By Jia Xiuzhen

Let's talk about Li Wan's listening to Madam Xu's talk about all kinds of things in the village, especially the story about using charcoal as a substitute for writing. He felt so moved by people's flexibility, so he decided to be a good person and chopped the carnation charcoal into thick and thin sticks, a whole yard. Two rattan baskets, asked Madam Xu to take them back.If the charcoal next to it is made to such a thickness, not to mention it is not easy to chop, even if it is done, it will not be able to withstand the force.

This charcoal of bamboo and bamboo is stronger than gold and stone. Madam Xu and the others thought it was too hot in the farm. To break it up and use it, one would have to work hard and smash it with a big stone and a hammer. Now that it is made into charcoal pencils, naturally it will be easy. Broken.Mr. Zhuang Shangyu got two pinches of charcoal thread from Madam Xu, and he took it and wrote on the wooden wall in disbelief, and he was also amazed.

I don't know if it's because of a lot of reading, Mr. Yu's crooked ideas are one crop after another, and he took a group of children to the mountain to cut some small bamboos and came back. Not bushy.The bamboo tube is no more than the thickness of a finger, and these bamboos are cut section by section according to the length of the charcoal thread, and the middle bamboo joint is opened, and the charcoal thread is wrapped round and round with the thinnest hemp twine rope until The thick and thin bamboo tube is then stuffed in, and the mouth is tightly plugged with some rags. It is easy to hold it in the hand, and it does not dirty the hands. It also has a bamboo body like a writing brush. The group of children who follow are happy No way.Naturally, Nanny Xu told Li Wan about this as a rare event, and she was full of praise.

Not to mention the trivial matters of the poor family in Caotianzhuang, in that most prosperous place in the world, there is another bustle, which is the selection of the female historian.Originally, it was said that it was just to choose escorts for several princesses, but who would have thought that several eldest princesses would also join in? It used to be that the female officials on duty accompanied the concubines to pick and choose, but now even the concubines and concubines are also involved. If you want to go through the details, the eunuch who is in charge of this matter will be so worried that he can't eat or sleep.

Naturally, the four Jinling families had received this letter long ago, and they didn't notice anything. Unexpectedly, after a few days, word spread that Princess Shu Ning had taken a fancy to Baochai, and now they called her almost every day. accompany.Aunt Xue has not been in the capital for a long time, so she doesn't know the tricks inside. She only thinks that Baochai's character is good, and she is in the eyes of the princess.Mrs. Wang has other considerations in her heart.

This day, Mother Jia finished her breakfast and was about to let Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang go to eat by themselves. Seeing Mrs. Wang's expression was different, she pointed out something to discuss with Mrs. Wang, and all the people around her dispersed.After everyone had left, Mrs. Wang told about Princess Shu Ning's choice of Baochai to take with her. Mother Jia pondered for a moment and said, "What do you mean?"

Mrs. Wang hesitated and said: "Princess Shu Ning, now she has to be called the eldest princess. She doesn't show her maternal status, but now she has a lot of power in the palace. After careful study, she is very good at employing people. Now the concubine in the palace One person, the concubine and the following two were her original attendants, and there were several concubines in several prince's mansions who were her original people. There is another one, the one in the prince's mansion. Concubine Jing talked about it, and there are two families that the princes personally asked for. Several concubines also said that Princess Shu Ning might want to follow the way of Pingyang in Han Dynasty."

Mother Jia's heart brightened when she heard this, and she smiled at the corner of her mouth and said, "When you told me about it last time, I didn't take it seriously, I just thought you were overwhelmed. Now it seems that you were ahead of the curve." The madam shook her head and said: "It's still hard to say now, but my heart is always up and down."

Mother Jia gently scratched the handrail with her fingers, and sighed: "Although the four of us are united in spirit, we are not from the same family. Now that it is such a time, our family is no different than before. It is no wonder that others are different. Thinking about it. It's just that it's not common sense to put the family's wealth on the daughter's family. We haven't made it through this way yet, so some flatterers will catch up. Although it shouldn't be, we can't let them easily Go as you wish."

Mrs. Wang heard what Jiamu said, and said: "It's just how to think of a way to do this. It must be done properly. After all, it's our family's business." Jiamu said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about this. You can't get out of the matter, even with your brother, it's hard to talk about it. After all, both of them are girls. To put it bluntly, it doesn't matter to him who gets ahead, and he always hopes that you are all well."

Mrs. Wang nodded after listening, and Jia Mu went on to say: "I have my own way, don't worry about it, and there is no need to talk too much about this matter with your master. Go, you'll feel like you've owed a lifetime of favors, it's harmful and not beneficial." Mrs. Wang nodded hurriedly.

Since Jia's mother has agreed to this matter, it's over.Mrs. Wang returned to her yard, her mind was still in a mess, and she took a few mouthfuls of food absent-mindedly, and made the two aunts retreat.Sitting down to drink tea, I remembered what Mother Jia said just now, don't talk to Wang Ziteng, but I have already written to my brother earlier, what should I do.

For a while, he thought that his elder brother was closer to him since he was a child, not to mention that even if Baochai really did what Princess Shu Ning wanted, his status could not compare to Yuan'er.Or just stay with a young princess for two or three years, it can be regarded as having contacts at the top, no matter how good someone comes out, she will have no choice but to be good, after all, I have no intention of harming her, she is always the niece of the first relative.

Thinking this way and thinking that way for a while, I don't know how many times I twisted the prayer beads in my hand, but my heart still couldn't calm down, and I didn't even see Jia Zheng entered the room.Jia Zheng sat down for a long time, and saw that Mrs. Wang was still in a daze while twisting the Buddhist beads, so she coughed.Only then did Mrs. Wang come back to her senses, and said with a smile: "I don't have a clue what to think about, but I didn't see the master come in."

Jia Zheng shook his head and smiled and said, "You, as I said earlier, you are not the type to be in charge of the family. Now that Lian'er and the young couple are supporting you, you should take a break and relax. If you keep worrying so much, your hair will fall. It's almost clear, but what's the matter?" Mrs. Wang seldom heard Jia Zheng's jokes, so she followed him with a smile and said, "I just felt it when the master said that. I'm really worried and thankless."

Jia Zheng said with a smile: "Now that you are in this family, you just need to worry about the big things. If you need to worry about the small things, what's the use of those housekeepers and daughters-in-law! For example, when you went back to the mansion for a banquet, you arranged the layout and dishes very well. The wives told the adults at home, but now it’s good, I have to avoid them when I go to the yamen, and everyone asks when can I come to our house to see the new elegance!" said Nianxu and laughed stand up.

Mrs. Wang thought so.Last time at the banquet, the details of the arrangement were all Sister Feng's idea. I was just joking with the ladies and wives, but I didn't expect that there would be such benefits.Then he laughed and said, "When is the master going to invite someone? Just tell the inside, let Feng girl prepare well, and she will not embarrass the master." Is there still Yulouchun?"

Mrs. Wang couldn't help but hesitated, and said with a forced smile: "I think there are some, and now I have found some other wine from outside. The master has a look, maybe there are new and interesting ones." Jia Zheng said: "Oh? That's interesting. Lian'er, that bastard, I asked him and he couldn't tell he was ugly! It's good to find some novelties, but it's not as famous as the old Yulouchun. This wine is also famous. In fact, it is true, now that 'drunk painting' will tell others about the booze at our house."

Mrs. Wang hastily echoed a few words, but in her heart she was worried about whether the Yulouchun in the cellar was enough, and worried that if there was not enough, she would have to raise money to ask someone to find it, and there was no room for loosening in the account, alas, When is such a day really a head!

The two were talking, when they heard noises outside, Mrs. Wang called out: "Caixia." There was a reply from outside, and Caixia lifted the curtain and came in and said, "It's the waiter who brought the heat-relieving soup." Mrs. Wang nodded and turned to ask Jia Zheng said: "Master, drink some soup first? It's been very hot these days." Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "Let them put them in the outside room and don't bring them in. I can't smell that smell."

Mrs. Wang persuaded: "The heat is severe. Although you don't like it, you'd better have some soup." Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "Forget it, I'll just go and have a cup of tea later." Mrs. Wang knew this well. He meant to go to Aunt Zhou's place, so he nodded and said, "Then don't bring it in, and pour cold water outside, you guys can drink it." Caixia and Jin Chuan'er quickly agreed.

In Li Wan's courtyard, Biyue also brought a pot of heat-relieving soup into the house from the outside, frowning and said to Suyun: "I don't know what happened these days, the people in the teahouse suddenly became attentive, seeing the sky come to us The soup delivery in the yard is never lost once. But you gave too much money for running errands?"

Suyun smiled and spat at her: "You only know the money! Ladies in the waiter, a few coins can make them diligent? You are dreaming." Biyue said: "How did it come about? Our yard Here, the only thing they worry about is a few dollars." Suyun shook his head and said, "It's because she has been scolded so many times by the nanny, and she still speaks so openly. I don't know, but I guess so, I'm afraid We mentioned that to Ping'er last time, what did Ping'er tell the waiter?"

After hearing this, Biyue pointed at Suyun with her finger and smiled, "Okay, let me tell you, you're talking about not giving me hot summer soup, so that's the idea!" Suyun said, "Damn you! Shame! I'm still trying to figure out how to make such an idea! We don't want to eat him, the room is cool all day long, and I don't want to be a good person to do work for others, so there is no need to eat him."

Biyue heard that Suyun used the previous words to make fun of her again, how could she be willing, she put the teapot aside, and was about to tear her up, saying: "I'll let you talk about me again!" Suyun couldn't help laughing, He shouted again and again: "Mommy, come and see, Biyue is acting up again." The two were arguing, and Nanny Chang and Li Wan walked in, and they hurriedly stopped.

Nanny Chang smiled and said: "This time I accompanied grandma to come in. If Nanny Yan came in, I think you would be able to skip the next meal. You might have to starve for two days to clear your temper." She came in with a smile and said, "Those who know say I'm a nanny, but those who don't know think I'm a thief. How can I be so powerful!" Li Wan looked at these people, shook his head and said: "Look at it, this is called the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked."

Talking and laughing as they sat down, Li Wan also saw the teapot, and said with a smile, "Why are you bringing soup every day? But is there an order in the mansion after entering?" Suyun said: "Where is there any order? It's the same elsewhere. When Ping'er came last time, Biyue and I were drinking our own double clear tea. Ping'er said that there are hot soups in the house, why are we still so particular about it? I casually said that the heat-relief soup is not available every day. I thought, maybe Ping'er went back and said something, so he got it."

Nanny Chang nodded and said: "Miss Ping is caring. If you don't make sure you say something casually, she will remember it. Although it is just a matter of her words, it is also a personal favor." Li Wan shook his head and sighed: "Tell me what you say." You guys are still laughing and joking all day long, just look at them, they are also girls next to grandma in the house, how can someone say so much, and you are nothing." Bi Yue glanced at Li Wan, and said crisply: " Didn’t grandma just say that the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked.”

Everyone laughed, and Li Wan said: "Look at her, she was scolded last time, and she put on a hard face for a month, but now she is better and more lively." If you don't make progress, it will be a waste of your mother's saliva." Everyone laughed again, and Li Wan said: "That's strange, why do you make progress when you make more and more lies?" Bi Yue said: " It’s not crooked to say crooked reasoning, the most important thing is not crooked mind.”

Just as I was talking, I heard someone outside say, "Why are some of you with crooked minds here?" It was Sister Feng who brought Ping'er. Li Wan got up to meet him and said with a smile, "You are walking fast " Sister Feng said: "You don't send a decent person to talk, but ask a little girl to tell you something. I can't sit still. The wife wants to find me again. Just now I go, and then Said that the master is back, so I happened to come to you on the way."

Li Wan said: "I mean, I think you won't be free until after dinner." After Suyun and the others served tea, Sister Feng said to Ping'er, "Didn't you think about visiting sister-in-law all day long? Mrs. Huizi wants to discuss matters, so I don’t need to take you with me, you can just play for half a day.” Ping’er smiled and agreed, and went to talk with Suyun Biyue and drink tea in the outside room.It was here that Sister Feng opened her mouth and asked again: "My good sister-in-law, you should make it clear."

Li Wan said with a smile: "Why don't you understand? I didn't send someone to tell you. You said earlier that you wanted to find someone to buy a share in the fleet. I have already told someone. I just heard back in the past few days. It is quite clear." I'll talk about it in detail when autumn comes. It's just such a little thing, what can't be understood." Sister Feng smiled bitterly and said, "My sister-in-law, you are so relieved. How on earth do you deal with such a thing? People said? Is it successful or not? How much share can I have, how much money I have to reserve, but there is no other way to say, how come you can finish it in two sentences?!"

Li Wan said: "Don't worry, I said in the letter that you want to buy shares in the fleet, but you don't have anyone reliable, so I wonder if you can find an experienced fleet owner who has traveled a long distance and done business several times to buy shares. Money is easy to talk about, but the most important thing is to be reliable. Isn’t that what you’re talking about? How can you talk about the money and shares you mentioned in the letter? Talk about it face to face. Now that you have said that, it naturally means that it will be done, if it is not done, then why should we meet and say something. "

Sister Feng shook her head and said: "How do you know the tricks of ordinary people in dealing with each other? Sometimes it's just to get in the way of affection. It's obviously not going to work, and it's not easy to push it straight. So I pushed a day to discuss it face to face. This day of negotiation has been reversed since early spring. Zhongqiu, it's the end of the new year again, and it's far away." Li Wan said: "Then don't worry, I won't do that again here. Mrs. Zhang's family knows my temper well, and won't bother me with twists and turns."

Sister Feng looked at Li Wan, laughed and said, "It's true for you to say so." Then she said, "Why do you have money to talk about? The fleet is a big business, and then they will give you face. Give me a large share, how can I have so much money? This is not a joke!" Li Wan said with a smile: "I heard what you said last time, this is a ten-to-ten deal, ten thousand goes out It’s [-] people who came back, wouldn’t the more the better?”

Sister Feng said: "That's good if you can afford it. If you really want two or three hundred thousand taels, where can I get the money?" The profit is good too, just don't pay the bill and let someone come to your door with a note!" Sister Feng was shocked when she heard this, and then looked at Li Wan, and saw that she was smiling, she really meant to be joking. .But he didn't have the heart to mess with her anymore, so he said: "That's it, I'll thank my sister-in-law here first. My girl's dowry depends on my sister-in-law!"

Li Wan said with a smile: "Our daughter will be short of dowry when she gets married? How much money is enough?" Sister Feng squinted at Li Wan, smiled and said, "Don't play tricks on me! If you really think so, do you still need to get all the dowry nuns out to serve Zhuangzi?! Now we have to tear down the east wall to make up for the west wall, and I don’t know what will happen in the future." Li Wan said: "Then you don’t want to do a few more things. A Zhuangzi? This fleet is coming and going in the wind and rain, but it’s not good, Zhuangzi is more stable.”

Sister Feng said: "No matter how you set up the Zhuangzi, can it be compared with the mansion? There are so many big Zhuangzi in the mansion, and there are still famines every year. Besides, if you want to make a lot of money, how can you not take some risks?" Li Wan laughed. Said: "To put it bluntly, I'm still greedy, I want to get money faster." Sister Feng smiled and said, "I was just about to ask you, why didn't you think about getting some shares in those fleets earlier? Your friendship with Mrs. Zhang is only I'm afraid that 1000 to 5000 people will accept it."

Li Wan said: "You just said that the fleet is a big business, how can you open such a mouth? If I didn't know that you are a rich man, I wouldn't dare to ask for you." The two were talking, outside A daughter-in-law came to report, saying that the wife invited Sister Feng over.Sister Feng said with a smile, "That's all I have to do for a while." She got up to leave, and Li Wan naturally had to take two steps away. It's hard to bear, this money is too much, it is also a disaster."

Sister Feng turned around and took a closer look at Li Wan, then smiled suddenly, and said with the tip of her little finger, "I mean, you, you are so courageous, what can you do! You are so cowardly!" After saying that, she turned around and walked out, just about to remind Ping'er that she had been allowed to lie, so she only told her to take a few daughter-in-laws in charge and go to Mrs. Wang's courtyard.