Chapter 118: The Royal Palace’s Gift (Two chapters combined into one, 4000 words)
Madam Yang spent the whole night laughing among the relatives of the Duke's Mansion as usual. When she saw her youngest daughter holding Su's Ah Jin, she quickly smiled at the Crown Prince's wife and said, "My neighbor, Dr. Su, is now the teacher of the Prince of Pingyang. I guess he will go to the lantern shed of the Prince of Jin's Mansion. I'll go and say hello."
The Crown Prince's wife nodded and smiled: "Go ahead."
Madam Yang smiled again, turned around and walked out, saying, "Ah Jin..." She smiled at Su Yanli and his wife standing beside her and called them, "Master Su, Madam Su, come in and have a seat."
This was a conversation between ladies, so Cheng Yingzhen hid beside Su Yanli and just smiled slightly. She didn't want to go in, but she knew she couldn't say that. In a dilemma, she kept silent.
Su Yanli smiled and replied, "Thank you, Madam. Xiao Silang is sleepy. We will go to the palace to say hello and then go back."
Madam Yang looked at the child in Su Yanli's arms. He was indeed asleep on his shoulder. She stood outside the lamp shed and said, "It's time for us to go back."
"Then we won't bother you, Madam. Please excuse us inside and we'll see you again when we have the chance."
"good."
After the adults finished greeting each other, Su Ruojin and Yang Siniang finished biting each other's ears, and agreed to play in the alley tomorrow with the lights they had used tonight.
"Ajin..." Su Yanli called his daughter.
Su Ruojin waved to Yang Siniang and said, "See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Madam Yang watched the Su family walking away hand in hand, their backs harmonious and happy, her eyes full of envy. Then she thought about her own family, which looked harmonious on the outside, but was actually, she had to deal with her noble family above, general business affairs below, and a man in the middle who seemed to be preoccupied with state affairs but was actually not home all day. Only the strong-willed Madam Yang knew how she felt inside.
If the business wasn't doing well, she wouldn't have enough money to be welcomed by her parents, not to mention supporting her family. Standing outside the lighting shed, Mrs. Yang finally relaxed her tense smile and got a moment's rest, but she still had to face life.
Turning around, he smiled again, "Arong, let's go, say goodbye to our grandparents and aunts, we should go home."
"good."
Upon seeing this, Yang Dalang also said goodbye to his cousin, and took his younger brothers, sisters and mother to say goodbye to his grandfather.
After a while, the Su family arrived at the lantern shed of Prince Jin's mansion. They wanted to say hello and leave, but unexpectedly the Prince of Jin and his wife were there. Zhao Lan welcomed the Su family to his parents.
The King of Jin was naturally dignified, but his youngest son had changed a lot in the past six months, which made him feel relieved. He showed a respectful attitude to his teacher and said politely: "Please allow Dr. Su and his family to sit down."
Su Yanli handed the child to his wife, bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness." He sat down in accordance with the prince's kindness.
Cheng Yingzhen stood there nervously without moving. Su Ruojin quietly came up to her side, gently pulled her mother to sit down with her, and then put her little hand on her mother's hand to gently comfort her not to be nervous.
The young official did not dare to speak freely, so the superior, the King of Jin, asked casually, "The tallest one on the side is your eldest son?"
"My Lord, this is my son Su Anzhi." Su Yanli followed the King of Jin and replied, "Next to him is my third son Su Ganzhi, my wife is holding my fourth son Su Chengzhi, and this is my daughter Ajin."
Su Dalang led his sister and brother to pay their respects to the prince and princess.
The maid behind Princess Jin came forward carrying a wooden tray.
Princess Jin said with a smile, "This is a little gift from me to the children."
Cheng Yingzhen looked nervous and flustered. The nanny beside the princess walked over and took the child from her arms. She was timid and socially anxious, and her hands were suddenly uncovered, and her helplessness was about to be revealed.
Su Ruojin smiled sweetly, her eyes full of encouragement. She stretched out her delicate little hand to hold her mother, and pressed her hand gently, "Mom, don't be nervous. Just repeat the words you practiced at home."
With her daughter's comfort, Cheng Yingzhen finally prepared a return gift. "Thank you, Princess!"
Su Ruojin stepped forward and bowed, "Ah Jin wishes the prince and princess a safe and happy new year, and all the best!"
Princess Jin looked at the nervous woman calmly. The sweet and generous young lady said, "Lan'er said that Madam Su cooks very well. Try it when you have time."
Zhao Lan frowned and looked towards his mother.
Princess Jin pretended not to see it.
She only said to try it, and didn't say to go to the palace or come to the Su family. It seemed to be a polite remark. Su Ruojin smiled sweetly and said, "My little prince, thank you for your praise. I am grateful that the princess doesn't mind. Ah Jin and mother will definitely make the most delicious dishes for the princess to taste."
The young lady didn't say anything about going to the palace or inviting the princess to the Su family.
Normally, there is only one situation, that is, the Su family was invited to the palace to cook for the princess. How could a princess go to a small family to eat? Don't even think about it.
However, thanks to Dr. Su's guidance, Prince Pingyang Zhao Lan not only made great progress in his studies, but also performed his duties efficiently and was rewarded by the emperor. The Princess of Jin appreciated Dr. Su, and although she had a desire for food, she was only polite in the end and did not ask anyone to go to the palace to use Su's family as cooks to cook for her.
The gift given by Princess Jin was quite generous. Everyone except Su Yanli received one. Cheng Yingzhen received a gold hairpin with a peony flower inlaid with red agate. It was large and exquisite in shape, with five hanging gold whiskers strung with small red agates at short intervals. The gold and red colors complemented each other, and the look was full of wealth.
Su Ruojin went to the silver shop to check, and saw that this one was no less than three hundred taels. She secretly took a breath, thinking that the Princess of Jin was very generous in giving a gift.
Su Dalang was given a set of writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone. Su Yanli was a scholar and had some knowledge of these inkstones. Su Ruojin took a look and found that what Princess Jin gave was actually a chengni inkstone.
Among the four famous inkstones, Duan, Xi and Tao all win with stone quality, but Chengni inkstone is known for its craftsmanship. The production process of Chengni inkstone is very complicated, especially the treatment of mud is extremely demanding. If it is too fine, it will be rough, and if it is too fine, it will be too smooth. Although this one is not of top craftsmanship, it is probably worth a lot.
Su Yanli quickly stepped forward to decline, "It's too expensive. I can't accept it."
Princess Jin smiled and said, "It has some flaws. If Dr. Su doesn't mind, please accept it."
Su Yanli: ...Really?
Seeing the teacher's hesitation, Zhao Lan confirmed, "Yes, Doctor, this is my gift to Su Dalang, please accept it."
Su Yanli had no choice but to accept it.
The pearl hairpin given to Su Ruojin later looked simple, but the pearls on it were huge. Su Sanlang's nine-link chain was actually made of jade, and Su Silang's gold lock was inlaid with gems all over, and you could tell at a glance that it was expensive.
The palace is indeed the palace, so generous.
But Su Ruojin knew that the rich people's wealth had nothing to do with them. Was the Jin Palace so kind to every teacher? Or was it only so generous to Su Yanli?
Su Ruojin looked towards Zhao Lan. Could it be that the profits from the meat grinder drawings were returned in this way?
Zhao Lan immediately felt the young lady's gaze and looked back.
Su Ruojin: ...It's wrong to peek at the handsome boy. She immediately turned away and pretended not to see him.
Zhao Lan: ...Ms. Su really doesn’t like him very much.
Remove the '太', I really don't like it.
He was picked up by the carriage of Prince Jin's Mansion to watch the lantern festival without knowing it, and he accepted the generous gift from Prince Jin's Mansion without knowing it, and finally he was sent back by the carriage of Prince Jin's Mansion without knowing it.
After closing the door, the Su family didn't dare to sleep.
Su Yanli pulled his daughter aside to analyze, "This visit gift is worth at least two thousand taels, which is enough to buy two two-story courtyards in an average area in the capital."
"Then consider it as buying a yard."
Su Yanli reached out and knocked on his daughter's head, "I'm talking to you seriously!"
Su Ruojin had been so sleepy that his head was nodding. He was sobered by his father's knock and explained to his father, "One possibility is that you, Doctor Su, have done a great job in teaching, and the King of Jin and his wife saw it and found an opportunity to reward you. Two, there was a blueprint for a meat grinder a few years ago, and Zhao Lan used it to make a lot of them. He bought almost all the restaurants and food stalls in Beijing, and probably made a lot of money... Three..."
Su Yanli also thought of the two points his daughter mentioned, but he was unsure. After his daughter analyzed the situation, he felt that this was the case, "Is there a possibility of a third one?"
Su Ruojin nodded, "I guess the student you trained was praised by the emperor, and the Prince of Jin and his wife thought you had made a contribution, so they were generous to you."
The Emperor's reward? How unattainable! Su Yanli shook his head. "With Prince Zhao's talent, if he were an ordinary person taking the imperial examination, he would be the top scorer."
Su Ruojin: ...So awesome?
Su Yanli nodded: "He has a photographic memory. He can draw inferences from what he learns and master it very quickly."
I didn’t expect Zhao Lan to be such a top student?
Forget it, no matter how good a student is, it has nothing to do with her. She was so sleepy that she waved her little hands and said, "Dad, Mom, you two can talk slowly, I'm going to sleep." After saying that, she swam back to the room like a sleepwalker, and Mao Ya chased after her for a long time.
The couple looked at each other as they were about to talk. "Now that we have made it clear, why don't we stop talking?"
Su Yanli laughed, "This little bastard."
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Chinese New Year is considered to be over and people's lives return to normal.
Feng Wangtian went to work at the Su's house again with his two sons and daughter-in-law, and this time an old woman came with them.
He said embarrassedly, "Madam, Second Lady, don't worry, she is not here to cause trouble, she is just worried about Xiang Gui and came to see how Xiang Gui is doing."
Oh, it turns out to be Xianggui’s mother.
Su Ruojin didn't intend to get involved and waved her hand, "Aunt Gui is busy with business in the shop. If you want to see her, go to the shop. But I have to say it in advance. You are not allowed to disturb the business of the shop."
"Of course." Feng Wangtian carefully and cautiously took his sister out of the Su family.
Feng Acao had just arrived in the bustling capital city. Her panic-stricken brain went blank. She just followed her brother woodenly. If her brother walked, she walked. If her brother drove a bike, she wanted to get on too. But suddenly, she was stopped.
"Why don't you sit here?" Feng Wangtian looked at this honest and inexperienced sister, shook his head and sighed.
Feng Acao finally came to his senses, "Is this Xianggui's master?"
"Um."
"You don't look like a bad person. Why are you keeping my Xianggui away from home?"
"Sister!" Feng Wangtian said in a serious tone, "I have told you so many times that Xianggui wanted to sell herself and she didn't want to go back for the New Year. It has nothing to do with the master's family. Don't make trouble."
"I... I didn't cause any trouble. The master's family is so nice and rich, so they just let our Xianggui go home. Her father found a good marriage for her. The family doesn't mind that she can't have children. In the past, there was a ready-made baby for her to take care of. How great!"
Feng Wangtian was shaking with anger. "Sister, you said when you came here that you came here just to see Xianggui. Why do you want to take her back to marry? You...you...if I had known this, I would not have brought you to the capital."
In order to come to the capital with him, his sister knelt at his door in the middle of the night. He couldn't bear it, but he didn't expect... Feng Wangtian was so angry that he wanted to hit her.
Feng Acao looks like a pitiful woman, but her living environment determines her way of survival...she will make money from any valuable children she catches to contribute to her survival.
Mao Ya closed the courtyard door, and Cheng Yingzhen looked towards the door, "Ajin, that old woman just now looked very pitiful." After saying that, she looked towards Ding who was holding Silang.
Su Ruojin reached out and patted her, "Mom, there are many poor people in the world. This is our first encounter, so don't rush to sympathize with us."
"Oh." Cheng Yingzhen sighed. Just as she was about to see Li Xiuzhu come out of the kitchen to fetch water from the well, she asked in a low voice when she entered the kitchen again, "What are you going to do with this girl?"
In addition to making fire, I now start to help Mao Ya. "Observe her for a while. If she can do some simple work, I will send her to the shop to learn the craft from Mother Dong.
Cheng Yingzhen thought her daughter was staying at home, "Why was she sent to Dong's mother's place?"
"Mother Dong is old, so let her teach a young apprentice. When she returns to us, the business of the shop will be handed over to the young people."
"Ajin is really thoughtful."
In fact, it was not that Su Ruojin was thoughtful, but she had a premonition that once Li Xiuzhu came out of her grief, the Su family might not be able to keep her. So she decided to do good deeds and let her learn a skill before she left, so that she could support herself no matter where she went in the future. It was fate that they met.
It was noon, when the shop was closing for lunch. Mother Dong was very happy to see Dashi and the others coming back, and she quickly brought the prepared meal to the table.
Xianggui came out of the kitchen and saw her mother at a glance. She was not happy, but frowned, "Mom, why are you here?" she asked in reproach.
Mother Dong smiled and swallowed the words she was about to say. She wisely avoided the conversation and let the two mothers continue chatting. She delivered the food that Xianggui had prepared for Huaping to her room.
Hua Ping was surprised, "Why is it you, mom, today?"
"Why, you're not happy that I'm giving it to you?"
Hua Ping grinned, revealing his white teeth. "No, I'm just happier."
Mother Dong helped him arrange the dishes and gave him a meaningful look, "She has a miserable life."
Hua Ping paused for a moment, "Do all of you older people like to be matchmakers?"
"You little brat." Dong's mother pushed the young man and said, "We like to see young people get married and have children. It always makes us feel that everything is hopeful."
Suddenly, I heard shouting from the front.
Hua Ping asked, "What's going on?" It was only the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and someone dared to come here to cause trouble. His face sank, and he walked towards the lobby.
Xianggui seemed like a different person. She was hysterical and yelled at the woman, "I won't go back, I won't go back even if I die..."
Hua Ping and Mother Dong stopped at the kitchen door and looked into the hall together.
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