The Little First Grand Secretary in My House

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Xue Gouzi pondered for a moment, Call me Ting Xiang.

Ting Yan? Is this a name you chose for yourself? Dog, why did you choose such a name for yourself? She understood immediately and remembered that the talented boy in the eldest house always carried his name on his back because of his young age. People ridiculed that dog and sunspot had the same name.

A flash of distress flashed in her eyes, and she nodded repeatedly: Gou'er, no, Ting'er is different as a scholar, and the name is so nice. From now on, I won't call you Gou'er, and I won't let outsiders call you that. Let's just It's called Tingxiang. Anyway, in her heart, whatever the dog says is good,

Xue Gouzi, no, his name should be Xue Tingyan now, felt a little depressed. He was only less than two years younger than Zhao'er, but he was in a deep stream that he would never be able to cross in his life. Having said that, he said again: Also, can you stop calling yourself sister to me in the future?

This time, Zhao'er was even more surprised, and even reached out to touch his forehead: Ting'er, what's wrong with you? Did you have some evil? You didn't call me sister since you were a child.

Xue Tingxiang took a deep breath and smiled: But you are not my sister, you will be my daughter-in-law in the future, no man calls his wife a sister.

He was originally pale, half leaning on the quilt at the top of the kang, and suddenly smiled, with clear eyes and brows, which made people dare not look directly at him.

Zhao'er's face turned red all of a sudden, and he couldn't make sense of what he said: Dog, you, what are you talking about, I, I...

Don't you want to be my daughter-in-law and have a baby for me? He moved closer.

She stood up suddenly and scolded: You little kid, why are you talking about this? Your hair hasn't even grown yet! She said a curse word that Xue Tingyan didn't like to hear the most, and she didn't realize it: What are you going to do now? The thing to do is to take care of your body, as for these things, we will talk about them later!

Her eyes were fierce, and her tone was also fierce. After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and scooped rice from the bowl to Xue Tingshan's mouth. He glanced at her, ate honestly, and suddenly became in a good mood.

Maybe the two of them can change the way they get along in the future, and change it if they don't like it, there is no need to wait for her to understand.

*

Zhao'er threw away the mess, turned around and went back to the house, leaving the whole family to finish their lunch in a depressing atmosphere.

During this period, Sun had nothing to say to her, but no one paid any attention to her.

Yang couldn't eat, if it wasn't for her parents-in-law, if she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the two younger siblings, she would have thrown her chopsticks and left. Now, he could only suppress his grievance and eat the food in front of him like chewing wax.

After dinner, Mrs. Sun took Mao Dan and left, knowing that her son had gotten into trouble today and was afraid that he would be angered later. Mrs. Zhou took Xue Taoer to clear the table and took the dishes and chopsticks to the kitchen to wash. Xue Qingbai helped her. Zhou could not carry such a pot of dishes alone. Normally, when Xue Qingbai was not at home, she and her daughter had to carry it.

There were only three people left in the house: Dafang's mother and son, Mr. Xue and Ms. Zhao.

Yang stood up and wanted to go back to the east chamber, but was stopped by Mr. Xue.

Mr. Xue took out his dry tobacco bag, took out some cut tobacco grown by himself from the dark blue tobacco pouch, rolled it into a ball and pressed it into the tobacco pot, and then lit it with a fire stick.

His movements were very slow, neither fast nor slow. Anyone who knew Mr. Xue's character knew that he had something on his mind.

It was true that something was wrong, but it was not unusual for him to stop his daughter-in-law.

The handsome boy and the talented boy should go back to the house first. Grandpa and your mother have something to say.

Xue Youcai glanced at his mother and wanted to say something, but was pulled away by his eldest brother Xue Juncai.

Dad, just tell me if you have anything to do.

Yang is thirty-four this year. In this rural area, a woman in her thirties is no longer considered young. The wind and sun are blowing here and you can watch the sky while eating, so the women all look old.

But Yang took very good care of herself, with a disk-like face, fair skin, and a few thin lines at the corners of her eyes. She wore a semi-new azurite colored satin gown, her shiny black hair was tied into a bun on the back of her head, with a gilt hairpin inserted into it, and a pair of old silver earrings on her ears. She couldn't be called a scallion, but her hands were fair and soft, and she wore a gold ring.

With her dress and demeanor, it would be no exaggeration to say that she is the grandma of a landlord's family, and even the Zhao family is not as good as her.

Mr. Xue's old eyes flicked back and forth on Yang's body several times, making her a little uncomfortable standing.

Just as he was about to say something, his father-in-law suddenly said: Boss, wife, how many years have you been married to our family?

Yang was startled and replied: It has been seventeen years. My daughter-in-law married into the Xue family in the seventeenth year.

Then how will your mother and I treat you?

Yang's heart thumped: Father and mother treat their daughter-in-law as if they were their own daughter.

Mr. Xue nodded and took a breath of dry cigarette. The light blue smoke began to linger on his old face again, making it difficult to see the expression on his face.

You are the eldest daughter-in-law of our family, and your mother has always loved you. The hearts of you and the boss are the same as those of your mother and me. We hope that a talented person will become a talented person.

Yang felt relieved and couldn't help but laugh: Juncai is serious about his studies. Even my father said that he is a rare and good young man. He is a scholar.

Mentioning the most proud Xue Juncai, even Mr. Xue couldn't help but smile.

Seeing that her father-in-law's face softened, Yang took advantage of the situation and said: But you know, dad, that when it comes to the end, you can't just hold yourself to death at home and study. I wonder if Juncai's father also listened to my father's words, I went to Qinghe Academy to study for two years, got to know some classmates, and registered with my husband. Then I took the opportunity to make some impression in front of the county magistrate, and I passed the subsequent county examination. The ranking of the county examination As long as it's not bad, I'm half sure of winning the government examination, not just 10% of the time. But when it comes to the college examination, you have to rely on luck. Juncai's father just has bad luck, so he fails every time he tries.

This is the real reason why Yang is so valued by the old couple in the Xue family, not only because her father is a child, but also because her father gave Xue Qingshan guidance back then.

Yang's statement seems absurd, but it is actually true. The two county examinations are not as strictly controlled as the hospital examination, especially the county examination, which is presided over by the county magistrate.

There are five county exams in total, and the results of the first exam are mainly determined. In this test, there are two eight-part essays and one poem. As long as there are no typos and the arts and sciences are smooth, you can pass them. Whether you take them or not depends on your luck.

Compared with people who are not familiar to him at all, the county magistrate is still willing to choose someone who is somewhat familiar.

Going to a good school provides an opportunity to stand out in front of the county magistrate. Dachang has always attached great importance to the selection of talents. How many talented people the county can produce, and even how many sons can be promoted to Jinshi, can be regarded as political achievements. No matter how incompetent the county magistrate is, he will have to go through this kind of formality.

And being able to enter a good school will not only increase your connections, but also your horizons.

For example, the county examination only tests the Four Books, Five Classics and the Holy Edicts. How to write the text and what taboos should not be violated. These all need guidance. No matter how wonderful your article is, if it violates taboos such as temple taboos, royal names, sacred taboos, etc., it will not be accepted.

In places like the countryside, many private schools were opened by old students just to earn a living. I also wanted to become a scholar and change my fortune, so how could I go to a private school to educate children in every detail.

Xue Qingshan himself was like this, so he tried his best to send Xue Juncai to Qinghe Academy.

Yang thought that her father-in-law wanted to tell her about sending Xue Juncai to the academy, so she said this. Little did he know that her words really touched Mr. Xue's mind, but Mr. Xue didn't mean to tell her this.

Mr. Xue took a deep breath on his dry cigarette, and then said: The bosses you mentioned have all told me, and we will talk about this later. You are Juncai's mother, and there is nothing wrong with planning for your son, but you have to know that our family It’s not just Dafang’s family.”

The father-in-law's tone was somewhat meaningful. Yang was startled for a moment, then forced a smile and said: Dad, of course my daughter-in-law knows that we are not the only ones living in the Xue family, but don't worry, if Juncai's father and Juncai become successful, they will definitely not forget to be filial to you. And mother-in-law. Seeing her father-in-law's gloomy expression, she quickly added: There are other people in the family, Juncaike has always remembered that he can study, thanks to several uncles and aunts.

Mr. Xue nodded: As you understand, you should know that the other three houses have been sacrificing for the big house. I won't mention the distant ones, just talk about the third and fourth sons. The land in the house refers to the third and fourth sons. Seung, your dad is getting older, and his hands and feet are not as nimble as before. After the fourth child is busy at home, he also has to pick goods to sell. He wears out many pairs of shoes a year, but all the money he earns is given to the father-in-law. , I haven’t written a single penny. Why are you working so hard? It’s not just for our family and our big house.”

Yang's expression forced her face: Dad, why are you doing this just for our big house? Isn't it because Juncai's father is so successful that the Xue family is proud of him? Because Juncai's father was born in a childbirth, no one in the village doesn't look down upon us, even that person The Zheng family should also be courteous to us people named Xue. This is for the sake of the overall situation and for the future generations of our Xue family...

Mr. Xue sighed and interrupted: Dad understands what you said, and so does your mother. But as the saying goes, if the board doesn't hit you, of course you won't feel pain. Put yourself in the shoes of the third and fourth sons. , what do you think? I have to do the most work, and even my good words can’t be put into my mouth, they all go into other people’s mouths.”

These words were in agreement with what Zhao'er had just said. Yang immediately blushed and her round face turned red.

Dad, why did you call me into my mouth? I...

Mr. Xue ignored her and scolded Mrs. Zhao again: And you, you are biased in front of others. Just keep doing it, and make the third and fourth children feel cold and make trouble to separate from the family. You go there Plant them for the boss and the talented people to take the imperial examination!

At the end of the sentence, his tone was filled with the lamentation that iron cannot be transformed into steel.

Mrs. Zhao was unwilling to listen to this and muttered: What do you mean I am partial? What am I partial to? I don't think that the boss and the talented man should study. Studying is a waste of brains, so I should give them more to make up for. Are those good ones all? It fell into my mouth.

The more she talked, the angrier she became, and she couldn't help but curse: They are still trying to break up the family. If my parents don't separate the family, even if I can spare them, the ancestral family law cannot spare them.

Mr. Xue smiled bitterly. If it weren't for these two old guys and the ancestral family methods, the family might not be like this a long time ago. Who would be willing to work hard for others and be manipulated by others.

He shifted his gaze to Mrs. Yang: You also understand the situation at home. Can your mother and I manage it for a while, or for a lifetime? Since you want to send Juncai to study in the town school, you should win over the third and fourth bedrooms.

Dad, I...

In the past, your mother doted on you. I never said it. You can tell which is right and which is wrong. But from tomorrow onwards, you and the third and fourth families will share the work at home.

After Mr. Xue finished speaking, he stopped talking and just smoked his cigarette. Yang couldn't stand here either, so she hurried out of the main room with her head lowered.

*

As soon as Mrs. Zhou cleaned up the kitchen and came out, she saw her sister-in-law returning to the east room with her head lowered, and her face was vaguely not very good.

Her eyes flickered, and she glanced towards the south end of the west wing, which was a four-bedroom house.

There was someone faintly visible behind the window of the fourth room facing the courtyard, and Mrs. Zhou knew that Mrs. Sun had been watching the movement. She pretended not to notice, wiped her hands on her apron, and went back to the house.

When it was time to cook in the evening, Mrs. Yang unexpectedly wore a pair of coarse clothes and came to the kitchen to compete with Mr. Zhou for work.

Mrs. Zhou couldn't refuse, so Mrs. Yang smiled and said that Mrs. Zhou had worked hard and just asked her to rest and she would come.

Mrs. Zhou was pushed out of the kitchen by her, and she happened to meet Mrs. Sun who was standing at the door of the west wing. There was also surprise in their eyes.

But what surprised them was yet to come, because from that day on, Yang changed his earlier attitude and started doing all kinds of work. Although many years of neglecting her job have made her clumsy when doing things now, she does it anyway.

Not only cooking, but also being very generous, often actively persuade Mrs. Zhao to take some money, or buy some meat or bring out some eggs, and cook dishes for the family to eat.

The spark that was originally stirred up by Zhao'er's words in the Xue family was suppressed just like that. During this period, Xue Tingyan finally recovered and had the strength to walk around.

On this day, after getting up early in the morning and having breakfast, Zhao'er planned to go to town.

The rags she brought back from the embroidery workshop have been made into items such as purses and embroidered shoes. After saving it for many days, it’s time to take it to the embroidery workshop and sell it.