Meng Shi heard Cao Xilin's words, first responded, and then asked: "The master has never been waiting to see Cao Wu, this is-"

Cao Xilin said about meeting Shen Shu in the West Market today: "I have crossed the bright road in front of King Anjun, why don't you call me to come and see him?" ”

Meng Shi's two well-repaired brows frowned slightly: "Didn't they discuss it......" Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental, and that girl also called out what uncle on the spot. Mrs. Jinghaihou has seen a lot of girls, and there are many who can play tricks, like the Jiang family's girl, who is not on the stage at all in her eyes.

Cao Xilin muttered: "This is not quite like - Master Jiang San only entered the capital in February this year, where can he arrange for people to act?" But his daughter, pretending, was really clumsy. "Today, the two liars were sent to the yamen, and he turned his head and went to inquire about Jiang Xi's family, which is not difficult to know.

Meng snorted lightly: "It's easy to find people. But those fake medicines, if they weren't for the pharmacy, I'm afraid it would be difficult to get them. ”

Cao Xilin shook his head and said, "Even if they can arrange people, how can they know that King Anjun and I will be in the West Market?" Besides, it's too much of a fuss to do this just to get close to me. ”

Meng Shi also shook his head and smiled: "The master is too real." In my opinion, this matter is not aimed at the master, but at the king of Anjun. King Anjun and the Jiang family, that is a feud. As soon as this play is performed today, the king of Anjun always has to admit some love to them. If the Jiang family is a good person, I can't say that there will be one back and forth in the future, and the past things can be slowly resolved. Otherwise, why did King Anjun return to the capital, and the second room of the Jiang family also entered Beijing? ”

Cao Xilin felt that what his wife said was quite reasonable, but he still had a little doubt: "That third master Jiang really doesn't look like such a scheming person." ”

"Master Jiang San doesn't, Jiang Lang can." Meng sneered, "I heard that Jiang Langzhong is very shrewd. ”

Cao Xilin thought for a while, but felt a little confused, so he said: "That's it, this matter will be known when the yamen comes out." We don't have to care what the Jiang family is going to do, just talk about Mrs. Jiang's affairs. ”

Meng Shi sighed: "I haven't seen anyone so greedy, my brother is here, and my sister is coming." Master, it's not that I'm bold and disobedient, but in fact, this family business was earned by my father with a knife and a gun, and there is no reason to make up for outsiders. ”

As soon as he talked about this, Cao Xilin was very helpless: "Mother is old, it is inevitable that you will be a little tired." ”

Meng Shi was just talking, and he didn't expect Cao Xilin to really do anything. Hearing this, he only said: "What kind of burden do I suffer, it's just that it's not worth it for the master - they are all here to fight the autumn breeze, and they carry a mouth on their shoulders, so they ask the master to do this and that." It's just a matter of spending money, and you still owe some favors, but you don't have to make up for it from the master. The old man's daily errands in the Terracotta Division are hard enough, and he has to run around for these people, which is really ......"

Cao Xilin was moved, shook Meng's hand and whispered: "I know that Madame feels sorry for me......"

Chuanyun stood on the side, and when he saw this, he hurriedly tiptoed to withdraw, but bumped into a person at the door: "Girl-"

Meng Shi in the room hurriedly withdrew his hand, brushed his hair and sat upright: "Is it Hui'er?" ”

Piercing the clouds and opening the curtain, a girl in red walked in with brisk steps, and smiled when she saw Cao Xilin: "Why did Daddy come back so early today?" ”

Cao Xilin and Meng have been married for more than 20 years and have two sons, but only one daughter, Cao Hui. Not to mention Cao Xilin and his wife, even Mrs. Marquis Jinghai regards this granddaughter as a pearl in her palm, and she smiles as long as she sees it.

As soon as Cao Hui came in, the couple put aside the affairs of the Jiang family, and Meng said with a smile: "Did the waiter's family have a good time last year?" ”

Cao Hui pouted lightly: "I'm not happy at all." Mother, you don't know, there are two cousins in the Nian Shilang's house, and they are all asking about my brother, I don't like to talk about it, so they ask about the draft in the palace in a weird way, as if I didn't enter the palace and lost a lot of face...... It's ridiculous. ”

The Cao family didn't want their daughter to enter the palace, so they asked the queen mother for a favor to marry on their own, but this matter was not publicized to the public, after all, this is the royal face, and it can't be said that the Cao family can't even look down on the emperor. This kind of thing is tacitly understood by those who know the inside story, and only those laymen will think that if they are not selected, they are inferior to others.

Meng Shi snorted: "I'm afraid it's from outside Beijing, right?" ”

"Not really." Cao Hui looked sympathetic, "I heard that the maid of the new moon quietly revealed two sentences, these two cousins are unruly - the things in the crescent room, they take it when they see it, I saw with my own eyes that the new moon only made a bracelet this year, and it was worn on the hand of one of them." ”

Nian's family was originally from a poor family, although he did the Ministry of Rites, his family background was mediocre, although Nian Xinyue was the only daughter in the family, he should be frugal in terms of clothing and accessories, and only play a few kinds of jewelry in season every year. Cao Hui has been friends with her for several years, knows the inside story, and is quite angry when she sees her new jewelry in the hands of her cousins.

"Where did you come from, cousin, so big?" Meng was also a little surprised. The young waiter's family is also a clear stream, it is very disciplined, she has also seen it in the new year, it is really indecent not to say anything and not to move, how can the family actually allow such a thing to happen?

These words were inquired by Cao Hui's maid Qin Sang from the maid of the Nian family, and replied on behalf of him at this time: "It is said that it is the daughter of the cousin of the Nian family." I heard that when the young man went to Beijing to take the exam, he borrowed money from his cousin's family. Now that the two daughters of the family are of age, they want to send them to Beijing -- I heard that they still wanted to run, but they came too late......

Meng Shi seemed to be listening to a book from heaven: "What kind of lintel is the cousin of the young man, and he also wants to run?" "Nian's family is poor, and his cousin's status is definitely not high, and he also wants to run, which is simply whimsical.

Qin Sang pursed his lips and smiled: "The slave maid heard that there are more than 100 acres of land at home. "It's very good in the countryside, but when it comes to running, it's probably only worthy of being a palace person.

Meng Shi shook his head when he heard this. Jinghai Hou Mansion often has such relatives come to the door, but fortunately there is no such unclear mind, if someone also comes to take Jinghai Hou Mansion to send her daughter into the palace, then even she is afraid that she doesn't know how to deal with it.

Thinking about it like this, he suddenly felt that the greedy Cao five brothers and sisters were nothing, Meng Shi sighed and said, "Sister Luo also went with you today?" ”

Cao Hui nodded and said with a smile: "Sister Luo'er is already much better than the two cousins of the Nian family. ”

Meng Shi said angrily: "Your father didn't borrow her family's money, if you don't know how to measure, then you really have nothing to say." Speaking of which, did Sister Luo ever mention to you that she had an aunt who married someone surnamed Jiang? ”

Cao Hui thought for a while: "It seems to say that there is an aunt who was divorced by her husband's family because she has no children, and she has a daughter who has lived in her house for many days, but she has never mentioned who she married later." Sister Luo doesn't often talk about the personnel in Jiangnan, and this is only mentioned once in a while. ”

Qin Sang pursed his lips and said in a low voice: "Eight out of ten sentences that Miss Luo said were flattering Mrs. Tai or the girl, and the remaining two sentences were to say how hard she had lived in the past." It's not easy to have such a difficult family and an aunt and cousin, so what's the use of talking about others......"

Her voice was low, but just right for people to hear. Chuanyun was on the side, sneered, and pretended to be angry: "Madam didn't ask you, how can there be a place for you to talk." Although this is a little exaggerated, it is true, not to mention Cao Luo, it is Mrs. Cao Wu, who entered the Jinghai Marquis Mansion is these words.

Qin Sang hurriedly said: "The slave doesn't dare anymore." "He said that, but he was not afraid. Over the years, the □□ cousins and cousins who have come to the door, the subordinates of the Jinghai Marquis Mansion have seen a lot, and they naturally know how tired the Meng family is of these people.

Cao Xilin coughed dryly and said, "That's it, they said that they came to ask their mother for peace, and they met each other." In the future, when they return to Wuxi, they will naturally not come and go. ”

Meng thought that it would be best if this was the case, but I was afraid that these people would stick it up and not leave. Over the years, the reputation of the mother-in-law for flattery and good talk has spread far and wide, and the eggs have been sewn, where can the flies be bitten? It's just that these words can't be said in front of her husband, so she just says, "Don't worry, master, I know." ”

According to the rules of the capital, the post of the guest must be sent a few days in advance, so that the person who comes to the guest should also be prepared. Although the Cao family said that he was going to come to the door to greet the elders, after all, the person who came was a guest, and the post was also sent to the Jiang family a day in advance.

This is Jiang's family room, and the post was picked up on the door, so it was naturally sent to Xiao's hands first. Xiao Shi opened the post and looked at it, but he was a little surprised: "Is it really Jinghai Hou Mansion?" A few days ago, she used this matter to ridicule the Cao family, and she didn't want the post of the Marquis of Jinghai to arrive today.

"Jinghai Hou Mansion?" Jiang Danhua has been following the housekeeper of Xiao's school these days, and he is bored, so he hurriedly came over to take a look, "You really invited them to the door?" ”

Last time, Jiang Xinghua fell into the water, although it was not pushed down by Jiang Danhua, but it also had something to do with her, so that the old lady Jiang knocked a few words on Xiao's family. So Xiao's sent soup and medicine to let Jiang Xinghua recuperate, and at the same time detained Jiang Danhua by his side and taught her to follow her to learn housekeeping director.

This is, of course, extremely important. The daughter's family can't be a girl at home for the rest of her life, she has to get married. You don't have to worry about everything at home, but if you are a daughter-in-law, even if you are not a clan wife, you must at least take care of your own yard, and this housekeeper always has to learn. It's a pity that Jiang Danhua is used to being casual, and he only studied for a few days before he was too trivial, but he was detained by Xiao's cold face and didn't dare not come.

"Hmm. said that Mrs. Jinghai was uncomfortable a few days ago, so she never replied to the post. Xiao Shi calmly faced and handed the post to Tuan Su, "Send it to the third wife." The public middle school can also prepare a regular gift. ”

"I heard that the mansion of the Marquis of Jinghai is very magnificent......" Jiang Danhua said with a little envy. Although the Jiang family has a woman in the palace, it is still not possible to make friends with the female relatives of the Jinghai Hou family, and Mrs. Jinghai Hou had a birthday last year and invited many officials, but there was no Jiang family.

Xiao Shi snorted from his nose and nodded to the account book in front of his daughter: "It's just that I went to ask for peace in the name of a relative, and I don't know if I have any contact in the future." Hurry up and read your account. ”

Jiang Danhua felt a headache when he looked at the lines of numbers: "Mother, will it be good tomorrow?" ”

Xiao Shi was so angry that he poked her the forehead: "You girl-the fourth girl just wants to see this and can't touch the edge!" "The reason why big families are reluctant to marry concubines is that many things are taught by the mother herself. For example, it is one thing for a housekeeper to be able to read the accounts, and it is another thing to know the doorway inside.

The girls who come out of the house have their own mothers to teach, and most of the girls who come out of the children only know some superficial things, and their biological mothers can't teach this, as for whether the mother-in-law is willing to teach or not, it only depends on personal luck.

Xiaoshi naturally didn't want to put any effort into Jiang Xinghua, but if he taught his daughters to be a housekeeper, it was not good to favor one over the other, just because of this opportunity, Jiang Xinghua was recuperating, so naturally he couldn't call to help the housekeeper. And Jiang Danhua said that he was confined to his side to learn the rules and taught him easily, wouldn't he kill two birds with one stone? Helplessly, Jiang Danhua couldn't realize his mother's good intentions, and he was absent-minded all day long, and he hated her so much that he wanted to hit her twice.

"Mother, I'm still young, do I learn slowly......" Jiang Danhua really felt that these things of firewood, rice, oil and salt were boring, thinking about it in the future, would he have to be like his mother, just face these accounts every day?

"What's small!" Xiao Shi said angrily, "The third girl started to be a housekeeper when she was ten years old, she is only a few months older than you, and now she is in charge of the Zhuangzi shop outside the second room!" If you were half as capable as her, I wouldn't force you! ”

Jiang Danhua twisted his head: "She has no mother since she was a child, so she naturally has to learn." I have my mother here, so why bother. ”

This is not a smile when he said this, and he sighed after a while: "You are not young anymore, no matter how reluctant you are to be a mother, I will have to send you to marry in a few years." When the time comes, you will go to someone else's house, and you will have to take care of these things yourself, and if you don't learn at this time, won't you suffer yourself by then? The third girl is looking at the hardships at this time, but it will be easy in the future, you should also learn from her-"

Jiang Danhua said unhappily: "Okay, good, she is good at everything!" Seeing that my grandfather treated her like a baby, I didn't dare to go in Baicaozhai that place on weekdays, but she ran there every day. Now you also say that she is good, in this case, it is just the wish of your grandfather to let her stay! ”

Xiao Shi was about to get angry, but suddenly realized something: "Your grandfather said he wanted to keep her?" ”

"Hmm." Jiang Danhua had a straight face, "I heard my grandfather say to the third uncle that after the birthday, the third uncle's family went home and left the third sister to live." ”

As soon as Xiao's mind turned, he knew that leaving Taohua must be for his family, and his heart suddenly became sour. When the long room and the second room were separated, Mrs. Jiang preferred the second room, and at that time she was just a new daughter-in-law who had just married into the door, so she was not good at pointing fingers at her father-in-law's approach, so she had to hold her breath. Unexpectedly, now that more than ten years have passed, my father-in-law is still so partial, and he never asks about his granddaughter's relatives, but only cares about the daughter of the second room. Even if Jiang Danhua pushed down Taohua's girl back then, she was just a child at that time, and she didn't mean to harm others. When the second room left Beijing, she also gave a lot of compensation, is it still owed to her today?

Xiaoshi secretly made up her mind, if her father-in-law really let Taohua stay, she didn't care about finding relatives for Taohua, if her father-in-law had the ability, she would find it by herself.

"Madam-" Tuan Su came in from outside with an excited face, "There's finally a letter from the palace!" On the fifteenth of next month, the wife can enter the palace to see Jieyu Niangniang! ”

As soon as Tuan Su's news came out, Xiao Shi suddenly left everything behind, and said in surprise: "What, can you enter the palace?" ”

Tuan Su nodded again and again: "Exactly." A letter from someone from the palace. Set for the fifteenth of next month! The mother sent a message and asked the wife to bring all the girls in the family to meet her. Especially the second girl and the third girl, I haven't seen each other for many years, and the mother is worried about it. ”

Jiang Danhua's eyebrows rose suddenly: "What are you doing with the second sister and the third sister, how can you bring so many people in the palace?" ”

Xiao Shi also frowned, and couldn't figure out why his daughter would say such a thing for a while. Could it be that because Jiang Zhu won the official position, he wanted to recruit Jiang Lianhua into the palace to be close and close, and he was afraid that she would not look good with her alone, so he asked the girls to be brought in?

"Go talk to the old lady." See what Yu thinks, "Ask the old lady again, what do you want to bring to Sister Mei?" It's only April now, and there's something to piggyback on to get ready slowly. "Although you can't carry a large bag when you enter the palace, it's still okay to carry a bag with you, which is much more economical than letting the eunuchs carry it.

Tuan Su turned around and went, but he came back after a long time, and his face was not very good-looking, so he glanced at Jiang Danhua cautiously before saying: "Madam, the old lady said - enter the palace this time, let the wife only take the three girls to ......"

"Why!" Jiang Danhua was the first to jump up, "Why only bring the third sister!" ”

Tuan Su lowered his head: "The old lady said that it was ordered by the old lady." Said that the three girls would check the pulse, and let the three girls enter the palace to diagnose the pulse of the mother-"

Jiang Danhua was furious: "What pulse will she consult!" There are so many imperial doctors in the palace, is it not as good as her? What the hell is my grandfather going to do! ”

"Don't talk nonsense!" Xiaoshi subconsciously stopped her daughter, "The third girl really knows how to diagnose the pulse?" "Jiang Meihua's health has always been bad, but the old lady Jiang can't enter the harem, if Taohua really knows the pulse, then it's a good thing to take her in.

Jiang Danhua was very angry: "I don't believe what pulse she will diagnose!" Did she study? Isn't it just that he copied the medical book for the third uncle! Can you copy a book and diagnose the pulse? Could it be that she is still sitting in Wuxi to practice medicine! ”

Xiao's heart is also suspicious and confused, but it involves the eldest daughter's illness, even if there is a glimmer of hope, it is also good, but Mrs. Jiang has never cared about her entering the palace, why did she specially advise this time, and she said that she only took Taohua to go, so what about the rest of the girls?

Tuan Su replied: "The slave maid went to see the old lady, and the old lady was asking someone to pack up the things she brought to the maid, so the old lady came over and told the slave maid that except for the third girl, the rest of the girls would not go." said that it was not good to bring so many people in the palace, it was just in the past, but now the girls are all older, if it weren't for the mother's poor health, even the three girls would not be allowed to go. He also said that when his wife enters the palace in the future, she should not take the five girls......"

Jiang Danhua was so angry that his face turned red: "Why don't you let me go!" "Jiang Jun's official position is not high, she follows the Xiaoshi to socialize outside, and is often despised by some girls whose father or grandfather has a higher official position, but if she talks about having a sister in the palace and she has followed her mother into the palace, there are other girls who come to hug her to listen to the freshness. If she can't enter the palace in the future, what will she say to others when she goes out again?

Tuan Su quietly glanced at Xiao Shi. In fact, what she passed just now has been made very clear, Mrs. Jiang is saying that the girls in the family are not young, and they always run to the palace, and outsiders think that they will send another girl to the palace. That is, the five girls were obedient and didn't listen to the sound, and they didn't understand it.

Xiao Shi naturally understood. Jiang Danhua has a temper, even if her leper son is good, she doesn't dare to say that Jiang Danhua can stand in the palace, so naturally she will not send her little daughter in again.

In this case, Mrs. Jiang's words are reasonable, if Jiang Danhua can't understand this truth, it is not easy to tell her, so he has to coax her: "You haven't been to the palace, let the three girls try it this time, if you can really diagnose your sister's pulse, when your sister's body is well adjusted, she will naturally call us to go." "When the time comes, if Jiang Meihua can be favored again, the outside will not suspect that their family is going to send another daughter in, at that time, I took Jiang Danhua to see my sister, and I think that the old lady Jiang will not stop her.

Jiang Danhua looked indignant, and was coaxed by Xiaoshi for a long time before he awkwardly responded. Xiao Shi breathed a sigh of relief and said to Tuan Su: "The gift prepared for the Jinghai Marquis Mansion is three points thicker." "Since you want to use Taohua, you have to give some benefits, and the gifts sent to the Cao family are thicker, which is also the face of the Cao family and Taohua. If Taohua accepts this favor, she will always have to pay more attention to Jiang Meihua's pulse when she enters the palace.

The reason for the thickening of this gift was known to Taohua in the evening of the same day. Although the bellflower is young, she is clever and has a sweet mouth, and the maids and women in Jiang's house have been familiar with her these days.

"It turned out to be for this-" Taohua was sewing a small vest for Jiang Bohua, the weather was getting hotter, Jiang Bohua was active again, and the clothes on his body were soaked with sweat several times a day. It is more troublesome to wash the middle coat, and the belly pocket only cares about the front and the back, Taohua simply takes a soft cotton cloth to make him a few small vests, which are convenient to wash and change.

"If you knew this was the case, why bother in the first place." There is a lot of worry for Jiang Meihua now, why don't you send your daughter to the palace in the first place? If Jiang Meihua only marries an ordinary family, at least it will not be so difficult for the mother and daughter to meet.

Mint was a little displeased: "At this time, I can use the girl, so I am willing to give benefits......"

Taohua smiled: "Silly girl, who in this world is still good to you for no reason?" Don't be angry about this kind of thing, but tomorrow you are going to Jinghai Hou Mansion, you go to the wife and the second girl to take a look around and see how they are prepared. "Don't dress up too much.

Mint agreed, and then turned around and walked out of the house, when she heard her voice outside: "The fourth girl is here?" Then the door curtain opened, Jiang Xinghua walked in with wisteria, and when she saw the needle and thread in Taohua's hand, she smiled and said, "The third sister is making small clothes for Bai Ge'er?" I just made two belly pockets, and the third sister thinks they can be used? ”