Chapter 089 Chapter 89

After coming out of the bathroom, Shen Linfeng held her all the way. His arms were indeed very strong. Yao Niang felt like she was on a boat. He slowly put her on the bed, and his breath pressed against her. His lips immediately kissed her cherry lips. Yao Niang felt like she was suffocating. He chuckled and said, "I'll help you breathe."

After the passionate kiss, Yao Niang suddenly felt very hot and numb, unable to get up. She was still hot even though there were four or five ice basins in the house. At this time, Shen Linfeng was very considerate and took off her clothes for her. His eyes were burning, and Yao Niang was so embarrassed that she stepped away.

Yao Niang had only seen cervical entanglement in embroidery, but his head was kissing her cheek and his warm breath was spraying on her fair neck. She couldn't help but hug him.

Shen Linfeng also felt that he seemed to have completely lost control of himself. After taking off the emerald dress, he was completely unable to control himself.

But he cherished her so much that he was not afraid of hurting her at all, so he treated her like a treasure.

The gauze curtains were let down, blocking out the spring scene on the bed.

…

It was not until noon the next day that Yao Niang woke up. Gu Mama and others came in with smiles on their faces to serve her. Now that the old man and the mistress had returned to their hometown, their grandmother, who was not feeling well, could also rest.

After drinking the nourishing chicken soup in the morning, Yao Niang couldn't help but say, "This is too much. I'm not that weak."

Yesterday's sex didn't seem to be as painful as the adults said. I was even quite happy at one point. When I woke up in the morning, I felt a little uncomfortable down there, but that was okay.

Mother Gu smiled and said, "It was the eldest master who ordered it. When he got up in the morning, he specifically told the kitchen to do it."

After having physical contact with each other, Yao Niang's feelings for Shen Linfeng seemed to have deepened. He was usually very polite to her and never said a dirty word to her, which made Yao Niang feel very respected. Yesterday, she also discovered that he was in very good health.

She lowered her head and drank the whole bowl of soup, then asked several managers to take chips to the cashier's office to withdraw money and settle the accounts. Yesterday was her coming-of-age ceremony, the opera troupe's entertainment, and the food expenses, all of which needed to be paid, and she didn't want to owe money.

After finishing the housework, she went out for a walk in the garden. It was very inconvenient for the three families to live together before, but now it was so pleasant to walk around the garden alone.

The peonies in the garden are blooming beautifully, it’s a pity that my mother is not here, otherwise I could invite her to come and enjoy the flowers with me.

"This pavilion has great lighting, and it's perfect for me to paint flowers here." Yao Niang suddenly felt like painting.

The servants set up a cool mat outside the pavilion. Qingdai and others brought her drawing board and paints over. After Yao Niang mixed the colors with clean water, she began to sit there and paint.

Even the servants who passed by could not help but praise her: "Our great grandmother is indeed from a family of poetry, literature, rituals and music. She is talented in writing, well connected, and has a good family background. A few days ago, I had eczema on my face, which kept getting red and itchy. The great grandmother saw me on the road and gave me medicine, which is much better than the silver saltpeter sold outside."

"Yes, it was a good idea for the eldest master to marry our eldest grandmother. If she gives birth to a young master in the future, our young master will be very smart."

Compared to Yao Niang's comfortable life, the third room's life was a mess, with only one stove, but each doing their own thing. No one was willing to take the lead, and in the end Lu Shaner hired someone to restore the stove, but there were problems with hiring a cook.

Lu Shan'er was a native of the capital, and wanted to hire a chef from Shandong or the capital. Grandma Qing, who was originally from Shandong, agreed, but Shao and Han Ruohua were from the south, and since Shao was pregnant, she had more requirements.

It just so happened that Grandma Qing's aunt had come to Beijing. Her aunt Feng had always been opinionated and couldn't help but say, "You are the eldest daughter-in-law. If the people below you want to make trouble, let them make trouble. The most urgent thing is your belly."

Grandma Qing said anxiously, "Aunt, how could I not know this? But whether or not she is pregnant is not something I can decide."

Feng gave her a prescription: "You are my niece, I treat you as my own daughter. I give you this prescription, keep it secret. If you get pregnant in the future, it will be better than anything else. Do you want to be oppressed by a concubine for the rest of your life? You are the eldest daughter-in-law of the governor, giving birth to a grandson as soon as possible will be better than anything else."

"Eldest grandson, that's impossible? My sister-in-law has been pregnant for several months." Grandma Qing certainly knew the importance of the eldest grandson, especially since there were six brothers in the third room. When she saw the ruthlessness of this division of the family, they were all one family before, and they immediately separated the stoves and didn't even give them a meal.

Everything is fake, except what you get is real.

Feng smiled and said, "You are just too honest. Tell me about your family situation first."

Grandma Qing got the recipe for having a child and kept it well. She also told me everything that happened in the past few days. She said, "The one from the first house is the granddaughter of the Minister of Works and the daughter of the former Vice Minister of Personnel. My aunt saw that she was the daughter of a rich family, her child was as pretty as Chang'e, she could read a few words, and she was both talented and pretty. She thought she was elegant and peaceful, and had no idea of ​​her character. I didn't expect that she would have a quarrel with my aunt after she came into the house. A few days ago, she tied up my second brother's wife and slapped her in the face. She is just like a thief."

Feng looked at her, and Grandma Qing suddenly understood what she meant.

In the evening, Yao Niang heard brisk footsteps outside and knew it was Shen Linfeng. She couldn't help but smile.

"Ma'am, look what I brought you?"

As soon as he came in, he gave Yao Niang another gift. Yesterday he had given her a headpiece with a phoenix spreading its wings, and today he gave her a long peony hairpin. The peony silk in particular looked expensive and beautiful.

"Oh, it's so beautiful." Yao Niang couldn't let it go and asked Shen Linfeng to help her insert it.

Shen Linfeng carefully inserted it for her, then sat down and looked at her happily: "My lady, how are you?"

Yao Niang blushed and nodded again: "Okay, much better."

"I've been thinking about you, but I'm afraid you'll be embarrassed." Shen Linfeng looked at his wife with infinite love. Yesterday, she and he were truly in perfect harmony.

Yao Niang looked at him and said, "Why do I feel that you are much more slick now?"

Of course Shen Linfeng also had something to do. He was sent to Jiangxi Provincial Examination as the chief examiner, so he told Yao Niang about it.

"I'm not home. If you have any questions, just wait until I come back."

Yao Niang smiled and said, "What can it be? I am here to wish my husband to accept more disciples. Jiangxi has always been a strong province in imperial examinations. You must do a good job in cultivating talents for the country."

Shen Linfeng nodded.

That night, Shen Linfeng took Yao Niang's health into consideration, and the two of them did not make any noise. Instead, they held her in their arms and rested quietly.

This is why Yao Niang likes Shen Linfeng very much. He really loves her from the bottom of his heart, and he is not the kind of person who doesn't care about men and women and only thinks about men and women. So no matter what others say, since they got married for more than half a year, she has recognized her husband's character and talents.

Most of the Hanlin Academy members are honest and upright, so they can go on official business as provincial examination examiners and earn extra income. Naturally, for Shen Linfeng, this is mainly a good thing as it can broaden his horizons.

Yao Niang reminded him, "You are a generous person, but when you go out, you should not show off your wealth. There are too many unpredictable people around you."

"Okay, actually, my lady, I really want you to go with me." This is Shen Linfeng's truest thought. With his lady by his side, he is not afraid of anything.

Yao Niang smiled and said, "I would like to go, but you are on a business trip, how can I go? Besides, if you go to Jiangxi, you will be in the examination hall, I am afraid you can't say a word to me."

Shen Linfeng just said this, he also knew it was impossible to achieve.

It was just that they were newlyweds, and he was reluctant to leave. Seeing this, Yao Niang couldn't help but say, "The provincial examination will be in September at least, and it's only the end of June now. Even if you leave, it will be the end of next month. We still have so many days to spend together, what are you afraid of?"

After being comforted like this, Shen Linfeng became happy again.

On June 30th, Shen Linfeng's uncle came to Beijing and, as usual, brought him a lot of crabs, lobsters, and oysters. Ever since the Shen family said that Yao Niang loved to eat them, they always asked his uncle to prepare them for her every year.

Yao Niang then asked the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous meal. The uncle of the Shen family had a single name, Xin, and was about thirty years old. He was dressed in a long robe and a scholar's cap. It was obvious that he was a scholar.

It's just that this time his news was delayed. The Shen family divided up too quickly and had not yet informed their relatives. Maybe Mr. Shen and his wife haven't left Hebei yet, so Shen's letter was delivered directly to the kitchen of the eldest house as usual.

So Yao Niang divided the things into three parts, and sent the remaining two parts to the second and third rooms.

Shen Linfeng also told Shen Xin about the quick method of making boats by Rui Long. Shen Xin was overjoyed. After meeting Rui Long, he spent 1,000 taels to buy the blueprints. Rui Long was so happy to get the 1,000 taels. He was not good at worldly affairs. Shen Linfeng was afraid that he would spend the money immediately, so he helped him buy a house and some servants.

The Shen family also had a pretty maid named Li'er. Someone told her that she was originally prepared by Madam Shen for Shen Linfeng. After Madam Shen left, many people started to complain to Yao Niang. But Yao Niang saw that Li'er was very pretty and gentle, so she naturally would not make things difficult for her. Now, thinking of Li Long's character, she called Li'er over and pointed out a way out for her.

"Master Luo is a friend of the master. He is a man of great talent. I heard that he once had a wife, but she died of illness and he never remarried for many years. Are you willing to go over and serve him?" Yao Niang asked.

梨兒因為美貌自然帶來無數觊觎，大奶奶徑直告訴她，不少人在她這兒告狀，梨兒就害怕自己被送去什麽窯子裏，或者悄悄賣出去。沒想到大奶奶讓她嫁人，她如今被人逼着嫁給二管事那個爛賭的兒子，現下立馬可以嫁給藺泷，自然百般願意。

“奴婢一切聽大奶奶安排。”梨兒道。

窈娘笑道：“也不讓你白去，我與你置辦幾臺嫁妝，日後你就把沈家當娘家人。将來生得一男半女，往後也有個依靠。”

梨兒又是一喜。

料想如今藺泷也是有些身家的人，梨兒嫁過去也能過好日子，窈娘拿出私房錢來替她置辦了八擡嫁妝，雇了一頂小轎子，就把人擡了進去。藺泷見梨兒人生的貌美和順，又持家，喜不自勝，對沈臨風夫妻更是感恩。

如此，沈臨風也和窈娘拿出一萬兩私房錢入股沈信的船行，窈娘在經商一事上就不如沈臨風腦子活泛，她聽聞沈二夫人的銀錢幾乎都是買地建造宅子賺一些租金，沈臨風似乎嫌錢來的太慢，說等他從江西回來再商議賺錢大計，故而窈娘也就沒管了。

可眼下因為沈臨風夫妻參股了，沈信作為商人，雖然看似對三個房頭都一樣，但私下對沈臨風夫妻卻是偏心一些，專門又送了不少螃蟹過來。

窈娘和沈臨風二人自然吃不完，先送了幾簍去娘家、靖海侯府、杜家、李家等地方，其餘的她讓人制成蟹醬，還清蒸，或者做蟹黃包。

自然，她見到牡蛎，想起沈臨風曾經和她說過，他最喜歡吃牡蛎煎餅，遂準備趁着他去上衙，偷偷去廚房學做菜。

以前她覺得做菜特別難，但是她要學什麽東西都是非常用功的，牡蛎煎餅，先要用洗淨的海牡蛎加酒菜雞蛋一起煎制而成。

“顧媽媽，你讓小慶哥給我去福州會館，或者是京裏有名的福州館子弄幾分海蛎煎餅來，我想看看我做的和他們有什麽區別。”

正好中午人送過來，她發現每一家都做的不一樣，廚下的師傅教的就直接用哪些材料，做的很厚實，但窈娘今日吃福州會館送來的又不一樣，人家還加了紫菜花生碎和芝麻蒜葉，吃起來很香。

惠泉樓做的就是直接炸的，牡蛎裏面還放了肉，但外酥裏嫩，牡蛎肉甚至鮮嫩出汁了。

“你們說這幾種牡蛎餅，哪種最好吃呢？”窈娘問道。

顧媽媽指了指帶花生碎的：“這個不錯。”

“我也覺得，大不了我多做幾種。”窈娘也拿不定沈臨風愛吃什麽。

就在窈娘學牡蛎餅的同時，沈二夫人亦開始交際起來，以前她丈夫不過是國子監司業，如今則是國子監祭酒，沈家最清貴的人家，故而她開始各處走動，俨然和以前完全不同。

就連王氏都對身邊的盧媽媽道：“真是老虎不在家，猴子稱大王。”

盧媽媽吓了個半死：“我的奶奶，您可別說了，萬一被人聽到就不好了。”

“本來就是，我呀也原本以為這個婆婆很好呢，沒想到那只是大夫人在的時候罷了。如今我們分家了，用度還不如以前呢，現下大嫂都管家了，我還得站規矩。”王氏當然不服氣。

盧媽媽則道：“說起來還不是大爺中了進士，前途就不一樣了，您也別急，日後等二爺中了進士，您也就是官夫人了。”

王氏撇嘴：“我沒那個指望，昨日去大嫂嫂那裏，你可知曉如今咱們大哥都已經是翰林編修了，晚上回來還在書房讀書。咱們家那位今年過年去我家裏，在我家裏不說，回來的路上倒是嫌棄我家是武将出身呢。”

盧媽媽知曉她夫妻二人不大和睦，若是那等真的和氣的婆母，自然會從中轉圜，偏沈二夫人也不管。

不過，王氏道：“大嫂把那個梨兒送出去了，我卻不能随意送人出去，不過她也太善妒了，大哥身邊竟然一個人也沒有。”

沈家這些兒媳婦中，就屬顏氏命最好，才剛進門不久，公婆就離開了，丈夫又忠心，一個人管着全家，比她們自由多了。而且因為沈臨風有官職在身，她都不必要刻意出去交際，往來都是翰林書香門第。

正說着，午膳送了過來，又是魚蝦，王氏并不愛吃海産，覺得一股腥味，怎麽都吃不習慣。偏偏沈家籍吳興，就愛吃這些，她愛吃面片，餃子，而沈邦彥不愛吃面食。

聽着王氏抱怨，春蘿笑道：“奶奶您是不愛吃這個，有些人想吃還吃不上呢。”

“誰？”王氏問。

春蘿道：“是江二奶奶呀。大房分給咱們二房三房一樣的，但咱們家人少，三房人多，分到江二奶奶那裏又能分多少。”

王氏撇嘴：“若是大伯母在還好，可是現在大房大嫂子當家，她又得罪大嫂，她就自己去外頭買吧。”

“外頭買的哪裏有咱們自家人送來的好，一路上都用冰保持着鮮味，外頭的那些味兒都不一樣。”春蘿笑道。

邵氏的确饞魚蝦，盧扇兒請了兩個大廚，一個山東廚子一個是浙江的廚子，盧扇兒讓廚下給邵氏開小竈，畢竟她有孕在身。

但本來就那麽些，她哪裏吃的夠。

沈臨江讓人在外面買回來的，她又嫌不新鮮，沒有那股子清甜之意。

倒是難姑從外打聽回來：“奴婢聽說沈信這次又偷偷給大房送了不少，大房根本都吃不完，只不過如今倒是不好讨要。”

“那算了，我寧可不吃也不會跟大房讨要的。”邵氏也不傻，上次她一個人的下人去大房鬧了，其餘幾房可都看笑話，無人幫她。接着，大房請了那麽些貴客，她也摸不到邊，想用東西拉攏這些妯娌，這些人不過是假意和她好，孤立顏氏罷了。

難姑替邵氏倒了一杯水道：“其實以前大夫人在的時候，這個時候都會請咱們過去吃螃蟹宴，大家那時候多好啊。”

邵氏點頭：“誰說不是呢，可如今換了當家人，我們也分家了，還提這個做甚。”

其實邵氏也是被窈娘整過一次的人，她也不敢再去捋人家的胡須。

三房的開支其實很大，盧扇兒也頭疼，沈家三房當然不窮，沈巡撫一省巡撫，分家時，三房和二房分的一樣多。但三房兒子多，夏天到了，冰用的實在是吓人。

盧扇兒忍不住問道：“雖說如今冰價也不貴，怎地都拼命在用。一天的開支也太大了……”

她是貧家出身，總覺得太過奢靡浪費了，以前曾經聽關氏提起她小姑子，也就是如今的沈臨風之妻在家就是席子不停的換，也是奢靡，沒想到沈家也是如此。

夏天到了，女人們做夏衫就三十兩，男人們亦是如此，再有請廚子搭建竈臺，一百兩就沒了。

“三夫人，馬上又是二夫人的生辰了，壽禮還要準備呢。”

得，又要送禮了。

盧扇兒還要人特地去碼頭等冰鮮床，幫邵氏買一些魚蝦回來，沒辦法，她起頭管家，若是家管不好，到時候沈巡撫也不會信任她。她就是這樣，要做什麽也得做好，沈巡撫待她好，她也會回報于她。

“清大奶奶的那位伯母聽聞已經離京了嗎？”盧扇兒看着面前的一擔擔土産，想起這是封氏送的。

“是啊，已經離京了，原本上京是拜祭長公主呢，她還是長公主的孫女呢。”

“她人倒好，可惜咱們沒機會回請。”

……

一個月左右，沈臨風總覺得窈娘瞞着他做什麽事情，但他這麽一問吧，窈娘又神神秘秘的。

偏偏他又是頭一次任主考官，翰林院也讓他多學如何衡文，否則出去被老儒們笑話。沈臨風也不是一般人，他制科出身，年僅二十就能考中制科，不知道多少人等着挑刺，因此白日替妃嫔诰命們寫寫文章拿點額外零花錢，晚上就點燈夜讀。

不知不覺中自己也有了長進，如今已然是七月末，他也要啓程去江西了。

窈娘卻踮腳，蒙着他的眼睛道：“今日早上我做了一種你最愛吃的小吃，你曾經對我說過的。我都辛苦一個月了，如果不好吃，也請多擔待吧。”

“不會，不會是牡蛎煎餅吧？”沈臨風驚喜道。

窈娘放開手，拍了拍手，很快就有人送來幾種樣式的海蛎餅。

沈臨風也沒想到自己還能吃到以前吃過的海蛎煎餅，他笑的跟小孩子似的：“我最愛吃這個了。”

他先把餅切成一小塊，吃進去有海蛎的鮮味，又有微微辣意，還特別酥脆，不知不覺一小塊就吃完了，他把剩下的立馬風卷殘雲。

窈娘拍着他的背道：“你呀，小心些。”

“娘子，你對我實在是太好了。”沈臨風只覺得自己笨嘴拙舌，也不會多說什麽讨娘子歡喜。

Yao Niang laughed and said, "Why? You always give me money every day, and you support me in everything I do, so why shouldn't I be nice to you? Do you know? At first I added five-spice powder, but I always felt that the taste still didn't match the oyster pancake you described to me, so I added some chili powder. And I saw that you don't like sticky pancakes when you eat pancakes, you like crispy ones, so I fried them in one piece."

"Delicious." Shen Linfeng took another bite.

Seeing that there was also seaweed and peanuts on the side, he took a piece and tasted it: "Oh, there is also this flavor."

Yao Niang helped him pour soy milk and said, "There are many kinds. I don't know which one you like, so I learned all of them."

"My wife, this is delicious too." Shen Linfeng didn't want to waste Yao Niang's kindness. Even though he was full, he still wanted to eat one more piece. He was a little embarrassed: "My wife clearly asked me to teach you. We learned together. Now my wife is making it for me. I don't know how to repay her."

Yao Niang pulled his hand and said, "You gave me the money for writing every day, and you massaged my feet for fear that I would feel pain when walking. You are so kind to me. I just wish I could go to Jiangxi with you, my husband."

Shen Linfeng leaned on Yao Niang's shoulder and said, "My dear, I can't bear to leave you either."

Yao Niang's heart was so tender that it melted into a pool of water, and she only wished to love him forever.