Chapter 181
After returning to her own courtyard, Shen Chu immediately had people pack her things. She valued safety very much, as this was no small matter.
Fortunately, she had a generous dowry. Although there weren't any very valuable items, she had everything she needed in terms of appearances. She wasn't short of money, and she didn't have any major expenses on a daily basis. The people who came with her dowry were also easy to use, as their indentures were all in her hands.
The Wen family never even considered taking a share of her dowry; her parents-in-law never even asked.
A few days later, Chen Chu packed her things and set off with great anticipation.
As the weather gets hotter, Yingxiang took some time to visit the farm again. In addition, she also checked on the few acres of land that she had acquired last year.
Consider it an investment for now; the amount of money you have on hand is limited.
Once the silk thread is made, even if it can't be sold, the family can still consume it. The technology of spinning and weaving is not that difficult. In the beginning, Yingxiang cannot plant mulberry trees and raise silkworms on a large scale, as the risk is too great.
She thought that as long as the silk thread she produced was of good quality, she could find some shops to cooperate with and supply them. Although the price would be lower than selling it herself, if she produced and sold it herself, she would have to rent shops, and ordinary people would not use much silk thread.
This will undoubtedly increase costs, as shop rents in Beijing are not cheap.
Yingxiang didn't want to rush into renting the shop; she wanted to plan carefully and proceed gradually.
The only business left in the city right now is the liquor store, which is relatively stable. She renegotiated with the landlord, changing the rent from monthly to annual, and wrote a contract to ensure stability.
The teahouse situation was sudden, but there was nothing that could be done. The original landlord had suddenly passed away, and the teahouse belonged to his son. If the tenant didn't want to rent it, she couldn't force him to.
Summer has arrived in the blink of an eye.
It was a hot day, and Yuqin brought her daughter-in-law to visit the elderly couple.
Previously, the second son had always done it himself, and Liu looked at the baby in Yuqin's arms with some disdain.
Yuqin was better off than Xiuyu in that, although she disliked it in her heart, she didn't show it much on her face. Her daughter-in-law and son were still young, and they would definitely have more children.
She only has one son, and she'll need her daughter-in-law to take care of her when she gets old. It's not worth making fun of her over something like this.
Back then, her son wasn't very healthy when he was little, and her in-laws often gave her a hard time. Fortunately, Jinyu grew up safely. He wasn't a great achiever, but he wasn't bad either.
"This old woman doesn't know when she'll get to see her great-grandson?"
Inside the spacious room, near the bed, there was a large vat filled with large blocks of ice, all stored up from last winter, enough for the whole family to use.
On the surface, Yingxiang couldn't possibly mistreat her mother-in-law.
But expecting her to serve you day and night is impossible.
Old Man Wen is currently unable to stand or walk for long periods of time and spends most of the day in bed resting. He doesn't have many things to do.
Liu wanted to go out, but Wen Shi kept a close watch on her. It was forbidden if the weather was too hot, too cold, too rainy, or too windy. They kept saying it was all for her own good.
She was unhappy, but dared not say anything, nor could she argue with him.
He always spoke to her with a serious expression and righteous words.
Yingxiang stood aside, ignoring her. Yuqin wouldn't take this opportunity to belittle her daughter-in-law. When her daughter-in-law married into the family, she had a dowry of several acres of land, and the current produce all belonged to the family.
The family's house and land were divided up, and they were living a good life. The house suddenly became quiet.
Why isn't the second brother here?
“Now that the family has a lot of land, they will inevitably need to hire people, and he needs to keep an eye on them.”
Yuqin's lips moved slightly.
"I only have one filial and obedient child."
Then Liu said this again.
Thinking about it, that makes sense. If the second son is the one who is successful in the family, with his personality, he might not be completely obedient to his parents, but he certainly wouldn't control them too much.
Wen Shi's style of conduct is even stricter than Xiao Wu's.
Every word he said was for the sake of his parents' health, leaving Liu with no way to refute him.
Although her home wasn't small, Liu was used to going out for walks. She preferred listening to fortune tellers praise her and going out for tea and pastries, things she could do at home, but she always found it boring.
Not long after, Yuqin and Yingxiang went to the main house in the backyard.
"Where is Leqian's wife?"
"She went to another city to attend a wedding banquet."
Yuqin nodded, handed her granddaughter to her daughter-in-law, and then, as if remembering something, took Yingxiang's hand.
"Third sister-in-law, do you know what my sister-in-law has been doing these days?"
Yingxiang shook her head. Thinking about it, Xiuyu hadn't come for a long time either. Sometimes Wen Chuanzong would come, and he would always buy the old couple a few bags of sweet and soft pastries.
Xiuyu usually just picks whatever she can find at home, mostly vegetables. If she's in a good mood, she might buy some meat, so she's never empty-handed.
"Is she recuperating in a temple in the suburbs?"
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I just want to live a long and healthy life and pray for Buddha's blessing."
Yingxiang smiled, not understanding but respectful. Everyone has different ideas, and in this environment, many older people want to think this way.
Look at the fortune tellers and Taoist priests in the capital. If you encounter any of them setting up stalls on the street, they are all radiant with health and full of fat.
This can ultimately be considered a skill for making a living.
She didn't believe it.
"Third sister-in-law, next year the children will go back to take the exam together. Will they be traveling with the caravan or..."
With more than half of the year already gone and the exams in August next year, we'll definitely have to go back earlier. Wen Shi has also assigned the children the task of repairing the old house, which will take time.
Yingxiang does not object to this.
She knew that people in ancient times had the idea of returning to their roots, but she herself didn't care.
“We already have carriages and servants at home, so there’s no need for them to follow the caravan. I’ll make the arrangements. You can have the children come a few days in advance so the brothers can go back together. That would be good.”
Yuqin smiled when she heard this.
The caravans were a mixed bag, and although most people wouldn't dare to do anything to scholars with official titles, it was still not as convenient as owning one's own carriage.
She took a sip of tea and felt much more at ease.
Yingxiang could understand her to some extent, and when she recalled the past, she felt only emotion.
Looking closely at Yuqin, she has changed a lot compared to before. No one can hide the fact that she is getting older. She has to work in the fields, and she can't avoid being exposed to the wind and sun.
"Second sister-in-law, I have a box of moisturizing cream here. Take it back and use it. Apply it to your face after washing your face in the morning and evening."
Yingxiang bought all of these herself. The system's sign-in rewards no longer exist, and she rarely looks at the countdown. There's still plenty of time, so there's no need for it.
She hoped to die peacefully in her old age, so that her life could be fulfilled.
Yuqin didn't refuse; she thanked her and put it away.
Of the five brothers in the Wen family, it is undeniable that Wen Shi was the most successful, followed by the fifth brother.
"I wonder when Xiao Wu and his wife will be back? Fifth sister-in-law is a very nice person. Now she has both a son and a daughter. Speaking of which, she is the most blessed among us sisters-in-law."
Yingxiang smiled and nodded, "Indeed."
Xiuyu has two sons, Yuqin has one, and Ma has only one son. Only Xiaowu has a daughter, but there should be quite a few girls in the next generation of the family. There are already two.
Xu Yi is now pregnant again, but the gender of the baby is still unknown.
As for Leqian's wife, she won't rush her; things will happen naturally when they're meant to be.
Yuqin didn't linger and soon returned home. Not long after she left, Yingxiang received an invitation from the wife of Wenshi's colleague in the Ministry of Rites, inviting her to a literary gathering a few days later.
She didn't refuse; appropriate social interaction is necessary.
She's skilled in flower arranging and tea tasting, but not so much in reciting poetry; however, she has all the proper etiquette and manners.
The Wen family is not what it used to be; when she attends a banquet, no one will look down on her.
The weather was clear and cloudless. It wasn't even noon yet. Yingxiang sat at the banquet table, chatting with the people around her. Every now and then, elegantly dressed young ladies would pass by.
"I heard that Her Majesty the Empress has selected some more women to become concubines in the Eastern Palace?"
"It's for the sake of continuing the family line, isn't it?"
"To be honest, I envy your family more. You have several grandsons, while I only have two granddaughters and one grandson. My son has quite a few concubines and maids, but he can't have any more children."
"Take it slow. My husband is several years older than yours, and he got married much earlier."
"I just hope that day comes soon."
Yingxiang sat to the side eating pastries and listening to people gossip. She was in a fairly good mood and didn't interrupt, as there was no need to.
A gentle breeze was blowing, and the sun was gradually rising. The maids brought bowl after bowl of iced custard. Yingxiang ate a bowl, and the heat in her body immediately subsided.
Thinking back to when I lived in the village, life couldn't be better now.
Hu Yong'an was in mourning, and his wife couldn't go out either. Their family could be considered to be from the capital, so they didn't need to go back specifically to observe mourning.
They were finally settled here.
After Wen Shi finished writing the family genealogy, he went to see Old Man Wen, who was illiterate, so Wen Shi read it to him.
After listening to this, Old Man Wen was deeply moved.
"Our family has finally made it out."
“When your great-grandfather was still alive, he told me when I was a child that our family used to be rich, but unfortunately our descendants were not good enough, and by his generation, we had no family property left.”
As Old Man Wen spoke, his cloudy eyes suddenly became much clearer.
"From now on, you must be strict and attentive in raising your children."
Wen Shi nodded. He had always been very capable.
"Your father is old and can no longer help you. The only thing I can do is live a little longer so as not to hold you back."
“From now on, you will be in charge of this family. Once your father passes away, this family will likely fall apart. Your brothers are all your own brothers, born of the same mother. If they encounter any difficulties in life in the future, please help them if you can. We all share the same surname and are one family.”
Wen Shi nodded.
"well."
Old Man Wen lay in bed all day, and his mood was not good.
Wen Shi put away the brand-new family tree, came out of the house, looked up at the bright sky, and was filled with emotion.
My father is now very old. Although he is still in relatively good health, he is not as healthy as he used to be.
As autumn fades and winter arrives, the emperor prepares to host a family banquet for the winter solstice in the palace this year, inviting his officials to the feast.
Early that morning, after attending court, Wen Shi followed a group of officials toward the banquet hall in the palace.
Recently, the emperor's health has not been very good, and the crown prince has begun to act as regent. The emperor is not attached to power and has also relinquished some of his authority.
In the bustling banquet hall, Wen Shi looked up at the emperor at the head of the table and recalled the first time he met the emperor.
The emperor seems to be in good health, but at his age, to put it bluntly, if he were to fall asleep one day, it's hard to say whether he would see the sun rise the next day.
"My dear subjects, please feel free to do as you please, there is no need to be reserved."
This was the first time Wen Shi had attended such a banquet in many years. He sat in a lower-ranking position, with princes, nobles, and high-ranking ministers in front of him.
On the exquisite pearwood wooden table were ten plates of dumplings, with various fillings and varieties. He tasted a dumpling that looked like white jade and emerald, with a filling of cabbage and pork. Needless to say, the imperial chef's skills were superb.
Before entering officialdom, he had thought he would make great strides, but after entering officialdom, his mindset gradually changed.
Over the years, everything has progressed steadily, step by step.
Thanks to the previous incident of establishing an heir apparent, a group of officials were punished, which allowed him to quickly return to the capital.
Currently working at the Ministry of Rites, there are established procedures for what needs to be done. He never slacks off, just like when he first became an editor. He never complains about the hardships, fatigue, irritability, or boredom, and he does everything with great seriousness and diligence.
His superiors understood him, but ultimately, there were far more monks than porridge among the higher-ups.
Wen Shi has now reached a major turning point in his life. Whether he can be promoted to the third rank and take up an important position in one of the six ministries is hard to say.
Compared to others, he has advantages, but also disadvantages.
Looking back on his life, he feels very fortunate. He studied for many years and met many colleagues. He is now considered one of the best among them, with both ability and luck. He has climbed up step by step on his own, and he is not a greedy person.
The more one wants to climb the ladder smoothly, the more important it is not only strength, but also bloodline foundation. He had neither the latter.
Outside, the wind howled and snow fell heavily. On the way out of the palace, Wen Shi chatted casually with his colleagues.
"By the way, Brother Wen, have you ever heard of Tang Yu?"
When I heard the name, it seemed somewhat familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, I couldn't remember it.
"This man was also a student of Master Huang. A few days ago, His Majesty ordered him to be beheaded?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Shi couldn't help but sigh.
"He embezzled and accepted bribes, and bullied the local people. He was reported, the evidence was conclusive, and he was dealt with immediately."
Wen Shi nodded, not feeling sorry for him, but only saying that he deserved it.
He had been bribed before, but he was not someone who looked down on money. However, he believed that some money was acceptable, while others was not, and that one should not lose one's conscience in one's conduct.
Before we knew it, everything outside was covered in white.
At home, Yingxiang sat by the window, and after finishing reading the last page of the account book, she rubbed her temples.
Chunyu handed her a cup of hot tea. Looking at her slightly protruding belly, Yingxiang smiled and said, "You should go back and take good care of yourself. You're pregnant, so your health is important. It's not too late to come back after you give birth."
Chunyu chose her husband herself, and Yingxiang readily agreed to the marriage.
She didn't even need to pay to redeem herself; she could leave if she wanted to. Yingxiang gave her the choice.
In the end, she chose to stay after getting married. She didn't have to do any of the rough or heavy work at home. Yingxiang had always treated her very well. The servants all did their jobs properly, and she was a respectable housekeeper.
In the Wen family, barring any unforeseen circumstances, everyone receives a month's bonus at the end of each year, and the monthly allowance is never withheld.
Even after having a child, she planned to let her mother-in-law take care of the baby while she continued working. Firstly, she would have more confidence in earning money, and secondly, she felt it wouldn't be right for her to give up such a good job.
She hasn't been redeemed yet, and her children are theoretically servants of the Wen family. She's not worried that Yingxiang will mistreat them, but if she is redeemed, she's afraid she won't be able to serve them closely.
"This servant can still serve you for a few more months, and I'm not feeling unwell right now. Thank you for your concern, Madam."
She insisted, so Yingxiang didn't say anything.
"Madam, the young mistress has arrived."
The next second, Shen Chu walked in, followed by a maid carrying a tray.
Yingxiang spotted the cotton-padded coat immediately.
"It's getting cold, so my daughter-in-law made a cotton coat for my mother."
Shen Chu had only returned a month ago. After returning, she started to put things into action. Originally, she wanted to give Ying Xiang some gold and silver jewelry, but then she thought that Ying Xiang didn't seem to be able to dress up so easily on a daily basis.
Yingxiang also had no shortage of jewelry, some of which were imperial gifts.
In the end, she still chose a piece of fine-colored silk to make a jacket for Yingxiang.
The purple jacket was embroidered with many blooming flowers. She knew that her mother-in-law liked fresh flowers. She had embroidered every stitch herself. To make it look nice, she had also mixed in some gold and silver threads. She didn't use much, but it played a finishing touch.
Yingxiang got up and looked around.
She wouldn't let the child's good intentions go to waste, so she accepted it immediately.
Chen Chu's needlework is quite good; many of Le Qian's clothes are made by her and look quite nice when worn out.
"You're so thoughtful. It's getting cold, so please take care of yourself."
“I think this white jade hairpin suits you well. You’re young, so keep it.”
Yingxiang went straight to the dressing table and took a new piece of jewelry for her.
"Thank you, Mother-in-law."
The main room now has seven or eight large wardrobes, five of which are for Yingxiang. They are filled with her clothes. In the past two years, she has rarely made new clothes, as the original ones are enough for her.
Last year, Wen Shi received a reward of several bolts of cloth, which she gave to Chen Chu.
Keeping them unused would be a waste. She already has plenty of good clothes in her wardrobe, as well as ordinary ones, in various patterns and colors, and she can't wear them all.
When Wen returned, she immediately told him.
"When I first saw her at the Shen family home, I noticed that she was a dignified and composed girl, and she also seemed very filial."
Wen Shi had good judgment. He never intended to marry his son to a woman from a high-class family. He only wanted a daughter-in-law who was well-mannered and of similar social standing.
Unexpectedly, they ran into Shen Chu again. If the Shen family is willing, then they have no objection.
She wasn't after his family's connections or dowry; the main reason was that her child was outstanding.
The only thing that attracts people to the Shen family now is their noble title, but that title can't be given to a woman; it's given to the eldest son of the family. Once a daughter is married, she's like water spilled from a cup.
An excellent daughter-in-law can benefit future generations. Just look at Yingxiang, and you'll know that Shenchu will not be bad in the future either. She will definitely be good at managing the household and doing things thoroughly and politely.
“Yesterday, Xinxin told me that he wants to get married in the future and find a good-looking woman. He also told me that he has a classmate’s older brother who has more than ten concubines.”
Let's change his school next year.
Yingxiang expressed her support for this.
Many things are hard to say. Leqian also studied at school, but he never said these things back then. Xinxin sometimes speaks without thinking, but the influence of the environment on a person cannot be ignored.
If it weren't for the unsuitable distance and direction, the old Leqian Academy would have been better.
The school Xinxin is currently attending is mostly attended by students from wealthy and powerful families. While these families are well-known, some have corrupt family traditions, which influences the children's upbringing.
Yingxiang wasn't entirely comfortable with what she heard. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to refute this and instill modern ideas in her son, since he would be living in ancient times in the future. She couldn't let him become out of place with people later on.
Education is really difficult, so let's leave it to Wen Shi; she can take care of the daily life.
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