Chapter 2 — Where Spring Returns

Three days later, everything was finally over. One month later, the Than Vuong Palace and the Qin Palace took turns bringing gifts to Khuong Palace. Three months later, the big wedding day arrived. My eldest sister and I took turns saying goodbye to our father and mother, each of us got on a palanquin, and then in the middle of Truong An street we split into two directions. The sound of trumpets and drums was bustling along the way, and the palanquin finally stopped in front of Qin Palace. Unlike her previous life, where she had to enter the Than Vuong Palace through the side door with the status of concubine, in this life, she married a new graduate, Poinsettia. The floral palanquin was carried in through the main door, the red sky stretched out, ceremonial music echoed everywhere, and before our eyes was a scene filled with joy. After completing the worship, we were taken to a thoughtful new room. When the wedding veil was lifted, as soon as I raised my eyes, I saw Tan Nghien Tu with a dignified face and handsome eyes. In my previous life, he and I only met a couple of times, we don't even remember our appearance clearly. Now that I look closely, I can see that his demeanor is indeed like a jade orchid, his temperament is like a bright moon and a clear breeze. After drinking the wine, he said seriously:
"The Qin family has just arrived in the capital, and their base is still shallow. If you marry me, you will indeed suffer a loss."
At that moment, my stomach growled at the wrong time. I pursed my lips and shyly replied:
“Just need to be well fed.”
Tan Nghien Tu laughed, it was a smile of relief as if a burden had just been relieved.
“We will definitely not let you go hungry.”
… The next morning, at the tea ceremony, I met Tan Nghien Tu's parents and eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law. Before getting married, the elder sister told me very carefully about the Tan family.
"His father is a talented scholar, likes to recite poetry and write, and has a serious personality. Mother Qin is gentle but has no political opinions. She listens to her husband and son in everything. The eldest son of the Tan family is just like his mother. If he says something nice, it means he has a gentle nature, but if he says something difficult, it means he is weak. Fortunately, there is a smart and talented eldest sister-in-law in the family."
What impressed me the most was that great-in-law.
"The eldest sister-in-law comes from a family of merchants. Since childhood, she has been trained in business, so she is very good at calculating. The Qin family was able to buy a mansion in the capital thanks to the shops that she built."
As soon as I looked over, I saw my sister-in-law's eyes watching me curiously.
"I've long heard that my younger sister is as beautiful as a fairy. Now that we met, I realized that the rumor was indeed true. So beautiful that it's like a fairy stepping out of a painting."
The eldest sister-in-law took down a red wooden box from the table, inside was a golden begonia-shaped brooch carved with delicate gold thread.
"This is a gift from meeting my eldest sister-in-law to my younger sister. I hope you don't mind."
“Thank you, sister-in-law.”
I smiled sweetly at that pipe. The eldest sister immediately hugged her chest and smiled.
"Oh my, my younger sister's smile makes my heart soften. In the future, if you have any problem, just look for my sister-in-law. If my second sister dares to bully you, my sister-in-law will definitely take charge of you."
“If the eldest sister-in-law says so, today when all the elders are present, I really have a favor to ask.”
“Young sister, keep talking.”
“In my dowry there are ten stores, but I really don't know how to do business, so I want to leave them all to my eldest sister-in-law to manage.”
I looked at the old man and said:
"Of course I won't let you work hard in vain. The profits from the stores will be divided Of the three parts, the second lang and I only take one part, one part is paid into the family's public fund, the rest is considered as a reward for the eldest sister-in-law. How do you feel, Big Sister?"
The eldest sister-in-law quickly waved her hand.
"This is not appropriate. After all, it is my younger sister's dowry."
The mother-in-law also spoke up:
“If the second lang's wife is so determined, then let your eldest sister-in-law take over the management. As for profit sharing..."
She turned to look at her father-in-law. The father-in-law took a sip of tea and then slowly said:
“Our Qin family has no moral right to use our daughter-in-law's dowry to support the whole family. The profits from the stores that are yours must all belong to you.”
The boss also nodded in agreement.
“That's right, just listen to your parents. Although the Tan family is not a wealthy family, it is not enough to lack money to live. If younger sister doesn't want to manage it, just let the eldest sister manage it conveniently."
“That won't work. The store manager is very busy, only giving the eldest sister three parts of the profit, which I still think is a little."
I turned to look at Tan Nghien Tu. He was a reasonable person and immediately nodded in agreement.
“Madam, what you say is very right. Since the eldest sister-in-law has put in the effort, it is natural for her to receive remuneration. I will listen to you, ma'am."
So it was decided. That very day, I sent someone to bring all the contract documents of the stores to the eldest sister-in-law's hospital. The eldest sister looked at me, puzzled and asked:
“Why do you insist on wanting me to take three parts of the profits?”
"As a daughter, I understand that managing a whole family is not easy."
Just that one sentence made my sister-in-law take my hand.
"Outsiders all say that my younger sister only has her looks, but I see that my younger sister is intelligent and has an elegant soul."
I smiled and closed my eyes.
“The eldest sister-in-law is too complimentary. Who knows, maybe what people say is true, I really only have my appearance, and I don't know anything about anything else."
"No problem. From now on, younger sister doesn't need to do anything, just let the eldest sister take care of everything."
At home, there is an elder sister to protect her, when married, she has a loving eldest sister-in-law. On days like these, there really is nothing better. … My days in Qin Palace were extremely peaceful. Although Tan Nghien Tu rarely speaks, he is virtuous and treats me very well. What I'm most worried about is still the elder sister's side. In my previous life, my palanquin had just stopped in front of the Than Vuong Palace, the wedding veil on my head had not yet been lifted, I was punished by standing in the sun for an hour just because I stepped off the palanquin first with my right foot. I told the story to the elder sister and told her to step down with her left foot first when getting off the palanquin. The elder sister laughed again, calling me stupid.