Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 337 Another Mid-Autumn Festival

Before Liang Jiujiu had the chance to explain this matter in detail to Mrs. Wen, it somehow reached Qi Renli's ears.

Qi Renli was so happy that he ran to Meng Changqing and slapped his thigh, "I didn't know that my aunt had such skills. I heard from Bafang Laicai that my aunt's craftsmanship is also famous in the capital. Now my aunt is willing to teach me, it's really great!
There are many women in Beishan County. To be honest, they are not as physically strong as men. In the past, only physical work could make money. Even if they couldn't do it, they had to grit their teeth and do it. If they could learn a few skills from my aunt, I could help them with their embroidery work. It would be a perfect livelihood."

Meng Changqing was not as optimistic as him, and was even more worried that his excessive enthusiasm would do harm, so he rarely responded enthusiastically to him, "All crafts require talent, especially embroidery. Even if someone teaches you, you still have to enlighten yourself to make good things.

Not all women are suitable for this craft, and not all men are suitable for it.

There is a famous embroidery workshop in the capital called Yuxiuzhuang, where the master craftsman is a man. Have you heard of it?"

Qi Renli nodded, "Yes, I went to that store to buy gifts and had the honor of meeting that master."

Meng Changqing continued, "It's not just about embroidery, it's the same with other skills. Whether it's teaching or assigning tasks, we have to judge based on how seriously they study and what they have learned, not based on which gender has the advantage."

Qi Renli nodded seriously, "I understand."

"Are the silkworms doing well in the mountains?" Meng Changqing asked what he was staring at.

"Master Xu has never come down from the mountain. He assured me several times that the silkworms are growing well. I followed the method he taught me and it is indeed working well." Qi Renli replied, "In another ten days or so, they should be able to make cocoons. Then we will know the results."

"You will be even busier by then." Meng Changqing said, "I'll give you half a month. Bring more yamen runners with you. This time, change into plain clothes and go to Dazhou."

"Yes."

The days passed one by one, and finally it was the middle of August.

Liang Jiujiu got up early that day and cooked noodles by herself. Everyone in the back yard had a share, and the four children each got two extra eggs.

After eating the noodles, Meng Changqing went to thank her mother and mother, and then went to the front yamen to handle official business.

"Changqing." Liang Jiujiu asked, "Is there anything you need to do today? Can you come back early in the evening?"

Meng Changqing knew that she had prepared a delicious meal. "I don't have anything to do today. I will be back from the yamen at the end of the afternoon."

Liang Jiujiu was very happy, and she told Wen not to run around, wanting to use this dinner as an opportunity for the family to have a good time together.

Meng Changqing handled his official business in the morning and went to the fields to inspect the situation as usual in the afternoon.

The fields were full of busy people. The adults were harvesting in front, the children were carrying the grain behind, and the younger ones were picking up fallen millet ears in the fields. Bags of grain were transported along the ridges of the fields to each household.

Compared with the adults in front, the children are relatively less labor-intensive. After carrying the things two or three times, they can sit on the shoulder pole and take a rest.

Seeing Meng Changqing passing by, many children came over to greet him enthusiastically. One of them asked, "Mr. Meng, when does the school start? I saw Mr. Cai this morning and he was so anxious that he had blisters on the corners of his mouth."

Meng Changqing laughed loudly upon hearing this, and asked, "Which corner of your mouth has the bubble?"

The child gestured on his face to Meng Changqing, "Right here, there's a bunch of them. The teacher said he doesn't even dare to open his mouth."

Meng Changqing: "He doesn't dare to open his mouth and still nags you?"

"Oh!" Another child of six or seven years old sighed and imitated his father's frowning when speaking, "The teacher also told us to think about what we learned in class while working." "What Mr. Cai said makes sense. Don't you want to think about it?" Meng Changqing asked the child.

The child felt wronged. "Because of what he said, I have to work during the day, and my mother will test me on my handwriting when I go home at night. If I write wrong, my father will beat me. I might as well go back to school."

Meng Changqing was curious, "How did your father know that you wrote it wrong? Does he know how to read?"

The child who spoke earlier replied, "I told Dad."

It turns out that there were two brothers in this family who were in school. They took a test on characters every night. If one of them made a mistake, the other would expose it.

Meng Changqing looked at them and shook his head. How foolish! They would rather both of them be beaten than unite?
The two brothers complained about each other in front of Meng Changqing, who listened with great interest and did not try to mediate at all. He even helped out when he saw that one side was losing the argument. He was very unethical.

The children finally asked Meng Changqing when they could go back to class.

Meng Changqing pointed around and said, "These are the lessons you have learned during this period. Learning to read and write is the homework Mr. Cai gave you, and helping with the autumn harvest is the homework I gave you."

Meng Changqing touched the child's head and said, "Mr. Cai is a straightforward person. He will tell you directly what he wants you to learn, but I am more reserved. You have to use your brains to think about what I want you to learn."

Watching Meng Changqing walk away, the children gathered together and looked around, "Master Meng wants us to learn..."

Before he could finish his words, he heard his master's voice behind him, "Come to work!"

Meng Changqing walked along the canal, and when he was about to reach Luojia Village, Bafang chased him from a distance, "Master, there are guests visiting."

When he ran to Meng Changqing, he said carefully, "Master Chen is here, bringing many gifts, saying he is here to celebrate your birthday."

Meng Changqing said to Cheng Guang and Zhou Xing who had been following behind him: "Keep watching. If you have any questions, come to me immediately."

"Yes."

When I returned to the yamen with Bafang and was about to go to the reception room, Laicai came over to report, "Master Chen has gone to the back yamen to pay his respects to his wife, and is now sitting in the yard talking."

Okay, let’s go to the back yamen together.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Meng Changqing was stunned when he saw Chen Xingqi sitting behind the stone table.

This man has changed a lot. There is a conspicuous scar on his chin, his skin is darker than before, his clothes are simpler, and the way he speaks is much more steady than before.

"Evergreen."

Seeing Meng Changqing, Chen Xingqi stood up happily. When Meng Changqing came closer, he patted Meng Changqing on the shoulder twice and said, "I'm here to congratulate you on your birthday. Are you welcome?"

"You are very welcome." Meng Changqing asked him to sit down, and after greeting Wen, he continued to talk to Chen Xingqi, "How come you are so different after not seeing you for a while?"

Mrs. Wen wanted to make room for him. "You two can talk here. I'll go back to my room to rest. It's rare for Master Chen to come here. Please stay for dinner before leaving."

Chen Xingqi stood up to see him off, "Since you've asked, I must stay for dinner."

Seeing that Wen had returned to her room, Meng Changqing said, "It's dangerous to walk at night. Do you really want to stay for dinner?"