Chapter 81 Distance

  Wang stared blankly, narrowing his eyes to size up Sheng Siyan, "What did you say you're going to do? Where are you going?"

  Sheng Siyan patted her head and laughed, "I forgot to tell Mother that Niu Xiaoye came to invite me to their family's rice shed to help with the harvest. She casually mentioned something about the palace, so I thought of coming to ask Mother, and then go with her to the rice shed to help out." She hugged Wang Shi's arm again, "Mother, actually, if the Crown Prince can do this, we can too! Our Sheng family's Shen Nong Fu was also a place where countless people lived. Now that the snow disaster is so severe, many people have no food to eat. We have the ability, shouldn't we lend a hand?"

  Her coquettish appearance made Madame Wang unable to get angry. She pulled out her arm and hugged Sheng Siyan in her arms, smiled, and said softly: "Siyan, your father is not at home, only your mother is at home. Don't you want to stay at home with your mother, accompany... the little brother or little sister who has not yet been born?"

  Sheng Siyan's eyes widened in surprise and she exclaimed: "Mother! You're pregnant?!"

  "What's gotten pregnant?! This is called having a good fortune! Does she know or not?!" Wang Shi hastily covered Sheng Siyan's mouth, scolding her with a slanted glance, her eyes fluttering with a hint of coquetry, "It's not even three months yet, don't tell others."

  The joy in Sheng Siyan's heart seemed about to burst out.

  "I won't tell anyone else! — Mom! Mom! I'm going to have a little brother! It must be a little brother!" Sheng Siyan was so happy that she spun around in circles. The direct bloodline of the Sheng family, the true direct bloodline, is not something that those two illegitimate children born by Tu Shi can compare to!

  "What if it's a little sister? You can't be thick with one and thin with another." Wang raised an eyebrow, winking at Sheng Siyan.

  "Hmm, if it's a little sister, I'll be a good big sister, take her to read and learn characters, teach her everything I know. And also, let's hope together for Mom and Dad to have another brother!" Sheng Siyan said firmly.

  Wang smiled and lay down on the couch at an angle, saying: "My waist is a bit sore. Help me massage it."

  Sheng Siyan immediately grasped Xiao Kongxin's fist and gently patted Wang Shi's waist and back.

  Wang's eyes were half-closed, the corners of her mouth curled up like a lotus leaf. After a while, she said to Sheng Siyan: "Siyan, these days, what have you been doing? Mother hasn't mentioned you, thinking that you could figure it out yourself. But today, mother found out that it's not possible without saying anything."

  Sheng Siyan's fist paused, she bit her lip and said in a low voice: "...Mother, you're saying... Niu Xiaoye?" She was defending Niu Xiaoye again. "She's just straightforward and doesn't have any bad intentions. Being with her makes me feel comfortable, I don't need to think too much. I'm not worried that she'll suddenly dig a hole for me to jump into..."

  Wang smiled and said, "What do you think? Days are long. Can you say that she will always be like this in the future? Besides, she is two years older than you, and the situation at home is more complicated than ours. As a merchant's daughter, she can move among the aristocratic families of the capital, do you think she is really so carefree and simple? Or do you think others are like you, looking at her straightforwardness and becoming close friends with her?"

  Sheng Siyan's face turned red. She hastily said, "Mother, I know she has shortcomings and didn't expect her to be my only friend. It's just... it's just that when I first met her, she was good to me at a time when I was nothing..."

  "I understand. Through thick and thin, we can't forget each other, and a wife who has gone through hardships with her husband won't be abandoned, right?" Wang smiled and patted Sheng Siyan's cheek. "Siyan is a sentimental person, soft-hearted, and those who understand you will treat you well and cherish this friendship. But you need to know that friendship is mutual. You've been protecting her everywhere, helping her out. You may have forgotten, but I won't. Back then, you got into a feud with Wu Erguan just to protect her."

  Thus offending Wu Yuanyuan and Zheng Suhui, these two Bodhisattvas.

  Sheng Siyan lowered her head, her hands fidgeting with anxiety as she twisted her fingers together.

  "When meeting people, only speak three-tenths of the truth, don't reveal your whole heart. I'm not trying to stop you from being friends with her, I just hope that you take a good look with your eyes and think carefully with your mind. Can't rush into things like shaving one's head when it's hot outside, do you think it's too early to consider her as a close friend? Why don't we start with a casual relationship first and see if there's an opportunity to become closer friends in the future?" Madam Wang advised tactfully.

  Sheng Siyan was also clear in her mind. The trouble brought by Niu Xiaoye far outweighed the happiness she had brought. However, Sheng Siyan always felt that she couldn't treat friends in such a utilitarian way, especially not Niu Xiaoye who had extended a helping hand to her in times of hardship.

  Wang heard Sheng Siyan's inner words and wanted to remind her that some people like to "extend a helping hand" to those who are not as good as themselves, otherwise how would there be an ancient saying called " Shared hardships are easy, shared wealth is difficult"?

  However, Wang thought for a moment and didn't continue to attack her. Instead, he said: "Don't think about it. Going out to help the Niu family set up a rice stall is definitely not going to work."

  "Why? They are saving people..." Sheng Siyan asked back. She knew that Wang Shi was not a ruthless and stingy person, so she must have her own reason for saying this.

  Wang got up from his bed and walked around the room with his hands on his waist.

  Sheng Siyan followed closely behind, supporting Wang's arm.

  "We can set up a porridge shed, our Sheng Guo Gong Fu is not unable to afford it? Why do we need to go and cling to the Niu family's light, and go with them to make up for their shortcomings?" Wang Shi stopped in her tracks, using her hand to tap on Sheng Siyan's forehead, "If I really had to make up for someone's shortcomings, I would rather go to the Wu family than the Niu family."

  As soon as he said this, Sheng Siyan immediately understood.

  Since they regained their nobility, she and Niu Xiaoye have become people of two different levels. Even if they had a feud with Zheng Suhui, the Sheng family and the Wu family are still on the same level in terms of social status.

  Although Sheng Siyan knew that Niu Xiaoye was enthusiastic and not so utilitarian, who knows what her family members are thinking? Her brother Niu Dapeng is familiar with Wang Ergou and others.

  Sheng Siyan also understood that behind Wang Ergou was a noble...

  "...go with the Niu family to set up a shed, it's just to help the Niu family carry the sedan chair. Our Sheng family's thousand-year reputation, even if we were to be destroyed by others, the Niu family wouldn't be worthy of us carrying their sedan chair." Wang's smile faded away. She turned around and looked at Sheng Siyan with sympathy, knowing that her words had dealt a heavy blow to her.

  "Carry the sedan chair?" Sheng Siyan's eyes widened in shock, "No way?"

  Wang looked out of the window at the heavy and icy courtyard scene, smiling: "Siyan, do you know why Niu Xiaoye insisted on taking you to their family's rice shed?"

  Sheng Siyan can't say the two words "help people" now, and just smiled awkwardly.

  Wang turned around and looked at her, smiling wryly: "You just know how to pretend to be silly. In front of me, you're clever and resourceful, but in front of Niu Xiaoye, you're being led by the nose. I'll tell you, setting up a soup stall to give out free porridge isn't as simple as just rescuing people."

  "Everyone's goals are certainly different. But this behavior itself can save lives. That's enough. When the water is clear, there are no fish; when people are too cautious, they have no followers."

  "You don't care, but others do. You know, these things should be done by the government. But the government is reluctant to open the granary and distribute food. I heard that the Crown Prince has submitted several memorials to the Empress Dowager, but they were all ignored. Later, Zheng Dajie found out and volunteered to help the Crown Prince, setting up a soup kitchen to rescue people. You know who was embarrassed by Zheng Dajie's actions? - It was the imperial court!"

  Wang walked a few steps, then said, "But Zheng Dà Niáng is Wu's daughter-in-law, with the backing of four big families, so no one dares to say 'no' to her. And for Niu's family to set up a stall selling congee, that's just too brazen. They're using our family as a cover, hiding their true intentions from others. There must be someone else behind them. Why bother getting involved?"

  Sheng Siyan suddenly realized, lifted her head and gave Wang a bright smile. She suddenly understood the difference between herself and Wang, or Zheng Suhuan, Wu Chanjuan and others.

  Because she comes from a later generation. She always has a kind of "outsider" mentality, watching these people is like watching a play, and there's always a sense of unreality.

  So when doing things, there is no repeated consideration, and there is always a sense of coincidence in it, which makes Wang think that she thinks one way, but it's actually another way.

  It doesn't matter what kind of mindset you have when you're a kid. Anyway, no one really cares about what a little kid says or does.

  But as she grew older, she couldn't go on like this anymore.

  She must blend in.

  Not just on the surface, but also in mindset.

  If she always has a sense of incompatibility, she herself is unhappy, and it will also make those around her who love her unhappy.

  Sheng Siyan nodded, "Mother, then I won't go, I'll stay home and accompany Mother."

  Wang let out a sigh of relief, "That's right. However, the porridge stall business, we won't get involved. We'll stick to our old trade."

  "What's your old trade?" Sheng Siyan asked curiously.

  "Of course, we'll give out medicine." Wang said with a smile, "Your second brother also reminded me to prepare some medicinal herbs. I think that in such cold weather, and with so many people freezing to death, many are not getting enough food or clothing, it's easy to get sick... We'll set up a medical tent and make sweet dew soup for those who lack clothes and food."

  Sheng Siyan admired him so much that she was completely won over.

  If Sheng's family followed others in setting up a rice stall, they would offend the imperial court, but setting up a medicine stall was different.

  Because this was originally the responsibility of the Sheng family. The head of the Sheng family would also serve as a judge in the Imperial Hospital, and the pharmacy set up by the Sheng family could be considered an imperial institution.

  This is something that brings honor to the imperial court.

  Those rice sheds are slapping the imperial court in the face, which is to say, they are slapping the Empress Dowager's face.

  Sheng Siyan hastily said: "Does the lady want me to go and help?"

  "Wang shook his head, 'There are many apprentices in the Imperial Hospital, let them come and help. The steward of our house is responsible for providing medicine.'"

  Sheng Siyan suddenly understood and smiled: "We can take this opportunity to ask about Father's news."

  Although they cannot enter the palace, people inside the palace also cannot come out, but the channel for transmitting messages is still unblocked.

  Every day, an officer on duty would pass the memorials through a small gate and let the Empress Dowager review them.

  "This isn't easy to get through?" Wang smiled contentedly, "How to tell Niu Xiaoye, don't need me to teach you, right?"

  Sheng Siyan nodded and returned to her own Wu Mei Xuan, apologetically telling Niu Xiaoye: "Xiaoye, my mother is not feeling well, I need to take care of her at home, so I won't be able to go to your family's rice shed."

  Niu Xiaoye's disappointed expression was written all over her face.

  "What? Can't go? But... but..." Niu Xiao Ye muttered, tugging at Sheng Si Yan's sleeve: "I've already told my family, I'll definitely take you with me."

  Sheng Siyan was very apologetic, she held Niuxiao Ye's hand and said softly: "You go and explain to your family for me, just say that I have no choice either. My mother is not feeling well, my father is in the palace, and there's no one at home."

  "But you also have a sister and two brothers. Your mother is their stepmother too, they should come out to show filial piety as well?" Niu Xiaoye still didn't give up.

  Sheng Siyan can understand Niu Xiaoye's mentality. Because since they got to know each other, Sheng Siyan has never disobeyed Niu Xiaoye, no matter what, she always satisfies her requests.

  There are always people who respond to requests, and suddenly say "no", which is definitely hard for the other party to accept.

  But this time, I'm afraid it's just sorry.

  Between the Niu and Sheng families, Sheng Siyan would naturally choose her own family.

  Niu Xiaoye didn't seem to think so much about it, although she reluctantly agreed, her mouth was raised high, and her unhappy expression wasn't even hidden.

  Sheng Siyan wanted to comfort her a bit more, but Niu Xiaoye had already muttered: "......Really, even illnesses don't choose the right time."

  Sheng Siyan's face darkened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure, as if she hadn't heard Niu Xiaoye's words. She smiled and said: "When is your family's rice shed opening? If you go late, won't your family be worried? Otherwise, I'll send someone to your house to apologize?"

  The first update is online. There will be a pink extra update at 2 pm. Thank you for the pink tickets and recommendation tickets, have a great weekend~~~

  。

  ps：

  Thank you all for the peace symbols rewarded yesterday. I'd like to ask for a few pink tickets and recommendation tickets.