at the top. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Two more items were sets of high-quality fine porcelain teaware, two bolts of colored satin, two boxes of tribute tea, and two gilded Buddha statues.
There was also a long wooden case containing a neat layer of silver lockets.
"...Madam, please don’t laugh at us. Our Old Madam saw these as we were going through our storage and felt they were just right to be given away rather than obtained from someplace else," Aunt Sun said laughingly to Lady Zhang.
"Old Madam has thoughtfully considered every detail for us, I can’t thank her enough," Lady Zhang responded.
The gifts from Old Madam Song were carefully prepared, showing true effort and consideration.
Besides these, the Song Family had also prepared a gift for each, Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi.
A set of the Four Treasures of the Study, a newly printed book from the Liaodong Official Academy for Wu Lang and Xiao Qi. For Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi, it was one cosmetic case each with carved lacquer work.
"This is a novelty from the West, Miss; have a look inside," Xiao Hong said with a smile to Lian Manman.
Lian Manman opened the cosmetic case as instructed and couldn’t help but like it. Upon lifting the lid of the case, the inside revealed an entire mirror inset. The mirror was smooth and crystal clear, reflecting one’s image without any distortion—it was of the highest quality.
"...Our merchant team has just brought these back, only a few of them. Our Old Madam was thinking of Miss and specially instructed us to pick out the two best and most exquisite ones to send to Miss," Aunt Sun said with a smile.
"Old Madam has put in a lot of effort," Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi promptly stood up to express their thanks.
"Miss, take a look at the contents inside, do you like them?" Xiao Hong continued with a smile.
The cosmetic case was divided into two layers: the first held a gold-embroidered handkerchief, to which a set of delicate gold trinkets were attached at one corner. The second layer was partitioned into several small compartments, filled with rouge, face powder, eyebrow pencil, an ivory comb and hairpin, and all the other items needed for daily grooming—remarkably all complete. Additionally, there was a gilded phoenix hairpin with kingfisher feathers and two gilded miniature Buddha palm hair clips.
The gift from the Song Family was indeed impressive, not only for the value of the items but also for the attention, consideration, and thoroughness of the person preparing the gift.
"I was the one who helped pick out the hairpin and hair clips," Lian Huahua finally found an opportunity to join the conversation.
Until now, Aunt Sun had been primarily speaking with Lady Zhang, conveying Old Madam’s words. Lian Huahua sat beside them with little opportunity to speak.
Lian Huahua reached for the hairpin and, with a smile, beckoned Lian Manman, offering to place it in her hair for her.
