Notes on Leisurely Living in the Farm

Chapter 73

After saying this, even Mrs. Li could hardly hold back.When did the girl get engaged, why didn't even a mother like her know?

The corners of her eyes and mouth twitched together, and she quickly returned to normal after seeing Mother Yin's obviously distrustful expression.But it was already too late, and Mother Yin glanced over, smiling again.

"This is really a happy event. How come I haven't heard of it before. I don't know which house the girl is destined for. The old lady can also congratulate you."

The voice is full of murderous intent, who is it that can make you abandon the personable Master Zhizhou?

But Li knew that she had to help her daughter to settle this matter.

"It's just an ordinary brother. After the Six Rites, if Mom doesn't mind, please come and have a glass of water and wine."

Mother Yin's smile faded a bit: "Ma'am, why bother to talk about it, today's Mid-Autumn Festival, it will make everyone happy if you say it."

Sister Qiao patted the porcelain cup on the table: "Mom is quite curious, Yiyou, why don't you tell her and let her guess."

Zhang patted his daughter on the shoulder, and the reprimand did not reach his eyes.

All the smiles on Yin's mother's face disappeared: "Look at what the lady said, maybe she is trying to embarrass me. Mrs. Shen, the old lady came here today at the order of the lady, and she must have a reason to go back. Could it be that the lady looks down on Zhizhou?" , deliberately using this as a prevarication; or really deliberately embarrassing my old woman."

Yiyou curled her lips: "Where is Mom thinking, madam is kind, and my mother's words are not disrespectful, so why is it difficult?"

Mother Yin took a soft knife for her words, and she simply squeezed her wrist: "Young lady is shy."

Yiyou didn't act as shy as she said, but raised her head openly.This glance made her stunned. Mu Ran stood at the arch with complicated eyes.Looking carefully, his shoulders were trembling slightly.

what happened to him?Could it be possible to see Mama Yin and think that Mr. Zhizhou is unhappy, or that he caught a cold when he came in because of the cold weather.

Or was she stimulated by her sudden engagement?As soon as this thought came to her mind, she suppressed it.A man's family is no thinner than a girl's. If Mu Ran liked her, he would not walk all the way on both sides of the street, with a look of indifference.

"Come and tell Mom, Madam has always been kind. If it's a good marriage, she might give something."

Mother Yin's hand was so strong that it hurt her wrist a bit.

Seeing that he couldn't break free, Zhang Shi, who had been shaking the field all the time, stood up: "Master, you came over after finishing your work?"

"Well, there are a lot of things to do today, thank you madam."

Ever since the accident happened in Qiaojie's marriage, Chen Xiancheng's heart of loving his daughter has been fully opened, and all the little thoughts in the past have been honestly put away.In the past few days, he was busy confiscating the Jiang family's thousand acres of fertile land, and he was in a great mood after making a fortune.

"It's okay, there is a distinguished guest coming to the house. Master, you may not know it, but this is Mrs. Zhizhou's nanny, Mama Yin."

"Oh, ma'am, tell me, I'll just sit for a while."

Mrs. Zhang ordered Mama Wu to serve tea to the people brought by the county magistrate, and then she asked Mama Yin to sit aside.

The people who can sit on the table are all the wives of officials, no matter how big or small their husbands and sons-in-law are, they are always different from the slaves who are held by their masters.The embroidered pier where Yin's mother was sitting was at the bottom of the round table.

Yiyou's wrist finally regained its freedom, looking at it was black and blue, Mama Yin's hand is really strong.Half a year ago, it was only bruised when it hit the Kang table for a few days, but now that she has held it for so long, it is already bruised.

"Jade, go to my room and get a plaster for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis."

Qiaojie's voice reminded Li Shi, and she hurriedly knocked over: "Does it hurt?"

Yiyou grinned, and then smiled indifferently: "It's all right now."

Mother Yin didn't notice the clear eyes around her at all, and she smiled brightly at this moment: "The girl's house is so green and juicy, and she has to find a rich and noble family, so she can love and pamper her. The old lady has a bit of color in her eyes, Just tell me, I'll take a look at you, and I'll tell the master and madam when I return home."

When Yiyou blurted out, she didn't think that Mama Yin would be easy to dismiss.Take a step back, even if she is dismissed today, she will only be a small person for a day, and she can carry the sedan chair over there to meet people at any time.

Scholars, farmers, businessmen, not just for fun.It is completely legal for the gentry to buy and sell slaves of the lower third class, and it is a legend only in dramas that a prince breaks the law and commits the same crime as the common people.As far as she knew, if Chen Deren was not angry and chopped her to death tomorrow, the most serious consequence would be that the Chen family in the capital would give some money to the government to make amends.Under normal circumstances, murders are never reported to the case desk.

Mrs. Zhang wiped the teacup: "Since Mama Yin is so curious, then you can just say it."

Qiaojie winked at her, Yiyou understood what she meant.There are so many people in Yunlin Village, so it doesn't matter if she just makes a prevarication.

Mrs. Li was in a hurry, in front of so many people, if the girls spoke out, they would almost all have to marry.It's not that she is boasting, but with her good looks, no one would be willing to withdraw from her marriage.

At this moment, she had mixed feelings in her heart. If she had known this, it would not be as good as Mu Ran's words.So what if there is someone you like, who is far away in the sky, and can be compared to his beautiful daughter.It won't matter if you say it, maybe he will agree to it.

"Isn't this hesitating, I'm lying to my old lady, and I still look down on our master."

Yiyou curled her lips, now she really doesn't like Chen Deren.

She understood what Sister Qiao meant, but she couldn't say anything casually.Turning his head to look at Mu Ran, he was sitting upright, his hands resting on his knees tightly holding the handle of the knife.As if aware of her gaze, he slowly raised his head.

When Mu Ran entered the Hanging Flower Gate, his heart felt like falling into an ice cave.

Yiyou is already engaged, and her future husband-in-law is not Chen Zhizhou, but a certain gentleman from Yunzhou.

In the five days that he hasn't met, he fantasizes that he can be calm and peaceful.But the longing day and night can't make him deceive himself. He can overcome the fear of being sprayed in the face with blood foam when he went to battle in his early teens, but he can't break through this emotional barrier no matter what.

During the day, he looks in a trance, but at night, he has dreams again and again.Just when he couldn't help but planned to try again after she was old enough, a basin of cold water was poured from the sky.

She's engaged!

After many days of psychological construction completely collapsed, he could only hide and hide his anger with silence.But God knows, the fringe of the knife has been rotten from his palm.

Sensing that someone was looking at him, he was afraid of showing his feet, so he raised his head hesitantly, only to find the embarrassment in her expression.

Immediately, the sanity that was blown away returned to the cage.Mu Yu stayed at Shen's house every day, how could he know nothing about such a big matter of engagement.Yiyou must have listened to what he said that day, felt that it was not easy to be a concubine, and was afraid of Zhizhou's power, so she just wanted to politely refuse.

So now, when she was asked about the embarrassing state, she was unable to answer.There is only one way to solve the predicament, and that is to tell the person who is engaged.

Suddenly an extremely bold idea popped up in his mind, which can not only solve Yiyou's current predicament, but also fulfill his wish!
The more he thought about it, the brighter his eyes became. He had never been so happy when he heard that General Liao had recovered.

"I think the girl is joking shyly, since that's the case..."

Seeing Mu Ran look up, Yiyou hurriedly withdrew her gaze: "Mom really misunderstood."

"Oh? Girl, don't worry, the master and wife are both magnanimous people, and they won't care about your slip of the tongue."

Even if Yiyou held on, she couldn't let her see it: "Mom is joking, how can this matter be made public with such fanfare."

Mother Yin slapped her face: "How can the ladies here be called outsiders, and I am the only old woman. If the girl tells you, I will definitely not be like that bitch."

Seeing that she was about to catch her again, Mrs. Li hurriedly protected her daughter behind her back: "Second girl, put on the plaster well. Since Mrs. Zhizhou must find out, it doesn't matter if I say it, this person is not someone else..."

"it's me."

The abrupt male voice froze the entire courtyard, and Mother Yin's raised arm froze in mid-air.

Mu Ran stepped forward and stood by Yiyou's side: "I am the one who is betrothed. I haven't completed the six rituals, so I didn't want to reveal it too early."

"What?" The first person who was shocked was the county magistrate, the new magistrate was his favorite son-in-law.

"Lord Mu." The smile on Yin's mother's face could no longer hold back. Ever since Supervisor Liao came, Yunzhou was no longer the talk of her master.As for his No. [-] dog leg, Mu Ran, even her servant can count three generations of ancestors.

Fortunately, others said that the two sides were originally hostile, and now they are no longer the same.Besides, it is self-evident which is better, the official wife of the county lieutenant or the noble concubine of Zhizhou.

Here Yiyou looked at the people in Shihua, and communicated with Mu Ran silently.

"If you do this, stop the girl who gave you a jasmine handkerchief, are you stupid?"

The latter shrugged and spread his hands: "I am willing."

She was happy and stretched her face: "Thank you, I really wronged you."

The latter shook his head, as if he didn't need her to thank him.

This is Yiyou's perspective, but Mu Ran's has another understanding.

The girl in front of him was quite excited: "Why are you the one who came out? My mother is going to name a handsome young man, like the brother of shopkeeper Wu."

Seeing her blame, he quickly stood up straight with his shoulders flat, and separated his hands nervously, but he didn't dare to touch her: "Don't get me wrong, I just want to get out of the siege with you. If you don't want to, you can remarry when the wind dies down." people."

The opposite party finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Alright."

He shook his head, smiled wryly in his heart, and had to pretend to be calm.

The chicken and the duck talked for a while, and everyone finally recovered from the shock.Mu Ran nodded to Yin's mother, then looked at Xian Cheng.

"To be honest, my father felt very guilty towards my aunt because of what happened to the Li family back then. Before he died, he left a grudge and hoped that I could marry my aunt's daughter. When my father said, he didn't know that I had been injured in the north, so I have been Keep this in your heart."

Mother Yin's face was so dark that she couldn't see that Mu Ran was lying, but she couldn't tell the truth.

"The relationship between the two is really deep enough, lol."

Even if Mrs. Li was puzzled, she was extremely satisfied at the moment.Especially when she saw Mu Ran's obedient appearance, she was clearly very satisfied with her daughter.That silly girl couldn't see it, but she knew it clearly.The men are careless, the jasmine handkerchief, I am afraid that he just grabbed it casually and put it on his body.

"It's inconvenient for me to mention the matter in the countryside to the wives. Brother Ran, your father has been thinking about it for so many years, and I have already forgotten it."

"It's about my aunt's marriage, but my father never forgets it for a moment."

Li's eyes were in a trance for a moment. Although she was beautiful more than ten years ago, she never showed her face in the county.I remember that when the matchmaker invited by the Xue family entered the city, she was led by Mu Ran's father.At that time, she didn't take it to heart, but now she has the feeling of seeing the sun and the moon through the dark clouds.

Zhang suppressed her husband, since sister Qiao had no intention of doing so, she didn't want to make things difficult.

"You guys are really tight enough to hide it. It's better to hit the sun than choose the day. It's better to say it today."

Mother Yin didn't stand by, neither did she walk, seeing the unfamiliarity between the two of them, she simply tore her face apart: "I don't believe this old lady, could it be because I don't know the place I'm born in, so I deliberately became that fake relative? "

After all, she looked at Mu Ran. Although she was an opponent, she knew how many good people in Yunzhou were staring at this young county captain.Don't want a good official lady, you have to grab a merchant's girl from Zhizhou.Isn't it just a little pretty, when the official becomes bigger, what kind of beautiful concubine do you want?
Zhang's face was lowered: "Mom, the county government is not the magistrate's government."

"Ma'am, why should you be angry? My wife, I'm only thinking of the county magistrate. All the wives of court officials have imperial orders. If there is a matter of Li Daitao being stiff, I'm afraid it will be..."

Chen Xiancheng is angry, what's wrong with Qiaojie, her good wife and son-in-law were cut off by Na Yiyou.But in Ben's heart, he didn't want to help Yin's mother suppress his subordinates.So now, he rested his double chin in silence.

Yiyou has thought a lot about this meeting, seeing Li Shi's expression, there are some secrets hidden behind her engagement to Mu Ran in her previous life.She concealed these complicated thoughts, but she saw clearly.

She was already tempted, if her husband and son-in-law were this person, it would be the best.As for that Miss Jasmine, she didn't intend to snatch a good relationship, so that bit of guilt can be ignored.

"Why did mother say that? Could it be that Mrs. Zhizhou personally instructed you to break the casserole regardless of the occasion and ask the end?"

Zhang Shi covered her face, but couldn't hide her twitching shoulders.Even if Yin's mother had the guts, she would not dare to admit that Yin was like a broken-mouthed old woman.

"Whether it's Mrs. Zhizhou's meaning, or simply mother's curiosity, it's better to make it clear today."

After finishing speaking, she slid her hands towards her neck, and the red string slipped out, bringing out a bead of good fortune that was spinning around.

"It's this thing, Brother Mu also has one on him."

Slowly talk about how others nodded, but sister Qiao was shocked.She especially remembered that Yiyou brought this thing with her when she came last time.And in bed at that time, she asked herself why she didn't choose Mu Ran.

Could it be that she was playing tricks on her?

Yiyou naturally dared to take it out, that means he was fully prepared.Taking a step back, she made a cross on Sister Qiao's palm.This is a secret signal between the two of them. Sister Qiao is not a suspicious person, so she is also awake at this moment.

"I said you took this bead as a treasure. It turned out to be a betrothed thing."

This statement further confirms that the engagement is true.

Yiyou smiled shyly, a blush just right on her fair face made Mu Ran dizzy.Showing off the luck bead on his neck, he stared blankly at Yiyou, his eyes full of doting and joy.

Mrs. Zhang stood up: "It's really double happiness today. Seeing the two children are ashamed, it's no wonder that they are willing to speak out."

The leaders had already spoken, and the wives who had just persuaded her to be concubines hurriedly changed the direction of the situation, boasting that the two were a match made in heaven.Yiyou's face was a little bit uneasy when she spoke such clever words without tricks, and she wished she could get into the room immediately to see no one.

"This is the end of the matter, I don't want to keep my mother anymore. Sister Yin is heavy now, and I will visit her in a few days."

The corners of Zhang's lips curled up, and after several years under the domineering Yin's hands, she held her breath in her heart.Chen Deren himself insisted on hitting his head and bleeding, and he is not sure what will happen next time we meet.

"Farewell, old lady!"

She walked out on the front foot, and Mama Wu served a plate of mooncakes on the back foot.

"Today's Mid-Autumn Festival, it is reasonable for everyone to get together. But I also understand that everyone wants to spend this day with their own family. After eating moon cakes in the afternoon, we will all leave before dark."

Everyone hastily thanked Mrs. Xian Cheng for her sympathy, and their eyes were no longer anxious about the matter of Yiyou and Mu Ran.

After Madam Wu directed her to the table, she served as the last seat as Uncle Qian's wife.Bite open a small mooncake, she nodded immediately: "Miss Yiyou is really skillful, this mooncake is quite delicious in previous years."

Yi You smiled and said, "It's just that the stuffing has been changed, everyone eats it fresh."

Sister Qiao put her arms on her arm, taking advantage of just a while ago, she has heard the cause and effect, and now she is not sullen at all.

"I've eaten meat-filled mooncakes before, but they didn't taste like this. Mu Ran is really blessed. Yiyou's craftsmanship is one of the best in the entire county."

Yiyou handed her a mooncake: "You'd better eat it quickly, don't make fun of me again."

The voices of the two were not low, and everyone also praised Yiyou's good craftsmanship.I just praised the marriage, but it was because Zhang had to say it.This time, the craftsmanship comes from the heart.

Mrs. Shi Ye said: "The steamed stuffed buns in Shen's house are really delicious. Every time I go to the market, I have to order people to buy more. I have one meal at noon and another meal when it is warmed up in the evening."

The chubby clerk next to her continued: "Yes, I heard that the Shen family gave away a bakery on the opening day of Wuguzhai. The bakery was made as if it were real, and my grandson was delighted to see it."

The slightly thinner lady took the opportunity to express her loyalty to Zhang: "The wedding cake from Qiaojie is the best. Although the Jiang family has been famous for a hundred years, who doesn't know that Madam handles affairs properly. Qiaojie is a well-behaved lady." Ladylike."

The words of praise were beyond words, Qiaojie swallowed the last mooncake, and discussed with her: "I think you have done a good job, why don't you open a dim sum shop, selling buns alone is a waste of this good craftsmanship."

Everyone's eyes lit up, and the joy came from the heart.Yiyou also recovered from the joy of being engaged, yes, she has been thinking about opening a steamed stuffed bun shop, but forgot about the rest.

Most of the desserts in the county are peach cakes and sliced ​​cakes, and there are few new ones for hundreds of years.She knows a lot of tricks, so with a little modification, she might not be able to do it well.

"let me think again."

The idea is very good, but she has to save enough money to buy a shop first and find a suitable shop.

Using mooncakes to talk again, Yiyou deftly maneuvered among the crowd, occasionally saying a few words to add icing on the cake.Her attitude is neither humble nor overbearing, and with the help of Mrs. Zhang and Qiaojie, she looks familiar with these wives.

At dusk, the banquet finally broke up.Mrs. Li led her out, and the two rushed home.

In the courtyard, Bi Tao happily opened the door for them with the money box in her arms, and cheerfully reported that there were a lot of people in Zhongyuan Ji today, and the buns were all snatched up early.

"It's so much money again, listen to it, it sounds so nice, like a cash cow in a play."

While chattering, she finally felt that the atmosphere was not right after a while.Reluctantly putting down the money box, she slowly withdrew.

"Mother Liu, while you're cooking dinner, make more meat in a pot."

After ordering Mrs. Li to close the door, she dragged Yiyou to sit on the kang.

"Ah, what do you think?"

"Mother, what happened between you and Brother Mu's father back then?"

Looking at the resolute daughter, Mrs. Li knew that she wanted to change the subject, but she still had to say: "Now you have followed your mother's temperament when she was young. At that time, mother was so strong, and the brothers of the Mu family were naughty, and they gave birth to some things after going back and forth. A quarrel. The young man was impulsive, so he told the Xue family in the county about me. As for what happened afterwards, you should know."

"The Xue family, which one is it?"

"Silly girl, you haven't thought about coming here yet? You want Mama Liu to find out about the embroidery workshop. The owner's surname is Xue."

"It turned out to be them, but the late Xue family father and son were not at that age back then."

"The embroidered house is the second room of the Xue family, but the person who came here was the home of Xue's parents. Mrs. Xue doesn't sell the embroidery house because she is afraid that the orphans and widows will lose their property, and they will have no money and no one to rely on."

Yiyou couldn't help nodding, Madam Xue's biggest concern was only her own young daughter, so she had a little more confidence in the store.

"Mother has finished talking here, how about you? Erya, Mother looks at Mu Ran and doesn't seem to have any interest in you."

"Everyone thinks that your daughter is a favorite. I was close to Mu Ran just now. Seeing his appearance, it must be because of the closeness of the neighbors that he reluctantly agreed."

Mrs. Li had a headache: "You have a donkey temper, we will find out later."

But here, Mu Ran came out a little later than Yiyou because he had to arrange the office servants to be on duty in the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Touching the fortune beads hanging around his neck, he hurried home with light steps.When he opened the door, he saw Mu Yu was squatting by the well, washing clothes for the two of them.

"You don't need to do this, just leave it alone and wait for me to come back."

Mu Yu rolled his eyes, his face was swollen with a little bun, and Mu Ran felt cute when he was in a good mood.

"Brother is now the county captain, how can he do such trivial things. There is no sister-in-law, only I will take care of you."

Mu Ran lifted his shoulders and mentioned him: "You want your sister-in-law so much?"

"Tch, I don't want to, I want Sister Erya. Didn't brother promise me that when Ji goes to the Shen family to propose marriage, if I don't see you asking someone to invite an official matchmaker in the past few days, you must be lying to me."

"not lying to you."

A smile appeared on Mu Yu's wrinkled bun face: "Really?"

"Well, just now I've made an engagement with your sister Er Ya. However, it's just a temporary measure. If she doesn't want to, I won't force it."

The two brothers sat on the reclining chairs in the courtyard, and it took a while to figure out the whole thing. Mu Yu smiled slightly on his overjoyed little face.

"What is this called? God is helping my brother. I heard from Fangkou's mother-in-law that strong girls are afraid of pestering their husbands. Brother, you have to work harder."

"If you see the sky and don't learn well, don't ruin your longevity."

Mu Yu curled his lips: "Changsheng told me this. In fact, he was also afraid that someone would rob my sister. If it was you, brother, I would help."

Mu Ran took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, then fell into deep thought.Yiyou is so resistant to him, isn't it bad for him to get close like this?
But then he thought of the girl's trembling legs that day, she had already married Chen Deren, if she married someone else, she would have to look down on her mother-in-law.And he doesn't care at all, he can protect her.Now the county lieutenant doesn't have many errands, he has enough energy to do some physical work so that she won't be so tired.

Mu Yu's words also make sense, maybe he can try his best to fight for it?
Standing up from the reclining chair, this happened today, no matter what, he has to visit Shen's house, so let's do it first.

(End of this chapter)