Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 121
After a few days, when the posting day came, Ma Qifeng took his two daughters, took five carriages, and went to Ma's house in the town to pick up the elders and go to Xiafu together.

The father and daughter are all dressed in new clothes, but the color of the new clothes is not outstanding, and they are textured but not ostentatious. They are not like nouveau riche or rich landlords. Come.

"Who am I? It turns out to be the sixth son of the Ma family!"

"Yeah, I've seen it before, but it's different today."

"Seeing that the color and fabric of the clothes are the same as those of the wealthy gentry in the town, why do you feel that they are different?"

"Tsk tsk, why don't we also go to Ma's Long'an shop to buy some fabrics to make?"

"It's a coincidence, it's better to catch up early, let's go, let's buy it."

……

Ma Qimeng brought the three members of the old six family into the living room, and saw how they were dressed, their eyes blinked and the fabrics were ordinary, how could there be an indescribable feeling that they looked like the Ma family in their prime, but if you want to say It should be me, how could it be him!
"Third Brother——"

"Third Uncle—"

The father and daughter saluted politely.

"Sit down!" Ma Qimeng was sour in his heart, but indifferent on the surface.

"Thank you, third brother!" Ma Qifeng said with a smile: "Please ask my father, third brother."

Ma Qimeng slanted his eyebrows: "What's the rush? Father will know when the time comes."

Ma Min'er glanced at the third uncle who had no eyes and no noses, she held her breath and said nothing, she wanted to see when her grandfather would come out.

Mrs. Ma San came in from the side hall and said with a smile: "Seeing a carriage parked at the door, I thought it was who it was. It turned out to be the sixth younger brother. Why don't you sit?"

Ma Qifeng smiled and cupped his hands, what a concubine could say to his sister-in-law, Ma Min'er didn't say a word, and stood quietly beside her father.

Mrs. Ma San glanced at her man, "I still have something to do, so I'll let your brother greet you, and I'll go first." After speaking, she left the living room through the side door.

Ma Min'er also raised her heels.

"Er Niang, are you looking for Huier?" Mrs. Ma San glanced at Ma Er Niang who was dressed in a new dress.

Sweeping from head to toe, there was no special hairpin on her head, just a pair of small beaded flowers, but when she took a look, she knew that the pearls, emeralds, and inlaid jade on the beaded flowers seemed simple, but in fact they were of excellent quality. My heart felt sour, and I looked at my neck, the collar blocked it, it seemed that I was not wearing anything, and the webbing on the waist was also very elegant, whether it was embroidered and colored, or embellished with jade and gold, they were all high-quality goods, and my heart became sour. Jealousy, looking at the dresses and rusty shoes, all of them are exquisite in style and novel in style, and they are no worse than the little ladies of the wealthy families in Beijing.

"No, I'm looking for grandfather." Ma Min'er smiled just right.

When Ma Qimeng, who was drinking tea, heard this, he stared immediately, "Then someone just casually entered other people's yard like this?"

"Is this someone else's house? This is my grandfather's house!" Ma Min'er replied and continued walking inside.

"You...you stop for me." Ma Qimeng was stunned for a moment, and immediately put down the cup in his hand and walked to the side door. Just as he wanted his wife to stop her, his parents appeared.

"Father... father, mother—"

Ma Chengzu glanced at his son, and then at the granddaughter standing at the door of the side hall. This granddaughter who was about to marry into the general's mansion, he still glanced more.

"Let's go." The voice was expressionless, Ma Chengzu walked straight through the main hall with his hands behind his back, and walked towards the courtyard door.

Mrs. Ma glanced at the couple from the third family, and then at the father and daughter from the sixth family, sighed secretly, and said to herself, families without a hostess are always up, which really makes people look at each other differently.

"Let's go, old six—"

"Yes, father, mother." Ma Qifeng turned his head and raised his hand to the third brother, and quickly followed out of the courtyard.

"Father, mother, the weather is hot, so you can only worry about building a carriage." Ma Qifeng seemed very happy, and personally lifted the curtain of the carriage for his father.

Ma Chengzu took a look at him and got into the carriage, Mrs. Ma glanced at the spirited sixth son, and got into the carriage with the help of the old servant.

Three of the better carriages were for the master, another for the servants, and the last one for the presents they had brought when they met.

In the little general's mansion, before breakfast, Mrs. Xia told her son and daughter-in-law who came over: "Zian, see each other today, are you two free?"

"Mother, I don't have an errand right now, so of course I'm free." Xia Zetao was a little puzzled, but he didn't notice the resentment in his mother's tone.

"Aren't I afraid to disturb your poetry writing?" Mrs. Xia's dissatisfied tone came out directly.

"Mother...Mother!" Xia Zetao smiled awkwardly, "The weather is hot, so I just sit by the lotus pond when I have nothing to do."

Zhao Suxin lowered her head slightly and leaned closer to her husband.

When Mrs. Xia saw this action, her nameless anger flared up, you said that a person who is almost 40 years old, how can he behave like a little lady, don’t be angry, don’t be angry, hold down the anger, "you also Don't go to Youting to write poems, just talk to me about Zi'an here after breakfast."

"Yes, mother, I understand."

Mrs. Xia turned her head, "Master, no matter whether it's an engagement or a big wedding, Zi'an will have to wait until the beginning of next spring."

"I know this, let's talk about what to prepare first."

"it is good."

Xia Zhen came back from the school training ground, "Grandfather, grandmother, father..." When he came to his mother, he paused, "Mother..."

Even your son treats you like this, why don't you count, Mrs. Xia stretched out her hand to hold her grandson's hand, and said with a smile: "My dear grandson, you must be tired, hurry up, sit by grandma's side."

Xia Zhen sat down next to Mrs. Xia, "Grandma, hurry up and have breakfast."

"Okay, grandma will send someone to serve breakfast right away." Madam Xia turned her head and called, "Hurry up and serve breakfast."

"Yes, old lady!" The servants immediately went to work.

After breakfast, Xia Zhen went back to his yard to change his robes. Today he specially chose a moonlight brocade robe, with a jade crown on his hair, a jade pendant on his waist, and brocade boots on his feet. The dark and deep eyes are full of charming color; the thick sword eyebrows, high nose, and beautiful lip shape all exude nobility and elegance. Standing there, it is a prosperous atmosphere.

"My lord, you are really energetic today." Xiaowen praised sincerely.

"My son was not energetic that day." Xia Zhen looked away at him.

"Uh..." Xiaowen shrank his head and thought to himself, you have energy every day, but how can that energy be compared with today's energy? The previous energy was to hit people anytime and anywhere, but now the energy is high-spirited, it is completely different How are the two of you?

Startled, Mo glanced at the talkative Xiaowen, then looked back at the sky.

Although the General's Mansion in Pingding County is not an official mansion, it is still the most grand and tallest in Pingding in terms of scale and specifications.From a distance, you can see the majestic General's Mansion, and you can see the plaque of "Zhen Guo General's Mansion" hanging above the vermilion lacquered gate. On both sides of the gate, there are two majestic and majestic lions, and there are fully armed soldiers guarding it.

Knowing that Ma's family is coming, there is already a manager waiting outside. Seeing the carriage, he bent over quickly, "It must be the carriage of Master Ma's family."

Ma Qifeng had already got out of the carriage, smiled and cupped his hands, "Yes!" After speaking, he went to his father's carriage and waited respectfully for Ma Chengzu and his wife to get off the carriage.

"This is Mrs. Ma, please—" The steward greeted him with a smile, very respectful.

After the management, there were girls and women who stood next to the guests in an orderly manner and led the guests towards the main hall of the general's mansion.

Red walls and green tiles, courtyards, and rooms are lined up one after another, high and low, row upon row, magnificent.After walking for about a quarter of an hour, after turning around the Shadow Pavilion, the main hall of the General's Mansion arrived. Xia Zhen stepped forward to greet guests, and raised her hand to salute: "Master Ma——"

Ma Chengzu nodded like an elder, "Little General—"

"My lord, please—" Xia Zhen led everyone into the hall.

"Grandfather, Master Ma has arrived."

Xia Shiyong smiled and stood up, "Master Ma, it's been hot all the way, thank you for your hard work."

"The old general is polite."

The two old people were not familiar with each other, so they greeted each other politely, and sat down as the guest of honor, and the servant immediately brought tea.

Originally, Mrs. Ma asked the general's wife to lead her to sit down, but Zhao Suxin sat motionless beside her husband like a guest, so Mrs. Xia could only smile and said, "Old lady, we have met before, we are acquaintances, please don't Sit down politely."

"Thank you, Mrs. Xia."

Xia Zhen personally guided her future father-in-law to the seat, turned around and arranged for Ma Min'er and sisters to sit down.

Mrs. Xia looked at the warm-hearted eldest grandson, who was her favorite little lady who was able to take the initiative to entertain guests. In the past, he would do these impatient and trivial things, or just sit upright for a while. Not moving at all, or finding an excuse to enter the room, it will be like now, with a smile on his face.

These are just thoughts that flashed through Mrs. Xia's mind. A daughter-in-law is nothing to do. At this moment, the atmosphere in the main hall needs to be adjusted by her, and she said with a smile: "My lord, old lady, I invite you to come today, mainly for you to see My eldest grandson, secondly, let’s discuss the matter of inviting a matchmaker.”

Although Mrs. Ma knew the meaning of the General's Mansion, she still felt inexplicably complicated when she heard it with her own ears. She replied with a smile: "The old lady means..."

"Ma'er Ma'er of your family is virtuous and virtuous, and our family values ​​it very much. How about you and the boss?"

Mrs. Ma glanced at Mrs. Ma, and smiled back: "The young general of your family is magnificent and promising. It is really a blessing for our second mother to marry our second mother in her previous life. It really couldn't be better. .”

Madam Xia smiled and said, "Madam Xia agrees?"

"There are those who disagree, Mrs. Xia, you are too polite."

"Since your family has agreed, then I will not be polite. I will invite the official media to come to your house to propose marriage on another day."

"Okay, then my boss and I will stay at home and wait for the good news."

The two headed mistresses came and went, and things quickly settled down.

General Xia invited Mrs. Ma to sit in his study, and Mrs. Xia asked Mrs. Ma to walk around the mansion at will.

Xia Zetao invited his future in-laws to sit and drink tea in his yard.

The Xia family didn't have a young lady, so they had to let the general's wife take her around. Xia Zhen said, "I'll go with you."

Ma Min'er was feeling awkward, seeing him take the initiative to follow up, she felt much better, "Okay!"

The party went out from the main hall and each accompanied the guests.

Walking in the courtyard of the General’s Mansion, you will find everything rich and exquisite, except for the red walls and green tiles, the towering walls, and pavilions, surrounded by green trees, colorful summer flowers, and the chirping of insects and cicadas, making the courtyard quieter , making people forget that we are in the General's Mansion at this time, and forget the tension and anxiety in the main hall just now, as if entering an ancient green garden, it is extremely beautiful.

Walking to the edge of the pond, Zhao Suxin walked in the front, unknowingly led sisters Ma Miner to the lotus pond, and suddenly said, "It's hot summer, I like the green color of the lotus pond the most, I don't know how the young lady likes it?"

Future mother-in-law, Ma Miner quickly answered, "Go back to Madam, I like it."

"Three hundred miles away from the mirror lake, the lotus blossoms from Han's lotus ("Midnight Wuge" by Li Bai)" Zhao Suxin came up with a poem casually, and looked at the little lady with a smile after reading.

Is this for poetry or... Ma Min'er didn't expect her mother-in-law to be very fond of poetry in the future, so she subconsciously said: "The lotus leaves are infinitely green in the sky, and the lotus flowers are red in the sun." After finishing speaking, she looked at her nervously
Zhao Suxin smiled happily, "It's not bad to be the granddaughter of the former emperor's teacher, not bad."

In the future, that child won't learn this poem, Ma Min'er secretly thought, don't write any more poems, I don't have much in my stomach, I'm really afraid of something.

"The green lotus curls up and the cool breeze dawns, and the red calyx blooms and purple plants grow. ("Chongtai Lotus" by Li Shen)"

Xia Zhen followed behind, her frowning was secretly seen by Ma Yueer, she resolutely moved a few steps to the side, this future brother-in-law would lose his temper without warning.

"..." Ma Min'er desperately wanted to describe the poem about the lotus flower and pond, but unfortunately, except for Yang Wanli's sentence, it was still the same sentence in her mind. She couldn't think of anything else for a while, and smiled awkwardly at her future mother-in-law, "I...I Can't figure it out."

"Can't figure it out, or can't?" Zhao Suxin frowned slightly.

"Yes... no." Ma Min'er replied honestly.

"Then how will you follow Zhen in the future..."

Xia Zhen interrupted her: "Mother, I don't like to compose poems."

"Zhen'er, what's wrong with reciting poems and prose, it can make your mind peaceful and accessible."

"Mother, let's sit in the small pavilion." Xia Zhen's expression was cold, it didn't sound like she was speaking to a mother at all.

Zhao Suxin frowned besides frowning.

Ma Min'er felt extremely embarrassed. If she knew that her future mother-in-law liked elegant things, she should recite more poems. She didn't expect to make Xia Zhen and his mother unhappy. It was not until a long time later that she realized that it was not herself who made them Unhappy, but they had a estrangement more than ten years ago.

Afterwards, the atmosphere remained bad and awkward, but luckily the servants brought snacks and tea, and Ma Miner bowed her head to drink tea to pass the time.

Ma Yue'er felt even more miserable, and squeezed some snacks into her mouth to eat from time to time.

In Zhao Suxin's eyes, of the two sisters, one can drink and the other can eat, it's really... Maybe it's been a long time in the country. So elegant.

Xia Zhen's face kept looking towards the lotus pond, not because he liked the scenery of the lotus pond, but because he understood that although Ma Min'er was the daughter of the emperor's teacher, she behaved completely differently from her mother. He liked Min'er's informality, but Mother...he couldn't face it.

Fortunately, in addition to tea, it was lunch time, and the mother-in-law came to ask for lunch.Ma Min'er felt relieved, but her stomach was full from drinking, and she probably wouldn't be able to eat much at noon.

Facts have proved that it is also right to drink more tea. When eating in a high-standard family like the General's Mansion, the dishes in front of you are simply for viewing, not for eating.

A prosaic meeting finally ended in the middle of the afternoon ([-]:[-] pm), and the Xia family was bid farewell, and the Ma family went back in a carriage.

Mrs. Xia called her daughter-in-law over and asked, "Mother Zi'an, what do you think of the second mother of the Ma family?"

When Xia Zhen heard this, she looked down at her toes.

Zhao Suxin smiled slightly, and whispered softly, "Go back to mother, it's okay."

"What do you mean by okay?"

Zhao Suxin replied: "He has good stature and appearance, and he also understands etiquette. I'm afraid it's because he has read less."

Mrs. Xia was almost choked to death by her own saliva, "My Xia family was born in the army, so I don't care if I haven't studied."

"The mother asked me what to do?"

"You..." Mrs. Xia stretched out her hand to pat her chest, "Could it be that in the future you will live by reciting poems and composing right, instead of taking care of housework?"

"Isn't there a servant to do the housework?" Zhao Suxin was surprised. "Mother, you know that I have a gentle temper. I never beat or scold the servants, and I never care about them."

Mrs. Xia looked directly at her son: "Tao'er, are you tired? Take your wife to rest."

"Mother...Mother, Suxin's temper is gentle, she..." Xia Zetao also understood what his wife said, and this was not something a housewife should say, so he looked at his mother in embarrassment.

"I know, I know, I still have something to say to Zian, take your wife to rest."

"Yes, mother, you are tired too, go to rest quickly."

"I know, I know..." Mrs. Xia felt that she didn't know what else to say besides these three words.

Xia Zetao and his wife left the room like guests, leaving only the old general and his wife and Xia Zhen.

"Zian, do you know the consequences of marrying a daughter-in-law from a small family?" Mrs. Xia's face was gloomy.

Xia Zhen pursed her lips.

"I don't mean to talk about your mother. After all, she gave birth to you, but you have also seen that she has learned all the superficially luxurious and flashy things of the wealthy and noble families, and she has the same inner rigor of family management and worldly ways." See, let alone learning, if I disagree with you marrying Ma Erniang, would you hate grandma?"

"Grandmother, Min'er is different from my mother, she will run the house and manage the board."

"As your wife, is it enough just to be able to manage the house?" Mrs. Xia was very serious, "Do you know how I will take care of your grandfather? The capital, the family, colleagues, subordinates... don't cover everything in that way, that's the only way, you Only when grandfather does things can he be relaxed and free from worries, can Ma Erniang do it?"

"She can." Xia Zhen raised her eyes and looked firmly at her grandmother.

The old lady who said this out loud, was defeated by Sun Tzu's firm gaze, and looked at the old general with a wry smile, "Old man——"

The old general sighed, "Yumi, don't worry, the second mother of the Ma family, I've seen that she's not bad, she has foundation, when you enter the door, you will teach him by hand, and you should be able to become Zi'an's good helper."

Mrs. Xia loosened her brows, "It's generally acceptable, but I think our Zi'an deserves better. Her mother can't help him anymore. If my wife makes another mistake, I will live a very hard life in the future."

"Grandma, I don't work hard."

"You..." I said something to myself, and the eldest grandson defended me, alas, what else can Mrs. Xia say, "Okay, I know, marry her earlier, teach her while I can still move, but May she learn from it."

"Grandmother, don't worry, Min'er is very smart, she can learn it as soon as she learns."

Mrs. Xia was completely defeated by her grandson.

After leaving the city gate, after more than half an hour, Ma Qifeng sent his parents to Ma's house, got off the carriage, and asked: "Father, I don't know if you are free tomorrow, my son wants to invite you to have a light meal?"

Ma Chengzu looked at the sixth son who never liked him, and stood silently.

"Master Jiang is here too."

"Well, I see." Ma Chengzu turned and entered the courtyard gate with his hands behind his back.

It was agreed, Ma Qifeng was very happy, and handed over again, "Mother, you come with father."

Mrs. Ma waved her hand, "Let him go, I still have things to do at home."

"Okay, I understand!"

"Let's go back."

"Mother, wait a moment, please arrange for someone to take the return gift from the General's Mansion just now."

"This is from the General's Mansion, you can take it."

"Mother, there are many, please take some."

"In this case, I know!" Mrs. Ma beckoned, asked the butler to come over, and moved in the return gift that Ma Qifeng wanted to give.

Ma Qifeng said happily: "Mother, my son will go back first, and I will come back tomorrow at noon and take my father to have a light meal. If the third brother's house is free, we will go together."

"Your father doesn't like to quarrel, so don't let your third brother go, you can invite him later."

"Yes, mother."

Sisters Ma Min'er have been standing by the side, watching my father deal with the Ma family, it seems that my father has conquered his inferiority complex and is able to deal with it freely, it's great, he finally got out of the sense of superiority that the Ma family enveloped him, and he can face it calmly. up.

On the way home, Ma Min'er gave her thumbs up, "Dad, that's awesome!"

"I don't think it's wrong?" Ma Qifeng was not confident.

"Well, even if you are a little humble, there is nothing wrong with you standing in front of your grandfather as a son."

Ma Qifeng took a deep breath, "If I hadn't said Mrs. Jiang, my father might still not want to come."

"Not necessarily."

Ma Qifeng looked at his daughter in confusion.

"Father, have you forgotten about the steps I told you about?"

"You mean, your grandfather actually wanted to come, but he couldn't save face..."

"It's not that I can't save face, but that I can't get out of my own knot."

"Oh I see."

Ma Min'er said: "Father, no matter what kind of knots grandpa has, or what kind of steps he wants, but for you, your life is almost half over, you have to let yourself go, don't get entangled in the past. Don’t worry about the things of previous generations, but live in the present seriously, manage the future well, and this life is not in vain.”

"Father understands."

"Come on, let's go home."

He had no confidence, but Ma Qifeng, who was popular in the eyes of outsiders, took his daughter home. Niu Dabao returned the carriage to the shop, and only brought home the carriage used by the family.

Mr. Tian did not expect that King Jin would come to borrow food. Not only did he need it urgently, but he also seemed to want to borrow it.

"Come on, prepare the carriage."

"Sir, where are you going?"

"Little General's Mansion."

"Yes, sir."

Holding another message in his hand, Zhuang Hao said, "Sir, there is one more difficult matter to deal with."

"What's the matter?"

"Shao Youliang led an army of nearly [-] people and rushed to the border again, and broke through a hole and rushed in."

Mr. Tian frowned, "Take a few generals and go to the general's mansion with me."

"Yes, sir."

Rushing out of the encirclement and advancing nearly [-] miles in one breath, Shao Youliang and the others breathed a sigh of relief and stopped to rest happily. He sat in the main seat and said with a smile, "General Ling, you are still the best, really let us rush Come in."

Ling Qianyan said: "General Shao, don't forget that I have been stationed on the border of Xiangyi for more than ten years. Even with my eyes closed, I know where the defense is strong and where the defense is weak."

"Sure enough, you are very experienced. One team will be the top three. Well, well, well, if the decree is successfully transferred this time, I will ask the emperor for merit, and I will give you first-class merit, and I will make you a fourth-rank general."

"Thank you General Shao."

"Work hard with me, let's get promoted and get rich together."

"Okay, General Shao, someone like Ling likes straightforward people, so I'm determined to follow you."

"Ha ha……"

At the junction of Qingzhou Prefecture and Xiangzhou Prefecture, Liao Shijie was beaten by Liu Zaili and shrank back to the base camp. Without the interference of the surname Liao, Liu Zaili beat the Turks to the north and moved a hundred miles.

In King Jin's tent, Liu Zicheng was holding a wine glass, "Zi Li, well done, come, drink this glass."

Liu Zaili raised his head and drank the wine in his glass, "My lord, how is the situation in the south?"

The corners of King Jin's lips curled coldly: "There is a lot of fun in the south, but Beijing is more exciting than the south and north."

Liu Zaili frowned: "What do you mean?"

"What's the point?" Liu Zicheng rolled his eyes, "The fights in his harem are more fun than ours."

"That's good news."

"Haha..." Liu Zicheng laughed loudly, "It's indeed good news, Zili, come, let's toast to the good news."

"cheers."

After finishing, Liu Zaili asked, "Is there any news about Xia?"

"There should be news in the past two days."

Liu Zaili's wine glass rested on his lips, "If there is no news, I will let them know."

"Zi Li wants to..."

"My lord, let's drink first."

"Okay, let's drink first."

The second son of the Ma family, in order to collect money to pay the fine, sold the house in the town and moved back to the old house of the Luo family. The dilapidated yard that was crowded before now looks empty, even if the life-changing Ma Jiaoer comes back to live, it still looks like a big mess. very big.

There was a carriage passing by, and the people in the courtyard were curious, and they left the courtyard one after another. The exquisite large carriage of Maliu's family passed by, which made Mrs. Ma'er feel sad for a while, and couldn't help covering her mouth. Live well, it's like returning to this dilapidated old yard now.

Ma Jianer watched the carriage go away for a long time without moving.

Mrs. Ma Er shouted: "Xiao'er, why are you in a daze, go back tomorrow quickly, if you don't go back, your man will spend money to marry a concubine again, and he will spend all your money."

Ma Jianer looked back and snorted coldly, "What about my money, it has nothing to do with me."

"Why is it not your money? You should go back quickly. If you can, bring some back and repair the place. When your father comes out, there will be a new atmosphere."

Ma Jianer sneered, "After all, you are not for your family."

"Could it be that your natal family is not your home anymore? When your natal family is well, you will have confidence in your in-law's family."

(End of this chapter)