Clam Pearl

Master Gu Qi doesn't like the monkey-like nephews and grandnephews at home.He is rare for a little girl who is soft at home, speaks like a baby, wears an uncomplicated bun with a few pink peach blossoms on it, and a little loli in a pink lotus leaf skirt bouncing around in the yard.

Little Lolita greeted Gu Zhao in a vague way, and then asked Gu Zhao: "Seventh Grandfather? What is Seventh Grandpa doing?" Little Lolita grabbed the ribbon on the lotus leaf skirt, looked shyly and curiously at the yard, playing The muddy seventh grandfather.

Behind the little loli, more than a dozen servants followed, hey, this is a bourgeois expensive loli.

Gu Minghui, the granddaughter of the eldest brother's eldest son, is four years old this year, and her nickname is Ya'er.She is eloquent and cute. Currently, she is the number one mascot of the Gu family.

Gu Zhao stood up, took the copper basin slowly, cleaned his hands, took a dry towel to wipe his hands, painted the homemade hand oil, then bent down to pick up the little girl, threw it in the air a few times, the little girl giggled , a group of women turned pale with fright, and wanted to stop them but dared not mention it.They can only use the methods available to them, and all of them throw themselves to remind Gu Zhao, you can't do this! .

Gu Zhao had no choice but to hug the little girl honestly: "Master Seven is building a house."

"Who will live in the house?"

"Live for your grandpa." In fact, a warm house was built for chickens and ducks.

"What about grandma?"

"Uh..." The sister-in-law's joke is still off.

"Where's grandma?"

"Well……"

"Mother..." I knew this little girl would be endless.

Gu Zhao pinched the little girl's little nose, and the little girl immediately laughed, with a crisp voice.

"Seventh Lord... Candy..."

I just knew, well, why would I come to see myself and hold the sugar in my hands.

From a group of servants following the girl, an old mother came out, first she crossed her hands to give a blessing, and after she was done, the little girl took a four-layer hexagonal box from her hand and said: "My wife said, this is what I asked for earlier." The dim sum master from Taishi Chang's mansion came to tutor to make Jizhou dim sum. This is to honor the seventh master, and the woman felt a little ashamed after saying that.

Nian Nian walked over, covered her mouth and smiled, took the box and turned around to go to the back.

"She has a heart, thank her for me." Gu Zhao smiled, and Bi Liangli went over to reward the visitor with half a penny.

Su Shi, his eldest nephew's daughter-in-law, is a very interesting woman, she doesn't explain things clearly, and beats around the bush.Because he eats and drinks a lot here, those eating and drinking are not ordinary eating and drinking, they have never been seen in the north.The juniors in this courtyard really yearn for him here, but Gu Zhao is a senior, no one can come to exploit or be bold enough to beg for it.Unless he didn't want to live anymore, Master Gu Yan could slap them to death.

Later, Mrs. Su thought of a way, and from time to time, she asked her servants to bring her maids and send some rare food from Shangjing to pay her respects. Every time after paying her respects, Gu Zhao thoughtfully told her to fill the box with her. return gift.

She could see that Gu Zhao didn't like live monkeys, and he didn't let those so-called golden grandsons into the hospital every time, and didn't wait to show off how many poems he could recite, how many books he could read, and every time he saw it, he would never let him go. Unceremoniously kicked out.Mr. Gu Qi doesn't need to look at face when he wants to kick out anyone, what is his seniority?

"Who will live in Grandpa Seven's house?" The little girl asked in a childish voice, staring at the mud pile on the ground enviously.

Gu Zhao didn't answer, smiled and carried her into his room, and asked Mianmian to fetch preserved fruit for the little girl to eat.

Don’t look at just a few pieces of preserved fruit. The transportation is inconvenient these days, and the goods from the south can’t come to the north at all. In addition, many edible things have not been found. Therefore, the things produced by Zhuangzi in the south of Gu Zhao every year are very important for the north. , that is indeed a very rare and precious food.

Gu Zhao has a large fruit forest and mountain tops in the barbaric land. Those places are not even managed by Liang Guo, and the mountain tops are occupied casually.Who has nothing to do, can't manage the affairs of his own family well, and manage the savages in the barbaric land, the savages over there are impolite, run around in the mountains, and use poison, and there is miasma in the local area...

The northerners are very afraid of the southern land, thinking that there is a miasma over there.In fact, the fundamental reason why northerners die so quickly in the south is that they are not acclimatized to the environment.For someone who grew up in the south, he has long been used to it.Gu Zhao's kindness to some people in the south, but regarding the so-called miasma and plague, he thought it was nonsense.

However, half of the slaves he brought from the north to the south were indeed half dead. This point... Spread your hands, Gu Zhao himself can't explain it, the ancients' physical fitness?

Gu Zhao is a real southerner in his heart, so he knows what is produced in the south. He doesn't know how moist it is in the south, he doesn't have to pay taxes, and no one cares about him. It is a tropical forest that stretches for thousands of miles.

People have been planting all kinds of fruits in the mountains. If they can't be planted, Zhuangzi in the south will naturally have slaves and a few teams to go to the mountains to collect fruits, medicinal materials, dried fruits, and flower petals.Those crops are collected, and the fruits can be made into fruit flavors, preserved fruits, dried fruits, jams, and caramel.Dried fruits are dried in the sun, fried and pressed for oil.That's right, just like olives, this pressed oil is still very good.There are also medicinal materials, some common ones, which grow all over the mountains and plains, and wild tea. Although there are no large areas to cultivate the climate, wild tea trees are everywhere on the southern mountains. Pick them and fry them casually, and you can eat them.

The goods from Zhuangzi in the south have been transported here a long time ago. Those trucks are not eye-catching, and there are more than a dozen trucks at a time, one after another, four or five times a month.Regardless of just a few cars, the cost of transportation from collection, planting, brewing, transportation, and storage at this time is very terrible, even extravagant, let alone Gu Yangu, even the emperor, he may not have such a cost. enjoy.

When the convoy arrived in Shangjing, they didn't transport it to Suyunyuan, but put it on Gu Zhao's newly bought Zhuangzi near Shangjing.

There are many natural villages near Shangjing where merchants from all over the world live temporarily, and there are also suburban houses in the inner city where Beijing officials cannot afford houses.

Gu Zhao bought a Zhuangzi in a mountainous area eight miles away from Shangjing, with ten hectares of land and mountainous land.It cost a lot, even building the house and building the village, he spent more than 2000 guan. When his father left him, it was about this amount in cash, which shows how expensive the land in Beijing is.

This year, this is his first winter in Beijing, Gu Zhao naturally has to prepare well and strive to live comfortably. In the villa, more than 20 huge urns of pickled vegetables have already been prepared, and there are already some in the north. Cured meat, ham and sausages produced by their villa, and also dug cellars to store vegetables that can be hoarded.

Shipped from the south, there are large barrels of various jams, dozens of types of preserved fruits, sugars of various flavors, lotus root starch, high-quality southern rice, brewed fruit wine, grain wine, snake wine, medicinal wine, and various dried fruits , bamboo charcoal, all kinds of dried fish, dried shrimp skins, kelp, seaweed, dried squid, scallops, etc. There are a lot of tricks, all of which are used by Gu Zhao over the years. After all, he doesn't need to conquer the world to make a lot of money, so his behavior is not eye-catching.

Isn’t this going to be in Beijing for a few years? Gu Zhao didn’t want to wrong himself. Winter is coming soon. He asked someone to fix the kang by the side of the main hall early. The craftsman didn’t understand what he wanted, so Gu Zhao demonstrated by himself. .It's a pity that he doesn't know how to do it, but only knows the theory, so after half a month of tossing around, the warm kang is still far away from him.

He also quietly told Bi Liang to set up a whole chicken coop on the edge of the Suyun courtyard, and planned to raise thirty or forty chickens, ducks and geese in it. Chickens and ducks do not lay eggs in winter, so this problem needs to be solved.A brick and tile greenhouse has also been temporarily built, and there are no vegetable greenhouses. When he was in Pingzhou, there was a hot spring on the mountain. Vegetables can be grown in winter near the hot spring.

Stretching out his hand to touch the little girl's clothes, he caused a group of women to look sideways at Master Qi, but Master Qi didn't care. He had taken care of younger sisters and younger brothers, students, and children of his elder brother's family in his life.

Now that autumn is cool, there are fallen leaves floating everywhere in Shangjing, and the weather is not as clear as it is in summer. When the weather is cold, Gu Zhao's mood is inexplicably bad. He always wants to lose his temper, but he doesn't know who to turn to.

"It's cool in autumn, why do children wear so little? Mianmian, go inside and find a quilt." Gu Zhao stared at the weird woman with some reproach. This old guy came here to investigate?What to look around!

The mother-in-law didn't dare to explain, seeing the inexplicable anger of the seventh grandpa, she immediately brought the people to kneel down.

Mian Mian hugged a small quilt and came over, he had children's clothes here and there.Nian Nian brought the packaged box and handed it to the slaves. Gu Zhao wrapped the girl in a quilt, put the little girl in the arms of the old mother, and sent them away.

In the side room of the main room, Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Su's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are chatting. On the table in the room, there are several pots of desk chrysanthemums that have been prepared. The desk chrysanthemums at this time are not the same species as those of later generations. The chrysanthemum on the desk, most of the desks of later generations have hormone improvements.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are discussing, who will give this to, and where to put the pot.Su Shi is the housekeeper's grandma, and she has a lot of chores in her daily life. Fortunately, she is capable. She knows what she can do at home and abroad, and her means are even better.It's like dividing these pots of chrysanthemums, she can do it well, but she still has to come to ask her mother-in-law.

"This pot of green peonies will be sent to the fourth master's house, this pot of six whites will be sent to the eldest master's study, and these two pots of golden lion heads will be sent to the seventh master. These two pots of gentleman jade follow Feng Qingyuebai to Song Taishi's house Send it." Lu Shi pointed to a few pots of bonsai and arranged them.

The flower house in Zhuangzi only produces dozens of pots of desk chrysanthemums every year. Except for those dedicated to the palace and those who are favored, there are not many left. Therefore, elegant and precious flowers like desk chrysanthemums must be divided carefully. .

Hongzao directed a group of maids to move the chrysanthemums down, and Su Shi squinted at the pot of six white chrysanthemums, feeling quite satisfied.

"Mother, isn't there a pot for the master?" Su Shi asked cautiously.

Lu Shi smiled: "Hey, he doesn't understand, you go and ask them to find two golden pots, put two big ones, gorgeous ones, and pile them in piles, he will be satisfied. "

After all, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law laughed together. Just as they were laughing, the little girl was carried into the house by the mother-in-law.

"Hey, what is this wrapping up? Why did you come back like this?" Shi Lu took the little great-granddaughter with her hand, untied the quilt, and looked at the sweat.

Nanny Qi crossed her hands: "Go back to the old lady, Master Qi was afraid that the young lady would be cold, so he asked her to be wrapped and sent back."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at each other and smiled again. This seventh master is very interesting. I am afraid of the cold, but I feel that everyone else is cold.

Lu pursed her lips and laughed for a while, then touched her granddaughter's head a few times and sighed: "Your seventh uncle is a meticulous person, which no one else can compare to. In the past... hey, what a mistake, you said Why are you so sloppy." After Lu Shi finished speaking, she hugged the little girl and dangled around: "Oh, we have to be filial to your seventh grandfather, do you know?" After finishing speaking, he brought water from a cup on the side and drank it for his great-granddaughter , she is always afraid that the children will be thirsty.

Mrs. Su also smiled and said: "That's right, since the seventh uncle came, the father-in-law is also much happier, and his temper is much better every day. He doesn't stare when talking to Maode, mother-in-law doesn't know, not only the father-in-law likes the seventh uncle, but also Everyone of the younger generation likes it, but it's a pity... Uncle Seven is just like our girl, and I went there that time, and I didn't call it empty-handed, right, little girl, you have more face than grandma." Su Shi took it over from her granddaughter and teased her.

My own mother-in-law always feeds her little granddaughter like a bird, stuffing everything into the child's mouth.

What Su Shi was most satisfied with was not his attitude towards the little girl, but that Master Seven was not allowed to even enter the door when he saw those bastards. people.

In fact, his Seventh Master didn't think about it at all, he was just an irritable monkey from the bottom of his heart, making a fuss!

"Hey, Lao Gu's family is like this. The boys are going to be released, but the girls, oh, grandma, be good... Let me see what your seventh grandpa gave you?" Lu Shi saw that the little girl was pulling the hexagon. He asked Hongzao to help open the box.

The box was opened, and the first layer was filled with dried longan. Dried longan can be bought, but it is not as delicate. The size of this layer is as big as glutinous rice balls, and it looks pleasing.

On the second floor, there are two flat lacquer boxes, one box of coconut-flavored candy and one box of licorice candy.

The third layer is dried apricots, dried pineapple, and dried plantains.

The fourth layer is two jars of jam, one of apple and one of strawberry.

Mrs. Lu looked very strange, not talking about the food, just talking about the two lacquer boxes and the three-color jam jar, these little gadgets are exquisitely made, and... how can I describe them?If Lu Shi lived in modern times, he would probably know this word, cute.

"Tell me, your seventh uncle, why do you have a heart-to-heart?" Lu sighed, and stuffed a longan into his mouth.

"Or, the children are all running over there." Su waved his hand, and the peony beside him went up to take out the food in the box and divided it into two portions.

"Hey, it's not pleasant to tell people about it. My sister-in-law misses my uncle's food every day." Lu Shi teased with a smile.

Su covered her mouth and smiled: "Look at what you said, it's not your concern, it's me. Oh, I've always been thick-skinned, so I'm not afraid of people talking about it."

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were making fun of each other, and they looked harmonious. As they were talking, a woman came in with an old slave from the labor and slave room to pay the bill. Mrs. Su waved her hand, and the two little girls lifted a bamboo screen and placed it on the two sides. in front of people.

After the screen was set, a middle-aged man in his 30s stooped in from outside the door. When he came in, he knelt down and kowtowed first.

"Five Ugly, didn't you just finish the report a while ago? Why is there another one?" Su asked behind the screen.

The person who called Wu Chou was the steward of the family's slaves. His family used to work as a labor slave in the city. A few years ago, the family needed to make special weapons for several old masters, so they applied to the Neizao Shaofu. Later, when the late emperor found out about it, he personally selected some of the best craftsmen and gave them to his family.

Now, there are no more wars, and his family no longer makes weapons, so they make some utensils used at home.The Five Ugly family came together, as did the Second Ugly, and the Third Ugly, a total of three families who all know how to make copperware, and their craftsmanship is quite good.

Wu Chou returned cautiously: "Back to the two old ladies, the bill was originally settled, and the stove over there was extinguished, but the grandma of Cuiyutang called someone to order, and said it was..." He paused, He continued: "Grandma from Cuiyutang sent someone to tell me that last year's bronze wares were all turning black, and told us to send a new set, along with the seal of the second master."

After Wu Chou finished speaking, she held up a roll of sheepskin with both hands. Hong Dan went over to pick it up and brought it in. Su Shi looked down and was overjoyed.

Lu Shi glanced at it and wanted to laugh too, the things written on the parchment were average.

A copper hand stove, a sleeve stove, an incense burner, a kettle, a pot, a lamp, a hand lamp, and a pair of tea boats.This is normal.It's just that the things behind this are very interesting, six pairs of copper jewelry such as copper lotus hairpins, plum blossom hairpins, autumn leaf earrings, and bracelets.

Suppressing a smile, Mrs. Lu took a brush and wiped off a piece of copper jewelry underneath, sealed it, and handed the parchment to Hong Dan, who took it and returned it to Wu Chou.

"It's because they didn't pay attention, and gave you the work of the inner courtyard to your outer courtyard. It's okay. When I come down, I will tell the second master, you go, find some bright copper, and follow the most fashionable colors this year. The man is drawing outside. It's a face, please control it well." After Lu's order, he also asked Hongdan to make two packs of snacks to reward Wu Chou, Wu Chou's family has many children, seven or eight.

Wu Chou breathed a sigh of relief, took the snack box and thanked him for the reward.

"Oh, our aunt Jiaohong, if she doesn't find something for her son, she won't feel comfortable." Lu Shi sighed.

Su Shi just laughed, but didn't talk to her.

Jiaohong's thoughtful mind was just like that, she was reluctant to reward people with gold and jade, knowing that Wu Chou's elder brother Er Chou was good at making jewelry, so she took away the public funds of her second brother Gu Maohuai, and gave herself something to reward people.

"Hongyao, go find some loose gold scales behind me, and bring ten pegs of Pingzhou silver ingots, pick a good color... Didn't there be some pretty good plum blossom silver hairpins last year, go and get six to give to the second master together go."

Hongyao readily agreed, and after a while took out a box, Lu Shi took it and turned it over twice, smiling and shaking his head: "Well, that's it, you go and tell the second master, don't tell him to take it to heart. Go, our family does not have the rules of rewarding people with copper jewelry."

Hong Yao took the box and went away, Su Shi also drove out the girls and women beside her, and then said to Lu Shi with a smile: "Mother is kind-hearted."

Mrs. Lu looked up at the birdcage hanging outside the window, and her tone was always flat: "The second child is a good boy, and he is up to date. There is no reason to ruin his reputation because of his mother. This is outside. He is the son of the master. Besides, Maohuai has always respected Maode, and for this respect, he can't be blamed, but the youngest, Maoxing, has said that he has met a lot of people from other provinces outside these few days, and he even invites him to have a tea party at home... Then You seem to be honest in ordinary life..."

Su's complexion also darkened, she suddenly remembered something, and thought it was time to discuss it with her mother-in-law.

The four sons of Mr. Gu Yan, Mr. Gu, the eldest, Gu Maode, was born to be honest and honest, not at all like Gu Yan.The second child, Maohuai, was born to Jiaohong, and now he is a recorder in the Weapons Supervision. No matter whether he is practicing martial arts or studying, this child is good at reading, and his mind is right.It's a pity that he didn't find a good mother and made trouble for him all year round.

The youngest, Maoxing, was born by Yunniang. This kid is average in military affairs, but he is a promising student. He looks more honest than his elder brother Maode, but this is only at home. Outside, everyone says he looks like Gu Yan. , this is what Lu Shi hates the most.

On the other hand, a child has his own unique appearance, imitating his father everywhere, which is a bit intriguing.

Not to mention, when Gu Maohuai saw the box of sundries, he was so angry that he didn't spit it out.

But he said, Mrs. Su was about to talk to Mrs. Lu about something that came from outside, but a woman from below came in and said that the fourth grandma from Yaotang Road has come.

"What is she here for?" Lu's eyebrows frowned, it's really a bad year, and all the bereaved stars rushed to the house.