Chapter 161

By March, the weather was getting warmer, and Yingxiang shed her heavy winter clothes and put on lighter and more comfortable spring clothes.

Of the four seasons, her favorites are spring and autumn, as they are neither too hot nor too cold.

Wen Shi went to the county town a couple of days ago. If things go smoothly, it will take about half a month; if things go slowly, it will take more than a month. The weather is comfortable, so Yingxiang doesn't need to worry about him.

"Prepare fruits, pastries, and candied fruits in advance, and purchase them from the most famous shops in the city."

"The tea must be the finest Longjing tea, and all the food must be sourced from the tavern; it must be distinctive and renowned."

"Don't worry, Madam, I understand."

Chunyu is a capable woman, and Yingxiang trusts her completely.

As long as she gives the order, Chunyu can get things done perfectly.

"Send out these invitations today."

Yingxiang did a final check to make sure nothing was missed, and then immediately gave instructions to Chunyu.

"yes."

In addition to hosting banquets for the wives of county magistrates from various places, there were also wives and daughters of officials from the government offices, as well as wealthy merchants from the city.

Once the post is published, everyone will definitely participate.

Yingxiang made thorough preparations, setting up twenty tables for the banquet alone—more is better than less, so as not to be seen as stingy.

On the surface, she is an ancient person, but in reality, she has modern ideas. At the beginning of her transmigration, she was just an ordinary peasant girl, and no one would teach her how to manage a household and organize banquets.

Later, when she attended banquets, she would often think about how she would organize one herself in the future.

When she held banquets in Ping County before, she tried her best to keep them respectable within the budget.

On the one hand, we are poor and cannot afford to waste money; on the other hand, there is no need to put on a show of wealth beyond our means.

If Wen Shi were to rise through the ranks, her social engagements would undoubtedly increase. Yingxiang sat in her chair and began to ponder. Perhaps she should ask around to see if there were any wealthy families from the capital or palace maids in Jiangzhou City.

It wouldn't hurt for her to learn how to manage a household. When she's out and about, she certainly can't let Wen Shi down. Husband and wife are one, so she should still be careful.

If you can't change the environment, you can only try your best to integrate.

Before, in the capital, Wen Shi held a low official position and mostly received invitations from her superiors. She was inconspicuous and no one paid attention to her. She usually sat at the back of banquets. But things would be different in the future.

If she can return to the capital smoothly, with Wen Shi's official position rising steadily, she will definitely attend more and more banquets.

He was already a fifth-rank prefect, and after returning, he would be a fourth-rank official. At that time, Yingxiang would be qualified to attend the banquet in the palace.

Thinking of this, Yingxiang's expression became even more solemn. Whether or not she could return to the capital smoothly, these next few years were crucial. Learning something would not do her any harm.

It's not just about housekeeping and accounting; there are also things like flower arranging, tea tasting, and incense burning that all the noble ladies of the capital know. Even if she's not an expert, she can't be ignorant of them.

Learn, because having more skills is never a bad thing.

Once Yingxiang made up her mind, she acted with great efficiency. She sent people out to search, and once the money was in place, they actually found it.

One of them was a palace maid who served for ten years when she was young, and she was a concubine with a name in the palace.

The other was a servant of an elderly lady from a noble family in the capital. Although she was over sixty, she was in high spirits, and Yingxiang immediately kept both of them there.

Both of them were very knowledgeable.

"Flower arranging and tea tasting are not difficult, but for these noble people, not only must they walk and sit upright, but they must also have temperament. Every frown, smile, and gesture must be carefully considered."

"Madam's walking posture is fine, but upon closer inspection, it is still not dignified enough. In a moment, you will wear that tassel hairpin and walk slowly, with a book on your head, keeping your back straight. When you walk, you must ensure that the jewelry in your hair does not sway at all."

"When bowing and greeting, you should be slightly bent over, but not too tense, or it will not look good."

"To be honest, your outfit is not very suitable. It's fine at home, but it's not quite right for going out."

"Many of the pieces in your jewelry box are not appropriate for your status."

In a truly prominent family, there are many rules and regulations. Both of them are knowledgeable people. Yingxiang is also eager to learn. If you tell her she is wrong, she will correct herself. She really wants to learn.

She got busy again, spending several hours every afternoon studying with the two of them without the slightest impatience.

The two of them discussed things thoroughly and made arrangements for her clearly.

Several shops were rented one after another, and Yingxiang began to arrange manpower. She never thought of sitting idle and running out of money, especially at this critical time.

Although I'm busy right now, I also feel fulfilled in some ways.

Wen Yixin has grown up and gone to study at the academy. With servants to pick her up and drop her off, she doesn't need to worry too much about the child. Wen Shi will keep an eye on her studies in the future.

Upon hearing this, he was warmly received by the county magistrate as soon as he arrived at the destination.

Wen Shi didn't mince words; after taking a walk around, he raised some questions, and his subordinates immediately pledged to make rectifications.

It's spring planting season, and people are busy with their work. He stood in the fields, looking around; the weather was nice.

"Please rest assured, sir, I will arrange for the county soldiers to repair what needs to be repaired as soon as I return."

With such a superior, the lower-level officials could not possibly outwardly comply but inwardly defy him. They were very serious about the matter and dared not be careless. If he came down to inspect again next year and found that they had not done their job, he would go back and report them for dereliction of duty. In that case, the emperor would most likely punish them.

There is a lot of arable land in Jiangzhou. The place where Wenshi is now is Shanyang County, which has a large population but little land, and the annual tax revenue is the lowest among the counties.

If the weather is good, all is well; but if natural disasters or man-made calamities occur, the number of people who starve to death here is the highest, and this is all recorded in the archives.

Wen Shi felt that the above record was still too conservative; in reality, the situation was not as good as described above.

The root cause was that many fertile lands were in the hands of local wealthy merchants. The lands owned by more than ten wealthy merchants combined were more than the total amount of fertile land owned by the people in an entire town.

Many people can't even feed themselves on their own farmland, so they have to rent land from wealthy families to guarantee a harvest, plus additional rent. Life is still very difficult for them.

Wen Shi came from the village, and he knew the difficulties faced by the people.

Back when he was young, his family supported Wen Chuanzong's education by cultivating all their own land and renting several acres of land. Only then could they barely make ends meet.

Later, when he wanted to go out to study, he could only rely on himself.

After the two brothers passed the imperial examination and became scholars, their family's life gradually improved.

"It's getting late, let's go back."

"yes."

Some wealthy businessmen collect rents that guarantee a profit, and with their money, they can even buy more land.

After spending a few days in Shanyang County, I heard that I had gone to the neighboring county.

He had no interest in wine, food, or beautiful women. When he arrived at a place, he would go to the fields and countryside and walk around the dikes to check things out. He was clearly not a corrupt official who indulged in pleasure and sought bribes.

The higher the rank, the more powerless one becomes. Naturally, lower-ranking officials also have their grievances, feeling that he is too troublesome, but they can only endure it.

More than half a month later, Wen Shi returned to Jiangzhou City. He had a general idea of ​​the officials under him, and since they would be working together for the next few years, he needed to understand their temperaments and personalities.

When he returned, he learned that his wife was studying, which piqued his curiosity.

What's the point of copying scriptures?

He knew that Yingxiang could recognize and write characters, but he couldn't say she was good at it; at most, her writing was neat. Seeing his wife's focused expression, Wen Shi couldn't help but feel a little curious.

"Practicing calligraphy."

Yingxiang looked up at her, actually to test her concentration, and also because people in this era are generally a bit superstitious.

She doesn't have to be an expert in Buddhism, but she can't be completely ignorant either. It would be awkward if she sat down to chat with someone about this and had to force a laugh.

Firstly, she could treat it as practice calligraphy; secondly, a bad pen is worse than a good memory, so there's nothing wrong with her learning.

"good."

He didn't say anything at first, but later he discovered that his wife was not only learning some Buddhist teachings, but also specifically finding two older nannies to teach her manners.

What could he not understand?

At night, the couple embraced, and Wen Shi held his wife, gently stroking her back intermittently.

"If you want to learn, I won't stop you, but don't overwork yourself."

“I can only spare two or three hours a day. The shop is open and the children are at school. I’m just idling around anyway, so I might as well learn something.”

Yingxiang didn't object to it; some of it was really boring and bothersome, but there was no other way, she had to think about the future.

She wasn't afraid that Wen Shi would change his mind because of this; he wasn't that kind of person. He was curious and wanted to learn, but also, he didn't want to lose face in social situations.

"You too, don't overwork yourself."

It's good that they can both understand each other.

On the day of the banquet, the spring sunshine was bright. Yingxiang got up early and did one last check. As the time approached, she changed into the clothes and jewelry she had prepared in advance, making herself look dignified and elegant.

She greeted the guests with a smile, and everyone treated her with great respect.

Yingxiang didn't get carried away. She knew why. Now that she had two more nannies around to help her, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks, so the money should be spent.

Yingxiang is not pretentious and listens to advice. As they spend more time together, the two men are happy to teach her.

Firstly, she has a status.

Secondly, Yingxiang comes from the countryside and is not a unreasonable shrew. She is very kind, humble, and generous.

Those who pay attention will naturally notice the changes in Yingxiang.

"I used to think the prefect's wife was pretty with fair skin, but she looks different today."

"This outfit is dignified and elegant, and even his posture is different from before."

Yingxiang sat at the head of the table. The whole garden was full of blooming flowers and fluttering butterflies. A gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowers. She held a diamond-shaped fan in her hand, smiled without showing her teeth, spoke softly and gently, and her hair was neatly combed. From a distance, she looked like a lady from a respectable family.

"This fruit is good, you should try it."

"It's delicious, crisp and refreshing."

Most of the people were joking and laughing. Some young girls were chasing butterflies and feeding fish by the pond. The backyard of the government office was twice the size of the backyard of the county government office.

After preparing for the banquet, Yingxiang had people start making arrangements. She spent many days working on it, all in the name of achieving perfection.

"These candied fruits are also quite good, they're sweet."

“Some people said before that the prefect’s wife was not of high birth, but now I see that the banquet they held was quite dignified.”

"Look at those brightly blooming flowers, they're so beautiful. I've been here before, but this year's decorations are truly ingenious."

The flowers had been pruned early this morning; those that weren't blooming well or were already withered were cut off.

Yingxiang was very serious, and her subordinates dared not be perfunctory.

The koi carp were leaping in the pond, the warm sunlight shone on the ground, everyone chatted and laughed while eating tea and snacks, and there would be a banquet later, everyone was very happy.

The maids moved about in the backyard, dressed in neat clothes and with identical hairstyles, looking very well-behaved.

Yingxiang isn't very good at training, but now that she has a professional by her side, things are naturally different from before, and it's good that she's more particular.

She had tidied up her dressing table again. She kept all the imperial gifts, which were all good things that she could wear out and make people feel respectable. She had put away all the light-colored pearl flowers and the like that she had bought before, and there was no need for her to wear hair ornaments.

She later bought some more hairpins, jade hairpins, and earrings.

She also put away all the light-colored clothes in her wardrobe.

Unless it's the inner garment worn underneath, the outer long gown is made of pure-colored silk, with exquisite and beautiful patterns.

She's not a young girl anymore, so her clothes can't just be pretty; they have to be dignified and elegant, reflecting her status.

The wealthier the family, the more customs and traditions they have.

After the banquet ended and the last guest was seen off, Yingxiang drank half a bowl of tea and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Madam performed very well today, without making any mistakes."

Hearing this, Yingxiang felt much better and didn't feel so tired anymore.

"However, if you want to learn to be exactly like others in terms of manners that are formed in your bones, you still have to put in a lot of effort. You can't slack off in your daily life. If you get used to it and act like that outside, it will be embarrassing when you encounter those people who are particular about manners."

Yingxiang sighed inwardly and nodded.

Now that she's made up her mind, she's definitely not going to complain or feel tired; if she's going to do it, she'll do it to the best of her ability.

Five days later, Yang Xun went to Jiangzhou to take up his post, bringing his whole family with him. When he saw Wen Shi, he wasn't too surprised.

In front of outsiders, the two acted strictly by official procedures, checking Wen Shi's appointment documents before proceeding with the usual arrangements.

The residence of the sub-prefect was naturally not as large as that of the prefect. The courtyard was not big, but the rooms were enough to live in. After Wen Shi told Ying Xiang about it, she immediately sent someone to clean it.

Compared to when they parted ways, the changes are significant.

Back then, they were both under thirty and considered young. Now, they are both mature and steady. Over the years, Yang Xun has worked very hard and has never slacked off.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the chance to be promoted.

In addition, he had several more women in his harem, and several children born out of wedlock.

I never comment on his personal life, nor is it necessary.

"I never expected that the prefect of Jiangzhou would be your former colleague, and his official rank is even one level higher than yours."

As Madam Yang was packing her things, she couldn't help but sigh when she mentioned this.

"Don't say too much. Brother Wen is a very good person. Serving under him is better than serving under those troublesome and greedy people."

When they met again after many years, their experiences and lives had changed, so things were naturally different from before.

“I remember he had a son, who was about the same age as our daughter.”

"Being a few years younger is impossible, don't even think about it."

Yang Xun sat to the side, picked up his teacup, and was quite certain about it.

Wen Shi wasn't the type to fawn over the powerful and belittle the weak. If they were about the same age, that would be fine, but if the woman was older than the man, that was impossible.

“Our daughter has reached marriageable age, but there’s no rush to get married. A few more years won’t make a difference. The higher my official rank, the better she can marry. Don’t be concerned with short-term gains.”

Yang Xun's wife stopped talking and focused on folding the clothes in her hands.

"This place is quite spacious. We've also hired a few servants, so you won't have to do everything yourself. When you go out and socialize in the future, be more generous and dignified."

Yang Xun's wife was taken aback, then nodded silently.

Not long after Yang Xun was transferred to a post outside the capital and settled down in his hometown, he brought his family to live with him. The elderly couple were difficult to take care of, and she could no longer directly manage the household.

They were always dissatisfied with their initial return to their hometown, and even after they came to live with them, they were still critical of everything. She only hoped that she could become a mother-in-law soon.

Unfortunately, her son was still young and in school, so Yang Xun didn't want him to get married so soon. Her daughter, on the other hand, was of marriageable age, but since Yang Xun wouldn't budge, she couldn't agree directly.

Yang Xun's salary was always given to his parents, who had to support a large family. They couldn't live as they pleased in their daily lives. He was neither greedy nor greedy, and had no extra income.