Tongzhou, wharf.

"Yo he's finally back" Shen Jue got off the boat and stepped on the ground hard, with a little joy on his face.

Shen Quan and Shen Rui were also in a good mood, and they walked for two moons, even if they could occasionally get down and walk around on the docks along the way, they were still confined to the boat most of the time.

Shen Huan followed behind everyone, a little curious, and looked around. For a fourteen-year-old boy, the capital is a mysterious and solemn place, and his mood is both apprehensive and excited.

Shen Yu looked hesitant, and he wanted to speak but stopped. He naturally wanted to go into the city with a few nephews, but since he had an errand on his back, it was always difficult to leave it behind.

Shen Quan saw it and said with a smile: "Uncle will go to the city first, Brother Huan will go to the city with us first, and when my uncle is busy with this errand, it will be cheaper to enter the city again......"

Shen Yu listened with a smile and did not answer, but just looked at Shen Rui from the corner of his eye.

Shen Yu's careful thinking was already in Shen Rui's eyes. However, when it comes to distant relatives, Shen Huan is Shen Jue's cousin, and Shen Yu is Shen Jue's cousin. Since Shen Jue is in Beijing, there is no reason for Wufang to come forward to entertain guests.

In addition, it seems that Shen Huan is a clever and sensible person along the way, and when Shen Jue is also a little sincere from his cousin, Shen Rui said quickly: "Brother Huan will go to the house with me and Brother Jue first, and Uncle Huan will also walk around after handing over his errands...... It is rare for the clan uncle to enter Beijing, and the father and mother of the family will also have to meet the clan relatives......"

Only then did Shen Yu put his mind at ease, nodded and said, "Then Brother Huan will trouble your brothers to take care of it, I will follow Secretary Zheng to run the errand first, and then I will go to see the second room clan brother......"

Shen Rui said: "My father was an official in the household department in his early years, and there are some favors over there, if the clan uncle is not cheap here, just send someone to say it." ”

Shen Yu responded gratefully, but he had no intention of using this relationship. Using favors for official business is something that only fools do. Besides, Shangshufu's favor is so easy to owe? He knows his pounds.

When Shen Rui and Shen Jue brothers went out of Beijing, it was the height of summer, but now it is early winter.

Although the canal did not freeze, there was also ice floe in the territory of Zhili.

Shen Rui, Shen Jue, and Shen Quan entered Beijing in Layue three years ago, and they have experienced it no matter how cold it is, but Shen Huan was a little unbearable after staying for a while, tightened his robe and said: "This is really to the north, it's really cold, it's all in time for the Songjiang Layue season......"

Shen Rui and Shen Jue did not send people to Beijing in advance to deliver the letter, and naturally there was no one to pick them up.

However, Tongzhou is a major road for water and land transportation, and its transportation capacity is developed. When Shen Rui and the others ate a pot of tea in the teahouse in front of the dock, Changfu had already brought someone to hire a carriage.

Although Shen Rui and Shen Jue went south in a light car, they brought a lot of things back when they came back, including the "bequest" of the patriarch to Shen Jue, as well as the "rituals" given to Shen Rui's brothers by the clansmen of each house, and the "Tuyi" to the hometown of the second room, plus the luggage and belongings of several brothers, it was filled with four or five carts.

There were two more carriages carrying people, and everyone said goodbye to Lu Sanlang and Shen Yu, and came out of the dock, Shen Quan and Shen Rui sat down, and Shen Huan followed Shen Jue into the carriage.

"I'll go home first, and I'll go tomorrow to ask my uncle and aunt for a ......," Shen Quandao.

Shen Rui glanced at Shen Quan and said with a smile: "Doesn't the third brother have to go to his sister-in-law's house first tomorrow?" ”

Originally, Shen Quan's wedding date was set at the end of this year, but because the five-room Shen Hong couple returned to their hometown for funeral, they were not in Beijing, so they could only be postponed until the end of the year.

Shen Quan glanced at Shen Rui and said, "Brother Rui, don't laugh at me, which one has been running to Master Yang's house for the past two years?" ”

"I'm going to ask for a teacher, where is it like the third brother, I can't wait to welcome my sister-in-law in......" Shen Rui said with a smile.

Shen Quan gritted his teeth and said, "What's the matter?" I'm twenty-one in the next year, and I don't talk about others, just say that Brother Jia, who is younger than me, and now I have both children and daughters......"

Looking at the few bright pimples on Shen Quan's head, the corners of Shen Rui's mouth twitched, and he said in a low voice: "This is also true, and the harmony of yin and yang is also right......"

Shen Quan had a room a few years ago, and he also brought it with him after entering Beijing, and it was not until he was married later that he was sent back to Songjiang by the Guo family. When he returned to Songjiang this time, Shen Rui also heard the little guy around Shen Quan mention it, saying that he had married someone in Zhuangzi.

Shen Quan didn't really hear it, and said, "What did Brother Rui say?" ”

Shen Rui shook his head and said, "I didn't say anything." Does the third brother continue to study at Chunshan Academy this time? ”

Shen Quan nodded and said, "Naturally." Although the control over there is stricter, there are many famous teachers...... If I hadn't studied there for two years, I wouldn't have been stuck in the college exams...... It's a pity that Brother Rui has a pity, why do you want to go to the school? In my opinion, most of the teachers of Chunshan Academy are from Jinshi, and they have been tested layer by layer, where can they be compared elsewhere? ”

Shen Rui said: "I prefer to be comfortable in the school......"

Although the two brothers are now alive, Shen Quan is different from him. The number of students admitted to each subject in the North and South Zhili Township Examination is the same, but the base number of North Zhili scholars is different from that of South Zhili Scholars. It is not difficult for the students of the North Zhili to participate in the township examination, but in addition to the students of the South Zhili, the annual examination of other students is a big difficulty.

Since Shen Quan was studying in the capital, Chunshan Academy was indeed the best choice, so Shen Rui didn't say anything

In another carriage, Shen Huan lifted the carriage curtain from time to time and looked out.

The grass and trees outside are withered, and the fields are golden, which is very different from the winter scenery of Songjiang. While Shen Huan was curious, he was also a little uneasy, and hesitated: "Third brother, is it cheap to take me back like this?" Why don't I go to live with the third brother of the five-room clan first? ”

Shen Jue glanced at him and said, "What's the politeness?" What's not cheap? Uncles and aunts have always been lenient with juniors, and you live in a down-to-earth manner......"

"That's Shangshu Mansion..."Shen Huan said stammeringly: "As long as you think about it, it's terrifying......"

Shen Jue smiled and said: "There are many princes and lords in the capital, and Shangshu Mansion is just an ordinary family, so you can feel comfortable thinking about it like this." When you see the uncle and the aunt, you must not be so restrained and petty, just respect the elders of the ordinary clan is ......"

Shen Huan's eyes widened and said, "Isn't Uncle Cang a second-grade master?" There are few people with a higher grade than Uncle Cang, right? ”

Shen Jue thought for a while and said: "You can't say that, there are still elders in the civil officials, the princes of Xunguili are all super grades, and the uncles are also ......from the first grade."

Shen Huan was disappointed: "Is this so? I thought that the second and third brothers Rui were the young masters of the Yanai who were in the sky, and they could walk sideways in the capital......"

"If that's the case, I'm still studying desperately, and I've already lost my books to be a young master...... Shen Jue snorted lightly: "A scholarly family like ours, the future of the children and grandchildren is all in the imperial examination, the father and ancestors are prominent, and the descendants have no successors, there are many people who are ...... In this way, I really envy those meritorious families, and they have a world position on the ground, and they don't have to seek fame by themselves at all......"

Speaking of this, Shen Jue pressed his arm, and said in a daze: "I can't say that I was a military general in my last life, and I was reincarnated in the wrong person in this life......"

Dozens of miles from Tongzhou Wharf to the capital, the carriage walked for more than an hour and entered the city from Chaoyang Gate.

Because Changfu had already returned to Beijing to deliver the letter first, Xu instructed the second housekeeper to take people to greet him outside Chaoyang Gate.

Seeing this, Shen Huan no longer looked around, and sat in the carriage honestly.

Because Shen Ying lived in other squares, Shen Quan wanted to part ways with everyone, so Shen Rui got off the carriage over there and got into Shen Jue and Shen Huan.

The luggage of the two families was packed separately at the dock, and when they arrived at the intersection, Shen Quan took a luggage carriage and left, and the rest of the carriage continued to Renshoufang.

Outside the carriage, there was already the noise of pedestrians.

Seeing that Shen Huan was uncomfortable, Shen Rui said: "Compared with Songjiang, the capital is just more people and more cars...... When Brother Jue and I first came, we also felt that the capital was intimidating, and then we stayed for a long time. Although there are many noble officials here, the people are not as rich as Songjiang......"

Shen Huan was surprised: "Isn't this the capital?" At the feet of the Son of Heaven, are there still poor people? ”

That's child's talk.

Shen Jue laughed "poof", pointed at Shen Huan and said, "Why don't you eat minced meat, it's a ...... like Brother Huan"

While the brothers were talking, the carriage slowly drove into Renshoufang. The people living here are all eunuchs, and there is no noise outside, and it seems to have calmed down all of a sudden.

"The second brother is back, the third brother is back......" The doorman outside spread all the way inside.

Shen Rui, Shen Jue and others got out of the carriage, and the housekeeper was already waiting at the door.

"I've seen the second brother and the third brother, but I'm back, and the lord and wife can talk about it for a few days......," the housekeeper stepped forward and saluted.

Shen Rui gave a hand and said, "Mrs. Kangtai recently, what about the master?" ”

The housekeeper bowed down and said, "It's okay over there, the old man had a chronic illness after the Double Ninth Festival, and he coughed for a few days, but he gradually got better a few days ago......"

Shen Rui sighed in his heart, pointed at Shen Huan and said: "This is Brother Huan of the uncle of the clan family, come to the house with me and the third brother as guests, let's go to see the wife first, and the things on the carriage behind are all packed by Changfu, let him talk to the big housekeeper......"

The housekeeper was busy, and Shen Rui took Shen Jue and Shen Huan to the second gate directly.

At the second gate, there were already maids in Xu's room waiting, and when they saw Shen Rui and Shen Jue, they had to say hello attentively.

Shen Huan followed behind Shen Rui and Shen Jue, looking at the enthusiasm of the servants and maids along the way, looking at Shen Rui's back. When I was in Songjiang before, I didn't see Shen Rui swaggering, but this time, it was clear who was the master and who was the slave of Shen Rui and Shen Jue in Shangshu Mansion. No wonder when he was at the dock, even his father had to watch Shen Rui's statement, and Shen Rui also generously took him over directly, and he didn't look embarrassed.

Think about it, Shen Rui is the heir of Xiao Changfang, the future master of Shangshu Mansion; Although Shen Jue is living here now, he can wait until the family is separated in the future, but it is just a side branch of the second room. Two cousins, with different identities.

Thinking about the good name of the deceased Sun family, Shen Huan inexplicably gave birth to the idea of "good deeds are rewarded".

As Shen Rui's fourth-room son-in-law, if it weren't for the relationship between the second-room eldest wife, the Xu family, and the Sun family, even if there was a nominal "fake concubine" brother in front of him, there would be no reason for the main concubine to succeed him.

Needless to say, Shen Rui after his filial piety is already a little adult; Before the death of the Sun family, everyone was also classmates in the family studies. Although Shen Huan was only seven or eight years old at the time, he also remembered that Shen Rui was gloomy and had a violent temper, and he was about to fight with the National People's Congress at the slightest quarrel, which was really different from now.

The clansmen all said that Shen Rui was abused by his relatives after his mother's funeral, and his temperament changed greatly, and this change was really different. If it weren't for the vague appearance of a person or a child, Shen Huan would have suspected that he had changed people.

In the main room, the Xu family was already waiting, Sister Yu was sitting beside her, and the third wife and the fourth brother were also there.

"It's finally home, it's not sure what makes people feel unsteady on the road," Xu said to the third wife.

The third wife looked at the fourth brother softly, and said: "Isn't that the case, I can't see it at a glance, and I don't feel at ease......

The fourth brother celebrated his birthday last month and has turned two years old, and the imaginary age is three years old. He was already walking very steadily, he didn't like to sit, he got down from the third wife's knee, approached Sister Yu, looked at her and said, "Sister flower."

Sister Yu pursed her lips and smiled, picked off the red velvet flowers on her sideburns, pulled the needle, and only handed the flowers to the fourth brother.

The fourth brother grabbed it with his chubby hand and sent it to his mouth.

Sister Yu hurriedly stopped and said, "This is not food, the fourth brother can just play with it......"

The fourth brother looked at the velvet flower in his hand, and his little face was squeezed into a ball.

Xu Shi glanced at it and said, "This is a snack that ate flower molds in the morning?" ”

The third lady cried and laughed: "That's not it. The fourth brother likes to eat kidney bean cakes, and it just so happens that there is a silver mold at home, so I asked someone to make some for him...... He forgot the taste of the cake, and only remembered the ......."

Xu Shi said disapprerovingly: "Children love bright colors, what should they be...... However, he loves to send things to his mouth the most, and he still has to be watched at any time

The third lady had palpitations, nodded and said: "It's not like this, I went to the third master's study two days ago, and I saw the red paint, and the fourth brother also sent it to his mouth, which scared people ...... seriously."

The two concubines were talking, and a servant came in and said, "Mrs., third wife, the second brother and the third brother are back."

Xu's face couldn't help but show joy, the third wife also looked at the door, Sister Yu stood up, and pulled the fourth brother to stand beside her.

I saw Shen Rui and Shen Jue brothers pick up the curtain and come in, followed by a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy in plain clothes.

When Shen Huan first arrived in the capital, he couldn't bear the cold in the north, but as soon as he entered the house, he felt the heating rushing towards him.

Shen Huan stood behind Shen Rui and Shen Jue, and glanced at it quickly.

Here is just a little room, near the window of the south kang, there are two women wrapped in silk and satin all over the place, the older one is the second room lady Xu who had returned to Songjiang Province a few years ago, and the other is in his thirties, next to a cardamom girl, holding a young child in red clothes.

Shen Huan didn't dare to look at it anymore, and hurriedly lowered his head.

Xu Shi had already looked at Shen Rui and Shen Jue.

After Shen Jue returned to Songjiang, although he was very emaciated, he was detained on the boat for two months, and his movement was inconvenient, so he was raised. As for Shen Rui, although he studied hard, he saw some "miscellaneous studies" with Lu Sanlang along the way, but he has always paid attention to health preservation, and his daily routine has not decreased.

Xu Shi was relieved, but he still couldn't help but feel distressed: "Thousands of miles away, you two little brothers have worked hard."