Yufeng took Yuegui and the two little girls back with dinner.

Qiu Chen got up and went to the ear room to wash his hands, and Lin Xu also washed and changed into homely clothes and came back, sat on a chair under the kang, and instructed the girls to set the meal.

Yufeng took the little girl to put a green pepper beef tenderloin, a fried carp, a chestnut cabbage, a carrot roasted mutton, a wild mushroom pheasant chicken soup, a plate of corn pancakes, and a millet porridge on the table, and sent a few girls away, Qiu Chen greeted Lin Xu and said: "Come and eat, this beef tenderloin meat is tender today, I asked them to put less green peppers, it is not very spicy, it should suit your taste." ”

Lin Xu thanked him, took a bowl of wild mushroom soup handed over by Qiu Chen and drank two sips, and then ate quietly.

After a meal of dinner, the girls removed the leftovers, handed mouthwash to rinse their mouths, and brought tea.

The uncle and sister-in-law drank half a cup of tea, Qiu Chen told Pan Jiaqing about his resignation, and Lin Xu sighed: "Mr. Pan is only Gao Zhiyuan, if it weren't for the death of his father, maybe he would have even passed the Jinshi exam at this time." ”

Qiu Chen smiled, "Although the talent is high, but after all, the experience is limited, all the way to the exam, the lifting may be smooth, really to the capital will be examined, the whole country is full of talents, it is difficult to say the result...... Now, although it has been delayed for three years, the accumulation may only be good for Mr. Pan. ”

Lin Xu listened silently, nodded slightly astringently, and said with a sincere smile: "Sister-in-law and Mr. are the same......

I didn't expect Master Guo to say this, Qiu Chen was a little surprised, and raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "What did Mr. Guo say?" ”

"Well, Mr. said that I should not be impatient...... Lin Xu touched his head and said a little surprised, "Mr. said that I am young, and I have not accumulated enough in the world in reading, so don't be too eager now, guard against arrogance and rashness, and concentrate on studying...... Next year's township exam, Mr. said that when the time comes, if you are not sure, it is better to wait for the last one, study hard for a few years, and win the next one in one fell swoop, and then enter the Beijing will exam, the palace test, it is logical! ”

"Oh?" Qiu Chen groaned and asked, "When did Mr. Guo say this?" ”

Lin Xu replied: "It's been about a month, well, it's after I go home for the Mid-Autumn Festival and come back." ”

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, she and Qin Zheng had a small gift after the Mid-Autumn Festival, signed the marriage book, and Lin Xu also returned to Anyang after these things...... Master Guo has always said that although Lin Xu has a thin foundation and is young, he is quite talented in reading, and he also said that he is better than several in his family, and he is not lacking in talent and aura, the key is that he is more familiar with current affairs than ordinary children, has a kind nature, and is open-minded...... Just before, he personally said to Qiu Chen that he would let Lin Xu go down to participate in the township test in the coming year, and although he didn't dare to guarantee that Xie Yuan would come back, he was still very sure of it.

For a few days, Master Guo changed his statement, is it just because Lin Xu is young and thin?

Or maybe it has something to do with her marriage,...... Something to do with the changes in the court?

She just guessed but wasn't sure. It's just that Qiu Chen is self-aware, whether it is modern or this era, she is not sensitive to politics, maybe a little better than ordinary people, but there is no way to compare with an old oilman in the officialdom like Master Guo. Although that person has not been a big official, after all, he has been immersed in the officialdom of the imperial examination for more than ten years, and has been watching the changes of the court for many years, and his grasp of the current situation is far beyond her ability...... Don't let Lin Xu participate in the scientific examination, just because Lin Xu's knowledge accumulation is not enough?

After Qiu Chen was slightly surprised, he nodded gently and smiled: "It's still Mr. Guo's thoughtful ......."

Looking at Lin Xu's somewhat puzzled gaze, Qiu Chen poured him tea and said with a smile: "Your hard work in the past few years, sister-in-law, you have seen that your knowledge has been verified after several exams, but as Mr. Guo said, after all, you are young and study hard at home, so it is inevitable that your understanding of the way of life and the world will be weaker...... In this way, if you take the township test last time later, you will naturally be more calm and sophisticated, not to mention that you will be more calm and sophisticated, and you will be able to go to a higher level in terms of knowledge. Don't people say that 'there is no end to learning', there is no end to the accumulation of knowledge, and the accumulation will not fall down and not be able to get up because of small ups and downs. ”

Lin Xu silently listened to Qiu Chen's persuasion, lowered his eyes and pondered, and only after a while did he raise his head, and said with a blank expression: "I know that my sister-in-law and Mr. Lu Dao must be for my good, but I don't know what Lu Dao should do next?" If you are still studying hard at home, how can you increase your ability to deal with others? ”

Qiu Chen showed a smile of relief. Just like when she first came to this world and saw this child, although he has learned a little and has a primary talent fame, the purity of his heart has not changed. Moreover, what made her even more gratifying was that after experiencing her affair with Lin Sheng and her engagement with Qin Zheng, Lin Xu still trusted and relied on her wholeheartedly, and was not alienated because of these differences.

Qiu Chen grabbed a few sugar-fried chestnuts, peeled out a chestnut kernel and handed it to Lin Xu: "You taste this, we didn't know before, this kind of small chestnut produced in Yunlian Mountain, don't look so small, but it is sweet and soft and glutinous, I don't know how much better than those big chestnuts." ”

Lin Xu took the chestnut and put it in his mouth a little absentmindedly, nodded indiscriminately after eating, and then still looked up at Qiu Chen, wanting to seek an explanation to solve his doubts. He studied hard before, and he didn't dare to slack off in order to participate in next year's township exam...... However, seeing that there were still a few months to go to the township test, the husband told him to wait for another three years, and the reason why he went home to say that he also wanted his sister-in-law to persuade him, but he didn't expect that the sister-in-law actually supported his husband's decision.

Qiu Chen lowered his eyes and peeled a few more chestnuts, handed two to Lin Xu, and also took one and put it in his mouth, chewing and tasting it slowly, as if he didn't notice Lin Xu's anxiety and annoyance at all.

After a while, Qiu Chen ate the chestnuts, took another sip of tea, put down the teacup, and then raised his eyes to look at Lin Xu and said: "You have lived in Liujiaao and Anyang for the longest time, and you have attended the county school for a few months during this period, as far as your own experience is concerned, do you have a different impression of these three places?" What is the difference in people's hearts and conduct and in dealing with others? ”

Lin Xu was a little surprised, he didn't know why the sister-in-law of Lu Dao had diverted the topic here, but she habitually answered the sister-in-law's inquiry seriously, lowered her eyes and thought silently for a moment, and said slowly: "When Liu Jiaao, although there were small conflicts with the neighbors, the people's hearts were simple and straightforward, and whether they were happy or unhappy was written on their faces...... When I arrived in Anping County, the market was prosperous, and there were many people in contact, even among my classmates, there were rich and poor, and there were also dark interests...... But it's okay, when I entered Anyang and saw more people, my younger brother realized that Anping County School was calm and peaceful...... There are more rich people in Anyang, and there are more eunuchs, and the originally inconspicuous difference between the rich and the poor is clearly evident here...... Han Jingyu annoyed me at first, and I don't want to understand why we helped him and helped him like that, but he took revenge instead...... Later, my younger brother realized that sometimes there are too many people to help, but it can be uncomfortable...... Perhaps, he thought I was showing favor to him, or that I was showing off in front of him...... After all, when we were in the county school before, our family was not very good......"

Speaking of this, Lin Xu's voice became dry and lowered, Qiu Chen silently handed him a cup of tea, Lin Xu took it and drank it, and then continued: "Before, I just entered the county school, because I was a student in the village, my family background was average, and my accent was also strong...... Han Jingyu's situation is similar to mine, except that he is highly qualified, excellent in his studies, and is deeply loved by several teachers and gentlemen in the county school, and those unscrupulous students dare not blatantly bully him...... At that time, he helped me several times, and even took the initiative to teach me the homework I lacked, but I didn't expect it to be like that......"

Qiu Chen didn't know how to comfort Lin Xu, accompanied him for a moment of silence, and said gently: "This is the change of human feelings, the people you have contact with now are still limited, and most of them are students of the same age, even if the scheming is deep, how deep can it be...... But if you go to take the township examination next year, after the middle lift, the year after the big competition, you will take the palace test, and if the road goes well, you will be awarded an official and enter the officialdom...... Officialdom is the darkest place, those who have been in officialdom for a long time are scheming and laughing incomparably intimately on the surface, and they may stab you in secret...... The mouth is honey and the belly is swords, yin and yang are violated, and there are three swords on both sides...... All kinds of things, not to mention factions, party strife, anger and innocent involvement, if you are ignorant and run into it, it is difficult to say that you will not be calculated by others, and you will be used as a gun, and you will be treated on behalf of others...... It's okay to have a small grievance and a small trouble, but if it's a big disaster, you can give up all your efforts, and even endanger your life......"

Listening to what Qiu Chen said, Lin Xu's little depression when he mentioned Han Jingyu just now dissipated unconsciously, and his expression showed a little nervousness.

Seeing Lin Xu's expression in a blink of an eye, Qiu Chen paused, smiled and said with relief: "Although I heard about these from reading a book, I can't get rid of them...... Yes, Mr. Guo Da said that it is for your sake to let you go through the world, and then continue the scientific research, you can figure it out, and you don't have to worry too much...... As for what happens in the future, I will go to Guo's Mansion tomorrow to discuss with Mr. Guo Da and then make a decision! ”

Lin Xu nodded, after Qiu Chen's words, he no longer had the trouble of not being able to participate in the township test, but began to think about how he could increase his experience in the world.

Qiu Chen looked at Lin Xu's depressed appearance, and hinted that he was talking too much, would it make the pure-hearted child in front of him give birth to a psychological shadow?

Thinking about it, Qiu Chen took out the two volumes of the mansion at the beginning of the year from the kang cabinet and put them in front of Lin Xu: "From now on, you also start to learn to read the mansion copy, although the above records are all things on the surface, but it is very useful for understanding the situation in the court and the ups and downs of officialdom." You look at it first, if there is something you don't understand, you can ask me or ask your husband...... Slowly, the more I know, the more I understand, the more I understand. ”

Lin Xu was secretly annoyed from just now, he had read so many books in vain, and he was far less knowledgeable than his sister-in-law, and he was not as clear as his sister-in-law...... At this time, when he saw the copy handed over by Qiu Chen, his eyes couldn't help but light up. Yes, the sister-in-law, like him, has little contact with officialdom, and almost does not visit the door, so she can still understand so much current affairs in the court, which must be seen from these mansion copies. If he looks, he will certainly be able to benefit a lot.

Happily got up and thanked him respectfully, Lin Xu said: "Sister-in-law's words, my brother has written them down." The younger brother retired, so he went back and learned to look. ”

Qiu Chen looked at Lin Xu's eager face, and wanted to laugh, but he could only hold back secretly, smiled and said: "Well, you are learning things now, just like Mr. Guo said, guard against arrogance and rashness, don't worry too much, watch more, listen and think more, I believe that soon, your husband will have another evaluation of you." ”

"Yes, thank you sister-in-law for her encouragement, my brother knows it." Lin Xu's face relaxed, arched his hand, took two volumes of Di Copy, and returned it.

Speaking a little excitedly, Qiu Chen was not tired for a while, took the newly arrived Di copy, and looked under the lamp.

In Beijing, two more officials of the six ministries were deposed, one of whom was Cheng Jiyuan, the left servant of the Ministry of Officials, on charges of selling official positions and embezzlement of ink; Another official is Wu Pin Langzhong, who is in charge of the tax department of the household department, and is also accused of embezzlement...... It's just that Qiu Chen knows that the fall of these two people is far from being as simple as the crime on the surface. These two people are related to the Wei Taifu line, and the Wupinlang of the household department...... I seem to have heard of it before, and it is the doorman of the current queen Xu's family. These are two more victims of the struggle for storage and party struggle.

Because of these two incidents, Lu Youlin, the secretary of the ministry, told the old man, and the emperor rejected it once, and he was allowed to write again. Tang Chong, the original right attendant of the ministry, was promoted to the secretary of the ministry without any danger or danger. And the five main Lang of the household department has also been replaced, and Wang Yucheng, who was formerly the tax secretary of the household department, served as the foreign lang.

When she first saw this name, Qiu Chen just felt a little familiar, and after she saw Wang Yucheng's resume, she saw that she had served as the county magistrate of Huaiyuan Town, and was transferred to the Tax Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs a year ago as the director of Liupin, Qiu Chen was suddenly surprised. When she went to the north, she had also seen this Wang County Commander, but she didn't have much contact...... Now it seems that this Lord Wang must also be an official of a certain faction. Judging from Wang Yucheng's resume, it is more likely that the officials who rose from Huaiyuan Town are from the Yongwang faction. After all, the north has been strategized by the two generations of Yue Guogong and Jingbei Hou for many years, and King Yong has been in the north for several years, so it should have already become their power range...... Wang Yucheng was able to be promoted from such a remote small county to six departments, and he was promoted again and again...... If no one is promoted, no one will believe it.

Putting down the heavy newspaper, Qiu Chen couldn't help but think of Xu Changwen by Wang Yucheng, that man who was as polite as a senior, and now he doesn't know what's going on? Or did he let the caravan carry some New Year's gifts a few years ago, and it has been nearly a year, I don't know how he is doing, after Wang Yucheng was promoted, did Xu Changwen also naturally become the county magistrate of Huaiyuan Town?

After being silent for a moment, Qiu Chen raised his head and asked Yufeng, who was doing needlework next to him: "Go and see if the second master in front of you has rested?" If you haven't stopped yet, go and see what's in the kitchen for snack. ”

Yufeng got up in response and called Yuegui to come in and wait, and she took a little girl to the front yard herself. After making tea, Yufeng came back with a cover cup, and presented it to Qiu Chen with a smile: "Aunt Shunzi prepared chicken bean curd for the second master, and also stewed a cup of bird's nest for his wife." ”

Bird's nest is said to nourish and nourish the skin, and is highly respected by the nobles of this era...... Qiu Chen was not superstitious about it, but he didn't bother to talk about it because of a tonic, so he happily took it and drank it slowly, and there were only two sips of bird's nest in a cup, which was not difficult.

Yufeng packed up the bowl and handed it to the little girl to take it down, took out a pill from the drawer of the kang cabinet, and handed over a cup of honey water: "Madam, your medicine!" ”

Qiu Chen looked at the black pills the size of pigeon eggs, and was a little helpless: "I'm not sick, why do I eat this every day!" ”

Yufeng insisted extraordinarily: "Before coming, Mama Chen repeatedly instructed the slave maid and let the slave remind you...... Mama Chen also said that this was personally instructed by Hou Ye. ”

These pills were still prepared for her when Old Man Mu was at home, and the old man didn't say anything about the reason at that time, let alone explain the ingredients of the drug formula, only said that he would let Qiu Chen eat it for a year. Qiu Chen's policy is not to take medicine indiscriminately, because it is a medicine that is three parts poisonous, and she uses medicine as a snack for no reason, she doesn't want to take a medicine to accumulate poisoning.

At first, Old Man Mu stared at it every day, she ate it for a few days, and when Old Man Mu secretly abducted Aman away, she was angry and almost threw away these pills made by the old man, so naturally she didn't eat it again. Somehow, after Qin Zheng came over this time, he learned about this matter and instructed Chen, and since then, every morning and evening, Chen always sent a pill and a cup of honey water on time, urging her to take the medicine. She explained that the refusal was invalid at all, and the people just said one sentence, and the Hou Ye instructed her......

Every now and then, she always thinks that she must replace the people around her with her henchmen...... Well, now that I have left the Chen family, I only brought Yufeng and Yuegui, but I didn't expect it to be the case, these two girls are her girls!

"I really don't know if you're my girl!" Qiu Chen muttered in annoyance.

Yufeng couldn't help but smile and said, "What Mrs. said, the slave can't afford it...... Not only Mama Chen said, but Old Man Mu also said at the beginning that his wife had lost her body due to a serious illness before, and she had not been able to make up for it. Bird's nest and pills are necessary every day, and you don't dare to serve them...... You've been off for half a year! ”

"Alright, alright, stop nagging! Alas, you said that you are not very old, why can you be so nagging...... I've always thought you'd be too talkative! Qiu Chen waved his hand helplessly to interrupt Yufeng's nagging, took the pill and honey water, and swallowed the pill with nausea.

Seeing this, Yufeng smiled and didn't say anything more, but said, "The water is ready, it's time for my wife to wash up!" ”

Early in the morning of the second day, Qiu Chen was used to getting up early, and after getting up, he walked around the house and into the back garden.

The house in Anyang Mansion was originally just a second courtyard, and later the other two houses were merged with each other, and the two houses were combined in one, not to mention the addition of three courtyards, and a spacious backyard was also repaired.

The corresponding yard left a small courtyard, to the Erkui family to live, most of the back garden opened into a vegetable garden, but also handed over to the two Kui to take care of, in addition to the house to eat, the rest are also at the disposal of the Erkui family, which is also a subsidy for their family. Seeing that it's October again, the little girl of the Erkui family is also going to her birthday. That Qiu Chen looked at the little man who was born, and he was about to be two years old.

When Qiu Chen came to the backyard, he saw not only the depressed and empty garden, but also Qin Lizeng, Da Niu and Lin Xu, who were practicing in the morning, and his little servant Yuliang.

Looking at Lin Xu's master and servant who was seriously comparing with Qin Lizeng's big bull, Qiu Chen's eyes lit up, it seemed that although Lin Xu lived in Anyang most of the time, he didn't leave it to exercise, although it was not as good as Junwen Junshu, but he could also see that the chassis was very stable and solid......

From this, Qiu Chen remembered again that in the past two years of hard work, Lin Xu's body has always been very healthy, and he has not even had a small cold or a small cold...... Come to think of it, it's all the result of consistent exercise.

The four people in the courtyard practiced seriously and focused, Qiu Chen stopped and watched for a while, and then turned back. After going to the kitchen to take a look, Qiu Chen went back to the room with some chat. No wonder Mrs. Liu refuses to come, it is better to live in the city than in Liujiaao at will, it is convenient to go out of the house, where is like here, if you want to move, you can only go around in the cramped yard, and if you want to go out, you can only run through the noisy streets to the outside of the city......

Yufeng looked at Qiu Chen, who looked a little depressed, and reminded with a smile: "Madam, didn't the eldest girl of the Tang family say that she came to visit her today, look, should we prepare for it?" ”

"What is there to prepare, didn't I go to the kitchen just now to see, the snacks are ready, just wait for breakfast, the steaming, the frying, the fr......ying, the frying, the frying," Qiu Chen said casually, shaking his head, "I don't know how those people in Lu Dao love guests so much, just look at such a guest coming to the door, you have to make these preparations, not to mention so many people...... Don't be busy for days! ”

Yufeng and Yuegui both covered their mouths and smiled, and Yufeng said, "Mrs. is really ...... In fact, there are not many guests, one person is the same as many people, but the number is more! ”

Qiu Chen raised his eyebrows and thought about it, then nodded and responded: "Yes." However, it's always a hassle to entertain, right? Being a guest is so laborious, you can imagine how much trouble and tiredness the people who are the hosts of the house! ”

Yufeng and Yuegui only laughed this time, but they stopped talking. They also saw that the wife didn't really hate hospitality, but that she was used to the bustle of the old house, and it was just a little empty and lonely here.

Back in the house, Qiu Chen tilted his head and looked around, finally remembering what to prepare. took Yufeng to open the warehouse, turned out a small interstitial screen, put it on the couch in the second room, and found a shadow green net bottle, a southern red agate Ruyi, the net bottle was placed on the high stool in the corner of the house, and the agate Ruyi was casually placed in front of the interstitial.

After taking a look, Qiu Chen looked at the pine flower color elastic ink cushions and chairs used on the couch and chair were all six or seven percent new, clean and tidy, they were replaced by Shunzi's house before she came, and even the door curtain was just replaced with a felt indigo blue pattern pattern, clean and refreshing, there was nothing bad about it, so she stopped.

"Look, everything inside and out is very well arranged, and there is nothing that I need to do......" Qiu Chen clapped his hands and simply sent Yuegui away, "Go to the backyard to see, second master, have they finished practicing, ask us to set up dinner." ”

After breakfast, he sent Lin Xu to Guo's mansion to attend classes, Qiu Chen saw that it was still early, and simply took Yuegui to Erkui's house.

In addition to taking care of the horses and vehicles at the Lin family, Er Kui also lined up with the door to be on duty all night. He happened to be on duty last night, and he just turned back at this time, washed his face and happened to be eating breakfast.

Qiu Chen went all the way into the courtyard of Erkui's house and said loudly: "Is Erkui's sister-in-law in the house?" ”

Hearing this, the Erkui family hurried out to greet him, and said with joy on his face: "I just heard that the child's father said that you were here, and I was thinking that he would go over after breakfast, but I asked you to come over first!" Come in the house, come in the house! ”

Erkui also came out of the house and smiled honestly with the bowl: "Mrs. is here!" ”

"How did Brother Erkui eat?"

"Well, he was on duty at the door last night and just came back!" Erkui's family responded casually, and led Qiu Chen into the house with the curtain of the door.

Qiu Chen was puzzled: "Didn't our family prepare breakfast?" Why didn't you eat over there? Don't have enough to eat? ”

Erkui scratched his head and said, "I ate it in front, but I just came back and watched the child make rice sticky porridge and scoop a bowl of it." ”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and poured the porridge in the bowl into his mouth, hurriedly took a plate of pickles on the table with an empty bowl, and walked out: "I'm done eating, you sit here and talk." ”

Qiu Chen nodded with a smile, watched Er Kui leave, turned around, the smile on her face had disappeared: "Sister Hongmei, what happened just now?" Is Brother Erkui being bullied at home? ”

Erkui's smile made Qiu Chen sit on the kang, shook his head a little and said, "No, with you taking care of him, how can anyone bully him...... Alas, this morning, the rice in the front yard was cabbage buns, and Er Kui thought that his grandfather liked to eat them, so he brought them back......"

Qiu Chen frowned. Erkui saved her own food and took it back, she didn't object, she just didn't understand, Erkui and his family had a job in the Lin family, and she took care of it, with an income of four or five taels of silver every month, plus a huge back garden, there were also two or three acres of land, although there was no food, but there was basically no need to buy vegetables all year round. Erkui's family also fed chickens and ducks in the back garden, eggs and duck eggs in addition to their own food, can also add a little family, according to them, although their family's life is not rich, but life should be very rich, right, it seems, how can even a bun be brought back......

"Is there something I don't know?" Qiu Chen asked bluntly.

Erkui's eyes dodged slightly, lowered his head and sighed, and said quietly: "Originally, you took care of it, and life is not sad." After his grandfather came after taking the stone, although it cost money to take medicine, he didn't feel nervous...... It's just that last month, the eldest brother of Erkui came to him, and he had to say that the housestead of the family had been encroached upon by us, and he wanted to go to the yamen to sue us......"

------Off topic------

On weekends, everyone knows it......