Chapter 03 Calculation

The arrival of Mrs. Shen and Shen Lian Ran Ning didn't hear the slightest news in advance, and she really couldn't determine the purpose of their coming. If the Shen family really came to propose marriage to her, then she really didn't have to enter the palace again, but she always felt that there was something unspeakably wrong.

"The girl is not happy?" Bizhu saw that there was no joy on Ran Ning's face, and she couldn't figure out what she meant for a while.

Ran Ningxing's eyes blinked lightly and said, "You go outside to find out, what is the matter with Mrs. Shen and Shen Gongzi." ”

"Yes." Bizhu hurriedly responded, and then went out, no matter whether the third girl was happy or not, she had to do what the girl told her to do.

Although Bizhu is young, he has also been in the house for nearly ten years, although he is occasionally naïve and reckless, but this kind of detective ability has been raised by this deep house, and Ran Ning is not worried.

Ran Ning and Shen Lian met in the Qin Tea Pavilion, the owner of the Qin Tea Pavilion was a talented and knowledgeable person, but he was not in good health since he was a child and could not participate in the imperial examination. In order to meet more talented people and broaden their horizons, he opened this piano tea restaurant.

The location of the Qin Tea House is slightly off, and it is precisely because of this that it is particularly elegant and quiet, and its reputation is only passed on by word of mouth among some talented people, and others probably think that this is just a place to listen to the piano and taste tea. It is not easy to become a guest of the Qin Tea House, you need to pass the guò boss's exam, and only those who answer the right questions are eligible to enter the museum, and each of these people must have a director, regardless of gender, as long as they are not in the office, they can come and give it a try.

Therefore, in the past few years, the Qin Tea House has attracted many regulars, these people are either accomplished in qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, or they are full of reading and exporting chapters. Ran Ning first went there, or Lao Wan Pingbo mentioned it to her, at first she just wanted to come to see the world, but when arguing with the boss, she found that there are really people here who have real talents and real learning, and there are many women, even the first talented woman in the capital is also a guest here. After relying on her piano skills and knowledge to get the qualification to enter the library, Ran Ning found that there were many books in the library, and there were many unique books. These books and unique books cannot be taken out of the library, but they can be copied as long as a simple registration is done. So Ran Ning began to frequently go in and out of the Qin Tea Pavilion, and while discussing the knowledge and piano skills, he copied those lonely books, and took them back to Lao Wan Pingbo to see after copying. Shen Lian was also one of the people who copied the lone book in the study at that time, and I don't know if it was intentional or unintentional, every time Shen Lian sat on the table on Ran Ning's right hand, and the two got to know each other.

Shen Lian's father is the son of Lang Zhong of the Ministry of Rites of the Dynasty, although the Ministry of Rites is not a fat poor, but it is also a good five grades, and his status and identity are good to say, not a high position, but it will not be despised by people. And Shen Lian has also been lifted, just waiting for a good score in the spring exam to enter the office.

Shen Lian looks dignified, he looks like a humble gentleman, sometimes although his views are not unique enough, he can also cite some examples from the past and present, and he is also quite popular in the Qin Tea Pavilion.

After the two met, Shen Lian often brought some snacks from home to the museum for Ran Ning to taste, or when he encountered a good piano score, he would buy it as a gift. When Ran Ning was playing the piano in the museum, Shen Lian sat on the soft couch with a book and read it, without too many words, it seemed that everything could be done naturally. Even if the relationship is good, the two of them did not cross the thunder pool by half a step, everyone in the hall could see that Shen Lian was interested in Ran Ning, but neither of them really showed their attitude, Ran Ning was a girl's family, and for the sake of her reputation, it was not easy for others to say anything.

If you want to ask Ran Ning how she feels about Shen Lian, she doesn't actually hate it, but how much she likes it, Ran Ning herself can't say. She likes to talk about poetry and ancient texts with Shen Lian, and she also likes to listen to the piano and taste tea with him, but more Ran Ning didn't think about it, after all, her marriage is not up to her. But then again, if there is no choice, Shen Lian is actually a good candidate, at least a little understanding, it is better than a blind marriage and a dumb marriage.

After the death of the old Wan Bohou, Ran Ning had not been to the Qin Tea House for more than three months, and one day she and Bizhu went out to buy books, Shen Lian didn't know where she knew, came to her, and swore to her that she would not marry. At that time, Ran Ning was a little moved, after all, after her grandfather went, she did feel lonely. But because she was still in filial piety at that time, Beixin rules that the filial piety period is one year, and the son of the deceased needs three years, so Ran Ning did not respond to him, but she did not directly refuse.

After that, Shen Lian took good care of Ran Ning, and it made Ran Ning feel more and more that marrying Shen Lian might be a good choice.

About an hour later, Bizhu returned, bowing his head and not seeing his previous happiness.

Ran Ning put down the book and asked, "What's wrong?" ”

Bizhu raised his head, and his eyes turned red.

Ran Ning frowned, "Being bullied?" ”

Bizhu knelt on the ground and cried out, "Girl, it is not you who Shen Gongzi wants to marry, but the eldest girl." ”

Ran Ning's heart seemed to be flooded with countless feelings at once, and she couldn't tell what it was like. In fact, it is reasonable for the Shen family to want Shen Lian to marry Ran Xiao. When Aunt Zhao first entered the house, her mother's brother was just a small county magistrate, but in the past few years, Zhao's brother has somehow won the sacred heart, and now he is already the deputy envoy of the Zhengsi Tongzheng Division, which is higher than Shen Lian's father's official position, and depending on the situation, there will be a possibility of promotion in the future. Therefore, it is a normal choice for the Shen family to take this opportunity to make friends with the Zhao family. In contrast, Ran Ning's mother died in her early life, she didn't know if there was anyone on her grandfather's side now, and there was no one to support her after her grandfather went, even if she looked good, it was useless for people who were rolling in the court.

"Alright, don't cry, don't make people laugh." Ran Ning suppressed all her feelings and said to Bizhu, "Get up." ”

"But ......" Bizhu was very unhappy in her heart, both for Ran Ning's grievances and for Shen Lian's thin feelings.

"Nothing. Think about it with your own brain, if it's just that the Shen family hears that the eldest sister is preparing to come and see each other, then it should be more appropriate for Mrs. Shen to come by herself, after all, it is not appropriate to let the eldest sister and Shen Gongzi meet before the matter is settled. Now that Mrs. Shen dares to come to Shen Gongzi's door, it means that at least Aunt Zhao has already known about this matter and is very satisfied, and more importantly, the Zhao family should have acquiesced in the relationship between the eldest sister and Shen Gongzi, only the serious master of our house is still kept in the dark. Ran Ning calmly analyzed this matter, since he had no fate with Shen Lian, it was better to know earlier than to know later.

Bizhu wiped her tears and said, "Girl, you can ask the master to make decisions for you in this matter." ”

"Although I have a relationship with Shen Gongzi, I have not made a private lifelong commitment. If he really cares about me, he will tell me in advance, and now he is silently marrying his eldest sister, so he knows that he is not dissatisfied with this marriage. If he is not sincere to me, why should I force it? If it makes the most trouble, it will always be me who suffers. "If it really makes trouble, Shen Lian will lose a romantic reputation at most, but what about her? It will definitely be said that it is shameless, and there are even worse ones, so why bother?

"The slave is just not worth it for the girl." Bizhu's eyes are still red.

"It's worth it to look at the future, it's too early to say that." Ran Ning leaned on the soft pillow, she could afford to take it and put it down, it was the first thing her grandfather taught her, and she still didn't dare to forget it, "Now that my mother has gone to the ancestral hall, the family is almost what Aunt Zhao said, and Mrs. Shen is good at this time, as long as Aunt Zhao and the eldest sister are willing to say a few good words in front of their father, this matter should be done." ”

If it weren't for Yu's absence, I'm afraid this matter wouldn't be so easy, after all, what Zhao liked, if Yu said a few words to Wan Pingbo, this matter might also take some twists and turns, Ran Ning didn't believe that Yu would really help Ran Xiao choose a particularly outstanding family. So although the Yu family pushed Ran Ning into the palace this time, they fulfilled Ran Xiao and got herself into the ancestral hall, I really don't know whether she is happy or hateful in her heart.

"Okay, let's go and get a bowl of osmanthus lotus seed soup in the kitchen." Ran Ning said. Shen Lian's matter seems to have really been put down by her, summer is already boring, eat some lotus seed soup to clear your heart, and your heart can be sweetened.

"Yes." Bizhu got up, saluted and went out. Since Shen Gongzi has no fate with the three girls of her family, she will no longer have to listen to him in the future.

Ran Ning supported the corner of her forehead with one hand, her eyes were more calm, and her eyes became bottomless. How much do her mothers, aunts, sisters, and brothers know about her and Shen Lian? She knew that there were no impermeable walls in this world, but it was difficult to judge if no one mentioned her. If they knew, then the Shen family would be slapping her in the face when they came to propose marriage to Ran Xiao, if they didn't know, then they would break out in the future, and they would probably be restless, so she had to prepare early.

Thinking of this, Ran Ning couldn't help but feel cold in her heart, and now she thought deeply, if her mother knew about her and Shen Lian, I am afraid that letting him enter the palace this time was also to break her marriage, and I am afraid that my mother would have known about Ran Xiao's affairs in the Shen family for a long time, so it was probably my mother's plan to use this incident to enter the palace to anger my father, and now that my mother has gone to the ancestral hall, she has avoided these things. The Shen family must not have too many obstacles to come to ask for marriage at this time, if she really has affection for Shen Lian, she will definitely hold a grudge against Aunt Zhao and Ran Xiao who snatched Shen Lian, as long as she starts to retaliate, she will completely fall into the full set of her mother-in-law, and then her mother-in-law will only need to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and whoever loses will not lose to her mother-in-law, and she can get rid of a thorn in her side.

Ran Ning let out a long sigh, she has no evidence now, and everything is just speculation, but no matter what, it doesn't hurt to think one more step and guard against it.

How Mrs. Shen and the Zhao family talked, Ran Ning didn't care anymore. When the sun was about to set, she went to talk to Wan Pingbo, and went out to choose the piano.

There are many night markets in Beijing, especially in the summer evenings, the night markets are even more lively, and many people take advantage of the cool to go out for a walk so as not to get bored at home. There are a lot of piano shops in Beijing, but there are not many time-honored brands, and Ran Ning also has a few old piano shops that he regularly visits, although these time-honored pianos are more expensive, but the timbre is particularly penetrating.

Walking into the piano shop, the boss knew Ran Ning, and hurriedly greeted him, "The three girls are here, and they are not far away." ”

Ran Ning smiled and nodded, "Boss Chen." ”

"Is the third girl picking the piano or buying strings this time?" Boss Chen asked.

Ran Ning looked around the store and said, "If you want a zither, twenty-three strings are enough, the bass is thicker, and the shape is simpler." The sound of her zheng, which is at home, is relatively crisp and suitable for playing some folk tunes, but the palace has to use it differently, and it is more famous songs to be played, or to be used as a ceremony accompaniment, and the timbre is required to be more stable.

"The third girl came by coincidence, please come here." As Boss Chen spoke, he took Ran Ning to the piano area. When he came to a zither, he said: "This is a new piano that my master just made three days ago, and the sound is aura and steady, which is suitable for people like girls who dabble in a wide range of music styles." ”

The zither in front of me is very simple, and if it wasn't for the boss's introduction, it would probably be regarded as a semi-finished product. The head and tail of the zither are not carved with any decoration, and it is not good-looking to be bare, but it gives people a sense of atmosphere and has a unique charm.

"Although this zither is not carved with anything, the old master means that it is engraved with the poems that the kite player likes, which can be customized, which is also a kind of elegance." Boss Chen said with a smile.

Most of the current guzheng is carved with lotus, bamboo leaves, swallows and other scenes, which are very beautiful, but there is nothing new.

Ran Ning looked at this guzheng and was satisfied. The little guy moved a piano stool and put it behind Ran Ning very discerningly, Ran Ning sat down, and played a song "General Order" casually, the piano sound was transparent and steady, without accompanying music, but Ran Ning still played a sense of majesty and solemnity, killing all directions. After the song was finished, even Boss Chen, who often listened to people playing music, couldn't help but applaud. Bizhu is also proud - the three girls in her family can play anyone who doesn't know the piano to the point of stopping and appreciating.

"Worthy of the third girl, the name of the first Zheng person in Beijing is indeed true." Boss Chen said with a smile.

"The No. 1 Zheng Man in Beijing" doesn't know who gave it, and the musicians in Beijing seem to have acquiesced, but Ran Ning has never admitted it.

"Boss Chen has won the award, this first Zheng person will never dare to be it." There are mountains outside the mountains, there are people outside the people, Ran Ning never dared to be arrogant, "This piano is good, just let it be." Boss Chen made a price. ”

"The third girl can see my piano, so she should give it away for free." Boss Chen is not short of money, so he is more interested in people with outstanding piano skills, and he has not done anything as a gift.

"Boss Chen's kindness I understand, but don't take your piano for nothing, last time you bought the piano, you have already sold me at a loss, this time you can't let Boss Chen lose money, otherwise you really won't dare to come next time." Ran Ning will not accept the kindness of others at will, this is the principle.

Boss Chen saw that she was reasonable, and it was not easy to persuade her, so he said: "The third girl is a cheerful person, Chen listened to the song of the third girl today, and felt that the third girl must take this piano to live up to it." In this case, you can give two hundred taels, all of which should be the master's handmade money. ”

"Then thank you Boss Chen." Ran Ning knew in her heart that it would not be too much to sell such a good piano for a thousand taels.

The three girls are polite. Can this body be engraved? Boss Chen asked.

Ran Ning thought for a while and said, "That's it, I can't think of anything suitable for a while." When you think about it, let's trouble Boss Chen. ”

"Okay, if the third girl needs it, she can say it at any time." Boss Chen also agreed very happily.

After paying the bill, Boss Chen said that he would let people bring the piano and box to the house early tomorrow morning. Ran Ning nodded and took her leave. As soon as he walked out of the piano shop, he was suddenly pulled by someone, and Ran Ning looked at it, and it was Shen Lian who was waiting here for some time.