As a lot of things in the house, it was barely able to maintain a normal life. Ning Yanting counted the arrival of next month with his fingers in his heart, waiting for Ning's mother to give him pocket money so that he could use it to improve his life.
But after a month, counting money every day to spend money for a pair of children and two younger brothers, Ning Yanting is also very clear about his expenses, so he also understands better, just rely on his monthly schedule and salary, plus The 80 taels of silver that Shang Ning's mother gave him was only a drop in the bucket compared to his huge expenses. After the next month, he still had to rely on him to pawn the goods.
Before the next month, he was hopeful and anxious again, so worried that he even lost a lot of hair.
Before the end of this month, the second brother Ning Yanwen came to the door with a face full of joy.
"Big brother, Qing'er has already made a marriage and is the son of the Zhou family." Ning Yanwen said happily: "It is the son of the Zhou family, the servant of the Ministry of Rites."
Ning Yanting had heard about it for a long time, and was very happy for Ning Qing. Seeing his second brother was so happy, he sincerely expressed his joy to him.
Ning Yanwen seemed to be really excited, and dragged him to chatter for a long time before finally explaining his intentions. Seeing that his face turned from joy to worry, he suddenly sighed and said: "Qing'er has been a good candidate since she was a child, and now she is married to the son of Zhou Da's family, but Qing'er is so good, but my father let her Shame."
Ning Yanting couldn't help but wonder: "Second brother, what do you say?"
"Big brother, you also know that I have never been as good as your big brother. Now you are the most promising person in our Ning family. No matter how hard you try, your brother can't keep up. Big brother, you are so good. On weekdays, I have great respect for big brother, but now it's sunny. When my son is about to get married, now I look at my eldest brother, but I’m envious.” Ning Yanwen said, looking at him with envy, then hurriedly looked away, as though he didn’t dare to let him notice his mood looks like.
Ning Yanting's curiosity suddenly picked up.
He hurriedly said: "Second brother, please don't say that, you have been outstanding since you were young, and your mother has praised you since childhood. How can eldest brother compare to you? If you don't believe me, ask your mother. Among our three brothers, Are you the best?"
Ning Yanwen sighed: "Big brother is joking, if I'm really that powerful, why can't I even get Qing'er's dowry."
After he finished speaking, he was shocked again, as if he had accidentally said something incredible, and quickly changed his words: "Brother, don't take it to heart, I was just quick and I said the wrong thing for a while."
Ning Yanting was even more puzzled. He frowned and said, "Second brother, don't hide it from me. What does it mean that even Qing'er's dowry can't be obtained? Will our Ning family still lack Qing'er's dowry?"
The housekeeper is neither him nor Ning's mother, so Ning Yanting doesn't know about the affairs of the Ning family, but he also knows that the Ning family has a great business and is beautiful on the surface. to the point of.
But Ning Yanwen sighed again and said, "Qing'er's dowry, the family can naturally take it out, but Qing'er is married to the son of Zhou Shilang's family, if the dowry is too small, it may make the Zhou family look down on it. Alas, this matter shouldn't have bothered me, it really made my eldest brother laugh, but Qinger is my only daughter, I have been thinking about this matter in my heart, since Qinger got married, it is not only for her happiness, but also I'm thinking, if I can be more powerful, like the big brother, Qing'er won't have to be implicated by my useless father."
"Mother has always liked Qing'er, so naturally she won't treat her badly." Ning Yanting reassured: "Qing'er married a good family, and if my mother is happy, she will naturally marry her beautifully, so you don't have to worry about this. ."
Ning Yanwen still sighed: "I understand the truth, but when I think that Qing'er will be looked down upon in the future, I feel sorry for her in my heart. If she can have such a powerful father as her eldest brother, she will definitely have a better life. . Big brother has been amazing since he was a child. If I can't do it, big brother can help me to do it. I rely too much on big brother, but Qinger suffers. "
"Second brother, please don't say that." Ning Yanting hurriedly said: "If you say that, I will be the first to refuse. Ning Qing's marriage is a great event. My mother will help Ning Qing prepare her dowry. Ning Qing is also me. Watching him grow up with the third brother, as her uncle, of course I can't bear to let her be wronged."
Having achieved today's goal, Ning Yanwen's brows stretched out.
He was moved to pull Ning Yanting and said a lot of sincere words before he left.
The younger brother is still as dependent on himself as he was when he was a child, and when he thinks of being able to help his younger brother again, the eldest brother Ning Yanting is mentally disturbed and cannot be satisfied.
His mood lasted until he went to see Ning's mother.
"No." Mother Ning looked at him coldly: "Ning Qing got married, what does that have to do with me, her parents are not dead, when will it be my turn to give her a dowry?"
Ning Yanting's brows furrowed deeply: "What can't be dead, the second brother and younger sister are strong, how can you say such a thing."
"Since they have nothing to do, why do they miss you?" Ning's mother opened the account book and asked him, "Then I want to ask you, how much dowry do you plan to give to Ning Qing?"
Ning Yanting was stunned: "This..."
He hadn't thought about it.
"The old lady and the second wife will naturally prepare her for a dowry." Mother Ning said a number in memory: "You have to let her marry her beautifully. This is a good thing. The money is still small, and the more valuable things are reluctant. Silver can't be bought."
Mother Ning turned the abacus and said, "If it is according to what you said, it would cost tens of thousands of taels to Ning Qing. Do you really think that my money is from a strong wind, and I will give it if I give it? Or? Say, you want to pay the money yourself?"
Before Ning Yanting could answer, she sneered and said, "Where did you get the money?"
She took all of Ning Yanting's expenses from her hands. With just a little salary, monthly fees, and two blood-sucking worm younger brothers, he couldn't save even half a penny. As for the Zhuangzi shops that can produce benefits in his hands, some have been cheated by the second and third rooms, and some have already been in the hands of Ning's mother. His pockets are empty and there is nothing, even the servants of the Ning family. richer than him.
Ning Yanting also did not expect that his nod would cost so much behind his back.
"This..." He showed hesitation, and for a while, he didn't dare to nod easily and agree.
But Mother Ning's expression changed, and she looked at him with red eyes: "You only think about Ning Qing, when have you ever thought about A Nuan?"
"what?"
"Ning Qing has found a good husband, the son of Zhou Da's family, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, who is very beautiful, but A Nuan, A Nuan is such a good girl, she has done nothing, but her reputation has been ruined. Do you remember, A Nuan's reputation was ruined by the sisters Ning Qing and Ning Xin. Their hearts are so vicious, but you are good. Ning Qing is married, and you go to give her a dowry. Have you ever thought about A Nuan's dowry? Mood?" Mother Ning said, the grievances she had suffered in her previous life welled up in her heart, and she couldn't help but shed tears with true emotion.
Ning Yanting was stunned.
"If A Nuan's reputation is not bad, why can't he find a good family? How can Ning Qing be compared to A Nuan? She is the daughter of Ning's family, and her father is a high-ranking official in the court. I have been looking forward to the day when A Nuan gets married. , but now? Ah Nuan is a few months older than Ning Qing, because of Ning Qing, what other good people would like her?" Mother Ning burst into tears: "Ning Qing made Ah Nuan fall into this kind of situation. In this situation, thanks to the fact that you keep saying that you love your daughter, now you are going to love someone else's daughter!"
"Yunlan..." Ning Yanting opened his mouth, trying to argue, but his throat was sore and he didn't know how to speak.
Mother Ning wiped away tears and said, "Do you think I really don't want to give you money? I'm not doing it for A Nuan, A Nuan's reputation is already bad. What can I do if my husband's family looks down on her? Ah Nuan's reputation can't come back, what can I do other than give her more money? You are good, Ning Qing has ruined Ah Nuan's reputation, as Ah Nuan's father, you Not only will you not vent your anger against A Nuan, but you will also take away A Nuan's dowry to Ning Qing. Ning Qing is your niece, but A Nuan is also your biological daughter. For the sake of your niece, you don't even care about your biological daughter? ?"
Ning Yanting was almost shaken by her series of words.
He opened his mouth, his eyes touched his wife's tears, and he couldn't even make a sound.
He stabilized his body, for fear of what his wife would say, he quickly made an excuse and fled in embarrassment.
After he left, Mother Ning wiped away her tears and sent him an account viciously in her heart.
…
Since Ning Qing got married, the whole Ning Mansion was beaming with joy. Mother Ning was mad at Ning Yanting again. Seeing the happy appearance of the Ning family became more and more annoying. Went out warm.
"This time out of Ning Mansion, even the air is much better." Ning's mother sighed: "I always stay in the mansion on weekdays and rarely come out. I didn't know the change outside was so big. A Nuan, you too , your brother has been thinking about running outside all day, but you have been staying at home. What is good at home? Now all the people in the house are Ning Qing, and even your father said that he wants to raise a dowry for her, so I will stay for a while Not comfortable either."
Ning Nuan smiled, neither nodding nor agreeing, just listening to her complain.
Ning's mother took her to the shop under her own name for a walk, and brought her to familiarize herself with her industry. On weekdays, she couldn't understand the account book, but in the shop, she could explain it bit by bit. When they were tired from walking, the two walked into a teahouse and asked for a private room to sit.
After only two sips of tea, Ning's mother suddenly pointed out the window and said, "A Nuan, look, is that your brother?"
Ning Nuan looked out, following the direction that Ning's mother pointed, she saw Ning Lang. Opposite him stood a brocade-clothed young man with his back to her, and she didn't know what he looked like.
Ning Lang was very familiar with that person, and he laughed from time to time as he spoke.
Ning Nuan asked curiously, "Is that brother's friend?"