Chapter 7, The Wonderful Uses of the Hundred Butterfly Garment

Cen Sanniang, like the young ladies of the third room, receives three sets of clothing each season throughout the year from the public fund

The orphan who has lost all her family assets resides in the third house, and in the future, she will have to rely on the third house to find a marriage match and obtain a dowry. Although the elderly matriarch keeps her in check, the household servants have developed a certain degree of disdain. Each season, she receives three sets of clothing; the fabric, style, and stitching are not particularly refined, and the garments sent to her often do not fit properly

Cen Sanniang felt touched in her heart, yet couldn't help but chuckle. She lifted her foot and walked towards the house, saying with irritation: "What a big deal is this, that it warrants tears? Just look at how your Sanniang handles things without shedding blood..."

In terms of stature, Cen Sanniang is not as tall as Xu Shi, and in terms of agility, she is not as nimble as Baicao. Seeing these two as if they were invigorated by a shot of adrenaline, she had no choice but to move a round stool and sit at the entrance of the courtyard, blocking their way and forbidding them to leave

Even though Xu and Baicao were agitated, they did not dare to pull Cen Sanniang away, and could only wipe their tears in grievance

The mother in the weaving room is eloquent: "Miss Tang has come to the residence, her health has improved well. After not seeing her for two months, she can suddenly leap up with vigor..."

The young ladies of the Cen family's third branch were first filled with envy, but then they recognized it as merely last year's old garment and began to mock it.

During the three-year mourning period, Cen Sanniang could not wear bright colors. In others' homes, she could not be entirely clad in white mourning attire either. Initially, she intended to decline attendance under the pretext of observing mourning, but the old lady San insisted, so she wore the butterfly robe that the old lady had gifted her when she first entered the residence.

This is the second year that Cen Sanniang has been living in the third household. At eleven years old, Cen Sanniang has grown significantly taller, and her clothes have naturally become shorter. The wet nurse found an old garment and tailored it, adding a palm-width trim of bright blue satin with a circle of rippling edges. It is intricately embroidered with clusters of white magnolias, some in bud and others in full bloom, which complement the silver butterflies on the collar, making it appear as if it were a new outfit

Cen Sanniang is not a proper young lady of the third branch. When she moved in, the entire Cen family could see it clearly; a single trunk and two bundles were all her possessions. Everything else naturally belonged to the Ninth Young Master, who was adopted into the fourth branch.

Cen Sanniang did not argue, her face flushed, she kept her head down, and her heart was filled with joy.

Xu and Bai Cao, one securing the door latch and the other rolling up their sleeves, were about to go to the weaving room to report their mother to the old lady San.

The matter is quite simple to resolve, and before long, it will be the Dragon Boat Festival family banquet

The short tunic in teal is adorned with a hundred butterflies embroidered in silver thread at the crossover collar, and a light apricot-colored belt cinches the high-waisted white silk skirt. Cen San Niang styles her hair in two small double buns, with only a few thumb-sized silver floral hairpins inserted, and wears two pearl ear studs, looking as pure as a clear sky after snow.