The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 8

The second lady's eyes flashed, "Oh?"

"I heard that Second Sister likes to read books very much." Seventh Lady was not discouraged by her indifferent attitude, and said with a smile, "I am going to school on the first day tomorrow, and I don't know what the master is teaching, so I would like to ask Second Sister to lend me some books Take a look, it's good to be prepared."

The eldest wife looked at the second lady gently.

"It's just to read a few miscellaneous books." The second lady disagreed, "Our daughter's family is not about books."

Qin Niangzi lowered her head aggrievedly, showing the attitude of a child in a rare way.

The third lady smiled innocently, "Fourth sister, don't you have some books too? Why don't you just lend them to Seventh Lady?"

The fourth aunt looked at the third lady, but said nothing.A trace of complacency and disdain flashed in the eyes of the second lady.The atmosphere was awkward for a moment, and the eldest wife couldn't help but look at Qi Yiniang.

Seventh Lady rubbed her hair, as if she didn't hear what Third Lady said, she smiled and said to Seventh Lady, "Seventh Lady, Sixth Lady is just about to learn the Four Books for Girls, if you don't mind, ask Sixth Lady to give you some elementary school books later. Enlightenment comes."

Sixth Lady smiled innocently, "That's right, Seventh Sister, Qionglin is a lot of fun."

Seventh Aunt was brought back from Beijing by Master Yang, and she has never been very close to other aunts, and she is not close to the eldest wife, even though she is not close, there is nothing wrong with it.Sixth Lady is seven years old this year. She looks very similar to Seventh Auntie. She has an extraordinary appearance and is a beauty.

The eldest lady smiled, the second lady curled her lips and said nothing, the fifth lady stared at the crowd inexplicably, she also smiled coquettishly, and asked the seventh lady, "Seventh sister, do you know how to read? You Xueqiong Lin, do you understand?"

Although Wu Niangzi is arrogant and indulgent, she can read a few words, but she has never paid much attention to it. The eldest wife has a rich family background, and she is more attentive in raising her daughters.When she was six years old, she already knew thousands of characters.

Seventh Lady sighed secretly.

Rich and powerful, there are so many right and wrong.A mere borrowing of books was taken advantage of by Er Niangzi, causing such a big commotion.

The third lady seems to be clever, but she is actually a stupid one. With a word from the second lady, she will see how to show her kindness to the seventh lady, but on the contrary, she fully exposes the scheming of the fourth aunt: Fourth aunt's desire to win over the seventh lady, everyone will see now Out.Seventh Yiniang has a good heart, she came out to smooth things over, and picked up good people to do it.

Wu Niangzi didn't understand the secrets here and there, she only knew how to catch Qi Niangzi's little tail to laugh at her.

I don't even think about it, if Qin Niangzi really couldn't read, would she ask her sisters to borrow books?
Qin Niangzi laughed and said, "Fifth Sister, I can also read a few words. It's just that I'm clumsy and I'm afraid of embarrassing myself in front of my master, so I have to prepare early."

Her words were blindly calming down, but Wu Niangzi didn't appreciate it, she raised her eyebrows and was about to talk.

The second lady suddenly smiled and said, "Sixth sister, you want to learn the fourth female book? The days go by quickly. You only went to school two years ago, and the primary school Qionglin took it backwards. Sir, you have to straighten it. No matter what you hold it No." He said, covering his lips and laughing.

Everyone laughed amusedly, but Wu Niangzi's words couldn't come out. Ninth Brother looked at this, looked at that, pinched Wu Niangzi, and whispered, "Fifth Sister, have you also read the Fourth Female Book now?"

The fifth lady blushed a little. Although she was smart, she went fishing for three days and spent two days drying the nets. She was two years older than the sixth lady, and she didn't read all the four female books.

"Just thinking." She acted like a baby to the second lady, "Second sister, teach me more! I really don't understand!"

"Your second sister is busy embroidering the dowry, so she has no time to mess around with you." The eldest lady said with crooked eyebrows.

A gleam of envy flashed in Fourth Yiniang's eyes, and when Seventh Lady looked straight at her, she lowered her head and smiled slightly, thinking about it.

The relative that Er Niangzi mentioned was Sun Liquan, the eldest son of the Sun family of Marquis Dingguo in the capital city. The marriage was agreed two or three years ago.The second lady didn't go to school anymore, and embroidered her dowry carefully in the secluded huang.

After the second lady got married, she was about to say goodbye to the third lady and the fourth lady. The elders and children were in order, and the fifth lady's marriage was always decided after the sisters...

Seventh Lady suddenly understood Fourth Aunt's desire.

She raised her head and glanced at Fourth Aunt, who was smiling, but her expression was a little dull, and she didn't know where her thoughts were drifting.

The third lady's brows and eyes were full of joy, she laughed and made jokes, which made the second lady a little shy, but also a little happy, she bit her lip and turned her head away.Brother Nine didn't understand anything, he was just messing around, and the scene was lively.

The fourth lady, the fifth lady, and the sixth lady didn't speak. The topic of dowry really didn't have much to do with their unmarried daughters.

"Okay, let's go." The eldest lady smiled, "You sisters should go to rest earlier after dinner. Master Huang will be here tomorrow, so you need to recharge your spirits."

Everyone giggled again.

Seventh Lady was a little confused and looked at everyone blankly.

Six Niangzi, who was sitting opposite her, explained softly, "Master Huang is our embroidery master. We were so angry with you in the twelfth lunar month of last year. He threatened that he would never come to teach again this year."

Everyone laughed again, and the eldest lady pointed at Liu Niangzi, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "If you hadn't brought the four treasures of the study to the embroidery room and knocked them all over Master Huang, how could she be so angry? I was so tired that I spent a few years longer." present."

The sixth lady leaned against the eldest wife and acted like a baby, a scene of family happiness.

When Mr. Yang walked into the back room, what he saw was this harmonious appearance.

"What are you so happy about?" He laughed and twirled his beard.

"Father!" The children all stood up and saluted, Fourth Aunt's smile brightened suddenly, and the eldest wife just bowed lazily.Seventh Yiniang stepped forward, took off the robe for Master Yang, and led him into the clean room.

It didn't take long for Master Yang to change into a bamboo-colored straight suit, and walked out of the clean room. Aunt Qi came out with the official robe in her arms, and handed it to Lichun.

"Master came back early today!" the eldest wife greeted.The second lady, the fifth lady and the ninth brother all got up and sat on the two rows of grand master's chairs, leaving room for Master Yang.

Master Yang sat next to the eldest wife and patted her knee with a smile.

"You also know that this yamen is open, and we have to drink again. The first month of the year is the busiest." As he said, he glanced at the aunts behind the eldest lady, and smiled at the fourth aunt, "Why don't you see Baba?" Room?"

"She's been very anxious these days, so I won't let her out of the room. It's important to lie on the bed and take care of the baby." The eldest wife said, "After dinner, go and see her."

This is what it should be, Mr. Yang is weak in his knees, if Ba Yiniang is pregnant with a son, then he will be a great contributor to the Yang family.

It's just that with Jiu Yiniang's lessons learned, maybe Ba Yiniang would like to have a daughter.

Fourth Aunt's eyebrows brightened, "I first went to see Eighth Aunt, she said that she wanted to eat something sour at night."

The eldest wife didn't care much, "Then ask the kitchen to send some pickled plums."

Seventh Lady lowered her eyes, the matter of the inner house was originally in the hands of the eldest wife, and Master Yang had little room to speak.The fourth aunt dared to intervene in the matter of the inner house, it can be seen that Master Yang loves her very much.

Master Yang nodded, "After all, it is a person with two bodies, so please take good care of it." He nodded to Fourth Aunt, "She came out of your room. If you have nothing to do, go for a walk."

"Hey." The fourth aunt responded crisply, and added, "Madam sends someone to visit the eighth aunt every day, she is very considerate."

Master Yang looked at the eldest wife with a little more warmth in his eyes.

The second lady was a little surprised, and looked at the gold-encrusted eight-treasure big chime bell in the corner.

Her movements were a little rough, and the eldest wife said, "It's time for dinner in each room. Where will the master eat tonight?"

"Let's just stay in the main courtyard." The old man didn't care much, "Let's go and have a good meal."

Everyone stood up and saluted, Lichun picked up Brother Nine, Second Lady, Fifth Lady, Seventh Lady and their maidservants filed into the clean room.

Speaking of which, except for the ladies in the main courtyard and the daughters in the side rooms, no maidservant can enter the main room.

When Bai Lu stood next to Qin Niangzi, San Niangzi looked at Qin Niangzi with jealousy.

After washing their hands and having dinner, Master Yang and the eldest wife went into the bedroom and talked to each other, Brother Nine was given to Fifth Lady by the eldest wife, "Take your brother to play for a while."

Fifth Lady was somewhat curious, "What's the matter, you have to keep it from Brother Nine."

Before the eldest wife could speak, Brother Nine said to his sister crisply, "It must be the letter from Aunt Xu's family."

The eldest lady smiled and patted Brother Jiu on the head, "You are the only one who talks too much."

The eldest wife's maiden name is Qin, and she is also a well-known family. All the sisters are well married. The eldest wife's elder sister married into Pingguo Duke Xu's family and gave birth to a son-in-law.Now she is the head of the Xu family.

The Yang family is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River, and the Xu family is a powerful family in Beijing. It is only natural that the two families get closer.For letters from the Xu family, Mr. Yang always wanted to pass the purpose to the eldest wife.

Wu Niangzi didn't ask any more questions, and pulled Brother Jiu out, "Brother Jiu, let's untie Jiu Lianhuan."

"Okay." Brother Jiu was very happy.

The eldest lady watched them go out with a smile, and then asked the elder, "I heard that three young girls were sent in from the front yard?"

The old man was a little embarrassed, "The king of Yue asked me to go drink last time, and he sent this pair of triplets here, but I couldn't accept it."

Officials have reached the level of Mr. Yang, most of them want to send women in, but Mr. Yang is quite self-restraining, and he only accepts if he can't refuse.The king of Yue gave it to him, so he naturally dared not refuse to accept it.

The eldest lady's expression softened slightly, and she took the letter in Master Yang's hand and read it carefully.

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Getting up early the next day, Xianxiufang sent some sets of clothes over. Seventh Lady changed into a dark green jacket embroidered with marigolds and a light yellow pleated skirt to greet the eldest wife. The eldest wife was very happy to see it.

"You are very well dressed, this is the daughter of the main courtyard." She praised with a smile.

Mother Liang and Mother Wang both joked, "When Seventh Lady arrives in the main courtyard, she will become more and more dignified."

Anyone who has money will naturally look dignified, Qin Niangzi sneered from the bottom of her heart, but she was a little embarrassed on her face, "Mothers are laughing at me."

Brother Jiu ran out from the inner room and almost ran into Qin Niangzi head-on, both of them were startled.The eldest lady pointed to Seventh Lady and asked Brother Nine, "Does Seventh Lady look like you?"

"Like." Brother Nine said in a low voice.

They are twin siblings, it seems certain, no one can deny this.

"Isn't Seventh Lady beautiful in this dress?"

Qin Niangzi combed her hair in a bun, wore silk flowers, and a skirt. She looked like a jade girl walking down from a painting.

"It's pretty." Brother Nine said.

"Then do you want to dress up like this too?" the eldest lady asked with a smile.

Everyone laughed, Master Yang came out while buttoning up his jacket, Lichun followed behind and put on the sky blue robe that he usually wears at home. "Ninth brother, do you think it's okay?" He casually patted Qin Niangzi's head.

Seventh Lady lowered her head and stepped aside, sitting down.

Brother Nine involuntarily followed her, tilting his head and looking at her seriously.

"Not good." He shook his head, turned around and said to the eldest wife.

The eldest wife smiled amusedly, "What's wrong with that?"

"I'm a boy, I don't need to be pretty." Brother Nine replied crisply, and ran to the eldest wife, "Mother, don't you think so?"

Everyone laughed again, and the second lady and the fifth lady came in from outside the house while laughing.

"I just entered the yard, and I heard your voice." Wu Niangzi pointed at Brother Jiu.Ninth Brother snorted, "Fifth Sister bullied me! I'll ignore you!"

Wu Niangzi and Ninth Brother quarreled twice in three days, and not long after the quarrel ended, they were as good as one person again, and Wu Niangzi was the only one who was patient with Ninth Brother.

Qin Niangzi felt sore, she got up and went into the Xili room to have breakfast.

After dinner, my aunt and the young ladies came to say hello to the eldest lady again. The whole room was full of people, making Qiniang a headache to death.

The mistress of the mansion gate is not easy to do.

The eldest wife discussed with the fourth aunt about going to Zhong's house for a banquet.

"It is reasonable to take the third lady to see the world, but unfortunately the children of the Zhong family are all in their hometown. The third lady can only follow me when she goes, for fear of restricting her."

Fourth Aunt's smile was a bit forced, "Of course Madam is thinking about Third Lady, I'm just Auntie, what can I say?"

That's not quite right.Master Yang glared at her.

"Third Lady is still young, and it's fourteen years old, so it's not too late to get married." He said unhappily, "At that time, I will personally choose a good family for her."

Qin Niangzi thought that the old man was very interesting.

The third lady was so ashamed that she got up and hid in the Xili room. Several unmarried daughters went into the Xili room together, and they all pricked up their ears to listen to the sound outside.

The eldest wife is a bit bored, "The third lady is thirteen this year, and she can't be said to be young—the fourth aunt can decide for herself."

The fourth aunt's voice was a little anxious, "Master, that's not what I meant... Well, the third lady was born to me well, but after all, she was raised by the eldest wife, you can make the decision."

That's what they said, but the fourth aunt is the powerful faction of the Yang family. The eldest wife was not in good health a few years ago, so she was in charge of the inner house.Regardless of what the fourth aunt wanted about the third lady's marriage, the eldest wife would definitely not be able to explain it in front of Master Yang.

Seventh Lady could not help but glance at Third Lady.

The third lady's face was blushing, her usual joyful eyebrows and eyes were already shy, at the age of thirteen or fourteen, she had a graceful figure, even if her face was rounder, she would still be a charming little girl.

In modern times, it is time for first love.We're already talking about getting married here!

Qiniangzi shook her head, feeling someone was watching her again, she turned her head to see that Brother Nine was sitting on a round stool, his eyes were wide open, looking at her curiously.

Mama Wang walked into the Xili room, "Girls, it's time to go to school."

(End of this chapter)