At the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, God was kind enough to send down snow.
It started in the middle of the night, with heavy snowflakes falling heavily and dancing wildly with the northwest wind in the deserted night.
Those who get up early get up in the dark, and when they open the door, they make several hoarse sounds and rub their hands like zombies. They first try to clean up the snow in front of the door before going out.
This snow is so heavy!
But most of the people are happy. They don’t have to worry about their houses collapsing like before. Most of them live in new houses now!
Geng and Qiao Shengwen had been in Xining Town for a few days, but Qiao Shengwen was very ill, and Geng was worried that if she told Miao Wan about it, she would rush back and get hurt, so she rested quietly for a few days.
Qiao Shengwen's illness was almost cured, and when Geng got up, he woke up too.
As soon as he woke up, Qiao Shengwen felt that the temperature was a little off. He first covered Geng with a heavy down jacket, then huddled back in bed. He smiled at Geng and said, "Is it snowing outside?"
Geng put her hair into a bun, went to the door and looked, and said, "It's true." After a pause, she couldn't help laughing.
"This is the second time I've seen such heavy snow in Xining Town. The last time it snowed, you were sent back with a high fever. This time you have a fever again, and we're back again."
Qiao Shengwen laughed. "Maybe I have a connection with the snow in the northwest. I never get sick all year, but when I do it snows. According to Awan, God feels sorry for me and wants me to stay indoors."
Geng rolled her eyes at him. "Pfft, ffff, ffff, stop talking nonsense. It would be better if there was more snow here. Are you still hoping to get sick?"
Qiao Shengwen couldn't argue with his wife, so he smiled and said nothing, then retreated into the quilt.
Geng was thinking about going out to see if there was anything she could help with, but as soon as she stepped out of the door, Adun came up to her.
"Madam, do you want breakfast? Aunt Geng has already gotten up and made porridge. The rice from the south is especially delicious when cooked with rice oil. There's also tofu pudding, soy milk, and tofu pudding. Aunt Zheng fried dough sticks and glutinous rice balls, and Aunt Zhao made bite-sized buns. What would you like to eat?"
After Geng heard Adun's story, which sounded like a crosstalk, the two maids and the servant girl she brought with her all rubbed their hands helplessly and she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. At this moment, she felt that her daughter-in-law was really making money.
When she left, Xining Town had just suffered a disaster. Although her daughter-in-law made a lot of money, she added more to the fire. She also had to rebuild Xining Town, so it was obvious that she would not have much money.
It had only been over a year when Geng learned that Miao Wan was pregnant. She was worried that no one would take care of her, and she had already ruined her health due to overwork. If things went wrong, something might happen to both the adults and the child.
After Geng returned to Beijing, she found several servants who had worked for the Qiao family.
The Qiao family was not really isolated and helpless in the capital. At the beginning, the Duke of Chen's Mansion sent people to watch them leave the capital. The emperor could not give them money, and their relatives and friends could not even give them a carriage. They all felt very uncomfortable.
Therefore, the Qiao family was ransacked and all the slaves were sent back to the pawnshop to be sold. Except for a few who wanted to marry into a rich family, the rest were bought back by the saint and the relatives and friends of the Qiao family.
As soon as the Qiao family arrived in Beijing, all the people were sent back. Geng took care of them for half a year, and bought back the servants and a few maids, and finally managed to set the Qiao Mansion up.
This time when Qiao Shengwen resigned from his official position, his family bought plenty of things and packed their bags before heading to the northwest, intending to stay here for a long time.
Therefore, before setting off, he arranged for an old servant who was unwilling to leave Beijing to look after the mansion, and only brought four maids, four servants and six guards with him.
The maids are prepared for Miao Wan and Qiao Rui. Oh, Xiao Taotao also needs one. Someone needs to teach them the etiquette and rules of being young ladies.
In order to take care of Miao Wan and the baby in her belly, the nanny was specially selected. She had taken care of pregnant women and was knowledgeable about pharmacology.
But after arriving at the garrison, all the maids and servants were a little panicked.
After a few days, they had only one thought in their minds - it was too difficult to do any work!
Want to clean up the house? The few young ladies that Miao Wan had left at home rushed over and cleaned up even their rooms.
If a few people hadn't stopped them, the maids in the house would probably have made the beds for them.
Several people were worried. They were not the masters, so how could they dare to do nothing and wait to be served?
Wanting to try making some food for Miao Wan in advance, Aunt Geng brought Aunt Zheng and Aunt Zhao, who were bought first, and there was also an apprentice of Sun Laohuo in the kitchen, with the knives, grate, and pots all laid out -
You tell us how to make it, and we will do the work to ensure that the food we make is both beautiful and delicious.
As for asking these people to work? It's impossible.
Everyone has their own job and has to earn work points every month. If their work is taken away and their work points are deducted, how can they accumulate points to redeem themselves?
Even Aunt Geng refused to give in. Changshou could take the examination for the Tongsheng degree next year. Even if the employer was willing to give her a contract, whether she had enough points or not was a different matter.
The fact that Changshou was able to pass the imperial examination was already a great honor for the Geng family. How could she let her boss use a backdoor for such a thing and affect her own prestige?
Miao Wan didn't have the imagination as they did. Anyway, everyone was in high spirits and stayed focused on their work, which led to the scene that happened this morning.
Geng was tired from traveling, and she got up late in the past few days. The maid brought in breakfast and she and Qiao Shengwen ate together.
I am now thinking about my daughter-in-law and only found out what happened when I woke up early.
She glanced at the maids and servants, who all lowered their heads a little guilty, and gently instructed A Dun, "Send some easy-to-digest herbs to the master. Also, do you have any white fungus at home? Awan loves white fungus soup, and it needs to be simmered until it's soft. Make it early so she can enjoy it when she wakes up."
A Dun was ordered by Qiao Ruichen to come over and listen to Qiao Shengwen's instructions. He nodded quickly and said, "I'll go right away. Please wait a moment. Ask the boys to sweep the snow before you go outside. Don't slip."
Geng nodded with a smile, and her expression only eased after Adun walked away.
"What have you been doing these days?" she asked.
The leading Nanny Geng sighed and stepped forward, kneeling. "My lady, we are all detained in the main courtyard. The others are wary of us interfering. I think it will be better if we wait for a while, so I will only serve you and the master in the main courtyard now."
She didn't mean what she said, but it was something they all discussed together.
The youngest maid is eighteen years old. She has no plans to get married and wants to serve her mistress for the rest of her life, so those who follow her are all loyal.
But the servants from the capital were filled with power and intrigue in their minds, and they were stopped from doing their work everywhere because they really couldn't help but think too much.
In order not to cause trouble to the master and also to know more about the situation in the mansion, the few people said nothing.
As a result, after watching all this, everyone realized that everyone in the family obeyed Miao Wan's words and regarded Miao Wan as the leader, and no one else's words would work.
This is a bit scary. Could it be that the wife and the master should listen to their daughter-in-law? No family would do things like this.
The more they thought about it, the more they dared not act rashly. These days, they were only thinking about how to help their wife seize the power of housekeeper. They were busy gathering information and really didn't do much work.
Geng probably knew what they were thinking.
In the capital, she and her husband had the final say. But when they came to the northwest, the servants had to decide who was more powerful, the main courtyard or the side courtyard, and who was more powerful, the old lady or the mistress of the house.
The problem is that the Beijing approach doesn't work in the northwest, or rather, it doesn't work for Miao Wan. She doesn't have the talent for domestic fighting, and even if she does... it's the kind of naughty kid outsmarting his parents.
Geng wanted to teach them a lesson, "Remember to change your words from now on. I'm the Madam and Master here, and the Madam and Young Master are in the East Courtyard. You just need to serve Awan well. For other matters, ask Aunt Geng in the inner courtyard and A'dun in the outer courtyard. Don't act on your own."
Several people were stunned. Did the Madam and the Master no longer care about the matter?
Geng directly affirmed their thoughts, "In the past, now and in the future, Awan has the final say in the family. Don't bring the methods used in the capital here. It's unnecessary."
Several maids and servants looked at each other in bewilderment. Is it really possible that an entire family listens to their daughter-in-law?
Even the in-laws who marry into the family don't think this way.
They were a little bit skeptical, but they didn't say anything. Most of the time, they just watched quietly about their master's affairs, and they could always tell the truth from the false.
When Miao Wan was woken up by Geng, she was dreaming that she was sitting on a small boat with boiled fish and various seafood on it.
She didn't think about why there was seafood in the lake. She was very greedy, but no matter how she twisted her body, she couldn't reach it, which made her very anxious.
After being slapped several times by Geng, she still twisted her body... Unable to twist her body, she turned over like a turtle and continued to sleep while hugging her multifunctional maternity pillow.
Geng was almost laughing with anger. She called Miao Wan several times but she didn't see her open her eyes. Counting the time she fell asleep, it was almost six hours now. If she slept any more, she would have to run around at night and her head would be dizzy.
She closed the doors and windows tightly, and came over to lift the quilt. However, before she could do anything, a bulge appeared in the quilt.
Gunn: ???
The bag still looked like a cricket pupa like a caterpillar. I went over and lifted the quilt to take a look. Sure enough, it was Taotao sleeping with his head tilted.
Geng was so amused that she burst out laughing. She didn't understand how the little girl could sleep with her butt facing upwards, her arms curled up in front of her chest, and her head supported on the kang.
Geng glanced at her daughter-in-law who was sleeping with her mouth open, even more soundly than Taotao, and patted her granddaughter who was wearing a floral autumn shirt and trousers.
"Taotao? Didn't you sleep with your aunt?"
Taotao shivered when Geng slapped him, his butt collapsed and he smacked his lips, but he didn't wake up.
However, her shiver gave Geng a bad feeling—
"Qiao Aqian!!!" Miao Wan stood up like a turtle, holding her wet pregnancy pillow and the corner of her clothes. She didn't dare to yell too loudly, for fear of scaring the child and making her angry to death.
"Look at what you've done!"
Taotao was picked up by his grandmother and was helped to change his clothes by the nanny. He had woken up, but was still a little dazed, and his little face was red from sleep.
Her big eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, which made her so cute and pitiful that the nanny who was changing her clothes was almost heartbroken.
What kind of cutie is this? Apart from anything else, the wife of the family is really good at giving birth. The child is so cute and well-behaved!
This was before Taotao opened her mouth.
"Grandma, Mom, I peed on the kang!" The little girl said in a very serious voice, sighed, thought for a while, blinked her big eyes, and leaned close to Geng's ear while Miao Wan was changing clothes. Everyone could hear the sound.
"Yes, I peed again!"
Everyone: “…” It’s true that you’re about to be beaten again.
While Miao Wan was changing her clothes, the nanny and the maid had already quickly changed the bedding on the kang. What reassured them was that at least the young lady next to Miao Wan would not take away their work.
This made the eight people who had been scolded by Geng breathe a sigh of relief. Since the lady said that the family should listen to the mistress, they would definitely be happy to please the master whose words were most effective.
So Miao Wan was almost carried from the wardrobe to the kang by two maids.
Miao Wan: ??? You’re really strong.
But she didn't have time to think about what so many people were doing in the room. She just held her belly and went to eat.
It’s time to beat the children in the twelfth lunar month, and it’s snowing, which is perfect.
Taotao is now faster than his mother. He even uses his hands and feet, crawling around on the kang happily.
"Mom wet the bed, but she couldn't catch me, haha-hiccup..."
The arrogant and domineering Qiao Aqian bumped her head into her father's arms, her forehead turned red. She covered her head with her hands and hiccuped in fear, and her eyes immediately turned red.
Geng was so distressed that even the maids were ready to coax the child.
Miao Wan, on the other hand, lay down holding her belly. "Hahaha, you deserve it. You're so arrogant. You peed the kang and didn't admit it. You lied. You'll be in trouble. Either you get a bump on your head or your nose gets longer."
Taotao was so scared that he quickly covered his nose and said, "It's not long!"
"Well, your nose probably won't get longer this time, but you have a bump on your head, hahaha..." Miao Wan showed Taotao a mirror.
Taotao looked at his red and swollen forehead and pursed his lips, "Dad, you're bad!"
Miao Wan crossed her arms and said unhappily, "Your father is still my husband. If you bully me, my husband will definitely help me."
Taotao forgot to cry. She wanted to save face in front of so many people. Her little face flushed as she shouted at Miao Wan, "My dad! My dad!"
Miao Wan nodded, "Yes, you bullied my husband's wife, so he must help me. You lied to your mother, so your father must punish you. There's nothing wrong with that."
Taotao: “…” Damn, I’m a little confused. Anyway, mom is always right, so she deserves it, right?
"Wow——" Taotao cried.
Miao Wan laughed and said, "You little brat, your mother is still your mother. How can she take the blame for you for nothing?"
Qiao Ruichen had no choice but to pick up Taotao, wrapped her tightly, and held her at the door to watch the snow. It took him a lot of effort to coax the child into submission.
Taotao couldn't stay awake after crying for a while. The snow was so heavy and fun. Building a snowman or playing snowball fights with Ludan and the others was more fun than crying!
She patted her father's arm and said, "Go down and find your aunt!"
Qiao Rui was so angry that Taotao peed on the kang in the middle of the night last night that she threw her back to Miao Wan's room. Qiao Ruichen knew about this and he was the one who brought the child back.
It's already this late, and there's still no sign of Qiao Rui's voice. I know for sure she must have gone out to play with the children from the Zhang and Ruan families.
So Qiao Ruichen took Taotao to the front yard, and sure enough, the children were playing snowballs in the spacious side yard of the garrison.
Taotao ran over with a giggle.
No matter whether it was the backyard or the outer courtyard, whether those who were sweeping the snow or preparing food, they all laughed amidst this familiar chaos.
It's almost time for lunch. This morning has passed so quickly.
"This past year has flown by so quickly," Geng lamented to Miao Wan, who was enjoying brunch. "It feels like I just left a short time ago, and this town has completely changed."
In fact, Xining Town is now more respectable than Xiyong County. In terms of prosperity and the scale of the city walls, it is almost as prosperous as Xiping County. If it were not for the smaller population and smaller area, some people would believe it is a county town.
Miao Wan was too tired to ask yesterday, so she quickly asked Geng, "Mom, where are my second uncle and aunt? Didn't they say they were there to testify? But it's been over a year, and there's still no news?"
The Empress Dowager was imprisoned, and everyone in the Duke of Chen's mansion was either beheaded or exiled. Why haven't Ruan Qin and his wife returned?
Geng couldn't help but laugh, "They really are enjoying life in the capital and don't want to leave. They even bought a house when I left."
Speaking of this, Geng couldn't help but touch Miao Wan's forehead, her eyes full of pity, "You haven't heard about the Jingyang Marquis's Mansion in a long time, right? Your second uncle and second aunt gave them a hard time, but they deserved it. Your mother's dowry will be returned to you by the Ruan family sooner or later."
Hmm? Miao Wan drank her porridge a little slower, her ears perked up a little. If she were to hear gossip about abusing a scumbag and making money, she wouldn't be sleepy anymore.
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