Chapter 68 I love to hear it, tell me more: "By the way, I almost forgot about the important matter while listening to you talk about things outside. Maybe next year we'll..."
"Oh right, I almost forgot about the important matter while listening to you talk about things outside. Next year we might be busy with my aunt's wedding."
Yu Lang was still drunk and hadn't fully sobered up. Shen Wanqing was busy all afternoon and forgot about the matter. Neither of them asked or said anything, and they almost let the matter slip by.
"Whose family is it? Is it from our Plain Yellow Banner or another banner? Have you asked if anyone in your family works outside?"
"It doesn't belong to anyone, it belongs to all of us."
They were all descendants of the Eight Banners. Most of the guards who could enter the Imperial Guard and serve in the palace had their own temperaments. It was one thing to deal with the Emperor and the Crown Prince, but another thing to deal with their colleagues, the Eight Banners, and the court outside the palace.
Even so, Yu Lang could vaguely sense the envy and closeness others showed him. Even E Shan, who had served the Crown Prince for many years, treated him with more sincerity than when they first met. This was simply because the Crown Prince took him in and out every day, naturally elevating his own status.
That's why Yu Lang asked that question. He basically guessed that the family that came to his house to propose marriage to Fu Xuan at this time was most likely there for him. But after listening to Shen Wanqing explain the situation of the two families in detail, his expression was still very unpleasant.
"To be honest with you, I don't like my aunt, but even if I don't like her, I would never deliberately persuade the old lady to marry her off to a distant place just because I don't want her to keep coming home after getting married."
“I truly believe that the Ulanara family is not a suitable match. A person’s sincerity is limited; once it’s given to one person, it can’t be given to another. The Commander’s wife lost her life while giving birth. Unless Lord Tu is heartless, he will definitely not be able to get over this.”
It would have been better if he hadn't taken a new wife; now that he has, he can't help but compare her to his ex. One is his original wife, who left behind a strong management team for their two children even after his death; the other is Fu Xuan, whom even Shen Wanqing couldn't quite put her to the test. Putting these two together, one dead and one alive, and comparing them is just too disastrous.
"Grandma is explaining this to me."
Yu Lang's brows were furrowed tightly, clearly dissatisfied with both families. But seeing his wife, who had moved a round stool to sit opposite him and was carefully explaining things to him, he couldn't help but smile.
"Of course I'm serious, what are you laughing at?"
Having been used to being a leader, Shen Wanqing couldn't stand seeing Yu Lang suddenly laugh when he was talking about serious matters. Her face fell, and she tapped her index finger three times on the kang table. Only after tapping did she realize that this was her husband, not her subordinate.
"I'm serious."
Yu Lang casually picked up a teacup from the kang table, took a sip and found it was tangerine peel and hawthorn water, then gulped down another big mouthful. "This water tastes good, is it Ningxiang's hangover tea?"
"It's tangerine peel and hawthorn water. Tangerine peel is a good thing given to me by my mother. People in Guangdong and Guangxi are the best at making this. I don't know anything else, but I know that I can use this to make tea in autumn to regulate qi and promote body fluid production."
As winter progresses in Beijing, hot pot becomes the most popular dish, especially among the Manchu families who eat meat at every meal. Even though Shen Wanqing loves meat, she can't quite keep up, so in addition to having Ningxiang add a variety of Sichuan, Hunan, Yunnan, and Guizhou dishes to the menu, she also prepared these digestive and appetite-stimulating teas.
"This tastes good, I'll take some to Mother tomorrow..." Before he could finish speaking, Yu Lang realized that he was still arguing with Niohuru.
There was still a little less tea in the teacup. Yu Lang took two more sips of hawthorn juice and forcefully brought the topic back: "I'm a man too. How could I not know that Aunt Tu Lin shouldn't jump into that fire pit?"
"But Jingzhou is still too far away. It is a strategic location, but it is too far from the capital. In the future, it will not be easy for us to lend a hand or for the Dong E family to enter the capital."
If a garrison is to be moved, it's usually the general or commander-in-chief who gets the change. The lower-ranking officers and lieutenants won't be moved unless there are special circumstances, because they are the most familiar with the local area.
"If the old lady decides to marry her aunt to someone in Jingzhou, she must be prepared that they may never see each other again in this lifetime."
Marrying far away is not an easy decision, even in later generations. It's not just about the two families living far apart. In Shen Wanqing's view, it's like severing all the accumulation and ties of the first half of her life and starting over in a strange place.
Marriage is not just about getting married; it's merely a fleeting moment. Whether that moment is good or bad, no one will linger on it.
Life rushes by, and there's work, life, hobbies, joys, and anxieties—all of which will take up a portion of your time each day. When you want to go back to your old home again, it seems you'll have to adjust your schedule again and again just to make a quick trip back.
This was Shen Wanqing's reflection when she was working in another city for a long time. Every time she went home for holidays, it was like going to war. When she couldn't go back, she missed it terribly, but when she actually went back and came back, she was exhausted and vowed never to go back for the next holiday.
Back then, an administrative colleague on the project who had married far away laughed at her for being too young. She said that when she got married and her family lived far away, she would realize that it was already good that she could find the time to go back. If she had a family to support, the travel expenses and other costs of going back would be enough to make her hesitate again and again.
In later generations, travel is so convenient; even a simple step can be thwarted by so many things. How much more so now!
Once Fu Xuan got married, she became someone else's wife and family member. Perhaps it was possible that someone in her family could visit relatives in Jingzhou for some reason, but the possibility of Fu Xuan bringing her son-in-law and children back to the capital was really small.
Not to mention that it was absolutely impossible for Lady Tongjia to travel all the way to Jingzhou to see her daughter. At that time, there might only be one thing for Fuxuan that she would truly have to return to the capital for: Lady Tongjia's death, and as a married daughter, she would have to return to attend the funeral.
"If the old lady really can't bear to part with her, then she has to be prepared for her aunt to never marry. I can't say which of the two will be more ruthless."
Some things are understood even without being said. Shen Wanqing and Yu Lang exchanged a glance and both understood. In essence, Fu Xuan's marriage was only half about choosing a husband for Fu Xuan, and the other half was about whether the mother and daughter could ever see each other again in their later years.
"The old lady will choose the Dong E family."
Yulang didn't need to guess to know that the old lady favored her aunt, but she wasn't really confused. Hesitation would only lead to more trouble. The old lady and her aunt had reached a dead end. The aunt might give up and do whatever she wanted, but the old lady wouldn't.
"That's what I think too."
Seeing that Yu Lang and she were thinking the same thing, Shen Wanqing couldn't help but smile, but she quickly suppressed her smile and looked at Yu Lang seriously. Her hand fell to her side and she unconsciously rubbed the fabric of her clothes, as if trying to relieve her tension. Then she took a few deep breaths before figuring out how to start the conversation with Yu Lang.
There's something I've been thinking about and I feel I should tell you clearly.
"What's with that expression, Grandma? Tell me what's wrong, I'm listening."
"I was sincere about everything I said just now. The Ulanara family is indeed a terrible place to marry into, but I also sincerely don't want to get involved in my aunt's affairs. If the old lady really chooses the Dong'e family, I'll probably feel relieved."
"Because next year, no matter how busy we are, we'll only be busy once. After that, my aunt will marry far away from Beijing, and if she wants to come back and find fault with you, she won't be able to reach her, right?"
"Yes, so I wanted to ask you if you felt even a little bit uncomfortable with my actions."
One very important thing in a marriage is never to treat your partner like a fool, because nobody is truly a fool.
No matter how grand or flawless the excuses you make for yourself, life isn't like a case being solved by the Dali Temple where solid evidence is required. Human nature is so subtle that once you've made up your mind, it doesn't matter if there's no evidence at all.
From the first day she entered the Hesheli family, except for the first few days when she still followed the original owner's appearance, she gradually transformed the original owner's true gentleness and taciturnity into 'the fifth daughter of the Shen family was actually pretending to be gentle and honest'.
Once the maids around her got used to the fact that their mistress had a hidden 'nature', she really hasn't been able to restrain her personality since.
Everyone has flaws. Shen Wanqing was scolded by her boss more than once back then. She was protective of her own and her food, always wanting the best of everything, and always trying to avoid trouble. She thought she was capable and that everyone else was a fool, not realizing that others often looked at her, Shen Wanqing, as if she were a fool.
She disliked Fu Xuan and didn't want to get involved in her affairs. She looked down on Niu Hulu's cowardly and stupid appearance. Before, she even wanted to suppress Shu Mulu by beating and intimidating her. Even after reviewing the events, Shen Wanqing didn't think she had done anything wrong. But she still wanted to hear Yu Lang's opinion.
Because he was different from her, Shen Wanqing had always lived alone before she came here. She had her own house, car, and career, and no one could really interfere with her life.
But like all women in their late twenties or early thirties, she was constantly pressured to get married by her mother, grandmother, and maternal grandparents. Even her aunt, with whom she had completely fallen out with her mother, would take time every month to come to Shen Wanqing's house to do a thorough cleaning for her and then take the opportunity to introduce her to potential partners.
With so many relatives, Shen Wanqing had complained to her friends countless times behind their backs. Sometimes she would think, "Why are they so annoying? Why can't they understand reason or listen to reason?"
Even so, if Shen Wanqing put herself in someone else's shoes, she would be unhappy if an outsider were criticizing her mother and aunt.
By extension, Shen Wanqing was a little worried that Yulang rationally knew that he and she were a community with the same goals and interests, but emotionally he was already dissatisfied with her. How could he so openly despise his own mother for being a fool and his own aunt for being a troublemaker?
"That……"
Yu Lang was surprised that Shen Wanqing would ask such a question. He hadn't thought about it before, but now that he was seriously considering it, he had to admit that his grandmother was really smart and insightful.
I don't want to think about this now, but who knows if I will in the future? It's better if she brings it up sooner rather than later. They say that couples shouldn't hold grudges overnight, so how can the relationship between a mother and son, or a father and son, really remain so tense forever?
Over time, one's heart will soften. After all, no matter how many faults Niohuru had, she still gave birth to Yulang. Only those who have conceived and given birth know how bitter the ten months of pregnancy truly are.
"What if I'm really unhappy?"
"Then I'll have to try my best to change my attitude. If I really can't change it, I'll put it aside for now and wait until you come back so we can discuss it and deal with it later."
I used to be in a rush because I had to grab what was rightfully mine during the newbie protection period. From now on, I can't be in a rush because I'm now the matriarch of the household, and I should learn to be magnanimous and outwardly relaxed but inwardly vigilant.
After all, the saying "even cats and dogs complain after three years of housekeeping" isn't just a joke; she never intended to be a thankless and shrewish woman like Feng. She had to learn to be someone who reaps all the benefits and is praised for her virtue and kindness in the end.
Anything that's not a matter of life or death can be put on hold and dealt with later. If he's unhappy, let him be involved in everything. If he's involved from beginning to end and adapts well, Shen Wanqing will naturally have no complaints. But if he can't stand it himself, then it's not her fault.
"Don't worry, Grandma. I won't interfere in the family affairs. You're the only one in charge of the household. What I said before will always stand the test of time."
Yu Lang spoke with absolute certainty, as if he wanted to swear an oath to Shen Wanqing right then and there. Although Shen Wanqing was quite satisfied with his attitude, she still couldn't help but feel a throbbing pain in her temples.
This is the real insurmountable gap between the two of them. She feels she is being very considerate in communicating with him beforehand, giving him advance psychological support. He, on the other hand, feels afraid that he will interfere in her household affairs, so he quickly swears his loyalty and assures her that he has no ulterior motives.
Sigh, he's still hundreds of years older than me after all. As Shen Wanqing got up, she reached out and pinched Yu Lang's earlobe, rubbing it in frustration. This little stick-in-the-mud is really something; how come he can't be reasoned with?
Yu Lang was unaware that his great-grandmother disliked him for being too old-fashioned. He wondered if he hadn't explained himself clearly. Watching Shen Wanqing get up again to search for things, he thought for a moment and added a sentence.
"Don't think so much. Relationships between people are all about fate. There's no logic to who you like or dislike. My mother and aunt aren't very bright, and I often complain that they're not very bright."
You may complain, but you've never mistreated them while managing the household. When I came back this afternoon, I went to see Fangyi and Pusabao. Fangyi told me about this morning and the time I took her out to inspect the fields. "You, as her sister-in-law, treat her better than I, her own brother."
Yulang himself was only a teenager. Most of the time, his kindness to his younger siblings was limited to asking Fangyi if she needed anything when he went to pay his respects to Niohuru. He would ask how many characters Pusabao had learned from her tutor and how far she had progressed in memorizing her lessons. That was all he did.
Today, Fangyi's cheeks were still a little swollen, but her eyes were bright as she told me that she had gone to the country and learned to distinguish between rice and winter wheat. She also learned that cabbage and radishes taste better after being frosted. All of this was told to her by her sister-in-law, Shen Wanqing.
Fangyi, who was left out of Shen Wanqing's words, also saw it clearly. It turned out that just putting on airs was useless. Things had to be handled and resolved one by one. When others saw that you could really get things done and take charge, even if you were like your sister-in-law, you would lean back in the carriage without putting on any airs. People would naturally respect you.
Yu Lang was self-aware; he knew he couldn't possibly teach Fang Yi these things himself. It was only because Shen Wanqing was willing to take Fang Yi out that she learned them.
“Grandma is just being stubborn. You think Mother is bad, but you didn’t distance yourself from Fangyi just because she’s bad.”
"That afternoon, Pusa Bao played in our courtyard all afternoon, making a complete mess of the west wing. It gave me a headache just looking at it, but you said it was nothing. If that's not good, what is? Your mother bullies you, and you still keep quiet about it?"
After Yu Lang had said all the nice things, Shen Wanqing immediately and mentally labeled him as a bit of a stickler for the rules. This guy could spout cheesy sweet nothings so easily that she could hardly keep up.
Fortunately, she had been so busy talking to Yu Lang about Fu Xuan that she hadn't prepared the things to take back to the Shen family yet. Shen Wanqing kept her back to Yu Lang while she was busy with this, so he didn't notice that she was really being coaxed by him and couldn't suppress the smile on her face.
People are so vain and easily flattered. A few nice words make them feel great, and they exude an aura of "you praised me so well, I'm so happy."
After dinner, Granny Fei came over. The main reason was that starting in October, the family would need to buy large quantities of dried goods, such as sea cucumbers and abalone, to prepare for various festivals after winter. The shops that the Second Madam used to buy goods from would definitely not be used anymore. Granny Fei needed to know the procedures and give her a definite answer.
It's all thanks to the kind-hearted Madam that she gave me 1,500 taels of silver in one go today, which gave Granny Fei the courage to bring this up. Otherwise, with no money in the public treasury, what good would abalone or sea cucumber do? We'd all be eating air and drinking farts.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, there are more and more festivals, banquets, and invitations to guests. The 28th day of the 11th lunar month is also the old lady's birthday. Although it's not a major birthday celebration, it can't be taken lightly. Especially since this year is Shen Wanqing's first year in charge of the household, things must be done properly.
Shen Wanqing understood what Granny Fei meant. The 1,500 taels of public funds were not much, but there was a lot to do. So she had to be careful in every aspect and save money where possible.
The eldest mistress, Shen Wanqing, was behind the desk in the second room, using an abacus to calculate the detailed accounts with Granny Fei. Every now and then, she would pull over another sheet next to her to write and draw.
On the other side, Lord Yu, who was reclining on the warm, damp Luohan bed, was using a storybook that Shen Wanqing had scattered on the side of the bed to cover most of his face, leaving only his eyes showing as he kept glancing at Shen Wanqing.
Apricot-yellow clothes are hard to wear; they can easily make a person look pale and unwell. But Shen Wanqing was fair-skinned, and although she had been tired since she got married, she had never neglected herself when it came to food and sleep.
Every five days, she could replenish her yin and yang like a fairy, making her skin glow with a rosy complexion. The apricot yellow color she wore added to her radiance, making her irresistible to look at.
Shen Wanqing wasn't blind; she had noticed Yu Lang staring at her intently long ago, but since Granny Fei was still there, she was too lazy to pay him any attention.
After working overtime to finalize next month's purchases, Shen Wanqing couldn't hold back any longer once Granny Fei left. She walked around from behind the desk and stood by the daybed, looking down at Yulang.
"I'm so busy I don't even have time to drink water, but you, sir, have plenty of leisure time and are even reading storybooks."
"Does Jiyun like watching this?"
Which one?
"The Romance of the Western Chamber".
"like."
“Since Jiyun likes watching this, why didn’t you mention this when we talked about the two families so much today?”
"Which one? Love."
Shen Wanqing really didn't expect Yu Lang to connect the two things, but upon closer reflection, she realized that she had been a bit too realistic and had forgotten to put on an act in front of this person.
"These storybooks are all made up, how come Lord Yu actually took them seriously?"
"How could I not take it seriously? I feel that my feelings for my great-grandmother are exactly the same as those described in these storybooks."
Relying on his youthful vigor and good looks, Yu Lang still appeared quite attractive even when Shen Wanqing looked him up and down. He shamelessly reached out and hooked his hand around Grandma Shen's little finger, swaying it back and forth.
"They say that even a day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of kindness, and the kindness between me and my first wife is probably countless now. Those scholars are only good at writing sentimental words to coax people, but none of them are as good as me. I am obedient, sensible, and have such a large family business, all of which are at my first wife's disposal."
"You have the nerve to say that? You have such a large fortune, yet you don't have a single penny to your name. Look how stingy I was just now. I was so reluctant to part with a single copper coin. It was really tough for me."
"That's all thanks to Grandma's competence. I have to rely on Grandma to take care of everything. If you don't take care of me, I'll take this whole family out to starve."
Yu Lang, like a cat, climbed up from the daybed with Shen Wanqing, knelt on the bed, and hugged his grandmother's waist tightly, saying, "Let's give it a try."
"Try what?" Shen Wanqing didn't react until she followed his gaze and saw the booklet tucked inside the daybed, which she had originally planned to read together after lying down at night. She couldn't help but blush.
"The book belongs to Grandma, so why is Grandma blushing?"
"Go away, go away, it's only early morning, why are you talking about this and that? I don't have time for you..."
Before Shen Wanqing could finish speaking, Yu Lang cleverly tripped her up. Qiu Wen, who had just returned from seeing Granny Fei out of the East Courtyard, stopped at the door.
After listening to the sounds inside to figure out what was going on, I shook my head and sighed as I went back to the kitchen to get some hot water. I really don't understand why the old man is always busy as soon as he comes back!
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