Old things in Nancheng

The snow in winter in the south of the Yangtze River is not as elegant and heavy as in the north. It is mixed with light rain that cannot be seen clearly but cannot be ignored. It falls on the ground in pieces, mixed with soil, and stains the ground.

It was cold and damp. On such a day, people were reluctant to go to the streets. Therefore, West Market Street was extremely deserted, with only sporadic carriages passing by occasionally.In the high-end shops in West Market, no matter the shopkeepers or the clerks, they curled up and dozed off in twos and threes, hoping that the sky would soon darken, so that they could close the shop and go home.

Compared with the West Market, the East Market is still somewhat popular. Poor people are not qualified to stay at home and enjoy the warmth. Those who should go to work go to work, and those who should buy, when they are tired and hungry, eat a bowl of affordable and hot wontons. It is the greatest happiness.

Wang's Qianli Piaoxiang Wonton Shop is still bustling in the afternoon market. Although it is not as good as before, the business is still very prosperous.Zhao Liu and Wang Xingen were busy entertaining the guests, the cook in the back kitchen was busy making wontons and steaming dumplings, Lin Zhilan was crackling her abacus on the counter, feeling very happy, since she had Wang Xingen's help in the shop, she could finally make it easily The boss is gone.

"Auntie, it was given by the guest at the table by the window." Wang Xingen handed Lin Zhilan a bunch of copper coins, then turned around and went to collect the dishes and chopsticks to wipe the table. The young man is very diligent.

Lin Zhilan counted and found that there were too many coins, so she thanked the guest officer at that table: "Thank you for the reward, guest officer, I will come here often in the future~"

The guests at that table were well-dressed, and they didn't look like noble gentlemen who would come to hang out in the East Market. The young young master who was the leader stood up, took a deep look at Lin Zhilan, and then cupped his hands and said, "My lady, the wontons are good, I'm leaving."

Lin Zhilan watched the group of four leave, feeling very strange in her heart.Those who do business need eye poison the most. If those noble sons come to the store to taste something new after hearing the news, it will be over. Such a son from a family usually asks his servants to buy wontons. How could he come by himself? Lost their face.Also, the young master in the lead looked at her with meaning in his eyes, and even bid farewell to himself, which was too unreasonable. Lin Zhilan didn't think that her status could make such a young master initiate a conversation, so it might be possible. . .

Immediately, Lin Zhilan's mind was ringing with alarm bells, thinking that the Second Master Bao had gone away, and another one who didn't know who came.

What the hell, after leaving the wonton shop, he asked the young man who was following him, "Is that Mrs. Wang?"

"If you go back to the third master, she is the first wife of the prince, you can't be wrong." The boy replied.

The person known as the third master nodded slightly. He had seen the scar on Lin Zhilan's face, so he couldn't be wrong, but Lin Zhilan's handsome appearance surprised the third master.The third master has seen countless girls since he was a child, and his eyes are naturally picky. Although Lin Zhilan doesn't deliberately dress up, the indescribable temperament in her still makes the third master feel unique.

That's right, it is unique, although she is humble, but her bones are full of arrogance, her aloofness like Ling Han's red plum blossoms unrestrainedly against a backdrop of snow-white.

"Third brother, elder brother sent us a letter asking us to take care of Mrs. Wang, how should we deal with this matter?" Another younger man asked.

"This is a strange woman. If it is a charity, she will not accept it. I think the shop's business is very good. If you don't let her live like this, we don't need to bother." The third master thought for a while and said: "Jiang Cheng, you go List down the cloth shop opposite the wonton shop, and you will be a clerk in the shop in the future, pay attention to it all the time, and report it immediately if there is anything wrong."

"Third Master, how can I be a shopkeeper~" the servant named Jiang Cheng said unwillingly.

"If the errands are done well, the master will promote you to be the shopkeeper." The third master took the fan that decorated the facade and tapped it lightly on Jiang Cheng's head, and then unfolded the fan with a "swish". Leaving with a fan.

My lord, you are not cold~

After the afternoon market, the shop relaxed. Lin Zhilan sat at the counter, thinking about the meaning of the third master's eyes.

"Hi~"

The horse neighed, and suddenly a fairly high-end carriage galloped on Dongshi Street, causing pedestrians to stop and stare.Carriages are not something that ordinary people can own these days. A high-end carriage is a symbol of status. If this carriage appears on West Market Street, no one will find it strange, but if it appears on Dongshi Street, it can teach the onlookers feel puzzled.

Under everyone's gaze, the carriage stopped at the door of the wonton shop. Zhao Liu came out and found a middle-aged man in charge and a woman about 30 years old getting out of the carriage. , the woman was still wearing silk flowers on her head, Zhao Liu knew at a glance that the funeral was going on at the two people's homes.

Could it be that wontons were ordered for the funeral banquet?Their shop has never done this business!

Thinking about it, Zhao Liu stepped forward and said, "The guest officer is very polite. I don't know what the guest officer is here for?"

The steward scanned Zhao Liu and asked, "Is your wife in the shop?"

"It's in the store, guest officer please." Zhao Liu greeted him with a bow, feeling more and more that his guess was correct.

Those two people entered the store, saw Lin Zhilan, hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and said: "The young Wang Xian, the steward of the Wang Family's Outer Court, and Li Shi, the wife of the slave's Wang's Outer Court, have seen your lady."

From Wangjiazhuang?People from the Wang family!

Lin Zhilan returned the gift, but seeing the filial piety on the two of them, she had a bad feeling in her heart.

"My lady, can I find a quiet place to talk?" Wang Xian asked.

"You guys please come with me." Although they didn't have any good impression of the Wang family, but the two came wearing mourning, Lin Zhilan guessed that it was a funeral report, and there would be a funeral in the Wang family, except for the old lady and the old lady, it was just Wang Ziyan, Lin Zhilan's Her heart was beating extremely hard, and she felt that Wang Ziyan was very likely.

When they arrived in the back room, Wang Xian and Liu's family suddenly looked concerned, Wang Xian stepped forward and said sadly: "My lady, my second young master is gone!"

Sure enough, as expected, Lin Zhilan's mind went blank when she heard the exact news. This was not a shock that could be relieved by mental preparation.

Who is Wang Ziyan, Wang Zimo's elder brother, who treated Wang Zimo kindly since he was a child, what a kind person he is, he is gone at such a young age!

Lin Zhilan stared blankly at the two people in front of her crying in grief. She didn't realize that her vision was gradually blurring, she trembled her lips, and asked hoarsely, "When did it happen, why did it happen so suddenly?"

"Last winter, the second young master was seriously ill. In the spring, although he recovered, his body was not as good as before. This year, the second young master fell ill again. This disease..." Wang Xian said, choking on his sobs. : "For the past half month, the second young master has been in a coma. He woke up at five o'clock yesterday, and hurriedly explained the funeral, and then went."

Lin Zhilan's tears fell silently.Last winter, Wang Ziyan fell ill to save Wang Zimo and himself. Later, when he heard that Wang Ziyan was recovering, Wang Ziyan was so happy that he didn't sleep all night.Later, when Wang Zimo had an accident, Wang Ziyan also sent money. Who would have thought that this would be such a situation, and a good person would just disappear.If Wang Zimo knew that Wang Ziyan's body had completely collapsed because of her, I wonder how sad and guilty she would be.

Lin Zhilan silently took the silk flower that Li Shi handed over, and put it on her head without any hesitation. This is Wang Zimo's elder brother, and she should wear mourning for him.

"My lady, the second master ordered us to come pick you up and the young lady, and go back to the mansion with us to observe the funeral." Wang Xian felt relieved that Lin Zhilan did not hesitate to bring the silk flowers. The second young master had always protected the young couple during his lifetime. It seems that the young couple are conscientious people.

"Go home?"

Lin Zhilan was stunned for a moment when she heard the words, remembering kindness is one thing, but going to the Wang family is another matter, why did she and Bao'er enter the Wang family's door? If it wasn't for the Wang family's disregard for family affection, they were soaking in pig cages and taking care of the house How could Wang Zimo face a lawsuit if he drove the two of them out of Wangjiazhuang again?

These are two different things, she, Lin Zhilan, has no status to enter the Wang family!

"The second master's kindness, I appreciate the kindness. The slave family will set up a tablet for the second young master at home and offer incense every day, but the Wang family and the slave family cannot go." Lin Zhilan wiped her tears, suppressed her sadness, and said calmly.

"Miss, for the sake of the kindness that the Second Young Master treated the Second Young Master during his lifetime, it is also your duty to go to the funeral to offer incense and kowtow on behalf of the Second Young Master." Wang Xian didn't do it when he heard the words, and just praised her in his heart, but he didn't expect her to be like this Can't help boasting.

"Sorry, please tell the second master Wang Guanshi, the slave family is not qualified to enter the door of the Wang family, kowtow, and the slave family will make arrangements for themselves." Lin Zhilan resolutely refused.

"Miss, no matter what, you are also the daughter-in-law of the Wang family, so you can't make it up." Seeing that the two of them were about to quarrel, Mrs. Li tried to persuade her in a slow tone.

"The daughter-in-law of the Wang family? I'm sorry, but I, Lin Zhilan, can't make it to the top. Please go back, both of you." Lin Zhilan has a temper, she doesn't like soft and hard, and she doesn't care about others except Wang Zimo pretending to be pitiful and making her feel soft.

The carriage galloped again, just as domineering as when it came. Wang Xingen saw that Lin Zhilan was wearing silk flowers on her head and her face was blue when she came out, so she knew something big had happened.This matter is not something that a child like him can meddle in. Wang Xingen went to the kitchen to help wash the dishes with a wink, and Zhao Liu also shrank himself, staying in the corner to reduce his sense of existence.

It was chaotic, and finally arrived at the closing shop. Lin Zhilan asked Wang Xingen to go home and cook first, while she went to the incense wax shop and asked someone to carve a spirit tablet.

Green smoke billowing up, white clothes and plain scarves, Lin Zhilan hugged Bao'er, kowtowed and burned papers in front of the altar.

"Back when Zimo came back and told the slave family that you asked her to call you big brother, she didn't know how happy she was. She had no one to rely on since she was a child, and she had parents but seemed to have no parents. Having a home is like having no home. If it weren't for the elder brother who always takes care of her , she is no different from an orphan. I take the liberty to call you big brother after Zimo with a shy face, kowtow and burn paper for her, big brother will take care of everything. She is in prison, and I don’t know if it is true what she said in the letter That's very good. I dare not let her know about you. When she comes back, I will go to your grave with Zimo Baoer to kowtow. The kindness you have treated us will not be repaid in this life. Mo will definitely remember it in his heart."

"I don't know if I'm sorry for Zimo, but Zimo treats Bao'er as if he was his own child, and the slave family has lived two lives. The previous life was all a dream. In this life, the slave family will definitely guard Zimo. Don't let her be alone again, please rest assured, big brother."

Lin Zhilan drove Wang Xingen to the yard, holding Bao'er in her arms and babbling to the spiritual tablet.This year, too many things happened, she didn't have the opportunity to talk, she shouldered the burden of the family, but, she is a woman after all, she will be sad, she will feel helpless, she will feel very tired , Facing Wang Ziyan's spirit seat, Lin Zhilan somehow poured out what was in her heart.

The door and windows of the room were closed, and the wind was blowing from nowhere, making the candles flutter, and the paper money in the melting pot sparkled with sparks.

Bao'er was very obedient, seeing Lin Zhilan crying, although she was a little helpless, she didn't cry along with her, but stayed obediently in Lin Zhilan's arms, silently giving Lin Zhilan strength.

"Auntie, someone is looking for you~"

When Lin Zhilan heard Wang Xingen's voice, she couldn't help frowning, thinking that the visitor was not kind, she packed up her makeup and went out, but saw a middle-aged man who looked a bit vicissitudes.