[Caiyun Kingdom] The beginning of people

Three years later──

"Miss, miss!" Qingzao ran over bouncing.

I sat in the kiosk at home, stretched out my hand and dropped a piece on the stone chessboard, and raised my voice, "What's wrong?"

"Sister Yantian and her husband-in-law have come to Zhangfu to say hello to Miss!"

I stood up with a smile, "It's about time. You go and get them some presents, and I'll just go there myself."

"Hey!" Qingzao replied crisply, and left in a hurry.

I shook my head and laughed.Qingzao is only 16 years old this year. When Yantian married two years ago, she was still a squeaky little girl.Now the position of Yantian on the top has become my personal maid, and she is still lively.

I walked quickly to the side hall of the inner courtyard, and saw Yan Tian who I hadn't seen for a while.

"How are you doing recently?" I stepped forward to help Yan Tian who was bowing to me, and held her hand.

"Haha," Yantian's husband, Wang Liu, bowed to me and said, "Miss, my wife is pregnant."

I looked at Yan Tian in surprise.

She put on a pretty face, "It's only two months. If others say it's less than three months old, the child will run away stingy."

"Bah!" Wang Liu became anxious as soon as he heard it, "Miss, you pretend I didn't say it, pretend I didn't say it, haha."

I gave Yan Tian a dark look.Did she deliberately make her husband anxious?Dare to talk about children?When I took Yan Tian back to the inner room, and only the two of us were left, Yan Tian told me that her pregnancy was not in good shape, and the doctor said that there was a high probability that she would lose it.

"You stay with me first, I will provide you with delicious food and drink, and find a doctor to watch over you for twelve hours." I patted her hand and comforted me, "I dare not say that it will be fine, but we Let's work together, huh?"

Yan Tian raised a shallow smile, "I was planning to come to find Miss to support me."

I laughed out loud.Ghost girl!

"Yes, miss. On the way I came, I saw someone carrying a widow again."

I frowned.In impoverished counties, forced marriages of widows for the sake of dowry were repeatedly prohibited.I stood up, "Whose house is it? I'll send someone to check it out."

Yan Tian pulled me, "I've already stopped them, and told them to come to Zhangfu for help."

I froze for a moment, then covered my mouth and laughed, and scratched Yan Tian's nose with one hand, "Well done, just bring troubles to our house."

"I knew Miss was a nosy."

Her mouth!

After I arranged for Yan Tian to stay, I went to the study to report this year's business to my father.The end of the year is approaching, and it is time to take stock of the achievements of the past year.After talking about business, I helped my father to take a walk in the courtyard, and waved my servant to wait nearby.

"Zelan," my father stroked his snow-white long beard and smiled cheerfully, "It seems that I can't deny my age." He showed me the long beard with no trace of variegation.

"You're joking, I don't know how much better you look than a young man like me." This is the truth.Because I stayed up all night, my complexion was not good, and I had dark circles under my eyes, which could not be seen after applying makeup. After my father handed over the business to me, I enjoyed myself every day, but my face was flushed and full of energy.

"You, hurry up and give birth to a child, and when the child grows up, I can help you relax."

"I can't give birth to a child by myself." You should be afraid if you really give birth.

"When will Jie Tong be admitted~" Father looked up to the sky and shouted.

"What? Didn't you want him to take the exam earlier?" I raised my hand to push the weeping branches of the trees blocking the way.

"Who told him to be stubborn and said that he would marry you only after passing the exam? He has already lost four subjects in a row, and he will be 29 in the new subjects by next spring, and if he fails..."

"A 29-year-old Jinshi is considered young. Then wait a little longer. I'm only [-] years old. I can wait a few years. You know that he has a scholarly temper. Instead of letting him get into business, it's better to continue taking the imperial examination. At that time, when he becomes the parent officer of a small county, I think he will definitely be a great master of Qingtian who will benefit one side."

"He's just a magistrate."

"Father," I said softly, "Jie Tong is just not bad enough to be a high-ranking official."

My father laughed and scolded: "Girls are extroverted!" After a long while, he sighed, "Yes, if Zhong Jietong can become a high-ranking official, we are a businessman, and I will not let you be engaged to him, so I don't worry about handing you over to him. .”

"Don't worry, he is very confident in this subject, and the chief examiner of this subject also likes a genius with a straightforward personality like Jie Tong. I dare not say that he will have a good ranking, but at least he will definitely be on the list. Besides," I laughed Laughing, "He is not so single-minded that he only cares about the imperial examination and ignores his family. If he fails this subject, he will welcome me first."

Father nodded in satisfaction, "Jie Tong is a sensible person. Has he returned to Far Tour City now?"

"No, he is still with his second brother in Baizhou. He plans to go directly to Guiyang to take the exam and not go back to Yuanyou City. The road is blocked by heavy snow in winter, and the exam period is approaching when the road is opened again. They want to go on the road earlier this year. , get ready in Guiyang. I’ll take stock of the housework, and then I’ll go to Yuanyou City to see Jietong’s mother, and then I’ll leave Heizhou before winter. I’ve already made arrangements for the New Year’s storage, but I still need to trouble you Take a closer look."

"Hey? I thought you would go after the New Year. It's better to go early, take a closer look patiently, shop around, and then decide where we want to expand this time. Guiyang is always the capital city, and the news will be more informed .”

"Yes."

"In terms of business, I don't worry about you anymore. It doesn't matter if you get into trouble." Father patted my head lightly, "I'm worried that you won't be able to hold back in front of the nobles in Beijing. Those people are so arrogant even if they have noble status. I can't find Bei. But don't bear too much and get bullied. Will you meet Kui Huangyi in Beijing this time? If you have something to do, don't be polite, just go to him. Our Zhang family has also done a lot for him. For the time being He will not fail to take care of you." Father enjoined earnestly.

"Yes."

"Kui Huangyi is also a talent, and his future is limitless." Father narrowed his eyes, "But you have to be careful of him, this man is very powerful, I think he is becoming more and more sophisticated in his actions recently."

"Lord Wenxian said the same thing."

"Li Wenxian also said the same? What about Lin Mu?" Father asked with great interest.

"Master Mu said that Kui Huangyi is a good-looking scumbag."

"Hahahaha... one kind of rice feeds a hundred kinds of people," my father let go of my hand, and walked in four directions on the path in the garden with his hands behind his back, "I won't talk about Jietong, if Feixiang can pass the national examination In the first level, he is also a person with an unlimited future. Given time, he will be able to make some achievements. At that time, Guan Feixiang and Kui Huangyi will be high-ranking officials in the same dynasty... Hahaha, the court meeting in 20 years will definitely be very interesting .”

I imagined this situation and couldn't help laughing.I don't know what the future of Feixiang will be like, but after watching the animation of "The Story of Caiyun Kingdom", I know that after more than ten years, Kui Huangyi will be a royal doctor and a member of the imperial court.What the father does is to see like a torch.

"Father, the second brother always comes to drink your famous wine, but you like him."

"Hahahaha," the father laughed, "Feixiang is your adopted brother, that is, my adopted son! I love my adopted son, it's just as it is!"

...Father's way of speaking has become more rough in the past two years.I laughed for a while, followed in my father's footsteps, and walked slowly in the courtyard on the fallen leaves.

After taking care of everything, I also set off from Yuanyou City before the snow fell in November, left Heizhou, and headed for Guiyang, Zizhou.

"Miss," Qing Zao rode a small mare, rushed to my side and handed me a bottle of water, "Why do you always give way to Mrs. Zhong? She even..."

"Come on," I said, "Qingzao, don't let me hear such words again."

"...It's my fault, I know I was wrong."

She was also doing it for my own good. I couldn't bear to scare her, so I took her hand and explained carefully: "Listen, Qingzao, I only say these words once. No one likes to be rejected by others, but she is Elder, as a daughter-in-law, what I say is wrong. If you are really doing it for me, you should stop saying that kind of thing. If people listen to you, who are we? Besides, she is young and widowed, and Zhong Jietong will be killed by herself. It's not easy to get older, so I naturally hope that my daughter-in-law is the best woman in the world. Pity the hearts of parents in the world. From this point of view, we can't say a word."

"Yes! Qingzao understands! I will definitely take good care of my subordinates and take care of Mrs. Zhong properly!" The little girl immediately regained her spirits.

I smiled and patted her, "Don't move around, you just learned how to ride a horse, don't fall off." Scared Qingzao quickly grabbed the reins.I smiled secretly, and drove to Liu Jiahe, who was in charge of the paperwork, "Mr. Liu, are you okay on the road?"

"Yes," he pointed me in the direction, "Although I have a lot of things, I will arrive at Shagong in less than half a month and enter the border of Zizhou. We will take the road there, and we just borrow water transport The official road, the journey can be faster."

I smiled wryly and said, "I'm not rushing, it's just that life on the road is not easy, so it's better to settle down quickly."

Liu Jiahe laughed a few times, "It's good to arrive early, just in time to go to Zhang Erye's place to pay New Year's greetings." Zhang Erye refers to my second uncle, who is now in Guiyang.

My father said that when the Zhang family of Nuo Da was separated, the patriarch ordered that the brothers in each house should not have too much contact, and it is best to develop in different directions.The father is the youngest third son in the family, and he rarely interacts with the two older brothers on weekdays.I thought about it, and then I asked, "Mr. Liu, where is the second uncle now?" Liu Jiahe has been with his father for more than 30 years, and he knows some things better than me.

"Second Master Zhang has retired for many years, and his family is thriving. The business in his early years was downsized and handed over to the third son and the youngest six sons. The other eldest, second, and fourth sons all donated government officials after passing the state examination. , is being released as a county magistrate. The fifth young man has entered the Guiyang Yamen as a fast arrester."

"Donate immediately after passing the state examination?" Shouldn't normal people go one step further to pass the national examination?If you have not passed the national examination, unless you enter an official position based on the financial system, it will be difficult to make further progress in your official career.

Liu Jiahe and I looked at each other.The second uncle's family is keeping a low profile, striking a balance between the Zhang family's ancestral business and the official career of the descendants, and governing the family with the golden mean.

It seems that the second uncle is also a wonderful person.

I laughed, bowed to Liu Jiahe and drove back to the middle of the team.

Half a month later, we entered the border of Zizhou and temporarily stopped in Shagong City to rest for a whole day.I asked my subordinates to distribute the goods brought from Heizhou in Sagong, and also met with the shopkeeper of Zhang's shop nearby.I just visited a business partner that day, so I took the time to walk around.

"Miss~" Qingzao pouted, "The weather in Zizhou is so hot! It's almost December, why is there still only a little snow?"

"Hahahaha," an old man selling tofu brains heard, and interrupted with a smile, "Isn't my little sister from the local area? From the north? I guess the old man is from Heizhou."

I smiled, gathered up my skirt and sat down in front of the stall, waved my hand to make Qingzao and the others sit down as well, "Please give us each a bowl of tofu nao. The old man is right, how did you know that we are from Heizhou?" ?”

"This is simple!" He skillfully scraped up slices of tofu nao, and in a few strokes he filled a bowl, and a boy brought it to us deftly, "This Shagong City is the last town in Zizhou in the north. The old man has set up stalls here for decades, and no one has seen him? He travels all over the world, and different places have different tastes! The clothes of the lady and her party are clearly the fashion of Heizhou, and this little sister is also a sharp-talking, It’s the strength of the little lady from Heizhou.”

"Hey?" I scooped up a spoonful of tofu nao, "What about the one from Hakushu?"

The old man filled the tofu nao, and when he saw that there was nothing else to do, he chatted with me, "From Baizhou? Who will tell you more, Mrs. Baizhou? Are you upset? Just come up and kick people!"

"Hahahaha!" The merchants at the table next to him burst out laughing, "Uncle Ma, you are right! When I went to Baizhou to do business, what I was most afraid of was the local ladies, who would fight one by one!"

"Hahaha, Ah Zhao, you have suffered a disadvantage, right?" The old man also laughed.

I smiled and continued to ask: "Then old man, what do you think our party is?"

Merchant Ah Zhao smiled and shook his head, "Miss, let me tell you, you won't pass Uncle Ma's exam."

The old man smiled complacently, "Which noble family is the young lady? This whole body is comparable to noble ladies, but also more straightforward than them, so the old man, I think the young lady is from a wealthy businessman's family in Heizhou. The eldest lady who can support the family or the only child, such as Hua Mulan, is going to venture outside now!"

"Okay!" Qingzao cheered loudly, "Old man, you really have a good eye! That's really good!"

The servant Ah Wen ate the tofu nao in one gulp, and said loudly: "I pay for it myself, the old man will give me an extra bowl!"

"Give me an extra bowl too!" Other members of Zhang's family also followed suit.

I almost had a stomachache from laughing.It is true that the old man has good eyesight, but it is also true that there are many compliments infiltrated in it.In terms of Jingcai's nice words, he is indeed a businessman who has set up a stall for decades.I shook my head and smiled and said, "What? I'm so stingy that I don't want to pay for many bowls of tofu nao?" I smiled and laughed, "I'll pay the bill. Father, you can also give me an extra bowl so that I can honor you Yan, one day I will really become a nobleman."

"Okay!" The old man responded with a smile.

Ah Zhao, a businessman next to him, also jokingly said: "With Miss Chong's generosity, I will definitely be a noble person in time."

"It's just a joke." I smiled and shook my head, "Yes, I don't know what kind of business this gentleman is in?"

Ah Zhao patted the big wooden box next to him, "I'm a tea maker, and I'm in charge of showing some tea samples to big customers. If I like it, I'll go back and buy it from tea farmers."

"Tea? Most of the production areas are in the Lanzhou area?"

"The production areas of these different varieties are different, but it is true that Lanzhou, which has a warm and humid climate, accounts for the majority. But no matter where it is produced, if you want to make a big deal, you have to go to Huangzhou. I am going to Huangzhou now Let's go. Huangzhou is where the All-China Chamber of Commerce is located. If you want to contact the big business from south to north, you have to go there." Ah Zhao stroked the two mustaches on his lips, "I am not talented, but also A legitimate businessman registered in the Zizhou All-Commerce Federation.”

"Nice to meet you." I smiled.

"There are businessmen from all over the place," the old man threw the towel to the boy to clean up the table, "I have seen this one who went to Beijing to catch the exam many times. Oh, this year is another lively year!"

"Most of the talented people in the world go to school, and the good ones lead to official careers." A fortune teller also sat down, "If you want me to say, huh! But there are not many real young talents!"

"Are you still hating those two young men?" the old man laughed.

"I don't know where the nerd came from. I insisted on saying that I interpreted the characters wrong! How many years have I measured the characters? How can anyone come to patronize me? He is not a guest, meddling in his own business! The gangster-like brother next to him is good, helping that nerd to open my stall, insisting on accusing me of bluffing and cheating. It made me cold The gods are not staying serious."

...Why do I feel that something is wrong the more I listen to it?I gave Qingzao a wink, and she immediately asked cleverly: "There are such idiots who ruin people's lives? How ignorant! Hey, tell us, what do they look like?"

"That nerd is fair and handsome, with big eyes, straight nose, red lips and white teeth. He just looks a bit careless. His gangster brother has a Nine Dragon tattoo on his body and knows kung fu. That's really scary. Oh, such two people It turns out that they are all scholars who went to Beijing to rush for the exam, you said that the world is so big that there are no surprises."

... The troublemakers that the fortune-tellers talk about must be Guan Feixiang and Zhong Jietong, who went ahead of me... I rubbed my forehead and secretly asked my servant Wang Dali to secretly pay the fortune-tellers some money before leaving.

"Qingzao, I'm back." I sighed, "Let's go tomorrow morning."

"Hey!" She responded crisply.

We set off again early the next morning, traveling lightly to Guiyang, the capital city, which is in the midst of spring.

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