According to Jiang Yanhua's intentions, he should immediately write a post in the name of the Jiang family and send it to the Jinghai Marquis Mansion. Cao Shi was still a little hesitant. Since the mother and daughter of Qingguo were sold, it is inconvenient for her to do anything. Although Bai Guo was served very carefully, the Cao family also knew in her heart that she was the maid of the Jiang family. In the same way, the daylilies around Jiang Yanhua and the Sanqi and other small servants who came outside are the same, let them inquire about the news of the Jinghai Hou Mansion, but if they want to hide from Jiang Xi and Taohua to send the post, it is still in the name of the Jiang family's house, then it will not be done.

In the past few days, the mother and daughter have been worried about this matter, and they can't think of how to hide from Jiang Xi and Taohua to get in touch with the Jinghai Hou Mansion, so it is inevitable to get distracted when doing other things, Jing asked this, and Cao came back to his senses after a while, and responded: "Yes." My father and the old Jinghaihou are brothers. ”

Xiao Shi sneered in his heart, and couldn't help but say a little sarcastically: "So it's also our own family, and my younger brothers and sisters should also bring the children to the door to say hello." It's been these days in the capital, and it's too rude not to go to ask for peace. "What do you say that my father and the old Jinghaihou are brothers, but I am afraid that the people of the Cao family in Jiangnan will be regarded as poor relatives who fight the autumn wind when they go to the Jinghaihou Mansion, and they will probably not be able to enter the door. Cao Wu smacked Jinghai Hou as a small official in Shangbaosi, and he didn't want to try his best to please his boss. True brothers, it won't be like that anymore.

Cao Shi didn't know that he was a little suspicious of what he said. In fact, she is telling the truth, but the Cao family in Jiangnan and the Cao family in the capital are very different, such a big brother is only funny in the ears of insiders, and she feels that her bones are not two or two, and she can't wait to float to the sky when she touches the edge of the Jinghai Marquis Mansion.

Momoka sat on the side and was silent. It's really boring to ask for peace every day, originally it was just to ask for peace in the morning, but now that Jiang Zhu's family is back, it has become a morning and evening greeting. In the past, Yu's got up in the morning to freshen up and have his own maids to serve, but now it has become a matter of serving Xiao Shi and Jing's together, obviously intending to set rules for his concubine and daughter-in-law.

Jing's saw the move. She is a shrewd person, always and everywhere than Xiao Shi to do, neither preempting nor lagging behind, Yu Shi just wants to be picky, and she can't find anything wrong.

Taohua watched coldly, Jing's thoughts about the clan were obviously clear, and there was never a half reluctant appearance when making rules, and he was full of smiles, and no one could pick out half of it. Even in the "Analects", Zixia asked about filial piety, and the sage replied that "it is difficult to be sexually difficult", which means "it is the most difficult thing to be kind to your parents and face", so Jing is like this, which can be regarded as impeccable. However, in her laughter, she had to stab Xiaoshi a few times from time to time, so not only Xiaoxiao was annoyed, but even Yu's was displeased.

Momoka thought it was really boring. Since we hate each other, why don't we see each other? If you have this time, you can't do something, read books, embroider and embroider, or go to the garden to stroll, but you just have to waste time fighting lawsuits here. If this is acting, this plot is so boring that she doesn't even want to watch it, not to mention that from time to time, she has to pull their second room in, for example, when talking about the Jinghai Marquis Mansion.

"The eldest aunt said that since you come to the capital, you should always go to greet the elders, just because the Jinghai Marquis Mansion is also going to run for election, and coming to the door at this time will inevitably add to the chaos. Since the draft is over, I will go to hand over the post in a few days, no matter whether Mrs. Tai has time or not, the etiquette should always be thoughtful. ”

Cao Shi glanced at Taohua in surprise and joy, with Taohua's words, she had to find a way to secretly send the post.

Jiang Lianhua frowned slightly, glanced at Jing's family, and complained a little in her heart that her mother shouldn't mention the Jinghai Hou Mansion. She knew that her mother meant to ridicule the situation of the eldest sister in the palace, if the eldest girl of Jinghaihou entered the palace, it would be nine concubines, and then there would be one more person pressing on the eldest sister's head. But it shouldn't be, it shouldn't be the Cao family, although the Cao family is just Taohua's stepmother, but it's always a family, stepping on Cao's face, is Taohua very face?

Jing received his daughter's gaze, and he also regretted it a little in his heart. She mentioned that the Jinghai Hou Mansion was just to stab her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, but because Yu and Xiao didn't answer, she casually said a word to Cao, but she didn't expect to be stabbed by Xiao Xiao to stab Cao. She is a shrewd person, and she has seen clearly in the past few days that Taohua and Cao's stepmother have not had a harmonious relationship, but they have always defended Cao's outside, not for Cao's sake, but for Jiang Xi's face. It's rare for her daughter to talk to Taohua, she really should think about it when she speaks, is it really a little forgetful these days?

Xiao Shi is because Jing is holding his breath these days, but there is nowhere to come out, so he vented to Cao's body, and wanted to ridicule Cao's climbing, but Taohua said so clearly that it was polite to see or not to see, and she had nothing to say.

There was silence in the room for a while, and Taohua got up and said, "There are still some things in the house, Grandma and the two aunts are sitting in peace, and we will go back first." ”

Yu Shi was originally sitting with his eyes half-closed, but at this moment, he opened his eyes and glanced at Taohua and nodded. Seeing this, Jing also took Jiang Lianhua to retire with Xiao Yinyin. After everyone came out of the house, Yu Shi glanced at Xiao Shi: "What are you doing to provoke the second room again?" ”

Xiao Shi said unconvinced: "It was the second brother and sister who first said the words to the Cao family......"

"She said her, why do you bother." Yu Shi frowned, "If you are angry, you shouldn't go to the second room." Do you think Taohua's girl is soft? You are an elder, if you are pushed by her, will your face look good? ”

Xiao Shi was stunned: "She dares!" "Contradicting the elders, if this is spread out, it will greatly damage the reputation of the daughter's family, and Taohua has also reached the age of discussing relatives, so she should cherish her feathers.

"Why wouldn't she dare?" Yu snorted lightly, "Don't underestimate that girl, she is not afraid of heaven and earth, she will return to Wuxi in a few days, even if she collides with you?" ”

Xiao Shi said angrily: "She still dares to contradict me!" The anger that the lord has suffered in the yamen these days is not because of the second room back then-"

"Shut up!" Yu Shi snorted, and his face was ugly, "What are you talking about!" ”

Xiao Shi was excited for a while, and blurted out the words, but now he was stopped by Yu's drink, and suddenly remembered that the second room was convicted back then, and it was a forbidden place in the Jiang family to touch, and the old lady Jiang had clearly ordered the family not to mention this matter again, and even Xiao Xiao knew in his heart that when Concubine Xian died, it was difficult to say whether this was Jiang Fanghui's fault.

"The daughter-in-law lost her words...... "Xiaoshi lowered her head, but the breath she held in her heart still couldn't come out, "But the old man is the most wronged, these days because of the second brother's official affairs, how many people have been pointed at in the yamen......

"You also said that this is because of the second brother, why did you turn your head and go to your third brother and sister for trouble?" Yu Shi frowned and waved his hand unhappily, "That's it, you can go back and rest." In a few days, the second child will buy a house by himself and move out, and then your eyes will be clean. As for the boss, if there is nothing in the yamen, it will not be for this matter, but also for other things, so it is good to let him calm down. ”

Seeing that her face was really ugly, Xiao Shi didn't dare to say anything, so he answered softly and retreated with the maid. As soon as she left, Yu sat with her eyes closed for a moment, and waved her hand to the maid beside her: "You all go down." ”

The two maids who served her, Yinliu and Xueliu, were both seventeen or eighteen years old, and they had been by Yu's side for five years, and they knew her temperament, so they didn't dare to say much, so they helped her into the room and retreated.

Yu stood in the room for a while. The Jiang family is still frugal, and the furnishings of this house are naturally not gorgeous, but they are meticulous everywhere. A mahogany bed of 100 sons and 1000 grandchildren is placed against the wall, and the bed frame is carved with frolicking children, symbolizing the prosperity of the people and the number of children and grandchildren.

This bed is naturally Yu's dowry, and it has been forty years since he entered the door. Although it was finely made at the time, and the lacquer was applied layer after layer, after all, it has been a long time, and the original glossy red has turned brown, as if it has gradually aged in the flowing water.

There were always two pillows and two quilts on the bed, but one had not been opened for a long time. Yu stood in front of the bed and looked at it in a daze for a while, but dragged his feet to the end of the bed. The walls there are slightly recessed inward, and a Buddhist shrine is set up in which a statue of Guanyin is enshrined, and a futon is spread in front of it.

The Buddha shrine is not big, but the white porcelain Bodhisattva offered in it is only one foot high, so it still looks a little empty, so there is a small peach wood cabinet in the Buddha shrine, and the Bodhisattva is offered on this cabinet, and the cabinet door is tightly closed, and a small white copper lock is hung on it, and you can't see what is put inside.

This Buddha shrine is not allowed to be touched by the maids, and she always wipes and cleans it by herself on weekdays, and of course she is the only one who has the key to the small lock on the cabinet door. At this time, she took three sticks of incense and lit them in the incense burner in front of the Buddha, and knelt down on the futon, muttering sutras.

If anyone hears the scriptures she is reciting at this moment, I am afraid that they will inevitably be a little confused, because Yu is not reciting the Heart Sutra or the Myoho-renge-kyo that ordinary women often recite in front of the statue of Guanyin, but the "Jizo Bodhisattva Honshu Sutra", which is used to dissolve the karma of the dead.

Although bodhisattvas are equal in nature, as long as they are faithful and pious, they can recite any sutra without any appearance. However, the women in the capital worship the Goddess of Mercy, and it is also a common practice to recite the Heart Sutra or the Myoho-renge-kyo or the Great Compassion Mantra in front of the Goddess of Mercy.

Yu Shi is already very familiar with the "Dizang Sutra", and he will come as soon as he opens his mouth. While chanting the sutra, she raised her head to look at the Bodhisattva with a compassionate face in the candlelight, her eyes touched the face of the Bodhisattva statue, but as if she did not dare to look directly, she lowered her eyes and stared at the locked cabinet door. She stared so intently, as if her scriptures were not read to the Bodhisattva, but to the cabinet......

When Yu was reciting scriptures in the room, Cao and the others had already returned to the East Side Courtyard. The Cao family was carefully observing Taohua's face all the way, and when they entered the courtyard, they finally couldn't help but say, "Sister Tao, you just said about going to the Jinghai Marquis Mansion......

"Let people send the post tomorrow."

Cao Shi was happy at first, and then worried: "Can you send a post-will it be too lazy, I heard that there are many guests in the Jinghai Marquis Mansion, can this post be sent to Mrs. Tai......"

"Mrs.-" Taohua stood still and turned to look at Cao's family, "Sending posts is a courtesy for the younger generation, and as for whether Mrs. Tai sees or not, it's not up to us to control it." As far as I know, the grandfather of the Cao family and the old marquis have not been in contact for many years, and the wife only came to the capital to celebrate the birthday of the uncle and grandfather, not to settle down. Mrs. Tai is old, if she works to meet guests, she is embarrassed to be a junior, isn't it? ”

Cao Shi opened his mouth and didn't know what to say, seeing that Taohua had already taken Jiang Baihua back to his house, he had to take Jiang Yanhua to the other side of the house. As soon as he entered the house, the Cao family sent the maids out and sighed: "I thought that when your sister said this, we didn't need to think about it anymore, I couldn't think of ......it" Looking at Taohua's meaning, he didn't think about seeing Mrs. Jinghai Hou at all.

Jiang Yanhua frowned and said: "I said earlier that we would send the post ourselves, but my mother refused, what should I do now?" ”

Cao defended: "It's not that I refuse, it's just that I can't find anyone." You say, do you let the ginkgo go, or let the daylilies go? The people in this family, which one of our mothers and sons can support? ”

Jiang Yanhua was also a little dumbfounded, and suddenly said after a while: "Isn't there still a Poria cocos?" ”

"Poria?" Cao shook his head, "That girl is Taohua's person, besides, she is the son of the Jiang family, I can't move her." ”

Jiang Yanhua thought about it, the more she felt that she was right: "Mother, Poria is not my sister's person now." "Why did Taohua send her to the Cao family, wasn't it just to punish her for opening the treasury privately?

But her father and mother are loyal to the master...... "If this is not the case, I am afraid that Poria will not be able to stay, either sell it, or send it to Zhuangzi, how can she still be a first-class girl."

"What about being loyal to your father, aren't you the wife of the Jiang family now? Or is it said that if you are loyal to your father, you must prevent you from failing? There is no such thing in the world. Jiang Yanhua sneered, "Besides, my sister will always marry in the future, if it weren't for this, how could Poria open the door of the warehouse?" ”

"This-this is also ......" Cao Shi's heart warmed up again when he thought of Jiang Bohua, "You mean, this Poria can be used?" ”

"I think it works." Jiang Yanhua thought for a while, "Besides, she is serving her mother now, wouldn't it be appropriate to ask her to send posts for her mother?" As long as we write a post in advance, we can change it halfway. By the way, why don't you ask her to bring the screen I embroidered with you! It's not big horizontally or vertically. ”

Cao Shi frowned and said, "Didn't you send it by yourself when we went to see Mrs. Tai?" "Sending it by hand, of course, can leave an impression in front of Mrs. Tai, but if you send it with the post, the effect will be much worse.

"Where can I care about that at this time!" Jiang Yanhua became irritable, "If my mother listened to me, this post would have been sent a few days earlier, and if I could see Mrs. Tai, the screen would naturally be sent in person." But now, even if you can see Mrs. Tai, won't you take your sister with you? When the time comes, will that screen be counted as my filial piety, or will it be counted as my sister's? ”

Cao really didn't expect this, and was speechless when asked, and only said after a while: "Then let's do it...... When I asked Poria to send it, I said that you embroidered it. ”

Jiang Yanhua said angrily: "What is this like, naturally I have to say that it is your mother's mind." "Her needlework is also learned from Cao's, and the craftsmanship is extremely similar, and ordinary people can't tell the difference, saying that it is Cao's, and Taohua can't tell it. As for seeing Mrs. Marquis of Jinghai in the future, the Cao family can naturally reveal a little more about the meaning that the screen comes from her hand, and it will be the best of both worlds.

Cao Shi still didn't understand: "Why is this? ”

Jiang Yanhua only felt that she couldn't understand it for a while. After the Cao family married into the Jiang family, although they also went out to socialize, they were initially a step-family and a newcomer, so they couldn't help but be a little lacking in confidence. Later, although she gave birth to a son, Taohua became stronger and stronger, so that although Cao's feet were firm, his confidence did not grow. And the Jiang family is not a big family, the Cao family does not have much experience in going out, but Jiang Yanhua goes out more with Taohua, and understands the etiquette of coming and going.

"Mother doesn't have to ask, just listen to me."

Cao Shi nodded incomprehensibly: "Then mother, this is called Poria to come over?" ”

Jiang Yanhua pondered for a moment: "First divide everyone apart." "Especially ginkgo seeds.

Most of the things around Cao's side were done by Bai Guo, and it was not difficult to find a few things to separate her, Jiang Yanhua also sent Daylilies back to her house, and the mother and daughter called Poria in.

Poria has lost a lot of weight these days. Since she begged Taohua to go back to serve, but was rejected by Taohua, she had no hope at all, so she simply broke the jar and broke it, thinking that she would mix in the Cao family's yard until she was eighteen years old, and let her father and mother ask for a favor and let her go out to marry.

It's just that there are few people in the Jiang family, and the Cao family's courtyard is only served by two big girls, and if there is any heavy work to carry and lift, you can call the janitor or even the little maid to help with the handle, but the daily things of serving tea and pouring water, wiping the table and sweeping the floor are all two big girls. Poria can't get into Cao's house, so she can only do these tasks of sprinkling the courtyard and pruning flowers and branches outside.

In the past, in the Taohua yard, Poria cocos only managed the warehouse and wiped the dust, but it was never necessary to work in the sun, let alone prune and catch insects. After more than half a year, I have been blackened and thinned, and I don't dare to complain to my parents, I only feel that eighteen years old is far away, and I am like a year.

After more than half a year by Cao's side, there were only a handful of times when she was called into the house, and at first she thought it was an opportunity, but every time it was because of the absence of Bai Guo, and what was the job of pouring water and pouring residual tea. After being disappointed many times, Poria lost her spirit, and when she heard Cao call her, she hung her head and went in: "What does Mrs. command?" ”

"Poria, you've been with your wife for half a year, right?" It was Jiang Yanhua who spoke, "I thought that my sister just asked you to come over and take Qingguo's position first, and let you go back in a few days, but I didn't expect it to be half a year since I started, and I didn't see any movement." It seems that my sister really doesn't plan to use you anymore? ”

These few sentences really poked at the sore spot of Poria cocos. She just opened the door of the warehouse privately, where did she think that Qingguo's dead girl would dare to steal the jade carving narcissus? If you want to say that there is a mistake, it is also Mrs.'s idea, she doesn't know it, why is the girl so ruthless, she has followed her for five or six years, and she will be sent away......

Jiang Yanhua saw that Poria lowered her head and was silent, and she didn't grasp it in her heart, so she said stubbornly: "What about yourself, did you go to beg your sister to go back?" It's always hanging like this, and my wife doesn't know whether to use you or not. "After all, she's just a little girl, and she's not sure how to win over people.

But the last sentence was straightforward enough, Poria thought moved, and raised her head: "The slave is now a wife's person, so she is naturally loyal to her wife, where is there any reason to go back." "Anyway, the Cao family is also the mother of the Jiang family, and she gave birth to a son, and when Taohua marries in the future, isn't the Jiang family the world of the Cao family? Didn't she open the door of the warehouse for the Cao family for this at the beginning, but now that Taohua doesn't want her, she should hold on to the Cao family. In the past, she thought that the Cao family would not give her a chance, but now it seems that the Cao family just didn't make up her mind.

"You really don't want to go back?" Jiang Yanhua asked again, "If you want to go back, I'll intercede with my sister." After all, your father and mother are both old people in the family, and my sister will give them this face if she wants to come. ”

This method of wanting to capture and indulge is quite clumsy, and Poria can understand it even if she is a fool, so she knelt down with a plop: "Since the slave and maid have served their wives, how can there be half-heartedness?" What's more, my Lao Tzu Niang is a loyal master, since the loyal lord is, of course, a loyal wife, and the slave can serve by the wife's side, my Lao Tzu Niang's heart is very willing. ”

This last sentence is not a lie. In their opinion, serving the eldest girl and serving the wife are the same, what work the master arranged, just do it, as long as you do your duty, the Jiang family is not a family that treats people badly.

Jiang Yanhua secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking about Taohua's appearance on weekdays, gently shaking the fan in his hand, and making a calm appearance: "In this case, there is really one thing for you to do right now, but I don't know if you can do it well." ”

Poria hurriedly said: "The second girl just orders, and the slave must do her best." ”

When Poria went out, Cao Shi said a little worriedly: "Sister Yan, this may be successful?" This girl won't tell Sister Tao to go, right? ”

"Probably not. It's been more than half a year, I think my sister won't let her go back, even the bellflower has been raised, there is no place for her in the yard for a long time, if she is smart, she should know how to do it. Although Jiang Yanhua felt that she was ninety percent sure, she was not 100% sure after all, "However, this is not a big deal, even if my sister knows, it is nothing." ”

Cao Shi was still a little worried: "Then who can say for sure." Then a piece of jade carved narcissus made the old man angry like that, this time-"

Jiang Yanhua couldn't help but interrupt her and said, "That time was originally a mother's fool!" You listen to what your aunt says, and what is the result? Even Mother Song and Qingguo were sold, has your aunt ever felt sorry for you? Even the matter of going to the Jinghai Marquis Mansion has been postponed! Mother, you should see it clearly this time, right? ”

"See clearly, see clearly." Cao's voice repeatedly, "Mother will not be confused next time." In the future, whatever your mother has in the future, she will leave it to you and Brother Bai'er, and your aunt will never want to take anything from her mother's hands again! ”

Jiang Yanhua sighed and rubbed her eyebrows. Although she is her own mother-in-law, it is no wonder that she always hears that people choose daughters-in-law and refuse to pick out girls, and sure enough, there are some things that are not taught to do it, even she herself has figured out some truth after watching Taohua's words and deeds, if she expects the Cao family to teach, it is really ...... But then again, her stepsister lost her mother when she was six years old, who taught her these truths?