But if I don’t know anything because of this, I’m afraid Mrs. Yuan won’t be happy.
The mother-in-law didn't say much, and said pointedly: "The daughter-in-law can stand up, and the mother-in-law is naturally happy, but if the son stands on the side of the daughter-in-law..."
It turned out that Uncle Xu agreed to give the gift away.
Mrs. Fan Liu nodded, and she began to understand what the old woman meant.
But these are family affairs of Xinglin Hutong. They are all servants. It is normal for them to say a few words in private, but it is wrong to discuss them in private.
Neither of them mentioned the matter again. After talking about the New Year, they went back to report.
Zhou Shaojin didn't take the fact that Xinglin Hutong came so late to deliver the New Year gifts to heart, so he didn't know what happened in Xinglin Hutong. In Xinglin Hutong, Yuan had been lying in bed for almost a month, feeling lazy and without any energy. She asked a doctor to see her, but the doctor said that her mind was damaged and she just needed to rest. She wanted to take the opportunity to let Min Jia come back to take care of her, but then she thought that Cheng Xu and Min Jia didn't have any children yet, and this offspring was a big deal, so she had to force her to give birth to the eldest son. But although she understood and knew, she couldn't swallow the anger.
Yuan was thinking about how to find out how Cheng Xu was doing in Mianzhu.
Cheng Jing came to her after leaving the yamen to discuss the matter of Mrs. Guo coming back for the New Year: "… How is the preparation for mother's room? We spent the last Mid-Autumn Festival at Chaoyangmen. I saw that there are many new dishes there. Are there any maids at home who can cook them? If not, send someone to copy a menu that mother often uses, and talk to Silang's wife, and ask her to send a few people from the kitchen to serve. And there is Yun'er, mother treats him like the apple of her eye. Mother will come back to live for more than a month, and there are no other children at home. I am afraid that my knees will be empty. You go and ask Silang's wife if you can take Yun'er to live with you for a few days. Mother will definitely be happy. Speaking of this matter, you should learn from Qiu. Look at her. Not only did she help the second uncle take care of Abao and Aren, but she also took her brother and his wife to visit mother when she had nothing to do on weekdays. Mother is old, and she likes the family to be happy and lively. You are the eldest daughter-in-law, the patriarch of the Cheng family, you should do better than them... "All sorts of trivial matters, but no matter how big or small, they were explained carefully and seriously.
Yuan felt pain in her chest.
When she was alone in Jinling with her children serving Old Madam Guo, why didn't he show any consideration for her difficulties? When they met, he only said a few words, "You've worked hard," and nothing more. Now he compares her with Mrs. Qiu, saying that she is not as good as Mrs. Qiu...
Yuan was unable to breathe, her face turned ugly, and she said rudely: "It is my duty to respect my mother-in-law, but you also took Yun'er to take care of him - aren't you going too far? As you said, Yun'er is my apple of the eye. If he falls and gets hurt somewhere, how can I explain to my mother and my fourth brother's wife? Aren't you just looking for trouble?"
Cheng Jing was displeased.
At his age, he can have a grandson as old as Yun Ge'er.
In his heart, his nephew Yun'er was loved like his grandson.
Yuan gave birth to three children, all of whom grew up well. Even when she was a servant to the Empress Dowager Xiaoxiao, she didn't have a scar on her body. Now the Cheng Zheng sisters are married, and the Cheng Xu couple have gone to work again. There is nothing else to do at home except three meals a day. How come they can't even take care of a healthy child
She clearly doesn't want to take care of Yun'er!
It's obvious that he doesn't like his brother's children!
Cheng Jing's expression gradually turned cold. Thinking about her several unexplained illnesses during this period, he felt that it was meaningless. He said, "Well, you haven't been feeling well these days, and it's not good for you to worry about this. You should take care of yourself first. I'll go to Lao Si's place and visit mother."
Yuan hurriedly called the maid to come in and help Cheng Jing change his clothes.
Cheng Jing refused and said, "It's getting late. I have to attend the morning court tomorrow. I'll just change my clothes at Silang's place." Then he thought for a moment and said, "I'll have dinner there too."
Yuan frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy about Cheng Jing's appearance. She wanted to say something, but Cheng Jing had already left the room, shaking off the servants.
She had no choice but to suppress her thoughts and wait for Cheng Jing to come back before telling him in detail.
Cheng Jing urged the sedan bearers all the way to Chaoyang Gate.
Cheng Chi had just left the government office.
But he came back from studying numerology at the Pope's grandson in the afternoon.
Zhou Shaojin helped him change his clothes.
The two whispered in the ear room: "… Today, the Crown Prince asked me if I was familiar with the Fourth Prince. I told him about the relationship between our two families. He didn't say anything. I wondered if something had reached his ears."
Zhou Shaojin was very worried after hearing this and asked, "Will the Crown Prince think that you are the Fourth Prince's man?"
"Probably not." Cheng Chi smiled, "The Crown Prince lives in the East Palace and is young, so he can't go out easily. How could he suddenly ask about the Fourth Prince? The person who passed the message to the Crown Prince behind his back would definitely help the Crown Prince find out the news he wanted to know. The Crown Prince chose me to ask about the Fourth Prince, there must be a reason. However, there are many people like us who have contacts with the Fourth Prince. If the Crown Prince knew what the Fourth Prince did, he would definitely be on guard against the Fourth Prince. It's a good opportunity to see the Crown Prince's reaction."
If it is something worth betting on, then bet on it. If not, just stand by and watch.
Anyway, no matter what, Cheng Chi was determined not to let the fourth prince succeed to the throne.
Zhou Shaojin told him to be careful, and Cheng Jing arrived.
The two brothers went together to pay their respects to Mrs. Guo.
Yun'er could already run. When he heard the announcement, he ran out without waiting for Mrs. Guo to say anything. He lifted the curtain and said to Cheng Jing and Cheng Chi with a smile, "Come in quickly, come in quickly, it's cold outside."
When the children were young, Cheng Jing was busy. Cheng Xiao and her sister's children were grandchildren, and they could only see them during festivals. Cheng Xu had no experience dealing with children. Seeing this, he couldn't help but burst out laughing, bent down and hugged Yun Ge'er in his arms, and said with a smile: "Our Yun Ge'er is really filial!"
Yun Ge'er likes to hear others praise him and shows his little white teeth.
Cheng Chi frowned.
The child has already started to learn how to talk, walk and behave from others. Old Madam Guo is surrounded by people who serve her, and Yun'er is also learning how to lift curtains for others from the maids.
He had originally planned to move the child out after he turned three years old, but he didn't expect that Yun'er was much smarter than he expected. It seemed that he had to keep the child with him earlier.
Cheng Chi suppressed his suspicion and walked in with a smile. After paying his respects to Old Madam Guo, he sat down beside her.
Yun'er was very happy to be praised, and when the maid brought tea and snacks, he insisted on serving tea to Cheng Jing.
Cheng Jing was overjoyed, and Mrs. Guo did not stop him. Yun'er's personal maid carefully held Yun'er's hand and let Yun'er serve tea to Cheng Jing. Cheng Jing touched his body and gave Yun'er a small seal that he carried with him.
Mrs. Guo looked at her eldest son, nodded with a smile, and told Yun'er to "quickly thank your uncle."
This small seal was carved by Cheng Jing himself after he passed the imperial examination. Although the carving is a bit childish, it is a good omen.
Yun Ge'er bowed and thanked Cheng Jing in a clear voice.
Cheng Jing laughed and held Yun Ge'er on his knees, letting Yun Ge'er play with his little seal. After asking about Mrs. Guo's daily life, he talked about the New Year: "… When do you think you can go over? I can also take a leave and come to pick you up."
Mrs. Guo didn't want to go there at all.
Firstly, she was used to living there, and even if she moved small things there, it would be impossible to put them in the original place, and it would be inconvenient. Secondly, Cheng Jing had guessed it right, she couldn't bear to leave Yun Ge'er. But if she took Yun Ge'er there, Yun Ge'er's toys would fill a whole car, and the child was still young, how would she recognize him
Mrs. Guo looked a little hesitant.
Zhou Shaojin brought in the cut fruit and presented it to Mrs. Guo personally.
Mrs. Guo looked at them and made up her mind. She said, "I don't think it's necessary to make such a fuss. Jiashan and his wife are not here, and Yuan is sick. You have to attend official business every day. If I go there again, I'm afraid you will be too busy. It's better for you to come here with me to celebrate the New Year. I will talk to Qiu and ask them to come over. We can have the New Year's Eve dinner here, so that your wife won't have to worry too much. She has never been quiet for so many years. Let her have a good rest this year."
"What should I do?" Cheng Jing thought that he was the eldest son, and said anxiously, "This is her responsibility..."
Cheng Chi's heart moved when he heard this.
Logically, Cheng Jing and his wife should come together to pick up Madam Guo, but now only Cheng Jing came...
He sneered in his heart, but his face was gentle, and he said with a smile: "Brother, you will listen to mother this time, right? Sister-in-law has worked hard for so many years, let her rest this year, and it will be the same when we go to your place for the New Year next year. Speaking of which, sister-in-law is not young anymore, if Jiashan's wife is in Kyoto, we won't say anything. Now there is only sister-in-law at home, and she has to worry about everything inside and outside. Young couples grow old together, you should also feel sad for her."
Upon hearing this, Madam Guo said decisively, "That's it. Dalang, don't be stubborn. Listen to me."
Cheng Jing thought of Yuan's indifference before he left, and when he heard his mother say this, he suddenly became angry.
No matter how wrong her mother was, she was her elder after all. When her mother heard that she was sick, she still felt sorry for her, but she didn't think about how old her mother was and how she was still sick at home...
He felt a little cold in his heart, and hardened his heart: "In this case, if my second brother and his wife don't have any objections, we will spend the New Year here with Silang."
Zhou Shaojin smiled happily.
She loved the hustle and bustle of the place, and she could get along well with Mrs. Xie. It would be great if everyone could come to her place to celebrate the New Year.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but said happily before Mrs. Guo could speak, "Mother, I'll send someone to tell my second sister-in-law. When the aunts come back to visit us, right? I can also book a party early so that the aunts can have a good time."
There is a world of difference between that kind of joy that comes from the heart and socializing. Cheng Jing is also a university scholar, how could he not see it
He couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
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Dear friends, it’s the last day of this month, I’m asking for monthly tickets... Please support me!
※(To be continued)