Beautiful step by step

Chapter 64

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the autumn chrysanthemums in the main courtyard of the Zhenbeihou Mansion are in full bloom. The fragrance is light and elegant, and the smell is refreshing.

Wu stroking her slightly protruding belly, leaning against the window, looking at the chrysanthemums outside the window.Jin Yi came in from the outside, holding a golden vase with cloisonné enamel in his hand, and there were several chrysanthemums in the vase.

"I saw that Madam loves these chrysanthemums very much, so I decided to pick some chrysanthemums in the big garden of the mansion. Madam sat down and looked at them slowly, feeling tired."

A smile appeared on the corner of Wu's lips: "Picked in the big garden?"

Jin Yi glanced at the back: "That's not true, the mother over there is still not happy. I said Madam wanted to see it, and they hurriedly brought it up."

Wu Shi closed her eyes, and behind her lived the old lady of the Hou Mansion, Feng Shi.Growing up in Wu's family since she was a child, she was tired of the big family's busy schedule. She thought it would be very worry-free to marry into a family that had already been separated and had a simple population like the Marquis of Zhenbei.Unexpectedly, having fewer people is a peace of mind, but the disadvantages of having fewer people are also highlighted.The old matriarch has been in charge of the Fuzhong Zhongfu for many years, and there is no one else to restrain her. It is extremely difficult for her to find a reason to intervene.

She also understands that she doesn't need to be impatient, the old lady is old, and her mother-in-law died early, and after a few years, the family will fall into her hands.This is what she thought before she got married, until she felt threatened by a maid day and night.

The son is devoted to that maid, who can understand the pain in her heart?
The most hateful thing is that she managed to find an opportunity to drive away the maid at the risk of getting into trouble with Shizi. After a few troubles, her status in Shizi's heart became higher and higher.Wei Wei said that he had to move forward to revitalize the Zhenbeihou Mansion, so he rushed to become an official.Wei Wei and Yan Li were short of guests, so he invited Mrs. Liu desperately.

Wei, Yao!

Gritting his teeth and uttering these two words, the strength of Wu's hand increased along with the sound. In the blink of an eye, the big golden chrysanthemum in the vase just now turned into petals all over the ground, scattered desolately on the ground, How bleak and bleak it must be to be trampled by the woman who crushed them.

"Madam, why don't you think about the brother in your belly, it's not appropriate to get angry now."

Wu Shi took a few deep breaths, then smiled sinisterly and said, "I'm not angry."

As if thinking of something, she looked out the window, and her words were full of arrogance: "Look, Jinyi, some people in this world are like weeds on the ground that allow others to trample on them; lucky weeds bloom flowers, and when you look at them for a while, The flowers are flourishing, and the flowers really take themselves seriously, but they don't know that the flowers bloom for only a few days, and after the scenery is over, they are still no different from weeds. Only the pines and cypresses on the top of the flower head that can cover it at any time can It is the most stable evergreen."

After finishing speaking, Wu stroked her stomach with one hand, and stood upright in front of the window like a verdant pines and cypresses.

"Qiuju, I'm so boring. Jinyi, go tell the conservatory that I'm pregnant, and I can't smell the smell of chrysanthemums. I will plant peonies in the main room in the future."

Jin Yi retreated holding the vase.Wu's pregnancy is the top priority of the Hou Mansion, but anyone who is old knows that the smell should not be too strong when pregnant.Although the scent of chrysanthemums is already weak, the greenhouse does not dare to take it lightly.Not long after, a row of gardeners followed Jinyi, and after entering the courtyard, they quietly started shoveling chrysanthemums.

Wu stood in front of the window, admiring the cracking sound of the blooming chrysanthemums being uprooted from the soil.

Some people say that they don't want to be concubines, and they pretend to be catching men, so they use chrysanthemums.And with such a lowly background, she will never be able to become a peony in her life.

"Ma'am, it's time to take the medicine."

After setting up the gardener, Jin Yi came in with a bowl of medicine.The wife is young, and the pregnancy of the first child is a little unstable.A month ago in Jinxiu Pavilion, she was humiliated face to face by Yan Zhenfu, and even slapped her face. Since then, she has been very emotionally unstable, almost eating tonics three times a day.

Smelling the bitter smell before getting close, Wu frowned, slid his hands across his abdomen, and finally picked up the medicine bowl resignedly.

Jin Yi felt distressed for a while, and after a pause, he continued to speak: "Madam, just now when I went to bring medicine, I heard from the person on the stove that Mrs. Yan sent some earthen instruments back from the northwest, and gave a copy to the son. I heard that it seems to be a paper bag. The prince was very happy when he got some rice, and ordered people to use the rice to make porridge."

The mansion received something, but the prince didn't even mention it to her.

Wu's heart was bitter, but she didn't show the slightest timidity on her mouth: "Your Majesty has helped her so much, and she has the nerve to send a little rice. And wrap it in paper? You can't even afford two feet of cloth. This is how shabby life is."

When it came to the end, Wu was rarely excited. She knew the Northwest, which was much poorer than the capital.There is still a way out for being attached to the Wu family, a stunned young man like the one Wei Wei married, counting on the salary that may not be paid in time, is not even better than ordinary people in the capital.

Jin Yi echoed: "There are few people in this world who are as blessed as Madam. She was born to be a noble and precious girl in the General's Mansion, and after she gets married, she will be the future Madam Hou."

What Wu Shi is most proud of is her background, Jin Yi's words can be said to have touched her heart.

She said gently: "As long as you can talk, you can promise clearly that the kitchen is really using the earth instrument sent by Wei Wei?"

"It's absolutely true. I smelled it just now. It smells a little like chestnut rice, but it's more fragrant than the chestnut rice commonly used in the capital."

Mrs. Wu was silently reading the itinerary of the son. He had been returning to the mansion on time for the past few days. Only last night was a bit late when he returned to the mansion.The official post happened to be built near the city gate.

I just got the things last night, got up early and went to the Hanlin Academy to order something, and came back before noon to give orders to the kitchen.Wu Shi really doesn't want to think about it, but no matter how big-hearted she is, she can still feel the eagerness in Shizi's eyes.

Thinking of this, her heart that had been hesitating violently became firm all of a sudden: "Jin Yi, go to the back and find the incense that sister-in-law sent last time."

Jin Yi turned pale with shock: "Madam, that thing is not good for my brother in my stomach."

"I have the numbers."

Rubbing her stomach, Wu's expression was firm.No one wanted this child to be born safely more than she did. She needed a son to stabilize her position and ease the tense relationship with her son.

But now this opportunity is really rare. My sister-in-law taught her that children are her biggest talisman now.She must seize the few months before the child's birth. Although the price of using the incense is high, she will never be the one responsible for it.

She knows how to choose.

Since Wei Wei set off with Yan Heng to return to the northwest, Chu Lian felt more worried.

Fortunately, there are many things in the Hanlin Academy, and he sincerely wants to make some achievements.Holding his breath and working hard to make progress, but also taking care of the mansion, he didn't spend much time thinking about Wei Wei.But this little miss gradually accumulated to a certain height after not hearing from her for a month.

In the desolate Northwest, products are scarce, can Ah Mao get used to it?He is currently correcting a book of travels to the Northwest, which says that some people take a long time to take a bath because of the lack of water. Ah Mao loves being clean so much, can she bear it?Also, Liangzhou is so close to the Wala people, and there are often horse thieves from the Wala people. Will Ah Mao be attacked by horse thieves?
After all, they have been playing together since Ah Mao was a little girl who was just taller than a stool.Over the years, he has long been used to taking care of her subconsciously.Chu Lian was not used to her being out of his protective circle all at once.

Finally, when his discomfort accumulated to a certain level, he received a package from the northwest.The small but heavy coarse cloth bundle, he could recognize that the bow on the bundle was tied by Ah Mao herself.Carefully unpacking the bundle, there was a letter inside, and two paper packets, one large and one small.

He opened the letter before reaching the Hou Mansion, the handwriting on the letter was a little smudged.It was Ah Mao's handwriting that he was familiar with. She was not used to dipping a brush in ink, but liked to pick up a branch on the ground, or dip it in tea to make gestures on the table.It is clear that the characters drawn by her gestures are very neat horizontally and vertically, but once the brush is changed, it is easy to smudge the ink blobs with too much force.

The letter told anecdotes about her journey back to the Northwest, the vast grasslands and the magnificent Gobi. Most others think the Northwest is desolate, but she can find a completely different beauty on the other side.After talking about some interesting stories, Ah Mao told him that the paper packets contained the food of the Yanheng tribe, and that freshly punched porridge or flour made into pancakes were delicious.She asked him to taste it first, and if he thought it was delicious, he would definitely support her in buying and selling in the future.In the end, she cried mischievously and said that she would sell rice to make money to support her family, so she begged him to show her face.

Chu Lian smiled after reading the letter, it is not difficult to see that Ah Mao is living a happy life now, so he should be relieved as the eldest brother.

Weighing the two paper bags in his hand, he felt a little sad when he thought of Ah Mao's last cry for poverty.

She really hasn't changed at all. She used to be a maid, and she had to do some work inevitably.At that time, he felt that she was doing those jobs too hard, and wanted to tell his grandmother to spare her the work.In front of her grandmother, Ah Mao directly refused.The reason for the refusal was also very straightforward, it was her job as a maid to work.

But now, it's no problem to support the two with Yan Heng's ability, but Ah Mao doesn't just care about enjoying herself, she is still doing her best to contribute to their small family.

Such a serious and hard-working Ah Mao, even if he is destined not to belong to him, is worthy of his concern and care for the rest of his life.

After feeling sad, he returned to the Marquis Mansion with two paper bags. It was too late that day, and he only had time to tell the old lady about the letter.After listening to her, the old man was very happy, but growing up in front of her since childhood, he could feel the regret in the old matriarch's emotions.

"Grandma, some things have passed, and you don't have to worry too much."

The face of the old lady was shrouded in the mist of the incense burner. After a long time, her old voice let out a barely audible exclamation: "The cycle of cause and effect."

After hearing it clearly, Chu Lian stood there in a daze. He somewhat understood the current plight of the Hou Mansion.It's not that they are short of money, although they don't have much money, but the master of the Hou family has enough money.The Hou Mansion, with a big family and a big business, lacks a person in charge who is cunning and generous.The old lady is capable, but she is too old to worry about it.Wu Shi is not lacking in skills, but she has a vicious temper.Of course, this is not a big problem. The most dreadful thing is that she is too close to the Wu family.

If she is allowed to be in charge of the family, I am afraid that it will not be long before the surname of Hou's property will be Wu.

It turned out that Wei's mother was a neat person, and she knew the old lady's mind well.With her help, the old matriarch can easily hold on, and then free up his hands to polish Wu's temper.However, after being framed by the Wu family, Ah Mao was severely punished and left the house. Even if Wei's mother remembered the old friendship and continued to help the old lady take care of some things, she could only take care of her face.

Now that Ah Mao has her own business, and it happens to correspond to the rice shop that Wei's family used to have, Mother Wei will definitely put more thought on it.

"Grandmother, it's not a problem for Daddy to be locked up in the backyard all day. You're old, so you might as well leave some things to him."

Old Madam Feng was silent for a while, and finally nodded.

It seemed that God was helping Chu Lian. He had just made a plan, and after going to the Imperial College the next morning, he learned that Shangfeng Liubianxiu was taking a rest today.He had something on his mind, so he came back before noon and ordered the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous lunch. He specifically ordered to cook porridge with the rice sent by Ah Mao.

The old matriarch Feng called in person, and Zhenbei Hou Chuying, as a parent and son, finally came out from the backyard.Chu Lian saw his father again in a month since the ancestor worship on the Hungry Ghost Festival.Different from his bookishness, his father followed his deceased grandfather and was tall.His skin was a little unhealthily pale from being in the backyard all year round.

Chu Ying sat down and poured a glass of wine by herself.

Seeing this, Chu Lian frowned, but he didn't say anything, but watched the servant girl serve the dishes.When the porridge was served, the servant girl reported with a embarrassed expression: "Mrs. Shizi also wants to come over for the family banquet together."

Why is Mrs. Wu here?
Chu Lian was a little puzzled, and then he thought that this kind of family banquet should indeed show up as Wu's identity.However, in the past two months, especially the nearly one month after the power of the family was seized, she never participated in a family banquet again in the name of resting the fetus.

"Since she's coming, tell the kitchen to bring her ginseng porridge here."

Old Madam Feng was a little puzzled: "I smell the porridge is very fragrant, why don't you ask your wife to drink some?"

Chu Ying drank a glass of wine, ignoring what the grandfather and grandson said.Chu Lian has long been used to this matter. His father has always been outside the Hou's residence.Although Ah Mao lost his father since he was a child, he, a son of the Hou family who has a real father and a very high family background, is almost no different from her in this regard.

The only exception was the day when he entered school, he inadvertently revealed that he wanted to study hard, so that he could teach Wei's sister Hong Ling when he returned home.The childish words were overheard by Chu Ying, who was passing by, and asked him who Hong Ling was and who else was in the family. After he answered them one by one, he touched his head lovingly for the first time ever, asking him to study hard.

Waking up from the memory, Chu Lian explained: "Ah Mao said in the letter that this little millet is just a piece of rice produced in Jiuquan, and it is difficult to be elegant. Wu's family is noble, and she has been used to refined grains since she was a child. She Now that she is pregnant, the mansion can't treat her harshly no matter what."

Wu Shi, who was being supported by Jin Yi to the door, happened to hear him speak, and after listening, her eyes flashed with emotion.The son really has her in his heart, as long as we get rid of Wei Wei, the relationship between the two will be reconciled as before, and even further.

Rubbing her stomach, she stepped into the main room like a fighter on the battlefield, and greeted the old lady Feng and Chu Ying.

In the middle of Chu Lian's speech, seeing the familiar expression in Wu's eyes, he felt a little bit in his heart.

Chu Ying waved her hand indifferently to Mrs. Wu, took a sip of the millet porridge, and said with a rare solemn expression, "Brother Lian just said that this rice was brought from Jiuquan? Mother, our family still has connections with those relatives in the northwest? "

The old matriarch Feng shook his head: "Those people want you to die, so how can they have any contact with the Hou's mansion. The person who sent this thing is Wei Bang's daughter."

Chu Ying fell into the memory: "Wei Bang's daughter, is that little girl that brother Lian wanted to teach to read? I remember that brother Lian took her into the house at the beginning of the year. Why didn't she stay in the mansion as a concubine, but went to the house instead?" Jiuquan."

After Mrs. Wu took her seat, she stared at the big bowl of millet porridge on the table.Just as she was about to fill a bowl for herself, a hand was stretched out to stop her, Chu Lian's voice was a little annoyed:

"You are weak, just eat ginseng porridge."

Of course she wants to eat ginseng porridge, but she can't do it now, Wu Shiqiang smiled: "I think this is very fresh."

The always gentle son now admits to death: "The ginseng porridge is also very fresh. The Wu family has all their hearts, so it's not good to waste it."

Wu Shi was about to continue looking for reasons, but heard Chu Ying's words.Marquis Zhenbei actually wanted Wei Wei to be his concubine. When she heard this idea, her blood surged up, and her abdomen hurt.

Following Chu Ying's question, the three of them looked at Wu Shi in unison.As a woman, Mrs. Feng was the first to realize that something was wrong with her: "What's wrong with Brother Lian's daughter-in-law, but her stomach is uncomfortable?"

(End of this chapter)