Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 67
Zhao Yuyan replied: "Other than studying with a teacher, I... have no plans for the time being."

Ma Min'er asked: "But my grandfather has no intention of accepting students, do you still have to wait?"

Zhao Yuyan nodded: "Wait, it's worthwhile for me to come here from hundreds of miles away."

"How long?" Ma Miner asked.

"Three years!" Zhao Yuyan said: "If Mrs. Ma still doesn't accept students after three years, I will go to the capital to find Mr. Xiaoyao—Feng Jiangyi."

"Why not go now?" Ma Min'er felt strange.

"I..." Zhao Yuyan pursed his lips, "I still feel that my temper is like Mrs. Ma's, and I am more suitable to be a student under his family."

Ma Min'er thought there was some other reason, but she didn't expect the teenage Zhao Yuyan to answer like this, "But..."

Zhao Yuyan seemed to know what she wanted to ask: "Boss Ma is upright and rigorous in terms of moral integrity and meticulous, which is exactly the way of official career I am looking for."

"Uh..." Ma Min'er didn't know much about her cheap grandfather, she didn't expect to hear such an evaluation from a teenager, and she didn't know how to answer for a while.

When Ma Qifeng heard other people's praise for his father, he felt joy in his heart and was proud of it. Although his father was extremely indifferent to him, his character was doomed to only complain about himself and think that it must be from me. If I don't do well, others will not value me, instead of hating others.

How to say this kind of personality, sometimes it is a good thing, sometimes it is very bad, everyone has their own way of life!

However, based on the analysis of the news Fu Xiaoyou heard, Ma Min'er felt that her grandfather might not be able to keep the literati integrity.

I heard from Xiao You that her third uncle had already started to secretly collect investment gifts and used them a lot. If her grandfather knew about it, he probably wouldn't be able to return the used investment gifts!

His grandfather is bound to accept students. If so, the image of his grandfather will definitely be greatly reduced in his heart. Will he still persist in worshiping his grandfather?
However, these didn't seem to be her concern, so Ma Min'er changed the subject: "Zhao Yuyan, right?"

"Yes, Miss Ma Er."

"Come on, you're sick, we'll give you a hand, but now that you're cured, we have no obligation to..."

Zhao Yuyan said again and again: "I understand, I understand, I am going to work as a ghostwriter in the town to earn money to support myself."

Ma Min'er smiled: "I think you'd better go to the county seat, the chance of making money is better."

"Thank you Ma'er Madam for your reminder." Zhao Yuyan said, "Xiaosheng would like to ask, how much copper does it cost a month to rent the grass shed to me?"

Just as Ma Qifeng wanted to say that he would live without money, Ma Min'er grabbed his father who was about to talk, "One copper a day, thirty coins a month, what do you think?"

"Thank you Ma Erniang."

"As for the food, you can take care of it yourself."

"Yes, Xiaosheng understands."

It's not that Ma Min'er doesn't want to reach out to help him, there are too many scumbags in the drama, she doesn't want to help out a white-eyed wolf, so it's better to make a clear calculation so that we can meet each other in the future.

The weather is getting colder and there are fewer and fewer people going out. Ma Min'er's family started to sleep, and basically depended on Fu Xiao to communicate with the outside world. Xiao Hungry was making dessert mats in the kitchen, Guo Daping and his brother squatted behind the stove to help boil water, and Ma Dalang helped his sister pour the shaved taro into the cauldron.

Shi Dapeng saw that Ma Erniang washed the mung bean powder from his milk and stirred it evenly. He didn't know what it was for. He didn't expect that mung bean could be ground into powder like wheat in addition to making soup. It was amazing.

Fu Xiaoyou stood at the door of the kitchen and told gossip about the town and the country, and of course about Zhao Yuyan.

"Er Niang, every day at 6:[-] a.m., he will go to Ma Zhai to report if he can't be shaken, and ask Mrs. Ma to accept him as a student. After an hour, he will leave for the county at the beginning of Chen Shi to be a ghostwriter, or to present chess records to others. Game."

"How much can I earn every day?" Ma Min'er is blending starch in her hands. It is ground from mung beans and is very useful. It will be used to thicken taro soup later.

"Sometimes there is nothing, and sometimes there are twenty or thirty." Fu Xiaoyou thought about it and said, "It seems that there is enough to eat and live."

Ma Min'er raised her head: "Recently, you live with him every day?"

"Well, grandpa snores, sleep quietly with him." Fu Xiaoyou grinned.

"I seem to have heard you say that he reads very late every day."

"Well, but as long as there is no sound in the room, I can sleep." Fu Xiaoyou replied with a smile.

Ma Min'er cast a glance at him, "I mean, they study at night, did you follow along?"

"Brother Chu taught me, why learn from him!" Fu Xiaoyou didn't take it seriously, "Besides, he flipped through and read those two books every day, so it's not as good as I can learn as many books from Brother Chu? "

"Only two copies?" Ma Min'er had already hooked up the starch, walked to the stove, lifted the lid of the pot, and checked if the taro was cooked. It seemed that it was almost done.

"Yeah." Fu Xiaoyou felt his saliva almost come out when he saw Erniang put the candy.

After putting the sugar away, Ma Miner covered the pot and turned her head: "These two books?"

"The Analects and Zuozhuan."

"Oh!"

It turned out to be the most basic of the Four Books, and Ma Dalang couldn't bear to hear it, "Sister, why don't we borrow some books for him to read?"

"Xiao You definitely said it." Ma Min'er smiled.

"Yes, yes, I told him that if you want to read a book, you can borrow it from Er Niang's house, but he didn't say anything."

Ma Dalang said: "Maybe he felt that he didn't know us well, so he was embarrassed to speak."

Ma Min'er thought about it: "Maybe it's not because he's embarrassed, but because he has his own considerations."

"If there is any consideration, just read two books over and over again, what knowledge can be read." Fu Xiao was a little disdainful.

Ma Min'er heard his disdainful tone, and snorted, "Half the Analects of Confucius governs the world."

"what……"

"what……"

Everyone looked at Ma Miner, even Ma Qifeng who had just come down the corridor heard it, and asked, "Miner, who did you listen to?"

Too bad, too many words will be lost, Ma Min'er bared her teeth: "It seems...it seems to be some allusion."

"allusion?"

"Yeah, I often go out, maybe it's people on the street knocking their teeth, and I heard it." Ma Min'er turned around quickly, and lifted the lid of the pot again. The sugar cubes had completely melted, and the taro was already cooked. Add the bad starch into the soup, and after a while, the thick and sweet soup is ready, "Brother Daping, you can turn off the fire."

"Oh!" Guo Daping smiled when he heard Erniang's voice, and quickly turned off the stove.

"Can half of the Analects really rule the world?" Ma Dalang asked.

"This... this..." Ma Min'er smiled: "Maybe, I don't understand either, I just heard people say that!"

Fu Xiaoyou said: "Then I will quickly recite the Analects backwards."

"Cut..." Ma Min'er stared: "What's the use of a bare back? If you can use half of the Analects to rule the world, it's definitely not just drawing inferences from one instance, it may be inferences from one instance."

"Ah..." Fu Xiaoyou touched his head and grinned, "I'm just talking."

"I won't tell you guys anymore!" Ma Min'er said with a smile: "I'm going to serve sweet soup, everyone hurry up and wash your hands, come and drink soup after washing."

"Oh... I've had soup... I've had soup..." Guo Erping and Ma Sanlang rushed to wash their hands, shouting cheerfully.

Soon, each of them brought a small bowl of taro sweet soup to the small table in the corridor, sat on the edge of the small table, and drank it under the afternoon sun.

It's sweet and warm. Take a sip until it reaches the depths of your stomach.

"Er Niang, what you cook is really delicious." Fu Xiaoyou said with a smile.

"It's delicious." Guo Daping said with a clumsy mouth, but he also wanted to express his praise, but he only said two words.

It turns out that adding mung bean powder into the soup can make the soup thick and transparent. After taking a sip, the taste is very good. Shi Dapeng raised his head and smiled, which also means 'it's so delicious!' '

Maybe, it's just a bowl of ordinary taro soup with sugar, but in this era, sugar is a precious commodity, and ordinary farmers are reluctant to eat it, and only the little landlord Ma Erniang is willing to eat it.

The winter sun shines into the small courtyard, from the eaves of the corridor to the floor under the corridor, and to the boys sitting on the floor. It is soft and bright. When they meet the Ma family, the most obvious change is that their clothes are clean and tidy. Not only has flesh grown on the face, but the red and black complexion has also disappeared, and the complexion has gradually become fair and delicate, looking like a young scholar.

Ma Min'er felt a sense of accomplishment. It was her behavior and cooking skills that made them so healthy and happy. She smiled happily.

Looking up to the outside of the corridor, the sun is dazzling, making her squint unconsciously, looking into the distance, the sky is full of light, filled with endless and blue sky, the sun is like mother's hands, wrapping her in layers of warmth, with sweet soup, It spreads comfortably to the limbs, it is wonderful!

After a while, everyone finished drinking, and several young boys rushed to the kitchen to wash the dishes. After washing, they sat in the corridor again. Ma Min'er said: "Let's read the agricultural books for a while, and getting rich next year can all refer to it." gone."

"Er Niang, what are the books talking about?" Fu Xiaoyou asked curiously.

"It is written in the book that in winter and December, making sauce, making cured preserved meat, irrigated mallow, burning wasteland, cutting bamboo and wood, grafting fruit trees, making agricultural equipment, making manure, making evil, storing grass, and storing acacia. , Tie the broom..."

"There are so many things?" Ma Dalang asked.

"Well." Ma Min'er replied: "Our field was just planted this year, except for Champa rice, now there is winter wheat. According to the book, in the twelfth lunar month, men burn waste and women make soy sauce. This year we don't have anything to make soy sauce. To make cured dried meat, next year we will grow more beans, such as soybeans, red beans, broad beans, peas, cowpeas, and lentils, and we need to raise more poultry, so that we can make preserved dried meat and chicken in winter."

"Oh!" Ma Dalang was thoughtful.

Ma Qifeng nodded: "At the end of the village, no one is idle, even the elderly and children are busy with their own work, or winnowing beans, or chopping bamboo, or picking up acacia..."

Guo Erping quickly interjected, "My mother is also busy making soybean paste at home!"

"I know this." Ma Min'er said, "I even asked Aunt Guo to help me make two jars."

"My mother's soy sauce is delicious." Guo Erping showed off. Guo Daping patted his younger brother lightly to tell him not to show off. Erping made a face at his brother, and everyone laughed.

In the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, shining in the small courtyard of Ma's house, under the verandah, several children, big and small, were playing and studying while playing, and half a day passed before they knew it, and there was no sunlight on the windshield quilt.

Ma Min'er got up: "I'm here this afternoon, everyone should leave, I'm going to collect the bedding too."

"Oh, oh, let's go play." Guo Erping and Ma Sanlang couldn't sit still anymore, they turned to the corner of the corridor, took the toy that Ma Miner made for them in the blacksmith's shop - the rolling ring, and went up the path, Have fun playing.

The four big boys didn't play, but they also got off the wooden ladder. They planned to chop firewood while the sun was still shining, and prepare for the snowy day, otherwise there would be no firewood to burn.

Ma Min'er smiled at his father, "They're all gone, I'll put away the quilt!"

Ma Qifeng stood up and stretched his waist, "I still have some embroidery work."

The father and daughter began to work independently.

Smelling the quilts and clothes that are illuminated by the warm winter sun is really very comfortable. Thinking about being huddled in the warm quilt at night, smelling the smell of the sun, feeling the warmth of the sun, and falling asleep beautifully, the gods are nothing more than this.

Ma Min'er, who had a good night's sleep, did not expect to see Xia Zhen and a group of people when she opened the door, "Every...it's so early, everyone?"

Zhang Nianmei touched her nose and pointed to the gate of the courtyard, meaning to let the old sister open the door.

Ma Min'er was holding a comb in her hand and was about to comb her hair. She thought about putting the comb on the small stool at the door, stretched out her hand and made a random bun, and went down the wooden ladder to open the door for them.

"Morning, little general, sir..."

Mr. Tian smiled slightly, with an unnatural expression on his face. Ma Min'er caught it, opened the door, and retreated to the side, thinking, what happened?But after glancing at Xia Zhen, he found that seeing him this time, his complexion was much better, even some flesh hung on his cheekbones, and the edges and corners were not so violent and indifferent.

This is Xia Zhen's change, but the thick men in the barracks only feel that there has been a change, but they can't tell.

When the senior generals in front went in, Chef Lei grinned from behind, "Miss Ma Er—"

"Wow, Chef, why are you here too!" Ma Miner greeted with a smile.

"Let's go back to Fucheng General's Mansion."

"Oh!" It turned out to be passing by, but passing by... Why do Mr. Tian and Mr. Zhuang look a little weird?Before Ma Min'er could finish thinking, Chef Lei was pushed aside by the soldiers behind. The soldiers carried a lot of things in a row, and at a glance, there were six rows of people.

"What... what is this for?" Ma Qifeng asked his daughter one step ahead.

Mr. Tian glanced at the little master who was standing still. His handsome and upright figure made the small courtyard look dwarfed by comparison. He was heroic, stern and majestic. Standing in the small farmyard, the ordinary farmyard was reflected by him in a prosperous world.

Ma Qifeng followed Mr. Tian's gaze and looked at the young master of Zhen Guo General's Mansion - Xia Zhen. He didn't understand, just pass by, why make such a big show.

On the official road, in the luxurious carriage, Qing Jin kept raising the curtains. She brought a lot of gifts to the third son and entered the village, but she couldn't figure it out, "Why did the general give so many gifts to that family? Why didn't you let us follow?" .”

Ling Ruya chuckled lightly: "Cousin passed by someone while hunting last time, ate someone's food, and gave him some gifts in return. What are you guessing?"

"San Niang, but my intuition is that it's not that simple."

"What's not so simple? There are two little ladies in that family, one is nine years old and the other is four years old. What can my cousin do?"

That's right, the third son wouldn't fall in love with a nine-year-old lady, but Qingjin couldn't help but said: "I don't know why, the last time I saw that little lady, I felt that she was seasoned, and she seemed like a nineteen-year-old girl." little lady."

"Don't talk nonsense, she's just a motherless little lady. Without a mother, the eldest sister is like a mother, and she is always a little more sensible than us."

"Oh, Sanniang, you always think of the best of people."

Ling Ruya smiled and said: "It's not looking for the best, they can't afford the General Zhenguo's Mansion." She has always been gentle and dignified, but now her demeanor and demeanor reveal the lofty attitude of a nobleman.

It turned out that it wasn't that she didn't worry, but that she didn't care.

"Sanniang, I heard that she is the granddaughter of the emperor's teacher?" Qing Jin reminded, still worried.

Ling Ruya disdained: "It's just a concubine's granddaughter, why should I live in a poor country now."

"That's true!" The girl was relieved of her worry by the master's arrogance, and agreed with a smile.

Seeing Mr. Tian's lack of courtesy, Xia Zhen raised her eyebrows unconsciously.

Seeing that the little master was about to lose his temper, and his emotions became uncontrollable again, Mr. Tian sighed secretly, and bowed his hands, "Master Ma, this is a gift for your family."

"Ji... Boxing ceremony?" Ma Qifeng asked in his heart, why should he give my family a boxing gift? Logically, my family should send a boxing gift to the general's mansion or the military camp. Could it be to remind my family that we are rude?
Ma Qifeng quickly looked at his daughter and asked her.

Damn, I don't know why, when I heard "boxing ceremony", Ma Min'er immediately understood what boxing ceremony is, sir, no way, throwing a jade water drop to me, I actually ordered a lifetime privately, and started giving boxing gifts, don't want it !
Ma Min'er wanted to cover her face, but she knew that now was not the time to cover her face, so she hurriedly walked to Mr. Tian's side, "First... sir, do you often eat and live at my house, I'm sorry, why don't you bring me some gifts?"

After finishing speaking, he winked at Mr. Tian, ​​meaning, my father still doesn't know about your general throwing jade drops?

Mr. Tian wished that this gift was not a ceremony for a son-in-law with hairy feet. Unexpectedly, the nine-year-old Ma Erniang was quite clever, and quickly agreed: "Yes... yes..." As he spoke, he looked at Xia Zhen who was about to show his hair, meaning Yes, your father-in-law doesn't even know that you robbed his daughter.

Bah, bah, what was I thinking, but Xia Zhen's upside-down eyebrows became smoother, as if she understood her own eyes, and they weren't violent anymore!

It's good not to be violent, it's good not to be violent. Seeing that the boxing ceremony has been piled up in front of the corridor, Mr. Tian hurriedly cupped his hands, "Master Ma, we have to rush back to the General's Mansion in Fucheng, so we won't stop here. Let's say goodbye."

Zhuang Hao felt that when the little master heard Mr. Tian's farewell words, the eyebrow at the corner of his eyebrow moved again, and he moved his eyebrows accordingly, old lady, no way, the little general's ass wanted to sit down, and unconsciously looked at Ma Er Niang.

Even though it is winter, everyone looks bloated in their clothes, but her clothes are fat and thin and stick to her body. Her small stature looks soft, long and dignified. A bun that she just casually pulled was piled on the top of her head, lining her smooth and white skin. His small face was surprisingly good-looking, his whole demeanor was ethereal and spotless, and there was a bit of boyish stubbornness in his compelling aura.

Zhuang Hao lowered his head and let out a breath. He had to admit that Yizhou Mansion really didn't have such a beautiful and spirited lady. It's no wonder that the unfeminine little general didn't care about her, so he posted it in a daze.

Seeing that Mr. Tian, ​​Mr. Zhuang and others had left, even Zhang Nianmei turned around, and Xia Zhen's feet were still still, Ma Min'er was extremely embarrassed, so she took a small step back, leaned against him, stretched out her hand gently Pounded a bit, his eyes beckoned him to leave quickly.

Xia Zhen looked down at the little hand that was hitting her, it was white and tender, for some reason, she felt itchy in her heart, and then raised her eyes to look at the winking little lady, without saying a word, turned around and strode out of the small courtyard, leaving Ma's house , got on the horse, looked at the small courtyard again, turned his head and pulled the reins, and headed towards the official road like lightning.

Mr. Tian and Zhuang Hao looked at each other, everything was said in silence, he got on his horse and followed his master.

Zhang Nianmei opened her mouth: "Sister, come back to find you!" There was no sound, only mouth shapes.

Ma Min'er quickly waved to him, "Understood, have a safe trip!" She also mouthed back.

More than a dozen horses rolled up dust and sped away, oh my god, the Great God finally left, Ma Miner secretly patted her heart.

"Min'er..." Ma Qifeng always felt that something was wrong, but couldn't explain it, so he looked at his daughter suspiciously.

Ma Min'er moved her shoulders, "Father, you forgot to hunt last time, they almost killed your daughter..."

"Min'er, don't talk nonsense."

"father……"

Ma Qifeng thought for a while and said, "But..."

"Father, don't think about it. Although there are a lot of these things, compared with the exchanges in Beijing, they are average, so don't think too much."

Same as Beijing?Ma Qifeng looked at the few but exquisite things. As an unfavored bastard, he seemed to have never received such a high standard of etiquette.

"Father, some people from the village came over curiously, so hurry up and move into the house, otherwise, we will become the talk of their leisure time again." Seeing that his father was still thinking about it, Ma Miner hurriedly found an excuse and shouted.

Ma Qifeng had no choice but to say to his daughter: "When we earn money, return the gift."

"Well, Dad, you are right. Next year, we will do a lot of work and make money. When the festival comes, we will send more gifts back."

Hearing his daughter's words, Ma Qifeng felt that the pressure was not so great, and hurriedly moved Jieli in with Dalang, tidied it up, and put it at the bottom of the box. He didn't plan to use these things.

Maybe it was because there was too much movement. The villagers and the Ma family in Luo Zhai knew something about it, but the villagers all pointed to the light of Zhan Ma's family and didn't dare to talk too much. Dare to talk about it at home and make a fuss.

"Lao Liu is up, I wonder when our luck will arrive?" Ma Qiguang looked envious and hated, only wishing that Lao Liu was being covered, otherwise he would have snatched him up long ago.

Ma Lao Si sat aside and listened to Lao Wu's words without making a sound. His errands had almost been fulfilled, and his expression was a little leisurely.

Ma's second child has always disdained the fifth child's bitterness and jealousy, and lives by his old aunt. He quietly glanced at the fourth child who has been active in the town, and thought, if I don't want to go to the county, it's about your family, as long as I want It's not your turn to intervene, but we are brothers, and I don't want to do this, so I'll let you go.

Ma Laojiu frowned and stood up, "I've been stalked by a rogue recently, I'm bothered!" After finishing speaking, he straightened his robe and went out on his own.

Hearing what he said, Ma Lao Wu said, "Cut, he's a scoundrel?" He didn't even bother to expose him, so after thinking about it, he yelled to his house, "Mother, I won't be coming back at noon today." Since he can To curry favor with the uncle of the magistrate of the county, I can also get some money. After finishing speaking, I went to chase the old nine, and the two brothers went to get other people's money together.

Ma Laosi and Ma Laoer looked at each other, smiled knowingly, and dispersed.

Outside the Luo residence, several cousins ​​of the Ma family watched the group of horses gradually go away, their eyes fell on the last luxurious carriage, and they turned to ask the girls, "Did you find out, who is the carriage?"

The little girl Jia'er replied, "It's the little general's cousin."

"No wonder I can ride in such an exquisite carriage." Ma Rou'er was extremely envious.

Ma Jian'er curled her lips: "It can't be compared with the carriages in Beijing, it's still rough."

Ma Jiaer said: "That's natural. Back then, when we were in Beijing, we went to other mansions to participate in the flower festival. The carriage we took was much more exquisite and expensive than this one."

"pity……"

A pity brought everyone back from memory to reality, and Ma Jiaer looked dissatisfiedly at Ma Jiaer, "Your mother's hands and feet are so fast, she booked someone for you, congratulations."

"Congratulations, I didn't even agree." Ma Jiaer snorted, "Don't mention it in front of me." After speaking, she turned her head angrily and left.

Ma Zhi'er said sourly: "Then Li Tingzhang's grandson is very talented, I don't know what's wrong with Sister Jia."

Ma Rou'er went to the carriage and said, "No matter how handsome you are, can you get on him quickly?"

Ma Zhier curled her lips: "I don't dare to think about it."

"Then what are you doing standing here?"

"Let's watch the fun."

"you……"

The day before the winter solstice, as expected by Ma Qimeng, Mr. Yao’s gift was delivered. If there was no gift of apprenticeship from the official Fu Jia, he would have happily accepted Mr. Yao’s gift, but now, he doesn’t like it anymore. .

Master Yao's steward restrained his unhappiness, and said goodbye: "Since Mrs. Ma is suffering from the wind and cold, I won't bother you. Let me go..."

Ma Qimeng sat in the main seat of the living room, got up and sent the person to the door of the living room, "Thank you, Master Yao, and my father will thank you for your kindness in the next generation."

"Master Ma is too polite."

"Mr. let's go."

It stands to reason that Mr. Yao is the magistrate and a local official. If he sends someone to deliver the gift, the host's family should send it outside the gate. Not only that, but also reward those who run errands generously.

But the person who ran errands for Master Yao didn't get anything. The person who handled the matter thought that the emperor's master had fallen, so there might be no money, but he didn't expect that the other party would not pull out any money, and let him run errands in vain.

As soon as he returned to Lord Yao's residence, the clerk immediately delivered the little shoes: "My lord, the little one is back."

"How is the teacher?"

"I heard that I suffered from the wind and cold, so I didn't see the little one."

Look, 'I heard', this wording is... tsk tsk.

Sure enough, Lord Yao frowned slightly, "Did you call the doctor for the teacher?"

"Returning to my lord, there are no good doctors in the small town. The villain wants to go to the county to invite him, but it's a pity that Master Ma San is eager to serve the boss, so he hastily sent the villain out." The clerk replied.

Who is Mr. Yao? He is a powerful official who has been in the officialdom for many years. A few words from the person in charge have already made him hear the implication. His eyes are narrowed, and he looks at the person in charge.

"Return...return to my lord. When I left, I found that many high-ranking officials and nobles in Pingding County went to Yunshui Ma's house to study."

"Study?"

"Yes, my lord!"

Master Yao hooked his lips and smiled: "I forgot what the teacher does."

"My lord, do you still have to give it after the ceremony?"

Master Yao squinted his eyes: "Send it, the specification is the same as this time, as long as there is a festival."

"Yes, my lord." The man in charge cupped his hands, and when he lowered his head, he thought, people have already looked down on the gift you gave me, my lord.

The Luo family in front of Xiaowang Village found that Ma's house was strangely quiet, not only did it not have the atmosphere of celebrating the winter solstice, it even couldn't catch up with the usual, people went there.

The two old servants behind the door gritted their teeth, "I heard that the Fifth Master and the Ninth Master have gone to the gambling house in the county town. They seem to be lucky. They can win some money and come back every now and then."

"It doesn't matter if you win, life is not as easy as that of the fourth master's family."

"If the fourth madam hadn't shrewdly told Mrs. Jia to be married to Li Tingchang's grandson, and let the fourth master find a scribe, how could life be so easy?"

"I haven't ordered it yet, who knows if it will work?"

"Whether it's successful or not, did the fourth master find a job?"

"That's true."

The old servant looked around and said in a low voice: "I heard that Li Ting's family originally wanted the eldest granddaughter Mei Niangzi, but the third wife did not agree."

"I've heard that, let's not talk about the direct lineage, but about the affairs of our house. I heard that the second master often goes to the county, and seems to be looking for a way to get a job in the county."

"If he got it, wouldn't it be the best life here?"

"Well, almost, but now it seems that only the fourth master is the most powerful, and he has already gone to the town's yamen to handle errands."

Li Xunting was really in a bad mood. He clearly liked Ma Meier. He couldn't understand why his grandmother finally agreed with another granddaughter of the Ma family. He walked to the side door of Ma's house unconsciously, looked at the closed side door, and looked forward The beautiful little lady came out suddenly, but it was a pity that she waited until dark, but she didn't wait for anyone, so she walked back in a daze.

Inside the crack of the door, the little girl saw that someone had left, so she hurried to Ma Meier, "Miss, that stupid scholar has left."

"Xiangzhu, don't talk nonsense."

Xiangzhu grabbed his mouth and walked to Mamei's side, and said in a low voice: "Miss, I found out, he is the most important grandson of the pavilion chief, if he can follow..."

"Xiangzhu shut up."

"Miss, I'm telling the truth. In our current situation, the head of the pavilion is the biggest official in Yunshui Town, and his grandson must also be the most expensive son here. It won't hurt to marry him,"

"My grandmother and third aunt will take care of my marriage, so don't talk nonsense." Ma Meier interrupted the girl impatiently, stuck in a poor town like Yunshui, she had no hope for her future.

"Oh!" Xiangzhu shrugged and dared not speak.

Seeing that it was getting dark and the eldest grandson hadn't come back yet, Mrs. Li was so anxious that she passed around like ants on a hot pot, "Master, do you want to send someone to look for it?"

"After a few years, he will be 16 years old. He knows he will come back, so don't worry about it." Li Tingchang didn't take it seriously, boys, what are you afraid of.

"Grandmother..." Li Xunting came back listlessly.

"Ting'er, what's the matter with you, are you sick?"

"No...no!" Li Xunting stretched out his hand to block his grandmother's caressing hand. He was fifteen or sixteen, he was in puberty, and he hated people touching him like a child.

Mrs. Li knew that her grandson was unhappy, so she glared at Li Tingchang, "Since you agree with the granddaughter, then quickly send our Ting'er to study with Mrs. Ma, and let him come back with an exam."

"I see, you don't have to worry about this."

"Why don't you worry, after a few years, the training court is only 16 years old."

Li Tingchang looked away at his old wife, "It's really a woman's opinion, with a anxious face all day long."

"Why am I not in a hurry, I am not in a hurry to let the training court come to study with him!"

Li Tingchang snorted, "That old guy is tough, he hasn't opened his mouth to accept students yet."

"Ah... what about the training court?"

"What's the rush? It's either a year or a year. This will definitely happen." Elder Li Ting said in a spirited manner.

"Oh." Mrs. Li didn't understand the twists and turns between men, and she smiled when she heard that things could be done, "I'll make clothes for my grandson, and I won't be able to be compared to the people in the county."

Hearing that there is hope for him to study in Ma's house, Li Xunting's eyebrows stretched. Could it be that he can see... He was so happy and hurried back to his room to have fun.

In the old house of the Luo family, Mr. Ma Er had a few sores on his mouth. At dawn, he tidied up again and prepared to go to the city.

Mrs. Ma Er held him back: "Two days ago, I suddenly heard that Lao Jiu knew the county magistrate's brother-in-law. Otherwise, you can find Lao Jiu, and maybe you can find the way."

Master Ma Er didn't want to, "In the future, I will owe Lao Jiu a favor."

"They're all my brothers, what are you afraid of?" Mrs. Ma Er didn't care.

Master Ma Er glanced at his wife, and it was right to think about it, "Okay, I heard that he hasn't come back for several days, I'll go to the county to look for Lao Jiu."

"There is no silver at home, so take my silver bracelet and pawn it."

"The rent is running out so soon?"

"I have embroidered a lot of things and sold them in the county town. I hope to rent a house, and I have gone to drink the northwest wind." Mrs. Ma'er was full of bitterness.

Master Ma Er sighed deeply. Just now, he said that looking for Lao Jiu was still a bit embarrassing. Now, there is no shame in that. "Well, then I'm going to the county seat."

The old general Xia Shiyong was looking forward to his grandson's return. After waiting for many days, he finally received the news that his grandson had arrived at the gate of the city. His hanging heart finally settled down. Chuan, leaning on the grand master's chair with one hand, looking towards the front hall.

The old servant Gu Feng lowered his eyebrows and accompanied the old master quietly waiting for the young master to come back.

It has been three months, and the little master has been out suppressing bandits, killing enemies, and training soldiers. It's a pity to have a 30-year-old body!
I don't know how long I waited, but Mrs. Xia came over in person, "Shiyong, Zi'an hasn't come back yet, why don't you put your stomach first?"

The old general raised his eyebrows: "Zian's mother is still in the ancestral hall?"

"En." Hearing her husband mention her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Xia's face darkened.

"Didn't tell him, is Zian back?"

"said."

"Still eating fast and chanting Buddha inside?"

"Ah."

The old general suddenly burst into unknown anger, but in the end he suppressed the anger, "She doesn't want to see her son, isn't she a parent?"

Mrs. Xia lowered her head, looked straight at the blue bricks on the ground, and said nothing.

Maybe this kind of situation has happened many times, the old general Xia had a fit, he didn't get a response from his wife, and he didn't get angry again, and he sat in the grand master's chair heavily.

Seeing that the time for lunch had passed, the old servant didn't dare to remind the elders to eat, until the sound of striding meteors was heard outside the hall.

"Zian—"

"My good grandson."

The old general Xia and his wife didn't care about their status as elders at all, they all went to the hall together and looked at the returning grandson with tears in their eyes.

"Grandfather, grandmother, grandson is back." Xia Zhen took off all the weapons on her body, knelt down to the elders, and knocked on the ground.

"Zian..."

"Good grandson—"

The three of them hugged each other, and the old lady was crying.

After a long time, the grandparents and grandchildren calmed down. Mrs. Xia wiped away her tears, "Good grandson, let grandma see if you've lost weight again?"

"No, grandma, I've gained a few pounds." Xia Zhen, who had been silent all this time, said without thinking.

Mrs. Xia was really taken aback by the grandson's reaction. She didn't point to the grandson to respond to her, but when she heard his answer, she stopped being so happy, and quickly reached out to touch the grandson's face, "Hey, it's really a bit fleshy, look Coming to Ya'er, I really did my best."

The few people who came back with Xia Zhen raised their eyebrows and lowered their eyelids quietly.

Ling Ruya's master and servant were also standing in the hall. Hearing that she was being praised, Ling Ruya took a step forward, "This is what Ya'er should do."

"Good boy, it's hard for you." Mrs. Xia smiled and praised her little relative who came to accompany his wife.

Ling Ruya replied dignifiedly: "The old lady is absurd."

"Qiuqin—"

"Ma'am, the old slave is here."

"Reward Miss Biao with my hood."

"Yes, old lady." The old nurse Qiuqin said to Ling Ruya: "Miss Biao, please come with the old servant."

"Thank you, old lady." Ling Ruya quickly thanked the old lady.

The old general looked at his grandson's able-bodied generals and found that they looked good. He was very relieved, "Master Yao and I have submitted to the emperor the matter of suppressing the bandits, and the emperor has issued a letter of commendation. Thank you for your hard work."

"This is what subordinates should do." Several people saluted the old general together.

"sit down."

"Thank you, old general."

Mrs. Xia hurriedly shouted: "Gu Feng, let someone prepare the meal."

"Yes, ma'am."

Xia Zhen supported Mrs. Xia, "Grandmother, I brought back the cook from the camp this time, and I will cook some delicious dishes for you."

"Ah..." Mrs. Xia was stunned again by her grandson's words. This child has never bothered about these trivial matters since he was a child. How did he remember to bring the cook back to cook for him?Did he really grow up and know how to be considerate?
Mrs. Xia looked at her eldest grandson with a look of relief, "Zhen'er, you... have grown up."

"Grandma, I grew up when I went to the battlefield with my grandfather at the age of seven." Xia Zhen replied word by word.

"Uh... yes, yes... our Zhen'er has grown up since he was seven years old." In the eyes of the old lady, everything the grandson said was right.

After a meal, the old general and his wife clearly felt that their grandson was different from the past, but they couldn't tell the difference, because the grandson was still unsmiling at the dinner table, and finished the meal word by word.

After dinner, he didn't say much, and went back to his yard after paying his respects.

The old general knew about his grandson's situation, and called his subordinates to the study as usual, "Is the bandit suppression going well?"

(End of this chapter)