Jiang Xi has been looking at his daughter carefully, and saw that Taohua was wearing a big red silk jacket, and her face was really as delicate as a peach blossom, although her eyes were a little blue, but her eyebrows were stretched, and the corners of her eyes were smiling.

As soon as he was relieved, he heard the words of the northwest epidemic, Jiang Xi's heart suddenly hung up again, and he didn't care about letting people into the house, so he hurriedly asked, "What epidemic?" Are you going? Is it an errand sent by the emperor? ”

Cao Shi stared at his son blankly, and finally waited for Shen Shu to put Jiang Bohua down, and hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Master, how can you stand outside and talk on a cold day, it is only right to let the prince and Sister Tao enter the house first." ”

Jiang Xi reacted at this time, patted his forehead and said, "No, look at me I'm really confused, please come in." ”

Shen Shu stepped forward and said with a smile: "Father-in-law, please first." ”

Taohua stabbed the off-line father with a little cry and laughter: "Dad, why do you still call him the prince?" "Now it's your son-in-law.

Jiang Xi coughed dryly, a little embarrassed. What is the name of the prince if he is not called? Although he is a son-in-law, he was used to being called the prince before, but now the other party has fluently changed his name to father-in-law, what should he call him?

Shen Shu also coughed lightly: "Father-in-law, I will show the word." "This is the year of his crown, and his uncle Dingbei Hou gave him the words, but few people know it except for his own family.

"Oh-oh-" Jiang Xi was as good as a stream, "Zhengming, sit in the house." ”

According to the custom, it is customary to bring back the door gift, and this Shen Shu has been prepared for a long time, so although there was a sudden epidemic in the northwest, so that he had to go back to Jiang's house today, the gifts were still the same, and they were brought in like flowing water.

Jiang Xi didn't value any gifts, but the son-in-law was so solemn, which showed that his daughter was valued in her husband's family, and he was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth: "Come on, come on, sit." ”

Shen Shu stopped lightly, and sat down with Jiang Xi on top of his backhand: "I haven't kowtowed to my father-in-law and mother-in-law yet." ”

Although today is not the day to return to the door, Shen Shu still treats it as a return door. Taohua signaled mint as early as when she entered the door, and at this time, mint took out Li's tablet and respectfully placed it on the seat on the other side, the little maid handed over the mat, and the husband and wife knelt down together and kowtowed three times.

Jiang Xi's eyes were involuntarily a little red, and he opened his hands and sighed twice, but he didn't know what to say, so he said after a while: "Hurry up, hurry up!" Turning his head to look at Li's tablet, his voice trembled slightly, "Now that Sister Tao has such a good son-in-law, you should be happy if you know it underground." ”

Cao stood awkwardly by the door, not knowing whether to come in or exit. Just now she heard Shen Shu say that she was going to kowtow to her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and she was talking about herself, and when she was about to walk up, she saw Mint hugging Li's tablet and coming out, and she suddenly didn't know what to do.

Since she married into the Jiang family, that is, on the day she entered the door, she worshiped the tablet of the Li family. Taohua is not enthusiastic about using a dead man's tablet to suppress the Cao family, and Jiang Xi prefers to hide his deceased wife deep in his heart, so the father and daughter rarely mention the Li family in front of the Cao family, let alone like some families, let the stepfamily go to worship the original tablet during the New Year's holidays. So much so that although the Cao family has a stepdaughter in front of them, they often forget that there is an original wife in front of them.

At this time, watching a couple of newcomers kowtow to the tablet on the chair, the Cao family remembered that there was still a Li family, and the respect of King Anjun was all for the Li family, and she was just a steproom.

Taohua was also a little sad when Jiang Xi said it. In fact, for her, Li is just a nominal mother, and she has no impression at all. However, Jiang Xi occasionally talked about how the Li family loved her during her lifetime, how she took care of her carefully during the three years she was stupid, how she burned incense and worshiped the Buddha, and was willing to fold her life in exchange for her safety. From this point of view, Li is even more present than her biological mother in her previous life.

Seeing Jiang Xi so emotional now, Taohua also felt that her eyes were a little blurry, and she wanted to speak as if she was choked with something in her throat, and it was difficult to speak for a while. Jiang Yanhua walked up and said softly: "Daddy, today is the big day for my sister to return to the door, Li's mother knows underground, so she is naturally happy, and Daddy should laugh too." ”

Jiang Xi realized that he was a little out of shape, and hurriedly raised his sleeve to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes, and said self-deprecatingly: "You are right, it is my father's gaffe, we should all be happy, we should be happy!" ”

Taohua smiled, pulled Shen Shu to turn to the Cao family, and Fu Shen also saluted: "I want to go to the northwest with the prince, and the affairs of the family will be hard for my wife." 's father has to compile books and teach Bai Ge'er, and he will inevitably neglect himself every day, and he has to rely on his wife to take care of him. ”

Cao didn't expect that Taohua would deliberately turn around and salute her, although it was not a big bow to kneel, she was already flattered, and said in a loud voice: "Sister Tao, you just have to rest assured, I have me." ”

Jiang Yanhua was silent. Cao didn't hear it at all, Taohua said that Jiang Xi wanted to teach Jiang Bohua, which meant that Cao didn't interfere in Jiang Bohua's affairs, as long as he took care of the daily life of the father and son. That is, Cao Shi didn't understand the meaning at all, so he happily agreed first.

But what can be done about it? Jiang Yanhua glanced at the return gift that had just moved into the house, and her heart was sour-this door gift alone was almost comparable to the Liu family's dowry. I thought that I had set the Liu family's family affairs, and it would be more valuable than Taohua's identity in the future, and the Cao family would be able to straighten their waists more in the Jiang family, but who knew that Taohua actually jumped on the branch and became a phoenix, but compared her to a lower level.

The woman relies on her father and brother at home, and she marries by her husband, Taohua marries such a noble husband, and she takes the prestige of the county palace back to take care of the affairs of the Jiang family, who dares to say anything? Even if the Cao family gave birth to a son to the Jiang family, it would be incomparable.

Jiang Yanhua lamented in her heart, seeing that Taohua had begun to distribute the gifts she had brought back, and the Cao family was happy to receive the gifts, she suddenly felt that all her hard work was in vain, and the Cao family just lived like this, and there was nothing to count on.

This time the door gifts were carefully prepared by Shen Shu, what was given to Cao and Jiang Yanhua was the new style of clothing and jewelry, and what was given to Jiang Xi was a booklet that Wu Zheng got out of nowhere to record the native herbs of the Northwest, and its author was born in the Northwest and recorded it quite informatively. Although it was only a manuscript, clumsy binding, and looked a little tattered, Jiang Xi was like a treasure, and he held it in his hand and praised it repeatedly—he had taken a lot of it with him in the south, but he had never set foot in the northwest, and he needed such a book.

As for Jiang Bohua, it was a few swords carved from wood, which were only half the length of a serious sword, but it was already extremely long for Jiang Bohua, a little fat man, and it was quite important to carry it in his hand.

The Jiang family doesn't have such toys, even Taohua never thought of getting a knife or a sword for his younger brother. Guy because she didn't raise a child in her last life, even the cousins at the head of the family, she was also carried by her grandfather to study medicine when she was a child, and she never had a time to chase and play with plastic knives and guns, so Taohua never thought that boys would like these things. As for the Cao family, he would not give his son such a "dangerous" thing. So Jiang Bohua grew so big, it was the first time he saw such a toy, and he immediately hugged it and didn't let go.

At this time, he had completely forgotten that Shen Shu was the villain who kidnapped his sister, and he also forgot that he was still going to kidnap his sister today, so he immediately ran out with a wooden sword, so panicked that his little servant hurriedly followed behind, lest the little ancestor fall.

When Cao Shi saw the sword, his heart even raised his throat, although he found that it was wood, he was still worried, followed his feet to the door, and hurriedly called the maid: "Follow along, be careful not to ask my brother to poke his face with the sword!" "What is not good for the prince to send, how to send these things, what if it is injured?

Shen Shu got up with a smile: "I'll go play with him." ”

Jiang Xi said disapprerovingly: "It's nothing for a boy to stumble, but he is not allowed to use this thing against people." ”

Taohua smiled: "Dad, don't worry, the blades of the sword are all rounded, and the prince is very careful." To be honest, she didn't expect this, the blade of the sword was smooth to the touch, as long as she didn't poke at the vital point, it would be fine. Besides, Jiang Bohua is not without anyone around him, where is it so easy for him to hurt himself.

Jiang Xi spoke, no matter how anxious the Cao family was, it was useless, seeing that Shen Shu got up and went out, took a wooden knife and fought with Jiang Bohua, he was so anxious that he wanted to run out, and he couldn't help but say: "This, this is too scary......"

Taohua shook her head: "The prince is skilled in bowing and horses, and he won't let Bai Ge'er get hurt." "Sure enough, the Cao family can't be allowed to interfere in Jiang Bohua's education, like her, a good boy will be hatched by her into a nest chicken.

Jiang Xi also said: "Zhengming has its own measure, you don't want to be like this." It was only right to tell the cook to prepare the meal, and they had to go back before dark. "According to the rules of returning to the door, the young husband and wife come in pairs, which is called the double return door, and it is necessary to return to the husband's house before dark. Although there are no elders in the county king's mansion now, the rules still have to be followed, and Taohua is already too eye-catching, and there is no need to give someone another handle in this kind of place.

Cao had no choice but to take Jiang Yanhua to the kitchen. The Jiang family didn't expect that their aunt and uncle would come to the door today, and if they wanted to organize a decent meal in time, they really had to hurry up.

"Your dad is too relieved." Cao Shi was still thinking about his son as he walked, and couldn't help complaining, "Brother Bai is only a few years old, so he will play with those swords, guns, swords, and halberds, how good would it be if he hurt his face!" Besides, Bai Ge'er is going to study in the future, what do you do with swords? Speaking of which, she forgot how much the clothes and jewelry Shen Shu gave her liking, and complained, "The prince really won't send anything." ”

Jiang Yanhua was annoyed in her heart, and she was impatient with her words, and blurted out: "If you don't like it, my mother will return all the things sent by the prince." "I will only talk in front of her, but I don't dare to do anything.

Cao Shi was so choked by her that he couldn't speak, and he muttered after a while: "This is a bit rude...... When they were gone, I put them away and wouldn't let them take them. ”

Jiang Yanhua sneered in her heart - the Cao family just talked about it, Jiang Bohua's matter, she couldn't intervene for a long time. However, she didn't want to say this, so let Cao comfort herself, she is now more concerned about the epidemic in the northwest.

Last time, Taohua calmed down the epidemic in Lantian and Luonan counties, and the people who followed her at that time all benefited, and even Jiang Meihua, who didn't do anything in the palace, was also wiped out. She is going to go again this time when the epidemic breaks out in the northwest, so what benefits can she get from following her this time?

Jiang Yanhua has not been idle these days. The attitude of the Liu family before and after the engagement is really a little far apart, and she now has someone who can run outside, so she asked someone to go outside to inquire carefully, but she didn't inquire about anything else, but she knew that Liu Zhijing was in a bad situation in the Hanlin Academy now, and the errand a few years ago was also in vain.

According to Jiang Yanhua's thoughts, the reason why the Liu family is so inactive now is probably because Liu Zhijing is in a predicament, so he naturally has no heart to think about getting married. She didn't know what the Shujishi of the Hanlin Academy had to do to have a future, but since Liu Zhijing was able to go to Luonan and Lantian counties to prepare for farming a year ago, it should be okay to go to the northwest to treat the epidemic, right? If Taohua calms down the epidemic again this time, won't Liu Zhijing also be able to take a credit?

Thinking about it like this, Jiang Yanhua suddenly felt a little untenable in the kitchen: "Mother, I have something to do and go back to the room." The meal must be made better, after all, the prince is here. ”

"Hey—" Cao Shi shouted, and when he saw that her feet were not touching the ground, he had to sigh and go to instruct the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Liu Zhijing came out of the Hanlin Courtyard and walked home against the cold wind. At this time, it was actually not time for Hanlin Yuan to leave, but he really didn't want to stay any longer. Among the Shuji scholars who entered the Hanlin Academy in the same year as him, those who had a little way to find a way out, and the remaining ones were far inferior to him on the Jinshi list back then, and now they are left in the Hanlin Academy with them, and he is really not convinced.

"Jing'er-" Mrs. Liu suddenly felt distressed when she saw her son's tired look, "Come and drink a bowl of hot tea first." ”

"How is my mother today?" Liu Zhijing poured a cup of tea, only to feel bitter and astringent in his mouth - it was originally some tea stalks, and Mrs. Liu didn't know what the water was old and tender, so she boiled the hot water for half a day, and the tea fragrance had already dispersed, but the bitterness was all soaked out.

"Mother, it's okay." Mrs. Liu suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly took out a letter from the house, "A girl from the Jiang family came today, saying that she was sending a letter for her girl, so that you can read it as soon as you come back." Speaking of which, she was a little unhappy when she received the letter, and the fiancé should also be taboo, how can there be a reason for private communication? Fortunately, this letter was delivered to the family, and if it was sent to the Hanlin Academy, it would be even more unseemly.

Liu Zhijing also frowned. The Jiang family's teaching of their daughter seems to be really worse, the first one Jiang Taohua went to Cheng'en Mansion to treat people for that kind of disease, and the latter one sent a letter in private, which is really unseemly.

"When she enters the door, my mother will teach her well. In the end, he is young and comes from a doctor's family, and he doesn't know that there are these rules-" Liu Zhijing said as he opened the letter, swept a few lines at a glance, and suddenly lost his voice.

Mrs. Liu was taken aback: "What, but what happened?" ”

Liu Zhijing held the letter and muttered: "There is an epidemic in the northwest." ”

"Yo-" Mrs. Liu sighed, "what's going on in the past two years?" There was an epidemic in Beijing, Shandong rebelled, and there was an epidemic in the northwest at this time. ”

Liu Zhijing didn't have the heart to answer, only vaguely perfunctory two sentences, looking at the letter in his hand. Jiang Yanhua's letter was written very shortly, although he had tried his best to be tactful, but Liu Zhijing had seen a lot of articles in the Hanlin Academy that pointed at Sang and scolded Huai, and Jiang Yanhua's little effort was completely unconcealed in his eyes, and he could see the meaning almost at a glance.

"Mother, I have to go to the northwest." Although Jiang Yanhua's letter is poorly written, the content is important, and this northwest epidemic may be his opportunity.

"What?" Mrs. Liu was shocked, "This, this can't be done!" ”

"Mother, this is an opportunity." Liu Zhijing said patiently, "Although it is more bitter, when the epidemic subsides, this credit is not small." ”

"It's a plague!" Mrs. Liu was too anxious, "We don't want such a credit!" "When Liu Zhijing went to Lantian and Luonan years ago, she didn't know that it was the place where the epidemic had occurred, but when she found out, she was still afraid. Now Liu Zhijing is going to the northwest, where the epidemic is out, is this to make her worry about death?

"Mother, the princess of the county is going to treat the epidemic." Liu Zhijing could only say the contents of the letter, "She cured the malaria epidemic in the two counties before, and this time she went to the northwest, I am afraid that she will make meritorious service again." ”

Mrs. Liu glared and said, "She has made meritorious contributions, what do we have to do with it?" "Now that everyone is married, even if there is any credit, it will not be rewarded to the Jiang family, and it will not be beneficial to the Liu family.

"If I follow, I will have a share of the credit for quelling the epidemic." Liu Zhijing told the truth, "With her medical skills, it will not be a problem to calm the epidemic this time." This is what Jiang Yanhua meant in his letter, although he felt a little prickly when he saw it, as if he had to rely on a woman to make meritorious contributions, but this low-hanging fruit was in front of him, and he was reluctant to take it.

Mrs. Liu didn't think so much: "Can she cure the epidemic in the northwest?" ”

"The epidemic in Lantian and Luonan counties was calmed down by her, and now both counties have built shrines for her." Liu Zhijing groaned, "The northwest is farther away, but the winter is cold, and the epidemic is not easy to break out, so it is actually much safer than in summer......"

Mrs. Liu looked at her son: "But you are from the Hanlin Academy, what is this ...... cure?"

Liu Zhijing folded the letter and turned it around a few times in his hand, and quickly made up his mind: "There is no future for me in the Hanlin Academy, so it is better to fight this one." I am a brother-in-law with the prince of the county, and even if I go to the northwest, I can always get some care. "At that time, the credit will definitely not be robbed again.

"So, what now?" Mrs. Liu has always looked at her son's horse, and although she is reluctant to do so, she will no longer stop her.

"I'll inquire about it at once, and I'll invite myself to the northwest." Liu Zhijing said that he was about to get up.

Mrs. Liu said distressedly: "I always have to eat and then go out, this day I will be cold, my empty stomach is filled with cold wind, and I will be sick again when I come back." ”

"This kind of thing can't be delayed, and it may not be that no one else will see this opportunity. What's more, my mother also said just now, I am Hanlin, and the matter of quelling the epidemic has nothing to do with me, and it is not that I can go if I go. The more Liu Zhijing said, the more he felt that this opportunity must be seized, and he felt a little stinging after reading Jiang Yanhua's letter, but now he is a little impatient.

Mrs. Liu hesitated: "In this case, why don't you go and talk to King Anjun directly?" You and he are brothers-in-law, and it doesn't matter if you ask him to say something. ”

Liu Zhijing stood there, hesitating. If it was the past, he would not be able to do it so obviously, there is no impermeable wall in the world, if Shen Shu spoke for him, it would inevitably be known in the future, and it would be necessary to say that he was stained with the light of his wife's family, which would be a stain in the future.

However, now he is not so calm, and his repeated mistakes, including the proposal of the wrong person, have made him gradually a little anxious about his situation, and now a great opportunity is in front of him, and he is really not tempted.

Mother was right. Since the king of Anjun and the princess are returning to the door today, they will go to the northwest tomorrow, maybe they may not come back when I get married next year, and I should also go to see him. It's just that this Chengyi has to prepare a copy. It doesn't have to be too much, but it's a thought. ”

For the sake of her son, Mrs. Liu was willing to spend money, and immediately went back to the house and came out with twenty taels of silver. Liu Zhijing groaned slightly, and said: "Mother takes more, just say - it is to donate one or two to the people in the northwest epidemic area." ”

Twenty taels of silver is enough for the mother and son of the Liu family to live for several months, and Mrs. Liu can't help but feel pain, so she ruthlessly went to take another thirty taels: "That's all for the family." "If it weren't for the fact that there were still some things left behind when he abandoned the Tan clan in front of him, he would have starved to death in the capital by relying only on Liu Zhijing's Yulu. Now that a lot of money has been spent on the relationship with the Jiang family, and now that the fifty taels of silver are taken out, the Liu family can be regarded as turning out all the foundations.

At Jiang's house, Taohua had already told Jiang Xi about the northwest epidemic situation he analyzed: "I'm afraid I won't be able to save many people this time." "Anthrax is a very troublesome infectious disease, even if there is a vaccine, it is not lifelong immunity, all Taohua can do is to go to the northwest to publicize the prevention and control measures, and try to make this disease not break out on a large scale.

Jiang Xi frowned when he heard this, went to the house for a while, and came out with a few old prescriptions: "The illness you mentioned, there are also a few prescriptions handed down by the ancestors, but I don't know if it's right or not, you can take it and take a look." ”

Taohua glanced at it, and it was also some recipes for Qingwen, and one of them was slightly interesting. At this time, I didn't have time to look at it more, so I put it all away: "I'll see it on the way." Thank you Daddy. "These old recipes were all treasured by Jiang Xi before, and she had never seen them.

Jiang Xi frowned and said, "If it weren't for the fact that the northwest is too far, I would also like to go with you......"

Taohua hurriedly said: "That's not possible!" Bai Ge'er is still at home, how can he be separated from his father? ”

Jiang Xi sighed: "Not really. It's also ashamed to say that the emperor gave me the right to spend money and transfer people to the treasury, but I-"can't leave home at all, so I don't have to talk about going all over the mountains and rivers to enter medicinal herbs."

Taohua was about to comfort him, so he heard a report from the little guy at the door: "Liu Hanlin is here, saying that he heard that there is an epidemic in the northwest, and the prince and princess are going to the northwest." One is that he came to give it away, and the other is that he also wants to donate some silver. ”