Chapter 273 Celebration (Part 2)

When Xin Jie'er was one month old, the Fifth Lady first moved back to her original courtyard from the dressing room impatiently, and then she and Xu Lingkuan took the child back to her parents' home.

When she came back in the evening, Xin Jie'er was covered with colorful silk threads.

The lady laughed and counted the silk threads to tease Xin Jie: "...see how much our old marquis loves our Xin Jie!"

When a child is one month old and visits her parents' home for the first time, if the child is a girl, her parents' relatives and friends will each give the child a colorful thread. The number of threads represents the number of people from her parents' home who come to congratulate her.

The Fifth Lady laughed and said, "I heard that Xin Jie'er has returned, and several aunts and sisters-in-law within the fifth degree of mourning have returned - it's going to be very lively!"

The lady smiled and nodded.

The second wife, who was sitting opposite the old lady, took the child. Although the old lady was well-maintained, she was old after all.

It's okay to tease it, but it might be a bit tiring to hold it for a long time.

The lady didn't force it, and she talked about the March 3rd Festival with Eleventh Lady standing beside her: "... every year at this time, we have to invite them over to liven up the party.

There are so many things going on at home this year," she said, glancing at the Fifth Lady, "that we need to invite someone to help out and calm things down."

Are you referring to the sudden death of Xiaolan and her son?

"I was just thinking about discussing this with my mother."

Eleventh Lady said softly, "I saw this expense in the account books of the mansion. I was just thinking of asking you what to do this year."

The implication is that we shouldn't hold a big celebration this year! The second wife coughed softly after hearing this.

The lady looked at the second lady and asked, "What do you mean?"

The second wife said softly: "The child is only one month old. I think it is better to do as in previous years."

The ancients believed that destiny was the destiny of every person and that everyone’s fortune, wealth, and longevity were predetermined.

It is more about the balance of yin and yang.

When Yin grows, Yang disappears; when Yin rises, Yang disappears.

If the established pattern is broken at will, the balance between Yin and Yang may lead to more wealth but less longevity.

She meant that the child was still too young, and being too extravagant would upset the balance of the child's destiny and cause bad consequences! Mrs. Wu had wanted to have a grand wedding before.

Firstly, as the lady said, I wanted to add to the joy.

Secondly, this was the first Girls' Day after their daughter was born. Although there were fixed expenses for various expenses in the government, Shiyi Niang received fifty taels of silver according to the old custom when Xin Jie'er celebrated her full month, and they paid for the rest of the expenses themselves.

But it’s not like they can’t afford it.

For the sake of my daughter, this little money is worth spending! But after hearing what the second wife said, she immediately changed her mind.

"Second sister-in-law is really thoughtful. Mother, just do as Second sister-in-law says."

The old lady also agreed with the second lady's opinion in her heart, but she did not express her opinion immediately because she was afraid that the fifth lady would be suspicious.

Now that everyone agrees, the lady nodded slightly and told Eleventh Lady: "Then let's do it as in previous years!"

Eleventh Lady responded, and the two brothers Xu Lingyi and Xu Jinkuan came.

After greeting each other, Xu Jinkuan immediately took his daughter in his arms and asked, "Did you cry today?"

He asked the Fifth Lady.

The fifth wife walked up to her husband and looked at her daughter with a smile: "Who dares to make her cry?"

Xu Lingkuan smiled and said, "Children will cry when they are uncomfortable."

It means that you served well today.

Everyone laughed when they heard it.

Xu Lingyi's gaze fell on Eleventh Lady.

Since taking over the household affairs, Shiyi Niang has spent most of her time in the West Flower Hall. Even when she is at home, her mother, who is in charge, often comes to give her instructions.

Although he gave her free time at home, the time they spent together was not as much as before, and there was no longer the peace and tranquility they once had - they only spoke a few words today during breakfast.

I saw Eleventh Lady wearing a pink thin shirt standing beside the lady.

Her jet-black hair was tied up in an ordinary hairpin, with only a small South China pearl hanging on her ear.

Stand there quietly.

As peaceful and calm as the South Pearls on the ears, there is a kind of quiet beauty.

Feeling someone was watching her, Shiyi Niang turned her head and saw Xu Lingyi standing far away at the door. He was wearing a casual bright blue silk robe, with his hands behind his back and a straight posture.

The look in his eyes as he looked at her was bright and there was a hint of a winter smile in his eyes, which made his expression seem a little softer than usual.

Eleventh Lady was slightly stunned.

After Wang Jiubao came to Beijing, people often came to visit Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi used the excuse that his foot numbness had recurred and refused to see anyone except a few old friends such as Wang Li and Ma Zuowen.

I spend my time painting and writing in Banyue Pavilion.

I don't know why today, I went to the outer courtyard after breakfast and came back just now.

Did something happy happen?

She thought about it and looked at him in confusion.

Eleventh Lady has a pair of beautiful eyes.

The black and white are distinct, and the picture is clear and bright, just like a mountain spring, which purifies one's heart when looking at it.

But sometimes, she is like the stars in the night sky, sparkling and shining with an inexplicable light, making you guess for a while...Xu Lingyi looked at Shiyi Niang carefully.

Eleventh Lady was a little embarrassed.

I felt his gaze was too focused.

Who knows what others will say when they see this! She quickly turned her head to the side, and sat upright with her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart. Then she heard a burst of laughter and Xu Lingkuan's voice asking Xu Lingyi, "Fourth brother, what do you think?"

There was a hint of tentativeness and caution in his tone.

Xu Lingyi saw Shiyi Niang turning her head away, and sitting there with a frown and a smile on her face. He thought of the panic in her eyes when she glanced at him just now... and smiled slightly in his heart.

Although she knew that Xu Lingkuan's tone was a little off, she couldn't calm down and blurted out uncontrollably: "You guys make the decision! I don't care."

After hearing this, Xu Lingkuan opened his mouth wide and said nothing for a long time.

The Fifth Lady over there smiled sweetly and said, "Mother, you heard it with your own ears - Fourth Brother agreed. We will start on the second day of the New Year and sing until the fourth day. The Deyin class, Changsheng class, and Jiexiang Society, each family will have one day." At this point, she was already very excited, "Then invite Zhou Dehui, Geng Changsheng, and Bai Xixiang to come.

This is a rare event in the opera world that only happens once in a century!"

"Old Four is so nice today!"

The lady's gaze fell on Xu Lingyi for a while, then on Shiyi Niang, and she smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed into slits.

Xu Lingyi already knew what Xu Lingkuan wanted. He stiffened slightly, but soon returned to his usual gentle and calm demeanor: "It's rare that everyone is happy."

The lady smiled and nodded.

The second wife looked at Xu Lingyi thoughtfully and smiled.

At that time, it was said that Xu Lingkuan "became obsessed with toys"

It was he who had agreed to Xu Lingkuan's request for the troupe to perform at his home for three consecutive days... Xu Lingyi felt a little uncomfortable and quietly changed the subject: "I looked at the almanac with Chief Manager Bai today. March 10th is a good day. We want to choose that day to break ground. The sooner the repairs are completed, the sooner we can move in and spend the summer."

"Okay, okay, okay."

The lady nodded and asked, "Where are you going to move to?"

You need to hire a craftsman to repair the house.

Men and women should not touch each other.

Naturally, the women in the house could not live there and had to move somewhere else.

Before Xu Lingyi could speak, the lady said, "I think we should move to Chuilun Waterside Pavilion! Although it's called a waterside pavilion, your father liked to fish there when he was alive, so he built a small courtyard with three rooms behind the waterside pavilion. Brother Yu will live with Brother Yu in Lijingxuan. Sister Zhen will stay with me for a few days. The concubines will live in Yixiangyuan. Although it's not very spacious for the two of you, it's not too cramped either."

The lady looked at Shiyi Niang and asked, "What do you think?"

The most spacious courtyard in the garden is Zhuangzhaotang. But Xiaolan and her son died there. She felt a little uncomfortable about moving there. Shaohuayuan is next to Biyi Gate, and the only way to Zhuangzhaotang is across the water from Shaohuayuan.

This makes it inconvenient for Xu Lingyi to enter and exit.

Madam, this arrangement is the best.

Eleventh Lady looked at Xu Lingyi.

This kind of thing naturally requires the consent of the head of the family.

Xu Lingyi also felt that the Madam's arrangement was reasonable: "Just follow what mother wishes."

He added, "I think the sixth day of next month is a good day to move, so let's move on that day!"

The lady nodded.

Eleventh Lady talked about Zhen Jie'er: "...Let her live with us! Otherwise you will have to move again."

"It's spring now, and the wind blowing from the water is very cold. Houses near the water are uninhabitable."

The lady was quite adamant on this point, "You can't let her live in the yard with you guys."

Zhen Jie'er has grown up, and she has a bunch of maids and old women around her, so it is indeed inconvenient for her to move in.

But because of the trouble, Madam, Eleventh Lady was very uneasy.

"Let Sister Zhen live with me!"

The second wife, who had been sitting there without saying anything, suddenly said, "This is a good opportunity to check her homework. See if she has lost anything!"

The lady thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let Zhenjie live with you!"

That's how the matter was settled.

When Xu Siyu and others came to pay their respects, Xu Siyu remained silent as the lady said this. Xu Siyi was still too young to react. Zhen Jie was very happy, but only Zhe Ge pulled the lady's sleeve and muttered, "Grandma, let our eldest sister live with us!"

Xu Lingyi frowned: "Your sister is going to learn piano and calligraphy from your second aunt, not to play!"

Zhe Ge was so frightened that he hid beside the lady and didn't dare to say a word for a long time.

Xu Lingyi seemed to be about to test him on his homework.

He is now studying in the clan school with Xu Siyu.

It is a father's responsibility and right to supervise his son's studies. No woman in the backyard can say anything, including the lady dowager.

Zhe Ge stood trembling in front of Xu Lingyi and stammered as he recited a few lines from "Youxue".

Not to mention Xu Lingyi and the Second Madam, even Eleventh Lady could tell that Brother Zhe was not in the right state of mind at all - the Second Madam and the Grand Madam had taught him "Childhood Studies" in advance, and he had memorized it very well, but after a few days of studying, he seemed to have forgotten everything he had learned before.

Xu Lingkuan looked at him nervously.

The fifth lady patted her daughter, somewhat absent-mindedly.

The second lady looked confused.

The lady looked anxious.

Eleventh Lady had no choice but to wink at Amber.

As soon as Amber turned around and went out, a little maid came through the curtain and said, "Madam, where is the meal?"