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After Yun Shi finished asking, Wei Ruo remained silent, so Wei Qingwan took the initiative to answer first.
Wei Qingwan responded very earnestly and said quite a lot. Based on her understanding of the old master and madam of Bo Zhongyi's Mansion, she offered many suggestions.
“For the tea, we can increase the quantity a bit. Grandfather enjoys drinking tea, and the price of tea is cheaper than previous years this year. Also, should we consider including a set of Yixing clay teaware that Grandfather likes?”
The reason Wei Qingwan suggested this was because the family's situation was indeed different this year. Her father had been promoted to a proper sixth-rank official, so if the gifts were still as unimpressive as in previous years, it wouldn’t be very appropriate.
Wei Qingwan knew the household wasn’t particularly wealthy at the moment, but she also understood Yun Shi’s intentions—at a time like this, as a daughter-in-law, one certainly couldn’t be stingy.
Yun Shi nodded. “That is indeed what I had in mind.”
Wei Qingwan then added, “But I also know that the harvest from the estate wasn’t good this year and there are some financial issues in the household. I’m willing to contribute my own money to help prepare the New Year’s gifts for Grandfather and Grandmother.”
Yun Shi was both surprised and touched when she heard this. “Wanwan, that’s your private money.”
Wei Qingwan firmly responded, “As a granddaughter, it is my duty to prepare some New Year gifts for my grandparents as an act of filial piety. Besides, without the Duke of Bo Zhongyi, without Grandfather and Father, there would be no me today. Everything I have belongs to the Wei family.”
“Wanwan, you’re so thoughtful,” Yun Shi said with a face full of comfort and pride.
“Mother, you flatter me. This is only what I should do,” Wei Qingwan replied, her eyes bright, voice soft, and tone sincere.
Yun Shi was very satisfied with Wei Qingwan’s response and then turned to ask Wei Ruo, “Ruo’er, do you have any thoughts on the gift list for the New Year?”
Wei Ruo, trying to avoid extra effort, gave the list a quick glance and said casually, “Mother can decide. You definitely have more experience in this than we do.”
Wei Ruo wasn’t wrong, but her attitude seemed a bit perfunctory.
So Yun Shi added, “Ruo’er, your grandparents are still very fond of you. Since we still won’t be able to return to the capital for the New Year this year, these gifts represent our sincerity. Give it a little more thought and help with some ideas.”
Yun Shi didn’t expect her eldest daughter to be like Wanwan and contribute her private savings, but she did hope Ruo’er would put some thought into the matter.
After all, once she was married, she would be in charge of managing the household, and during holidays and family events, it would be up to her as the lady of the house to handle gifts and etiquette. These were things she needed to start getting familiar with.
Wei Ruo, however, had already prepared in advance: “Mother, when the noble consort rewarded me with gifts earlier, I had already set aside some items to be given to Grandfather and Grandmother. But since those items are fragile and not easy to transport, I thought I’d wait until the household sends things to the capital again, and have them delivered via the water route.”
As she spoke, she took out a list from her sleeve and handed it to Yun Shi.
Wei Qingwan looked at the list Wei Ruo handed over in surprise—she had already prepared something?
Wei Ruo noticed Wei Qingwan’s reaction and saw the astonishment and frustration on her face.
But this wasn’t her trying to compete with Wei Qingwan.
She had prepared the gifts for the old Duke and Duchess when she received the reward from Chu Lan. At that time, she had already planned to send them along the next time the Colonel’s Mansion delivered gifts to the capital.
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