After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 631 Routine
When Ma Shangyi arrived at the Hai family and learned about the incident in the third branch of the Zhou family, she felt that Zhou Shigong's behavior was a bit inappropriate.

Since it was agreed that the Zeng brothers and sisters would be arranged to live in the manor, how could they go back on their word? The child was sick, so they just invited the doctor over. Whether riding a horse or driving a car, the time it would take for the doctor to go to the manor to see a doctor would probably be less than that of Zhou Shigong taking the patient back to the city and then posting a notice to invite someone to take care of him. Besides, the third branch of the Zhou family had other properties in the city. If Zhou Shigong insisted on taking the patient back to the city, he could also arrange for another place to stay. He directly brought the patient back to the ancestral home and arranged him to the west courtyard. Was he ignoring what the child's grandmother and mother had done before?
But even if Zhou Shigong is magnanimous and lets the children live in the yard where their grandmother passed away, can the Zeng brothers and sisters live there in peace and recuperate?

Ma Shangyi knew that the tablet of Madam Ma was still on display in the west courtyard of the third branch of the Zhou family. Although it was just for show, in case of uninformed relatives and friends coming to visit, the things were still there. Zhou Shigong and his son had been staying at the manor to observe mourning, and Zhou Ma had returned to the city to take charge of the family. How could she take care of the west courtyard? I'm afraid that even the table for the tablet had not been cleaned, and a thick layer of dust had accumulated long ago, and the incense had stopped burning. This was another sin in the eyes of the Zeng family brothers and sisters.

Since Zhou Shigong had changed his mind, he should have told his wife in advance so that Madam Zhou could be prepared. He acted rashly and thought that his wife was not good, so it was no wonder that Madam Zhou was angry.

However, the Zeng siblings are in a pitiful situation now. Even their biological father seems to be abandoning them. Given Zhou Shigong's soft heart, it is not surprising that he would feel sympathy for the weak.

Ma Shangyi thought that Zhou Shigong was a soft-hearted person. He was more conscientious and would not abandon morality and family interests for personal gain. He could not take on big responsibilities, but he had no problem maintaining the status quo. He just didn't know how to teach his children.

Ma Shangyi had several thoughts in her mind, but she didn't show any strangeness on her face. She just said to Ma in a soft voice: "Your eldest sister is feeling wronged, and she wants you to go over and comfort her. Just go. If there is any new news, just send someone back to tell me. If Master Zhou Wu goes too far, I will not stand idly by. After all, the medicine his stepmother drank was brought out of the palace by me. I know exactly what his stepmother did. Master Zhou Wu loves his niece, and no one will say anything, but you can't write off the sins of her grandmother and mother just because the child is pitiful. Children should not be spoiled like this. He thinks this is pity for the weak, but he doesn't know that if he spoils too much, he may spoil the child and ruin him, which will harm the child for life!"

Ma agreed with what he heard: "Isn't it? Zhou Jinpu was spoiled by him like this! If he hadn't thought about his eldest son losing his mother and was afraid that his stepmother would bully him, how could Zhou Jinpu grow up to be the way he is now? If you really want to worry that the stepmother will bully the child, then don't marry again! You want someone to take care of the child, so you marry the stepmother. After you marry her, you are on guard and don't want anyone to take care of the child. Isn't this deliberately making things difficult for her? Without this marriage, my elder sister might not have been able to marry more happily. Unlike now, she has been harmed by their family for most of her life, and almost even her children and grandchildren are going to be killed!"

Ma was very dissatisfied with her brother-in-law and was also worried about her elder sister Zhou Ma. She had become very close to Ma Shangyi recently and no longer cared about the rules and etiquette. Since Ma Shangyi had spoken, she called her granddaughter Haitang to accompany the guests, apologized, put on her big cloak, and left in a hurry with Ma Lili and his wife.

Haitang sighed inwardly, but smiled, and politely invited Ma Shangyi to sit down, drink tea and eat snacks. She had brought her sewing basket with her, and after the greetings, she could let Ma Shangyi check the new bodice she made, and if there was anything she was not satisfied with, she could modify it in time.

Just with this vest, and the various topics derived from it such as fabrics, threads, colors, patterns, etc., Haitang was sure that the atmosphere would not be dull within half an hour, and the guests would not be bored, nor would Ma Shangyi have time to think about random things.

The old man and the young man chatted lively for half an hour, and during the chat they also discussed the products and prices of the dozen or so cloth shops, silk shops, sewing shops, and tailor shops of different sizes in the city. Everyone felt very fulfilled and enjoyed themselves.

After the chat, Haitang asked someone to add more tea and send new snacks, thinking that it was about time to signal the guests to leave. Ma Shangyi lowered his head to drink tea, thinking about something in his heart, and always felt that he seemed to be tricked.

As old foxes from the palace, Ma Shangyi was not completely unaware of Haitang's methods. She just couldn't believe it. Could a girl in her teens have such scheming and cunning? Where did the Hai family's granddaughter learn this? Obviously, Ma Yumei was not a thoughtful person, and she only taught Ma when she was a girl. It was impossible for her to have any influence on Ma's granddaughter? Ma was simple-minded and always let herself be led by her nose when chatting. How could she give birth to such a quirky granddaughter?

However, it is not a bad thing for a young girl to be so scheming. Ma Shangyi could see that Haitang did not have any ambitions that she should not have. She was very disciplined in her words and deeds and was honest and upright. As long as she was an upright girl, it was okay to have some scheming. At least she would know what to do in her daily life and would not be easily confused or deceived by the treacherous villains outside. Ma Shangyi put down the teacup and smiled at the snacks brought by the maid.

She started talking about tea and snacks, and chatted about restaurants, dim sum shops, and teahouses of various sizes in the city. She extended the chat for another half an hour and did not leave as Haitang wished.

Haitang kept smiling, and occasionally laughed out loud without any ulterior motives, and asked some innocent questions, just like a real young girl, and continued the conversation with Ma Shangyi.

After just such an hour, both Haitang and Ma Shangyi felt a little tired and thought it was time to end this show.

The two ended their chat naturally and amicably. Haitang ordered someone to pack a box of freshly made snacks at home and sent it to Ma Shangyi, saying warmly: "Please take more back. It's best to eat it with tea at leisure. If you like it, make it again next time you go home and I'll have someone send it to you. Will you come tomorrow? My grandma likes chatting with you the most now. She said that you are knowledgeable and know a lot of interesting things. Our family has never heard of them!"

Ma Shangyi was old, so naturally she couldn't match the energy of a young girl. She could only laugh and say, "Okay, okay. I'll come again when your grandmother is free."

Haitang was seeing someone off. Just as she reached the front yard, she heard someone at the door talking to Cui Bo, who was temporarily guarding the door. He vaguely mentioned the names "Jiao Ge'er" and "Master Jin".

Haitang remembered that Haijiao and Jin Jiashu had an appointment with Tu Jinbao today. It seemed that they were going to practice riding and archery with Kan Jinbao. She was startled and left Ma Shangyi behind and hurried forward: "Uncle Cui, what happened? What happened to my brother and Brother Jin?"

Ma Shangyi also frowned slightly and followed.

Cui Bo pointed at the person behind him and said, "This is Zhou Xiaojian's neighbor. He said that Zhou Xiaojian sent him back to deliver a letter to Mammy Ma. Something happened to Young Master Tu, so Mammy Ma was asked to send Guard Lin to bring Young Master Jin back!"

Haitang held her breath: "What happened?!"

(End of this chapter)