"Husband is a weird person."
"En?"
Snowflakes were falling. The couple stood on both sides of the pillar, looking at the surrounding courtyard. Turning her head, Su Tan 'er lowered her head slightly as a smile appeared on her face.
"Actually … it's not that Husband is weird. When I was young, Tan'er also liked to stand here and watch. Husband, did you notice? This is the best view. " She pointed to the distance, "Look, that's the courtyard where Father and Mother live … Second Aunt's … Grandfather's is slightly blocked … Third Uncle's is over there … That lantern should be Wenying's group walking …"
Under the dim light of the night, the areas of the Su Residence were clearly divided under Su Tan 'er's guidance. There were also various figures walking in the courtyard with lanterns in their hands. Su Tan' er pointed them out one by one with ease and familiarity. After a while, he thought for a while.
"When I was young, I didn't live here, but I often liked to play here. I sat here and looked around. When the wet nurse couldn't find me, she knew to come here to look for me. When I saw the wet nurse coming, I often hid here. Hehe, I hid in the same place every time. The wet nurse was stupid. Once, I hid in another place, but she couldn't find me. She called for me outside for a long time … "
"Every time the wet nurse came to find me, she said it was windy up there, or that it was time to eat. Husband probably didn't expect that I was very healthy when I was young. I didn't get sick at all when I was exposed to the wind. I liked to run around like a boy, chasing and fighting. But later, they stopped playing with me. As for eating, why do I eat? Sometimes, I don't feel hungry. I asked the wet nurse, but the wet nurse didn't know. Heh, when Mother gave birth to me, Father said he wanted a boy to inherit the family business. But I gave birth to a girl. Father said it was good to have a young lady. In fact, I don't look like a young lady … "
She raised her chin and smiled, but there was no shadow in her smile. At this time, even though she was not very knowledgeable, whether it was her appearance or behavior, at least in the aspect of "looking like a lady from a noble family", there was no problem.
"So, later on … Well, later on, when I could choose my own courtyard, I moved here with Xiaochan and the others. Husband might not know this, but when I dared to move in, I lived in this room because I had a better view. But … later on, they moved there. Do you know why, my dear husband? "
"You can't see others, but they can't see you either, right?"
Ning Yi answered casually. Su Tan'er was silent for a while. "Husband, did you have any ideals or ambitions in the past?"
"I …" Ning Yi thought about something that happened a long time ago. "I want to build a house."
"Huh?" This answer obviously surprised Su Tan'er. After a while, she said, "Building a house? Like … masons? "
"Haha." Ning Yi looked up and laughed. "Yes, masons, masons and so on … Well, something like that."
"I've never thought about it …" Su Tan'er murmured. Ning Yi tapped his fingers on the railing a few times, then took out a washed century egg and handed it to her through the wooden pillar. "By the way, try it."
"Duck egg?"
It was snowing, so the light coming from the corridor below was still quite bright. However, it was not possible to distinguish the different stripes on the shell of the duck egg. Su Tan'er did not mind. She took the duck egg and gently tapped it on the railing a few times. She reached out and slowly peeled the shell. After peeling a few pieces, she stopped.
"When I … when I was young, I actually wanted to be an entertainer … Oh, of course, that's all. My family invited an entertainer to perform every year. When I was young, it was so magical. I always thought that if I learned it, I might be able to fly into the sky and become an immortal. Later on, I also learned some, just like what that * * * taught Xiaochan. Husband, look …"
She stretched out her left hand. Her wrist was sparkling in the snowflakes, as if it was about to shine. Her slender fingers pinched a few pieces of eggshell that she had just peeled off. Then, she gently rubbed her fingers, and the fluorescent dust fell from her fingertips like thin threads. It was magical and magnificent. This was probably a secret recipe that she learned from some entertainers. After the performance, she laughed softly, a little happy.
"But of course, Father and Mother would not allow me to be an entertainer. When I was too young, there were some things that I could not feel. Gradually, as I grew up, I realized that Father and Mother were a little unhappy. Father wanted a son, but even after marrying two concubines, he still could not give me a younger brother or sister. Sometimes, of course, Father would … of course, feel … "
Perhaps because it was a little difficult to say this, Su Tan'er paused for a long time before taking a deep breath. "Anyway … from then on, I felt very strange … Why can't girls inherit the family business? They obviously did not do as well as I did. Even if I went to school to learn poetry and arithmetic, I still dressed up as a boy … Of course, I would be seen through, but no matter what, I would not go out. I would not beat or scold them. I would sit there and listen to the class until the end. Fortunately, it was a school opened by our family. Later, Grandfather also said … So now, Xiao Qi and the other girls can go to school to listen to class, it is also because of my stubbornness …"
As she spoke, she slowly peeled the eggshell. At this time, she smiled slightly. Then, as if she had discovered something, she made a sound of surprise. She raised the half-peeled century egg. The amber egg white and the patterns in it reflected the light below.
Ning Yi turned around and leaned against the railing. "Century egg, you can eat it."
"En?"
She had never seen a duck egg like this before. Su Tan'er thought about it, then brought the century egg to her mouth, took a bite, and then returned to the main topic.
"I know that Husband may not like to hear these words. Men don't like to hear these things from women. I never tell others, but I feel that … these must be said to Husband, even if Husband doesn't like it … Tan'er also wants to say that Tan'er is not an arbitrary, domineering, and overbearing woman. After being with Husband for half a year, I feel that Husband's personality may be able to listen to these strange thoughts. In the future, Tan'er does want to … want to manage the Su family well, but it is only this kind of feeling. Tan'er and Husband are husband and wife, and we have a promise to grow old together. Tan'er doesn't want Husband to be like them, to have too many grudges against me … if … if … "
She tried hard to choose her words. Ning Yi smiled. "If I really run to be a mason."
Su Tan'er thought about it and said with a smile, "I also want to be a juggler."
"Oh, actually …" Ning Yi took out a folded piece of rice paper from his arms, waved it in the air a few times, and handed it to Su Tan'er. "Look at this."
There was not enough light, so there were some strange pictures drawn on the rice paper with a brush, and then there were some vague patterns. Su Tan'er looked at Ning Yi with a little doubt, and then she picked up the drawing and looked at it carefully in the dim light …
The various objects on the rice paper looked a little strange, and there were some lines and words in many places that she couldn't understand at all, but it was somewhat similar to the Persian and Hu languages of the West. After looking at it for a while, Su Tan'er admitted that she couldn't understand it. She raised her head and said, "Husband, is this … investigating objects?" Maybe she couldn't understand the drawing, but she could more or less guess what kind of category it belonged to. In the family, silk weaving started from the beginning, so she had seen many drawings of looms and so on. It was difficult to tell which one was more complicated.
In this era of Confucianism, people were more important than investigating objects. Su Tan'er had never thought that her Husband, who was usually indifferent and had many puzzling behaviors, was actually seriously studying these things. In fact, there were also people in the Su family who specialized in the improvement of looms, but they were basically used as maintenance workers. Craftsmen and craftsmen indeed had a low status in this society. Even if it was exaggerated a little with the name "investigating objects", others wouldn't understand. Although many years later, the so-called understanding of things to gain knowledge was understood to be the aspect of physics contained in Confucianism, in this era, the real so-called understanding of things did not have much to do with this. They explored the internal laws of things in the direction of philosophy of life. If it was developed in the direction of physics, it would be considered a strange and obscene technique, which people despised.
However, as a businesswoman who could understand the value of craftsmen, Su Tan'er obviously didn't have any prejudice about this matter. Ning Yi smiled. "I do it when I'm bored. I don't know if there will be any results in two or three years …"
Su Tan'er said, "Actually, there are a few old craftsmen in the family who have some experience in these things, but …" She didn't discriminate against these things, but after all, craftsmen had a low status. If this Husband went to talk to them all day, even if those old craftsmen were more respected in the Su family, Ning Yi would obviously be criticized. At this moment, she wanted to say something but stopped. Fortunately, Ning Yi also shook his head.
"It's not urgent. I just like to think about it when I'm free."
"I wonder, what are you going to do with these paintings, my husband?"
Ning Yi paused for a moment. "For food. It's hard to say now."
He looked at the object in Su Tan'er's hand. Su Tan'er also noticed it and then reacted. She looked at the half-eaten century egg. "Could it be … this is also Husband's …"
"Yup, basically."
Su Tan'er was stunned for a while. Then, she put the half-eaten century egg into her mouth, chewed it slowly, and swallowed it. Ning Yi looked at the courtyard in the distance. Su Tan'er's hands were on the railing and her head was lowered. No one knew what she was thinking. After a long time, she smiled quietly. The smile seemed to be a little enlightened, but it also seemed that she felt that she had done something unnecessary.
"Actually, Husband already knew what Tan'er was going to say, right?"
After a while, Ning Yi nodded. "I can roughly guess."
"Husband is not a bookworm."
"Heh …"
"Husband's story in the school has a deeper meaning."
"That was indeed said casually."
Su Tan'er ignored him. She looked into the distance and continued, "Shui Diao Ge Tou was not said by a Taoist."
"…"
"Husband is a talented and learned person."
"Ahem, I really didn't …"
Su Tan'er was sure of something in her heart. At this time, she was already talking to herself. After a while, she turned her head and looked at him. This time, she was probably asking a question. "However, Husband was in the He Mansion that day. Did he really see through the He Family's thoughts and guess what happened to the Xue family?"
Ning Yi looked at her for a few seconds. "If I said yes, would you believe me?"
"Then Husband was born with knowledge, and Tan'er's experience over these years is completely useless …"
Su Tan'er wrinkled her nose and smiled brightly. Obviously, she had found the answer. On this point, she was actually very confident. This confidence actually had a basis. In fact, Ning Yi's guess was not really correct. He just happened to collide with He Family's thoughts because of some incomplete information. Since Su Tan'er could think like this, Ning Yi naturally didn't need to explain anything.
"Husband is a strange person." She concluded.
"So is my wife."
"Hehe." Su Tan'er smiled happily. "Don't worry, Tan'er."
The snow fell silently, covering the entire Jiangning City. In this chaotic world, the sound of laughter was like a yellow window that was quietly opened in a corner. It was gently closed in by this world.
In the winter of the seventh year of Jinghan in the Wu Dynasty, time was like a meaningful painting. In the heavy snow, it was fragrant and peaceful.
*****
In the courtyard where Song Mao was.
The light in the room flickered. The light and shadow on the window lattice swayed slightly. A young man had come in to pay his respects. On one side of the room, a middle-aged man with an honest and upright appearance sat at a table. As he wrote, he casually chatted with the other party. As for what he said, it was likely that not a single word entered his mind.
Su Wenxing didn't dare to question his uncle. At this time, he could only say some words, hoping that his uncle would give him an answer.
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of a bell came from afar. Song Mao put down his brush, raised his head, and pressed the Xuan paper.
"This post is not finished. I'll write it after I come back." He stood up with a smile and turned to look at his absent-minded nephew. Then, he walked over and was silent for a while. "Wenxing, how difficult do you think it is to defeat your sister Tan'er and take charge of the Su family?"
Su Wenxing's mind was originally thinking about Ning Yi, but when he heard this question, he still thought about it seriously. "I dare not lie to uncle. Sister Tan'er, she … is indeed outstanding. If she really takes charge of the first branch, your nephew … has no confidence at all …"
It was a bit difficult to say these words, but it was obviously the most important thing to be honest in front of his uncle. After Su Wenxing finished speaking, Song Mao shook his head and patted him on the shoulder. "You think too much. There is one thing you should never forget. Your sister Tan'er, she is only a woman."
"I … I understand. But what she did, it is indeed …"
"You guys, why do you always want to defeat her?" Song Mao smiled. "Now, the Su family has always been headed by Great Grandfather. Even if Great Grandfather passed away, there are still Great Grandfather's brothers. Even if they are from the side branches, they still have the right to speak. You have to think, if Su Tan'er really takes charge of the Su family and really takes charge, she will suffer the most pressure from the outside world because of her identity as a woman. Great Grandfather gave her a chance and let her manage things, but after all, she is still under your uncle's protection. Do you think the pressure she will suffer in the Su family or the pressure she will suffer in the outside world when she takes charge of the Su family in the future? "
Su Wenxing was confused. "Uncle, you mean …"
"Ha, you … don't need to surpass her in ability, nor do you need to defeat her in business. As long as she can't safely take over the Su family, swallow up your second branch and third branch, or directly suppress your second branch and third branch. This, is to break the deadlock. At the end of the day, she is just a woman. Her ability has to be dozens of times higher than yours to be able to do what you can do. You just need to maintain the status quo. If she can't take down the second branch and third branch, and can only maintain the first branch, then Great Grandfather will never hand the family over to her. Because as a woman, she can't take care of the Su family just like that. Wenxing, will your second branch and third branch obediently let her swallow you up? "
Su Wenxing had already understood. At this moment, he was a little excited. "How, how is that possible? How can we sit and wait for death!" This was simply a battle that could be won by sitting down.
"Your father understands this principle, and so does your third uncle. But they won't say it to you, because they are afraid that you children will lose your fighting spirit. Now that you understand the principle, don't spread it. You still have to do what you should do with all your effort, understand? "Song Mao patted his shoulder." Let's go, accompany uncle to reminisce with your father and mother. "
"Okay." Su Wenxing nodded. Just as he was about to follow, he remembered something. "But uncle, what about Ning Yi … He is Sister Tan Er's husband. If he wants to make trouble for her, isn't this the best opportunity?"
"This matter …" Song Mao walked to the side, picked up the cold hangover tea, and took a sip. He was thinking about the words in his mind. A person who can talk and laugh with people like Qin Siyuan and Kang Xian, regardless of whether he is talented or not, is not someone that a little boy like you can get along with? Years of experience in the officialdom made him automatically filter out some things. He never wanted to say harsh words. But looking back at this nephew, he remembered that after all these years, after all, he had some true feelings for him. He still sighed.
"This matter … can be handled by others, but I want you, Wenxing, to stay out of it. No matter whether Ning Yi is talented or not, you must remember this matter." He paused, and said the sentence that he most didn't want to say tonight, "… In case you embarrass yourself."
*****
At night, there was thunder and lightning, and the entire neighborhood stopped working. I almost ran to the internet cafe. Luckily, the electricity came, and I was finally able to finish this chapter. Oh right, before the blackout, I did something super cool. After the first flash outside, I decisively pressed the save button of Word. Three seconds later, everything went black. As expected, I have accumulated enough karma recently. The path of utmost sincerity can be foretold. I am about to achieve enlightenment and become a real Banana Demon King ^ _ ^
Seeing that this chapter has been so bumpy, please vote for Sanjiang and recommend it. Thank you ^ _ ^
P.S.: Thank you, Canghai Longhorn 5779, for the first chief of our "Drafted Son-in-law" has appeared.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
