The road to wealth of a peasant widow

Chapter 226 Riding a Horse

When she returned home on the third day, Zhang Hongjuan told her mother about what she had seen and heard at the Liu family over the past few days. This really opened the eyes of Mrs. Zhang, who was originally worried.

Mrs. Zhang seemed to be thinking about something. "From what you have seen so far, your mother-in-law is really extraordinary. Your eldest sister-in-law has been in charge of the household since she came home, and she can also go to the clinic to see patients every day. This is not something that an ordinary mother-in-law can do."

As for Mrs. Zhang herself, she couldn't do it. She handed over the housekeeping power only after she had been the eldest daughter-in-law for ten years.

It was also because she had a health problem that year. She suddenly had symptoms of dizziness, tinnitus, irritability, palpitations, insomnia, and easy fatigue.

After seeing the doctor, I found out that it was because she was old and her menstrual period was about to run out. These were inevitable and could be treated with medication, but they could not completely eliminate the symptoms. She should also try to avoid worrying and overwork, which would only aggravate the symptoms.

After this incident, the housekeeping power was handed over to the eldest daughter-in-law. Even though her body recovered later, her menstruation had completely stopped, and she felt like she had lost her energy. Fortunately, the eldest daughter-in-law was also a good housekeeper and there were no mistakes, so she was allowed to be in charge ever since.

For example, the mother-in-law Hongjuan was less than 40 years old when her eldest daughter-in-law came into the family. She was still in the prime of her life, but it was rare for her to let go so easily.

"My mother-in-law also has her own things to do. She also has to study and practice calligraphy. She also has to look after the business she and Fourth Aunt run from time to time. She is very busy every day!"

When Zhang Hongjuan talks about her mother-in-law, her admiration for her is beyond words.

"What? I heard that your mother-in-law was a peasant woman before. It was said that her family was not well off, and she was still studying and practicing calligraphy?"

"My grandmother didn't know how to read before. When my eldest brother and Chang'an and the other two brothers started to study, my grandmother learned from them. After she learned, she practiced on her own. She has been practicing for more than ten years and she still reads every day!"

Mrs. Zhang was shocked when she heard this.

It was not uncommon for the mother-in-law to be literate, but she actually learned to read from her son and was still reading and practicing calligraphy at this age, which surprised her.

Mrs. Zhang herself is literate, but she was forced to do so by her father when she was a child.

When she was a child, she was very playful and spent all day thinking about practicing swords and sticks with her fellow martial arts disciples in the martial arts school. She didn't like reading, but her father didn't allow her and insisted that she learn to read.

Because she had no brothers, her father had already decided to marry her into the family. He was afraid that she was illiterate and might be cheated without knowing it, so he forced her to learn to read and write. In the future, she would at least be able to understand documents and read account books, and would not be bullied by her son-in-law.

Later, she did not allow her son-in-law to bully her, but when she grew up, she discovered the benefits of reading and writing, so when she was raising her daughter herself, she took great effort to find someone to teach her.

Although Hongjuan is still wild and restless, she has learned everything that a girl from a wealthy family should learn. Even if she is not proficient in all of them, at least she knows them all. When she pretends to be quiet, she can still intimidate people.

Madam Zhang held her daughter's hand, which she had taken great pains to maintain but was still not delicate, and said, "Okay, okay, Chang'an treats you well, and so does your mother-in-law. As long as you don't act like a demon, you will have a good life in the future. However, you still have to be careful about your words and actions, and you can't really treat your in-laws' home as your own. Apart from your own parents, no one else will spoil you like this!"

Mrs. Zhang touched Zhang Hongjuan's tied-up hair and looked at her dressed as a woman, her eyes became moist.

My daughter is getting married and will be an adult in the future. She will have grandchildren around her, but why do I feel empty inside?

When the young couple said goodbye, the Zhang couple stood at the second door, looking out and watching them get on the carriage.

Mrs. Zhang noticed that her husband's eyes seemed red, so she sighed and said, "Don't be sad, my daughter is living well in her husband's family, don't worry too much."

Zhang Kaishan rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand: "Who's worried? I got sand in my eyes just now. I'll be fine after rubbing them."

Mrs. Zhang looked at her husband's attempt to cover up, snorted coldly and went back to the inner courtyard. This old man is just being tough with his mouth!

Because Chang'an gave them marriage leave and they didn't have to work in the government office, the couple lived a very loving life.

However, Zhang Hongjuan was not someone who was content to stay in the inner house. After staying at Liu's house for a few days, she wanted to ride a horse to the suburbs for a stroll.

The most precious item in her dowry was not gold, silver or antique calligraphy or paintings, but a horse.

This horse was a reward to Zhang Kaishan after he followed the emperor into the Western Rong. Several horses were given to him at that time, and two of the best ones were given to Zhang Kaishan himself. He rode the older and stronger one, and gave the other, a foal, to his little daughter.

This chestnut horse named Zhuifeng by Zhang Hongjuan is indeed a good horse. It was not obvious when it was young two years ago, but now the horse is seven years old and has grown into a tall and majestic horse.

Zhang Hongjuan has been fond of the horse ever since she got it. She often feeds, combs and bathes it herself. A deep bond has developed between her and the horse. When she married into the Liu family, the horse was given as a dowry.

Chang'an was very fortunate. After passing the imperial examination, he and his elder brother Changfu learned horse riding together. Although his riding skills were average and he could only trot on the horse at best and could not gallop like Hongjuan, at least he learned it!

Of course, after he got to know Hongjuan and knew that she was a good rider, he practiced with her secretly because he didn't want to appear weak in front of her in the future.

But horse riding was not his strong point at all. No matter how much he practiced, it would be difficult for him to reach Hongjuan's level, let alone surpass her.

Fortunately, Hongjuan did not despise him. When they were riding together, she deliberately slowed down her pace and waited for him so that they could ride side by side.

However, this time when the couple went out on horseback for the first time after their marriage, there was a little tail following them.

"Sui Sui, don't squeeze the horse's belly so tightly, sit up straight, hold the reins tightly, oh... not like this..., sit up straight, don't lie on the horse..."

Chang'an taught the student earnestly, but Suisui turned out to be stubborn and unyielding.

Sui Sui knew that her second brother and sister-in-law were going to a farm in the suburbs to ride horses to relax. She felt itchy and wanted to go with them and let them teach her how to ride horses.

At that time, she knew that her second sister-in-law was good at martial arts and could ride a horse, and she had been envious of her for a long time. But since her second sister-in-law had not come into the house, she did not want to disturb her. Now she finally got the chance.

Originally, the second brother didn't want to take her with him, but thanks to the second sister-in-law who was a kind-hearted person, she agreed and reported to mother and told her about the matter, and only then did they come out.

Suisui came out this time to take the opportunity to learn how to ride a horse, so that he could gallop on a horse like his second sister-in-law in the future.

But what is her second brother teaching her? It’s been a long time, but she still hasn’t learned it. She sits on the horse so awkwardly. Humph, she must tell her mother when she goes back that her second brother didn’t teach her well!