Liu Shangshu asked quietly: "Master Zhou, what personal matter do you have with me?"
Man Bao pondered for a moment, and felt that it was not good to ask roundabout questions about this matter, so he simply asked straight to the point, "Liu Shangshu, I had wine at my house yesterday, and Mrs. Shangshu also went there, and she mentioned Liu Huan again.
I want to know what you think about my third niece."
Liu Shangshu was startled. He didn't expect this to be the case. He had already gone to someone's house to propose a kiss, so of course the elders in the family were interested in it.
What's there to ask?
The shrewd Liu Shangshu replied cautiously: "I like your third wife very much. I heard that she studies hard, has good grades, and is very talented. I'm just afraid that Mr. Zhou doesn't like my Liu Huan very much."
Upon hearing this, Man Bao immediately imitated her mother and said politely: "Liu Huan is also good, and he treats people sincerely. Although he is lazy and lazy, he is not bad in talent. His main character is good, broad-minded, and open-minded.
It’s the most rare thing.”
Liu Shangshu felt that Zhou Man's words were not a complete compliment, but as a minister, he was still keenly aware of Zhou Man's emphasis on "broad-mindedness and open-minded temperament."
To be honest, this marriage had been proposed for a year, during which time his wife had been insinuating twice, and always asked Liu Huan to send things to Zhou Liru to get along well with him.
But it has been to no avail.
If Zhou Liru hadn't said that he was interested in marrying someone, Liu Shangshu would have given up.
It was rare that Zhou Man took the initiative to bring it up today, so Liu Shangshu simply had a frank talk with her, "Mr. Zhou, I hear you say this, you are so fond of my little grandson, why doesn't your family agree to this marriage?
Woolen cloth?"
When Man Bao heard that he finally asked the question, he patted his thigh excitedly. After patting him, he felt that this was not good. He looked around and simply took Liu Shangshu and squatted under the bridge pier. He sighed: "If we just talk about these two children,
I have no objection to character. I think Liu Huan is interested, and my niece is not interested at all..."
Liu Shangshu also slapped his thigh and said, "Isn't that a perfect match?"
"Marriage doesn't just require two people to be willing. You and I are both experienced, and we all know that this marriage is a good marriage between two people. In the future, our little lady will always live in your Liu family, and your Liu family
He also has to come and go with our Zhou family frequently. He is the son-in-law, and that is the communication between the two families." Man Bao said: "The happiness gained from the harmony of the two families is many times that of the disharmony."
Liu Shangshu looked up and down at Zhou Man, who had only been married for two months, and was speechless for a long time.
The two of them were so engrossed in talking that neither of them noticed that the bluestone in front of them cast a shadow, which undulated like a mountain peak.
It took Liu Shangshu a long time to find the language he wanted to organize, "So you are worried that our Liu family and your Zhou family are not on good terms?"
Man Bao nodded repeatedly, "I'm afraid that our two families will be at odds."
Liu Shangshu smiled modestly and said: "Master Zhou, you are too worried. Your Zhou family is a generous and charitable family. Although our Liu family is not bad, we still respect our in-laws."
Man Bao then spoke more clearly, saying: "We are afraid that our ideas may not match."
She paused and then said: "Don't be offended by Liu Shangshu. You know that I am an upright person and I don't shy away from it now. Our Zhou family is from a common people. In the countryside, it is normal for men to farm and women to weave. Women not only have to
Weaving and spinning, and also working in the fields with her husband, it can be said that half of the family is supported by women."
Liu Shangshu nodded. As the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he naturally knew this.
"It is also because of this that our family does not have so many etiquette rules in poetry and books. I am smart, my parents and brothers love me, and it happened to be my husband's great kindness, so I was able to start studying, so I walked all the way to the court.
My parents and family don't think it's strange, they just feel proud of it."
Liu Shangshu thought, they didn't think it was strange at all. Oh, no, it was a bit strange at first, but after so many years, everyone has long been used to Zhou Man at the court meeting. Anyway, she rarely spoke once a year.
, there is not much difference with her or without her.
However, it would be an honor for him to be a woman who could achieve Zhou Man's level. However, her surname was Zhou, not Liu, and now her surname was Bai, not to mention Liu.
Man Bao said: "So my family can ask Dr. Liu to marry me. If she stands in my current position in the future, the Zhou family will not make a fuss. It is even possible that Li Ru will stand in my position in the future. The Liu family is a heirloom of poetry and calligraphy.
I'm afraid that I won't be able to understand my Zhou family teaching their daughter this way."
Liu Shangshu immediately understood why they had been refusing. He said "Oh!", patted his legs and said, "We didn't explain it clearly. Mr. Zhou, am I, Liu, such a superficial and narrow-minded person?"
He said: "If the third lady in the house could have Master Zhou's talent, we would be able to laugh even in our dreams. Not to mention that she is only standing in your current position. In the future, even if she becomes a marquis and becomes a prime minister, we will only be able to
I'm happy, how can I not tolerate it?"
He said: "If we talk about the most capable women in the world, it must be the eldest princess first, then your Majesty's queen, and then there is Li Guogong's wife, and even Su Guogong's wife went to the battlefield to save her husband.
Yes, each one of them is so enviable. I can only be happy that I can marry such a person for my grandson."
Lin Qingwan looked at him suspiciously, "But why do I occasionally hear some officials in the court secretly criticizing me?"
Liu Shangshu coughed slightly in embarrassment and whispered: "They are all jealous of you. If we talk about scolding, none of us have been scolded in private? If you don't believe it, look at Mr. Wei, from His Majesty to the six ministries.
Junior official, who hasn’t scolded him secretly? Everyone can say unpleasant things, but is Mr. Wei really as embarrassing as they say? Do they really look down on Mr. Wei? "
Man Bao clapped his legs excitedly, "Yes, they are jealous. They are jealous that they can't become Master Wei. They are also jealous that they can't become me."
Liu Shangshu felt that something was not right, but now was the right time to say goodbye, so he thought it would be better to reconcile, so he nodded, "Yes, they are just jealous."
Man Bao felt like a confidant, patted Liu Shangshu's arm and said: "Liu Shangshu, I didn't expect you to be such a broad-minded person. I underestimated you. To tell you the truth, my niece studied medicine since she was a child.
, Oh, by the way, she was also enlightened by "The Thousand-Character Classic" and "The Analects of Confucius". The more she reads, the higher her ambitions will be. I can't block her future just because of marriage. You also have grandchildren, so you should
I understand the mentality of being an elder, so I have been unable to make up my mind."
Liu Shangshu felt that their psychology should be different. If his grandson had this mentality, he would not be anxious even if he did not get married for half his life. Unfortunately, Liu Huan did not, so he would only have to get married and spend the rest of his life.