After the main room came to deliver the message, Mingyu had been secretly reading about Shen Tianshu's expression.
Shen Tianshu was reading a book, but when she stared at him like this, he couldn't stand it anymore and said, "If you have anything to say, just say it."
Mingyu asked cautiously: "Girl, shall we go to dinner?"
The Shen family would have dinner together on every first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year. In the past, Shen Tianshu would be bullied every time on such days, so Mingyu could not help but worry.
But thinking about Shen Tianshu's performance in Hua'antang this afternoon, Mingyu couldn't help but tell herself that the girl was no longer the little girl who allowed others to bully her.
Shen Tianshu raised his hand to cover his mouth, yawned and said, "Of course I want to go."
Since she fell into the water, she has not met the original owner's younger brothers and sisters. Today is such a good opportunity to see the whole family, so why would she be absent.
Mingyu heard this and started looking for clothes and jewelry, urging Shen Tianshu to dress up quickly.
"Isn't this nice?" Shen Tianshu looked at the bamboo green jacket she had just changed into. The original owner's clothes were mostly in light and elegant colors, which was exactly what she liked.
"My good girl, I was just scolded by my wife last time for dressing too plainly. Why did you forget so quickly?"
As soon as Shen Tianshu heard this, he immediately gave up the last thought of changing clothes, waved his hands and said, "Stop bothering, she doesn't dare to trouble me now."
It was almost dinner time, and it was already dark outside.
Mingyu tied Shen Tianshu's cloak, gave her the hand stove that had just been filled with charcoal to hold and warm her hands, and asked the two little maids to lead the way with lights on, while she followed behind.
Although Mrs. Xu is mean, the rules of the Shen family are still there. As the eldest daughter, Shen Tianshu lives closer to the main house than the other sisters, and the yard is also larger.
Coming out of Shuangtang Courtyard, passing through a long and narrow garden, and then passing through two moon gates, you will find the main room where Shen Zhonglei and Xu are.
Shen Tianshu walked along the corridor towards the door, and heard a burst of laughter in the room, mixed with Shen Zhonglei's rich laughter from time to time. It was really a happy atmosphere.
"I really don't want to be the one who ruins the atmosphere." Shen Tianshu said softly, "It's a pity that there is nothing we can do!"
Sure enough, the little maid at the door raised the curtain, Shen Tianshu stepped into the room, and the laughter in the room suddenly stopped.
Shen Zhonglei and Xu were sitting on the couch, and a boy in his early ten years was nestling next to Shen Zhonglei. It was Shen Yuanlin, the direct son of the Shen family, the daughter of Xu.
He was white and fat, as if he had no bones. He was next to Shen Zhonglei, and he would twist his body coquettishly from time to time.
Shen Zhonglei was obviously very helpful, and his eyes were filled with deep love when he looked at his son.
After Shen Tianshu saw Shen Yuanlin's appearance clearly, he frowned slightly, always feeling that something was not right, but the doubt was fleeting and he could not catch it in time.
The girl wearing red and green beside Mrs. Xu is none other than Mrs. Xu's biological daughter - Shen Yunyao, who is fourteen years old this year.
Although she was standing next to Mrs. Xu, she had been talking to Shen Zhonglei across the table, telling him what was happening at home during this time.
Once Shen Zhonglei smiled, a strong sense of accomplishment immediately appeared on her face.
The mother and son standing behind Mrs. Xu were Shen Zhonglei's only concubine Pingniang and her daughter Shen Yunhui.
Ping Niang was Xu's dowry maid. When Xu was pregnant with Shen Yunyao, she had sex with her and she soon became pregnant.
So Shen Yunhui is only one year younger than Shen Yunyao.
Not long after Shen Yunhui was born, Mrs. Xu became pregnant again. Later, she gave birth to Shen Yuanlin, which completely confirmed Mrs. Shen's position.
Shen Tianshu didn't know why the other sisters' names were all named "Yun", and only the original owner's name was named "Tian".
But she still prefers Tianzi to Yunzi.
"My daughter has met her father and mother." Shen Tianshu didn't care about the atmosphere in the room. After he stepped forward and saluted, he went to sit down next to Shen Zhonglei.
Seeing this, Shen Yunyao immediately frowned and said: "Sister, didn't my mother say before that you should not dress too plainly at home? Young girls should dress brightly, otherwise others will think we are Is there anything bad going on at home?"
Shen Yunhui immediately agreed: "Yes, eldest sister, mother said this for our own good. After that time, didn't mother specially ask someone to open the warehouse and find clothing materials to send to us.
You see, the clothes I have today were newly made by my mother. My eldest sister must also have some, but I insist on wearing old clothes. Doesn’t this hurt my mother’s heart? "
The two sisters sang together and cooperated very well. It was obviously not the first time they had done such a thing.
After hearing this, Shen Tianshu raised his eyes and looked at Xu, but there seemed to be a threat hidden in his calm eyes.
Mrs. Xu looked away, took a deep breath and said: "No matter what you wear, it doesn't matter what you wear. Your eldest sister has a quiet temperament and a gentle person. Wearing such an elegant color makes her look as pale as a chrysanthemum. Isn't that pretty?"
Shen Yunyao didn't expect that her mother would suddenly switch sides and start talking to Shen Tianshu. Her eyes widened a bit and she looked at Xu in surprise.
When Shen Zhonglei heard this, he touched his palm and said, "What Madam said is absolutely true. Yaxuan liked simplicity and elegance back then. Shuer must have followed her."
Yaxuan is the maiden name of the original owner’s biological mother.
Shen Tianshu looked at Shen Zhonglei out of the corner of his eye and saw that there was nothing strange about his expression. It seemed that it was not intentional, but that he did not realize that there was anything wrong with mentioning his first wife in front of his step-brother.
Xu's hand that was placed under the table suddenly clenched tightly, and the brocade handkerchief in her hand was kneaded into shape.
She gritted her teeth and tried her best to put on a smile and said, "Now that everyone is here, I'm going to ask people to prepare the dishes. It's cold today, so I asked the chef to make a pot today to warm myself up."
Mrs. Xu went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Shen Yunyao was about to continue pretending to be good in front of Shen Zhonglei, but Shen Zhonglei turned to Shen Tianshu and asked: "I heard in the Yamen today that you went to the temple on the outskirts of the city to pray for an end to the snow?"
"Compared with my father's hard work for the people, I just go to the temple on the outskirts of Beijing to pray for blessings, which is really nothing."
"All the lords in the yamen have praised you so much that even my father felt so proud. Although it's not a big deal, it's rare that you have such a heart." After Shen Zhonglei praised Shen Tianshu, he turned to the sister. They said, "Don't just play at home, you two, learn more from your eldest sister. If you can be half as good as her, I have nothing to worry about."
Seeing the looks from the two cheap girls opposite him becoming more and more unkind, Shen Tianshu really had nothing to say to this cheap dad.
Just one sentence made Xu angry, and now she divided her three daughters into two camps with just one mouthful.
If things go on like this, it will be difficult not to be hostile to each other.
Unfortunately, he was unaware of it, immersed in what he thought was family happiness.
