Chapter 835 Sheng Minglan

Sheng Minglan walked to Mrs. Sheng and said softly.

"Grandma's food is ready, it's time to eat!"

Mrs. Sheng nodded, pointed at Li Zhan, and introduced Sheng Minglan.

"This is your eldest brother-in-law. You saw him when you were young!"

Sheng Minglan bowed to Li Zhan, with a look of fear and distance, as if she were a little girl who had never seen the world before bowing to Li Zhan.

"Minglan has met the eldest brother-in-law!"

Li Zhan nodded and took a deep look at the frail and somewhat shy Sheng Minglan. She was still young, only in her early ten years, with a round face, big eyes, smart and clear, and she was not short in stature, almost as tall as her. Sheng Hualan looks similar, with a slim figure, adding a bit of fragility.

Li Zhan couldn't keep looking at his sister-in-law, so he slowly looked away and said warmly.

"No need to be polite. I was raised by my grandmother before, but I had to leave her when I got married. Fortunately, with your company, my grandmother can play with her grandchildren every day and enjoy the happiness of family!"

Li Zhan actually had a good impression of Sheng Minglan, and he would not really regard Sheng Minglan as a little white flower without any scheming. The little girl in front of him looked soft and frail, but in fact she had a strategy in her heart. It could be said that she was the leader of the Sheng family. The most dignified of these children, she is just silly and sweet, harmless to humans and animals, just for survival, so she is blameless.

Sheng Minglan glanced at Li Zhan. She just felt an inquiring gaze, which penetrated deep into her heart. It was shocking. Sheng Minglan felt as if she had been seen through. She secretly sighed at the sharpness of Li Zhan's gaze, as if she was in front of him. As if there were no secrets in front of him, he was more cautious and said in a harmonious voice.

"It was my grandmother who took pity on me for being lonely and helpless, so she raised me under her knees. Minglan cannot bear the praise of her eldest brother-in-law!"

"Why can't this girl afford his praise? Thanks to you, my life has become somewhat meaningful these years. Otherwise, who can I count on?"

Li Zhan smiled awkwardly when he heard this. It is true that he and Sheng Hualan moved to Bianjing City together after they got married and have never been back to Yangzhou. Although he writes letters every year, he has not seen Mrs. Sheng for several years. It really shouldn't be.

Sheng Hong was even more upset. He was the son of Mrs. Sheng. Mrs. Sheng said this, almost to blame him for being unfilial. She quickly stood up and said.

"The son is unfilial and makes his mother angry!"

Old Mrs. Sheng looked at her husband-in-law in front of her. She wasn't really angry. She just felt sorry that Sheng Minglan's biological mother died because of Sheng Hong's negligence. Later, she even ignored Sheng Minglan, and she felt some complaints in her heart before blurting out her words.

Mrs. Sheng waved her hand and said to the two of them.

"Forget it, I just said it casually!"

Li Zhan was okay, but seeing that Sheng Hong was still a little embarrassed, he softened his words.

"Grandma, now my father-in-law and his family have returned to Bianjing, and we are very close to each other. I will bring Hua Lan back often to have dinner with me in the future. When the time comes, you can't be bothered!"

Mrs. Sheng then smiled happily, agreed repeatedly, and said happily.

"As long as you are not afraid of people gossiping, I hope you will live in my Shou'an Hall every day, so why will it bother you? But you can't lie to my old lady!"

Li Zhan naturally didn't even dare to say that. He really didn't care about being gossiped about when he went to Sheng Mansion frequently. In modern society, it is not a big deal for a man to accompany his wife to his parents' home frequently. What's more, Mrs. Sheng has nurtured and nurtured him. , so he is telling the truth.

"Grandma, do you think it's time for us to have a meal? I have an empty stomach!"

Old Mrs. Sheng smiled and stood up. Sheng Minglan took Old Mrs. Sheng's arm and walked towards the dining room first, still mumbling.

"Then you have to try Minglan's cooking. I guarantee that you will have a good time!"

Li Zhan and Sheng Hong followed behind, catering to Mrs. Sheng's words.

They sat separately, and Li Zhan was not polite. He had been raised in the Sheng Mansion since he was a child, and he didn't mind Sheng Minglan's surprised expression. He just feasted on the food in front of him, not knowing how to give way to the two elders, Mrs. Sheng and Sheng Hong. .

After all, Old Mrs. Sheng was getting older and her appetite was much smaller. Everything she ate was not as sweet as when she was young. After taking two bites, she put down her chopsticks and looked at Li Zhan with a loving look. She vaguely saw the past when Li Zhan still lived in Shou. The days of Antang.

Sheng Hong also didn't care about Li Zhan's actions and silently ate the lunch carefully prepared by Sheng Minglan. He had also seen Li Zhan's habit of ignoring people while eating at Shou'an Hall, so he was not surprised.

Mrs. Sheng saw Sheng Minglan surprised and smiled and explained a few words.

"Your eldest brother-in-law has been like this since he was a child. He only cares about eating and doesn't pay attention to people until he's seventy full. You don't need to pay attention to him!"

Sheng Minglan nodded and expressed that she understood. She ate the food silently. A trace of curiosity flashed in her clear eyes. Mrs. Sheng was a person who attached great importance to rules. She was also very strict in teaching Sheng Minglan. This was the first time for Sheng Minglan. Seeing Mrs. Sheng being so tolerant and doting on someone.

Li Zhan felt that he was almost done eating, so he put down his chopsticks, saw the curiosity in Minglan's eyes, smiled slightly, and said sheepishly.

"Isn't it the first time you saw me eating like this that scared you? It doesn't matter. If you get along with me more in the future, you will understand my temperament. Unlike my grandmother, I don't like these red tapes. I will do whatever I feel comfortable with!"

Mrs. Sheng laughed angrily and mocked Li Zhan.

"You still know that you are useless, and you don't know how you developed such a temperament, yet you still end up being loved by today's officials!"

Because Li Zhan has a lazy temperament and doesn't care much about rules, but he also knows how to advance and retreat, so he is often taken around by officials. He is very fond of him and regards him as his nephew. He has been promoted faster than the original number one and second place. .

Now it is rumored that the officials intend to promote him to secretary supervisor again.

The Secretary Supervisor is the chief officer of the Secretariat Province and is of the fourth rank. The secretary is in charge of the two bureaus of national history and writings, and is in charge of the country's classic books. In the Song Dynasty, the Calendar Office, the Meeting Hall, and the National Historical Record Institute were all under the jurisdiction of the Secretariat Province. There were three halls: Zhaowen Hall, History Hall, and Jixianyuan. In the third year of the Taiping and Xingguo years, the three halls academies were built, and the books in the three halls were moved and stored. They were named Chongwenyuan. In the first year of Duangong, a secret pavilion was built in the middle hall of Chongwen Academy, which together with the three pavilions was still collectively known as Chongwen Academy.

Sheng Hong glanced at Li Zhan, who deliberately showed a proud look in front of Mrs. Sheng, and asked curiously.

"Does the official really want to promote you to secretary-supervisor?"

Li Zhan suppressed his smile and glanced at the curious Mrs. Sheng and Sheng Minglan. They were both members of his family, so there was no need to shy away. He nodded and answered truthfully.

"A few days ago, when the three-year Hanlin period expired, the officials did ask for my opinion. I wanted to be transferred to another position. Unfortunately, the officials did not agree and wanted me to serve as secretary-supervisor."