Zhuang, who returned to Yangzhou by water, was in a different mood than when he entered Beijing, and his thoughts were a little heavy when he returned. I remembered the resoluteness of going to Huangquan with the lord regardless of the consequences when I went to Beijing a year, and now although the lord saved his life, he was thousands of miles away from himself. One was far away in Qiongzhou to serve hard labor, and the other could only return to the Wu family compound to survive. Now only the little Yuan Niang is by his side. Thinking of Yuan Niang, Zhuang only felt guilty in his heart. From birth to today, Zhuang and Yuan Niang have been together for less than a month, and Yuan Niang has never gotten along with her parents, I don't know if she recognizes her mother, will she open her mouth to call herself, can she speak, can she walk?

Thinking of this, Zhuang only felt like an arrow, now, her only spiritual pillar is Yuan Niang, she wants to see her child as soon as possible.

Hearing the news that the Zhuang family was about to arrive in Yangzhou, the Wu family got up early, and the old lady couldn't be idle for a moment, and she had to go to the middle courtyard every day to see how the cleaning was going. Seeing that the flowers on the flower stand under the windowsill were a little withered, he hurriedly asked someone to move away, and moved the branches and leaves from his yard with a strong green luster, a bright red flower shape, and a lush double-petaled mountain flower tea. The ground is also covered with a wood red ground Sihe Ruyi Tianhua brocade pattern planting carpet, the decoration is simple and elegant, Zhuang has just entered the door in the old lady's house praised this carpet to look rich and festive. Wisteria is also planted under the corner of the yard, and when it blooms in March and April, a bunch of huge flower spikes hang on the branches, and the sweet smell permeates the yard, and it is most comfortable to sit in the yard and enjoy the shade.

Mama Zhu, who was serving on the side, persuaded the old lady to sit down and rest, and the old lady held Mama Zhu's hand and sighed and said, "Alas, now I owe the most Zhuang and Wu Yuan." Less than three years after Zhuang's entry, the eldest was sentenced to exile in Qiongzhou, what is the difference between this and a widow. If the old lady of the Zhuang family sends someone to pick up the Zhuang family back, I will have nothing to say. But I can't let the Zhuang family leave the Wu family, for the sake of the Wu family's reputation, for the sake of Boyong, I can't let the Zhuang family go. I still remember when the Zhuang family first married into the Wu family, I also liked her very much, she was still the old lady when she was alive for Bo Yong's relatives, the daughter of the Zhuang family had nothing to say, she was familiar with the women's ring since she was a child, and she made a good female red, do you remember, the wedding dress that the Zhuang family wore when she entered the door had a beautiful pattern and fine embroidery, which made people reluctant to look away. If it weren't for the fact that her stomach didn't move all the time, I wouldn't have been so cold to her. Now that I think about it, my wife really regrets it. ”

Mama Zhu comforted: "You are also thinking about the heirs of the Wu family, grandma will understand your mind, you can relax."

The old lady looked at the busy subordinates in the middle courtyard, and said comfortingly: "I hope, it's just a pity that Wu Yuan is a girl, if Boyong has a son-in-law who can inherit the family business, under Jiuquan, I can also give an explanation to the old lady." Don't look at Zhonghe is now the chief merchant of the Lianghuai salt industry, I still know how many catties and taels of my son crawled out of my stomach, he has not been a business material since he was a child, when the old lady was alive, he once said that Boyong can strategize in the business field, Zhonghe is a rich man, and it is good to live a stable life under the protection of the family. He's not business material. As for the third child, he is immersed in learning, and he doesn't know anything about business, so he just wants him to get a name for himself, which can be regarded as a small achievement. ”

Mama Zhu didn't dare to say anything, and stood silently to serve, secretly thinking that although the second master of the Wu family was a little submissive, he had a good character, but the second master's wife Cui was not a good person, and she didn't know what kind of storm the Wu family would set off in the inner house if the second master was in charge. After the eldest grandmother comes back, whether she will continue to preside over the feed or will hand over the power of the feed to Cui's is really a problem.

When Zhuang and his entourage arrived in Yangzhou, it was already a cold winter, and red lanterns were hung outside the doors of every house in Yangzhou, and the winter in the south of the Yangtze River was much gentler than in the north. The carriage entered the city mightily, and Steward Zhu and his family had been waiting at the gate of the Wu family's compound for a long time, only to see the family and maids standing on both sides, and seeing the carriage of the Zhuang family, they hurriedly greeted him. Zhuang hadn't gotten out of the carriage yet, but he only heard Cui's whispering and talking to the old lady, like a mother and daughter.

The maid brought a stool and helped Zhuang get out of the carriage, Cui hurriedly stepped forward to greet Zhuang, took Zhuang's hand and said: "Sister-in-law, you went to the capital without saying a word, and you didn't say a word when you left, which frightened me." Teniang was too old to stand the fright, and she almost fainted. ”

Zhuang Shi apologized slightly, patted Cui's hand and said straightly: "I worry you, I have been here for so long, and Yuan Niang is also thanks to you for taking care of me." Otherwise, I really have no shame to see the master. ”

The third wife, Jiang Shi, stepped forward and said: "Sister-in-law, it's good that you return safely, in the days when you are not there, Yuan Niang can grow up a lot." ”

Speaking of Yuan Niang, Zhuang looked at the gate, only to see the nurse holding Yuan Niang standing in front of the gate, Zhuang hurriedly reached out to hug Yuan Niang, but Yuan Niang was a little recognized, lying in the nurse's arms and refusing to go over.

The old lady hurriedly relieved the siege and said: "The child is still young, it is the time to recognize people, it is good for you to come back, get along with Yuan Niang more, she will naturally know that you are her own mother." ”

Zhuang Shi said "um" and stopped talking, just looked at Yuan Niang, his red eyes seemed to be about to cry.

Seeing this, Zhuang Zhiyong took out a clay figure wearing a green gauze skirt and shook it in front of Yuan Niang, Yuan Niang's eyes were immediately attracted by this little clay figure, and he opened his hand vaguely and made a syllable of "want", Zhuang Zhiyong teased Yuan Niang, put the clay figure on Yuan Niang's hand, touched his head, and said gently: "Yuan Niang is obedient, uncle will bring you more interesting things next time." ”

Wu Erye, who followed closely, came to the gate and kowtowed respectfully to the old lady: "My son is not filial, he has been away from home for so long, and he has not been able to serve his mother and fulfill his filial piety." ”

The old lady looked at Wu Erye, who had lost a lot of weight, and burst into tears in distress, and Cui Shi hurriedly helped Wu Erye up.

Zhuang Zhiyong also came to the old lady, bent forward slightly, and asked the old lady to say goodbye: "Junior, Zhuang Zhiyong asks the old lady to say goodbye, and I wish the old lady good health." ”

The old lady said again and again, and said in a choked voice: "This time Boyong's case has worked hard for you." Thanks to you running around the capital, I don't know what it would be like. ”

Zhuang Zhiyong was busy and said, this is just a gesture, a matter within the bounds.

Seeing this, Zhuang hurriedly helped the old lady into the door, and Cui's also called his subordinates to carry the luggage. Wu Shuda, the third master of the Wu family, warmly invited Zhuang Zhiyong to have dinner at the Wu family, and it was not too late to return.

Zhuang Zhiyong excused himself: "I have been away from home for a long time, and I have not returned home to see my mother, but now that I have safely sent my sister back to the Wu family, my errand is also completed." Don't dare to delay any longer. Wait until you get home to see your mother. ”

After that, he was about to leave, Wu Shuda could only arch his hand and say softly: "Then let's talk about it in the future, and the world brother will go slowly." ”