The men of the Cheng family in the flower hall were talking about topics that interested them, while the women in the west wing were playing mahjong.
Madam Guo, Mrs. Yuan, Mrs. Qiu and Cheng Zheng sat at the same table. Cheng Xiao sat behind Mrs. Yuan, and from time to time he looked at the children who were having fun in the yard. Cheng Sheng sat behind Madam Guo, helping her to watch the cards.
Zhou Shaojin was making almond milk for them in the tea room. The newcomer, Xie, followed Zhou Shaojin hand in hand and foot in foot.
"We don't have such a rule in our family." Zhou Shaojin said to Xie with a very gentle smile, "You can go and watch your mother-in-law play cards. I'll be here."
Xie likes Zhou Shaojin very much.
When the Cheng family went to make a small engagement, Zhou Shaojin went to put the hairpin in her hand. Moreover, Zhou Shaojin's eyes were kind and full of kindness, which made her, who had just married into the Cheng family and knew nothing, naturally move closer to Zhou Shaojin.
"I don't know how to play cards." Mrs. Xie blushed and murmured shyly, "I'd better learn how to make almond milk from my aunt! I see that my grandmother and mother-in-law like to drink it very much... My aunt and three aunts also like to drink it..."
"It's not a difficult task." Zhou Shaojin taught her carefully, "Soak the almonds overnight, then grind them into pulp, filter them with fine gauze, boil them over low heat and add rock sugar. But the fine gauze I use to filter the pulp should be finer, and filter it several times. When I cook the almond juice, the fire should be low, and I should stir it constantly with a spoon. Put the rock sugar in and remove it from the heat after it melts. But remember not to put sugar in the portion for the old lady and your aunt."
Xie thanked him gratefully.
Zhou Shaojin handed the spoon for stirring almond milk to Mrs. Xie and asked her to stir it like him: "Everyone in my family likes hot almond milk, so we drink it when the weather is still cold. When spring comes and the weather gets warmer and new tea is on the market, we start drinking green tea. When the weather is hotter, we occasionally boil mulberry tea to cool off. In autumn, we drink snow pear paste. The snow pear paste we make at home tastes the purest. I'll tell you how to make it in autumn."
Xie nodded repeatedly.
Although the two parties have already acknowledged each other as relatives, this is the first time they have had a serious conversation.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked her: "What do you usually do at home when you are free?"
Mrs. Xie whispered, "Do needlework." She paused and said, "Also learn to read and write from my sister-in-law."
Zhou Shaojin understood.
The Xie family was not well-off, so they could not afford many maids. Lord Xie and Master Xie might have bought their clothes from a ready-made clothing store, but girls like Miss Xie had to make their own clothes. There were four seasons in a year, and clothes, shoes, and socks were not a small amount. After learning needlework, she had to make them for herself, her sisters, grandmother, mother, father, and brothers occasionally. With all this, how could she have time to play? The so-called reading was probably just learning a few words to manage the household.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I usually do needlework when I'm free at home. If you don't mind, bring your common patterns to me one day. It's almost mid-spring, and it's time to make autumn clothes."
Xie felt relieved after hearing this and smiled brightly, "Okay, okay! Mother is very good to me. There are no other rules except morning and evening visits. When I was at home, she would read Buddhist scriptures to my grandmother for an hour every afternoon. Now that there is no need to read Buddhist scriptures, I am a little uncomfortable. Most of the time I have nothing to do. If aunt has any needlework for me to do, just send a maid to tell me." At this point, her face suddenly flushed and her voice became a little lower. She said, "Aunt, can I make a few autumn clothes for Yun'er? Speaking of which, I haven't made anything for him yet?"
She had forgotten about it.
Zhou Shaojin was also a new bride, so she could understand Mrs. Xie's feelings. She said happily, "That's great. Sorry for worrying you. He's a child and grows fast, so Qiu Chang is not in a hurry. It's just that summer is coming soon, and I want to make a few bibs for Yun Ge'er to wear in summer, so that he won't get a cold stomach when he sleeps. If you have time, can you make two bibs for Yun Ge'er? And A Bao and Ren'er, do you want to do it?"
Seeing Zhou Shaojin giving her advice again, Xie liked him even more and felt that she was doing the right thing by following Zhou Shaojin around and helping him.
She drew inferences from one example and immediately said, "I'll ask the other ladies later if they want to make a bag for Ning Ge'er and the others!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled and nodded.
This child is smart and simple. My second sister-in-law has found a good wife.
Zhou Shaojin put the cooked almond juice into a small red porcelain bowl.
The milky yellow almond milk is served in a bright red bowl. The bright color makes people's appetite increase just by looking at it.
Xie thought of the painting of ladies enjoying a spring outing hanging in the side room that she had seen when she entered the room just now, and she secretly memorized it in her heart.
It seems that the Cheng family is indeed as my father said, with a profound heritage. Not only are their food, clothing and daily necessities exquisite, but even the furnishings are in accordance with the occasion and the month, and are very particular.
No wonder her grandmother was worried that she wouldn't be able to get used to the new environment after she got married.
Fortunately, the young aunt is easy to get along with, and the mother-in-law treats her very kindly. Even if she likes the aunt who is a little arrogant, she treats her kindly... They are all very well-educated. She is sincere, so she will definitely live a good life!
Xie made up her mind secretly, took a deep breath, and followed Zhou Shaojin to the side room, carrying a tray of bright red, gold-painted crabapple flowers with almond juice.
Cheng Sheng hurriedly stood up to help Xie bring the almond juice.
Zhou Shaojin invited the children playing in the garden to drink almond milk.
The children swarmed in, then suddenly quieted down and bowed respectfully to their elders.
Everybody laughed.
The maids and old women hurriedly brought in warm water for them to wash their hands, and their respective wet nurses served them almond juice.
Zhou Shaojin also used a spoon to feed Yun'er.
Yun Ge'er drank half a sip and then spit it out, not wanting to drink anymore.
Zhou Shaojin coaxed him for a long time but he just refused to drink. He bit the spoon tightly with his front teeth, refusing to let Zhou Shaojin feed him.
Mrs. Guo laughed when she saw this, handed the empty bowl to Zhenzhu, wiped her mouth and said with a smile: "Our Yun'er is smart. If he doesn't like it, don't force him."
When Yuan listened, a hint of disapproval flashed across her eyes.
Every child is like this, but in the eyes of the old lady, Yun'er is simply smarter than other children... She is really biased!
Zhou Shaojin had to give up and asked Chunwan to pour some warm water for Yun Ge'er.
Yun Ge'er stopped drinking after taking a few sips.
Several children couldn't sit still anymore. They looked at each other and wanted to go out and play.
Madam Guo smiled lovingly and said, "Go and play! Go and play! But don't run around, and be careful not to bump into anything."
The children ran out cheering.
Mrs. Guo and others started playing cards again.
Cheng Zheng was about to let Zhou Shaojin fight.
Zhou Shaojin waved his hands repeatedly and said, "You can't just run away after winning? Even if I agree, your grandmother won't agree!"
She is the host today and she should make the guests feel at home. How can she go out and play by herself
Old Madam Guo nodded secretly, thinking that she didn't know when Cheng Zheng would be back from Taiyuan, and she followed Zhou Shaojin's words and smiled, "Your aunt is right. When my aunt comes home, she is an honored guest. It's a rare opportunity for you to come back. Please play cards with us and don't look around. It makes me restless. I have lost nearly twenty taels of silver!"
Everyone laughed again.
Zhou Shaojin saw his maid Bitao standing at the door and looking into the house.
She calmly helped Old Lady Guo and the others to refill their tea, looked at the cards for a while, and then walked out and quietly asked Bitao who was standing under the veranda: "What's the matter?"
Bi Tao whispered, "Master Wen from Xizhimen suddenly came to visit Master Four with his three sons, saying that he was his son..."
The concubine has already been taken in, so does the son born outside also have to marry into the family
Zhou Shaojin frowned and asked, "What did the fourth master say?"
"The fourth master went to see the elder master Wen. He originally just wanted to have a cup of tea to get rid of him, but the elder master Wen said that since the fourth master was entertaining the elder master and others at home, why didn't he inform him? He also asked someone to bring a gift box in and wanted to visit the elder master in the second courtyard." Bi Tao said, "The fourth master politely declined. But the elder master Wen insisted on seeing the elder master. The fourth master called the elder master over and ran away. Now Master Wen is pestering the elder master to bring his three children in to pay respects to the old lady. The elder master had no choice but to let me tell you. But the fourth master said, don't worry about them..."
"Then don't worry about it." Since Cheng Chi said so, she would definitely do as Cheng Chi said.
Bi Tao said worriedly: "Master Ke Wen..."
"The eldest master will take care of it." Zhou Shaojin said with a smile, "If it really doesn't work, isn't there still the fourth master?"
Bitao felt relieved and left the yard with a smile.
Zhou Shaojin was really afraid that Cheng Wen would make a fuss, so after thinking about it, she decided to tell Mrs. Guo.
Old Madam Guo was so angry that she said, "He still has the nerve to come here! Listen to me, if you meet him next time, take a detour to avoid embarrassment!" The last few words were said to Yuan and others in the room.
Zhou Shaojin and the others all responded “yes” with red faces.
Cheng Jing was still sober enough, and ultimately did not allow Cheng Wen to bring his three illegitimate sons into the mansion to pay their respects to Old Madam Guo.
However, after Cheng Xu returned from Chaoyang Gate, he started to study behind closed doors. Except for visiting Peng Xiang's place a few times, he did not go anywhere else. On the ninth day of March, the lights in the houses in Xinglin Hutong were lit one after another before dawn.
Cheng Jing and Cheng Xu both changed into brand new blue Hangzhou silk robes, but Cheng Jing's was embroidered with a purple floral pattern of five bats, while Cheng Xu's was plain with only a monkey riding on a horse embroidered on the corner of the robe, symbolizing a good omen of becoming a noble or passing the imperial examination.
The father and son went to pay respect to their ancestors, and Cheng Jing personally sent Cheng Xu to the examination room.
There are three exams, one per day, and two days of rest in between. Even going to the toilet requires going to the toilet in the examination room.
After nine days, the candidates were exhausted from the exam, like eggplants hit by the cold.
Cheng Jing went to pick up Cheng Xu in person, and on the way he had no choice but to ask, "How did you do on the exam? Can you recite the essay you wrote to me?"
Cheng Xu had no choice but to recite the contemporary essays he had written.
Cheng Jing seemed a little undecided, so he told the driver to turn around and go to Shuangyu Hutong where Cheng Shao lived.
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Hey guys, today's update.
PS: You guys pointed out a lot of wounds to me in the comment section, which I didn’t notice. If there are such things in the future, I will ask you for your advice!
※(To be continued)