An old lady's life

Jia Xinyao and Zhang Shuo rested for a whole day. On the second day, they first went to Zhang's mansion to meet their uncles, aunts, cousins, and sisters-in-law. The three cousins ​​were not at home. The old lady and Mrs. Zhang talked together.

Having not seen each other for several years, Jia Xinyao has changed a lot since she was not out of Beijing. Mrs. Zhang has a smile on her face and feels emotionally in her heart, whether it is a man or a woman, she grows faster when she is alone.

Jia Xinyao took office with her husband, even if she is a county magistrate, she is the county magistrate's wife and the biggest official in the entire county. Before facing many people in Beijing, the slight inferiority complex turned into self-confidence after facing people who are not as good as her After six years, it was enough for her to fully grow up.Naturally, she now has a clear understanding of these people and things in Beijing, and will not be overly envious or jealous, after all, it is not practical.

The three children are 12-year-old twin sisters Zhang Ying and Zhang Li, and [-]-year-old son Zhang Hao.

Mrs. Zhang first called the twin sisters to her face, stroked the heads of the two little girls, and said with a smile, "Yinger and Lier have grown into big girls in a blink of an eye." The two little girls have their own characteristics, although they are Twins have the same appearance, but different personalities, so it is easy to tell them apart.

Jia Xinyao smiled heartily: "What big girls, my aunt has flattered them, and being at home all day gives me such a headache." The small place is well behaved, and she doesn't restrain her daughter too much, so the two daughters are not as quiet as other girls.

The two little girls lowered their heads, Zhang Ying wanted to defend herself, but after raising her head to glance at her mother quickly, Jia Xinyao glared at her, how could she dare to talk back.

Mrs. Zhang pretended not to see the confrontation between mother and daughter, and pulled the cute and well-behaved Zhang Hao. The grandchildren of the Zhang family have grown up, and Mrs. Zhang is greedy for other people's grandchildren.

In the front study room, Mrs. Zhang looked at his nephew who had been an official for several years, and found that he was still making progress, but he was still a little foolish.

"Why would you think of returning to Beijing at this time? I could have worked hard when I came back earlier, but it was too late now." After receiving the letter from his nephew, Mrs. Zhang remained puzzled about their return to Beijing for the New Year.

Zhang Shuo filled the teacup in front of his uncle and poured a cup for himself. When the hot tea entered his throat, he immediately felt warm from the bottom of his heart.

"My uncle wrote a letter asking us to go back to Beijing for the New Year. I don't know why." Zhang Shuo shrugged and explained the reason directly.

Old Master Zhang frowned in surprise, suppressed the doubts in his heart, and said, "Since that's the case, let's visit your Yue's family earlier." It's better to let him see it with his own eyes.

"I always know your situation from the letter, and tell me what you have done in the past few years."

Zhang Shuo was beating his heart. Although he knew that his uncle was good to him, Zhang Shuo was still nervous when facing his uncle after all these years. After thinking about it, he talked about his life in Chongzhou and what he saw and heard. , Personal participation will not be left behind.

As he talked, Zhang Shuo was also a little discouraged. When the young Zhigao was first released, he still thought that he could endure hardships and would definitely make great achievements in politics. However, after six years, he was still at the same level. I have to admit that he is actually not as good as his cousin.

After returning from the Zhang Mansion, it was already completely dark. The place where they lived was not too far from the Zhang Mansion. It took about a quarter of an hour to arrive in a carriage. There were many members of the Zhang family living in this area. Of course, the Zhang family was not originally from the capital. My hometown is also on the Jiangnan side.

The next day, Jia Xinyao, her husband and their children went to Rong Mansion to visit. Because they were notified in advance, Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng naturally stayed at home to entertain guests, and Jia Zheng did not go to the library.

After entering the Rong Mansion, the couple were led by the mother-in-law to the Rongxi Hall. Everyone in the Rong Mansion was there. Jia Hu had just had breakfast and was playing with Jia Zhu in her arms.

Hongye sat at the top and saw a somewhat familiar couple coming in, followed by three children.Jia Xinyao is much more energetic than she remembered. Of course, as she grows older, she naturally gets older. In ancient times, many 30-year-olds were grandparents. Women at this age unconsciously dress themselves in a more sedate way. , Jia Xinyao's makeup looks steady, and her clothes are quite suitable.Zhang Shuo did not change much from what he remembered, that is, he grew up as a man and was not as big as a woman, which meant that he had nothing special to do as an official.

Hongye beckoned the three children to the front. When Zhang Shuo and Jia Xinyao left the capital, the two granddaughters were already several years old. Follow her, she will naturally look beautiful.The grandson is only five years old, and he is a white bun. I don't know if Jia Xinyao has raised him too well. Although the couple have thin faces, he is round.

When Jia Xinyao was talking to Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Wang, the corner of her eyes naturally did not miss her aunt. People around her might not have noticed the change in the old lady, but those who were far away could feel it deeply. Jia Xinyao felt this way. She found her I can't understand my aunt anymore. My aunt was kind to them before, but that was just doing her duty as a aunt. Basically, my aunt doesn't like them and never does anything for them. She can still feel her aunt's dislike. , but now she can't see through her aunt.

Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng took the task of their mother, but they wanted to understand Zhang Shuo in an all-round way, so they chatted with Zhang Shuo about current affairs, politics, state affairs, and the impact of the recent heavy snow on the people, etc.

Zhang Shuo nodded again and again: "That's right, the snow this year is heavier than last year, but it's hard enough for those of us who are on the road." When he was approaching the boundary of Beijing, the child was still sick, so he insisted on staying in the inn for more than ten days , Wait until the child recovers before returning to Beijing, otherwise they should have arrived some time earlier.

Jia She and Jia Zheng worked together in a division of labor. Jia She asked Zhang Shuo about some local products in Yuexian County, Chongzhou, what's interesting, the customs and so on.Jia Zheng asked how the education in Yue County was like, whether the common people could study easily and so on.

"In this snowy day, the emperor issued an imperial decree to ask the local governments to distribute relief supplies. Second brother-in-law, Yue County, can you arrange it? Don't make any mistakes."

Zhang Shuo grimaced: "Don't worry, big brother. The master and master are all natives of Yue County. Although they have some minor problems, they are not very courageous. They dare not withhold the disaster relief supplies from the court. At most, they can take a set for themselves." Two sets." Before he left, he told the people below that if there was any movement in the court, they must follow the court, and Yue County was just an ordinary county near the south of the Yangtze River, and there were no foreigners.

After staying in Rong Mansion for a day, Jia Xinyao and Zhang Shuo returned home with their children after dinner in the afternoon. According to the time, it is not too late.

The night is dark, the night wind is blowing, and the snowflakes are fluttering. Lanterns are hung on both sides of the main streets in central Beijing, and the lights are lit to illuminate the four directions.

The carriage was some distance away from the Rong Mansion, Jia Xinyao hugged her son and said, "Master, wife, eldest brother and second brother are not the same as before."

Zhang Shuo nodded with a strange look on his face. His mother-in-law scared him enough today.But the eldest brother and younger brother-in-law are quite different from before. As a scholar, Zhang Shuo was born in the imperial examination. In the past, Zhang Shuo didn’t really want to talk to his elder brother. He thought it was boring, so he didn't really want to associate with his elder brother and younger brother-in-law, but today they broke the previous cognition in his mind.

"This is a good thing. After the filial piety, the elder brother will inherit the title of his father-in-law, and the second younger brother can take the scientific examination. According to his current level, it may be impossible to pass the examination with encouragement."

While the parents were talking, the three children were not to be outdone, and started chattering one after another.

"Mother, my eldest cousin looks better."

"Yes, when we left the capital, the eldest cousin was only over a year old, and he looked so thin."

"Second cousin and third cousin are fun." Zhang Hao said for a long time.

In Rongfu, Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng sent Jia Xinyao, Zhang Shuo and nephews and nieces away, and returned to Rongxi Hall to chat with their mother about the situation of the day.

Everyone is judging everyone else, but they are judging you too.Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng alternately talked about their conversations with Zhang Shuo and their impressions of Zhang Shuo.

Naturally, Hongye would not have talked with Zhang Shuo, the mother-in-law was talking to the son-in-law, and the son-in-law was sitting upright, and the mother-in-law would ask questions without a word, and she would ask whatever came to her mind.

For example, the last question was about the local products of Yue County, but the next question asked if there were any beautiful girls in Yue County. At that time, Zhang Shuo was so scared that his heart almost jumped out.

"Mother, the second brother-in-law, why do I feel that he doesn't seem to be an official? He doesn't know much about the local situation, and it's just one-sided and empty content."

"As the county magistrate, he has never been to the academy in Yue County, and he doesn't care about education."

Hongye listened carefully, Zhang Shuo was indeed not a capable person, it could only be said that among the many people who followed the rules, there were some clever people, but they kept going in circles, so the cleverness had never been used in the right place, so there was no one in these years. what to do.

"Don't worry, as long as he doesn't have bad intentions, doesn't go too far, and doesn't do rebellious things at the expense of his family's safety, he's pretty good." Hongye was also thinking in her heart, it seems that the Zhang family's teaching children is indeed better than other people's. Much stronger.

The next day is the Laba Festival, and every household is filled with the aroma of Laba porridge. From the late afternoon, batches of eunuchs come out of the palace to deliver Laba porridge. Cloth, special people such as Rongfu during the filial piety are covered with white cloth, and these porridges are sent to various prefectures in Beijing. The delivery of Laba porridge means that the emperor thinks you are still pleasing to the eye, and make persistent efforts in the coming year.

Hong Ye distributed the Laba porridge rewarded by the emperor to Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng, and let the two brothers eat it.All the way out of the palace, the porridge was already cold, and the children couldn't bear it.And since it is the emperor's grace, let the men in the mansion enjoy it, and they will be grateful!

Of course, the emperor also rewarded the Lin family, and the officials in Beijing were not surprised. Many families who did not receive the reward from the emperor did not have a happy Laba Festival today. They carefully called the family to discuss whether they did something wrong. Not welcomed by the emperor?

The author has something to say: This is the main chapter and it has been replaced.

The recent servings are a bit small, and the state is not very good. I will try my best to increase the servings on weekends.