The Shen family banquet is scheduled for two days later.
The family banquet was proposed by Old Shen Furen herself, but every year the family banquet was handled by Ren Wanyun, but this year's family banquet could only be handed over to Chen Rouqiu. Now Chen Rouqiu has the control over the central feeder of the Shen residence, and Old Shen Furen felt that she had given Chen Rouqiu a big face, but she didn't know that this beautiful job made people miserable in private.
In Qiushui Garden, Chen Rouqiu was sitting at the table, holding the ledger in one hand and calculating the abacus clumsily in the other. The two maids standing behind him said, "Madam, it's been a whole morning, let's take a break."
"The silver is not right." Chen Rouqiu shook her head in distress, "I will have to pay for the silver taels tomorrow." As she spoke, a trace of anger appeared on her face.
Chen Rouqiu claimed to be a noble girl from a scholarly family, she was aloof and arrogant, and she couldn't even see the smell of copper all over her body. Back then, when Old Madam Shen handed over the power of central feed to Ren Wanyun, it wasn't that she wasn't jealous, but she couldn't stop herself from fighting. After so many years of hard work, I was able to become the head mistress of the Shen family, but it was only then that I realized that it was not so easy to grasp the power of middle-feeding.
Ren Wanyun was born in a wealthy businessman, so Mrs. Shen usually had to spend more money, Ren Wanyun could deduct some from her dowry, after all, Ren Wanyun was not short of money. However, the Chen family is only a civil servant. To put it nicely, it means a breeze, but to put it badly, it means poverty. Where can we get more money to subsidize it. Chen Rou Qiu thought that if he took over the power of the central feeder, he would be able to allocate some money to subsidize the family. Looking at it now, Ren Wanyun has made a lot of money over the years, and many of the money in the account are not matched. Right now I want a family banquet again, but the money is not enough.
It was fine in the past, and the rewards from Shen Xin's palace were quite generous every year, and they were able to supplement some of the surplus. But right now, the relationship between Shen Xin and the Shen family was strained, and there was absolutely no idea of subsidizing the public, Chen Rou Qiu only felt that her head was aching.
"Knowing that the Duke's money is not enough, the old lady is still holding a family banquet at this time. Isn't this bullying the lady." Chen Rou Qiu's maid Shi Qing was indignant for her.
"The eldest master also intends to die, but the lady doesn't have enough silver taels, why don't you ask the master for some?" Huayi also said.
"What nonsense." Chen Rouqiu said, "Master's salary is not enough for officialdom, how can we let him make more money." She said, "I'll think about how to do it." Shen Wan wanted to climb up the career , but Shen Gui is different, Shen Gui is very ambitious, he has no ability, he only knows how to curry favor with Feng Ying. Shen Wan climbed up by himself step by step, although his pace was a little slower, he was more steadfast than Shen Gui.
Chen Rou Qiu always knew that she did not give birth to a son, and the only thing she could rely on in the second room was Shen Wan's love for her. Therefore, in order to control Shen Wan, she was gentle and thoughtful. If she couldn't even solve this little thing at home, wouldn't it bother Shen Wan? With Shen Wan's conditions, there were many women outside who wanted to enter the door of the second room. How could she put herself at a disadvantage.
"Besides, this idea is not in vain." Chen Rou Qiu's eyes flickered, "If you can gain something, it will be worth it."
"Madame means..."
Chen Rouqiu smiled: "The old lady doesn't have a family banquet in the early days. It's a bit strange to have a family banquet at this time. Besides, I heard that a few days ago, that young lady from Suzhou liked to run to the West Courtyard..." Chen Rouqiu said There was a hint of disgust in his eyes: "The old lady's hands are really inferior, but... It just so happens that I don't like Shen Qiu either."
Chen Rouqiu didn't like Shen Yuan, and he also didn't like Shen Qiu. If he said that he still had some fears for Shen Yuan, then he really looked down on Shen Qiu. If she can't give birth to a son herself, she can't see other people's excellent sons. As for Shen Qiu, Chen Rou Qiu only felt that a rude person who only knew how to wield knives and guns, how could he be praised by so many people. People want to destroy something because they can't get it. Shen Yuan is so scheming that she doesn't dare to do it, but Shen Qiu is sincere and sincere, and he has never survived the battle in the back house, so it is much easier to deal with. The most important thing is that there is no need for her to do it at all. This time, it is Mrs. Shen who does it, and she just needs to sit and watch the play.
"I'll go back and write a few more posts," Chen Rou Qiu said, "You find someone to send the posts to each lady's mansion." The more people watching the fun, the better.
…
Two days later, the Shen family banquet.
Ever since Ren Wanyun went mad, those noble ladies cut off contact with Ren Wanyun. After all, there is a girl who is pregnant before marriage, and it is not a glorious thing to say it out. Although he didn't know what happened to Ren Wanyun, but the tree fell and scattered, and no one asked about Ren Wanyun.
And the wives who were friends with Ren Wanyun, gradually got closer to Chen Rou Qiu. Although Ren Wan Yun could no longer communicate, the relationship with the Shen residence still had to be maintained. There was more than one wife in the Shen residence, and Chen Rouqiu, who came from a scholarly family, was obviously better at cursing than Luo Xueyan, who was not in the Ding capital all the year round and had a vulgar name.
Mrs. Yi and Mrs. Jiang came a long time ago, and Jiang Xiaoxuan and Yi Peilan pulled Shen Yue to talk, and said, "I only go to Guangwentang after the New Year's Eve. It's boring to be locked in the house these days."
They chatted, completely forgetting Shen Qing's death and forgetting that Shen Qing was a real friend not long ago. The friendship between noble ladies in the Ding capital is also so meager. Friends are not worth the benefit after all. It is not one person who communicates with one another, but the forces behind that person.
Shen Yue also smiled and replied to them, so Shen Qing's affairs were tacitly forgotten by several people. It was Bai Wei, who looked at the figure in the distance and said, "Hey, who is that? Is that what you call Miss Biao?"
She raised her chin and pointed at the girl standing not far away, dressed in an apricot-colored dress, with simple and plain clothes, standing and talking to the maid beside her.
"That's the third younger sister, Dong Ling," Shen Yue said with a smile: "The aunt came out, and she didn't come out when she was not well before. It's natural that you haven't seen it before." She deliberately emphasized the word "auntie".
Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoxuan's eyes suddenly turned disdainful. Yi Peilan said: "What's wrong with your health? It's not... just came out. These concubines raised them and have the most hearts. Niang Yue, don't be deceived by her."
Shen Yue smiled and said, "The third sister doesn't come out of the yard very often. You see, that's my cousin."
As soon as Shen Yuan spoke, she saw Jing Chuchu walking past. She probably didn't see the three of Shen Yue on this side, nor did she come to say hello. Bai Wei's eyes were sharp, and she asked suspiciously, "Niang Yue, didn't you say that your cousin came from Suzhou? Why did I just look at her clothes and jewelry, and they seemed to be very expensive. Look at the bracelet she wears, It's better than what you wear."
Bai Wei was originally speaking unintentionally, but Shen Yue's face turned pale, and she forced a smile: "I don't know, maybe it was from my grandmother."
"What's there to see?" Jiang Xiaoxuan said, "Is it possible that the girl from Suzhou can be compared to our Dingjing girl? She can dress up with clothes and jewelry, but her eyes and temperament are not good. Look at the delicate and timid girl Like, where did you get it on the table?"
Shen Yue shook her head and said, "Don't talk about cousin like that."
"You are too kind." Yi Peilan hated that iron was not steel: "Everyone is close, even the straw bag in your house was guarded before, and now people have a lot of money, it's not that they don't take you seriously. Speaking of which, why didn't you see that straw bag?"
The “straight bag” she was talking about naturally referred to Shen Miao. Ever since Guang Wentang and Shen Miao had a verbal dispute, Yi Peilan regarded Shen Miao as her number one enemy and could not wait to step on it at all times.
And what she said about Shen Miao was watching Shen Qiu drinking tea in the west courtyard house at the moment.
"What's the matter with grandmother?" Shen Qiu frowned and said, "Why do you entertain so many female relatives and chatter wherever you go, so noisy."
“Probably invite all the people that Third Aunt knows.” Shen Miao handed tea to Shen Qiu, “Perhaps it is because of your admiration for the demeanor of your Major General.”
"Sister, please spare me." Shen Qiu waved his hand: "One is already difficult enough, so many women, the battlefield is not so scary."
Shen Miao is a little funny, Shen Qiu’s appearance of seeing women like a flood of beasts is really funny, but thinking about it, most of the women around Shen Qiu are ulterior motives, and all the women in Shen’s residence are not fuel-efficient lamps, and they treat him like this. In terms of straightforwardness, it is really like a devil's cave.
“There are also those that are not so difficult to deal with.” Shen Miao tried to comfort him, “When you meet the girl you like in the future, you will not think so.”
Shen Qiu did not speak, and stared at her as if he had seen a ghost. After a while, he shook his head and said, "Sister, the expression on your face when you said this just now looks like a mother."
Shen Miao: "..." Thinking about it this way, she really thought Shen Qiu was Fu Ming.
She was about to speak, but suddenly she saw a sound outside, and she and Shen Qiu looked at each other, and the two went out together, but saw someone shouting at the door of the courtyard: "What's the matter with you? I just came to see. Shen Miao, let me in!"
Shen Miao was startled: "Feng Anning?"
That person heard Shen Miao’s voice and was stunned by the guard and waved to her, “It’s me, Shen Miao, please let them let go of me!”
“Let go of her.” Shen Miao said, “She is Miss Feng family.”
After Feng An Ning was let go by the two, she patted the dust on her body in exasperation, and said angrily, "What's the matter, you, why are there so many guards surrounding your yard, I thought you had an accident and only came in? Well, there are so many people outside to stop you, Shen Miao, are you ill?”
It was probably the first time that Feng An Ning was stopped, and the eldest young lady had a temper attack and scolded Shen Miao without covering her face. But he just stepped on Shen Qiu's sore foot, and Shen Qiu stepped forward, frowning coldly: "Who are you? Yelling at someone else's house, do you know how to behave!"
Shen Miao: "..." It is really intriguing for Shen Qiu to say whether he knows the word courtesy or not.
Unpredictable and disciplined, Feng Anning raised his head and wanted to refute, but when he saw Shen Qiu, he couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. Shen Qiusheng's brows are bright and handsome, he is very handsome, different from the soft and weak son in Ding capital, his smile is innocent on weekdays, but when his face is cold, he is like a terrifying major general on the battlefield. Iron-blooded spirit.
Feng Anning's arrogance immediately subsided, and asked in a low voice, "Who are you?"
“This is my elder brother.” Shen Miao said.
Shen Qiu still has some reputation in the Ding capital, Nan Xie Bei Xin, Xie family's young marquis and Shen family's major general are often compared, but it is a pity that Xie Jing Xing refused to enter the office, otherwise these two people It is a generation of outstanding generals.
“What are you here for?” Seeing that Feng An Ning was a little embarrassed, Shen Miao asked.
Hearing this, Feng Anning complained, "I'm here to talk to you, you know that the people in Guangwentang have rejected me since they knew that I had a good relationship with you. I'm here for you."
Hearing this, Shen Qiu softened a bit. He knew that Shen Miao was quite neglected in the school, but unfortunately he was absent all year round and could not protect Shen Miao at all times. Now Shen Miao has a friend, although she has an arrogant temperament and does not know etiquette, but... let's make do with it.
Of course he and Feng An Ning did not know that the "good relationship" was just what Feng An Ning thought, Shen Miao really did not have the leisure to make friends with others.
"Since your friend is here, let's chat." Shen Qiu coughed lightly, "I'll go out and talk to Dad."
Shen Miao agreed, and after Shen Qiu left, Feng Anning whispered, "Why is your elder brother so vicious, he scared me to death just now."
Fierce spirit... Shen Miao was too lazy to explain and said, "Yes, he has always killed people like numbness."
Feng An Ning hurriedly patted her chest and said with a fluke, "Fortunately, I admitted my mistake and bowed my head early. Next time I won't dare to rush in like this."
…
Before I knew it, it was time for the Shen family banquet.
The male and female relatives were seated separately, the female relatives were all in the banquet hall of Rongjing Hall, and the male relatives were taken care of by Shen Gui and Shen Wan. Although Shen Xin wasn't much interested in family banquets, he didn't have the time to deal with the courtesies in the capital, so he sat and drank by himself.
There are not many male relatives here, and they are all civil servants who are friends with Shen Gui and Shen Wan. They can't talk to Shen Xin. Looking at it from the lively table, it seems that Shen Xin and Shen Qiu are being separated. People are deliberately cold. Shen Qiu wasn't unhappy at all because of this, and he was quite lively when he was eating. On the other hand, Shen Yuan also showed a bit of Shen Gui's shadow, and Shen Qiu was a little disgusted by looking at his delicate appearance.
On the other end of the female feast, those who were so neglected naturally became Luo Xueyan and Shen Miao. Since she was Chen Rou Qiu's sister, she naturally wanted to save face for Chen Rou Qiu. Although it was not possible to ridicule Shen Miao in front of Luo Xueyan, it was okay to be indifferent. As a result, Chen Rouqiu and Shen Yue were questioned by the ladies and wives, and even Jing Chuchu and Shen Dongling were pretended to care about them, only Shen Miao was deliberately ignored.
Luo Xue Yan was a little angry, and if she changed Shen Miao from the past, she would also feel pissed and uncomfortable. But now it is different, despite the lively and lively talk of those ladies, Shen Miao drank the soup with restraint, and her every move carried a majestic extravagance, which gave people the illusion that it was not those People deliberately neglected her, but Shen Miao herself did not bother to talk to these people.
It was as if a punch had hit the soft cotton, and after a few more times, everyone lost interest.
Mrs. Yi said with a smile: "It's said that the Zhongling Yuxiu in Suzhou is beautiful. I didn't believe it at first. Now that I have met the cousin of the old lady's family, I think it's true. We can't raise such a beautiful girl in the capital."
At the banquet, the old lady Shen showed great importance to Jing Chuchu. Although she didn't know why, the ladies were not fools. Since Mrs. Shen wanted to exalt Jing Chuchu, there was no harm in speaking nicely.
Jing Chuchu blushed with shame, lowered his head and said nothing. Mrs. Shen smiled: "Mrs. Yi can't rely on her old body to say that. Miss Yi is also very smart. I like it when I look at it."
Yi Peilan smiled and thanked Old Madam Shen for her praise, but when Jing Chuchu became more curious, she asked Shen Yue in a low voice, "Old Madam seems to really like your cousin."
Shen Yue answered vaguely, with some doubts in her heart.
While Shen Dongling was sitting in the corner of the banquet, Concubine Wan had no chance to attend such an occasion. And she didn't have the help of her biological mother, and she didn't have the promotion of Mrs. Shen, so she seemed to be unknown. Despite this, Shen Dongling didn't show any unwillingness, but just ate what was in her bowl, just like a well-behaved and unloved concubine.
While telling Jing Chuchu to eat more, the old lady Shen told people good things about Jing Chuchu, and said that the sensible and intelligent Xiaojiabiyu said that there is nothing in the sky.
It wasn't until the maid who came to pour the tea accidentally splashed the tea on Jing Chuchu, and this kind of promotion stopped. Old Shen Furen scolded the careless maid: "How did you do things? What should I do if I burn Miss Biao?"
"It's okay." Jing Chuchu smiled and said, "The tea is not hot, I'm fine."
"The clothes are getting wet." Madam Shen looked at the large water stains in front of Jing Chuchu's clothes and said with concern, "You can't wear wet clothes in this cold weather. Xi'er, take Miss Biao down and change into a clean one. clothes." Then he instructed Jing Chuchu: "Don't catch a cold."
Jing Chuchu looked down at the placket of his clothes. No matter how thin the clothes in winter were, they still had weight. The tea was washed into the cotton, which made it uncomfortable to wear. He didn't refuse at the moment, he said ok to Old Shen Furen with a blushing face, and then said goodbye to the female family members present before leaving with the maid who led the way.
Madam Jiang said, "Miss Jing is really lucky to be so valued by the old lady."
"Where is she lucky?" The folds on Mrs. Shen's smiling face were all wrinkled together: "It's the blessing of the old man. This girl is well-behaved and sensible, and the old man likes it."
Hearing this, everyone was flattered again. Chen Rou Qiu glanced at Old Shen Furen, and her eyes drifted towards Shen Miao subconsciously, probably aware of her gaze, Shen Miao also looked at Chen Rou Qiu with a slight doubt in her eyes.
Chen Rou Qiu smiled and lowered her head, a trace of comfort flashed in her heart. But she did not see that at the moment when she lowered her head, all the doubts in Shen Miao's eyes were taken away and replaced by a very faint smile, if one looked at it seriously, there seemed to be some kind of inexplicable excitement in that smile.
On the other hand, Shen Dongling on the table glanced at Shen Miao without a trace and then quickly lowered her head to eat what was in the bowl.
The men's family's banquet is not as meticulous as the women's family's banquet. Although Shen Xin and Shen Qiu were left out, several colleagues came to toast, and after a few drinks, Shen Qiu's head felt a little dizzy.
"Stinky boy, got drunk after just a few cups, didn't you eat?" Shen Xin said angrily.
Shen Qiu rubbed his brows and shook his head: "I don't know." As a man who grew up in a military camp, this idea of wine was no problem. You must know that they usually drink from jars in the military camp. The wine in the Ding capital has always been despised and felt that it is not strong enough. Who knows that they will be beaten in the face today.
"It's really worth teaching you for so many years." Shen Xin hated that iron could not become steel.
"Uncle, don't be angry." But Jing Guansheng explained with a smile: "Cousin is not drinking, but mixed Futou wine and Yinguang wine to drink." He pointed to the wine glass in front of Shen Qiu, and sure enough, that The wine in the wine glass is not as reddish as the head wine, nor as clear as the silver wine, but it looks like it is mixed together. Jing Guansheng continued to explain: "There are some people here with Yinguang wine, and some people drink Futou wine. Cousin probably didn't pay attention and poured them together. Yinguang wine and Futou wine were drunk together, and others poured half a cup. It's not easy to be still awake."
"Hahaha," an adult laughed when he heard the words, "Nephew Shi is already quite good at drinking, so don't blame him for General Shen."
Shen Yuan glanced at Shen Qiu and said, "Big brother can't drink like this anymore, it's better to help him to rest in the room."
Shen Qiu waved his hand, his mouth was vague and he didn't know what to say, it seemed that he was already quite drunk.
"Why don't I send my cousin back." Jing Guansheng said with a smile.
He stretched out his hand and did not hit the smiling face, although Shen Xin was quite critical of Jing Guansheng because of Shen Miao's affairs, but since the guards were placed at the gate of the courtyard, Jing Guansheng was calm. Shen Xin glanced at him: "If that's the case, I'll trouble you and Azhi to help him back together."
Jing Guansheng was about to get up when he saw Shen Qiu grabbed Shen Yuan on one side, shook his head and said, "Azhi, take me there."
Shen Yuan was startled, and Shen Xin frowned: "This kid, treat you as Azhi." Then he said to Shen Qiu, "Stinky boy, let go of your second brother quickly."
Shen Qiu didn't move. Shen Yuan's eyes moved slightly, and he said, "Cousin is the same as me. If that's the case, I'll take eldest brother back to the room." He helped Shen Qiu up, and walked outside without waiting for Shen Xin to refuse.
Just as Shen Xin was about to speak, Shen Wan had already come over with wine: "Brother, I'll give you a toast!"
…
No one paid any attention to the twists and turns at the banquet. Some people went out and some people came in in the middle, which was just an extremely common thing. It was only until the banquet was over, when the ladies were chatting and relaxing in the yard, that Mrs. Bai seemed to remember, "Why hasn't Miss Jing's been back yet?"
After Jing Chuchu's clothes were soiled by the tea spilled by the maid, he went back to change his clothes. But it hasn't appeared since then. Madam Shen was stunned for a moment, and said to Xi'er who was beside her, "Go to someone and ask Miss Biao why she hasn't come over yet?"
"Maybe I'm a little drunk." Shen Yue smiled and said, "I just drank a lot of honey wine. Although it is very sweet, it has great stamina. My cousin likes sweet ones, so I forgot to stop her just now. Maybe I was a little dizzy. Rest in the room."
Xier went out.
Feng An Ning curled her lips and pushed Shen Miao quietly, "I thought that your family had many daughters and the family banquet would be very lively, but I have to follow my mother, now it seems that it is just as boring." Feng An Ning was the crown jewel of Guang Lu Xun’s mansion and there were not so many sisters, but Shen Miao did not kiss even though there were so many sisters, and was even deliberately neglected, in Feng An Ning’s eyes, she just felt it was boring.
“It has always been like this.” Shen Miao replied.
Feng Anning glanced around, "I'm going to the clean room, come back later, wait for me."
After Feng Anning left with her maid, Xi'er also returned to Old Madam Shen, shaking her head and saying, "Old Madam, Miss Biao is not in the room."
"Not in the room?" Old Madam Shen raised her voice, all the ladies were looking at this, and Old Madam Shen hurriedly lowered her voice: "Where is that?"
Xi'er shook her head: "People don't know either."
"This girl," Mrs. Shen said anxiously, "isn't something wrong?"
With her appearance like this, in the eyes of the noble ladies who have become refined, she naturally thought about it in her heart.
"Madam?" It happened that Chen Rouqiu walked over from the other side and asked what happened, then smiled and said, "Don't worry, Madam, I just came back from the master, I think it's because Chu Chu is drunk. It's a coincidence. , Qiu'er's child is also drunk, and has been sent back to the room to rest. The drinking at our family banquet is very strong, and Chu Chu may have gone to another room. "
She called out the fact that "Shen Qiu was also drunk" intentionally or unintentionally, and Shen Miao's eyes suddenly sharpened.
Mrs. Shen shook her head and said, "Go and find a few people to find Chu Chu. It's always in this mansion, but it's not good if you catch a cold." She said and looked at the crowd, "Speaking of which, Laoshen recently got a golden Buddha picture, which is a double-sided embroidery of Zhang Qiaoxian, and it hangs in Laoshen's main hall. If you want to see it, Laoshen is willing to show you."
Zhang Qiaoxian is a master of embroidery in Ming Qi. An embroidery is expensive and has no market. Hearing that Mrs. Shen has a pair here, everyone wants to open their eyes. The corner of Shen Miao's mouth sneered, that double-sided embroidery was a gift from the palace, it was given to Old Shen Furen by Shen Xin a few years ago, but she was stingy as she never showed it to everyone. Now that he looks like this, he is willing to bleed, it must be for other things.
It's just... Can it really do as Old Shen Furen wishes
The ladies and ladies really enthusiastically followed the old lady Shen to see the embroidery drawing. The main hall of Rongjingtang is a room similar to a tea room for guests to rest. On weekdays, few people go there. Because Mrs. Shen has not many guests, the tea room is mostly empty.
However, when Fang walked to the door, he saw something strange at the door.
There was some noise from the closed door, and the sound could not be heard for the time being. It seemed that something had knocked over to the ground.
The crowd stopped abruptly.
"Who's inside? Where are the guards outside?" asked Old Madam Shen.
"Madam Hui, I was still here before, there should be no one in the tea room." Xi'er wondered.
"You really raised a bunch of idlers! You can't even guard a door," Old Madam Shen was a little angry: "Open the door!"