Chapter 636 A Dream of Youth 168
Upon seeing the two return, Grandmother Xie quickly touched Xie Ning's little face.
"Do you all finish your shifts so late? It's one thing for the other adults, but Bao'er is so young... why does she have to do so much work?"
Every day when she strolled around the house to digest her food, she could see that the lights in Xie Ning's courtyard were still on, mainly the lantern at the gate, which was only turned off after the owner went to sleep.
After saying that, she glared at Xie Wangzhi and said, "Can't you help Bao'er with something?"
Xie Wangzhi could only force a smile and say, "Mother, Bao'er is so capable. I can't do the things she makes."
Grandmother Xie gave a soft snort and then led Xie Ning toward the small hall. "It's past dinner time. You're all so busy. It's been so long since we've eaten together."
The servants were also busy lighting lamps and changing some decorations today. Just as there are four seasons in a year, the ornaments and plants in the mansion are also changed with the seasons.
Xie Wangzhi didn't see Chen Wanniang, so he knew she was busy at the weaving workshop again. He wasn't hungry, but he still needed to eat something. He just asked someone to bring the food to his study. Even if he went home, he would still have to work overtime, both for official business and personal matters.
Mo Shu was picking through the invitations in the basket, setting aside several that had clearly been offered multiple times, and then asked, "Sir, have you rejected these invitations from your colleagues?"
"Yes, I declined."
He was invited to listen to entertainers or to banquets at their homes, but Xie Wangzhi was too lazy to go and had no interest in those banquets. The main reason was that the adults liked to give each other "servant maids" as gifts.
During that period, many wealthy men would take many concubines into their homes. This was not only because men were attracted to beautiful women and wanted to continue their lineage, but also because it served to demonstrate their status.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that concubinage had become a widespread trend.
Concubines had a very low status. In the market, you could buy a beautiful concubine for eighty strings of cash. However, only those of good social status could become concubines; those of low social status could not.
Therefore, it was said that "lower-class families in the capital did not value having sons, but cherished their daughters as if they were precious gems. Once they reached adulthood, they were taught arts and crafts according to their talents, so that they could be entertained and served by scholars and officials."
"Master, there's a letter from our hometown in Quanzhou." This isn't the Chen family anymore, but rather our hometown in Xinghua Village.
"show me."
The more Xie Wangzhi looked, the deeper the worry became between his brows; his grandmother was ill.
The scorching sun was too much for the old man, and he fell ill at the end of summer. Although he was saved by a good doctor, he lost his energy and spirit. The doctor said that this had been going on for the past two years.
Although due to the reform, non-parents are not required to observe so many years of mourning, he still has to go back.
Therefore, he had to arrange his work as well as possible.
After folding the letter, Xie Wangzhi unfolded another sheet of paper and began writing a reply.
Mo Shu was grinding ink on the side, glancing at the now-steamed food, and sighed silently.
Other families' adults either rest or go to a banquet after work, but in our own family, once they're home, they either read or continue working overtime, occasionally taking a break to go on a spring outing with their wives and children.
This is only if the lady has time. After all, although Xie Wangzhi is busy, Chen Wanniang is even busier. The new loom is being tested, and if it can be stabilized, it can be promoted. Of course, she has to keep an eye on it.
Aside from that, Chen Wanniang also had to attend the invitations from the ladies of the inner quarters. After all, she could choose not to go to some, but she couldn't refuse them all, and this was also a way to expand her network.
This was not only for the sake of Xie Wangzhi and Xie Ning's official careers, but also for his own business.
As the autumn winds begin to blow, the days grow shorter, and the lights come on earlier.
Grandma Xie placed the pitcher filled with clear wine into a warm bowl, then used a kettle to boil water and poured hot water into the celadon bowl. Once the pitcher became hot, the wine inside was warmed.
Grandfather Xie glanced at the wine with longing eyes, ate a bite of snacks to fill his stomach, and then picked up the wine glass and looked at Grandmother Xie expectantly.
"We should drink less of this yellow soup. We caught a few crabs today, so we made a dish to go with the wine."
While muttering to himself, he still poured half a cup of warm wine for Grandfather Xie.
Xie Ning didn't say anything. She was starving and just kept eating, but the amount of food in her bowl didn't decrease at all. It was because Chen Yuncheng didn't eat any himself and just kept putting food on her plate.
I even peeled all the crabs for her.
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