After the meal, Madam Huang and Madam Zhao retreated to a room to discuss the matter of the hongbao (red envelopes). Even from the courtyard, their voices were audible, and Yunqi Niang could still hear their chatter. Madam Huang and Madam Zhao exchanged a look, shaking their heads with a smile. Madam Zhao broke the silence, "Second wife, have you finished discussing? How are you planning to prepare the hongbao?"

"We haven't had a moment to think about that yet," Madam Huang replied, turning back towards the house. "I'll go call Er Niu and Da Bao over to discuss how we should handle this."

When Er Niu and Da Bao arrived, Hongyun and Hongxia also came, so the whole family was gathered. Madam Huang started the conversation, "I called you all here to discuss how to prepare the hongbao for the matchmakers’ visit. I initially thought only Yunqi's immediate family would be here, planning to give Yunqi one liang of silver, and the rest of the party five hundred daqian each. But now that so many people have come, how should we plan the giving?"

Er Niu looked at Da Bao and asked, "Da Bao, what do you think?"

Da Bao said with some impatience, "In my opinion, none of these people should receive anything. I don't even know who these people are. Has Yunqi's family lost their minds, bringing so many people? Are they here to shake us down? Any money we give will just be thrown away. No matter how much money our family has, we shouldn't make such a fuss over this. I truly didn't know Yunqi's family was like this; if I had known, I would have..."

"Son, why are you saying such things? So many people came, weren't they trying to bring glory to Yunqi? Besides, your family isn't short of money. You're willing to spend on other things, but you're reluctant for this? This is a major occasion," Madam Zhao chided Da Bao.

Er Niu pondered for a moment and then said, "What both Da Bao and Mother said has merit. How about this: since we will have to give a formal betrothal gift when Yunqi's family comes to propose, let's not give too much for this visit. We'll give fifty daqian to each of the guests, two hundred daqian each to Yunqi's parents, and one hundred each to her siblings. We can give Yunqi a more generous amount—one liang of silver. What do you all think?"

"That could work. Although it's not a huge sum, it’s certainly not small either, considering how many people there are to give to," Madam Huang murmured after careful thought.

Madam Zhao felt it was a bit meager considering the family's wealth, but she conceded that Er Niu and the others were right; they would still need to prepare the full betrothal gifts later. A smaller amount now would suffice.

With the matter settled, Er Niu, Da Bao, and Madam Zhao left. Madam Huang retrieved some silk pouches from her room and sat down with Hongyun and Hongxia to start filling them with money. While working, Madam Huang asked, "What do you two aunts think of Yunqi?"

Hongxia, being straightforward, immediately replied, "I find Yunqi presentable enough on the surface. She's quiet and reserved, likely not overly assertive. However, her mother strikes me as a very astute woman."

Madam Huang smiled at Hongxia’s comment. "As long as you think Yunqi is good, that’s what matters. After all, we are marrying Yunqi, not her mother. I also find the girl quite agreeable; I’m quite satisfied."

Hongxia and Hongyun added a few remarks, and once the pouches were prepared, they left with Madam Huang. When they reached the courtyard, Yunqi’s relatives were already preparing to depart. Madam Huang, accompanied by Hongyun and Hongxia, distributed the hongbao. Several people immediately opened them in the courtyard to check the contents, but no one voiced any complaint. With that, the match-making visit concluded.

Subsequently, Yunqi's parents and Er Niu and Madam Huang discussed the date for the formal proposal. They only agreed to find an auspicious day soon, emphasizing the urgency since both children were of marriageable age and needed to be settled before the New Year, with the wedding itself aimed for by the year's end. Er Niu and Madam Huang agreed to this timeline, and thus, Da Bao’s betrothal was essentially finalized.

After the visit, Er Niu and Madam Huang were certainly delighted that Da Bao's marriage was settled. However, just as Lin He had predicted, they were overwhelmed. Every day was consumed by the endless details of Da Bao’s impending wedding, and the New Year was fast approaching. In past years, Lin He had managed most of the household affairs, but now, they had to handle everything themselves, feeling utterly lost as to where to even begin.

One day, the two of them were discussing in the courtyard the necessary purchases for the proposal and the wedding. Er Niu was completely clueless about what was needed; their family had never managed such an affair before. When he got married, he had virtually nothing, and the few simple items purchased were handled by his own parents. He genuinely had no idea. Madam Huang, on the other hand, was constantly fretting, remembering one item only to forget another. Since neither of them was very literate or capable of writing lists, they were nearly driven mad by the trivial details.

Madam Huang sighed, "Why are there so many things involved in just getting married? If He'er were home, she would arrange everything. We wouldn't have to bother with any of it."

"Wife, you'll have to manage these things yourself from now on. He'er will be fourteen after the New Year and won't be staying home much longer. Once she marries out, there will be no one to lend you a hand with household matters; you’ll have to manage everything. The household is not what it used to be; with more people, there are more affairs to attend to," Er Niu said, looking at Madam Huang’s distressed expression with a faint smile.

"That’s true. The children are growing up. Da Bao is marrying, and soon it will be He'er's turn. I truly wish my He'er didn't have to marry off so soon. I’d love to keep her home for a couple more years; she could help me manage the house and look after her younger siblings, making things much easier for me. But Ning Xuan’s family likely won’t let her stay long; at best, they’ll let her remain until she comes of age [Jiqi]," Madam Huang also sighed.

"Indeed. Time flies; the children are all starting their own families. Our He'er is a rare and wonderful daughter. The family has owed so much to her over the years. However, once Da Bao’s wife enters the household, there will be so much business that even if He'er stays, she won't be managing everything single-handedly anymore," Er Niu remarked, hinting at something significant in his words.

Er Niu’s comment made Madam Huang instantly happy. She said, "That’s good too. Having a daughter-in-law come home means she can help me manage the household. I think Da Bao’s wife, Yunqi, is a capable girl. When He'er is no longer here, these matters can fall to her."

Madam Huang was someone who disliked worrying. She wished all household matters would simply cease to bother her. If she could hand over responsibility, she certainly wouldn't cling to it. Hearing Er Niu speak of Da Bao’s wife brought her immediate relief. She envisioned a daughter-in-law taking over, meaning that even after He'er left, there would finally be someone competent to take on the long-term management.

In her delight, Madam Huang completely forgot the discussions she had with Lin He and temporarily pushed aside thoughts of her other children, even paying less attention to Da Xiong and Xiao Xiong lately. She was simply overjoyed at the prospect of having a daughter-in-law managing things soon; other concerns were momentarily out of sight.