Ning was very happy to get the letter, and told Fang Ning that her good friend she hadn't seen for many years came. Fang Ning heard her talk about Miss Yinlan's behavior that week, and she also looked forward to getting acquainted with her.

Zhang Bao sent his family to the Zhili School Palace early to guard, and as soon as he got the letter that the Zhou family arrived, he immediately came to report. It's just that I was worried that I had two moves, but I wanted to avoid suspicion, so I only communicated and said hello, and didn't see each other.

After the autumn exam began, Mr. Su and Mr. Yang naturally wanted to go back to Beijing to take the exam, and Zhang Bao also went back to Beijing. Duanning's Guozijian stopped classes and studied at home. Seeing that Chen was home alone, he invited her to come over and talk.

Chen was originally the daughter of a Lingnan family, and she was also well-read, and she grew up in Guangdong, so her behavior and insight were very different from those of northern women. He talked to her about some Cantonese customs and the customs he saw and heard when he went out, and Xiao Liu also followed suit and talked very enthusiastically. Fang Ning hadn't heard of this, she was very interested, so Shu Ning explained them to her one by one.

Fang Ning heard them mention the big foreign ships and the red-haired and green-eyed foreigners, the mountains of tea and the scattered mulberry fish ponds, as well as the boats on the sea and the people on both sides of the canal, and sighed that she had not had the opportunity to see these with her own eyes. Seeing this, Shuning smiled and said: "Although those are good, my sister may not be able to see them in the future, not to mention, we haven't even seen the mountains and rivers around here, so it's not too late for us to enjoy the good scenery at the door of our house first, and then think about anything else." Fang Ning smiled: "That's right." ”

After the end of the imperial examination. In the days of waiting for the results, the two main players who took the exam were a little anxious. Because the next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhang Bao simply asked someone to send a letter back to Fangshan, so that his wife and children could take Chen back to Beijing and celebrate the festival with his family by the way.

The last time Shuning saw Wanning was during the old lady's anniversary ceremony last month. But I heard that Wan Ning was not good at that time, and it was inconvenient to meet guests, so he only met in a hurry during the big ceremony, except that Wan Ning's face was a little pale, there was no other impression. This Mid-Autumn Festival reunion, Shuning finally saw clearly the legendary Wanning's rebirth.

I saw that she was wearing a pea-green cheongsam with pine color trim, with her hair tied on her head, a velvet flower and a few hairpins. With his feet on the bottom of the flower pot, his head slightly bowed, his eyes slanted down at a forty-five degree angle, his arms hanging naturally in front of his abdomen, and a piece of embroidered silk handkerchief in his hand. Whispering, lotus steps move lightly, and when speaking auspicious words, a string of places is not only very in line with the preferences of middle-aged and elderly aristocratic women, but also reveals the elegance that young girls should have. Facing parents and aunts. Brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and servants should have the same etiquette and attitude. Even Shuning and Fang Ning, two people who are accustomed to etiquette, admit that they are not as thorough as her.

Wanning is really very personable now. It's just that it's too stylish, it's a little unaccustomed, if it weren't for seeing that face, Shuning really couldn't believe it was Wanning, almost thinking that she was worn by a real noble lady.

Because of the filial piety that had just passed a year, the Earl's Court was not easy to celebrate, so only two or three tables were set up at home, with a little wine and food. Because the second room and my aunt's house are all separate. So the banquet has been very peaceful. Nala smiled and greeted the nieces and nephews, looking very complacent. Now that her housekeeper has been well managed, her daughter has begun to earn face for her again; The eldest son is already sensible. It is possible to be promoted in the near future, and the grandchildren are well-behaved and lovely; The second son has also been praised by his boss in his position, and the relationship between husband and wife has also improved; In addition, the eldest daughter of the concubine is becoming more and more provocative, and maybe the marriage has also been missing, and several big stones in her heart have fallen to the ground, and some of them have been brought out unconsciously during the conversation.

Naturally, the clan would not pour cold water on her, although the Shen clan was cold, but he just looked at it coldly. In this way, Nala was in the limelight at the table. It's just that when it was time to disperse, Shuning was slightly two steps behind, and saw that Wanning was a little unsteady when she stood up, and was glanced at by Nala's clan, so she hurriedly stood up straight, but her face was very pale.

Shuning went to visit Wanning the next day, and Wanning invited her into the house quite enthusiastically and rudely, and softly asked the maids to pour tea, and also greeted her gently, so that Shuning couldn't help but shiver secretly.

Before she entered the house, she seemed to see Wanning embroidering a purse, so she looked at it twice, and found that it was a way to ask for auspicious land during the New Year, and felt a little surprised, so she asked: "Now that the Mid-Autumn Festival has just passed, why did you start embroidering the New Year's purse?" ”

Wan Ning half-bowed her head and said: "I'm doing it slowly, E-Niang told me to do a few more in advance, and I have to do it carefully, so that it will come in handy during the New Year." She picked one up and handed it to Shuning: "Look at it, it's okay, right?" Shuning looked at the few spring flowers embroidered on it, nodded and said it was very beautiful, and Wan Ning took it back with a light smile.

Shu Ning saw that there was no one outside, so she sat down next to Wan Ning and asked softly: "Second sister, I see that you have become powerful, you have had a hard time in the past few months, right?" Wan Ning made a movement in her hand, her eyes turned red, and she said, "Indeed, it's very hard." She rolled up her sleeves to show her a few black marks on her arms, and then pulled up the hem of her trousers, so that she could see the dozen or so thin red marks on her two calves, and said with tears: "I almost can't survive." I don't know where E-Niang found an old woman to come, saying that an old lady brought out of the palace to teach me the rules, and said in advance that E-niang should not interfere. That old woman forced me to practice every day, and if I didn't obey or do not do well, I would not say anything when I was beaten, and sometimes I would not be given food. ”

The veil was wiped twice, and then continued: "I scolded her, and she scolded me back, saying that I was religious, and I was something. I cried to E-Niang, but E-Niang just said that if you suffer hardship, you will become a master, and tell me to support me. You don't know how hard I work, but you and my big sister are not here, I am the only one left, and I have nowhere to say anything, I ......"

Before he finished speaking, Qiaoyun's voice came from outside: "Mama He is back." The three girls are inside. Wan Ning hurriedly stopped her mouth, hurriedly wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and stood up. Shuning also stood up, only to see the appearance of the sectarian Mama He.

She looked to be fifty or sixty years old. With a round face, a little fat, looking at the facial features, he was a kind person, but for some reason the eyebrows and eyes looked a little fierce, and he looked at it at a glance. It's a flash of light. She just glanced at Shuning lightly, then looked Wanning up and down, and nodded slightly, but when she saw the purse in Wanning's hand, her eyes suddenly widened: "Girl, this is the purse ordered by Mrs., right?" It's just that this suit is too plain. Thinking about where to send these purses, the girl also knows the place, so it is better to add more rich peonies and other flowers. ”

—

Wan Ning responded in a low voice, but Shu Ning faintly heard her grinding her teeth. Then Mama He asked again, "What time is it?" "Qiaoyun flattened her mouth. Without speaking, Yuehe replied: "Hui Mama, it's three quarters now." Mama He nodded, turned around and said: "It's almost time for the girl to learn the rules, the third girl came to visit our girl today, it's really heartfelt, but the two of you have also spoken for so long, the third girl should go back." ”

When Wan Ning heard this, she hurriedly grabbed Shu Ning's arm. Shuning was originally a little stunned by Mama He's style, and was caught by her. came to his senses, but he heard Mama He say: "What does this look like?!" Did the girl forget everything I taught?! Hearing this, Wan Ning hurriedly let go of her hand and stood in an orderly manner.

Shuning smiled and said, "Mama He, I rarely live at home in the past few days, but now that I finally came back, I want to say a few more words to my sister." Can you be forgiving for half an hour? Wan Ning glanced at her gratefully.

Mama He said lightly: "The third girl is confused, learning the rules is like sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat, how can you be lazy?" You don't just leave today, come back next time. If you are interested, you can study together. He didn't pay attention to the people, and only told the girls to prepare the kneeling mats to use. Today I want to learn the palace etiquette. Qiaoyun was clever, and hurriedly laughed and said: "It's already ready, and I also brewed Mama's favorite Diyun Tea, Mama might as well take two sips first." Moisten your throat and recover the Three Kingdoms post, right? Then Mama He said "hmm" and followed. Qiaoyun quietly turned around and gave Wan Ning a look.

Seeing this, Shuning knew that she couldn't stay, so she had to say goodbye to Wanning with some apologies. Wan Ning whispered to her, "If you have time, come and see me more so that I can catch my breath." Shuning nodded: "Don't worry." ”

Shuning left Wanning's yard and was walking out, but she saw the little girl Tang Yuan'er coming towards her, and said with a smile: "The girl is here, and the wife is talking in the big lady's house, so she asked me to invite the girl to go." ”

Shuning followed her to the main house of the bamboo courtyard, only to see that the Nala clan and the clan and Fang Ning were all there, smiling and talking, and Aunt Chen was standing on the side, bowing her head timidly.

When Nala saw Shuning, he said: "I haven't seen her for a few months, but the girl has grown taller again, and her appearance is becoming more and more prominent. Shi smiled: "She does look a little like me, but she can't stand out, let alone a beauty like Wan Yatou, even if she is a Fang girl, she can't compare." Nala waved his hand: "This is too much, I look at her very well, she is gentle and delicate, and she acts generously and steadily." The third brother and sister are the best at regulating people, not only is their daughter teaching well, but our Fang girl has lived with you for a few months, and it seems to have changed as if she was a different person, which is all the credit of the third brother and sister. ”

Shi hurriedly said a few words modestly, but the smug look in the corners of his eyes couldn't be hidden. Nala said: "I remember that in two or three days it will be the birthday of the lady, in the past, she was always not at home, even if she was at home, it was delayed because of something, this year, while you are all in the house, why don't you do it for her?" ”

Shi hurriedly said: "Where can her little child's family afford it, besides, now she is still guarding filial piety, so she doesn't have to do a big deal." Nala said: "Even if you don't do a big job, you should have land." After that, he instructed Luyun: "Two days ago, my uncle sent a few pieces of material, I said that the two lake silk are very good, and you will send them to the third girl's room when you turn back." Also, didn't you say that the last time you asked someone to beat a few pairs of jewelry, they would be delivered in two days? Pick a few good things and send them to the three girls' rooms. When it was the right day, I ordered the kitchen to make longevity pastries, and I did it according to the routine of the second girl in previous years. "Green Cloud responded one by one.

Shuning hurriedly thanked her aunt, and said: "Sister-in-law is too polite, according to me, it will be Fang Yatou's birthday in a few days, so it's better to do it for her." Nala glanced at Fang Ning and said with a smile: "That's right, it looks like it's just two more birthdays at home." It won't be long before it's someone else. ”

Shuning was a little surprised, but Fang Ning blushed and replied shyly: "Aunt Eniang sit slowly, and my sister and I will go into the house to talk." With that, he pulled Shuning and ran away. Nala laughed. Aunt Chen looked a little sad.

Shi laughed a few times and asked, "Speaking of which, I only know that Fang Yatou has set up a family affair, but I don't know."

This. Nala said: "It's not another family, it's the first one to come home, do you remember?" It is the son of Shun's daughter-in-law's mother-in-law's aunt. ”

Shi naturally remembered: "The one who had a wife before?" Nala nodded. Said: "As the saying goes, it is better to see than to hear, and rumors are the least credible." A few days ago, my in-laws brought the mother and son of the Shu Mulu family to visit, and I saw that his son was not bad. Although she is a few years older than Fang Yatou, she is not out of character, and she has a good temper, acts steadily, and is filial to her mother. Although he had married before. But that temperament is really good. I thought, Fang Yatou is also a hard worker, if she changes to another family, I don't know if I can treat her well. This Shu Mulu family, although it is not very prosperous at the moment, but in the end, it is a big family, and life can be regarded as passable, if Fang Yatou marries in the past, she will not suffer hardship. And we pushed his house before, but they still came to ask for marriage. It can be seen that it is sincere, so I and the master agreed. When the girl heard about it last night, she also agreed, and now she can do a happy event when she is full. ”

Congratulations repeatedly, and Nala was happy. Leng might as well see the bitter color on Aunt Chen's face, frowned, don't leak out the different colors first, just gossip with the clan. When Shi left with her daughter, she lowered her face and scolded, "What are you doing with this appearance?!" Is there anything you don't like?! ”

Aunt Chen choked up and said, "Madam, our girl is not sensible, you can take care of it." Please choose another good family for her. Now this family is really ......" Nala Shi sank his face: "My master and I have agreed, aren't we also ignorant?" You don't put on such a look, this family business is the most suitable. The son of Shu Mulu's family has a good character, which is a good match for Fang Ning. You don't have to say more! Then he ignored Aunt Chen and got up and left.

On Shuning's birthday, although she didn't do much to do it, she received a lot of gifts. She asked her mother privately what to do, and she knew that it was Nala who was secretly thanking them for their help to Fang Ning, so she told her daughter to just accept it. Shuning happily told Frangipani to put it away, and at night the master and servant closed the door and counted the jewelry and delicate playthings, almost laughing from ear to ear.

Before Shuning returned to Fangshan, she went to see Wanning almost every day, but every time she spoke, it was only two quarters of an hour at most, so Mama He would definitely come out to drive people away. Although Wan Ning showed a very pitiful appearance every time, Shu Ning really couldn't do anything, so she had to make a few more delicate purses in her spare time, and then quietly stuffed her to make up the number.

The results of Qiu Yu came out soon, Mr. Su didn't say anything about high school, and even Mr. Yang accompanied him to the last seat, and he was really overjoyed to be the eighth from the bottom in the exam. After everyone returned to the Fangshan Courtyard, Zhang Bao specially booked a few tables of banquets for them in a restaurant in a nearby town, and booked a room at the inn next to them just in case, so that Su Yang and the two invited their relatives and friends to celebrate.

Mr. Su said to Zhang Bao that he was very thick-skinned and wanted to ask the proprietor to allow him to continue to prepare for spring in the courtyard, but Zhang Bao smiled and asked Mr. Yang what he meant. Mr. Yang was very self-aware, knowing that even if he participated in the Spring Festival, he was afraid that he would not have any hope of being a junior high, but just to see it, so he said that he still hoped to stay and continue to teach the two boys.

Zhang Bao was very happy when he found out, but the happiest were Xianning and Xiaobao. From now on, the tolerant, kind and talkative Mr. Yang is back!

The autumn wind rises in September, and it looks like it's almost Chongyang again. Because she had made an appointment with the wife of the Fucha family before, and after her family happily got married, they were going to see her, so they ordered someone to prepare a car and prepare to go home. Who knew that the day before departure, Zhang Bao accidentally stepped on a stone and turned his foot because he was watching people collect lotus roots, although the injury was not serious, the doctor said that it was best to recuperate. Shi Zheng didn't know what to do, so Shuning volunteered to stay and take care of her father, and asked her mother to help her bring back the birthday gift she was going to give to Fang Ning. Only then did he relax and return to Beijing with his two sons.

Zhang Baodi's injuries were almost healed after two days, and he walked around with a cane all day, and Shuning persuaded him to stay in the house and read. Shuning also made stewed pig's feet in the kitchen, saying that she wanted to give her father a form supplement, which made Zhang Bao a little crying and laughing.

One evening, Shuning practiced calligraphy in the study for a long time, felt tired, put down the pen, and saw that the maids were not in front of her, so she went to the backyard to scoop water and wash her hands. Suddenly, she felt a shadow appear above her, and when she looked up, she was startled and screamed when a person jumped down from the wall.

But as soon as she made a sound, she was covered by the man's mouth and around her neck, and the man whispered, "Don't make a sound." Then I heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance, accompanied by the voices of several people. When those voices disappeared, Shuning felt that the man's arm was loose, and quickly broke away, walking four or five steps away, before asking in a deep voice, "Who are you?" ”

Only then did she see clearly that the man was not very old, about the same as Duan Ning, his face was dark, his body was thin, and although the clothes he was wearing were a little torn, the material was very good, but there were a few blood marks on his arms. Although he looked embarrassed, this person still gave people a feeling of extraordinary bearing, and, strangely, she actually felt that this person was somewhat familiar.

The man looked at Shuning carefully a few times, and suddenly smiled: "Little girl, you don't recognize me?" ”