The new moon looked back again, this time with the woman who peeked at her, and the woman who saw it was a little panicked, and quickly looked away, and couldn't help but look at it curiously, and found that the new moon was still looking at her, so she had to turn around a little crampedly and leave.

I saw that the lady surnamed Luo was slender, not tall, her appearance was also beautiful, and her eyes were also black and beautiful, she deserved to be a beautiful woman, but Xinyue had also heard of Jiang Yang's backhouse, and since his wife died, he didn't enter the backhouse at all.

Among his several concubines, two of the concubines who had served him for less than a year were sent out of the house.

The remaining two had been waiting for him for a long time, but they would not leave, so they stayed.

The lady, surnamed Luo, has a lot of connections with Jiang Yang and Xinyue's fathers.

Jiang Yang is now in a high position, although he has nothing to do with his father who has outstanding military achievements and is the younger brother of the Queen Mother, but he joined the army at the age of fourteen, starting from a small soldier, until today, the marquis is about to be feuded, and the credit he bears is all from his own sword and gun.

Mrs. Luo's elder brother, Luo Yi, joined the army with Jiang Yang and joined the team with Xinyue's father, and the two had a very good relationship and were also taken care of by Xinyue's father.

The two have been eating and living together in the army until the second year, when Xinyue's father died in battle, and Luo Yi also sacrificed his life to save Jiang Yang's life in this battle, and entrusted Jiang Yang to take care of his mother and sister before leaving.

Jiang Yang has always kept this promise, for Luo Yi's mother to provide for the elderly, after the death of his mother, the Luo family left Mrs. Luo an orphan daughter, although Jiang Yang wanted to find a good family for her, but Mrs. Luo begged in front of Mrs. Zhuang, Mrs. Zhuang was in charge, and hired Jiang Yang as a concubine, at that time Jiang Yang's main room Mrs. Zhang had not yet entered the door.

Later, after Mrs. Zhang got started, she knew what happened to Luo, and she also took great care of her, and Luo was also an honest and obedient to Zhang.

I had a pregnancy, but when I was about to give birth, I was shocked when I heard that Jiang Yang was on the battlefield and his whereabouts were unknown, and after premature birth, the child was too weak and didn't live long, so he died early.

Since then, the Luo family has lived in a simple house, placed a Buddhist hall in the back room, and estranged Jiang Yang a lot, but Jiang Yang still promised his old friend to take good care of her, and Mrs. Zhang was also generous and never treated her badly.

After Mrs. Zhang died, Jiang Yang handed over the affairs of the family's back house to his sister-in-law Chen, so she was still doing well.

I think she was also favored and respected by Jiang Yang, but it was because she couldn't forget her children and had a knot in her heart, so she began to alienate Jiang Yang, but now she is interested in Xinyue.

So Xinyue asked Xue'er, "Is Mrs. Luo good to the general?" ”

"Madame is the general's concubine, and it is naturally good for the general, and the clothes and tonic medicines of the general and the young master are all prepared by Madame herself. And every time the general returned to the camp, especially when he went to the battlefield, his wife fasted, recited the scriptures for three days, and begged the general to triumph. Xue'er still has a high opinion of this Luo, and Xinyue remembered the pair of dark eyes just now, and at first glance, she felt that she was still a gentle and kind person.

"Girl, this Mrs. Luo is really a good person." Feng'er said from the side.

Crescent Moon nodded, "yes." ”

Turning the corridor, Xinyue looked back at the road she had just walked on, but did not see the lady Luo again, Xinyue looked forward, but saw that she had already arrived at the main courtyard, Xinyue felt that since she came, she naturally wanted to visit Mrs. Zhuang first, so in a blink of an eye, she walked to the main courtyard of the vestibule, and there was a neat woman standing at the second gate, in her early forties, still young, with black hair combed and shiny, and bowed to Xinyue, "County Lord, you are here." ”

"Aunt is polite, the old lady is here, I came to visit" Xinyue owes a debt and returns the gift.

The woman was a little surprised, Xinyue didn't need to ask for peace from someone like her, so she had a good impression of Xinyue, and said with a smile, "Yes, the old lady has just had breakfast, and she is learning calligraphy, waiting for the county lord." ”

"Then Aunt Lao will lead the way." Crescent Moon nodded, and followed her aunt towards the main courtyard.

"Haven't asked your aunt's name yet?" The last time Xinyue came, she didn't see this woman, but she saw that she was also an aunt who was familiar with this courtyard and had some status, so she asked.

"The slave's family name is Bai, and she is the daughter-in-law of Mama Zhou, who is close to Mrs. Li."

"It turned out to be Aunt Bai" Xinyue bowed again.

Aunt Bai was a little flattered, and hurriedly returned the salute, and while speaking, she had already walked to the door of Old Madam Zhuang.

Mama Zhou saw these from a distance, her eyes sank, and the smile on her face also appeared, "County Lord, you are here, Madame asked just now." ”

"Let Mama wait for a long time, and please pass it on" The new moon is still a shallow salute, and the etiquette is thoughtful and does not lose its identity.

"Is it a crescent moon?" The voice of Mrs. Zhuang came from inside the house, and the new moon replied, "Yes, it's the new moon." ”

"Come in, come in." After Mrs. Zhuang finished speaking, Mama Zhou immediately led the crescent moon in, and as soon as she entered the door, the crescent moon smelled a very strong ink fragrance, which slightly carried the smell of some pine oil, as well as a trace of fire, so she said, "The old lady has just opened a new ink, and I smelled this smell when I entered the door." ”

"Yes, yes, it's still the tip of a young man's nose, I opened this ink early in the morning, and the smell has long faded, you can still smell it, come, take a look." As she spoke, Mrs. Zhuang stretched out her hand and picked up the ink block that was about to dry on the inkstone.

Xinyue stretched out his hand, just touched it between his fingers, and felt the heaviness of the ink, as well as the rich fragrance of pine oil, looking at the gold paint on the ink surface, Xinyue was not sure for a while, what kind of ink is this.

"Oh, that's what caught you?" Old Madam Zhuang was a little strange, she thought that Xinyue would be able to recognize it at a glance, but looking at Xinyue's confused appearance, it seemed to be stuck.

"It's hard for the little girl. As soon as the little girl smelled the smell of pine oil, she felt that it was the pine ink of Huizhou, but the gold paint and internal engraving on it had a bit of the charm of Jiaozhou ink. The old lady Zhuang stretched out her hand to take it, and she saw that she didn't know it, but she was even happier, so she said, "This is the charcoal ink along the state, the ink is written on the paper, the charcoal is generally dark, and the pen does not stick to the paper." It's no wonder you don't know it, this is the old ink before, you are young, you don't know, because the current production process has been improved, and there are few people who make this kind of ink block with the characteristics of both places. I also received two pieces a year ago, and I wanted to put them up, but I couldn't put them down, and I was itching, so I opened it, come, you can also write two words to see. ”

Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Xinyue picked up a clean brush on the side, dipped it in ink, and wrote the word "harmony" on the paper.

"The handwriting is slender, quite stylish, good, good." Old Madam Zhuang looked at the words of the new moon and nodded.

Xinyue said a little embarrassedly, "It's in front of you." So the little girl prepared a gift early in the morning to cover her shame. This is when I was sorting out the warehouse last year, I accidentally found two pairs of Zhang Daoyuan's ink treasures, and the little girl thought that the old lady must like it, so she brought them together. ”

When Zhang Daoyuan was the first emperor, he was a very famous calligrapher, and he thought that Mrs. Zhuang had heard of it and liked it, and sure enough, Mrs. Zhuang saw the scroll unfold and nodded, "Yes, it is Mr. Daoyuan's real handiwork, you have a heart." ”

"The little girl saw the old lady's Mobao for the first time, and saw that the lady's words were round on the top, but the lower part was very Zhang Daoyuan's style, think about it, Mrs. Daoyuan's words?"

Mrs. Zhuang nodded, "When I first wrote, Mr. Lady gave me a copy of Mr. Doyuan's handbook, I have been practicing calligraphy for many years, but I have only learned the lower half, and the most difficult thing is that I still haven't been able to learn." ”

Although Xinyue doesn't know much about calligraphy, it's always right to do what she likes, and Mrs. Zhuang also has been in contact with Xinyue again and again, and she feels more and more that Xinyue is good, especially these two Zhang Daoyuan's calligraphy.

After learning the words, Mrs. Zhuang washed her hands and pulled the new moon to say goodbye, so she had to drink a cup of tea with her, and the new moon had to accompany her, sitting on the side, thinking that Mrs. Zhuang had something to say to herself.

"I'm really bothering you by calling you this time. It's just that there hasn't been such a big event in the family for a long time, and the last time the family was crowned with such a happy event, Zan'er was still in my arms. But now, I'm too old to keep myself busy. I originally wanted to call the people from Beifu to come, but the Hou Ye of Beifu was bedridden, and I was afraid that he would soon die, and there was no one around him, so they had to wait, so they couldn't come. However, in the final analysis, it is also a matter of our Hou Mansion, so don't trouble the eldest sister-in-law and the second brother and sister. You and your big... Sister-in-law of Brother Zan's family, it's enough. Old Madam Zhuang didn't look like a person who could talk nonsense, this casual attitude made Xinyue frown when she heard it, but she still didn't say anything, just nodded "Yes"

"It's the first time you've experienced such a thing, listen more to your sister-in-law's sister-in-law, she is a gentle person, you have a lot of discussion, you will definitely be able to do this well and get it done."

Xinyue smiled bitterly, his father, who was good friends with Jiang Zan and his own brothers, was almost a blood alliance with his son, and now Mrs. Zhuang is a sister-in-law of Brother Zan's family, I really don't know who lost her dignity and suffered a loss.

Old Madam Zhuang looked at the smile on Xinyue's face, and also restrained three points, and said to Xinyue, "You don't have to be afraid, this kind of thing always has to be experienced before it can be called long-term knowledge." ”

"Yes, such a great joy of the marquis, the little girl has never experienced it. It's my aunt and uncle, Yao'er got married, and I've done some things, but it's not that I don't know anything, just send Mrs. Chen. The new moon accentuated the tone of "Mrs. Chen", but what Mrs. Zhuang heard was that the new moon mentioned what she had done in the palace of King Yu before, and her eyes were slightly different, but because she was old and refined, she would not be noticed.

Xinyue originally wanted to provoke Old Madam Zhuang to say this, and the smile in her eyes was even more dazzling.

"What happened to him in the past."

"Yes, of course, there is no need to mention it. I'm just afraid that the little girl hasn't experienced big things."

When Mrs. Zhuang heard this, she almost didn't come up in one breath, Xinyue was taking her own words and blocking herself.

Xinyue smiled, and when she saw that the stimulation was enough, Mrs. Zhuang immediately opened the topic, "I came all the way just now and met a Mrs. Luo, speaking of which, this Mrs. Luo is also a person who has been serving the general for a long time, so it is better to invite her to join and help Mrs. Chen." It's also better than me, an outsider, with black eyes. ”

"You said that Yang'er's concubine, speaking of which, she is also a suitable person, but she is too stubborn. When Yang'er's wife was there, she often persuaded her that she would have another child, but she just refused to let herself live a happy and comfortable life, and rejected Yang'er, saying that she was sorry for the dead child, and she was not very old, but she lived like a sister-in-law in a temple. ”

Mrs. Zhuang's words can be regarded as objective, and what she said is similar to what Xinyue observed, and between the two, because they said something else, they eased up, and the relationship was a little blunt just now.

After hearing this, Xinyue learned a little more about this Luo clan, and also had a little admiration, this is also a woman who, according to her own ideas, is alive.

"I've been talking for a long time, and the tea is going to be cold, so drink it quickly." Mrs. Zhuang still recognized the new moon in the end, and chose "tolerance" for what she just said, so she warmed up with the new moon again.

"Yes" said, Xinyue picked up the teacup, it was Tieguanyin, Xinyue's favorite Tieguanyin, and her eyes were a little sad, this old lady Zhuang In the end, she was still good to herself, but she was afraid of being disappointed.

After drinking tea, Xinyue retired and left Mrs. Zhuang's room on the grounds that she didn't want Chen to wait for her.

As soon as Xinyue left, Mrs. Zhuang looked at the table next to Xinyue sitting, and there was still a wisp of green smoke in the tea, Mama Zhou picked it up, put it on the little girl's tea tray, and asked her to accept it.

"You say..."Old Madam Zhuang's eyes sank, and she said to Mama Zhou.

"Madame, please say," Mama Zhou leaned over.

"This girl is really amazing. I didn't eat it softly and hard, but I refused to let go, admitting that it was our family, so I wasn't sure what to do to her for a while. Old Madam Zhuang said what she thought in her heart.

Mama Zhou thought for a while and said, "This county lord, since she entered your yard, she has been respectful to everyone in our yard who talks to her. is also respectful to the daughter-in-law of the old slave, and I think I want to have a good relationship with you. ”

"She wants to have a good relationship with me, but she wants the support of you, your daughter-in-law, and your mother-in-law who can speak in front of me. She was under the hands of Zan's daughter-in-law, and she was afraid that she thought that Zan's daughter-in-law would make it difficult for her, so she pulled you first and filled her with a scene, otherwise, she simply asked me to come forward to support her. Although the affairs of this backhouse are all managed by Zan's daughter-in-law, but no matter how big she is, she can't beat me, this girl is really calculating, as soon as she enters the house, she has made up her mind. Old Madam Zhuang still saw through Xinyue's thoughts at a glance, but she also praised her.

"What do you want to tell me, ma'am?" Mama Zhou didn't expect this reason.

Mrs. Zhuang shook her head, "Don't worry, if she needs you to make it convenient, you can do it too, she is measured." ”

"Where is the young lady?" Mama Zhou asked.

"Zan's daughter-in-law is also very measured, and she also likes the new moon, so she shouldn't be embarrassed." Old Madam Zhuang spoke, stretched out her hand and stroked her forehead, and said, "It's really wronged." I'm this old, and I'm still worried about my son. ”

"Yes, ma'am, you are kind." Mama Zhou offered new tea to Mrs. Zhuang, and stretched out her hand to relieve Mrs. Zhuang's aching head, "Moreover, this Crescent Moon County Lord is not like a domineering person, in the future, I will definitely work with the young lady to be filial to you." ”

"I don't need her to be filial to me, as long as she lives well with Yang'er, Yang'er's backhouse will definitely benefit a lot. Some women, she may not be doing anything to serve her in-laws, take care of her children, etc., but she is like a tiger wings to help men. This Xu Xinyue, Yu Wangfu can be regarded as blind, and let her go to us. Saying that, Mrs. Zhuang didn't laugh angrily, Mama Zhou knew that Mrs. Zhuang was in a good mood at this time, so she didn't say anything more.

Xinyue walked out of the courtyard of Old Lady Zhuang, not far from the courtyard where the Chen family was on the left, but she felt a wave of tiredness in advance, and Feng'er supported Xinyue from behind, "Girl, are you okay?" ”

Crescent Moon shook her head, "It's okay, it's just a little sore feet." ”

"The county lord is tired of walking, even if we are used to talking slaves and maids on this road, we will feel tired after this trip, the county lord Jin Zhi Yuye, naturally there will be some soreness in the feet, but the front is to the courtyard of the eldest lady." Saying that, Xue'er stopped in front of an ear door, knocked on the door, and immediately someone came to respond, and it was Chen's side, who was very familiar with Mama Liu, who owed a salute to the new moon, "The county lord is here." ”

"Mama has been waiting for a long time, Mrs. Chen should also wait for a while." Xinyue said with some guilt.

"Our lady already knows that the county lord is going to visit the old lady, and I think it will be too late. The county lord, please. With that, Mama Liu welcomed the new moon in familiarly.

Xinyue followed Mama Liu into the courtyard.

This left courtyard is more than a circle larger than Jiang Yang's courtyard, but Jiang Zan is the eldest brother, and there are many children, so he naturally wants to live in a big house.

Entering the main house, Mama Liu directly opened the curtain and led the new moon in, before entering the door, the new moon heard the sound of talking, and took a closer look, it was Chen who had already begun to tell a mother-in-law to take care of things, the new moon came, looked up and smiled, and then stood up "You are here." ”

"It's late for the new moon, madam, you've started here."

"It's not late, it's not late, come, sit down, it's time to eat?" Chen asked enthusiastically.

"I've already eaten, ma'am, go on, and if there's anything to do with the crescent, just ask."

"Okay, you drink tea first, listen to them first."

"Yes" Xinyue picked up the teacup, and she was really tired along the way.

"You go on," Chen said, pointing to one of the mothers-in-law.

"Yes. The slave maid is the steward of the dim sum kitchen, and on the rough list drawn up by the lady, there are more than 100 male customers, and there are more than 2 or 300 female customers. The woman spread her hands and listened to Chen's reply to her.

The first thing Chen saw was such a headache, this New Year's Festival has just passed, and tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and some of the better pastry shops in Beijing may not have to do their own business, let alone take other people's banquets.

"Xinyue, do you know a shop that makes dim sum delicious and can take orders?" Chen suddenly remembered that when he went to the palace, when he heard the Queen Mother praise the new moon, he said that she was a filial person, and the snacks she gave were all the flavors that the Queen Mother liked, so maybe she knew something.

Xinyue didn't expect this first thing, Chen asked herself, for a while she didn't know whether she really wanted herself, or polite, so she tried to ask, "I often eat pastries from the big fruit shop, this shop is famous for rice food and fried food, but in fact, the crisp fruit and candied fruit are also good, and they don't usually make crisp fruit and candied fruit, so there will be no time to wait." ”

"Okay, you can go to the big fruit store and inquire in a while." After hearing this, Chen immediately made a decision.

Xinyue frowned, and immediately figured out that in these imminent matters, the Chen family really didn't have the heart to play any tricks with him, so he put his mind at ease.

"What about the kitchen? But what's the difficulty? Chan asked again.

"Back to Mrs., I borrowed people from the nearby Tianxianglou and Weimeige, and the cold dishes have been outsourced to the chef of Tianxianglou, but our kitchen space is limited, and the pot stove is not enough, please tell Mrs. whether to make a new stove immediately, or have other instructions."

"This stove is going to be made new. But the kitchen is so big, you must put the stove outside, you have to dismantle it once you use it, not to mention the amount of money wasted, and there may be chaos in the busy, you go and ask the two restaurants if they can cook from their stoves and send them. ”

"Madame, no. There are many people to be invited to the banquet this time, but most of them are people with heads and faces and noble status. These dishes, especially hot dishes, must be made under the noses of our people, otherwise, there will inevitably be mistakes. After Xinyue finished speaking, she looked around, especially focusing on Chen's face and her reaction.

Chen frowned at first, and then felt that what Xinyue said was still very reasonable, so he said in his heart, "You clean up the open space on the north wall, and set up a few stoves from above, that place was originally a vacant space near the kitchen, and when the matter is over, you can also stay, and you can use it again if you have something to do in the future." ”

"Yes" After this matter was resolved, Chen glanced at Xinyue approvingly, and Xinyue was a little embarrassed for a while and lowered her head.

Immediately afterwards, the shopping, sprinkling and sweeping and other things were decided one by one, and Xinyue also said some of his own suggestions, and Chen was also loose and orderly, and arranged things in an orderly manner, and before an hour came, it was almost arranged.

Xinyue looked at the fine sweat on Chen's head, thinking that she was also very nervous, this family's wife is really not a simple matter.