[Pride and Prejudice] Lady Makes Money

The servant's words surprised the whole family.

It was only nine o'clock in the morning, and because the sky was overcast, it didn't even look like it was fully bright outside.

It's about two hours' drive from Lan Bai County to here.

Mr. Alan has already arrived at this moment, so didn't he set off before dawn?

Mr. Bennet hastily greeted him in person.

Aaron looks very different today than he did in the past.

The man who usually wears a long gown and looks full of bookishness is now wearing a riding suit and a rare pair of long riding boots on his feet.

It looked like it was about to travel far.

He walked into the house, bowed to everyone, and said: "Please forgive me for visiting so rashly without writing a visiting letter in advance. Because I got a message from my fellow countryman last night, asking me to leave today. London. It is said that the ship that will pick us up will arrive soon, and we will return home as soon as the ship arrives.”

Speaking of this, Aaron smiled at the Bennet family, with a warm and sincere smile: "I have been stranded in this country for almost a year, and your family is my closest friend. So before I leave, I must personally say goodbye to you, and I only hope that we will have a chance to meet again in the future."

As soon as Mr. Alan finished speaking, the eye circles of everyone in the room couldn't help turning red.

Mr. Bennet even walked over and hugged him heavily, and patted him on the back.

But he didn't say a word.

Looking at it like that, he was afraid that if he opened his mouth, he would choke up and make a sound.

Mrs. Bennet wiped her tears directly.

During the six months when Mr. Bennet's leg was injured, Aaron and the Ben's family formed a deep friendship.

Not only Manli, even other people regard him as their best friend.

Although everyone knew that Alan was going to leave early, he might never have the chance to meet again after this departure.

But when this day really came, everyone still found it a little unbearable.

Kitty didn't say a word, and ran to the kitchen, needless to say, she must have gone to find all kinds of food for Aaron.

And Elizabeth and Lydia wiped their eyes, and followed in unison.

In this environment full of parting sadness, Alan still kept his smile.

He glanced at Manli and asked politely: "Miss Manli, do you mind if I ask you a few questions alone?"

This is what Manli expected.

The moment Alang appeared at her house, she knew that the most important reason for his coming was definitely because of that letter.

She cast a questioning look at her father.

Mr. Bennet nodded at her.

Therefore, Manli made a gesture of invitation to Alan, and led him into the study.

"Miss Manli, I don't have much time. Please allow me to directly ask the biggest puzzle in my heart. Can you explain to me what is the content of this letter?"

As soon as he entered the door, Alan asked directly.

As he spoke, he took out the letter that Manli had written to him from his pocket.

"There's nothing to explain. What I want to say is already in the letter." Manli looked at him and said calmly.

Alan took a deep look at Manli, with undisguised confusion in his eyes.

Manli naturally knew what he was confused about.

Because in the letter, she told Aaron bluntly that in the days to come, it will no longer be a comparison of which country has a long history and which has a deeper cultural heritage.

Knowledge is power, and by knowledge she means mastered scientific skills.

She told Alan that the silk was gorgeous and the porcelain was exquisite, but if they were shipped all the way to England in exchange for spices, clocks and music boxes, it would be too much of a loss.

If you want to maximize their profits, use them to exchange spinning machines, looms, shipbuilding, steam engines, and skilled handicraft workers.

She even risked being suspected by suggesting to Alan to buy some opium, disassemble it and take it back.

If the blueprints for the artillery can be found, they must be obtained at any cost.

In the end, she told Aaron over and over again, beware of all kinds of medicines sent to them by other countries, including those drugs with sedative and analgesic effects, hibiscus ointment and so on.

Because they all have another name, called duck slices. (not a typo)

When Manli wrote this letter, she also felt conflicted in her heart. She didn't know how shocked Alan would be after reading it.

I don't know whether these ideas of mine will be regarded as alarmist for him and his country, and will be abandoned like walking shoes?

But she still wrote it.

As a former Huaguo person, even if she is not sure whether the Huaguo at this moment is really her hometown?

However, she still wants to contribute a little more of her strength when she can.

Even if this power is so weak that it is not as good as a little firefly.

Seeing that Manli had no intention of explaining at all, Alan sighed and said proactively: "Miss Manli, if it weren't for your skin color, hair, and eyes that are completely different from ours, I would really think that you are our exile. fellow countrymen outside."

Manli pursed her lips, but did not answer his words.

In fact, to a certain extent, Alan's idea is not wrong!

Seeing that she was silent, Alan continued: "Your thinking coincides with mine. Frankly speaking, when I read this letter, I was so surprised that you can't even imagine. There is no way to believe that such a letter is written by a British girl. Miss Manli, if you write this to us, are you afraid that one day we will be able to threaten your country?"

Manli laughed all of a sudden.

"No." She answered seriously.

"Although I am an Englishman at the moment. But Mr. Alan, you may not believe it. In my heart, I always feel that I am a Chinese in my previous life. I have never been to your country, but for your culture, There are also customs that I can understand at a glance, and I can learn it as soon as I learn it."

Hearing what she said, Alang thought of the exchanges she had with him, her fluent Chinese, and the meals she cooked, so he couldn't help but nodded in agreement.

"I know that you are a country that pays attention to the golden mean. You have never been aggressive. You are used to treating people with kindness, but you lack the most basic vigilance. So, even if you are capable, They will not take the initiative to point their guns outward.”

Speaking of this, Manli thought of the cowardly and incompetent side of the late Qing government shown in her poor historical knowledge.

I couldn't help but added another sentence: "I once saw a proverb in your country in a book called: When a friend comes, there is good wine. If the jackal comes, there are swords and guns waiting for him. I think this sentence says You are right!"

Alan frowned, and went through all the proverbs he knew in his mind, and he didn't remember hearing a sentence similar to what Manli said.

So he was serious, and repeated each word after Manli, deeply imprinting this sentence in his heart, and he would never forget it for the rest of his life.

Then, he gave Manli a deep bow, expressing his sincerest thanks to her.At the same time, he also left her his address in Huaguo, hoping that one day, he would have the opportunity to meet her again.

The moment he was about to leave, Alan suddenly took out a white cloth bag from his pocket and put it on the desk.

"Miss Manli, I want to entrust you with a favor, please don't refuse."

Manli hesitated for a moment, instinctively feeling that she shouldn't agree immediately.But facing Alan's clear and sincere eyes, he still couldn't say the words of rejection.

"If you have anything to say, just say it, and I will definitely do my best to help you."

"It's nothing important."

Hearing her promise, Alan smiled slightly, untied the strap on the cloth bag with his own hands, pointed to the bunch of keys inside and said: "This is the key to my house, and the deed, I will pass it on to you. I just hope You can go there often when you are free, don't let it be completely deserted. After all, it has been with me for such a long time, and the herbs in the front and back of the yard have also taken me a lot of energy. "

Manli was taken aback.

She never thought that Alang would give her the house as a gift.

Although the house was not as big as my own manor, there was a large area of ​​land in the front and back yards, plus the house and the furnishings in the house, it was impossible to buy it without a few thousand pounds.

"No, no, no." Manli quickly declined: "Mr. Alan, you are just joking, how could I ask you for such an expensive gift? It is a family business!"

"Family business?"

Alan smiled: "Use it well, it's a family business, and it's a deserted garden. Miss Manli, don't refuse, you know my situation, if you want to go back to this place, you don't know what to do. How many years have passed. Even if I come back, I can't go back to Lanbai County to live. What am I going to do with it? Keep the long grass?"

"Actually, you can sell it."

"Sell it to someone who doesn't understand anything, and then take all my hard work for a year and pull it out like weeds?"

Alan snorted coldly: "Then I would rather let it be so barren!"

Manli: "..."

She didn't know what else to say.

"It's for you, it's for you. If you don't want it, just throw it away." Alan said, threw the cloth bag on the desk, turned his head and walked out of the study first.

There is no banquet in the world that lasts forever, even if everyone is reluctant to part with it, Alang still leaves.

So many days later, when Manli gave Mrs. Bennet a massage, the kind lady couldn't help being sad.

After coming back from Mr. A Lang's house last time, Manli specifically went to find her parents and told them about the dangers of giving birth to a child at an advanced age.

Manli originally thought that her parents would be very nervous after she said so much, and would reconsider the matter of having an heir.

But what I didn't expect was that this time, the mother who had always been obedient to her father was very firm.

She categorically rejected Mr. Bennet and Manli's proposal to let her give up this goal, saying that she must take good care of her body, and if there is any hope, she will also give birth to a little brother for Manli and the others.

She said that Mr. Alan had told her clearly about the pros and cons before, and it was not as serious as what Manli said.

But even if it was really dangerous, she admitted it.

I swear not to give up until I give birth to a son!

Mrs. Bennet said bluntly that no matter what, she must not look at her family's property at the expense of that coward Collins.

If there was such a day, even if she didn't die because of giving birth to a son, she would definitely be pissed off by this matter!

Housewives at home usually don't talk much, but once they really want to make a decision, other people have no way to disobey it.

Mother's attitude is so firm, what else can Manli say?

The only thing he can do is to try his best to take good care of his mother according to the prescription left by Mr. Alang.

Time flies, and it seems that it is only a few days since Gene said in the letter that he and his family will return to Hertfordshire.

The house has been tidy and tidy by parents and servants.

After being severely stopped by Mr. Bennet, Manli didn't dare to go to the New Grange these days, instead she honestly prepared menus for guests at home.

She wrote a letter to her uncle, begging him to find some geese, ducks, and newborn suckling pigs for her.

Then, under the curious eyes of everyone, commanded Martha, slaughtered, cleaned, pickled...

I plan to teach her and Kitty a few new dishes on the day of the banquet——

Roast duck, roast suckling pig, and big goose stewed in iron pot.

In addition, the hot pot that Manli gave to the blacksmith to make according to the blueprint has also been prepared.

After confirming that it was correct, she asked someone to make twenty of them for her in one go.

The appearance of this hot pot is modeled after the brass charcoal hot pot used by Manli in her previous life for eating hot-boiled mutton.

It's just scaled down many times.

It has been made into a pocket version, and the one used by multiple people is changed to one used by one person.

Soon, the steward also brought the charcoal that Manli asked for, specially made by Zhuangzi for this banquet, which would not produce any pungent smell.

The preparations for the banquet were finally officially completed.