Chapter 712 Visiting Old Madam Shen
Cheng Wanwan asked He Xiao and found out that the soldier named Ruan Cheng was not the granddaughter of the General of the Cavalry at all, but the daughter born to his first wife in his old age. He was over forty years old when he had this daughter. From childhood, she was pampered and spoiled by her parents and several brothers. She was a bit arrogant, but also very simple and had no bad intentions.
She stood on the mound of earth and could see Zhao Sanniu and Ruan Cheng standing facing the wall as punishment in the distance.
Ruan Cheng, the little girl, was probably not convinced, so she kicked the stones on the ground and deliberately kicked them at Zhao San Niu.
Zhao Sanniu was not about to be wronged like this, so he immediately kicked the sand hard, sending a cloud of dust flying onto Ruan Cheng.
The soldier supervising the two as punishment coughed loudly, and the two finally quieted down a bit.
Zhao Sidan said speechlessly, "Third Brother is so childish."
Cheng Wanwan was also somewhat amused and exasperated.
She looked away and said to He Xiao, "Please take good care of San Niu. I'll come to see you again when I have time."
He Xiao nodded and personally escorted her out of the military camp.
The day after returning from the military camp, Cheng Wanwan and Lu Yingxue visited the Shen family together.
After Shen Dongming came to the capital to take up his post, the Shen family officially settled in the capital. They have maintained correspondence for more than a year and have not become estranged.
However, it was Cheng Wanwan who corresponded with the old lady, and sometimes Shen Dongming would send a letter along with it, inquiring about official matters. The two maintained a proper relationship, which made Cheng Wanwan feel comfortable.
"Wanwan, you've finally arrived." Madam Shen beamed. "I couldn't sit still after hearing that you were coming to the capital two days ago. If I hadn't known you were busy, I would have gone to see you long ago."
"I am the younger generation, so of course I am here to visit you, sir." Cheng Wanwan helped the old lady inside. "How is your life in the capital, godmother? Are you settling in well?"
“Of course I’m not used to it in Ping’an County.” Madam Shen led the two into the warm room. “People in the capital live behind masks. A single sentence often has multiple meanings. I’m old and really don’t like these superficial things, but sometimes I have to deal with them.”
Lu Yingxue smiled and said, "You're getting old, and no one will say anything if you stay at home. Dealing with those officials' wives every day must be exhausting."
"It's because Dongming isn't married and there's no lady in the house, so this old woman has to do all the work." At this point, Madam Shen paused and lowered her voice, "I've been here for over a year and have met a few mahjong friends. They come over every afternoon to play a few rounds with me. You two can help me out later."
Lu Yingxue asked curiously, "What kind of eye do you want to see?"
Madam Shen said mysteriously, "You'll know when they arrive."
The Shen family consists of only three people. Shen Dongming is busy with government affairs, and Shen Zheng is studying in the government office. He has to manage his students and study hard himself. He only comes back once a month. Therefore, it is just the three of them eating together.
Not long after the meal, guests arrived in the courtyard.
After the game of Dou Dizhu and Mahjong, which was started by Cheng Wanwan, spread to Huzhou, it gradually spread to the capital in the past two years. Madam Shen's card skills were very good. Some ladies would come to Madam Shen to play cards and pay tuition in order to improve their card skills. A table would be set up in the courtyard every afternoon.
"Oh, the old lady has guests at home," the lady in charge said with a smile. "Are we disturbing you today?"
"No problem, no problem," said Madam Shen with a smile. "This is my goddaughter who has been talking about you. She invented this mahjong game. Let her play a few rounds with you today."
The three women who came were immediately stunned upon hearing this.
Isn't that Lady Shen's goddaughter, Sui Shuren?
They were all just family members of officials of the sixth or seventh rank, with low status in the official circles of the capital, and had no opportunity to interact with Lady Sui.
I never expected to have the chance to play mahjong with Su Shuren.
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "I haven't played for a long time, so I'm a bit rusty. I hope the three ladies won't find me too slow."
The three women quickly waved their hands and said they didn't know, then drew cards and sat down in their respective places.
Lu Yingxue took a plate of melon seeds and sat down to watch the commotion. She loved gossip and carefully observed the three women who had come over. Gradually, she understood what Old Madam Shen meant, and then sat down with Old Madam Shen and began to talk in hushed tones...
Cheng Wanwan wasn't stupid. After playing three rounds, she figured out the background of the three women.
Two of the women had married men, while the other, slightly younger woman, had divorced four or five years ago because she had no children and now lived with her parents.
Madam Shen probably wanted them to assess this divorced woman in various aspects, as she wanted to act as a matchmaker for Shen Dongming.
Cheng Wanwan naturally dared not be careless about such an important task. While playing cards, she chatted casually with the three women...
The four fought from midday until late afternoon, and it was almost dinner time when the three women finally got up to say goodbye.
After the three left, Lu Yingxue immediately said excitedly, "Madam, I think that lady is very nice. She is thirty-two years old this year, which is still young. Most importantly, she is kind and gentle, and knows how to behave appropriately. She will definitely get along with Lord Shen."
Cheng Wanwan nodded in agreement, saying, "You can get a general idea of a person's character by playing cards. That Lady Huang is indeed quite good, but I wonder if Lord Shen likes her?"
"Marriages have always been decided by parents, regardless of whether he likes it or not," said Old Madam Shen somewhat domineeringly. "Didn't Dongming and Zheng'er's mother get married without even meeting each other? It's just that Zheng'er's mother wasn't lucky. Sigh, let's not talk about those sad things... You two both think that Miss Huang is quite good, right? Then I'll ask a matchmaker to go and ask her..."
Just then, Shen Dongming's exasperated voice rang out from outside the door: "Mother, I told you I wouldn't remarry, why can't you stay still!"
When he heard that Cheng Wanwan had arrived, he immediately dropped his official duties and rushed back. Unexpectedly, he overheard his elderly mother discussing his marriage with Cheng Wanwan.
This feeling made him extremely embarrassed.
Old Madam Shen looked at him and said irritably, "I don't want to find you a wife, but I want to find a lady to manage the household. I can't handle everything. Don't you think about how old I am? I still worry about you, my son, every day..."
She saw that Lady Huang was having a hard time at her parents' home, and the Shen family was indeed lacking a wife to manage household affairs, so it would be a good match for them...
"Once Zheng'er finishes his imperial examination next spring, the wedding with the Lin family will be on the agenda." Shen Dongming said wearily, "At that time, with Zheng'er's wife managing the household affairs, Mother won't have to suffer anymore. Please, Mother, work hard for a few more months, okay?"
As he spoke, he rubbed his temples weakly.
Madam Shen wasn't a truly domineering person, and seeing his strong opposition, she didn't say anything more.
Shen Dongming quickly changed the subject: "Sui Shuren, the Ministry of Revenue has been vigorously promoting water conservancy projects recently. I would like to ask you about some issues. Let's go to the study to talk."
Cheng Wanwan nodded and followed her to the study.
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