Mrs. Guan knew: "Of course I agreed."
Zhou Shaojin nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Mrs. Guan was surprised and asked, "Do you think that since we are a family, we should help each other?"
Zhou Shaojin shook his head.
Just now in the second room, she was bothered by the smile that faded away from Old Lady Guan when no one was around.
Her experience of living in two lifetimes made her understand the importance of explanation.
She had always wanted to find an opportunity to explain to Old Madam Guan why she was rude to the maids in the second room.
Maybe Mrs. Guan would think that she was scheming and lost the favor of her grandmother; but maybe Mrs. Guan thought that she was not a useless person and would think about the things encountered in life, and thus look at her differently. She could be like a sister and have a say in front of her grandmother and aunt.
A fifty-fifty chance.
Very adventurous.
But she couldn't avoid taking the risk.
If she can't gain the right to speak for herself in the Fourth House, how can she have a say in front of Madam Guo!
At worst, it would be like in the previous life, when my grandmother would treat me distantly and politely.
That's why she took the initiative to bring up her guess.
This would give me a chance to explain what I had done to my grandmother, and also allow me to test where her bottom line was.
Everything is going well now.
Now it all depends on whether her answer can satisfy her grandmother.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but feel a little timid, but she still suppressed her uneasiness and tried to smile naturally and sweetly, "That's not the case. I have been copying scriptures in Hanbi Mountain House for a few months. Although I can't say that I know Mrs. Guo well, I have also felt her temperament. It's not easy to be the head of the Cheng family. Cousin Xu is now in the capital. He is protected by Uncle Jing and watched by the second old master of the eldest house. He has the best time, place and people. If he is still overshadowed by Cousin Shi who left his hometown, then even if he becomes the head of the Cheng family with the support of the elders, I'm afraid he won't be able to convince the public. Mrs. Guo's intention is probably to let Cousin Shi be a whetstone for Cousin Xu to see if Cousin Xu can shoulder the responsibility of the head of the family."
"Not bad, not bad!" Mrs. Guan's eyes showed undisguised admiration, "I didn't expect that you, who are so young and usually silent, would have such insight. Mrs. Guo is a person who likes to let tigers run wild. Back then, your uncle Jing followed the old uncle Guo to western Yunnan at a young age. Your second uncle Wei was also left by Mrs. Guo to stay in western Sichuan for a period of time. Not to mention your uncle Chi, who followed the old master Shao to study at a young age. If he didn't complete the set homework, he was not allowed to come back during the New Year. The person I admire most in my life is Mrs. Guo. No matter how disadvantaged the eldest house is, she can turn the situation around without saying a word.
"Perhaps it is because of the excessive killings in the previous dynasty that the Cheng family has always had difficulty in having children. We all treat our children like the apples of our eyes, but we do not know that if children are not taught well, they will not grow up. Children who do not grow up will not only bring disaster to the family, but also to others. In this regard, we are not as good as Madam Guo.
"Shao Jin, it's amazing that you can think of these things at your age. But you have to remember that men are responsible for the outside world and women are responsible for the inside world. The inner courtyard is a woman's world. In the future, in addition to managing the household affairs, you will also be responsible for educating your children. You must not spoil them because you feel sorry for them because they are a piece of your flesh and blood. You must know that they can't live under your wings forever. One day they will go out and deal with outsiders. Outsiders don't care whose child they are. The stricter you are with them now, the less harm they will suffer after they go out. This is what it means to truly love your children. Do you understand?"
Everything my grandmother said came from the bottom of her heart.
Zhou Shaojin responded respectfully.
Old Madam Guan smiled with satisfaction, turned around and sat down on the Luohan bed, and said in a gentle voice: "But even so, you are too harsh on the maid in the second room."
Zhou Shaojin's face turned slightly red.
Ever since she found out about the Second House, she could no longer respect them. So when the maid from the Second House contradicted her, she couldn't help herself...
Fortunately, Old Lady Guan did not pursue these questions. Instead, she leaned forward slightly and said solemnly, "Shao Jin, did you hear anything in the eldest house?"
Zhou Shaojin considered and said, "Some of it is what I heard, and some of it is what I guessed. I don't know if it is correct or not. I will tell you everything, and you can help me make up my mind about how I should act in the future."
Old Lady Guan made a "shut up" gesture to her, then asked Si'er to invite Nanny Wang over and told her, "I have something to say to Shaojin, please help us watch the door."
Nanny Wang's expression changed slightly. She answered "yes" solemnly and helped them close the door.
Old Madam Guan pointed to the Luohan bed opposite her and said, "Sit down and talk."
Zhou Shaojin agreed, half-sitting on the Luohan bed, leaning over and quietly telling Mrs. Guan some of the discoveries he had made after his rebirth: "… The conflict between the first and second houses has been going on for a long time, but because of the third house, no one could see it before… My cousin is outstanding in knowledge and character among all the cousins, but he has never continued to participate in the imperial examinations. I wonder if something happened in the past that the first and second houses have always suppressed the third house, making it impossible for the third house to succeed in the imperial examinations and can only rely on the first and second houses to make a living… But the third house has never been reconciled and has been thinking of ways to get rid of this predicament, so my cousin has never proposed marriage… When the Duke of Liang came to Beijing, he invited Uncle Chi to help with the arrangements, but Uncle Chi refused. Later, it was rumored that the son of the Duke of Liang had taken a fancy to my cousin Jia… Maybe the Duke of Liang’s family knew about this grudge… They wanted to get closer to the Cheng family, and they were somewhat sure that the third branch would agree, so they asked to marry cousin Jia. Although the Cheng family refused, Duke Liang and the prince were still in the capital, so I'm afraid this matter is not over yet... Now the first branch is flourishing and the inheritance is in order; the second branch is like a declining sun, without a person who can stand on his own. The second branch's ancestor must be very anxious... "
At this point, she paused slightly.
That's why they wanted to destroy Cheng Xu in their previous life.
Because among the fourth generation of men in the eldest house with the character "Yan" in their names, except Cheng Xu, there were no other talented people.
"When my father came back, the second branch patriarch did not hesitate to lower his status and personally introduced my cousin to my father... When the Min family from Fujian came, he even came out to entertain them. The two families were not far from falling out."
Zhou Shaojin clenched his fists and said, "I always feel that once the first and second branches fall out, the other three branches will be involved. By then, I'm afraid that we will have to pay back all the favors we have received for generations."
Old Mrs. Guan lowered her eyelids and gently twirled the eighteen-bead Buddhist rosary in her hand, which had fallen out of her hand at some point, without saying a word.
Zhou Shaojin broke out in a cold sweat.
This is what she came up with after thinking about it again and again, combining her experiences from two lifetimes, but she doesn't know if it's right
Time passed little by little, and Old Lady Guan sat there motionless like a clay Buddha, twirling the Buddhist beads in her hand.
The room was so quiet that you could smell a pin drop.
Zhou Shaojin sat motionless, her throat tight, her body stiff and sore, just hoping someone would come in or something would happen. She couldn't help muttering to herself: If she had known this would happen, she should have assumed a comfortable position before talking to her grandmother.
After an unknown amount of time, Old Lady Guan finally raised her head.
She looked at Zhou Shaojin and sighed deeply. The wrinkles on her face suddenly seemed to increase. "What can I say to you, kid? Just tell your grandmother about these things. Don't even mention them to your aunt. Otherwise, you will cause trouble."
Grandma believed it!
Zhou Shaojin felt relieved.
If it wasn't the wrong occasion, she would have jumped for joy.
"I won't tell anyone," she swore hastily, "... I'll keep it to myself."
"That's not necessary!" Old Madam Guan laughed and said, "The older generation knows all the things you said, and even the younger generation can guess some of them with a little more carefulness. What I want to tell you is another thing. How can you be so sure that the eldest branch will have the last laugh? Think about it, in order to contain Zichuan, no one from the second branch can take over Zichuan's affairs for at least 20 years, which is equivalent to abolishing a Jinshi in the eldest branch, and there is no one available in the eldest branch. And Jiashan is actually not as good as Youyi in some aspects... If the ancestor of the second branch lived longer, Youyi might not have no chance. And Grandma Yi Hong's family background is not simple. What if we go the wrong way?"
The second roommate, Cheng, is literate and well-mannered.
With such a big question, Zhou Shaojin had no idea how to answer or how to think about it.
But she knew that twelve years later, the entire Cheng family would be executed.
All these grudges and conspiracies collapsed under the imperial power.
Only Cheng Chi and Cheng Xu escaped.
It should be said that Cheng Chi only rescued Cheng Xu.
In her previous life, the eldest son of the family was still the winner when she was living silently like an ant.
In this life, Cheng Xu's tragedy was avoided. With her warning, there was no reason why the eldest son could not escape.
Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin shuddered.
Why did Cheng Chi only save Cheng Xu
Is it because he doesn't have the ability? Or is it just because Cheng Xu is the eldest grandson of the eldest son and represents the inheritance of the Cheng family
She thought of Cheng Chi's indifference, and suddenly felt as if she vaguely understood something.
But at this moment, she couldn't afford to think too much.
If she wanted the fourth house to follow the first house, she had to make Old Madam Guan believe that the first house would be the ultimate winner.
"You know the Min family in Fujian," Zhou Shaojin said calmly, "Mrs. Yuan wants to ask for a girl from the Min family for cousin Xu."
Old Madam Guan was stunned and asked, "Didn't you say that you met the Young Master of the Min Family by chance?"
"I don't know the details." Zhou Shaojin said, "I just heard that Madam Yuan had this accent." She told Old Lady Guan about Cheng Shi's failure to get a favor from Master Min, "Think about it, why would Master Min offend someone for no reason?"
"If that's the case..." Mrs. Guan pondered, "The eldest son's family can be fearless..."
Is the Min family in Fujian so powerful
Madam Yuan thinks that by marrying them, Cheng Xu will be able to enter the cabinet and become a prime minister. When Mrs. Guan hears that the eldest house has the support of the Min family, she feels that the eldest house will win... Zhou Shaojin is not convinced.
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Sisters, today's extra update.
PS: The update for Yan Guo QQ is a little late, everyone please read it tomorrow!
O(∩_∩)o
※(To be continued)