The husband's son-in-law

Batches of streamer silk were sent to Jiting, and luckily the road was good. The road from the prefecture to the villages and towns, especially the road to the wharf, was wide and wide, and four or five carriages could walk side by side.

Although Li Zhouzhou will not go for this shipment, he still has to watch the inventory. Fubao sent it to the school, so he had time to come to Jiting for a walk, and ordered seven people from Li Jiazhong's generation to go to Jiting together. Ting.

Wang Jian and Su Jiayu are naturally colleagues.

The two didn't know each other very well, and they were awkward sitting in the carriage for a while, but Su Jiayu smiled shyly and showed his kindness first, so Wang Jian also laughed, chatted a little, and asked if the stewed cooking business was busy or not. of.

"I'm not tired, and it's not me working, just watching the workers do it."

It's not that Wang Jian has never watched the work of the subordinates, because he has to manage and watch, so he is more worried than the workers. If there is a problem, it is because he is not doing his job well, and he has to deal with outsiders, all kinds of tiredness .

"Seeing that you are as soft-tempered as Brother Lin, but it must be amazing to support a shop."

Su Jiayu was praised, and smiled slightly with crooked eyes, and said, "I'm not the only one, Uncle Li Xia is here."

"I know, he is also powerful, and those who come from the boss are all powerful and capable." Wang Jian said.

Su Jiayu: "You also praised yourself."

"Naturally." Wang Jian said without any shyness, looked at Su Jiayu and smiled, and became happy.

When we arrived in Jiting, we stayed for one night, and the workers began to move things onto the boat. Wang Jian was about to get busy. The boss took care of the big head, so he grabbed the small head and made a bill to report to the boss. The boss finally checked It's done in one go.

Su Jiayu is supposed to be on vacation, but she can't stay idle, so she goes over to help everyone after seeing everyone busy.

"Then you have a total of [-] pieces of streamer silk for the new water blue, and the ones with patterns account for [-] pieces. The ones with patterns and engraved seals on the oil paper are the ones with patterns, and the ones without them are water blue." Wang Jian was also polite and told Su Jiayu.

Su Jiayu took the note and read it carefully.

After Wang Jian finished speaking, he still thought that Su Jiayu could not read or write, so when he saw this, he said, "Are you literate?"

"When I was in the village, I didn't know how to read and write. The men in my family didn't have the money to read and read. I went to Beijing. At that time, I was a stewed duck. When I had time, my cousin taught us how to read and do accounts. The manager Liang was also very patient and taught us. , These are all for my cousin's face."

"The boss didn't treat you as coolies." Wang Jian said.

Su Jiayu understood, nodded and said: "I didn't understand these differences in the past, but then my cousin's family came to Zhaozhou. There are four of us in total. Two of us will stay in Beijing. If we come over, we will draw lots to decide, and the two of us will come. After entering the store, I must have been a little uncomfortable at first, but I quickly became proficient.”

At that time, he knew how his uncle cultivated and cared for the four of them.

If there is no cousin, with his size and physical strength, no one would want him to go out to do coolies for others, let alone earn more money than the workers now, and these few things.

He was lucky, he was picked by Uncle Xing.

Going out this time is different, flowing silk and canned lychees.Dried seafood and dried fruits will not be released until the second batch. In order to save costs, it is best to dry them in the sun. The weather in Zhaozhou is hot, and once March and April are over, the summer is long, so it is very suitable for dry goods of.

Li Zhouzhou matched up the quantity and goods of several orders, and he was ready to go.

Along with them were the four members of the loyal generation, all of whom followed Li Zhouzhou. These days, they also got a little bit of the temper of the seven, among whom these four were steady and somewhat flexible.

The cargo ship left the dock slowly. On class A, the crew members waved the flag of Zhaozhou merchants. The workers and people on the dock below waved goodbye one after another. /The men are all working as crew members and workers, and when they come back, they receive a sum of money, and the family life is easier.

Carrying and unloading goods with ship merchants, you can get two taels of silver for a trip.

This is a good job.

However, Zhaozhou merchants are also picky. Not everyone can go up to work. They want workers who are good at swimming, have rich experience in going to sea, and have good physique.

This time we went out on three boats. Wang Jian and Su Jiayu shared a cabin. Although it was a bit dilapidated, it was cleaned very clean and the bedding was new. It was just placed on the boat for a few days, and the bedding also carried sea water. The taste is not soggy, but not dry either.

"If you get seasick, just tell me. I brought a bag of tangerine peel here, chew it." Wang Jian first shared a few slices of Su Jiayu.

Su Jiayu thanked him and put it in his purse. He said it was fine, and he felt that he was not uncomfortable. He could get through it. Even facing the sea was a novelty. It's not as lively as it is now.

Sure enough, the boat floated on the sea for a day, and it was dark in the evening. Now Su Jiayu must have been listless, and also a little scared. She didn't dare to look at the sea anymore, so she sat on the narrow bed and said in the dark, "It's so dark outside. I can't see the sea clearly, and I don't know how deep it is, it's a little scary."

"It's actually okay, you're scared and go to bed early."

Su Jiayu couldn't fall asleep, but she was embarrassed to pester Wang Jian for delaying his rest. He was wobbly, even when he lay down and fell asleep, he felt wobbly and unsteady.Knowing that Su Jiayu was not asleep, Wang Jian turned over and asked about the Central Plains.

The customs of eating, drinking, dressing and harvesting festivals.

Su Jiayu started chatting, but she didn't know whether she was sleepy or dizzy, she fell asleep anyway.Wang Jian heard that the small bed opposite was breathing steadily, and slowly closed his eyes to sleep.

Zhaozhou City.

Li Mansion is about to start construction and build a house. It has expanded a whole circle on the original mansion. The nearby houses are bought, bought, and demolished. They are about the same size as the Chen Mansion on the other side of the yamen. What is the population of the government.

Naturally, those who mutter this will be scolded back.

"You don't care how many people are in Mr. Gu's family. If they have money, why can't they cover it?"

In any case, the Li Mansion expanded and started construction, and the timber and stone materials began to be transported. Naturally, the life of the Li family was somewhat affected, but not too much.The neighbors were knocking down the walls and demolishing the beams. Li Da liked to go to see it when he had nothing to do. He wanted to intervene and ask more questions. Later, he found that the houses built by the carpenters and bricklayers here were much more elaborate than his. The houses in his village were not enough to look at. .

So I don't talk, just watch and learn, and even then I have a lot of fun.

Gu Zhao had already noticed that his father couldn't get along with people of literati and high ranks, whether it was others flattering or flattering him—this father was even more uncomfortable.Dad loves talking and chatting with the low-level people, and feels more at ease.

Because of the same origin, even if there is a big difference between the north and the south, the fundamentals are the same. They all dig food from the ground, earn hard-earned money, and support the children of the family.

Li Zhouzhou has a lot of leisure recently. He goes to the factory every few days to visit, or to the braised cooking shop. He doesn’t go to the poorhouse very often. When he passed, everyone carried them and talked with him. He couldn’t do anything. dry.

This is to bother people.

Li Zhouzhou then took out the dustpan that he hadn't used for a long time, and called Brother Lin to do the work together. Don't stay in the house when the sun is good. Let the servants move the things out. In the yard, he agreed. Fu Bao makes Wang Wang a tiger that can grind his teeth.

"I haven't done it for many years, and this hand is born." Li Zhouzhou took the scissors and cut the cloth. The cloth couldn't be put together, and he laughed at himself for being clumsy.

Brother Lin glanced at it and said, "It's cut backwards, it should be like this."

"Tell me, I'll come, and I promised Fubao to make it myself." Li Zhouzhou felt that he still needed to save face a little, so he said to Brother Lin: "I used to make a jacket for Grandma, cloth Tiger is designated no problem."

Brother Lin pursed his lips and smiled, the boss wanted face just like his aunt.

"The jacket made by the boss must be very nice."

Li Zhouzhou also laughed, Brother Lin praised him in turn for comforting him, and he didn't care, saying: "It's Grandma's birthday, I bought a new material, a piece of purple, and there are no dark embroidery patterns , I came here by myself, the ones I made were round collars and the fronts were used by peasants to work, the sleeves were narrow and the cuffs were actually quite common, the fronts of the fronts had the word “福” on the chest..."

Brother Lin has a picture in his mind.

The old man must like it, he wants to make one for his grandma.

"Boss, what do people from Central Plains and people from Beijing wear?"

"I wear a few more clothes than we in Zhaozhou, especially in Beijing. They are a little bit more sophisticated, and the sleeves have to be made wider, so that it is inconvenient to work. At first glance, it looks like a lady from your family."

Brother Lin thought of the dancer's clothes during the Lantern Festival. The sleeves were also long, but they were narrow and long, because they were easy to swing, jumped up, and circled around, like a swimming dragon.

"The standard is the upper jacket, with a slanted front, a round neck, and a double front, and a skirt underneath. There are not many embroidery patterns, and there is not much difference in style."

Everyone in Beijing and Central Plains wears it like this.

After Li Zhouzhou finished speaking, he saw that Brother Lin's eyes lit up, and he hesitated again, so he said, "What kind of clothes do you want to sew? Just do it if you want to, whether you can wear it on your body, or go out if you don't, then let's talk."

Now there is no shortage of materials.

Brother Lin smiled and nodded, and drew what he thought.The clothes in the north are also orthodox and traditional, with basically no changes in style, except that the waistline is slightly narrower, the cuffs are slightly larger or smaller, the embroidery changes, and the skirts and petticoats are lined with belly pockets.

In short, I put on several pieces scatteredly.

This is an ordinary dress. If it is cold in autumn and winter, or if you are participating in some big event, it is more formal, and the dress is more complicated and proper.

Zhaozhou is different. Zhaozhou is poor. Before, the common people didn’t think about dressing, they just wanted to do it. They had no money, so they could only wear casually.

But a little, wear less.

Zhaozhou is hot, and the summer is long, especially for the people below, who plan food and work in the fields. When there is no one, the men can still show their arms and arms, and their trousers are rolled up above their knees.Naturally, women don't show it like this, but they just wear clothes in their belly pockets and over their pants.

There is no such thing as long-sleeved underwear and underwear.

Brother Lin thought, on the basis of making it easier to do things, can it be changed to make it look better?He started to write while thinking about it, and drew and traced for a while. If he made a mistake, he picked up another piece of paper and drew slowly.

The two of them were doing their own things, and Li Zhouzhou also started to sew the cloth tiger.

In the past few days, in addition to making cloth tigers for Wang Wang, Li Zhouzhou also has cushions, which are round and thickly sewn in the middle, stuffed with cotton, and the leftover coarse cloth is cut into strips and braided around the sides, and sewed together. After a circle, the mat is placed a little higher, and Wang Wang likes to play with the braids the most.

There is a bark, Fubao came back and looked at it and liked it, Li Zhouzhou sewed the same pattern for Fubao again.

Gu Zhao came back after setting the value, seeing that Fu Bao and Wang Wang's ass pads were exactly the same, he couldn't help laughing, and said, "You two are brothers."

Fu Bao didn't think his father scolded him as a puppy, on the contrary, he liked it very much, hugged Wang Wang's neck and rubbed Wang Wang's ears, happily said: "Wang Wang, did you hear me, I'm your big brother, you are my little brother Wang Wang. "

"..." Gu Zhao.

It's true that Li Zhaoxi has fallen in love with being an elder since he was promoted to the grandchildren of the Chen family. As long as he is a junior, he is generous, not to mention caring and loving. Now he doesn't even let a dog go.

Li Zhouzhou's father understood it, and later arranged the same type of butt pad for Mr. Gu.

Gu Zhao: ...

"Honey, you are laughing at me."

"You boasted that the cushion is soft and easy to sit on, so why are you laughing at you?" Li Zhouzhou denied it.

Gu Zhao laughed, "I am the father of brothers Wang Wangli Zhaoxi, then you are their father."

Li Zhouzhou: "...I can't say no to you."

As a result, the next day, Master Gu got into the carriage with a cushion, first sent Li Zhaoxi to school, and then went to the yamen, but this time he came down with a cushion, and everyone saw that Master Gu had something in his hand and went to the yamen.

"Curious?" Mrs. Gu said to his teacher with a smile on the mat, "My Boss Li made it with his own hands and sewed it with unnecessary cloth ends. It is frugal and practical. It is stuffed with cotton and it feels soft when I sit up. He sees me working hard. I just sat there all morning and sewed this up for me.”

Master: ...I just glanced at it.

A day later, Li Zhaoxi also brought a butt pad when he went to school. He went to the government school. He put it on his seat when he entered the classroom, sat down happily, and let out a comfortable sigh. : Brat is even more exaggerated than what I showed.

The other students were curious when they saw it, so they naturally asked more questions.

Li Zhaoxi, what are you?

"It's a cushion that my father made for me. My father was afraid that my butt would be damaged if I sat too much, so he made this for me." Li Zhaoxi was very happy.

There is Mr. Gu in the yamen, and Li Zhaoxi in the government school. Once this "celebrity style" blows, soon the Li family father and son will come out with the same style of butt pads. It is the students who go to school who want to go back to find their parents, and the public officials who are off work go home. I also asked my wife to ask for it, Mr. Gu used it, and they also made one.

After hearing the description, these female relatives found that except for cotton, which cost a little money—but it was not used much, the rest were made of scraps of cloth, which was nothing, and they would sew one up in a while.

When Li Zhouzhou found out, most of the workers' seats in the factory also had them. When he saw the braids around them, he knew what was going on.If it is a simple cushion, there is no need for a circle of braids, it is for Wang Wang to play.

I didn't know what to say for a moment.

The first shipment was sent out in mid-April, and it was already early June when the group returned.During this period, the cushion wind blew up in Zhaozhou, and Lin Qiaoniang and her husband-in-law and Li went to the mansion newspaper. Since then, Lin Qiaoniang has become Qiaoniang. Later Li Zhouzhou found out that Qiaoniang and Huaniang also made cushions for sale. Go out a lot.

The two are honest and responsible, earning hard money.

At the beginning of June, the three ships of the Zhaozhou merchants who were going to the merchants came back and returned to the voyage. After that, it was the same old way. In the official business, the account details were checked, and the goods were corrected one by one, and they asked if there was anything else.

Su Shiyi said: "It's nothing serious, but the canned food is in high demand, and I also heard some jokes from Guanshi Liang."

It turned out that Liang Cong was also skeptical, can this can really last for half a year?There are quite a few people who want to join him. A few noble ladies in Beijing really saved a jar. They used to count the results every day and asked for a few days, but then they forgot about it after a year. After more than three months, When I was moving things, I realized that the canned lychee was accidentally smashed into a gap, and the sweet lychee fragrance wafted out of it.

Naturally, the lady didn't eat it, and let the maids around her taste the good and bad.

"Miss, it turned out to be good, the taste hasn't changed—"

The maid remembered, "I haven't tasted anything good, so I don't know if it tastes good or bad, but it tastes delicious, without any sour smell."

The noble girl couldn't hold back and took a real bite, she gnawed a bit with the tip of her teeth, and said in surprise: "It's really good! It's really complete. I put it last year, and now it's been three months at least. It's really not bad." .”

Liang Cong was also surprised, brought this matter up, and finally said: "I shouldn't believe what Boss Li sells."

The cans are in high demand and sell out quickly.The streamer silk was brought directly to Tangzhou, where there were more fresh colors and the price was not expensive. After a few days, everything was sold out.

Su Shiyi took Su Jiayu home. Seeing that Wang Jian was staying in Tangzhou alone, Su Jiayu suggested that Wang Jian go back together. Wang Jian thought for a while and agreed. He had never seen the village in the Central Plains and wanted to see if it was the same. of.

But when he went to the village and climbed the mountain road, Wang Jian sprained his ankle. After all, Wang Jian also grew up in a wealthy businessman, so he can be regarded as a young master.Su Shiyi carried people behind his back, but things went wrong. When he arrived in the village, someone said, "Master Su, your son has brought a brother back."

The Su family misunderstood, and started to pick on Wang Jian, who had fallen down and his clothes were dirty and slightly embarrassed. He took the eyes of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law and asked where he was and how old he was. Not so good.

When Su Shiyi didn't hear it right, he said it seriously.

"Young Master Wang is the brother of a wealthy businessman in Zhaozhou. He is the young master. His father and cousin are in business together. Young Master Wang is also in charge. I will listen to him when I come out this time."

"You are making things difficult for others, how can I work under them in the future and earn wages?"

Now the Su family understood and knew that there was a misunderstanding, and they didn't dare to criticize Wang Jian any more. They entertained distinguished guests as if they were entertaining Wang Jian, but Mr. and Mrs. Su murmured behind them, saying that they would not dare to find a brother for Su Shiyi. My brother failed to have a baby, and their family is also up now, and it is lucky to have more children.

Su Shiyi didn't know at all, and felt that it was handled properly.

In fact, behind the scenes, during the two days when Wang Jian was in the village, the villagers even murmured about him, saying that he was shameless and shameless, and that he lived in someone's house at a young age. He must be trying to seduce people. Where does it look like.

Wang Jian didn't tell Su Shiyi these words, let alone Su Jiayu, these people said about him, he looked over on the spot, stepped forward, chatted with these people, and these people didn't dare to talk anymore.

The guards behind him were not vegetarian either.

Naturally, there were also enthusiastic ones. The children in the village picked fruits for him to eat and asked him about Zhaozhou outside.The girl from the Su family helped him with laundry and mending. She smiled shyly and cooked delicious food. Knowing that he loves pancakes, she made him some pancakes before leaving.

There are good and bad.

"Brother Yu's parents said, you just need to be the master of Brother Yu's marriage." Su Shiyi said.

Su Jiayu went back this time and took 30 taels of silver. He originally thought to give it to his family, but he was already worried about keeping half of it, but after staying at home for two days, the 30 taels became 20 taels in the end.

The reason is also simple.

Su Shiyi is better to say, after all, he is a male, although he used to be in the middle of the Su family's big house, his parents think this son is honest, stupid, not clever, and he doesn't like him very much - there are many children.

But how to say, for the villagers, Su Shiyi is considered well-off now, and if he can get more than ten taels of silver a year, Su Dayifang naturally values ​​it.But the others, especially the two elder brothers, didn't go at first, but they were singled out by Xing elder brother. No one in these families was reluctant to say no, which shows the status of Su Jiayu and Su Jiaying.

This time I went back to ask for money, how much I had saved and how much money I had.

It’s also the same old saying, my brother wants to marry, and when he gets married, he belongs to someone else’s family. I’m your mother and father. It’s not easy to give birth to you and support you. Now that you can make money, you have to subsidize the family, give it all to the family, and work hard. Earn a few more years, get married in no hurry, there are a lot of bachelors in the village——

Su Jiayu felt a little cold, 30 taels became 20 taels.

Later, he said that he wanted to stay in Zhaozhou, and if he came back, he would have no money to take. My cousin said to show him a marriage.The Su family actually didn't want Brother Yu to marry outside, so far away, who knows if they will send money in the future?But if you marry in the village, you will have no money to take.

He said that Brother Yu is not in a hurry when he is still young, and he will get married when he is eighteen or nineteen.

Anyway, it's just trivial things, the business is going well, and people have come back safely, besides that, there is of course a letter.Senior Brother Jingli, Second Brother Yan and Big Brother Zheng, and letters from the village.

Li Zhouzhou opened Xiaoshu's letter, and just after reading the beginning, he was happy, and said: "Xiaoshu's sister has found her husband's family, and she is a scholar. She is from Beijing. She was married last winter, and she said yes. June weather is warm enough for wedding ceremony."

"I just told you, the second brother has been promoted, and Liu Fulang's sister is still worried about getting married?"

Li Zhouzhou: "You can't say that, maybe this scholar isn't aiming for this. Girl Xiaoshu always has other advantages."

"You're right." Gu Zhao felt that he shouldn't think so, thought about it carefully, and said, "Liu Fulang's sister is very brave, and she doesn't care about money and wealth. I heard you said that she still does housework and cleans up the house when she is at home. Also be diligent and thrifty at home.”

At the beginning, the Liu family chose the squire as their wife for the youngest daughter. Regardless of age, the squire's family must have some money, and he must be a wealthy family.The fact that Liu Fulang's sister escaped from marriage and escaped shows that she doesn't care about money.

Li Zhouzhou nodded, "That's right." He said happily: "I'll look at the letter again, Xiao Shu said that this scholar looked very sarcastic - he is still like this, if he doesn't like to talk politely, he must not like him .”

"This scholar is a little older, 21."

"I haven't married yet at 21? Don't you have some hidden illness?" Gu Zhao didn't talk about the door again.

Li Zhouzhou read it carefully and said: "This man is filial. His father passed away, and it took him three years to keep his filial piety."

"Is that so, then there is only one mother? Don't be Ma Baonan." Seeing Zhou Zhou glaring at him, Gu Zhao immediately accepted it, nodded and continued without saying anything.

Li Zhouzhou continued to read, but in fact there was nothing wrong with it, Xiao Shu said in the letter that even though he looked sour and lost weight, my sister had nothing to say, so it was settled.

"When I deliver the goods later, I have to add a dowry to Miss Xiaoshu. Although it is a bit late, I have to go along with it."

"This is what it should be." Gu Zhao said nothing about this matter.

Letters from the village and letters from Liu Fulang were daily routines, nothing important. After the whole family had finished talking, Gu Zhao opened the letter from his senior brother after they had their own rest at night.

Lost again, several confrontations, not to mention the loss of soldiers and horses.

"...The Twelfth Prince was injured, but it looked like a slight injury. The note that was sent back didn't say too carefully, so it shouldn't matter."

Gu Zhao couldn't remember the prince's injury either. In the year Yuanchen died last, that is, in the next April or so, a remote seventh-rank official didn't know the news well, only the big news.

But he didn't know that this letter was written in mid-February, and now it's the beginning of June in his hands. Not to mention the rapid changes on the battlefield, even Liu Shu's sister's marriage has also changed, and the happy event almost turned into a funeral.

A month ago, the scholar was about to withdraw the engagement, and all the matchmakers and mothers came to the door. The strict and trustworthy official authority did not dare to make a big show, but he insisted on one meaning: withdraw the engagement!He also said that the Yan family had cheated their family.

The girl from the Liu family is not chaste, she was divorced and ran all the way to the capital, who knows—if her family hadn't sent someone to inquire, she would have been kept in the dark and accepted this broken shoe.

The scholar didn't dare to say that, his mother said it was ugly, if anyone married such an unclean woman, it would be an insult to the family and corrupt the family style. Although their family is poor, they have a noble character...

Liu Shu was so angry that he yelled and cursed, worried about his reputation of being rigorous and trustworthy, he didn't do anything in the end.If it was delayed, he would have to roll up his sleeves and tear the old woman's mouth open.

When this happened, Xiucai was afraid of being strict and trustworthy, and dared not publicize it, but he also didn't want to endure marrying such a wife, who originally talked about things behind closed doors, who would have thought that it would be spread.

Rigorous and trustworthy, the confidant of the Holy One is very jealous. There are officials who sued Yan Jingxin, but it is a pity that the Holy One is so devastated by the war that he scolded the official. Do you mean that you are a minister who solves problems for me, or are you just talking about women? Regarding the affairs of the back house, if you only have the ability to tell stories, why not resign and go back.

The scolding was rather harsh, and the speaker lost face at that time and almost bumped into a pillar.

But in the end is not.

It really hit me, the other officials used their bodies to persuade the Holy Majesty, they were outspoken and outspoken, and they were for the good of the country and the community, but this bumper, when mentioned, was like a villain and a woman who talked right and wrong, not even righteous. If you can't take it, you will only be ridiculed.

But in this way, everyone in Beijing knows about Liu Fulang's sister.

Now, there is no way for the sister of the Liu family to survive, she was divorced one after another, and she hanged herself while no one was in the middle of the night——

Fortunately, Liu Shu was worried, and after getting up at night, he went over to have a look, and then he was saved.

She was rescued, but her reputation was ruined, so she had no face to live on, now she can't stay in the capital, and she can't go back to the village.

"I can't live in these two places, there are other places, don't be stupid, brother think of a way, yes, yes, brother Zhou Zhou, brother Zhou Zhou, it will happen naturally..." Liu Shu hugged his sister and cried, he was almost scared dead people.

If he hadn't given the girl a few taels of silver, she wouldn't have had the travel expenses to go to Beijing to join him.