Dou Zhao carefully recalled the marriage of Yi Jie'er and Shu Jie'er.

In their previous lives, they both married scholars, one with the surname Sun and the other with the surname Wu, but neither of them had any achievements in their official careers.

I wonder which two families they are?

She thought about it and went to her sixth aunt's house.

Ji was also worried about Dou Zhao's schoolwork.

She said to Dou Zhao, "Studying and writing are not things that can be rushed. If you read for half an hour and write for half an hour every day, you will naturally improve. I am worried about your needlework and the household accounting. Huang is about to give birth, and I can't ask you to join in the fun. You can learn needlework from me. Although you can't compare with those needlework experts, you don't need to ask others for help when you are at home. But the household accounting is not something that can be done on paper. It's better for you to learn from my second sister-in-law - she is in charge of the family and has experienced a lot. You can only learn from her. After all, I have encountered few things here. Even if I want to tell you, I don't have any examples. I am afraid that the more I talk, the more confused you will be."

Sixth aunt planned everything for her, and Dou Zhao was very grateful.

But her situation was special. What Sixth Aunt was worried about was exactly what she was best at, and what she didn't need to learn at all. Sixth Aunt thought she could take her time to master it, because it was exactly what she lacked the most and what she hoped to learn the most in this life.

She smiled and said, "I think I should study hard first! Didn't you say that people become good from studying? If I study well, I will be able to learn needlework and housekeeping more efficiently."

Ji could only smile bitterly at Dou Zhao's somewhat naive optimism. Thinking of how she had touched needlework during those years when she followed him, she said, "I think it would be better to do this. You come here every day at 7:00 p.m., read for an hour, write for an hour, and learn needlework from 11:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the afternoon. You can take care of household affairs. After the new year begins, I'll see what Yijie and Shujie plan to do. The three of you can stay together as companions."

Dou Zhaoke didn't dare pick up needle and thread in front of Ji. Even if she wanted to imitate Yijie'er and the others, she couldn't imitate the crooked stitches of a beginner and would definitely be exposed.

"Why don't I study and write with you in the morning, and I'll practice needlework at home in the afternoon." Dou Zhao said with a smile, "There are also servants in the West Mansion who are very good at needlework."

Ji agreed.

Dou Zhao began to travel back and forth between East and West Dou every morning.

A few days later, Dou Shiying received a letter saying that he had been appointed as a reviewer in the Hanlin Academy.

Grandmother asked Dou Zhao: "What is the purpose of self-criticism?"

Dou Zhao only knew that this was a minor official of the seventh rank, and said with a smile, "He is probably like a clerk in the county government office."

Grandmother laughed and said, "No wonder your grandfather didn't want to be an official. He once worked as a reviewer in the Imperial Academy."

The Second Lady was very pleased that Dou Shiying could go to the Imperial Academy, and said with a smile, "He and Zhongzhi are going together again. The two brothers will have someone to take care of them in the future."

Ji took the opportunity to talk about Dou Zhao: "... I heard that Yijie'er and Shujie'er are learning needlework from Huang, and she wants to go too. I saw that it was not convenient for Huang, so I did not agree. The children at home are gradually growing up, and some things need to be planned early. Otherwise, let Shougu learn the rules with Yijie'er and Shujie'er. What do you think?"

"Let's talk about this later." The Second Lady asked about the Double Ninth Festival on September 9th. "... I'm thinking of inviting the mistresses of each family to come home to admire the chrysanthemums. How can it be considered a Double Ninth Festival if we don't admire chrysanthemums?"

Ji Shi couldn't dwell on this topic any more, but Dou Zhao had grown up with her. She had no daughter, so she had always raised Dou Zhao as her own daughter. She was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and although she was not proficient, she was not shy when entertaining scholars. She thought that if she learned needlework and sewing, and learned some housekeeping skills, she would be perfect, but she couldn't find a good person to teach her. A woman must be good at housekeeping in the end. Leisure and elegance are the icing on the cake. If she didn't learn to be a housekeeper, wouldn't all her hard work in the past be in vain?

She still didn't give up, and followed the words of the Second Lady and said with a smile: "Last year, Uncle Qi's black chrysanthemums took the lead. I heard that this year they are blooming better than last year. Do you think we should move them over to match the occasion?"

After Dou Shiying left, his greenhouse was handed over to Dou Zhao.

The Second Lady smiled and nodded, saying, "It's better not to bother two people with one thing. You helped me borrow these flowers last year, so you can move them this year as well!"

Ji agreed with a smile.

But I'm not sure what the Second Madam means.

If they wanted to promote Dou Zhao, why not let him learn how to be a housekeeper from the second wife? If they wanted to suppress Dou Zhao, they moved Mo Ju, who was raised by Dou Zhao, to be the courtesan. I'm afraid all the mistresses in Zhending County would know about Dou Zhao.

Nanny Wang knew that Ji had gone to see the Second Madam about Dou Zhao's matter. Seeing that Ji had returned with a dazed look on her face, she immediately became worried and asked nervously, "What happened? What did the Madam say?"

Ji took the hot tea offered by Nanny Wang and took a sip. Then she told Nanny Wang about her meeting with the Second Lady.

Nanny Wang was shocked and thought, "Could it be that the Madam wants to keep the Fourth Young Miss at home?"

"That's not the case." Ji said, "Even if the Madam wants to, she has to be able to keep him."

Nanny Wang thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Don't you remember our Thirteenth Miss? When she got married, the men she followed were all from Madam Nine. As a result, if the Thirteenth Miss wanted to be with Auntie... she had to look at the maids' faces. Auntie Thirteen was so angry that she simply promoted the maidservant next to her to be her concubine. The Thirteenth Miss was embarrassed and was too embarrassed to say it. If it weren't for the concubine giving birth to a bastard son, who in the family would know about this!"

Ji's face suddenly changed color and she paced around the room anxiously. It took her a long time to calm down.

She told Nanny Wang: "Grind some ink for me so I can write a letter to Zhongzhi."

Nanny Wang hesitated and said, "Sixth Master is impatient. Why don't you write a letter to Seventh Master?"

"Seventh Master has Wang by his side," Ji said helplessly, "I'm afraid that if things don't work out, I'll become the target of public criticism."

Nanny Wang couldn't help but sigh.

Dou Zhao was unaware of Ji's worries. He listened to Ji's lecture on the Book of Songs in the morning, practiced calligraphy for an hour in the afternoon, and then accompanied his grandmother for a walk in the east courtyard.

She consulted her grandmother: "My sixth aunt said that after she finishes teaching the Book of Songs, I don't need to go to her to study anymore."

Grandmother was very happy and asked, "Then you have finished reading all the books, right?"

"How can I finish reading all the books?" Dou Zhao said with a smile, "It's just that my sixth aunt said that only great scholars can teach the "Records of the Grand Historian" and "Zuo Zhuan". She used to listen to grandfather's lectures with her brothers. She can recite them verbatim, but she doesn't dare to teach them."

It's a pity for my grandmother.

Dou Zhao said, "What do you think? Should we invite an old scholar to teach me at home?"

Grandmother was a little hesitant: "What did your father say?"

"If you agree, I will write a letter to Dad." Dou Zhao said with a smile, "Otherwise, I'm afraid the Second Madam won't approve it."

"My only regret is that I have never been educated," said the grandmother in a deep voice. "Write a letter to your father! If he disagrees, we will go back to the farm. Do they think they can still get their hands on the farm?"

When my grandmother moved to the farm, my grandfather wrote a deed and gave the farm to my grandmother as retirement land. The Dou family could only take it back after my grandmother passed away.

Dou Zhao was extremely happy.

She knew that no matter what she did, her grandmother would support her unconditionally.

Dou Zhao took his grandmother back to the house and wrote a letter to his father.

Just as I put down my pen, Qiu Kui came in and reported that Ji was here.

Dou Zhao and his grandmother hurried out to greet them.

Ji kept apologizing to her grandmother: "How could I let you come out to welcome her!"

Grandmother smiled and said, "We are all very grateful to you for taking care of Shougu since she was a child. If you are polite to me, it would be too polite."

Since Ji Shi married into the family, she has seen her grandmother every year and exchanged a few polite words with her. However, she did not know her grandmother well. It was not until Dou Zhao wanted to take her grandmother to live with him that Ji Shi sent someone to inquire about her grandmother's character and let Dou Zhao accompany her without any worries. After a few casual words, she explained her purpose.

When my grandmother heard that she wanted to borrow the black chrysanthemums, she immediately and enthusiastically accompanied Ji to the greenhouse: "When do you want them? I'll have someone move them over to you a day in advance - these flowers and plants need dew at night to grow well."

Ji smiled and said, "Shou Gu's flowers are so well planted. Is it because of your guidance?"

"Shougu is smart," said the grandmother, revealing a sense of pride. "I once told her to use salted fish bones to attract fireflies. She saw that the squid was not growing long, so she knew to throw two pieces of salted fish bones next to the squid. I didn't think of that!"

Ji laughed.

Grandmother pointed to the safflower, red hibiscus, and old shounen in full bloom in the greenhouse and said, "Look at these flowers, they are so beautiful!" Then she wanted to give Ji a pot of begonia, "wherever you go, there are chrysanthemums, colorful."

Ji saw that the crabapple trees were tender and pink, with layers of flowers densely blooming among the emerald green leaves. Even without any wind or rain, they looked very pitiful and very pleasing.

She was moved and asked, "Shou Gu, what else have you planted here?"

After Dou Zhao arrived in Kyoto, she never did any farming again. After she married into the Jining Marquis's mansion, whenever she felt restless, she liked to plant flowers and plants. She once raised two-color peonies with her own hands. To her, these ordinary flowers were just trifles.

She smiled and said, "Are you here for the chrysanthemum banquet for the Double Ninth Festival? I have a pot of Jianlan here that is still in bloom. Although it is a common variety, it looks good in the hall to welcome guests."

Ji couldn't help but look at Dou Zhao with wide eyes: "I didn't expect you can grow flowers?"

Dou Zhao blushed and said hurriedly, "It's just that I'm brave and don't mind trouble. If I can't plant well this year, I'll try again next year."

"It's great that you can fail in the exams again and again." Ji kept praising Dou Zhao, and my grandmother was so happy that she insisted on giving Ji a camellia planted in a purple clay pot: "...I heard that it can bloom in various colors."

Ji was shocked: "Eighteen scholars?"

Dou Zhao smiled modestly and said, "It was transplanted here only last year. It hasn't bloomed yet. I don't know if it can produce eighteen flowers."

Ji hurriedly ordered the maid who was carrying the basin, "Be careful!" Then she asked Dou Zhao, "How do I take care of it?"

"It's best to place it in front of a glazed window frame, and water it every two or three days depending on the moisture of the soil. The water should not accumulate, and it is best to let it settle for a day or two," Dou Zhao said, and he felt that there were many things that needed to be explained. He simply said, "Don't I have to go to your place for class every morning? I will help you take care of it then."

"That would be great." Ji smiled happily, "I can learn from you how to take care of these eighteen scholars. My ancestor loved camellia the most. My mother's family in Yixing is full of various camellias, which bloom all year round."

Different varieties of camellia have different flowering periods, and Dou Zhao could imagine the splendor just by listening to it.