CONQUERING THE HEART OF THE ENCHANTING BEAUTY

11: Xiaolan's Dowry

Thank you for your votes and comments . I'm very grateful. This chapter is unedited so there might be many mistakes and grammatical errors.

Since Zhu Xiaolan went on a vacation with Zhang Cheng the household works came under Su Yue and Shen Zheqiang. They divided their works according to their capabilities. Works like washing dishes , clothes , sweeping the floor, cetc became Shen Zheqiang's duties while Su Yue took on the hard labour like bringing firewoods, cooking , watering the plants , cleaning the house etc.

Like any other Shen Zheqiang was washing clothes when he heard Su Yue called for him.

"A- Qiang, Are you going to the market today?"

"No, but does sister have something to buy?"

"The ingredients are almost all used up and other groceries too. I had made a list of their names so go to the market when you are free ."

"Okay"

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After lunch in the afternoon Shen Zheqiang went to the market.
The day was neither too hot nor too cold.
The street was busy but not  as busy as in the capital.
For Shen Zheqiang the town was like a breath of fresh air.
Faraway from the things that upset him. Since yesterday he had been thinking about Yu Han and how familiar he felt when he was with him.
It was like they had met a long time ago.
Shen Zheqiang who was ignorant to things like love didn't know why his heart kept beating when he was with Yu Han. But he knows for sure that he definitely feel something for that man.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't know when he had reached the grocery shop.
Upon seeing Shen Zheqiang , the shop owner who was familiar with him smiled and asked for the list of things he wanted.

Shen Zheqiang handed him the list and the shopkeeper surnamed Wu order his servants to pack all the things Shen Zheqiang wanted.

"Here look if there is anything missing."
Shopkeeper Wu place the groceries bag on the wooden table for  Shen Zheqiang to check.
After checking the things over Shen Zheqiang saw that there was nothing missing so he turned towards Shopkeeper Wu and said,
"Uncle Wu everything is here. How much is the cost?"

There were total of at least ten commodities Shen Zheqiang came to buy so the amount was high.
"Three silvers. The price of rice and salt was raised last week so it's 400 wen more than the usual price charged to you before."

Shen Zheqiang nodded and gave him the three silvers without questioning him.
Shopkeeper Wu was an honest businessman so he doesn't like to his customers.
If he said the price was raised than its true.
Everyone in the town knows Shopkeeper Wu follows the "Honesty is the best policy."
Because of his honest ways their were lot of customers who comes to his shop.

"A Qiang , Xiao Ning went to called for the carriage for you. You don't have to go and call for them. They'll be here soon."

"Thank you uncle Wu. "

"No need to be polite. It's not me it just that Xiao Ning is always happy to help you. You know that boy , he's young and I hope you don't mind his behaviour."

"Xiao Ning is always good to me. Why would I mind ?"

Xiao Ning is Shopkeeper Wu's nephew who lost his parents when he was eight. Since then he had lived with his Shopkeeper uncle.
He has been in love with Shen Zheqiang since the first time he saw him.
Since then he was always happy to help Shen Zheqiang even when the latter don't say anything.

As an ignorant in the matter of love, Shen Zheqiang have no idea about Xiao Ning infatuation towards him but Shopkeeper Wu clearly knows that he's nephew is doing it for love.
But how could Shen Zheqiang think Xiao Ning is in love with him?
Xiao Ning who is fourteen this year is just like a younger brother to him.

Soon Xiao Ning came along with the carriage. Waving his hand he called out," Brother Qiang, let me carry the bag of groceries to the carriage. "

Without waiting for Shen Zheqiang's reply, he quickly got down from carriage and pick up the bag and again carried it to the carriage.
Though Xiao Ning was only fourteen he was already as tall as Shen Zheqiang. His muscle were build at a very young age and is stronger for his age.
Carrying a fifteen kgs of groceries bag was nothing to him.

With the help of Xiao Ning everything went smoothly he didn't even have to shed a single sweat. From calling for the carriage to carrying the heavy bag everything was done by Xiao Ning. Shen Zheqiang was very grateful. If he had a younger brother of his own then he would be as obedient as Xiao Ning he thought. His younger step siblings in the capital were far from obedient. They only looked out to caused trouble for him.
   

He sighed and got inside the carriage. But before he got inside he said ," Xiao Ning I'll come visit you sometimes."

Hearing this Xiao Ning jump into happiness and showed all his teeth with a smile.

Xiao Ning was very young when he lost both of his parents in a robbery . He knows Xiao Ning misses his parents like he miss his mother. So he thought of accompanying Xiao Ning when he have time. He didn't think much only that the fourteen years old boy need a brother or maybe a friend to accompany him. He must be lonely sometimes.

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When he reached home, Lu Cong Qing was already waiting for him in the gate.
Su Yue was cutting chicken for dinner. Her cooking skills were on par with the imperial chefs this was what Shen Zheqiang, Zhu Xiaolan and Lu Cong Qing agreed with.
So all things related with Kitchen falls under her hands.

At dinner time the three of them began eating quietly . The dishes served on the table were chicken drumsticks, chicken soup, congee, mushroom, and Chinese chicken salad.
They were delicious as expected of Su Yue superb cooking skills.

The silence was only broken when  Lu Cong Qing spoke,
"I got a letter from Young master Zhang he said they'll be coming back in three days."

"Xiaolan is coming back? I miss him so much."

Shen Zheqiang was so happy. It's been very long since he saw Xiaolan. They have been living together since they were young. He would be lying if he said that he didn't want Xiaolan to come back soon. His eyes lit up and his smile couldn't be hidden anymore.

"We miss him too. But this time Young master Zhang also wrote that he'll come prepared."

"Is he going to asked for Xiaolan hands in marriage?"
Su Yue asked.

Shen Zheqiang eyes widened. How long had Young master Zhang and Xiaolan knew each other? But he had seen Zhang Cheng sincere feelings towards Xiaolan. If it is Zhang Cheng than he is okay with it. He knows Zhang Cheng will treat Xiaolan well. His marriage failed but he wants Xiaolan to not experience the same thing as him.
As long as the other party love him and treat Xiaolan well and  it's more than enough.

He looked towards Lu Cong Qing and then Su Yue and then at his food before saying," If that's the case we have to be prepared too. We need to prepare Xiaolan's dowry more than enough to not let his in laws looked down on him."

Even though he is not rich but he had been saving money since he ran away from the palace. He had learnt embroidery from his mother and his skills were excellent. But after his marriage he had not sew anything since then. Now that he need money for Xiaolan's marriage he thought of embroidering in order to earned more money.

"The Zhangs are not greedy people. They are decent and modest. I have a good relationship with them. I know they won't look down on Lan' er. The dowry and other things I'll take care of it. Both you and Yue' er don't have to worry."
Lu Cong Qing had already thought of them as his real siblings there was nothing to worry about as long as Lu Cong Qing is here.

Su Yue and Shen Zheqiang might have nodded to what Lu Cong Qing said but the both of them already made up their minds to earned more money.
On thought of making money by selling herbs while the other was thinking of what kind of styles he should  used on his embroidery.
With the mentioned of Xiaolan marriage Shen Zheqiang had forgotten about the things that kept him up last night. It's like he had forgotten the very existence of Yu Han. The excitement took over his confusing thoughts of that handsome man.

I don't know much about ancient used of currency so I just made them up. And also I don't have much knowledge on ancient market system. Hope you understand. Please don't forget to vote...
Thank you and stay safe......