Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan

Chapter 231: Momo Chang and Her Affairs (4)

Translator: Iris

The level of education popularization in the ancient times was very low, unlike the modern times when the advertisements of the home tutors was put up everywhere. Therefore, it was difficult for the outsiders to know which tutor taught well. Take Sir Zhuang as an example, that man lived just like a hermit. He lived in a small alley where there weren’t any number plates. Sheng Hong had taken great pains to discover Sir Zhuang and racked his brain to invite the latter to Prefecture Deng.

Minglan pondered for a while and then nodded, “I can ask my Eldest Brother to help find a tutor. Still, it depends on Nian’s own luck.”

She already understood Momo Chang’s intention, but was not unwilling to help. Even in the modern time, the parents would do anything to let their children get better education.

Momo Chang, fingers trembling, murmured something excitedly. Minglan smiled and said gently, “How about I set a theme for Nian? After he writes an article, I’ll take it to my eldest brother to check. Then we’ll see what my brother will do. Is that OK?”

Momo Chang said hesitantly, “Now? Can we let him write the article back in our home?”

For the first time, little Chang Nian seemed a bit anxious. He said in a hurry, “It doesn’t matter. I can write it right now.”

Minglan smiled to him. Then she thought for a second and said, “Through the understanding of everything in the world, one could acquire knowledge. After acquiring knowledge, one could be sincere. After getting sincere, one could gain integrity. After gaining integrity, one could cultivate his mind. After cultivating the mind, one could manage his family well. After managing his family well, one could rule a country well. At last, all would be at peace. Here is your theme. Is half an hour enough?”

With redness flashing on Chang Nina’s slightly swarthy face, he bowed to Minglan respectfully and said, “Accepted, Madam.”

Minglan was in a good mood right now. Having stayed in this age when women were always discriminated for too long, sometimes even she began to question her intelligence. She raised her voice slightly and said, “Danju, bring Nian to my desk. Grind the ink for him.”

Danju stepped forward smilingly and led Chang Nian to another room.

This surprise test was meant to examine not only Chang Nian’s calligraphy and basic writing skills, but also his psychological quality. If he could write an article which could impress Changbai, then this boy really was a diamond. It was not a bad thing to draw a talented student over to Sheng family. Perhaps Chang Nian could be of great help to Sheng family in the official circles.

Even if Chang Nian’s article wasn’t that good, it was still not a big problem for Changbai to find a school which was better than the country school.

During the next period of time, Momo Chang couldn’t sit still anymore and kept looking to the outside. Chang Hu shi didn’t dare to speak anything because every time she opened her mouth, Momo Chang would glower at her fiercely. In the meantime, Momo Chang only mumbled disconnected phrases, which showed clearly that she was out of form now.

Minglan wasn’t in a hurry to talk to them and only uttered a few words from time to time smilingly. At this point, Gu Tingye finally came back.

He strode into the hall without even changing his court robe. The moment his tall figure appeared by the door, Momo Chang stood up right away and shouted in a joyful voice, “Master Ye!”

“Momo, sit down please!” Gu Tingye took large and firm steps into the hall. After he helped Momo Chang to sit down, Minglan let Gu Tingye sit on her seat at once in order to let him sit close to Momo Chang. Then she came to sit on the other side.

Chang Hu shi brought her daughter and Rong to give obeisance to Gu Tingye. After they stood straight, Chang Yan secretly glanced at Gu Tingye with redness on her face. However, Gu Tingye seemed to dislike her and only nodded to Chang Hu shi slightly. After that, he turned his head to talk to Momo Chang.

“Master Ye, you seem more energetic than before!” Momo Chang touched Gu Tingye’s sleeves while sizing him up with tears in her eyes, saying, “Great, that’s great. After you got married, you have to consider yourself an adult. Be good!”

Gu Tingye gave out a complacent laugh and said, “Of course!”

“My boy!” Momo Chang glared at him and smiled to Minglan, saying, “See, now he got a lovely wife, he must found me very annoying. Fine, I should go back now.”

“That’s not going to happen. Nian is still detained by my desk. Momo, don’t you want your grandson anymore?” Minglan teased.

Momo Chang pretended to be angry and said smilingly, “Now I’m stumped.”

Chang Hu shi and the other maids in the room laughed together. Gu Tingye looked at his wife with doubt. Minglan explained gently, “I found Nian good at study, so I asked him to write an article. Later I’ll bring this article to my brother and ask if he could find a good tutor for Nian.”

Hearing that, Gu Tingye praised Minglan happily and said to Momo Chang, “That’s great. Momo, see how great my wife is!”

Minglan got bashful at once and blushed. Momo Chang pointed at Gu Tingye and taunted, “Just brag about her! Everyone knows you got a wonderful wife!”

The hall was full of happy laughter and cheerful voices. Momo Chang saw her annoying daughter-in-law wanting to say something again, then she said to Minglan right away, “It’s the first time they came there, why not let someone show them around in the garden? Then we can talk.”

Minglan glanced at Gu Tingye and then nodded, saying, “Sounds good. Wang Gui’s wife is an eloquent one. I can let her accompany Sister-in-law Chang and Yan to tour the garden. Rong, you can go with them if you want.”’

Chang Hu shi really wanted to chat with them for a bit longer. However, after seeing the fierce look in her mother-in-law’s eyes, she had no choice but to lead her daughter and Rong out of the hall.

After they left, Momo Chang could finally ask about Gu Tingye’s health peacefully and gave lots of instructions to Minglan, “Alas, Madam, Master Ye is counting on you in the future. He never takes good care of himself when he gets emotional. There are a few scars on his shoulders. Madam, you have to pay attention to that. Don’t forget to give him the medicine and apply unguent on the scars. He still needs time for recovering.”

Gu Tingye grinned and chimed in, “Momo, you are doing this again. I got those wounds long time ago. His Majesty has already asked the Imperial Physician to check my body. Now the wounds are almost healed. It’s not a big deal.”

“Nonsense.” Momo Chang glared at him and said, “In the winters of the previous years, your wounds got so hurt due to the coldness that you couldn’t help sweating all the time. Only after I applied fresh ginger and medicinal oil on your wounds every day for half a month did you get better. Don’t forget about the pain after recovery!”

Minglan pondered with her head lowered. There truly were a few scars on Gu Tingye’s shoulders and back. One of the scars extended from his left shoulder to his back, looking super scary. She remembered Momo Chang’s words and decided to buy the Tiger Bone Paste and medicinal oil later.

Minglan wished that she could write everything down Momo Chang was saying. Seeing her being like this, Gu Tingye was amused and touched. Then he said, “Remember when you said you want to check the manors last time?”

“Yes.” Browsing the account book every day was not practical. There were still a few manors under Minglan’s name. Although the revenues and expenses were recorded clearly on the paper, she still felt insecure since she had never seen those manors.

“I’ll go with you. Let’s visit all those manors.” Gu Tingye said that at ease in a cheerful tone, “Momo, do you want to go with us?” However, Momo Chang turned him down right away, “Your noble people always adore the farmland and the manor. I have just moved to the capital from the country, the mountains and the forests bore me a lot.”

Minglan was surprised and happy, “So, you have holidays?” The holiday system in the ancient times was outrageous.

“No, I don’t.” Gu Tingye said with a smile, “His Majesty declared that he would inspect the military exercise in the camp in the western suburb. I have to go over there to prepare something these days. Since the camp is close to the manors, we can rest in the manors at night. I remembered you said you wanted to take the account books there to check the farmland and question the farmers? Take it slowly. After His Majesty is done with the inspection, I’ll have two-days off. Then we can take a bath in hot spring in West Mountain.”

As hearing this, Momo Chang opened her mouth and sighed with a smile, “Master Ye, you finally know about caring for your wife! That’s great. You two should go out for relaxation. The loads of work must have tired you out.”

Hearing Gu Tingye’s thorough plan, Minglan knew that he must have thought about this over and over again. Touched, she put on a joyful look and looked at Gu Tingye smilingly with a tender expression in her eyes.

Momo Chang felt quite relieved seeing the couple deeply attached to each other.

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