The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 261 Tea flowers bloom

It takes months or even years to build a house, but it only takes a fire to destroy it; it takes a series of tedious processes to make a vase, but it only takes one drop to the ground to break it. It is so easy to build and destroy.

Although Haimen County was only occupied by pirates for less than a month, the damage caused was devastating. It may not be possible to recover within a few years. The salt field is undoubtedly the pillar industry of Haimen County, so Lin Ruhai must do something after arriving. The first thing to do was to resume salt production in Lv Sichang.

On this day, Lin Ruhai, regardless of his illness and frailty, braved the scorching sun and heat to visit Lusi Field to inspect and preside over the reconstruction and resumption of production of the salt farm. He did not return to the city until sunset, and his disciples Jia Huan and Lu Xiangsheng were naturally by his side at all times.

When everyone returned to the county government office, the lanterns were already on and the sky was filled with stars.

In the room, Lin Ruhai sat exhausted on a chair, rubbing his legs and saying with a wry smile: "My old bones are getting more and more unable to withstand the torment, cough cough!"

Lu Xiangsheng hurriedly knelt down to massage his thighs. Jia Huan looked at Lin Ruhai, who was like a rotten tree and a broken lantern in front of him. He couldn't help but feel sad and advised: "My uncle has not recovered from his long illness. It is time to take care of him. There is no need to do the salt farm matters personally." , just leave it to the people below."

Lin Ruhai sighed slightly: "I am also anxious as a teacher. The situation in Liaodong is not optimistic, and the national treasury consumes a huge amount. In order to make up for the shortfall, the emperor not only increased the salt tax, but also issued an additional 100,000 salt coins. It is now the end of May, and we are seeing a year's work." It’s almost halfway through, and the new salt field in Yancheng County has not yet been completed, but the salt field in Haimen County has been destroyed. If we don’t act fast, let alone the increase in salt tax revenue, I’m afraid it won’t even be as good as last year.”

At this time, a servant came in with a washbasin. Jia Huan naturally twisted a wet towel and handed it to Lin Ruhai, saying at the same time: "There is nothing we can do about it. As the saying goes, haste makes waste, if uncle you If you get sick again, it will be even harder.”

Lin Ruhai took the towel and wiped his face, nodded and said: "What Brother Huan said is absolutely true, but unfortunately there is no suitable candidate to temporarily serve as Haimen County Magistrate. If we wait for the court to send someone, it will take two months at the earliest. "

Lu Xiangsheng's heart moved and he said: "The student has something to say, I don't know whether to say it or not!"

Lin Ruhai said in a harmonious voice: "It doesn't matter if we fight but just talk."

Lu Xiangsheng said hurriedly: "Although Yancheng County Magistrate Lu Renjia is only a civil servant, his ability to do things is remarkable. Why don't Master Lin transfer him to Haimen County for temporary emergency response?"

Lin Ruhai nodded: "This is feasible. Brother Huan, later you can draft a transfer order in the name of Governor Yingtian and bring it to me for sealing tomorrow morning."

Lin Ruhai has been deliberately training Jia Huan's practical ability. It was because of this that he took him to inspect salt fields in various places, so he was asked to write a lot of paperwork. Jia Huan's foundation was already solid, and now he is writing this I was already familiar with official documents, so I agreed immediately.

"Jiandou, Ziming, you are tired after a long day of work, go back and rest!" Lin Ruhai ordered.

As a result, Jia Huan and Lu Xiangsheng retreated and returned to their respective residences to rest.

Jia Huan returned to the small courtyard where he was temporarily staying. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he smelled a fragrant fragrance. This small courtyard runs north to south. There are two bushes of tea flowers planted at the foot of the west wall. They are almost half a person tall and lush. Midsummer is the season when tea flowers bloom. The white flowers are covered with branches and shine through the house. Under the dim light of the sky, it seemed to be covered with a layer of crystal white snow. The night breeze blew gently and the shadows of the flowers swayed, making the fragrance even more fragrant.

Jia Huan greedily took a deep breath of the intoxicating fragrance of the flowers, pushed the door open, and immediately met a pair of beautiful sapphire-like eyes in the room, and both of them were stunned for a moment.

I saw two candles burning in the room. The blonde foreign girl Mandarin had already changed into a maid's dress and a blue satin waistcoat. Her proud figure was still proud, but her long golden hair was not The hair is not tied up in a bun, but is left hanging naturally and freely. The beautiful crescent-like light blue eyes, the high and straight nose, and the small mouth like a water chestnut have both the three-dimensional sense of a Western race and the appearance of an oriental beauty. The painting is exquisite and delicate, and the girl in Chinese ancient costume is even more refreshing, pleasing to the eye and even Jia Huan can't help showing admiration.

As the red-bearded Luo Er said, this woman can be regarded as the best beauty in the whole of Europe. She must be from a low background. This appearance and temperament are not something ordinary people can have. They must pass through generations. With the combination of excellent genes, the so-called "a beautiful bird is born in the mountains, and a beautiful girl is born in the wood house" is only a very small probability event. There is a higher probability that children born from crooked melons and split dates will also be crooked melons and split dates.

At this time, Mandarin was sitting behind the case, looking through Jia Huan's books. Her sitting posture was very elegant, but she was suddenly bumped into by the latter. She was obviously a little panicked. She stood up subconsciously and lowered her head, as if she had done something wrong. The class teacher students meet. Jia Huan smiled and said nonchalantly in English: "It doesn't matter, you can just look at it. You can't understand it anyway, can you?"

Mandarin remained silent, just pursed her lips and straightened her waist, as if to express her dissatisfaction with Jia Huan's arrogance, but Jia Huan turned a blind eye and asked: "Can we have dinner? Don't tell me that you Are you going to stay in your room all day?"

Mandarin looked confused because Jia Huan spoke in Chinese this time and she couldn't understand it.

Jia Huan pointed to his mouth and touched his belly. Mandarin finally understood and nodded to indicate that she had eaten.

Jia Huan ignored her and ordered his servants to get cold water to take a bath. When Mandarin saw it, she couldn't help but secretly muttered: "This guy loves to be clean more than women. He takes a bath every day. It's really unbearable!"

The temperature in Europe is generally low, especially in Northern Europe. Due to the long cold season, people there only take a few baths throughout the year. Ordinary people may not even take a bath throughout their lives. During the Mongol and Yuan Dynasties, Europeans were almost wiped out by the Black Death, which had a lot to do with lack of hygiene. Europe at that time was like a dirty cesspit. After the Black Death was raging, Europeans gradually realized this and began to Be particular about it.

Jia Huan took a shower behind the screen and changed into clean clothes. When he saw Mandarin still sitting behind the case and looking at something carefully, he couldn't help but secretly wonder, could this girl be hiding her secrets and actually understand Chinese characters? ?

Jia Huan walked over silently and found that the other party was looking at the drawing of the Hongyi cannon that he had drawn. The drawings were drawn with carbon pens, and he used a three-dimensional drawing method. This drawing method was very common in later generations, but it was hundreds of years ahead of now. I am afraid it has not yet appeared in Europe.

Mandarin was watching intently when a head suddenly popped out from beside her. Her face turned pale with fright. She leaned back suddenly and covered her chest with her hands with a look of panic. When she saw that it was Jia Huan, it turned out to be Jia Huan. , then he came to his senses and frowned a little dissatisfiedly.

Jia Huan didn't take it seriously and asked curiously: "Do you understand?"

Mandarin nodded subconsciously, but immediately shook her head, indicating that she did not understand what Jia Huan was saying.

Jia Huan showed a meaningful smile, signaled Mandarin to stand up, and casually rolled up the drawings and put them back in the drawer. The latter's eyes were lingering and he hesitated to speak.

Jia Huan saw this, but calmly sat down on his seat, took out a piece of paper, spread it out, pointed at the inkstone and said: "Can you grind ink? I don't care for idlers here, you have to learn to serve the master. .”

Mandarin didn't move, Jia Huan sighed, and had no choice but to add water to the inkstone, and then grind the ink with an ink stick. The former stood aside curiously and watched quietly.

Jia Huan polished the ink and then wrote a transfer order. Mandarin took a look at it. Although she didn't understand Chinese characters, she thought Jia Huan's handwriting was very beautiful.

Jia Huan dried the ink, put the order in an envelope, then took out the unfinished artillery drawings from the drawer, and continued to draw with charcoal. Sure enough, Mandarin's eyes lit up when she saw it, and she subconsciously He came closer, obviously very interested in this novel drawing method.

Jia Huan did not hide it, and continued painting openly in front of Mandarin. The latter was unconsciously entranced, frowning from time to time with a look of thought, and sometimes glanced with complicated eyes while immersed in painting. Jia Huan.

About half an hour later, Jia Huan finished the drawing. He glanced at Mandarin who was still looking at the drawing. Suddenly, his heart moved and he drew a three-dimensional diagram of a teacup. Then he put down his pen and went to bed.

(End of this chapter)