When Shu Chengye came back in the evening, the old lady told him about Mrs. Cao: "I asked a few female gentlemen, some are good at female red, some are good at piano, some are good at painting, only one is Mrs. Cao and Mrs. Heping, who is good at both calligraphy and painting." Look at which of these two is more suitable, I privately think Mrs. Ping is good. ”

The old lady leaned back in the chair, Xu pinched the Buddha beads and smiled: "Mrs. Ping? But the Mrs. Ping who served as a female gentleman in the Chen family? I've also heard of this person, and he has a good character. After a pause, he said: "Actually, I also think that this Mrs. Ping is more suitable, Xianggong has already received the news here, we will return to Beijing next year, there is still half a year, we can't wait to return to Beijing, and then change the eldest girl to a gentleman." ”

"So, let's find a gentleman who is willing to go back to Beijing with us. It also saves the time when this gentleman is exchanged, but it delays the eldest girl. Xu said gently: "That Second Mrs. Cao, although she looks good and is more famous than Mrs. Ping, but she drags her family with her, and her brother-in-law is an official, I'm afraid that the Cao family will not be willing to let her follow us to the capital." ”

The old lady nodded: "That's what I mean, but, Chengye, have you dealt with the third child of the Cao family?" Our family was not close to the Cao family in the past, and your daughter-in-law didn't post to the Cao family, why did the Cao family come over today? ”

Shu Chengye laughed: "Mother guessed right, the Cao family really has nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace." ”

The old lady was a little puzzled: "What happened to the Cao family?" If I'm not mistaken, you said before that the third child of the Cao family is about the same as your official position, right? ”

Although the Shu family has few heirs, they have been officials for generations. In the last three generations, there are also side branches, which are not considered to be big families, but they are also considered to be scholarly and famous. And the Cao family, to use an inappropriate analogy, is like a nouveau riche among scholars, that is, in the generation of the three brothers of the Cao family, three jinshi suddenly appeared, and because of bad luck, two more died.

Therefore, even if the official position is similar, in fact, the status is much worse.

For a simple example, Shu Chengye relied on his own ability to take the Tanhua test, and then stayed in the Hanlin Academy for a few years, sought to be released, and became the prefect of Jiangnan East Road, a very rich place. Nominally, he is an official of the fourth grade, but in fact, he is enough to be from the third grade. As long as there are no major mistakes, it is a steady rise.

has in-laws and connections left by the old man Shu, even if Shu Chengye can't stand up, he can stay in Jiangnan safely for the rest of his life.

The third child of the Cao family was directly assigned to Fujian Road. Although it is also considered rich, there are many widows, and if you are not careful, you may lose your life. Of course, even if he defeated the Japanese invaders, the credit is also General Mingwei's, and it has little to do with a civilian official like the prefect.

"Someone has an excerpt and says that the Cao family is the third collaborator." Shu Chengye took a sip of tea from the teacup: "The emperor has already sent someone to investigate, although the third child of the Cao family is fine for the time being, but the affairs in Fujian have been handed over to others." ”

"So even if it is found out that the third child of the Cao family is wronged, it is impossible for him to be the prefect anymore?" The old lady was still very keen, and Shu Chengye nodded: "However, if he is innocent, there will always be a day to recover again." But no matter whether the third elder of the Cao family is wronged or not, the Cao family must come out and walk around. ”

The old lady nodded: "In that case, then the gentleman who invited Man Yao will invite that Mrs. Ping, right?" ”

Shu Chengye shook his head: "Mother, don't worry, the matter of the third child of the Cao family can't be involved in the second lady Cao, if the second lady Cao's calligraphy and painting attainments are higher, it doesn't matter if you invite the second lady Cao." ”

The old lady frowned and thought for a while: "Speaking of which, I don't know how to read, and I don't know what the level of calligraphy and painting of Mrs. Ping and Mrs. Cao Er is, why don't I invite the two of them to come over and have a look, and you can send someone to inquire about Mrs. Ping's family history." ”

Shu Chengye nodded in response, Shu Manyu pinched the handkerchief, very worried: "Dad, although you said that the matter of the third child of the Cao family has nothing to do with the second lady of Cao, but if the third child of the Cao family really collaborates with the enemy, we just avoid suspicion, and it is not good to get too close to the Cao family." ”

Although the old lady is illiterate, the old lady is from a family and understands the role of virtuous helpers. If there is an official in his own family, then the things in the officialdom must be understood, otherwise, if he makes a big mistake without knowing it, it may be a big crime of raiding the family and exterminating the clan.

It's like, it's the same gift, you score a clear situation. Those who are at the top, those who are subordinates, those who are in the same camp, those who are in the same division, those who are in the same department, and those who are classmates must pay attention.

The old lady has heard and seen it since she was a child, and she also taught her granddaughters this, not only to read the rules of female precepts, but also to have some slight political eyes, not to seek to see the affairs of officialdom very thoroughly, but you must know when you can receive gifts, when to hold what kind of banquet, when not to associate with what kind of people.

Therefore, if it is not particularly important and should not be listened to by children, basically girls can listen to it.

Shu Manjin frowned slightly, and her face was also a little worried: "That's it, Dad, why don't you invite Mrs. Ping for the eldest sister, didn't the eldest sister say at the beginning, isn't it mainly to let her father teach her calligraphy and painting?" It's okay if Mrs. Ping's attainments are not high, and her father is here. Daddy's calligraphy and painting, which is hard to find, is much better than Mrs. He Ping and Mrs. Cao. ”

Shu Chengye hahadaxiao, what he is most proud of is his handwriting and painting, praised by his daughter, the taste in his heart, not to mention how sweet it is.

Even Shu Manyao also nodded and smiled: "That's it, Daddy's calligraphy and painting, that's the best, among all the calligraphy and paintings I've seen, Daddy's is the best." Grandmother, let's invite Mrs. Ping, right? ”

As he spoke, his eyes turned around Shu Manjin and Shu Manyu: "I see that the second sister and the third sister are also quite interested in calligraphy and painting, why don't we sisters take classes together?" ”

Rather than being snatched away by Shu Manjin at that time, it is better to cut off this road first. As soon as the words fell, without waiting for the old lady to agree, Shu Manyao looked like she had said the wrong thing: "Oh, I forgot, the second sister and the third sister said before that they should study well with their husband, and some time ago, the second sister and the third sister also said that they wanted to learn to compose poetry, I don't know how they are learning now." ”

Shu Manyu is the kind who has to grab it when he sees what Shu Manyao has.

Shu Chengye invited Mr. for Shu Manyao before, originally wanting to make Shu Manyao more cheerful. As a result, when Shu Manyu was older, he had to go to school. The gentleman who originally belonged to Shu Manyao slowly became Shu Manjin and Shu Manyu, and Shu Manyao became an ornament instead.

At this time, Shu Manyao talked about the previous husband again, Shu Manjin was afraid that the old lady and Shu Chengye would remember the previous things, so she hurriedly smiled and said: "Don't worry, eldest sister, my third sister and I are learning, but Mr. said that this kind of thing is not in a hurry, we have only learned rhyme at this time, and we have not yet begun to learn to compose poetry." ”

Shu Manyao nodded, Shu Chengye smiled: "Learning this kind of thing is not fast □, you sisters have your own preferences, you have made your own choices, you have to study well in the future, for my father, I don't ask you to learn well, you can learn happily." ”

The old lady also nodded, and saw that it was not too early, so she sent Shu Manyao and the others back first, leaving only Shu Chengye, Xu Shi, and Shu Zheming to speak.

Shu Manyao estimated that she still had to talk about the Cao family, but she wanted to inquire about the relationship between the Cao family, Cao Jian, and Cao Wei. However, with her previous nature, she really didn't dare to act rashly.

Even if her temperament has changed a lot now, she has never been in contact with the Cao family before, and rashly asking about the Cao family will only make the old lady misunderstand.

"You all go down, and let Xia Xi keep vigil for me today." After drying her hair, Shu Manyao lay down in the quilt, and said sideways, Winter Twilight took the little maid to salute, and then withdrew. Xia Xi brought a thin quilt and spread it on the foot pedal next to the bed. The pedal was only half a foot wide, allowing only one person to lie on his side, and the man's frame was not too large.

Xia Xi put the bed tent away, folded the quilt for Shu Manyao, and then lay down on his side.

"Xia Xi, what I asked you to do, how did you do it?" After a while, Shu Manyao spoke softly, the voice was low, if you don't pay attention to it, you really can't hear it.

Xia Xi also lowered her voice: "Girl, the slave has already been done." After a pause, Xia Xi hesitated a little: "However, the second girl is often in the same place with the third girl, if the second girl finds out......"

Shu Manyao chuckled: "What if you find out?" Shu Manyu has always been more curious than others, the more she is not allowed to read it, the more she wants to read it, Shu Manjin can find a copy, is it possible that she can still stay by Shu Manyu's side all the time? Ming'er, you bring some snacks, go to see Mother Yang, tell Mother Yang that I miss her very much, so that Mother Yang can come and see me. ”

Xia Xi answered, Shu Manyao closed her eyes, it was not that she was reluctant to Mother Yang, but that Mother Yang was still useful. If you don't soothe Yang's mother, how can you stabilize the people behind Yang's mother?

Moreover, she has no connections in her hands, if she doesn't have Mother Yang, where would she buy a book like that for the third girl?

Treating others in the way of others is not for her to come forward in person to teach others. Fortunately, Mother Yang was just broken-mouthed, and the old lady asked Mother Yang to be sent out, just because Mother Yang not only couldn't take care of her yard, but also took the lead in making trouble.

Otherwise, Mother Yang would not have gotten a result of honor.

Before going to bed, Shu Manyao made a decision, no matter whether Shu Manyu took the same path in her previous life in the future, she would spare Mother Yang's life. Anyway, it was Yang's mother who raised her milk.