With Tong's departure, Shuning's leisurely days came to an end. She is not only responsible for Xianning and Xiaobao's liberal arts homework, but also has to inquire about the diet and daily life of the whole house, and take care of many chores, deeply understand how difficult it is to be a housekeeper, and her reverence for her mother has increased a little.

Zhang Bao still went out every day, commanded the tenant farmers to build several small water conservancy facilities, most of them medium-sized waterwheels and ditches, and had people dig tree pits, order fruit saplings, and pull them back to plant them at the beginning of spring.

Duan Ning would go back to Beijing every four days, spend the night, and return to Fangshan the next day after participating in Guozijian's examination or archery, but sometimes he would stay in Beijing to accompany his mother. It's actually quite tiring to travel between the two places like this, but looking at his appearance, he has adapted very well, and the night before he rode a horse from Beijing to return to the courtyard, and the next day he could get up and shoot hundreds of arrows.

He also brought back a piece of news about his classmate Yucheng, who was said to have failed three consecutive exams, and his riding and archery scores were only mediocre, and if he couldn't pass the next exam, he would be kicked out of the country.

Duan Ning said: "He has patronized the people of Horqin for more than a year, and he only barely passed every exam. When people left, they didn't find any background for him, but he went to find another way, didn't do his job all day long, and abandoned his studies. In fact, when he entered the prison that day, he was also quite famous, and we did not feel disgusted when we interacted with him, knowing that his family was not good, and often helping him, who knew that he became like this, but we were all estranged. I don't want to have anything to do with him anymore, I can only say that he did it himself. ”

Shuning had a bad impression of this person, and she was a little gloating when she heard that he had fallen into this fate, but she didn't say it. Just took out the newly made raw-edged cotton gloves and wool socks and gave them to Duan Ning: "Brother, try it to see if it fits." ”

Duan Ning put aside the topic of Fang Cai, and saw that the palms and backs of the gloves were sewn with leather, and he knew that it was for him to use the land when he was riding. I happily thanked him and went back to the hospital to try.

Shuning continued to look at the ledger. Calculate the various expenses for this year's New Year. This New Year, considering that his family is a new landlord and has moved from other places, the Tong family has long planned to show his favor and win over the tenants. Therefore, they were quite generous in the materials distributed to the tenant farmers, and all 78 tenant farmers were given two catties of meat, a chicken, five catties of white flour, a jar of oil, and a hang, and they bought thirty jars of good Huiquan wine and gave them to drink.

When the tenants heard the news, they were already celebrating in secret, and they said good things about the new master's land, except for a few old people. They all forgot about the old master's family, after all, the old master's Yu family was not very generous to them. There is also a son who always causes trouble.

However, Tong's measure to benefit the people was actually almost destroyed in the hands of Wang Er, the head of the other hospital. Wang Er and his wife are two. They are honest and loyal people. His wife is better, but Wang Er is a little brainless. I have no experience in management, and since I took over, I have made several mistakes. This arrangement, Tong's family had already explained the land, but although Wang Er did it, he planned to cook all the meat, make white noodles into steamed buns and distribute them, and plan to let people line up to drink a bowl of wine.

This was the practice of the servants in the Earl's Court in the old days, and the second king used these rules when he returned to the office, but did not take into account the difference between tenants and servants. Fortunately, the time was still early, and Shuning asked in detail, so she changed the arrangement in time, otherwise it would not be a show of grace, but a gossip. Shuning secretly told Zhang Bao about the incident, and Zhang Bao said that Tong also found out. He said: "Wang Er has always followed him out, probably never done such a thing, and now no one can replace him." Let's talk about it in two months, after all, he just took over, and if it doesn't look good at that time, let him come down. With Changfu here, we can slowly look for a candidate for management. Shuning agreed.

Gradually, after the fifteenth day of the lunar month, Duan Ning returned from school, and was ordered by his mother to return to Fangshan to welcome the rest of the family into Beijing. Shuning packed a few simple luggage and took Xianning into the carriage. Frangipani went back with her, Holly and Kou'er stayed in the other courtyard for the New Year, and as for Xiao Liu's mother and son, they had already agreed with the Tong family that they would stay and live by themselves. In addition to explaining all the affairs to Wang Er and his wife, Shuning also invited Xiao Liu's family to sit in the formation, and asked Changgui and Qiaoyun to help. Presumably, such an arrangement can ensure that nothing goes wrong, right?

Although there is no decoration in the Earl's Palace, all the furniture has been cleaned and tidied up, the flowers and trees in the courtyards have also been in some spirit, and the clothes worn by the maids and servants are not bright, but they are indeed new.

Shuning took her younger brother to greet her mother first, and then went to see her uncle and aunt. Nala greeted them a few times, and then asked why they didn't see Aunt Liu's mother and son. Shuning paused and said respectfully: "Aunt Liu was accidentally infected with the wind cold, and the doctor said that it was best not to suffer from the wind again, so she stayed in another hospital for the New Year." Xiaobao's younger brother also stayed behind to take care of his mother. However, the niece has already arranged for someone to take care of their mother and son, and it will be okay to come. She tightened her grip on her brother's hand, and Hyuneong glanced at her without making a sound.

Tong said with a smile on the side: "Aunt Liu has always been not in good health, probably because she has entered the winter land. It's good to raise it, and the sister-in-law doesn't have to worry about her. ”

Nala said: "Don't blame me for being troublesome, I just think that this is the first time she has celebrated the New Year in our house, and she should also worship her ancestors." But since she is sick, there is nothing she can do. ”

Tong smiled faintly and said: "She doesn't dare to worship her ancestors, but she should offer tea to the elders in the clan." But I had already ordered it to go down, and on the day of the sacrifice, I asked her to set up an incense table at the other end of the courtyard, and kowtow at the right time, which was considered a full ceremony. ”

Nala smiled and said no more.

When they returned to Huaiyuan, the mother and daughter reached a consensus, and announced to the others that Xiao Liu's family was now infected with the wind cold, so she could not return to Beijing, but everything that should be given to her should be sent to another hospital in time. At that moment, Ma San'er was arranged to undertake the task of this martial god Ding Ranwen.

After everyone retreated, Shuning carefully reported the arrangements for the past few days to her mother, Tong nodded slightly, explained a few words, and let her go down to rest. Then he called for his youngest son to come and talk to him.

Returning to the Earl's Court, Shuning had a sense of bondage. Just like the feeling I used to have every time I returned to Beijing from out of town, this time it is even more vivid. Could it be that the previous days were too comfortable? She sighed, and then lay down on the bed to rest, listening to her mother's tone just now, she still has to be busy from tomorrow.

Sure enough, early the next morning. The three wives sat in the Rongqing Hall and co-chaired, the Li family and the Xitara family were all side, and Wanning Shuning also attended, and even expressed their opinions.

Wanning was not very interested in housekeeping, and as soon as she saw Shuning, she greeted her and said, "I haven't seen you for many days, and I came back yesterday, right?" Why don't you come to play with me? Shu Ning responded a few words, and she also said, "I heard that there is a big garden in the courtyard of your house. It's beautiful inside, is it true? ”

Shuning said: "The garden is land, so it's big." It's not too big, but it's not too small. It's just that it's winter. Nothing to look at. I've only been there twice. ”

Wan Ning felt a little disappointed: "I thought it was beautiful, and I was planning to go over to play sometime." Shuning's eyes rolled. He said, "Actually, there are a lot of trees there, and the leaves are green in spring, so it should be beautiful, right?" Although the house there is not as beautiful as the garden of the house, it is not bad as a mountain residence. She glanced at Tong, and Tong understood it, so she smiled and said, "There is still land in a few rooms, if the second girl is interested, she will come to us to live there for a few days, right?" After sitting in the carriage horizontally, it was only half a day's journey. ”

When Wan Ning heard this, she was a little reluctant. How could it be that you had to take such a long carriage ride to see a small garden with only a lot of trees and a few houses? But if you can go out, it's better to be bored than to be stuck at home.

Nala said to his daughter, "It's too cold now, so don't go that far." Besides, you still have a lot to learn, and it's not too late to go out when you do. Wan Ning hesitated for a moment, but reluctantly agreed.

In the next discussion process, Shuning listened to it very tastefully, and it could be seen that Nala's ability to govern the family was good, and the Shen family was a little worse, but the Tong family was the best, but she had a modest attitude and did not mean to compete for the first place in the concubine, and the three of them got along well.

Wan Ning was bored. Aside from the decoration and food, she could hardly say anything useful, and although some proposals sounded good, they often cost too much when you think about it. When it came to the personnel arrangements for the New Year's sacrifice, she also proposed what some 20 people would do and what the other 20 people would do, but it was impossible for the government to allocate so many people. When Nala refused, she was deflated and simply stopped talking.

In contrast, every time Tong asked Shuning, he could get more useful opinions, and even if he didn't adopt it, Shuning was not angry. Shen praised Shuning a few words, and glanced at Wanning while boasting. Tong Shi smiled faintly and said very modestly: "What does the child know, it's still far away, don't spoil her." However, when she can ask her daughter, she will still ask, and she will accept useful suggestions, and after the trouble, Nala sighed and praised her a few words, "Teach her daughter well".

Don't look at Tong's humble appearance, Shuning has actually discovered that her mother is very proud now, look at the corners of her slightly curved eyes, as well as the curvature of her mouth, and the hand that often arranges the hairpin on her right. Oh, Mom, don't make it too obvious!

After the matter came to an end, it was the time for the wives and grandmothers to chat. Wan Ning hurriedly saluted, pulled Shu Ning and ran. When she came to the garden, she said with some thoughts: "Suffocated, I really don't understand, a very simple little thing, they turned it over and discussed it for a long time." It is a bit redundant to invite the clansmen to come during the sacrifice, just set up a few tables and invite them to eat, why do you have to think about where someone sits, and two people can't sit together. There are also dishes for the New Year, chicken, duck and fish, and delicacies from the mountains and seas are served together, isn't that the same for the New Year? It's been like this before, what are they still discussing......"

Shuning listened to a black line, and Wanning seemed to forget that there was also her own wife in the "they" she said. And although the New Year is almost the same every year, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala is still tossed every year, not to mention that the New Year of Earl's Court is very different from previous years?

However, she didn't plan to quarrel with Wan Ning, just talked about other topics, asked Fang Ning about her current situation, and the homework that the other party had learned recently, and thought about how to get rid of this person and go back to her yard.

Talking about what her mother wants to learn by herself recently, Wan Ning is angry: "E-Niang always wants me to learn what to manage housework, what do I want to learn to do this kind of thing?" Wouldn't I? I started helping to manage the business a few years ago, and then when those things happened, I didn't care anymore. What's more, what is the housekeeper used for? Just tell them to do it. ”

After she finished speaking, she stretched out ten fingers to show Shu Ning: "She also wants me to practice needlework, you see, all ten of my fingers are injured." Shuning looked at it, and sure enough, there were a lot of needles, so she had to comfort her: "Everyone is like this, when I was studying, I often hurt myself, just get used to it." "Hmph, actually, I didn't work so hard." Wan Ning put down her hand and glanced at Shu Ning, "Because you can do everything, that's why my mother wants me to learn so much." Good sister, you occasionally act stupid, like just now, you can not act so smart. ”

Shuning Black Line: You can say this kind of thing. She said lightly: "E-Niang asked, I naturally want to answer." In fact, I'm already very stupid, I don't understand many things, and I'm always rejected by Eniang. ”

Wan Ning opened her mouth to speak, but Shuning hurriedly pretended to remember something, and patted her head: "I almost forgot, I still have to go back to finish my mother's new forehead, do you want to do needlework together?" ”

Wan Ning hurriedly pushed it and found an excuse to leave. Shuning walked back to Huaiyuan leisurely.