Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 496 Beginning of Winter [Thank you! Goodbye! 45K owed]

Qingcao, who had just stepped out of the carriage, opened his oil-paper umbrella.
A somewhat chilly autumn wind blew by.

"Stab~"

The fine autumn rain was blown and fell on the umbrella, making a sound.

Qingcao stood on the shaft of the cart, looked around, and then turned his gaze away from the several exquisite carriages under the teahouse not far away.

Looking at Qingyun, who was standing beside the car wearing a bamboo hat and a rainproof oilskin coat, with his arms raised,
Qingcao got off the carriage with his arm and said with a smile, "Thank you, Brother Qingyun."

Qingyun smiled and said, "Be careful of the puddles ahead."

"Hey!"

Qingcao responded by raising her umbrella and looking towards a shop nearby where white steam was coming out.

Looking at the plaque of "Jufangzhai" hanging on the shop, and then at the line of maids and servants holding umbrellas and carrying food boxes lined up outside the shop, Qingcao pursed her lips and walked over.

The shop manager standing under the colorful pavilion at the door glanced at the Xu family's carriage when it came, her eyes full of thought.

After Qingcao got off the car, the female steward came to greet her in the rain with a smile, and said in a somewhat uncertain tone: "Miss, please forgive me for being so presumptuous, but are you from the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion?"

Qingcao bowed with her umbrella, and nodded with a smile: "I am Qingcao beside Wulang! Mom has good eyesight!"

Hearing this, the female steward smiled and waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no! I have seen you a few times before when I followed the third lady out! Please come in, please come in."

Qingcao smiled and tilted her paper umbrella towards the female manager, and the two of them walked into the store.

"The girl is so kind!" The housekeeper looked up and praised with a smile.

Qingcao smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "I still don't know your mother's last name?"

"What's the big deal? My name is Wu."

Hearing this, Qingcao asked tentatively, "But is it the Wu family, the maternal grandfather of Madam Gu?"

Mother Wu smiled and nodded: "Yes!"

When the two were talking, many servants and maids waiting outside the store pricked up their ears.

After entering the shop, Qingcao handed the oil-paper umbrella to the maid in the shop. Smelling the very tempting milk fragrance in the air, Qingcao smiled and said, "This smells so good!"

Mother Wu laughed and said, "That's why they say it's a recipe from the palace! When I smelled it for the first time, it made me drool."

Qingcao laughed and said:

"Mom, I'm here today because Wulang asked me to prepare some fruit for the store. Would you mind taking notes first?"

"Okay! Miss Qingcao, you go ahead." Mother Wu nodded quickly and signaled to the store owner.

"Fifty copies for the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion, ten copies for the Huyan Family in Chunmingfang, twenty copies for the Sheng Family in Jiying Lane, ten copies for the Zhu Family in Bianhe West Street, ten copies for the Fang Family in Lijingmen, and Xishuimen Street."

Hearing Qingcao's words, the shopkeeper was stunned. When he opened his mouth to speak,
"Meet the girl!"

The voices of maids greetings were heard outside the door.

Qingcao stopped talking and turned around, and saw Chai Zhengzheng, with a smile on his face, walking into the store with two maids.

"Meet Miss Zheng Zheng!"

Qingcao quickly lowered his head, sorted out his emotions and bowed.

Chai Zhengzheng walked over with a smile on his face and asked kindly, "Qingcao, why are you here today?"

"My dear, my master tasted this fruit this morning and thought it tasted good, so he asked me to buy more for the Marquis' Mansion and the relatives in the capital to taste."

Qingcao lowered her head and raised it after saying this.

It’s no wonder Qingcao had to calm down. As Xu Zaijing’s personal maid, she knew that the armor worn by her master was in the Chai Mansion.

And not only in the Chai Mansion, but also in the boudoir of the noble lady in front of him.

In addition, this noble lady's former personal maid and Qingcao were from the same hometown, so naturally she had mixed emotions and was afraid that there would be something wrong with her expression or eyes.

"Oh!" Chai Zhengzheng nodded.

The shopkeeper behind the counter bowed and said, "Boss, we have already delivered most of the homes that Miss Qingcao mentioned."

"Mostly, are there any that haven't been delivered yet?" Yunmu, who was beside Chai Zhengzheng, asked with a frown.

"Yes, the Lijingmen Fang family that Miss Qingcao mentioned was not given to our store, but the nearby Shoushanbo Huang family did."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and looked at Qingcao: "Qingcao, who is this Fang family?"

"My dear, the Fang family is the sister's family of the Marquis' wife. They were serving as officials abroad and have just returned to the capital."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded: "Prepare it and send it over."

"Yes, young lady." The shopkeeper on the side bowed.

Qingcao bowed and said, "I will pay for the fruits I sent to the Fang and Sheng families today."

Seeing the shopkeeper's asking look, Chai Zhengzheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Take it, and send today's account book over."

Then he turned to Yunmu and said, "Talk to Qingcao."

After Chai Zhengzheng finished speaking, he smiled and walked to the back.

Yunmu on the side whispered, "Sister Qingcao, it will take quite some time for these fruits to be ready. Why don't we go sit aside?"

Qingcao looked at the place Yunmu mentioned, which was different from the direction Chai Zhengzheng was going, so she smiled and nodded.

After the two sat down, Mother Wu brought over two cups of hot tea.

After Qingcao nodded in thanks, Yunmu whispered, "How have you been these days? Have you communicated with your family?"

Qingcao smiled and nodded, then moved closer to Yunmu and whispered, "Yes! Sister Yunmu, my mother wrote to me and said that Sister Qingxue's family has adopted a boy to inherit the family line..."

Yunmu put away his smile and nodded slightly: "Madam is also grateful to Sister Qingxue for serving the young lady with all her heart."

"Mrs. Chai is truly a kind-hearted person." Qingcao sighed.

Yunmu smiled and nodded.

After a while

Chai Zhengzheng walked out from the back, waved to the two people who stood up, signaling them to continue chatting, and then walked out of the store.

After Qingcao and Yunmu chatted about some interesting things, Qingcao Wu's mother came over with a lunch box.

"Miss Qingcao, everything is ready."

Qingcao stood up, said goodbye to everyone in the store, and got on the Xu family's carriage.

On the way back to Sheng's house,

Qingyun, who was driving the carriage in front, swallowed the fruit in his mouth and turned around and said, "Qingcao, this fruit is really good. No wonder I can smell the rich fragrance of the store just outside the door! How much is one?"

After Qingyun finished speaking, he waited for a while. Seeing that no one answered, he turned sideways and lifted the carriage curtain: "Qingcao?"

"Ah? Brother Qingyun, what did you say?"

Qingcao, awakened from his reverie, hurriedly said.

"What are you thinking about? You didn't even hear me talking to you?"

Qingcao shook his head: "Brother Qingyun, it's nothing!"

"I said."

Listen to Qingyun repeat the question.

Qingcao smiled and said, "The store has just opened, so the price is reduced by 30%, each item is 800 wen."

"How much? Eight hundred Wen? Or a 30% discount?" Qingyun asked in surprise.

"Yes! Mom and Sister Yunmu from Jufangzhai also said that there may be more expensive fruits in the future."

"Did you tell me the price?"

"I heard that a box may cost anywhere from a dozen or several dozen guan."

Qingyun, who was driving the carriage, shook his head: "My God, from now on, this box of fruit snacks will be as valuable as Chu Zhan's new mount."

Qingcao nodded in agreement.

End of the You hour (before 7pm)
The autumn rain is still falling.

Cloudy and rainy,

Although it was not late, the sky was already very dark.

Jiying Lane,
Sheng family,

In the present Anzhaiyuan,
The stone slabs soaked by the autumn rain, along with the wet leaves of grass and trees in the yard, reflected the warm yellow candlelight in the house next door.

In the veranda under the eaves,
Although there was a roof to provide protection, the autumn wind could not stop the rain, and half of the floor in the corridor was still wet.

A lantern appeared at the Moon Gate,
Soon he was carried to the door of the house.

When the man in front of the lantern was about to lift the door curtain, his hand suddenly stopped and he listened to the voice inside the house. "The messenger can be overturned, but the desire of the instrument is hard to measure.

Ink is sad, silk is dyed, poetry is poetry.”

"Girl, I forgot the next thing." A child's voice came.

"Ma'er, think about it again. Mee~" The woman imitated the sound of a sheep.

"A poem praising the lamb! Jing. Jing. Mother, I want to eat it"

"Miao'er, you are not allowed to eat if you don't finish reciting!" the woman said gently but firmly.

At this time,

The person at the door lifted the door curtain and walked in with a smile: "Hahahaha! Please forgive me, how old is Ma-er! It's already very good that you can recite the Thousand Character Classic to this point."

Inside the house, watching Sheng Hong coming in through the curtains,
Wei Shuyi quickly stood up and bowed, with a look of surprise on his face, "Master, why are you here today?"

"Daddy!"

Sheng Changzhang stood up, bowed and called out with a smile.

After glancing at Wei Shuyi, Sheng Changzhang walked up to Sheng Hong.

Sheng Hong untied his cloak and handed it to the maid Qiu Jiang who came over. The smile in his eyes faded a little and he said, "Nothing! You don't welcome me?"

Wei Shuyi quickly shook his head.

Seeing Wei Shuyi's expression, Sheng Hong lowered his head to look at his youngest son in front of him, picked him up and said, "Miao'er, what did you want to eat just now? Tell daddy, your mother didn't let you eat it, but daddy let you eat it!"

Sheng Changzhang's throat moved, and after glancing at Wei Shuyi, his gaze turned to a food box in the room.

Holding Sheng Changqi and sitting down at the table, Sheng Hong looked at Wei Shuyi who was still standing in front of him and said, "Don't embarrass the child. Bring it over."

"Yes."

Wei Shuyi responded, walked to the side, and brought over an exquisite food box.

Sheng Changqi stared at A Niang as she opened the food box.

Looking at the exquisite snacks brought out of the food box under the candlelight and smelling the tempting aroma, Sheng Changqi's eyes lit up.

"Qiu Jiang, bring me a spoon."

"Yes, little girl."

Subsequently,

After Sheng Hong took the spoon from Qiu Jiang, he smiled and put it in Sheng Changzhang's hand: "Eat it."

After saying that, Sheng Hong looked up and said, "I heard from mother that Jing-ge'er sent a lot of these fruits. Why do you seem to have not touched the ones here? Don't you like them?"

Wei Shuyi nodded: "It's too fragrant."

At this time, Chang Qiang in Sheng Hong's arms picked up a piece of dessert, rolled his eyes and put it towards Sheng Hong's mouth: "Daddy, eat first."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong was immediately pleased, with a smile on his face: "Good boy, you eat it, Daddy has eaten a lot at Grandma's house."

Chang Qiang nodded and raised the spoon towards Wei Shuyi: "Young lady, eat first."

Wei Shuyi shook his head.

Seeing this, Nagatake started eating.

But after eating a few bites, Nagaki gradually stopped.

"Makoto, what's wrong?"

Chang Jian put down the spoon in his hand with great willpower and whispered: "Confucius said, a gentleman does not seek to be full when eating."

Sheng Hong looked at his little son in his arms in disbelief: "Ma'er, how did you know this?"

"That's what my mother usually tells me."

Sheng Hong nodded thoughtfully: "Good boy."

Shouantang,
bedroom,

Mother Fang brought the tranquilizing medicine to the old lady.
Seeing the old lady frowning, Fang Mama said, "Old lady, I have kept a portion of the fruit that Jing'er sent. Would you like to have a bite to relieve your stress?"

The old lady waved her hand: "Too sweet."

finished,

The old lady frowned as she drank the medicine.

As soon as she finished drinking, the old lady waved her hand anxiously. Fang Mama understood and quickly walked to the side, brought the plate of fruit over, and gave the old lady a bite of fruit.

After suppressing the taste of the medicine with the fruit and drinking a mouthful of water, the old lady looked at the fruit in Fang Mama's hand and said, "In the past, Wulang never sent so much food. It's strange today."

"I heard that it was opened by the daughters of several noble families in the capital. This can be considered as taking care of the business!"

"In the end, the good food was brought in, but you didn't eat much, old lady. Apart from this plate, the rest went to the maids in the yard."

The old lady smiled and said, "Just let them see the world."

Mother Fang sighed, "The master said it was several hundred coins each!"

The old lady waved her hand and Mrs. Fang didn't continue.

the next day,
After school at Sheng's school,

After leaving the school,

Carrying the book box, Hua Xiang followed Xu Zaijing quickly, whispering as she walked, "Sir, I asked Xiao Tao, she ate that snack yesterday."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "What about you, do you still want to eat?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Okay, then let Jufangzhai deliver it every two days."

"Thank you, sir!"

Time passes,

It's October again.

After the beginning of winter,
The grape trees in Xu Zaijing's yard are no longer as lush as they were in summer and autumn. Their leaves have fallen off, and they appear much sparser.

Although it has been cleaned,
But under the blowing of the north wind,

There are often leaves flying in the yard.

On this day,

It's sunny,

Sheng Family Academy is closed for the day.

The shadow of the grape trellis is also reflected on the ground in the yard.

In the study,
Xu Zaijing was doing his homework.

From the large fish tank in the room, the sound of fish turning over could be heard from time to time.

suddenly,

Xu Zaijing stopped writing with his brush.
Listening to the sound of fallen leaves being trampled in the yard,
After a while,
There was a knock on the closed study door: "Sir, Rong's brother is here!"

"please."

After saying that, Xu Zaijing put down his brush and walked out of the study.

Arriving in the hall, looking at Rong Xian who looked depressed, Xu Zaijing asked in confusion: "Brother Xian, why do you have time to come to my place today?"

Rong Xian pulled out a red card from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, "I'm coming to your house today to deliver the invitation."

Xu Zaijing was stunned, took the invitation from Rongxian, who was about to sigh, flipped it open, and said with a smile: "Oh! Brother Xian, have you set a date for your wedding? The wife of Marquis Fuchang is in the main hall?"

"Yes! I came here to ask you to be my best man."

"Best friend? Good!"

Hearing this, Rong Xian smiled and nodded, then stood up and looked at the sword rack in the hall where the big sword was placed.

Xu Zaijing walked over, took down a large sword and handed it to Rongxian: "Take it and have a look. Why are you so polite?"

Rong Xian took the sword but did not draw it out. He looked at Xu Zaijing with a rare serious expression. After a moment, he said, "Brother Jing, do you really have to wait until after the imperial examination to discuss your marriage?"

Xu Zaijing was stunned, then smiled: "Why are you concerned about my marriage? And you are so serious, which is not like you at all. Did Concubine Rong ask you to ask?"

Rong Xian shook his head in denial, saying, "After my wedding date was set, I suddenly realized that the next person to discuss marriage was my sister. I've been in Bianjing for so long, and there are only so many people who can discuss marriage with my sister. I know what they are like!"

"So I still think you are the most reliable, Brother Jing."

(End of this chapter)