Chapter 090 Chapter 90
This month, apart from cooking and learning how to make oyster pancakes, I also painted flowers. Although Yao Niang repeatedly felt that the flowers and birds she painted were too detailed and ugly, Shen Linfeng saw it and thought of something with Yao Niang.
"You painted these flowers very well, but the viewing period of peonies is almost over. I thought if we bind your drawings into a book, those who want to buy peonies can choose varieties without leaving home. In this way, the two of us can make some money from this garden. However, if you still want to appreciate them, just keep them at home. They are not worth much money anyway." Shen Linfeng said.
Yao Niang said as soon as she heard it: "Now that you are gone, I will have to stay indoors and hide away from all the dirty things that happened in the second and third rooms. Naturally, I will not invite anyone to come over, and there is no need for them to come and see. Anyway, there are still many exotic flowers and plants at home."
Shen Linfeng nodded: "I will keep a few of the most precious ones, and sell the rest as much as I can. Otherwise, after they wither, there will be nothing left."
Yao Niang smiled and said, "I like people like you who have a keen eye for work. My husband is the best in the world."
Actually, Shen Linfeng was also playing with Yao Niang because he found that she was particularly happy every time he gave her money. But to be honest, as the couple are the heads of the family, they have to behave themselves. Otherwise, they can't even run the family well, how can they be officials and manage the people of the world?
Shen Linfeng picked up Yao Niang first and said, "I have to work after eating so many oysters."
Yao Niang couldn't help but rest her head on his chest. Not to mention how many times the couple asked for water that night, the next morning Shen Linfeng started taking the flower album and asked two servants to go to the flower market with the flower album. If anyone liked any of the flowers, they would tell him the price. If they wanted any, they would let Rong An go over to negotiate.
In fact, Lu Shan'er was thinking the same way. Old Lady Shen gave Qingyi Garden to her youngest son. Qingyi Garden had a greenhouse and many rare and exotic plants. She used to make a living by selling flowers, but now she was the head of the family. The daughters-in-law were unwilling to take the lead. If she took the lead in managing the family, she couldn't live on money.
The external accounts were managed by the chief butler, and these were handed over directly to Shen Xunfu. She was in charge of the internal accounts, but the internal accounts could not go on like this. It looked glorious, but in reality, it would only last for five years, and she was afraid that she would have to spend money before she got it, but she had no other choice.
I heard that Madam Shen from the second house used all her money to rent out her properties and collected a fixed amount of rent every month. She also had a farm in Tongzhou where she planted many fruit trees, and she also had two shops in Beijing. However, Lu Shan'er did not have the capital to do so.
There were hundreds of servants in the house, and each daughter-in-law was served by twelve or thirteen slaves, not to mention their companions. The monthly salary of all the servants in the Shen family was several hundred taels of silver, and there were also clothes for all four seasons and daily living expenses. These were not small amounts.
Therefore, Lu Shan'er had no choice but to have someone harness a carriage to go out to the flower market to investigate. After the investigation, she asked the housekeeper to bring the merchants into the mansion to select flowers to sell.
When the news of the Third House's actions spread, the Second Lady frowned and said, "How can they allow those merchants to come in and out? They have no dignity at all, and behave like ordinary people."
The servants in the third room were also gossiping about Lu Shan'er secretly. The relationship between Second Madam Jiang and First Madam Qing was originally average, but when Han Ruohua came in, she knew that no matter how foolish her husband was, he would never mess around with his brother's wife, so she felt relieved and often talked to Han Ruohua.
Han Ruohua seems to have a good relationship with everyone, but she also knows that Xiaoqing's grandmother is a person who likes to set traps for others. Shao is a slightly better person. Her uncle is the Minister of Taichang Temple, her dowry is rich, and now she is pregnant. In addition, Shen Linjiang is obviously more kind-hearted than Shen Linqing.
As a result, the two of them became closer. Shaw liked talking to Han Ruohua. She always felt that Han Ruohua had a similar personality to her and every word she said could touch her heart.
"You said that our wife is young after all, and she allowed businessmen to come in and out. Look, our eldest aunt found out. I heard that she came to our house and asked if our family was short of money." Mrs. Shao looked incredulous.
Han Ruohua was surprised: "My eldest aunt is here?"
She knew that life in a big family was not as easy as she imagined. Everyone wanted to eat well, drink well and dress well, but they all ate from the public. The Han family looked good from the outside, but they were not doing well inside, otherwise they would not have allowed her to live in her aunt's house with her dowry.
Han Ruohua usually does her own needlework, and even when she gives gifts to others, she only gives gifts for her own skirts and old clothes that she no longer wears.
But I saw that Yan was well-dressed and lavish, sometimes I saw her changing four sets of clothes in one day, which was really extravagant. Now that she is the head of the family, I don't know what the future will be like.
Shao nodded: "Yes, our third wife is completely a street person."
"Second sister-in-law, please stop talking about the elders' gossip." Han Ruohua said.
"You are just so cautious, what's there to be afraid of?" Shao was not originally of this kind of personality, but ever since she became pregnant, everyone has put her first. If she gave birth to a son, he would be the eldest grandson of the entire Shen family, and her whole mentality has changed.
Han Ruohua smiled and said, "Second sister-in-law, we are not you."
Shao said, "You are the kind of person who doesn't care about anything. Do you think it has nothing to do with you? Once we get out, we can't escape. I'm afraid that my uncle's family will come and ask if we are poor and why we made such a big fuss."
"Yes, I heard that Madam wants to lay off some employees. If a family like ours were to sell off some of our employees, I don't know what people would think," Han Ruohua said silently.
Selling people? Shaw felt bad again: "Originally, I was pregnant, and Madam didn't tell me to hire a wet nurse or a midwife, so why are you laying off people? Normally, I feel that there are not enough people to serve me."
Han Ruohua also agreed with this point. She also said: "There are only two main masters in the first house, and there are hundreds of people in the family, but we have to lay off people in our family."
These things gradually reached Yao Niang's ears, and Yao Niang finally understood why Shen Linfeng took the flower book out. He didn't make a fuss. In fact, every rich family has tools to make a living, but they have to keep it secret and don't want others to know. Lu Shan'er's behavior is not wrong. How should I put it? It's just like the court. Who doesn't want a clean government, return land to the people, and reduce taxes? But now the people who occupy the most land are scholars and officials. The emperor of this dynasty shares the world with the scholars and officials. Who dares to reform? I'm afraid the end will not be too good.
The same is true even for a small family. People who are used to a good life, eating bird's nests all day long and wearing silk and satin all day long, all know that the Wuxing Shen family is a wealthy family, so how could they be willing to be frugal? She thought too simply.
Unless this person has already established a firm foothold and can be unstoppable with just one order, otherwise it will be very difficult.
In the evening, Shen Linfeng brought the silver back to Yao Niang. This time, he sold hundreds of pots of peonies, including famous ones and ordinary ones. The ordinary ones were dozens of coins, and the slightly better ones were a few dollars. In total, he sold the pots and the money for fifty taels of silver.
Yao Niang asked someone to put it away, and asked Shen Linfeng to sit down, then she said: "Now that you are gone, we won't be able to see each other for several months. I want to draw a picture for you and put it in my room, so that I can remember you by looking at it."
"Do you miss me so much?" Shen Linfeng coughed twice.
Yao Niang covered her mouth and said, "That's not necessarily true. I just drew it for fun."
Shen Linfeng immediately said: "Wait a moment, I'll go take a shower and change my clothes first."
"No, this is how you usually act. Sit down quickly. You've just come back from dinner anyway." Yao Niang asked him to sit down.
She was painting Shen Linfeng very seriously, stroke by stroke. While painting, she was thinking that they were actually husband and wife. He is worthy of being my husband, so handsome.
Shen Linfeng and Yao Niang became familiar with each other and became comfortable. Seeing Yao Niang giggling, he couldn't help but say, "Why are you giggling? You like me so much that you can't help yourself."
"Nonsense, I'm just afraid that after you leave, I'll be alone and some perverts will want to take advantage of me. So I'll hang you there and see who dares to do anything stupid." Yao Niang joked.
Shen Linfeng's expression became serious. Yes, as long as he was here, Yao Niang would naturally have someone to protect her. If he was not here, she would be alone and weak, and it would be difficult for her.
Seeing his stern face, Yao Niang immediately said, "Husband, smile. Why are you so sullen?"
…
An hour later, Yao Niang finished the painting. Shen Linfeng stood up and saw himself in Yao Niang's painting walking up Jade Mountain. The light shone on him. Shen Linfeng whispered a few words to Yao Niang.
Yao Niang said, "Aren't you being too careful? What if you get hurt accidentally?"
"What accidental injury? You're in your inner room, just don't let anyone touch you. Remember, if there is any danger, run here. Don't worry, I've been friends with Rui Long for so long, I've learned a lot from him." Shen Linfeng said.
Yao Niang had no choice but to let him go, after all, he was doing it for her own good.
However, before he left, he slapped his head and couldn't help saying to Yao Niang, "How could I forget to take a small picture of you with me? I was so busy with that office yesterday."
Seeing that he was upset, Yao Niang smiled and took out a painting of the Peony Fairy based on herself, with the words "Your wife, the Goddess Yan, hopes that you will return soon" written on it.
Only then did Shen Linfeng leave with satisfaction.
As soon as he left, Yao Niang closed the door and warned the concierge that if anyone came to see Shen Linfeng, please come back after a few months.
When Shen Linfeng was not at home, Yao Niang was free. She first asked people to buy all the new books from the bookstore and read them to her heart's content. Then she started to call everyone in the mansion to paint her portrait. Don't think that a painter only needs talent, but also needs hard work, especially now that Yao Niang often has to deal with complicated affairs, she always feels that she doesn't have the talent she used to have, so she has to find it back.
下面的人卻吓個半死，有的管事道：“大奶奶這是畫了你們的畫像，如若日後你們逃了跑了還是做了什麽壞事，千裏追蹤都能追蹤到你們。”
有時候想心無旁骛做些什麽事情，也是很難，就像現在沈二夫人的壽宴，她作為大房唯一的女眷，是必定要過去的。
她這一過來，自然是送上壽禮，一幅仙鶴延年的繡屏，兩擔銀須面，三尾黃河鯉魚，再有四盒點心，五只野雞，六碟攢盤送來。
六碟攢盤分別是羊肉攢盤、蒸肥雞攢盤、豬肉卷攢盤、燒狍子肉攢盤、五香肘子攢盤還有腌制鮮鳜魚攢盤。
這些讓人挑過來，算是把三房都比下去了，盧扇兒上次送給窈娘的，以為這些便是一樣，哪裏知曉沈二夫人身份和窈娘不同，這沈二夫人到底是長輩，太太輩的了，自然得隆重一些，窈娘就取六為數。
沈二夫人見着窈娘就道：“都是一家人，這麽客氣做什麽。”
“二嬸娘這是過壽，雖然不是整壽，但是我想這也是我進門來頭一次與您過壽，不知道送些什麽好，若是哪裏不對，還請二嬸指教。”窈娘笑道。
沈二夫人倒是一如既往的很會說話：“這壽禮我再滿意不過了。”說罷，又請窈娘去和幾位妯娌坐在一處，她過來時，三房的幾位都過來了，還有大姑太太以及沈家老舅家的兒媳婦陳氏都來了。
窈娘和邵氏鬧過一場，自然不怎麽說話，她坐在陳氏和清大奶奶中間，陳氏在親戚們中之間是個溫和人，意思就是和誰都很好。
陳氏正問窈娘：“我聽說表弟是出任主考官了嗎？”
窈娘笑道：“前兒就去了。”
“不知道是去哪兒？可是咱們南直隸？”
“不是，是去江西的南昌府。南直隸的主考官大夥兒都盯着呢，他去年才任編修，這樣重要的位置恐怕還輪不到他。”窈娘很謙虛。
陳氏拍了一下窈娘：“這已經很好了。”
窈娘微微颔首。
坐在她們附近的也是一位編修的夫人，這位黃編修和沈二老爺是同榜，庶吉士進入翰林院，翰林院很難升任，如今也才是編修，她忍不住看了窈娘一眼，居然是個豆蔻少女模樣的女孩兒，丈夫竟然已經做了編修，那黃夫人心道這死丫頭福氣還真好。
往往這個時候，其餘的妯娌們都暗自不說話，在年輕一輩中，沈臨風不過二十已經是翰林院編修，現在被派到江西做主考官，也是上峰信任。
其實這已經是沈家驚豔絕倫之人了，連窈娘都覺得很奇怪，沈臨風這樣的人如果在顏家恐怕大吹特吹都不為過，就連甄氏心裏不滿，面上還得誇幾句，可現下沈臨風如此人才，沈家卻很少有人專門看重他。
這是一種集體的打壓，沉默的打壓，窈娘看在眼中，越發為沈臨風不值。
清大奶奶見窈娘頭上戴的是新的點翠，手上戴的是翡翠，身上穿的是天水碧色的裙衫，整個人看起來清雅可人，一見就是貴不可言。
再看看自己，頭上戴的還是過年時候打的釵環，她不由得和邵氏道：“二弟妹，我看你頭上的這是和田玉花絲鑲嵌的簪花吧，看起來可真好看。”
邵氏得意道：“我這頭發今日用的是多寶珍珠發冠，你不知道我是真的不願意夏天梳那些繁複的，壓着頭頂重死了。”
女眷們在一起喜歡聊首飾這些，大家見邵氏頭上戴的已經是精致無比她還謙虛，清大奶奶說完卻見窈娘并不參與讨論，臉上也沒什麽太多的神色。
窈娘當然知曉三房這些人沒一個好的，她也懶得和她們拉呱，這嫁給沈臨風大半年，他給了她不少銀錢，窈娘除了畫具顏料貴一些，平日沒有太多欲望。沈臨風有時候收個十兩的潤筆費賞賜都會給自己，她還有嫁妝的利息，莊子所得，只是她現在懷揣金元寶，懶得說出來。
邵氏現在春風得意，平日拉攏韓若華，見清大奶奶和多和她說話，更是覺得自己比顏氏人緣好。
清大奶奶下意識的看窈娘一眼，見窈娘臉色沒什麽變化，又覺得很奇怪。
被人孤立的滋味兒應該很不好受，甚至邵氏這般得意，顏氏更該生氣才是，可顏氏沒有絲毫反應。實際上按照她的性子不應該如此的啊，清大奶奶很不解。
殊不知窈娘長在顏家，常常都是被瑩娘帶人孤立，她愈發享受這種一個人的孤獨，只有孤獨安靜，人才能學到東西，否則做些無用的交際，根本沒用。而且，有時候聽她們炫耀，她愈發覺得這些人沒什麽見識。
她也不是瞧不起人，反正誰和她說話她都很健談，但是她也不會主動無用的和人家說話，有這功夫還不如和上頭對她有用的人多交際。
又見沈二夫人這裏有客過來，王氏迎客，可窈娘一見卻認識，原來是次輔趙麟德的夫人。趙麟德當年是禮部尚書，屬于是沈臨風的小座師，前些日子窈娘還親自上門去做客過。
趙夫人和窈娘比和王氏更熟，一見她就道：“我說怎麽不見你，原來你躲在這裏了。公定今日可否在？”
“師母真是貴人多忘事，公定他前幾日已經去了江西了，還吩咐我說讓我常常給師母請安去。”窈娘信口胡謅。
趙夫人還道：“我們老爺前些日子腿上長濕疹，是你們家公定四處找藥，如此才好。老爺就說他的這些弟子中，就你們公定最有孝心，讓老爺很是感動呢。”
這就是沈臨風，對人實在是好。
可沈二夫人在旁聽到卻想起自家老爺也患了濕疹，怎麽不見沈臨風滿城找藥？還真是勢利眼。
窈娘請趙夫人坐下，沈二夫人親自過去待客，還對窈娘道：“你随她們坐那兒吃去吧，你們小孩兒家家的坐那邊好好說話。”
“是。”窈娘這才告辭回桌。
這一路急的清大奶奶無法，她當然想借刀殺人，她這個月的月事未來，很有可能真的懷上了，所以她不願意自己的孩子上面又多一個兄長。再者，沈家有個不成文的規矩，若是要生孩子的妾侍，都得尋一些正經清白的人家，那可是正經聘二房進來。
二房雖然動搖不了她的地位，但若她生了兒子，那自己便是正妻将來恐怕也有人和她分庭抗禮了。
可她不能做這種喪心病狂的事情，萬一失手，那可不是開玩笑的。
有時候聽別人說借刀殺人仿佛很容易，實際上真的願意下手的人很少，窈娘更是坐在席上吃席。沈二夫人這個人準備的宴席，一共也不過十八個菜，但是她翻過之前沈家的底檔，這位沈二夫人當時沒有這般分家時，每年過生辰都是請的上等席面，最少二十個菜。
當年說的分産不分家，其實都在占大房便宜。
再一擡頭，聽大姑太太跟窈娘道：“侄兒媳婦，聽說你十分擅長丹青，你這江二嫂嫂正好有孕在身，不如你替她畫一張小像，這可是她頭一次懷孕啊。”
大姑太太方才聽清大奶奶說窈娘和邵氏鬧的僵，希望她從中轉圜，因此也就出來說和一二。
窈娘笑道：“姑媽說笑了。”
她并不接話說自己畫不畫，說白了她算老幾啊，自己想畫誰就畫誰。但在外，不要和什麽親戚和其他人訴苦，別人都只是把你當茶餘飯後的閑聊罷了。
大姑太太可以上門說盧扇兒，但是對窈娘這種人卻沒辦法，因為人家傲氣就是因為人家做的你沒說嘴的地方。
清大奶奶見大姑太太居然閉嘴不言，她更是急的如同熱鍋上的螞蟻。
原本對這件事情她沒有抱着太大的希望，但是現在卻是更有一等想做成此事的願望，既然從顏氏這裏下不了手，那就只能從邵氏身上下手了。
說起來，清大奶奶還知道江二奶奶的心事，這江二奶奶靠着舅舅嫁進了沈家，當時她總覺得是上嫁，所以對天下所有女人都防備着，尤其是未嫁的女子，她幾乎都視為眼中釘肉中刺。
既然如此，她也知曉該怎麽做了？反正現在沈臨風也不在家了。
宴畢，清大奶奶扶着江二奶奶一起走，她先道歉道：“都是我不好，本來想着讓姑太太說和，哪裏知道……”
“大嫂別提此事了，我知道你是好心，可是別人未必領情，有些事情就不必說出來了。”邵氏不願意再聽。
清大奶奶則道：“弟妹，我平日也懶得管這些閑事兒，可是如今不同了，那顏氏只要生下兒子，就是監生，大郎又是個極其有出息的，你總要為咱們家想想，若是你們生分讓三房和大房生分了，這多不值得啊。”
邵氏也愣了一下：“那又如何？現在都分家了，再者，即便不分家，這功名科舉還不是得自己去考。”
在邵氏看來她舅舅是太常寺卿，何必去求別人。
As the two were talking, they saw Shen Linjiang approaching. Grandma Qing then spoke more seriously in the name of the eldest sister-in-law: "I am not doing this for any other reason, but for the sake of our third branch. The son of Yan will be a child from the time he is still in his cradle. We, the Shen family, have been counting on the first branch for generations."
After saying this, Grandma Qingda left. Shen Linjiang was about to talk to Shao, but seeing that they were outside, he didn't say much.
But he didn't expect that Shen Bangyan heard all these words. He snorted coldly. He had just been scolded by his father. Many of his friends at home flattered him, but he was still unhappy.
It's fine that he has been said to be inferior to Shen Linfeng in his life, but could he be inferior to his own son in the future? If so, let Yan Shi bear a bastard and see how amazing their eldest wife is. Thinking of this, he saw the drunk You Da, his second aunt's cousin, who was strong, courageous, and skilled in martial arts. He was currently the catcher of Daxing County.
"Cousin, come here, I have something good to tell you." Shen Bangyan waved to You Da.