Yuan Zhiheng has been gone for several days, and there is only one capable Tongzhi in the yamen of this state capital, and the official sent by Lord Qin to help the chief has not arrived. Fortunately, there are no difficult cases, and not even a single person who cries out for injustice.

Dian Cui secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, if there are those important cases, and the adults are not there, what if something is wrong.

In fact, Diancui doesn't know that this Hangzhou government is not only so idle now, most of the time it is idle. Just because the families in Hangzhou are not vegetarians, there has been a practice of patriarchs to deal with the affairs of the clan since ancient times.

It's a matter of all sizes, everyone is looking for the patriarch, so why bother the adults in the mansion.

It seems that Yuan Zhiheng had known that this would be the case, so he was relieved to go to the local county to investigate.

Diancui added the inner courtyard that had been emptied by Lord Wang and his wife one by one, like a dwelling. I went to Angelica Pavilion to meet with you, and then I met my friends Qin Xiaolan and Yu Shuqing, who had not seen each other for two years.

Yu Shuqing has already married a woman, and she has become the head lady of the second son of a side branch of a family in the local city, and she helped to find a few mothers-in-law.

Diancui also prepared two neat tables of banquets, and invited several high-ranking officials in the yamen in front of him, as well as the shopkeeper Xie of Angelica Pavilion, which can be regarded as taking root in this Hangzhou mansion.

"The day you left, we said that we would never see each other again in this life, who would have thought that we would still have such a fate." Yu Shuqing became a woman, and she was much more cheerful than before.

On the other hand, Qin Xiaolan became much more depressed than before, and Diancui suddenly remembered that at that time, Qin Xiaolan was the second daughter of the Hangzhou prefect at that time, and it has only been two years, and the Hangzhou Mansion has changed to three prefects!

Now that Qin Xiaolan is still living in Hangzhou, and she has not heard of an adult surnamed Qin in the government, Dian Cui thought in her heart that her father had gone to the county to be an official, and seeing that she was silent, Dian Cui didn't want to ask more.

As the days passed, the three of them returned to their old ways, always getting together to eat tea and chat.

Gradually, Diancui also knew Qin Xiaolan's father, Lord Qin did not go to the place now, but was impeached in the Book of the People because of a public case, and now he has been deposed as a civil and prose official, and he has been awarded the training doctor of the five grades. On weekdays, he does not participate in the government affairs of the state government, but only enjoys the lu, if the prefect has a summons, he can be ordered to do some errands, if there is no summons, he will be idle at home to be a rich idler.

Lord Qin is in the prime of life this year, and he has been deposed from the dignified prefect to a useless civil and prose official who has no future in sight, how can he not be depressed. As soon as he was depressed, the wives and concubines and children below had to follow him.

Qin Xiaolan has not been favored since she was a child, but she loves her father very much in her heart, and her father has been in such a situation for more than a year, how can she be happy. Now her friend Dian Cui actually came to Hangzhou City as the wife of the new prefect, she has mixed tastes, her mother asked her to ask in front of her friends, but she never wanted her friendship with Dian Cui to change the taste, if she didn't ask, then Daddy......

She is suffering like this, and the other two are not understanding government affairs because they are both women, but they feel that she is unpredictable and indifferent.

Besides, Yu Shuqing is married to a concubine, without the burden of being in charge of the family, and lives a very leisurely life. Some people ridiculed her for marrying a concubine who was idle and idle all day long, with no future and no status, but she didn't care, she still ate, drank, went shopping and ate tea. When she had taken a portion of the month, she went to buy the best cloth, and made new clothes for herself, and for her idle husband; The couple also went to the best restaurant, and the meal attracted people's attention.

Qin Xiaolan persuaded her to be more restrained, and this kind of happiness carefully provoked the two eldest concubines to be unhappy, and put on small shoes for her. Dian Cui felt that she could see it, life was only a hundred years, and it was better to eat, drink and have fun if she was convergent.

"What Diancui said is that the one in my family is a concubine himself, no matter what he does, he will be feared, so it is better to eat, drink and be a straw bag idler to rest assured." Yu Shuqing laughed.

As the daughter of the family, Qin Xiaolan couldn't empathize with Yu Shuqing and his wife's actions, but when she heard what they said, she was extremely happy, and her heart was happy.

On the tenth day of the second month, the birthday of the ancestors, it is also the Spring Silkworm Festival.

Diancui is a northerner, I don't understand the customs here, and I only listen to the big family that Rose said to invite the silkworm god, receive silkworm flowers on the river, and worship the ancestors of 10,000 people, which is really lively.

I wanted to go to the Qiantang River to see the excitement, but I received a post from Yu Shuqing, saying that she would invite her into the house to eat tea and fruits.

Diancui thought it was okay, go to Shuqing first, and then go to the Qiantang River with her after eating tea.

"Madam, bring a few servants, there are too many people outside." Du Xiaozhu knew that Diancui was going out, so he hurriedly reminded that now Li Qingshan and Dongxue were sent to Angelica Pavilion by his wife to do things again, and there were only a few handy maids in the yard, and he was the only one who was a little servant.

Diancui was half-baked in front of Hangzhou City, so he followed Du Xiaozhu's suggestion, and went to the yamen in front of him to ask Lord Tongzhi for two quick-witted and martial arts officials to follow.

Led forward by the little guy who came to deliver the post, Dian Cui knew that Shuqing's husband's family was also surnamed Yuan, and I heard that Yuan was a big surname in Hangzhou, and many people were surnamed Yuan. Besides, there are many people with the same surname in this world, just like Qin Xiaolan and Qin Ruofu and Qin Fifth Brother are also the same surname, they are all Jiangnan people, but they don't know anyone. As for Xianggong and Shuqing's husband's family, it is even more impossible, so I don't think about it anymore.

When I arrived at the Yuan Mansion, I was shocked by such a magnificent mansion, sure enough, it was the big family of this Hangzhou Mansion, this mansion could not see the head left and right, it was much bigger than their return home in the capital, and it was almost the same as the imperial merchant Wu family.

Walking further in, I was more and more surprised in my heart, the pavilions and pavilions in this courtyard are all typical southern buildings, exquisite and beautiful, but the furnishings inside are magnificent, dazzling. The maids and ladies in it came and went, their steps were very light, their faces were serious, their expressions were uniform, and they never talked to each other, as if they were expressionless dummies.

The majesty of such a family made Diancui feel very depressed and uncomfortable. The magnificence in his eyes suddenly became cold and lifeless.

It was easy to arrive at Shuqing's yard, and she was already at the door to greet her. Looking at Diancui's appearance, he snorted and laughed, and said:

"Don't you think it's boring in this house?" Then he leaned into Diancui's ear and whispered: "When I first got married, I also felt lifeless and uncomfortable!" ”

Fortunately, her father-in-law's yard is remote and can be left to her to fiddle with.

Sure enough, when Diancui entered, he felt that his breathing was much easier, and there were bottles and cans of flowers and plants in the garden. Although it is not expensive, it has its own vitality and makes people feel comfortable.

Diancui followed Yu Shuqing in the corridor, and there were several thrushes hanging on it that were the same as those in his yard. Diancui can't help but wonder, sure enough, people in the same way!

"What do you tell me to do?" The two sat down, waited for the maid to serve tea and fruits, and picked up a butter snail to eat, laughing in their hearts that they had made it a few years ago, and now it has also risen in this Hangzhou mansion.

"Do you like to eat this butter snail too? Now I am happy to eat this, but the price is expensive, and I bought a lot of money to treat you when you came today. Yu Shuqing said with a smile.

"Okay, can't I accept your affection?" Diancui said with a smile: "I heard that today is the famous Spring Silkworm Festival here, how can you be so idle?" ”

Today, the ladies and ladies of this clan have gone to the ancestral hall to invite the silkworm god, according to her identity, there is no part of her, of course, there are some people who are not enough to be as good as her are running to flatter her face, she herself is happy and quiet, not to join in the fun, so she simply invited her friends to order Cui to eat tea together.

"I'm not going to join in the fun, well, this snack is indeed delicious, expensive and expensive." Yu Shuqing took a sip of tea and picked it up and ate it, and said with a smile.

"That's it, I'll do it, do you want to learn?" Diancui raised her eyes and smiled.

Diancui can't say that the ghee snails in this world are passed from her, the owner of the Honey Zhai fruit shop in the capital said a lot of good things and promised a lot of benefits in order to beg him to teach him how to make this butter snail.

"You really will?! If you want to learn, you can teach me quickly. Yu Shuqing's eyes lit up, this butter snail is just starting to flourish now, and it is the time when it is expensive. It's true that this is a family of people, but her father-in-law is just the son of a side branch, and she is not treated well in the past few days, and she can barely survive until now, and it is estimated that it all depends on a mouth that can coax people and the virtue of not doing business. The monthly routine of the two of them is just that idea, and the first half of the month is fooled by eating and drinking on weekdays, and the couple will shrink their clothes and eat in the second half of the month, where can they eat such expensive snacks every day?

Diancui looked at her monkey anxious appearance, and sneered: "Look at you like this, you don't want to learn, take it to sell silver." ”

"How do you know?" Yu Shuqing's cheeks were slightly red, she would not make ghee snails and sell them for silver, there are so many ladies and aunts in this house, she can sell the recipe to them to earn some money.

Diancui shook his head, Taoism has given it to you, just dispose of it, sell it to whomever you like, and we will have three or seven points of the silver we earn, and you will have three and I seven.

"Gui Diancui, you are now a dignified prefect's wife, how can you still be so calculating, and you are scheming with us and other small people!" Yu Shuqing was laughed at by her, and made a gesture to scratch her itch.

Here the two talked happily for a long time, and then went to make ghee snails together, and then went out hand in hand.

The two of them were about to go out of the door, and a maid flashed out of the corner of the wall and went straight to the lady in charge.

On the second day, Diancui received another post from Yu Shuqing.

I still asked her to come over, but this time I said it was to enjoy the flowers.

Diancui couldn't help but laugh when she looked at the post, those bottles and cans of small flowers and grass in her yard were not all appreciated yesterday, how could they be rewarded today.

It seems that this Shuqing is really stuffy in the courtyard of the deep house, and she has nothing to do now, so she can accompany her.

Dian Cui thought in her heart that someone would change her into light clothes, and the street today would not be as crowded as yesterday, Dian Cui did not follow the two servants, and took two maids to Yuan's mansion.

Last time, I entered from the east side door, but this time I was led by the maid to the main gate, but at the main gate was a majestic and rich lady waiting.

Dian Cui was puzzled, and looked at Yu Shuqing, who was huddled in one place and looked at him apologetically and flatteringly. Yu Shuqing stepped forward, unfurled a smile that was more ugly than crying, and said, "Yuan ...... Madam, this is the eldest lady in our house, today's flower viewing banquet is prepared by the eldest lady for Mrs. Yuan, and I hope you don't refuse. ”

On weekdays, she calls her name in private, but today Yu Shuqing called Mrs. Yuan, and because her family is also surnamed Yuan, Yu Shuqing only feels awkward.

"I didn't expect that we still have the same surname as Lord Yuan, and we are still from our own family," the eldest lady was very majestic when she didn't smile, but when she opened her mouth, she spoke in a soft tone, a little awkward, but very kind and gentle.

Diancui thinks that all the women in Hangzhou Mansion are gentle and cordial when they speak, but they can't do it, and the difference between the north and the south is indeed not small. She has heard women speak either loudly and foul-mouthed village women scolding the street, or hearty and crisp Beijing noblewomen speaking official words, where is there such a soft and glutinous person here, and Wu Nong is afraid of scaring people.

"Madame is polite, it is not surprising to hear that the surname Yuan in Hangzhou Mansion is a big surname, and the adult of my family is also from Hangzhou Mansion, and his surname is Yuan." It's better not to be a family, she remembers that her mother said that Xianggong was kicked out by his own family, which is hateful.

The lady smiled and said, "What Mrs. Yuan said is that our surname Yuan is one of the best surnames in this Hangzhou Mansion, but it is rare to have a young talent like Lord Yuan." Madame, don't stand outside, please come in. ”

Look, in the eyes of the big families, the dignified prefect is just a young talent, and the ladies of Hangzhou Mansion really say the most arrogant words in the gentlest tone.

Diancui was envious and decided to learn from others.