After the first month of pregnancy, Mi Niang could finally take a break and no longer had to do needlework every day. But she was not idle either. She worked with Ding Er Niang to hang bacon and make pickled vegetables. The bacon included pork and fish, and the pickled vegetables included radish shreds, radish balls, black beans, etc.

Undoubtedly, Second Grandma Ding was a very good head of the household. She could grow her own bean sprouts and use lotus leaves to make distiller's grains, not to mention the regular supply of fried rice and sesame candy dumplings at home.

In the past, the family only planted some common vegetables in their own vegetable garden. When Second Grandma Ding came, they not only planted Chinese cabbage, Chinese cabbage, and bok choy, but also leeks, green onions and many other vegetables.

The rice for the family was all sent from Jiangling's hometown, and the servants were also put to good use. Women from top to bottom had to do needlework, and those who didn't know how to embroider had to learn how to weave cloth.

As for dyeing and embroidery, there was Mi Niang who was particularly good at drawing patterns, so the patterns on the clothes of the people in her family were more beautiful than those of others.

On weekdays, my mother and I eat ordinary dishes, but they are cooked very deliciously. For example, we put the bacon and beans made last year in a can. It is soft, glutinous, sweet and delicious. I can eat an extra bowl of rice.

Besides, the Ruan family's pickled radish shreds are rinsed very clean and fried with chopped eggs. Everyone in the family loves it.

It was precisely because of her daily frugality that my mother was able to buy the house. Not to mention, even the three hundred taels of silver that my father brought with him to the capital was beyond my mother's expectations.

She had the illusion that my family wasn't actually that poor...

Mi Niang recently had an extra income. The old lady of the Li family asked her to paint a Buddha statue. She didn't give her money directly, but rewarded her with four kinds of silver grains.

After her patterns were compiled into a book, it was bought by the owner of an embroidery workshop for a total of sixteen taels of silver.

Mi Niang was shocked: "Why is it so expensive?"

The maids around her were paid one tael of silver per month, which was higher than that of many families in Jiangling. You have to know that one tael of silver was worth a lot of money.

One tael is roughly equivalent to ten coins, and one tael of silver can buy a large jar of wine, twenty catties of beef, and two fat chickens.

Therefore, these sixteen taels are really not a small amount.

Mrs. Ding gave one or two taels to Mi Niang and kept the rest for herself.

After hearing her daughter's silly words, Mrs. Ding laughed and said, "What I'm selling is your old one. I can't bear to sell the new one. I didn't bargain much, for fear that they would still say I was stupid."

Mi Niang smiled and said, "Anyway, Mom will save it for me."

Because wages were paid today, Second Madam Ding intended to give them half a day off. The younger maids went to the grocery store to buy some flowers, and the older good mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhong, bought some dog-skin plasters. Mrs. Zhong even bought a gold ring and put it on...

Until it was almost dark, everyone came back one after another. Mi Niang didn't expect Chun Tao and Xia Lian to bring her gifts, so she smiled and said, "I appreciate your kindness. But I live a better life than you do, so why should I worry about you?"

Chun Tao said hurriedly: "This is not expensive. We can't afford expensive things."

This was a finely crafted wooden comb, and it cost about 70 or 80 coins, which they only earned a few dollars a month. Mi Niang refused it, and was scolded by Xia Lian instead.

"If you don't take it, you are looking down on our servants."

Only then did Mi Niang accept it.

Xia Lian then said, "We went out today and saw the little girl next to Miss Guan. Her family bought handkerchiefs that were worth one or two taels each. After she left, the owner of the embroidery shop said that the Guan family was living beyond their means and was living beyond their means, and they still didn't know how to save money."

Mi Niang nodded: "This is normal. If my mother wasn't good at managing the household, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to pay you all your wages."

With the conditions of the Ruan family, Ruan Jiading was able to bring three hundred taels into the capital, which was enough to prove the ability of the second wife.

Chun Tao laughed: "So we all say in private that we are actually enjoying ourselves."

The young lady of the host family was kind and never scolded me. She even seldom got up at night. I had clothes for all four seasons, could eat enough meals, and received salary. On weekdays, I could have snacks and tea whenever I wanted.

They would be willing to stay with the young lady even for the rest of their lives.

Let's not talk about the Guan family's affairs for now. The New Year passed in the blink of an eye. Eleventh Brother personally brought rice and silver. It was the first time he handled this matter. He brought the account book and was very afraid that Second Mistress Ding would ask about any discrepancies in the details.

But the second wife threw the account book aside and said, "I still don't believe you. What's so good about it?"

Ruan Shiyi smiled and said, "Thank you for trusting me, auntie."

"We are all one family, so we should not talk about different things."

She ordered the servants to prepare a table of food, and because they were all family, they did not shy away from it. Mi Niang showed Ruan Shiyi the poems and paintings she had written, and Ruan Shiyi was amazed.

"You are now a better painter than I am, and these poems, especially yours, are very spiritual."

Mi Niang smiled embarrassedly. Ruan Shiyi is now a student, but he didn't even make it to the second place in the provincial examination. However, his level is still very good, and he is still very young.

Mi Niang was very happy to receive such high praise from him.

The table was filled with sixteen dishes, which Ruan Shiyi enjoyed very much. He calculated the date and said, "Second Uncle Ding is probably taking the imperial examination at this time."

Second Madam Ding said yes.

"Second Uncle is already well prepared. I think this will be a sure win."

After a few more pleasantries, they learned that the two elders had already gone to the city to live with their eldest uncle's family and wanted to sell the old house, but were suppressed by the clan members.

This time, they heard that Fourth Master Shang had also returned, in rich clothes and with great fanfare. He also said that he had asked Ruan Shiyi to tell her that he had bought two ships in Hangzhou to transport goods from the south and north. If she and her daughter wanted to go to Beijing at that time, they could just go to Hangzhou to find him.

It seems that the old family members have great confidence in her father.

I just don't know if her father won.

Ruan Shiyi's visit to Wuchang this time was also to show that if Mi Niang and her daughter went to Beijing in the future, he would be willing to escort them there.

Mrs. Ding Er smiled and said, "Of course, although it's too early to say anything, but your uncle said that if you win, that's good, but if you don't, he also recommends that you go to Huanghe Academy."

Hearing this, Ruan Shiyi was overjoyed and spent the night at their home before leaving the next day. Ding Er's wife had already asked the little maid to prepare four kinds of snacks, including pickled fish, duck feet, chicken legs, and meat cakes, in a food box for him to take with him on the road.

After seeing Ruan Shiyi off, their family made another 100 taels of silver. They invested a lot of land in the family, as well as orchards and bamboo forests. Last year, Second Madam Ding also bought 50 mu of forest land.

Apart from the wages paid for various things, there were also losses, and I'm afraid that the two elders at home might have stolen some money. The rest of the money that Ding Erniang had to bear was not a big deal.

This is the bulk of their family's income. In addition to the money they earn from needlework, Mi Niang also has some extra income on weekdays.

But the always frugal Ding Er Niang opened her box this time and took out 20 taels to make clothes for the whole family. Mi Niang made eight sets of clothes for herself, and she made six sets for herself. The two sons also had new clothes.

In addition, each of the maids and old women who served the young lady was given a silver ring.

Mi Niang asked curiously, "Mother, did you guess that we were going to the capital, and that's why you did this?"

Madam Ding Er nodded and said, "Since everything has been peaceful for the past two months since Mrs. Tie Yushi left, I don't think there will be any big problems."

Generally, such good news is sent urgently within 300 miles. Mr. Wang, a good man, had already sent people to the government office to inquire. If there is anyone who has passed this exam, they must go and make friends with him as soon as possible.

He couldn't necessarily rely on his brother from the next-door neighbor, especially when his family came back to visit their relatives and ate and took things, but when it came time to do things, they weren't very forthcoming. His brother-in-law also looked down on them in every way, disdaining that his family was a merchant.

Bah, you are still a little bitch.

"We are about to announce the good news. Ten people from Huguang won the prize this time, which is the highest number in history."

"Yes, how can our Huguang be compared with places like Nanzhili and Fujian!"

"Hurry up, hurry up, get ready to announce the good news."

Mr. Wang, a good man, had money to make the world go round. He had already bought the list and took another look at it: "Hey, he's on it."

That day, Mi Niang took a long nap and got up after washing up casually. Second Madam Ding said indifferently, "There are some fermented glutinous rice dumplings in the pot. Go and drink them."

"Um!"

As a result, before Mi Niang finished her meal, she heard someone outside the door say that the wife of Mr. Wang Dashan had come, and she brought Wang Shanjie with her.

Mi Niang changed her clothes before meeting the guests.

Mr. Wang's wife talked for a long time, and when she left, she left a bag of tea and tried to establish some connections before leaving.

He looked under the tea leaves and found three hundred taels of silver.

Mi Niang said: "This shows that my father really won."

"No hurry, let's wait." Mrs. Ding was very calm at this time.

It was not until the sound of gongs and drums came this way that Second Madam Ding took out the change she had prepared. The local baojia usually did not see much of him, but today he was talking and happily laughing.

Wang Wu and Chen Kang were trembling even more. They felt as if they were out of their bodies and didn't know whether they were in a dream or where else they were.

"I have good news for you, Madam. Your Excellency Ruan Chen Jiading, a filial and honest official from Jiangling County, Jingzhou Prefecture, Huguang Prefecture, ranked 66th in the second class of the imperial examination in the 13th year of Yonglong's reign, and was granted the title of Jinshi by His Majesty."

Then, wave after wave of people came to congratulate them. Second Mistress Ding sent Chen Kang back to his hometown to ask his clansmen to help with the entertainment. People like Ruan Shiyi and Shang Siye, with whom he had a good relationship, came.

Chen Kang returned by boat overnight, and Mi Niang sent two maids by her side to serve tea and water.

Some gave money and some gave people gifts. It goes without saying that Second Mistress would consider these carefully.

The Ruan family members rushed over overnight, all of them were excited. In addition to Ruan Shiyi, the others who came also included the clan leader's youngest son.

With them around, a three-day banquet was held, and neighbors came to drink and eat, and local officials also came to congratulate them in person.

In the morning I was a farmer, in the evening I was in the palace of the emperor. In the book there is a golden house, in the book there is a beautiful woman.

Mi Niang finally understood what this meant.

Mrs. Sun, the magistrate of Hanyang County, and Mrs. Liao, the manager of the mansion, also hurriedly sent Cheng Yi to seek reconciliation.

This time Li Guan also didn't win. Despite this, the Li family still came to congratulate him in person. Half a month later, the Ruan family finally calmed down.

Now that Second Madam Ding had money, she hired jewelry and servants for her daughter, which was only natural.

While they were busy, Guan Huiqing fell seriously ill, and Li Guancheng's marriage had already hit her hard. Ruan Mi Niang's father passed the imperial examination and was a second-class imperial scholar, so her own marriage was not going well.

She originally thought she had good conditions, but she never expected that the son of a county magistrate would dislike her...

Madam Guan sighed: "You need to take good care of your illness. How can you be so worried all the time?"

Their family has spent a lot of money on their daughter's medical treatment, and it cannot be spread out, otherwise no one would marry a sickly girl.

But she still comforted her daughter: "Your father has asked someone to find his students to find a marriage for you."

Guan Huiqing cried, "But who among them can compare to Guan Lang..."

Madam Guan sighed: "But it's impossible for you and Li Guan. His father has now been promoted to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and he is a top official in the Ministry of Personnel!"

Guan Huiqing was speechless.

She seemed powerless to change anything.

Two months later, Second Madam Ding finally received a letter from Ruan Jiading. This letter was read by Mi Niang, who read it at a glance. Then she said to Second Madam Ding, "Dad said that after he passed the imperial examination, he was observing government affairs in the Ministry of Revenue, and it would take three months before he could be promoted. He also said that the Duke's Mansion was going to give him a house to live in, but he felt that it was not good for scholars to be too close to the nobles, so he used the remaining two hundred taels to buy a house in Beijing, and asked his peers to renovate it for him, hoping that they would get up early and go to Beijing."

"Your father is too stingy. Ever since you, the clever one, said that the Yu family took advantage of him, he has been stingy ever since. He only brought three hundred taels. He is timid and probably didn't dare to accept other people's money casually. I don't know how he spent it. It took him a year to spend one hundred taels..." Second Madam Ding was speechless.

Mi Niang snickered, "I see you're worried about dad."

"Come on, read on."

"Yeah, okay."

Mi Niang added, "Lord Li was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel as the Left Vice Minister, and he also asked us to pick two people from our clan to go to the capital to help."

When becoming an official, one needs capable people to manage the affairs of the government. Ruan Jiading was taken care of by his clan members, so of course he would repay them now. As for the candidate, he did not specify one and let the clan leader choose.

At that time, two people were sent from Jiangling's hometown. One of them was of course Ruan Shiyi, who came with his family Zhou. The other one was the clan leader's second son Ruan Jialong. Compared with the innocent Eleventh Brother, this Second Master Long was much more capable.

This man originally had the title of scholar, but he failed in the imperial examinations many times. He originally worked as an aide to Mr. Qiu in Anlu Prefecture, but later he became ill and returned home to recuperate.

This time, when he heard that a brother in the clan had won the second place, the clan leader sent him over without hesitation. Compared to Ruan Shiyi who brought his wife and children with him, this Long Erbo lost his wife at an early age and had only one son.

Mrs. Ding Er smiled and said, "It will be much easier for me if you uncles help me. I am a woman and I am completely in the dark."

Uncle Long Er said he didn't dare.

With him and Ruan Shiyi in charge, Ding Erniang only had to start packing up the boxes. Everyone in Mi Niang's room was also busy, and Mi Niang had nothing to do.

I came downstairs and heard Ruan Shiyi's wife Zhou say, "I think my sister's birthday probably passed on the way."

Yes, in a few months she will be thirteen years old.

The time goes by so fast!

Zhou was a kind person. When she married Ruan Shiyi, Mi Niang worked as their bed boy.

"Mom, Sister-in-law Eleven." She walked downstairs slowly and called them.

At the age of twelve, she was already slender and beautiful, yet with a hint of naivety, a beauty that all women could appreciate.

They rented a two-decker boat; the women and children lived on the second floor, and the men lived on the first floor.

They had a smooth journey to Hangzhou and were about to change boats, but unfortunately a rainstorm blocked their way and they had to stay in an inn temporarily. Unexpectedly, the inn was already occupied.

Long Erye stepped forward and said, "Postmaster, we just need to borrow a few rooms for people to live in."

The postmaster said in embarrassment: "To tell you the truth, it's not that we don't allow it, but there's an important person living inside, that's the Marquis' wife, so how dare I do that?"

Seeing that the post officer only bullied the weak and feared the strong, Second Madam Ding had no choice but to take out the note that Madam Li had given her that year.

Just after the invitation was brought in, the postman came in with a smile on his face, welcoming them in. He was so attentive that even the kind-hearted Zhou couldn't help but say, "This is changing too fast."

But at least they moved in. Because there was a marquis's wife living there, Second Mistress Ding even brought Mi Niang to pay her respects.

Mi Niang changed her clothes again. Her status had changed, and she could no longer act like someone she didn't dare to mess with. When she had no one to rely on, she had to be more powerful. When she had someone to rely on, she had to act innocent.

Therefore, she only wore a lotus silk gown with pink brocade ribbons, a lily bun on her head, and a white jade hairpin with eight-treasure pearls. She looked very gentle and beautiful like a girl.

Since ancient times, civil officials and nobles have not been on the same path. Most nobles have been military men. Now that the emperor values ​​civil officials, most nobles are wealthy and idle people.

After passing through the corridor, a maid came to meet us. When we went in, a maid opened the pearl curtain.

"Is it Mrs. Ruan? Come in."

A slightly lazy female voice came, and Mi Niang felt that her family was extremely wealthy, as the pearl curtain was made of pearls.

Mrs. Ding lowered her head and bowed to greet them immediately after she came in with Mi Niang.

After the lady gave her the seat, Mi Niang took a look and suddenly knew who she was. She was Xu Baiwan's daughter. Her family started out as a book publisher and was a wealthy family in Wuzhong. Her brother Xu Zhongmao was the inspector of Yanzhou in Jiangxi.

Needless to say, this person is a well-known expert in otaku fighting.

At home, she was in cahoots with her sister-in-law and drove away her illegitimate nephew, so that her dowry doubled when she got married. When she arrived at her husband's family, because her husband, the Marquis of Dong'an, had no children, the concubine Ding was in charge and had three sons, but she forced the concubine Ding to death as soon as she entered the house.

When the original wife of the Marquis of Dong'an was still alive, she registered the eldest son of the concubine under her name and made him the crown prince. Under such pressure, she was able to give birth to two sons. The younger son single-handedly defeated the older brother, and the older son passed the imperial examination at a young age.

Mi Niang remembers that when her eldest son was about to marry, he suddenly became ill while visiting a prostitute, causing his reputation to plummet...

"Mrs. Ruan? What is the relationship between your family and the Empress's family?" asked the beautiful woman on the stage.

Second Madam Ding smiled and said, "We are from the Ruan family of Jiangling. Your Highness is from the same branch as us, and we are not out of the fifth degree of mourning."

Mi Niang raised her eyes slightly, but she didn't expect that after the wife of Dongxiang Hou looked at her, she suddenly stopped the official documents with Ding Erniang, her eyes full of surprise.

She smiled and said, "Madam Ruan, you have raised a good daughter. She is so pretty, even prettier than when I was young, and she is dignified, gentle and beautiful."

"You must not glorify her." Mrs. Ding said hurriedly.

Xu went straight past Mrs. Ding and asked Mi Niang, "How old are you? Have you ever been to school?"

Mi Niang smiled and said generously: "In reply to Madam Hou's question, my daughter is thirteen years old this year and has studied for a few years."

"Have you ever been able to compose poetry?"

"I usually participate in poetry gatherings and write some."

When she learned that Mi Niang learned to play the pipa from Madam Li and could also paint, she was very happy. She also asked her daughter Fang Yaqing to greet Mi Niang, and Fang Yaqing stared at her intently, liking her very much.

It was raining heavily and they couldn't set out for a while, so Mi Niang played with Fang Yaqing. She didn't expect that Fang Yaqing was also learning the pipa, but she could only play the purple bamboo tune so far.

Although Fang Yaqing is a noble lady from a marquis family, she is very friendly and has no airs. Mi Niang also likes to associate with such people. Speaking of which, the original wife of the Dong'an Marquis was the younger sister of the Duke of Bohai.

"Miss, you are really amazing."

While Mi Niang was finishing her song, Fang Yaqing was very jealous.

Mi Niang smiled and said, "It's not as exaggerated as you say. It's just that I have been learning it for a long time."

When girls get together, they do needlework, read books, play chess, draw pictures, etc. These girls are very good at all of their skills but they never become arrogant.

When she was free, Mi Niang drew a picture for her. Their relationship improved rapidly and Fang Yaqing felt happy every day.

"Is this a painting by Miss Ruan?" Xu said, pointing at the painting.

Fang Yaqing nodded: "Yes, she is a very spiritual girl, but also very kind-hearted. Her servants have eczema these days, and she even personally looks for medicine for them."

Mrs. Xu nodded: "I also think she is very good. She is innocent, beautiful and talented. I like this kind of girl from the bottom of my heart."

Fang Yaqing knew what her mother meant. This time her mother came back to visit her family for her brother's marriage. The old lady of the Marquis's Mansion wanted her brother to marry her aunt's daughter, cousin Jiayin. Her aunt and her mother had a very close relationship, and her aunt's family also intended to marry cousin Shuqin to her brother.

One of them is too delicate and weak, so her mother looks down on her; the other one is too scheming, so her mother thinks he is too scheming.

Finally, he fell in love with Dong, who was of the same social status as him, but his mother disliked her because she was too uneducated, her mind was full of moral essays, and she was very boring.

Even though Dong had no golden lotus crown, her family was extremely wealthy, but she still looked down on her and thought she was too old-fashioned.

Fang Yaqing felt that the emperor's requirements for choosing concubines were not as high as her family's.

They also need to have a good family background, good character, be able to write poetry and prose, have knowledge and interests, be in good health, and preferably have both parents alive...

However, Fang Yaqing regards Mi Niang as a friend and doesn't want to end up not being able to be friends with her anymore if things don't work out.

She also pointed out Mi Niang's shortcomings: "Her family is just a branch of the Ruan family and doesn't have much money."

Unexpectedly, her mother asked, "Does my daughter of Xu Baiwan still need money?"

"She didn't have bound feet?"

"It's fine if you don't want to wrap it. I'm so pretty, who would notice those things..."

After that, Xu scolded Fang Yaqing: "You still claim to be friends with Miss Ruan, but you just say bad things about her behind her back?"

Fang Yaqing cried out in injustice: "Didn't I warn you in advance? Mi Niang and I are fine."

Xu smiled and said, "I think she is cute and adorable, and she is really pretty. She can play the pipa very well and is good at composing poems and songs. If we don't act quickly, a girl like this will be snatched away by someone else."

"Mi Niang, I want to tell you something good. You have to thank me when I tell you."

Mi Niang looked at Fang Yaqing and thought, why does this scene look so familiar?

She listened attentively, only to hear Fang Yaqing whisper in her ear in a mysterious voice: "My mother has taken a liking to you and wants to marry you home as her daughter-in-law."

Mi Niang finally understood where her sense of familiarity came from. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Stop talking nonsense."

Fang Yaqing was anxious: "I'm serious, my mother will go to find your mother later."

Mi Niang thought to herself that the last Madam Li who approached her mother to discuss marriage was instead sent away by her mother without any support.

She was calm because there was no way her mother would agree.

Her mother once asked her what kind of family she wanted to marry in the future. She had talked about it through the story of Guan Huiqing. First of all, the whole family must like her. Second, the man must be able to protect her. Third, he must be a scholar and have achieved academic success.

Mi Niang would never think that Xu, a master of domestic fighting, would be interested in someone like her, especially since she acted very cute and innocent, not like a mistress at all.

Also, their family follows the path of civil service and will not marry into the nobility.

So she felt relieved, knowing that her mother would definitely reject it.