Under the sky

Chapter 326

Gu Qingshang named the found baby Gu Zhenzhen, hoping that the baby would feel like a treasure instead of an abandoned child.She asked Yu Ping'er to take care of it. When it was time to rest, the schoolchildren gathered around to play with the doll. They would only make Zhenzhen burst into tears, and Master Chen would chase her away.

Gu Qingshang felt that her injuries were a little better, so she studied with her children in the west wing. Since she was determined to give up the competition for the position of head, she focused all her thoughts on the academy.The children were happy to see Gu Qingshang, but when she came to class, there were exams and endorsements, and they all became sad and restless, so Gu Qingshang scolded them with a straight face.

Yu Ping'er was sitting in the front yard coaxing her baby. She heard someone knocking on the door and stood up to answer the door. Gu Qingshang looked back and saw someone walking into the academy carrying a basket, but it was Wen Jingren.

The God of Wealth came again. Without waiting for Yuan Zhen to greet him, Gu Qingshang cheered up and stepped forward: "Mr. Wen!"

Wen Jingren recognized the beautiful little girl who opened the door. He saw her holding a baby in her arms and raised her eyebrows slightly. He heard Gu Qingshang calling out and saluted: "Miss Gu." He pointed at the baby and asked with a smile, "Whose child is this?" ? Weird and lovable."

Seeing that Wen Jingren was still friendly, Gu Qingshang said: "The academy has taken in the one who was thrown outside the door this morning."

Wen Jingren asked no more questions.

Gu Qingshang invited him to the study to talk. When passing by the east wing, Wen Jingren glanced at him.There were many gifts piled in the room, all of which were gifts from wealthy merchants nearby after the great victory in Hengshan. There were so many gifts that there was enough room to put them there.

Yuan Zhen did not dare to neglect the distinguished guest, so he prepared tea and served it, and left after saying a few words. "Is Mr. Wen here to see the children?" Gu Qingshang asked, but in his heart he felt that Mr. Wen might not care about the academy.She remembered that the last time she saw him was in the first lunar month, when Wen Jingren was invited by his master to go to Hengshan Mountain, and the two of them went together. Ever since that meeting, she had become more wary of this man.

"We are going back to Hengyang to report that we are safe, and then we go up the mountain to see the leader. I heard that Miss Gu was injured, so I brought some supplements." Wen Jingren put down the basket, "Miss Gu tried her best to protect Hengshan, and many people expressed their sympathy. A few ginseng roots are no sign of respect."

Gu Qingshang smelled the fragrance of the medicine and knew it was ginseng and other precious medicines. She stood up and thanked him: "The academy has received a lot of help from Mr. Wen. How can I be embarrassed?"

"I heard that the leader appointed Miss Gu as the governor of Yuezhou Fleet." Wen Jingren said, "The north of Changsha is very dilapidated and needs to be rectified vigorously. When does Miss Gu plan to take office? It's best to let Wen see her off."

Gu Qingshang shook his head: "I don't plan to take office."

Wen Jingren said "Oh?", and Gu Qingshang said: "I plan to resign from the position of governor of the fleet with the master, and see if I can find a position in Hengyang in the execution hall, and stay to take care of the academy."

Wen Jingren seemed a little surprised, thought for a moment, and asked, "Miss Gu, has she made up her mind?"

Gu Qingshang smiled bitterly: "I can't bear to leave these children."

Wen Jingren nodded.Suddenly he heard the baby's cry, which was very loud. Gu Qingshang was afraid of disturbing the conversation between the two, so he opened the window and shouted: "Yuping'er, there are guests!"

Yu Ping'er hurriedly stood up and said, "Sorry, I'll go to the backyard!"

Wen Jingren came to the window and saw Yu Ping'er holding the child and leaving. He shook his head and said, "It's really not a good idea."

Gu Qingshang asked: "What does Mr. Wen mean?"

"Hengyang has been through war, and there are many orphans and widowers. The academy has taken this child in. Tomorrow there will be abandoned babies, one after another. Can the academy take care of it?"

Gu Qingshang said: "Speaking of which, I want to build a weaving factory to take in widows who have no land to cultivate, no land to rent, and no one to rely on, and are unwilling to remarry, so that they can be self-reliant and have fewer abandoned children in Hengshan. If there are any If you have enough money, you can support the college's expenses. But I don't know how to do business. I wonder if Mr. Wen can give me some advice?"

Wen Jingren said: "You must have capital to do business."

Gu Qingshang said: "The master gave me 500 taels of silver as a gift, and there are also some gifts, which are worth several hundred taels if sold."

Wen Jingren asked: "How come Miss Gu has these gifts?"

Gu Qingshang remained silent.When she was injured and unconscious, her mind was in chaos, and she figured it out after she woke up.She was Li Xuanxuan's first disciple. Even if she could not become the leader, she had a promising future. Many merchants had wanted to deal with her before.The head of Hengshan must follow the Tao, have no money left, and cannot marry for life, so as to avoid the emergence of a head like Xu Fangge who is homesick for the world. She wants to compete for the position of head, but is afraid of causing trouble. In the past, she only accepted people including Wen Jingren. They have made small donations to maintain the academy. Now these people must have heard that they have made great contributions on the battlefield and will be reused, and they are looking for a name to curry favor with them. Otherwise, if there are so many people who have contributed to this war, would the wealthy businessmen still give gifts one by one?

"Miss Gu wants to take care of orphans and widowed mothers. Wen Mou admires it, but fabrics are everywhere, how can they be unusual? If there is no originality in business, the price must be fair. The cost should be one or two cents higher, and the price should be one or two cents cheaper. Once it's done, Once you go there, it is easy to lose money. You also need to have close friends to look after you and negotiate business. Besides, the weaving factory requires land and housing, and the looms are not cheap. It is difficult to use a few hundred taels, and managing the weaving factory is even more troublesome. "

Gu Qingshang said: "There are small ways to do things, so I need Mr. Wen's guidance."

Wen Jingren smiled and said: "It's not that easy to learn business. Wen was also influenced by my father. Even if Miss Gu wants to learn business from Wen, she still needs three to five years of experience. Business is about personal relationships." He paused. After a pause, he continued, "The reason why I went to Huashan to redeem the pledge was because I recognized the Qin family. Mr. Qin's brother-in-law is a Dragon Slayer. Thanks to this relationship, I was able to meet Mr. Yan and negotiate the business."

Gu Qingshang also knew that his thoughts were naive, and he couldn't help but feel sad after hearing Wen Jingren's explanation.But now that she had made up her mind, she still had to do it. She thought about giving up the errands in the execution hall and focusing on studying business so that she could earn some money to take care of the academy.

Unexpectedly, Wen Jingren continued: "But Miss Gu has such a kind heart, so Wen must participate in this grand event. How about this, if Miss Gu really wants to set up a weaving factory, Wen can do it for her, find land, build the factory, and feed materials. We help the girl arrange the goods, including the accounts and the loom, so we don't have to worry about the girl. Wen will get three of the profits and the girl will get seven."

Gu Qingshang was surprised and said: "This is too troublesome for Young Master Wen!"

Wen Jingren smiled and said: "It's not troublesome. Wen will also buy land and hire workers recently. He can help Miss Gu by the way. It just depends on luck whether he can sell it or not."

Gu Qingshang was stunned at first, and then heard Wen Jingren continue: "The war has just ended, and the people still need to recuperate. Those who can buy new clothes at this time are all people with some wealth. Ordinary weaving factories may not be able to make a living."

Gu Qingshang understood what Wen Jingren meant after thinking deeply.If you still have some status, someone will buy the fabrics from the weaving factory. If you are just an ordinary punishment hall disciple, even a small hall master, others will just think that you have lost power and no one will care.She was already suspicious of Wen Jingren, so she immediately asked: "Is Mr. Wen trying to persuade me not to resign as the governor of the Yuezhou Fleet?"

Wen Jingren said: "In business, Miss Gu was promoted, opened a weaving factory, and took care of the widowed and young children. Everyone will show off some face. Humanity is inevitable, even if the girl dislikes her, she can't avoid it."

Gu Qingshang shook his head: "I'll make it clear, master doesn't like me. There are many sects in Yuezhou, and they won't be convinced by me. This fleet governor is just a false title, and it's useless if I go there."

Wen Jingren said: "If that's not the case, how can others guess the mind of the head? Maybe it will take less than a year for the girl to take office, and she will be promoted again. Besides, whether the title is empty or not, doesn't it depend on how the girl does things?"

Gu Qingshang no longer has the intention to make progress and just wants to take care of the children in the academy. But as Wen Jingren said, if people find that he has lost power, how much kindness and money will be left?Relying on his own salary and meager donations, the academy is stretched thin. Even if it has a few hundred taels of silver now, how many years can it last?It's just a waste of time.Moreover, the academy was originally donated by kindhearted people, but as the number of children it took in increased, the academy could no longer accommodate it. It had to buy land, build a house, and hire people to take care of it. How much would this cost?She couldn't just ask Shen Weichen for money as soon as she was short of money. She couldn't help but hesitate.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Wen Jingren was too kind, so she asked tentatively: "Why does Mr. Wen take such good care of the academy?" She was straight-tempered, so she simply said, "I am just a disciple of Hengshan, and I am not subject to... Master. Thank you very much, if Mr. Wen wants to win over people and there are other good candidates, don’t waste your efforts on me, it’s not cost-effective.”

Wen Jingren waved his hand: "If you want to be a good person, don't you allow others to be good people?"

Gu Qingshang said hurriedly: "That's not what I meant."

Wen Jingren sighed: "The girl came all the way to Tianshui to offer a stick of incense to her brother-in-law. Because of this opportunity, Wen settled in Hengshan and asked the girl for help. My brother-in-law is a teacher, and Miss Gu runs an academy. Do you think this is a coincidence? ?”

Gu Qingshang thought for a while and said, "It seems like there is an arrangement somewhere."

Wen Jingren said: "My brother wants to help the world. I can't help the world, but I can always help people. I can't take care of the academy in Tianshui. Every time I come back to Qingyi Academy, I think of my brother's academy. Wen thinks, maybe it belongs to my brother." Arrange for me to take care of another academy for him thousands of miles away. The girl will offer a stick of incense to my younger brother, and these silver coins will be regarded as repaying my love for my younger brother."

He smiled: "When I asked about the girl before, I was also thinking about whether she was someone I could trust."

Although Gu Qingshang did not completely believe him, she felt that his words were sincere. She remembered that she and Shen Weichen went to worship Wen Ruoshan the year before last. At that time, she prayed to Wen Ruoshan to protect the academy, and also said that she was in Hengshan and asked him to take care of him.

This article is so effective!

Wen Jingren continued: "It's not good for Wen to say much about Miss Gu. If Miss Gu wants to stay in Hengyang, Wen will help with the weaving factory. Wen has recently taken on a big business, so he will raise funds for the academy." Let’s get it to twelve taels per month.”

Gu Qingshang hurriedly stood up, folded her quilt and saluted: "Thank you, Mr. Wen." Then he asked doubtfully, "Hengyang is full of waste and is waiting for prosperity. What business has the master taken?"

Wen Jingren smiled and said: "Wen was appreciated by the head of the family and entrusted the reconstruction of the walled villages from Hengyang to Changsha to Wen. If the girl goes to Yuezhou to take up her post, she might even meet Wen."

Gu Qingshang was startled again when he heard this. He remembered that Wen Jingren was summoned by his master before and asked, "What did master tell you to do last time?"

Wen Jingren cupped his hands and said: "It is a matter of confidentiality, Wen cannot disclose it."

Gu Qingshang understood that Wen Jingren must have done something big for his master, so he would repay him with such a big deal, but it was useless to ask, so he thanked him: "Thank you Mr. Wen for your generous donation."

The two chatted for a few more words. Wen Jingren saw Yu Ping'er walking out with a basket and stood up to say goodbye.Gu Qingshang walked him to the door, thanking him profusely.

After sending Wen Jingren away, Gu Qingshang became troubled again.She had already decided to stay in Hengyang, but after hearing Wen Jingren's words, she was undecided...

■

Wen Jingren left the academy and asked the groom: "Which direction did the little girl go to?" The groom pointed to one end of the long alley and said, "That's where we went, we just turned the corner."

Wen Jingren got on the carriage and ordered: "Wait until the girl comes back before leaving."

The groom responded.

Soon after, Yu Ping'er came cautiously with a basket. The horseman stepped forward. When passing by Yu Ping'er, Wen Jingren rolled up the car curtain and called for a stop. He stuck his head out of the window and asked, "Little girl, what are you doing?" What is it?"

Yu Ping'er recognized him as Mr. Wen, who funded the academy, and said hurriedly: "Zhenzhen is hungry. I went to a nearby house with children to get some milk."

Wen Jingren said: "You have to hire a wet nurse."

Yu Ping'er said: "Miss Gu also said the same, Master Chen is looking for him."

Wen Jingren hummed and asked, "Is Miss Gu unhappy lately?"

Yu Ping'er was stunned, lowered her head and said, "Miss Gu looked sad every day when she was recovering from her injuries. She even cried when she came back yesterday. It's the first time I've seen her cry so sadly. I don't know what kind of injustice she suffered."

Wen Jingren looked Yu Ping'er up and down with a rather strange look. Yu Ping'er felt uncomfortable when he looked at her and said hurriedly: "Master Wen, is there anything else? Zhenzhen is hungry."

Wen Jingren asked: "Do you want to help take care of your sister?"

Yu Ping'er was stunned.

■

The next day, Yu Ping'er sneaked out of the academy while Zhenzhen was sleeping and went to the Tianfu Inn, the largest in the city, as promised. The waiter took her to the largest room upstairs. Yu Ping'er was still a little uneasy and stood there. He hesitated for a long time before knocking on the door.

The person who opened the door was a young woman in her thirties, with a light make-up that showed her good looks.When the beautiful woman saw Yu Ping'er, she was very kind and asked with a smile: "You are here. What is your name?"

Yu Ping'er murmured: "My name is Du Yuping, and Miss Gu all calls me Yu Ping'er." She glanced furtively into the room. There was a bathtub in the room, and Wen Jingren was sitting beside the bed.The beautiful woman held her hand and entered the house: "My surname is Liu, just call me Miss Liu."

"Miss Liu." Yu Ping'er called.

Wen Jingren stood up and came to Yu Ping'er and asked, "Have you made up your mind?"

Yu Ping'er neither nodded nor shook his head.

Wen Jingren stopped asking, nodded to Miss Liu, and went out.Miss Liu closed the door and said, "Take off your clothes first." Seeing Yu Ping'er squirming, she chuckled and said, "We are all girls, what are we afraid of?" Then she untied Yu Ping'er's belt and stripped Yu Ping'er naked. Looking back and forth carefully, Yu Ping'er's face turned red when she saw it.

Miss Liu said: "There are a few small scars, but they don't bother me."

The door of the room was pushed open, and Yu Ping'er hurriedly took some clothes to cover herself up. It turned out that two maids came in with hot water, filled the bathtub, and helped Yu Ping'er take a bath, rubbing her whole body until she was red.Miss Liu took out a half-arm piece of Chinese clothing and put it on Yu Ping'er. Yu Ping'er had never worn such good material before, so she felt it was smooth and comfortable to the touch.

Miss Liu asked her to sit in front of the mirror, tied her hair, inserted pearls and jade hairpins, used rouge to paint her eyebrows, and put on earrings and mother-of-pearls. The jade bottle could not stand up to such service, and she did not dare to move.After a long time, Miss Liu straightened her clothes, clapped her hands and said, "That's it." She took the bronze mirror and showed it to her.

Is this you?Yu Ping'er couldn't believe it.The person in the mirror is charming, bright, and charming. How does he look like the rustic self in the academy?Yu Ping'er knew that she was beautiful, but she didn't expect that she could be so beautiful, and her heart couldn't help but pound.

"Can you play the piano?" Miss Liu asked.

Yu Ping'er shook her head.

"Flute? Xiao?"

Yu Ping'er shook his head: "I don't know anything."

"You always know the words, right?"

Yu Ping'er nodded quickly: "Miss Gu taught me how to read."

"That's okay, I can teach you other things slowly." Miss Liu asked with a smile, "How old are you this year?"

"fifteen……"

In fact, Yu Ping'er reached the age to leave the academy last year, but Chen Mengnan was still an apprentice in the iron shop. They were both young, and the academy was short of manpower, so she stayed in the academy to do miscellaneous work and take care of the children. The academy provided three meals and one night's sleep, etc. Chen Mengnan saved money to get married.

If Shaobing saw her current appearance, would her eyes pop out?

Thinking of Chen Mengnan, Yu Ping'er's heart tightened, and she stood up in a hurry and said, "I just slipped out when Zhenzhen fell asleep. I have to go back to the academy quickly." After saying that, she took off her hairpin and hurriedly changed back into the coarse clothes. Miss Liu Don't stop her either.

Yu Ping'er changed her clothes and opened the door to leave. When she saw Wen Jingren standing at the top of the stairs, Yu Ping'er didn't dare to look at him and passed by with her head lowered.

"Do you want to help take care of your sister?" Wen Jingren asked again.

Yu Ping'er hesitated for a moment and left quickly.

Miss Liu came to the stairs and watched Yu Ping'er fleeing downstairs. She said to Wen Jingren: "This girl can do it, but she is a little older. She can only learn the flute first, which is easier."

Wen Jingren stroked his beard gently, seeming to be deep in thought.

Yu Ping'er hurriedly returned to the academy. Gu Qingshang hugged Zhenzhen with an unhappy face and asked, "Where have you been?"

Yu Ping'er said in a panic: "I...I just went out for a walk and accidentally walked too far."

Gu Qingshang scolded: "When you go out to play, you must at least inform Mr. Yuan to take care of Zhenzhen. You were not so willful before."

Yu Ping'er lowered her head and admitted her mistake without refuting.

Mr. Yuan invited a wet nurse, and Yu Ping'er didn't have to go to nearby homes to get milk every day. She was only responsible for daily care.Gu Qingshang is still undecided about whether to go to Yueyang to take up his post.

Five days later, at Yinshi, before dawn, there was another baby crying outside the academy gate, and everyone gathered around the front yard.Gu Qingshang chased her out, and saw a woman who had hanged herself under a tree not far away. She was so thin that she was so thin that her dirty bare feet were dangling in the air.

He was a rare baby boy, under one year old and very skinny. Apparently his mother did not give him enough milk.

"There will be abandoned babies at the entrance of the academy. We will collect them all." Gu Qingshang said, "Come and collect some of them."

"The academy can't take care of it." Yuan Zhenzhi advised.

"We can take care of it." Gu Qingshang looked determined.

Yu Ping'er looked at Gu Qingshang and lowered her head silently.

Knock, knock.Yu Ping'er came to Tianfu Inn again, knocked on the door, and was still greeted by Miss Liu.

"Master Wen has left, please let me wait for you here." Miss Liu's voice was soft and touching, and she said with a smile, "Please come in."

Yu Ping'er saw two piccolos on the table. Miss Liu took one and handed the other to her.

"Learn the flute first, it's easy."

Yu Ping'er reached out and took it.

(End of this chapter)