The old man urged us again and again in his letters. As a son and daughter-in-law, if we still disobey the old man's will and refuse to go north, it would be somewhat unfilial.
Besides, the old man didn't harm them anyway.
The whole family is going north, what about the house on the side of Yanling Prefecture?
The whole family inside and outside the courtyard, hundreds of servants, how can there be no one in charge?
If it were Gu Yunzhen and his family who moved back to the capital, these servants could be sold or dispersed to the countryside, which would not be a bother.
But they just went back home for a visit and will return within half a year at most.
Either sell them off or get rid of them, but where can you buy these familiar things again when you come back?
Song Pan'er and Gu Yanwen have the same idea, none of the servants in the house want to disperse.
"Let Song Mama and Hai Tang take care of it..." Gu Yanwen gave Song Xiang'er an idea, "Aren't they usually the ones who help you?"
He only reads books and has nothing to do with the affairs of the inner and outer courts, the fields, or the shops. He naturally doesn't know about the difficulties in between.
Song Paner was very clear.
She shook her head: "You see Song Mama and Hai Tang are formidable, that's because I'm backing them up from behind. When I sit in the sedan chair, they two handle things, but there are always some idle chatter and gossip. If I weren't at home, neither of them would be the master, how could those cunning ones obey their management?"
Need to have a master to preside over.
Gu Yan thought of Hong Lian.
"Why don't we bring back Aunt Hong and have her take care of things at home for the time being..." Gu Yanwen said without thinking.
After he finished speaking, he felt a little regretful, with a hint of caution in his eyes.
Song Pan'er's heart was first chilled, but her face remained calm, and she rarely had a peaceful and calm demeanor. She explained to Gu Yanxin: "She is also a muddle-headed person, what can she take charge of? It's already fortunate that she doesn't cause trouble, and you still have expectations of her? Have you forgotten about Xiu Ge..."
"Right, right, I'm also confused. Shouldn't have brought it up." Gu Yan thought of Gu Xuanzhi's illness and hastily said.
Honglian denied it.
Song Pan'er's natal family brothers and sisters-in-law are not bad, but handing over the family property to outsiders would make Song Pan'er feel uncomfortable.
After all the calculations, it turns out that there is no one to entrust with this matter.
"When I return to the capital, I'll first act as a matchmaker for Xun's brother and get him married soon. That way, our household won't be left with no one to rely on." Song Huan'er sighed.
Gu Yanzhen just smiled and said yes, but in his heart he was thinking, Xiu Geer is not born from your belly after all. Are you at ease with this daughter-in-law of yours?
The couple discussed for half a day and still couldn't come up with a solution.
It was almost evening when Gu Jing's sister and brother came over to pay their respects.
Song Pan'er then told them about her decision to go to Beijing.
Then he said to Gu Jin, "Mother, this courtyard, your two brothers' courtyards, and your father's outer study, all need to be managed by you. I'm afraid it will be too busy for you. As for the matters in your own courtyard, I'll leave them all to you. Who to take with you, who to leave behind to watch the door, it's all up to you. Collect what needs to be collected, bring what needs to be brought, and just hand over the account book to me."
Gu Jinzhi agreed.
This decision is a bit sudden.
She agreed first, then asked: "Why don't we wait until next spring when the ice river thaws before heading north? It's not convenient to travel during this cold winter month, and it's also near the New Year."
"It's just because of your Third Brother's big happy day. Your grandfather specially wrote a letter, asking us to go back." Song Pan'er said, "I checked the Yellow Calendar. The 20th is suitable for traveling, and if we hurry on the road, we can make it to the capital by New Year's Eve."
Gu Jin smiled and didn't say anything else.
She knew her mother was optimistic.
They can rush to the capital by the end of the first month, depending on the weather along the way. It's impossible before New Year's Eve.
The farther north you go, the more wind and snow there is in December; those who have come to the capital to report for duty, those from the southern villages who are bringing New Year's gifts to their masters, and officials from other parts of the country hurrying back home for the New Year. The roads will be crowded with carts, horses, and boats, making travel by water or land very difficult.
It's absolutely impossible to arrive before New Year's Eve.
After everyone finished dinner and dispersed, Song Pan'er stayed behind to talk to Gu Jinzhi.
"...Your grandfather sent two letters by express, urging us to go to the capital." She handed the letter to Gu Jinzhi, "Today is already the 15th, and we will set out on the 20th. The time is very pressing."
"Tomorrow, put your homework aside for a while and arrange everything in the yard properly. We can't delay it. On the 18th and 19th, we need to bid farewell to our relatives and neighbors, so that outsiders won't know the reason and make wild guesses."
Song Pan'er didn't want outsiders to say anything bad about her.
Gu Jinzhi's gaze fell on his grandfather's letter and remained there for a long time without moving.
Two short letters with almost identical content, yet she read them for a long time.
She has been following her grandfather reading books for two years and understands her grandfather better than anyone else in the family.
Her grandfather's handwriting, she was even more familiar with it.
From his grandfather's handwriting, it can be seen that when he wrote, his mood was very unpeaceful, and even a bit impatient, the subtleties of the characters all came out.
Gu Jin thought of his grandfather hurrying to Beijing again.
The capital is indeed in turmoil.
In a moment, Gu Jing's talent and mind turned around, smiling at his mother: "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
Song Pan'er gently patted her hand.
Going to Beijing, and it's a family trip, the time is also rushed, Song Dandan still needs to leave two days to visit relatives and friends, and send New Year's gifts in advance.
The whole family is busy as can be.
Gu Jinzhou's courtyard didn't have much suspense.
Niú Qiǎo's face was ruined and she is still recovering, it is impossible for her to follow Gu Jǐn Zhī. Even if she hadn't ruined her face, Gu Jǐn Zhī wasn't planning on bringing her along anyway. Niú Qiǎo has a strong personality that can keep the people in the courtyard in line, once Gu Jǐn Zhī leaves, the courtyard will need someone like Niú Qiǎo even more.
Wishing mom a long life, having seen many things in the world, she will be able to take care of Gu Jing on the road, and she will definitely go with Gu Jing.
Also bring two senior maidservants.
Zhilan, Youhe and Weiruo, it's a bit hard to choose among them.
"Miss, I'll stay behind and keep Niur company." said Zhiluo.
She and Niurong have a deeper relationship.
Gu Jinzhi agreed.
What's left, apart from a few books, what to bring and what to put away, will all be taken care of by Zhu Mama, Gu Jinzhi won't bother with it anymore.
On his mother's side, with Song Mama and Haitang, things were done quickly and efficiently, even faster than Gu Jingzhou.
As for how to take care of the courtyard, Song Pan'er also thought of a way.
Zhuangzi and Puzi's accounts were managed by their respective accountants, who didn't settle the accounts before the new year. They would wait for Song Dantou to return before dealing with it.
Family matters are also separate.
Each courtyard has a small kitchen. After dividing the firewood, rice, oil and salt, each room eats and lives separately, with no connection to each other. Each courtyard has a person in charge, and everything is done according to the instructions of the person in charge of each courtyard.
Also please greet Auntie Song and Manager Sun Yutang, and take care of the matters of the mansion.
Such an arrangement is also Song Paner's careful consideration.
Gu Jizhen thought of the contract responsibility system of later generations...
Divide things in the government into blocks, specifically to each courtyard. The person in charge only takes care of a few people in their own small courtyard, which is indeed easier.
Her mother excelled in personnel management.
After dealing with family matters quickly and effectively, Song Pan'er took the whole family to visit the Song family for the New Year's gift.
Mrs. Song set up a table of wine and food for them to see off.
Second Brother Song Yanzhao heard that Gu Jingzhi was going to leave. He quietly pulled her sleeve, letting her follow him to the courtyard to talk.
Gu Jinzhi got up and followed him out the door.
Mrs. Song saw it but pretended she didn't know.
Everyone just pretended they didn't see it.
Song Yanzhao gave a wooden monkey carved from sandalwood to Gu Jinzhi: "...... During the Lantern Festival, we chatted and laughed. You said you liked wood carvings. I thought you were born in the year of the monkey, so I wanted to learn wood carving to make a birthday gift for you. Who knew it was so difficult to learn? The teacher's lessons are also tight, and after a year of hard work, I only managed to make this one......"
He actually did many of them.
He learns things with great talent.
It was already made in April and I was preparing to give it to Gu Jinzhi.
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he felt they weren't perfect yet and needed further refinement.
Carved and carved... until it was all carved away...
Had no choice but to redo it again.
After all, this was his first gift to Gu Jinzhi.
If she accepted it, then consider it as accepting his heartfelt intention.
So he wanted to say something a few days ago but stopped himself, always wanting to give something to Gu Jinzhi, and then didn't say anything, making everyone watch.
Song Yan Zhao was very nervous at this moment. He handed the wooden carving in front of Gu Jin.
The sunlight in winter is sparse, and a faint chill flows from his fingers.
He didn't notice himself, but his fingers were still shaking slightly, unsure if it was from tension or cold...
Gu Jin burst out laughing, wrapped his palm around it, wrapped the wooden carving in his own palm, and then pushed his hand back.
"You don't know, I can smell the fragrance of sandalwood?" She lied and said, "I'm really a monkey, but I just can't stand the appearance of monkeys! Your intention has been conveyed, I'm very grateful, thank you Second Brother."
Then he took two steps back, clasped his hands together in front of him and bowed to him.
"It's too cold outside, I just had a hot meal and don't want to catch a chill. I'll head back first." Gu Jinzhi said with a smile, turning around to leave.
Decisive and resolute, without any hesitation for fear of hurting Song Yan's feelings.
Song Yan Zhao stood there, frozen for a long time without moving his feet.
The monkey carved from sandalwood in his hand pricked his palm.
He could understand Gu Jinzhi's meaning.
Gu Jing refused him.
His eyes were slightly dim.
The banquet finally dispersed, and Gu Jin followed his parents home, behaving as usual, without any unusual behavior.
Song Yan Zhao never came back again.
Song Pan'er looked at him, not saying a word, afraid that Gu Jin would originally not understand these things and instead be led astray by her own words.
Mrs. Song felt a little heartache on her side.
"Ji Jie is a good daughter-in-law, not that kind of cunning and deceitful person, but also not stupid. She's quiet and taciturn, understanding in her heart, originally a pretty good one." Song Daitai whispered to Sun Mamam beside her, "But Xiang'er, this lady always wants to be the best at everything, I really can't stand being relatives with her."
"Miss Bai didn't mean it that way." Mrs. Sun said with a smile, "Miss Bai probably knows that Second Master will take the imperial examination next year, and she hasn't delayed him..."
Although she didn't like this marriage, her own son was rejected, and Mrs. Song wasn't happy about it.
Her mother's words made her feel even more uncomfortable.
She silently poured tea and drank it.
Sun's mother also regretted saying the wrong thing and stood awkwardly aside.
These, Song Pan'er did not know.
She has already been excluded from her choice of son-in-law by the children of the Song family.
On December 19th, the day before departure, Song Pan'er took Gu Jinzhi to visit ** Princess again.
The princess heard that they were going to the capital, and smiled: "So coincidental? Mr. Chen is also going, and it's settled that he will set off in these few days too. You can all travel together and keep each other company on the road."
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