"Since mother agrees, it's settled." Mother Shen looked happy.
"Yes." Mrs. Shen responded dullly.
Shen Changze couldn't stand listening anymore and frowned: "There is still enough money in the treasury, so it's not like this."
Although the current Hou Mansion is not well-off, it is not unable to hold a banquet.
He couldn't afford to lose this person by breaking his birthday gift into silver.
"You are not a householder and don't know that expenses are like running water. Although the money in the treasury is sufficient for a birthday banquet, have you ever thought that you will still have to spend money to live after the birthday banquet?" Shen's mother looked angry.
Shen Changze choked and was speechless.
Although Jiang Shu made suggestions to solve the long-term worries of the Hou Mansion, he could not solve the immediate worries.
"Don't worry, only a few of us know about this. Not even Qingrong will tell, and no one will laugh at her." Mother Shen patiently comforted her.
But he knows it himself! You will look down on yourself!
Shen Changze felt extremely humiliated, especially after meeting Jiang Shu's eyes.
Jiang Shu's eyes were dull, but Shen Changze felt that there were ripples in them, full of sarcasm.
He didn't want to be disrespectful in front of Jiang Shu.
"The money for grandma's birthday banquet came out of the treasury." After saying this, Shen Changze stood up and left angrily.
"I only thought about the Marquis Mansion, and I didn't take away a single tael of money. How could it be my fault, and I had to complain everywhere." Shen's mother wiped away her tears with regret.
Mrs. Shen was upset when she heard this, her previous joy was gone, and she regretted agreeing to host this birthday banquet.
But the words have been spoken, and if he goes back on his words now, the Lu family doesn't know how to view the Hou Mansion.
At this point, we can only bite the bullet and do it.
In Huaqing Courtyard, Shen Qingrong looked at the newly renovated courtyard and felt friendly and familiar.
"Husband, this is my boudoir." Shen Qingrong led Lu Mingke into the main room, with a hint of shyness and pride on her face.
Although the Hou family's wealth is not as rich as that of the Lu family, she has been well clothed and well-fed since she was a child, and her food and clothing expenses are no worse than those of other ladies.
Later, Jiang Shu married into the Marquis Mansion. In order to please her, he spent a lot of money and bought her many clothes, jewelry, utensils and ornaments, decorating her boudoir exquisitely and beautifully.
Lu Mingke glanced casually, walked to the soft couch, sat down, and dismissed the others.
"Husband, are you tired and want to take a rest?" Shen Qingrong asked thoughtfully.
Lu Mingke looked at her, his handsome face serious and said: "Just now in Shouyong Hall, you lost everything in your words and deeds. Why did you do this?"
Lu Mingke looks gentle and gentle, but in fact he teaches his son to be very strict with his wife. Every time Shen Qingrong made mistakes in his words and deeds, he would definitely teach him and correct him.
As soon as Shen Qingrong saw him with this look, Shen Qingrong's scalp tightened, and she felt as if she was being scolded by her husband.
"I...I was too happy and excited. I was thinking about sharing my worries for my mother, and I neglected to take care of other things." Shen Qingrong bit her lip in defense.
Lu Mingke looked solemn and said: "You are now the wife of the Lu family. Everything you say and do represents the Lu family. You should be careful with your words and actions. You must not damage the Lu family's face by your words or actions."
"I understand, husband." Shen Qingrong walked up to Lu Mingke and took his arm to act coquettishly.
Lu Mingke disliked her, and softened his expression and said: "Change into clothes for dinner, don't be so ostentatious."
Shen Qingrong was dressed up today, but Lu Mingke didn't agree with it. But Shen Qingrong insists that everyone in Beijing is like this, especially her sister-in-law Jiang Shu, who spends money like water and wears luxurious clothes.
Lu Mingke believed it, thinking that it would be normal for the girl to dress up more gorgeously when she returned home, so she silently agreed.
But when he arrived at the Hou Mansion, he saw that Jiang Shu was wearing simple clothes and light makeup. He was not as luxuriously dressed as Shen Qingrong said.
No matter what Jiang Shu is like, they should not make too much publicity when they return to Beijing to visit relatives.
Pingyang County was rich and far away from Beijing, almost out of the control of the imperial court, which aroused the suspicion of the emperor and the jealousy of the courtiers. Eyes on them both overtly and covertly are staring at them, so they must act carefully and not make a single mistake.
However, Shen Qingrong didn't understand government affairs. She only knew that the Lu family was rich and powerful. She finally went back to Beijing to show off her glory.
But Lu Mingke has always been simple and low-key, doesn't like luxury and publicity, and has a stubborn and solemn temperament. Shen Qingrong didn't dare to disobey even though he was unhappy.
Before dinner, Shen Qingrong changed her clothes, took off her hair and dressed up again.
Looking at the beautiful and dignified Shen Qingrong, Lu Mingke was very satisfied.
When the family of three arrived at Shouyong Hall, the banquet had been set and Shen Changze and others had arrived.
Seeing the strange woman sitting next to Shen Changze, Shen Qingrong stepped forward happily: "Is this the sister-in-law Jinchu brought back from the border by my eldest brother?"
"Yeah." Shen Changze responded.
Cheng Jinchu raised a smile and apologized, "I felt a little unwell during the day and didn't come to greet you. Don't blame me, sister."
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'm being generous." Shen Qingrong took Cheng Jinchu's hand, and looked as if she was very affectionate at first sight, and glanced at Jiang Shu provocatively.
"You gave birth to my eldest son and daughter, and now you are pregnant. You are a great contributor to the Hou family and deserve to be rewarded." Shen Qingrong said, taking a gemstone makeup box from the maid's hand and sending it to Cheng Jinchu. superior.
Cheng Jinchu was flattered and opened it, and was shocked by what was inside.
Inside the makeup box is a set of South Pearl headbands, with gold as the base and thumb-sized South beads as the main part. It is inlaid with various colored gemstones and colored beads, making it extremely sparkling and precious.
"This is too valuable, I can't take it." Cheng Jinchu wanted to give it back.
Shen Qingrong held her hand and pretended to be displeased: "Sister-in-law doesn't accept it because she doesn't like me."
"This is too precious." Cheng Jinchu felt a little guilty.
"Nobleness is in line with your status." Shen Qingrong said in a serious tone: "Next month at my grandmother's birthday party, you will make your debut as the wife of the Marquis. It is just right to wear this set of Nanzhu headdress."
"But you won't get rewarded for your merits. This is really too precious." Cheng Jinchu knew that he couldn't come up with a suitable return gift, so he hesitated and didn't dare to accept it.
Shen Qingrong turned his eyes and looked at Jiang Shu and said, "Everyone has a share of this gift. I gave it to my sister-in-law too. Right, sister-in-law."
When Cheng Jinchu heard this, he looked at Jiang Shu and saw that Jiang Shu didn't refute. He thought that Shen Qingrong's gift to Jiang Shu was equally valuable, so he accepted it uneasily.
But she didn't know that what Shen Qingrong gave Jiang Shu during the day was just a good-quality sea pearl necklace. Although it is valuable, it is far less than the top of Nanzhu.
Jiang Shu could see through Shen Qingrong's thoughts, but he didn't point it out.
She knew that Shen Qingrong was deliberately humiliating her and deceiving her because of her low family background.
Shen Qingrong was in a good mood and continued to feel disgusted. Jiang Shu said: "Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law Jinchu has a lot of inconveniences during her pregnancy. You should pay more attention to her and get some parenting tips from her, which will come in handy sooner or later."
Jiang Shu frowned, really impatient with Shen Qingrong's entanglement, and asked quietly: "Did the Lu family prepare this gift, or did the little sister prepare it herself?"
What?
Shen Qingrong didn't react for a moment.
Lu Mingke was alert, and immediately said: "The door-returning ceremony was prepared by my mother, and the rest was prepared by Qing Rong."
After a pause, Lu Mingke continued: "My mother didn't understand everyone's preferences, so she let Qingrong make the final decision. If there is anything inappropriate, please forgive me."
Lu Mingke apologized to Jiang Shu.
He also felt that Shen Qingrong had gone too far.
