Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 478 Mo'er will be a lady in the future [Thank you! Thank you again! I owe you 37k more]

in the night sky,
The bright moon hangs high,

A ray of light shines down,
Even without a lantern at night, people can still see the flowers, trees and paths in the yard clearly.

Jiying Lane,
Sheng family,

The door of the main hall in the backyard, where I used to entertain guests, was wide open tonight.

From time to time, maids carrying dishes came in and out.

Looking from the outside, you can see that the hall is very bright because of the candles lit around it.

The Mid-Autumn Festival also coincides with the time when my children and grandchildren pass the imperial examinations.
There is also the married Hualan who brings her husband who passed the imperial examination back to the Sheng family.

This made the atmosphere in the Sheng family's backyard hall very joyful and relaxed.

On the big dining table in the middle of the hall,

The old lady and the eldest wife's husband sat side by side in the main seats with smiles on their faces, chatting with each other from time to time.

Sitting below the two old men were the cousins ​​Sheng Wei and Sheng Hong, each with their own wife.

Next were Zai Zhang, Chang Bai/Wu/Feng, who were seated in order of age, and the six Lans of the Sheng family including Hua Lan.

Since Quanzhou, Lin Qinshuang, who rarely showed up at the tables attended by the old lady, stood at the last seat with Wei Shuyi for the first time today.

Sitting opposite Wang Ruofu, Changwu's mother, Lady Li, saw Wang Ruofu and Hualan holding Changzhang just finished talking, and took the opportunity to ask, "Sister-in-law, why didn't Master Zhuang come to the table tonight?"

Wang Ruofu smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, Zhuang Xuejiu was invited by his classmate to spend the moon at a restaurant in the city today, so he didn't come."

Mrs. Li nodded slowly and said, "Oh!"

Then he said thoughtfully: "I wonder how my two nephews from my mother's family did in the provincial examination this time!"

Hua Lan, who was sitting opposite, smiled and said, "Don't worry, Auntie! I heard that the two younger brothers of the Li family study very hard, and they will definitely pass the imperial examination!"

"Then I'll borrow Hualanjiyan!"

Hua Lan smiled and continued, "If you two brothers have any questions about your studies, you can write to me. Father and Zhuang Xuejiu can answer them!"

Mrs. Li smiled even more.

On the main position,
The old lady raised her glass and said to the old lady in the first room, "Old sister-in-law, come, let's have another drink together."

The old lady from the first house raised her glass and nodded. After the two old people clinked their glasses, they both drank the glass in one gulp.

Putting down her wine glass, the old lady in the first room looked at the lively scene in the hall.

Maybe it's because of my age,

Maybe it was because I had drunk several glasses of new wine and it was a bit strong.
The old lady in the first house was filled with emotion.
In the blur, I seemed to see the Sheng family from decades ago.

At that time, her eldest daughter Sheng Shu had died of illness, and the man who favored his concubine and squandered the family fortune was also dead.

The sister-in-law who came from the marquis's mansion also lost her husband and biological son.

The two sisters-in-law, one brought Sheng Wei and their young daughter, and the other brought their illegitimate son Sheng Hong.

The entire Sheng family was decimated.
During the Chinese New Year and other festivals, the dinner tables are very deserted.

Decades passed in the blink of an eye.
The Sheng family's business is thriving.

At this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, both families have many children.

No matter how she thought about it, she never expected such a lively scene.

"Sanlang, come, let's have a drink together."

Sheng Wei stood up as usual, raised his glass to Zai Zhang and said.

Zai Zhang stood up quickly: "Uncle, please sit down! You are the elder, how can you stand up to drink with the younger generation?"

Sheng Hong was looking sideways at Hua Lan who was taking care of his brother while he was eating.
Listening to the words of the son-in-law who was born in a high family and knew etiquette,

He smiled with great satisfaction, revealing the dimples on his face.

Seeing Hua Lan's happy expression, Sheng Hong looked at the old lady at the table with emotion and raised his glass, saying, "Aunt, Mother, I offer a toast to you two."

At the table, people were drinking and chatting.
After the old lady and her sisters-in-law drank a few more glasses of toast, they got up and left the table to go to Shou'an Hall.

Sheng Hong, who was feeling a little drunk, glanced at the two people standing at the end of the table and said a few words to Wang Ruofu.

Wang Ruofu, who was happily talking to Hua Lan, put away her smile and said to the last seat: "You two, sit down too!"

"Thank you, madam!"

Wei Shuyi and Lin Qinshuang hurriedly bowed to express their gratitude.

then,

In Wei Shuyi's surprised eyes,

Lin Qinshuang walked up to Hualan and said softly, "Miss, you have been taking care of Brother Qiang for so long, I will take over for you."

Hearing this,

Wang Ruofu's eyes almost rolled up to the sky, but she couldn't say much because there were guests present.

Sheng Hong, who was holding a wine glass at the top, saw this scene and nodded in appreciation, with a look of "good Shuang'er" in his eyes.

"No need. I've only been with Brother Maki for a short time, so this is a good opportunity to get to know him better." Hua Lan said with a smile while hugging Chang Maki. At the same time, she gave a warning glance at Rulan, who had the same expression as Wang Ruofu.

"Yes, big girl!"

Lin Qinshuang replied softly and turned to walk towards the last seat.

Hua Lan turned her head to look at Lin Qinshuang's departing figure, then looked at Cui Chan who was standing beside her.

Cuichan came over and asked, "Madam, what's wrong?"

"Go ask the kitchen if the fish soup is ready."

"Yes."

Wang Ruofu also looked at Mother Liu and said, "You can go and take a look too."

"Yes, madam."

When the two of them walked out, Wei Shuyi followed them, but Lin Qinshuang sat quietly in her seat, smiling and using a serving chopstick to pick up some food for the younger Pinlan and Minglan.

After a while

Wei Shuyi, Mother Liu and others came in carrying large bowls of fish.

Put the fish bowl on the table,
Pinlan, who was sitting opposite Minglan, looked at the steaming bowl of fish curiously, smelled the aroma wafting from it, and smacked her lips.

Then Shulan pulled Pinlan's clothes and asked her to pay attention to her manners.

Minglan and Rulan also slid their throats, obviously attracted by the fragrance.

Taking her eyes off Mama Liu who was serving her a bowl, Rulan asked, "Big sister, what kind of fish is this soup made of? It smells so good!"

"Hualan, is this a dolphin?"

Mrs. Li asked tentatively.

Hua Lan smiled and nodded: "Yes, Auntie! Because Master and Wu Lang passed the imperial examination, the Qiao family sent it specially. My mother-in-law asked me to bring it here before I came."

Zai Zhang, who was drinking, waved his hands drunkenly: "This has nothing to do with me! He is looking at Xiao Wu."

Hua Lan gave Sheng Hong a reproachful look as he tried to persuade her to drink.

Wang Ruofu and Madam Li smiled and nodded, saying with satisfaction: "My good son-in-law is humble."

Everyone drank the fish soup.

Zai Zhang was pulled by Sheng Hong and others and continued drinking with Chang Bai at the table.

The women went aside.

Looking at Lin Qinshuang who followed her, Wang Ruofu curled her lips and said disdainfully: "Okay, there is nothing for you to do here, go back to your own courtyard."

"Yes, madam!"

Lin Qinshuang bowed softly and walked towards Linqi Pavilion with Molan, Zhou Xuenniang and the maids.

On the way,

"The moonlight is so bright, put out the lanterns." "Yes, girl!"

After standing on the roadside and looking at the moonlight,

Lin Qinshuang led Molan and continued walking.

When the maids Lu Zhong and Yun Zai beside Mo Lan wanted to follow, they were stopped by Zhou Xue Niang: "Let's catch up later!"

Lin Qinshuang led Molan forward and said, "Mo'er, how about the fish soup tonight?"

"Yeah! It tastes delicious!"

"Then do you know how much these bowls of fish soup cost?"

Molan shook her head: "Mother, I don't know."

"There are always thirty or forty strings of cash."

"Ah? Mother, it's so expensive?"

"Hmm! I haven't eaten live sea fish in Yangzhou before."

Seeing Molan nod, Lin Qinshuang touched her hair and said, "If you want to drink such delicious fish soup in the future, you have to marry into a wealthy family like your elder sister."

"It has to be someone from a family like Young Master Qi, Second Young Master Gu, or Fifth Young Master Xu."

Molan shook her head and said, "Mother, I dare not look for a daughter of Brother Xu Jiajing! I heard that the three maids who often come to our school with him have a lot of dowry and private property!"

Lin Qinshuang grabbed Molan's shoulders and said as they walked, "You have such ambition! If you can marry into the Xu family, you will be the main wife! Those little rascals are just concubines! What do they have for dowry and private property? They are all in your hands!"

Molan nodded, not quite understanding.

"However, I think the other two families are better than the Xu family. Erlang's maternal family of the Gu family is a salt merchant, with a lot of gold and silver. The Duke of Qi's Mansion is even more worth mentioning!"

"Mother, can I enter these high gates?"

"Why not? Your grandfather was a scholar who won the imperial examination, your grandmother was a daughter of a marquis, your father was a Jinshi, your sister is the second eldest lady of the marquis, and your two brothers will also be Jinshi in the future! The aristocratic Hai family has five Hanlin scholars, and the Sheng family will also have four Jinshi in the future! Why can't you get in?"

"Besides, the Hai family has a rule that a man can only take a concubine if he is 40 years old and has no children. The Sheng family doesn't have that rule!"

Hearing this, Molan nodded in agreement.

At this time,

The mother and daughter also returned to Linqi Pavilion.
Looking at Molan under the lantern light, Lin Qinshuang sighed with some regret and said, "The twin girls beside Xu's Jing'er are indeed inferior in appearance, but they don't understand poetry either!"

"Mother, Brother Jing rarely talks to my daughter. But Erlang of the Gu family and Brother Qi Heng talk to my daughter more. Brother Qi Heng even often praises my daughter's calligraphy and appreciation of poetry."

Lin Qinshuang smiled and nodded: "Well, Mo'er, you have to work harder in the future. I learned some things about burning incense and arranging flowers from the old woman in Shou'an Hall before, and I will teach you everything in the future!"

"Ok!"

Backyard main hall,

On the Luohan bed in the side room of the room,
Wang Ruofu, her sisters-in-law, and her daughters and nieces were sitting there.

Mother Liu stood aside and bowed: "Madam, the hangover soup is already served."

Wang Ruofu nodded and said to Hua Lan, "Hua'er, please continue."

"After His Majesty's birthday, the palace will find an excuse to invite those young officers to come in for a chat. Then you can just sit behind the screen and take a look at them."

Hualan said "aunt", but her eyes were looking at Shulan who wanted to crawl into the ground.

"This is really troublesome for my relatives!"

Mrs. Li said with emotion.

"Aunt, it's no problem to find a wife as good as my sister for the lieutenant under my command."

Listening to what Hualan said, Mrs. Li smiled and nodded.

Hualan wasn't talking nonsense.
Whoever can get engaged to Shulan, even though they are not biological sisters, she is still Zai Zhang's brother-in-law.

Later, the civil officials were Sheng Hong and the Wang family, the nobles were the Xu family, and the businessmen were Sheng Wei.
Among his peers, there are cousins ​​who have passed the imperial examination (Changbai and Changfeng) and cousins ​​who are studying (Li Yu and Li Du). Such family support is not something that every family can have.

Side door,

Wei Shuyi stood there holding his son, and whispered, "Qian'er, you must study hard in the future! When you pass the imperial examination, there will be such a lively atmosphere."

Sheng Changqi raised his head and said seriously, "Mother, will there be fish soup like you like tonight?"

Wei Shuyi thought about it and said, "Yes! There will be!"

The young Sheng Changzhang nodded heavily.

At night, at the Mansion of Marquis Yongyi.

An eunuch in the palace brought an order: The day after tomorrow the Empress will go outside the city to watch a polo match, and all the relatives of the Marquis's mansion are invited to go.

The results of the provincial examination have been announced.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is the birthday of the current official.
Bianjing was always full of joy in August.

The number of colorful pavilions and stages used for performances on the roadside in the city is increasing day by day.

Panlou Main Street is bustling and lively.
The autumn afternoon is bright and beautiful.

A carriage with a wooden sign with the word "Tan" on it stopped outside Sibaozhai on the street.

Listening to the pleasant sound of the pipa coming faintly from the second floor,

A woman holding a round fan lifted the curtain of the car and looked at the plaque hanging at the door of the wooden building.

The woman stepped on the stool, held on to the hand of the mother who was in charge of the carriage, got off the carriage, turned around, reached out to the carriage, and took down a girl.

The woman held her daughter's hand and said to the housekeeper, "Jian, is this the only copy you found?"

"Yes, girl! My husband saw a lot of strong guards at the door of the store, so he guessed that the owner of the store had arrived."

The shop boy at the door,
Looking at the condition of the carriage, he quickly turned around and ran into the store.

Before the three women reached the door, the store manager came out and greeted them, bowing and saying, "Dear guests, what would you like?"

Sibaozhai 2nd floor,
The steward who had just greeted the guests walked upstairs under the guidance of the maid Zi Teng, bowed and said:
"Boss, there is a lady downstairs who claims to be from the fourth room of the Anguogong Tan family. She said she wants to ask for something."

"please."

The steward should step back.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Yunmu in confusion. Yunmu's mind raced, and she leaned over and whispered, "Miss, this lady is the younger sister of the Marquis of Dongchang, and she married the fourth branch of the Anguogong Tan family."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded.

Yunmu hesitated for a moment and then continued, "Sister is the first wife of Ningyuan Hou."

"That means Sister Pingmei's husband, Brother Yu's aunt?"

"Yes girl."

When Yunmu whispered a few words in Chai Zhengzheng's ear about the lack of interaction between the two marquisates in recent years, the person they were talking about had already brought people up.

"Meet Madam Qin!"

"Greetings, Miss Zheng Zheng. I am sorry for disturbing you by coming here without your permission."

The two of them bowed to each other and said.

The young girl following Madam Qin also bowed in a proper manner.

"Madam Qin, what are you talking about? Please take a seat!"

Chai Zhengzheng stretched out his hand from behind the table.

After they sat down,
Chai Zhengzheng looked at the guest who was staring at her, and she asked in confusion: "Madam Qin, what's wrong?"

Madam Qin, that is, the little Qin in the original story, smiled and said, "Please forgive me, Miss Zhengzheng. I have seen many noble ladies in the capital, but this is the first time I have seen such a beautiful woman."

Being recognized and praised,
Chai Zhengzheng raised his lips slightly and said, "Madam, you are too kind! Rong's sister Feiyan is prettier than me! The sister next to you is also very beautiful."

The girl next to Madam Qin leaned towards her mother shyly.

Chai Zhengzheng was not just saying these words for show.
The little girl following Xiao Qinshi does have a calm temperament.

After taking another sip of tea and talking for a few minutes, Madam Qin said with a smile, "I heard that Miss Zheng Zheng's shop has a rare copy of Nanyue Guangji?"

Chai Zhengzheng thought about it and shook his head: "There are quite a lot of rare copies. I'll ask someone to ask."

(End of this chapter)