"I called you here today, there is a good thing to announce, in a few days, it will be the old lady's birthday, the old lady is kind-hearted, so she wants to let a group of people out, get rid of the slaves, and let them be good citizens, you are just in time for this opportunity, if you want to redeem yourself, just come and tell me." Ning Nianzhi said with a smile, and flicked the roster in his hand again: "What about the few of you, whether you work hard or work carefully on weekdays, the reward of gold and silver is too tacky, it is better to reward a person, so you can take this deed of sale back by yourself." ”

As soon as the words fell, everyone was stunned, and after a while, someone reacted, and quickly fell to Ning Nianzhi and began to cry: "The young lady is kind-hearted, please give us a way to live, the origin of the good people is good, but we have no relatives and no reason, so we were kicked out of the house like this, I'm afraid we won't live long." ”

Ning Nianzhi raised his eyebrows: "What you said is strange, the current emperor is Shengming, and the prefect is also a Qing official, not to mention the old general and Dongliang, who never do the things that oppress the people, I see that the people outside are also doing well, why is it your turn to have no way to live?" ”

The man was a little speechless, but immediately found an excuse: "It's not that we're afraid of being bullied, it's just that we don't know how to make a living outside, the slave and maid family are all in the house, and what they learned from the beginning was how to serve the master, which was suddenly released, whether it was farming or business, no experience, I'm afraid it can't be done, for a while, there is a silver tael rewarded by the master of the house, but it's a long time, what can I do?" ”

Ning Nianzhi smiled: "It's not a big problem, if there is something you don't understand, aren't there that kind of long-lived old people in this village?" Or the experienced businessman, you ask for more advice, you can always learn something, moreover, the old ones can't learn, but the child is the time to learn things, the fastest to get started, is it difficult, are you willing to delay your own children? If you study hard, you may be able to change your door in the future. ”

The man still wanted to speak, but Ning Nianzhi waved his hand: "Mama Liao has already gone back with her family yesterday, and if she goes to our house in the future, she will become an old feudal monarch who comes to visit seriously, is it possible, you are not envious at all?" ”

As soon as these words came out, the person who wanted to cry and shout how long he had served his master, but he was reluctant to give up his master, was immediately choked, stared at him for a long time before he smiled bitterly: "Madame, it's really a joke, if the kid in the family has this talent, even if he smashes the pot and sells iron, the old slave has already ...... It's a pity that the kid in the family is not blessed, and he will only serve people in this life, and please Mrs. see that the ancestors of the old slave are all born in this house for three generations, so leave the old slave family. ”

A plea began, and the rest couldn't help it, and for a while, the sound of crying and begging for mercy was messy. Ning Nianzhi rubbed her forehead, she thought that this matter would be resolved peacefully at first, but now it seems that there is probably no peace.

"Look at these things." Ning Nianzhi stretched out his hand to the back, Tingxue immediately came out with a stack of papers, and read the name down, if there are illiterate, Tingxue will be kind enough to read it again.

Only two or three people passed, and a group of people changed their faces, and then looked at Ning Nianzhi not as indifferent as before, but with a little fear, these evidences were enough to send their family to stay in prison, and even the death penalty was almost enough.

"If you go in peace, I have also prepared silver taels to see you off, if you don't want to go......" Ning Nianzhi opened the plates on the left and right, there were silver ingots shining with blue light on the left plate, and a whip on the right plate.

Just one glance, everyone's eyes shifted a little.

Ning Nianzhi smiled with satisfaction, looked at Tingxue, Tingxue took out the deed of sale, read it one by one, and those who were named obediently stepped forward to receive their own deed of sale, and by the way, they got the silver handed over by Tingxue, and quietly saluted Ning Nianzhi, and then retired and left.

"The second lady still underestimated this young lady, and said before that I would have something to do with the Zhao family, but now it's okay, the Zhao family's family has been kicked out, and I am the only one left, what can I do about this?"

"Why are you the only one left? And me, it's just the two of us, one in the outer courtyard and the other in the inner courtyard, we don't even have a chance to meet, let alone do things, Mama Tang next to the eldest young lady is also a capable person, the eldest young lady doesn't even wear clothes made outside, let alone eat from unknown sources......"

"Two girls, our young lady invites the two of you to come over and talk." The two little maids were standing in the corner of the wall and muttering, when suddenly someone behind them said faintly: "Please hurry up with the two girls." ”

The two little maids are about to cry, how can this be good? Who knows how long this person has been standing behind, whether he has heard everything he has said, and what if he complains?

Yingxue had a smile on her face, half of her mind was overwhelmed, and the two little maids had no choice but to follow Ning Nianzhi's side. The person who took the deed of sale had already finished, the courtyard was empty, Ning Nianzhi sat on the Taishi chair under the eaves of the corridor, Mama Tang stood behind her, Chunhua Qiuyue stood on both sides, and Tingxue stood below holding the box.

Seeing Yingxue leading people over, listening to Xue, she looked sideways at Ning Nianzhi, Ning Nianzhi looked the two people up and down, and stretched out his finger: "Three choices, the first, I will send you to the second master's mansion, and the second, I will give the dowry, you go back to prepare for marriage, and you will not use it in the future." The third one is to leave with the deed of sale, now let's talk about which one to choose? Don't cry, if there is no evidence, I won't kick people out, we know it, you don't want me to say anything worse options, be more interesting to live longer, come, let's talk, which one to choose? ”

The one who can be left by the second lady will definitely not be the kind of stupid one, although the second lady is not very smart. The two little maids immediately made a choice: "First, the third." "If you make a mistake, what good husband can the young lady choose for her, even if she brings a dowry, I am afraid that she will also be tortured.

Tingxue asked on the side: "Name, age." ”

When the newspaper came up, he immediately flipped out the deed of betrayal in the box and handed it to them, and drew a tick on the roster. The matter of canceling the slave status is not just to return the deed of sale to me, but to go to the yamen to explain it myself, and the yamen side also needs a letter from the original master.

Otherwise, even if there is no deed of sale, as long as the yamen has not been sold, and he will return to report a fugitive slave, he can still recover the person.

"Ma'am, where are you going next?" The two little maids went out, Yingxue immediately changed her expression, and asked excitedly: "Madam, you are too godly, how do you know that there is someone there, or a spy left by the second lady?" ”

Ning Nianyi's face is serious, will you believe what I heard myself? Forget it, you probably don't believe it, so I won't talk about it.

With his eyes closed and concentrating on it again, the more hectic he is, the more people's hearts are fluctuating, and the easier it is to go wrong and expose his identity. Since the morning, those who have already had evidence have been dismissed, and by this time, three batches of people have been arrested.

Tingxue also came over, glanced at Mama Liao, and lowered her voice with some concern: "Young lady? ”

Ning Nianzhi raised his eyes, and Tingxue handed the roster to Ning Nianzhi: "There are only about two hundred people left in the house, is it enough?" ”

Ning Nianzhi stretched out his hand and flicked it on the roster: "In this mansion, there are only four masters in total, isn't it enough to have more than two hundred people?" ”

"That's not what I said, there must be at least six people watching the gate, at least eight around the old man, six around the eldest young master, two for the housekeeper in the old lady's yard, four for the eldest maid, four for the second-class maid, eight for the third-class maid, and four for the rough mother-in-law, how much is this, and the young lady in your yard, as well as the needlework room, the tea room, the carriage room, the account room, which one must not be wanted? In terms of purchasing, in the kitchen, in the garden, in every empty yard, someone has to clean it, even if it is locked, someone has to clean it up, right? There are at least four people in one courtyard, but there are eight courtyards in this house, which is not a small courtyard. ”

Listening to Xue Xu's chatter, he snapped his fingers and gave Ning Nianzhi a calculation: "You just drove someone out here, and you immediately bought someone over there, this spreads, there will definitely be people talking about the previous things, madam, look, should we wait first?" ”

Ning Nianzhi pinched the roster and didn't speak, he didn't hear anything useful after listening to it for a long time just now, and there were not many nails left? Or, the rest are hidden deeply, or they are very smart, and the hidden ones are not something that can be distinguished in one or two sentences, and the very smart ones may be able to use them for their own purposes. After thinking for a while, he nodded, and handed the roster to Tingxue: "In the afternoon, when the housekeepers talk back and forth, bring the roster over, and the rest of the people will have to appease a few words." ”

Hearing that Xue hurriedly responded, she helped Ning Nianzhi to get up: "It's time for lunch, young lady, are you going to the old lady?" ”

Ning Nianzhi nodded, led people over, and saw a chubby grandmother guarding the door, and when she saw Ning Nianzhi, she smiled and said, "The young lady is here?" The old lady is already waiting inside, you can go in. ”

He lowered his voice again and said, "The old lady let the old slave guard here early in the morning, except for the eldest and young lady, no matter who came, the rest were stopped outside." ”

Ning Nianzhi showed a little smile on his face: "It's still my grandmother who loves me, and thank you Mama Ping." "Those who took the silver, not necessarily are particularly willing to go, here should be Ning Nianzhi, over there came to the old lady to complain, some are indeed old people, how many years have they been serving in front of the old lady and the old man, saying some words in the past, it is also the easiest to make the old man's heart soft and shaken, once there is such a thing, then turn back to Ning Nianzhi to intercede or not?

Find it, where does Ning Nianzhi's prestige go? Don't look for it, how many days can you live when you are old? is solid and soft-hearted, when you are old, you always want to accumulate blessings and virtues, and if you can spare it, you can spare it, and there is no one to accompany you to reminisce about the past, isn't it very desolate? The old lady simply sent someone to guard the door, but no one came.

Ning Nianzhi's mind was transparent, she naturally understood what the old lady meant, and she was also very moved in her heart, and she was blessed to meet such a mother-in-law. Speaking of which, in this life, since birth, she has been too blessed.

Not only does it have God's gift, but my father and mother are still alive, and I can marry the person I like, and the person I like also happens to like me, and the people in my mother-in-law's family are reasonable, and now they are separated again, and when I say it, I am afraid that all the people in the world who are daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law will envy themselves.

Don't worry about food and clothing, have money and power, be the master of the house, don't have to make rules, sleep until you wake up naturally every day, don't have an aunt to worry about, and all the luck of your two lives is used in this marriage.

Because he was so moved, when he entered the house, Ning Nianzhi hugged the old lady and coquettishly: "Grandmother is so good to me, I don't know how to repay my grandmother, otherwise, let me be a little maid in front of my grandmother, I want to help my grandmother serve dishes and vegetables, I want to help my grandmother pour tea and water, and I want to help my grandmother beat her back and pinch her shoulders." ”

The old lady couldn't help laughing: "Don't rob the little maid's job, others should think that our family can't even afford a little maid, this is still light, the most important thing is that you don't want to be tired of my great-grandson, if you really want to thank me, take good care of your body, and give me a white and chubby grandson at the end of the year." ”

Ning Nianzhi's face turned red, and he buried his head in the old lady's arm: "Will grandmother only feel sorry for that kid when the time comes, and stop loving me?" ”

The old lady couldn't help laughing: "What an adult, I'm still worried about being jealous with children!" Your heart, just put it in your stomach, no matter how many boys there are, I only love you, and you will be the person on the tip of my heart. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Nianzhi made a sincere and frightened look: "Don't you dare, my grandfather has to look at me unpleasantly, and I'm not greedy, my grandmother still puts me in the second place, no, the third place, otherwise, Dongliang should be jealous." ”

"You cramped devil!" The old lady poked Ning Nianzhi's forehead, the grandparents and grandchildren laughed, and the old lady asked about the people, Ning Nianzhi didn't hide it, and even let the old lady see the roster: "I think there are not many people left in this mansion, are those corners of the courtyard temporarily locked?" The rest of the big ones, just a variety of flowers and plants, changed the name, for example, the hibiscus garden, the hibiscus flowers, the lily garden, the lilies, and acacias, hibiscus flowers or something, there are more flowers and plants, in addition to the usual scenery, you can also exchange money, a yard to arrange two or three mothers-in-law, grandmother, what do you think? ”

These flowers and plants, sold to those who make rouge or spices, are all a sum of money, and although the mosquito legs are small, they are also meat.

The old lady waved her hand: "I don't care about these things, you look at the arrangements yourself, come and come, sit, what do you want to eat at noon?" ”

Ning Nianzhi folded his hands and counted two or three dishes, but the old lady was dissatisfied: "It's too little, you can eat two people's meals by yourself now, more is enough, order two more, let's eat with our own family, you don't have to save me." ”

"Grandmother, look at what you said, am I the kind of person who saves? Two or three things are a small number of samples, but the amount is a lot at all, besides, is it possible that my grandmother won't let me eat the dish that I ordered? Ning Nianzhi hurriedly said with a smile, so he persuaded the old lady.

After lunch, Ning Nianzhi was too lazy to move around, so he simply took a nap at the old lady's place. Get up and listen to the housekeepers and grandmothers talk back, and then accompany the old lady to the garden twice, when the sky is slightly dark, the grandparents and grandchildren go back, let people prepare dinner, and then wait until the old lady and Yuan Dongliang come back, the little couple go back to their yard hand in hand, and the old man and the old lady are chattering and homely.

After Ning Nianzhi's cleanup, there were many fewer people in the house, and it was much quieter. Although the nails in the second, third and fourth rooms have been almost handled, Ning Nianzhi has not let down his guard, and he does not eat and wear without the hands of outsiders, and Mama Tang also has to check it every day.

In this way, in June, the old lady had her birthday. The old lady herself said that she didn't want to make a big deal of it, but the old man was bent on making up for it now, so he had to invite relatives and friends, and Yuan Dongliang was worried that he would be tired of Ning Nianzhi, so he discussed with Ning Nianzhi whether to ask someone to come over to help.

The third girl and the fourth girl are good friends, but these two are the little girl's family, and they haven't learned much about housekeeping. After thinking about it, it's still the third young lady. It just so happened that Ning Nianzhi wanted to ask about the third young lady's mother's family in detail.

But when this matter was reported to the old lady, he was beaten back, and he was angry with the old man: "You just can't see me comfortable, good birthday, can't we have a meal with our own family?" It's quiet and quiet, I have to invite someone to make a fuss, I'm not the thirties, I like to watch a lively, I'm my age, I can't stand the noise, just listen to me, don't allow the version! Otherwise, I'll give it to you, and you'll sleep in the study tonight! ”

The old man's face froze instantly, Yuan Dongliang and Ning Nianzhi are juniors, it is not good to look at the old man's jokes openly, one looks up at the sky, the other looks down at the ground, and the two of them pretend to be dumb. The corner of the old man's eyes swept over the husband and wife, amused, angry and a little embarrassed, touched his beard and coughed lightly: "Didn't you hear your grandmother's words?" Do you know if you can't do it? I don't have a little look, let's go back! ”

The two of them hurriedly got up to say goodbye, and when they went out, they heard the old man's voice: "Don't be angry, I'm afraid that you will be bored at home alone, take advantage of your birthday to make a lot of noise, connect your old friends, and move around, since you don't want to, then forget about it, don't be angry, okay?" The study is too cold...... June? Ahem, I'm old, and the nights in June are also very cold and gloomy, so don't go, okay? ”

Ning Nianzhi couldn't help laughing, Yuan Dongliang looked at her sideways, and then at her belly: "The child is growing up." ”

"That's for sure, it's getting better every day." It's been four months, and she is also pregnant, and the doctor said that she can get out of the two veins, and in six months, there will be one more relative in this world who is connected to her blood.

"I don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but if it's a boy......"

Ning Nianzhi rolled his eyes, and started again, since he was pregnant, Yuan Dongliang had to repeat this almost every day, that is, he was not annoyed, Ning Nianzhi felt that his ears were going to be calloused, but it was useless to say it, he had to start again every day when he got to this matter, it was better to act as if he didn't hear it.

I originally planned to go to Zhuangzi in June to escape the summer, but there were fewer people in the house, and I don't know if it was something on my mind, but I felt much cooler, and it happened that she was a little lazy, so she simply didn't go to Zhuangzi.

In July, she began to prepare some small quilts, small mattresses and other things.

In August, she started to prepare some small clothes, small pants, small shoes and so on.

In September, a letter came from the capital, and she remembered that counting the days, Ning Baozhu's child should have been born in August, and it was a full moon! So, I simply picked out some of the things I had made in the previous two months, plus some jade locks and other things, and sent someone back to the capital.

Then, suddenly, I started to worry about myself. Will the belly be too big, will it eat too much, and what if it is not easy to give birth at that time? What if the child doesn't have enough to eat?

The mood changed for a while, and after worrying, I began to think about what the child would look like, what it would be like when I grew up, all the way from a newborn baby to a child growing up, marrying a wife and having children, more than Yuan Dongliang thought.

In October, Ning Nianzhi's stomach has been eight months, and the previous pregnancy was very good, but I don't know what's going on, but when it comes to the end, it begins to swell, and the whole person looks two circles round than usual, and a pit will come out when you press it on your arm, and you can't bounce it for most of the day.

At night, my legs are still cramping, and I will pump when I turn over, and I will pump even more if I don't turn over, and my whole body hurts. I can't sleep well, and I don't have an appetite for eating, Yuan Dongliang is very distressed, and he can't wait to invite all the good cooks of the whole Cloud City to the house, just to let Ning Nianzhi eat two more bites.

At night, Ning Nianzhi wakes up when there is movement, even if he is half-asleep and half-awake, he can help Ning Nianzhi turn over. As soon as Ning Nianzhi groaned here~ groaning, he began to help rub his legs familiarly.

Ning Nianzhi's body is uncomfortable, and his temper is not good, he can bear it in front of the old lady, but when he comes to Yuan Dongliang, he can't help it, it is completely unreasonable, the food that Yuan Dongliang fed by himself, she either said that it was salty or light, and she could even smash the dishes and chopsticks when she was in a hurry, but Yuan Dongliang was never angry, smiled, changed to new dishes and chopsticks, and took care of her again.

It's not that she doesn't regret it, but she just can't control her temper at that moment. Turning around and crying, Yuan Dongliang was still distressed: "I feel uncomfortable being pregnant when I look at you, you must be suffering even more, suffering like this for me, if I can't tolerate you, wouldn't I bear the name of a prince in vain?" How can I still have the face to let my children call me dad in the future? It's okay, really, you don't have to take it to heart, it's only these two months, if you really feel sorry for me, wait for the confinement, you let me ......"

The voice was lowered, Ning Nianzhi raised his hand and pulled his ear, his face was as red as the sunset: "You are still thinking about this!" ”

"I've endured it for ten months, and I can't take it anymore......"

"Don't think about it!"

"Okay, okay, don't want to, then how many more bites will you eat?"