The Spring Festival of the second year of Chongde was the most lonely one that Minglan had experienced since she came here. There was no big banquet, no firecrackers, and even few new clothes. But the loneliness could not hide Sheng Hong's fiery mood. On New Year's Eve, the Sheng family huddled together to eat the New Year's Eve dinner and stayed up together until late at night.
Sheng Hong prided himself on passing down his family tradition of poetry and literature, so naturally, he wouldn't allow activities without cultural connotations like card games or guessing games to be performed on stage. As usual, Brother Changbai started the proceedings. With a blank expression, he stood up from the table and recited a poem aloud: "There won't be another year next year, but I'm worried about wasting time. I'll work hard tonight, and I can still boast of my youth!"
Su Shi's "Keeping the New Year's Eve" is very positive, progressive and inspiring.
After the poem was recited, the table was deserted. Only the chubby Quan Ge'er, with his few small teeth grinning, gave face to his father, giggling and dancing. Sheng Hong's eye muscles twitched, Minglan pulled the corners of her mouth, Rulan was thinking about her own things, Changfeng lowered his head and held the wine glass, Wang rolled her eyes and continued to serve the old lady, almost shouting to the sky - even she could recite this poem!
Brother Changbai is really a rare talent. Every New Year’s Eve he recites this poem without hesitation, with the same content, the same tone, the same rise and fall, and even the same expression - no expression.
In the first year, the newly married Hai looked at her husband with tenderness in her eyes and a blush on her face, and listened to him reciting poems with a shy expression. Now, two years later, Hai looked out the window with a nonchalant expression. The moon on New Year's Eve was so white and big.
Chang Feng then passionately recited Meng Jiao's poem "After Passing the Imperial Examination," ending with the rhythmic melody, "A spring breeze blows, and the horse gallops, in one day I see all the flowers in Chang'an!" Sheng Hong listened with a smile, stroking his beard. When he finished, he frowned and scolded him: "...Be careful not to be arrogant or impatient, and don't let your imagination run wild. Being boastful and complacent is a taboo in studying!"
Brother Changfeng lowered his head with a melancholy look on his face. He was originally a dashing young man among many beautiful women. Ever since he passed the imperial examination, he had been thinking about going out for fun day and night. However, he did not expect that Sheng Hong would confine him in the mansion to study. He wanted to relax during the New Year, but Sheng Hong asked everyone in the mansion to keep a low profile and not to go out to show off.
Minglan understood what Sheng Hong meant. It was like a family that won a 100 million lottery ticket would move out overnight. The more popular they were, the more they would behave like grandsons. Now that the emperor's thorough investigation into the treason case had not yet concluded, many powerful families in the capital were worried and uneasy. If any family acted too happy at this time, they might be thrown a gas tank at night!
Therefore, even though Sheng Hong is obviously very happy now, he has to look sad and sigh occasionally, saying that his own happy events are not worth mentioning, and the happiness of the people of the whole country is the real happiness.
Minglan was secretly happy in her heart, but she quickly lowered her head, hiding her expression with a solemn look.
Dozens of steaming New Year dishes were placed on the polished mahogany Ruyi round table, with the bottoms of the plates immersed in hot water to keep them warm - five blessings come to the door, three Yangs bring good luck, and reunion every year... There were also several soups with chicken, duck, fish and meat. They were more interesting to look at than to eat, and almost no one touched the food. Minglan picked up a bowl of lush green vegetables, stretched out her chopsticks, picked up two cabbage hearts stuffed with fish and mutton, and put them in her mouth, eating slowly, with her mouth full of freshness.
After Sheng Hong finished scolding Chang Feng, the old lady said she was tired and went back to rest. Minglan looked at her eagerly, but she didn't want to follow her. This was her last New Year's Eve at her mother's house. The old lady had instructed her to stay up all night with Sheng Hong and Wang Shi and fulfill her filial duty.
As soon as Wang saw her mother-in-law leave, she happily put down her chopsticks and turned to Hai with a smile on her face. Now it was her turn to enjoy the happiness of being a daughter-in-law! But before she could say anything, Hai was hit by another bout of morning sickness. She covered her mouth and rushed outside to vomit violently. When someone helped her back, her face was blue and her lips were white.
Sheng Hong waved his hand and told his daughter-in-law to go back and lie down. Changbai also waved his hand and told his wife to take their son away. After the father and son waved their hands, Wang Shi didn't have time to say a word. There was nothing beside her. She was dumbfounded and could only stare at the two Lan Gan.
There was heavy snow falling outside, and even though there were floor heating and a stove in the house, it was still very cold. In the whole room, only Wang's face was glowing with rosy light. Minglan glanced at her for a few times and sighed secretly that it would be great if she had two bottles of tranquility oral liquid.
Wang was filled with worry and drank from small cups by herself, glancing at Minglan from time to time. She believed that she was not a vicious mother and was very considerate of her concubines' sons and daughters. She had been planning to start a marriage since Minglan was not even born.
At that time, she thought that if Aunt Wei gave birth to a boy, she would have to be left alone, but if she gave birth to a girl, she would continue to support her. As a result, her wish came true and a beautiful little baby girl was born. The two daughters of Lin and Wei continued to fight, and the Wang family's empire was unstoppable.
Later, the little girl's features gradually became visible, and she was undoubtedly a rare beauty. She thought that she might be able to marry into the Sheng family in the future, which would be a very beneficial marriage, or she would definitely receive a large betrothal gift.
Later, Aunt Wei passed away, and Minglan was sent to Shou'an Hall not long after staying with him. Days passed, and Minglan grew up to be as beautiful as Lanzhi and a jade tree, with a lovely and likable personality. On the one hand, she successfully divided Sheng Hong's favor for Molan, but on the other hand, her own Rulan became more and more unbearable in comparison.
As the wine entered Wang's heart, she became more depressed.
It would be fine if Minglan was exactly like Aunt Wei, beautiful though she was, but timid and petty, and it wouldn't be a big deal if she was taken out; but Minglan had nothing in common with her biological mother. She had bright eyes and a graceful demeanor, acted cautiously but also as free and easy as flowing water and clouds. Standing next to Ruolan, I'm afraid others would think she was the legitimate daughter.
Fate took many twists and turns, and in the end, among all the girls, it was Minglan who married into the richest family. Wang, slightly drunk, was reminded of the scene many years ago when she excitedly led Concubine Wei into the house. Could it be that the results of this life were really due to the fate of the previous life?
Minglan, who was sitting aside, felt that Wang had a bad look on her face. She knew that Wang had been very depressed about preparing her dowry recently, so she turned her head quietly and saw Ruolan. She lowered her head, tilted her face, and looked out the window with a blush on her face. She looked out the window with a pair of affectionate eyes, as if she was happy but not happy. Minglan sighed secretly. She knew with her toes that she was thinking about her beloved brother Jing again!
Since the incident, Sheng Hong and his wife had disliked their cheap son-in-law. However, Brother-in-law Wen worked hard to improve himself. After recovering from the injuries he suffered from Brother Changbai, he personally came to Sheng Hong and his wife to kowtow and apologize. At first, Wang got angry and told him to kneel on the ground and ignored her. Sheng Hong said a few polite words indifferently, then went into the inner room to read.
After hearing the news, Rulan rushed through the checkpoint like crazy. As soon as she saw her brother-in-law Wen, she burst into tears. The two ill-fated mandarin ducks knelt facing each other, crying, almost crying blood. Seeing this scene, Wang Shi couldn't bear it anymore and had to pull Sheng Hong out.
Minglan didn't know the details of what happened, but she knew that, in front of his future father-in-law and mother-in-law, her husband, Wen, had passionately expounded on his love for Rulan, saying he was so devoted to her that he wouldn't turn back even if offered a dozen princesses! It's said that Wang Shi burst into tears. Her mother-in-law quickly resonated with Old Lady Sheng's consistent sentiment: it's easy to find a priceless treasure, but hard to find a true lover. Even the veteran official Sheng Hong was moved to tears. He squeezed his future son-in-law's hands tightly and offered him good advice on his studies, career, and a happy marriage.
——The above scene was sealed by Mother Liu, and Xiao Xijuan risked her life to provide exclusive information to Minglan.
Minglan was stunned when she heard this. From her understanding, Wang Shi was probably really moved. Women are more romantic than men by nature. No matter how rough a woman is, she is still a woman. But as for Sheng Hong... there is no way to return this son-in-law anyway, and the anger has been vented. Why make the relationship awkward? Just give him a way out and everyone can get out together.
Afterwards, Rulan changed her previous melancholy and became cheerful and smiling all the time. She embroidered the poem written by her brother Jing on the handkerchief stitch by stitch - 'The moon is reflected on the willows and the lotus pond. The wild geese are in the clouds and the fish are in the water. I feel sad but it is hard to express my feelings'. Minglan got goosebumps when she felt embarrassed, but Rulan enjoyed it very much and embroidered carefully with a shy face.
Minglan was silent for a while in this situation.
What is love? It's Anna Karenina abandoning her husband and children to live illegally together and then commit suicide by lying on the railway tracks. It's Wang Baochuan not being a young lady but spending eighteen years in a cold abode. Minglan suddenly becomes nonsensical. Is she going to ask Uncle Gu, if she jumps, will you jump too?
Don't be ridiculous! Minglan despised her own wild thoughts.
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