A Thousand Hills

Chapter 54

Some people, some things, are always better known than met.

For example, Mr. Ning said to Xie Moru, don't say that judging people by their appearance is superficial, and judge people by their appearance first. Even in the imperial examination, there are four grades of appearance for A, B, C, and D.Mrs. Ning was born in Tanhua, not to mention her appearance, she has a rare dignified manner, which is a hundred times stronger than Mrs. Ning and Aunt Ning.What's even more rare is that after recognizing her, she is still the same, calm and self-possessed.

It can be seen from this that the matter of Aunt Ning is nothing more than a trifle in Master Ning's mind, it has not entered the eyes of this adult, let alone entered the heart of this adult.

Of course, it is also possible that this adult is good at hiding his thoughts, or his emotions are surging, but it is unknown.

Regardless of the possibility, Mr. Ning is a very powerful person.

There were a lot of things to do in the end of the year, the uncle and nephew didn't talk much, the steward had come to invite Xie Bo to go to the study outside, Xie Moru handed the book to the servant girl to take back to the Dujuan Courtyard, and went to the Songbai Courtyard by himself.Seeing that it was not time for lunch, Mrs. Xie smiled, "Why did you come back so soon?"

Xie Moru said, "I thought that the family is busy now, and the second uncle wants the two houses to work together to pick out good books, so I came back with the second uncle."

Mrs. Xie nodded her head slightly, Xie Moyou said, "Big sister, did anyone recognize you as a girl?" The Imperial Academy is the government office of the imperial court.

"I don't know, no one will tell me to my face." Xie Moru said, "Grandma, I'll go back and change my clothes first. If there's nothing else, I'll come back after lunch."

Mrs. Xie nodded, "Go."

Xie Moru said to Mrs. Xie, "Grandmother, I will also ask the servant girl to make me a boy's long gown like the big sister's, okay?"

"Let's do it." Mrs. Xie smiled, "I'm busy at the end of the year, and I will make clothes in the spring. It's okay for you sisters to make two clothes for each of you. Make it more delicate and use good materials." She also came here since she was a child. Knowing that girls of this age are lively and curious about everything.People like them teach their girls not as harshly as they think outside. On the contrary, if the granddaughters have any requirements, as long as they are harmless, Mrs. Xie seldom objects.She just doesn't like the clothes sold in the tailor shop outside, the materials and handwork are not good.

Seeing that grandma agreed, Xie Mo smiled sadly, "I will have dinner with grandma at noon."

Mrs. Xie joked, "Thankfully I nodded, otherwise you wouldn't have eaten with me."

"Grandmother just knows how to tease me." Xie Moyou pouted her lips coquettishly, and Mrs. Xie laughed.

For meals, Xie Moru would always go back to Dujuan Courtyard, unless Mrs. Xie asks to keep her, otherwise she seldom eats in Songbai Courtyard.This is also the reason why Mrs. Xie always thinks that Xie Moyou is more cordial even though she values ​​Xie Moru.

Whether Xie Moru knew about it or not, she remained the same.

Nanny Zhang smiled and helped Xie Moru to change back into the long skirt and women's clothes, and smiled, "It's true that boys' clothes are cheaper when going out. Girls' clothes are more beautiful."

Although the two sisters are only of the same father, they are somewhat similar. Xie Moru smiled, "Let Qiaoer help me make a suit. There is no need to embroider the border, just use better materials, and the sleeves are tucked away to make narrow sleeves."

Nanny Zhang smiled, "It's easy, I'll just look for materials, and I can get them in three to five days."

"En." Xie Moru sat on the couch, Wisteria brought hot tea, Xie Moru took a sip, picked out one of the three books borrowed from foreign libraries, and said, "Find a box."

Wutong found a red lacquered wooden box, Xie Moru put it in, and said, "Bring the pen and ink."

Winter is the hardest time to use ink. Rao Xie Moru's house is warm. Wisteria puts the ink on the stove and bakes it. Then I start to grind ink. Xie Moru takes a short note, writes a few lines, and puts it in In the wooden box, he said to Zhang Nanny, "Send it to Miss Erjiang over there."

Nanny Zhang smiled, "Let Lamei go."

"Alright."

When the little girl came in, she said that lunch was ready, and asked when it would be served.

Xie Moru said, "I'll go right away." Speaking of getting up, Wisteria hurriedly stepped forward to cover Xie Moru with a big fur half awning, walked to the door, stopped suddenly, and pointed to a pot of red and fiery camellias on the flower table said, "Where did it come from?"

Nanny Zhang smiled, "I was just about to report to the girl. It was sent by Xie Zhong's wife in the morning. There are all the courtyards. Our courtyard has a total of four pots. The camellias from Sichuan are blooming just right. I will order these two pots." The person put it on. There are still two pots, why don't you send them to the grandma."

Well, the one sent by Xie Zhong's wife was not sent by Xie Zhong's wife.Xie Moru knew what she wanted, and Madam Zhang ordered Wisteria Wutong to follow with flowers.When we arrived at the small courtyard, Xie Moru greeted his mother and asked his mother's maid, Du Juan, to place the camellias on the table.

Fang didn't talk much, Du Juan smiled, "These flowers are really beautiful."

Xie Moru said, "Camellia blooms in winter, and the flowering period lasts until early spring. Just putting it in the house in winter will also add to the scenery."

After a few words, Du Juan and Nanny Zhang arranged the meal. The mother and daughter were seated. The weather was cold and there was an assorted hot pot. Xie Moru liked it very much and said, "It's just right to eat this in winter. It's very warm. Soup Also fresh."

Nanny Zhang smiled, "Girl likes it, I'll ask someone to do it at night."

"This soup is pretty good. Change it to a vegetarian pot at night. Don't put the vegetables in it directly. Wash them and put them on the plate. Put them when you're eating them now, so as not to get old." Xie Moru chewed a piece of cucumber to clear his mouth, and said, "I don't know how cucumbers are in summer, but now I feel refreshing and refreshing as soon as I eat them, with some aftertaste. They are all the same thing, but they taste different when eaten in different seasons."

A smile flashed in Fang's eyes, and Du Juan laughed even more, "Oh, my girl, melons and vegetables are everywhere in summer, and a cart is not worth half a tael. It's freezing in the cold today, where you can usually find melons and vegetables , must be in the greenhouse. Even the greenhouse has to be handled by veteran melons and vegetables, and the production quantity is not as good as in summer and autumn."

Xie Moru said, "Is that very expensive?"

"We have a hot spot in Zhuangtian. We don't produce anything else, and it's only for winter vegetables. It's expensive, and there are [-] or [-] laborers. It's not cheap to eat vegetables for a season." Du Juan said with a smile, "That's why, in a house of outbreaks, there must be chicken and fish knuckles. In a house of wealth and honor, you know how to eat and enjoy."

Xie Moru couldn't help asking, "Where did the money for the Zhuangtian come from?"

Du Juan said, "It is produced elsewhere."

Xie Moru nodded, no further questions, after lunch, drinking a cup of hot tea, he went back to his small courtyard of Qiuju to rest.

Nanny Zhang helped Xie Moru remove the big fur cloak, said, "Girl take a rest." Then asked, "Will you go to your wife's place next afternoon?"

"I have to go." Xie Moru sat on the soft couch by the window and said, "Chinese New Year is just a favor."

Nanny Zhang held a hand stove to warm Xie Moru, and smiled, "It's like this during Chinese New Year, not only our family, but everyone else is busy."

While talking, Lamei came back and said that she had sent books to Jiang Xingyun at the house of the third old lady, "Ms. Jiang replied to the girl." As she spoke, she took out the wooden box and presented it.Xie Moru took it out and looked at it, and said with a smile, "Okay, thanks for your hard work, let's go eat."

Lamei saluted and retreated.

Xie Moru ordered Ziteng to put away Jiang Xingyun's reply letter, and said to Madam Zhang, "Mama, let's go eat too."

Nanny Zhang asked Wisteria and Wutong to serve in the house.

In the evening, Madam Zhang said privately to Xie Moru, "Aunt Du Juan is a very knowledgeable person. The slaves are old, and the affairs in our courtyard are fine. It's no problem to take care of a few old girls, but it's not a problem. That's all. These days, the wife is relying more and more on the girl. The nurse Qi next to the second girl is someone who works with the wife and grows old. It's a pity that the slaves don't have the skills of the nurse Qi. There is no capable person around the girl. Man, if you have any difficulties, I think the girl can ask Aunt Du Juan for advice."

Xie Moru was leaning on the soft couch's lead pillow, reflecting the candlelight. There was a trace of tiredness between her brows, and she said slowly, "Ma'am is wrong if she thinks the affairs of the Dujuan Academy are small. For example, marching and fighting, The military tent has always been at the back. The Dujuan courtyard is peaceful, so I can concentrate on trivial matters. Aunt Dujuan is there, and my mother can’t do without her. Besides, I follow my grandmother every day. If there is anything, I can ask my grandmother directly. Why? I need another old lady like Qi to help me. Besides, Wisteria and Wutong are still smart. With them following me, after a few years of experience, they will come out. Aunt Du Juan, let her be by my mother's side. If my mother I don't worry about not having someone like her around me."

Nanny Zhang was all focused on her own girl, she was thinking of Wisteria Wutong when she was young, and worried that Xie Moru would not be busy, but now hearing what Xie Moru said, Nanny Zhang was relieved, and smiled, "Young lady, just know it." When the bathroom was ready, Xie Moru went to take a bath.

Nanny Zhang is right in seeing people. Du Juan is indeed a capable person. It doesn't take forever to see whether a person is capable or not. The truth can be seen in the words.However, why did the cuckoo not show its ability in the past, but why does it show its ability today?
Don't want to think about this part too much, after bathing, Xie Moru went to sleep early.

The New Year's Eve is coming with vigor and bustle. After worshiping the ancestors on the New Year's Eve, and having a reunion dinner in the evening, it is time to watch the year.Xie Bo is not at home, the princesses of the clan will go to the palace to receive the banquet today, even if they take the banquet back to the mansion, Xie Bo will also go back to the princess mansion with Princess Yi'an.

All the people in the house, from the masters to the servants, all changed into festive clothes, and they all looked happy. The whole family went to the Songbaiyuan to watch the new year.Xie Moru played with Xie Moyou and Xie Zhi, she was not worried about Fang Shi, no matter what day, Fang Shi's work and rest didn't change at all, she rested at night, and never kept watch.

However, throwing the pot is not very interesting, Xie Moru is born to be a good leader, even if he throws the pot behind his back, he always hits ten out of ten.After playing a few rounds, it was no fun to always win, so Xie Moru stopped playing, sat by the side and peeled the oranges to eat, and then covered the orange peels on the hand stove to roast the fragrance.

Xie Shangshu saw that this eldest granddaughter was not very social, so he said with a smile, "Would it be better to play chess?"

Xie Moru nodded, "Mister taught me."

Xie Shangshu ordered someone to set up the chess scale, "Come on, let's play a game, how about?"

Xie Moru went to sit down and wanted to guess chess with Xie Shangshu, Xie Shangshu was quite gracious, "You stick to the black." Hold the black first.

Grandfather and grandson played chess, and Mrs. Xie also knew chess, so she watched from the sidelines.It is said that playing chess is like being a human being. If you want Xie Shangshu to say it, there is some truth in this statement.Xie Moru is a person who makes decisions before making moves, and his chess moves are also ordinary and sublime.Moreover, no matter whether Xie Moru lost or won a child, his expression did not change and his eyebrows remained calm.The student Xie Shangshu is also a calm person. The two of them play chess, and they win and lose lightly. Let Mrs. Xie say that it is boring.On the contrary, the two of them were very energetic, and waited until Xie Zhong's daughter-in-law came in with joy to report, "Master, Mrs., Mrs., Ms., my little ones, the angels are here, Your Majesty blesses the dish."

The whole family hurriedly went to the outer hall to pick up the blessing dish, which was actually a bowl of dish given out in the palace. Because it was rewarded in the new year, those who had to win the emperor's heart could not get it, so it was called blessing dish.Xie Shangshu brought his children and grandchildren to kneel down to receive the reward, and then rewarded the servant who came to deliver the food, exchanged a few greetings and sent the servant away, and then another family returned to the inner hall with the blessing dishes, Xie Moru glanced at it, and the reward was Tao Dry fried meatballs.

Xie Yu is the youngest, very curious, Xie Shangshu smiled, "Try it?"

Xie Yudao, "Grandfather, Your Majesty's grace, don't you want to sacrifice to the ancestors first?"

Xie Shangshu smiled, "Let's go, go with grandfather to offer sacrifices to our ancestors, and then I will give you a taste."

It was cold at night, everyone put on big woolen clothes and tidied up. Xie Shangshu brought a whole family of lucky dishes to offer to the ancestors. , when returning to Songbaiyuan, I heard Xie Lan ask him quietly, "Is it fragrant?"

Xie Yu whispered to his brother bragging, "It smells so good!"

Xie Mo smiled sadly, "Grandfather, I have made an offering to my ancestors tonight, how about warming up the blessing dishes for the reunion wine at noon tomorrow, and let us all taste it, it is also to enjoy the emperor's grace together."

Xie Shangshu laughed again and again, extremely happy, "Good!"

Mrs. Xie joked, "I'm already a big girl, but I'm still hungry."

Xie Moyou held Mrs. Xie's arm, and said in a coquettish tone, "I just want to try it."

Everyone passed by with a smile, Xie Song saw that the corners of Xie Moru's lips were slightly raised, and he also looked happy, but the smile was faint and far from reaching his eyes.

After serving the blessing vegetables to the ancestors, the night was getting dark, so Xie Moru went back to the azalea courtyard to rest.

Xie Moyou and Xie Zhi are younger than Xie Moru, and they will get up early tomorrow, Mrs. Xie also let them go back to their respective houses to rest.Mrs. Xie was very tired a few years ago, so she arranged for the children and went to rest.Only when Xie Shangshu and Xie Song and his son wanted to guard their son, Xie Shangshu sat back on the side of the chess scale, picked up a piece, and smiled, "Come on, let's see this game, who has a better chance of winning?"

Xie Song said, "The chess game is not over yet, so it's hard to say."

Xie Shangshu sighed, "The outcome has been decided." He is turning 20 this year, and he will last another [-] years at most.After him, there are two sons, the eldest son Xie Song, the second son Xie Bai, and one mother, who can keep the family business undefeated.But for the third generation, it's not that Xie Zhi and others are not outstanding, it's that Xie Moru is too outstanding.When Xie Zhi and the others were still happy to eat a cold meatball, Xie Moru didn't pay attention to this dish at all.So, but in the future, Xie Zhi and others will obey the monarchy, and Xie Moru is the one who really understands the monarchy.

When did he realize what the power of the monarchy is? It was after the old British Duke died of illness, the British government's family was punished, and the eldest princess passed away.Xie Moru already has this understanding at a young age.

Of course, looking at this moment, Xie Moru is not the winner.Similarly, he is not defeated at this time, but he will eventually lose to the years.He is already the sunset of his dying years, but Xie Moru is the rising sun.

Xie Song understood his father's intentions, he said, "Personnel and affairs are metabolized, and the exchanges are ancient and modern. Father, I have a different view from my father."

Xie Shangshu said, "Tell me about it."

The father and son were talking privately, and no one was left in the room.Xie Song stretched out his hand to shake the chessboard, and said, "I see, Mo Ru's heart, if it's not here, naturally it can't be called the victory or defeat. Xie's family was promoted by fame and fame, not like Cheng'en Gongfu, so although this family is difficult to be rich, but It's a steady flow. There are a few A Zhis, their talents are also above average, they have good teachers, they have a family, they follow the steps, and even those who are smooth have a way out.

Xie Song smiled, "Father talked about the outcome, but he didn't care about the outcome. He was worried about the family, right?"

Hearing what the eldest son said, Xie Shangshu let go of most of his worries, and smiled, "Since you know it well, I don't worry about it."

Xie Song lowered his head, picked up the chess pieces on the chess scale, and put them back into the celadon chess jar one by one, "The son's vision is far less than that of the father, but the son thinks, the capable work hard and the wise are tired. The children and grandchildren are mediocre and worry about it, and the children and grandchildren who are outstanding are equally worried." .As a minister, the merits of this dynasty are as high as that of the British Duke. As a woman, no matter how noble, there is no Princess Ningping in this dynasty. After that, what about the family? According to my heart, I would rather live an ordinary life."

"A treasured sword, placed on a high platform as a sword, placed in a shabby room, does not change its preciousness. Treasures have the way of life of treasures. If you let her be ordinary, she may not be ordinary." The key point, Xie Moru will never be reconciled to an ordinary life. of.She sees power and understands power. One day, she will eventually gain power step by step, just like what she is doing in Xie's house now... Just thinking about this, Xie Shangshu can hardly sleep or eat.He is not worried that Xie Moru is indifferent to Xie's family, he occupies a high position, has experienced the years when the Eldest Princess assisted the government, and also experienced the turmoil when he was in charge of the government. At his age, he would rather seek stability than take any more risks .Just like the eldest son said, so what if he is as prominent as the British government and Princess Ningping, he will die and his family will be wiped out.

I am afraid that the old British Duke and Princess Ningping are still worried about the funeral, but based on Xie Moru's affection for the Xie family, I am afraid that they will not think about the family at all.The more outstanding Xie Moru was, the more worried Xie Shangshu became, and finally he couldn't write two words of thanks in one stroke.Don't look at Xie Moru's dignitary, the Xie family may not be successful, but Xie Moru is unlucky, the Xie family's face is ashamed at the lightest, and everyone who is good or bad will be left behind.Or, after Xie Moru became a nobleman, Xie's family will end up like the Fang family back then!

Xie Song said, "Father thinks too far, and his son can't reach it. As for whether Mo Ru's future will be mediocre, I'm afraid it's not up to you and my father and son to decide." Killing Xie Moru's mother's family is not a worry, Xie's own family Just worry about half my life.

There is no need to worry about killing Xie Moru's family, unless the country is overthrown, what if Xie Moru really can't kill the royal family?What's more, Xie Moru once said that it has nothing to do with right or wrong, only success or failure.Xie Moru has a sober and cold understanding of politics, at least now Xie Moru shows the face of a bystander in the affairs of Fang's family.Mu's, Fang's, Yu Xie Moru, as Xie Moru said, her surname is neither Fang nor Mu, her surname is Xie.With a word of thanks, the Xie family and Xie Moru are inseparable from the constant life and death.Xie Shangshu sighed, "I hope I am worrying for nothing."

Xie Song laughed, "Father can only worry when he can see the sky, but his son can only see the roof when he looks up, so he can't worry."

Xie Shangshu was amused, and still said, "You have to know it in your heart after all."

Xie Song responded positively.

There was a sound of fireworks outside, Xie Song laughed, "It's the hour."

Xie Shangshu got up and walked out, "Go out and have a look."

Xie Song picked up a big fur cloak and put it on his father, helped him out of the inner hall, the night sky was full of fireworks, and the city was filled with the sound of fireworks.In a blink of an eye, another spring came.

(End of this chapter)