business

Yongzhou Mansion, Shen family.

Because of a few heavy snowfalls in winter, the weather has been very cold, so this year's Yongzhou Mansion has a later spring than in previous years.

It's already mid-February, but it's still cool outside.

After Shen Zhonglei got up in the morning, he was sitting at the table waiting for the meal.

Seeing this, Ping Niang took the opportunity to step forward and said, "Master, this year's Flower Dynasty Festival, what do you think our house is going to do?" ”

"Just do it according to the practice of previous years, and you have to ask me about this kind of thing?" Shen Zhonglei frowned when he heard this, and most of his good mood in the morning was ruined.

This year is his sixth year in office in Yongzhou Mansion, and according to the rules of Daqi for one exam in three years and three exams for completion, he is about to usher in a six-year re-examination this year.

Moreover, a letter from my hometown after the year also said that this year is the sixth year, and if you can perform well and make some outstanding achievements, you don't need to continue to stay in Yongzhou Mansion for three years, you can go to Beijing in advance to report on your work, and you can be promoted without accident.

For this reason, Shen Zhonglei attaches great importance to this year.

Last winter was a severe winter in Yongzhou Mansion in a century, and there was a snow disaster, and there were houses in Yongzhou City that were crushed by snow, and the situation in the surrounding villages and towns will only get worse.

Years later, Shen Zhonglei has been busy with disaster relief and relief for refugees, gathering donations from wealthy businessmen in the city, helping victims rebuild their houses, and even going to the worst-hit villages in person.

In the past month, his official reputation in the mouths of the people in Yongzhou is very good, but it is also really hard.

So at this time, Ping Niang asked about trivial matters at home, and he was quite impatient.

Ping Niang was also helpless, these things should have been handled by the Xu family, but at the end of last month, news came from the Xu family that Xu Yihao suddenly died during the Lantern Festival.

It's good now, Xu Shi, who was originally just tired and lazy at home, really fell ill all of a sudden.

Shen Zhonglei originally decided to send Shen Yunyao back to his hometown in the first lunar month, but now because Xu is seriously ill, he has not been able to make the trip, and he is still at home.

The affairs of the house all fell on Ping Niang's head.

Ping Niang is just an aunt, there is only one daughter under her knees, and she has no son by her side, so she has no status in the house, but she is better than those unfavored subordinates.

The stewards and grandmothers in key positions in the family, who are not from the Xu family, how can they take her seriously.

So in the past half month, the affairs of the house have been a mess.

Ping Niang couldn't bother the seriously ill Xu family, so she came to ask Shen Zhonglei today, but she didn't expect to be disliked, and she didn't dare to say anything more.

As for the practice of previous years, she wanted to use it for reference, but since the day she took over the general affairs, she asked the steward to ask for the account books of previous years, but it has been more than half a month, but she has not even seen the shadow of the account books.

Shen Zhonglei doesn't care about these at all, he is bent on official business, and he has always only looked at the results of the affairs of the back house, who can Ping Niang talk to about these grievances?

Fortunately, breakfast was put on the table this time, which diverted Shen Zhonglei's attention in time.

Ping Niang served Shen Zhonglei for breakfast, changed him into an official uniform, and was about to send him out to the Yamen, Mo Ze ran in with a happy face and said: "Master, the eldest girl sent someone back to deliver the letter, she and the third girl have already set off to return to Yongzhou Mansion, count the days, and you should be able to get home the day after tomorrow." ”

"Really?" When Shen Zhonglei heard the news, his mood finally turned from cloudy to sunny, "It's been more than a month in the blink of an eye, but it's going to come back, and there aren't many people they brought with them when they leave, you hurry up and talk to the housekeeper and arrange for someone to go out of the city and go along the official road to greet them." ”

After he said that, he turned around and instructed Ping Niang: "You quickly ask someone to clean their house, and the day after tomorrow, ask someone to light the charcoal basin early." Don't say it, the two children have never been away from home for a long time, and I don't feel that I can't see it for more than a month, and I'm really a little worried about it! ”

"Don't worry, sir, the concubine will definitely be cleaned up and welcome the two girls home." Seeing that Shen Zhonglei was in a good mood at this time, Ping Niang asked tentatively, "Master, since the eldest girl has gone home, should the concubine also be returned to the eldest girl to take care of the house?" ”

"She has a child's family, and she doesn't care about these ......" Shen Zhonglei hesitated when he heard this.

Ping Niang said again: "Master, it's not that the concubine is unwilling to contribute, but the concubine is just an aunt after all, and she can't be considered a serious master.

"And the concubine arrogantly said a few words to you, the eldest girl is seventeen years old this year, and it is also the age of good marriage, it stands to reason that she should have learned how to manage the housework a long time ago, otherwise she will marry her in-law's family in the future, and nothing will become like this. At that time, people not only laughed at the big girl for not understanding the rules, but also had to laugh at our Shen family for not being able to teach our daughter. ”

Shen Zhonglei had never considered this issue before, and even Shen Tianshu's marriage was worried about his mother in his hometown, so he didn't take it to heart.

Now that I hear Ping Niang say this, I think it's such a truth.

But if you think about it carefully, it's a little bit different.

Although he has never married his daughter, he has seen his sisters discuss marriage in his hometown since he was a child.

Generally, from the age of thirteen or fourteen, my mother began to keep people by her side, teaching them how to keep accounts and check accounts, how to handle various festivals throughout the year, and how to prepare gifts and balance in personal contacts.

These are all learned before marriage, otherwise will you learn from your mother-in-law after you get married?

Shen Zhonglei has not taken these things to his heart when he was supposed to worry about them, but when he heard Ping Niang say this, he couldn't help but complain a little more about Xu.

Even though Xu is only a stepmother, Shen Tianshu has no impression of his biological mother at all, and he began to be taken care of by Xu before he can remember.

Over the years, Shen Tianshu has always respected filial piety to the Xu family.

But if the Xu family uses a little more heart, the two of them get along well, how much difference can there be from the biological mother and daughter?

Shen Zhonglei never expected Xu's to be able to achieve a bowl of water, but even Pingniang understands the truth, wouldn't Xu know?

I know it but I'm still so lazy, it's a bit too much to say!

Now that Xu is very sick, no matter how angry Shen Zhonglei is, he can't ask directly, but he has begun to be dissatisfied in his heart.

Ping Niang saw that Shen Zhonglei had begun to think about it, so she didn't continue to add oil and vinegar, but just hung her head obediently and helped him sort out the belt of his official uniform.

"When Tianshu comes back, let her learn to be a housekeeper." Before Shen Zhonglei left, he finally decided, "Madame is sick now and it is inconvenient to disturb, you can help by the side, and by the way, you should also bring Yun Hui with you, and you should also learn to contact these affairs." ”