This warm house wine in Jiannanhou Mansion is a luncheon and an afternoon tea. When it was nearly evening, the feast ended smoothly. Zhao Xiu accompanied Zhang's to send off a group of female guests, and he was relieved to hear that the guests in the men's table in the front yard had also been sent away.

This banquet can also be called a joy for the guests and hosts, there is no big leakage, the wine and food are quite praised, the entertainment is also quite interesting, the pomp is neither rude, nor so big that it makes the imperial history unpleasant. This level of Jiannanhou Mansion has passed, and the three grandparents and grandchildren feel very happy.

Zhang was old and felt a little tired, so he went back to the hospital early to rest. Zhao Xiu took a few stewards to clean up the mess of the two banquets, the ones that should be dismantled, the ones that should be cleaned, the ones that should be counted and stored, and the people who should be counted and put into storage, and they also commanded people to prepare dinner soon after.

Zhang had already taken a nap, took a hot bath, and felt better. Seeing that her granddaughter was busy with a sore back, she was also a little distressed: "I've been busy for most of the day, let's take a rest first." If you can't finish cleaning up, you just need to continue to do it tomorrow. ”

Zhao Xiu said with a smile: "There are so many things outside, and many of them are valuable, if you don't clean up today, God knows if someone will touch a few cups and dishes in the middle of the night?" Although it's not worth anything, if you lose a few things in a set, it will be inconvenient to take them out for banquets in the future, so don't you have to buy them again? That's bad enough. Grandmother doesn't have to worry, everything has been wiped clean, and the rest just needs to be put into the warehouse according to the list, and it won't be a problem. I'm done with it today, and I'll be able to rest for a few days starting tomorrow. Wouldn't it be troublesome? ”

When Zhang heard this, he no longer persuaded her, but said: "Just watch them clean up, Wang Fulai is still very capable, and Lu's mother can also help." ”

Zhao Xiu agreed, but she also persuaded Zhang: "Mother Lu has already been released, and today is the first time our family has had a banquet after returning to Beijing, so we need an old qualification like her to be a helper." But let's bother her less in the future. Otherwise, what's the difference between not letting her out? Although Lu's mother likes to do things for her grandmother, outsiders see it differently. Mingzhang participated in the children's examination this spring, although he was brushed off in the government examination. But he is also a serious child, and he is a reader. Lu's mother is his mother, how can we let the scholar's mother be the housekeeper again? ”

Zhang sighed: "Why don't I understand this truth? It's just that I'm used to her waiting, and I'm really reluctant. "Although reluctantly. But she also knew that this was not a long-term solution, so she instructed Xia Lu: "Go outside and take a look." Is Mama Lu still there? If so, let her go back, and leave the matter to someone else. Then ask her to pick out some of today's dishes and dim sum, although there are leftovers, but there are many that no one has touched. It's cleaner than the outside, and it tastes good. Tell Lu's mother that I have worked hard today. Ming'er will rest for two days, and come in to talk to me when she is free. ”

Xia Lu answered. Zhao Xiu looked at it, and said to Zhang: "Grandmother, there should be a few more people here." Xia Lu and Dongshuang are all big girls, and these little things that are passing words and handing things should not be done by them. They did, and who was responsible for serving the food to the grandmother? Zhang smiled: "Exactly, not only here, but also your yard and your brother's yard, it is time to add people." Today's banquet, the girls and ladies at the bottom are doing well, I only heard in a trance that someone broke the cups and saucers, someone passed the wrong dish, and some people couldn't answer the guests' questions and blushed, all of them were small mistakes, but there were no big mistakes, which is also rare. After two days of rest, start picking people. The people who should be added were added earlier, and it was convenient for our ancestors and grandchildren to call them up daily. ”

Zhao Xiu agreed. At this time, Zhao Wei also rushed over, and smiled flatteringly to his grandmother and sister, making amends: "I drank too much for a while, slept for a while, and almost missed the time for dinner, and asked my grandmother and sister not to blame." ”

Zhang smiled: "I heard that you have made a few good friends at the front table, I think you have similar interests, and you drank too much for a while?" You are careful, how old are you, and if you drink too much, it is not good for your health. For dinner today, they made yam chicken soup to relieve hangover and nourish your stomach, and you can drink more in a while. ”

Dongshuang hurriedly served Zhao Wei a bowl of soup, Zhao Wei thanked him, and drank a bowl happily, and Zhang was relieved.

The three of them had a simple and nutritious dinner, and after the meal, Zhang saw that Zhao Wei was sleepy, so he sent him back early to rest, and told him that he didn't have to review his homework tonight, and he would get up and read again tomorrow.

After sending Zhao Wei away, Zhao Xiu sat with her grandmother for a while, and inadvertently mentioned several female guests who came today, among which Qiu Yuan, the daughter of Meishan Bofu, was the object of her curiosity.

Speaking of Meishan Bofu, Zhang's face was disapproving, she didn't deal with the old lady of Nafu very well, and it was a long-standing feud. At first, I don't remember what the conflict was, but I remember that the more we met later, the worse my impression of each other became.

Zhang didn't want to say more bad things about others, so he just said: "The Qiu family raises their daughters, they don't pay attention to poetry and books, they only look at female celebrities, as if they do a good job of needlework, they are first-class virtuous people." Then I want to be a housekeeper, not a young lady, but a housekeeper! How is it different from a small door? It's good that this Yuan sister can develop such a dignified appearance, and it may have something to do with her mother's knowledge. Mrs. Qiu's biological daughter can still read and write, and the two concubines don't even know a word, they only plan to settle accounts, and later marry into the imperial merchant family. It's a joke to say, this is still a girl in Xungui's mansion, no wonder outsiders look down on the upbringing of Xungui's family! ”

She also mentioned that Qiu Yuan had a compatriot eldest sister, who was three or four years older than her, and she was also famous in the past. Mrs. Cao mentioned it when she was chatting, she was also an expert in needlework, and her embroidery work was very exquisite, and she once embroidered a double-sided Guanyin statue, which was lifelike, and later gave it to Princess Qianying as a birthday gift. At that time, there were many edicts present, and they all praised each other, saying that it was a rare thing in the world. It's a pity that this girl later married outside Beijing, although her husband is also a child of an official family, but in the eyes of the daughters of the official families in the capital, there are some shortcomings, and I can't help but feel sorry for the Qiu girl.

When Zhao Xiu heard this, he raised his eyebrows: "Qiu Yuan's sister once sent an excellent embroidery to Princess Ying as a birthday gift?" ”

Zhang was a little careless: "Yes, at that time, King Ying was in power, and the first emperor valued him, although some people in the court thought that he had a heart of disobedience. However, the first emperor did not believe it, so many families in Beijing had dealings with the Ying Palace. She paused, seemed to think of the reason why Zhao Xiu asked, and said with a smile: "You don't have to worry too much, if the Qiu family also colludes with the Ying Wangfu, when the emperor disappeared in Jiangnan, his family will show traces." How can outsiders not know? The emperor trusts his family quite a bit now. The two sons of the Qiu family were both on errands in front of the emperor, and they were both loyal ministers. Besides, the Qiu family just sent a congratulatory gift to Princess Ying, and this kind of gift exchange doesn't prove anything. I really want to talk about it. In the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, he has never given a gift to the Ying Palace, and he can count a slap. ”

Zhao Xiu smiled when he heard it and said, "How could I think so much? I just think that the girl of the Qiu family is really confident in her needlework. ”

Zhang sighed: "What's the use of good needlework?" People like us. When do you need the ladies of the family to make clothes by hand? In your spare time, you can do one or two things that mean it. I'm not saying that learning needlework is bad, my daughter's family should naturally have a good hand in needlework. The Keqiu family only values their daughter's needlework and housekeeping skills. If you don't pay attention to poetry and calligraphy, where is the style that everyone should have? I don't know to others, but if it were me, I would never want to marry such a girl as a daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law entered the door. But you must not only be able to be in charge of the house, take care of the diet and daily life of your children and grandchildren, but also raise your children. When the man is not at home. She still has to support a family. How can you do it if you don't have enough knowledge? ”

The Zhang family does not have a high opinion of the Qiu family's daughter, but the Qiu family treats their own daughter. But he was very confident. Mrs. Meishan took her daughter back to the house, and she didn't care about freshening up and changing her clothes, so she went to ask her mother-in-law, Mrs. Qiu, to say goodbye. Mrs. Qiu asked her daughter-in-law carefully about her granddaughter's performance in Jiannanhou Mansion, and after listening to her daughter-in-law's detailed description, she was very satisfied, and asked how the eldest girl in Jiannanhou Mansion was.

Mrs. Meishan replied with a smile: "In terms of appearance, she is also quite delicate, but she is still young, so she can't see anything." Today's banquet, look at her also took care of a lot of things, everything is arranged quite thoughtfully, the Duchess of Jiannan County only needs to sit and laugh with the guests, it can be seen that this girl is young, but she is surprisingly capable. ”

Old Madam Qiu looked faint: "Zhang's temperament, talent is mediocre, and he has no knowledge, but he can actually raise a capable granddaughter?" Truly unexpected. ”

Mrs. Meishan was stunned, and she was a little unsure whether her mother-in-law was happy or angry, and she hesitated and didn't know how to respond. However, her daughter Qiu Yuan, who has served in front of her grandmother since she was a child, knows her thoughts better, so she said with a smile: "Although Miss Zhao is capable, it is probably because she is still young and her ability is limited, so she has also made some minor mistakes, but the subordinates of the Hou Mansion are shrewd and cover up the past for her." The mother was laughing with the ladies in the house, not knowing what was going on. If it weren't for the granddaughter's vigilance, I was afraid that something would have happened. Then he told Jiang Wen that Jiang Wen was drunk and the girl of the Li family wanted to play a prank but caused others to be dissatisfied and quarreled.

Old Madam Qiu smiled and nodded: "There are so many guests who come to the door, if you want to entertain well, you have to worry about it." After all, this Zhao family girl is young and doesn't know the depth, so she only cares about having fun for herself. It can be seen that Zhang's upbringing of children is not successful. What good children can she teach? I only talk about poetry and words, but I don't know the way of economics at all, how to assist my husband? She's just shit luck, and when she meets a good man, she will always be protected! ”

Qiu Yuan and Mrs. Meishan looked at each other, and they didn't know how to answer.

However, Old Madam Qiu didn't need them to answer, she turned her head and looked at her granddaughter again, with a satisfied look in her eyes: "Sister Yuan did a good job today, she should let everyone see that the daughter of our Qiu family is the best!" ”

Qiu Yuan lowered her head with a slightly red face, with a shy smile on the corner of her mouth, which was exactly the expression she had shown when she was praised at the table, which was very pleasing. This expression, she has done very skillfully.

After leaving Mrs. Qiu's courtyard, Qiu Yuan first went to the main courtyard with her mother, asked her father for peace, and then retreated. When Mrs. Meishan had freshened up and changed into homely clothes and came out to talk to her husband, she retreated and said to him with some hesitation: "Does Uncle really want to act according to the old lady's wishes?" In fact...... There are other good boys in Beijing. For example, the Jiannan Hou Mansion we went to today, Jiannan Hou Zhao Wei is good, young, good-looking, both civil and military, gentle and courteous, and has the favor of the saint. I saw him come in and say hello to us, and it was really pleasing to the eye the more I looked at it. Isn't he a good match for our Yuan'er? is also quite old, as soon as she gets married, Yuan'er will be a dignified lady, and there is no shortage of wealth and decency. ”

Uncle Meishan glanced at his wife: "Do you dare to say this in front of your mother?" It's not that you don't know that she and the Duchess of Jiannan County have always been not on good terms, how can she be willing to be in-laws with others? Jiannanhou is naturally good, he has come to our house for a banquet, and I have seen it many times in the court, can you still not know? But no matter how good he is, it has nothing to do with our family! Then he sighed: "Actually...... If the third girl is a concubine, I am willing to try to persuade my mother, but my mother has already made arrangements for Yuan'er, so you don't have to talk nonsense. ”

When Mrs. Meishan heard him mention his concubine, she was embarrassed, and her face was difficult to look at.

Seeing this, Meishan Bo thought that she didn't agree with her idea, so she couldn't help but ask, "What are you angry about?" No matter how good Jiannanhou is, can he be better than the prince of Guangping? When our Yuan'er becomes the princess, wouldn't it be more rich and decent? (To be continued)

ps: I went to the doctor in the afternoon, and I queued for a long time, and I waited even longer to get medicine, and it was more than eight o'clock when I got home...... R466