Chapter 35.2

"Oh my goodness..." Fang shi was stunned by the pile of gifts. "How were you given so many good things? Is this a return gift? Is that recipe really worth this much?"

Song Dingxiang thought to herself how these things were just the tip of the iceberg, that recipe could probably accumulate enough silver to fill several chests. These items were just scraps, but even though they were scraps, they were things that ordinary people like them rarely saw.

Li Shi's eyes widened in disbelief as she surveyed the items laid out before her. She stole a glance at Song Xingyi, whose expression mirrored her own astonishment. Their gazes then flickered towards Song Dingxiang, their benefactor in this unexpected bounty.

Last time, the things Song Dingxiang brought back were very small valuable, so she decided to distribute them, planning to leave the rest for Song Dingxiang. But now, with so many things, she didn't dare to actually start dividing them.

Song Dingxiang smiled and said, "I'm only sixteen this year, turning seventeen after the New Year. I've never seen these things before, so Grandma and Grandpa should decide."

"This..." Li shi hesitated.

These were all earned by Song Dingxiang. It wasn't just one or two small rings or inexpensive hairpins, to divide as they pleased. These were all real silver, better quality than what they used themselves.

Fang shi touched the soft cotton cloth, originally wanting to say something, but opened and closed her mouth without speaking. She just kept her head down, not sure what to think.

Li shi was silent for a moment and said, "Dingxiang, technically, these things are all yours. Now that you're married, these things belong to the Zhou family..."

Song Dingxiang interrupted, "So what? If it weren't for Grandma and Grandpa, my parents, and my uncle and aunt helping me, how could I have earned these things?"

She glanced around at the expressions of the people present and suddenly understood something.

After all, this was ancient times, and if it was known that the bride's dowry items were taken by her natal family, it would be frowned upon. The reason why Li shi distributed the previous items was because Song Dingxiang had used a lot of household items to research recipes and the gifts she received in return were shared by Li shi.

But now, with so many items, and Song Dingxiang had even given the ginseng to Song Lishi and Song Xingyi, it wouldn't be appropriate for them to touch the belongings of a married daughter or granddaughter.

Understanding this, she smiled and said, "How about this, this set of ink and fans will be left for the youngest uncle. He can give it to someone or use it himself, it's a token of goodwill. Grandma, you can keep the silver ingots for me, and if I need them urgently in the future, I can ask you for them. The velvet flowers can be distributed by Grandma, I won't interfere. I think I'll give my mother three of the silver hairpins and my aunt three as well. The jade-inlaid hairpins and handkerchiefs will be kept for future gifts. As for the rouge and face powder... I don't need them."

Fang shi and Zhang shi also said, "We are all from humble families, we have no use for these things, and we're not sure who we would even show them to."

Song Dingxiang continued, "Let's keep them for gift-giving purposes, without opening them. As for these six pieces of fabric, I’ll keep three for myself, so my mother can make nice clothes and dresses for me and my sister-in-law. The remaining three pieces can be kept by Grandma, I think the moon-white one would make a nice long coat for the youngest uncle."

Li shi hesitated, feeling a bit guilty for taking a few pieces of fabric, "But, these are all yours after all..."

Fang shi also added, "Indeed, you earned these, if it were just a few rings or hairpins, it would be fine, but with so many..."

Song Dingxiang said, "What can I do? I have nowhere to put it either. How about those silver ingots? Can Mother help me store them?"

Fang shi hurriedly waved her hand, saying, "I can't take them, where would I put so many? No, no, no, let your grandmother handle it. I like silver, but only the silver I earn with my own hands. Suddenly giving me so much silver to keep, I might not be able to sleep at night."

Zhang shi also said, "Exactly, I don't want those silver hairpins, they are too precious."

Song Dingxiang said, "Does this mean Aunt won't help me in the future, or won't let Sister-in-law help me embroider purses and make clothes for me? I can't stitch well myself... If you don't take them, I really won't dare to ask you for help in the future."

Zhang shi quickly responded, "How can I not help? Won't I get a share if they are sold for money? Oh, this..."

Song Dingxiang smiled and said, "Aunt, it's already the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, and both sisters-in-law have been busy at home for so long. Are you really not preparing anything for them?"

Her words brought excitement to Zhao Di and Jin Qiao'er, but as daughters-in-law, they didn't dare to say anything, even if they were envious.

Fang shi also said, "Just take them if you want, Sister-in-law. This time it's not my generosity, it's your niece's. It's her stuff, so I won't say anything."

She then handed a hairpin directly to Qiao'er, saying, "This is from your sister, hold onto it. Help your sister with her work in the future."

Qiao'er held the silver hairpin, even her breathing became heavy. It was solid and had a weight to it, worth at least two taels of silver. With the cost of labor, this hairpin could sell for two taels at least.

This was two taels of silver, and she didn't have any jewelry worth two taels of silver in her possession.

Seeing this, Zhang shi accepted the hairpin but immediately gave it to her daughter-in-law and her daughter, Song Sijin, without keeping anything for herself.

After Song Dingxiang finished giving gifts, Song Xingyi coughed and said, "Although our family has split up, we still eat and live together on a daily basis. Looking at everyone, I see that even though our family has split up, we are still very happy. You two brothers support each other and even provide financial support for your youngest brother to study every month. I am very pleased as an elder. Our son is good, our daughters-in-law are good, and our grandchildren are good. But the best is Dingxiang. I feel sorry for arranging her marriage back then..."

"Grandpa, that's all in the past, why do you still bring it up?"

Song Dingxiang couldn't help but smile and said, "I feel that a family should be happy and harmonious, even though I am married now, I don't have a mother-in-law's house to rely on. With my husband unable to come back often, I can only depend on my natal family. If it weren't for the indulgence of my grandparents and my parents, I wouldn't have been able to think of so many things, let alone exchange them for silver. I think, even if I had a mother-in-law's house, she might not be as indulgent to me. So, when I have good things, how can I not feel sorry for my grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts?"

As a married woman, her natal family had treated her very well, even pampering her like a treasure. Would other natal families treat their married daughters this way?

They might not have any freedom.

She was grateful that she could still be a part of the Song family, acting like a little girl every day, getting pampered.

After listening to Song Dingxiang's words, Song Xingyi's eyes were teary. He fiddled with his tobacco pipe for a moment and said, "Ah, I'll go smoke a cigarette outside, you guys keep talking."

Without looking back, he left the room.

Li shi smiled and said, "Your grandfather is happy inside, especially when you think of your little uncle like that, he is even happier. They say harmony is the key to success, I think our family has good Feng Shui, so everything goes well. I have a few reminders though..."

She said, looking at her daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law, "After all, we are just a common farmer's family. Even if we live slightly better than some other families, we are still just a common farmer's family. Keep the gold and silver to yourselves, don't flaunt it outside and attract jealousy. Especially for Zhao Di, Liu'er, Jin'er and Qiao'er... you know the situation at home, we always prepare New Year's gifts without fail. Don't give gifts and then have people talk about it, it's not worth it."

The girls nodded in agreement, even if they were allowed to wear gold and silver outside, they wouldn't dare, as they feared envy. They might not be afraid of people stealing from them, but they were afraid of others coveting their possessions.

Once they become the target of envy, trouble would follow.

"Wang's family made a big show of sending gifts to our family, and people will ask questions. Didn't our family recently get new cotton cloth? Each of you younger ones will get a new dress made from it. As for these embroidered flowers, each of you can pick two you like for the festival. Remember, these good things were exchanged by Dingxiang. Whether she stays here or moves out when her husband comes back, she is still your dear sister, understand?"

"Grandma, we understand." The three granddaughters-in-law nodded quickly in response.

Li shi then looked at Song Zijin and said, "All these things were earned by your sister herself, don't be envious. It's time for you to look after yourself now. It's the same old rule in our family, your parents will give a sum of money, I will contribute some, and your uncle's family will contribute some, and that will be your dowry. Whatever they are willing to give you is yours, but if they don't give, you must not ask for it."

"Grandma, am I that kind of person?" Song Zijin kept pestering Li shi as she snuggled into her arms, "I would never do such a thing, and besides, I will also help Second Sister more. Second Sister said she'd pay me for my work!"

"And those silver ingots, don't covet them either. Although they are stored with me, they belong to your Second Sister herself. In the future, whether she uses them to buy land or a shop, it's her decision. Don't come to me for them, I don't have any."

Li shi said in a calm voice, "It's said that not to fear being in need, but to fear inequality in distribution. Don't covet other people's silver, it will ruin the harmony in our family."

——— Author's Note: Zhou Yinuo: Am I the male lead who people talk about? Although I appeared early on, it seems that I'm not involved in the story now??

Song Dingxiang: If you dare to die, then I dare to remarry!

Zhou Yinuo: No, no, I don't dare to die, I don't dare to die.