Chapter 057 Chapter 57

Yao Niang understood the ways of the world better, and she certainly didn't want to be treated specially. No mother-in-law in the world wanted to see her son grovelling for her daughter-in-law, so she said, "It doesn't matter where you put it."

Shen Linfeng looked at her bun, and after a long while, he finally inserted it into her bun, but he was afraid of poking her scalp, so he was a little cautious. Madam Shen and Shen Mo, who were standing by, felt very sad, because Shen Linfeng had never done this before.

"Okay, it's done." After Shen Linfeng finished, he looked at Yao Niang's beautiful face and his heart moved.

After inserting the gold hairpin, both parties will order a cup of tea for the other party's elder to indicate that the ceremony is complete.

I heard that Yan Ningxin didn't know how to order tea, and it was her maid Jin Gou who did it for her. Seeing the Yan family's behavior, the Shen family also asked their maid to order tea for them.

But now Yao Niang came, and she also brought her favorite tea set from home, obviously to prepare tea for herself. The Shen family also asked Shen Linfeng to prepare it.

It took a long time to make tea, and people from the Yan family and the Shen family also started to exchange pleasantries.

The person who came to the Shen family was Shen Bangyan, the cousin of Shen Linfeng. He was also a young talent, about the same age as Shen Linfeng, and was now studying at the Imperial College. Yan Jingzhao was talking to the men of the Shen family. He was the most prominent figure in the Yan family, and he was good at talking and laughing. Even Mrs. Shen was very happy to see Yan Jingzhao.

Although Xie was not as social as Zhen and was not very familiar with Mrs. Shen and the others, she spoke less and only talked about safe topics.

Madam Shen also asked Xie: "I heard that the wedding date of your eldest son has been set?"

"Yes, in the last month."

"I don't know which one to order."

"She is the daughter of Minister Li of the Ministry of Revenue."

Shen Mo, who was standing by, was somewhat disdainful when he heard Xie mention Li Ruomei. Li Ruomei was normal in every way. The Yan family didn't like her, but they actually liked the Li family. However, Xie didn't look down on Xie. She knew that Shen Mo liked Prince Qi. Since she had someone in her heart, how could she break up someone else?

Everyone in the Shen family was also watching quietly. It was no wonder they were like that. It was mainly because Yan Ningxin had come here before and now everyone was looking at her with a scrutinizing eye, fearing that this was just another illusion.

But among the people who came from the Yan family this time, the second wife, Mrs. Xie, had a gentle temperament and good character. The girl's brother was already a Hanlin, with a graceful demeanor, outstanding talents, and even a straightforward personality.

Not to mention this Miss Yan San. When she ordered tea, her posture was graceful and her behavior was elegant. She had the demeanor of a woman from the forest. This was the kind of girl that was raised in the Yan family.

Amid the aroma of tea, Yao Niang personally brought a tray to Mrs. Shen and said, "Have some tea, please."

In this situation, unless Mrs. Shen didn't want this marriage, she wouldn't deliberately make it difficult. Mrs. Shen took a sip of tea and said hello, and Yao Niang beside her also breathed a sigh of relief.

However, when Mrs. Shen put down the teacup in her hand, she revealed her thoughts in a hurry. Yao Niang then realized that she was not the only one who was nervous, but even Mrs. Shen was nervous. She felt better when she thought about it.

"What does the eldest lady like to eat?" Mrs. Shen asked, holding Yao Niang's hand.

Yao Niang smiled and said, "I don't have too many dietary restrictions on weekdays. At this time of year, we often eat lobsters and crabs at home. My grandparents live in Dongshan and often send us a lot of them."

She mentioned Dongshan on purpose because Dongshan and Wu Xing were very close.

Sure enough, Mrs. Shen couldn't help but ask, "Is your maternal grandfather from Dongshan?"

"Yes, when I was a child, I always took a boat from Jinling to visit my grandparents." She knew that Mrs. Shen's family was the Han family in Jinling and her husband's family was in Wuxing. In fact, their situations were quite similar, but it would not be nice if you said it directly.

Madam Shen said to Mrs. Xie: "Speaking of which, our Wuxing and Dongshan are close to each other. This is really a fate."

Xie looked at her daughter and said, "I didn't think of that either. It's not so bad in the capital, but the fish, shrimp and crabs are not as convenient as in Nanjing."

Mrs. Shen smiled and said, "It's not difficult. We have a relative who does business not only on the sea but also on the river. I'll ask them to send some over when the time comes."

"How can I do this?" Xie waved her hands quickly.

Shen Mo was surprised to see Yao Niang easily start a conversation. She rarely met Yao Niang in the past. She often saw Yan Er and Yan Si, and didn't have much contact with her. Now she realized that this third girl was very smart.

You have to know that Yan Ningxin was really pretending to be shy that time, and the two sides almost parted ways after having tea.

Mrs. Shen said warmly, "We are all family, so please don't talk about our differences."

Yao Niang sat there without looking around, not even once at Shen Linfeng, but just listened carefully to what the elders said, which made Mrs. Shen like her even more.

To be honest, unless there is a deep hatred between people, as long as you do your best and don't be overly sensitive, you can live like a fish in water anywhere.

Although Shen Linfeng sat beside them without saying a word, he couldn't help but lower his head and curl his lips when he saw the two sides talking happily.

Xie said that the weather was too hot, and that Yaoniang and her sisters would go to the manor to escape the heat in a few days, which was another way to elevate their status: "In our family, their father dotes on his daughters very much. When it's not so hot on weekdays, they can go swimming in the lake and enjoy the breeze. Now it's too hot, and we put too much ice in the house, and we're afraid they will catch a cold."

What Mrs. Shen heard was that the girl from my Yan family is very delicate and she must not be treated lightly when she visits your home in the future.

She would have to say a few more words, but she couldn't ruin the relationship.

The elders were talking to each other, while Shen Linfeng quietly came over to Yao Niang while refilling his tea and asked, "Are you going to the farm?"

"It's on the farm in Xiaotang Mountain. I heard it's cool there, so we plan to go there. Otherwise, we might get too hot." Yao Niang is very afraid of getting prickly heat.

Shen Linfeng glanced at her and asked concernedly, "Are you afraid of the heat?"

"Well, a little bit." Yao Niang said this with a little embarrassment.

Shen Linfeng said "Oh" and understood what was going on. Yao Niang didn't want to talk to her any more and turned away. Only then did Shen Linfeng return to his seat.

The two of them thought they had fooled everyone present with these little tricks, but they didn't know that even Yan Jingzhao felt that Shen Linfeng was too cunning and that this boy had too many clever eyes.

As a brother, I still feel a little uncomfortable when I see this.

Xie was quite satisfied. It is a good thing for a man to be caring. Some men are good to everyone, and being his wife may not be happy. Some men may not be good to outsiders, but as long as they are good to their wives and children, it is better than anything else.

The Yan family and the Shen family held a small engagement ceremony, and it was unexpected that Zhen and the Xu family also chose a date and arranged a marriage in a hurry. Therefore, the three sisters arranged their marriages on the way to the manor.

"We haven't been to the manor yet. We don't know if the manor is like the Peach Blossom Spring." Qianniang smiled, full of anticipation.

Yao Niang said, "Where in the world is there a paradise? Even if there is, it is for avoiding disasters. I will be very happy if we can have a good sleep."

Yingniang leaned on Yaoniang's shoulder and fell asleep: "Third sister, don't say such spoiling words. Second sister is preparing to prepare poems, and you said this."

"Okay, okay, it's all my fault, okay?" Yao Niang said unhappily.

All three of them knew that this would be the last time they spent as young girls, and Lian Qianniang thought so too.

Although she once thought that she was nothing in the Yan family, she later realized that the family was actually very good. At least she was a young lady and could do whatever she wanted. Although Zhen was partial, she never treated her harshly.

Yao Niang thought, but her mother didn't come. She had to take care of her brother's marriage, which was a big event in the family. Also, she had to collect bills in the second half of the year. The mistresses always had endless things to do.

Accompanying them were Yan Jingzhang and his wife. The second brother did not have any talent for the imperial examinations. Although he had barely passed the examination for becoming a student, he was not interested in studying.

In fact, the three sisters would often discuss this when they got together. Qianniang used to keep to herself and not say a word, but now she unexpectedly said, "Second sister-in-law is angry again."

"What's wrong?" Yao Niang just saw that Yu was fine and said that she looked good.

Qianniang said: "It's because you think that Second Brother is not good at studying and that he has no ambition."

At this time, Yingniang couldn't help herself: "What is she complaining about? Second brother will just be the one to take care of her in the future. Her father is even begging Dad to give them an official position."

Qianniang also thought so in her heart, but Yu was her biological sister-in-law, so she had to say: "All women hope that their husbands will be successful. This is also human nature."

"She is pregnant now, why does she have to think so much? Besides, the second brother is not that old. Not everyone becomes famous at a young age. She worries too much." Yao Niang said.

Yingniang even said, "Why didn't she marry a scholar instead of marrying into our family? Second brother wasn't famous for his literary talent before."

This was a bit too much. Yao Niang pushed her and said, "Second sister-in-law is in the carriage in front. Be careful that she doesn't hear it."

Lian Da, who was hurrying outside, heard everything and just pretended to be deaf. The girls of the Yan family were spoiled by their family. Minister Yan was a tough official. He was a high-ranking official. The sons of the family were scolded harshly, but the daughters were spoiled to the sky. Although they would not do evil, they were all bad-tempered and not easy to get along with.

Nowadays, everyone marries someone of higher status and becomes more and more arrogant.

Yu had just gotten pregnant and was feeling very hot all the time. Her family asked her to come over to recuperate, but she was filled with worries.

"Second Madam, please have a grape to whet your appetite." Shuanghuan was worried that she would feel uncomfortable sitting in the carriage.

于氏撫了撫胸口：“我怎麽還吃的下去，你看今年大宗師提調，三弟聽說是成竹在胸了，可相公可怎麽好？我好心好意勸他，他不僅不聽，還在書房和丫頭們厮混。”

雙環素來忠心，不免勸道：“那個丫頭您也打板子趕出去了，就別想那麽多了，如今到莊上，天氣更涼爽些，指不定二爺就會讀書了。”

于氏只是覺得悲哀：“他若能這麽想就再好不過了。我也真是造孽了，家裏也沒人聽我說話，之前我一直覺得我比嫂子關氏強，現在看來，我們又有甚分別。”

“二奶奶，您何必想那麽多呢？我看咱們老爺是做大官的人，難道咱們二爺以後會差了麽？”雙環覺得于氏簡直就是杞人憂天。

于氏卻撐着腦袋，只覺得沉重：“我家中原本也不比顏家差的，可是兄弟沒有出息的，父親做官也是平平。你看三房的大哥，娶妻非富即貴，無論在哪裏都高人一籌，就是因為他是少年進士，才學了得。”

雙環也不好怎麽說了，有些東西是羨慕也羨慕不來的。

“不說這些了，這次兩房讓我帶這三個小姑子，外加一個表姑娘出來。在家有大夫人二夫人照管，如今都是我照管，我怕壓不住她們。”這也是于氏擔心的事情。

她的這些小姑子們的确不是人家那種真的刁蠻任性的，甚至個個都還讀書，算得上知書達理，可越是這樣，越不好應付。

雙環笑道：“她們都是定了親的人了，想必比您更留心，您操的哪門子的心啊。”

于氏一想也的确如此。

“咱們二姑娘要給宰相做兒媳婦，三姑娘嫁的也好，一品左都禦史的兒媳婦，四姑娘也要嫁給刑部侍郎家中。說起來她們可比我那時候好多了，現在還能這般惬意。”于氏想起自己要嫁給顏家時，家中生怕丢臉，讓她一個勁的學這學那，忐忑不安。

可這些顏家的姑娘們仿佛一點兒也不怵，對嫁人沒有一點緊張，這大概就是門戶相當，才能如此。

日後若是嫁了人了，便是千般聰明萬般伶俐又如何？一樣要受婆家管束。

雙環這就不接話了，顏家的關系都很複雜，但是難得的是顏侍郎能夠協調其中，也是夠不容易的。

小湯山的莊頭早就在那裏等着了，顏景璋與他說了一番話，又安置各處。窈娘姊妹一人帶了四口大箱子，這次三人都一起住在後罩房。

窈娘對顧媽媽還有青黛紅袖道：“住在一起就會有摩擦，以前小時候一起上京時，有長輩看管，現在二嫂嫂是個裝聾作啞的人，若不鬧出來她也不會管，咱們就愈發不要和人起了争執，好好享受一二。顧媽媽，你是我的奶媽媽，可要替我管好我這房裏。”

“是。”三口異口同聲道。

頭一日過來這裏，此處條件自然是不如京中，但也的确涼爽，之前在家恨不得把長褙子脫了，都是穿的紗裙，這裏卻很舒服，她們收拾好床鋪，窈娘趴在床上就睡着了。

她們休息了，于氏還得忙前忙後，讓家下安排飯點，又要操心丈夫，一刻都不能停歇下來。

做人家的媳婦，可能天生就是來受苦的。

晚膳時，窈娘才醒過來，顧媽媽還讓人端了幾樣菜來，還道：“這些都是莊子上的農家菜，委屈姑娘了。”

“有什麽好委屈的，我可沒那麽嬌氣，我能涼快的睡的着覺就很好了。不過，明日我想打秋千，你讓人給我做一架秋千，這個天氣打秋千最舒服了。”窈娘笑道。

顧媽媽應承下來，又道：“我這個時候就去吩咐一聲。”

“勞煩媽媽了。”窈娘道。

她這個房裏，王媽媽注定做不長的，平日許多機密事情不必和她說，就梳頭的時候讓她過來就成，順便讓青黛私下把她的手藝學會。顧媽媽是她奶媽媽，小慶是她奶哥哥，再有青黛紅袖算是她的心腹丫鬟，別的人都不大當用，得好好管着。

晚飯她用完了，又在院子裏走了走，見瑩娘過來了，窈娘又請她進來。

“三姐姐，今日這吃的是什麽啊？實在是難以下咽。”

“你千萬別這麽說，這是二嫂嫂安排的，再說莊子上也就這個條件。我帶了我娘做的蝦醬，你要不要吃那個？”窈娘笑道。

瑩娘好奇了一下，又點頭同意。

其實有時候單獨和瑩娘相處，反而覺得她沒有甄氏那樣精于算計，她算是有什麽說什麽的人。這次幾人定親之後，窈娘能夠感覺瑩娘好像一直想和她說什麽。

蝦醬拿來，她挑了幾口，就放下了。

到底瑩娘什麽都沒說，她和窈娘還不是談心的關系，她其實對沈臨風有一種好東西我要得到的意思，實際上木已成舟後，她并不是真的難過傷心，真的是很奇怪。

可她和徐思嘉小定時插金釵見過，他對自己似乎非常平淡，也插了釵子，卻沒有那種熱情感，也不是說要多親近或者一見鐘情，關鍵是連那種體面的做法都沒有。

她跟着顏景昭去幫李氏插過金釵，那李氏也生的一般，大哥哥那樣高傲的人都笑着插釵，看起來對女方還能稍微體貼一二，三姐姐那邊就更不必說了，聽說沈臨風還幫她拿鏡子。

這樁親事是不是定的太急了？可是娘說大家主母在意的是正房位置，什麽情情愛愛都是笑話。

這種話她不知道對不對，也不知道怎麽說？可是和窈娘說，她又覺得丢份兒。

來莊子上幾日，窈娘白日在後面的小林間大秋千，莊子後面還有果林，她也會挎着籃子親自摘果子。

甄離則窩在院子裏不出來，倩娘則作詩，要不就做做女紅，都不敢太出格。

只是沒想到來莊子上後，就開始下起了雨，都中其實很少下雨，沒想到突然開始下了兩天的暴雨。

于氏還肚子不舒服，也管不了家中事情了，雖然有莊頭上的人服侍，但終究沒有主內的人。家務也亂糟糟的，瑩娘和窈娘吐槽了半天，窈娘則道：“那也只能夠等雨停了，天幹了，咱們再回去，要不然暴雨雷雨天氣，你敢出門嗎？既然這裏有莊頭們送飯菜來，我們也不要這麽挑剔了。”

倒不是窈娘能忍，而是她這一路舟車勞頓回來，其實已經習慣了這些，也沒這麽嬌氣了。什麽條件都能接受，這才是什麽環境都能适應，更何況，也不是這麽差。

早晨，屋檐下還挂着水珠，窈娘正欲去探望于氏，在路上卻見一個婆子急匆匆的，走起路來，恨不得把地上的水坑砸穿。

窈娘喝止住她：“何婆子，你這麽急做什麽去？如此急切，有失體統。”

“哎呦是三小姐啊，您不知道廚房漏水了，還有那後面的樓也漏水了。”何婆子急道。

廚房漏水可就很難再燒飯了，這就是個大問題。

窈娘不明白：“既然漏水就找人補上就好，難道這莊子裏連個瓦匠也沒有，何必這樣着急？若是驚擾了嫂子，你覺得這樣好嗎？”

何婆子有些為難道：“這些不是還得請二奶奶示下嗎？”

“什麽請二奶奶示下，以前我們沒來這個莊子上的時候，難道漏雨了就不補？真是越說越奇怪了。這個時候還是早上，若是等到中午，豈不是所有人都吃不上飯了。”窈娘覺得這些人真的是沒事兒找事。

何婆子就道：“好姑娘，雨剛停，都怕摔下來呢？”

其實就是暗地裏讨賞，窈娘很快就明白了，“那你也不該這樣跑，好好跟二嫂子說去。”

故意做出這幅急切的樣子做什麽，于氏這個人也奇怪，她們姊妹夥食不好，她也不說改善一下，倒是打賞下人十分大方。公中的銀錢，全給她買了自己的名聲，這些窈娘是看的一清二楚。

于氏手散，這修屋子原本就是泥瓦匠本來該做的，她這麽一撒手就是二十兩開發出去。

窈娘也知道要體恤下人，但是這未免也太多了，市面上泥瓦匠補瓦片一兩銀子，暴雨之後怕滑倒五兩也足夠了，甚至瓦片還是自家的，二十兩可是夠這些尋常莊戶人家過一年的了。

但大夫人讓于氏管着錢，窈娘也不好說什麽，但是她也不是沒有放些風聲出去。甄離當然也聽到了，但對身邊的丫鬟道：“這是顏家的事情，我們別管。”

“三姑娘之前隐而不發，四姑娘當時抱怨，大家還都說她嬌蠻，我看這位三姑娘很會抓重點。”

甄離以前只覺得顏家內宅沒什麽問題，現在看來她想的太簡單了，她都沒想到這一層。

這場矛盾很快就在沈家送了兩簍大蝦過來，衆人聚在一起用飯時，今日就是煮的蝦子。于氏也吃的很開心，畢竟有身孕的人吃些魚蝦也有好處。

“這還多虧了三妹妹呢。”于氏笑道。

Yao Niang said, "Sister-in-law, if you want to eat, we can afford it. To be honest, we have been here for half a month, and we are tired of eating the food in the farm all day long. Don't you like it too? Why don't you send someone out to buy it?"

Yu said in embarrassment: "Sister, this is the manor. If we want to buy something, where else can we go? The capital is too far away."

Yao Niang smiled and said, "Second sister-in-law is from a rich family. She doesn't know why people from all over the place gather here. If the servants are trying to shirk their responsibilities, then sister-in-law should set the rules."

Yu understood what Yaoniang meant, and Yingniang also chimed in: "Yes, second sister-in-law, mother asked you to take care of us, but you let us eat the same few dishes every day? It's not like you came here without money."

Yu thought to herself, what a great Third Miss, she is really amazing. No wonder the two of them didn't get along well when Guan was alive. I hope you can meet an amazing sister-in-law when you go to your husband's family in the future.