Early summer is approaching, and heavy clothes are gradually being put away in the closet, and they are replaced by light spring and summer clothes. Zhongxian County's uncle's house is no exception. The servants are dressed in new clothes and have cheerful smiles on their faces.
"Xiao Ju, these are the eldest lady's clothes. Send them over quickly, and be careful not to get hooked on the branches."
"Ms. Zhang, I know it." The little girl named Xiaoju held a goose-yellow spring shirt in her hands and walked towards Xiaoyao Xiaozhu, humming a little tune along the way.
When they arrived at the small building, Tian Minyan came out with her eldest maid Sister Jixiang. She hurriedly stepped aside, bowed her head respectfully and said hello: "I have seen the eldest lady."
"Well, you don't have to be polite." Tian Minyan called in a gentle voice. Seeing that it was a little girl with no hair, he took a look at the clothes in her hands and smiled: "Are you from the sewing room? I remember your name is Xiaoju, right?
.”
Xiao Ju was overjoyed, raised her head and looked at Tian Minyan, blinked her big eyes, and said with a smile: "Yes, the young lady has a good memory."
Tian Minyan smiled lightly and said, "Thank you for bringing me the clothes." Then she said to Ji Xiang on the side: "Grab her two handfuls of candies."
Ji Xiang responded with a smile, grabbed a handful of candies from his purse and stuffed them into Xiao Ju's pocket, and said, "If you do a good job, the eldest lady will reward you. Give the clothes to Sister Ruyi."
"Thank you, Miss, for the reward, and thank you, Sister Jixiang." Xiao Ju bowed happily.
When she looked up again, Tian Minyan had already left. Looking at the tall and thin figure, she couldn't help but praise: "The young lady is really nice."
Tian Minyan came to the main courtyard, where Luo was explaining the affairs of Lin Xiao and his family, so she waited aside. When Lin Xiao and his family left, she stepped forward and said, "Mom, you are becoming more and more like a mistress now."
.”
Luo Shi glared at her angrily and said: "You are just a hands-off shopkeeper with no one to take care of you. I have no choice but to bite the bullet. Fortunately, Aunt Rong is here to help, otherwise I really wouldn't be able to do it."
"Hehe, Mom is so smart, she can do extremely well even without me." Tian Minyan held her hand delicately and said, "Mom, it's been a while since we moved here, and things at home are slowly getting better.
On track, it's time for us to submit a post to visit Mrs. Liu or invite her to our home."
She had just moved in, and the uncle's house in Zhong County was in chaos, and it was difficult to invite people to come over. On the second day after moving in, she asked her nanny to go to Liu's house to give gifts, saying that she would pay a formal visit after everything had settled down.
Mrs. Liu’s reply also said the same thing.
"It's all up to you, but since we are new here, we should visit beforehand." Luo Shi said with a smile.
"Well, then I'll go write a post for my mother."
Mrs. Liu accepted the post from Tian Minyan's house, and the next day, Luo took Tian Minyan and Xiao Wu to visit Liu's house.
"Good sister, long time no see." Mrs. Liu personally greeted Ermen. As soon as she saw Luo Shi, she quickly stepped forward and held her hand. The two of them bowed to each other and said, "You just came to Kyoto.
, I should have bothered to visit you first, but I was afraid that you would have to clean up and settle down, so I didn’t dare to complain."
"Don't tell me, I'm new here, I'm not used to anything, and my family is always busy. There are so many things to do, and I feel like I can't do it. It's hard to get started, so I came to visit you eagerly." Luo Shi smiled.
He said.
"Madam, this is still at the door. There is no reason for the distinguished guest to stand in the door and talk." Aunt Zheng reminded with a smile.
Mrs. Liu clapped her hands and said in annoyance: "Hey, look at me, I forgot about this when I was so happy. Come in quickly."
Several people walked inside again, and according to the rules and etiquette, they first went to greet Mrs. Liu and saluted, and talked for a while. When the old lady was tired of talking, she returned to the main courtyard to talk.
"We haven't seen each other for only a year or two. It feels like a long time has passed. Time really flies by." Mrs. Liu said with a sigh.
"No, Madam is still as young as before, which makes me jealous." Luo Shi joked with a smile.
Hearing what she said, Mrs. Liu's tone was a bit angry: "You also imitated your daughter's talk and smeared it with honey."
"Madam, you have really wronged me. I only came here today after drinking kuding tea." Tian Minyan said with a bitter look on her face immediately after hearing this.
"Hey, how did you say this?" Mrs. Liu asked with raised eyebrows.
"Qian'er saw that she was a little angry, so he drank Kuding tea. This thing is the worst thing for irritating. It was brought from our hometown." Luo Shi said with a smile.
"No wonder I just see her being so quiet today, with a grimace on her face. Aunt Zheng, go get some candied fruits and let our Lord Huimin have a say." Mrs. Liu pursed her lips and smiled.
"Why."
"Madam, you have rejected me again. You called me Yan Yatou a few years ago, but now you are giving me this title because you are trying to get away from me." Tian Minyan pretended to be sad.
Mrs. Liu was stunned for a moment, then helplessly said to Luo Shi: "Good sister, look, this girl is getting better and better at doing things. How can I say anything better than her?"
"What she said is absolutely true. Madam, please don't bury her." Luo Shi covered his mouth with a handkerchief and said with a smile.
"Then my sister is still trying to ignore me. I call you sister, but you call me madam." Mrs. Liu sighed.
"Okay, it's my fault this time, Sister Liu."
"Why."
Several people laughed in unison.
While they were talking, Liu Ruyu and Tian Minrui walked in, smiling, not as unfamiliar as they had not seen each other for two years.
Mrs. Liu then said: "Now that your family is going to live in Kyoto, Rui Ge'er and Xiao Wu can't delay their studies, but can they go to the school to register?"
"Not yet, I'm thinking about enrolling in the Beijing Academy." Luo Shi said, "Master Xia also said that he should let the two brothers go to school together, and go to him for guidance when you have time."
"That's a good thing. My Yu'er is also in the Jing Xuetang. At least she has a companion. If she hasn't repaid her yet, I will make her stronger. The headmaster of the Jing Xuetang and my master also have some friendship." Mrs. Liu smiled.
said.
"That's really going to trouble my sister." Luo Shi was immediately grateful after hearing this.
"It's just a matter of words, what about Yan'er? This Beijing Academy also has a boudoir school, and many girls from other families are studying there." Mrs. Liu looked at Tian Minyan and asked with a smile.
While studying, Tian Minyan touched her chin and said, "At my age?"
"What's your age? You're only thirteen years old. It's time to study. This girl's studies are all about music, chess, calligraphy and painting, as well as riding, archery, medicine, tea ceremony and so on. In fact, it just gives you a name and a platform.
It’s just for the convenience of making friends. Most of those ladies have wives at home.”
Tian Minyan pursed her lips and thought for a while. She really wasn't interested in going to school or anything like that. She just wanted to live her life. There was no real study. However, it wasn't a bad idea to go and experience things. To break into this circle, making friends was a must.
"Well, I won't be embarrassed for a while and go see it for myself." Tian Minyan said with a smile.
Liu Ruyu listened on the sidelines, her face suddenly lit up, and she said: "Yan'er is going to the Capital Academy. If you have anything you don't know, you can ask me and I will definitely help you."
"Thank you Zi." Tian Minyan smiled slightly.
Mrs. Liu couldn't help but sigh when she saw her son's little face was slightly red, and when she looked at Tian Minyan, his eyes were clear and magnanimous, and his expression was natural and generous.
"Yu'er, you are talking nonsense again. Men and women are on guard against each other. Even in school, they cannot meet in private. If word spreads, it will damage Yan Yatou's reputation as a good friend. Do you understand?" She scolded her softly.
Liu Ruyu blushed, a little ashamed, and said hurriedly: "Mother, it was my fault."
"It's good that you know."
"Sister, don't scold him either. He is also concerned and gets confused. He just didn't think about it for a moment. I think Brother Yu is a sensible person." Luo Shi changed the subject hurriedly.
Liu Ruyu felt even more ashamed and said, "Thank you, Auntie, it's just my lack of consideration."
"Okay, let's go out and play." Luo Shi smiled gently.
Liu Ruyu looked at Mrs. Liu and said angrily: "If your aunt spares you, don't be frivolous. Remember that next time."
"yes."
"Go down." Mrs. Liu waved her hand and asked him to take Xiao Wu and the others out. After they left, she said to Luo Shi: "Sister, don't laugh at me for being nervous. This is how it is in Kyoto. There is nothing wrong with it. Otherwise, the good reputation of the children will be ruined, and their moral integrity will be deficient. Regardless of whether they are men or women, it will be a stain. So I say that Kyoto looks prosperous, but in fact it is far less comfortable and comfortable than a small town."
"You should be so cautious." Luo Shi also knew that Kyoto had stricter rules.
Mrs. Liu saw Tian Minyan's thoughtful look on her face, so she waved her over, hugged her gently and said, "Girl Yan, don't blame me for making a fuss and not letting you get close to each other. If you don't blame Aunt Liu for talking too much. , Aunt Liu will just give you a few words."
"Madam, no, Aunt Liu, how can I blame you? I know you are doing it for our own good." Tian Minyan said hurriedly.
"Good boy, I know you have always been sensible. In Kyoto, you are not as free as in Taiping Town, let alone as comfortable as in Yangmei Village. I think you have seen that in Kyoto, when women go out, especially our ladies, It's not easy for people to see your face. Not to mention private exchanges, it's even more taboo for a man and a woman to live together in the same room. Once word gets out, you two will be married, and your reputation will be ruined."
Mrs. Liu looked at her meaningfully and said slowly: "A woman's reputation is important everywhere, but it is even more important here in Kyoto. Especially families with prominent status pay more attention to reputation, and a woman's reputation is extremely important. Your family is called Being named Zhongxian Bo, I think many people are jealous, which will inevitably lead to bad things. You have to be more cautious in everything, and don't be plotted by others, otherwise, your life will be ruined."
How could Tian Minyan not know this? Mrs. Liu was actually doing her best to give her some advice. At that moment, she said gratefully: "Aunt Liu, thank you."
"I know you are a smart girl. With Prince Xian standing behind you, and you won the appreciation of Princess Ruimin at the palace banquet, with your scheming skills, you can stand up, but the mansion is just a shady place. It's hard to guard against privacy. Many people are right." Madam Liu patted her hand and said, "If someone really bullies you openly, even if the prince and the others can't intervene, they can come to the Liu family for help. We will definitely help.”
"Look at me, after finally meeting me, and talking about these dirty things, Mrs. Zhongxian County is going to make me angry. I really deserve a beating." Mrs. Liu saw Luo Shi's pale face in a blink of an eye, and couldn't help but slap herself lightly in annoyance.
Click your mouth.
Luo Shi said hurriedly: "Good sister, you are really embarrassing me. You also know that I come from a poor family. Although I know these scandalous things, after all, I have interacted with simple farmers so much that I don't understand.
I have benefited from you giving me advice, and Yan Yatou is no longer in a daze."
"I don't blame you, you are also a simple person, but I won't talk about these dirty things. They are impossible to guard against. Not only women must be on guard, but men must also be on guard." Mrs. Liu smiled bitterly and said: "I'm not afraid of sister either.
If you say that I am being alarmist, let me talk about one more thing, that is, the previous matter. Isn't that what happened to the young master who was studying at the Hanlin Academy? He just went to attend a poetry meeting, and he was tricked and had to marry that woman. How pitiful.
Yes, that young master can be regarded as a talented man, with good knowledge and a good reputation. However, the woman he married is a shameless person. That’s fine. I heard that he still loves to tease people. It’s really a coincidence.
land."
"Actually, it's nothing. I just bumped into the young lady while she was changing her clothes and was blocked. It's really unjust. I have to marry him responsibly."
"This..." Luo Shi opened his mouth in shock. Realizing that he was rude, he hurriedly covered his mouth with a handkerchief and lowered his voice and said, "Isn't that forced marriage?"
"No, I heard that the woman fell in love with the young master once she saw him, but the young master already had a fiancée, so she thought of such a method. It is really evil." Aunt Zheng came out with a plate of candied fruits and shook her head.
said.
"What happened next?"
"Later I had no choice but to break off the engagement."
Luo Shi suddenly sighed, but Tian Minyan thought that this young master who was also the minister was stupid and had been plotted. He still wanted to eat this dead cat, so he would be shameless for that family.
"Although he was unjustly accused, it also shows that these dirty tricks are hard to guard against. In this way, there will be one more resentful couple. How can there be happiness at all? It's just a pain for the two of them." Mrs. Liu sighed.
: "So, both men and women must be careful, know how to avoid taboos, and should not give or take things privately."
After hearing this, Luo Shi was very frightened. It would be no exaggeration to say that Kyoto was a sewage town. Remembering that his children all came from a place with simple folk customs, it seemed that he really needed to be taught some advice from time to time.
Seeing that the atmosphere was somewhat silent, Tian Minyan coughed and said, "Mommy, are these the candied fruits you pickled? It's really sweet, is there anything else?"
"Of course there is, the county prince likes it, so eat more."
Seeing that she had changed the topic, Mrs. Liu laughed happily and said: "You are just a snack. Aunt Zheng, go back and give her a bottle and take her back to eat until she is full."
"Then I'm not welcome." Tian Minyan stuck out her tongue and smiled.
Seeing this, Luo Shi shook his head and said, "It's a good thing she's here with you. Otherwise, if she's such a foodie, she wouldn't be a big joke when she goes to other people's homes."
"No, eating is a blessing. But as you said, I do have a good friend, and Yan'er also knows it, that is Mrs. Liang. I will make another post that day. Let's have tea and talk together, and we can get to know each other better.
Okay, Mrs. Zhongxian, everyone wants to meet you." Mrs. Liu said with a smile.
"I'm just afraid that I won't be able to get on the stage and lose your face." Luo Shi was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "If you're not afraid, I'll definitely come after you post it."
Tian Minyan watched the two people talking and laughing, but she thought in her heart, if the woman's best friend was like Qi Shiqi before, wouldn't it mean that she was not innocent?
