Chapter 147 Brother and Sister-in-law’s Birthday
Two days after returning from Yunjue Temple, it was Shen Su's birthday. Twenty-two was not a big deal for a birthday, and he would have to take the exam in a few days. So Shen Su and He Ying discussed this birthday and decided that they would just have a meal at home with their family and have a bowl of longevity noodles, without any other trouble.
Although the couple's birthdays were only one day apart, their family members did not let them celebrate together to save trouble. Whoever's birthday was theirs.
During dinner, Shen Yuan brought two gifts, one for herself and the other as a thank you gift that someone had sent over and asked Shen Yuan to hand over. Shen Yuan didn't even look at what the gifts were and just took them and left.
"Shen Manman, what did you prepare for me? Take it out and let me see it."
"How can you be like this? You haven't even eaten yet. Wait for me."
The more Shen Yuan said this, the more curious Shen Su became. In the past, his sister couldn't hold back when she wanted to send him gifts. She had to deliver them early in the morning and let him praise her for half a day.
"Eat it after it's delivered. You can eat at any time."
"I was afraid you would cry so much that you couldn't eat."
"Impossible! You think I'm you, crying all the time."
The brother and sister started arguing again. In the middle, the old lady, the eldest lady, and Shen Xi came over. They never stopped talking, and the old lady frowned when she heard them.
Think about when the second son was born, he was about the same age as my grandson. He was so mature and stable. Why didn't my grandson take after his father?
Thinking of this, the old lady chanted in her heart: Amitabha, don't blame me, second son's wife. I am not saying that Kang Ge'er's troubles are caused by you. He must be caused by his dead grandfather.
"Dad said that officials should not talk too much, brother, please say less."
"Hahaha! You're absolutely right. You have to be careful with your words and actions in official circles."
When Shen Xu heard the voice, he stopped arguing with his sister and quickly bowed, "Grandfather, father-in-law, mother-in-law, father." He then went forward to help his wife sit down.
He's father did speak up for his son-in-law. He said, "It's good to be careful with your words and actions, but it also depends on your position. You still have to say what you have to say."
He Ying glanced at her husband and said with a smile, "Grandfather, you are still talking about my husband. When you were an official, you talked a lot."
He Jianzhi, who was exposed by his granddaughter, stroked his beard and said, "Look, your grandfather didn't say anything, but you rushed to protect him."
This made everyone laugh. Shen Su also grinned and secretly took his wife's hand and shook it under the table.
"Don't stand there, Mr. He, let's all take a seat."
It was not the first time for everyone to sit together for a meal, so there was no need to be polite. They just chatted while eating, and the meal was very lively.
After finishing the meal, Shen Su had a small bowl of longevity noodles. It was so small that he finished it in one bite.
"Come here, Kang'er, this is your birthday gift from your grandfather. Studying is not just for the imperial examination. Grandfather hopes that you will never forget the original intention of studying at any time."
The three books that He Jianzhi gave to Shen Su were "Three Character Classic", "Hundred Family Names" and "Thousand Character Classic". They were not new but the books that Shen Su used when he was just starting to learn with him.
Shen Su stood up and accepted the gift solemnly, "I will follow my grandfather's instructions."
What He's father gave to his son-in-law was a painting called "Tour of the Number One Scholar along the Long Street" by Qu Heming, a great calligrapher and painter of the previous dynasty. As the name suggests, the imperial examination would be held soon, and the purpose was to seek good luck.
He's mother gave him a pair of shoes she made herself. "It's not warm yet. These shoes are made of rabbit fur. They are warm. Wear them in the exam room to prevent your feet from getting cold while you're doing the test."
"Thank you, mother, for taking care of my son-in-law."
Shen Su has grown up wearing clothes and shoes made by his mother-in-law since his mother passed away. When he was a child, he studied at the He family. His mother-in-law - at that time, he called her aunt just like Manman. When his aunt made clothes for Yingniang, she would not forget him and Manman, and would always make clothes for three people.
Shen Yuan was the youngest, so she had to wait until she returned to her room to give out gifts other than the one for her sister-in-law. After everyone else's gifts had been given out, it was finally her turn.
Shen Yuan did a piece of embroidery. It was her first time to embroider something. It can be called embroidery... but actually it can only be called tracing.
She first drew it on the cloth with charcoal, and then embroidered it with thread, but this needlework can almost only be regarded as her own creation.
After embroidering it, Shen Yuan had someone mount it on her head, so when Shen Su saw the scroll in Qingdai's hand, he thought it was a painting.
When I opened it, I realized it was not a painting but an embroidery.
Shen Su's eyes turned red almost the moment he saw the picture.
The picture above is a family photo of their family. His parents are sitting on chairs. His mother still looks the same as he remembered. He and Yingniang are standing beside them. Yingniang looks pregnant. His sister is sitting cross-legged in front of his parents, smiling with her eyes narrowed.
"Your embroidery is ugly."
"Brother, cry if you want to. I won't laugh at you."
"I'm not crying."
Although he said this, he had actually turned his back and quietly wiped away his tears. No one present said anything. He Ying gently held her husband's hand and comforted him.
In the evening, after Shen Su sent away his father-in-law, mother-in-law and grandfather, he pulled his sister aside.
"Have you cut your hand?"
Shen Yuan said stubbornly: "No, I'm very clever, how could I get hurt?"
"Really? There's blood on the embroidery thread."
"You're just talking nonsense. If you say there's no blood, then there's no blood." As soon as Shen Yuan heard it, she knew her brother was lying to her. She had already checked and there was no bloodstain at all.
"Here, this is for you. It was sent by your future brother-in-law. Open it and see what it is." Shen Yuan took out the thing Xie Hui had sent back and handed it to Shen Su.
"We haven't even started yet, what brother-in-law?" Shen Su was so angry that his teeth were bared, but he obediently opened the thing with his hands.
There was a small white porcelain bottle inside, and a note.
I was very frugal with my words, only eight in total: [Refreshing, useful in exams. ]
Shen Su opened it and smelled it, and it was indeed a good thing to refresh himself.
Shen Yuan deliberately stretched out his hand and said to his brother: "Do you want it? Don't give it to me, I will give it back."
As expected, Shen Xu put the things away and said, "Who said I don't want it? How can I take back something I gave away?"
"Stop being so stubborn! I'm going back. My sister-in-law is still waiting for you in the house. Hurry up and leave."
Shen Yuan waved his hand, ignored his silly brother, and walked away.
Shen Xu looked at his sister's back and said:
"Manman, thank you, I like the gift you gave me the most."
——Small Theater
Brother's Birthday Gift Statistics
Grandfather Ho: Enlightenment Book
Father-in-law: A painting of "The Scholar's Tour of Long Street"
Mother-in-law: A pair of loving shoes
Grandmother: A jade pendant blessed by a master
Father: Annotations of the Top-A Papers in the Imperial Examinations (Dad's Loving Annotations)
Great Aunt: A piece of embroidery for the first place in the imperial examination
Cousin Shen Xi: A pair of heart-shaped knee pads
Sister Shen Yuan: Loving Family Portrait
Dear wife Yingniang: (I won’t tell you)