After catching his breath, Li thought more and more that something was wrong.
When she and Zhou Zhen were serving in Nanchang, Jiangnan, they also lived in the government office and were neighbors with the wives of the registrars. Everyone had different backgrounds, some were Buddhists and some were Taoists. Occasionally, there would be nuns or Taoist nuns who came to ask for incense money, but no one dared to openly say that they were good at pediatrics and gynecology. Isn't Mrs. Huang too bold to say this
Li thought of what Cheng Chi said, and after careful consideration, she told Zhou Zhen about this matter.
Zhou Zhen's face changed slightly. Seeing Li looking at him eagerly, and thinking of Li's background and experience, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart and said, "Madam, you have done a good job in this matter. The heir is destined by heaven. If I only have three daughters, it is also the will of the Bodhisattva. Don't make trouble. If you shorten your life and ruin your family business, it will be putting the cart before the horse."
The implication is that even if Li could no longer give birth, she would not take a concubine to have a child.
"Master!" Li suddenly became excited, tears in her eyes, and she was speechless for a long time.
Zhou Zhen said, "The New Year is coming soon, and there are still a lot of things to do at home. If you are too busy, you can ask Shao Jin to help. She grew up in Jiuru Lane since she was a child. Although she has never been the head of a family, she has seen things by following the elders. It's a good opportunity for her to learn how to manage the household and do accounting, which will be useful in the future."
Originally, he had hoped that Madam Guo could find a good marriage for her second daughter, but now that it was no longer possible, he had to make plans early.
But for families like the Miao and Qian families, who were only officials for a term, and whose children were not successful, it would be strange if they didn't fall into poverty in a few years! They were not even as good as the Zhou family, so how could they protect Shao Jin
The only way to find a marriage is to go to Beijing.
But he had been away from Beijing for many years and didn't know many people. Even if he knew them, he might not be able to arrange a marriage like the eldest daughter did, like Mr. Liao.
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhen felt a headache.
Seeing Zhou Zhen's solemn expression, Li knew that he must be worried about the things in the backyard. She felt ashamed and dared not say much. She said goodbye to Zhou Zhen and left the back hall. When she looked up, she saw Zhou Zhen's study.
She couldn't help but go into the study, find the small portrait of Zhuang, and look at it carefully for a long time.
After meeting Zhou Shaojin, she felt that the portrait was somewhat distorted.
It is said that Zhou Shaojin only resembled his mother to 70% or 80% of his appearance, and Zhuang was more beautiful than Zhou Shaojin.
Although the person in this small statue is beautiful, he is not even 80% as pretty as Zhou Shaojin.
But her eyes were like water, and seemed to be alive. She must have often looked at Zhou Zhen with such eyes. When Zhou Zhen painted her, this look was the most deeply engraved in his mind...
Li felt a pang of sadness.
I feel that Mrs. Zhuang is a beautiful woman with a tragic fate.
She married a good husband like Zhou Zhen, but he passed away early, leaving behind a daughter who had lost her mother...
She wiped the small portrait of Zhuang with a handkerchief and put it back gently.
I feel like I no longer have the jealousy I had before.
When I got back, I invited Zhou Shaojin to come and help me take care of the chores.
Although she lived two lives, Zhou Shaojin had never really taken care of these things. When she first married Lin Shisheng, Mrs. Lin was there, so it was not her turn. She was also distraught and had no intention of taking care of these things. When she arrived at the farm, with Lin Shisheng outside and Zheng Mama inside, she still didn't care about anything. Now, watching the mother-in-law reporting to Li how much fish cost per catty, how much it had increased compared to usual; how much meat cost per catty, how much more expensive it was than usual; how many catties of fish and meat, how many chickens and ducks the family needed to prepare, and how much pepper, salt, etc., she found it very interesting and listened with relish.
Although most of the maids were Zhou's dowry, they were discerning people. Seeing that Zhou Shaojin was interested, she spoke more and more carefully. She even explained to her what pepper was and where the salt at home came from. Then she officially began to help Li, drafting the menu for the spring banquet and instructing the maids to prepare things for the New Year.
On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhou Zhen sealed the seal, and the family sat together for a reunion dinner. Zhou Zhen took his two daughters to play in the study.
Just kidding, Zhou Shaojin has been a quiet person in his past and present life. He can sit there and read a book for a whole day. But Zhou Youjin rarely has his father to accompany him. His father is tall and he can see far when being held in his arms. He stays in Zhou Zhen's arms every day and doesn't want anyone else.
Zhou Zhen read "The Book of Filial Piety" to Zhou Youjin.
However, Zhou Youjin held on to Zhou Zhen's wolf-hair brush with a blue and white porcelain barrel and refused to let go.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Dad, you'd better not use this kind of pen. Uncle Chi said that the pen tube is too heavy. It's okay to put it there for a look, but it's too hard to write with."
What Cheng Chi actually said was that only fools would use this pen.
Zhou Zhen smiled and said, "It is said that this is a new style that Wende Pavilion has released in recent years. Someone gave it to me as a gift."
Cheng Chi said that Wende Pavilion had nothing better to do and started selling its reputation after buying good pens and ink.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "Then why don't you keep it and give it to others? Why use it yourself?"
The father and daughter were chatting and laughing when a servant came in and reported that Scholar Chang wanted to see them.
Zhou Zhen looked slightly annoyed, but his voice was calm. He told the boy, "Just tell him I have a guest and ask him to see me after the New Year."
The servant retreated.
Zhou Zhen looked at Zhou Shaojin and saw that her face was peaceful and she was talking softly to Zhou Youjin. Only then did he feel relieved.
There is no need to let my daughter know about this dirty thing.
A daughter is sought after by hundreds of families. He didn't want to offend others casually and let his daughter have a bad reputation, which would be unfavorable for her future marriage. But now he felt that this scholar Chang was simply stupid. If he didn't teach him a lesson, he would probably think that he was the only smart person in the world and everyone else was stupid!
※
After offering sacrifices to ancestors on New Year’s Eve, Zhou Zhen began to get busy.
He presided over the spring plowing sacrifice, paid New Year's greetings to the elders of the literati in Baoding Prefecture, attended the spring banquets hosted by literati and poets, and entertained banquets hosted by subordinate gentry. On the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, with the financial and human resources contributed by Chang Xiucai, Baoding Prefecture held a lantern festival.
Nine-story-high lanterns stood on the busiest street in Baoding Prefecture, lighting up half the sky.
Li held Zhou Youjin and asked Zhou Shaojin again: "Are you really not going to see the lanterns? The lanterns in Baoding Prefecture in previous years were not as spectacular as this one. Your father also said that we can't give up eating because of choking. Can we still live our lives because of those villains..."
But Zhou Shaojin was unmoved and smiled gently: "It's too cold outside, I really don't want to go out."
Li thought about it and said, "Then I'll stay at home with you too!"
Zhou Shaojin looked at Zhou Youjin who was looking at her with her big clear eyes and smiled, "I'm afraid my sister has never seen such a spectacular lantern festival, right? You can take my sister to see the lanterns. I'll do some needlework at home and then go to sleep." At this point, she remembered that Fan Liu and others had come with her to Baoding Prefecture and had hardly left the house, so she said, "You can go with Madam Fan and Chunwan, and just leave Madam Shang to accompany me."
Naturally, the Spring Festival Gala guests were unwilling to leave Zhou Shaojin alone at home.
Zhou Shaojin had to persuade Fan Liu and others to follow Li out after much persuasion.
She was doing needlework under the lamp.
From time to time, bursts of firecrackers, loud cheers and noise could be heard outside, making the backyard of the government office seem even quieter and more lonely.
Nanny Shang brought the lotus seed, red date and blood glutinous rice porridge to Zhou Shaojin. Looking at Zhou Shaojin sitting alone in the room with his shadow lengthened by the light, she felt cold and lonely, from her fingers to her heart.
She couldn't help but lower her voice and said, "Second Miss, are you really not going out to see the lanterns? If you think there are too many people, I will go with you."
"Really, no need." Zhou Shaojin raised his head and smiled at her, his smile gentle and soft, "I don't like walking outside."
Her face is so troublesome.
Uncle Chi was not in Baoding, and she felt a little uneasy.
Seeing that she was sincere, Nanny Shang felt pity for her but she would not force her. However, since she did not know how to sew, she just sat with Zhou Shaojin and chatted with her.
Time flies quickly.
After a while, Zhou Shaojin had finished sewing a sleeve.
Seeing that the tea was getting cold, Nanny Shang got up to make some tea for her.
Zhou Shaojin quickly threaded the thread and began to sew the other sleeve.
There were light footsteps in the room, gradually approaching her.
At this time, the only person who entered her room was Nanny Shang.
Zhou Shaojin didn't look up, but continued chatting with Nanny Shang with a soft smile: "... I don't know how Uncle Chi is doing? Last year, Jinling Mansion just put out a few lanterns for the occasion. I wonder if there will be a lantern festival this year? However, even if Jinling Mansion holds a lantern festival, Uncle Chi will definitely not participate. Well, the old lady will definitely not go either." She sighed and looked up, her voice stopped abruptly, her eyes widened, as if struck by lightning.
Cheng Chi, who was wearing a dark blue cloth robe, laughed and said, "Why? You didn't recognize me after not seeing me for just one Spring Festival!"
"Uncle Chi!" Zhou Shaojin stood up suddenly and stammered, "Why are you here?"
But my heart felt like it had a little bird in it, beating like a thump, jumping for joy.
Her face was full of heat, and she said incoherently: "When did you come? Why didn't you ask the servant to come and tell me in advance? Have you had dinner? There is still bird's nest stewed in rock sugar in the kitchen, and there should be water chestnut cake, can you help yourself? Does father know you are coming? I will let someone report to father right away..."
Looking at Zhou Shaojin who was so flustered and overjoyed, Cheng Chi suddenly felt that his decision to leave home before the New Year was over was a good one.
He looked around Zhou Shaojin's banquet room.
Her little things were everywhere, including a little tiger on flowered cloth, painted paper with patterns on it, and a rosewood stand with embroidered money.
A little messy, but very warm.
Zhou Shaojin felt that the room was too messy and was too embarrassed. He hurried to pick up the fallen papers. While picking them up, he whispered, "I just took it out and prepared to use it, and I just put it here..."
Cheng Chi picked up one and said, "What is this? It looks like an orchid, but also like a carnation..."
When Zhou Shaojin heard this, he didn't even bother to put away the paper and hurried over to ask, "Really? Does it really look like orchids and carnations?"
Cheng Chi said: "I think it looks a bit like..."
Zhou Shaojin was discouraged and whispered: "I, I painted wisteria..."
Huh?!
Cheng Chi asked, "Aren't wisteria flowers grown in bunches?"
How could it be wisteria
Zhou Shaojin explained in a low voice: "When they are clustered together, they are in a string. When they are single, they are like this..."
"Really?" Cheng Chi looked at the pattern carefully again.
Nanny Shang, who followed Cheng Chi in with tea, couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Shouldn't we be discussing how the Fourth Master got in? Or why the Fourth Master came? Why are the two of them talking about wisteria and orchids
※
Brothers and sisters, corrected the typo...
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)