Wei Huan was really tired. He had been away from home for nearly a month and finally came back. He didn't even call for a reunion dinner. He only ate some snacks with Mrs. Song in a hurry and asked each room not to disturb him.
In the big house, because Wei Zhenghong was frail, he lived in a courtyard for rest. He only saw his wife and children once a month. Usually Mrs. Song took her eldest daughter and second son to dinner, although now Song Zaishui lives in the big house. , but Song Zaishui grew up in the imperial capital and Jiangnan, and his taste is different from that of the Wei family. When Song Zaishui returned to the imperial capital from the south of the Yangtze River, the old lady of the Song family felt sorry for her and specially sent the cook she was used to. There happened to be a small kitchen at the back of Mingse's house, so after living there for a long time, they only came over occasionally to use it together.
For example, Song Zaishui didn't come today. Mrs. Song loved her children and the rules were not very strict when eating. She allowed her children to gossip while eating.
At the banquet, Wei Changying asked Wei Changfeng: "How do you think my grandfather will test your homework today?"
"Grandpa said that I have learned all my previous lessons very well, and I can ask my husband to teach me new lessons tomorrow." Wei Changfeng said calmly. Wei Changying is recognized as a naughty person, but Wei Changfeng is famous for making his elders worry-free. . But in fact, the two siblings are similar in some aspects, such as hard work. Wei Changying takes practicing martial arts well and defeating her husband as a way out. In practicing martial arts, he has to be able to endure hardships. From the age of five, he has been able to endure the cold and heat, rain and wind. Wei Changfeng was taught by Mrs. Song and Mrs. Song since he was a child to take the rise and fall of the Wei family as his own responsibility. He also studied hard since he was a child. No matter how talented he is, if he is willing to work hard, there is no reason why he can't learn well. .
How can people with good academic performance be afraid of exams? I wish I could be questioned every day.
Guard Chief Ying Qi said: "What about Gao Chuan? You asked Uncle Zhijiao to teach you a new lesson and then teach him the old lesson? Isn't he afraid that he won't like it?"
The Wei family in Fengzhou had a prosperous literary style. During the Wei dynasty, great Confucian scholars were produced from generation to generation. The children of the Wei family were taught that they would not hire people from outside the clan. Now Wei Changfeng and Wei Gaochuan are the students of a distant branch of the Wei family. In terms of seniority, he is the generation of Wei Zhenghong. This person is famous as a teacher in the ancient times and has a courtesy name of Yongshi. His name is Shufang Zhijiaozhai. His knowledge is good. Those who are famous in the country are all respectfully called the Lord of Yi Zhi Jiao Zhai.
Therefore, Wei Changying and others privately call him Uncle Zhijiao - after all, the Wei family has been multiplying for hundreds of years and has many children. According to the branch and house, everyone has several different rankings and names. It is easier to just call him by his name. clear.
"Fourth brother failed to memorize a poem, so he was punished by his grandfather to copy it a hundred times." Asked about Wei Gaochuan, Wei Changfeng hesitated for a moment before saying, "My grandfather meant that fourth brother should review the book by himself first. Is there anything wrong?" If you understand, ask the teacher and let him teach me the new lesson first."
Mrs. Song listened to her children's words with a look of disapproval on her face and said: "It's really hard for your third aunt to work so hard and wait in front of your grandmother all day long to please, so that your grandmother can marry the eldest son of the concubine in the third room." Your grandfather taught you personally. I didn't expect this thing to be so disappointing. Changfeng, you can't learn from him." He then said, "Your grandfather should just ask Wei Yongshi to teach you a new lesson first. Otherwise, I will go and talk to you. The third aunt spoke."
She only had a son she could count on. If Wei Changfeng was delayed in taking care of Wei Gaochuan, how could Mrs. Song give up? Moreover, Mrs. Song was a strong person, and she really couldn't stand Wei Gaochuan's submissive appearance.
Wei Changfeng said seriously: "Mother, I don't think Fourth Brother is unwilling to learn well on purpose. He really can't remember it. I heard people around him say that he couldn't recite the poem in front of his grandfather today. , I started reciting it morning and night ten days ago, but I just can’t remember it, so I can’t say it’s because of my talent, but I can’t blame it.”
If anyone else had said this, Mrs. Song would have become furious. Even Mrs. Song said that Mrs. Song also brought some displeasure, but now it was her biological son who said this, so Mrs. Song did not take Wei Changfeng's rebuttal to heart at all. He said happily: "My son loves his brothers and is broad-minded. He will become a great person in the future!"
Grandma Shi and others had long been accustomed to the strange behavior, and they didn't even bother to turn their backs and snicker. However, Wei Changfeng felt that he was too rude to his mother, and apologized: "My mother is in charge of the family. I don't know that my fourth brother's slowness in homework is not due to carelessness, but it is inevitable. It is because my son spoke too hastily. I hope my mother will forgive me."
When Mrs. Song heard this, she became even more satisfied with her son: "My son, how can I bear to blame you? What's more, I wronged Gao Chuan just now and spread the word. It would not make the child sad. Fortunately, my son told me."
Wei Changying was impatient to hear about Wei Gaochuan, so he interrupted: "Didn't my grandfather tell you about the Burning City?"
Wei Changfeng said in surprise: "Of course not. Grandpa was already very tired. After testing our homework, he asked us to leave and go inside to rest... Sister, why do you ask this?"
"Looking at Donghu from the north of Liaocheng, could it be that the soldiers invaded Fengzhou?" Since Wei Changying is good at martial arts, he has occasionally read two books on the art of war. Although he just glanced at it and half understood it, it was quite simple. He also understood that he immediately thought too much about the four words "Liaocheng Urgent Report" and said, "Otherwise, how could my grandfather come back in such a hurry, and not even kill all the gangsters in Fengqishan who had taken advantage of the heart of the bear and the courage of the leopard? Fengqishan?" How close it is to our state city!”
Mrs. Song hated her daughter's concern for these military and political affairs the most. She thought it was a sign of not doing her job properly, so she scolded her: "Donghu is the ancestral home of the Liu family. Now there is no bad news from the Liu family. How can it be so easy to be a soldier?" Enter our Fengzhou through Donghu? "
Then he said to his daughter, "Besides, your grandfather and uncle have to worry about whether the military convicts have reached Fengzhou. What does it have to do with your girl's family? You have so little skill, you might as well learn some needlework!"
Wei Changying had long been accustomed to such words coming out of his mouth, and said: "I am also worried about my grandfather and uncle! Besides, it is not unprecedented for Rong people to sneak into Fengzhou from the Liu family's garrison. I heard It was like this once before I was born. Although the two hundred soldiers who sneaked over that time were all blocked in Xincheng, an important town in the northeast of Fengzhou, and no one survived in the end, they were surrounded before Xincheng. The burning, killing, and looting from the time they crossed Nuchuan also left many towns in northern Fengzhou deserted, and even Jingguan Note 1 built several Liaocheng castles that time."
Mrs. Song glared and said: "Then is it useful for you to mutter here? Can you arrange your troops or go into battle to kill the enemy?" She immediately felt that she was too cruel to her daughter, so she softened her tone and said, "The safety of such an important town is not at stake. It's a trivial matter! Think about it, if your speculation spreads, no matter whether it is true or false, how can Fengzhou not be in an uproar if people know that the Rong are coming? ?"
"...I'll just talk about it here." Wei Changying thought it was right, and admitted his mistake awkwardly, "I didn't expect that if the news spread, it would frighten the people. Mother reminded me so much, so I won't say anything anymore."
She suddenly thought of an idea and said, "Mom, my cousin doesn't want to go back to the imperial capital to become the crown princess. Now if this news is true, can we use this to let my cousin stay in our house for a while?"
Mrs. Song frowned when she heard this and said, "This child!"
Although he said this, Wei Changying, who was very good at figuring out his mother's true emotions, heard that Mrs. Song had no intention of forcing Song Zaishui to return to the imperial capital immediately, so he strongly persuaded her: "Mother, why don't you write a letter to your uncle and say that the city is in danger? It is suspected that the Rong are invading. From Fengzhou Prefecture to the Imperial Capital, even a fast horse will take two days to leave Fengzhou. The journey is still all the way north. My cousin cannot ride a horse, and it will be even slower if he takes a carriage - At this time, if something happens, how can our family afford it? My uncle may not be able to rest assured, so he will probably agree to let my cousin return to the imperial capital."
Mrs. Song sighed: "It won't work if we keep delaying like this! Besides, what if Liaocheng is not invaded by the army? How can you lie about the military situation? Although your uncle is not Da Sikong, it is not difficult to ask about the real military situation. Don't come here It made him even more annoyed. He couldn't do anything to you and let it happen to your cousin. "
"Actually, I'm just weird. When it comes to wealth, our six clans have a deeper foundation than the royal family of the Wei Dynasty! We may not have things that the palace doesn't have." Wei Changying curled his lips and said, "And My uncle is not a person who is obsessed with wealth. Why must he force his cousin to marry the prince? I heard from my cousin that there are many favors in the East Palace, including four or five of the emperor's grandchildren. My cousin is married, and even though she is known as a beautiful princess, her status as the direct daughter of the Song family is not unfashionable!"
His voice lowered, "And I heard that the Queen's status seems to be unstable now. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was established because of his mother's favor. Once the Queen is abandoned, I am afraid that His Highness the Crown Prince will be like the previous deposed princes... At that time, my cousin..."
Mrs. Song's expression changed upon hearing this, and she said, "Don't say any more!"
Wei Changying pestered him: "Then why does my uncle insist that my cousin be the crown prince of this troubled person?"
"Your uncle always keeps his promises." Mrs. Song frowned, a hint of gloom flashed across her face, and said, "Okay, okay, I will write a letter to him to explain that Zaishui does not want to marry into the East Palace... Please stop making trouble. !”
Wei Changying asked suspiciously: "Will uncle agree? My cousin has written several letters."
Mrs. Song was upset and said: "How do I know? I haven't written the letter yet! But Zaishui is always a junior and a daughter, but I am your uncle's sister. Your uncle will listen to what I say. .”
She obviously didn't want to talk about this matter too much, so she pushed the cup and asked for tea.
After dinner, Wei Changying returned to the Shuangting Courtyard. As soon as he entered, he saw Zhu Shi and several maids laughing and joking at the foot of the stairs. They formed a circle and peeled something together. They kept urging the maids to be strict. Mr. He stood in the corridor and watched, smiling and not caring. She asked curiously: "What are you doing?"
"Oh, the eldest lady is back!" When everyone heard the sound, they threw away the things in their hands, wiped their hands on the handkerchief, and came up to greet her.
Mr. He came down the steps and said kindly: "Miss, you came back a little early today? The sour plum soup for digestion hasn't cooled down yet."
"It doesn't matter, I won't be thirsty now." Wei Changying pointed to a few small baskets under the corridor. It was getting late at night. Although the Wei family was rich, they also advocated frugality. Since the master was not here, it was still dark at this time. Without holding the lamp, he took a few steps away and couldn't see clearly what was in the basket, so he asked, "What is it? Why are so many people gathered together?"
He said: "Zhu Shi and Zhu Xuan just had free time and ran to the garden to play in the water. They picked a large handful of wild water chestnuts and came back. They carried them in their skirts and took out two newly made lotus root silk skirts. The two little hooves were so forgetful that they cried a few times, and now they invited everyone to peel them and eat them. "
Captain Wei said: "Picked in the garden? I haven't noticed. Are wild water chestnuts the same as red water chestnuts?"
"It's different, whether it's the plumpness of the fruit or the number of red water chestnuts." He said, "Zhu Shi picked one of these wild water chestnuts just now. She picked one for a long time, and the largest one was no bigger than the red water chestnut. Two-thirds. The taste is sweet and refreshing. When pinched, some juice from the fruit shell is accidentally dipped, and it is still astringent and bitter. It is not as sweet and crisp as the red water chestnut when it is ripe, but is soft and glutinous when eaten fresh. That’s all.”
Wei Changying became interested: "Give me a few too."
Zhu Shi agreed with a smile, ran to the corridor and took out a bowl of apricot flowers with broken branches on the blue ground, and said: "It's a coincidence that the eldest lady is back. The maids have just peeled off most of the bowl and come out before they can eat it. Now is the time." They all paid homage to the eldest lady.”
Hearing this, Mr. He spat: "You are so short-sighted! Are you afraid that the eldest lady will not remember your filial piety? I want to mention it in a special way - you are all the ones who serve the eldest lady, just serve her ten or eight bowls." That’s what it should be.”
Although Mr. He warned her, Zhu Shi, who was actually Mr. He's niece, was not afraid of her. The little maid stuck out her tongue and said with a smile: "Auntie is so cruel. How can I show off my merits to the eldest lady?" ? Doesn’t this mean that the eldest lady is blessed?”
When Mr. He taught Zhu Shi, Wei Changying had already picked up a piece of water chestnut and ate it. He nodded and said, "It's sweet and sweet, and it's different from the red water chestnut."
Midoriya suggested: "Since there is one in the garden, how about preparing a bowl for the eldest lady every day?"
"That's it!" Wei Changying pointed to the bowl in Zhu Shi's hand, "Take it in, and we'll chat later when we're free."
"My maid, go get some well water and soak it, otherwise the day will probably dry up." Zhu Shi said hurriedly.
Wei Changying nodded with satisfaction: "You have given me an advantage by peeling it off for so long. I can't let you rejoice in vain. I will ask the kitchen to give each of you a portion of the snacks I ate tomorrow."
Everyone smiled and thanked him, and followed Wei Changying into the house.
Note 1 Jingguan: In ancient times, in order to show off their martial arts, intimidate the enemy, and show their ferocity, the corpses of the enemy were built into the shape of a pyramid with soil and placed in conspicuous places such as roadside and city gates. I remember seeing another saying a few years ago that it was built with heads, with human heads piled up to form a tower, a very gray demon sect style! Well, let’s imagine it for ourselves.
Zhuye water chestnut: If you don’t know, try it for yourself. It doesn’t look good and is often only as big as a finger, but I always think it tastes better than red water chestnut. (To be continued)