There were many people and lights on the street, and there were bright lights everywhere. Duan Mingjing dragged Mr. Shang hurriedly, looking for jewelry shops everywhere.
After walking for a while, Shang felt a little pain from being pulled, so she shook off her husband's hand and said, "Walk slower!"
Duan Ming said "oh" and retracted his hand in embarrassment, then slowed down his pace, his eyes still looking back and forth between the shops next to him.
"Just right here..." Shang pointed to a place.
Duan Mingjing followed Shang's hand and pointed towards it. When he saw a grocery store full of lanterns, he suddenly realized, "Buy lanterns? Go ahead!"
It only costs a few dollars to buy one more lantern.
"Huh?" Mr. Shang stretched out his hand to stop Duan Mingjing, "This is what I'm talking about."
Mrs. Shang took Duan Mingjing to a small stall. This stall also sold jewelry and jade. Unlike the expensive hairpins inlaid with jewels in that shop, most of the stalls on the outside were wooden hairpins, although there was some gold and silver inside.
Jade, but the quality of the jade is not very good at first glance.
When the stall owner saw two noble people in brocade clothes coming forward, he knew that they were major customers, so he immediately greeted him warmly, "What do you two guests want to see?"
Mrs. Shang took a look and saw several wooden hairpins with good carvings. She pointed them out one by one and asked the stall owner to show them to her.
Duan Mingjing was extremely puzzled by his wife's behavior. Instead of going to a good shop, he bought it on the roadside. "What did you buy these for?"
"Save money!" Shang held the hairpin confidently.
"The family is not short of money? Why save? Don't save on the dozens of taels of silver, I'll buy it for you." Duan Mingjing said, pulling on Shang's sleeves and planning to take her to buy something better.
hairpin.
If he used a wooden hairpin on the street to fool him, my mother would definitely scold him if she found out!
"Second Master is not a family man, so he doesn't know how valuable money, rice, oil and salt are! Although the money at home is enough, we can't spend it like this!" Mrs. Shang held up the hairpin and looked at it carefully under the dimly lit lantern.
Mrs. Shang has been managing the house with her sisters-in-law these days, and has gained some understanding of the family's accounts.
In the past, she was just like the person next to her. She had a wealthy family and a dowry. Although she didn't have any huge expenses, she had never been scrupulous about spending money. After her husband's moonlight had been spent, he still had money to spend.
I can rely on the old lady's favor to go to the public house to get some money.
Not to mention the days when the family was in trouble, Shang also experienced the experience of haggling with others for a penny.
After experiencing these ups and downs, Mr. Shang roughly understood that those things used to decorate the appearance are all false. Only the health of the whole family is real, so naturally he doesn't care much about those external things.
The Duan family just returned to Beijing, and they didn't interact with many people at first. After the old lady went to the eldest princess's banquet, there were more people coming and going to give gifts.
There are rules in the capital when it comes to giving gifts. If you don't accept a gift, you're offending someone. Giving money directly is too vulgar. If you accept something from someone, you must give someone a gift in return. Reciprocity is a basic human principle.
Just send it here and there, plus the things the family bought this year, although it doesn’t cost much to eat. All kinds of grains, vegetables, chicken, duck, fish and meat are available in the store, so you don’t have to spend money to buy them outside.
Regardless of the present, Mr. Shang had to look up and look at his three children in the future.
Her husband is better than before. He doesn't go out and spends money and can still make money, but what he earns is only small money after all. She has to buy a family property in the capital for her son and daughter and leave enough things!
Duan Mingjing had never been in charge of the house, so he didn't understand his wife's good intentions. When he heard his wife talking about saving money, he finally thought for a moment and said, "These things are cheap, you can choose a few more! I will give them to my mother at Zhuangzi."
I worked hard and saved some money, and I will come and give it to you after the new year. When I save more money in the future, I will take you to buy something good!"
When Mr. Shang heard this, he hummed softly. Regardless of whether the people around him heard it or not, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.
Although the husband is not very outstanding, the mother-in-law is excellent. Compared with those families where wives and concubines treat each other as guests, she is lucky.
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Duan Mingqing took his wife to the jewelry store and prepared to go in and make a selection.
Mrs. Liu hadn't gone out much since she married into the Duan family, but before she got married, this jewelry shop was a place she didn't dare to enter.
Seeing her husband looking for it so quickly, Ms. Liu couldn't help but wonder: "How did your husband know that there is a jewelry store here?"
Duan Mingqing: "When I was tired from studying, I liked to walk in the streets of the capital and look at the shops on both sides. After seeing them a few times, I memorized them all."
The husband answered simply. Mrs. Liu did not doubt that he was there and took her husband in to have a look.
There was a dazzling array of jewelry on the counter, which made Ms. Liu, who was visiting this kind of shop for the first time, dazzled by the choices. She didn’t know what to choose, so she tugged on the sleeves of the person next to her and said softly: "Husband, please help me choose one! I
I can’t make a choice.”
Duan Mingqing looked around, picked up a white jade carved hairpin from the counter, and gently inserted it into Liu's head, "How about this one?"
Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper was very discerning and moved a bronze mirror and placed it in front of Mrs. Liu. He couldn't help but praise: "Mr. Lang is really discerning. This hairpin is perfect for Mrs. Ling!"
Mrs. Liu looked at herself in the bronze mirror with a happy face.
-
As for Duan Mingchen, it was much simpler. He only had to stand behind his nephews and nieces like a personal guard and watch them play.
The older child is about ten years old, so he doesn't need to keep an eye on it. The main thing is that he has to keep a close eye on the two little girls and never leave them. Don't let anyone abduct them.
When the two little girls grew up, they saw the lantern festival for the first time. They were so happy that they bought lanterns one after another. They also bought some clay figurines with snacks on the shops on both sides. They not only bought them for themselves, but also gave them to the family.
Each of the elders prepared a portion.
Although they are worthless gadgets, they are somewhat part of the child's heart.
Seeing that the maid and woman who were following him had their hands full of things, Duan Mingchen consciously took over the important task, holding a lantern in one hand and two little girls nibbling a few candied haws in the other, and followed behind.
A handsome young man like him in rich clothes is particularly eye-catching because of what he holds in his hands.
Duan Mingchen calmly accepted the gazes from around him and followed his niece leisurely.
-
After visiting the lantern festival for a while, Qiao Lan couldn't hold it anymore because she was getting too old, so she went to find a teahouse nearby to rest.
Wang and others accompanied Qiao Lan and entered the box on the second floor together.
Although it is quieter in the private room than on the street, standing on the second floor and looking down at the lights has a unique flavor. After all, it is quieter.
Seeing two little girls standing at the window looking down, Qiao Lan couldn't help but say: "You go down and play! You don't have to sit here with me to kill time!"
Duan Sitong had a little hesitation on his face.
"Go ahead, wait until you get married in the future, then the chances will be even less!" Mrs. Wang then said.
The two elders in the family spoke up, and Duan Sitong happily took Feiyan downstairs.