Chapter 47 Calculation
Shen Qingrong returned to Beijing to visit her relatives this time, with the mentality of being proud and seeing Jiang Shu laugh.
One mansion with two wives is simply a huge humiliation.
"Isn't the mansion run by my eldest sister-in-law? Why did it change to my mother?" Shen Qingrong asked Shen's mother in confusion.
Shen's mother glanced at Lu Mingke and forced a smile and said, "This is a long story. I will tell you in detail when I have time."
Lu Mingke lowered his head and drank tea, pretending not to hear, giving the mansion enough face.
Shen Qingrong knew the importance of the matter, and even though she was full of doubts, she couldn't help but not continue to ask.
She turned to look at Shen Changze and said, "I heard that my eldest brother brought a sister-in-law back from the border, why didn't I see her?"
She only saw the two children Yan Yang and Yan Huan.
Perhaps because they were shy, Yan Yang and Yan Huan stood quietly behind old man Shen, curiously looking at Shen Qingrong and her family of three.
"She is pregnant and not feeling well, so we didn't let her come. We'll call her over at dinner time in the evening." Shen Changze said briefly.
Shen Qingrong understood and congratulated, "It's great that the Marquis's Mansion is going to have another child."
"Yes, Lingyi is pregnant too. The Marquis' Mansion will be very lively in the future." Old Madam Shen looked pleased. "
Who is Lingyi?" Shen Qingrong asked curiously.
"She's my concubine." In front of Lu Mingke, Shen Changze felt a little embarrassed.
Shen Qingrong was unaware of this, and said excitedly with a turn of her eyes: "Happy on top of happy, the Marquis' Mansion is now celebrating three happy events."
Several people were stunned, and Shen's mother asked in confusion: "Why three happy events?"
Shen Qingrong walked to the side of Old Lady Shen and said affectionately: "Next month is grandma's 70th birthday, and it coincides with the return of my eldest brother. Shouldn't the Marquis' Mansion hold a grand banquet?"
Shen's mother and others looked at each other in surprise.
"Grandma has worked hard for the Marquis' Mansion all her life, and the Marquis' Mansion hasn't held a banquet for a long time. It is indeed time to hold a birthday banquet for grandma." Shen Changze agreed.
Old Lady Shen, who was at the top, felt warm in her heart and felt that her love for these two grandchildren was not in vain.
"Then this matter is settled." Shen Qingrong looked happy and expectant.
On the way back to Shangjing, she had made up her mind that she must let the Shangjing ladies see how well she is living now.
Back then, she admired that man, and all the ladies laughed at her for being delusional. Later, she married far away in Pingyang, and they laughed at her for marrying to a remote place, and from then on, there was no Shen Qingrong in Shangjing.
Now that she is back, she must let those who laughed at her back then see her glory and slap them in the face.
Even if she returns to Pingyang after visiting her relatives, she will leave her good words in Shangjing.
"Holding a birthday banquet is not a trivial matter. I'm afraid I can't handle it alone." Shen's mother looked at Jiang Shu, hoping that she could come forward to handle it. Holding
a big birthday banquet not only requires busy work, but also costs a lot of money. Shen's mother is really distressed.
If it were in the past, Jiang Shu would definitely contribute both effort and money. But now, she just pretended that she didn't understand and couldn't see, and leisurely tasted West Lake Longjing.
Shen Qingrong didn't like this tea, but Jiang Shu thought it was very smooth.
"I'll help my mother to organize it, and I will definitely make my grandmother's birthday banquet grand and lively." Shen Qingrong took the initiative to ask for a try.
In the past few years, she has been in the Lu family and learned how to manage the household from her mother-in-law, but she has never really practiced it. This is a good opportunity to try it out.
No one expected Shen Qingrong to say this, and several people in the hall were surprised.
Lu Mingke hurriedly added: "There are two sisters-in-law in the Marquis' Mansion, both of whom are smart and capable, so there is no need for you to worry about it. It is not easy for you to return to Beijing to visit your family, so you should talk to your family more."
Shen Qingrong is already married, and there is an older sister-in-law in the mansion, so there is no need for her to take the lead.
Besides, it is a taboo for a married woman to interfere in her mother's family affairs.
If this gets out, both the Shen and Lu families will be scolded for having no family discipline.
Lu Mingke doesn't understand why Shen Qingrong, who is sensible and reasonable in Pingyang, is like a brainless person when she returns to Shangjing.
"Aunt is right, you should spend more time talking to me, an old woman, when you have time. I don't know when you will come back next time, and your mother and sister-in-law are responsible for the affairs of the mansion." Old Lady Shen also said.
Shen's mother also came to her senses at this time and kept winking at Shen Qingrong.
Shen Qingrong stamped her feet in frustration and reluctantly returned to her seat to sit down.
Jiang Shu was tasting tea from beginning to end, as if today's tea was particularly delicious, which made Shen Qingrong very angry.
This calmness that ordinary people could not match made Lu Mingke look at him more and admire him.
Seeing that Jiang Shu did not speak, Shen's mother had to take the initiative and said, "Jinchu is not in good health, so Shu'er and I will host the birthday banquet together."
Although Jiang Shu was reluctant, he could not refuse.
The matter was settled. Shen Qingrong's family returned to Huaqingyuan to settle down, and Jiang Shu and Shen Changze were left by Shen's mother to discuss matters.
"Shu'er, you have been managing the Marquis' Mansion in these years, and you are also very good at organizing banquets. You will be in charge of this birthday banquet. Mother trusts you."
Shen's mother said this, wanting to throw all the responsibilities to
Jiang Shu. Jiang Shu raised her eyebrows and said slowly: "Although I have been in charge of the family for a few years, I have only organized two banquets. It was mother's guidance that barely avoided embarrassing the Marquis' Mansion.
" "This birthday banquet is of great significance. Anything wrong will damage the reputation of the Marquis' Mansion. I am not experienced enough to take on the responsibility alone. It is better for mother to host it and I will assist from the side."
Shen's mother was about to speak, and Jiang Shu added: "Besides, my legs are not fully healed, and I am afraid I can't stand being busy."
Jiang Shu's words made sense. Shen's mother opened her mouth, but was blocked and had nothing to say.
Mother Shen looked at Old Lady Shen, hoping that she could say something for her.
But Old Lady Shen was taking medicine and ignored her.
Although Old Lady Shen was old, her mind was very clear.
If it was something else, it would be fine, but this time it was a birthday banquet for her, so she could only listen to everything and couldn't speak.
Mother Shen was very upset, and she pinched her hands and said with a stiff face: "It costs a lot to hold a grand ceremony, but the treasury is empty, Shu'er, you know better than anyone else, this money..."
"Don't worry about the money, mother." Jiang Shu said.
Mother Shen was delighted when she heard it, and said with a smile on her face: "I knew Shu'er was the most generous and filial."
Knowing that Shen's mother had misunderstood, Jiang Shu said in a leisurely voice: "The Marquis's Mansion is holding a grand banquet, and those who come to the banquet are all dignitaries in the capital. The birthday gifts they present must be very valuable. If the mansion is short of money after the banquet, you can just pick out some birthday gifts and sell them."
"How can this be possible!" Shen's mother immediately retorted.
If people knew that the Marquis' Mansion relied on pawning birthday gifts to make a living, wouldn't they laugh their heads off.
Jiang Shu frowned and said with embarrassment: "Then I will convert the birthday gift I gave to my grandmother into silver and give it to my mother." Jiang Shu
has always been generous, and the birthday gift converted into silver must be very considerable, enough to hold a birthday banquet.
Shen's mother thought this was a good idea and looked at Old Lady Shen for instructions.
After all, it was Madam Shen's birthday banquet and a birthday gift for her, so she had to agree to it.
"I'm old now, I don't care about anything, just do as you please." Madam Shen closed her eyes, hiding the sadness in her eyes.
It's really sad that a dignified mansion would plan such a birthday banquet.
After all, money is just a thing outside of the body, and she won't live for many more years anyway, so let them do whatever they want.