Ordinary clear day

Chapter 228 Prepare for the New Year
As soon as Fujin and others left, the actual hostess of this Prince Jane's mansion was the Guerjia family. Taking her away seemed to imply that she was not a good sister-in-law and would abuse her husband's brothers.Although she didn't like to see those half-grown children, she felt a little embarrassed when she was exposed in front of the prince and father-in-law.

"Are you burying me?" Guerjia said with a sneer, "What? Did I treat Lao Wu badly? Did I leave him cold or hungry? Tell me clearly in front of Ama. "

Tong Ying calmly said: "Sister-in-law, don't get me wrong, I just feel that I don't learn the real homework well, and I need someone to guide me. There is no well-learned gentleman in the palace, but I have one there, which saves the effort of hiring someone. What's more , My mansion is big and there is still an empty yard, so it’s okay to stay at my brother’s house for a few days, and let him concentrate on his studies.”

Guerjia snorted coldly: "Who are you coaxing? I know you don't want to see me, and I don't want to see you either! Do you have a yard?" She squinted at Shuning, "It's better to have a concubine's room, siblings are so virtuous , I will definitely not object, and it will save you from meddling in your own business every day!"

Tongying frowned, but Shuning was a little angry when she heard this: "Sister-in-law, I think I have always been respectful to you, but I have been married for less than a hundred days, so you have already taken a concubine, married another, and so on. I've said it several times. No matter how virtuous I am, there is no reason for anyone to step on my face. Are you so opposed to this marriage?!"

Guerjia stared, and was about to push back, but Yaerjiang stopped him sharply, and reprimanded: "The more you talk, the more stupid you are! What do you talk about as a sister-in-law about my uncle's family?!" Then turned around The head apologized to Tongying and Shuning: "Second younger brother and younger sister, your sister-in-law was foolish for a while, I will compensate you for her. Please don't blame me."

Naturally, Tong Ying wouldn't say anything, and Shu Ning accepted it as soon as she saw a deal.It's just that Guarjia's face is ugly.

Yarjiang saluted the stern Prince Jane in the front seat, and said respectfully: "It's all my son's negligence. I didn't pay attention to the homework of my younger brothers. Please punish me. My son will definitely invite the youngest brother for my younger brothers as soon as possible." Good master."

Prince Jane calmed down and nodded with satisfaction: "You know that you are wrong, so just correct it. But the most important thing is to find a few good riding and archery masters. As for those who read the Four Books and Five Classics, it is second. If the second child's family Hello sir, it’s not impossible for you to come and give advice to your younger brothers, but it’s better to be more convenient in the house.” After speaking, he glanced at Guarjia’s family: “If you have the time to discipline your daughter-in-law, the head of the house must be the head of the house. Madam's bearing."

Yaerjiang hurriedly agreed, talked with Tong Ying, and then respectfully sent his father back to the backyard.Guarjia saw that Prince Jane was gone, gave the others a hard look, and returned to the room with a veil.

Tongying and Shuning looked at each other, and said to her elder brother: "Sister-in-law is just a misunderstanding, brother, don't blame her too much." But Yaerjiang shook his head and said, "It's because I spoiled her too much before, so that she made a mistake in doing things. Proper, I can't even tell the difference between right and wrong. These days I'm so busy that I don't pay attention to the affairs of the house, but she is a sister-in-law, so careless, if it spreads, people think it's my instruction. Really long hair, short knowledge."

This is the elder brother's housework, Tong Ying didn't have much to say, he paused, and explained: "I proposed to let Shige live in my house, just to help the fifth younger brother, and didn't imply the intention of burying the elder brother. Brother, don't get me wrong."

Yaerjiang smiled and said: "I don't know this yet? We are brothers, I know who you are." Glancing at Shuning, he lowered his voice and said, "Although I don't like those little bastards, But I won't do things that cause people to gossip. Don't worry, I know it well, and I will never let them have the opportunity to complain to Ama!"

Tong Ying lowered her head and thought for a while, then pulled her elder brother to the side, and whispered: "Brother, don't be careless, Ah Ma is only forty this year, and he is still in good health, and he has always favored Fujin, Guo Fujin, Wang Fujin and others A son. It looks good with us here, if you return to Fengtian, who knows what other people will do? Brother, don't think that everything will be all right just because you are sealed as the son."

Yaerjiang was stunned when he heard the words: "You mean... those women will not give up? Hmph, indeed..."

"Therefore, elder brother, you should be careful when you do things, and don't let people catch you. For brothers, it doesn't matter if you praise them more. Azaran is old, and he can't change his mind. That's all. But Shige and Wuge and the others It's different, their mothers are out of favor now, and they can't say much in front of Ama and Ji Fujin. If we win over more, they will favor us, which can be regarded as a help. Even Guo Fujin and Wang Fujinsheng's younger brother Ladies and gentlemen, if we can get them to stand on our side, what's the use of their mother's tricks?"

Yaerjiang smiled, and patted Tongying on the shoulder: "Good brother, brother knows what to do." After finishing speaking, he went out to call the manager of the palace.

Tong Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that such a statement would make her elder brother treat the other younger brothers better, at least on the surface, she would not treat them badly.Looking back at Shang Shuning with worried eyes, he smiled and said, "It's okay, I just persuaded the elder brother to treat the younger brothers well."

Shu Ning didn't ask any further questions, but just approached to warm his cold hands.

After a rectification, the servants of Prince Jane's Mansion no longer dare to treat other little masters lightly.Hearing that Irgenjueluo family had made a suggestion, Yaerjiang invited some of his father's former subordinates to be the riding and archery masters of his younger brothers. They are very useful, and the evaluation of Shizi has been greatly improved.

Ergenjue Luoshi is already six months pregnant, and Yaerjiang wants to take advantage of the new year to win the canonization of a side Fujin for his concubine.As soon as Guarjia heard about this incident, he almost broke everything in the room, and even beat a girl who didn't like it severely.However, because she was too excited, she passed out on the ground. When the imperial doctor came for diagnosis and treatment, she found that she was already three months pregnant.

Now she was proud again, and she didn't know what she said to Yaljan A. After the latter left the room, he ordered his family to suspend the application for canonization for Irgen Jue Luo.

He felt very guilty about his concubine, and even went out to comfort her.However, Ergenjue Luoshi didn't care at all, and even persuaded him in turn: "The child in Fujin's belly is important. I don't care about these titles. As long as I can stay by my master's side, I will be satisfied. Besides, who knows Is this concubine's child a boy or a woman? When I give birth to a white and fat son in the future, it will not be too late for the master to ask for canonization for my concubine."

Yaerjiang'a felt very pleasing to the ears, only felt that this concubine really deserved to be his favorite woman, this is called knowledge, and since then he has paid more attention to Irgenjue Luoshi.

Tong Ying and Shu Ning sighed after hearing about this scandal.But these have nothing to do with them, they are more focused on preparing for the first New Year after marriage.

The various industries under the name of Beizi Mansion, including Jumahe Xiaozhuang, which Shuning married as a dowry, have reported their output one after another, and the income is quite considerable.But Shu Ning saw that the account books sent by the two hot spring villages in Changping, the income was only half of that of the Jumahe small village, so she knew something was wrong, and immediately called the two village heads for questioning.

Masi and Wu Xudong, the two heads of the village, both reasoned that the year was not good, the grain harvest was low, and they had enough food for their own family, so there was not much surplus.As for fruits, vegetables and various flowers, because there are many hot spring villages doing the same business, the prices have been suppressed, and the income is only a little more than that in the first half of the year.

Tong Ying didn't understand farming, so at first she thought they were telling the truth, but seeing Shu Ning's face, she knew something was wrong, so she just watched quietly.

Shu Ning said indifferently: "It's true that this year's situation is not good, but if the grain harvest is reduced because of this, I'm afraid we can't blame God, right? Both Zhuangzi are fertile fields, and the grain they grow together covers thirty to forty hectares. It's actually less than three times the output of my dowry village. You know, the fields of that village are only middle-class. In addition, the prices of melons, fruits, vegetables and various flowers in winter are four or five times the usual price. , The income in the second half of the year is only a little more than that in spring and summer? Where did all the money go? Are you telling me that I don’t understand farming? Why didn’t you ask me before you cheated? Ask me who Ama is?!”

The two village heads looked at each other, and quickly remembered what they heard from the housekeeper Wang last time. It seemed that the new wife's natal father was good at farming, and there was a Zhuangzi at home, and the wife had taken care of it when she was at home.

Wu Xudong rolled his eyes, and said cautiously: "You guys have been running the village for more than [-] years, and you have always followed the rules, maybe it is different from other houses. As for the money for melons, vegetables and flowers, it is all set by the merchants. As for Madam, I think they deceived us that we don’t know how to do it, and lowered the price.”

Shu Ning was unmoved: "It turns out that when you ran Huangzhuang in the past, the production was worse than that of ordinary people? This job is really serious... I want you to manage the Zhuangzi because I hope you can increase income for the mansion, but now it's the opposite. Let the mansion suffer such a big loss, I'm afraid it would be better if it was replaced by anyone. You say, what do you do with such a useless steward?"

The two Zhuangtou did not dare to speak.In the past, even the shrewd Manager Yin hadn't noticed what they were doing, but this time he was very careful.Unexpectedly, the new lady, who seemed very friendly and talkative, still found clues.They are all from the Huangzhuang family. After being given to Beizi Mansion, they are not as good as before, and they only want to take advantage of it.But if you really lose your errand, how will you live in the future?

Tong Ying saw it clearly, snorted coldly, and said: "It seems that this is not the first time for you, you are so bold! Do you think no one knows? Hurry up and report the real account, and spit out the money you swallowed! "The two farm heads kowtowed in a hurry and wanted to leave, but they heard Shu Ning add: "Don't think about it, what kind of food can be grown in one hectare of land, how many buckets can be harvested, how much can it be sold for, and how much are the vegetables and flowers? , I know all of this, if I do something else..." She snorted softly, and the two villains retreated profusely in sweat.

Shu Ning originally wanted to take the opportunity to complain, but she also knew Tong Ying's concerns.These two were given together with Zhuangzi, if they want to be replaced, I'm afraid there will be some troubles on the side of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.As long as they have fear in their hearts and dare not be so greedy anymore, it is of course better to let them continue to manage Zhuangzi than to use new people.Although she has the heart to promote people she trusts, but she is new here and dare not make it too obvious, so she can only show it slowly.

According to the re-reported account, the income has almost doubled, of which fruits, vegetables and flowers are indeed the big ones.The grain produced by Zhuangzi, together with the Lumi obtained from the title of Viscount Bei, is enough to feed the whole family for several years.So I kept enough for my own food, and sold all other food.Shuning wanted to help her mother's family, so she decided to sell it to Shunfeng Grain Company.Gu Quansheng gave relatives and friends a price, which was the same as the price of the baron's mansion, and everyone was happy.

Beizi Mansion's income this year seems to be ideal. According to Tong Ying, the emperor will give out red envelopes to the emperor's relatives every New Year. He got 3000 taels last year.If this year is the same number, the income of the mansion will be 5000 taels.It was the first time for Shuning to handle so much money, and she felt a little excited.But she also knew that Beizi's house was weak, so she didn't dare to waste money, and saved half of the money.

Every time you come in, you have to go out. In addition to preparing for the New Year in your own mansion, you also need to arrange New Year gifts for the palace and other mansions.This year's gift is different from the birthday gift, and it cannot be replaced by paintings, so Tong Ying didn't bother, just bought it with money.

Shu Ning stopped Tong Ying and Manager Yin, so that they could go to antique and jade stores to buy them, not to mention the high price, and it was not easy to find good things.She specially sent someone to Huo Comprador's store, and happened to meet him in person, so she invited him to the mansion to explain her budget and delivery destination, and Huo Comprador finished the matter with a smile.

The annual gift sent to the palace, except for some small items, is mainly an ivory flower bonsai, which is extremely finely carved.Originally, Tongying took a fancy to two other ivory works in the Huojia Treasure Pavilion, one is a 3000-story tooth ball, and the other is an ornament of Tiangong Wonderland, but the price is too expensive, so she had to give up.

Shuning also bought another white jade Guanyin statue as a gift to the Queen Mother. Although she didn't mean to curry favor with her, public relations work still needs to be done. Tong Ying is quite respectable in front of this old lady, so let's treat it as a gift for her husband .

What was sent to Prince Jane's mansion was a pair of coral bonsai, one for Prince Jane and one for the crown prince, but the size was slightly different.

The New Year's gifts at the prince's and prince's houses are much more low-key, while the New Year's gifts for her mother's family are mostly practical, such as the precious medicinal materials that her mother loves to collect. Tong Ying grew up in Fengtian, and she has some connections. Medicines such as ginseng are very easy to get; the materials for official hats and court beads are prepared for the father and elder brother, and there is no leakage even from the big house.

In the past, she was always busy with these things with her mother, never by herself, Shu Ning felt that it was very tiring.Fortunately, Tong Ying was there to give a lot of advice. Although Director Luo had a straight face, he was really capable and relieved her of a lot of burden.

After finally finishing the New Year's ceremony, I was busy with the affairs of the house.The most troublesome thing is the honey offering that was bought from the Ministry of Internal Affairs as usual, but Tong Ying suddenly changed her mind and wanted to eat the kind that Shuning bought for him last time. Director Yin hurriedly went to Zhengmingzhai to place an order, Shuning stared Tong Ying was a little angry.

But Tong Ying tugged at her sleeve and said in a low voice, "You've only been busy with your business recently, so at least you should take care of me."

Shu Ning was angry and funny, but she still blushed slightly and said: "Understood, what's the matter, let's talk about it tonight." Seeing Tong Ying's happy face, she pursed her lips and smiled, and then hid.

On New Year's Eve, I thought that the two couples would watch the New Year's Eve together, but considering that they would participate in the New Year's Eve, Shu Ning and Tong Ying just ate dumplings and went to bed early.Waking up in the middle of the night, with the help of maids and eunuchs, the couple put on a full set of dresses and headed to the palace.

(I have a cold...)
(End of this chapter)