Chang'an is good

Chapter 669 Extra 7 - Events during the Changhua Period (Part ) (Group Portrait)

Kang Zhi hadn't figured out what to do yet, but now that she saw Gu Erlang like this, she seemed to have a way out. She glared at him and bit back, "I haven't asked you about being the head of Huitong Hall yet. You can always send someone to pass on the message, but you always come to me in person... Tell me, what are you thinking? Dare to lie, I'll chop you up today!"

"I..." Gu Erlang's face changed several times: "I can't stay in the museum all day... How can it be wrong to do my best?"

Kang Zhi didn't care whether his words were true or not.

Kang Zhi stared at the person in front of her and quickly weighed the options in her mind.

First she asked herself, do she need to start a family?

This is beyond doubt.

Not everyone has to get married. Sister Shepherd's Purse is also very free and easy. But Kang Zhi likes herself very much. She wants to have her own offspring, preferably a daughter. She will give her child all that she didn't get in her childhood, and then teach that child to be as strong and brave as she is, and to be loyal to His Majesty and His Majesty's children.

She is over twenty years old and the world is at peace, so it is a good time to start a family.

Since the answer is yes, then what kind of person should she find to start a family with?

Money? Power? Status? Skill? She has them all.

If she finds another ordinary-looking one, what's the point?
As for deeper things, such as character and morals, all of these can be pretended. Kang Ani only likes real things. At least, good looks cannot be pretended, that's for sure.

In fact, when she wrote that reply, it was this face that flashed through her mind.

Superficiality is superficial, and superficial happiness is not a necessity for living, but most of the happiness in life seems to be built up by these unnecessary things.

She has passed the stage of survival, and it is time for her to be superficial.

Kang Zhi made up her mind, held the unsheathed knife in one hand, and pressed down Gu Erlang who was trying to escape in the chair.

Gu Erlang was about to cry: "What on earth are you going to do!"

Just as Kang Zhi was about to speak, the loud and enthusiastic voice of Madam Shi could be heard faintly from outside the hall: "... Look at how magnificent this general's mansion is!"

Kang Zhi immediately pulled Gu Erlang up from his chair and threatened him in a low voice: "...Stand beside me and follow my instructions! Don't talk nonsense, or I'll beat you up!"

Gu Erlang was confused and full of accusations, but he still habitually tidied up his clothes and hair.

The group was quickly invited into the hall, and Yueshi's eyes turned red with joy when she saw her daughter.

Shi Wen's eyes were immediately fixed on Gu Erlang - does Kang Ani really exist?
At Kang Zhi's threat, Gu Erlang raised his hand to salute, and his smile was forced to be bright.

"...Ani, who is this?" Yueshi wiped her tears and asked at the right time.

Gu Erlang was about to introduce himself as an official when Kang Zhi said simply and rudely, "This is my mother. Call me mother."

Gu Jilang: “?!”

This……

Gu Erlang's face twisted slightly. Kang Zhi held a knife in her hands behind her back. Under her wide robe, the scabbard was pressing against Gu Erlang's waist threateningly.

Gu Erlang was horrified: "Ah..."

The next moment, he forced a standard smile and lowered his voice: "——Mom."

In the evening, Gu Erlang returned home and knelt down in front of his mother and cried, "...Mother!"

"You can't just ignore your son's life or death. How can he be Kang Ani's son-in-law?"

"..."

Mrs. Gu gently patted her son's shoulders and comforted him softly. Seeing that her son didn't listen at all, she could only sigh helplessly: "...General Kang is the emperor's confidant. How can his arms be stronger than his thighs?"

"Our Gu family can be considered to have done a great service in following the emperor!" Gu Erlang said, "...I will now write a letter to the capital and file a complaint against her to the emperor!"

Before Gu Erlang could finish his words, he was suddenly slapped on the head.

Gu Erlang covered his head with one hand and looked up at his mother, who was always known for her gentleness, in disbelief.

"Are you pretending to be so?" Madam Gu changed her gentle expression and glared at her son. "You don't want to discuss marriage at your age. Isn't it because you like General Kang but don't dare to say it? You are afraid and keep trying to get close to him! This time he gave you a way out, but you are still pretending to be so!"

She had known since she was a child that this boy was born with a mean character and liked to bully him. When she met the girl named Kang, she finally matched his temper!

As a mother, I didn't want to expose him, but he kept pretending, taking advantage of others and acting like a good boy. It was really annoying!
Mrs. Gu shook her hurt hand. Gu Erlang's mouth twitched and he felt that the mother in front of him was a stranger... As expected, has the increasingly strong style of fierce women in Jiangdu finally blown into the door of their Gu family?

Gu Erlang subconsciously turned his head to look at his father, only to see that his father seemed to have gotten used to it. He just said to him, "That's enough. There are many people in the family, and we don't expect you to carry on the family line..."

Gu Xiu said very pragmatically: "If you enter the military mansion, our Gu family will be more stable in Jiangdu."

Anyway, his eldest son got married early and now he has grandchildren.

His son was originally not very capable, but the fact that he could be used in this way was a great honor for his ancestors.

So Gu Xiu waved his hand to his second son with a broad mind and said, "Don't worry, just go and live a good life with him."

Gu Erlang sobbed a little: "But my son is from a noble family, how can he be someone else's son-in-law? And that Kang Ani is domineering and cruel..."

Mrs. Gu interrupted her son and said, "That's why we want you to marry into our family. Otherwise, how can our family afford it?"

It is very bold to think of letting Kang Canjun be the daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Gu admitted that she had become bolder now, but she was far from being this bold.

As soon as she thought of her daughter-in-law taking care of a sick patient, once her daughter-in-law's face was replaced with Kang Ani's, Mrs. Gu would immediately have the suffocating experience of having someone pinch her nose and force medicine into her mouth.

I'm afraid that injecting medicine is not the best solution. I'm afraid that this daughter-in-law has no patience and will rush to have this troublesome old body carried away and buried before she can serve for two days.

It’s better to marry the daughter-in-law. Out of sight, out of mind.

Anyway, her son likes this, so it's the best of both worlds.

So, in the third year of Changhua, in the ninth month of autumn, the groom, Gu Erlang, dressed in a bright red wedding suit and sitting on horseback, was sent to General Mingwei's mansion by the Gu family amid music and dance.

On the same day, a fleet from Jiangdu that had gone out to sea in the spring returned to the shore. The ships were shouting as they unloaded cargo and were being inspected and counted by officials and servants from the Maritime Customs.

Huang Yu walked down from the second floor of one of the large ships, stepped on the deck, and directed the boatmen to move the objects carefully.

Back then, when Jiangdu first started using the Maritime Customs, Huang Yu was an inconspicuous little fisherman.

He once told his companions that he wanted to see what was outside the Huangshui Ocean. His companions laughed at him and said he was daydreaming.

When the Maritime Customs sent people out to sea to explore the shipping route for the first time, Huang Yu was the first fisherman to raise his hand to participate.

After successfully exploring the route, the caravan began to go out to sea, and Huang Yu got the first chance to work on board.

However, few people dared to go out to sea at that time, so the boatmen who worked on the boats were treated with many privileges. In addition to the agreed remuneration, each person was allowed to carry 20 kilograms of goods on board. The 20 kilograms of goods could be any items that had been inspected by the Maritime Customs, and could be sold or bartered after being brought to the destination.

Huang Yu took out all his belongings and gathered enough money from relatives and friends to buy 20 kilograms of medium and low-quality tea, which he exchanged for many carefully selected foreign products, making a fortune. After paying off all his debts and paying interest, he had a surplus of 1,000 taels.

Huang Yu's wife couldn't believe it. This was an almost horrific profit. They might not be able to save so much money even if they fished for ten years.

At this time, many people finally believed that they could make a lot of money by going out to sea, and countless fishermen rushed to follow the caravan out to sea. However, the conditions for getting on board began to tighten, and the benefits were no longer as generous as the first time they went out to sea.

Huang Yu, who was diligent and had accumulated experience, was still allowed to board the ship first. He became a small manager on the ship, and the preferential treatment he received increased instead of decreased. He was allowed to carry 50 kilograms of cargo to sea each time.

After several years of accumulation, he was able to rent a ship of his own in the spring of this year. He loaded it with high-quality goods from the Jiangdu workshops and went out to sea with the Jiang family business. Now he returned with a full load, and although he was exhausted, he was full of energy.

Every time Huang Yu goes out to sea again, apart from leaving enough for his wife and children to live on, the rest of his assets will be put on the boat.

Every time someone said that he was taking too many risks, that he was blinded and should not act like a gambler anymore. You know, going out to sea is very risky and a capsize would take away everything he had. It would be better for him to keep the money he earned and start a small business to live a stable life.

But Huang Yu is not a person who only seeks stability. If he were, he would not have gone out to sea for the first time.

He has to be the one to seize the opportunity.

He is not afraid of losing everything. At worst, he can just start over as a small boatman.

He was born on a fishing boat. Even if he lost his life, dying on the Yellow Sea where he was born and raised was not a bad outcome.

And as long as he can survive, the experience he accumulates will always be more valuable.

Next year, he will rent a bigger ship and bring back more rare treasures!

There were two deified portraits hanging in Huang Yu's cabin, one of the former Crown Prince Li Shang, and the other of the current emperor.

After all the goods were moved down, Huang Yu took down the two portraits himself, rolled them up carefully, and held them in his arms.

Officials from the Maritime Customs have begun to check and count the yellow croaker cargoes, and the Maritime Customs will collect the corresponding cargoes as shipping taxes, which is also a form of taxation.

Huang Yu greeted the officials enthusiastically. He was good at talking and dealing with people, so the officials were willing to talk to him. He greeted Lord Han Zheng and the governor, and then bowed in the direction of the capital, saying, "Your Majesty, I believe you are in good health!"

"That's natural. Your Majesty is still young! There's no need to ask!"

"Not long ago, a new maritime policy was announced... I heard that Lingnan is also preparing to send people to explore the shipping routes."

"..."

Huang Yu listened to these words and nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, okay..."

He was very happy, very happy, but the sea breeze still brought a hazy dampness to the corners of his eyes.

Yes, Your Majesty is still young, and this is just the beginning... There is nothing better than this.

Listening to the sound of waves and the shouts of the boatmen, Huang Yu turned his head to look at the sea sacrifice platform not far away. In a trance, the grand scene of the young female governor offering sacrifices to the sea here was still before his eyes.

That year, a woman named Chang Suining recited a poem to worship the sea here:

We pay our respects to the god who protects the sea, and wish that the sea will be calm and peaceful.

Second, we pay respect to the heaven, earth, sun and moon, and pray for a good harvest and prosperity for all mankind.

Three tributes to the ancient souls at sea, may they protect my fellow tribesmen and allow them to return home in peace.

Huang Yu has always believed that it was the blessing given to this sea area by the new king, and that he would stay here forever to protect every hardworking and brave citizen.

A hundred miles away, there is a sentry post every three miles, and it is heavily patrolled. The navy is conducting exercises at sea.

Fang Chao, who was directing the drill, was wearing shorts and still had a bright red belt.

The large flag embroidered with the word "Sheng" fluttered, making a rustling sound. Along with the orderly shouts of the soldiers, it drifted towards the farther sea with the sea breeze.

In October, Old Lady Shi arrived at the prosperous capital and met the emperor she had been longing for.

In November, a wedding was held at the residence of the governor of Hezhou, Huainan Road, where the governor Yunhui's younger brother Yungui got married.

At the same time, in Xuanzhou Prefecture in the neighboring Jiangnan West Road, where business was flourishing, Princess Li Tong selected two handsome male servants.

In December, year-end performance reports from various places arrived in the capital one after another, reporting on the household registration, cultivated land, and the income and expenditure of money and grain in the past year.

So all the departments were very busy, and the emperor was also very busy. Fortunately, the New Year was approaching, and after this busy period, the ministers and the emperor could take a break and spend a relaxing and leisurely Spring Festival.

This Spring Festival is very lively. On New Year's Eve, the sound of firecrackers and fireworks never stops. Children carry lanterns and walk through the streets singing children's songs.

Chang Kuo and Li Rong were arguing in the mansion of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery in Xingningfang, and Chang Sui'an and Yao Xia tried to persuade them.

The clansmen gathered in the Cui Mansion and there was a lot of noise. Cui Lang was drunk and pulled Qiao Yumian to insist that the clansmen pay respects to the "family head's wife" one by one. Qiao Yumian was so ashamed and angry that she couldn't bear it. Madam Lu pulled her daughter-in-law behind her, tapped her son's forehead and gritted her teeth and said that she would beat him after the fifteenth day.

In the mansion of Duke Zheng, Wei Miaoqing ignored the rules and dragged Li Zhi back to the Wei family to celebrate New Year's Eve. As a son-in-law, Li Zhi did not dare to sit with the elders and stood there a little uneasy. Wei Shuyi patted his shoulder and invited his brother-in-law to play chess in the study. Then Wei won three games in a row.

When I entered the Dengtai Tower, I found that the doors and windows were all closed and there was no light.

Meng Lie and A Che were called to the palace to celebrate the New Year.

In Ganlu Palace, Adian was chasing a cat in the palace. Wu Jue, who was looking up at the fireworks, asked him to slow down. Meng Lie was in the corridor instructing Xier about the emperor's diet and daily life. As for Ache, he insisted on making dumplings in the imperial kitchen and was still busy at it.

Inside the hall, in front of the large window, Zhai Xi smiled and replaced the pot of hot tea with three more cups, which she placed in front of the three people who were sitting and talking.

"Teacher, this is beautiful, look!"

Li Suining was sitting cross-legged, holding a teacup in one hand and pointing with the other hand at a cluster of bright fireworks that had just bloomed in the night sky outside the window.

When the time came, everyone ate dumplings together. Li Suining took Cui Jing to wish the teacher a happy new year. Ah Dian hurriedly followed, and Meng Lie and others also went to join in the fun. The old tutor took out a purse from his sleeve and threw it to Zhai Xi: "... If I had known that bringing me to the palace would be bad, I would have distributed it to them!"

"It's gold!" Ah Dian pinched the golden beans in surprise and looked at the old master with admiration: "Master! Remember to come again next year!"

The Grand Tutor waved his hands repeatedly: "Go away, don't come again, whoever wants to come can come..."

Wu Jue laughed loudly: "Bring you here!"

While everyone was chatting and laughing, Cui Jing smiled and handed his golden bean to Li Suining. Something as important as the New Year's money should be given to the most important person in the family for safekeeping.

The aroma of fireworks filled the air and laughter filled the huge Ganlu Palace.

I feel like it would be a good ending if I stopped here ~ haha, it’s just a bit long-winded.

There are probably four or five more chapters of the extra story, I’ll try to finish them all by the end of the month!

I would like to recommend a book to you, Erqian’s new book “Restaurants Connect All Worlds, It’s Reasonable for Me to Earn 1 Billion”

See the scenery of all worlds and taste the delicacies of all worlds!