"The problem is..." Mrs. Zhao pondered for a moment and felt something was amiss: "Husband, you don't intend for Ming Hua to marry that Miss Xiao, do you?"
Zhao Chengxun looked at the woman who had been his bedmate for twenty-eight years, thinking, she really understands me, she's getting a bit smarter.
"Husband, you really don't intend this, do you? The Xiao family is the offspring of criminals, their home is barren. If Ming Hua marries such a bride, won't people laugh at him to death?"
Forsaking the granddaughter of the Clan Leader of the Xiao family, and marrying a girl from a destitute household?
"Do you think Ming Hua deserves that young lady?"
Zhao Chengxun sighed: he had overestimated his wife's intellect after all!
He did indeed think this way, but whether it could be arranged depended on Ming Hua's fortune, yet here his own wife was already looking down on it! Where did she get the confidence and courage to think Miss Xiao is unworthy of her son?
"Our Ming Hua isn't just suitable for her, he's also fit to marry Xiao Chunlan... even the county magistrate's daughter." Mrs. Zhao argued with her husband, unwilling to back down.
"Yes, our children are always the best." Zhao Chengxun left one sentence unsaid: "And others' wives are always better."
"Indeed, our Ming Hua is so handsome, such a good nature..."
Mrs. Zhao suddenly got stuck; what else was good about her son?
Zhao Chengxun just looked at her, say it, why aren't you continuing?
Go on, list all the merits of your dear son!
Among the three sons, the one who worried him the least was the eldest; he began reciting the Tangtou Song at three, learned over a thousand herbs by five, and could diagnose and prescribe at seven... He trusted the Zhao family's Hundred Herbs Hall to be in good hands under him.
The second son liked to study, though not gifted, which could not be blamed. After all, studying medicine wasn't the same path as academic study. But he was diligent, and they believed in the near future, he would surely pass the scholar exam, which would elevate the Zhao family's standing.
As for the youngest... he had always been sickly, and as he grew, he dreaded hardship and labor; he couldn't do this or that. Intelligent but lacking resolve, as long as the youngest didn't commit any crimes, with his two brothers' protection, if he lived a long life without starving, the Zhao ancestors would surely have blessed them.
"Anyway, our Ming Hua is the best. Husband, this girl from the Xiao family is not within the scope of our bridal selection."
Mrs. Zhao worried that if they failed to form a marriage alliance with the Xiao family and then got involved with Doctor Xiao's granddaughter, they would directly offend the Xiao family.
"Rest assured, Ming Hua and Miss Xiao are talking business."
Talking business?
With a girl from a destitute household talking business, can you believe that?
Zhao Chengxun felt exhausted; women always only see the immediate benefits.
"Doctor Xiao has several grandchildren. His eldest granddaughter married the legitimate second son of the Wu family in the Capital, and Lord Wu holds a fourth-rank official position," Zhao Chengxun explained clearly. "This young lady is named Xiao Chunnuan; she's fifteen years old, had a marriage contract with the legitimate second son of the Zhaang family's Supreme Court official, but the Zhaang family withdrew after the incident."
"Yes, who would dare to marry their daughter after such incidents?"
See, even such high-ranking officials know to avoid it. Why then is her husband so eager to have Ming Hua marry her?
Zhao Chengxun... really found it hard to communicate with his wife.
Only ever seeing the surface of things.
"The Zhaang family is also from a fourth-rank official family. If Miss Xiao had no extraordinary quality, would the Zhaang family have chosen her?" Fine, it's better to just speak openly, she wouldn't grasp it otherwise: "Miss Xiao has been learning medicine with Doctor Xiao since childhood. She knows medicinal herbs, can diagnose, prescribe, and has excellent skills in processing them."
"A virtuous man is a talent, but for women, being unaccomplished is a virtue. What use is learning these things?"
Looking at his wife, Zhao Chengxun almost laughed in frustration.
"Then tell me, what should she learn?"
"Learn the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, learn needlework and cooking."
"And did your needlework and cooking ever come in handy?" Zhao Chengxun was truly exasperated but amused: "Is it that we can't afford servants or can't hire seamstresses?"
"Husband..."
"Let me be blunt, your son, Ming Hua, has nothing to his name. By chance, he got acquainted with Miss Xiao. I'm having him talk business with her about processing medicinal herbs, which concerns the future prospects of our Hundred Herbs Hall. You must not interfere."
This was a notice and a command, not a discussion.
"You're afraid your son might take a liking to Miss Xiao." Zhao Chengxun shook his head and sighed: "I only fear the young lady might not be interested in him at all. There are many good men in the Capital, that Ming Hua at best is just a playboy from Changzhou."
"Husband!"
This was going too far, even demeaning their own son!
"Once again, do not mention the marriage alliance with the Xiao family any more," Zhao Chengxun said, "Ming Hua's marriage is for me to personally oversee."
Three years, and anything could happen, if Zhao's ancestors could know in the afterlife, they'd surely help to win over the two generations of Doctor Xiao. Blessing Ming Hua, perhaps this might even work out.
Before this, the wife was absolutely forbidden from meddling in the youngest's marriage matters.
"You must not interfere with the business relation between Ming Hua and Miss Xiao."
"Husband..."
Mrs. Zhao felt very uncomfortable seeing his decision being made.
Why?
The son was born to her, yet she had no say in such an important matter of marrying him off.
How was she supposed to explain this to Madam Xiao?
After all, she had some friendship with Madam Xiao over the years; now, perhaps they were about to offend her.
Her husband was autocratic, her son unpersuadable, truly driving her to grey her hair with worry!
Xiao Chunnuan, Doctor Xiao's granddaughter, she really wanted to see what kind of girl this was, that could sway both her husband and Ming Hua toward her.
"Achoo." Chun Nuan sneezed heavily.
"Sister, are you catching a cold?" Chunyan was a bit worried.
"It's nothing, just a discomfort from the Chenhao powder."
Indeed, Chun Nuan was processing Chinese mugwort, drying it and removing the rhizomes, old stems, and impurities, chopping and grinding it before sifting out the dust.
A large basket turned into a single pouch.
Tomorrow, let Chun Ning take it to Hundred Herbs Hall to see how much it can be sold for.
"Sister, before dawn tomorrow Xiao Gang and I will go to pick flowers."
Tomorrow, he also wanted to learn how to climb a tree; he wouldn't believe that such a small task like tree climbing could stump him!
"Alright, be careful on the road." She suddenly remembered: "Aren't there many petals fallen under the tree?"
"Yes, some fell on the weeds, others fell to the ground and rotted away."
"To transform into spring mud, to better nurture the flowers."
Chun Nuan uttered it casually, but in her heart, she already had an idea: Chinese magnolia can relieve wind-cold, open nasal passages, often used for wind-cold common cold, nasal congestion, nasal issues, it's indeed a good medicine.
Since there were plenty on that mountain, utilizing local resources was an excellent option.
She looked up at her own burnt-down kitchen; no, the most urgent thing was to rearrange the kitchen.
Building a house was impractical, but they could make bamboo fences and cover them with thatch.
However, the Xiao family was full of women and children, and for such labor, a helper would be necessary.
Who would be good to find?