Chapter 72 Grandma is coming
At night, in the front yard study.
The Shen family's father and daughter sat opposite each other across the desk, both of them looking at the letter from Jinling on the table with solemn expressions.
"Dad, the letter was sent on the 15th, and today is the 23rd."
...This letter was sent by Shen Yuan's cousin Shen Xi. The letter said that grandmother decided to go to Beijing ahead of time and would not let anyone tell them. Grandmother wanted to come secretly to see if she was obedient and how their family was doing.
This letter was secretly written by Shen Xi before they left their hometown and had someone mail it to her just to inform her of the news.
It would take at least ten days by horse carriage to get from Jinling to the capital. Considering my grandmother's age, if the carriage went slowly, it would only take twenty days to get to the capital.
This means that my grandmother will arrive in the capital in a few days.
"My grandmother is quite interested in this. She even tried to steal my business." Shen Yuan collapsed in the chair, thinking of the "pain" of living under his grandmother's care during those years.
"Actually, your grandmother isn't that scary, don't be afraid." Shen Yun said this, and it was unclear whether he was comforting his daughter or himself. Shen Yuan also gave her father a look that asked "Do you believe it yourself?" It was unknown who it was, a man in his forties who was still scolded by his old mother and couldn't even raise his head.
Shen Yuan suddenly stood up and said, "Dad, I have something else to do. I'll leave first."
She had to go back quickly, hide all her precious storybooks, and put the Four Books and Five Classics, historical books, biographies, etc. on the bookshelf.
Half an hour later, Shen Yuan had someone carry a box of books to his sister-in-law's yard.
He Ying also heard that her grandmother was going to Beijing. The last time He Ying saw her grandmother was when she went back to her hometown with Shen Su after her marriage to worship their ancestors. At that time, she only thought that her grandmother was a kind and amiable old lady. She didn't know why Shen Su and Shen Yuan, brother and sister, were like mice seeing a cat when they saw her grandmother.
"Sister-in-law, after thinking about it, I realize that it's not safe to hide these books anywhere else. I can only hide them with you. Grandmother will definitely not check your yard." After all, it is my grandson's daughter-in-law's yard, and my grandmother will definitely not come to see it.
"Okay, I'll have them open the storeroom and put it together with my trousseau box."
"Sister-in-law, you are so kind." Shen Yuan hugged He Ying, "Sister-in-law, please teach me the rules again starting tomorrow, and I will review them a few more times."
"Okay, but Manman, you have learned very well. Don't be too nervous. Grandma will be satisfied."
"I can't help but be nervous. If my grandmother is not happy, she will take me back to Jinling. How can I live a relaxing life then?" Shen Yuan couldn't help but shudder when she thought about going back to her hometown with her grandmother, visiting her every morning and evening, learning the rules and regulations of women's work, and reading women's admonitions and virtues.
"No way, how could father bear to let you go back to Jinling?"
"My father would be in danger if he faced my grandmother. Oh, I have to write a letter to my brother. Otherwise, he won't know anything and will be scared to death when he sees my grandmother when he returns home. But if my brother finds out, he might hide until my coming-of-age ceremony and then come home. Then, wouldn't I be the only one to be burned by my grandmother's anger?"
Anyway, in the eyes of their grandmother, the two of them were the representatives of the unreconciled. The only good thing her brother did was to marry her sister-in-law, who was such a good wife. Everything else was still unreconciled. As for the reason why the two of them were unreconciled, it was because her father did not find a stepmother for them.
Shen Yuan sighed at home, unaware that an even greater crisis was waiting for her.
Shen Xi was also very anxious in the carriage, but unfortunately she and her grandmother were sitting in the same carriage, staying in a hotel at night, and her grandmother's nanny was watching her, so she had no chance to write another letter to the capital.
As they got closer and closer to the capital, Shen Xi became more and more anxious. In her opinion, her grandmother had really gone too far this time. She didn't know what would happen when they arrived in the capital.
On the morning of the third day of July, the housekeeper Shen He had just seen off the old man who was on duty at the Dali Temple. Before he closed the door, he saw two horse-drawn carriages swaying and stopping in front of the Shen family's house.
"Madam! Miss!" When Shen He saw the people getting off the carriage, he ran up to greet them. He shouted loudly on purpose, hoping that the servants at the door would hear him, and then quickly go to the backyard to inform their daughter to get up quickly.
The old lady was in good spirits, with no sign of fatigue on her face. Her back was straight and she didn't even look like she had just traveled more than ten days.
"Ji Lang is out?"
"Yes, the old man just walked out the door and you are here right after him. Madam, you must be tired. The room is ready and you can go and have a rest first." While talking to Old Madam Shen, Shen He secretly glanced at the young woman who got off the carriage at the back. As he didn't know the other person's identity, he didn't dare to speak rashly.
"No need. We rested in a tavern outside the city for a night and came in after the city gate opened. We are not tired." After saying that, he walked in without asking for help.
It was so early in the morning that Shen He was so scared that he broke out in a sweat. He didn't know whether the girl had gotten up or not. What would he do if she was blocked in bed by the old lady?
Fortunately, the housekeeper's shout was very effective. When the people inside heard the voice, they immediately ran to Shen Yuan's yard to call for help. At this moment, the old lady had just entered the inner courtyard, and Shen Yuan followed his sister-in-law out to greet his grandmother.
"Grandma and sister, you have worked hard on the journey. The house has been prepared early. Do you want to take a rest?"
"We are not tired." Old Mrs. Shen held He Ying's hand and smiled lovingly. She couldn't be more satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law.
"Grandma, sister, I missed you so much." Shen Yuan tried to get away with it, but in fact the old lady had already noticed that she had just gotten up. However, since they hadn't seen each other for a long time and it was only the first day, she didn't say anything.
"Jingyi, come here."
"Yingniang, Manman, come here, you should call her aunt." Shen Yuan was misty and winked at Shen Xi secretly, wanting to ask her what kind of aunt this was and why she had never seen her before and didn't hear her mention her in the letter.
Shen Xi had a bitter face. She was really afraid that the peace of the Shen family would be destroyed in the next moment. She only found out about this when she got on the carriage and didn't have time to spread the news.
"What are you standing there for? Come here."
He Ying actually had a vague guess in her heart. She looked at Shen Yuan worriedly. This matter was really...
"Manman, I often hear the old lady talk about you. Your aunt doesn't have any good things. You can wear this bracelet for fun."
Shen Yuan didn't want to accept it, but after seeing his grandmother's eyes, he didn't say anything in the end. However, he felt more and more weird in his heart.
He Ying also received a gift from Jingyi. She accepted it with a smile without showing any emotion, and the old lady naturally smiled with satisfaction.
"Yingniang, take your aunt to look around. Manman, come with grandma to Songwu Courtyard. Grandma has something to say."