Chapter 160: Everyone Picks Up Firewood (Pink Ticket 720 Additional Update)

  "Today, the kitchen made sixteen main dishes and eight side dishes..."

  Shen Mu Qing waved his hand: "Since the old master has made pig lung soup to entertain Xiao Sa, today's dishes must be Jiangnan cuisine. The so-called 16 big dishes are just a bit bigger than usual. This morning, he drank a whole bowl of noodles and soup, and ten dishes won't be enough for him alone. Just follow my orders and send the midnight snack - he definitely won't be full!"

  With a faint smile, he turned and left.

  She had just walked to the gate of the hospital when she ran into Mingxia who was returning from the Feng's house.

  Ming Xia immediately pulled Yin Fen: "How is it? How is it? Did Master agree to let Xiao Gongzi stay?" Her expression was very tense.

  "Agreed!" Ying Fen whispered.

  Ming Xia clasped her hands together and whispered a phrase "Amitabha".

  Ying Fan suddenly turned her eyes and ordered Ming Xia: "In the next few days, I'll call out Ying Ruo to do something. If Madam asks, you cover for me!"

  Among several sisters, Xianglian is the most beautiful and has reached the age of blooming flowers. Even Jinxiu in her youth was not as lovely as she.

  "What are you going to do?" Ming Xia asked anxiously, "Don't do anything rash!"

  "Good heavens, what's gotten into him?" Ying Fen laughed and said, "If he can remain calm in front of the governor, I'll genuinely help him!"

  "What are you getting mixed up in?" Ming Xia disagreed, "At this critical juncture, if he dares to hit the mastermind behind the plot, is he still human?"

  "So I want to try him out!" Ying Feng sneered coldly, "I see the way he is, probably not lacking in experience with women. Let Xing Ruo go and test him, it's also to see if he knows what's important or not. If he knows what's important, then he'll know the difference between wife and concubine. If he doesn't know what's important, then he's just like Liang Ji Min, a useless thing! This kind of person, it's better we don't waste our young mistress's time."

  Ming Xia's heart was also uncertain.

  They helped Xiao Sa like this, if Xiao Sa deceived her aunt, then they would be guilty of a grave offense!

  She thought for a moment and nodded heavily: "Alright, I'll help cover you!"

  Ying Feng heard this and burst out laughing, saying: "You go to the Feng's house, what did the people at the Feng's house say?"

  Ming Xia glanced around, pulled Ying Fen to the tree under the wall corner and said in a low voice: "Madam Feng's personal maid, Summer Mama, accompanied me for tea. As it turned out, I met Lü Mama from the Liang family at Summer Mama's place - she said that Madam Feng had sent some fruits to Madam Liang a few days ago, and she was ordered by her master to return the gift to the Feng family."

  Ying Fen was taken aback and asked, "But what did she say?"

  Ming Xia nodded: "She pulled me aside and whispered for half a day. She said that the new wife of the third young master of the Liang family was so unscrupulous, with a temper that was so unpredictable, and her accompanying mother-in-law was so petty. She said that everyone was thinking about our good sister-in-law and missing her! And she also said that Mrs. Liang was driven to tears by this daughter-in-law several times, and just the other day, she ran back to the Feng family, saying that she wanted to take charge of Liang Qiming and make him divorce his wife!"

  "Divorce?" Ying Fen was taken aback.

  "It can't be!" Ming Xia's face turned a bit cold, "Now you know our aunt is fine, where did you go early?"

  "What did the Feng family say?"

  Ming Xia said: "Madam Feng scolded Mrs. Liang severely and said that neither of them was living a good life, and if others talked about it, it would be the fault of the Liang family."

  Ying's mouth twitched, "I think those three young ladies aren't easy to bully. If they can make a scene, that would be fun to watch!"

  "What's so good about it?" Ming Xia disagreed, "In the end, you'll definitely bring out the aunt to make things difficult again!"

  "What bad luck!" Ying said indignantly, "Whatever happens in their family always involves our aunt!"

  "Who says it isn't!" Ming Xia sighed.

  "Good things can turn into bad things, and bad things can also turn into good things! Come here, I have something to entrust you with!"

  Ming Xia Huo leaned in close and whispered: "What's going on?"

  Ying Fan whispered a few words in Ming Xia's ear.

  Ming Xia stared at Ying Fen in shock: "How can that be... Don't you forget, Auntie scolded you severely that day!"

  "I know!" Ying Feng laughed, "You don't say it, I won't say it, Xiao Gongzi will still go find the lady to confront her? You can rest assured! Besides, we didn't speak nonsense either. The people of the Liang family are all thinking that our lady is good, thinking that the lady will return again, isn't this a fact?"

  Ming Xia was left speechless, and after a long while, she finally said: "You... you're also too much..."

  ******

  Shen Mu Qingzheng sat on the edge of the kang, looking at his own "plan book", and saw Ming Xia return, immediately asked with concern: "How was it?"

  Ming Xia knelt down and saluted Shen Muqing, saying: "I told Madame Feng's eldest daughter-in-law as you instructed. She said thank you for your concern, and she wants to prepare a return gift. She sent two mothers over to pay their respects to you." As she spoke, she glanced at Shen Muqing with her eyes.

  Shen Mu Qing looked at her like that and smiled: "If there's something on your mind, just say it! You're also following Zhu Ji's style!"

  Ming Xia smiled and said, "I'll take the liberty of saying that our family's aunt is truly fond of Second Miss. With the handkerchief as a token, I came to see Second Miss, so there's no need for a return gift."

  Shen Mu nodded quietly.

  Ming Xia saw it, and her courage grew even bigger. She smiled and said: "Madam Feng heard it, exchanged a few pleasantries with me, and then let Summer Mother reward me with two silver coins to have tea with her. As a result, I met Lü Mother at Summer Mother's place. She told me many things."

  It's probably the Liang family's gossip!

  Since you've already chosen to leave, don't make a fuss and cause misunderstandings with others!

  Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment and smiled: "I know. You probably haven't eaten yet? The dishes must be cold by now."

  Ming Xia was taken aback, and Shen Mu Qing had already said: "Go eat quickly! After eating, I have something to instruct you!"

  She could only respond with a "yes" and backed down.

  Shen Mu Qing looked at Ming Xia's back and smiled, then lowered his head to continue reading her "plan book".

  ******

  Ming Xia went out of the door and headed straight for the flower hall.

  "... If the military pay arrives one day early, or one day late, you can't make a fuss about it. Things have to be done one at a time, and what the Ministry of Revenue says on this matter is also reasonable..."

  Xiao Xiao nodded directly: "I just don't understand, we've done everything we should have done, we've been filial to those we should be filial to, so why are we late by that little bit..."

  Shen Zhen chuckled and asked: "Tell me, who have you all been filial to? How did you show your filial piety?"

  Xiao Xiao's face turned serious, and he said: "The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is 2,000, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is 1,500, the Langzhong in charge is 1,000, the Geshi Zhong is 600, and then there are smaller ones, each with a red envelope of 100."

  "Haha! Silly kid! You've got it all wrong!"

  Xiao Xiao hurriedly cupped his hands and asked with a humble heart: "Uncle Shen, please speak!"

  "If it were me, the Minister of Revenue would be 1,000, the Vice Minister of Revenue would be 600, the Langzhong in charge would be 800, and the Give Shi Zhong would be 2,000."

  Xiao Xiao listened and immediately understood the reasoning, greatly regretting: "Before I took over, our military pay was also the last one to arrive among the four families. At that time, I didn't feel quite right, but this is an old rule, and I had no experience in this aspect before, nor did I have anyone to consult with... For this matter, I even specially asked Zeng Daren..."

  Shen Zhen picked up the teacup and took a small sip, saying slowly and deliberately: "At that time, you must have glared at them and said: 'No one needs to send me off! You go and ask for it! Whoever dares not to give it to you, I'll stab him with one knife - I'll take care of the rest myself!'"

  Xiao Xiao smiled awkwardly.

  "But you're also quite clever!" Shen Zhen smiled at Xiao Sa, "He didn't take his words to heart. And he's a smart one too, you do your thing and he doesn't say much!"

  "Zeng is very good to his subordinates!" Xiao Sa said sincerely, "He only asks for results, not the process. If mistakes are made, he's also willing to take responsibility."

  Shen Zhen laughed and said: "Success or failure, it's all Xiang Yu! He's just too stubborn. Otherwise, where would Liang Yu have a place to stand?"

  Xiao Xiao was taken aback and bowed his hands sincerely to Shen Zhen: "Please instruct me, Uncle Shen!"

  Shen Zhen gazed at him, her eyes sharp as an eagle's.

  Xiao Xiao's face was full of openness and candor.

  After a long time, Shen Zhen smiled slightly and said: "I heard that Zeng Ju led 20,000 troops to defeat the Mongols' army of 50,000 in Gansu... it was all your credit... but not a single word was mentioned in the memorial..."

  Xiao Xiao smiled and said: "It's all my credit, but it's a bit exaggerated."

  "Oh?" Shen Zhen smiled and looked at Xiao Sa.

  Xiao Xiao murmured, "At that time, the situation was quite urgent. When we received the news, the Yuan Mongols had already attacked. There was no way out, so I could only discuss and decide on a counterattack plan with several thousand households!" As he spoke, he smiled wryly, "I've never fought in a battle before. If it weren't for those seasoned thousand households, this matter would probably be...".

  "So it's true!" Shen Zhen laughed and said, "It's all said that Zeng Ju was for a Uyghur man, and she chased him to Hami Wei?"

  Xiao Xiao did not make a sound, lowered his head and looked at the wine cup in front of him, and said in a low voice: "You suffered humiliation, I should die."

  Shen Zhen slightly nodded his head, and suddenly raised his voice to persuade: "Eat the dish, eat the dish. I specially had someone make a dish of live fish... this dish is not available in Kyoto!"

  It's indeed not suitable to continue discussing this topic.

  Shen Zhen changed the subject, letting Xiao Sa breathe a sigh of relief.

  He smiled and raised his head to toast Shen Zhen with a cup.

  ******

  After dinner, Shen Zhen went to Shen Muqing's place.

  Shen Muqing had just finished eating and was sitting on the kang drinking tea when he saw Shen Zhen coming over, so he quickly got down from the kang to greet him.

  Shen Zhen's face was flushed from drinking too much wine.

  Shen Muqing personally brewed a pot of strong tea for Shen Jian and sat with him on the edge of the kang by the window, saying a few words.

  Shen Zhen sighed and said: "The weather has turned cold these past few days, don't go to the tea house anymore, stay with me and practice writing."

  Practicing calligraphy?

  Shen Zhen hasn't written anything for a long time!

  It's Xiao Xiao's arrival that made him feel angry again!

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and nodded: "There's nothing major at the One Wen Tea House, I'll have Ying Fen take care of it. Let me stay home with you to practice writing."

  Shen Zhen walked away very satisfied.

  (Updated at 7:00 pm!)

  Mind, first launch of handwritten text version, new domain name and new starting point! Update faster, all e-book formats are free to download.

  New thinking, first launch of handwritten version. New domain name new starting point! Update faster, all e-book formats free download.