Zhu Ying liked Zhang Shou's comparison between the two of them very much, so she agreed to Zhang Shou's request without thinking. Then the girl decided to keep the secret from her grandmother and mother. In order to avoid Princess Yongping, she even wanted to take Zhang Shou to her own house.
In the end, Zhang Shou persuaded her to stay, but Zhang Shou had no choice but to go to the pool in the back garden with her to pass the time by throwing rocks and ice on this cold day.
The two of them couldn't bear it for a while, so they had to hide in a waterside pavilion that was connected to the earth dragon. Someone brought a charcoal stove to drink tea. Zhang Shou came up with another idea, setting up a wooden rack over the charcoal fire, and piercing the rice cakes with wooden skewers to bake them.
Dip it in sugar. This kind of luxurious delicacy from poor families made Zhu Ying, a wealthy lady, smile. She didn't know whether her face was flushed by the charcoal fire or flushed with joy.
The two spent time for a while, and then Mother Li came to find her in person, saying that Princess Yongping had returned.
Upon hearing the news, Zhu Ying immediately became very happy. Without asking Princess Yongping's intention, she immediately took Zhang Shou to Qing'an Hall.
During this lunch, no one mentioned Princess Yongping as an uninvited guest. Mrs. Wu was persuaded by Jiu Niang to drink two more glasses, and her face turned red. Zhu Ying also drank a few more sips of wine because she was happy, but also because she was too drunk.
His face was flushed. Even Xiao Cheng, who had been picked up from Zhang's house by his wife in the morning, felt that the rice wine was sweet and drank too much. In the end, he felt a little dazed.
As for Zhang Shou, he has never tried how much alcohol his body can hold, so he has only tasted it. He knows how many secrets he has, and of course he would not even think about drinking too much, lest he get drunk and get into trouble.
After three rounds of drinking, he was the most sober while taking care of Wu. At the same time, he persuaded Zhu Ying, who was always shouting that she wanted to drink two more glasses of wine. He also used his eyes to signal Zhu Er to help control Xiao Cheng, who liked sweets and refused to put down his glass.
At that moment, Mrs. Tai suddenly smiled and said: "The news I just received is that Yingying's eldest brother has passed through Xuanfu and will probably arrive in the capital before the Chinese New Year."
For Zhang Shou, this was like a bombshell. Looking at Zhu Er who was also shocked, he knew that the news was probably deliberately released by the lady during lunch. Unprepared, he calmed down and then subconsciously asked
He said: "Brother Zhu is the only one? Didn't Duke Zhao come back together?"
"In this cold weather, we must first arrange the troops and horses before Yingying's father, the coach, can return to Beijing. After all, this time Xuanfu Datong has dispatched almost half of the troops, plus Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, etc.
He and the Duke of Chu are very busy with the troops and horses mobilized from various places, and they have to settle down before returning to the capital."
Mrs. Tai spoke in an understatement. Seeing that Zhu Ying's eyes were blurred and she clearly hadn't heard the big news that her eldest brother was back, she couldn't help but laugh or cry. She immediately said angrily: "Yingying, you kid, if you don't know how to drink, don't drink. You're looking at yourself."
It’s so hard! Yutang, Yulan, help her down, and then go to the kitchen to sober up the wine soup. This one glass of wine is enough to make you drunk. Ah Shou, you must keep an eye on her in the future!"
Zhang Shou was immediately amused. Seeing Zhu Er pick up Xiao Cheng, who was also drunk, and handed it to Mother Li who came to take over. Seeing that Mrs. Wu was also a little drunk, he said to Mrs. Tai that she was also drunk.
He helped her go to a soft couch to rest. As a result, only he, Tai Fu, Jiuniang, and Zhu Er were left at the round table that had just been filled.
"Yingying, his eldest brother has been calm and capable since he was a child. He sets an example, supervises his younger brothers, and loves his younger sisters. He is undoubtedly a good brother. You should have experienced a little bit of his behavior from Xiao Cheng." Mrs. Tai said while looking at her again.
Glancing at Jiuniang, who was also a little embarrassed, she said, "So, he has high demands on himself and also high demands on others."
Zhu Er immediately muttered in a low voice: "Yes, yes, he can recite it by reading and practicing martial arts, but he asked me for this. He almost didn't ask me to practice three nines in the winter and three volts in the summer. He was better than Ah Liu to me."
It’s so cruel, it’s just killing people!”
Thinking about it now, although Ah Liu was meticulous when supervising his movements, his requirements for him were not so strict. At most, he just gave him a cold look with an expressionless face, and he didn't dare to procrastinate anymore. Compared to his elder brother, who was more direct
It would be much better to stand next to him with a stick in his hand and give him a hard blow if he fails to do the right move!
Fortunately, the eldest brother was not his teacher, otherwise he would have died long ago!
Although it was in front of her stepson and prospective son-in-law, Jiuniang could not help but smile bitterly and said: "I fled to Zhaoming Temple because of my stubbornness, and did nothing about the family affairs. Dalang, the eldest brother, did not care about Erlang.
He and Yingying are like mother and brother. To be honest, I don’t know how I will face him when he comes back... He has been too sensible since he was a child, and I feel sorry for him just thinking about it."
Mrs. Tai originally wanted to tell Zhang Shou how to face his future eldest brother, but she didn't expect that Zhu Er first expressed an attitude of fearing his eldest brother, and then Jiuniang actually added to the chaos. She couldn't help but feel really funny, and whispered angrily.
He patted the table and then said earnestly: "One of you is more scary than the other. Are you trying to scare away Shou or something?"
Zhang Shou was also amused by Mrs. Tai's tone, but he said nonchalantly: "Although I have never met Yingying's eldest brother, I know a lot from Yingying and Xiao Cheng. Now Jiu Aunt
Kazujiro told me so much again. Although I can’t guarantee that I can handle it, I won’t be trembling with fear when I meet someone.”
Having said this, he looked at Mrs. Tai calmly: "After all, it is Yingying who married me, not her eldest brother!"
"That's a good thing to say!" Zhu Er's eyes suddenly lit up and he said with dignity, "If I fall in love with a girl in the future, if anyone in her family stops me, I will say the same thing!"
"Ahem!" Mrs. Tai coughed and glanced at her. Zhu Er immediately became as honest as a quail. Seeing that Zhu Er was impressed, she smiled and said to Zhang Shou, "Ah Shou, you are calm and composed in front of the emperor, of course you are not.
I'm afraid of Yingying's elder brother. Remember, if he is strong, you will be stronger, and if he is ruthless, you will be ruthless. Don't be weak and don't show cowardice. What Dalang admires most is a person with strong character."
When she saw Zhu Er curling his lips, as if he wanted to refute but didn't dare, she said calmly: "After all, everyone in the capital doesn't know that my future son-in-law from Duke Zhao's palace is talented, handsome, and unparalleled in ability. Even if he is a big man,
I can’t find fault with you here.”
Jiuniang said with some disapproval: "Mom, what you said seems to be a bit biased. Dalang naturally requires others to be strong and tenacious, but if he is his sister-in-law, wouldn't Dalang have to worry if A Shou behaves too strong-tempered?
Can’t you get along with Yingying?”
The Tai Fu laughed and said: "Dalang is naturally like this to others, but the whole family doesn't know how Yingying and Ah Shou get along, so why does he, the eldest brother, need to worry about it? You know, now the whole family is
, that is to say, Yingying’s father and eldest brother don’t know her, and they haven’t seen Ah Shou very much.”
Zhu Er had just been beaten by his wife, so he listened carefully to the two elders' analysis of how to deal with his eldest brother, but he did not dare to interrupt casually.
Zhang Shou felt that this scene was inexplicably joyful, as if he was a member of his own family, and Zhu Ying's eldest brother Zhu Tingfang was an outsider, so he simply sat aside and watched as if nothing happened as the Tai Madam and Jiu Niang's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law worked together to help him.
Future son-in-law.
"Ah Shou is good at everything, but his progress in martial arts is a little weak. Ah Liu also told me before that although he practices swordsmanship every day, because he has just laid the foundation, he can't even talk about self-defense. Just in case, Yingying's eldest brother will definitely
Want to test his martial arts?" The more Jiuniang thought about it, the more she felt that she should prepare for a rainy day, but the more she prepared for a rainy day, the more she felt a headache. Everything can be done quickly, but martial arts cannot!
When it comes to the topic of martial arts, the wife is also a little embarrassed. Zhu Tingfang has always valued martial arts, so when she looked at Zhu Er, she felt that her nose was not a nose, and her eyes were not eyes, because even Zhu Ying was more successful in martial arts than her second brother. Zhang Shou.
Martial arts is not just a shortcoming, it is also the biggest flaw.
But at this time, Zhu Er said angrily: "What are you afraid of? If the eldest brother dares to test his brother-in-law, and Ah Liu... No, where is the Sixth Brother! Even if the eldest brother is indeed a martial artist honed on the battlefield, the two of them can't.
If the two of them fight, he may not be able to defeat Sixth Brother. Even if my brother-in-law is not very good at martial arts, he has Sixth Brother following him everywhere, so why should he be worried?"
The more he spoke, the more he felt that what he said was reasonable, and his voice became louder unknowingly: "Besides, if my brother-in-law is too good at martial arts, if he and Yingying get into a fight and the two of them fight, won't the house be reduced to ruins? And now?
In this way, Yingying will always give in to him. He knows that he can't beat Yingying, so of course he will obey her more. This is called softness overcoming strength..."
You can actually explain it like this when softness overcomes strength. Zhu Er, you are really talented!
Zhang Shou glanced at Zhu Er meaningfully, and saw that Zhu Er, who was still talking incessantly, suddenly shuddered, and then looked at him, and he smiled slightly. The next moment, Zhu Er suddenly stopped talking.
Silence.
But Mrs. Tai and Jiuniang looked at each other and actually accepted Zhu Er's statement. Zhu Ying was really spoiled by her family and was a little willful and arrogant. She was not afraid of anything. Now she and Zhang Shou seem to be harmonious, but men and women can get along.
It is inevitable that there will be a quarrel. If a conflict breaks out, it would be really a big deal if one of them can really fight with each other.
Even the wife who had just persuaded Zhang Shou to show a strong side in front of Zhu Tingfang, after hesitating for a moment, finally said sincerely: "It is rare for Erlang to say a few reasonable words. As for you, Ah Shou, do whatever you want.
From now on, just treat Yingying’s father and eldest brother with a normal heart.”
Jiuniang also nodded in agreement: "Yes, if they really make things difficult for you, there will be us and Yingying too!"
"And me and me!" Seeing that his grandmother and stepmother all clearly stood on the side of his future brother-in-law, Zhu Er, who had just called him brother-in-law several times, quickly expressed his attitude - as for what he had wanted to do before
The stupid thing that caused his sister and the dead little fat man to happen, once his father and brother knew about it, a beating would be a light one, but a more serious one... Anyway, he couldn't predict the consequences.
Wouldn't he be stupid if he didn't take advantage of the current opportunity and strive to embrace the golden thigh of Zhang Shou, who has the highest favor with three generations of women in his family?
After today's "extraordinary" lunch was finished, Mrs. Wu ordered Mrs. Wu to be put on a sedan chair, and then sent Zhang Shou home. After all, although the sacrifice to the stove on New Year's Eve is just a formality, it still costs money after all.
Some time.
When they arrived at the door of the house, Zhang Shou helped Wu get out of the sedan chair, and then he heard his adoptive mother, who was not yet old-hearted but already old, whispering: "Ah Shou, it's rare that Mrs. Zhao Guotai and Mrs. Zhao really like you, even if
When Duke Zhao and the eldest son come back, I don't have to worry about any recurrence of your marriage."
After being stunned for a moment, Zhang Shou suddenly realized that Wu's drunken appearance was mostly fake!
At this moment, he felt her gently resting her head on his right arm, and he said softly: "So, mother, you don't have to worry about anything, everything will be fine. By the way, Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu Zhi Dyeing House
They are in need of manpower over there, why don't you send some of the people you are training over there too?"
Without waiting for Wu to agree or refuse, he said patiently: "Actually, I can improve the textile machine because of you. I have seen villagers weaving silk in Rongshui Village, and you have done weaving and dyeing, so why not do it often?"
Go there to supervise and supervise. Although many people are eager to enjoy happiness at home, I know that you have a restless temper. In this case, you should help my son, okay?"
Wu was silent for a moment, and then finally smiled: "Okay, then I'll give it a try."
During the sacrifice to the stove that night, Zhang Shou, who was pushed by Mrs. Wu to officiate, had no choice but to pay tribute and offer incense according to the rules. When he finished doing this, he saw Aunt Liu smiling and placing a lot of plates and bowls on the floor, all of them belonging to him.
He always loved to eat food, and then he wiped his hands and was about to go out, so he called out: "Aunt Liu, go see if Xiao Qi is here, and then call Old Liu Tou and those little guys.
.”
"How can this be done?" Aunt Liu hurriedly wanted to refuse, but when she saw Mrs. Wu nodding towards her, she hesitated.
"If we move to a new house in the future and there are more and more people, the rules will naturally be different. But now, I am just a small official and there are just a few of us, so there are not so many rules. Put two people in this house.
The table is just busy. Yang Hao and Zheng Dang are celebrating the New Year outside the village for the first time. The other two are also the favorites of their parents at home in the village. Although they have just arrived here, they are certainly not outsiders. "
Hearing what Zhang Shou said and setting up two tables again, instead of eating at the same table, Aunt Liu felt relieved and immediately agreed. When she called out, Yang Hao and Zheng Dang happily moved in after a while.
When the tabletop entered the room, two other young men who had just arrived in Beijing worked together to carry a square Eight Immortals table, but Old Liu Tou followed behind.
"By the way, where's Ah Liu?" Wu glanced at the people in the room, couldn't help but feel a little strange, and asked quickly.
At this time, a weak voice came from outside the door: "Brother Zhang."
Zhang Shou was stunned when he heard that it was Xiao Cheng's voice. Wasn't the little guy drunk and sleeping in Duke Zhao's mansion? Why did he come here again? He quickly went to the door and opened the curtains, but only Ah Liu could be seen.
He pushed Xiao Cheng in front of him with one hand, and next to him was Qi Liang.
"Brother Zhang, I...I want to spend...the New Year with you." Xiao Cheng stammered out a sentence, but he directly confused the New Year's Eve and the New Year. Seeing that Zhang Shou didn't speak, he suddenly felt a little worried.
Panicked, he quickly explained, "The Duke of Zhao's mansion is too...too luxurious, I...I'm not used to it!"
Zhang Shou finally smiled: "Well, it's just in time for dinner, come on, let's all join in!"