Since he couldn't get out anyway, Shen Xingwan just started messing around in the yard, picking out fat and making incense.
There were too many things missing. Shen Xingwan opened a few lists in the study and handed them to Bai Ling, "I want to see these things appear in the yard tomorrow."
Bai Ling didn't dare to neglect, took the order and immediately went to find her mother, the purchasing manager.
The mother in charge took one look and realized that she wanted too many things, "Miss Qi is making things difficult for us."
Bai Ling snorted coldly, "Do you think Miss Seven is not worthy of these things?"
How could the steward mother dare to accept this? Everyone knew that Miss Seven was about to fly to a high branch.
"I said something wrong, don't suggest it." The mother in charge sent the person away with a smile, then turned around and went to see Mrs. Zhou.
She respectfully handed the list to Mrs. Zhou, "Miss Seventh asked for too many things at once, and I dare not make my own decision."
Mrs. Zhou took the list and glanced at it, and she immediately knew in her heart, who didn't choose a rouge and gouache when they were young? This can be regarded as the fun of girls in the boudoir.
"You should buy according to her list first. It's not like the Zhou family can't afford this thing." Mrs. Zhou ordered.
After sending the servants away, Mrs. Zhou felt uneasy and went to Shen Xingwan's yard herself.
When she arrived, Shen Xingwan was looking at the prescription. When he saw her, he still smiled and said, "Mom is here. I just found the ancient rouge recipe from the book. Come and take a look."
Mrs. Zhou glanced at it and said, "Why do you suddenly think of doing this?"
Shen Xingwan sighed, "It's too boring to be locked in the yard every day. I want to go out and play."
"Your current identity is in danger." Mrs. Zhou advised.
"So I'll find something to do for myself." Shen Xingwan said rationally.
Mrs. Zhou tested it and was very satisfied with her answer. She put on a motherly look and said, "Just do it if you like it. If you want to do it, just tell the servants if you need anything."
"Thank you, mother, you are so kind."
The two staged a show of loving mother and daughter.
Shen Xingwan looked at Mrs. Zhou's leaving figure and felt that she was a little different today. She had carefully arranged her hair and makeup. Her clothes were more fresh and refined than her usual calm and luxurious ones, and her jewelry was carefully matched.
"Do you feel like there's something different about Mommy today?"
Bai Ling thought about it seriously, "The eldest lady looks very beautiful today. She is usually more majestic."
It's a very subtle change, a difference that only women will notice.
Shen Xingwan asked casually, "Is there anything going on in the house today?"
"The second master seems to have arrived home today, and the second lady seems to have hope," Bai Ling said.
Shen Xingwan put down the book in his hand, "The second master is back, so the Zhou Mansion is lively today."
Sure enough, as soon as afternoon arrived, the mansion became lively. The second master returned to Beijing after five years of exile, and everyone in the mansion became busy.
Shen Xingwan was only a niece in name, so of course these things had nothing to do with her, so she asked Bai Ling to keep an eye on what was going on in the second room.
Bai Ling inquired about the house, made some observations, and came back with a puzzled look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Shen Xingwan asked looking at her expression.
Bai Ling said softly, "The Second Madam's courtyard is as deserted as ever. I quietly asked the gatekeeper, and she said that the Second Madam's hysteria is very serious this time."
"Who will greet the second master when he comes back?" Shen Xingwan asked.
"It was the eldest lady and her servants who greeted her at the gate, and the grandmother beside the old lady was also there," Bai Ling said.
Shen Xingwan said "Oh" meaningfully, "The Zhou family is quite interesting."
After that, he asked some more questions about what happened between the two bedrooms in the big house. Bai Ling didn't know much about it, and the second master had been away from home in recent years, and the second wife spent most of her time in the yard concentrating on Buddhism.
Sure enough, someone soon came to inform them to attend tonight's family dinner to support the second master.
Shen Xingwan dressed up briefly and took Bai Ling and Ying'er to find Shen Man.
As soon as I walked into the courtyard, I felt that the atmosphere was wrong, and as soon as I entered the room, it was even more depressing.
Zhou Man had already put on her makeup, her eyes were red, she must have just had sex, and the makeup on her face was heavier than usual.
Shen Xingwan said, "Second uncle is back. Fourth sister was so happy that she cried."
Zhou Man reluctantly twitched her lips, "Yes, I'm so happy..."
Shen Xingwan could hear a bit of gnashing of teeth. It seemed that the relationship between the second wife and her children was not very good.
The two sisters arrived at Huayuanju together, and the banquet was already served.
The two of them stepped forward and saluted, "I've met dad (second uncle)."
"Get up, there's no need to be polite." The second master's slightly cold voice sounded.
As Shen Xingwan stood up, he quickly glanced at the nominal second uncle.
He is lean and graceful, with a strong scholarly air about him. At first glance, he looks like a so-called scholar.
He is a completely different type of person from her nominal father, the eldest man in the family.
Zhou Man returned to his seat and sat down. His expression was cold from beginning to end, and the second master's attitude was also very cold. The two of them didn't look like a father and daughter who hadn't seen each other for five years.
Soon everyone arrived, and the old lady looked at her son with concern in her eyes.
Because the eldest brother had a good relationship with his younger brother since childhood, the two of them drank at the banquet and talked about official affairs.
The rest are juniors who are not interested in the conversations of adults and gossip quietly below.
Shen Xingwan and Zhou Man were sitting together, probably because they were not familiar with Miss Seventh, who suddenly appeared, and no one came to talk to them.
Zhou Man lowered his head in thought, occasionally looking at the second master sitting in the seat and sneering, completely immersed in his own emotions.
Shen Xingwan was keenly aware of the undercurrents beneath this seemingly harmonious family dinner.
While she was eating, she observed quietly.
Mrs. Zhou still looks dignified, but if you look closely, you will find that her eyes can hardly restrain themselves from drifting to the main seat, and you will know who she is looking at.
At the same time, the old lady gave her a warning look from time to time.
It can be said that each of the owners of the Zhou family has its own quirks.
The banquet came to an end in a strange and subtle atmosphere, and the second master actually fell drunk on the table.
Mrs. Zhou showed a trace of anxiety on her face and was about to speak.
The old lady said to the nanny behind her, "Mother Zhang, please help the second child back and put him in a safe place. The rest of the family should be dispersed as well."
The old lady took the second master away first, and the eldest lady stood up to clean up the mess.
She glanced sadly at the back of the old lady and her group as they left, and then ordered her subordinates to clean up the scene as if nothing had happened.
Shen Xingwan looked at Zhou Man, "Second uncle seems to be very drunk, won't Fourth Sister go take a look?"
"No, there are plenty of people to take care of her, so I don't need to bother with her." Zhou Man said sarcastically.
This is not what a daughter should say.
Zhou Man stood up upset, "Let's go back too."
The two of them walked back slowly with the maid. When passing by the pond, Zhou Man invited her to blow some air to dispel the alcohol, and Shen Xingwan happily went.
