Chapter 1936: Chapter 986: Finding Leisure Amidst the Busy Days
The mother and daughter were doing some needlework when someone came in to report that the purchased pelts had arrived. Lian Manman called for the bundles of pelts to be brought in, and the two of them stopped their needlework to inspect and select the pelts with the help of a few close maids.
In the Prefecture City, there are specialty shops selling various pelts, but the Lian Manman family needed a large quantity and all the best quality for this occasion, so they didn’t buy from the shops. Instead, they specifically sent people to search all over. They managed to gather around a hundred top-grade pelts, including golden marten, silver marten, zibeline, white fox, and red fox, all thick autumn pelts without the slightest blemish.
Such pelts are naturally very valuable, and even in the shops of the Prefecture City, you couldn’t find more than a few of such quality. Marriage is one of the most important events in a person’s life, especially in this era. Families with means want to prepare everything necessary for a lifetime in one go.
Not to mention the other items purchased, these pelts alone are almost more than Lian Manman could use in a lifetime.
Out of around a hundred pelts, Lady Zhang selected a hundred, carefully wrapped them up, and prepared them as Lian Manman’s dowry.
"We won’t touch these; they’ll go with you. In the future, as you manage your household, you can add a couple of new pieces each year, and they’ll last you a lifetime. No need to ask others for help," Lady Zhang told Lian Manman. From Lian Zhizhi’s marriage, it was clear that Lady Zhang was generous and ungrudging in preparing a dowry for her daughters, a tradition from her natal family.
"Do I really need so much?" Lian Manman laughed, "These fur clothes aren’t like other things; there’s no need to add new ones every year."
"In most families, a piece can last five or six years, even ten. But the Shen Family isn’t an ordinary family," Lady Zhang said. "Over the past years, I’ve paid attention, not to others, but to Grandma Shen San. Every year, she has a new fur coat."
Lian Manman felt slightly touched. Lady Zhang wasn’t particularly astute, yet she cared enough to pay attention to these matters, truly thinking of her well-being. Grandma Shen San was indeed one of the wealthiest women in Prefecture City.
"Mother, I don’t compare myself to others," Lian Manman said with a smile.
"It’s not about comparison, but you shouldn’t find yourself worse off than them," Lady Zhang replied. "Your father, brother, and I have all discussed this already... I know, in the future, Sixth Master definitely won’t mistreat you. What belongs to him is his, what our family gives is our own... It’s not like before; if it were in the past, this wouldn’t even be imaginable. Now that we have it, we prepare for you, and you accept. With more in hand, you’ll feel more secure in any situation."
"Yes," Lian Manman nodded. If she refused now, it would seem insincere.
Moreover, one couldn’t deny that Lady Zhang’s words were indeed wise. Especially in this era, a dowry signifies a woman’s status and independence. With a dowry, a woman has lawful and socially acknowledged property under her name, which she can control entirely.
Even if her family didn’t arrange it for her, Lian Manman would have to arrange it herself; this was her legitimate opportunity to own personal assets.
One hundred pelts were reserved as future use items for Lian Manman to keep at the bottom of her chest, while the dozens remaining were for making immediate clothing for her.
"Mother, I really don’t need so many right now," Lian Manman said again. "Look at me; I might still grow. If you make clothes now, in two years, they might not fit. That would be a waste."
"Hmm, we won’t make too many for you, we’ll just follow the norms of the Prefecture City," Lady Zhang nodded, acknowledging the logic. "I still need to make two more pieces for your brother, and two each for your father and Xiao Qi, then leave the rest for one piece each for your sister and brother-in-law..."
In no time, Lady Zhang and Lian Manman had sorted through the hundred top-grade pelts.
Apart from these top-grade pelts, the people they sent out also bought back quite a few medium and lower-grade pelts. The mother and daughter didn’t inspect these one by one, instead sending the maids to count them.
"Half of those are for you, to make clothes for the maids and for gifting," Lady Zhang told Lian Manman.
Busy all morning, by noon, Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang sent messages; one was staying on the estate for lunch, and the other was kept by Third Master Shen. Thus, lunch was just Lady Zhang and Lian Manman.
