The 55th time

  Remember in one second

  "What's wrong with you, making such a big fuss? The child is grown up too. You often beat people in his house, it doesn't look good on his face." Mr. Qi changed into casual clothes and lay on the kang to talk to his wife.

  The mistress of the Pingning county wore a bean green cloud brocade jacket, holding a delicate tea cup and drinking ginseng soup. Upon hearing this, she lowered her face: "This thing that doesn't know how to show respect, his great-grandfather is celebrating his birthday, he didn't even help with the preparations, but instead took advantage of the opportunity to get familiar with some uncles and elders. But he's actually thinking of such a despicable trick! Hum, seeing that others won't pay attention to him, he became disheartened and lost all day. Just now when sending off guests, his face looked like he was asking for debt."

  Mr. Qi sighed and said, "Don't be angry anymore, you've already driven Chun'er far away, and no one else knows about this matter; well... after all, the daughters of scholars' families are indeed more discerning; let's just forget about it."

  The Marquis of Ping Ning said with a strange tone: "What are you sighing about?"

  Mr. Qi looked up at the carved flowers and clouds on the top beam, saying: "You and I have only this one son, he has been sensible and obedient since childhood, reading books and making progress; when he was 7 or 8 years old, he followed the young master of the Lai family to catch cicadas, came back and called you to tie him up and beat him severely, at night I went to see him, but he was still writing homework given by his teacher"

  The lord of Pingning County fell silent, and Qi Da continued: "Heng'er has never given us any trouble since he was a child, nor has he ever asked for anything. This is the only thing that has not gone as you wished. Speaking of which, several years ago, I had already noticed that he had taken a liking to Sheng's younger sister. At that time, I didn't point it out, thinking that he would grow out of his childish infatuation after a few years. Alas, now it seems that he has really fallen for that girl..."

  Ping Ning's expression changed several times, and she smiled with a twitch of her mouth: "It is said that strict fathers and kind mothers are reversed in our family. I am the cruel mother and you are the compassionate father; but would you be willing to let your son take a fifth-rank official's daughter as his wife?"

  Marquis Zhi fell silent, and the gentle Ping Ning turned to glance at her husband's face. Seeing him lower his eyes, she continued slowly: "Although your nephew is weak, he's still fine now. I couldn't wish for his early death just so my son can inherit the title. But this way, we must think about the future of our son Heng."

  I went to the palace early to test the waters, and His Majesty still favors the Third Prince. The only worry is that the Third Prince has no heir. Now that the Sixth Princess's actions are being watched by the Emperor in the palace, isn't this tacit approval? As for County Master Jia Cheng, I think his appearance and temperament are quite good. Where can you find such a good match?

  Mr. Qi sighed again and talked about eloquence: "He has never been a match for this county lord's wife, only hoping that Heng'er can turn around"

  The Pingning Princess looked at her husband's benevolent face and thought of her son kneeling in front of her, crying and begging pitifully. She felt a little soft-hearted. The couple sat opposite each other for a while, only hearing the sound of the Pingning Princess stirring the bowl with a spoon, the crisp collision of porcelain. After a while, the Pingning Princess's face relaxed and she said slowly: "I also pity our son... If he likes it, why not let him take the county princess as his concubine after we go to ask for her? Even if she is not a legitimate daughter, she can still be..."

  The words had not been spoken yet, but it seemed that Lord Qi was choked by his own saliva and started coughing. He repeatedly waved his hand and said: "No, no, no! You mustn't think of this! ... Brother Sheng himself didn't say it, but his older brother has a promising future and had already been praised by the Emperor twice for speaking on his behalf. Brother Sheng is a man with a plan, he would not easily give his daughter to someone as a concubine, would he? In the future, when we meet in official circles, will I still be able to see you? Moreover, he even mentioned that his younger daughter was raised by him from childhood, what kind of person is his father? You know better than me."

  The Princess of Pingning still refused to give in: "What's so special about a daughter born out of wedlock?"

  "Let me say one more thing, you've been flattered by a few words and now you're floating on air. If Brother Sheng is willing to make his daughter a concubine, why must it be with Heng? In the capital city, there are many princes and nobles, if he can swallow his pride and send out his daughter, who knows, she might even become a side consort!"

  The Pingning Princess thought of the scene she saw today and couldn't help but take a few more glances at herself, thinking that with such looks, even being a side consort wouldn't be bad. As she was thinking, she suddenly let out a light laugh. Qi Gong asked strangely: "What's wrong?"

  Ping Ning Jun Zhu lightly put down the bowl and chopsticks, smiling: "I laughed at you father and son, just like before. Heng Er came to me earlier to plead and swore an oath, saying a lot of things. I was being pestered by him, and at that time, I also said it's not as good as taking him in as a concubine. He immediately became flustered, repeatedly saying it's impossible, saying he has a strong temper. In front of the broken porcelain pieces on the ground, he almost knelt down."

  "Magistrate Qi snorted in his nose: 'That was naturally the resolute and decisive Old Master Sheng back then'"

  The mistress also sighed: "Speaking of which, among the three sisters in her family, that child is the most well-behaved and sensible, with excellent manners and appearance. She is obedient to her grandmother and stepmother, and I like her too; it's a pity there was no fate."

  Then suddenly, Qi Da Ren thought of something and turned to ask his wife: "In that case, you will be on the side of the Sixth Prince. What does Xiao Rong Fei plan to do? Her elder brother has come to visit several times."

  At the mention of this matter, Ping Ning Jun Zhu's body straightened up, and a pair of gemstone-encrusted golden cuffs on her wrists collided with each other, making a tinkling sound: "Hmph!"

  "Ancestors for eight generations were all tile workers, but this good-for-nothing doesn't rely on being young and pretty to deceive the emperor and make him happy. What a coarse and unbearable family! How dare they think of our family? Let her dream about it! Now that the emperor is getting older and she hasn't even given birth to a boy or girl, her good days can be counted on one hand!"

  "Very well, let's push this matter to the Sixth Princess. You pretend to be helpless and let those two families fight it out themselves. This way, we won't offend anyone, and the Sixth Princess will know that we're not eager to take sides. As for the matter of Heng'er and the Sheng family's daughter, keep it tightly under wraps for now."

  The Princess of Pingning smiled and said: "Everyone listen to you"

  ……

  That night, after returning home from the Xiangyang Hou Mansion, she fell asleep in Shou'antang and told Qi Heng's story from start to finish. She also expressed her feelings to Old Man Sheng, who was holding his little granddaughter and didn't say anything, just sighed deeply. The old man and his granddaughter lay awake with their eyes open. In the middle of the night, when it was quiet, she suddenly heard the old man whisper: "You clever child, you know that ahead is a dead end, so you won't take this road again."

  Suddenly feeling exhausted and weak, she felt her eyes getting wet and leaned her head on her grandmother's arm, letting go of all her weakness and hesitation. She told herself that after this sleep, she would wake up and continue to live a good life with an open heart.

  On the second day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang's family invited Master Tianyi from the Tianyi Pavilion to take measurements for their children. Changbai didn't even lift an eyebrow and chose a few pieces of black lacquer-colored fabric. Changfeng, as usual, picked out the most expensive and flowing fabrics. Changdong only dared to pick up some inconspicuous ones. When the tailor arrived at the three sisters' place...

  "What's the point of this? Even the young servants have put on their new winter clothes, and we're only making new clothes now?" Mo Sui said, flipping through the fabrics with a hint of implication.

  "As soon as she became aware of it, she immediately said: 'You only make new clothes once a year, what's the point of having seasonal clothes? When I just moved to Beijing, my mother was busy and delayed.'"

  Mo Yu covered her mouth and smiled lightly, saying: "Hey, I didn't say anything, why are you in such a hurry, sister? ... If mother is so tired, why not ask someone to help with the household chores? She can relax and it won't delay things. Wouldn't that be better?"

  These days, Wang was busy running around attending social events and preparing for the wedding, so household chores were inevitably neglected. Lin's wife took the opportunity to ask Sheng Hong to share some of the burden, which he thought was feasible, but Wang refused categorically.

  Mo smiled coldly and said, "You'd better not think too much and just live a peaceful life as Miss Ping's mother, that would be thanks enough." Mo looked worried: "Sister, your words are different from what I'm thinking. Why should I worry about my body? As a child, shouldn't I worry about family matters? What do you mean by 'calculating', Sixth Sister?"

  The muzzle turned back and wrapped around her body, staring at her with a pair of wide eyes; it was extremely frustrating that no matter how the three of them performed, they couldn't get rid of her.

  Sighing, she said: "The goods at Tianyi Pavilion are of high quality and the needlework is exquisite. They are the best in the entire city. Because they are always in high demand, every year-end new clothes are ordered as early as September. We're lucky to have made it this far. The young maids and menservants' new clothes were all hastily made with needle and thread, but I was thinking that since big brother is getting married, we should look our best in front of the new sister-in-law. That's why I didn't settle for ordinary needlework."

  Mo immediately fell into a gloomy face: "Is it just this matter that can't be done? Why doesn't Sixth Sister think about the future?" Smiling, she said: "The future? In the future, there will be a new sister-in-law, won't there?"

  The whole house praises the sixth lady for her gentle and peaceful nature, rarely getting angry with others. However, once she gets angry, no one can control her sharp tongue.

  Sister listened with a smile and said: "Come on, come here, I have more fabric, you can choose"

  ！”

  The wedding is approaching, and the dowry from Hai's family is pouring in, with furniture including beds, tables, chairs, and screens, all in a uniform bright red color. There are also several large boxes of clothing and various sets of jewelry. In addition, there are hundreds of acres of land and countless shops as part of the dowry, leaving everyone stunned and speechless.

  "...the ancients said that when a girl is married, all the silver and clothes she will use for her whole life are prepared, including the coffin and funeral clothes; it was like this in the old days." Hong Guang's face was full of pride as he spoke to You Rong.

  "Is it necessary to have so much dowry?"

  The girl nodded vigorously: "When a girl becomes a daughter-in-law, she should be three inches shorter. If the dowry is rich, she can straighten her waist because she has everything at home and doesn't rely on her husband's family to make a living."

  "Counting on his fingers, he said: 'These things can't even support one sister-in-law, let alone a big brother and several small concubines; they say the Hai family is clear and pure, but it seems that being clear and pure is not the same as being poor.'"

  Her face twitched several times

  At the wedding, unmarried girls can't participate much. They can't substitute for the groom to drink or make noise in the bridal chamber until the second day. Only after giving a ceremonial bow to their elder sister-in-law, Hai Shi, and then going to the main hall to pay respects to their parents-in-law.

  She wore a large red satin jacket with gold embroidery and a flowing cloud bat sleeve skirt, with a phoenix on her head made of gathered silk threads. As she curtsied to Wang Shiying, the nine-sectioned golden armlet on her wrist didn't make a sound.

  Sighed: good skills

  ！

  When she slightly raised her head to take a closer look, all she saw was that her face was long and narrow, with thin eyebrows and eyes that were not as beautiful as Hua's or as lovely as Yun'er's. However, she had an elegant demeanor and a refined air about her, which could be described by the phrase "with poetry and books in one's belly, one is naturally refined." Watching the young couple interact, Zhang saw that Bo was quite protective of his new wife, and thus knew that his brother was very fond of his sister-in-law.

  The Wang family was somewhat dissatisfied, feeling that their son's appearance and demeanor were not even worthy of a moon goddess, let alone a beauty like Chang'e. At the very least, they should have gotten someone like Wang Zhaojun or Xi Shi as a daughter-in-law. Mrs. Wang gave a red envelope with a noble expression, and when she saw Sheng Zong's gaze fall upon it, she took off another white jade bangle and put it on Hei's wrist, symbolizing unity and perfection.

  Sheng Hong cleared his throat and praised his son and daughter-in-law a few words, "Raise the case together, open branches and scatter leaves." He remembered that when Sheng's uncle said this to Chang Yu and Yun'er in the past, Yun'er was so ashamed that she couldn't lift her head. But now, Hai Jie's sister-in-law was very calm and composed, with only a faint blush on her face, and even the maidservants beside her were all well-behaved.

  She gave Wang a pitiful glance and suddenly had a premonition: this sister-in-law was not easy to deal with.

  After making a bow to their parents, the three sisters and two brothers paid their respects to their elder brother and his wife. Hai Shi had prepared five exquisite embroidered silk pouches with lotus patterns, two gourd-shaped agate pendants in celadon and indigo, three silver lotus-shaped ornaments with purple and red tassels, as well as a magenta one; according to the order of age, the second from the bottom made a bow and there was nothing more to choose.

  The premonition became reality in just a few days.

  Mrs. Hai's training was a success, and she served the Wang family with utmost respect and diligence from dawn till dusk, never leaving their side. She would stand by as Mrs. Wang ate her meals, testing the temperature of her tea before serving it to her, and holding the basin and towel for her when she washed her hands and face. Throughout it all, she wore a smile on her face, showing no signs of fatigue or hardship, nor did she utter a single complaint. On the contrary, she seemed to be enjoying herself immensely, as if serving the Wang family was the most delightful thing in the world.

  Mo very much wants to pick a few sentences, searching high and low, can't find anything. Like a little girl, she was coaxed back with three or two words. She looks frightened: "Is this what it's like to be someone's wife? Is it the same for older sisters in their husband's family?"

  Ink as soon as thought of himself inadvertently secretly sighed

  At the beginning, Wang wanted to give his daughter-in-law a warning, but he couldn't find any fault with her. Sometimes, when there was nothing wrong, he would pick on her and say a few words, but Hai would always sincerely accept it and even show gratitude towards Wang's guidance, with an expression of sincerity and a gentle attitude, either from the bottom of his heart or pretending to be so.

  "What a silly child! Who likes to suffer? But she can do it, that's enough." Old Sheng hugged his little granddaughter and chuckled as they snuggled up on the kang.

  Actually, Wang knew that it wouldn't take long for her to get into trouble. After a few days of good fortune, Sheng Hong couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks. Although she didn't say it directly, she thought about how she had served her mother-in-law in the past and now she was being served by her daughter-in-law as if it were only natural. Not just Sheng Hong, even the older women in the household who had gone through many years couldn't help but make a few snide comments about Wang. The whispers and rumors grew, how could Wang not know?

  Actually, Wang was also very guilty. She grew up at her uncle and aunt's house until she was several years old, then left her biological mother's side for two years before getting married. Her uncle and aunt had no daughters of their own, so they treated her like a precious gem; her biological mother felt guilty towards her and never disciplined her strictly. After she got married into the Sheng family, she never really put on the airs of a daughter-in-law, and that's how she lived until now.

  Now there is a living example in front of her, she really suffered. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the Wang family gathered together for the reunion dinner. Mrs. Hai was busy like a spinning wheel, smiling at Mrs. Wang and said slowly: "You are more fortunate than me, having a daughter-in-law and a good life."

  These words were so severe that Wang's face immediately turned pale and he began to sweat profusely.

  As soon as the New Year passed, Wang Shi hinted to Hai Shi that she should no longer serve her personally. At first, Hai Shi pretended not to understand; Wang Shi then gave a few more days of subtle hints, and when Hai Shi still refused to comply, saying it was against the rules and she didn't dare be unfilial, Wang Shi almost vomited blood. Furthermore, Lin Niangniang fanned the flames, and recently when Sheng Xuan came to Wang Shi's place, he almost used the mother-daughter-in-law comparison as a preface, and it became more and more pleasant.

  Finally, Wang's family was so stubborn that they didn't allow Hai's old man to accompany her and asked her to go to Shou'an Hall to serve Hai. She then divided half of her filial piety to the old Wang's family, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  The old man would not be harsh, and his daughter-in-law often called Hai Shi to rest or play chess, read books, or gather in the house. After winning several strings of cash from Hai Shi at cards, he immediately felt that his new sister-in-law was both gentle and generous. Although Hai Shi had been well-read in poetry and books since childhood, she did not have a bit of an acidic temperament, and she was easy-going and broad-minded with her younger brother-in-law and younger sister-in-law, being friendly and loving.

  Chang Dong secretly told him that since Hai Shi took over some of the household chores, Xiang Niang's days had improved a lot. The monthly expenses were no longer delayed, and even the clothes and snacks were all upgraded.

  "Sister-in-law, weren't you so obedient when you first came? Are all new daughters-in-law like this?" She asked Hai Shi with a pretentious air of innocence.

  Endless good articles are all in Jinjiang Literature City

  "Your elder brother told me so," Hai said in a low voice, having known for almost two months that she was gentle and lovely, not a troublemaker, and also not one to speak out of turn like Wang's wife. The sisters-in-law got along quite harmoniously.

  "He said I'll be able to close it in less than half a month" Hai's mischievous twinkling eyes