Zhao Yuanniang is the eldest daughter of Lao Jun Gong, the eldest sister of Zhao Zhuo, and the aunt of Zhao Wei and Zhao Xiu's brothers and sisters. In terms of age, she is three years older than Zhang. The Zhang family has become a grandmother, and she is naturally no exception.

She and Xu Chonglun have only one son, named Peizhao, who is six in his Chinese New Year's Eve, has already obtained the meritorious examination, married his wife Bian, and has two sons and one daughter. The one who came with Xu Chonglun this time was his eldest son Xu Shiying, who is sixteen years old this year, the same age as Zhao Wei, but only a few months younger.

When Zhao Xiu watched the handsome young man of the same age as his brother saluting respectfully in front of him, and calling her "cousin", his mood suddenly became a little complicated.

She seems to understand why Jiang Wen doesn't like Gao Zhen to talk to her with family etiquette, she is obviously a twenty-eight girl, but she has to be called a cousin by a teenager of the same age, and she is called old, okay? Zhao Xiu herself is even more sad, she is several years younger than Xu Shiying, and she has also become his elder. It's just that this cousin is a one-eyed character, upright and strict to the point of almost rigidity, every time he says a word, he has to call her cousin once, and he will never call her less, which is really frustrating.

Zhang likes Xu Shiying very much.

The relationship between her and Zhao Yuanniang was mediocre, after all, she was just a stepmother, and she only entered the door after Zhao Yuanniang got married, how close can the relationship be? But she was personally selected by Zhao Yuanniang's biological mother, Mrs. Qin, and she had met Zhao Yuanniang a few times before marriage. At that time, the latter didn't know that his biological mother was choosing a candidate for his stepmother, and he had a good impression of his peers Zhang. When the Zhang family married into the Jiannan Hou Mansion, the relationship between the two was completely different. Zhao Yuanniang knew that she should continue to maintain a good relationship with her mother's family, but she couldn't overcome the hurdle in her heart no matter what.

The Zhang family has a good character, and is very grateful to the old lady of the Qin family, and is a two-way person with the old Aunt Qian's grandmother and son, so he persuaded the old county prince again and four times to care more about his daughter and son-in-law, and have a good relationship with them. The old county prince was also willing to listen to her persuasion. After coming and going, the relationship between Zhao Yuanniang and her mother's family has eased, although it is still light, but at least the etiquette is quite thorough. The old county prince died suddenly, and she also cried a lot, and specially went to Beijing with her husband to mourn. Zhao Jiong was afraid of her at that time, and he didn't dare to go too far with Zhang's mother and son, so he only put their family under house arrest. If it weren't for the fact that the Xu family had a house in Beijing, and Zhao Yuanniang hadn't spent the night at her mother's house, maybe Zhao Jiong wouldn't have been able to do this.

However, the Zhang family has always remembered to be close to the Xu family, so for many years, he has not forgotten the letter gifts during the annual New Year's Festival. Compared with the well-known Fang family in Beijing, the Xu family is more low-key, and the children of the clan do not admire the powerful, only concentrate on studying the imperial examination, and go to the local government when they become officials, and the official reputation is also good. The Zhang family decided that his family was upright and more willing to make friends with his family. When she and Zhao Wei returned to the south from the capital after watching King Guangping, they lived in Xu's house for a few days on the way and met Xu Shiying. Seeing him today, I only feel that he has grown a lot taller, and his appearance is more handsome, and when he asks about his homework, he can answer every sentence, which shows that the foundation is solid, and she is naturally more happy in her heart, not only ordering someone to prepare a generous gift, but also letting him go to Beijing to borrow books, if he likes which one, he has no time to copy it, so he will go to Jiannanhou Mansion to find it. There are many manuscripts of books in the Hou Mansion, and your own family members don't have to be polite.

Knowing that the reputation of the library has not yet spread to Shandong, Xu Shiying still does not understand the weight of Zhang's promise. However, he could also feel Zhang's enthusiasm and care, so he got up and saluted and thanked him solemnly.

When asked about the status of everyone in his family, he replied, "My grandfather and grandmother are fine." My grandmother was old, and the family was afraid that she would not be able to endure the cold and did not dare to let her go far away, so they could not come to see her great-grandmother. My father was preparing for next year's spring festival, and he had set off for Beijing on the sixth day of the first lunar month, and my mother sent someone to Beijing early to clean the house. Originally, I thought that I would go to the Hou Mansion to meet my great-grandmother, cousin, and aunt, but I didn't want to see them today. If my father arrives in Beijing next year, he will be able to wait until his great-grandmother and cousin and cousin return and see each other again. ”

…

Zhang Shi nodded when he heard this: "The imperial examination is important. It's really unfortunate this time, if we were in Beijing, we would still be able to take care of one or two. Not to mention anything else, your cousin knows all the famous scholars in Beijing, and has also consulted with them, and has also made friends with their students' children and nephews. Our family's Mingzhi Library also has many people who go to borrow books. There are many articles by senior students, and you can also make progress by reading more. If you are lucky enough to borrow the essays of a few examiners, you can also understand their preferences. But this is all a trivial matter, and the most important thing is to do your homework well. You go back and tell your father to go to the exam with peace of mind. I sent a letter back to Beijing to instruct my family. If your father is in trouble, he just has to go to the house and find someone. If something is missing, just ask for it. The scientific expedition is important, and he must not be polite to us on such a trivial matter. ”

Xu Shiying respectfully agreed.

Zhao Xiu interjected on the side: "I know that there are indeed a lot of good books in the library, but if I go to Beijing in the first month, take some time on the road, and settle down after entering Beijing, and there are no days left when the spring exam comes." How many books is that time for? Many of them went to Beijing to prepare for the exam years ago. Why did Cousin Xu go so late? The Xu family has its own house in Beijing, which is extremely convenient? ”

Xu Shiying hurriedly replied respectfully: "My father is not very strong, and my grandfather, grandmother and mother are worried that he will not be able to stand the wind and snow, so he will leave again after the New Year." Although I went a little late, it was no problem to arrive before the spring festival. ”

As soon as Zhao Xiu heard it, he knew that he didn't understand how important it was to go to the capital in advance to borrow books from the Mingzhi Library. Fang Zhang's has made it very clear, you can understand the examiner's preferences in advance, and you can also read more famous works, which can always make progress. However, the Xu family was originally a famous scholarly family, and Xu Peizhao had enough confidence in her knowledge, so she didn't mention it anymore.

However, Zhao Wei mentioned a Jianyì: "If I go to Beijing again in the first month, I really don't have time to read any books." However, I brought a few books here, all of which I asked for homework from Li, Yi and other gentlemen, and then sorted out the handouts by myself, which I think will be of some use to Cousin Xu. I still have a backup, so it's better to let Shiying take a copy back. If it can help Cousin Xu, I will also be happy in my heart. ”

Zhao Xiu asked Zhao Wei with a smile: "My brother is away from home, why do you have to bring homework handouts?" ”

Zhao Wei smiled bitterly: "Several gentlemen are very concerned about my homework and persuade me that even if I don't take the exam again, I can't lose my knowledge." Mr. Li also specially called me before I left, and arranged a few articles for me to write. ”

Zhang said: "This is the right reason. There is no end to learning, how can you waste your knowledge because you don't take the exam? You don't study for the imperial examination, you study for reason. You are still young, and there are still many things you don't understand, so you should learn more so that you can contribute to the court in the future. ”

Zhao Wei responded, and Zhang persuaded Xu Shiying: "This is also your cousin's intention, you just take it and give it to your father when you go home." He saw it and understood. ”

Xu Shiying didn't understand why their ancestors and grandchildren were so persistent, but they still thanked them, and it was also the kindness of others.

Then they chatted for a while, and Zhang also asked about Xu Shiying's younger siblings, and the people downstairs reported that Xu Chonglun was going back, urging Xu Shiying to go down to the deck. Zhang ordered someone to hold the gift and carefully send the person down, and Zhao Wei followed all the way.

Zhao Xiu stood behind the window of the corridor, watched the father and son of the Xu family say goodbye to Zhao Wei and went ashore, and then came back to report to his grandmother. Zhang sighed: "In the past, I felt that your cousin and your uncle were too upright, and when the children were young, they were lively. I don't want to see him for a few years, Shiying is also like his grandfather and father, and he is very old. Their family upbringing is really strict. ”

…

Zhao Xiu thought for a while and said, "It's nothing to be honest, as long as it's not stupid to read." I think Xu Shiying is a bit of a nerd, but she still understands the world, and she is thoughtful. If you want to come to the Xu family for generations, you have a set of methods to teach your children. Let's ignore it, let's write back to Beijing first, let them get ready, and take care of Cousin Xu when he arrives. ”

Zhang was reminded by her, and the grandfather and grandson sat on the edge of Luohan's bed and discussed how to write a letter without mentioning it.

Xu Shiying took a few notebooks back and showed them to her grandfather Xu Chonglun that night. Xu Chonglun was born in the serious imperial examination, and he is not knowledgeable, so he is naturally not an illiterate person, as soon as he flipped through those books, he knew their preciousness, and hurriedly asked his grandson where he came from. Xu Shiying replied truthfully, and Xu Chonglun sighed when he heard it: "Their ancestors and grandchildren were originally kind people, and your grandmother treated them only lightly. Since they intend to be friends, let's not let down a piece of people's hearts. The next day, he sent his family to escort his grandson home and handed over the book to Xu Peizhao.

Xu Peizhao listened to his father's words relayed by his family, and he also attached great importance to those books in his heart, and turned back to his mother Zhao Yuanniang. Zhao Yuanniang didn't say anything at the time, and after a moment of silence, she asked her son and grandson to retreat. She sat in the house for a long time, then called someone in, took out a letter, and ordered her family to send it to Dongchang Mansion and hand it over to Zhao Wei. If the fleet of the King of Guangping had already left, then chase after it until Zhao Wei, the Marquis of Jiannan, received the letter himself.

Her luck was good, when the servants of the Xu family arrived in Dongchang, the king of Guangping and his party were about to set off. They stayed in Dongchang for two days, supplied a lot of things, Gao Zhen also took the opportunity to take Zhao Wei and Zhao Xiu to visit several nearby scenic spots, and bought a lot of local specialty snacks, what hollow glass balls, knotweed flowers, eight batches of steamed buns, Chen Jing steamed dumplings, etc., they ate their stomachs full. Gao Zhen also quietly stuffed Zhao Xiu with a bag of dim sum, which is said to be called "Mandarin Duck Cake", which is actually a dough cake with meat filling, and a lot of green onions, which are strangely fragrant, because they are sold in pairs, so they are named "Mandarin Ducks". There is nothing in this name, Zhao Xiu likes it when she eats it, but Gao Zhen's act of secretly stuffing it into her makes a righteous and bright thing ambiguous. She was eating the cake, and she felt embarrassed, afraid that her grandmother and brother would know.

Zhang sent the little girl to call her over. Zhao Xiu hurriedly washed his hands and rinsed his mouth, and asked Liu Lu to open the window to ventilate the room, so as not to leave the smell of mandarin duck cakes in the room and let people smell it.

When she arrived at Zhang's cabin, she found that Zhang and Zhao Wei were there, and there was no one else in the house, and their expressions were very strict.

Zhao Xiu was a little uneasy, so he smiled: "What happened?" ”

Zhao Wei looked up at her: "My aunt replied to a letter, thanked us for borrowing books, and told us two news by the way, both of which are related to our relatives." He paused, "Not good news." ”

Zhao Xiu frowned: "Which relative is it?" "Thinking that Jining is not far from Dongchang, could it be the Jiang family and Zhao Xiang?

But Zhao Wei's answer was unexpected: "It's the Mi family." ”R1152