680 Walking (Part 2)

After the house in Si'er Hutong was tidied up, Liu Yuanrui's eldest son Liu Daping and his family moved in and settled down. It was already the 22nd day of the 11th lunar month. Shiyi Niang asked Hubo to tell Lanting: "You can move in any time."

The next day was Little New Year's Day, and there was an endless stream of people coming to pay New Year's greetings to Liang Ge Lao. As the "daughter-in-law" in charge of the feast, Lan Ting was extremely busy. Even so, she still found time to go to Si'er Hutong and gave Liu Taiping's family two hundred taels of silver, asking her to help buy some tables, chairs, benches, pots, bowls, dishes, firewood, rice, oil and salt, and also rewarded her with another two taels of silver.

Liu Taiping is now on duty at Xu's house, guarding the gate. He is still very honest, but he is the companion of Eleventh Lady, and no one dares to look down on him. Not only that, he was promoted to a foreman, managing more than ten people. He is from his family. She is the niece of Mama Li, who manages the kitchen in the inner courtyard. She used to work in the small kitchen of the second lady in the inner courtyard of Xu's house. She is not only flexible, but also cooks delicious meals. After receiving the reward, she hurriedly took a box of snacks to Lanting's personal mother: "I made it myself, take it and try it."

The mother took it with a smile. She went back and gave it to the people around her to taste. The people around her praised it highly and asked for a second piece after eating one. The mother was moved and quickly put the remaining pieces of snacks on a plate and gave it to Lanting: "Try it too."

Before Lanting had time to have dinner, she took a bite with a cup of hot tea and said, "It's really good. Sweet and refreshing, with the taste of lotus seeds and mung bean yarn. I wonder what the filling is." She ate two or three pieces before letting go.

"It was made by Liu Taiping from Si'er Hutong." Lan Ting nodded slightly and said, "I know..." and kept the snack.

After the busy fifth day, I asked my mother to deliver a note to the Xu family, saying that I would go to pay my respects to the lady on the sixth day.

When Xu Lingyi was not at home, Xu Sizhen was in charge of ancestor worship and New Year greetings. The younger generation was naturally led to Jiang's place, while people like Madam Zhou and the fourth wife of Tang were entertained by Shiyi Niang. Madam Huang, Madam Zheng and other elders would be invited to sit in the room of the Taifu. But Madam Zhou and the others were all clan wives, and they were busy with the guests at home, so how could they come to Xu's house to join in the fun? They just lacked a capable mother to bring a name card to pay their respects. This year, Madam Huang and Madam Zheng were both old and could not stand the noise. They usually visited each other, but the closer it got to the New Year, the less they went anywhere. Even if the side branches of the family came to pay New Year's greetings, they would still see if they were in good spirits. There were no guests at the Taifu at all, and Shiyi Niang was also free, but Jiang's place was very busy.

The lady invited two female storytellers to tell stories. Xu Siqi was afraid that his mother would be lonely, so he came early every day to chat with Shiyi Niang. When the sun was bright, the beauty would lean on the eaves and play the flute. The maids and wives passing by couldn't help but take a second look.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile slightly.

Can this be considered as the growth of our talented boy?

Xu Siyi, however, did not have such self-awareness. He pulled Shiyi Niang to the steps of the hall.

"Mother, what do you think about us planting a few cannas in the corner?" He pointed to the two beautifully shaped Taihu stones built into the corner of the east wall... They seemed to emerge from the stones, and they were magical no matter what season it was.

"Okay!" Eleventh Lady thought this was a good idea. "When spring comes, you can ask someone to plant a few plants!"

Xu Siqi smiled and replied "Yes..." A little maid hurried in: "Madam, the fourth young lady is here with the wife of Mr. Jiang from the Hanlin Academy!"

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded, then went to the gate to greet Madam Jiang.

After saying "Congratulations..." to each other, Mrs. Jiang and Shiyi Niang went to the main house side by side.

"I should have come to see you before the New Year." Mrs. Jiang said. "Coincidentally, I just finished some things at home and it was already the Little New Year. So, after the fourth day of the New Year, I came to wish you a happy New Year."

"You are too polite." Eleventh Lady invited Madam Jiang to sit on the big kang by the window, "I should be the one to pay you New Year's greetings. But the Marquis is not at home, so it is inconvenient for me. I did not go anywhere during the New Year this year. I hope you can understand!" The two chatted for a long time, and Madam Jiang stood up to say goodbye: "It's too busy during the New Year. After the New Year, I will come to visit you one day and we can have a good chat." She smiled and said, "I have heard that the greenhouse in Yongping Marquis's Mansion has fresh flowers all year round. I will ask Madam to take me to see the greenhouse when the time comes."

"I'm afraid I can't invite you!" Eleventh Lady tried to stop her, "You have to eat before you go back, right? Otherwise, how will our Fourth Young Lady feel?"

"You have many guests. I'll come to bother you another day." Jiang insisted on leaving.

Jiang took Madam Jiang's arm and said, "Aunt, please stay and have dinner before you leave!" She was very sincere in her request.

Mrs. Jiang was a little hesitant.

Wang Shu walked over quickly.

"Madam, Fourth Madam, Madam Jiang!" He clasped his hands and bowed, "The Fourth Young Master has something to ask the Fourth Madam!"

Jiang took a step forward: "What's the matter?"

Wang Shu glanced at Shiyi Niang and Madam Jiang, and his voice suddenly dropped: "The Fourth Young Master asked me to ask the Fourth Young Madam, where did you get the pair of gourds for raising crickets that you bought last summer? Young Master Wang Yun came to pay New Year's greetings to the Fourth Young Master, and the Fourth Young Master asked me to find the pair of gourds and send them to Young Master Wang."

"I asked Baozhu to put the pair of gourds away and put them on the top shelf of the Duobao Pavilion in the study. They can be found easily." Jiang said solemnly, "Did Wang Gongyu ask the Fourth Young Master for the pair of gourds? Or did the Fourth Young Master want to give the pair of gourds to Prince Wang?"

"Young Master Wang said that he lost to Young Master Li in a cricket-fighting match a few days ago because of the equipment. Then the fourth young master said that he got a pair of gourds in the summer and they looked pretty good. He asked him to take them out to Young Master Wang to have a look. If Young Master Wang likes them, he will give them to him."

Jiang didn't ask any more questions and told Zhu Bao to find a gourd for Xu Sizhen.

Mrs. Jiang smiled and said, "Excuse me." She stayed with Shiyi Niang for dinner.

Jiang sent Madam Jiang to the bed and talked for a long time reluctantly until Madam Jiang's carriage disappeared from Jiang's sight. Jiang stood there for a while and then turned around and went to the inner courtyard.

Qiuyu came over with a smile: "Fourth Young Madam, Madam wants you to go sit with her!"

Jiang was a little surprised.

At this time, I wonder what the mother-in-law wants to talk to her about?

She straightened her clothes and followed Qiuyu to the main room.

The maids who usually stood under the eaves to serve were now all gone. The bright red lanterns hung quietly under the eaves, and one could hear a pin drop in the yard.

Her heartstrings couldn't help but tense up, and she became cautious in every move she made.

Yi Niang pointed at the armchair in front of the kang and smiled, "Sit down and talk!" Jiang replied "Yes" and sat upright on the armchair, glancing around out of the corner of her eyes.

There was only Amber serving her in the room, but after Amber offered her tea, she tiptoed away, leaving her and Shiyi Niang alone.

Jiang took a deep breath and her mood gradually calmed down.

"Mother, what do you want me to do?"

"Nothing special." Eleventh Lady smiled and took the oranges from the celadon high-footed fruit plate on the kang table and started recording. "I just thought of something and wanted to ask you!"

Jiang hurriedly asked, "Mother, may I ask?" Eleventh Lady said nothing, lowered her head, and concentrated on recording Orange.

The house became unusually quiet.

Jiang heard her own rapid and heavy breathing.

She was busy calming down and holding her breath.

After a while, Shiyi Niang finally finished recording Orange.

She then carefully removed the white threads on the oranges. Then she raised her head with a smile and handed the oranges and taro to Jiang: "Try it, it's a tribute from Fujian."

Jiang bowed and took the orange, feeling a bit of a dilemma - if she wanted to eat it, it was obvious that her mother-in-law had something very important to tell her, but she was eating the orange carelessly, which seemed disrespectful. If she didn't want to eat it, it was packed by her mother-in-law herself, and if she got the wrong idea, she would think that she was rejecting her.

For a moment she was undecided.

Eleventh Lady had already wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and it was clear that she didn't intend to record Orange anymore.

Should I give half to my mother-in-law?

As Jiang was thinking, she saw Shiyi Niang pick up the teacup and take a sip. She smiled and said, "I heard from Zhe'er last time that you asked me to tell the Crown Princess about the two thousand taels of silver I gave to Princess Yong..."

How could she order her mother-in-law around!

Jiang's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she said hurriedly, "Mother-in-law, I just feel that we are all human. It's a little inconvenient for Prince Yong to build a garden with the cash in hand. Although we are not very strong, now that we know about it, we should do our best to show our appreciation. Just like when the eldest princess worships the Queen Mother of Smallpox on some days, mother and Madam Zhou go to Ciyuan Temple to pray for the eldest princess. I hope the Crown Princess and Princess Yong don't get it wrong." "Don't be nervous." Eleventh Lady smiled, "I just heard from your tone that you seem to have read a lot of classics and history books. So I asked!" "My family runs an academy," Jiang said thoughtfully, "I have heard a lot, so I have some impression. But I haven't read it seriously."

"I just felt inspired," said Eleventh Lady. "Yesterday when I went back to Gongxian Hutong, I heard from your twelfth aunt that her uncle's daughter, who was once the governor of Fujian and is now the chief justice of the Dali Temple, married the eldest son of the prefect of Jianning Prefecture. During the chaos in Fujian, the prefect of Jianning Prefecture was also implicated, and his entire family was exiled to Yongchang, Yunnan. Although Lord Wang is a noble man, "The Supreme Court Justice, but there is no way to save my daughter and grandson from being imprisoned." As she spoke, the smile on her face gradually faded, "I miss them even more during every festive season. Your twelfth aunt's aunt felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife when she thought of her daughter far away in Yunnan, and she cried in pain, and no one could persuade her. The people around her also cried. The family was in a gloomy mood, and even this year was not a good year." She sighed softly. "I remember that when your twelfth aunt's mother-in-law was seriously ill and I went to visit her, the aunt in their family was still a little girl, and she also went with my mother to visit the sick."

"I heard that she was not only proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also liked to read classics and history. She was graceful and dignified in her actions, and was a person like a pearl and morning dew. I didn't expect that she would end up like this. I was also very sad when I heard it..."

Shiyi Niang's words were a bit incoherent. But Jiang Shi, who was smart, heard them clearly and understood them clearly. ! ~!