Now Xia Mai is like a mandarin duck beside the old lady, directing his more than a dozen maids to put the dishes on the table.
Then Xia Mai came to Aunt Zhou and said respectfully: "Auntie, the meal has been set. When will we eat?"
After Aunt Zhou heard this, she said to Qiaolian who was sitting next to her: "It's time to eat, don't think about those troublesome things. I think your time hasn't come yet."
So Aunt Zhou brought Qiaolian to the table and started eating together.
Qiaolian was not polite to Aunt Zhou at all. She picked up her chopsticks and added a piece of squirrel mandarin fish in the middle. This was also Qiaolian's favorite dish. Normally, Aunt Zhou would never come if Qiaolian didn't come.
This dish was served because although Aunt Zhou is living a luxurious life now, she can never get rid of her family nature. She never orders these expensive dishes.
Don't look at this small plate of squirrel mandarin fish. It can't be made without more than ten taels of silver. Other seasonings are easier to say. The main reason is that this mandarin fish is rare. It must be fished out alive from Jiangsu and then transported to Tongzhou by speedboat.
The water had to be changed four or five times in the middle, and by the time we got to Tongzhou, only one or two-tenths of the fish were alive. Finally, the energetic ones were selected and sent to the houses of the nobles in the palace. It took a lot of money to make just one plate of fish.
With the boss's efforts, it is enough for an ordinary family to earn a year's income.
That is to say, Aunt Zhou has Jia Ke's orders, so she doesn't care about money, and officials from all over the country are fawning and filial. That's why there is no shortage of mandarin fish in Jia's house. Even so, it is not something ordinary people can enjoy, and she can only keep four of them every day.
Five pieces, just for all the masters to eat. Now in Jia's house, there are only three or four people who can eat this dish casually, and Aunt Zhou happens to be one of them.
Even if Jia She, the eldest man of the neighboring mansion, wants to eat this fish, he has to give instructions to the kitchen a day or two in advance so that the kitchen can have time to order an extra fish. Otherwise, there is nothing he can do if he wants to eat it at the last moment.
Speaking of which, this is also the reason why Jia She is not in charge of the family. Although his treatment is the same as that of Jia Zheng, Mrs. Wang is now in charge of the entire Rongguo Mansion. In terms of subtle treatment, it is still a bit better than Jia Zheng.
lack of.
Qiaolian put the chopstick fish into her mouth, chewed it carefully, spit it out on the plate next to her, and ran out alone, covering her chest.
When Aunt Zhou saw Qiaolian like this, she immediately ordered someone to go out and watch, fearing that something would happen to her.
After a while, Qiaolian was helped back by the little maid. Qiaolian sat on the table again and immediately complained to Aunt Zhou, "Auntie, you should talk about your cook. Make a fish. The smell of fish is so strong now. Why?
Whether we let the masters eat it or not, a cook like this would have been taken out and beaten to death in our house."
"You should have some moral integrity. You are so old, but you still have no clue as you did when you were a child." Aunt Zhou scolded Qiaolian and added a piece of squirrel mandarin fish to her mouth for a taste.
, "What are you kidding? The fish today was even better than usual."
"Impossible, the fishy smell I just tasted was very strong." Qiaolian added another chopstick to her mouth in disbelief, and as expected, a tangy fishy smell spread in her mouth and nose.
As a result, Qiao Ling ran out again. Aunt Zhou looked at this situation and didn't know what was going on. She immediately ordered the maid next to her to go out and take care of Qiao Lian, fearing that something might happen to her.
When Qiaolian came in from outside the house again, Aunt Zhou was already waiting for her at the door of the house. As soon as Qiaolian entered the door, she immediately helped her to the bed next to her and sat down.
"Qiaolian, do you feel any other discomfort besides nausea? How have you eaten these days?" Aunt Zhou asked cautiously.
"I don't feel bad at all. The main reason is that today's fish was not cooked well. I have eaten more than before in the past few days. I feel fatter than before. I will wait until I am hungry in two days, otherwise I will gain weight."
It’s gone.” Qiaolian’s voice became lower and lower as she spoke, and she seemed to have realized something.
Qiaolian stared at Aunt Zhou in disbelief and asked, "Auntie, can't...it's possible?" There was surprise in her voice, but also a little fear.
At this time, Aunt Zhou finally showed a smile on her face, "I think you have it, don't move yet. I will call the doctor to come over and take a look now."
After Aunt Zhou finished speaking to Qiaolian, she turned around and called Xia Mai, "Xia Mai, come here."
"Auntie, what are your orders?" Xia Mai trotted over quickly.
"Go and invite the doctor that your uncle has prepared for me." Aunt Zhou couldn't help but raise her voice when she said this.
She is the only one in the entire Rongguo Mansion who has a dedicated doctor, and even the old lady does not receive such treatment. Therefore, every time she talks about this matter, her tone cannot help but rise.
The doctor she was talking about had her husband's surname Wang and her maiden name Li. His father was a well-known doctor in the capital. However, his family was unfortunate. His father and husband died one after another, leaving her alone. Since she did not give birth to a boy and a girl, she
Her husband's family didn't want to see her either and kicked her out of the house.
Finally, because Qin Keqing was pregnant, Jia Ke recruited a doctor from the inner house, so he came to apply. Jia Ke sent someone to inquire about her details and tested her medical skills. Then he agreed to keep her and provide for her in her old age.
Only then did she win over her heart and let her take care of Qin Keqing at Wuyang Hou Mansion. Later, Qin Keqing gave birth safely, and she was sent to Aunt Zhou by Qin Keqing personally. This was Qin Keqing and Jia Ke's filial piety to Aunt Zhou. Such treatment was not enough
Even Jia Mu had never had one, so Aunt Zhou felt a surge of pride every time she mentioned him.
After a while, Mrs. Wang Li came. After entering, she first greeted Aunt Zhou and just nodded to Qiaolian, which was regarded as a salute.
"Quickly, show Qiaolian to see if she's pregnant. She just ate a piece of fish and she was vomiting. I think it's the same as when I was pregnant with your uncle." Aunt Zhou said. At this time, she couldn't help but feel confused.
She felt a little emotional that she had risked her life for Jia Ke back then. If it hadn't been for the old lady's kindness, Jia Ke would not be what she is today. For this reason, she would remember the old lady's kindness all her life. Even later.
The old lady no longer wanted to see her or see her again, and she didn't take it to heart. She only thought about the old lady's life-saving grace to Jia Ke.
After listening to Aunt Zhou's words, Mrs. Wang Li looked at Qiaolian's face carefully, then came to Qiaolian's side, then took out a pulse pillow from the medicine box she carried and placed it on the bedside, and then placed Qiaolian's face.
Lian put her hand on the pulse pillow to feel her pulse.
Mrs. Wang Li tasted Qiaolian's pulse carefully, and after a while a smile appeared on her lips. Then she stood up and said to Aunt Zhou, "Congratulations, Aunt Zhou. This little Aunt Zhou's pulse is very fluent, which means she is as smooth as a bead.
I'm really overjoyed to see it. If I see it well, it should be two months old."
When Aunt Zhou heard this, her face was filled with joy, and she hurriedly ordered Xia Mai next to her to take out a dozen golden melon seeds and give them as a thank you gift to Mrs. Wang and Li. Then she ordered Xia Mai to send Mrs. Wang and Li away properly.
After Aunt Zhou sent Mrs. Wang Li away, she returned to the house happily. She looked at Qiaolian who was still lying motionless on the bed with a silly smile.
After Aunt Zhou walked over, she tapped her forehead with her finger and said, "You crazy girl, why are you so careless? If you hadn't come to my place today and were jumping up and down like this, what if something happened to you?
Just regret it."
Qiaolian suddenly hugged Aunt Zhou, buried her head in Aunt Zhou's arms, and started crying. The pressure on her in the past year was really great. She was not like Lanxiang and Chuncao. She was the best in Rongguo Mansion.
There is a family. As Jia Ke's status becomes higher and higher, and even now she is a very popular minister, the family's expectations for her are getting higher and higher. Even Aunt Zhou keeps urging her because of her belly.
His status in the Jia family after arriving at the Zhou family.
With Jia Ke's current status, even if he is a concubine, his future prospects will not be much worse. Although he cannot inherit the Wuyang Marquis Mansion, he can still become an official.
Qiaolian herself regards Aunt Zhou as her idol and hopes that her children will be as promising as Jia Ke, but she will not be able to enjoy all the glory and wealth.
After waiting for so many years, she finally got pregnant. For more than a year, there was no movement in her belly. This made Qiaolian not anxious. How many times did she hide in the quilt and cry alone? She was really afraid of taking medicine all these years.
She was in bad health, and she would scold Lan Xiang every time.
Aunt Zhou looked at Qiaolian crying in her arms and knew how hard she had been during this period. She touched her back and comforted her gently, "Okay, don't cry anymore. Our Qiaolian will be here soon."
I’m going to be a mother. It won’t look good if I cry again.”
After Aunt Zhou's constant consolation, Qiaolian finally stopped crying. Now she buried her head in Aunt Zhou's arms and started laughing.
Seeing that Qiaolian was fine, Aunt Zhou quickly said to Qiaolian: "We have been making trouble for such a long time, and now you are hungry. Eat something quickly. You are not alone now. You have to worry about the food in your stomach."
Children, think about it.”
After hearing Zhou Yingyang's words, Qiaolian immediately nodded in agreement, and with the help of Aunt Zhou, she came to the dining table again.
As a result, Qiaolian just couldn't stand it when she saw the plate of fish in the middle. She covered her mouth and was about to vomit again.
When Aunt Zhou saw this scene, she quickly said to Xia Mai next to her: "I'll reward you with this plate of fish. Get out as soon as possible."
Xia Mai next to her smiled immediately after hearing this. She knew how precious this plate of fish was. The plate of fish had only been touched twice and was almost still intact. Now it would be good to take it back and give it to the family to try, otherwise they would
These servants will never taste such delicious food in their lifetime.
Seeing that Qiaolian had taken the fish away, she put down the hand on her mouth. Then she didn't know whether it was a psychological effect or a real appetite. Qiaolian only felt that she had never been so hungry before, with a table full of food.
She actually let her eat half of it by herself.
Aunt Zhou who was next to her was also shocked when she saw this situation and quickly stopped her, fearing that she would make a bad mistake.
In the afternoon, Aunt Zhou specially asked Qiaolian to ride back in her soft sedan chair, and there were two maids accompanying her. These people were originally close to Aunt Zhou, but now they were given to Qiaolian by Aunt Zhou so that they could accompany her.