Zhu fell asleep deeply, probably because of the pain, his eyebrows were slightly frowned, but there was a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.

Banniang looked at the picture of mother and son embracing each other, but there was a faint happiness in her heart.

Even without her father, she will do her best to make her mother happy and satisfied for the rest of her life. and this youngest brother-in-law, she will definitely give him the most and most love, and will not let him be unhappy because of his father's absence.

Because he is an extension of his father's life. It's her loved ones.

The room was too quiet, and slowly, Banniang also lay down in front of the bed and fell asleep.

When I woke up again, it was already dark.

Banniang got up and went out of the house, covered the door, and went out of the outer room, there were already maids cleaning in the hall, and when they saw Banniang, they were afraid of arguing with the Zhu family in the inner room, so they all silently saluted Banniang.

It had rained for half a day and a night, and it had stopped by this time.

Fallen leaves in the courtyard.

The air is crisp, and when the wind rises, it exudes a chill.

Banniang sat all night, her waist and legs were sore, and she was about to go to the yard for a walk, when she saw Chao Wenrou with two little maids, holding a felt coat in her hand, and Shi came over.

Although he only slept for less than two hours, because of his youth and joy, his face was also good-looking, and when he saw Banniang, Chao Wenrou smiled and handed over the felt coat: "It's raining, the weather is getting colder and colder, you are wearing too thin, quickly put this felt coat on, if it's frozen, I don't want to take care of the patient." ”

Banniang took it with a smile: "I only went back in the middle of the night last night, and the second sister-in-law didn't sleep for a while." ”

Chao Wenrou smiled: "Thinking about my mother in my heart, where can I sleep?" I've ordered it to be in the kitchen, and breakfast will be delivered in a moment. I'll go to my mother's house and take a look, so why don't you go and wash up while you're here. ”

"It's fine."

Banniang thought about sitting all night, and the clothes on her body were probably not kneaded, so she simply went back to her courtyard to change her clothes.

When I returned to the hospital, I saw that Cang'er also got up and was freshening up, and when I saw Banniang, I showed a big smile: "Aunt is okay?" When I came back late yesterday, I wanted to go and have a look, but I was afraid of disturbing you, so I didn't go. In the middle of the night, I heard that my aunt had given birth to a younger brother safely, so I dared to sleep. ”

"It's good." Banniang smiled, "Are you still going to the shop today?" ”

"Yesterday, a customer made an appointment to talk about things this morning, and I had to go, but after breakfast, I went to see my aunt and Xiao Shijiro first, and then went to the shop, anyway, I am not in a hurry. By the way, look at your sleepy face, hurry up and wash up, and we'll talk when we're done. ”

Banniang entered the house at this time, and when she washed her teeth, washed her hands and face, changed her clothes again, and saw the clothes she took off, she remembered Di Yonglai.

She wore this yesterday with the intention of going out.

Later, when I had my mother's incident, I came over this night, and I completely forgot about Ah Yong.

On top of that, she didn't even send someone to talk to him.

What can I do about this?

I put on my clothes and went to Cang'er's room, but Cang'er had already gone to the back garden to box.

Banniang had to go back to the room and ask Xiaofu to help her comb her hair, and then she looked for it.

Cang'er also finished his fist, and when he saw Banniang coming over, he smiled and said, "Why are you here too." ”

"I want to ask you for help."

"There is a saying, what does not help."

"Brother Thirteen is no longer at home, and I have no one else to entrust, Sister Cang'er, how about you help me go to Di Mansion and see Di Yong?" Banniang begged. I also told me about the meeting with Di Yong yesterday.

Cang'er was already an unruly person, and Banniang explained the reason again, just asking her to say something, where should it be: "Cheng, after I finish talking to the guest, I will go to Di Mansion on your behalf." ”

"I'm afraid he's not in the house during the day." Banniang hesitated. After thinking about it, he said, "Why don't I write a letter, you give it to the concierge of their house, and give it to him." ”

Cang'er thought about it, it was true that he might not be able to see Di Yong himself, and it was a good idea to bring a letter. asked Banniang to go back to the room and write a letter.

Write the letter, dry the ink, Cang'er put the letter away, the two had breakfast together, went to the listening lotus courtyard, Zhu has woken up, Chao Wenrou is serving chicken soup to feed Zhu, Zhu smiled: "It's just that the body is weaker, it's not that I can't move, I'll just come by myself." ”

Chao Wenrou was not reluctant. I handed the soup bowl over.

It happened that Banniang and Cang'er entered the house and saluted Zhu's, and Cang'er went to see Xiao Shishilang, who was being taken by the nurse in the warm pavilion, and went to the shop.

Zhu had breakfast, Chao Wenrou and Banniang served her to sleep, and went to see Xiao Twelve Lang in the warm pavilion, instructed the nurse a few words, and when she went outside, she called the doctor to come over for questioning, knowing that Zhu's body only needed to recuperate quietly, and there was no big problem, so she sent the doctor back to the house.

Chao Wenrou asked which families Banniang sent a letter to report the good news, and asked how to reward the next person.

's father died, and Twelve's washing and full moon and his first birthday couldn't be done, and he could only deliver a letter to someone he knew. Banniang thought for a while and said, "Our family doesn't have any acquaintances in the capital, just forget about the county king's mansion, just send a letter to the second sister-in-law's family, Ouyang's family, and my father-in-law's family." As for the reward, the birth of Twelve Lang is a happy event after all, we can't do it big, so we simply give the next person a generous reward. ”

Chao Wenrou can also understand her feelings.

Twelve Lang, this child, is a posthumous son, not only Baniang, I am afraid that the brothers and sisters of the Zeng family will have unusual feelings for this child. was born early under such circumstances, and he felt even more pity in his heart, so he smiled and said: "I think so too, how much is the appropriate reward for the eighth sister?" ”

"Our family in the capital, full of people, there are less than thirty people, so let's simply reward ten taels of silver ingots for each person. Twenty taels each for the stable woman and the medical woman. And the old doctor yesterday, although he didn't use it, he was so tired that people came in the rain, and he kept watch for most of the night, and he also sealed a silver ingot of ten taels, and the second sister-in-law thought it was good? ”

The reward of ten taels is an official-made silver ingot, and if you really exchange it for copper coins, you can at least exchange it for twelve or three copper coins. It's really rich enough. The third-class maid in the family is only two hundred yuan a month, even the big maids like Qiu Wei and May are only eight hundred yuan, and there is another hired mother-in-law and a rough manservant, because it is not a person who buys it at home, it is just an employment relationship, and it is only two thousand two thousand yuan a month.

Fortunately, a few days ago, Banniang asked Cangyin to exchange a thousand taels of silver ingots and handed them to Chao Wenrou, and there was no need to cash them, Chao Wenrou smiled: "Just do what my sister said." ”

After discussing the matter, it happened that Shiro led Zifu and a few people to come over to ask for peace to the Zhu family, and said a few words, Chao Wenrou said that he wanted to give a reward to the subordinates, and then Zijian said that he wanted to send the old doctor back, Chao Wenrou called her personal maid over, went to get the silver, and handed it to Zijian.

When everyone dispersed, Chao Wenrou notified the people at home, and asked people to carry the silver, and rewarded them one by one.

Therefore, since Zeng Budo's death, this is the first time in Manchu that everyone has a sincere smile. The blue sky after the rain was a little bluer.

Chao Wenrou went to Chao's house according to the arrangement, and Ouyang Mansion and Cai Mansion reported the letter.

After finishing busy one by one, Chao Wenrou thought that Banniang had hardly slept all night, and the Zhu family was no longer in trouble at this time, so she let her sleep for a while. Banniang was really tired, and she was worried about Di Yong's affairs in her heart, so she went back to the backyard to rest.

Although there was something in his heart, he really lay down on the bed, because he was really tired, and soon fell asleep.

This sleep, it was noon, or Xiaofu asked her to get up for lunch, and then she woke up.

I got up, wiped my face briefly, and ran to Tinghe Yuan. It happened that Chao Wenrou was also there, and the two had lunch together, and they also served the Zhu family who woke up, so that the nurse hugged Xiao Shishilang over.

Twelve Lang Zi Kai is a premature child of less than term, much thinner than the average child, in this time and space where medicine is not developed, Banniang is very afraid that the child will not survive, so she called the nurse to the outside, specially instructed the things to pay attention to, and said that if the twelve Lang is well raised, there is another reward.

The nurse thought about the white shining silver ingot that had just arrived, and then listened to this other reward, how could she not be satisfied? Therefore, for Twelve Lang, he is more careful than any of the Zeng family, and as a result, this Twelve Lang, who was born thinner than other babies, is only a month away, and he is white and fat, if he doesn't know, he can't see the appearance of less than a month, and he is very healthy.

only said that Banniang began to feel restless in the afternoon, and I don't know if Cang'er got the news of Di Yong.

At dusk, Cang'er returned home from the shop.

Seeing her come back so early, Banniang was a little surprised, Cang'er came to see Zhu's, accompanied and said a few words, looking at Twelve Lang Although it was very fresh, but because the child was too thin, he didn't dare to hug it, and he had something in his heart, so he gave Banniang a look, and the two went out of the house together, and when they arrived at no one's place, Cang'er whispered: "Early this morning, the army set off ahead of schedule, so I didn't see Di Ergongzi, and the letter was also brought back." ”

Already...... Let's go?

Banniang's indescribable loss, her heart is very temporary.

No one can say when this great war, which has never been seen in the Great Song Dynasty since the founding of the country, will be over, that is, he and she don't know when they will meet again.

Seeing the look on Banniang's face, Cang'er felt unbearable and comforted: "You don't have the intention to not see him, Di Erlang is a determined person, and he will not blame you or give up because you broke the appointment." ”

Banniang didn't want Cang'er to worry, so she cheered up and said, "I'm fine." ”

It's just that I feel a little sad when I think of his disappointment.

Sighing secretly, Banniang let Cang'er rest, but she didn't want to sit empty, she had to find something to do, so that her heart would not be so empty, so she simply went to the kitchen.

On the third day, Mrs. Chao, Mrs. Ouyang and Mrs. Cai personally came to celebrate the third baptism of Twelve Lang.

In addition, although Lu Qiqi and Li Yong said that no one had arrived, and this was also a matter for the female dependents, they sent congratulatory gifts.

Cai Nuanniang naturally came with Mrs. Cai. accompanied a few ladies to talk for a while, and because Chao Wenrou greeted him, he pulled Banniang to whisper.

"Eighth sister, I haven't seen you for a few days, I really miss you. It's not easy for you to go out, my mother won't let me run around anymore recently, and I'm being detained at home to learn needlework and cooking, I want to come to you to play, but my mother won't let me. By the way, didn't your shop say that you need some calligraphy and paintings? I begged my father to write a few pictures a few days ago, and I brought them to you today, but I thought I would send them to you in a few days, but I was afraid that you would be in a hurry, so I haven't framed them yet. ”

Nuan Niang is also fifteen years old, although she has not yet decided on the family matter, but it is only a matter of the past two years, talking about the family matter, and then getting married, it is late, not later than eighteen or nineteen years old, she is a fun and active person, Mrs. Cai is not surprised that she is detained to learn some needlework at this time.

"Just when I need it, I'll go back and ask Cang'er to take it to the street and frame it, thank you so much. I can't help you, but I can teach you some cooking, if you really want to come, just tell your godmother that you come to me to learn how to cook a few dishes. ”

Nuan Niang made a bitter face: "I said it myself, but my mother said that where are you free, I'm afraid that I will make trouble for you." ”

In fact, Mrs. Cai knew that Banniang was in a bad mood because of the loss of her father, and her business was not smooth, so she was willing to call Nuan Niang, who didn't know anything, to trouble her.

Banniang knew that Mrs. Cai felt sorry for her, so she smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, I'll tell my godmother when I go back, wait a few days, the family will be free, and I will send someone to pick you up to play." ”

Nuan Niang was naturally happy to hear it.

After a pause, Ai Ai said, "Eighth sister, do you know that Di Erlang went to Beiguan?" ”

"yes, I know."

Nuan Niang said again: "I accompanied my mother to the street to buy things yesterday, and I saw Qinghe, she looks ...... It seems that he doesn't mind Di Erlang's expedition with the army at all. It seemed that he was in a good mood, and when he saw me and my mother, he came over to say hello. He also asked me to go outside the city to enjoy the maple trees in a few days. I think there's always something ...... about her like that It's not normal, I don't know why, I always think she's too happy. You say, isn't it ......?"

When it comes to Qinghe, Banniang really doesn't know what to say, although she is very happy with Qinghe, and she is also very surprised, but with the entanglement between her and Qinghe, it is not good to discuss her with Nuan Niang, interrupted Nuan Niang's words, and said with a smile: "I suddenly remembered something, didn't you ask me to help you draw a small portrait last time?" I had a free time a few days ago, so I drew a picture for you, and I also painted it for my stepfather and parents, why don't you go and see it now? If you don't feel good, I'll redraw it. I will be at home with my mother for the next few days. ”

Nuan Niang was overjoyed when she heard this, she was a jumper, so she threw Qinghe behind her head, pulled Banniang and smiled: "Is it really painted?" That's great, I thought you forgot, so let's go check it out. ”

There was still some time before the ritual of the three baptisms, and Banniang took Nuan Niang to her courtyard.

Nuan Niang opened the painting and looked at it, and was so shocked that she almost dropped her eyes: "Eighth sister, this, what kind of painting method is this?" How can this be drawn like a real person? It's like a mold from my face. ”

Banniang uses the technique of sketching, and the current painting method is naturally different. In the past, when she was in Nanfeng, Qin Liuniang was shocked when she first saw her painting method, and she learned from her for several days.

Nuan Niang couldn't wait to unfold the small portrait of Cai Junmo and Mrs. Cai, and she was also like a real person, very happy: "When I went back, my father and my mother met, I don't know how happy I was. ”

As he spoke, he was about to take it to Mrs. Cai.

She said that the wind is the nature of the rain, and Banniang has long been used to it, so she took the painting with her and went to the listening lotus courtyard.

When the three ladies saw it, they were naturally very surprised, and praised Banniang.

Banniang saw that they liked it, and said with a smile: "If Aunt Chao and Aunt Ouyang like it, I have to be free, and I will draw one for the two of you, just don't dislike it." ”

Seeing that she said that she also wanted to draw one for herself, which was hard to find, the two ladies were very happy. I think it's worth it. Seeing that they all like it, it made Banniang think, the noble ladies in the capital are not lacking anything, and they are not easy to make friends, what she can do is jewelry design, and this portrait.

Jewelry is not easy to give, after all, she is a businessman, no matter how much people like it, they can't easily accept it. But the portrait is different.

If you have something to ask others for, and you can't send gold and silver things, then sending a small statue can obviously better impress others. And it won't cause criticism. Because of this heart, I really relieved her of the siege in the future.

After the three baptisms, the three ladies were about to leave, and Chao Wenrou and Banniang warmly kept the three ladies at home for lunch and then returned. Nuan Niang also wanted to stay longer, but Mrs. Cai couldn't help it, so she had to respond, Mrs. Chao and Mrs. Ouyang saw that Mrs. Cai agreed to stay, and the Zeng family was sincere in keeping guests, so they stayed.

After lunch, the three ladies said goodbye and went back, and Zhu asked Chao Wenrou and Banniang to send it. When I arrived at Yimen, I met Lu Seventeen.

He has been busy working in the experimental fields in the suburbs for this period, and he has rarely been in the yamen to meet the scene, and he doesn't know how he came here today. Besides, he had already sent two maids from his house to give gifts.

Looking at his appearance, he doesn't look like he came back from outside the city, he is dressed in a red autumn shirt, wearing only an ebony hairpin in a bun, and he is very handsome.

Seeing the three ladies, Lu Qiqi hurriedly stepped forward and saluted. Only then did he say to Banniang: "I heard that my aunt gave birth to a twelfth brother, so I came over to ask for a peace, and I just happened to want to find Shiro." ”

"My fourth brother is in the study, you can go directly to the study to find him."

Lu Qiqi gave a farewell to the three ladies and went away.

Banniang and Chao Wenrou sent the three ladies out of the Yimen and helped them into the carriage, but Nuan Niang was a step behind and asked Banniang in a low voice: "Eighth sister, that person just now...... Who is it? How come I haven't seen it? ”

"It's the seventeenth brother of the Lu family, called Lu Changqing, who is now serving in the Si Nong Division, but he has less time in the city. I played with my older brothers and often came to our house. ”

Isn't that the former fiancé of the eighth sister? Nuan Niang's eyes widened in surprise. The person that Eighth Sister didn't like, she thought it was very ordinary, but she didn't expect that she would be such an outstanding person.

But no matter how good it is, it is also the former fiancé of the eighth sister, and I heard the eighth sister say that although she and this Lu Seventeen have no love between men and women, the relationship is also very good, and now the eighth sister and Di Erlang's affairs are not successful, and the relationship between the Zeng and Lu families is good, she and Lu Qilang are actually childhood sweethearts, and it is not impossible to renew the marriage contract in the future.

Thinking of this, Nuan Niang felt a little lost for no reason, so she let out an "oh".

She didn't think it herself, but Banniang heard the chagrin in her tone, and couldn't help but glance at Nuan Niang strangely, but saw that there was still some blush on this girl's face.

Could it be that this girl has fallen in love with Brother Seventeen?

It's not impossible to fall in love at first sight, but if you really talk about it, isn't it love at first sight for herself and Ah Yong? When Ah Yong liked her, she didn't know. But she knew that the meeting in the snow that year, the handsome boy who was like a fairy, had become a dream in her heart since then.

It's just that she doesn't understand it herself.

Thinking of this, I looked at Nuan Niang again, couldn't help but smile, sent her to the car, said goodbye in two times, and waited for the carriage of Sanfu to go far, and then returned home with Chao Wenrou.

When it came to the full moon of the Twelve Langs, only these three families were invited, and the Yijun Wangfu also gave a gift.

At the end of October, the capital was surprisingly cold, a year's time, Banniang has grown a lot taller, last year's winter clothes can not be worn anymore, but because of filial piety, the original last year's clothes can not be worn, Chao Wenrou personally helped her make a few, although it is a plain clothes, but also embroidered some light colors on it.

Nanfeng also sent a letter from there, the fifth sister-in-law Wu Sanniang gave birth to a boy in July, the fourth sister-in-law Fan Danshu and Zijing's daughter-in-law Lu Siniang also gave birth to children successively, but they were all girls.

The Zhu family was very happy to hear this, in the big family, it is a good thing that people are prosperous, and the Zeng family is not short of money now, and the more children the better. Zeng Ziye mentioned in the letter that when the weather was warm and the children were older, he would let the fourth daughter-in-law come to Beijing.

Most of the new carpentry workshops have been built, and it is estimated that by the end of the year, all the work will be completed. The business in the shop is slowly booming.

At the end of the year, there are many families returning to Beijing in Beijing compared to other places, so it is not surprising that business is better than usual. Sheraton's woodware is famous outside.

After the Spring Festival, it is imperative to go to Quanzhou.

Banniang and Zhu's are married, and the Zhu family will not stop her in business, so she agrees, but Xu Shisan is in the army, and Zhu is not at ease, although Cang'er is not worse than Xu Shisan's martial arts, but she is also a girl in the end, and Zhu is very worried.

Banniang thought about it, it was better to let Brother Qiao follow. She has an assistant who wants to train Qiao Ge'er to do a good job, so it is very necessary to take Qiao Ge'er to Quanzhou to see the world, but in this way, Qiao Ge'er and Cang'er will follow her out of Beijing, and there will be no one to care about the shops in the capital. Xia Rong has only studied with Cang'er for half a year, and it is far from being independent.

This is a dilemma.

Chao Wenrou knew, so he smiled and said: "You guys are going, back and forth, I'm afraid it won't work out in three or four months, I think you might as well hand it over to your fourth brother to help you take care of it, although he may not understand business matters, but the entertainment will not be bad, Xia Rong has also been in the shop for so long, ordinary customers can respond, if there is something about the family, they can't do it, in your woodcraft workshop, isn't there still Liu in charge?" Just let him walk around the shop more often, and he may not be able to cope with it. ”

Banniang thought about it.