RWNEFE -Chapter 170 Adopting Liu Bochang’s Daughter as a Goddaughter

“Oh my heavens! Are they dreaming? Have they gone completely mad from being busy all day?”

Liang Kuan went to Liu Bochang’s house and explained the situation. After a brief discussion with the family, he waited at the house.

That master was a “killing star”—he feared failing the task and losing his head!

Liu Bochang hurried to the back of the house to explain the godparent adoption to his daughter, analyzing the pros and cons.

“Being adopted as a goddaughter is better than marriage. A bad marriage can turn into enmity. Besides, in any official household, there would surely be multiple wives and concubines. We are merchants—if she married into such a family, she’d suffer. If it weren’t for the chaos outside now, I’d rather raise you myself than hastily arrange your entire future.”

Liu Baodai thought of the handsome young man who had saved her on the street that day, and her gaze darkened.

“Father, that Master Lan is barely of age. Why would he want to adopt your daughter as a goddaughter instead of as a younger sister?”

Liu Bochang couldn’t figure it out either. If Master Lan liked his daughter, he wouldn’t need to say a word—countless people would have already arranged it for him.

Could Master Lan have some unknown quirk?

“I’ll ask Liang Kuan again.”

Soon, Liu Bochang returned.

“Liang Kuan said there are female guards in the army—far prettier than my daughter!”

Liu Baodai: “……”

“Maybe he just wants to be on good terms with me, so that in the future it’ll be easier to coordinate supplies.” After all, adopting his daughter as a goddaughter made Liu Bochang an equal to Master Lan. During the formal ceremony, they would address each other as peers.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Liu Bochang’s mind.

“I understand now—if he adopted her as a younger sister, he’d be one generation lower. Master Lan surely doesn’t want to lose face in terms of seniority!” The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.

“Daughter, look! Liang Kuan is still in the main hall waiting for a reply.” Liu Bochang glanced at his daughter, who looked downcast.

She must have truly felt for that Shen Yuanjing.

“Liang Kuan has already helped connect our family. From what Shen Yuanjing said, he wants to achieve merit and glory first, not talk about marriage now!”

Liu Baodai’s eyes swept past, noticing the short white hairs that had sprouted at her father’s temples in just a few months.

Suppressing the excitement she felt on the street that day, she buried the memory deep in her heart.

“Father, I’m willing to accept the godparent adoption. Not only that, we should make it grand, so all of Suiyuan Prefecture knows!” She thought of her father’s brothers’ households—daring them to cause trouble now!

Liu Bochang beamed: “Good! I’ll go reply to Master Liang immediately!”

Two days later, a grand adoption ceremony was held at the Liu residence.

Shen Lanxi sat in the main seat, calmly observing the young lady of about her age kneeling before her, respectfully offering tea.

“Godfather, please have some tea!”

Shen Lanxi took a sip, then accepted the gift from Cheng Zheng’s hands: an abacus framed in gold, with beads of jade, about a foot long.

Liu Bochang glanced at it, mentally calculating its value. In a normal world, this abacus alone could equal the value of 500 sacks of grain—and then some!

“May my child live in peace and joy, and enjoy endless wealth and honor!”

Those who heard this felt as if struck by lightning.

Luckily, everyone was tactful, and they immediately began congratulating the two.

“Congratulations to Master for gaining such a fine young lady!”

“Congratulations to Master Liu for adding another cherished daughter!”

Aside from Liu Bochang’s initial shock, everything went smoothly.

The Liu residence held a grand banquet. Anyone who passed by and offered congratulations received one or two coins to share the good fortune.

Shen Lanxi and her entourage ate, drank, and then took the 500 sacks of grain back to the garrison.

On the way, Xiao Fang kept joking with Cheng Zheng: “With a goddaughter like this, we could adopt even more!”

Cheng Zheng quickly wrote: “The more, the better!”

The two exchanged glances and laughed heartily.

The Shen family only learned afterward that Shen Lanxi had adopted a goddaughter. Some were furious, some scowled, and most had strange expressions.

Shen Conglian ignored their reactions, speaking eloquently in praise: “Do you realize how long 500 sacks of grain will feed the soldiers at the garrison? I was worried that if we ate it all, by the time the new harvest came, we’d be broke. But Lanxi is resourceful—she adopted a wealthy merchant’s goddaughter. From now on, neither silver nor grain will be lacking!”

Shen Congwen cursed loudly: “Does she have any sense of propriety at all? Nonsense! I’m going to find her and ask what she’s trying to do!” He stormed out in anger.

The Shen family initially didn’t take it seriously, but seeing him actually leave the gate, they hurried to follow.

“Brother, if you want to kill us, fine. But think of Father and Mother—they just enjoyed two days of comfort!”

Though not as grand as the capital, the Shen household still had five or six maids, three or more cooks, and several young servants tending the courtyard.

Not to mention silk and satin clothing, gold, silver, jade, and meals of chicken, duck, and fish laid out on the table.

In all of Baihe County, few could match them!

If Shen Congwen dared ruin these rare good days, they’d bury him alive!

“Let go of me! Let go!” Shen Congwen was forcibly brought back inside by family members holding his arms.

Old Madam Shen couldn’t understand it. Her other three sons were competent, able to take positions in the garrison, so why was only the eldest so stubborn, incapable of thinking flexibly?

“Congwen, do you want the whole family to be buried with you?” Old Madam Shen slammed the table several times.

Old Master Shen shifted comfortably in his seat, letting a maid reposition the tea set.

A nearby housekeeper quickly poured Old Madam Shen a cup of ginseng tea.

“Madam, anger hurts the body. Drink some ginseng tea to calm down. With this whole family, we still need you to manage things.”

Old Madam Shen took a few sips to cool her anger.

The eldest son was dutiful, yes, but his mind didn’t turn. If he hadn’t been handsome enough to catch Zhou Xinrou’s attention, he probably wouldn’t even get a minor post.

“Brother, look at how you’ve upset Mother!” Shen Congyi scolded.

It was rare for the brothers to gather and rest—why did the eldest always spoil it?

No, they had to talk to their parents and keep a close watch on the eldest, making sure he didn’t do anything foolish to implicate them!

Shen Congwen looked at his mother’s tightly furrowed brow and his heart skipped. He quickly said: “Mother, you must take care of your health!”

“I’m furious! Lanxi’s actions are driving the Shen family to ruin! I can’t watch her recklessly! If the court knew she concealed her identity to join the army and commanded so many soldiers at the garrison, our family would be annihilated!”

Shen Conglian frowned in disapproval: “Brother, if you don’t know, don’t talk nonsense!”

“Idle hands should watch the concubines in your quarters. Don’t parade around the door with your big belly. This is our family home. If she trips at the gate, she could collide with our soldiers.”

Old Madam Shen recalled her grandson risking his life at Xiyue for military merit, and her face darkened.