Zhao Xiu and Zhao Wei discussed in the study for a long time before they came out. Zhang didn't know what his grandchildren had said, and he had to delay it for so long, so he asked Zhao Xiu with some curiosity after lunch.

Zhao Xiu replied lightly: "It's nothing, it's just how to help the Niu family and Zhao Xiang, and I can't let them gain an inch, I have carefully considered the specific arrangements with my brother." Maybe I really want to feed them all the time in the future, but I don't know if they will know if they will be okay. ”

Zhang was very surprised when he heard this: "What? Are you planning to bring people home?! "Didn't grandchildren always oppose this?

Zhao Xiu smiled: "How is it possible? Just rent a small courtyard for them to live in, give them two taels of silver per month for living expenses, and then ask a doctor to come over regularly to see Niu's. As long as they don't have to worry about food and clothing, Zhao Ze must be able to put his mind at ease, right? If outsiders blame us for being ruthless, they are making trouble. ”

Zhang Shi breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "That's it, it's just two taels of silver every month, will it be too little?" Niu refused to accept it. ”

"She has three masters and servants, she doesn't have to pay rent, she doesn't need to spend money on medicine, and she only buys firewood, rice, oil, salt and daily necessities for two taels of silver, which is more than enough. The petty officials in the capital have almost this amount of official salaries a month, and they have to feed their families. The two of them are family dependents, and to have this treatment is already burning high incense in the previous life. Zhao Xiu's tone was very disapproving, "We only give so much, love or not." If they don't want it, we'll save money. ”

Zhang smiled dumbly. In fact, she didn't want to pay attention to the food and clothing of the Niu family and Zhao Xiang, and was more willing to throw one or twenty taels of silver to them. They had to toss it, but what Zhao Xiu said was a good idea. She is not a pedantic person, although two taels of silver are small. But for ordinary people, food and clothing are enough. Since she can let Niu and Zhao Xiang not have to worry about food and clothing, why does she have to pay more money for the enemy to enjoy?

Zhao Xiu saw that she accepted her arrangement, and she was secretly relieved. She was really worried that her grandmother had a heart attack for a while, and felt that two taels of silver was too little, so she had to give more. Fortunately, it turns out that the grandmother is not confused. She took the opportunity to make another request to Zhang: "Grandmother." You see, it's been almost a year since our family returned to the capital, and the emperor ascended the throne. The new dynasty changed the yuan, and the situation was calmed down. Isn't it time for us to do something for our grandfather? May is my grandfather's anniversary, so why don't we start praying for my grandfather 100 days in advance? ”

A sentence reminded Zhang. For so many years, I don't know if Zhao Jue is weak-hearted. He has never solemnly worshiped the old county prince. It's just that incense is made on every New Year's Day, and the ritual has never been done before. Now that everything is stable, her grandparents and grandchildren have returned to the capital, and her grandson has also succeeded to the throne. It's just that she was a little hesitant about the scale proposed by Zhao Xiu: "The Dharma should be done, but it will take hundreds of days...... Wouldn't it be too ostentatious? ”

"In the name of filial piety, how about publicity?" Zhao Xiu has a different view. "Besides, we don't pay attention to the value and luxury of the things we use. It's about making a big name and making good connections. We can only ask a few monks to chant and pray for blessings, but at the same time, we can set up a porridge shed outside the temple every day and give soup and rice; or find a few doctors with excellent medical skills to give medicine to the poor; or to help the old and weak soldiers who have returned from retirement from the frontier over the years; You can also build a library, put all kinds of classics and historical classics in it, and welcome students from all over the world to come and read and transcribe them for free...... And so on and so forth. As long as it is a good deed done in the name of commemorating his grandfather, he can also accumulate blessings for his grandfather, but he is not afraid of being said to be public, working hard and hurting money. I think that's a good thing. ”

Zhang was moved by his granddaughter's words. She is naturally willing to do such a good deed. In particular, what Zhao Xiu said about helping veterans and providing books for students for free is in line with her wishes. However, she is still a little worried: "If the imperial history of the court says that we buy people's hearts......"

Zhao Xiu smiled: "Praying for the blessings of the ancestors and doing good deeds has also become a move to buy people's hearts." Then we'll admit it. That's right, we're buying people's hearts! ”

Zhang glanced at his granddaughter: "It's nonsense again." It's okay for you to laugh at home, but if you say the same thing in front of outsiders, you're really going to cause trouble for your brother. It's obviously a good thing, but how can you distort your original intention? She thought for a while: "Well, in the name of filial piety, it can indeed gag some people's mouths." If someone still says that we gossip, it's a big deal that I will personally go into the palace and explain it to the Queen Mother. As long as the Queen Mother and the Emperor understand our original intentions, the imperial history is just that. ”

Zhao Xiu smiled and said nothing. She didn't lie, she really wanted to buy people's hearts, but the purpose was not to rebel or anything, but to create a good reputation for the Jiannan Hou Mansion. Civilian, military, Shilin, all-round net. She didn't believe it, so she couldn't shut up those imperial histories! As long as the good reputation of Jiannanhou Mansion is really established, they will only get fishy if they chew their tongues!

As for the king's jealousy...... The family of Jiannan Houfu is old, weak, women and children, and Zhao Wei has not yet entered the court, even if he enters the court, he is in the same party as the emperor, and the power in his hands is extremely limited. With such a background, even if the reputation is better and the prestige is higher, what use can it be? The emperor was not so idle, and thought that their family would have the heart to rebel.

Zhao Xiu took a sip of the tea bowl, put down the tea bowl and said, "There is one more thing, I want to ask my grandmother what it means." If you want to do the rituals for your grandfather, should you do the rituals of your father and mother as well? I think it's okay to do it in the name of my father, after all, my father was a man when he was alive, and he was famous when he was young, and he was also well-known in Beijing. I just discussed with my brother, should I find a big temple and light a lantern for my father and mother? While Zhao Ze is still in the capital, let him kowtow to his father and mother. What happened back then, although it was not what he wanted, he was the root cause of the incident after all, and he went to kowtow, which can be regarded as making amends. ”

Zhang was stunned for a moment, and his eyes gradually turned red. Thinking of her son and daughter-in-law who died at such a young age, she couldn't help but have a sour nose. Even if she felt pity for Zhao Ze in her heart and remembered the cause of death of her son and daughter-in-law, she couldn't shake her head and say no. She bowed her head. Silently shed tears for a while, then nodded and said, "That's fine." In fact, when he was still in Fengxian's hometown, he came to our house. Kowtow to your parents' tablets, but your brother and you have never seen each other. Just let him knock again after healing. Reciting the Three Days before your parents' spirits is also atoning for their own sins. ”

The matter was settled, Zhang's mood was not very good, and after explaining a few trivial things to his granddaughter, he wanted to go back to the bedroom to rest.

At this time, Lu's mother rushed over. She didn't know why, with an excited expression on her face, she said to Zhang, "Old lady." The little marquis wants to find a family member with old qualifications, why not let me go? ”

Zhang didn't know what was going on: "What did you say? ”

Lu's mother was very surprised, and Zhao Xiu smiled and said, "The matter was taken over by my brother, and he said it." I won't bother my grandmother until it's done. So the grandmother didn't know what the mother was talking about. ”

Mother Lu then understood, and hurriedly said to Zhang: "The little marquis wants to find the old family members who waited in the mansion when the old county prince was in the past, and they should be older and more senior, and it is best to be able to suppress the eldest lady over there in terms of seniority, saying that they are going to be sent to the alley of Yongji Temple to do errands." Seniority, talk to the big lady over there. The confidence is also sufficient. They are noisy and messy underneath, and they don't know who to elect. I think. I am the old lady's companion, and I am the same generation as the eldest lady over there according to my seniority, and my qualifications are deep enough to take over this errand. But I don't know why, the little marquis has to go down there and not come to me? ”

Mama Lu's words are not unreasonable, but Zhao Xiu doesn't quite agree. Zhao Wei is looking for the old family in order to give Ma Wei to the Niu family, Lu Ma is qualified in terms of seniority and qualifications, but her husband and son have been bought by the Niu family mother and son, and the confidence is insufficient. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if it was revealed by the Niu clan when scolding? It's better to find someone else.

But she couldn't say this directly, it would hurt Lu's mother's self-esteem, so she had to persuade her with good words: "Mom, don't worry, my brother must have a reason for doing this." In fact, you have already left your nationality to be good, and it doesn't seem appropriate to go out in the name of our old servant. You should think about Bilian and Mingzhang for the sake of Bilian and Mingzhang, and leave this matter to someone else. ”

After hearing this, Zhang also persuaded Lu's mother: "The children think it makes sense, Xiuju, don't go." ”

Mother Lu thought about it and reluctantly agreed: "If it weren't for those two evil obstacles, I would have scolded that vicious woman well!" ”

After persuading Lu's mother to leave, Zhang asked Zhao Xiu again: "What's going on?" What are you going to say to the Nius? Is it for the sake of money? ”

Zhao Xiu shook his head with a smile. Silver? It's not that simple!

Zhao Wei finally found a very suitable candidate.

In the past, when the old county prince was still there, there was a long entourage, which he had brought with him when he was a small military attache in Shandong, and he was a few years older than him, and he usually called the other party Brother Wu. This big brother Wu is old, and now he is an old black head. In the past, he followed the old county prince to the battlefield and was secretly injured, so the husband and wife had no children and no daughters, and they have been supporting the elderly in the Jiannanhou Mansion. Later, the Zhang family couldn't bear it, so they selected an orphan from the family servants and made them an adopted son. The adopted son has a good character, knows how to be grateful, and regards the second elder as his biological parents, so the old aconitum couple has a good life in retirement.

After the death of the county grandfather, the Zhang family and Zhao Zhuo's family were driven back to their hometown, and the old aconite couldn't see it, and he lost the new owner several times. At that time, Zhao Jiong was still in the south, and the family was headed by the Niu family, she regarded the old aconitum as an untimely evil slave, and directly drove the family out of the house, and was almost one of the first servants to be chased. At that time, the news of the death of Zhao Zhuo and his wife had not yet returned to the capital. The old black head left the Jiannan Hou Mansion with his old wife, adopted son, and grandchildren, and with the reward given by the old county prince in the past, life was still good, but he couldn't swallow this breath.

Zhao Wei returned to the capital with his sister and took the title again. The old servants who heard the news rushed back to join him, including the adopted son of the old aconite, but the old aconitum himself did not return. He thinks that his husband and wife are both old, even if they come back, they can't do things for their master, they just rely on eating white rice, and their lives can go on anyway, so why burden their masters again? Now Zhao Wei wants to find his old family, his adopted son told the old aconite, he felt that he could still come in handy, so he was obligated to bring his old wife with him.

When Zhang saw the old aconitum couple who had been separated for many years, his eyes couldn't help but turn red, and he choked up with the hand of the black woman: "I only saw your children and grandchildren come back, but when you are no longer there, I am afraid that if I ask your children, I know bad news, and everyone is not happy." I knew you were doing well, so I went to see you. Why don't you tell me? ”

Wu Pozi smiled: "Madame, don't laugh, our old man is this weird temper, he said that he is so old, he can only support the elderly when he comes back, and he can't do anything, but he wants the master's family to feed in vain, and he can't pull this face." Actually, I said what is this? Mrs. and the little marquis lack a bowl of rice for him? He behaved like this, just because he used to be a little decent in the mansion, but he asked the eldest lady in front of him to drive him out of the mansion, he felt shameless and didn't want to see the old man. ”

Zhang took it seriously: "What is this? I was also kicked out by their husband and wife, and now I am still sitting here in peace? It's their fault, and there's no need to be ashamed of it. He sighed again: "Over the years, you must have suffered a lot of grievances. ”

The old aconite said in a sullen voice: "Don't be wronged, the good son that Mrs. picked for me is very filial." ”

Zhang smiled: "I know, he is now working as an overseer in the Hou Mansion, and he is the most fair and capable of doing things, and everyone praises him for being good." Can the children raised by your husband and wife be bad? Knowing that it was him, I was relieved that I didn't have to ask anything. ”

Wu Pozi hurriedly smiled and saluted: "Thank you Mrs. for trusting that child so much. After dinner that day, I heard that the old mansion of the Hou Mansion had been almost built, so I asked my grandson to help me take a look, and it was really exactly the same as when I moved in! The same magnificence! ”

Zhang listened with some yearning: "I left it to my grandson to deal with, and I haven't seen it yet." Is it almost finished? That's great. She patted Wu Pozi's hand: "Now only you old family members still remember the past, and you know more than I do." I don't know what Brother Wei wants you to do, but you are also old, if you have any difficulties, just say it, don't force it. That child is sensible and will not blame you. ”

The old aconitum said in a muffled voice: "Not reluctantly, it's very good." Wu Pozi also smiled and said, "Madam is too careful, if we don't want to, how can we come back?" That's a great thing, my wife has to thank the little marquis and give our husband and wife a chance to vent their anger! It's not that the old woman said that the lady's personality couldn't be better, but she was too soft-hearted. Dealing with such a vicious and despicable woman, he quickly took out his mother-in-law's frame to teach her a lesson, even if he gave her a few slaps, outsiders would think it was right. But Madame spared her again and again, and made her arrogant until now. ”

Zhang sighed and remained silent. In fact, why didn't she regret backing down too lightly? But her nature is like this, even if time comes back and she is asked to face that situation again, she may make the same choice, but she will no longer listen to Zhao Yu's mention and return to her hometown with her son and grandson.

The past can't be traced, she can only put her worries away and ask the question in her heart: "Speaking of which, Brother Wei is looking for you, what do you want you to do?" (To be continued......)