The Ups and Downs of Mrs. Yipin

Chapter 101 Gu's Birthday
The days of winter are gradually getting shorter, and the days pass faster and faster every day.Before Fang Xiuyi felt the passage of time, he was about to put on his thick winter clothes, and the charcoal fire was already set in the room.He Huai'an's study, Fei Yu's room, and Siyuan's room, she had to check back and forth two or three times a day, because she was afraid that the room temperature would be too low to freeze everyone.There is also Yunniang's room, although there are not enough people to live in, but Fang Xiuyi also checks it often, always hoping that Yunniang can come to stay for a night one day.

Probably because it's winter, people almost want to hibernate, and have reduced their outings.However, He Huai'an became busy.

The pilgrimage of local officials every three years happens to be in the first month of the Dingxu year of the next year, so many local officials will flock to the capital in the second ten days of the twelfth lunar month of this year.

Fang Xiuyi was not very clear about the process of official assessment, but when he thought of local officials piling up in the capital, it was really a scary thing.This made her even more hesitant to go out, and she really lived a life of hibernation.

Ever since He Huai'an rushed home to practice carving with Fei Yu for the first time in the afternoon, Fang Xiuyi has realized the complexity of the matter.

"My lord, are you busy with a lot of things and people to see every day?"

"A little more than usual."

"Isn't that very hard? Do you come back so late every day?" Fang Xiuyi was worried about He Huai'an's physical condition.

"It's just the twelfth lunar month, and the officials have not yet entered Beijing, but all the assessments have already begun."

"Didn't the officials work harder after they came to Beijing?"

"It will be busier than usual, but there are other ministries to cooperate, and the cabinet will also monitor."

"Oh, that's fine, as long as it's not just busy with the bureaucracy. My lord, please remember that your body belongs to your family as well as your family. You must pay attention to rest!" Fang Xiuyi always had a thorn in his heart, and that was He Huaian He Siyuan's talent for photographic memory can damage the body.

"I will pay attention. It's just that the mansion has to work hard and you pay more attention."

"My lord, please don't worry, I will stick to the door, manage strictly, and live in seclusion." Fang Xiuyi cherishes the hard-won life now.

He Huai'an smiled, "Don't be so nervous, just be a little more cautious than before. Besides, it seems that you haven't gone out for a long time."

"To tell you the truth, my lord, I'm actually not very interested in the outside world, and I feel more comfortable in the mansion. Moreover, I have a lot of things to do in the mansion, so I won't feel bored. Don't worry, my lord." If you want to know, Fang Xiuyi prefers to go shopping and travel freely, but the reality doesn't allow it, so it's better to stay in the mansion and have fun.

"Okay, when the next year's assessment is over, let's go to the snow to find plums together." He Huai'an seemed to know what Fang Xiuyi was thinking.

"Of course that's good, what a meaningful and meaningful event." I don't know if it will be realized, but Fang Xiuyi still likes this promise very much, "Oh, by the way, my lord, I suddenly remembered a person. The last time I Wuliang Temple, I met Master Gu's daughter, her friend Mrs. Bai's husband seems to be the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, what about this person?"

He Huai'an thought for a while, and said, "It should be Bai Shuxing, from Shanxi. What's the matter? Did she ask you for something?"

Fang Xiuyi had never seen He Huai'an's photographic memory with her own eyes, so she was shocked to hear this.

"My lord, you...you can remember like this? How many things do you have to hold in your head! My lord, it's too scary!" Fang Xiuyi suddenly became nervous and frightened, "No, my lord, you can't do this, everyone's Energy is limited, the more things you remember, the more you will consume. You will be an ordinary person from now on. By the way, Siyuan, and Siyuan. My lord, your decision with Siyuan is wise Yes, don’t be an official anymore, it’s too much of a brain.”

Fang Xiu spoke incoherently, with anxious expressions written all over her face, which really moved He Huai'an's heart.

"It doesn't matter, it's just a habit, not deliberate. Don't worry. How can I remember so much? I just have an impression of the Beijing officials. Didn't you ask about Bai Shuxing just now?" He Huai'an didn't tell the truth, afraid that Fang Xiuyi would be more worried , In fact, his head is the warehouse of officialdom.

"Probably, I only know that his surname is Bai, and he is a governor. It seems that he followed the way of the eldest princess at that time."

"Well, I see. He is a Beijing official, from the eighth rank, and the assessment is not included in the pilgrimage. However, I will pay attention to whether there are vacancies."

"My lord, that's what I said, and they didn't ask me anything. If it's useful, then use it. If you're someone who wants to make money, it's fine as usual."

"I know that Uncle Bai is not flexible. Some positions are very suitable for him. If there are vacancies, I will consider one or two."

"Oh, that's good, you don't have to be in trouble. There are too many unhappy people in the world, and it would be a good thing if there is one less." Fang Xiuyi came up from the bottom of society and had a natural sympathy for the disadvantaged.

"Yes, it's a pity that the pearl is dusty."

"By the way, my lord, I thought of another thing. I don't know if it's embarrassing." Fang Xiuyi suddenly thought of Lu Yibei.

"You said."

"It's Lu Yuanwai. He's a businessman. Yunniang followed him, plus Lu Yuanwai's daughter. If it's just my friend, I don't have any other ideas. But with Yunniang here, and the relationship between adults, Lu Yuanwai's Can the identity of a merchant...?" Fang Xiuyi knew that the social status of merchants was low, but she was not sure whether there was a system of donating officials.

He Huai'an was silent for a while, it seemed that this was something he was more concerned about.It's not that he dislikes the businessman, it's just that Yunniang is his older sister, and he really doesn't want her to be in such a position.

"I know what you mean. But don't worry, this matter will turn around. Now the country's border wars are frequent, and the society needs to recover after natural and man-made disasters, so the country urgently needs money." He Huai'an looked at Fang Xiuyi again, and the court Although there is no express document that allows businessmen to buy officials, they will not pursue it if they turn a blind eye. After all, those official positions are only false titles.But the strange thing is that my wife, who doesn't hear anything outside the window, knows

"That's good, that's good." Fang Xiuyi nodded in satisfaction, and the status of a businessman should also be mentioned, otherwise it would be too detrimental to the development of society.

Just before local officials came to Beijing on a large scale, Mrs. Gu sent a post to invite Fang Xiuyi and Fei Yu to attend her birthday banquet in Gu's mansion.People who came said that it was not an important birthday, but Madam Gu wanted to take this opportunity to gather friends together to talk and have fun.

Fang Xiuyi hadn't seen Mrs. Gu since the last time she was at the Princess' Mansion, and it had been almost half a year.Dealing with the relationship with Mrs. Gu is really a technical job, because Mrs. Gu and He Huai'an are good friends, it would be a good thing if she and Mrs. Gu get along well.

The twelfth lunar month is about to celebrate the Chinese New Year. When Fang Xiuyi prepared the presents, he still wanted to celebrate the Chinese New Year. He spent a long time in the storeroom looking around and picked out a few spices to wrap them up.Fei Yu had checked the storeroom and knew about it better, saying that He Huai'an got it from somewhere in the south, it was very rare and the fragrance was elegant.It's not a big birthday, the adults on both sides have a good relationship, so there is no need to send expensive things.

Looking at the packaged spices, they looked a bit random, and there was no suitable box in the mansion. Fang Xiuyi thought that if she went out of the mansion, she would buy them specially. Mom took Zhaodi and Fengnian out and bought an exquisite box, which was divided into six compartments, just right for spices.A native of Fengnian Jingshi, who is familiar with the outside world, said that the box was bought in an old store, and the box alone cost about 30 taels of silver.

Fang Xiu looked at the box carefully with one end. It was indeed very high-end, but the price was also very high-end.She glanced at Fengnian, and suddenly had another plan in her mind.

"Fengnian, are you a local?"

"Yes, ma'am." Fengnian and Zhaodi are both thirteen or fourteen years old. Fengnian looks like her name, round and round.

"Are you familiar with the city?"

"Madam, I have been doing small business with my mother in the city since I was a child."

Fang Xiu nodded again and again, what a good resource.

"Okay! You go down first, and I will send you a new mission in a few days."

On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was cold and the breeze was blowing, but it was still very cold.Fang Xiuyi and Fei Yu dressed very thickly, and got into the carriage with a group of maids, mothers, and guards.

Gu's sedan chair brought Fang Xiuyi, mother and daughter to a familiar place - Madam Gu's reception room.When Fang Xiu entered, there were already people drinking tea and talking inside.

"Sister Fang, it's been a long time." Mrs. Gu came over and took Fang Xiuyi's hand, "I always said that I would go to the house for a walk, but you also know me, and I have too many housework. It's hard to take a day off today, can you come It was great, we happened to be talking."

"I'm also busy on weekdays. It's lucky that Sister Hong invited me today, otherwise I would almost die." Fang Xiuyi followed Mrs. Gu's guidance and sat next to several wives, with Fei Yu next to her.

"Come, come, don't be polite. All of you here are my good friends. It's really not easy to get together. Me, thank you very much for coming here today."

There were a total of seven people present, Fang Xiu only recognized two of them - Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Gu's younger sister. The others had vague impressions, but couldn't remember their names.

Just as everyone was about to talk, a little servant girl came in, bowed to everyone, and said: "Madam, Madam He, Miss said that she would like to invite the Junjun to come and talk."

"Hehe, look at my memory, Qizhi said long ago that she wants to sit with the Junjun." Mrs. Gu looked at Fang Xiuyi.

"That's right, they girls can't finish talking together." Fang Xiu smiled at Fei Yu.

Fei Yu got up, and bowed decently, "Ladies and gentlemen, please forgive me for being rude!"

After Fei Yu left, Mrs. Gu praised Fang Xiu, "Your Majesty has really changed a lot, and now he is more and more stylish."

"Where, Sister Hong has won the award. A child can't afford such a compliment." Fang Xiuyi felt that there might be something wrong with her. Whenever others praised Fei Yu and Siyuan, she always felt uneasy. To her, a child is more like a treasure handed down from generation to generation, which can only be appreciated by her own people and dare not let others know.

"Madam He is really too modest. Every time my daughter talks about the Junjun, she regards it as a model." It was Madam Wu who spoke.

Fang Xiuyi was a little surprised. The last time there was a conflict, this Ms. Wu also had inappropriate words. Although she also came to the mansion, she really never asked what happened to Fei Yu.

"Mrs. Wu, please don't say that. How dare she be so young. It's just that she thinks too much." Siyuan and Fei Yu are both very sensible, thinking about things has almost reached the level of adults.

"I wish Qizhi could do the same!" Mrs. Gu said with a smile.

"Yes, I have the same idea." Mrs. Wu agreed with Mrs. Gu.

The others have never spoken to each other before, and everyone just knows each other's identity, so it's inconvenient to speak rashly.Fang Xiu could tell that the relationship between the other few people was more familiar. Although Mrs. Gu tried her best to match her relationship with other people, Fang Xiuyi always had the feeling that for some reason, these few people were a little alienated on purpose.

While talking, the door curtain was raised, and at the same time there was a crisp laughter, "I'm sorry, everyone, I'm late today!"

Several people in the room stood up, and a middle-aged beautiful woman in her 40s and [-]s who still had a charming charm came in, with charming features in her eyebrows and eyes.

"Oh, Mrs. Xie, it's the best if you can come, it's too late!" Mrs. Gu laughed.

Mrs. Xie looked at it politely and politely for a week, "It seems that there is a newcomer here today!"

"Hurry up, sit down and drink some hot tea first, it's so cold outside." Mrs. Gu beckoned everyone to sit down again.

"Speaking of which, you are also a blessed one. It has been several years, and on your birthday, the weather is neither wind nor snow, as if God specially left it for you."

Mrs. Xie is also good at talking, and her words were immediately echoed by several others.

"Yes, thanks to you, I come here every year." Mrs. Gu introduced the two people to each other, "This is the wife of Mr. He from the Ministry of Officials, and this is the wife of Mr. Xie, the Minister of Rites. This is the first time for you Let's meet."

"Mrs. Xie!" Fang Xiuyi stood up and saluted Mrs. Xie. She has no rank now, so she naturally has more etiquette for these noble ladies who have rank.

Mrs. Xie was not polite, and accepted Fang Xiuyi's gift directly, but she said: "Stop being so polite, Mrs. He, we are all friends, sit down quickly, let's talk together."

"You are a lively person. I haven't seen you for a while, and I really miss you!" Mrs. Liu, a doctor in the Ministry of Industry, laughed.

"That's right. I think that on weekdays, no matter what the day is, we should get together more. The endless housework in the house every day is getting boring!" Mrs. Gu's younger sister also agreed.

"Well, it's easy to say, but everyone is in charge of the house, so how can we leave easily." Mrs. Gu said a little helplessly.

"It's true, there are few people in my mansion, and there are many things every day, not to mention that your family has a big business, and you are even more busy." Madam Ge, the general judge of Shuntian Mansion, said.

"In this way, Madam Xie is trying to attract people's envy?" Madam Gu teased.

"Isn't that right, Mrs. Xie is now living in a separate government, Mr. Xie is making progress again, Mrs. Xie is living a fairy-like life!" Mrs. Liu also laughed.

"What a fairy-like day! If you want to put it this way, how easy is it to be a fairy?! I'm just lazy, too lazy to care about so many things!" Mrs. Xie has always had a sunny expression since she entered the door. , it seems that life is indeed very happy.

Regarding this, Fang Xiuyi really felt the same way, the more things a person cares about, the more troubles he will inevitably have.

Mrs. Gu took Fang Xiuyi to say a few words from time to time, but the others were not very familiar with them after all, so they were more polite to Fang Xiuyi.Husbands with high official positions do not want to lower their status, while husbands with low official positions do not want to curry favor with others.But Fang Xiuyi didn't feel that she was being left out. Mrs. Gu herself had good intentions and asked her to come out to meet people more, and she wasn't used to being the center of attention, so it was a pleasure to just quietly watch others talking and laughing.However, she was also curious, the adult of Mrs. Xie's family is the servant of the Ministry of Rites, and He Huai'an used to be a minister of the Ministry of Rites. Now it seems that He Huai'an offended someone?Or is his reputation not very good?

It's cold and sunny outside in winter, and the house is full of laughter.It is also rare for Fusheng to sneak away for a day!

(End of this chapter)