Chapter 406 - 400_1
Upon learning that Lord Chen had extended an invitation, Lin Yue thought it would be inappropriate to arrive too late. Thus, she postponed her shopping plans, deciding to pay a visit to Lord and Lady Chen first. However, the thought of having to give another significant gift pained her. Still, as the saying goes, "No pain, no gain." If she wanted to build a relationship with Lord Chen, she couldn’t afford to be stingy. After much deliberation, Lin Yue took out one of the two large embroidered pictures she had brought with her, the smaller one, and decided to present it as a gift.
Even though it was the smaller one, the picture still would fetch at least a thousand taels of silver on the market. It was a sizable expenditure to curry favor with Lord Chen, but having a powerful patron was critically important in those times. Ever since Ceng Lu became the Magistrate of Xin’an City, the Zhao Family had felt the pressure, and both Erhu and Lin Yue were profoundly aware of this situation. Thus, when Lord Chen extended an olive branch, they were eager to accept it.
"Wife, if you really can’t bear to part with it, we can switch it for another gift," Zhao Erhu said, seeing his little wife’s distressed expression and naturally not wanting her to suffer.
Lin Yue shook her head. "Let’s just give it. We know that Lady Chen likes my embroidery, and giving something else would seem insincere. I just feel pained that this piece of embroidery, which could sell for at least a thousand taels of silver, is being given away just like that."
Hearing Lin Yue say this, Zhao Erhu had an epiphany, realizing it wasn’t the embroidered picture she was pained about, but the silver. He had forgotten his little wife was quite fond of money; no wonder she felt so distressed after giving away so many things recently.
They packed the large embroidered picture, along with several smaller items, handmade soaps prepared earlier, and some homemade delicacies from their own production, riding in a carriage all the way to the Chen Mansion. It was only when they were about to arrive that Lin Yue remembered the customs of these elite families: visiting required a prior delivery of a visiting card. Having no such practice in the countryside had led to this oversight. But now that they were at the family’s doorstep, could they really turn back?
Lin Yue was in a quandary, and Zhao Erhu, aware of the importance these matters had to great households, wondered if they should return home first and then come back after sending the visiting card.
Lord Chen, having returned from court, saw a carriage stopped at the entrance of his mansion. After sending someone to inquire and learning that it was the Zhao couple, he invited them inside.
"Brother Zhao, Madame Zhao, please come in," Lord Chen said warmly and hospitably as he ushered them into the mansion. Then, turning to the servant beside him, he instructed, "Go and summon the lady. Tell her an old friend is visiting and ask her to come out to meet the guests."
"Lord Chen, we apologize for arriving unannounced!" Zhao Erhu said, bowing to Lord Chen. Since it was a private visit and Lord Chen was looking for closeness, there was no need for a full set of kneeling and salutations.
Lin Yue also bowed briefly to Lord Chen, "Lin Yue pays respects to Lord Chen."