Marrying into a poor family

Although Xiao Chenyu showed great reluctance to leave Qin Xiang and his son when he left home, once he left, he was not so sentimental.

Along the way, I chatted with Lu Jiu about poems, songs, legends from ancient and modern times, and the world's scenery and anecdotes. It was really fun.

Lu Jiu is already married, but he and his wife are also very ordinary. They play the role of respecting each other as guests very well. Everyone is polite and interprets the identity of husband and wife just right.

Half of the reason for going out to the capital this time was to find an excuse to go out for some fresh air. The usually free and easy man was not quite used to this kind of regular life.

But there was one thing. After Lu Jiu got married, he really didn't touch other women. Even Xiao Chenyu admired his determination.

Lu Jiu said: "I have seen too many women before, and I have long been tired of it. From now on, I will concentrate on work and expand my business. I will be the richest man in the world."

Faced with Lu Jiu's heroic words, Xiao Chenyu couldn't help but make bold words, saying that he would be prime minister in the future and plead for the people of the world.

The two high-spirited young people still don't know how cruel the outside world is. In the future, no one can protect them from wind and rain or plan for them, and they will have to handle everything by themselves.

At night, the child stayed in Su's yard. Mrs. Lu looked for a wet nurse to come over very early. Originally, Qin Xiang wanted to nurse the child herself, but unfortunately there was no milk. The child preferred to be fed by a wet nurse.

The warm embrace that hugged her every night was gone, and Qin Xiang, who seemed determined and calm, felt very uncomfortable.

After confinement, Qin Xiang concentrated on doing things.

The first is to open a spice factory. In addition to collecting a large amount of spices, it also recruits apprentices and small workers.

The requirements for apprentices are higher, they must be younger, their movements must be nimble, and they must be clever.

This is not the case for small workers, as long as they can do their jobs honestly.

The wanton recruitment of apprentices and small workers attracted the attention of many people, and Qin Xiang's reputation gradually spread among Qijiang County and merchants.

The newly opened spice factory is called Qin's Fragrance Factory. It can provide many fragrances and also collect spices.

Of course, the shipload of spices sent by Lu Jiu's father years ago was also Qin Xi's first family fortune.

There are many merchants in Qijiang County, and the most famous ones are the major incense shops. However, Qin Xiang did the opposite. Instead of being an incense shop, she became the source, making and wholesale of incense directly.

As the reputation gradually spread, more and more people came to order. Even the four major families in Dancheng came to order.

Of course, the Qin family and the Lu family are the most favored, followed by the Huang family. The Huang family can also be the first to get some good fragrances through their in-law relationship with the Lu family.

As for the Zhang family, it was all business and they only had to wait in line.

The old lady of the Zhang family was very angry and said she wanted to make Qin Xiang look good.

So, the old lady of the Zhang family personally posted a message and sent it to Qijiang County, inviting Qin Xiang to go to Dancheng for a banquet. Unfortunately, Qin Xiang refused because of illness.

Although Mrs. Zhang was angry, she could not directly suppress Qin Xiang. She could only write another letter to the magistrate of Qijiang County, saying that she hoped to give Qin Xiang a good beating.

The county magistrate actually suffered a loss from the previous suppression by Xiao Chenyu and his wife, so he was unwilling to get involved in the affairs of Mrs. Zhang's family.

However, after all, Mrs. Zhang had been Jinshang's wet nurse, so he did not dare to refuse directly, so he sent his concubine Lin, who was in charge of the back house, to invite Qin Xiang personally, hoping that Lin could come forward and talk to Qin Xiang.

As the saying goes, if the hard stuff doesn't come, then the soft stuff will come.

But Qin Xiang was very uncooperative and also excused herself on the grounds of physical discomfort.

Concubine Lin was a little dissatisfied with Qin Xiang because of what happened to the old nun. Now seeing Qin Xiang being so disrespectful, she became even more angry and blew a lot of wind in the county magistrate's ears, saying that she was not good enough. To admit defeat, he must meet Qin Xiang. So, with the master’s instigation and acquiescence, consciously or unconsciously, Lin went to the Xiao family’s door in person.

Qin Xi received Lin in the flower hall.

Ms. Lin is very beautiful, with porcelain-like skin and charming smiling eyes.

Although she is just a concubine, she is generous and has the bearing of a royal wife.

When Qin Xiang looked at her, she also secretly sighed at Qin Xiang's good looks and thought to herself: How could such a beautiful person be raised in a small place like Fushui Town?

After the greetings, Ms. Lin sighed softly and said, "Oh! I also know that my status is not enough, so I was not invited to join in the fun at the child's full moon banquet."

Qin Xiang thought to himself, since he already knew, why did he rush to find him?

Seeing that Qin Xiang didn't answer the question and didn't even say a polite word, Mrs. Lin was not happy, but she had no other choice now.

Mrs. Lin added: "I'm here today. Firstly, I want to meet the child and give him a gift. Secondly, I also want to be blessed with you. I'm not very good at it. I never got pregnant. This woman doesn't." If the child is with you, the future will be difficult."

Qin Xiang nodded, not sure if it was perfunctory or in agreement.

"Thirdly, it's also our master's order."

Then he told the story about the pressure put on the master by the Dancheng Zhang family, and was very frank and sincere: "Mrs. Xiao Er, although our master is the county magistrate, he is also quite afraid of the Zhang family. Your second master went to the capital. , if you are targeted by the Zhang family, your life will not be easy."

"You mean, you want me to curry favor with the Zhang family?" Qin Xiang asked with a smile, but this smile made people uncomfortable.

Mrs. Lin covered her lips and chuckled: "What's the point of me? I'm just a concubine who doesn't deserve to be on the stage. I'm just passing on the message as you're told. As for whether you listen or not, what does it have to do with me?"

Before Qin Xiang could speak, Mrs. Lin suppressed her smile again and sighed: "Li Siniang and I are about the same. Although I am a concubine, I'm not much better. In the eyes of the master and his wife, they are just a toy."

The sudden mention of Li Siniang made Qin Xiang a little wary, and she looked at Mrs. Lin with some scrutiny.

Seeing this scene, Mrs. Lin smiled again and said, "My master is very dissatisfied with you. Half of it is because you are so famous that you have overshadowed me, and the other half is because of the pressure from the Zhang family in Dancheng."

Qin Xiang finally confirmed that the previous series of events were also the work of the Zhang family.

However, what she doesn't understand is why the Zhang family is so hostile to her? And what does Lin want to do by being so explicit?

Mrs. Lin did not let Qin Xiang speculate more, and said bluntly: "I have seen Li Siniang's current treatment. To be honest, it is much better than mine now. At least, she is so free that I am jealous."

This statement is not false.

"Do you also want to leave the county magistrate and come to our house to be a servant?" Qin Xiang made a joke.

Mrs. Lin did not laugh, but said: "Mrs. Xiao Er, it was not my master who told me what happened to the Zhang family in Dancheng this time, nor was he arranged for me to tell you. This is my private decision. I hope Mrs. Xiao Er, please don’t betray me.”

"I still don't understand why you took the initiative to give me the handle?"

"I want to make friends with Mrs. Xiao Er. Mrs. Xiao Er will definitely look down on me, but no matter what, I can be considered a favor to you. If"

"what?"

"If, one day, I end up in the same situation as Li Siniang, I hope Mrs. Xiao can help me, even if it means saving my life, I will remember Mrs. Xiao's kindness all my life."

"How can you suddenly say such depressing words? With the shrewdness and wisdom of our county master, you will definitely not come to this point." Qin Xiang said beautifully, but she had some bad guesses in her heart.

Could it be that the people behind the county magistrate were dissatisfied with him?

Finally, Mrs. Lin gave a gift to the child and left.