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Jiang Cheng’s engagement banquet ended without any major issues, and everyone gradually returned home.

The next day, Elder Sister-in-law Jiang and Chunniang went shopping together for wedding necessities.

They bought twelve pairs of thick, double-happiness red wax candles, four pairs of incense burners, a large bundle of redbud incense, four pieces of embroidered satin quilt, two bridal canopies, and a pair of satin-embroidered pillows.

They also bought some jewellery, such as hairpins, bracelets, earrings and necklaces for the bride.

Because the matchmaker said that the bride’s dowry might amount to thirty-six palanquins, their own betrothal gifts should not be too shabby in comparison.

After purchasing the jewelry, they went to the clothing store and bought several silk wedding gowns. The green, silk-embroidered ceremonial dresses were embroidered with symbols of wealth and blessings as well as images of many children and grandchildren. Even the shoes were embroidered with golden threads depicting auspicious clouds of prosperity.

These items needed to be taken to the bride’s house at the time of the wedding, for the bride to wear while ascending the bridal sedan.

Afterward, Chunniang suggested that Elder Sister-in-law Jiang should also buy two silk dresses for herself and Elder Brother Jiang to wear during the marriage ceremony. Elder Sister-in-law Jiang, who had never worn silk clothing before, declined persistently, saying: “There are new clothes at home, I don’t need any.”

Chunniang laughed and replied, “The clothes at home are too plain. They can’t be worn at a wedding feast.”

Left with no choice, Elder Sister-in-law Jiang bought two dresses.

Having finished shopping, the two women got onto a carriage, driven by Jiang Quan, to return to Jiang Cheng’s estate.

Meanwhile, Yingbao and her sisters, led by Yanru, went to a cosmetics shop.

When the groom picks up the bride, he must also bring cosmetics such as rouge and scented powder, as well as sachets of perfume, scented soaps, and incense.

Although the bride’s dowry would include these items too, she wouldn’t be able to use them on her wedding day. The bride could only adorn herself with the clothes and accessories provided by the groom’s family.

Uninterested in these items, Yingbao dragged her second sister to the neighboring shop to select exorcism masks.

Kids love these colorful masks, drawn with images of monsters and beasts.

Yingbao chose a Zhong Kui mask and wore it on her face, then picked up a few others with different patterns.

Finding it amusing, the second sister also put a mask on her face.

After paying, the two sisters walked hand in hand to the teahouse where Gao Lifan was telling stories. They found a seat and sat down to listen.

Gao Lifan was still the storyteller, but his daughter, Dongmei, was nowhere to be seen.

After a while, Yingbao ran over to ask, “Mister Gao, where is sister Dongmei?”

Seeing it was Yingbao, Gao Lifan smiled, “Dongmei didn’t come today. She’s at home preparing for the New Year with her mother.”

Preparing for the New Year at this time usually involved making sausages and curing meat. These would be hung under the eaves for a little over twenty days and would be ready to eat in the first month of the lunar new year.

Yingbao nodded, “I’ll go see her later.”

As they left the teahouse, Aunt Jiang had just finished shopping.

The group, laden with packages, returned to the shop, where they bumped into Yanru’s uncle and aunt who were talking to Jiang Cheng and Jiang Erlang.

“Auntie!” Yanru bowed in greeting and walked towards her, hugging her tightly.

Yanru’s aunt held her niece and patted her, “You didn’t let us know when you came back. Fortunately, your husband informed your uncle. Otherwise, we would have missed each other.”

Yanru replied, “We’ve just arrived as well, and we were busy shopping. We didn’t have time to visit you.”

While the aunt and niece were chatting, the conversation turned to Yanru’s health.

The aunt quietly asked, “Still no sign of a baby?”

Yanru’s face paled instantly. She lightly shook her head and replied, “No.”

The aunt sighed, “It’s alright. Jiang Erlang already has two children.”

But deep down, she was still hoping for her niece to have at least one child with Jiang Erlang.

Once Yanru had a child, she would be able to conduct herself with more confidence, and there would be someone to look after her when she became old.

Yingbao stuck her head forward, looked from left to right, then said, “Second Aunt, let me take your pulse for you.”

Yanru’s aunt laughed, “Little Yingbao, how old are you that you already know how to take someone’s pulse?”

Yingbao solemnly said, “I am a little Divine Doctor.”

Yanru confirmed, “Godmother, Yingbao truly knows medicine, she has even attended to distinguished people in Beijing.”

She herself wanted Yingbao to take a look at her back home but was shy, so she never asked Yingbao whether she could conceive or not.

Surprised, the godmother exclaimed, “Oh, really? Maybe I made a correct prophecy.”

Yingbao nodded in understanding, then took Yanru’s pulse.

Yanru’s pulse was much steadier than a few years ago; there was no reason for her to remain infertile.

Yingbao pondered for a moment then said to Yanru, ” Madam, let’s go to the backyard. I’ll perform a ritual on you.”

She prepared to let Yanru try taking some pure Five Tripod Ganoderma and trick her in doing so.

As instructed, Yanru, along with her godmother, walked towards the backyard room.

Yingbao rummaged around in a small bag, pulling out a talisman and a small porcelain bottle.

Then she hopped around while muttering incantations.

Afterwards, she handed the porcelain bottle to Yanru: “Madam, you’d better drink it quickly.”

Yanru didn’t question it and excitedly took the porcelain bottle and guzzled it.

After drinking, she felt a warmth rise from her abdomen, which was very comfortable.

“How do you feel?” asked Yingbao.

Yanru touched her chest and said, “I feel warm here.”

“That’s right, Yan…Madam, you should eat well every day and take care of your health. You will definitely be able to conceive,” said Yingbao.

Yanru was only in her twenties this year, apart from abnormalities in her menstrual cycle, it didn’t seem like there were any significant issues.

But it seemed like her condition had normalized now, and she was heavier than before, there should probably be no problem with her getting pregnant and having a child.

Yanru smiled and said, “Thank you for your kind words, Yingbao.”

The two of them chatted a bit more when the godmother suddenly began: “Two scholars have been staying at our inn. They keep pretending to be sick so they don’t have to go home, claiming they don’t have any money. They also refuse to pay the room rate. Sigh, your godfather is at his wits’ end, but we can’t really force them out.”

Yanru frowned, “There are such people? They’ve been freeloading off the inn for so long, doesn’t the county government care?”

The godmother sighed, “The county government doesn’t allow private eviction of scholars. Otherwise, they’ll punish us severely. The scholars want to eat and drink in the inn, and make a fuss if they don’t get their way. Our small business can’t stand this sort of torment.”

Yingbao considered this and said, “You can think of a way for them to leave on their own, like catching a hedgehog, feed it salt, and then put it under the scholar’s bed. The scholars surely wouldn’t dare stay at the inn anymore.”

To deal with rogues, one should resort to rogue tactics.

“Could it really work?” The godmother’s eyes lit up.

“It should work.” Yingbao suddenly regretted telling Yanru and her godmother this strategy.

What if the scholars were like Li Xu, fallen ill and poverty-stricken. Wouldn’t her actions be driving them to their deaths?

She decided to have a look for herself first. “Godmother, take me to your inn.”

The godmother, aware that Yingbao had some connections with the magistrate of the county, didn’t refuse and immediately stood up to lead her niece and Yingbao back to the inn.

The Gao’s inn wasn’t far from the county school, just a short walk.

Just as they reached the entrance of the inn, they saw two scholars loudly yelling in the hall, “Why hasn’t our food been brought yet? Are you trying to starve us to death?”

The godmother whispered, “See? Those are the two. They’ve already stayed at our inn for more than half a year and refuse to leave. They demand food and drinks all day and claimed they’ll stay until the exam starts next year.”

Yingbao blinked, “They are scholars?”

“No,” the godmother said, “They passed the county exam but failed at the prefectural level. They plan to reapply and take the test again next year.”

Turns out they are not scholars!

Yingbao walked boldly into the lobby of the inn, in a sassy manner, “Where did these rogues come from! They’re freeloading off our food and drinks here! Wait until I tell the official, let him see what the county’s students are like!”