In Hanbi Mountain House, Madam Guo was frowning and asking Qin Shouyue, "You said Youyi will come back with Jiashan this time?"
Youyi is the pen name of the second uncle Cheng Shi.
Qin Shouyue said, "It is said that the second branch's ancestor wrote a letter, asking him to come back and prepare for the next spring exam."
Madam Guo sneered and said, "I hope that the second wife can pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi. Then I can let her have a taste of the heartbreak that I felt back then."
Qin Shouyue lowered his head slightly and didn't dare to say a word.
Mrs. Guo certainly didn't expect Qin Shouyue to say anything to her, so she asked, "When will Jiashan get home?"
Qin Shouyue raised his head and smiled, "It will only take four or five days at most."
Madam Guo nodded, with a hint of joy in her eyes, and said, "His mother is not at home, so I'll have to trouble you to take care of Duojia Pavilion."
Duojia Pavilion was where Cheng Xu lived, and it had been empty for almost two years. Now that he had returned from the capital, although there were people cleaning the place regularly, it was less popular. According to Madam Guo's wishes, in addition to arranging the furnishings in accordance with the current fashion, the maids and servants were also required to move in in advance.
Qin Shouyue smiled and said, "Old Madam, you are too kind. But the fourth master wants you to live in Zaoyuan. He said it is quiet there, which is perfect for you to study."
Mrs. Guo was stunned for a moment, then smiled with relief and said, "I didn't expect that he would take care of these things. It shows that he really wants to teach Jiashan to read." After that, she sighed, "I have always wanted him to get closer to Jiashan, but he has always been cold and aloof. I didn't expect that he suddenly seemed to have figured it out now. At least I feel relieved."
Qin Shouyue smiled and said, "The fourth master is a person who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. It's not that he doesn't care about you, it's just that he doesn't like to ask about your well-being like others do."
Madam Guo smiled and nodded, saying, "Did Zi'an or Ziping tell you to let Jiashan move to Zaoyuan? Then I won't be in charge of Zaoyuan's affairs. I'll leave it to you to take care of it."
"Don't worry!" Qin Shouyue said, "Ziping told me the message. Although the master has settled in Zaoyuan, he can't just stay there. I will follow him. If there is anything on the old lady's side, please let someone pass on the message to me. Ziping will stay here."
Madam Guo was stunned again and said with a smile, "Is this also Silang's arrangement?"
Qin Shouyue smiled and said, "Yes! The fourth master said that we should take this opportunity to see whether Zi'an or Ziping is more suitable to be the chief steward of the Qin family."
"This child." Old Madam Guo laughed, "Is he confused? Jiashan will be the head of the family in the future. As the chief steward of the Qin family, he must get along well with Jiashan. Since he wanted to let Ziping or Zi'an stay at home, he should have arranged for them to serve in Zaoyuan. Why did he send you to Zaoyuan and leave Ziping behind?"
Qin Shouyue smiled and said, "The fourth master may still be worried about Zi Ping or Zi An's ability, but he has not thought about whether they are compatible with the eldest master."
"That's right!" Old Madam Guo said with a smile, "The Qin family has always been loyal to our eldest branch. We don't have to worry about whether Zi'an or Ziping can get along with me, Jiashan. It would be good to let them hone their skills while we two old guys are still alive."
Qin Shouyue laughed and said, "Look at what you said, how can I compare to the old lady..."
"Come on, come on, don't talk nonsense to me here," Mrs. Guo interrupted him before he finished speaking, and said with a smile, "You are also in your early sixties, if there is anything, just let the people below take care of it. You should take good care of yourself."
"Thank you, madam!" Qin Shouyue said modestly, then said goodbye to Madam Guo and arranged to go to Zaoyuan.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but smile when he heard the news.
She knew that Uncle Chi knew that she didn't like Cheng Xu, so it was impossible that he would not do anything at all.
However, sending Cheng Xu to Zaoyuan, far away from here... is really good!
She put down the paintbrush in her hand, propped her chin on her elbow and started to daydream.
When will Uncle Chi come back
What on earth was he doing
I wonder if it’s dangerous
She had a lot to tell him.
It is very dangerous for him to travel by boat or by horse. After returning, should she persuade him to go out less in the future
Zhou Shaojin was lost in thought when he suddenly heard Madam Guo's voice from behind him: "You are painting... Guanshitu. Are you going to embroider a Guanyin?"
Zhou Shaojin was caught off guard and was shocked.
She quickly stood up and called out "Old Madam".
Madam Guo laughed, pressed her shoulder, and said, "Did I scare you? I saw you sitting here in a daze, and I called you twice but you didn't respond, so I asked... Are you thinking about something?"
Zhou Shaojin's face suddenly turned red for no apparent reason. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he said, "I'm going to embroider a picture of Guanyin, but I don't know if it's good enough..."
So that’s why!
"Well done! Very well done." Mrs. Guo smiled and picked up the paper to examine it carefully. "The face is round, the expression is peaceful and compassionate, and the lines are smooth... I didn't expect you to be able to draw, and to draw so well."
Zhou Shaojin blushed and whispered, "Old Madam Miao Zan! I, I'm just drawing casually."
"If the painting is good, it is good. If it is not good, it is not good." Madam Guo put down the paper lovingly and said, "Sometimes you just lack confidence in yourself. You have to trust my judgment."
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, and suddenly felt his waist straighten a little.
Madam Guo asked, "I heard that you go to Jiashu Hall early in the morning these days to pay respects to your grandmother, then go to the greenhouse to take a look and then rush back to chant sutras with me?"
Zhou Shaojin explained: "Grandma seems to be in a bad mood these days, and the azaleas I raised are about to bloom..."
Madam Guo smiled and said, "Don't you have a few red pomegranates in your yard? If you like, I'll have someone build a greenhouse for you in your yard and move all your flowers and plants over." Then, without waiting for Zhou Shaojin to speak, she continued, "Why is your grandmother in a bad mood? Isn't Yi Ge'er able to walk? Could it be that she feels embarrassed that Yi Ge'er was beaten by your uncle's maid?"
Zhou Shaojin was in no mood to talk about those pots of flowers after hearing that. He said hurriedly, "I see that grandma is not unhappy about this matter. It seems that Second Uncle Yuan encountered some problems while in office!"
She didn't pay any attention to it in her previous life, so naturally she didn't know what Cheng Yuan encountered and how he solved it. She had no way to give any advice in this life.
Madam Guo smiled and said, "What's the big deal? I'll go to Jiashu Hall with you later to ask about the preparations for Gao'er's wedding. Once Gao'er gets married, Yi'er will probably have to live alone. Should we wait until Yi'er gets married to redecorate the house? Or should we take advantage of Gao'er's marriage to arrange the living quarters for the two brothers? I just happen to be free, so I'll go over and talk to your grandmother."
Zhou Shaojin couldn't ask for more.
She put away her paintbrush and went to Jiashutang with Mrs. Guo.
Old Madam Guan knew the purpose of Old Madam Guo's visit and was very grateful. She said, "It's not a big deal. You also know that your nephew Yuan is a fellow Jinshi. This year he changed his superiors, who attach great importance to family background and sometimes say things that are not very pleasant. Gao'er is getting married, and he specially sent an aide to see if there is anything he can help with at home. The aide accidentally mentioned it to your nephew Mian. Your nephew Mian was a little anxious and told me. I have already told them that this man walking outside, how can he be smooth sailing? He will not listen to even a word of injustice? If he can't even stand this little thing, then he should resign and come back as soon as possible."
There is a high probability that Uncle Miao told my grandmother about this because he wanted her to go and ask for something in front of Old Madam Guo, right
As Zhou Shaojin was guessing, he heard Madam Guo laugh and say, "It's okay. I'll go talk to your nephew Jing and see what's going on with him."
Old Mrs. Guan thanked her again and again.
The two chatted for a while. Just as Mrs. Guo was about to ask Cheng Gao about his new house, Si'er ran in, saw Mrs. Guo, and quickly stood aside with her hands hanging down.
Madam Guo laughed and asked Zhou Shaojin to help her. She said, "Shall we go to where you grow flowers? I've known for a long time that you can grow flowers. I'll go and broaden my horizons today!"
Old Madam Guan blushed and said, "Sister-in-law, why are you being so distant with me? Si'er, what happened? Why are you so flustered?"
Si'er knew she had gotten into trouble, her face turned pale with fear, and she said tremblingly, "Madam, I just met a maid from the fifth house, who said that Madam Shi from the second house was matchmaking for Master Nuo from the fifth house to marry the eldest daughter of Magistrate Wu. Madam Wen has already gone to the second house to discuss Master Nuo's marriage."
The eldest daughter of Magistrate Wu... that must be Wu Baozhang.
Zhou Shaojin was shocked.
how so
In her previous life, she said she gave it to Cheng Lu!
She couldn't help but look at the two old people.
Both Mrs. Guo and Mrs. Guan were surprised, and obviously they had not expected it. It was Nanny Wang, who served Mrs. Guan, who was the first to react and said with a smile: "The master of the fifth room is going to get engaged, this is a good thing!"
Indeed. She is more reliable than the one Cheng Wen and Grandma Wen are going to marry.
However, will Wu Baozhang agree
She really doesn't like Wu Baozhang? Should she object
Zhou Shaojin was a little worried.
In the Liuting Pavilion where Cheng Shi lived, Mrs. Hong of Yi was also a little worried like Zhou Shaojin. She asked her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Zheng of Shi, "Is this appropriate? Miss Wu is the daughter of the prefect after all, but Brother Nuo has no official title, and is lazy and muddle-headed..."
"Mom, don't worry." Grandma Shi smiled and pulled her mother-in-law's hand, sitting side by side on the Luohan bed. "I have also asked Baozhang about this matter, and she agreed. Although she is the eldest daughter of the prefect, she lost her mother at a young age, and her life at home is not easy. The matchmakers that Mrs. Wu found for her were either old widowed widower or playboys who indulged in drinking, whoring and gambling. Occasionally there were a few scholars, but they were all immoral people who were attracted by Baozhang's status and wanted to take advantage of Wu Jiaguang. Although Nuoge'er is not as responsible as others, he is kind-hearted, gentle, filial and sensible, and has the protection of the Cheng family. Baozhang is lucky to marry him!"
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Sisters and brothers, yesterday’s update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: The overtime for Qingtian Moyun is scheduled for around 5pm.
※(To be continued)