Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 174 - 10: Festival Gifts (First Update) (Part 3)

Susu heard Feng Dai jokingly refer to Hong Sheng as "son-in-law," and her face rarely showed a hint of shyness, "You little rascal, what are you talking about?" Feng Dai and the other three maids winked at each other and said, "I misspoke, I mean the future son-in-law."

Susu didn’t bother with Feng Dai’s teasing and rummaged through boxes to take out the four outfits she made for Hong Sheng, a lined robe, a set of cotton clothes and pants, and two sets of undergarments cut from the Songjiang Three-Shuttle Cloth rewarded by Old Madam. This Songjiang cotton cloth is famous throughout history, and the Three-Shuttle Cloth in Great Chu is even a top tributed item, priceless on the market, where a bolt of Three-Shuttle Cloth can fetch dozens of taels of silver.

While at the Bo Mansion, Susu, because of Old Madam’s affection, only received a share of two bolts a year. This time, upon leaving the mansion, her dowry list included eight bolts of high-quality Songjiang cotton cloth, which Old Madam had secretly added. Susu used one bolt to make two sets of undergarments for Hong Sheng.

Susu knew that any relationship needs maintenance, and although she did not have feelings of admiration for Hong Sheng now, and perhaps he didn’t have what could be called love for her, since he dared to risk offending the powerful to save her from peril, she would also conscientiously maintain their relationship. Susu didn’t expect a "one life, one couple" romantic tale, but at least a harmonious marriage.

These two sets of undergarments were something Susu pondered over for a long time before deciding to make. Undergarments are not innerwear, so they wouldn’t seem immodest. But undergarments are considered inner clothes, and even in wealthy families, such close-fitting garments are sewn by the wife or a close maid, placing Susu in the position of Hong Sheng’s fiancée, appearing quite intimate.

Before the formal engagement, Susu perhaps regarded Hong Sheng only as a lifesaving benefactor, but now, Susu would speculate about Hong Sheng’s character and preferences, paying attention to small details, just as besides the clothes, there are several intricately embroidered belts and pockets that demonstrate Susu’s skills.

Besides, there were quite a few food items as well, all small and space-efficient, yet able to be stored for a long time, like pickled vegetables and dried meat. There were also men’s skin balms made by Susu for wind and dryness protection, and skincare products mentioned by Hong Sheng in a letter once used by the palace concubines.

There were quite a few medicinal herbs, even two jars of medicinal wine, which Susu gradually acquired after the formal engagement.

Susu also didn’t want to trouble people, so she carefully planned everything, trying to fit it all into a not too large box. This box had been made by the grandfather of Qi Qiao long ago, divided into compartments to make the most use of every inch of space.

In the outer courtyard, the people from Yangwei Escort Agency were full from the meal, and although they didn’t meet the hosts, they understood, after all, they heard that Hong Sheng, like his fiancée, had both lost their parents.

Having left the Shun’an Earl Mansion, and now alone in this rural village, a delicate young lady naturally wouldn’t meet them, which is appropriate conduct. Especially since they hadn’t been seated long before, Susu had a table full of fish and meat dishes prepared, and also readied dry rations and food.

Seeing the iced sour plum soup and watermelon juice, stored in exquisite pouches, though the three escorts thought internally, "Women’s things," they didn’t pack them away any slower, and upon noticing the box prepared by Susu for Hong Sheng, although not very large, they could tell just from its craftsmanship that it was a precious item.

The three escorts were all locals from Yangzhou, and naturally knew that the maid by Old Madam Song’s side was in high demand, not to mention beautiful, also literate, and had sparked a trend in Yangzhou of "marrying a family’s maid rather than a girl from a small household."

They also heard that Hong Sheng’s future wife was Old Madam Song’s most trusted, and because of her rare beauty and character, she was raised like a daughter by Old Madam.

But a maid is still a maid; previously, they whispered to each other that with Hong Sheng’s potentially bright future, marrying someone of maid origin seemed somewhat degrading for him, and they couldn’t understand why a girl would make Hong Sheng so "blinded by beauty."

Seeing Susu handling everything so thoroughly now, not to mention the poised demeanor of her attendants and their uncommon attire, their perception greatly changed.

Moreover, it wasn’t hard to notice from some details that Hong Sheng’s future wife was also somewhat of value. Seeing the things Susu had prepared for Hong Sheng, they began to feel envious of Hong Sheng.

Those with wives thought about quickly returning home to their warm family; those without thought of hurrying back to find someone.

The people from the Yangwei Escort Agency didn’t stay long; after the meal, receiving the items Susu prepared for Hong Sheng, they left swiftly. Their time was limited, and they had to make another trip between the Capital and the Northwest before the new year.