Although the old lady wasn't very good at managing money, she knew how to use people. Some of the shops in the Marquis's mansion made a lot of money for the family under her management. Although the Marquis's wife lost a lot of money during the years she took over, the old lady managed to turn the losses into profits. To be honest, Ning Shi really admired the old lady.
Zhang Zhaoci actually enjoys her current life. Every day, besides taking care of the children and cooking, she reads medical books that interest her. These medical books were left behind by the Zhang family patriarch. In addition to some family-inherited medical books, there are some pulse diagnosis records from the family elders. Zhang Zhaoci is most interested in the recorded pulse diagnosis records. She has an idea to organize these medical books properly and then publish them.
Zhang Zhaoci's idea was just his own thought. These were all Zhang family's things, and Zhang Zhaoci would have to get the Zhang family's consent if he wanted to publish them. Moreover, the Zhang family had many of their own nephews and nieces. If they had the talent and determination to study medicine, Zhang Zhaoci would be very willing to train them.
Xu Zhi helped Xu Bai wash his hands and then went to the kitchen door to wait for Zhang Zhaoci to serve the food. This was a habit that Zhang Zhaoci had been taught since childhood: when eating, he had to help get chopsticks and bowls, and after the meal, he had to help clean up the dishes. It was only because there were many people to serve him in the Hou Mansion that he didn't have to wash the dishes and chopsticks himself. In Hexi, when everyone was busy, Xu Zhi would still have to help wash the dishes.
Xu Zhi held the bowl and asked Xu Bai to hold the chopsticks for her. Zhang Zhaoci and Granny Lu then led Xu Zhi and Xu Di to eat on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window.
The meals for Qingmiao and Qingsui were all prepared by the cook that the Zhang family had found. Zhang Zhaoci's courtyard was far from the front yard, and the main kitchen was in the front yard. By the time they got the food from there and walked over, it was already cold. This was why Zhang Zhaoci insisted on setting up a small kitchen in the courtyard himself. Anyone would get sick if they ate cold food every day.
Zhang Zhaoci doesn't cook every day, but today she had some time and remembered that the Zhang family had sent over a basket of bamboo shoots. She stir-fried the tender bamboo shoots with pork belly, ate a bowl of rice, and drank a bowl of egg drop soup. The warm food always made her feel comfortable.
Xu Bai can now eat by himself, and he doesn't spill food while eating. Zhang Zhaoci made him a bowl of rice and then invited everyone to eat.
Zhang Zhaoci didn't follow the rule of not talking while eating. Xu Zhi said while eating, "Mother, I heard that Sister Mian is getting engaged."
The "Sister Mian" that Xu Zhi mentioned is the eldest daughter of Xu Pu, the eldest son of Xu Qi's second wife, and she is already thirteen years old.
Zhang Zhaoci said, "She must be thirteen years old, right? It's reasonable for her to get engaged at that age."
Xu Zhi said, "Sister Gui told me this in secret. She said that Sister Mian and her cousin from her maternal family are in love, but Uncle Pu doesn't agree. However, Aunt Pu is willing, and Sister Mian herself is also willing. Her mother's idea is to discuss it with Sister Mian's maternal family and settle the marriage first."
Xu Gui was Xu Pu's second daughter. Xu Pu's wife, Chen, did not come from a very high social class. Chen's grandfather was one of the Three Dukes, but unfortunately, there was no successor. After Chen's grandfather passed away, the Chen family quickly declined. This should be the reason why Xu Pu was unwilling to marry into the Chen family.
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