Dongjia Embroidery Village is located in the north of Kunshan City, on the bank of Yangcheng Lake.
It took a while for the horse-drawn carriage to get over from the pier by the Liuhe River, and it was already late at night when we arrived.
Dong Xiaowan didn't know what was going on outside. At this moment, she was still wearing a plain silk skirt, reading at night by light in the house, studying "Mengxi Bi Tan" and "Tiangong Kaiwu", and thinking about how to further improve looms and spinning wheels. .
She has been living alone here recently, and the Shen family has also assigned some maids to serve her, and specially hired a cook who is good at cooking vegetarian dishes, fish and shrimp to ensure that her food, clothing, housing and transportation are not lacking.
Dong Xiaowan felt considerable respect from it and felt very warm inside.
Her twenty-seven-month maternal filial piety has not yet expired, so she should not eat poultry and meat. But there is no harm in eating some Taihu whitebait and Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs.
The ancients believed that without red blood, anything that does not need to be slaughtered is not considered meat.
Since Shen Shuren bought her, he has never done anything out of line with etiquette, and has never even acted out his sibling desires. He respects her filial piety, which makes her feel even more responsible to work hard.
After calming down, she also figured it out: she had failed in running the Dongjia Embroidery Shop a few years ago, just because she was a woman and could not care about outside affairs, so she was bullied and defrauded by the shopkeeper.
But my craftsmanship and understanding of textile embroidery are still very good. Now I am in charge of the outside world, and I am in charge of the inside. I have made up for the shortcomings that have been leaking, and I have a lot of potential in the future.
The purpose of revitalizing Xiuzhuang is not for money. It is more to comfort the parents' souls in heaven and let them know that their life's hard work has not been wasted in the hands of their daughter.
"Dad, the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and my daughter cannot give New Year greetings to others. But now the three or four largest weaving workshops in Suzhou have begun to weave silk and satin with the shuttle made by my daughter. You will be happy when you see it."
Dong Xiaowan was a little distracted while reading, thinking silently in her heart, as if recalling her deceased relatives would make life more interesting.
At this moment, the sound of carriages and horses was heard outside Zhuangzi, which startled her slightly. She thought she was hallucinating because she missed her relatives.
"Dai Lan, Wen Zhu, put on a lantern and come with me to the yard to have a look." Dong Xiaowan was frightened and quickly called to the personal maid given to her by Chen Shuren to cheer up.
As soon as they walked into the courtyard, the gatekeeper had already let the visitors in. It was Shen Shuren and his party.
Dong Xiaowan felt uneasy and a little at a loss. Dailan and Wenzhu, who were next to her, rushed forward first: "Master, why are you here? Why don't you take us back during the Chinese New Year? It's so deserted here."
"What's so deserted? Isn't it because we don't have enough food and clothing for you here? Why don't you just talk more with Miss Dong? It's inconvenient for her to pay New Year greetings, so you have to be considerate." Shen Shuren was still very considerate of the personal maid who was exposed to the outside. Easy-going, don't show off.
Dong Xiaowan was about to say thank you when a charming figure wearing a pink silk skirt and a cloak turned behind Shen Shuren.
Dong Xiaowan couldn't see the other person's face clearly at first, but the other person walked up to her lightly, put down his hood and shook off the snow, and greeted with a charming smile: "Xiao Bai, do you still recognize me?"
Dong Xiaowan subconsciously covered her mouth, surprised and happy, and rushed forward to hug her:
"Sister Yuanyuan? Young Master finally rescued you? Great, I am finally at ease. If you hadn't told Young Master, I would have been poisoned by those bullies and slaves. How could I be where I am today? Firstly, I want to thank you, Master, and secondly, I want to thank you."
"It's okay, it's all over. You don't need to thank me. Although I didn't know what Shen Lang wanted to do at the beginning, I know that he must have his reasons. He asked me to introduce a sister who meets the requirements, so I introduced him."
Chen Yuanyuan did not take any credit and patted Dong Xiaowan's back to comfort her.
Because when Shen Shuren found her, he had a different story. Chen Yuanyuan had no idea that Dong Xiaowan would be so grateful to her.
After Dong Xiaowan heard this, she was slightly shaken, but she was too smart to show it. At the moment, she just said a few polite words to Shen Shuren next to her, saying that she and Sister Yuanyuan had a lot to talk about, and Shen Shuren didn't either. stop.
Dailan and Wenzhu were also so happy, and quickly ordered to prepare wooden buckets of hot water for the busy young master to take a bath first to relieve his fatigue.
While Chen Shuren was taking a bath, Dong Xiaowan took Chen Yuanyuan back to the house, hid in the study, closed the door, and then asked in detail:
"Sister, please tell me again, what did the young master tell you back then? Didn't you take the initiative to mention that you have a sister who is now in dire straits, forced by the wealthy slaves, and still owes money to the Shen family?"
Chen Yuanyuan was stunned and recalled: "I didn't say it on my own initiative. It was the young master who asked me to introduce him to a sister who was in distress. He also said that he wouldn't be favored after buying it back. He had something else to hide."
Dong Xiaowan is also a smart person. The key is that she was also one of the parties involved in the case when Shen Shuren went to Nanjing. She is very clear about the causes and consequences. Now after hearing Chen Yuanyuan's words and thinking about it, her face suddenly turned pale.
"So... could it be that... the young master bought me to deliberately set a trap for the deceitful slaves in my family? He killed the evil slave, not for me?"
Dong Xiaowan couldn't help but feel a little sad. It took a long time to calm down and accept this fact.
No matter what, Shen Shuren objectively helped her escape from the sea of suffering. There are some things that I don't have the right to question.
The two sisters chatted for a while, and the atmosphere gradually became quiet and awkward. Chen Yuanyuan was also a very thoughtful person, and she had already realized that she must have said something wrong.
After a long time, Shen Shuren, served by Dailan Wenzhu, finished bathing and changing clothes, and came to the study to chat with the two girls.
As soon as he entered the door, he also noticed that the atmosphere was a bit strange. Chen Yuanyuan quickly reminded him a few words. Shen Shuren immediately guessed the reason.
This is not because he is not cautious, but because he knows that any secret has a confidentiality period. If this matter is leaked now, it will not be a big deal.
Anyway, Zheng Sen has become very accustomed to living in the Nanjing Imperial College, and the chain of suspicion between the Zheng family and Yang Sichang has been cut off. Even if Shen Shuren's plan is finally known to these two parties, they will not make a fuss. Accept this "white lie".
Therefore, Shen Shuren admitted frankly: "Xiao Wan, what I said to you at the beginning was indeed embellished. However, what Yuanyuan and I said can be learned from the sun, and there was no lie in any sentence.
I can also guarantee that I did not do that game for personal glory and wealth. I was indeed following the power in a hurry and for the sake of the Ming Dynasty——
You don't understand national affairs. Let me put it simply. When Zhang Xianzhong first rebelled, Xiong Wencan was imprisoned. The other warlords who were recruited by Xiong Wencan were very nervous and were at war with each other for fear of being liquidated by the court. I did all this to get the Zheng family to Nanjing. .
Now everything has passed, and the mutual suspicion has been quickly resolved. It doesn't matter if I tell you, you try to keep your mouth shut, I believe you don't like to talk too much about government and military affairs."
Even the secret files of intelligence agencies will be released one day. The secret of Shen Shuren is no longer important now.
"It turns out it's for the sake of the Ming Dynasty... How can my little sister be so virtuous and capable? I can do my best for this matter. What else is there to do? Thank you for not hiding anything from me. I will swear to keep it secret. From now on, the young master's affairs will be kept secret. Don’t ask too many questions, just do whatever you ask, you must have your reasons.”
Dong Xiaowan said neither humble nor arrogantly, her attitude was very sincere, but her tone was a little less admiring, as if she was still hesitantly looking for her own position.
Chen Yuanyuan was beside her, a little at a loss. She thought that what she said today had ruined the friendship between Shen Lang and Xiao Bai, so she quickly and quietly said peace to Dong Xiaowan:
"Sister, don't worry too much. Since ancient times, deeds have been ignored, no matter how Mr. Shen found you in the first place. These days, he protects you and loves you, and does not bully the darkroom. It is always true.
By the way, I heard that you have been guarding yourself like a jade and not letting Shen Lang favor me because I haven't escaped from the sea of misery yet, and you can't bear to get there first. Now that I have come out, you can't take it easy, why are you so worried?"
Dong Xiaowan opened Chen Yuanyuan's hand in a principled manner: "Sister, you don't have to be like this. My mother's filial piety has not yet been completed, and there is still a month or two to go. I can't be content with it, and I'm not waiting for my sister.
Today is a good day for my sister. Let me take the young master away first. I’m fine. I just know too many things at the moment and I’m very confused and need to think about it slowly.”
Dong Xiaowan stubbornly pushed Shen Shuren and Chen Yuanyuan to another bedroom, went back to his room, closed the door, and quietly held his head to calm down.
On college night, she was dressed in all white, which was in stark contrast to Chen Yuanyuan's specially chosen pink outfit tonight.
In the Ming Dynasty, a woman who entered the acting profession, even if she was a courtesan who only sang songs, had to be secretly carried away in a small sedan chair at night after being redeemed as a concubine. She could only wear pink, not bright red. If she entered a wealthy family In a large house, the sedan must go through the side door or the back door, not the main entrance.
Chen Yuanyuan didn't even have the gift of taking a concubine tonight, she just redeemed herself, and even saved the night sedan. The only thing she could do to comfort herself was to wear pink all over to save her last bit of dignity.
…
After a night of silence, Dong Xiaowan was in a state of confusion, which also saved both parties the embarrassment.
Originally, he planned to stay one night and then return to his home in Taicang to celebrate the New Year. After indulging in the gentle countryside, he couldn't help but stay a few more days, delaying his departure until the 28th of the twelfth lunar month.
Chen Yuanyuan stayed with him day and night for several days, still reluctant to leave: "Ms. sir, can you take me home to celebrate the New Year? You can do it as a maid."
Shen Shuren is also very responsible: "If I stay in Suzhou after the New Year, it's okay to take you back. But at the most, after the Lantern Festival, I will go to Shanhaiguan to transport food, and then go to Beijing to take the exam. It's impossible because of the chaos outside. I took you with me.
Now that you have gone to my house, your relatives and elders will not be able to accept you for a while. Once I leave, if my stepmother or aunts treat you badly, who will protect you?
It's better to accompany Xiaowan to relieve your boredom. After I go away, I will send all my personal maids here to play with you, so that you can take care of me.
When I come back from the capital, I will definitely get an official position. When the time comes, I will take you to take office and establish your own business, so you don't have to worry about the many disputes in the mansion and someone bullying you."
Everything Chen Shuren said made sense, and Chen Yuanyuan did not insist anymore. Later, Shen Shuren did what he said. He went home to spend the New Year with his family, and just after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, he went to Kunshan Xiuzhuang to live again. For seven or eight days, until it was time to set off before the Lantern Festival, I reluctantly left.
On the day after the Lantern Festival, Chen Yuanyuan and Dong Xiaowan both took the small awning boat provided by the Shen family and sailed down the Liuhe River to take Shen Shuren to Liujiagang.
The two girls are still pink, one is plain white, one has a charming look on her face, and the other is dignified and solemn. They stand on the bow of the boat and watch the young master board the big ship and sail away.
On the large ship, there were also the Shen family's sailors, servants, water transport officials, guards, and some of Shen Shuren's friends who had come to Beijing to take the exam together.
Fang Yizhi also leaned on the side of the boat with Shen Shuren, curiously climbing up to look at the sea view, pointing with a folding fan. When he saw two beauties in the boat next to him seeing him off, Fang Yizhi was also dumbfounded.
"Brother Shen Xian is so beautiful. When I was tinkering with shuttles, I met Miss Dong once and was amazed. I didn't expect that the beautiful lady next to him in a pink skirt and coat was even more... Fang is really talented and has little knowledge. When I am at a loss for words, is that also my dear brother’s concubine?”
"That's right, but please remove the word 'ye'."
The relationship between him and Dong Xiaowan is still very innocent, and they have always respected each other and treated each other as guests.
"Well, let's not talk about this anymore. After all these years, Fang has gone to sea for the first time. The vast fields and the sea and the sky are all the same color, which really makes people feel poetic. Suzhou is really a good place. You can go to the sea when you go to the sea.
I wonder if we can get some good news about my dear brother when we arrive in the capital. My dear brother, you have made so many contributions last year. The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Imperial Guard must have planned a promotion for you. It’s a pity that we can’t hear any news these days at sea. "
Fang Yizhi's guess was correct, because during the time when they went to sea in "offline mode", Chongzhen, who was far away in the capital, had seen several memorials from ministers expressing their merits to Shen Shuren.