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

Chapter 723 New Training Plan

Ma sighed a few words of regret and then put the matter out of her mind.

Jin Jiashu is indeed a good kid, but Ma Shangyi revealed to Ma a long time ago that Concubine Xu would choose a wife for her nephew from a high-ranking family in Beijing, so Ma had already determined that he would not be a candidate for her grandson-in-law, so what was there to worry about? Anyway, with the relationship between the two families, the Hai family will maintain a close and friendly relationship with Jin Jiashu for a long time in the future. As long as the wife he will marry in the future does not despise the Hai family and can maintain a good relationship between the two sides, it will be enough. Ma thinks that she is an elder who has seen the world, and maybe she can give some advice to the young daughter-in-law at that time.

Ma returned her attention to her granddaughter. "Tangtang, your marriage will be carefully chosen by your grandfather and I, and will definitely satisfy you. But you should also be honest and stop talking nonsense. It's okay for us to talk and laugh among ourselves, but if others knew that you are so outspoken, who knows how they would gossip about you! Grandma knows that you only like to be close to your family, speak your mind directly, and are not on guard against others, but there may be guests at any time at home, so you should be more careful!"

Haitang agreed and said with a smile, "I only speak and act without restraint in front of my family. When have I ever been rude in front of outsiders? For example, even Uncle Xie, Grandpa Cao, and Grandpa Lu have always thought that I am a well-behaved and lovely junior. I have never said anything I shouldn't have said in front of them. I really didn't expect Brother Jin to come just now, so he heard it. But he has lived in our house for some time and comes and goes frequently. He also knows my temper and knows that I love to joke the most. Even if he heard something, he would not spread it to others."

Ma trusted Jin Jiashu not to talk nonsense outside, but she couldn't do anything about her granddaughter's temper. Fortunately, her granddaughter only dared to act like this in front of her relatives. In front of her more distant relatives and friends, she was a serious and gentle child.

Thinking of this, Ma stopped scolding her granddaughter and just sighed to Aunt Cui, "It's time to add new people to the family. But without Dazhuang and his son, and Grape going home to get married, there won't be enough people to help. It's okay that only Xiaojin came this time, as she is half of our family. But if outsiders came, or the families of colleagues in the master's office, it would be embarrassing. Let's hurry up and buy someone."

Aunt Cui said hurriedly, "We have already looked in three dental clinics. Two of them don't have anyone who meets the requirements of Madam and Second Madam. But the third one has one, but the boss's wife went out of town the other day and I heard she won't be back until tomorrow. I have already made an agreement with their employees that as soon as the boss's wife gets home, she will bring someone to Madam for inspection."

Ma nodded, "Okay, I'll wait for two more days. We must have someone in the main courtyard this time, preferably a family of old and young, in case Caixia's (note: Ma Li's family) family can't follow us back to Beijing, we won't be short of people to serve. There should still be a careful and steady maid in Tangtang's room to help with the chores. Although Chang'an's wife plans to call someone back to serve after Grape gets married, Grape will have to stay in Chang'an next year. It's absolutely not right for her to marry Zhou Xiaojian and be separated from her husband and wife for 2,000 miles. Instead of adding new people at that time, it's better to make up the manpower at once this time. When Grape gets married and comes back, there will be time for her to train the new person hand in hand, so as not to be in a hurry when the handover comes next year. Besides, Chang'an is not at home, and there are many things to do in the second courtyard. Chang'an's wife has to take care of the affairs in the house and take care of the children. She may not be able to handle it. With more people to help, she can also be more relaxed."

"Madam has really thought of everything for Second Madam." Aunt Cui flattered the mistress and quickly made a suggestion, "We should also add one or two people to accompany the master. Now that Dazhuang and Xiaodao are not at home, Ma Youli and his son will stay next year. The master will have fewer followers when he goes to the capital, so it is better to buy people in advance. Besides, I don’t know what the rules are when the master and his wife go to the capital? Will our family go alone, or go with other families? Or go with a caravan? If we want to go alone, we have to find more guards. The journey is more than 2,000 miles, and it may not be peaceful everywhere."

Ma listened in awe: "You are right. Let's decide on the staff for the service before the New Year, and we can talk about the guards next year. Right now, I don't know when the master will go to the capital, so I can't arrange a time with the guards in advance. It would be much easier if we could go with a familiar caravan."

She suddenly remembered something: "I heard someone say yesterday that General Gu's family seems to have arrived in Chang'an. General Gu was transferred to Shanhaiguan and rushed to Beijing early. When he passed by Chang'an, he didn't even bother to say hello to us old friends. The master only heard the news after General Gu left. Madam Gu lagged behind with her family and luggage. Now that she has arrived in Chang'an, we must welcome her!"

Aunt Cui remembered that she also knew a few old sisters in the Gu family who were on good terms with her, and hurriedly said, "I'll go and find out the news now!" Aunt Cui left in a hurry. Ma leaned back against the pillow and asked Haitang, "Do you still remember Madam Gu? And the little sister and brother in his family?"

Haitang recalled the memories in her mind and smiled: "I remember, but I was still young at that time, and there was a big age gap between us, so we didn't interact much. Later, I returned to Suzhou, and the time we spent together was limited. I mainly met the girl from his family more often, and his son only interacted with his brother and ignored me. It's a pity that my brother is not at home now, otherwise I can still meet old friends."

Speaking of her grandson, Ma couldn't help but start calculating the time and estimating Haijiao's journey: "Where is he now? Has he left Shanxi?"

Haitang estimated: "I think they are almost in Zhili. I heard that General Tu and his men were on a forced march, and they had to ride up and down 200 miles every day. It would take about ten days to reach the capital, right? It has been eight days since my brother set out, so he should be not far from the capital."

Ma couldn't help but feel distressed when she heard this: "That's too hard! Your brother has never suffered such hardship since he was a child. We have been traveling slowly all the way back from Suzhou. We have never walked so fast before. It was only because he practiced riding and shooting diligently in the past few years that I was relieved to let him follow General Tu. And your second uncle, he hasn't ridden a fast horse for many years? They don't know how hard it is for them now!"

Haitang thought that instead of worrying about Hai Changan and Hai Jiao, who had been training intensively for several years, it would be better to worry about their horses. Hai Changan was fine, as he was a personal soldier of Tu Rong, so he could ride the official post horse. Hai Jiao was traveling with him as a private person, so he didn't know how the horse was arranged. The horse he brought was a good one, but it might not be able to withstand such a long journey at such a high speed!

Haitang was silent for a while, and suddenly felt that she needed to improve her riding skills.

She should not be satisfied with the riding skills of the boudoir circles in Chang'an. She should at least make sure that she can ride for three to five days without collapsing, otherwise she will have to sit in a bumpy carriage all the way to Beijing. Anyway, she has nothing to do now, so it would be nice to go out of the city to practice riding and take a look at the autumn scenery.

By the way, Jin Jiashu will also go to Beijing in the future, and he will also have to walk more than 2,000 miles. She might as well ask him to go along. Even if he, a scholar, can't stand the hardship of archery and boxing, can't he ride out of the city to see the sights?

(End of this chapter)