Chapter 653 Small banquet in the third year of junior high school [Part 2]
[I was dragged to pay public food after the power outage. I’m not energetic today. I’ll just take 4,040 for now, and I’ll add more tomorrow.]
In the blink of an eye, it’s the third day of June.
After seeing off Jiao Shun before dawn, Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu waited eagerly in the front yard and living room.
Although they both look forward to the reunion of the sisters, the two have completely opposite styles of painting. Shi Xiangyun is restless, pacing back and forth with his pink fists in his hands from time to time, and the corners of his horse-faced skirt fly up every time he turns around.
Lin Daiyu, on the other hand, was holding a cup of Bazhen soup, lowering her head from time to time to take a sip, looking like she was peacefully passing through the years.
"Why aren't you here yet?"
Shi Xiangyun turned around twice more and suddenly stopped: "Could it be that someone from the City Patrol Department stopped you?"
Lin Daiyu put the Bazhen Soup on the table and wiped away the wet marks on the corners of her mouth in a hurry. Then she said with a smile: "You must be just like you. When you go out, you feel like you are in a hurry. You wish your face was empty of soup."
Water - this is a rare trip, can the third sister have to dress up?"
It is now an open secret that Tanchun wanted to work as a double-sitter for Jiao Shun.
When she first moved to the Jiao family, Lin Daiyu was cautious, fearing that Xiang Yun would be unhappy if she touched on this topic. But later she discovered that she had no grudge against her, and was happy that the sisters could be reunited at the Jiao family, so she no longer hid it.
Already.
Shi Xiangyun thought about it, but then he couldn't help complaining: "What about Sister Bao and Sister Baoqin? They live on Qian Street, why are they so procrastinating?"
Since it was a gathering of sisters, she would not fail to invite Baochai and Baoqin, who were close at hand.
"alright."
Lin Daiyu stood up and sat Xiang Yun next to her. She pushed the Bazhen Tang in front of her and said, "I think you should finish drinking the soup and feel relieved. Otherwise, you would have died of panic before they came."
She was just joking, but Shi Xiangyun actually picked up the bowl, drank the rest of the soup in one gulp, wiped it with the back of his hand, and said curiously: "I see you haven't moved much in the past two days, and you only use it for rice."
There is less of it, could it be that you are feeling unwell again?"
Before Lin Daiyu could speak, she persuaded again: "I also heard that you have been staying up late these two days to write. But be careful not to hurt yourself, otherwise I won't be able to explain to the old lady."
"It's just an occasional feeling."
Lin Daiyu shook her head slightly, not wanting to discuss this issue with Shi Xiangyun.
She has actually been wondering in the past few days whether pure love exists. Based on her own personal experience and the absurd love-hate entanglement between Ou Guan and Rui Guan, most of the conclusions she drew were negative.
However, Pian Shi Xiangyun is a positive example - at least in the eyes of most people.
So Lin Daiyu didn't want to show her her "scar literature".
"My sister's articles are always very spiritual."
Shi Xiangyun did not doubt that he was there, and immediately clapped his hands excitedly and said: "Why don't we take it out later and let us all taste it together? It can also be regarded as a bonus for our party."
"Please calm down!"
Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at her, and just as she was about to find a reason to refuse, she saw Xing Xiuyan walking in quickly, and the two of them hurriedly stood up to greet her.
In fact, given Shi Xiangyun's identity, he shouldn't have stood up when he saw Xing Xiuyan. However, Xiangyun and Xing Xiuyan were old acquaintances, and they respected her talent, knowledge, and character, so he refused to act like a real wife in front of her.
Xing Xiuyan was a little awkward at first, and she tried to dissuade her several times but to no avail. Fortunately, when Ping'er passed by and Shi Xiangyun treated her in the same way, she gradually got used to it - but it was just the two of them.
Ling Qingwen and his ilk raise concubines, but don't expect to get this special treatment.
Xing Xiuyan saw the courtesy and said with a smile: "The master just ordered someone to send some snacks. They said they were foreign things bought while passing by Sifang Street. Let us try them out. In addition to the snacks, the master also ordered some ice porridge. I agreed.
It will be delivered in the afternoon."
Shi Xiangyun said with a smile: "I have eaten a lot of these foreign things recently, and they are not necessarily better than ours. But the ice porridge is just right for the sisters to cool down and quench their thirst."
After saying that, he turned to Lin Daiyu and said: "Sister Lin, don't worry. You have always had a weak stomach and I'm afraid you can't overcome it - you might as well try more of those Western snacks."
Lin Daiyu's attention was not on the dim sum ice porridge. She asked curiously: "Why did Brother Jiao pass by Sifang Street? What kind of ice porridge can I order when I have time?"
"He didn't go to the Yamen today. He took a leave specifically to entertain the newly graduated students. Yesterday, he specially ordered someone to book a restaurant, which is near the Siyi Pavilion. He said he went there a while ago when he entertained Westerners. It was clean and tidy.
It’s spacious and clean enough—there are more than 200 students there, and the place is too small to fit in.”
Just as he was talking, he heard Ping'er shouting from outside: "Madam, Miss Lin, Second Miss, they are here!"
Shi Xiangyun was overjoyed and ran out with his long legs.
"Oh, what are you in a hurry for?!"
Lin Daiyu complained, lifting up her white pleated skirt with dark flowers in one hand, and trotting with her two showy feet, but she was not much slower than Shi Xiangyun.
By the time the two of them arrived at the corner gate, Yingchun and Tanchun had already gotten out of the car, but Chunzhui was distracted behind them, and they didn't know what they were thinking about.
Shi Xiangyun hurried a few steps, grabbed one with one hand, looked around, and said repeatedly: "I heard that the people patrolling the city this time also entered the garden to search. Are the sisters not frightened?"
Yingchun held her hand and said, "It's okay, we all avoided it in advance."
"Hmph~"
Tan Chun frowned coldly: "I have always heard in the past that soldiers are not as good as bandits. This time I know better - I only let them search it once, and more than a dozen things that were listed were lost, and the things that were not listed were still unknown.
How much!"
Yingchun hurriedly made up for it: "What are you talking about? Didn't you come back with some later?"
"That's not because the eldest sister has gained power in the palace again!"
When Tanchun said this, he gritted his teeth, looked around, and raised his chin in a presumptuous manner: "Go in and tell me, there is another disgusting thing!"
Yingchun seemed to have guessed what she was going to say, and looked a little sad. She pushed Tanchun on the back and complained: "Today is a good day for Sister Yun, what are you talking about?"
But Tan Chun insisted: "What's the use of hiding it now? Second brother Lian may not be able to help. When the time comes, I won't be able to ask brother Jiao for help."
"Okay, okay, we'll talk about it when we get in, we'll talk about it after we get in."
Shi Xiangyun was afraid that there would be sparks between the two of them, so he hurriedly tried to smooth things over and led Sanchun straight to the back house.
After the guests and the host were seated in the living room, and Qingwen was called and Xiangling served tea, Xiangyun asked strangely: "By the way, why didn't my sister-in-law come, and it's just the three of you?"
"After all, Sister Feng got into a lawsuit and couldn't run the family anymore, so my sister-in-law took the initiative to ask Ying to stay." Tan Chun explained casually, and then used what he said just now to say: "You left early, so you may not know, but Lin
Sister, you should know that Sun Shaozu is making trouble to break off the engagement, right?"
Only then did Shi Xiangyun understand why Yingchun had stopped her from talking.
But at this time Yingchun felt that he couldn't stop it, so he sat there silently and showed no reaction.
Lin Daiyu glanced at Yingchun first, then nodded and said: "I know that. He heard that the empress was imprisoned in the palace, so he made a fuss about regretting the engagement. The second uncle was annoyed by his lack of evidence and simply agreed to return his betrothal gift. Who knows?
The man surnamed Sun opened his mouth again and said that Brother Lian still owed him 30,000 taels of silver, and he had to pay it back together before he would break off the engagement, otherwise he would just drag it out like this."
Speaking of this, she couldn't help but gnash her teeth with hatred: "That thief and murderer is really hateful. He has five or six concubines in his house. I heard that he has several children, so naturally he doesn't care about delaying it for a few more years! But Er
If sister takes too long..."
After all, it was in front of Yingchun, so she didn't say what she said next. She paused and then angrily condemned: "This is obviously extortion!"
In fact, after the two families got engaged, Jia Lian went to Jinmen Mansion with Sun Shaozu and collected 30,000 taels of silver in the name of a virtuous concubine. Later, Jia She, Jia Lian and his son made a big fuss over this, but were eventually arrested.
The old lady picked the peaches and used them to renovate the large flower hall.
Now Sun Shaozu is asking for this money. Although he is using strong words and nonsense, it is not unreasonable.
Tanchun was also aware of this, but she had no intention of breaking it, and immediately continued: "This matter was originally at a stalemate, but I didn't want him to be shy again when he heard that the empress was favored again in the palace recently.
I sent someone to deliver a letter saying that I will discuss marrying my second sister at the end of the year!"
"How dare he?!"
Lin Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun were both annoyed, but Yingchun and Xichun on the other side still showed no reaction.
Shi Xiangyun asked again: "What did uncle say?"
"The master was furious and said that he could not get married to such people no matter what, and then he handed over the matter of breaking off the engagement to Brother Lian."
Everyone here is thinking like a mirror. If Jia Lian can pay for it, how can he be attacked by Jia She's concubines and servants?
And besides spending money to eliminate the disaster, I'm afraid he can't think of any other way.
So when Jia Zheng handed over this matter to Jia Lian, he was probably trying to get Wang Xifeng's money - Jia She was the one who arranged this marriage, and now it makes perfect sense for the father to repay his debt to his son.
but……
Shi Xiangyun was a little confused for a moment: What did the third sister mean when she said that if the second brother Lian couldn't handle it, he would ask his master to come forward? The Jiao family couldn't be the one to provide the money, right?
Little did she know that Jia Lian could not be the master of the money in Wang Xifeng's hands, but Jiao Shun might not be the master of it.
Everyone gathered together, condemned Sun Shaozu for a while, and comforted Yingchun. Finally, the marriage was decided to be withdrawn.
Just as he was talking, another report came from outside, saying that it was Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin who had arrived.
Shi Xiangyun got up again to greet her. Since they were all here on Zijin Street and could see her from time to time, she was not very excited this time. She only complained half-truthfully: "Sister Bao is the same, so far away."
It’s close, but it’s later than you!”
Tanchun said with a smile: "That's easy to handle, just let them two drink three drinks as a penalty later!"
Everyone was chatting and laughing when they came to the front yard, where they met Baochai, and Baoqin was affectionate with her again.
After returning to the backyard, Xue Baochai first asked about the current situation of the old lady, Jia Zheng, Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, and the two sisters-in-law, and finally asked about Baoyu.
Tanchun and Yingchun exchanged glances, and before they could cover up a few words for Baoyu, Lin Daiyu on the opposite side sneered: "Second Master Bao is becoming more and more active. When Qian'er was studying in engineering, he ignored dozens of colleagues.
In my eyes, I followed Xiang Yun to the viewing platform, saying that I wanted to have a 'thousand-mile marriage' with Zhen Baoyu of the Zhen family in Jiangnan!"
In one sentence, the scene immediately became cold.
Shi Xiangyun hurriedly explained: "Sister Lin is talking about the telegraph machine, which is a new thing that our father just made..."
She vividly described the functions of the telegraph machine and what happened on the rostrum at that time, and then said: "Yesterday, the emperor specially held a court meeting for this purpose. Officials of the fourth rank and above in the capital participated, and our father also went...
"
Although the Queen Mother told the Emperor to take care of himself, how could Emperor Longyuan be able to hold it in?
On the afternoon of the first day of the Lunar New Year, an order was given to hold a court meeting the next day.
Speaking of which, this was the second time after the palace examination that the emperor took the initiative to appear in front of people. Compared with the first time, he was obviously more motivated this time, and the court meeting went as smoothly as Emperor Longyuan expected.
.
In the past, every time he wanted to implement a new deal, he would trigger collective opposition from the courtiers, but this time, except for a few who were forced to do so, most of the important ministers acquiesced to the promotion of wired telegraphy.
After all, the more senior you are in the center, the more you will realize the importance of this thing.
What's more, the emperor doesn't want to roll it out across the country at once, but plans to pilot it in Zhili first, set up a telegraph office in the province, and set up a telegraph office in the state capital - for the time being, it will only go to the state capital, and when it is officially rolled out,
Then add a telegraph station in the county.
The financial and people's resources required for the pilot project cannot be said to be insignificant compared to the convenience brought by telegraph, but it is definitely not a waste of people and money. What else is there to choose?
The most important thing is that Jiao Shun was not prepared to take control of this thing in his own hands, but publicly stated that this was the responsibility of the General Affairs Department, and the General Affairs Department should preside over the pilot, with the Ministry of Industry and Engineering co-organizing it.
You know, the General Administration Department was Leng Yamen as early as the Ming Dynasty.
In this dynasty, although they had a little bit of real power by presiding over the official newspaper, every issue of the newspaper was submitted to the emperor and the cabinet for review, so the so-called real power was actually just a mirror image.
It was like pie in the sky. Suddenly, there was a great opportunity to extend authority to the whole country. How could the Secretary of General Affairs miss it?
The general secretary was so happy that snot bubbled out of his nose. From then on, the emperor never asked him to speak. Anyone who had any ulterior motives would be sprayed back by him and his two deputies. How could this person in charge of a newspaper be so bad at debating?
This court meeting can be said to be the first time since the implementation of the New Deal that the emperor has experienced what it means to follow the rules and regulations. Not to mention the ease of it, it is as if he has once again regained the function of the lower third route.
Jiao Shun also shined in the court meeting. Correspondingly, after the court was over, the expressions of the high officials in the court looked at him with more solemnity and fear.
If he had to leave others alone, he would be worried that Mu Xiu would be destroyed by Lin Feng, but he was already like a rat crossing the street, everyone was shouting to beat him, and he didn't care whether he was attacked with more or less force.
The book returns to its true story.
However, Shi Xiangyun said that in order to change the topic and prevent Lin Daiyu from embarrassing Baochai any more, Shi Xiangyun deliberately added extravagant details to the plot.
Needless to say, Jia Tanchun listened leisurely and fascinated, and even Yingchun and Baoqin also listened very attentively.
Lin Daiyu was also listening, but she never paid much attention to these things, so she became distracted while listening.
Xichun, on the other hand, recited sutras secretly at some point and did not listen to these secular remarks at all.
As for Xue Baochai...
She listened carefully, but she couldn't help but be distracted.
Although Lin Daiyu just said a few words, it was enough for Baochai to complete in his mind Jia Baoyu's performance on the engineering school field.
So while listening to the story of Jiao Shun's dazzling skills that surpassed all heroes, he also imagined that Jia Baoyu went to engineering school and still clung to Shi Xiangyun and Lin Daiyu. He was not willing or dared to communicate with his colleagues, and his colleagues naturally ignored his embarrassment.
scene.
Xue Baochai had mixed feelings in her heart.
While waiting for Shi Xiangyun to bring out the Western pastries and mentioning that Jiao Shun specially ordered his favorite ice porridge, Baochai's complex emotions rose to unprecedented heights.
It doesn’t matter if he has talent, skill, ambition, and luck. How can he not be so compassionate towards his son and not have the tenderness and considerateness of his husband? Who wouldn’t envy the two combined?!
It happened that this man once discussed marriage with me, but in order to avoid risks, she missed him and chose Jia Baoyu instead...
()
Chapter completed!