Chapter 085 Chapter 85
After Gong Cifu resigned and returned home, the Shen family seemed to be doing just fine. Even on the Dragon Boat Festival, Mrs. Shen took everyone out to watch the dragon boat race. Shen Linfeng was more excited than anyone else. He pointed to a boat not far away and said to Yao Niang, "Look, that boat is made by Lu Long. There is a shuttle wheel under the pointed toe. I plan to tell my uncle about this, and the boat will sail faster. Then my husband and I can invest in the boat."
"Ahem." Yao Niang was really impressed by Shen Linfeng. He was able to make money and hold an official position at the same time.
She smiled and handed him a plate of fresh fruit. "Look at you. You talk about these things very well. Come and eat some fruit to moisten your throat. When we are done, please invite this Mr. Lu to come over. I will treat him well."
Shen Linfeng said with a smile: "Lie Long loves fine wine the most. Yao Niang, you don't have to prepare anything else, but you must prepare the wine."
"Okay, don't worry. One of my father's disciples came to visit my grandfather and brought him some fine wine. My grandfather was reluctant to drink it, so he gave me two jugs. You know I don't drink, so you and him can drink it. But you are not allowed to drink alcohol or cause trouble. I will also ask the kitchen to roast a suckling pig, okay?" Yao Niang knew that Shen Linfeng loved to eat roasted pig with milk.
The two of them were talking as if no one was around. They saw Mr. Shen standing by the river with his hands behind his back, watching the dragon boat race. Yao Niang said to Shen Linfeng, "Dad is not usually the type to join in the fun. Why is he standing in the crowd? This way he's most likely to be knocked off the boat by the dragon boat racers. Go take someone to look after them."
Shen Linfeng immediately stood up and took his people over.
Over there, Madam Li, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, sent over a few plates of five-poison cakes. Yao Niang and Madam Shen apologized and went to Madam Li to pay their respects, because her sister-in-law, Madam Li, gave birth in the Li family and she often went there.
Han Ruohua and Shen Mo watched Yao Niang shuttle among them, and secretly envied her. No matter what, the Yan family had many relatives, and Yan's grandfather was the Minister of Industry, so it was no wonder that they were very arrogant. Especially Shen Mo, in the past, the Shen family was more powerful than the Yan family. She followed her brother to various occasions. Now that she was older, she didn't want to be pointed at by others, so she rarely went out.
"Cousin Han, since you're out to relax, you should be happier too." Shen Mo said with a smile.
Han Ruohua looked around with wide eyes: "Sister, Shangjing is so lively."
Shen Mo was surprised: "Jinling is not bad, why did my cousin say that?"
Han Ruohua shook her head: "Normally my family doesn't let me go out."
This reminded Shen Mo of the time when she was in Jinling. Her cousin Han seemed to seldom go out. Everyone said she was a real lady from a wealthy family, and she never left the front door or the back door.
Just as I was thinking about it, there was a "thump" in front of me, and someone shouted, "General Shen fell into the water, General Shen fell into the water."
Mrs. Shen immediately felt dizzy and felt unable to stand up.
Yao Niang's father-in-law, Mr. Shen, fell into the water. Although he was rescued by Shen Linfeng in time, he was also exhausted and needed to rest for a while. Therefore, Mr. Shen submitted a letter of resignation due to health reasons.
This time, Madam Shen impressed Yao Niang. Originally, Shen Linfeng was going to take leave to take care of the patient, and Yao Niang thought that Madam Shen would torture her. Little did she know that Madam Shen said to them, "You just need to come and see her sooner or later. I'll take care of the rest."
"Mom, please let your son take care of you. Your health is not very good." Shen Linfeng said.
Mrs. Shen waved her hands: "I just have some minor problems, which have been cured long ago. Your father is the most important here. Good children, you just need to take good care of the family."
Yao Niang glanced at Shen Linfeng, and then said to Mrs. Shen, "Madam, I should come over earlier to replace you."
"Really, there's no need, Brother Feng, your taking good care of Linfeng is the biggest benefit you can do for me." Mrs. Shen looked at Shen Linfeng and his wife, and somehow she remembered the scene when she was a child watching Romance of the Three Kingdoms and there was no one left in Shu after Zhuge Liang's death.
She had no more ideas now. Her eldest son, Yi Ge'er, died early, and her second son, Lin Feng, finally got married but the marriage was not consummated and they had no children...
If something happened to Lin Feng again, she would not be able to survive. The past conflicts and the mother-in-law's intolerance of her daughter-in-law had even disappeared.
After Yao Niang and Shen Linfeng left, Madam Shen sat on the edge of the bed. Her tears fell on Shen Zongxian's eyelids. Shen Zongxian couldn't help laughing and sat up again and said, "I told you everything was fine, but you were still crying."
"Master, I really didn't expect that you would resort to such a desperate measure just to resign. If it wasn't for the emergency, what would you have done?" Mrs. Shen was still worried.
Mr. Shen waved his hands and said to his wife, "Have you forgotten that I was the one who saved you when you fell into the river as a child? I have been able to swim since I was a child, so I am not afraid."
Seeing that Madam Shen was old but still had the same temperament as before, he could not help but say, "Let's pick a date as soon as possible for your niece's marriage. We will go back to Wuxing after the ceremony. We have been busy with paperwork for so many years, so we should step down now and let Linfeng no longer be tied to the Gong family and me."
Mrs. Shen tucked in the thin blanket for him and said, "Master, why is Second Uncle fine? You are the only one who wants to leave."
"Second brother? Second brother is a tough and courageous person. He is reluctant to give up high position and wealth, unlike me. We don't care about others. A big tree needs branches. Our three families should have separated long ago." Old Master Shen coughed a few times.
Mrs. Shen patted him on the back again and said, "Master, I will listen to you."
Old Master Shen smiled and said, "You have been feeling unwell for the past few years. It is better to go back home and let us focus on raising you. This official family has been up and down. You see, the old minister Yan looks powerful on the surface, but in fact, he has implicated so many people. The emperor will not be able to protect him. Everyone wants revenge. I am afraid it will be difficult for him to stay out of trouble in the future. However, the Yan family is like our Shen family. There are talented people in the next generation. The old minister is supporting Yan Yingqi now, and Yan Yingqi has also given birth to a good son."
"We are not bad in Linfeng either." Mrs. Shen said dissatisfiedly.
"Lin Feng is a weak person. Weak people are often rich but don't worry about money because they don't have or have little seal. You see, when he got married for the first time, his future was almost ruined. That's the reason." After Mr. Shen finished speaking, he saw that Mrs. Shen was anxious and stretched out his hand to stop her, saying, "However, I think my daughter-in-law is a strong person, but she is too strong and easily broken. If she were a man, it would be a little better. The two of them are a match made in heaven, so you should be nicer to my daughter-in-law."
Mrs. Shen was speechless: "I didn't do anything to her, but she was scolded several times."
Mr. Shen held her hand and said, "As parents, we all do things for the good of our sons. It doesn't matter if we suffer a little for our sons. Besides, our daughter-in-law is stronger, and we can rest assured that she will protect our son."
Mrs. Shen also laughed: "Yes, the old minister said that my daughter-in-law is like him, with such an air. She helped to arrange the wedding, and she was not afraid of what people said. No matter how many people said about her, she did not change her expression. However, she did not touch a single cent on the account. The money she reported to me every day was one-fifth or two-fifths of what my second brother and his wife reported."
As the old couple talked, they actually felt relieved.
Yao Niang followed Mrs. Shen's advice and speeded up the marriage for Shen Sanlang. Only Lu Shan'er was confused about whether to be happy or sad. She approached Guan Shi, but Guan Shi died. She wanted to get close to Mrs. Shen, but Shen Zongxian fell into the water.
Lu Shaner had never believed in gods or ghosts, so she went to the temple in person to pray devoutly.
On this day, Yao Niang had just come out of the Qingyi Garden and saw Lu Shan'er coming in. She hurriedly greeted her, "Third Aunt."
Lu Shaner paused and asked, "How are the preparations going?"
"Now the date has been re-set, the invitations have been sent out, and I have called all the four departments and six bureaus over. The stage is ready, so there is no need to set it up. I will just have to trouble Third Aunt to welcome the guests when the time comes." Yao Niang said with a smile.
Lu Shaner nodded hurriedly.
In fact, Yao Niang is not completely confident, but she always does things according to her own steps, as long as she doesn't make a mess.
After leaving the Qingyi Garden, she said to Qingdai beside her: "Look, Han Ruohua went to complain about me. Now it's even worse. Originally, there were still several months to prepare, but now the wedding has to be held within a month. With the excitement I arranged for her, everyone will praise me for my ability to handle things."
Qingdai supported Yaoniang and said, "The master and the mistress are going back to their hometown. You will be the mistress in the future."
"Yes, although this is a bit troublesome for us, we don't have to be controlled by others everywhere." Yao Niang said.
With the elders around, they can deal with all kinds of interpersonal relationships and difficult matters. In the future, the couple will have to face more things together.
Han Ruohua had never expected that her wedding would be held within a month, and Wang, who had spoken for her before, had lost her voice. However, her uncle had resigned, and her aunt was going to go back with him. Her parents were also working far away, and she didn't know what would happen if she married there.
She had briefly met Sanlang Shen once. Sanlang Shen was actually quite good-looking. Her aunt said that he was a kind-hearted, honest man.
He was the legitimate son of Xunfu and was born into a family of scholars. What else could she complain about?
This is the fate of this group of people. Perhaps many people envy her.
Emperor Qianyuan quickly approved Mr. Shen's resignation and naturally sent a doctor to visit him, which was considered to be a respectful gesture. Even Minister Yan came to visit him once. After Mr. Shen resigned, he seemed to be much more relaxed. He said to Minister Yan, "Old man, I'll leave Linfeng to you while I'm gone."
"Your son, why do you have to worry? Just be a noble Hanlin and study peacefully. My granddaughter and daughter can also enjoy a peaceful life." Yan Mai himself was a restless person, but for his grandchildren and sons-in-law, he wished they lived a stable life, which was more important than anything else.
Mr. Shen also nodded, but he was still anxious.
Yan Maiqi asked, "Your second son is the Imperial College's chief academic officer, and your third son is a patrol officer? They are slightly better than my family now, why are you so worried?"
沈老爺擺手，他也不好說出自己對弟弟的擔心，只道：“您這孫女婿實不相瞞，自小被人算是身弱之人，少正印，本就親緣淺薄。”
顏邁是知道沈老爺的，聽聞此人年輕時也是極其厲害的，到任三年肅清所有冤假錯案，且這麽多年在臺閣幾處關系都維護的很好，官聲非比尋常。但他私下聽人說沈老爺擅長相面之術，又聽他如此說，忍不住笑道：“不必靠我，我已經是行将就木之人，他岳父對他極為贊許。”
沈老爺這才感覺欣慰。
這些日子也常常被沈夫人喊過來教導，家中人情往來，四時八節如何籌備，都說的非常仔細。窈娘還不知道什麽點心糕點的時候，沈夫人都讓人做出來，窈娘就畫畫畫出來，編成冊子。
“太太，你和老爺既然準備家去，日後大房就我們夫妻了。您在京中，輩分最大，又是長嫂，自然什麽都是您說了算，也可以管着家。可我哪裏能和您相提并論，到時候我管家，反而管到長輩們頭上去了，這……”窈娘可不太想管二房三房了，反正三個房頭已經分産了，還不如借此分家。
沈夫人想來也是，況且她看了窈娘的身體，雖然玲珑有致，但當務之急還是生子。管事管的太多了，反而勞心勞力，她可只有這一個兒子啊。
“好，這事兒我和你爹說，清漪園的和咱們兩家離的遠，主要是和二房你二嬸說一聲。其實你二嬸倒是很好說話，以後你有不懂的，就多問她。”沈夫人道。
窈娘點頭。
分家的事情沈老爺也同意，沈夫人讓人把沈二夫人找過來，沈二夫人沒有像以前那樣那麽快就趕過來，反而還派人說：“今日我們二夫人去翰林學士家吃酒了，說明日才有功夫過來。”
若是放在以前，沈二夫人幾乎随叫随到的，沈夫人終于察覺到不對勁了。
她和沈老爺道：“人走茶涼，不外如是。”
沈老爺道：“你何必說這個，也難怪兒媳婦要提分家的事情，否則她和臨風都有可能要被別的房頭的長輩管着。人家可不會像你這樣，對他們好就給錢給東西，視如己出的。小時候，每次你從外面回來，他們幾個孩子就最高興，你買好些吃的喝的玩兒的，一個也不落下。”
“老爺能理解我，比什麽都強。”沈夫人一下就被安慰了。
而韓若華嫁給沈三郎一事，很快就辦理了，窈娘特地請了人把韓若華的轎子在外面街上晃了幾圈就入了清漪園。
在沈三郎成婚後，沈老爺也雷厲風行起來，和沈二老爺商量，又把三房三位侄子一起喊過來，共商分家大事。
沈老爺對衆人道：“如今連三郎都業已成家，俗話說樹大分枝，人大要分家。我們這一別，不知道何時再見面，趁着我如今還在，我們三房現在在京中就各房都分開來了。三房還好，都住在清漪園，我們和二房怎麽分，我聽大家的。”
在一旁的沈臨風知曉提出此事的人是窈娘，他也只有支持的，他們夫妻都是年輕人，日後關起門來過自己的日子。尤其是馬上他們就要圓房了，再受長輩約束，那可就太拘謹了。
殊不知他這般在別人眼中，就是太過高深莫測。
……
京中這宅子是沈老太爺在世時置辦的，老太爺把清漪園給了小兒子，正宅住的是大房和二房。自然幾家還都請了見證人過來，沈老爺和二老爺商量的差不多了，還算是禮讓一番，才把結果對過來的顏老尚書和信寧侯公布。
顏邁又有另一個意思：“你們回去之後，不若讓臨風夫妻來我家裏陪我，如今我兒子在老家，孫子又外放，正好讓小輩陪陪我。”
沈老爺如今卸任，恢複本來的性格，很好說話：“成，他們倆要住哪兒就住哪兒。”
信寧侯也對顏邁開玩笑：“老大人，日後您有空找我喝酒，我陪您喝，想喝多少都成。”
顏邁哈哈大笑，并不多說什麽，因為他看了一眼分宅分人的文書，自家孫女并未吃虧，他就嬉笑幾聲。
男人們分家的時候，女人們都聚在一起，沈夫人正和沈二夫人道：“日後臨風和他兒媳婦有什麽不周到的，還要勞煩你這二嬸子才是。”
沈二夫人颔首：“嫂子放心，都是一家人，怎麽說起兩家話來了。”她也沒想到大哥大嫂二人辭官歸故裏了，但大老爺辭官也好，那些想拿龔系人馬出頭的，若是看到沈家已經去了一人，就不會再找自己丈夫的麻煩了。
沈家二房得以保全，她畢氏從此在這個宅子裏地位也是最高的。
窈娘則道：“太太，您還是多帶些人手回去吧，大房只有我們夫妻，人多了反而不好。”
“留下來的都是家生子，總比外邊買的好，你們現下是不缺人手，日後就難說了。”沈夫人叮囑道。
沈陌都覺得怎麽嫂子和娘一下變親近了許多，但她這次卻要回家了，聽聞娘想把她留在京中，讓嫂嫂替她找一門親事，直接被嫂子拒絕了。現在，她也要跟着回吳興老家了。
大家在一起吃分家飯的時候，窈娘深覺，無論是在顏家還是在沈家，人和人的分別往往來的猝不及防。
最後一次給沈夫人布菜，這次窈娘很認真。
二房的王氏也親自做了幾道菜，其餘清大奶奶和江二奶奶，還有剛進門的韓若華她們三人對盧扇兒就覺得很別扭了，畢竟盧扇兒的年紀比她們三人都小。
因此這三人都一股腦兒的來伺候沈夫人了，差點把窈娘擠走，不過她從一個客觀角度來說沈夫人這個人雖然迷迷糊糊天真爛漫，有時候也對她這個兒媳婦恨不得轄制一番，但還挺得人心的。
事實上，沈二夫人既會說話，談吐又伶俐，辦事又周到，偏偏她們都和自己這個糊塗的婆婆很親近，這也算是另外一種人格魅力了。
她們年輕的兒媳婦布完菜，又在另一桌坐下吃飯，江二奶奶肚子出懷了，害喜也好了，胃口大增。只不過那江二奶奶之前懷疑韓若華和沈臨江有一腿，但二人現在看起來關系倒是不錯，窈娘心中覺得奇怪。
但這已經不是她要擔心的事情了，日後她們府上是沈翰林府上，二房是沈祭酒府上，三房是沈巡撫府上。
窈娘還發現韓若華對沈三郎挺好的，衆人散去時，她還和沈三郎牽着手，不過怎麽看都像是姐姐對弟弟，不像是夫妻。
韓若華不知道窈娘在觀察，她只對沈三郎道：“今日你可要好好讀書，別出去會飲了，他們當你是錢袋子呢，昨日給你裝的十兩銀子一下就沒了。”
“知道了，好姐姐。”沈三郎笑道。
韓若華也就不多說了，但依舊有些不放心：“你說你爹爹讓你都聽我的，那咱們回家後，到了晚間再來大房送些程儀，程儀我都準備好了，你送過來就成。”
沈三郎點頭，他爹說過他不聰明，成親後多聽妻子的。
誰也沒想到韓若華成婚前倒是挺招蜂引蝶的，成親之後倒是辦事很實在，沈三郎人雖然不聰明，但和大房打好關系準沒錯。窈娘想沈巡撫這門親倒是真的沒有結錯，韓若華看起來也是個有手段的，只是遇到自己不太行，可對付清大奶奶和江二奶奶能耍着玩兒。
現在自己可能說這個為時尚早了，她轉頭回房。
沒一會兒，沈臨風也回來了，她還沒睡，沈臨風已經睡着了，她就在一旁守着。這些日子沈家發生的事情其實在年初時龔家那般慌張，窈娘突然覺得為何有人願意歸隐田園了，也的确是做官的人生這一時也許勝了，沒過幾日就鬧的個貶谪，要不然就是罷官。
若非一般心性，很容易受到打擊。
以前沈臨風午睡起來之時，總覺得天昏地暗，整個人心情郁悶，可自從窈娘嫁進來之後，他從未和她說過，她卻一直守護着他。
所以，現下每次午睡起來，看到窈娘他就精神百倍，人瞬間機靈了。
“窈娘~”他語帶呢喃。
窈娘轉頭看着他：“怎麽啦，總和我撒嬌。是不是明日你爹娘要走，你舍不得啊？”
沈臨風微微點頭，又紅着眼睛道：“窈娘，以後咱們倆就是真正的一家人了，我們要互相扶持。”
俗話說男人的眼淚最容易讓女人興奮，尤其是沈臨風這樣的美男子，愈發顯得似小狗似的濕漉漉的可憐模樣，窈娘立馬擁他入懷：“我一直都是最愛最愛你的，堂堂男子漢還哭，我都沒哭呢。”
沈臨風心道男子漢不男子漢的不要緊，但有娘子抱着就更好。
次日一早，夫妻二人送沈老爺和沈夫人離京，沈夫人悄悄把窈娘拉到一邊遞給了她一個長方形的木匣。
窈娘打開一看竟然是一支鳳尾祥雲笄，兩邊還各自有一對孔雀釵，她急忙看向沈夫人。
Madam Shen smiled and said, "I originally wanted to give it to you on your coming-of-age day, but now we can't wait for that day, so I'm giving it to you in advance."
"Thank you very much." Yao Niang was very surprised that Mrs. Shen would make hairpins for her.
Mrs. Shen said to her, "I'll leave my son in your care."
Yao Niang said quickly: "My husband passed the imperial examination at a young age, and everyone praised him. It is because he takes good care of me."
Mrs. Shen said angrily, "I used to be angry that you could control me. You deliberately kept me hanging and didn't give me your face cream. You also let everyone know that I deliberately made you stand in line. Even my son sided with you. But now I think it's good. If you can fight your mother-in-law, other people will be even more unable to deal with you. In this way, I won't worry about you and your wife being bullied."
"Madam, I didn't mean to bully you." Yao Niang laughed.
Mrs. Shen said something private to Shen Linfeng before getting on the carriage, opening the curtain and waving to them: "Go back."
The carriage left in a cloud of dust. Yao Niang held Shen Linfeng's arm and asked, "What did your mother say to you just now?"
Shen Linfeng had a strange look on his face. "Why do you say I am weak and you are strong? I want you to protect me in the future. Don't you think it's weird? I, Shen Linfeng, learned to use the Jingchu long sword when I was young. I am a first-rate archer and I am also in good shape. I can usually lift you up with just one arm. My mother is really something."