Chapter 672: Micro-movement (Part 1)
What Yuan Baozhu said made sense. She had just entered the family, and there were many things she needed to take care of in the future. It was very special to make hats with the white fox for her father-in-law and sixth uncle, but if so, what would she give when the old lady's birthday came or her father-in-law and mother-in-law's birthday came?
Jiang Shi couldn't help but get anxious. But Xu Sizhen always just smiled and told her not to worry about these things. No matter how much more she asked, she couldn't get a single word out. "Let the maid quietly inquire." She was told that Xu Sizhen was not in the outer courtyard these days, and all the household affairs were handed over to the chief steward Bai, who didn't know what he was doing.
What is he doing?
Jiang became a little anxious. It was the Dragon Boat Festival and she had to give gifts, so she asked Shiyi Niang for help: "How about I go to Sixiang Hutong?"
The three adults are sick again.
Eleventh Lady went to see it once and never went again.
There is no filial son for a patient who has been ill for a long time. She was sick every two or three days, and everyone knew that she was not really sick, so they either pretended not to hear it or just went along for the sake of appearance.
"You're pregnant." Eleventh Lady refused without a second thought, "Let your second sister-in-law go!"
"Don't worry." Jiang smiled, "I'm in good health! Second sister-in-law still wants to go to Gongxian Hutong to fight with Fourth Aunt and Fifth Aunt..." She probably wants to go out for some fresh air!
Since Jiang became pregnant, Xu Sizhen would not let her do this or that. If Wan San's wife had not said that it would be difficult to have a baby, she would have been content to have Jiang lying in bed every day.
"Then go ahead!" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "Just be careful. Don't disturb the fetus."
Jiang happily answered "yes" and went to Sixiang Hutong.
Jin was playing with her two children in the yard, and the maids, daughters-in-law, and old women who were serving her were all smiling and waiting on the side." Although no one was laughing loudly, there was no trace of sadness on their faces. It was obvious that everyone was not very concerned about the Third Madam's illness.
Seeing Jiang, Jin asked her two children to call her aunt and invited Jiang to sit inside.
"My sister-in-law is serving my mother-in-law in her room. She should be coming out soon at this hour." Jin said as she personally brought her a cup of hot tea.
Whenever the Third Lady suffered a loss at Fang's hands, she would get sick and ask Fang to take care of her. This was an open secret in the family and no one would reveal it.
"Then I'll go and greet Third Auntie too!" Jiang stood up.
"You are pregnant, so you should wait until my mother-in-law recovers before going!" Jin kept her.
Even though it was fake, she still had to do what she had to do. She was pregnant and it was not appropriate for her to see patients.
Jiang did not insist and chatted with Jin about family matters: "I heard from my husband that Third Uncle was transferred to Wucheng Bingmasi? Has he taken up the post?" "He will take up the post after the Dragon Boat Festival." Jin's eyes smiled and turned into crescent moons when she heard that. "He is the commander of the south city in Wucheng Bingmasi. Although he is only a sixth-rank official, he is in charge of a region. It is not like being in the palace, which sounds impressive but requires one to do everything at the mercy of others." She looked as if she was honored. Then she thought of Jiang's legitimate daughter-in-law and smiled, "Speaking of which, my husband still benefited from Fourth Uncle's help. If it weren't for this relationship, how could his superiors recommend him to the Bingmasi among so many people? It's just that my husband is busy with the handover these two days." She also had to thank her colleagues and was very busy. Well, since Fourth Uncle is a family member, he was arranged to be the last one—he will go there in the next two days to pay his respects to the Madam and Fourth Aunt. "
Jiang knew that Jin was just being polite.
Although Xu Sijian's superiors did this for Xu Lingyi's sake, if Xu Sijian didn't know how to behave, they wouldn't give him this kind of face. When this matter reached the Yongping Marquis's Mansion, Xu Lingyi was a little surprised and smiled and said, "This kid is not bad."
"That's because Third Uncle is talented." As Jiang was speaking, someone lifted the curtain and walked in. She smiled and said, "Who are you talking about who is talented?" Jiang looked up and saw a young woman as tall as jade, wearing a ginger-yellow silk blouse and a dark green jacket walking in.
"Sister-in-law!" She went forward to greet her with a smile. The three sisters-in-law sat down and talked for a while. Knowing that Jiang was there to bring a holiday gift, Fang went with her to the backyard to count the gift list.
Didn’t my mother-in-law say that these things can be done by the maids who accompany the car?
Could this be another trick that Third Aunt came up with to torment Eldest Sister-in-law?
Jiang was thinking about it and went to the backyard with Fang.
However, Fang pulled her to the side room.
"Tell me? Why did you look for me?" She smiled and sat on Luohan's bed side by side with Jiang.
Jiang looked at Fang in surprise.
Fang smiled and said, "You came to give us New Year gifts even though you were pregnant. What else could it be if not that you have something to ask me? Tell me quickly, what happened?" Jiang couldn't help but smile embarrassedly.
Ever since Fang rescued Xu Sizhen that day, she had developed a fondness for Fang. After several contacts, she felt that Fang was a generous and straightforward person who suited her temperament very well, and the two gradually became close.
She originally just wanted to go out for a walk to relax. Fang was so frank that she seemed a little insincere if she didn't say anything.
Jiang tactfully told Fang what had happened in the past few days.
Fang covered her sleeves and smiled: "This is not easy. Since Fourth Uncle doesn't even want Fourth Aunt to know, Second Uncle must have got the news from somewhere else. And he may only come back in winter. You don't need to be so anxious." It's better to wait and see.
"Yes!" Jiang's eyes lit up, "How could I be so confused?" She relaxed her brows, "Even if my father-in-law comes back in winter, it won't be too late for me to send some medicinal herbs to my father-in-law and sixth uncle to help them recover!" She couldn't help but pull Fang's hand, "Thanks to my sister-in-law for guiding me."
"That's all I said." You have to know when to speak or do things. If you are too close, people will dislike you. If you are too far away, people will resent you. Fang smiled and changed the subject, "Have you thought about how to spend the Dragon Boat Festival today?"
"I heard that they want to have a feast in the dining room." Some things can't be said any more deeply. Jiang smiled and talked to Fang about her parents.
A maid came in and said, "Madam, the young master said he would be back in the next two days. He asked the servant to bring you something."
Jiang was stunned when she heard this: "Isn't your uncle at home?"
Fang smiled and said, "Your uncle doesn't have much to do at home. Last spring, I gave the farm that I brought as a dowry to your uncle to look after. Your uncle goes out to collect debts four times a year. Occasionally, he buys goods from the south to the north or from the north to the south, and does some small business to supplement the family expenses." She said it very subtly, but seeing how generously Fang spent money, I'm afraid this kind of business makes a lot of money.
Jiang smiled as the servant brought in a red lacquered and gold-painted box.
"The eldest master said this is for you. The old master, the mistress, the third master, the third master's wife and others are coming back with the car."
Fang asked the boy, "Why didn't the young master come back with you?"
The servant smiled and said, "The eldest young master still has two accounts to collect. He was afraid that the eldest young lady would worry, so he asked me to go back and report to her first."
Fang was relieved and gave the servant some money. She looked up and saw Jiang smiling at her. She blushed and explained, "Your uncle is just like that."
Jiang looked at the box and smiled.
Fang was embarrassed.
"Oh! How can it compare to my fourth uncle making huā lanterns for my fourth brother and sister-in-law every day."
Jiang was also embarrassed.
The two of them joked with each other, and seeing that it was getting late, Jiang got up and returned to the lotus.
Xu Sizhen was talking to Wang Shu. When he saw her come in, he said to Wang Shu, "Buy a thousand horses," and walked up to her with a smile: "You've been sitting in the carriage for most of the day. Are you okay?" He looked her up and down.
"I'm fine." Jiang said, her eyes fell on Wang Shu who was holding a round goose yellow gauze in his hand: "Why did you come back so early today, husband? Is there anything going on in the outer courtyard?"
These days, Xu Sizhen came back quite early.
"Oh, the affairs of the outer courtyard are handled by Chief Bai!" Xu Sizhen said nonchalantly, and helped her sit on the kang near the window. "I'll ask Wang Shu to buy some gauze."
"Why did you buy so much gauze?" Jiang smiled and said, "I still have some in my storehouse. If you need it, I'll ask Madam Yuan to take it all out, and you can buy a few less."
"No need!" Xu Sizhen scratched her head and said with some embarrassment, "The gauze I want should be thin and translucent, and only Han Ji on East Street can customize it. The general gauze is too thick.", meaning that none of the gauze in her store met her requirements.
"What does my husband want to do with this kind of gauze?" She was a little puzzled.
"Make something." Xu Sizhen said vaguely, "By the way, my uncle sent someone to send us cooling fans tomorrow. You should prepare some reward money!"
This was the first Dragon Boat Festival after Jiang got married. According to custom, her family had to give her a fan and a cool mat.
Jiang smiled and agreed, then called Wang Shu over and asked, "Why does the fourth young master want to order the gauze?"
Wang Shu smiled and said nothing: "...The young lady will know when the time comes."
Jiang raised her eyebrows slightly: "Are you making a lantern?"
Wang Shu smiled awkwardly.
"The fifth day of the fifth month is both the Dragon Boat Festival and mother-in-law's birthday. Husband, do you want to make a unique lantern for her?" Jiang asked.
Since the truth had been revealed, Wang Shu could no longer hide it, and murmured, "The Fourth Young Master told no one to tell anyone... and prepared to make everyone happy... He didn't make just one cup, but nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine cups. When the time comes, we'll hang them in the back garden, and invite the Madam Tai and the Fourth Madam to the Qiongling Villa to view and celebrate..." As he spoke, he became a little excited, "The gauze costs three taels of silver a piece, and we'll light the white candles that we specially asked someone to order from Wanxian, Sichuan. The Fourth Young Master said they'll be brighter than the stars in the sky... When the time comes, the whole yard will be filled with lights, and the trees will be full of fire and silver flowers, like nine people in the Milky Way... The Madam Tai and the Madam will definitely like it when they see it..."
Jiang didn't say anything for a while before she said, "You can go down!" Her voice was low and full of fatigue.
Such a big gesture would surely please the Madam and Madam. Why does the Fourth Young Mistress seem a little unhappy?
Wang Shu muttered to himself, replied "yes" in a low voice, and stepped back.
Jiang thought of Xu Siqin’s steadiness, Xu Siyu’s hard work, Xu Sijian’s efforts, Xu Siyi’s diligence... and then she thought of Xu Siyi... ",... When the eunuch comes back and asks about it, how will Chief Steward Bai answer?
She felt powerless and sat blankly on the armchair until dusk fell.