After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 601 Loneliness
Haitang sighed, "Since Ma Ma has spoken, and grandma has agreed, I have no choice but to do it. And not only do I have to do it, I have to do it well and carefully, otherwise I won't be able to pass grandma's test. No matter what she has in mind, she is always thinking about me, but the method is a bit problematic. How can I let her down for no reason?"

But making clothes also requires some attention to the method.

A winter coat required silk and satin, a layer of cotton, and fur lining. Ma also asked her to make it delicately and embroider some patterns. In the process, she might accidentally reveal her needlework skills that she used in the palace in the past, which would make Ma Shangyi suspicious.

Therefore, she had to be extra careful and choose common folk sewing techniques as much as possible, and she couldn't let her grandmother Ma feel strange and ask her why her sewing was different from the ones she had done before.

For this one piece of homely winter coat, she might have to spend the energy to make ten or twenty pieces of clothing. Just thinking about it gives her a headache.

Although she was praised at home for her good sewing skills, it was only to prove to the elders that she was really learning what a girl should learn, instead of lying down and playing all day. At most, she would make two new clothes for herself or her family in her spare time, and she didn't spend too much time on it. She didn't want to become a free sewing woman!

Haitang sighed in annoyance, but Haijiao was confused and didn't know what her younger sister was struggling with. She just smiled and said, "Then my younger sister will do her best and take her time. Don't worry about anything else. It's no big deal that you made this dress well, got praise from Ma Shangyi, and even gained a good reputation outside. As long as grandpa and grandma are not in Chang'an to choose a partner for you, it's not a bad thing for you to have a good reputation. Grandpa's official position is not high, and you often interact with the young ladies of the Zhenguo Mansion on weekdays. It's inevitable that you will be looked down upon. If those ladies can look up to you because of your good reputation, you won't be so easily bullied when you go out."

Haitang looked at him helplessly and nodded silently in agreement.

She knew the secret of her brother's rebirth, but she had never told him that he was actually a time traveler. There was no way for him to understand what was really bothering her now.

Jin Jiashu has a secret, so he can't confide in his friends. Haitang feels that her situation is similar. She is not as good as Jin Jiashu. At least there is someone who knows Jin Jiashu's secret, but that person can't empathize with him. She is truly living alone in this world, holding a big secret in her heart, but she dares not tell anyone.

Who can understand this feeling of loneliness?
The brother and sister chatted for a while, exchanging some trivial information, and then someone came from the main room to urge them to have dinner.

After dinner, Haitang chatted with her grandparents for a while, then went back to her room. She had to take some time to look at the fabrics and furs sent by the Jin family, and see how to make Ma Shangyi's vest.

Haitang treated this job very carefully. It took two days just to design the pattern and cut the pattern. Ma had come to her room to see her progress. She didn't complain about her slowness, but she felt a little depressed. After returning to the main courtyard, she took out the satin cotton jacket that Haitang had made for her not long ago. After carefully examining it for a long time, she couldn't help but complain to her confidant, Aunt Cui, in a low voice: "Tangtang has always been quick and efficient in making clothes for the family. She made a new set of clothes in a few days. When has she ever been so slow and careful? Why is she more concerned about Aunt Ma's clothes than her new cotton jacket?"

Aunt Cui laughed and said, "Didn't Madam personally tell me to do it more carefully? I am just listening to you!"

Although Ma understood this, she still felt a little sad. She stared at the new cotton-padded jacket in her hand and said to Madam Cui, "I originally thought that this new dress was bright in color, so I could keep it for the New Year. When I visit relatives, if someone asks about it, I can take the opportunity to show it off, saying that it was my granddaughter's needlework. But after seeing the dress Tangtang made for Madam Ma, I felt that this dress was too plain. If the two dresses were shown together in front of people, this one would be easily outdone. What would I do then? Would people say that my granddaughter's dress for me was not as elaborate as the one she made for outsiders? Should I add some embroidery to this dress to make it look more gorgeous?"

Madam Cui said, "If Madam wants to add some embroidery to your new dress, just tell me. I am very good at sewing, and I don't think it would take much effort for Madam Ma to embroider your dress. It would be easy for me to embroider a few more flowers on your new dress."

Ma hesitated for a moment and stuffed the clothes back into the box. "Forget it. Tangtang's homework is hard enough on weekdays. Now I have found her a new job. I am afraid she will be tired. My new coat is bright in color and has fine stitches. Everyone will praise it when they see it. It is gorgeous enough when matched with my embroidered bodice. There is no need to embroider any more flowers, otherwise it will appear too complicated. Tangtang made clothes for Ma Ma so carefully because I specifically asked her to do so. How can I hold her back? As long as Ma Ma is satisfied with the new clothes and says good things about our Tangtang in front of others, I won't have to worry about the child's marriage in the future."

Ma quickly adjusted herself. Aunt Cui secretly glanced at her a few times and saw that she was no longer bothered by the matter. She asked her in a low voice: "Madam, do you really want to find a marriage for my sister in Chang'an? The master hasn't agreed to this matter yet. What if he gets angry?"

Ma whispered, "That's why I came here quietly. As long as a good family takes a fancy to our Tangtang, whose family background, character, and child's appearance and talent are all outstanding, the future will be first-class. For the sake of his granddaughter's life, how can the master not agree? As long as he agrees, if I want to stay and can't bear to leave the child in the future, he won't be able to refuse. At most, I will accompany him back to his hometown in Zhili to live for two years. The clansmen there are not good people. It's okay to meet them occasionally, but dealing with them all day long will soon make it difficult for us to get along. After the sacrifice to the mother-in-law, the master will have fulfilled his wish and is tired of his relatives, so he will naturally come back with me. I promise that he will never mention going back again in the future."

Ma had been thinking about this for a long time. Based on her understanding of her husband, this plan had a high chance of success. Even if it failed, it didn't matter. When all the grandchildren were settled in Chang'an, would her husband really abandon his own flesh and blood just to go back to his hometown? Even if he went back, he would still come back!
Their family has friends and relatives in Chang'an, and they can rely on the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. It's only a matter of a word for their grandson to get a military post, and it will be easy for him to get promoted in the future. His future is clearly bright. Why must he go back to his hometown in Yongping, Zhili, where he is unfamiliar with the place and has to start all over again?

Could the boy from Yongping Prefecture be better than the young talents in Chang'an? Could my granddaughter find an ideal match in her hometown?

And the second son, Hai Chang'an, is far away from the Chang family in the capital, so the Chang family will not care about him. If he goes to Yongping Prefecture, which is much closer to the capital, can he still get rid of the control of the Chang family? How can he live a peaceful life then? ! He has already found a job in Chang'an, and his future is stable, so there is really no need to take risks.

Ma Ma analyzed many things with her, and Ma thought they made sense. In fact, Chang'an was really good, and she felt more at ease living here. She did not object to her husband returning to his hometown to visit the graves and worship his ancestors, but since their family had left Yongping more than 30 years ago, why should they go back?
(End of this chapter)