In the end, Shi Quanbin and Xiao Huangmen brought a blooming peony, which was packed in a box like a treasure, and brought it back to the palace with joy. As for letting Sun Qilang help the palace build a conservatory, the palace itself has to discuss with Wang Su.

If it is another ordinary minister's family, Wang Su is the son of Wang Dan, the prime minister of the previous dynasty, and the emperor has to give some face, and the servants who have no identity and no face are embarrassed to talk about it. Wang Dan deliberately arranged to deal with Ding Wei at the last moment of his life, and now the ministers in the court, from Wang Zeng and Lu Yijian down, I don't know how many people have received Wang Dan's favor.

Before he knew it, it was the last day of the long holiday, Xu Ping was so busy that he missed the days when he didn't have a holiday.

Early in the morning, Xu Chang came over excitedly and told Xu Ping: "Da Lang, Xiuxiu has brought his younger brother to the house!" ”

Xu Ping was breathing in the fresh air of the morning in the courtyard, and said busily: "Oh, I haven't seen her for a few days, you can bring them in and bring them directly to the living room." ”

Seeing Xu Chang go out, Xu Ping took a few breaths of cold air, only to feel refreshed, and turned back to the living room.

Lin Suniang was sitting in the hall, and when she saw Xu Ping coming in, she asked with a smile: "Seeing that you are full of joy, what is the joy?" ”

Xu Ping sat down and said to Lin Suniang: "Xu Chang came in just now and said that Xiuxiu brought his younger brother over. One is that we moved to a new house, let her recognize the door, and another her brother Huzi is fourteen years old this year, I told Gao Ruone, who is in charge of the Guozi Prison, to let Huzi enter the Guozi Prison to study. There are few people in our family, if it is another family, not to mention our own family, there are several officials with foreign surnames. After a few years, if Huzi can read and get into it, it is the best to take the test for fame, but if he can't do it, he will give him an official position on his body, which is also the way out. ”

Lin Suniang smiled: "Da Lang is really good to Xiuxiu, and he plans everything for her." ”

"Xiuxiu has followed me since I was seven or eight years old, and even Lingnan has followed her, which is not comparable to ordinary people, just like our own people in our family. These things should naturally be planned for her. ”

Lin Suniang smiled reluctantly and did not answer.

Xiuxiu has been away from the Xu family for a few months, although Lin Suniang has asked a few times, but Xiuxiu herself has never talked about marriage, so she has to wait for a year or two. According to Xiuxiu, he waited for his younger brother to become an adult, and he didn't go out until his younger brother got married. But in Lin Suniang's heart, Xiuxiu didn't get married for a day, and she felt a little uncomfortable in her heart.

Such a little girl who has been by Xu Ping's side for many years, no matter how much the two of them are nothing, they are like concubines, and no one in the Xu family treats Xiuxiu as an ordinary subordinate. No matter how generous Lin Suniang is, it is impossible to sit back and watch another woman by her husband's side, and she has been looking forward to Xiuxiu getting married soon.

After a while, Xiuxiu came in with her younger brother, gave Xu Ping and Lin Suniang a salute, and said to the younger brother beside her: "Hurry up and give the official and the lady a courtesy, don't lose the courtesy." ”

Huzi saw the salute, Xu Ping looked at Xiuxiu and said: "These days when I go home, Xiuxiu is really cheerful, and I don't have a bitter face every day like at home." If you don't know, you still think how much you have suffered at home. ”

Xiuxiu said: "What the officials say, we have all relied on our families to live all these years, and we don't know." ”

After speaking, Xiuxiu said again: "Huzi is here to chat with the official and his wife, and I will go to meet the staff and Mrs. Tai." ”

Lin Suniang smiled: "Go, my mother-in-law is chattering from time to time these days, and Xiuxiu doesn't know how she is doing at home." ”

Xiuxiu instructed her younger brother a few words, then went out of the hall door, and was taken by the little girl Huan Cui'er to Xu Ping's parents' courtyard.

Xiuxiu went out, Xu Ping asked Huzi: "Tomorrow I will take you to Guozijian to officially enter the school." The people in the country are all literate people, and they can't be compared with the days in the countryside before, so you should be more vigilant. ”

Huzi replied cautiously: "I keep the official's lesson in my heart." ”

Xu Ping nodded: "By the way, you must have an official name to officially enter the school, did your family give it to you?" ”

Huzi was a little embarrassed: "No, the eldest sister said that the official is a first-class jinshi, and there are few people who can compare with the knowledge, waiting for the official to name me." ”

Xu Ping and Lin Suniang glanced at each other and laughed together: "Xiuxiu will lose people when she goes home these days." ”

After thinking for a while, Xu Ping said to Huzi: "Your milk name is Tiger, Tiger follows the wind, and its sex is fierce, so let's call Ren Fenglie." ”

"Ren Fenglie?" Huzi read it a few times by himself, and happily saluted Xu Parallel: "Thank you, official!" ”

Xu Ping called Huzi in front of him and carefully asked him what books he had read over the years and how many words he recognized. It's a little embarrassing to ask about these tigers, he usually learns a few words with Mr. Zhuangli, and he hasn't read much of the serious classics.

But it doesn't matter, at this time, the Guozijian was not very prosperous, there were less than 100 students, and there were many people who took leave and disappeared all year round. As long as the sweet-mouthed person is diligent, he can still mix in there.

Guozijian recruits the children of middle- and lower-level officials, as well as talented people among the common people. That being said, in fact, most of the people in the Guozijian are the children of low-level eight- and nine-rank petty officials, and the children of civilians are more introduced by officials. There are naturally talented and learned people, such as Ouyang Xiu, who was promoted by Xu Yanbao, but most of them were recommended by officials to their relatives and friends.

The reason why Xu Ping recommended Huzi to enter the country at this time was because the provincial examination and the palace examination would be held in the next year, and a new Jinshi would be produced.

Because it is relatively easy for Guozijian to be relieved, every year of tribute, the number of students of Guozijian will suddenly increase dramatically, snatching the status of tribute bearers who are not easy to get in the state and county. And after the release test, the Guozijian will be deserted again, sometimes as few as a few dozen. Although many people do not like this kind of periodic student enrollment, they have been accustomed to it for many years.

After a while, Xiuxiu came back from Xu Zheng and his wife, and her face was full of joy.

As soon as she entered the door, Xiuxiu raised her hand to show Xu Ping and Lin Suniang: "Mrs. Tai rewarded me with a pair of gold bracelets." ”

Lin Su Niang said: "Mrs. Tai's mind, you put it away." ”

Xu Ping sighed a little, in a few months, Xiuxiu has really grown up. She came in as if she was boasting, but in fact, she was telling herself and Lin Suniang what reward she had received from her parents, so as not to cause gossip. In the past, when Xu Ping was by his side, everything was protected by Xu Ping, but Xiuxiu didn't have these careful thoughts at all, but now it's different.

When Huzi saw Xiuxiu by his side, he whispered to her happily: "Sister, the official gave me a name." ”

Xiuxiu said happily: "What's it called?" ”

"It's called Ren Fenglie, the tiger is from the wind, and the sex is fierce, so it's called Ren Fenglie."

Xiuxiu smiled: "Good name." I told you a long time ago that officials are learned people, and of course they can choose good names. ”

After speaking, Xiuxiu said to Lin Suniang again: "The official named my brother, and my wife will also give me an official name." Now that I'm no longer at home, I can't call Xiuxiu for the rest of my life. ”

used to be young, and it was nothing to call Xiuxiu by this milk name. But this is a cheap name in the end, out of the Xu family, it is no longer the identity of a maidservant, and it is not appropriate to call it like this again. If it's just an ordinary peasant girl, it's nothing to call Ah Ren, but Xiuxiu is a literate person after all, so it seems too cheesy to call it like this.

Lin Suniang thought for a while, and said to Xiuxiu with a smile: "Let's call Ren Yingnan, you have been to Lingnan with the officials." ”

"Thank you, ma'am." Xiuxiu smiled and thanked him.

Even if it is a woman, most of the official names are more neutral according to the customs of this time, or they are dignified and virtuous. What is coquettish, charming, or superimposed names, when you hear it, it has the meaning of entertaining people, and it is easy to be mistaken for a dusty woman or a slave concubine. For example, Li Qingzhao, who left his name for future generations, has a dignified official name, while names like Li Shishi and Qian Tao know their identities as soon as they hear them. Xiuxiu is an adult, so naturally she should have her own official name.

After saying these gossips, Xu Ping said to Xiuxiu on a whim: "You came just in time today, the peony in the greenhouse in the house is just in full bloom, go, I'll lead you to have a look." ”

After saying that, he got up and walked towards the door.

Lin Suniang had no choice but to stand up and take Xiuxiu and Huzi to the back garden.

In the verandah of the back garden, several peonies are in full bloom, and the huge flowers are brilliant in the sun. Especially in this deep winter season, there are dead branches and fallen leaves all around, and this flower is even more graceful and luxurious, worthy of the king of flowers.

Xu Ping said: "Xiuxiu, is this flower good-looking?" ”

"Beautiful!"

"Do you like it?"

Xiuxiu said with a smile: "Official, we were still in Lingnan at this time last year, and there were many flowers blooming there in winter." I still remember the tweed of Lingnan, and this is not unusual. Maybe in a few years, I will remember all the things in Lingnan, and I will feel how amazing this flower is. Now, it's just an ordinary flower. ”

Xu Ping looked at the peonies, and sighed after a while: "Yes, Lingnan is full of flowers all year round, so when I think about it, this peony is nothing." ”

Speaking of which, there is some interest.

Lin Suniang stood beside Xu Ping and said softly: "I haven't been to Lingnan, I don't know what Lingnan is like." In the cold weather of winter, it is a great sight for a few peonies to bloom. ”

After standing in the back garden for a while, Xu Ping suddenly asked Xiuxiu: "Xiuxiu, do you think it's better to have a good time at home, or a better time to go back to your own home?" ”

Xiuxiu said: "It's all good." I didn't think it when I was a child, but when I grew up and thought about it, I had never suffered anything by the side of officials, where could anyone meet such a master? ”

After Xiuxiu finished speaking, seeing that the scene was a little embarrassed for a while, she smiled and said to her younger brother Huzi: "You are here to chat with the official and the lady, you have to talk well, I will go to the brothers and sisters of previous years to say a few words." ”

Xiuxiu was just about to leave, but Lin Suniang suddenly spoke: "Xiuxiu, don't go back at night, Su'er will let you come to her house as a guest." How many years of your sisters, she thinks you're going crazy. ”

Xiuxiu nodded, stood in place for a while, went out of the back garden, and went to talk to Yahuan, who was also in the Xu family. (To be continued.) )