Because there were several heavy snowfalls in winter and the weather has been very cold, spring arrived in Yongzhou Prefecture this year later than in previous years.
It's already past mid-February, but it's still cool outside.
After Shen Zhonglei got up in the morning, he was sitting at the table waiting for the meal to be set.
Seeing this, Ping Niang took the opportunity to step forward and said, "Master, what do you think our family will do during the Flower Festival this year?"
"Just follow the usual practice in previous years. You have to ask me about this kind of thing?" Shen Zhonglei frowned upon hearing this, and most of his good mood in the morning was ruined.
This year is his sixth year in office in Yongzhou Prefecture. According to Daqi's rule of taking the exam once every three years and completing three exams, he is about to take the exam again after six years this year.
Moreover, the letter from my hometown after the New Year also said that this is the sixth year. If I can perform well and make some outstanding political achievements, I don’t have to stay in Yongzhou for three years. I can go to Beijing in advance to report on my work. No surprise.
Able to be promoted.
For this reason, Shen Zhonglei pays special attention to this year.
Last winter was the harshest winter in Yongzhou Prefecture in a century, and it suffered another snow disaster. Houses in Yongzhou City were collapsed by snow, and the situation in surrounding villages and towns will only become more serious.
Years later, Shen Zhonglei has been busy with disaster relief and refugee relief, calling on wealthy businessmen in the city to donate money, helping the victims rebuild their houses, and even personally visited the most severely affected villages.
In the past month, his official reputation among the people in Yongzhou area has been excellent, but it has also been really hard.
So when Ping Niang asked about trivial matters at home, he was quite impatient.
Ping Niang was also helpless. These matters should have been handled by the Xu family, but at the end of last month, news came from the Xu family that Xu Yihao died suddenly during the Lantern Festival.
This is great, Mrs. Xu, who was just tired and pretending to be sick at home, suddenly fell seriously ill.
Shen Zhonglei originally decided to send Shen Yunyao back to his hometown after the first month of the year, but now because Xu is seriously ill, he has not been able to make the trip and she still stays at home.
All the general affairs in the mansion fell on Ping Niang.
Ping Niang is just an aunt, with only one daughter and no son. She has no status in the palace, but she is better than those unpopular servants.
How could any of the stewards and nannies in key positions in the family, who were not from the Xu family, take her seriously?
So in the past half month, the general affairs in the mansion have been in a complete mess.
Ping Niang couldn't disturb the seriously ill Mrs. Xu, so she went to ask Shen Zhonglei today. Unexpectedly, she was still rejected, and she didn't dare to say anything.
As for previous years' practices, she wanted to use them as a reference, but since the day she took over the general affairs, she asked the steward for previous years' account books. As a result, it has been more than half a month, but she has not even seen any trace of the account books.
Shen Zhonglei didn't care about this at all. He focused on his official duties and always only cared about the results of the affairs of the back house. Who could Ping Niang go to to complain about these grievances?
Fortunately, breakfast was served this time, which diverted Shen Zhonglei's attention in time.
Ping Niang served Shen Zhonglei for breakfast, changed him into official uniform, and was about to send him out to the Yamen. Mo Ze ran in with a happy face and said: "Master, the eldest lady sent someone back to deliver a message. She and the third girl have already set off to return.
We are in Yongzhou Prefecture. Counting the days, we should be able to arrive home the day after tomorrow."
"Really?" Shen Zhonglei's mood finally turned from gloomy to bright after hearing the news, "In the blink of an eye, it's been more than a month, but they are coming back. They didn't take many people with them when they left. Please tell the housekeeper quickly to make arrangements.
People go out of the city along the official road to greet them."
After he finished speaking, he turned around and told Ping Niang: "Hurry up and ask people to clean their house, and ask people to light the charcoal pot early the day after tomorrow. Don't mention it, the two children have never grown up away from home.
I usually don’t feel the time when I see it in front of my eyes every day, but I really miss it after not being able to see it for more than a month!”
"Don't worry, sir, I will have someone take care of me and welcome the two girls back home." Seeing that Shen Zhonglei was in a good mood, Ping Niang asked tentatively, "Master, since the eldest girl has gone home, I will be the servant of the back house.
Should I leave it to the older girls to take care of?"
"She has nothing to do with her children..." Shen Zhonglei hesitated upon hearing this.
Ping Niang said again: "Master, it's not that I don't want to contribute, but I am just an aunt after all, and I can't be considered a serious master. Now that the family is sick and grounded, I have been in charge of the place for a few days, and now
The eldest girl and the third girl are back, so it is not appropriate to continue like this.
"And I am presumptuous enough to tell you some heartfelt words. The eldest girl is already seventeen years old this year, which is an age where it is easy to discuss marriage. It stands to reason that she should have learned how to take care of the household affairs long ago, otherwise she will marry into her husband's family in the future.
, nothing will be like that. When the time comes, people will not only laugh at the eldest girl for not knowing the rules, but they will also laugh at our Shen family for not being able to teach our daughters."
Shen Zhonglei had never considered this issue before. Even Shen Tianshu's marriage was worried about by his mother in his hometown, so he didn't take it seriously.
Now that I heard Ping Niang say this, I think it makes sense.
But when I think about it more carefully, it doesn't seem to be the case.
Although he has not married his daughter yet, he has seen his sisters getting married in his hometown since he was a child.
Generally, from the age of thirteen or fourteen, the mother starts to keep people by her side and teach them how to keep accounts and check accounts, how to handle various festivals throughout the year, how to prepare gifts and how to deal with favors.
All of these must be learned before marriage. Otherwise, do you have to learn them from your mother-in-law after you get married?
Shen Zhonglei had never taken these things to heart that his mother should have been concerned about, but when he heard Ping Niang say this, he couldn't help but feel a little more resentful towards Mr. Xu.
Even though Mrs. Xu was just her stepmother, Shen Tianshu had no impression of her biological mother at all, and she was taken care of by Mrs. Xu before she could remember.
Over the years, Shen Tianshu has always been very respectful and filial to Xu.
As long as Mr. Xu pays more attention and the two of them get along well, how different will it be from the biological mother and daughter?
Shen Zhonglei never expected Mrs. Xu to be able to balance a bowl of water, but even Ping Niang understood the truth, wouldn't Mrs. Xu know?
It's really outrageous to be so indifferent even though you know it clearly!
Now that Mr. Xu is seriously ill, Shen Zhonglei cannot directly question him no matter how angry he is, but he has already begun to feel dissatisfied in his heart.
Seeing that Shen Zhonglei was already deep in thought, Ping Niang did not add any further fuss. She just lowered her head obediently and helped him adjust the belt of his official uniform.
"When Tianshu comes back, let her learn to be a housekeeper." Shen Zhonglei finally decided before leaving, "Madam is sick now and I can't bother you. You can help her by the side. You should also take Yunhui with you. She should also learn how to be a housekeeper."