Ordinary clear day

Chapter 92
Zhenzhen couldn't stand Shuning's playful gaze, she looked over frequently, and when her husband left after class, she immediately became angry: "What do you keep looking at me for?"

Shu Ning glanced at the engraving on her wrist, and sighed: "I said why did my brother go out last night, even if I really missed some books with brother Chongli, just come back today to get them, it turns out it's a drunkard Don't you mean wine?" After saying that, he hurriedly dodged away.

Zhenzhen rushed over with a blushing face, beat Shuning several times, gritted her teeth, then smiled again, straightened her hair and clothes, sat down again, and said with a smile: "Whatever you say, I know it well, so I'm not afraid of you making fun of me. "

Huh?Could it be that the relationship between the two has been established after just one night of effort?how so fastNot a single word of wind is revealed.Shu Ning is a little dissatisfied with her elder brother: Even if you guessed that the family members are happy to see the success, you should at least say it.

Seeing Shuning's complexion changing, Zhenzhen said angrily, "What are you thinking about? Brother Duanning and I are innocent, we get along like brothers and sisters now." Seeing Shuning's suspicious eyes, she felt embarrassed He lowered his head: "It's too early to say anything now, wait until he becomes promising in two years, and then talk about other things..." After speaking, my ears turned red.

I see.Seeing that Zhenzhen was so ashamed, Shuning couldn't force her anymore, so she changed the subject: "Although the red silk rope hanging on the nuclear carving looks strong, it's actually not very durable. Just wrap it around your wrist like this, be careful. It broke off at some point. I put the one my brother gave me in a box, so I’m not afraid.”

Zhenzhen was happy to follow the new topic, and said: "I thought about it, but I just couldn't bear to change..." She looked up at Shuning, and seeing that she didn't make fun of her, she continued: "But this nuclear carving is so delicate. , if you put it away and don’t wear it, it’s a waste.”

After thinking about it, Shu Ning said, "Let's change it, and change it to a good-looking and strong one. If you don't want to part with the red string, you can put it away." Zhenzhen felt that it made sense, so she took her back to the room to seek coolness. beads.

After hearing this, Liangzhu said, "Wouldn't it be nice to weave it with a colored rope, or string some beads on it?" Zhenzhen nodded, "That's fine, go and get the box of loose beads."

There are countless beads in the bead box, including emerald agate, crystal jade, and cheap glass beads.Zhenzhen asked: "Why did you put in all the leftover glass beads from last year?" Liangzhu looked at it and smiled and said: "There are not many left, so I put them all in. When stringing beaded chains, you can use them to match the color." .”

Shuning picked up a glass bead with a diameter of more than one centimeter, and asked: "Why did you buy such a big one?" Zhenzhen replied: "It was prepared to be stuffed in for fixing when making the bead clock. Seeing that the copper wire is still strong, it is useless. But it is for nothing, such a big one, what can it be used for? It can't be strung into court beads."

Her master and servant discussed what beads to use, but in the end they decided to weave a bracelet out of red and black silk rope, and just string a few agate beads on it.Shu Ning stared at the big glass bead, thoughtful.

This large bead is light green in color, and if there were a few more pieces of plastic inside, it would be about the size of a checker piece.Speaking of which, she used to be fascinated by this kind of game, but now she hasn't played it for more than ten years. I don't know if she still remembers the appearance of the chessboard, can she make it?Chess pieces are fine, glass, stone, and wooden beads are all fine, as long as the colors can be distinguished, but the chessboard seems a bit complicated, and it takes a good calculation to know how many holes to dig.

After Zhenzhen ordered Liangzhu, she turned her head and saw Shuning staring at the pearl in a daze, so she pushed her a few times and asked, "What are you thinking?"

Shu Ning said: "When I saw this glass bead, I remembered a game I read in a book. It was a glass checkers that was popular in the homes of powerful people in the Northern Song Dynasty. I was thinking whether to make this kind of chess. We can play in our free time."

Zhenzhen was stunned for a while, and then asked her what this kind of game was like. After listening to her explanation, she thought about it for a long time, clapped her hands, and smiled: "I said it sounds familiar, but it doesn't have to be Use glass beads." She summoned Jiu'er, and ordered: "Go to the second master's room, and bring that pair of pointed hat chess pieces."

She smiled and said to Shu Ning: "My second brother has a chess set, and what I told you is almost exactly the same. I have seen him play it a few times before, but now that he is older, I put it aside. As soon as I said it, I remembered it."

Shu Ning was a little surprised, but thought that since the time traveler made this in the Northern Song Dynasty, of course it might be handed down, although the book said it was lost in several wars.

After a while, Chongli came with the checkers himself.He smiled and said to Shuning: "I heard that the two younger sisters wanted to play with this, so I personally sent it here. When I was a child, I got it from the young master of Chen Liangben's family. Yes. At that time, I thought it was fun, but after a long time, I felt that the boudoir atmosphere was too heavy, so I threw it aside. This is something Mr. Chen made to relieve the boredom of the wives at home. "

It was actually made by Chen Liangben!Could it be that he wanted to use these small games to attract the attention of wives and concubines, lest they quarrel all day long?
While secretly slandering that very stallion time-traveling man, Shuning carefully looked at the things in Chongli's hand.

It was a square box, and when it was opened, it was a wooden chessboard. A small rectangular box was divided into six grids, and inside were chess pieces of various colors. They were all made of wood in the shape of pointed hats, and a small ball was carved at the tip. , easier to hold than glass beads.

Looking at it, I felt a little itchy, so I invited Zhenzhen to play two games.But Zhenzhen said: "How do I remember? Let the second brother play with you." Chongli readily accepted.

In the beginning, Shu Ning was a little rusty, but the more she played, the more she became proficient, and she gradually recovered her former five-success ability.

Before leaving, she borrowed a pen and paper to imitate the appearance of the chessboard, and planned to find a craftsman to make one after returning home, and Chongli's checkers were only made of six pieces, so she wanted to make one with ten pieces.

The wooden chess board was finished soon, Shuning asked people to go to the jewelry store last time to buy ready-made large glass beads as chess pieces, in spare time, or when tired from practicing calligraphy, she would play two games with the girls, at most The most important thing is to follow Qiaoyun.

Qiao Yun is already five months pregnant, so it is inconvenient to work, but she is happy to play with her young lady.Chunxing, on the other hand, because the business of Cyclamen is so good and there is not enough manpower, she is borrowed to help from time to time, and she becomes the one who plays the least.

Half a month later, Zhenzhen followed Wen to Shuning's house as a guest, pulled her aside and said, "What's the point of you being bored in the house all day? Now that spring is warm and flowers are blooming, it's a good time to go out. My two Mother is going to take me to Conghua to enjoy the flowers, do you want to go with me?"

Shuning asked strangely: "Conghua? I only heard that there are many flower fields in Henan (note: the south bank of the Pearl River). Why don't you go there if you want to enjoy flowers?"

Zhenzhen said: "Conghua is now the time when lychee flowers are blooming, and there are many kinds of nectar produced. My second wife heard from several wives that nectar can nourish the skin, and there are hot springs in Conghua, which can make the skin fair and smooth. I’m gone. I’m afraid I’m telling your mother now, so go and help persuade me, and go with us.”

Shu Ning is very interested. I wonder what it was like to soak in hot springs in ancient times?Although I knew that there are hot springs in Conghua, I have never been to Guangzhou in the past few years.

She pulled Zhenzhen into the upper room, and she saw that Mrs. Wen was inviting Mrs. Tong to go with her, but Mrs. Tong didn't want to go: "I still have to take care of my youngest son. If I really go to Conghua, I'm afraid I will spend the night there." Well, who cares about this mess at home? Her aunt has been unwell for the past two days, and she can't go. If Shu'er wants to go, let her go with you."

So it was agreed that Shuning would go to Conghua with Wen and Zhenzhen.

Zhenzhen played in Shuning's room for a while, then said a few words to Duanning who came to look for books, and then left with Wen.

Mrs. Tong sent the guests away, and when her husband came back, she waited for him to change his clothes and wipe his face, and then accompanied him into the study.She asked: "You've always been in a bad mood recently, but those adults made things difficult for you again?" Zhang Bao said: "It's nothing, Master Zhu will be resigning in a few months, and now he is busy with new vacancies. Well, at most, you can only say a few ugly words, can you still eat me?"

Mrs. Tong sighed, and said: "A former general has left, and another chief envoy has come. Now even the wives are divided into factions. Those two prime ministers are fighting each other in the court. How come we women don't know each other?" Don't let it go?"

Zhang Bao shook his head: "Sometimes I also think, just resign and go home to live a quiet life. Now that we have a family background, even if we go back to Beijing, we don't have to be looked down upon by our family. It's better than being tortured here. It was nothing to be an assistant official in the past. , but I ask myself that I am not really qualified to be a seal official."

Tong Shi stroked her husband's back, forced a smile, and changed the subject: "Duan'er has been learning practical things by your side these days, how are you doing?"

Zhang Bao showed joy on his face: "It's hard for him. Children aged sixteen or seventeen are not inferior to adults at all. Sometimes they are more thoughtful than we think. They reminded me several times. There are such Son, what are you worried about in the future?"

Tong was also very happy: "Really? I knew this son would not disappoint us. He is just a child. Where did he learn these economics? How can he even mention something about your father who has been immersed in officialdom for many years?" ?”

Zhang Baodao: "Don't forget, he has seen a lot of things in the world by going around with Ama. How many of the noble children in Beijing are simple children? In the past three years, he has been outside more than me. It’s still strong to be an official for ten years.”

Tong only knew that her son was getting more and more capable, and didn't think too much about other things: "I think General Wu Dan appreciates Duan'er, why don't you ask him to help Duan'er to practice in the army here, It’s good to let him have a higher level of advancement, otherwise when we return to Beijing at the end of our term, he will be too old, which will be delayed.”

Zhang Bao pondered for a while, but didn't say yes or no.

====================== I am the dividing line of the conversion scene ==========================
Duanning didn't know that his parents were discussing his future, and now he was dealing with his sister's inquiry.Shuning thought that the timing of his coming to borrow books just now was too coincidental, so she asked him jokingly what was on his mind.

Duan Ning was copying some homework notes with a pen in his hand, but he smiled and said nothing.

Shu Ning was in a hurry, and urged: "You should give me a letter anyway. If you have that intention, I will help you with confidence. If you don't have that intention, just tell them clearly, and don't get hurt. Good girl."

Duanning laughed again: "You don't want to see my brother so much? Are you anxious to push me to others?" Shuning was angry and funny: "Could it be that if you have a sweetheart, you will stop treating me well? I'm not worried, wouldn't it be better to have more sisters-in-law to love me?"

Duan Ning glanced at her: "Your young sister-in-law's screaming will definitely ruin her boudoir reputation." He pondered for a moment, and said: "Zhenzhen is very good, at first I only thought of her as my younger sister, and didn't think about anything else. But after getting along for a long time, I feel very comfortable. She is not a sick Xi Shi who waits for others to be pampered all the time, nor is she an unruly and willful young lady who loves to play with her temper. If you can marry such a girl as your wife, there is What can we ask for? To be honest, with our identities, even our own parents may not be able to decide the marriage. Having such a well-know, well-matched and good-looking partner is naturally better than being manipulated by others to marry a girl who has never met before. Strong. What's more, what's the point in this life if you are accused of being an unlovable daughter-in-law?"

Shu Ning was startled: "Brother, is someone going to force you to marry someone?" Duan Ning was taken aback, then smiled: "That's all I said, where did you think?"

"If no one forced you, why would you say such a thing?" Shu Ning became more and more wrong, "I thought it was a bit strange when you came to Guangzhou suddenly. Even if you heard that Ama and I were both injured , but since Ama can still take over as the magistrate, it can be seen that the injury is not serious. Er Niang also wrote a letter to report that she is safe. Why do you want to come here from the capital thousands of miles away? Brother, tell me honestly, Is there any other reason?"

Duanning was a little dazed, then smiled and stretched out his hand to pinch his sister's nose: "You girl, don't you think too much? When I came, I was not only worried about Ama and your injuries, but also because Mafa wanted me to come and help Father, learn some economics. Where are you thinking?"

"Really?" You are not whitewashing the peace, are you?
"Really!" Duanning nodded emphatically.

He looked at his sister's serious look, and smiled: "The words I just said are actually out of feelings. You know that when I was in Beijing, I often went to various mansions with Mafa. My classmates and friends in the school, They also often invite me to my house as a guest, so I have met at least [-]% of the ladies in Beijing who are about the same age. The vulgar ones are not counted, and the appearance and talent are passable. Either there are some obstacles in the family, or there are nine out of ten. Those who are selected by the palace, even if they are not selected, will be betrothed to the royal family first. When will it be the turn of middle-class people like us? Therefore, people like Zhenzhen, who are smart, beautiful, versatile, and compatible, can be exempted from the election , The family background is good, I really can't find it with a lantern, if the emperor hadn't said to let her make up her own mind, I am afraid that the person who proposed the marriage would have stepped on the threshold of his family."

He sat down at the table again, picked up a pen and said: "But now I'm just a small prison student, and I have no official position. I have wronged her so much, so I have to make a fool of myself first."

Shu Ning looked at the book in front of him, thoughtful: "Brother has been studying hard recently, and learning practical things with Ama, is he preparing for the future?"

Duan Ning nodded and said: "Mr. Su is preparing for next year's scientific examination, and Ama told him not to disturb him all the time, so I simply followed Ama. First, I can help, and second, I can learn more about being an official. road."

Shuning tilted her head, a little puzzled: "I heard from Erniang that Zhenzhen's Erniang once mentioned that the general will take you through training, and that it will be easier to serve in the army in the future. But listen to what brother said just now. Tone, it seems that you don't intend to do that?"

Duan Ning nodded: "It's better to ask for help than to rely on oneself. Besides, I actually prefer to be a civil servant like Ahma. In the past, Mafa only wanted me to join the army. Now that I'm not by his side, of course I have to act according to my own will."

Shuning looked at the firm look on her brother's brows, and felt a little throbbing in her heart.My brother already has a plan for his future, but what will happen to her future?

(End of this chapter)