Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Chapter 346 Asking for a Date

Old Madam Xia's hair was combed sleek and shiny today, and she had even carefully powdered it this morning. She looked much younger than usual, and she was in such a good mood that she joked with her, "Even if you don't want to drink this tea, I'll have someone force it down your throat!"

The official media laughed so hard while holding the teacup: "How dare I trouble you, old lady, to do it yourself? I just think your tea is not enough. I can never get enough."

As she spoke, she drank the tea in one gulp and placed it on the table. She flicked her bright red handkerchief and pulled out a scarlet invitation. She flipped it open and examined it carefully to make sure she had it right. Then, smiling, she handed it to Old Madam Xia and said, "Look, Old Madam, the Cui family has chosen three dates: February 8th, March 26th, and April 16th. They've been looking for someone to look at them over and over again. There's no better date than this."

Mrs. Xia, who seemed to be reading the post very seriously, was actually listening to her with her ears perked up. This is the bad thing about being illiterate, you have to pretend even though you don't understand!

But we can't just listen to what the official media says. Her family should at least check the almanac: "Suniang, go back and show it to Nian Nu. She seems to like this day."

"Hey!"

Jiang's mother, who had been unable to contain herself any longer, took the post and touched it again and again, unable to hide the smile in her eyes: "Yingzi, come on, bring us some of the fruits we made this morning!"

As the only maid in the Jiang family, Yingzi usually only needs to accompany Jiang Shangxian to study. However, when there are rare serious things to do, she still has to come out to make things more presentable.

Every time Jiang Shangxian went to Cui's house for classes, Yingzi was dragged down by several people to attend small lessons. Now the rules have become quite clear: "Yes!"

Jiang Shangxian took her younger brother and sister to her room to carefully draw patterns. She planned to make bat patterns around the edges and embroider the word "peace" in the middle of both sides, using rice-sized pearls and coral beads to nail them out. This was the simplest way for her.

"Quick, quick, where is our almanac? Take it out!" Jiang's mother lifted her skirt and stepped over the threshold with her legs. Although she lowered her voice, the excitement in her tone could not be suppressed.

Jiang Wangri, who was helping Jiang Shangxian pick out beads, felt as if he had been pardoned when he heard this. He quickly put down the things in his hands and said, "I'll go, I'll go!"

Xia Zhenying frantically tried to catch the pearl box that he had nearly knocked over, and said unhappily, "Why are you leaving? It's right here on the table."

"Mother, let me see the invitation." Jiang Shangxian carefully packed up his things and then reached out to ask his mother for the invitation.

Jiang's mother came over to sit next to her, almost bumping her big butt against Jiang's. "Just now, the official media said we'll pick one of these three dates: February 8th, March 26th, or April 16th. See if she's right."

She kept repeating these three days in her mind until she wrote them down.

The invitation was covered in vermilion and gold, with beige bamboo paper inside. The calligraphy was elegant yet free-spirited, and it was immediately clear that it was Cui Shuhua's handwriting. Because it wasn't a formal wedding invitation, the words felt even more intimate. Jiang Shangxian read it carefully before nodding, "What the official media said is correct. It is indeed these three dates."

It was exactly the same as Cui Shuhua guessed. It seemed that my aunt was really good at these supernatural things.

"Then check the almanac to see which day is best." Mother Jiang looked eagerly at her son and niece who were flipping through the almanac. "Look carefully, this is your sister's serious business!"

Jiang Shangxian looked at the three dates and said directly, "Don't look at the eighth day of the second month, just look at the last two."

Even if they set off immediately after the Chinese New Year, it would be freezing cold, not to mention whether they would be in time. The road would definitely be difficult to walk on, and it would be too cold. She didn't want to take off her clothes as soon as she entered the bridal chamber, and then they would be naked facing each other and get goose bumps.

"These two dates are almost the same, mother, which one do you choose?" It was a matter of choosing one of the two. The two dates were only twenty days apart, so there was nothing to worry about. Jiang Shangxian directly gave the decision to his mother.

Jiang's mother was extremely troubled. After the Lunar New Year, Jiang Shangxian would be sixteen, the right age for marriage. "Why not wait until March twenty-sixth? We can go early and come back early, so we don't have to get stuck in the carriage in the heat on the way."

The round trip might take two or three months. The later they go, the hotter the weather will be when they come back. All three of their children have to go. Jiang's mother loves her children so much that she set the date on March 26th.

The official media received the confirmation and the red envelope, and they couldn't hide their big teeth. Before leaving, they affectionately supported Old Lady Xia and complimented her, "Old Lady, just wait and enjoy your life. Mr. Cui really loves your wife. Look, they are just waiting for me to go back and give them the confirmation. They will take this date to Chaoyuan Temple in a few days to calculate the time. They said they must choose an auspicious time..."

There is a small alley behind the God of Wealth Casino. On the other side of the alley are small houses, most of which are rented out to foreign merchants or scholars who come to Chang'an. Cui Bianxu and Wang Mingqian are on the roof of a house diagonally opposite the back door of the God of Wealth Casino.

"He's been in there for almost a day, why hasn't he come out yet?" Jian Ming was lying on the crack of the gate, staring outside and muttering to himself.

They arrived here in no time. Jianming had come here in advance to rent a house. Now that the New Year was approaching, there were many houses available, so he rented one easily.

"Has Doctor Ning gone to Chang'an County?" Wang Mingqian moved his body with a tense face. He had been sitting for too long and the tiles on the roof were rubbing against his buttocks.

"Yes, Ding Yuan went with them." Ding Yuan was very active whenever there was a corpse.

Cui Bianxu leaned back and twisted his neck, but his eyes stared over the wall into the God of Wealth Casino.

This gambling house is indeed a good place. Even the trees inside are extremely dense. Even though it is cold today, there are still leaves hanging on them. After watching for almost a day, apart from the people delivering vegetables, fruits, fish, meat and wine, I didn't see a single suspicious person.

After a day of no gain, their only hope now lay with Wang Leisheng inside and Ning Yuye from Chang'an County. Wang Mingqian slowly turned his wrist, gently moving his body to prevent the numbness. "There must be something wrong with this gambling house. Even if a normal gambling house hired thugs, they wouldn't need so many."

"If we don't know who's behind this, it would be useless to act rashly." Cui Bianxu spoke in a calm tone, neither slow nor hurried, as if sitting here all day hadn't made him irritable.

"You are quite calm today." Wang Mingqian turned to look at him. Most of the time, Cui Yi looked calm on the surface, but was actually very irritable in his heart. But today he felt that this guy seemed really different.