Early in the morning of the second day, Shuning put on the tender green new clothes, dressed up neatly, and went out of the second door together, ready to go to her grandfather's house.

Speaking of which, my grandparents' house has been there a few times, but the last time I went there was in the spring. Now that you're out of the service, it's time to pay a visit.

On the second gate, Shuning met Wanning, who was also dressed beautifully, and seemed to be waiting to go out, so she asked, "Where is the second sister going?" Wan Ning smiled: "I'll go back to my mother's house with Eniang, do you want to go out too?" Then he said hello to Zhang Bao and Duan Ning. Shuning nodded and said, "We're going to see my grandfather and grandmother too." ”

At this moment, there was a woman's cry in the distance, faintly unreal, as if she was begging for something. Wan Ning frowned and didn't speak. It happened that Dafang's carriage came over, she greeted Shuning and the others, and boarded the carriage first. The car came to a stop at the corner outside the second gate, and Nala hurriedly got into the car. I saw a daughter-in-law in her thirties and forties rushing to the side of the car and crying: "Mrs., Mrs., please spare her, you can beat her and scold her, but don't drive her away, madam, please......"

But she was soon pulled away, and the carriage went on. A young girl pulled her, but she was scolded back, and the two mothers-in-law next to her caught a glimpse of a few masters here, and hurriedly counted them down a few words, and drove them out.

Shuning looked at it from a distance and felt that the young girl was quite familiar, it seemed that it was the girl ring who kept making mistakes yesterday, and it seemed that she had been punished and was kicked out.

At this time, the carriage of the third room also arrived, and Shuning got into the car with her mother. Su Yun and Su Xin also got in. On the way, Shuning asked about the girl just now, Su Yun said: "The girl went to bed early last night, I don't know, the eldest lady had a fire, the second girl pleaded, and the girl didn't get beaten by the board, and went out directly." He smiled and didn't speak. Close your eyes and refresh yourself.

Frangipani whispered to Shuning: "Actually, this is a good thing. That sister. It was originally an outer courtyard sweeping floor. Notoriously clumsy, knocking things over all day. This time, her old son heard that she had to choose a good-looking girl during the banquet, and she wanted her daughter to come out, so she pushed her out with silver, but she didn't think she had made such a mistake. It's good that the eldest lady drove people away, at least she didn't suffer. ”

Su Yun glared at her: "If you go out, it's worse than being beaten on the board." She is not young, and if this kind of thing happens, even if she is a boy, she will not be a good candidate. Frangipani shrank her head and stopped talking.

Shu Ning sighed in her heart, that girl may not be very clever in the first place, but she looks more delicate, and she does some rough work in the outer courtyard, although she can't get ahead. but it is safe and secure. Her mother was unwilling. asked her daughter to do what she couldn't do, and no one taught her the rules well, so now she even loses her job. Shuning was somewhat sympathetic. Glancing at his mother, Shi opened his eyes slightly, and said softly: "It has nothing to do with us, don't worry about other people's affairs." Shuning had no choice but to sit upright and leave this matter alone.

The home is located in the north of the east sandwich road in the east of the city, and it is a long way from the Earl's Court, and it takes more than an hour to arrive. After entering the house, Shuning's family first visited their maternal grandfather and grandmother, and then greeted their aunt, and then stood aside to listen to their grandfather's lecture.

The father is over sixty years old, thin and thin, and he is very serious, and every time he sees his daughter and son-in-law, he will scold him first, and the content theme is uncertain, and it may not be directly related to the person who is being scolded. For example, the reason for this scolding was that a small incident happened in the court yesterday, and because Zhang Bao was also an official, he was subjected. Everyone is accustomed to it, knowing that the father is just looking for an excuse to show off his majesty in front of the juniors, and they all obediently listen to the lecture. However, although his father was serious, he was not verbose, and he would drink two sips of tea after he had spoken ten or eight sentences, and when he had finished drinking a cup, he would stop, and then he would go back to the study without saying anything.

The mother sent her husband away, sat down again, and asked her daughter and son-in-law to sit down with a kind face. When my aunt heard her mother-in-law's cough, she said that she had to take care of the housework, and she confessed and left.

The mother said: "You also know the old man's temper, don't take it to heart." Zhang Bao and his family hurriedly said no, she continued: "I heard my daughter-in-law say about yesterday's banquet, I haven't entertained guests for a few years, and it's nothing to be decent, but it's not good to be too extravagant after all, and you can persuade you to go home." Zhang Bao and the clan responded one by one.

The mother asked about some housework on weekdays, and then asked about her two grandchildren. The clan retreated from the crowd, and then slowly told his mother that Duan Ning was going to go out and get engaged.

The mother frowned slightly, summoned Duan Ning to take a closer look, and sighed: "Brother Duan'er is such a good child, the future is naturally not worrying, and you don't have to worry." It's just that the Wudan family is not high, why did you choose such a family? I have already helped to watch a few girls, but I didn't expect you to decide first. ”

The clan didn't dare to speak, Duan Ning was a little nervous, and carefully said a few good words with him, and the mother listened to it for a long time before she sighed: "That's it, I've also heard of the martial girl, it's not bad, since the child likes it, it's going to be fine." The girls of those families had to cheapen a few cousins of Duange'er. ”

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone was secretly relieved. Before Shuning could finish reciting a Buddha sentence in her heart, she saw her grandmother beckoning her to come over.

She obediently approached her grandmother to take her hand and take a closer look, and obediently answered a few questions, only to hear her mother sigh again: "This child looks a little royal and magnificent, but it's a pity." Shuning was shocked, quickly glanced at her mother, and hurriedly said: "Eniang, this child is stupid, but I can't afford your words." ”

The mother smiled slightly and glanced at her: "What's the hurry?" Good boy, where is the stupidity? You can say it. Don't worry, I know your thoughts, and naturally you won't let your granddaughter suffer. ”

She took Shuning's hand and looked at it for a while, before turning her head to her daughter and son-in-law and said, "Since you want Brother Duan'er to come out, just take him to the second uncle's house to sit down." I heard that he is at home today, so by the way, help me bring a few boxes of snacks to your second aunt. It's just that the two granddaughters haven't gotten out of school yet, so leave your daughters to talk to me. ”

Zhang Bao and the clan responded, and the latter gave his daughter a soothing look and left with Duanning.

Although Shuning had met her grandmother several times with her mother in the past, it was the first time she had been alone. Fortunately, my grandmother was not difficult to deal with. It's completely different from my own old lady. She has always smiled kindly, spoke slowly and methodically, and was very good at adjusting the mood. Shuning sat upright at first, not daring to slack off, but later when she saw the old man's kind face, she relaxed.

At first, the mother asked some questions about needlework, and the questions were very detailed, including what kind of needlework she had learned. Do you know how to make clothes. What do you usually do? Wait a minute. She should have honored her a few pairs of cotton socks and cotton gloves before the snow this year, and she changed the subject with satisfaction.

The next thing is to ask for homework, not piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, but classics and history. Shuning studied the history of the scriptures many years ago, and has forgotten it a little, and her mother said: "There are 5,200 things about these academic strikers." We women don't have to dig deeper, but we should also know some general information, and others ask if they can't

I don't know. I see that you have also learned the land in the past, so this winter you should pick up all the homework from the past. Shuning had no choice but to bow her head.

At this time, it was almost time to eat, and two serious granddaughters of the clan came over, one was eleven and the other was nine. They are still young. The cousins have seen the ceremony. before he sat down again to speak. Only then did Shuning know that the two cousins were also studying scripture and history at a young age. I can't help but be a little impressed. The mother smiled and said, "It's just that I know a little bit of skin, is it really expected that they will write articles?" ”

The two cousins smiled embarrassedly, said a few modest words, and talked about other things. Shuning looked at it coldly from the side, and felt that although the two cousins were mediocre, they behaved dignifiedly, and they were very strict in their every move, and they were very good at observing words and feelings, and they were stronger than many adults at a young age.

It's really worthy of being a famous descendant, but isn't it tiring to live like this? Shuning asked herself that she had done a good job in etiquette, but in the face of her cousins, she was still a little ashamed, so she quietly sat up straight again, spoke more carefully, and put her hands and feet more properly.

Mother, granddaughter, and granddaughter talk about housework. Shuning has been in contact with this aspect of local affairs for several years, but the answer is fluent, and the old man is very satisfied. However, the two cousins were still young and had many shortcomings, so my mother passed on a lot of her own experience. Shuning listened from the sidelines and benefited a lot.

After a while, the housekeeper came to report that the second old man's house was having lunch with his wife's family. So the mother waved her hand: "Lady eat with us." ”

This meal was very hard to eat. First, the rules are strict, and even if the dishes and chopsticks accidentally touch the sound, they have to be looked at by their grandmother a few times; Second, they eat pasta, but the cook's skills are average, and the pickles are salty. Shuning barely managed to hold on to two dumplings with half a plate of pickles, and after drinking a bowl of noodle soup, she didn't eat it, and she missed the delicious noodles made at home.

Fortunately, there were only female relatives at the dinner table, and my uncle went to the yamen on an errand, while my grandfather always ate by himself. Shuning thought to herself: Probably my grandmother was also afraid that my grandfather would train people during dinner, which would ruin everyone's appetite.

After the meal, the grandmother rested for a while, and the cousins retired early, leaving her to beat the legs of the old man. Her mouth was so dry that she could only endure it.

Finally, my parents and brother returned. Shuning barely held back and didn't pounce, and still saluted them very dignified and asked her. The mother looked at her with great satisfaction, and under the pretext that she wanted to give her daughter something, let her help her into the inner room. As soon as they left, Shuning immediately poured herself a cup of tea and drank it, so that she felt more comfortable.

It took nearly a quarter of an hour for him to return, and then he hinted that her husband was leaving. On the way home, Shuning asked her mother what she had said to her grandmother, and she smiled: "It's nothing, it's just about your draft, your grandmother has promised, and when you enter the palace in a few days, you will beg your mother to go." One day there is a mother of Yanfu Palace, and there will be no more mothers in the family, so it is better to find a good family for the girls. As for the prince, I'm afraid that a few of your cousins are more suitable. ”

Shuning was overjoyed, with the help of the concubines in the palace in this matter, she had at least an eighty percent chance of losing the election. Seeing that her daughter's face was full of joy, she couldn't help but smile and said, "Don't be too proud, let people see the signs, just know this matter yourself." Also, although you don't want to be selected, you still have to learn the rules, otherwise people will know that you are the granddaughter of the family, but you don't know the palace etiquette, and people will laugh at you. Just now, your grandmother said that you are good in everything, but the rules are looser, and you want me to find a grandmother to teach you. ”

Shuning hurriedly said: "Eniang, I will learn the rules well, you can teach me, don't look for grandma." "What if I find a grandma Rong? Even Mama He is not good.

Shi scolded with a smile: "Little ghost spirit, you don't know your mind when you are a mother?" Don't worry, if you want to find a friendly place, you won't be wronged. ”

Shuning smiled, and her mood suddenly relaxed.

She hasn't started to learn the rules yet, so she will do something else first. I had planned to visit Xinran for a long time, but I always had to prepare a few suitable gifts for the expectant mother. She asked her mother and her second sister-in-law, collected some snacks, and made a purse out of red satin, embroidered with a delicate pattern of "Nine Sons Playing Lotus", originally planned to contain some spices, but thought that those spices would not have an impact on pregnant women, so she dismissed her idea.

She asked for advice, and she said, "It's good to have some flowers and plants, such as daylilies." ”

Daylilies are also known as "suitable for men", and in ancient times, they were given to pregnant women to bless them with the meaning of giving birth to men, which is indeed very appropriate. But......

"Where does the daylily come from at this time? Thank you for a long time. Shuning asked.

The second sister-in-law interjected: "Girl, daylilies are golden needle vegetables, isn't there one in the other courtyard?" It doesn't matter if it's dry, right? ”

Shuning was reminded by her that there was production in Fangshan Garden, and some of them were sold, and she still kept a few catties at home. However, the bamboo flower purse sent was filled with goldenrod...... She has some black lines.

Forget it, the meaning is auspicious. She sent a servant back to Fangshan to fetch it, and sent it the next day. Putting the dried daylilies in her purse and packing some snacks and fruits for gifting, Shuning went to the main house to see her mother in order to get permission to go out tomorrow.

At this time, Zhang Bao and Zhang Bao were worried, and Zhang Bao was going to see Chen Liangben tomorrow, and he didn't know what gift to give. Zhang Bao wanted to send a set of four treasures of the study, but he felt that it was too thin and wanted to send two antiques. Zhang Bao said: "Lord Chen has never accepted heavy gifts, and I am afraid that he will not accept them." But he said: "If you want to recover, you have to ask him to say a lot of good words, and if the gift is thin, others will be unhappy." "The husband and wife have their own reasons, and there is no conclusion.

Shuning thought for a while, and said: "Ama and Eniang both make sense, but the ordinary four treasures of the study are indeed too thin, it is better to give a more elegant antique, only those who know the goods know its benefits, but it doesn't have to be too valuable, so as not to be said to be a bribe." No matter what, Amma is just begging for revenge, and it is not the first time to ask for an official. ”

Zhang Bao twisted his beard and nodded. Shi said: "But if your official position is good or bad after Amma's recovery, you still have to ask him to contribute more." Shuning smiled: "It's not just him, there's no need to put your body too low." Amma's political achievements are still there, and he has the relationship with his grandfather, and we are not ordinary people in our house. Besides, Amma's visit in the past was just like a friend's dealing, and it was too obvious to make people gossip. ”

Zhang Baodao: "This is reasonable, I am not as good as I was back then, and I have a knighthood, but I am not a petty official." "It's right to think about it, so I don't insist anymore.

Shuning helped her father pick out a gift, and finally selected a purple inkstone carved bamboo, which is an old thing in the former Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 100 years, although it is not very valuable, it is also rare. After finishing her work here, she helped her mother pick out a few gifts to congratulate the fourth elder brother's wedding, and when she was happy to get permission to go out, she happily asked someone to arrange a carriage.