This year, the whole family has lived a very "nourishing" life, and the Tong family is busy dealing with half of the gifts compared with previous years, arranging return gifts, and distributing annual gifts to government officials, and taking care of the families of the errand servants who died in the line of duty.

Shuning has not gone out since she entered Layue, and she helps her mother with housework all day long, fortunately there is more Xiao Liu's help this year, and a few housekeepers also have to use it, otherwise I really don't know how to deal with it. Shuning occasionally took a break to take a breath, thinking that in a few more years, when she got married, she might have become an expert housekeeper.

Although seeing that the family received more and more gifts, which were strangely mixed with some things that were not very valuable, Shu Ning still noticed that his father's spirit was much haggard, and he often went out early and returned late, and the wrinkles between his eyebrows were not very smooth, and even Mr. Su, who was newly married Yan'er, often had a straight face.

In fact, the city of Guangzhou is getting richer and richer, and most of the ordinary people can make a living, and the wharves and major workshops are recruiting, and if the poor have the strength, they can either do small labor, or become apprentices, or spin and weave, or make sugar and nails, etc., they can eat together. For those who were really unable to earn a living, or the old, weak, sick and disabled, Zhang Bao ordered a few empty houses to be sorted out in October, and a lot of hay and quilts were prepared for these poor people and beggars to stay for free, and in winter, two meals of rice porridge a day were provided so that they could survive the cold winter.

What Zhang Bao did was just to act according to what he had done in Fengtian in the past, and now that he is a parent on this side, he naturally doesn't need to think too much. However, while his good official reputation spread and won the love of more people, he inadvertently offended his boss Governor Zhu. The other party thought wrong in his heart, thinking that Zhang Bao was a good person, and he was deliberately sarcastic that he did not care for the people. Brightly and secretly, some ugly words came out. In fact, Zhang Bao was affected. Wu Dan came to Guangzhou and quickly mastered the income of the customs. A steady stream of silver was transported to the capital and collected into the treasury. He also won the emperor's commendation. However, he felt that his benefits had decreased, but he was secretly annoyed, and because the governor's yamen was far away, he did not know the actual situation here, complained that there was less money in the past, and accused Governor Zhu of not doing a good job for his master. Governor Zhu was in a dilemma, and the first fire had nowhere to burn. Wu Dan acted on the orders of the emperor, and he had no choice but to vent his anger on Zhang Bao, who was good friends with Wu Dan. Zhang Bao felt that the other party was not too much, so he silently endured it, and just did his official business with his heart.

Wu Dan noticed this, but he paid tribute to Zhang Bao, and sometimes helped to say a few words to make him less angry. Plus his eldest son is becoming more and more capable. The second son often gets along with Duanning, and his knowledge and martial arts have grown greatly, so he appreciates Duanning more and more. often summoned him to come over to the house to talk, and by the way, he studied his riding and archery skills.

Zhao Shuning secretly observed. There's nothing unusual about my brother. It's just that Zhenzhen's behavior is worth studying, and she didn't mention it when Duan Ning took the trouble to prepare gifts for her birthday. Because Shuning didn't go out, she had already come to their house four or five times under various excuses in Layue alone, and every time she would bump into Duanning intentionally or unintentionally, and talk to him for a few words, not to mention the opportunity to meet in the general's mansion.

Tong's heart became more and more determined, and he hinted to Wen a few times in private, and the two had a tacit understanding, only waiting for two years, and the children were older.

The New Year passed in a hurry, this year's Lantern Festival was more lively than in previous years, the number of varieties of lanterns was not comparable to previous years, a few half-old children took the opportunity to have a good time, Duanning Shuning brothers and sisters even took the little brother Xianning to see the lanterns, and he was so happy that he danced.

At the beginning of spring, Chongli and Duanning heard that a well-learned wise man lived in seclusion at the foot of Nankun Mountain, so they took a few servants and a cart of books, paper and ink, and said goodbye to their families to ask him for advice.

After the rainy weather in early spring passed, Shuning took advantage of the sunny weather to go to the general's mansion to attend classes again. The husband checked her homework, listened to her play the newly learned "Autumn River Night Park", nodded, and began to teach her "Yangguan Three Stacks". During recess, Shuning quietly sat down next to Jinzhen and asked, "What's wrong with you today?" Mr. Fang Cai teaches the piano, and you also look listless, aren't you sick? ”

Zhenzhen shook her head and said, "It's nothing, I just feel bored and have no energy." Shuning snickered: "Isn't it that when you don't see someone for a few days, you're making trouble in your heart?" ”

Zhenzhen was annoyed, and opened her nine yin white bone claws with a red face and was about to grab it, Shu Ning dodged with a smile, and when she saw her grabbing it again, she hurriedly pressed her hand and said, "Don't make trouble, Mr. will hear the ground." Zhenzhen withdrew her hand, stomped her feet, and sat down with her cheeks covered in annoyance.

Shuning sat down next to her, and coaxed her for a long time before coaxing her back, seeing the blush on her face that had not disappeared, she said: "Actually, if you like my brother, just say it, what's so shy?" You are such a generous person, how can you twist your hands and feet today? Zhenzhen was stunned, and her face turned red again: "You...... That's how you said it......" She lowered her head and bit her lip, took a deep breath, and looked up, "When did you know?" Your brother...... Does he know? ”

Shuning couldn't help but laugh and said: "It's the day he heroically saved the beauty that he knew, and your second brother, the nerd, can't see it, even my family Chunxing is asking me behind my back if you have a crush on my brother." My E-niang even mentioned it to your second mother, haven't you heard? Zhenzhen was taken aback, and then a little surprised: "My second mother knows? So what did she say? I'm Amma...... You know? ”

"Is this...... The second lady didn't say it explicitly, only said that she would talk about it when you were older in two years, but my mother looked at it and felt that it would probably be possible. I don't know if the general knows, but he often praises my brother, and I think he likes him too. ”

Shuning looked at the smile on Zhenzhen's face and felt that this girl was really cute, so she asked her, "You tell me the truth, how did you like my brother?" There was no sign before that day, could it be because he saved you? ”

Zhenzhen glanced at Shuning, with a smile on the corner of her mouth, and said: "I used to think that he was a good brother who loved his sister, and he was better than others in literature and martial arts, but at most I thought he was good." But that day, when the carriage came rushing over, everyone was scattered. I was hit by a pedestrian and fell to the ground, and by the time I got up, I couldn't avoid the carriage anyway. At that time, my second brother was a foot away from me, and I thought I would be bumped into. Unexpectedly, your brother grabbed me and dragged me to the side, and because of the exertion, he fell to the ground, but he was under me and didn't hurt me in the slightest. I just passed by the carriage and read the full text of the pig killing knife master. I broke out in a cold sweat, and I was scared, but your brother comforted me softly and calmed me down, even ignoring the injuries on my hands. It was at that time that I felt that he was very reliable. ”

As she spoke, her face became redder and redder, and Shuning propped her chin and listened with relish. I deeply regret that I didn't see the scene of my brother's hero saving the beauty that day.

But Zhenzhen was a little worried: "You just said, even your Eniang and Yahuan can see my thoughts, your brother must know the land, right?" Why don't you show your mouth at all? Doesn't he like me? The more she thought about it, the more scared she became. His face turned pale.

Shuning thought for a moment and said, "He's different now than before. If it was a child. He will say anything in his heart, but he has lived in Beijing for three years. It has become more and more a mouthless gourd, and sometimes, I can't guess what he is thinking. However, if he really doesn't like you, he will try to avoid you, but he still talks to you, which shows that he doesn't hate you. She said to Jinjin very seriously: "I won't just say nice things to you, but my brother is a good person, and if you can really be happy with each other, I will definitely be on your side." ”

Zhenzhen also became serious: "I know, since my family didn't say no, I have the courage to do what I want." I'm not that kind of squirming girl, since he doesn't say it, I'll ask him myself. ”

Her gaze was so determined that it made her person even more radiant. Shu Ning's heart was a little sour, but thinking that these two were so compatible, if Duan Ning also liked Zhenzhen, she would definitely be able to live happily in the future, so she secretly blessed the two in her heart. I'm blushing and dividing the line

When she returned home, Shuning unexpectedly met Changfu who went to the capital to give a New Year's gift, which meant that there was a letter in the capital. She said hello to Changfu and hurriedly went to the upper room.

Tong sat at the table of the Eight Immortals, carrying a letter paper, and sneered slightly. Shuning was shocked when she saw it, and hurriedly asked her mother to say goodbye, and then asked her if there was any bad news in the letter.

Tong smiled faintly: "It's nothing, it's just some trivial things." However, your second sister was in this year's draft, and the family was busy buying clothes and jewelry for her, and the box of pearls and about 20 gems we sent back came in handy. ”

She glanced at the letter and said coldly, "Actually, what do you spend so much effort on?" Is it possible that you can really choose to enter the palace to be a mother? Now that it is clear that the fifth elder brother has taken a fancy to Wanning, the emperor and the queen mother all know in their hearts that they will leave a sign this year, and when the fifth elder brother is older, he will officially point Wanning to him. With the face of the Earl's Mansion and the official position of Wanning Amma, it should be the name of Zhengfujin. What clothes and jewelry do now? Children grow up fast, and the clothes they make this year will not be able to wear next year, so why bother in vain

Shuning heard a little strange, Tong seemed to be angry, so he walked behind her to help her beat her back, and saw that her face was better, so she asked, "Who is E-Niang angry with today?" Could it be that the grandmother is going to give Amarna a concubine again? ”

Tong glanced at his daughter, and smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth: "Little ghost spirit, how do you know that these concubines are not concubines, of course you know, the family has made trouble about this matter several times over the years, and there is still a little Liu living in the side courtyard, is it fake?"

But this time Shuning guessed wrong, the old lady didn't mention the matter of taking a concubine, she was full of thoughts on Wanning's draft place.

It turned out to be a New Year's gift sent back to Beijing by the Tong family, and there was a box in it, which was prepared for the fourth elder brother. It contained a few precious colored satin silk satins, two soft and comfortable cotton cloths, two potatoes of caess yarn, a few jade plaques, three or four gold and jade wrenches, a few packets of good medicinal materials, and a few bottles of Western medicine.

Originally, in order to hide from others, the Tong family did not say who the box was for, but only told the second sister-in-law to put it away, and Changfu would tell her to send it to Pumpkin Hutong. Unexpectedly, the old lady found out, buckled the silk and jade wrench, and took a few packets of medicinal herbs to use. Although Changfu and the second sister-in-law were somewhat decent, they were both slaves after all, so they had to watch her ask someone to take the things away.

Tong's is angry about this, even if he wants to buy clothes and jewelry for Wanning, it is the old lady and the big house who contribute. Other uncles and aunts, if you want, it is a relative's affection to send something, even if you don't send it, it's a matter of course. The third room has its own daughter, even if you want to buy things, you should think about your relatives first, not to mention that they have already sent a lot of silk and jewelry. The things in that box were specially prepared by the Tong family as a gift for the fourth elder brother, but they were intercepted by their own family members halfway, which is really outrageous.

Tong sneered: "Fortunately, the old lady doesn't know the goods, so she just took away those things that look valuable, but she doesn't know that the potato yarn and Western medicine are really rare, that is, cotton cloth, which is also the kind that the fourth elder brother likes the most." Your Uncle Changfu is an old man, so he spent money to buy things in Beijing to make up for them, and sent them to Pumpkin Hutong together. Otherwise, there are only so many things this year, even if the fourth elder brother doesn't care, I'm embarrassed to make a move. ”

Shuning thought to herself, no wonder my mother was angry, the old lady also went too far, this is almost a robbery, can't you buy good things in the capital?

She comforted her mother and hinted that Su Yun would bring Hyun-nin to divert her attention, which made her angry.

In March, Duanning came back, he was black and thin, and his spirit was good. Tong's heart was so distressed that he hurriedly made a good soup for him to replenish his body. Duan Ning winked mysteriously at her sister and led her to her room.

He took out a small box and opened it, but it was a nuclear carving. The peach pit of about an inch is carved into a boat, and the captain on the boat, the scribe on the boat, and the woman playing the piano are all clearly distinguishable, which makes Shuning admire.

Duan Ning smiled and said: "This is when I passed through Zengcheng, I heard that there is a skilled carving master there, the carving of the nuclear carving is very fine, Chongli and I both bought, this is for my sister." ”

Shuning took it in surprise, only to see that the nuclear carving was tied with a red silk rope, and the more you look at it, the more people feel that the carving is fine.

Duan Ning said: "I think the red silk rope is good-looking, and the nuclear carvings I bought are tied with it, but Chongli likes to use black silk ropes, and the ones he bought happen to be characters of the Three Kingdoms, which is a perfect match for black." ”

Shuning thanked him solemnly, and promised to make him a new purse as a return gift, and then went back to the room to put away the nuclear carving.

When she went to class at the General's Mansion the next day, Shuning was surprised to find that Zhenzhen's left wrist was wrapped with a few strands of red silk rope, and a nuclear sculpture was hanging on it, and the carving was a spring flower.