Chapter 94 (Combined Chapter)
Miao Zhen only heard about Xu Erpeng's transfer to Pengze as county magistrate after she returned. By then, it was already the winter month, and she said with some worry, "I wonder if my father can adapt to the real officialdom? He was in Suzhou before, which was his hometown, but things are different now."
"Don't worry, I'm here for you anyway." Xiao Jingshi didn't think Xu Erpeng was a problem.
Being a county magistrate is like being a high-ranking official. His father-in-law is upright yet shrewd; who knows, Pengze County might become even more efficient and just. He looked at Miaozhen, overjoyed to have her back after losing her.
When he was too far away to reach them, he, who had always disdained ghosts and gods, actually went to Luohan Temple to burn incense for the first time ever, and was even preparing to rush to Zhejiang.
Miaozhen didn't want Xiao Jingshi to do that for her. In life, one should be responsible for one's own actions. She was just a little scared: "In the future, I will still prioritize my own safety and not let you worry."
Xiao Jingshi put his arm around her and said, "It's not like we gained nothing. Our son has also become an apprentice. I've found a martial arts master for him to teach him archery and martial arts."
The couple valued their children's education very much.
"That's good. Zheng'er will be eight years old next year, so we must hurry up and catch up with him." Miaozhen was very worried about her youngest son.
As for Ting-ge'er, he is a bit weak, and besides, he is the only son. If Miao-zhen can take good care of him, it will already be a great deed, so the requirements are not so strict.
The stewards and servants that Zou had always used had not been changed. Miaozhen had never intended to dabble in other people's property. But even so, according to the clan agreement, she could get two-thirds of the profits. The money that Zou's steward sent at the end of the year was unexpectedly much.
Having withdrawn from Wei Wan's shares, they've now gained this sum of money, so it can be considered a case of losing one thing and gaining another.
Miaozhen told Xiao Jingshi about the money, and Xiao Jingshi then discussed it with her, saying, "This child is registered in Suzhou, and he will still have to go back to Suzhou to take the imperial examination. I think it would be better to arrange a marriage for him. That way, even if we are not in Suzhou, his in-laws will be there to take care of him."
“But we’re not in Suzhou, so it’s not easy to find him relatives,” Miaozhen thought for a moment.
Xiao Jingshi agreed.
Since Zheng Ge'er hired a martial arts master, he has been training hard in the coldest and hottest winters and summers without ever complaining of being tired, which has impressed everyone in the Xiao family.
The resilience of a child is truly admirable, even for adults.
Actually, Zheng Ge'er wasn't without his moments of laziness, but when he thought of his brother studying in Suzhou, who was said to be diligent, and his sister who spent years preparing medicinal herbs and studying acupuncture, even more diligently than him, he had no reason to slack off.
During the New Year, thanks to Madam Ouyang, Miaozhen met many officials' wives and arranged a marriage for her nephew, Qingge. This time, the match was also with an official's daughter, the daughter of the magistrate of Jinjiang County. This magistrate's surname was He, and he was from Suzhou Prefecture, so they had a hometown connection.
The He family's daughter was the second daughter in her family, with an older sister and a younger sister, and was not favored. This marriage might not be considered good by others, after all, Xiao Qing's family was just an ordinary gentry family, and he relied entirely on his own abilities, but he did not pursue an official career, unlike Xiao Bin who would take the imperial examinations in the future and still have a chance.
However, the second young lady was quite satisfied. With Xiao Jingshi as his uncle, and who usually handled matters for him, Xiao Qing would surely benefit as Xiao Jingshi rose in status.
In the spring of the following year, Miaozhen arranged a marriage proposal for Xiao Qing, and after the Dragon Boat Festival, she welcomed the He family's daughter into the family. Although the He family held the position of county magistrate, they were not the kind of people who were ruthless and power-hungry. Moreover, they had three daughters, and by the time it came to their second daughter, the dowry was exactly twenty-four loads, which was barely considered a decent amount.
Those in the know can see the difference; Miaozhen could tell that this second Miss He was indeed not favored, just as rumored.
But this marriage was excellent for Xiao Qing. He wasn't really short of money, but he lacked status. Marrying Madam He would elevate his status.
It was probably because He Shi was not favored at home, and after getting married, she hoped that everything would be perfect. Every morning, she would go to the kitchen to make breakfast for Miao Zhen and the others. Miao Zhen had told her to stop several times, but she couldn't stop her, so she just let her do it.
But this aspect of He Shi's actions greatly displeased Lin Shi. Originally, Miao Zhen and Xiao Jing Shi were not their real parents-in-law. They could live their own lives and just be mindful of things as usual. But He Shi's actions were putting Lin Shi in a very difficult position.
Even Fu-jie'er noticed their discord and quietly said to Miao-zhen, "Mother, shouldn't you do something about it?"
"It hasn't come to my attention, so why should I care? Actually, you should think about this. If you ever encountered someone like the He family, what would you do?" Miaozhen said with a smile.
Fu Jie'er hadn't thought about this question yet, and fell into deep thought for a moment before saying, "That daughter is more hardworking than her."
Miaozhen shook her head: "Then you're wrong. Actually, we have a ready example in our family. Your third aunt is very good at socializing and managing the household. When I was in the capital, I was far inferior to her in social skills."
"My daughter doesn't remember." Sister Fu was unaware of these things.
Miaozhen laughed and said, "Then let me tell you. Everyone has their strengths, and you have yours. Your third aunt is good at socializing, but I am good at medicine. If I follow her and learn from her, I will not only lose my strengths, but I will also be surpassed by her in her area of expertise. In that case, it would be like trying to walk like the man from Handan who tried to learn from her."
Fu Jie nodded slightly: "Mother is absolutely right, but if you were Sister Lin and didn't know medicine, what would you do?"
“That’s even simpler. Your brother Bin is a scholar. If she can urge him to go further and become a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, his status will be different. That’s one point. Secondly, the Lin family is a prominent local clan, naturally stronger than us outsiders. They can help me with social interactions. Isn’t that better than getting up at dawn every day to cook?” Miaozhen analyzed based on their situation.
Fu Jie'er understood, and she used Lou Qiongyu as an example again: "What if it were Sixth Aunt?"
Miaozhen laughed and said, "Actually, your sixth aunt is very good at needlework, but she later learned social skills. However, your uncle is not an official, and the social skills he knows are enough. So, it's putting the cart before the horse."
After hearing these words, Sister Fu suddenly understood.
Finally, Miaozhen said, "Even if you have no advantage, as long as you can keep your mind focused, you will still win in the end. You see, many people are exceptionally talented when they are young, but they often die young, allowing those who were originally ordinary to get the advantage."
Fu Jie'er laughed and said, "What Mother said makes so much sense. I think you are even better than those sorcerers."
"It's just that by living a long time and seeing more, and by reflecting on things often, we can draw conclusions," Miaozhen said.
Now that General Fu has gone to Zhejiang and taken his daughter with him, Ruan Shi was overjoyed that Lu Jie'er was gone. She immediately came to Miao Zhen's place to talk and asked Zhao Ge'er, "How is your eldest son's imperial examination?"
"I've passed the county and prefectural examinations, but I haven't taken the provincial examination yet, and I don't know if I'll pass it," Miaozhen said with a smile.
Madam Ruan couldn't help but congratulate her, saying, "So, my nephew has become a student of the first level of the imperial examination. It's a wonder you kept it a secret, sister."
“It’s not that I’m hiding it from him, but he’s still young. The provincial examination is held twice every three years, so it will be at least next year or the year after. There are many variables.” Miaozhen was very happy for her son, but the provincial examination might not be easy for him.
"Sister Xu, Zhao'er is so promising, I think you should arrange a marriage between you and him as soon as possible," Madam Ruan suggested kindly.
Miaozhen listened to this and pondered the same question.
It is said that the two cousins of the Xiao family, Zhao Ge'er, passed both the county and prefectural examinations, while Miao Ge'er passed the county examination but failed the prefectural examination. Master Xiao was naturally happy for his two grandsons, but Zhao Ge'er was a little depressed. He used to have his maternal grandfather help him collect many examination questions, but now that his maternal grandfather had taken up his post in Pengze, he had to find some collections of writings himself.
But this is also a challenge for him.
Fortunately, in July, his parents sent someone back from Fujian, bringing him not only a lot of local produce but also letters from both of them. His father taught him many methods for taking the exams, while his mother encouraged him to do his best. If he passed the exams and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations), he could then travel and study abroad, eventually reuniting with his parents.
The temptation was immense. Although it was nice to have grandparents who loved me in Suzhou, it was obviously better to be with my parents.
To achieve this goal, he must study diligently.
Having a goal brings pressure, but it also gives you a direction to strive for.
The local products sent from Fujian were distributed to each household according to the slips of paper. Jian ware, tea, razor clams, and scallops were all top-quality items, making them excellent gifts.
After Zhao Ge'er arrived at the main house, there was also a letter from Miao Zhen to Chao Shi. Chao Shi opened it and read that the letter talked a lot about Ting Ge'er and asked if she could help him find a marriage partner.
Madam Chao thought that Xiao Jingshi and his wife were very thoughtful. After all, Tingge'er had his own father by his side and could not stay with Xiao Jingshi and his wife for the rest of his life. In the future, when they returned to Suzhou, if they had a father-in-law who was extremely protective of his son and had great influence, it would be able to keep him in check.
It is said that they originally wanted to look for her in Fujian, but it was too far away, so they entrusted her with the task.
Chao Shi naturally agreed and asked Zhao Ge'er to write a reply. Zhao Ge'er thought that Ting Ge'er was only ten years old, and his parents had already chosen a marriage for him. On the contrary, his mother wrote to him, telling him not to worry, and that he would definitely find a good family in the future.
After leaving Madam Chao's place, he went to the third branch of the family. Master Xiao kept him there for a while before letting him leave. Then it was the second branch's turn to visit his aunt and uncle. Han Yueyao was very happy to receive the gifts and thought that her sister-in-law liked to drink jasmine tea, so she could send some to her family. As for Madam Lou, she also expressed her gratitude, but she seemed quite indifferent.
Even though Zhao Ge'er wasn't very old and wasn't very worldly-wise, he could tell that Lou Qiongyu's silence was probably because he had passed the prefectural examination while Miao Ge'er hadn't.
Zhao Ge'er thought, what's the point of competing? Besides, Miao Ge'er is a month younger than him. And the imperial examination isn't something only he and Miao Ge'er participate in. So many scholars from Suzhou Prefecture are participating, and some even achieve the highest honors in the imperial examinations. How can we possibly compete with each other?
As a result, he missed his parents even more.
Lou Qiongyu was naturally not happy. She had high hopes for Miao Ge'er, but he failed the prefectural examination. It was one thing for Xiao Jingtang not to be as good at studying as Xiao Jingshi, but was Miao Ge'er really not as good as others?
But she wouldn't say anything sarcastic or cynical; she just couldn't muster any enthusiasm.
The letter from Suzhou arrived in Miaozhen's hands a month later. Seeing that Madam Chao had agreed, Miaozhen was relieved of a worry. After all, Madam Chao was a native of Suzhou, and she had a good relationship with Madam Zou before, so she would definitely help Tingge'er find a good marriage.
"Bitao, are the summer clothes all finished?" Miaozhen asked.
Bitao smiled and said, "They were delivered this morning. Erlangjun and Ting Shaoye each received four sets, while the eldest young lady received six sets."
Miaozhen nodded slightly: "Has the embroiderer been paid?"
"Not yet. Your clothes and the master's clothes are not yet finished, and the maids' clothes are not yet finished either. I was thinking of giving them to you all at once."
Bitao is currently in charge of Miaozhen's household expenses and has to report to Miaozhen every day. Miaozhen is very meticulous in her work. Servants can be rewarded for good work, but if they steal or take things, that is a matter of character.
“Alright, then you can decide what to do then. Make sure Ting-ge’er and Zheng-ge’er get the same amount,” Miao-zhen said.
Bitao nodded: "Don't worry, I will have someone keep an eye on things."
As the mistress and servant were talking, Madam He sent someone to deliver wontons. Miaozhen said that although meat swallows from Fujian were delicious, she still preferred wontons. She never expected that Madam He would make them herself and send them over.
Miaozhen smiled and said, "Please convey this to your grandmother for me, and tell her that you are very grateful for her kindness."
These wontons are really delicious, with thin wrappers and generous fillings, and the soup isn't greasy at all. Even on a hot summer day, a bowl of these wontons makes my stomach feel very comfortable.
Of course, Madam He had good intentions. She was a perfectionist, managing everything at home and outside impeccably, and she was always on edge. But as the one being won over by her, Miaozhen could understand some of the mindset of a mother-in-law. She herself was also reflecting on how to treat Madam Ren in the future, truly judging by actions rather than intentions.
At noon, Miaozhen also gave He Shi two kinds of dried fruit as a return gift.
When Lin learned of their interactions, she was filled with a helpless rage. She didn't want to act like He, but she also didn't want to offend Miaozhen. However, she didn't dare to persuade Xiao Bin to leave. There was still a year left, and if Xiao Jingshi were to rise another rank, that would be quite extraordinary.
As the saying goes, it's good to rest under a big tree, and she didn't want Xiao Bin to actually go out to conduct scientific research, otherwise he would end up gaining nothing from either end.
But seeing that Madam He was pressing her relentlessly, she could only sulk in silence.
These are things she can only resolve on her own; Miaozhen can't help her because she treats them both the same and doesn't favor one over the other.
Fu Jie'er is currently a beginner in acupuncture, and Miao Zhen has to watch over her, reminding her: "The most important thing is to be steady and not hesitate. Also, you must choose the right acupoints. If you are afraid, you won't be able to treat the patient."
"Okay, Mother, don't worry," said Fu Jie'er.
After teaching for about an hour, Sister Fu wanted to go practice on her own, so Miaozhen said to her, "You should rest early too. We'll go to the Fu family tomorrow morning."
"Is Madam Fu alright?" Sister Fu asked.
"I heard you're feeling a bit unwell."
The next day, Miaozhen arrived at the Fu family and took Ruan's pulse before smiling and saying, "You're pregnant again. It's been almost three months."
Ruan blushed and asked softly, "How is the fetus?"
"Your pulse is still relatively normal, but you must abstain from sexual intercourse now." Miao Zhen was genuinely afraid that some couples would be unable to resist having sex even when the woman was pregnant, and that if something went wrong, they would wail and scream, and even threaten the doctor.
Madam Ruan hurriedly said, "Sister Xu, what are you saying? In a few days it will be the anniversary of the death of the person before us. In previous years, we would have held a grand celebration. I'm afraid I will still be busy with that."
Although Fu Yu and Ruan Shi have a good relationship now, there is still a white moonlight standing between them. Ruan Shi is gentle and kind, and she feels that Fu Yu is affectionate. She does her best to take care of things on the anniversary of his death.
Miao Zhen said to her with heartache, "You should also be careful. There are so many people in the family, who can't do it?"
“The servants left behind by the previous wife are very loyal. I always ask them for help, so don’t worry,” said Madam Ruan, patting her belly with affection.
The two exchanged a few more words before Miaozhen left with Fujie.
When she got home, Xiao Jingshi was already in the room. Fu Jie'er had left first. Miao Zhen had changed into a light green gauze shirt and a pleated skirt, with a light green ribbon tied in the middle. She looked refreshing and pleasant.
Xiao Jingshi was chatting with her casually, but when he saw her exquisite figure under her gauze dress, he couldn't help but carry her to the square table. Miaozhen felt her body heat up.
This made Xiao Jingshi love her even more. After their lovemaking had just ended, he carried her to the bed and said, "Why don't we have one too?"
This year, Zheng Ge'er is already eight years old. In Xiao Jingshi's eyes, he and his wife are still as loving as ever, and he loves his wife even more than before. But in a few more years, Zhao Ge'er will get married, and Fu Jie'er will also get married. Zheng Ge'er is focused on learning martial arts and will probably not be by his side. He himself is often busy with external affairs, and his wife will probably be lonely.
Unexpectedly, Miaozhen looked at him and said, "What's the point of comparing these things? Although it's said that many children bring many blessings, many children also bring suffering to the mother. This is enough."
“Okay, whatever you say. But I’m off tomorrow, and I have nothing to do anyway, so let’s just stay home, okay?” Xiao Jingshi had already planned how to stay with his wife every step of the way.
Miao Zhen blushed: "You really are something, saying and drinking everything, it's so annoying."
Xiao Jingshi couldn't help but laugh and hugged her even tighter.
For two days, the two of them were inseparable, and the servants naturally looked on with skepticism, but they didn't know what to say. After all, it was just a loving couple, and there was nothing to say about it.
Madam He was quite envious. You should know that Fourth Aunt is thirty years old this year. Some women who married early are probably already mothers-in-law, but she still lives like a young girl. Her husband is infatuated with her, and her children are sensible, which makes her look very young.
Just as Xiao Jingshi finally started his work, Miaozhen was feeling unwell and wanted to sleep. Unexpectedly, the Ruan family rushed over: "Doctor Xu, our lady has been frightened, has a stomachache, and is bleeding."
Upon hearing this, Miaozhen immediately called Fujie to go over together, because only by learning by doing can one grow rapidly.
After arriving at the Fu family, she heard the reason from the maidservant beside Madam Ruan. It turned out that Madam Ruan was pregnant, and Fu Yu took pity on her, so he didn't ask her to prepare for the sacrificial ceremony this time, and even canceled it altogether.
But at this time, Ruan received several blood-stained baby drawings, which made her uneasy. When she woke up this morning, she was in a daze and was constantly afraid, and then she started bleeding.
"How could this be?" Miaozhen frowned as she listened.
Fu Jie'er, who was listening nearby, was also frightened. She felt that this should be considered a private matter within the inner quarters.
Upon arriving at the Fu family residence, Fu Yu saw Miao Zhen and quickly said, "Thank you for your help, Physician Xu."
Fu Yu truly deserves his position as governor-general. Miao Zhen doesn't like being called Lady Xiao; she prefers to be called Physician Xu.
"Don't worry, I have a very good relationship with your wife, and I will definitely treat her well," Miaozhen said with a smile.
After speaking, the mother and daughter hurried inside. After taking her pulse, Miaozhen saw that Ruan was still weak and said, "Why are you sweating so much? Let me wipe your sweat first so we can do moxibustion to protect the pregnancy later."
When Miaozhen came over, Madam Ruan covered her face, feeling deeply terrified: "Sister Xu, who exactly is cursing me, or even plotting to harm me in the shadows?"
"Think back to yourself, have you done anything recently?" Miaozhen actually had a guess in her mind.
When Ruan heard her reminder, she shook her head again: "No, when I was pregnant before, even though they were the servants of the previous wife, they didn't do this."
Miaozhen reminded her, "Didn't you say you wouldn't be holding the memorial service for the anniversary of the death this year?"
"That's because I'm really exhausted," said Mrs. Ruan, quite annoyed.
Miaozhen wiped her sweat again and said, “I advise you to find the murderer as soon as possible. Only then will there be true peace. If you tolerate it for a while, you will be raising a tiger to cause trouble in the future.”
She knew that Ruan was as weak-willed as her name suggested, or rather, indecisive. She felt that being a second wife was like a cuckoo taking over someone else's nest, and was unwilling to make a scene.
This is naturally Miaozhen's speculation; she was most likely a servant of Fu Yu's first wife.
As they spoke, Miaozhen personally led Fujie to brew medicine in the side room, and said to her, "If you discover that there are secrets within the inner quarters, it is best to brew the medicine yourself. Otherwise, if someone adds something to it, the doctor will be held responsible."
“Mother, I thought you would be more concerned about who sent the painting?” Fu’er said.
Miao Zhen smiled and said, "The first thing a doctor should do is protect himself."
Fu Jie asked in bewilderment, "What kind of people are these? How can they be so capable of harming people, especially children? It's intolerable."
“Yes, don’t talk. I’ll do moxibustion later, and you can watch from the side,” Miaozhen instructed her daughter.
After the mother and daughter finished brewing the medicine, they first had Ruan drink it. After about half an hour, Miaozhen helped Ruan perform moxibustion on Zusanli, Shenshu, Guanyuan and other places. They came in the morning and didn't go home until evening.
Fortunately, after half a month of bed rest, the baby was saved. Fu Yu was also determined to find out who was responsible. It turned out to be the head maid who had served his late wife. She was shouting madly at Fu Yu: "What are you pretending to be, you love-struck fool? After our lady passed away, all your longing was just for show. After you married Ruan, we no longer have our lady..."
Fu Yu looked at her coldly: "No matter what I do, it is not a reason for you to harm people. Guards, drag him away and give him forty lashes, then send him to the estate to do hard labor."
...
After Ruan was completely alright, Miaozhen stretched and said to Xiao Jingshi, "That's great. Those who harmed her have been dealt with, and now the child is safe. I was worried that Lord Fu would be lenient, and I was really worried for Ruan."
Xiao Jingshi looked at Miaozhen with amusement: "Silly Zhenzhen, some people do things by force, while others use the weak to overcome the strong? She seems to be the most innocent, kindest, and pitiful, but isn't she the one who benefits from all of this?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
