Zhou Shenzhi said with a smile: "Thank you very much, sister."
Xiao Qingxue served sweet soup to her and her mother, one bowl each. They drank it happily, and she looked like she was in a good mood.
Xiao Luolan pursed her lips and smiled. Her daughter's mouth was so sweet today, which was very cute.
After her father and stepbrother both rode to work, Xiao Qingxue realized that the two of them seemed to be going in the same direction. She ran back to Mingxintang with her skirt in hand and sat next to A Niang: "A Niang, My father and brother have both gone to work, let’s go out and play, it’s very lively outside.”
"We can also see where Dad and the others work." Xiao Qingxue held Aniang's arm. When she learned that her stepbrother also had an official position, she had an unexpected feeling. In Youzhou, her stepfather's identity Of course he is the biggest. In addition to him, there are many civil and military officials under the Jiedushi, such as secretaries, marching commanders, judges and officials, court officials, and brother Shen Zhi who accepts his life and Langge's military commanders. .
As a result of inheriting his father's legacy, when Jiedushi was away, his stepbrother, the military commander, could act as the commander of Jiedushi.
Xiao Luolan is looking at the financial reports of Zhou Zhai in previous years. At the end of each year, the mansion's expenses are always higher. In the month of the Chinese New Year, an extra set of banknotes will be distributed to the servants and servants in the mansion. As the head guard, each level has a corresponding amount of silver. It is always right for her to know more about it now. She heard that her daughter wants to go out to play with her.
Xiao Luolan closed the account book and said warmly: "It's time to go to work now. There must be a lot of people rushing to the government office, so let's go slower."
"By the way, has Luo Dalang delivered the bill?" Xiao Luolan took her daughter's hand and asked her to sit next to him.
"Yes." Xiao Qingxue said: "He has come to Langge a few times, but unfortunately, when he came, you, my mother, were not in Langge. The last time he came here, he said that his wife was pregnant. I guess I’m at home with my wife now.”
When Xiao Luolan heard the good news, she was also happy for Luo Jinhu, but she was still happy. She still did not forget to remind her daughter: "The account books sent by others must be read carefully, and they cannot be careless."
"Mom, I understand." Xiao Qingxue rubbed her ears, hugged Xueqiu and kissed her.
After more than half an hour, Xiao Luolan saw that the sky was almost dark, so he took his daughter out together.
As the New Year approaches, the streets are full of people, and there is a constant flow of people selling goods. The bustle does not stop until near the official residence. Xiao Luolan sits in the carriage and looks at the still busy people in the official residence through the window. She notices The official residence of Jiedu and the Governor's Mansion are connected together, and people from both sides can actually escape.
The carriage stopped unobtrusively at the corner.
Xiao Luolan observed for a while and found that everyone was very busy. She was about to ask her daughter to go back with her when she suddenly heard a familiar voice saying hello. She turned around and saw that it was Dou Dalang.
Xiao Luolan smiled and said hello: "Mr. Dou, long time no see."
Dou Dalang bowed his head with all the etiquette before getting up. He seemed to want to say something, and seeing that the general's wife had no strange expression on her face, he said after a while: "My mother has found a good match for me. The wedding is scheduled for next spring, and the flowering period will be waiting for it by then. My mother will come to Langge to attend the evening ceremony, and she misses you very much."
Xiao Luolan felt that there was so much good news today and said, "It turns out that you are getting married. It is such a happy event. I will definitely attend when the time comes." She still remembered that when she was in Taiyang, Dou Langjun's mother Wu had asked She took care of Dou Dalang, but when she arrived in Langge, she was dragged to the battlefield by Sect Master Zhou, and she felt a little guilty towards Wu.
After all, Wu had always taken good care of their mother and daughter when they were in Taiyang.
"Whose little lady is it?" Xiao Luolan asked.
Dou Dalang's thin and old-fashioned face showed a smile: "He belongs to my mentor's family."
It sounds like we already know each other. It would be nice to have a close relationship. We know each other well.
After chatting for a few words, Dou Langjun bowed and left.
In the evening, Xiao Luolan talked about this matter with Sect Leader Zhou, and felt that Dou Dalang was cold-faced and hot-hearted.
Zhou Xu hugged his wife's shoulders and rested in half sleep: "I heard from Shen Zhi that Amu seems to have a romantic relationship with his good daughter."
Xiao Luolan was so shocked by Sect Master Zhou's words that her eyes were no longer sleepy. She thought about it and said, "Qingxue is still young and hasn't thought about this yet. Maybe Amu is just in love and will be fine in a few days."
Zhou Xu hummed casually.
"Amu's identity is inappropriate."
Chapter 139
Xiao Qingxue looked up at her Black Cloud Horse, with uncontrollable joy on her face. She circled around the big horse, touched the horse's back again, then held the reins and turned over, and then stood on the horse. She ran a few laps in the martial arts training ground and waited until the sun rose before she dismounted.
Fang Yun handed the warm water to the young lady in time, and then wiped the young lady's sweat with a warm handkerchief. Xiao Qingxue put her hands behind her back, leaned forward, raised her head, closed her eyes, her cheeks were red from sweating. .
Fang Yun felt that such a young lady was similar to Xue Qiu.
"Fang Yun, let's go to Grandma's place for dinner." Xiao Qingxue washed her hands again, took the snowball and left. Fang Yun hurriedly put the cloak on the little lady and followed her neatly.
Xiao Qingxue raised her head and glanced at the sky. Her brother must have said hello to her a long time ago. She walked and played all the way, and soon arrived at Mingxintang. As expected, she found that her mother had left breakfast for her, which was so soft and sticky. The millet porridge is fragrant, there are also three fresh steamed buns, two plates of pickled meat side dishes, and a bowl of sweet soup, all home-cooked dishes.
"Mom, daddy went to work again?" Xiao Qingxue sat down. As long as grandma was at home, she would eat with her. She put the sweet soup in front of grandma, and then ate her own breakfast.
"Well, the father and his son went out together after dinner at my place." Xiao Luolan used a pair of black chopsticks to hold a small three-fresh bun and gave it to her daughter. At the same time, she pushed the omelette towards her. Her daughter always got up late. She had already eaten one round before, and she was the only one in the whole family who hadn't eaten.
Xiao Qingxue was very hungry because she had been active for a while in the morning. She quickly finished the three buns and took a sip of millet porridge. She sat down towards her mother-in-law and handed her the snowball in her arms. .
The sunlight shone on the two of them from the front of the hall, as if they were covered with a layer of brilliance.
"Are you still going out to play today?" Xiao Luolan asked.
"Go, Auntie, I'm going to go to my Nanshan Manor to see if their New Year's goods are ready. After I finish reading, I'll go and have some fun with Jiujiu." Xiao Qingxue said softly: "So I won't come back for lunch at noon. Mom, you don't have to wait for me. I guess I won't come back until the city gate closes in the evening."
Xiao Qingxue patted her waist, beaming: "Brother gave me the pass token that I haven't taken back yet. I'm not afraid if I come back late."
Xiao Luolan put down his chopsticks and said disapprovingly: "That's not okay, my dear, you must come back before dark."
Xiao Qingxue suddenly heard her nickname and glanced outside the door. She found that Aniang's maids were all far away, then she blushed and said coquettishly: "Aniang, don't call me by my nickname. I have grown up." Big.”
Xiao Luolan teased her daughter and promised: "I won't shout next time."
"I'm full, let's go." Xiao Qingxue finished drinking the milk, waved to her mother and went out.
After her daughter left, Xiao Luolan looked at her daughter's leaving figure, which seemed to be taller than when she first arrived.
Xiao Luolan looked at it for a while.
"What are you thinking about, madam?" Granny Cui asked the maid to remove the dining table, stood behind the mistress, and asked softly.
Xiao Luolan came back to her senses and said with a smile: "It's nothing, I just feel that time flies by so fast."
She took Grandma Cui into the small resting hall next to it. This room was small and could be heated by just placing two charcoal basins.
"Grandma, sit down." Xiao Luolan asked Grandma Cui to sit down as well. There was no one around, so don't worry about the rules.
Granny Cui bowed first and then sat down next to Madam.
Xiao Luolan took a few oranges and red dates and roasted them on the small stove. The fragrance of the citrus was refreshing, the sun shone in through the flower window, and the dust jumped.
Granny Cui looked at Madam and saw her lowering her eyes, holding a pot in her hands and pouring tea, with a quiet and gentle expression.
"Grandma Cui, drink tea." Xiao Luolan raised her eyes. The jade bracelet was looming on the cuffs, and the pearl pendant next to her ear had a shallow halo.
"Hey, I'll just come. Don't bother Madam." Granny Cui had a smile on her face, and she became more and more respectful to her mistress.
"The Chinese New Year is coming soon, and my mother-in-law and uncle Sun will take care of everything in the house. I have read the account books these days and have a general understanding. I feel that this year will be the same as in previous years. I will give the money to the people in the house. The accounting room has been prepared." Xiao Luolan said. Every year at the end of the year, Zhou Zhai will give an extra portion of monthly money to the people in the house, as a sign of the New Year's joy. This is also a major event for Zhou Zhai at the end of the year. .
"Zhang Ping is in charge of the guards in the outer courtyard, Uncle Sun is in charge of the stewards and servants in the palace, and Granny Cui, you and I are in charge of the flowers and plants in the inner courtyard and some of the maids and cooks."
Xiao Luolan thought about it carefully and felt that it was better to have a dedicated person to handle it. The guards in the palace were trained by Zhang Ping. The palace was divided into internal and external areas, and the family members in the outer courtyard were also divided. This way, mistakes could be avoided and it would be easier to find someone if anything happened.
Granny Cui stood up and couldn't help but said with joy: "It's my honor to be able to share my worries with you, madam. Don't worry, madam, I will take care of things." Granny Cui felt motivated after receiving the respect from her.
"I'm relieved." Xiao Luolan said with a soft smile. She peeled off an orange and put it in her mouth. It tasted slightly sour but left a fragrance on her lips and teeth. She handed one of the oranges to Granny Cui.
Grandma Cui took it and felt warm in her heart.
"Qingxue has an unstable personality and likes to run around. She has been playing in the manor these days, and Cui Langjun's progress in painting has temporarily dropped. Once she calms down, I will let her go to Cui Lang. Jun that." Xiao Luolan said that her daughter is studying painting very well. If she doesn't recruit Cui Langjun's good friend Xue Si, she won't go. Xiao Luolan is worried that Cui Langjun will have some grudges in his heart, although she feels that Cui Langjun will The husband may not care about this, but as a mother, she always thinks more and hopes that her daughter will be polite and elegant in front of outsiders.
"My daughter's family has been worry-free for so many years. The little lady has a smart personality. I heard that the little lady has almost learned it. Besides, she doesn't care about a few more days of painting. The New Year is approaching soon, so let me Madam, please relax and relax." Grandma Cui joked and said, "This will give you some free time, right?"
Xiao Luolan pursed her lips and smiled, but her eyebrows were slightly lonely.
The daughter has grown up, and the two of them have settled down in Langge. Now there are Qilin guards in the city, Buqu outside the city, and there are guards from the palace following the daughter. She doesn't have to keep an eye on her like a new arrival. Daughter, suddenly realizing this, Xiao Luolan felt a little empty, remembering the time when her daughter acted coquettishly to her and wanted to remember her birthday half a month ago.
Maybe, as the book says.
It's them as parents who can't live without their children, not the children who can't live without them.
Zongzhu Zhou asked her to call the troupe to come in to listen to the play. She felt that it was not fun to listen to the play alone. Xiao Luolan had only seen the second and third younger siblings once or twice in total, and Xiao Luolan was too embarrassed to visit them.
As for the younger members of the Zhou family, Xiao Luolan had no common language with them, and she didn’t know any of the official family members. Dr. Li Fan, who was about the same age as her, went to get his own medicine garden. In the end, only Cui The mother-in-law can chat with her alone.
After finishing what he was doing, when he came to rest, Xiao Luolan found that he was free.
After Granny Cui left, Xiao Luolan sat for a while and saw the warm sun shining outside and the thin snow piles reflecting the skylight. It was a sunny day. After looking at it for a while, she walked out the door.
Spring flowers and summer flowers come forward and wait to be called.
"The weather is just right, let's go out for a walk." Xiao Luolan hugged the snowball and said to Xia He, facing the spring flowers.
The two maids were immediately overjoyed, especially Xia He, who curtsied and said, "Yes, madam."
Xiao Luolan looked at the two young girls and said with a smile: "You don't need to prepare a lot of things. This time you go out just for a casual stroll."
It just so happens that the day after tomorrow is the Laba Festival, and the government's procurement department has prepared the ingredients for the Qibao Five-flavor Porridge. Xiao Luolan also made Laba Garlic ten days ago, and is waiting to officially start eating it during the Laba Festival the day after tomorrow.
Waiting out the door.
Xiao Luolan was followed by Chunhua and Xia He, and not far away were three guards.
The group of five people first took a carriage to the lively inner city. After staying away from Zhou's house, Xiao Luolan asked one of the guards to drive the carriage back, taking two little girls with him, followed by two guards, and walked slowly among the people. The bustling streets.
As the saying goes, after the Laba Festival, it is the New Year. The Laba Festival is also called the Dharma Treasure Festival and the Buddha's Enlightenment Festival. It is said that Laba is the day when Sakyamuni became a Buddha. In addition, with the prevalence of Buddhism in Dachu, Laba Festival, exorcism, etc. Bathing the Buddha happens on Laba Festival.
Firecrackers, spring couplets, peach charms and other items can be seen everywhere on the streets. The vendors on the stalls sell many brightly colored exorcism masks to ward off evil spirits. Xiao Luolan bought two of them because they looked fresh.
Xiao Luolan was wearing a blue sheer veil and holding a snowball in her hand. There were many people on the street. There were restaurants, teahouses, and Buzhuang grain stores. There were many noble ladies wearing veils or hats on the street. , fragrant cars and BMWs, looking at each other through curtains, peddlers and hawkers passing through the streets and alleys, people coming and going, the flow is endless.
"Madam, look, that's the Hawthorn Sugar Corner." Xia He has been very lively since leaving the house. She pointed to a stall and said, "Would you like to try it?"
"Obviously you are greedy." Chunhua said.
Xia He pouted his lips and said aggrievedly: "No way, that hawthorn candy corner has a large portion and a lot of sugar. I have to take a pack back every time I go out, so I want my wife to try it too."
Chun Hua and Xia He also had an exorcism mask with various feathers in their hands. The red mask with a human face was square and awe-inspiring. Let’s not mention the painter for the moment, but the divine intention of slaying evil with angry eyes was here.
Xiao Luolan and two little girls came close, weighed half a bag, and ate it as snacks for shopping.
Xia He was smiling brightly. She grew up outside the house. She could talk to the neighbors outside and had a lively temper. She chirped like an oriole and said: "Mother, now is not the most lively time. Wait until the day after tomorrow for Laba. , there will be a team of exorcists on the street, dressed as ghosts, judges, and Zhong Kui, beating gongs and drums all the way, begging for money from door to door, beating night beauties, and dancing to the Kitchen King, it will be lively!"
When Xia He got excited, he put on his mask and waved his hands a few times, dancing gracefully.
Xiao Luolan smiled and said, "Then we can come out and have a look the day after tomorrow."
She was also moved by Xia He's words, which sounded very funny.
After shopping for a while, Xiao Luolan found a restaurant for lunch at noon.
The name of the restaurant, Dengyunlou, has a good meaning. Most of the people in the restaurant are literati. Calligraphy and paintings can be seen everywhere. Xiao Luolan looked at the banners floating down from the second floor through the gauze. The ink was thick and colorful. All kinds of calligraphy came into view, and there were many young ladies around her who were also wearing curtain hats. They looked at these calligraphy works and whispered in twos and threes.
Chunhua went upstairs first and booked a private room on the second floor. After all, the first floor was spacious and unobstructed.
After Xiao Luolan read it, she found that most of the words written above were poems and songs by literati. Among them, she also saw a poem by Xiao Gong. She read it carefully. It was a poem about the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although the poem was simple, it was catchy. Catchy.
