Hearing what his sister-in-law said, Xiao Guoliang and Sun glanced at each other. As for the two half-brothers, when they left, they were still young, the eldest was seven or eight years old, and the younger was five or six years old. It's long gone. It's just that from the mouths of Sun Jidong and his wife, they heard about the two brothers, and Xiao Guoliang and Sun naturally didn't like them coming.

"Since my brother and sister-in-law are here, I will stay for a few days first, and let Xiaoli and Yiran's brother and sister-in-law go another day. I have just been promoted to the magistrate, and there are still many things to deal with. ”

Originally, Xiao Guoliang didn't plan to let his mother and daughter go to Jiangning so early, but he heard that his sister-in-law said that the two half-uncles might come over in the next two days and didn't want to receive them here, so he temporarily changed his attention. Sun naturally understood Xiao Guoliang's intention of such an arrangement, and immediately said:

"Yes, eldest brother, sister-in-law. If you come, you will stay longer. Turn around and lead Ran'er, let's go back together. It's been fifteen years, and I really want to see the changes in my hometown. ”

"Jiangning Mansion has changed a little over the years, but at home, not only has it not changed, but it is slightly dilapidated."

Sun Jidong's tone was a little emotional and a little helpless.

"The eldest brother and sister-in-law have worked hard all the way, let's eat first, and then go to the county government to have a look after eating. At night, I will pick up the wind and wash the dust for the eldest brother and sister-in-law. ”

Xiao Guoliang was afraid that Sun and Sun Jidong would talk about sad things, so he hurriedly interrupted the topic of the two.

The house in the county government is also a two-entry courtyard, but it is much larger than the Xiao Mansion, and in addition, there is a small one behind the courtyard.

There are six main houses in the front yard, in groups of two and two. Mr. and Mrs. Siu Kwok-leung live in two rooms to the east. The two rooms on the east side and the two rooms in the middle are connected by an inner door. The two rooms in the middle are used as reception rooms. The two rooms on the west side are still used as study rooms and guest rooms. There are three rooms on each side of the east and west sides, and the kitchen is under the south courtyard wall in the southeast corner. In the southwest corner is the toilet. Between the east room and the courtyard wall, there is a small door that communicates with the backyard.

There are also six main houses in the backyard, which are similar in layout to the front yard. There are four rooms on the east side and two rooms on the west side. Xiao Yiran lived in the easternmost room, and Xiaoxi was in the outer room. The bright room is used as a living room, and the other room is used as Xiao Yiran's study. The two rooms on the west side were also used as guest rooms. From the corner gate outside the east room where Xiao Yiran lived, you can come to the small garden at the back.

The garden is small but very nice. There is a pool of clear water, a rockery in the pool, and a wooden bridge is connected. Surrounding the pond is a cobblestone road that winds its way between flowers and trees. Near the two rooms to the west, there is also a small lush bamboo forest. Others, such as ginkgo biloba, osmanthus trees, etc., are similar to the trees in the original yard.

Before dinner, Sun Jidong and his wife put out the gifts they brought. first gave Xiao Yiran a set of four treasures in the study, which made Xiao Yiran like it very much. hurriedly asked Xiaoxi to put it away, and he stood up to thank the husband and wife.

"Thank you, uncle, aunt."

"When you were at home, your uncle wanted to prepare the four treasures of the study room for you, and your aunt also said that he, Yiran, was a girl, and it was not good to send some gold and silver jewelry, so he wanted to send these things. No, it's your uncle who understands you. ”

What was given to Xiao Guoliang was a pair of words. When Xiao Guoliang opened it, Xiao Yiran's eyes were straight, and it turned out to be Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy "Sacrifice Nephew Gift to Praise Doctor Ji Mingwen", Xiao Guoliang was also very surprised.

"Big brother, this is Yan Zhenqing's real handiwork, where did it come from?"

"Guoliang, although the eldest brother did not succeed in studying back then, he had to give up literature and engage in business, but after all, the eldest brother has been reading books for many years, and he has always paid attention to the calligraphy and painting of some ancients. It's a clever word. I once went to Xianyang on a business trip, and accidentally helped a down-and-out scholar, and later the scholar sent this letter to thank him for the relief that year. ”

"Good people have good rewards, big brother, this pair of words is too precious, Guoliang doesn't dare to accept it."

"What are you talking about? Although our Sun Mansion was originally a scholarly family. Now only the youngest child Sun Xun is still studying in the county, and then there is Guoliang, and the little sister's talent is not under Guoliang. Now there is a smart niece, so the eldest brother still thinks it is most appropriate to give you this pair. ”

Listening to Sun Jidong's sincerity, seeing that Xiao Yiran had been staring intently, Xiao Guoliang had no choice but to say:

"Big brother, or this pair of words will stay here for the time being, and after we appreciate it, we will change it to the eldest brother."

"Uncle, just stay. Isn't it just a pair of words, and you two have to push it around? ”

Obviously, my aunt didn't understand the value of this word, Xiao Yiran thought to herself. He carefully rolled up the calligraphy and paintings, and carefully held them in his arms, looking like he was afraid of being snatched away. made Xiao Guoliang and Sun Jidong and the other four laugh.

It was given to Sun and was a pair of gold bracelets. Sun also felt that the eldest brother's gift was too expensive, so he insisted on not accepting it.

"Little sister is still polite to us? Back then, it was your eldest brother who didn't fight for you, so he led you to wander for so many years. Every time I think of the events of the past, your eldest brother always feels that he owes you something. Just give your eldest brother a chance to make amends, and feel better. ”

Speaking of which, Sun had no choice but to put away the gifts.

"Big brother has been doing business all these years, and it is not easy to come and go in the wind and rain. Don't break the bank like that in the future. ”

"Little sister, if you want to say that your eldest brother reads, it won't work. When it comes to doing business, it is still a bit famous in Jiangning Mansion. ”

Hearing his sister-in-law say this, Sun was relieved.

Early on the morning of the third day after moving to the county government, Xiao Yiran and his mother Sun took the carriage from Sun Jidong and his wife and set off for Jiangning Mansion. Xiao Guoliang will not arrive until the fourth day of February.

When he came to his uncle's house in Jiangning Mansion, Xiao Yiran learned that his grandfather's family turned out to be a famous family in Jiangning Mansion. The house of his uncle's house alone surprised Xiao Yiran. The courtyard of the three entrances, with the east and west across the courtyard. Behind the house, there is a large garden, more than ten times the size of the small garden of the county government. The eldest cousin Sun Qian lives in the East Cross Courtyard, and the second cousin Sun Xun lives in the West Cross Courtyard. The east and west courtyards are also large houses with three entrances. In addition to the inner gate that leads to the main courtyard, there is a gate facing the street. In front of the three adjacent gates, there are a pair of majestic stone lions. The gatehouse nursing home is also everything.

The eldest cousin's family has four children, three boys and one girl, and the eldest son and grandson of the eldest cousin's family who got married in a few days is also the eldest son and eldest grandson of the Sun Mansion. The second son's name is Sun Yuan, thirteen years old, and the third son's youngest is only eight years old, named Sun Yi. Daughter Sun Ling just turned 10 years old this year. The second cousin's family has a pair of children, the eldest is a son, named Sun Zhi, twelve years old, and the younger one is a daughter named Sun Ying, nine years old.

It stands to reason that the Sun family should go to the Sun Mansion first when they come to Jiangning Mansion, whether the current head of the Sun Mansion is the Sun family's stepmother, or the two younger brothers are half-brothers, after all, it is the real maiden family. It's just that Sun Jidong and his wife said that it was noon, and it was not too late to go after lunch. Sun also went back at lunchtime, and seemed a little hasty, so he agreed.

After lunch, the Sun family led Yiran, with the gifts that had been prepared a long time ago, accompanied by Sun Jidong and his wife, and came to the Sun Mansion together.

Judging from the stone lion in front of the gate and the magnificent gate, the Sun Mansion should have a very high status back then. The yard was very large, and Xiao Yiran found that it was much bigger than his uncle's house. The porter saw that the second lady who had been away from home for many years had returned, so he hurriedly led the way and walked towards the backyard. At this time, Wang Ma, who heard the news, had already greeted her, followed by Sun Jiji and Sun Jihuan brothers.

"Second sister. Big brother, sister-in-law. ”

The two brothers stood aside in a proper manner to greet Sun. Sun glanced at the two brothers, and could roughly tell who was Sun Jihuan and who was Sun Jihuan. said to Xiao Yiran beside him:

"Ran'er, come and meet the two uncles. This is the second uncle, and this is the third uncle. ”

As soon as I walked to the door of my stepmother Xu's room in the backyard, two young women walked out of it, each holding a child in their hands and holding one in their arms. Say hello to Sun.

"The second sister is back."

"Second Miss, this is the second young grandmother, and this is the third young grandmother."

Wang Ma took a step forward and introduced Sun.

"Hello two sisters, Ran'er, I came to see two aunts and cousins."

"Second sister, let's go into the house, my mother heard that the second sister is back, and she is waiting inside."

Sun took Xiao Yiran's hand, followed behind the two brothers and daughters-in-law, and walked into the room. Behind him were the brothers Sun Jiji and Sun Jihuan, and Sun Jidong and his wife walked at the end and came to the house together.

Sun raised his eyes and saw his stepmother Xu sitting on an embroidered floor, hurriedly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and shouted:

"Xiaoli greets her mother."

Standing up, he took Xiao Yiran a step forward and said:

"Ran'er, give a gift to my grandmother."

"Grandmother is good."

Xiao Yiran learned from Sun's example and gave a deep salute to the Xu family, who was embroidered with, but still had charm.

"Second Miss has already had lunch, right?"

The Xu family on the embroidery collapsed was obviously dissatisfied with the fact that Sun's mother and daughter came to Jiangning Mansion, and did not come to Sun's mansion first, but went to Sun Jidong's house. The tone was cold. For a long time, after the Xu family married into the Sun Mansion, Sun Jidong and the Sun Li sisters were called sons and misses.

"Mother, it happened to be noon when I came, and I was afraid that I would not send a letter to the house in advance, so I would inevitably be in a hurry, so I went to my eldest brother's house for lunch before coming. I hope my mother will forgive me. ”

Xu is a competitive woman, and when she heard Sun say this, her tone softened. changed to a slightly intimate tone, and said to Xiao Yiran, who was standing on the ground:

"It's called Yiran, come over and let grandma take a look."

Xiao Yiran stepped forward and walked a few steps, and when she came to the embroidery couch, Xu reached out and grabbed her arm, and looked up and down carefully. A rare smile.

"What a lovely child."

As he spoke, he wiped a green jade bracelet from his wrist and put it on Xiao Yiran's arm.

"Mother, this is unacceptable. Yi Ran quickly changed to his grandmother. ”

"Wear it, and don't do anything."

"Thank you, grandmother."

Xiao Yiran held the bracelet on his arm with one hand, and gave Xu a deep salute before taking two steps back and standing beside his mother Sun.

"Sit down, don't stand."

After the maid finished serving tea, the atmosphere in the room became a little awkward for a while.