On the morning of February 27th, the brothers Chen Jingzong and Chen Bochong still had to go to their respective yamen to work. Huayang and Yu Xiu had breakfast and then rushed to Shiqiao Town.
A distance of forty miles only takes half an hour to travel by horseback at a fast gallop, but a carriage would take a whole morning, so the women went first, and the two brothers rode back in the evening and stayed in the old house for one night. After lunch the next day, both families had to go back to the city. This was the only arrangement for such a short holiday.
The weather has become noticeably warmer. Occasionally, one or two peach trees appear on the roadside, covered with small pink buds, and some of the flowers on the sunny side of the treetops have bloomed early.
Seeing Huayang staring at the peach blossoms, Yu Xiu said, "There are two peach trees in our yard. If they bloom, I will pick a few branches and send them to the princess."
Huayang smiled and said, "Don't bother me, sister-in-law. Someone else will take me there."
The first person Yu Xiu thought of was her uncle, and she immediately regretted her meddling. Compared with her, the eldest sister-in-law, the princess would certainly like the gift from her uncle more.
Accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds along the way, two carriages with a team of guards finally arrived at Shiqiao Town.
The people knew at a glance that the princess and others had returned to visit Chen Ge Lao and his wife. Some watched the fun with great interest, while others were no longer surprised and just continued to do what they were supposed to do.
Before the carriage came to a complete stop, Wanyi, Dalang, Erlang and Sanlang rushed out.
"mother!"
Wanyi and Dalang, brother and sister, both threw themselves into Yu Xiu's arms.
Yu Xiu was both happy and wanted to cry. Since she became a mother, this was the first time she had been separated from her children for such a long time.
Erlang and Sanlang stood side by side. Seeing that there was no one else inside the car after the princess and her aunt got off, the two brothers felt a little aggrieved, and Sanlang looked like he was about to cry.
Seeing this, Yu Xiu touched the heads of his nephews one by one and explained softly, "We are closer, so we arrived first. Your mother must be on the way too. There is no rush."
Huayang didn't want to coax the children, but she prepared gifts for her parents-in-law and children.
Chao Yun received the look from his master, smiled and took out four boxes of pastries from the car, giving one box to each child.
The children were very happy with the delicious food.
At this time, Chen Tingjian and Sun also came over.
Chen Tingjian was still wearing a white coarse cloth robe, with his beautiful beard that reached to his chest neatly groomed and flowing. Having been at home in mourning for so long, he no longer had to deal with government affairs from dawn to dusk like he did in the capital. The old man Chen, who was in his early fifties, looked more energetic, with a bit of a sage-like air.
Unfortunately, the children did not know how to appreciate their grandfather's demeanor, and only knew that their grandfather was too strict. When their grandfather arrived, Sanlang, who was eager to open the box of cakes, immediately held the box tightly. He was like this, and Dalang and Erlang were more stable. Only Wanyi dared to be a little lively in front of her grandfather.
Huayang suddenly thought of his younger brother in the palace. When he was five or six years old, he was also so well-behaved in front of his father-in-law.
After greeting each other, everyone moved to the hall to talk.
Since his sons were not around, Chen Tingjian could not question his daughters-in-law. Even if he had already received information about some things, he could only pretend not to know.
With a smile on her face, Sun asked about the two young couples' recent situations, such as whether they were used to the food and accommodation, and whether her sons were busy with their chores.
"Okay, we won't have dinner until later. You two have been riding in the carriage for a long time. Go back and rest for a while. The house has been cleaned up in advance."
The Sun family is in charge.
Huayang and Yuxiu took the children and left.
Back in the west courtyard, the atmosphere became lively again. Erlang and Sanlang didn't pick up their mother, so they went to ask their gentle and amiable aunt all kinds of questions. Yu Xiu was also patient and answered whatever the children asked.
Huayang found it interesting at first, but after a while he got tired of the noise and returned to Siyi Hall with his maid.
Just after I washed my face, I heard Zhen'er outside calling "Miss" with a smile.
After a while, Wanyi came in, holding a few pink peach blossoms in her hands, and her clear, dark eyes looked at her happily: "These are the peach blossoms I picked, do you like them, Fourth Aunt?"
Huayang likes it.
In the spring of this year in the previous life, on some unknown day, Wanyi also gave her peach blossoms. The cute little girl and the fresh and tender petals brightened her mood.
"I also prepared a gift for Wanyi."
Chaoyun took out a small box the size of a palm, Huayang handed it to Wanyi, and asked her to open it and take a look with a smile.
Wanyi did as she was told, and inside the box she saw a peach blossom hairpin made of pink tourmaline. It was pink, tender, sparkling and very beautiful.
Huayang picked up the peach blossom hairpin and helped Wanyi put it on himself, then led her to a half-person-high dressing mirror.
Wanyi liked it very much, but she was also a little embarrassed. She blushed and said, "Every time I come here, Fourth Aunt always gives me good things. I won't dare to come again next time."
It seemed as if she was trying to please Fourth Aunt just for the gift.
Hua Yang smiled and said, "It's not always the case. Next time you come, I won't send you off. Is that okay?"
Wanyi also smiled.
"Princess, the third lady is here too."
Huayang would definitely not go to the door to pick up Luo Yuyan. He just patted Wanyi on the shoulder and told her to just go over. This was the etiquette that the younger generation should observe.
Erlang and Sanlang had already run out, and Dalang was standing in the corridor waiting for his sister.
Noticing that her brother looked at her head several times, Wanyi had an idea and asked her brother to help her take off the peach blossom hairpin and carefully put it into the exquisite purse at her waist.
Da Lang asked, "Was it given by Fourth Aunt? Why doesn't my sister wear it anymore?"
Wanyi explained in a low voice as she led her brother out: "Our parents have always been simple and they don't allow us to be too particular about these things. If I wear that hairpin to see Third Aunt, she will definitely guess that it was given by Fourth Aunt. Since Fourth Aunt has given it, shouldn't Third Aunt also give me something nice? Why should I ask Third Aunt to spend money on it?"
Fourth Aunt liked her and gave her gifts. Wanyi accepted them generously, but she could not ask Third Aunt for more intentionally or unintentionally.
She is already nine years old and has understood some of the ways of the world.
The six-year-old Dalang seemed to be lost in thought.
Outside the Chen residence, Luo Yuyan also prepared food gifts for her children and nephews.
Sun was sitting in the hall, waiting for the third daughter-in-law to come in and pay her respects. Chen Tingjian did not come this time. After all, he was just going to welcome the princess. If only the eldest daughter-in-law came back, there would be no reason for him, as a father-in-law, to specially welcome his daughter-in-law.
"Mom, don't you often complain about shoulder pain? The other day, Third Master was on a private visit outside and saw someone selling a small wooden hammer specially used to relieve shoulder pain. I bought one for you and dad. Please try it out and see if it works."
Luo Yuyan enthusiastically presented the gift that the couple had prepared for the two elders, a pair of small wooden hammers with long handles, so that she could hammer on them at any time when the maid was not around.
Sun tried it and said with a smile, "This is practical. The third brother is thoughtful."
After Luo Yuyan took the children away, Sun also returned to Chunhetang with gifts.
The tea that the boss gave me was a bit expensive, but not too out of the ordinary, and he could still afford it with his salary.
The fourth son would never present him with any honor, as the two boxes of bird's nests were a gift from the princess.
I don’t know what the third brother has prepared.
Chen Tingjian was not thinking about the gifts for his children. He was afraid that his sons would learn the ways of those corrupt officials and squeeze the people's money to pretend to be filial sons in front of him.
Sun knew what he was thinking, so she took out the pair of gavels and put them in his hands: "Check and see if there is gold hidden in the handles."
Chen Tingjian: …
The maids smiled and retreated.
Sun grabbed a small gavel and tapped her husband on the shoulder with just the right amount of force, snorting, "Of the three gifts, the cheapest one came from the third son, but he's so slick and his words sound better than singing."
Chen Tingjian smiled. The third brother was a little smooth, but he was not confused about the major issues. Moreover, his wife obviously liked his way of speaking.
West courtyard.
Luo Yuyan went to Guanhe Hall first.
While the children were playing together, she asked Yu Xiu questions alone, such as why the princess invited you to ride in the carriage last time, and whether the princess invited you to visit Ning Garden after arriving in Lingzhou City.
Yu Xiu said everything he could, except for the awkward situation between the princess and her uncle.
After listening to this, Luo Yuyan smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is a blessed person. This is because she has won the favor of the princess."
Yu Xiu also felt that she was blessed. Apart from anything else, just being able to make friends with the princess made her life worthwhile.
After Luo Yuyan left, Wanyi continued to stick to her mother.
Yu Xiu saw the peach blossoms in the yard and asked curiously, "Are we going to send peach blossoms to your Third Aunt later?"
Wanyi shook her head and said playfully, "Third Aunt doesn't like these."
Yu Xiu: "How do you know she doesn't love you?"
Wanyi: "The garden was built last year. Every time we run into Third Aunt there, she likes to stare at your clothes and jewelry. Fourth Aunt is different. She likes to look at the flowers and trees."
Yu Xiu was surprised and delighted, and pinched her daughter's nose: "You are as smart as your father."
Wanyi: "Okay, I got my brain from my father and my beauty from my mother."
Yu Xiu blushed when her daughter was not ashamed, and warned her daughter not to be so conceited when she was outside.
At noon, Sun had a simple meal with her daughters-in-law, and then in the evening when the whole family gathered together, they had a grand family dinner.
In the Chen family now, only Chen Tingjian and his wife can be vegetarians, while the two younger generations can eat as much as they want.
The tempting aroma of food kept coming from the kitchen, and Sanlang was drooling with greed. It was really because his grandfather was too strict. Whenever his grandmother made a few more braised pork meals for them, his grandfather would frown.
The sky gradually darkened.
Finally, the sound of galloping horses was heard on the street. It sounded like there were three of them. It turned out that they were three brothers from two places who met halfway and returned home together.
Yu Xiu and Luo Yuyan will both go to greet their husbands, and the children will certainly also go to greet their father.
Huayang sat firmly in his seat.
The adults all thought this was natural. Sanlang held his mother's hand and asked in a low voice as they walked away, "Mom, why didn't Fourth Aunt go to pick up Fourth Uncle?"
Luo Yuyan answered softly, "Because Fourth Aunt is a princess and the most distinguished person in our family, she doesn't have to come and pick anyone up in person unless she wants to."
Sanlang: "Then my great uncle and my father both have someone to pick them up, but my fourth uncle doesn't. Isn't my fourth uncle very pitiful?"
Luo Yuyan rubbed her son's head casually: "Your fourth uncle is not particular about trivial matters and doesn't mind these."
As they were talking, they met the three brothers of the Chen family who were walking in tired and dusty.
The children rushed to their fathers one by one.
Chen Jingzong stood beside his brothers and bowed slightly to his two sisters-in-law.
Sanlang got down from his father's arms, looked at his lonely fourth uncle, and with his big eyes rolling, he walked over and asked, "Fourth uncle, when are you and fourth aunt going to have a baby?"
Chen Jingzong: …
The couple Chen Xiaozong and Chen Bozong:…
Sanlang continued to speak without restraint: "Aunt Si is unwilling to come out to pick you up. When you have brothers and sisters, they can come out to pick up Uncle Si like us."
The complicated expressions on the adults' faces finally returned to normal.
Chen Jingzong picked up Sanlang and gave him a slap, "Who said your fourth aunt didn't want to come pick me up?"
Sanlang pointed inside: "Fourth Aunt is not here."
Chen Jingzong smiled and said, "That's because Fourth Uncle feels sorry for your Fourth Aunt, and he told her in advance so that she doesn't have to make a special trip."
Sanlang understood, his head turned, and his big eyes looked at his uncle and father.
Chen Bozong was silent and glanced at his third brother.
Chen Xiaozong smiled and said, "Okay, we are all hungry, let's go in and eat!"
The fourth child can talk nonsense anytime and anywhere, but they can't keep up with him and argue about whether they feel sorry for him or not in front of the children.
He held Saburo in his arms.
Chen Bochong's family walked in the front, followed by Chen Xiaozong's family. Chen Jingzong was the youngest, so naturally he walked at the end.
Chen Jingzong looked disdainful as he glanced at his two brothers who were surrounded by their lovely wives and children.
He hated these false formalities the most. Even if she came out to pick him up, he wouldn't care!
(End of this chapter)