The letter from Beirongyuan soon reached Pingliang Mansion. Although it was a freezing winter day, the masters of the Zhao family and the Shi family were full of joy from inside to outside.

Mr. Zhao was wearing a cloak and holding a pair of scissors in his hand. He walked slowly and leisurely around several early-blooming red plums in the garden. When he saw the beautiful flower branches, he carefully cut them off and handed them to the little boy who was waiting on the side.

The servant held it carefully.

Mr. Zhao San followed Mr. Zhao around like a headless fly with his head down. The smile on his face was brighter than the red plum. He stepped forward blankly and pressed the flower branches for Mr. Zhao while muttering to himself which one was better.

See which one has less flavor.

Mr. Zhao had only cut four or five branches of plum blossoms before Mr. Zhao San frowned. He turned his head and gave Mr. Zhao a sideways look with a sullen expression. He carefully moved the intertwined branches with his hands and reprimanded: "

Just stay there and don't circle around me, I'll make you dizzy!"

Master Zhao San let out a hey, with no trace of fear on his face. Instead, he grinned widely, bent over and took a step back.

Mr. Zhao glared, and then Mr. Zhao San took a step back, facing the cold wind in the snow and happily watching Mr. Zhao cutting plum blossoms with great interest.

After finally putting together a big bunch, Mr. Zhao rubbed his hands, took the stove that Mr. Zhao San had so diligently handed over, handed the scissors to the boy, and told the boy holding the flowers to carefully insert the vase.

Then he gathered up his cloak, nodded to Mr. Zhao San impatiently and shouted: "Tell me, what did you remember again?"

Mr. Zhao San raised the corners of his mouth and smiled so much that his eyes almost narrowed into slits. While supporting Mr. Zhao diligently, he coughed and said, "It's on the other side of Weiyuan City. That's the inner treasury of the palace! My son has been thinking about it all night.

Although he is working as an errand with the second young lady, there is no guarantee that he will be... ahem, he is always not much different from the household department of the imperial court. My son is too stupid to catch up with such a good job. Dalang is now in charge of the Zhao family.

When it comes to business, he is very measured and his brain works very fast, so it seems appropriate to say it. He just missed a few years of studying. Erlang, I think, is a bit talented in reading, but he is not as good as Dalang in terms of general affairs, and Han Han

The fourth son of the family is now working with his wife, and the second young wife is a woman. It is unlikely that she would use an ignorant scholar. My son has been thinking about it for a long time. He really doesn’t know who to send him. Otherwise, he can only do this.

Let the eldest brother and the second brother pass?"

"Nonsense!" Mr. Zhao stamped his feet, his eyes widened, his beard twitched, his face was full of anger, and he cursed loudly. "Idiot! Why are the second master and the second young lady willing to use the Zhao family? That's just to see

The Zhao family is at peace! Look, I know how to understand current affairs! The two young masters of Dalang Erlang's direct branch cannot go through, so let the children from the side branches pass. Do you think the second young lady is easy to fool? Just because she can manage the inner treasury of the palace, then

She is not a simple woman! You only know how to hang out all day long, when will your mind be able to think of something clearly?"

Having said this, Mr. Zhao had an angry look on his face and glared at Mr. Zhao San with an unkind expression. He took a breath and gave an order in a low but stern voice: "You should take care of yourself after enjoying so many years of leisure.

It’s over! Please take good care of the Zhao family’s business and let me take care of it. Let Da Lang go to Weiyuan City to follow the Second Young Madam! In the future, the academy in Yong’an City will be built. Send Er Lang there as well.”

"Father..." Mr. Zhao San's face was stiff. His face was blown red and white by the cold wind. His eyes were frightened and anxious. He hurriedly pulled Mr. Zhao's sleeves and said, "No! This... son has a stupid temper and a stupid mind.

It’s not easy to use, how can I control it..."

"What are you howling for?" Mr. Zhao spat with hatred, raised his arm and shook off Mr. Zhao San's hand, "You are a shopkeeper who doesn't see any use for you? The old man is not dead yet.

! I just let you take care of things for a few years, and I’m afraid I’m going to tire you out? You…”

Mr. Zhao nodded at Mr. Zhao San with trembling fingers, then took it back as if he was frustrated. He frowned and looked at Mr. Zhao San for a long time. The anger just now dissipated again, and he glared at Mr. Zhao San with disgust and weakness.

He glanced at it and sighed in a very slow voice: "Forget it, I won't tell you more. As long as you know that the inner treasury of the palace is not a small place, there will be many benefits in the future. Dalang has studied less for a few years, but he is better than

In order to be smart and steady, it is not enough to just be able to read, you must also be able to do things. Look at the talented scholars of the past and present, and then look at those who are officials and rulers in high positions. How many of those talented scholars who claim to be romantic are doing

Did something big happen?"

After a pause, he looked up at the slowly falling snowflakes and the eye-catching red plums in the white snow. Mr. Zhao finally showed a smile on his face: "Besides, the elder is less than thirty now, so let him follow the second young lady.

It doesn't matter if you have studied for a few years. That person is very capable, and you can see that he is hiding his clumsiness now. Follow her, no matter what it is, just follow her and do things honestly for a few years. From now on, it will be a favor. Even if you don't

It will be a good thing for the Zhao family if we can take another step forward."

Mr. Zhao San nodded suddenly and hurriedly bent over to help Mr. Zhao up the steps.

At the same time, the old man of the Shi family was sitting with his sons and grandsons in the attic in the yard with a smile on his face, eating food and enjoying the snow.

Mr. Shi San diligently served tea and water, cooked dishes and rice, with a smile on his face and in a good mood, but he didn't say much. He only listened to Mr. Shi's slow but dignified lectures.

"The Shi family has just gained the advantage of a sea-going ship, and this is an emissary from the palace's inner treasury. Now I'm afraid that many people in Pingliang Mansion are jealous. You should all be more alert, and stop doing crazy things to give others a reason.

Although the master is kind-hearted, he cannot tolerate rampant slaves!"

Mr. Shi Er smiled and nodded, then continued: "The second master has been a bit more caring in the past two years than before. I think the second young lady is also smart."

"Clever?" Mr. Shi stared at the wine glass and laughed inexplicably. He glanced at the children and grandchildren around the table. His eyes gradually moved to the overwhelming snow scene outside the attic window and the red plum blossoms blooming beautifully in the white snow. His voice was low and hoarse.

There was some emotion in it. "Old Uncle Chengyi has been to the north before, and it has been more than ten years in a blink of an eye. The old lady of Uncle Chengyi's house is also very capable, and the skills she taught my granddaughter are not small."

.You all remember clearly that you should respect and support the second young lady as much as you do the second master. The Shi family's current benefits are inseparable from that one. Everything the masters can give

, naturally it can be taken back.”

Several masters of the Shi family felt nervous and nodded in unison. The younger ones looked at each other, confused and nodded, but they had different thoughts. Only Shi Er leaned on his chair and narrowed his eyes.

A flash of surprise and sarcasm flashed across his eyes, and then he raised the corners of his mouth and smiled. Just as he was about to speak out, unexpectedly, the smile froze as soon as it started.

Mr. Shi pointed his finger at Shi Er and said, "Erlang, go to Weiyuan City. When you are thirty, you should do something serious!"

Shi Er suddenly sat up straight and shouted with a grimace: "Grandpa——" There was obvious reluctance on his face.

"This matter is settled." Mr. Shi didn't even frown, as if he didn't see the prayer on Shi Er's face, and made a decision in a smooth voice, leaving no room for doubt. "You are the future patriarch of the Shi family. Han Si

I'm younger than you, but now you look at others and then at you. If you don't blush, others will blush for you."

Shi Er stopped silently, and looked at Mr. Shi with a grimace. Mr. Shi was sitting upright, staring at the wine glass on the table, without even glancing at Shi Er. Shi Er's eyes were

His prayers stalled, and he turned to Mr. Shi Er. At this moment, Mr. Shi turned his face away, called over to the boy beside him, and whispered in a low voice to warm up another pot of wine.

Shi Er opened his mouth, frowned and let out a sullen breath, and then turned his gaze to Master Shi San. Unexpectedly, as soon as he looked over, Master Shi San waved his hands and said with a smile: "Er Lang, you should listen to your grandfather. Second Master

Although he has a cold temper, he is not unreasonable."

Seeing Shi Er's dejected face, Mr. Shi San glanced at Mr. Shi again, smiled and persuaded a few more words: "Don't think that following the Second Young Madam is useless. I heard that the Second Young Madam has a very gentle temperament, and is also a very talented person.

It was my idea. Although the first two academies were built by the second master, the second young lady also proposed it at least. She is not a woman who waits for long hair and short knowledge. I heard that Silang of the Han family is now following that

work."

Shi Er took a breath and twirled the wine glass with some irritability. If a woman stretched her hand too far, it would have to be accommodated by the Lu family, for fear that the gain would outweigh the loss in the future! Besides, women at home interfere too much in foreign affairs, so this

The second young lady is not necessarily very shrewd!

After thinking about it, Shi Er let out a sullen breath, leaned forward, straightened his back, looked at Mr. Shi solemnly and said: "Grandpa has a destiny, and my grandson dare not disobey him. It's just that my grandson has a few words, but he still can't do it."

Please listen to my grandfather."

Mr. Shi couldn't see much of the expression on his face, he just smiled kindly, his white beard didn't move at all, and he only looked at Shi Er.

"Although the north is less rigid than the south, and women in the inner house are more exposed, but in the end, matters outside the house are men's business. The second young lady interferes too much in foreign affairs. Although it is no problem now, it will inevitably not be a disaster in the future. Although the Shi family said

I received the favor from the second young lady, but it was the second master’s approval after all. I was just doing things for the second master. My grandson has no objection to this. But our family is too involved with the housewife at the moment, and it may not be a good thing in the future.

.”

"Interfering in foreign affairs?" Mr. Shi stared at Shi Er and suddenly laughed, his beard trembling, but Shi Er's expression gradually became a little stiff.

"Your concerns are reasonable. It is a good thing for those in charge of the family to think long-term. However, they are less knowledgeable." Mr. Shi's voice was low, with a somewhat loving smile in his tone, and his face was gentle.

He taught, "The sea ship business is the young lady's own dowry, and that's all we can see. I'm afraid there is more. It makes sense that the second master can't get involved. As for that,

Although the inner treasury of the palace involves the affairs of the outer houses, it can also be regarded as the inner house. If you look at our home, it is common for the outside shopkeepers to meet the head wife and grandma." (To be continued. If you like this work,
Chapter completed!