Ordinary clear day

Chapter 91 Spring Day
This year, the whole family had a very "nourishing" life. Tong was busy dealing with half the number of presents compared to previous years, and had to arrange return gifts, distribute annual gifts to government officials, and take care of the servants who died in the line of duty. My family is small, and I'm so busy that I can't wait to grow three heads and six arms.

Shuning hasn't gone out since the twelfth lunar month, and she helps her mother with the housework all day long. Fortunately, this year, she has more help from Mrs. Liu, and she still has to use a few housekeepers, otherwise she really doesn't know how to deal with it.Shu Ning occasionally took a break to take a breath, thinking to herself, after a few more years like this, by the time she gets married, she might have already become an expert housekeeper.

Although seeing more and more gifts received by the family, some of which were strangely mixed with some worthless things, Shu Ning still noticed that her father's spirit was a lot haggard, he often left early and returned late, and the frown It's not very flat, even Mr. Su, who is newly married, often has a straight face.

In fact, the city of Guangzhou is getting richer and richer. Most of the common people can make ends meet. The wharves and major workshops are recruiting people. It is made of sugar and iron nails, and it can be eaten as a meal.For those who can’t make a living, or are old, weak, sick and disabled, Zhang Bao has ordered people to sort out several vacant houses since October, prepare a lot of hay and quilts, and provide free accommodation for these poor and beggars. Provide two meals of rice porridge so that they can survive the cold winter.

What Zhang Bao did was to act according to what he used to do in Fengtian. Now that he is the parent of this party, he naturally doesn't need to think too much.However, his good official reputation spread and won the love of more people, but at the same time he inadvertently offended his superior, Governor Zhu.The other party was biased in his mind, thinking that Zhang Bao was a good person, deliberately satirizing himself for not caring for the common people, overtly and secretly, so some ugly words came out.

In fact, Zhang Bao was implicated.Wu Dan came to Guangzhou, and quickly grasped the income from the customs, transported the silver to the capital continuously, collected it into the treasury, and won the emperor's award.But the governor's office, who felt that his benefits had been reduced, was secretly annoyed, and because the governor's office was far away, and he didn't know the actual situation here, he complained about the lack of money allocated, and accused Governor Zhu of not doing things for his master.Governor Zhu was in a dilemma, and there was nowhere to burn the fire in his heart.Wu Dan acted according to the emperor's order, he had no choice but to vent his anger on Zhang Bao, who had a good relationship with Wu Dan.Zhang Bao felt that the other party was not too much, so he endured it silently, just doing his official business well with his heart.

Wu Dan noticed this, and respected Zhang Bao, and sometimes helped him say a few words to make him feel less angry.In addition, his eldest son is getting more and more capable, the second son often gets along with Duanning, and has greatly improved in knowledge and martial arts, so he admires Duanning even more, and often invites him to the mansion to talk, and to study his riding and shooting skills by the way.

According to Zhao Shuning's secret observation, there is nothing unusual about her elder brother, but Zhenzhen's behavior is worth studying.On Duanning's birthday, she spent all her time preparing presents and didn't mention it. Because Shuning didn't go out, she had already used various excuses to come to their house four or five times in the twelfth lunar month alone, and every time she met someone intentionally or unintentionally. When we arrive in Duanning, talk to him a few words, not to mention the chance to meet him in the general's mansion.

Tong's heart became more and more determined, and she had hinted to Wen's several times in private, and the two had a tacit understanding, and they only had to wait two years until the children were older.

The new year has passed quickly, and this year's Lantern Festival is more lively than previous years. The variety of lanterns is not comparable to previous years. Several half-grown children took the opportunity to play around again. Watching the lanterns, he danced with joy.

At the beginning of spring, Chongli and Duanning heard that a well-learned sage lived in seclusion at the foot of Nankun Mountain, so they changed into ordinary clothes, took only two or three attendants and a cart of books, paper and ink, and bid farewell to their family members to visit him. consult.

After the rainy weather in early spring passed, Shu Ning took advantage of the sunny weather and went to the General's Mansion to attend classes again.The husband checked her homework and listened to her play the newly learned "Autumn River at Night", nodded, and began to teach her "Sandai of Yangguan".

During the recess, Shuning quietly sat next to Zhenzhen, and asked, "What's wrong with you today? Mr. Cai was teaching the piano just now, and you also looked listless. Could it be that you are sick?"

Zhenzhen shook her head and said: "It's nothing, I just feel bored and lack of energy." Shuning snickered: "Could it be that I haven't seen someone for a few days, and my heart is raging?"

Zhenzhen was annoyed, she blushed and opened her Nine Yin White Bone Claws to grab her.Shu Ning dodged away with a smile, and when she saw her grabbing again, she hurriedly pressed her hand and said, "Stop making trouble, sir will hear." Zhenzhen withdrew her hand, stomped her feet, and sat down annoyed with her cheeks covered.

Shu Ning sat down next to her, coaxed her for a long time, and finally coaxed her back. Seeing the blush on her face that hadn't disappeared, she said seriously: "Actually, if you like my brother, just say so. What's there to be shy about? You are such a generous person, why are you twisting your arms and legs today?"

Zhenzhen was stunned for a moment, and her face flushed again: "You...you just said it like that..." She lowered her head and bit her lip, took a deep breath, raised her head and said, "When did you know? Your brother...he knew have no idea?"

Shu Ning smiled and said: "It was he who knew about it the day he was the hero who saved the beauty, and only your second brother, that nerd, couldn't see it. Even my family Chun Xing asked me behind my back if you fell in love with my brother. My mother-in-law I even mentioned it to your second mother, haven't you heard of it?"

Zhenzhen was taken aback, and then was a little surprised: "My second mother knows? What did she say? My Ama...do you know?"

"What about this... The second lady didn't make it clear, she only said two years to wait until you are older, but my mother-in-law looked at it and thought it might be possible. I don't know if Mr. General knows, but he often praises my brother, Thinking about it, I also like him.”

Shuning looked at the smile on Zhenzhen's face, and felt that the girl was really cute, so she asked her: "Tell me the truth, how did you fall in love with my brother? There was no sign before that day, Is it really because he saved you?"

Zhenzhen glanced at Shuning, with a smile on her lips, and said: "In the past, I just thought that he was a good brother who loved my sister. He was better than others in both literature and martial arts. At most, I thought he was good. But that day, the carriage rushed over At that time, everyone was scattered, and I was hit by pedestrians and fell to the ground. When I got up, it was too late to avoid the carriage. At that time, my second brother was a foot away from me, and I thought I would be hit Who knows that your brother hugged me and dragged me to the side. Because of too much force, he fell to the ground, but he lay under me and didn't hurt me at all. I just brushed shoulders with that carriage And then, I broke out in a cold sweat and was terrified, but your brother comforted me softly and made me calm down, even ignoring the injury on my hand. It was at that time that I felt that he was very reliable."

After she spoke, her face became more and more red. Shuning propped her chin, listening with gusto, deeply regretting that she didn't see her brother's heroic rescue that day.

But Zhenzhen was a little worried: "You said just now that even your mother-in-law and the maid have seen my thoughts, and your brother must have known it too, right? Why didn't you say anything? Does he not like me?" The more afraid I thought about it, the more pale my face became.

Shu Ning thought for a while, and said: "He is different now. If he was a child, he would speak out what was on his mind, but after three years in Beijing, he has become more and more a mouthless gourd. Sometimes, I would I can't figure out what he is thinking. But if he really doesn't like you, he will try to avoid you, but he talks to you as usual, which shows that he doesn't hate you." She said to Zhenzhen seriously: "I won't I only say good things to you, but my brother is a good man, if you really can love each other, I will definitely stand by your side."

Zhenzhen also became serious: "I know, since my family didn't say no, I have the courage to act according to my own will. I'm not the kind of girl who waits to be coy. Since he doesn't say anything, I'll ask myself His heart."

Her gaze was so determined that it made her person all the more radiant.Shu Ning felt a little sour in her heart, but when she thought that the two were so well matched, if Duan Ning also liked Zhen Zhen, she would surely live a happy life in the future, so she secretly wished the two of them in her heart.

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Back home, Shu Ning accidentally ran into Chang Fu who had gone to the capital to deliver New Year's gifts, which meant that there was a letter from Beijing.She said hello to Changfu, and hurried to the upper room.

Sitting at the table of the Eight Immortals, Tong was holding a letter and sneered slightly.Shu Ning was shocked when she saw it, and hurriedly greeted her mother, and then asked her if there was any bad news in the letter.

Tong said with a faint smile: "It's nothing, it's nothing more than trivial matters. But your second sister is in the draft this year, and the family is busy buying clothes and jewelry for her. The box of pearls and twenty gems we sent back just happened to be sent. It came in handy."

She glanced at the letter, and said coolly: "Actually, what are you putting so much effort into? Is it possible that you can really choose to enter the palace to be a concubine? Now it is obvious that the fifth elder brother has taken a fancy to Wanning, and the emperor and queen mother know it well. This year, we must leave a sign. When the fifth elder brother is older, he will officially point out Wanning to him. With the face of the Earl's Mansion and Wanning's official position, it is naturally the name of Fujin. What are you doing now? Clothes and jewelry? Children grow up fast, and the clothes they make this year won’t be able to wear them next year, so why bother?!”

Shu Ning was a little strange when she heard it. Tong seemed to be angry, so she walked up behind her and helped her beat her back. Seeing that her face was better, she asked, "Who is mad at Er Niang today? Could it be that grandma is going to give her back again?" Amma taking a concubine?"

Tong glanced at her daughter, with a slight smile on the corner of her mouth: "Little ghost, how do you know these things about taking concubines or not?"

Of course I know, the family has been arguing about this matter several times in the past few years, and there is still a little Liu family living in the side yard, is it fake?
But this time Shu Ning guessed wrong, the old lady didn't mention the matter of taking concubines, she was fully focused on Wan Ning's draft.

It turned out that it was Tong's annual gift sent back to Beijing, and there was a box in it for the fourth elder brother.Inside were several bolts of valuable colored satin, two bolts of soft and comfortable cotton cloth, two bolts of yam gauze, several jade plaques carved with auspicious patterns, three or four gold and jade finger rings, several packages of high-quality medicinal materials, and several Box of western medicine.

Originally, Mrs. Tong was trying to hide it from the eyes and ears, so she didn't say who the box was for, she just told Ermo to keep it, and Changfu would tell her to send it to Pumpkin Alley.Unexpectedly, the old lady found out, she took off the silk and jade badge, and took a few packets of medicinal materials to use.Although Changfu and Ermo were respectable, they were slaves after all, so they had to watch her order someone to take away their things.

Tong's was angry because of this, even if she wanted to buy clothes and jewelry for Wanning, or something to give as a reward, it was the old lady and the big house who contributed.The other uncles and aunts in the room, if they are willing, it is a kinship gift to give something, even if it is not given, it is only right and proper.Sanfang has her own daughter, even if she wants to buy things, she should think of her own flesh and blood first, not to mention they have already given away a lot of silk and jewellery.The things in that box were specially prepared by Mrs. Tong as a gift for the fourth elder brother, but it was actually intercepted by his family halfway, which is too outrageous.

Tong said with a sneer: "Fortunately, the old lady doesn't know the goods, so she just took away the valuable things, but she didn't know that the sweet potato yarn and Western medicine are really rare. They are cotton cloth, which is also the favorite of the fourth elder brother. Kind of. Your Uncle Chang Fu is a seasoned man, so he spent money to buy things in Beijing to make up for them, and sent them to Pumpkin Alley together. Otherwise, there are only so few things this year. Even if the fourth brother doesn’t care, I’m still embarrassed to sell Woolen cloth."

Shu Ning thought to herself, no wonder my mother is angry, the old lady has done too much, this is almost a robbery, can it be that there are no good things to buy in the capital?
She tried to comfort her mother, and hinted that Suyun carried Xianning to divert her attention, which calmed her down.

In March, Duanning came back, Renhei lost some weight and was in good spirits.Tong's heart ached so much that she hurriedly went to get him some good soup to make up for her body.Duanning winked at his sister mysteriously and led her to his room.

He took out a small box and opened it, but it was a nuclear sculpture.The one-inch peach pit was carved into a boat. The boatman on the boat, the scribes on the boat, and the woman playing the piano were all clearly distinguishable, which made Shuning amazed.

Duan Ning said with a smile: "This is when I passed by Zengcheng. I heard that there is a master sculptor there with excellent craftsmanship. The core carvings are very fine. Chongli and I bought both. Give this to my sister."

Shu Ning took it over in surprise, only to see that the nuclear carving was tied with a red silk rope, the more you look at it, the more delicate the carving looks.

Duan Ning said: "I think the red silk rope looks good, and I use it to tie the nuclear carvings I bought, but Chongli likes to use black silk rope. The things he bought happen to be characters from the Three Kingdoms, so it goes well with black."

Shuning solemnly thanked him, and promised to make him a new purse as a return gift, and then went back to the room to put away the nuclear carving Haosheng.

The next day, when she went to the general's mansion for class, Shuning discovered to her surprise that Zhenzhen's left wrist was wrapped with a few strands of red silk rope, and there was a nuclear sculpture hanging from it, which represented spring flowers blooming.

(End of this chapter)