Although Wang Ruofu's life was relatively good, he did not have a father-in-law or his own mother-in-law after he got married.
Although he was from a high family and his family was tough, Sheng Hong was not really filial to the old lady.
Mrs. Sheng also didn't want to be a bad person because she was not Sheng Hong's biological mother. After Wang Ruofu came in, she didn't ask Wang Ruofu to set any rules or serve her.
Wang Ruofu is already considered a lucky daughter-in-law, but because of Wang Ruofu's lack of propriety and lack of thoroughness in doing things.
It is inevitable that you will be lectured and reprimanded by Mrs. Sheng.
Because he made many mistakes, Wang Ruofu himself felt that he was very frequently affected by his mother-in-law's anger.
Many times, when Wang Ruofu did something wrong, the old lady only had to look bad, and Wang Ruofu felt aggrieved.
I think I am also a person who has been annoyed by my mother-in-law. I have been waiting for my daughter-in-law to come in for many years.
It was easy for me to stand up and pay double the grievances I had suffered on my daughter-in-law.
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. According to the regulations of the Great Zhou Dynasty, foreign officials had to take a break during the New Year, and the yamen did not have to go to work. Sheng Changbai had a leisurely time and thought about many things.
To sum up, the task this time requires "cultivate oneself, manage one's family, govern the country and bring peace to the world", which means that one can do well in cultivating one's self.
The Qi family's work was average. There were grandmothers and parents at the top, and Sheng Changbai could only take care of the younger brothers and sisters below.
In terms of governing the country, Sheng Changbai has just started. He has just managed a state, which is not even one percent of the country's area.
In the last peaceful world, Sheng Changbai did even worse, let alone achieving national stability.
Public security across the country is even worse than in previous years, and there was even an uprising in the south.
The momentum is quite large and has spread to several areas in the south.
Of course, because of the Zhou Dynasty's plan to strengthen cadres and weaken branches, whether it was economic or military, the essence was in Bianliang, so local peasant uprisings would end in vain.
After the local rebels were taught a lesson by the imperial army, as long as they gave the bandit leaders some positions as chief registrants and county captains, it would be enough to recruit most of the leaders of the uprising for the people.
Of course, if the 'leaders' of the uprising can make a bigger noise and be more destructive, the imperial court will not hesitate to recruit the 'leaders' of the uprising army with higher positions.
"If you want to be an official, kill people, set fires, and be recruited" was a real and feasible official career in the Zhou Dynasty.
With the stick of the imperial army in one hand and the carrot of recruiting peace in the other, it can be said that there is no disadvantage in dealing with all kinds of domestic turmoil and uprisings.
"Being a stranger in a foreign land, I miss my family even more during the festive season!" After the New Year's Eve banquet was prepared, thinking that these servants who were far away from home like Mr. Sheng Changbai should also celebrate the festival, Sheng Changbai ordered
"Yanghao, tell everyone, leave a few people on duty and take turns. The others don't have to keep up with the New Year's Eve. Everyone can go and enjoy themselves."
Sheng Changbai and Yang Hao, Lang Hao and the few remaining female servants ate, drank, and chatted together, simply spending their first New Year's Eve in another place. A year had passed like this.
After midnight, which was twelve o'clock every half year, Sheng Changbai started to sign in just after twelve o'clock, which was rare.
"System sign in."
"Congratulations to the host for getting: two hundred copper coins and five pounds of potatoes."
Sheng Changbai received a surprise. After he felt better, he threw coins: "Yanghao, please remember, the wedding money for everyone will be doubled tomorrow morning!"
After six years, Sheng Changbai finally developed a high-yielding, drought-resistant crop.
Potatoes, corns, and sweet potatoes can achieve the purpose of growing Changbai.
As long as it is promoted, the food ration problem of the common people can be solved.
After it was fully promoted nationwide, the economy, food, and even population of the Great Zhou Dynasty were enough to support Sheng Changbai to carry out major events and lead his army in the Northern Expedition.
Generally speaking, wars at the national level are inseparable from the economy.
In this feudal era, if you had plenty of food, you could basically do whatever you wanted.
Even if the army's combat effectiveness is not very good, infantry is at a great disadvantage against cavalry.
But the confrontation between the two countries is not simply a competition of individual combat capabilities.
You can choose a simple confrontation and rely on logistics, which is enough for Zhou to drag the Liao Kingdom, Xixia and so on to death.
What's more, the soldiers of the Zhou Dynasty are actually not bad in combat effectiveness, and they even have the advantage of having bows and crossbows.
The Zhou Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom are now on the border, and the situation is relatively peaceful.
The reason why Da Zhou gave Da Liao old coins was to satisfy a certain appetite of Liao.
Furthermore, the military strength of the Great Zhou Dynasty was not so weak, which is why the Liao army did not have an absolute advantage over the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The armies of the Great Zhou Dynasty relied on their superiority in bows and crossbows to fight against the Liao Kingdom and achieve peace.
There were many reasons why the Zhou Dynasty was unwilling to go to war with the Liao Kingdom.
However, when the two countries were at war, the economy and military strength of the Great Zhou Dynasty could not support the Great Zhou War, so it was determined by the Yanyun Sixteenth Prefecture.
Obtain the traditional Central Plains dynasty, resist the natural dangers of nomads, and form a complete border defense barrier.
Even if the war is won, the fruits of victory cannot be preserved, which is also the biggest factor.
…
After the happy period of the New Year is over, the lives of officials and people still have to get back on track.
Corvee labor was still required, although Sheng Changbai conscripted tens of thousands of strong men.
But water conservancy projects can be said to be the largest type of projects in ancient times.
Dredging water conservancy and building dams and embankments cannot be completed in just two months.
In early spring, there is still a slack period for farming, and projects still need to be started.
Regarding the continued work on the project after the new year, the people's resistance was not as strong as Sheng Changbai expected.
Because Sheng Changbai was quite kind, the people who served were well fed, drunk, and safe.
For some families, they can’t find any odd jobs to make money during the slack time.
There is no use having laborers stay at home. It is also an option to send a laborer to the construction site to contribute some effort and save a ration for the family.
People in feudal society were still easily satisfied and easily exploited.
The favorite of capitalists, eight hours a day, non-stop for a whole month, no problem.
"Sir, we are back."
After the Spring Festival and just after the Lantern Festival, Xu San and Liu Tao returned to Xuzhou together.
Xu San was sent by Sheng Changbai to the old lady when she was going to Youyang half a year ago.
As I had originally ordered, Xu San would return to Xuzhou after the old lady was sent back to Bianliang.
Liu Tao originally stayed with Sheng Changbai in Xuzhou.
When the old lady Dafang passed away, she was sent to Youyang by Sheng Changbai.
Liu Tao was planning to return to Xuzhou after finishing the funeral of the eldest lady.
But they happened to catch up with the military chaos in the south and fled to the vicinity of Youyang.
Liu Tao and Mrs. Sheng, one could not return to Xuzhou and the other could not return to Bianliang, so they were both trapped in Youyang by the rebels.
The rebel soldiers roamed around Youyang for a month, and the chaos reached the twelfth lunar month.
Because after the rebellion, small groups of rebels and bandits continued, causing social security to be chaotic.
After Sheng Changbai got the news, he simply sent someone to deliver a letter to Liu Tao.
Let Liu Tao take Ren Ren and Xu San to escort the old lady and Minglan back to Beijing.
Liu Tao was also asked to return to Beijing to spend the Spring Festival with his parents and family.
"It's finally a trip back to Bianjing. Why don't you two stay in Bianjing for a while and spend more time with your father and mother? It's not too late to return to Xuzhou after the Lantern Festival."
When the two of them sent the old lady and Minglan back to the capital, it was already the twenties of the twelfth lunar month, and the New Year was approaching.
Now, just after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the two of them arrived in Xuzhou.
Discounting the time spent on the road, the two of them only stayed in Bianjing for more than ten days.
"More than ten days are enough to spend time with my parents. I am afraid that the young master will not have the manpower around him, so our parents are urging us to come back as soon as possible to serve the young master. We are also thinking about the young master, and after discussing it, we decided to make it in time for the Lantern Festival
I came back a few days ago to celebrate the Lantern Festival with the young master, but I was delayed a little on the way and was still one day late."
Xu San was a little excited because he and Sheng Changbai hadn't seen each other for half a year.
Sheng Changbai, Liu Tao, and Xu San spent more time together than Sheng Changbai and Sheng Laosan and Sheng Changfeng spent together.
Sheng Changbai and these two are more like brothers who grew up together, and their relationship is deeper.
Sheng Changbai experienced the reason why the children of wealthy families in feudal society most trusted the book boys and long-term followers who grew up with them.
"You two are serious, but one night is nothing. Xu San, please tell me first, what happened in the past six months?"
"When we left Xuzhou and returned to Bianliang, we returned to our official beds..."
Sheng Changbai still knows about the major events that Xu San has experienced in the past six months.
But there are also many details that Sheng Changbai doesn't know because he was with the old lady the whole time.
Xu San also fully experienced Mrs. Sheng and Minglan’s trip to Youyang.
After Mrs. Sheng returned to Youyang, she didn't go out much. Apart from walking around Youyang, remembering her hometown, and meeting some old friends, she didn't go out much.
Judging from the official positions of Sheng Hong and Sheng Changbai, Erfang can be said to be the top high-ranking family in Youyang.
The old lady was of noble birth and seniority, so she did not need to go out to visit her. She could just wait for the various gentry and wealthy people in Youyang to come to visit her.
Even the magistrate of Youyang County visited the old lady many times.
Sheng Changbai also knew who Mrs. Sheng had seen during this period, and who she had met for Minglan.
Since she was not in Bianjing and went to her hometown of Youyang to see Minglan, the old lady didn't care about her family status.
With the old lady's attitude of treating Minglan as a top-notch person, she certainly wasn't fooling Minglan casually.
Old ladies do not require family status, but of course they have higher requirements for character.
Let's not talk about ordinary people. When choosing a husband for Minglan, the old lady has three things to look at.
One candidate is Hu Taisheng, son of aunt Sheng Yun of the eldest house, who is also Sheng Changbai's cousin and Minglan's cousin.
First of all, Taisheng has a good character, is honest and loyal, has no evil intentions, and is a good person. He is not impatient when things happen, his temper is gentle, he is easy to get along with, and he is worthy of a woman's trust for a lifetime.
Secondly, Sheng Jun is a generous person, and as a mother-in-law, she is easy to get along with. In addition, Sheng Jun has always been grateful for Mrs. Sheng's great kindness to her family, and Minglan grew up under Mrs. Sheng's knees and is deeply loved by Mrs. Sheng.
If Minglan comes in, Sheng Yun will definitely treat Minglan well. Minglan will not encounter the difficult mother-in-law and daughter-in-law problems that usually arise when a new daughter-in-law marries into her husband's family.
Finally, Taisheng's family is well off and he is an only child. His family is simple and everyone gets along well with each other without any disputes.
In Sheng Changbai's opinion, the only bad thing about this marriage was that the blood relationship was a little closer.
But the old lady doesn't understand genetics, so she doesn't think there's anything wrong with it. She also thinks that having more relatives will bring more advantages.
Taisheng was good in every aspect and was quite suitable, but in the end he was passed by the old lady.
Because Taisheng and Pinlan are childhood sweethearts who grew up together, they are considered the most suitable couple according to tradition.
Because Uncle Wei's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Li, did not want to marry Pinlan to Taisheng, but wanted to marry Pinlan back to her natal family.
Sheng Jun liked Minglan again, so he hinted to the old lady that he wanted to marry Minglan for Taisheng.
However, the Li family disliked Pinlan's wild temper and lack of rules, so they rejected Li's idea of marrying their daughter back to her parents' family.
After being rejected by her natal family, Mrs. Li fell in love with Taisheng again and wanted to marry Pinlan to Taisheng.
The old lady gave up on Taisheng and Pinlan, their childhood sweethearts, in order not to affect the relationship between the first and second bedrooms.
The second candidate is Li Yu, the nephew of Sheng Wei’s daughter-in-law Li.
This is indeed a good candidate, the cousin Li wants Pinlan to marry.
Li Yu has a slender figure, delicate features, fair complexion and good looks, much like Sheng Hong when he was young. He is a handsome guy.
I don't have any bad habits. I usually just stay in my room and study hard. I don't have a girl to live with. I'm not lewd and I have strong self-control.
Old Mrs. Sheng is basically satisfied with Li Yu. The Li family has a good family background, a well-educated family, rich family assets, kind parents, and Li Yu is also very motivated.
Considered an alternative, the only thing Li Yu lost in the old lady's favor was that he was a scholar.
To say that Li Yu looks like Sheng Hong, it is better to say that Li Yu looks more like the old lady's husband, Sheng Lao Tanhua.
The old lady was worried that Li Yu was like Sheng Lao Tanhua, who behaved differently before and after marriage, and that he would have a doting concubine and destroy his wife.
The old lady didn't trust the scholar's character because she was always visiting flowers.
The third candidate was not a native of Youyang, but an acquaintance whom the old lady met on the way back to Youyang, and the old lady's young handkerchief, He Hongwen, the grandson of the old lady He who married into the He family.
He Hongwen is not bad either. He has a fair face, slender eyebrows and handsome eyes. Although he is not as handsome as Qi Heng, he has a strong bookish air and is a gentle and handsome guy.
From the time when the old lady chose her husband and she chose Lao Tanhua, we knew that the old lady was a "Yan Party".
The He family also has a good family background. The He family belongs to a famous family. Grandpa Zeng of the He family founded Baishitan Academy and became the first scholar in the world. He has been a leader for decades.
He Hongwen's father, Mrs. He's third son, died young, leaving only He Hongwen as a son, who was favored by his grandparents.
He Hongwen is a side branch of the He family. She comes from a wealthy family and is well-educated. Because she is a side branch, she is suitable for Minglan's status as a concubine.
He Hongwen's family has been a medical officer for generations, and his family is also very wealthy.
He Hongwen himself was modest and courteous, as gentle as jade. He did not study for imperial examinations, but devoted himself to studying medicine. He was quite skilled in medicine at a young age.
He Hongwen was not a distinguished nobleman that the old lady hated originally, nor was he an imperial examination scholar who became disgusted after seeing clearly after getting married.
He Hongwen, who was a doctor, immediately impressed the old lady with all his qualities, and was listed as the first choice for Minglan's husband.