Ordinary clear day

Chapter 21 Xiao Tao
What a beautiful scene, if Zhou Yinlan was five or six years older, it would probably be another good story about a gifted man and a beautiful woman meeting on the street.Shu Ning would not let go of the joy in his eyes when he met the scholar just now, he must have recognized Zhou Yinlan's identity.Seeing that he is a scholar, he speaks well and behaves politely. If his family background is not obvious, and he is willing to recommend himself to an official as a cover, he thinks that Zhou Fucheng is indeed a good choice for his family background: he comes from a family, has profound knowledge, and has a clear official voice. , very popular among local officials.It just seemed that Zhou Yinlan didn't feel his longing, but shed tears of sympathy for Asongda who kept her head down.

Shuning asked Xiaotao to buy a few sesame seed cakes for Ah Song, and said it was time to go back.The scholar immediately proposed to send them back by himself.Shuning knew that he wanted to show his face in front of Zhou Fucheng, so she deliberately said: "Don't bother, my sister has followers by her side, and I also have others, nothing will happen, don't dare to bother you sir."

The scholar was stunned and didn't know how to answer. At this moment, someone called him from behind: "Mr. Su, come quickly! Something happened to Ah Chu's father!!!" He quickly saluted, turned around and ran over.Asong followed suit.I saw a group of people carrying someone into a house, followed by a woman and a child crying, and the group made a lot of noise.

Zhou Yinlan wiped away her tears, saw Ying'er looking like she wanted to follow up to watch the excitement, she broke through her tears and smiled: "Look at you, it's getting late today, let's go home." Shuning nodded in agreement, Xiaotao, who wanted to look over there to see what happened, pulled her over and walked back.If you go back too late today, you will be scolded. Anyway, Bagua Xiaotao has extraordinary skills. Even if she is not allowed to inquire now, she has the ability to know what is going on.

After dinner in the evening, Shuning mentioned to her father what happened this afternoon, and asked if she wanted to strengthen the publicity of measures to benefit the people.Duan Ning also said that in the past, it is true that just letting officials and rich people know about it can gain a good reputation, but if the poor don't know the specific arrangements, it may not be of great effect.Zhang Bao had noticed this problem a long time ago, seeing that his son and daughter were right, he promised to go back to the yamen tomorrow to talk about it.

Tong Shi chatted about today's interesting events, and mentioned the gossip in front of Su's house, as well as his family's marriage with Prince Kang's mansion.Zhang Bao also heard about it in the yamen, but the gossip he knew was more detailed: "I heard that the prince Chuntai is still young, and Prince Kang plans to marry his son a noble Mongolian daughter. But it's not a draft right now. In the year, most of the Mongolian noble girls who entered the palace in the last draft, and those who were given marriages, were mostly unsatisfactory in appearance. Someone in the prince's mansion gave him advice, and he selected Miss Su, who is also a Mongolian As a close relative, it is enough to be a side Fujin. It would be best if you can give birth to a son and a half daughter as soon as possible, if not, you will have to choose another one after two years of draft."

Hearing this, Mrs. Tong felt a little offended by Miss Su: "This girl also has a prominent family background and extraordinary appearance. She is just a famous flower in Fengtian City. If it wasn't for the marriage gift this time, who would she not be destined to marry? Now that she has to be wronged like this, and newcomers come in and press her down at any time, I feel bad for her."

Zhang Bao laughed that she was worried about poverty: "The better Miss Su's family background is, and the more beautiful she is, the less likely she is to marry into an ordinary official family. Although she lives in the concubine now, with her beauty, she will definitely be favored by the prince, let alone her. My grandfather's family doesn't eat dry food, how could she be wronged? Why do you have to worry about this for her? With this spare time, why don't you think about what good food to eat tomorrow, the chicken is really not doing very well today. "Everyone laughed.

In the evening Shu Ning thought of Miss Su's marriage, and worried about her future, she tossed and turned a little bit unable to sleep, but when she woke up the next day with two dark circles under her eyes, she was teased by Xiao Tao.When she was not convinced, Ermo came in and scolded Xiaotao, "Crazy, there is no rule! How can you make fun of the master like this? Seeing that you are not young anymore, you are about to leave the cabinet, how can you act like a fool?" Like a child? Ignorant!" Xiaotao was ashamed, and ran out.

Shu Ning was taken aback: "Is Xiaotao going to marry?" Ermo nodded, "It was decided years ago, and we passed the door in May, and I haven't told the girl yet, so don't tell anyone about it, she'll be hired in the beginning of spring." , is a farmer from Wangjiazhuang in the south of the city, named Wang Daniu." Shuning asked, "Why not Ma Saner?"

Ermo hurriedly covered her mouth, went out to see if no one was passing by, then went back to the room and closed the door, and whispered to her: "Miss, don't talk nonsense, Ma San'er is also married in summer, and he married our Xiaomei. This marriage was decided by the third grandma herself, and when they get married, they will be served at our house. Xiaotao herself nodded when she married the Wang family, and she will not be in our house anymore." After hearing this, Shu Ning said, There was some confusion in her mind, and she murmured: "Xiaomei is two years older than Ma Saner." Ermo pulled her to sit down: "It's only a little over a year older, what's the matter? It's about the same age anyway."

Shuning always thought that Xiaotao would marry Ma San'er. Could it be that the "how about Ma San'er" that she has been nagging for so many years is a lie?And it was Xiaomei who married Ma San'er?These two people, one is an honest man who pokes and shouts, refuses to say a word, and takes an extra step; , why did they just beat each other together?Xiaotao nodded to the marriage, but what was she thinking?

Shu Ning was completely confused. Although Xiao Tao was talkative, she always had feelings when she was with her for so long. She sincerely hoped that the other party would be happy.After thinking about it for a long time, she stood up and decided to go to her mother to find out what happened. Don't her old man mess up the couples?

Just as he was walking to the door of the upper room, he heard Ermo report to Tong that Ma San'er was going to write a letter back to Beijing to report the marriage to his only relative and elder—his second uncle.Shu Ning stopped quietly, and retreated to the corridor next to her. People in the room could be heard talking here, but it was not easy for people to find out.

I only heard Ermo say: "Ma San'er has been in our house for many years, and the marriage will be held here. There is no need to go back to Beijing. Xiaomei and her mother have already said that grandma is in charge of this matter. According to the servants, we only need to inform Just be the housekeeper of the Earl's Mansion. When you go back at the end of the year with the New Year's gift, ask Ma San'er and Xiaomei to go with him and kowtow in front of his second uncle."

After a while, Mrs. Tong replied: "This is very good. They are both important people in our family. They will work harder when they get married. Xiaotao's dowry should also be prepared, so don't lose our family's face." .In fact, she is also a smart person. I originally wanted to keep her for a few more years."

"Grandma doesn't have to worry about her. She is free after marrying. The Wang family has a house and land. She will have a happy life in the future. You have already thought of her very much."

"Actually, if she wasn't too noisy and likes to inquire about things, I didn't want her to go. But she is like this, now it's all right. In the future, the master will be promoted, the family will increase, or he will return to Beijing. She lives in the mansion, her temperament is the root of the disaster, and if she hurts us, she is afraid of losing her own life. Now that someone is looking for her, marry her early, and forget my worries. In the future If you want to buy another person, you should choose the one who is honest and quiet, I can't stand people making such noise."

"Isn't it? It's good to be as honest as Xiaomei, don't talk too much, just concentrate on doing things, and never make the master angry."

"Isn't it? In the future, newcomers will be hired like Xiaomei, so that the master can rest assured."

When Shu Ning heard this, she didn't want to listen anymore, so she turned around and walked back.It turned out that Xiaotao's gossip habit, which she always regarded as a funny thing, was regarded by Tong as the root cause of troubles, while Xiaomei, who she always thought was a wooden person with no personality, was an ideal servant in the eyes of her mother.She felt very uncomfortable, wondering what would Xiaotao think if she knew these words?
When passing by Xiaomei Xiaotao's room, she saw Xiaotao doing needlework.Seeing Shuning coming in, Xiaotao hurriedly covered the things in her hand and smiled embarrassedly.Shu Ning clearly saw that it was a piece of embroidered red cloth, and asked deliberately: "Could it be that you are embroidering a wedding dress? Is there anything to hide? Just do your job generously."

Xiaotao blushed, and took out the cloth, but it turned out to be a red hijab: "The girl has grown up as a kid since she was a child, and she is much smarter than us. In fact, there is nothing to hide, but I am a little embarrassed." Shuning Looking at the unconcealable joy in her eyebrows, I felt that she was not as dissatisfied as I imagined, so I asked her: "The person you are going to marry... What kind of person is he? What do you think?"

Xiaotao raised her eyes to look at Shuning, she understood what she meant, this girl has always been a smart girl: "I understand what you mean, girl thinks that since I was young, I liked talking to Brother Ma, and now I marry someone else It's bound to be uncomfortable, isn't it?"

Shuning was stunned by her directness.Xiaotao lowered her head, and continued: "Actually, it was all about my childhood. Now that I am older, I think differently. I actually know that Brother Ma has someone else in his heart... Besides, although he is good, in the end He is a slave in this family, and I will still be a slave when I marry him, and my descendants will never be able to get rid of the word "slave". But Brother Big Niu is different."

She blushed even more, and lowered her head even more, "He is free...the family has land and land, a house, he is honest, strong, able to work, marry him... I will no longer be a slave , has his own farm and house, although he is poorer, he can work hard for a few years and live a good life. After having children...you can also let them read and write, and maybe you can get a job... When An official."

She raised her head and looked at Shu Ning: "I asked grandma for this marriage. I met Brother Big Niu... I am very grateful to grandma, who is willing to cancel my contract of prostitution and let me go out... In the past, I Always being naughty and causing trouble, grandma still thinks of me like this, and I will never forget her great kindness in my whole life." After finishing speaking, he lowered his head again: "It's strange...why do I just talk about this with the girl? What about the words? But... I think you can understand..."

Shuning could clearly see the brilliance on her face, and what was contained in those eyes was the desire and expectation for a happy and free life in the future.She decided to bury in her heart what she just heard in the upper room. Xiao Tao didn't mind the marriage. On the contrary, she was very happy and even liked her future husband very much, and even asked to marry him.

Although for thousands of years, as women, they have always been unable to control their own destiny, but this does not prevent them from yearning for and pursuing their own happiness.

Shuning went back to her room silently, leaving Xiaotao alone to embroider the red hijab with joy.

(End of this chapter)