The skilled widow is busy farming

In the spring of this year, a few more children got married. Everyone invited Xiu Niang and the clan elders to come over and have a look. It seemed that they nodded after looking at them to make people feel at ease.

Li Lian'er and Wang Qiao'er came back with the news one after another. Lian'er gave birth to a son. Her husband's family was so happy that they almost praised her to heaven. She did not disappoint her husband's family. She excelled in everything as a steward, director, and host, and her relatives and friends all praised her. He never stops speaking, he is competent and competent in everything, and his body and bones are strong.

Wang Qiaoer also got pregnant in the northwest. At this time, she was already eighteen and almost 19 years old. It was safer to give birth to a baby. Xiu Niang taught her these things in private. Don’t be in a hurry to have a baby. Cultivate a relationship with your husband first and wait for two years. There is still time for rebirth. It is not a problem to take ten thousand steps back and not have children for three years. With the current reputation of the Li family, it is not a big problem to protect their children.

The two children listened to the advice, and now the relationship between the couple is harmonious, and they almost obey their wife's orders. Li Lian'er's husband has also been admitted to the Jinshi, and plans to take up a post soon. Li Heng also found the opportunity.

This is the power of the clan. Even if you are not a biological brother or sister, if your surname is Li, you can get a share of the Li family's resources.

The Li family gathers all the connections that can be united and develops support. If you and I are better, we will be better. Even if a relative is an official, we are not jealous. We will help if we can. This is how the relationship is managed, and gradually become each other's official connections.

This force is powerful even to outsiders.

Don’t think that you can become an official if you pass the imperial examination. No, taking the imperial examination requires money. Being an official and entering an official career is to steal other people’s opportunities. There are too many people who will trick you and deceive you. If you die, there will be another official position. Do you think it will? Is anyone soft-hearted?

Why did Li Heng and the others have to get married? Even their mother couldn't be around for a long time. This was the price.

Officialdom is not about coming in when you want, and going out when you want. Dreaming is faster.

The reason why the Li family has soared is because Zhou Yi took the lead. Zhou Yi also relied on the protection of the Yue family at that time. No one dared to do anything cruel, and he was cautious and considerate. In addition, because of the situation in the court, the emperor needed to promote the poor family to compete with the left wing of the family. Zhou Yi B seized the opportunity.

Otherwise, we may not be where we are today.

The village next door is not too poor, but it only takes the exam for the first time. Instead, it entrusts the Li family's connections to become a master. The salary is about 800 taels of silver a year. I am familiar with official affairs and hope to make stronger and closer friends in the future. If you can improve your network, whether you want to continue taking the exam depends on your personal situation.

Those who are too poor may not be able to make it to the end, and those who are too rich may not make it to the end. For example, three generations of businessmen can also take the imperial examination, but the journey is more difficult than that of poor children from farmers. The civilized and military elites do not want any of them and are extremely repelled. Some things are not what you want. The ground is as it is.

This is because the husbands of Li Lian'er and the others are married to landlords and belong to a farming family. The Li family basically does not consider wealthy businessmen now, as it will drag down the family's reputation.Maybe other prominent families don't mind and it won't affect them too much, but at this stage, the Li family still cares a lot. Every marriage is very important for both men and women. A good marriage indirectly increases the power and connections of the entire clan.

This is also the main reason why Xiu Niang persuaded the clan elders to take over the marriages of all the children of the clan, regardless of gender, to avoid the older generation's old ideas and their own little tricks, which blinded the good children in vain.

In the past few years, Xiuniang and the old village chief have gained particularly high prestige in the village. Everyone has personally verified that their decisions have become more and more wise every time. They have led the whole village to take off, and their children have brought huge benefits and development to the whole village. Once you live a good life and your children have a good future, they will naturally be obedient.

Although not all of the young men who got engaged this year are famous, the marriage is not low-key. The girls have been educated and literate since they were young, and their family upbringing is very upright. They are from a well-established family. When you marry, you will promote the Li family's family style and be able to Give the next generation a better education.

This time Xiuniang came back from the capital and bought many precious books and prescriptions for her family to learn from.

Brother Rui further contacted the Xiao family and bought a lot of medicinal materials for the Zhou family and the Li family. It was more affordable than buying it on their own, and the items were good. He also sent his own brocades, wine and other items to the northwest.

At the same time, he also hired a few grown-up boys to open a shop on the northwest road to accumulate his own connections.

A few boys were selected from the village, all of them were smart and capable, and had some boxing skills, so they went together by boat.

The clan elders are right. If you want to get stronger from generation to generation, you have to work hard and never lose your luck.Xiu Niang's life was going very smoothly. She went to the family school every day to teach, taught apprentices in the weaving workshop, weaved tapestry for a while, had free time to paint and raise flowers, cook and make medicinal materials, and walked around the foot of the village's mountains. She lived a leisurely and comfortable life. This is also the reason why she is not willing to go to the capital.

No matter how big the courtyard in the capital was, she would still feel stingy. It was just a little big, and she felt very frustrated staying in the courtyard.

The village is different. There is now a place dedicated to horse racing. She can also go horse racing. Brother Rui found a good horse for her. When she has free time, she goes to look at the horse and brush its back. After two laps, she is happy.

In the capital, a widow's movements are restricted everywhere, but it is different in the village. She has a high status and seniority, and she has contributed a lot to the village. Everyone tolerates her and never restricts her movements. They think everything she does is reasonable and not that much. There are rules, but not in Beijing. She has to consider the children's face and reputation.

Today I took the children out to go horse racing. Spring has just warmed up, so it’s a good time to ride horses and hunt for spring outings. We can’t stay in school all day. When appropriate, we should go out for a run and get in touch with nature.

Xiu Niang's riding skills are quite good, and she also knows many equestrian movements, which amazes and admires the girls.

The reason why Xiu Niang can inspire the whole family and make the children willing to listen to her is that she has real abilities and is the most brilliant and top-notch in everything she does, even if no one refuses to accept her.

Xiu Niang's series of beautiful equestrian moves made the clan disciples applaud and whistle.

"You see, you don't have to be good at it, but you must know it. Girls, let's learn to play polo today. Every one of the girls in the capital knows how to play polo. If you don't know how to play, no one will talk to you."

Every time Xiuniang went to the capital, she would observe what girls from aristocratic families were learning and playing. If she knew what she knew, she would bring it back directly. If she didn't know how, she would learn from Qing'er Yingzi.

Don't underestimate the two girls. They have already made good friends in the capital, and their relationship is not bad. Qing'er even relied on her own ability to break into the elite circle and gained the recognition of a group of noble girls. Otherwise, what would Mrs. Lu think? If you fall in love with her, she must be the first to show off before being noticed.

"I know how to do this. Everyone has been playing polo a few days ago. It's been a hot topic for a while."

Many boys excitedly spoke up to help.

"Come on, let's divide the teams into men's and women's teams. We'll also play polo. The winning team will be rewarded."

"Come here, whoever is afraid of you, our women's team will definitely beat you."

"That's not necessarily the case. Don't cry if you lose."

"Master, please join our team."

Xiu Niang thought for a moment and said, "I'm on the same team as the girls."

"Master, you are a shameless person, you are partial, you always help these little girls..."

The boys jumped angrily, causing a group of girls to happily shake their heads and make faces, not to mention how lively it was.