Shen Tingjun was busy with this to Chinese New Year's Eve, and when he finally came out of the palace and returned to the Hou Mansion, the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner was ready.

The old lady saw her eldest son several days apart, and she was very distressed. kept holding Shen Tingjun's hand and muttering, "Da Lang has lost weight, you see that the clothes are wide." You haven't had a few days off, right? I see that you are blue and black right now, and you must be tired. ”

Shen Tingjun said, "The state affairs are busy, and it coincides with the imminent sealing of His Majesty's pen, there are too many things that need to be dealt with urgently, and it is appropriate to be busy." But after today, I can have a few days of leisure, and I can spend a good life with my mother. ”

When the old lady heard her son's words, Le's eyebrows and eyes were crooked. Obviously, he was very happy in his heart, and he had to make a considerate appearance of his son. "Mother doesn't need you to accompany you, you can rest and rest and raise your spirits. Seeing that you are haggard now, my mother feels distressed when she looks at it. ”

Shen Tingjun responded with a "good".

Next, Shen Tingyi and Shen Tinglan also joined the topic, because officials up and down the DPRK and China have been busy with disaster relief recently, and the topic inevitably turned to this top.

Shen Tingyi is the imperial history, and the disaster relief originally had nothing to do with him, but it had to be rebuilt after the disaster. The imperial court took pity on the victims and prepared to build some houses for free, but there were always people who were shoddy, or simply exchanged or withheld construction materials such as mud and sand.

Shen Tingyi is a more serious person, and he can't see this kind of fly camp dog the most, so he has to go to the disaster settlement area to guard, always staring at the mud and sand and wood, which is also terrifying.

Shen Tinglan is not a court official yet, so it stands to reason that disaster relief has nothing to do with him. But he is a candidate for next year's spring festival.

This year's snow disaster is so severe, no one knows if there will be questions related to it in next year's exam. Shen Tinglan has a keen mind and feels that it is more likely to appear, although it will not directly appear with the proposition of "snow disaster", but there is always some knowledge involved in the disaster.

Because of this, Shen Tinglan has no time to spare. He gets up early every day to go to the study to check the information, and when he has free time, he accompanies his second brother to "go to the construction site". From time to time, out of meeting friends and meeting with brothers and sisters, everyone exchanges information with each other, fills in the gaps, and strives to get more comprehensive and detailed answers.

Of course, no one can compare to his eldest brother, whether it is his friends or fellow disciples. The eldest brother also has the identity of being the prince's companion, and the prince is in charge of disaster relief, so if you want to know anything, it is more convenient to ask the eldest brother directly. But the eldest brother was too busy before, and he didn't go home for several days in a row, so Shen Tinglan only seized an opportunity to talk to the eldest brother now.

The three brothers were talking lively, and Shen Yuyao happily ran in from outside. As soon as she entered the door, she saw the maids busily serving food, the third brother and brother were talking about something, while the mother was sitting on the side and watching with a smile, and the second and third sisters-in-law had helpless expressions.

Shen Yuyao pouted and ran over to hug the third brother's arm, her "eldest brother", "second brother" and "third brother" called over and over again, before she said arrogantly, "You still can't eat?" During the Chinese New Year, when you talk about these endless snow disasters, you are really loyal ministers who are worried about the country and the people. ”

The old lady slapped her daughter, "You will talk nonsense, go and play quickly." ”

"Mother, you are really eccentric. Didn't you see the second sister-in-law, the third sister-in-law and a few nieces and nephews waiting for dinner? Look at Rong An's greedy mouth, saliva is flowing out. Don't you feel sorry for me, and you don't feel sorry for your grandchildren? When has this been, my brothers are still talking, do you have no opinion and I am not allowed to protest a few sentences? ”

The old lady was said to have raised her hands and surrendered to her daughter, "My fault, my fault." ”

Shen Tinglan saw that his son was indeed looking at the dishes on the table, looking very greedy, and hugged him from Zhou Baolu's arms with a smile.

"Yes, yes, it's all ours, it's me and the eldest brother and the second brother who only care about talking, and don't care about you little ones. Okay, okay, let's start eating. ”

The family happily started eating.

Because a few children laughed and coaxed the adults to laugh, the meal seemed very joyful.

But the more lively the flower hall is, the more the old lady feels sorry for her eldest man.

Erlang and Saburo both have children under their knees, and Erlang has both children and has three children. Although San Lang is lonely under his knees, Rong'an has no biological brothers, but in the end it is also a family, with both parents and children around his knees.

Compared with the liveliness of Erlang and Saburo's house, it seems more and more lonely on Dalang's side.

The old lady saw that her son was alone, and her distressed mood continued to rise.

The old lady is getting older, and her health is getting worse day by day. But after all, she has to buy a home for her eldest lang before leaving, otherwise she can't look at her eldest lang when she is lonely in this world, and she can't look away when she dies.

The old lady drank the soup silently and once again touched the noble girl in the capital. She remembered the recent times, and handed her a message, and the family who was interested in marrying the Hou Mansion of Wu'an finally picked and selected two households, and prepared to arrange the things to see each other after the year.

After all, Da Lang promised her that she would go on a blind date, and she had to do it. Otherwise, otherwise when she turned around and went down, she would have to accuse him of being an unfilial son in front of her ancestors.

After the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, a few children happily went to the yard to set off fireworks, and then began the vigil.

But the children are too young, Rong Xi and Rong Xun are only seven years old after this year, and Rong An is even younger, and they are only more than three years old after the New Year.

The children yawned early, and the old lady felt sorry for her grandson, so she asked the second lady and Zhou Baolu to take the child back to the room to rest.

She was also old, and she couldn't stand it, so she only stayed with her children for a while and then went back to lie down.

There were only four brothers and sisters left in the flower hall, and Shen Yuyao saw that the three brothers began to say something she didn't like to hear again, so she couldn't help pouting boringly and muttered, "If only Sister Sang was still in the house, Sister Sang is young and not tired, she will definitely be able to keep vigil with me." ”

The three brothers paused when they heard the words, Shen Tingjun didn't speak, Shen Tingyi was not familiar with this "cousin", and Shen Tinglan's eyes flickered slightly.

He couldn't help but think of what Zhou Baolu had done before, the rumors he had spread, and remembered that Zhou Baolu was too pressing, and maliciously smeared him.

He felt guilty about this cousin, and there were some inexplicable feelings in his heart......

Shen Tinglan said with a smile, "Cousin Sang, I won't come over to join in the fun at this time." Moreover, although there are only two sisters and brothers left in the Sang family, they are also a family, and they also have to eat the New Year's dinner together and keep vigil together to remember their parents and relatives. ”

made fun of Shen Yuyao again, "You only read a few literacy books, and the rest of the books let you read more, and you will have a headache." Do you know that the Sang family is originally a family of poetry, books and etiquette, and the cousin and cousin of the Sang family have been reading and reading since they could speak. Cousin Sang is very knowledgeable, and I am a little embarrassed to talk to you, who does not understand literature and ink. ”

Shen Yuyao was furious, "Third brother, you will make fun of people." ”

Shen Yuyao complained to the eldest brother, "Big brother, look at the third brother, that's how he is the elder brother, he made fun of me for being illiterate, and said that I didn't know poetry and books." Big brother, how can the third brother be like this Brother brother, big brother, you teach him a lesson. ”

It's a pity that her eldest brother only gave a light "um" and then stopped talking. I don't know if I didn't listen to what she said, or if I felt that Saburo's words were hurtful, but in the end, it was the truth, and he couldn't go against his conscience to say Saburo.

Shen Yuyao didn't get support from her eldest brother, and she was very angry. She pounced on the third brother with her teeth and claws and scratched it, the brother and sister were playing and making trouble, and the maids in the room were laughing non-stop.

Fortunately, Shen Yuyao is a child's temper, anger comes and goes quickly.

After a while, she threw that bit of anger out of the clouds, and became interested in what the third brother had just said.

"The Sang family is a family of poetry and books? Were the ancestors of the Sang family all scholars? ”

Shen Tinglan saw his sister's curious eyes and asked him, so he bowed his head lightly, rubbed her head and said, "Yes." The ancestors of the Sang family were not only scholars, but also famous. The Sang family's grandfather and father were both Jinshi, but it's a pity that ......"

It's a pity that Shen Tinglan didn't say anything, but a few people sitting there have heard about it. It's nothing more than the death of the Sang family's parents, leaving a pair of children alone.

Shen Tinglan said again, "The Sang family is a family of scholars, and there are also several bookstores under the door. It's a pity that after the death of the Sang family's parents, only a pair of young children were left. At that time, Cousin Sang was only eleven or twelve years old, and Qing'er was still a baby waiting to be fed. Having a male in the family is not enough to support the door, and Cousin Sang suddenly has to take care of her parents' affairs and find her missing brother in a big disaster......"

Shen Yuyao said suddenly, "Does Cousin Sang still have a brother?" I've never heard her talk about it. ”

"Yes. It's just that it fell into the water at that time, and there was no one alive or dead for all these years. ”

Shen Tingyi couldn't help but ask, "Can you send someone to find it?" ”

"Looked. Cousin Sang was young at the time, and she insisted on searching for her missing brother. Now that she's a few years older, she won't give up if she doesn't find anyone. ”

Shen Yuyao said silently, "Cousin Sang is really miserable." ”

The four siblings fell silent.

What happened to the Sang family is just a microcosm of all living beings, who doesn't suffer a little in the world?

It's just that those people have nothing to do with them, and they don't care about their joys and angers. After all, the Sang family is a close family, and now hearing that there are so many hardships behind them, it is inevitable that people will empathize with her, and they will pity her more and more.

Shen Yuyao sighed in a low voice, "When Cousin Sang comes to the mansion to pay New Year's greetings, I must be kind to her." I didn't even know that it was not easy for Cousin Sang. ”

"Don't pity her. Cousin Sang is self-reliant and self-reliant, and may not want to see you cautious of her. ”

Shen Yuyao was dissatisfied, "I'm not pitiful Cousin Sang, I feel sorry for her." Do you know how to feel sorry for her? ”

Shen Tinglan stopped talking, and Shen Tingyi felt that commenting on an unfamiliar female dependent behind his back was against the character of a gentleman, so he kept silent. As for Shen Tingjun, he is used to being silent, and ordinary brothers and sisters talk about each other, unless he is specifically asked, he is all on the wall and is invisible. At this time, he was silent, and everyone didn't think there was anything wrong.

However, after saying that people are not good, several people quickly changed the topic, and said that they entered the palace at the beginning to congratulate and many matters related to the New Year's greetings after that.

The three of them talked lively, and no one noticed that the silent and steady eldest brother in their hearts was dark at this time, and there were many strange feelings in them.

Shen Tingjun said suddenly, "I still have something to do, leave first, and you continue to keep vigil." ”

Shen Tingyi and Shen Tinglan immediately stood up when they heard the sound, "Big brother, are you going to patrol the streets again?" ”

Shen Yuyao: "Big brother, can't you just stay at home?" It's Chinese New Year's Eve, even for some young people, they have to celebrate the New Year. Everyone is staying at home, there are not even many pedestrians on the street, where is there any crime? Besides, there are errand patrols on the streets, so you don't need it, big brother. ”

Shen Tingjun only said, "You just keep it." ”

Seeing Shen Tingjun striding out and going out soon, Shen Tinglan couldn't help but shout, "Big brother, you can go out, but don't delay the time and miss today's court." ”

In response to him, Shen Tingjun said coldly, "I know." ”

When the words fell, the others were gone, leaving the three brothers and sisters in the flower hall looking at each other, and couldn't help muttering about the eldest brother again. "The eldest brother is too concerned, and he doesn't take a break on Chinese New Year's Eve."

"Zhengsanpin, listen to the scenery, but how many people have seen the difficulty of the eldest brother over the years?"

"That can't be helped, who let His Majesty and the crown prince entrust the eldest brother to the big brother." The great virtue of the heaven and earth of the upper body today, the grace that has never been seen in ancient and modern times, although the liver and brain are smeared on the ground, how can it be repaid! However, the day and night are timid, loyal to the ...... of duty"

……

Not to mention what the three brothers and sisters were talking about here, just to say that in the Sang Mansion, because it was the first time to keep vigil with her sister in her own house, Qing'er was very excited.

Although they only have two sisters and brothers, compared with other people's parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters-in-law as accompaniment, and the joyful scene of nephews and nieces around their knees is particularly insufficient. But compared to the previous time when people were under the fence, and even the vigil had to be silent, these two situations were like clouds, and now this is very satisfying.

People, you have to have a comparison to be satisfied.

Qing'er is very content, and after he looks forward to it, he is full of expectations.

My sister told him that she would send him to Fan Fuzi to study in the next year.

Fan Fuzi runs a prestigious private school in the neighborhood.

His old man lives in Dongcheng, and he knows that his ancestors are all eunuchs.

And that's exactly what happened.

Fan Fuzi's ancestors once had a second-class master, but the children and grandchildren were not angry, and the generations declined, and when it came to Fan Fuzi's generation, although he was lucky enough to be admitted to the Jinshi, he was the same Jinshi...... With Jinshi like a wife, Fan Fuzi consciously humiliated his family, and the family had no money to provide for him to seek an official position, in desperation, Fan Fuzi gave up his plan to go out of office, and returned to his home to open a private school.

He himself is not outstanding in learning, but he is very good at teaching and educating people. Over the years, there have been many students who have been admitted to the Jinshi by Professor Fan Fuzi, and they are also well-known figures in the capital.

Qing'er went to Fan Fuzi's private school a few years ago to try to study, whether it was Fan Fuzi's teaching method, or the atmosphere of the school, or the classmates who would study together in the future, Qing'er liked it very much. Therefore, he decided to officially hand in the bundle after the year and go to a private school to study.

Qing'er grew up in the inner house since she was a child, and her playmates from childhood to adulthood were either Zhou Baolu's nephews or Wang Wenju's nephews. It's a pity that Zhou Baolu's nephew was influenced by his parents and grandparents, and only regarded Qing'er as a poor relative living in their house to fight the autumn breeze, and often beat and scolded and sarcastic; And the two children of Wang Wentao's family are angry, and they are also used to doing evil, and they can't look down on Qing'er's literary appearance, so they want to fool, practice, beat, and scold.

It can be said that none of the peers Qing'er came into contact with when he was a child were friendly, so after meeting his peers who were so kind to him in Fan Fuzi's private school, he was very excited and couldn't wait to get involved with them immediately.

Qing'er is still a little interested, and discussed with Sang Xuanyue what to send an apprenticeship. The bundle is definitely indispensable, but in addition to the bundle, you have to send a salute. The traditional Six Rites are outdated, and now it is popular to give tea, wine, snacks, and bacon. However, these things are also very easy to buy, and you only need to walk around the street to buy all the things.

However, Qing'er is enrolling for the first time, in order to let him have a good admission experience, he has to specially select good tea and wine to send over, so that the master can take care of it a little more, Sang Xuanyue said secretly in his heart.

Sang Xuanyue was distracted, and Qing'er said coldly, "Sister, when will we go to the Hou Mansion to pay New Year's greetings to the old lady after the New Year?" ”

The smile on Sang Xuanyue's face stiffened suddenly, but fortunately, she reacted quickly, and soon said with a light smile, "Qing'er arrange it, Qing'er is also an adult, when Qing'er says to go, we will go when we go." ”

"How about the seventh day of the new year? The Hou family has a big business, and there must be many people who come to pay New Year's greetings, and there are still a few people who need Hou Ye to go to pay New Year's greetings. They must have been busy a few days before the Chinese New Year, and we went over on the seventh day of the new year. The old lady didn't have time to see us when she went early, and it was rude to go late. After all, the Hou Mansion is kind to our brothers and sisters, although we have moved out now, we can't be white-eyed wolves. Qing'er nodded solemnly, "We should still talk to the old lady about the matter carefully, and don't let the old lady have a grudge against us for moving out rashly." ”

Sang Twisted Moon smiled shallowly, "Okay, I heard it clearly." ”

It's getting late, the table between the nurse and Su Xin has already ended, and even the tables, chairs, dishes, chopsticks, etc. have been cleaned up.

The nurse came to the flower hall here to take a look, and saw that the sisters and brothers were talking, but no one moved the dishes on the table, so she said, "I'll let the maids go down, and send two bowls of bird's nest soup to the girl and the young master?" ”

Sang Xuanyue hurriedly waved her hand, "My stomach is still full, so I won't eat it." ”

Qing'er also said with a disgusted face, "Bird's nest soup is something my sister eats, I am a manly husband, I don't eat it." ”

The nurse and Sang Xuanyue made fun of him together, he was not worthy of his name.

The maids came to clean up, and Sang Xuanyue and Qing'er urged the nurse to go back to rest.

The nurse is old, and these days because their sister and brother have come back for the New Year, she is so busy that her feet don't touch the ground. Her legs were inconvenient, and now she was very upset, and her face was sallow.

The nurse saw that the two children she raised were so caring for her, and she couldn't stop laughing.

However, she is not polite to the two masters, she still has to accompany them to start a family and start a business, accompany them to find the eldest son, if she doesn't take care of her body, she is afraid that she will not live that day.

Su Xin sent the nurse back, and Sang Xuanyue looked at her yawning brother, so she asked her brother to go to the front yard to rest.

Qing'er was not happy, "I'll stay with my sister until dawn." ”

"Go back and rest, there will be more opportunities in the future. You're growing your body, and you're not getting tall. My sister is gone, it's just a formality, and I'm going back to rest. ”

Qing'er was satisfied when she heard this, "Then I'll rest too." ”

Seeing Qing'er go to the front yard, Sang Xuanyue and Su Jin went to the room together. As he walked, he couldn't help but mutter, "It's time to add two more people to Qing'er's side." Now only Uncle Dumb is guarding Qing'er, Uncle Dumb is old, and it is inconvenient to follow Qing'er out, so Qing'er should still add two boys to follow. ”

"You're right." Su Jin said, "Add two more people, and let the dumb uncle discipline for a few days." Although the dumb uncle can't speak, he used to follow the master, and it is not a problem to train a few subordinates. ”

Uncle Dumb is one of the old men of the Sang family who entered Beijing this time.

After Sang Xuanyue left the Wang family, she asked the nurse to write a letter to them. More than ten years have passed, and there are very few old people in the Sang family who are willing to follow their sisters and brothers, but there are still a few people who read the old master, so they packed their luggage and went to Beijing without saying a word.

Uncle Dumb used to be the steward of the Sang family's bookstore, and it was Father Sang who saved his life and gave him a stable job when he had nothing. Uncle Dumb was grateful, so he always accompanied the main family.

With a dumb uncle accompanying Qing'er, she naturally doesn't need to worry about it in the front yard, but the dumb uncle has a dumb disease after all, and he is really not young.

Sang Xuanyue and Su Jin talked about the arrangement of things, and the two entered the room.

Because of the urgency of living, this house has not yet had time to pass through the dragon. However, the nurse bought good smokeless carbon, and the brazier in the house was not extinguished from morning to night, but it was also very warm.

Sang Xuanyue cleaned up and let Su Jin go back to rest. At this time, it was already a watch, maybe it was overdone, or maybe it was because Qing'er mentioned the Hou Mansion, and Sang Xuanyue was a little restless at this time.

For the old lady, Sang Xuanyue really felt guilty. The old lady was not kind to her, and when Zhou Baolu was not kind to her, it was the old lady who repeatedly stood up to support her. Although the old lady was inconvenient for Zhou Baolu's face because of her identity, the old lady also saved her face without damaging Zhou Baolu's interests, allowing her to spend the past few months in the Hou Mansion smoothly.

And because of the absurdity of that day, she ran out of the Hou Mansion in a panic, and she didn't even say goodbye to the old lady in person. This approach is no different from the white-eyed wolf, she is really afraid that the old lady will be hurt by her, and she will be sad again.

After thinking about the old lady, the man who had been deliberately ignored by her, inevitably appeared in her mind.

Sang Xuanyue thought of Shen Tingjun's angular face and his restraint......

Her face was red, and her breathing was slightly rapid,

Sang twisted her lips tightly, clenched the corners of the quilt, and lowered her eyelids slightly,

As time passed, her memories not faded, but became clearer.

Sang Xuanyue also realized more and more that it was indeed her initiative that day.

It's that she can't wait, it's that she's relieved......

(End of chapter)