Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Two Chapters in One
I originally thought I would stay for at least several days, but I didn't expect to give birth that night. Afterwards, Jinniang waited for the third day of the baby's washing before returning home. Ding'er couldn't concentrate on his studies at home, but he held a book in Wei's house and pretended to love reading. Jinniang thought that he should change his fake attitude of studying.
Fortunately, after more than a month since he returned, Ding Ge'er was back to normal.
Good habits must be cultivated when children are young. Fortunately, Jinniang is now focusing all her energy on her youngest son. Ding'er is about the age of first grade in elementary school in modern times, so there is still time.
Jiang Xian was not at home during the day and could not take care of the child, so Jinniang urged the child every day to keep up with his homework. As long as the child kept up with his homework, made progress in learning and had good study habits, even if he failed the imperial examination, it would still be good for him to pass the examination for the throne in the future.
In short, if you can read, you should read first.
Ding Ge'er finished his homework before Jin Niang set the table for dinner. Jiang Xian came back just in time and realized what was going on when he saw them. He was a little surprised: "Don't they usually finish their meal by this time?"
"Since you haven't finished your homework, you naturally have to write it first." Jinniang said lightly.
Jiang Xian was stung and looked at his son with sympathy. Even for his youngest son, his wife did not relax any requirements. He quickly adjusted his attitude and sat down, smiling and asking, "What are we having for dinner today?"
Jinniang recovered and said, "We're having shrimps today and we've also cooked winter melon and meatball soup. You two should eat more."
She ate the shrimps, and the father and son ate the rest of the meat. Jinniang ate half a bowl of rice, a small half plate of boiled shrimps, and garlic-sauce vegetables.
After dinner, it was parent-child time. Jinniang and Jiang Xian accompanied their sons to play in the garden. Dingger wanted to play on the swing and asked Jiang Xian to make a wreath for him, while Jinniang whispered something to Jiang Xian.
"Your son has been so frustrating these days. He says yes to everything I say, but says another thing in private. So I just sit next to him and stare at him. It's so tiring, even more tiring than doing needlework." Jinniang complained to Jiang Xian.
Jiang Xian couldn't help but laugh: "You are just too serious."
Jinniang said, "In fact, I also know that reading is innate. Those poor children with talent would like to drill a hole in the wall to steal light to study. But let him develop a good habit, at least in the future when he does other things, he will not procrastinate or be distracted."
You have to develop good habits when you are young.
No matter whether you are doing business, studying or managing a family business in the future, people who are focused and have strong execution ability will succeed in whatever they do.
Jiang Xian nodded his head as he listened. He then said, "Let's buy a hundred acres of land and build a manor. We can live there occasionally."
"Do I need to tell you? I have already asked someone to do it." Jinniang smiled.
Jiang Xian sighed: "The court is now either black or white. Even if I were in it, I would find it difficult to do anything."
Although Jiang Xian is now close to the Shen Party, he has not completely surrendered to it. He still exchanges letters with Prime Minister Jixian and has a good relationship with Academician Fan.
But the greater the pressure, the more he thrives.
In this regard, the couple is different. When Jinniang is under pressure, she will solve the problem quickly and finish it as soon as possible. However, for Jiang Xian, the greater the pressure, the greater the opportunity.
"Your second brother is really outstanding now, but I think he is a little too arrogant sometimes." Jinniang also heard some things about Jiang Fang.
Jiang Xian said: "To be fair, he is a very talented person, but he is too rebellious. His personal ability is too strong, but what he wants to do is not just about his personal strength, and he is prone to acting on impulse."
In fact, since Jiang Fang took office, he has not allowed his sons to engage in corruption and has kept them very strict, and he has done a lot of good things.
But as Jiang Xian said, if things go to extremes, it is easy to be slandered.
Although this is also a lone minister in a sense, the emperor's intentions are hard to predict.
Since ancient times, it has been difficult for good ministers to meet a wise ruler.
The atmosphere was inevitably heavy when talking about these things. Jinniang smiled and said, "By the way, I have some cloth at home. I'm afraid it will get damp, so I plan to give it away as a gift during the Dragon Boat Festival."
"The ladies can make the arrangements." Jiang Xian said, and seeing Ding Ge'er giggling while playing on the swing, he couldn't help laughing too.
In May, Jinniang had completed the ceremony and it was her granddaughter's 100th day. The Wei family had only held a family bath last time because it was too cold, so this time they held a grand 100th day banquet.
Jinniang naturally arrived earlier. Yunjie was wearing a pomegranate red jacket with peony patterns and a golden crown on her head. She looked young and graceful.
When the mother and daughter meet, they naturally have endless things to talk about.
"Mom, I've been looking forward to your coming. You're really something. When I gave birth, it was all thanks to your proper guidance. You even came over from time to time during the confinement period. Now that our daughter is better, you didn't come anymore." Sister Yun complained.
Jinniang smiled and said, "It's your second brother who likes to play tricks. I have to watch him do his homework."
Junjie thought so too. She was already married and she couldn't let her mother still focus on herself. This is also the reason why she likes her mother. She tells the truth and helps when necessary. She won't keep it to herself and then complain.
Speaking of academic performance, Xuan Ge'er, who took the provincial examination this year, failed, and neither did Wei Liulang. Instead, the poor orphan son of the third branch of the Jiang family who had lost his father passed. Although he was ranked in the top five, he had a relative like Jiang Xian around who could help him out.
Yun Jieer said, "Sixth sister-in-law's face is very ugly. Big brother has been promoted to an official position through imperial favor, so his future is considered to be stable. Although the prime minister can be promoted to ten people, the ruling officials to eight people, and the attendants to six people, since the three redundant positions were eliminated, 70% of these promoted officials are in the secretarial departments of the imperial court, and very few have entered the core positions. Although my father-in-law is not the prime minister, he still has a quota, but she hopes that you and Sixth brother can be promoted together."
"This is not good. The favor is too rampant. Unless it is a last resort, this is not the right way." Jinniang waved her hand.
She still hopes that her son-in-law can rely on his own strength. After all, the child is less than 20 years old and it is the right time for him to study. Otherwise, even if you take a shortcut for a while, you may regret it in the future.
Sister Yun nodded: "My daughter also means the same thing. My husband also thinks so. In my opinion, my husband and Sixth Brother seem to have some... I can't say they don't get along, but there is always some comparison. In this way, my daughter can also use this to make my husband study well."
Jinniang was delighted when she heard this: "The emperor values heroes, and he teaches you to write. All other things are inferior, only reading is superior."
After entering Qixia Courtyard, Jinniang glanced at Mingyue and couldn't help but say, "This child is only a hundred days old, but she looks very beautiful. I'm sure she will be a beauty in the future."
"Mom, I always feel that beauty is just skin deep. Just like Ning'er, as soon as he opens his mouth, people won't think about his appearance, they will only think that he is talented, reliable, has elegant conversation, and will definitely be a rising star in the future." Whenever Yun Jieer thinks of her younger brother, she feels more secure, just like the feeling her mother gives her.
Jinniang looked at her daughter and said, "You can say that, which means you have grown up."
The mother and daughter talked about some private things, and Yun Jieer suddenly asked: "Mom, do you remember Jiang Song who used to live next door to us?"
"From what you said, of course I remember. Her family only moved away a year or two ago." Jinniang tried hard to recall. She had been staying at home every day to take care of her son recently and had not paid much attention to what was happening outside.
Sister Yun said, "She married into the Ke family, and her life was not easy. The Ke family went after her dowry. Her husband looked honest, but he actually only listened to his mother."
"You make the decision in such a hurry without even doing some research. If you are impatient, you won't get the best deal." Jinniang shook her head.
However, she was very surprised: "How did you know?"
Yun Jieer said, "It was Mother Rong who helped me collect rent in Tianshui Lane. On the way, I met Jiang Song's mother. She cried when she saw Mother Rong. That's how I found out. But now I am just the daughter-in-law of the Wei family. I haven't established myself yet. Besides, she has brothers and parents in her family. It's not my turn to intervene."
Sister Yun is now a wealthy woman. The income from the three hundred acres of farmland in Tianshui Lane and Luoyang is several hundred strings of cash. She also receives a monthly salary, so she leads a very comfortable life.
Therefore, she cherishes it very much and does not act rashly.
Jinniang nodded: "Household affairs are very difficult to manage. Her mother is really a fool. The child is younger than you, and she was married off in such a hurry. It would be strange if the dowry of tens of thousands of strings of cash was not embezzled and eaten up."
The mother and daughter did not mention this family because it was simple. Divorce and then find another family was the best solution. Otherwise, they would never be able to struggle out of that quagmire.
Mrs. Wei sent someone over, and Jinniang went out.
When Madam Wei saw Jinniang, she saw that she was not wearing a crown on her head, but a transparent gauze wrapped with light pink lotus embroidered on it. Her hair was pinned with a jade comb, and she wore a crystal necklace on her chest and white jade bracelets on her hands. She looked very refreshing.
"You look so cool." Mrs. Wei smiled.
Jinniang said, "You don't know that I hate wearing a gold crown. I'm not afraid of you saying it's too heavy. I have a deep mark on my scalp from the last time."
Mrs. Wei always felt that Jiang Xian and his wife had no sense of being elders at all. They still looked very young. Jinniang was still very clever and spoke no differently from Yunjie.
"You, why are you still saying childish things?" Mrs. Wei couldn't help laughing.
Jinniang said, "I won't pretend when I'm with my sister-in-law."
While the two were talking, guests gathered. Jinniang was among them and saw that the banquet was extremely grand. The hundred-day banquet is also called the ceremony of recognizing uncle. Ning Ge'er and Ding Ge'er came together, and Ning Ge'er gave his niece a longevity lock on behalf of the whole family.
Everyone urged Ning Ge'er to hold Mingyue. Ning Ge'er took her carefully because Mingyue was a nickname and the child's real name had not yet been given. Master Wei was furious when he saw Wei Qilang still grinning foolishly. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Ning Ge'er, but he could show some kindness to him.
"My dear nephew, why don't you give my granddaughter a good marriage?" Master Wei went up himself.
Ning Ge'er was a little surprised, but he said a few humble words, thought for a while, and then smiled and said: "In the poem "The Moon Rises", it says that the moon rises brightly, and bright also means white. I wonder what you think, my dear father, cousin?"
Master Wei and Wei Qillang both agreed. Jinniang felt relieved listening to them and thought to herself that the word "Jiao" was concise and clear, which was quite good.
The name of the granddaughter was also decided. No matter why Ning Ge'er was asked to name her this time, experts could see that it was a courtesy from the Wei family to the Jiang family. The Jiang family is the descendant of Lord Shao, a prime minister's family. Now that the two brothers have both become Jinshi, their children are still outstanding and may have a bright future.
After returning from the Wei family, Ning Ge'er was reading a book in the carriage, while Ding Ge'er was making a fuss about sitting in his brother's arms and wanted his brother to play with him. After being scolded by his brother, he went forward to please him, which made Jinniang laugh.
Last winter was cold and this summer was hot. Jinniang liked to take a walk in the garden after dinner while the afterglow had still not faded. After walking for half a month, she found that she had sun spots on her face and became much darker. She no longer dared to go out casually.
In the summer, she bought a kind of cool gauze and asked a tailor to make two sets of clothes for the whole family, which were much more breathable.
Ding Ge'er didn't make many new clothes, and most of his brother's new clothes were given to him. It’s not that Jinniang is reluctant to throw away the clothes, but the clothes are all very good and it would be a waste if they were thrown away.
Family members will not look down on family members, but if you give something to outsiders, they will inevitably think it is alms.
Summer is over and Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. This year Ding'er is seven years old and Ning'er is fifteen years old.
My brother's sister-in-law Zhang Pingjun was about to give birth, so Jinniang went to visit her in person. When she heard that she was pregnant, she felt relieved.
"I have also given birth twice. Don't worry, sister. I know what I am doing." Zhang Pingjun spoke quite appropriately.
Jinniang smiled and said, "Anyway, I have already prepared my third-day-birth ceremony, so I will come directly when the time comes. Why not let my parents come from the farm in the next few days to help take care of you? What do you think?"
Of course Zhang Pingjun agreed. It was better to have the elders at home. She selfishly wanted to ask her parents to come and help, but her aunt also said the same thing. If Yunjie gave birth to a child, the Wei family couldn't keep her. This was the way to get along for a long time.
In fact, Zhang Pingjun sometimes admired her very much. How could a person be without so many desires?
When things are done well, he doesn't try to take credit for them, but if someone offends him, he immediately gets angry.
"Sister, your arrangement is excellent." Zhang Pingjun smiled.
When the fruits were ripe in September, Zhang Pingjun gave birth to another daughter. Jinniang did not show favoritism and gave her whatever the two older ones gave her.
When my little niece was one hundred days old, another year had passed. Jinniang felt that the time had passed too quickly. My granddaughter Jiaojiao was also one year old. During the one-year-old ceremony, the child grabbed the rouge box. Everyone said that she would definitely be a beautiful girl in the future.
Jinniang and Zhang Pingjun both came to Wei's house, and after the one-year-old ceremony was over, they and their wives talked together.
Yun Jieer said, "I don't know what happened to Sixth Sister-in-law, but she helped Sixth Brother get a concubine. The girl in green clothes just now was a new one."
"If this goes on, how can her husband still read good books? I won't let anyone in your brother's room. At this age, it is better to study. Otherwise, once you are distracted, it will be very difficult to get back on track. Of course, this is nothing for people with extraordinary talents, but it is a no-brainer for ordinary people." Jinniang disagreed.
Even if it was Ning Ge'er, she would not let anyone in the room before marriage, but after marriage it depended on the couple themselves.
Sister Yun also agreed: "I think so too, but it's probably because Sixth Sister-in-law thinks this will make Sixth Brother feel relieved."
Jinniang could understand this logic, just like some unfaithful men who treat their wives well when they get home out of guilt. Wang was also uncomfortable at first, but now she can easily win her heart.
Jinniang said to her, "Everyone has their own way of living. My son-in-law is studying, so you must not be distracted."
Sister Yun nodded.
Zhang Pingjun, who was listening at the side, also agreed: "That's right. In fact, even in our family, my mother is very strict at home and would not do this casually."
Sister Yun smiled and said, "Aunt is right."
"There will be another test next year, and it will be a new round then. You should prepare well." Jinniang said.
Zhang Pingjun asked, "I heard that our Ning brother will also take the exam next year."
Jinniang smiled and said, "He has already received the qualification, but he is still young. I told his father to let him participate in one, so that he can get a feel for it in advance."
No one expected Ning Ge'er to pass. In fact, Ning Ge'er's performance in the previous exams at the Imperial College was not very ideal, but he would definitely practice questions. Because he is not a talented player, he wanted to read a lot of books before, but later he found that learning too much in this way would make it difficult to focus and it would be easy to be distracted.
If you want to pass the imperial examination, you still have to keep practicing Chengwen and follow the requirements of the imperial examination.
When they entered Qixia Courtyard, they heard Sister Yun say, "Next year's exam will be held, and it is said that the eighth brother from the second branch will also participate."
"This is a good thing. Everyone can participate and compete with each other. Even the young master of the Hao family from Suzhou will come." Jinniang said with a smile.
On the other hand, Meng Sanlang also planned to take part in the examination. Since his family had no chance of inheriting the throne, the imperial examination was the only right way for him. Miss Sun was talking to her mother: "There will be many students going to the capital next year. If you can help me find a student, it will be helpful in the future."
Mrs. Zhou Si said, "The Meng family you married into is a family of officials. Is your sister only qualified to be called an ordinary student?"
"Mom, that's not what I meant." Miss Sun always felt that there had been a rift between her and her mother over the years.
Madam Zhou Si also knew that she had said the wrong thing, and said: "Don't bother you to worry about this matter. Your sister is only seventeen years old this year. It's not too late for girls in our Bianjing to get married at this age. Look, the girl from the Jiang family got married casually, and now she's crying. Her family is furious and wants to take her back to recuperate, but she still has to be sent back to her husband's family when she's done recuperating."
With the example of Jiang Song, Miss Sun couldn't say anything.
She stroked her belly again: "Mom, I think I'm pregnant again. This feeling is the same as the last time I was pregnant with my sister."
This time, she hopes to give birth to a son, which would be a perfect ending.
Zhou Ting counted the days and found that it had been almost a year since she gave birth to her last child. She looked at her daughter and said, "Then you should take good care of her. It's just that your mother-in-law is too selfish."
When she was in Zhou's family, Jiang was the last to be exposed in her dowry. The four girls had the same clothes and jewelry for daily and monthly allowances.
Miss Sun didn't care: "She's fine. You can see that I can go back to my parents' home from time to time, and you can tell that she is easy to please and not the kind of person who is deliberately mean."
Mrs. Zhou Si just felt that her daughter was being pua. She shook her head and was tactful enough not to say much.
Then Miss Sun asked, "Mother, my uncle is so powerful now, why don't you bring my uncle back?"
Thinking of this, Mrs. Zhou Si certainly felt strange. The book said that Jiang Xian brought the person back, but Jiang Xian did not bring Zhou Cunzhi back, so it was even more difficult for Jiang Fang.
Sun Shichen said that Zhou Cunzhi had joined the party of Prime Minister Jixian. Even Prime Minister Jixian is now in hiding, so no one dares to risk the wrath of the world with Zhou Cunzhi.
But she couldn't say this to Madam Zhou San. To put it bluntly, her relationship with Zhou Cunzhi was just ordinary. They hardly spoke a word throughout the whole year. Zhou Cunzhi was the biggest beneficiary in the Zhou family. His own brother was also flattered by the Jiang family and only knew how to eat, drink and have fun, and had no great ability.
It was not easy for her to say anything about these things. Even her third sister, who had always been on good terms with them, always put her family first, so it was even more impossible for her to do so.
It is also said that after Jinniang came back from Wei's house, she took off her hairpins and rings, let her hair down, and relaxed completely.
Little did he know that he had just sat down for a while when he heard someone from Jiang Xian deliver a message saying that Prime Minister Shen had resigned in anger and that Jiang Fang would take over the position of the Three-Division Envoy.
At this time, Jiang Fang's personal career reached its peak, because the emperor still wanted to reuse the Shen Party, defeat the stubborn Prime Minister Shen, and use the lone minister Jiang Fang.
Jinniang immediately prepared a gift and went straight over there, but she didn't expect that Xu came even faster and was already sitting inside.
Although Xu usually worships Buddha in a nonchalant manner, she is usually much faster than Jinniang in doing such things as adding icing on the cake. When Jinniang came in, she immediately said to the busy Madam Zhou San, "Congratulations."
Mrs. Zhou San smiled and said, "No way, please help me entertain the guests. I am too busy to handle everything."
Jinniang naturally helped with the banquet. Xu wanted to go along, but she was no longer an official wife, and it would be wrong for others to introduce her as the eldest sister-in-law. After all, Jiang Fang had adoptive parents. For someone like Jinniang, even the wife of the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture knew her, so there was no need to introduce her.
After being busy at Jiang Fang's house for a long time, she didn't eat much. When she came back, she couldn't eat the diet meal. She ate a few pieces of pepper and salt spare ribs and a piece of pork belly, and then she felt much better in her stomach.
"Next time, go there later and leave after delivering the things, otherwise you will be dragged to work all the time."
Ah Ying also pounded her legs: "My wife, you said that Prime Minister Shen had gone down, but now Second Master has gone up again. Where is our Master?..."
Jinniang shook her head: "In the past, the emperor always felt that Prime Minister Shen was in a clique, and Jiang Fang was a lone and honest minister, and everything he did was for the public good, but everyone knows that he is a member of Shen's clique, but we still don't know what to do?"
"So what should we do?" Ying asked.
Jinniang smiled and said, "Next year, Ning'er will take the exam, and our Ding'er will hire a teacher to study behind closed doors. As for Langzhu's affairs, Langzhu will know what to do."
When Jiang Fang came to power, he did not deal with Jiang Xian. Jiang Xian was still the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. He had made remarkable achievements in Kaifeng Prefecture, cracking down on counterfeit goods, arresting criminals and clearing up old cases.
However, in August of the following year, earth-shaking changes took place in the court. Jiang Fang, who had been very popular before, was exiled to Bozhou, while the Prime Minister Jixian, who had been demoted several years ago, was reinstated.
Miss Zhou was dumbfounded when she heard this. She looked at her youngest daughter and sighed that it was all over. She thought she had room to choose her second daughter's marriage, but now she was afraid that she would be implicated.
For Jinniang's family, the biggest happy event is that the seventeen-year-old Ning Ge'er passed the test and ranked among the top three, and is preparing to take part in the provincial test next year.
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