Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 29

On the fourth day of August in the 45th year of Kangxi, Cao Yin and his wife went north with their daughter.Mrs. Li sent her daughter Cao Yan to Beijing to be a candidate, but Cao Yin returned to her hometown of Fengrun (in present-day Hebei Province) to visit her father's grave and take care of the old matriarch's tomb by the way.The old lady is 73 years old this year, and she is very old, and she is particularly concerned about her funeral.Thinking that her husband had passed away for more than 20 years, it would not be good to disturb people in the underground, so the old lady sent a message that after a hundred years, she would not be buried with her husband, but another grave would be opened next to her husband's grave.Cao Yin went north ahead of schedule just to arrange this matter.

Before leaving, Cao Yin entrusted the family affairs to Cao Quan and his wife, and entrusted the affairs of the yamen to Zhuang Chang.

Together with Cao Song, Cao Yong studied the Four Books and Five Classics with Master Song.Ordinary sons and daughters of officials and eunuchs can be tested for talents and candidates based on their ability, or they can choose to obtain the qualifications of supervising students based on their father's shade, but the same path leads to the same goal.If you are a donated official, not only will you be looked down upon by others, but you will rarely be promoted to a high level.Cao's family is in the banner, which is different from ordinary officials.Cao Yong heard from his parents when he was young that if there is no accident when he grows up, he will definitely have to work in Beijing for a few years before he can consider whether to choose the imperial examination or donate to the official.

Cao Shun, who is more than nine months old, is healthy and fat, and Cao Yong is relieved.My little brother should have good physical fitness, I hope God will bless him and let him grow up safely.

Parents are not here, so Cao Yong has more time to go out of the house, and he has almost visited Jiangning's inside and outside.If it weren't for the old lady who couldn't live without Cao Yong for a day, Cao Yong wanted to leave Jiangning and go to Taihu Lake.The Zheng brothers and sisters wrote to find the most suitable female mussels for raising pearls, and they have started breeding. According to this process, there will be enough female mussels in the spring of next year, and the first batch of pearls will be harvested in the winter of the following year.In terms of tea, things are not going well. Except for the large-scale tea gardens near West Lake Longjing, there are wild tea trees in Anxi, Fujian and Junshan, Taihu Lake. No one has cultivated them. The production is extremely unstable. effectiveness.

If there is anything unsatisfactory about Cao Yong, it is Gu Na.That kid not only failed the exam unexpectedly, but also refused to return to Jiangning, staying in the capital and saying that he would wait for the next exam.The Gu family's fortunes have fallen, and the hope of the family's rejuvenation rests on Gu Na alone, which makes him even more eager for fame.Zhuang Chang once lamented this, worried that Gu Na would go astray.Although Cao Yong did not support Gu Na's persistence, he still respected his choice.In his reply, he attached a bank note for the expenses of Gu Na's capital, and enclosed two pairs of shoes that Gu Na's mother hand-sewn.

Gu Na's mother, the Zhou family, was in charge of Gu Na back then and remarried to Chen Liu, a coachman. After they got married, the husband and wife were sent to the north by Cao Yin to work as errands for Sun Wenqi.After Sun Wenqi became a weaver in Hangzhou, Chen Liu and his wife returned to the south of the Yangtze River with the Sun family.Cao Yong took into account Gu Na's face, and after discussing with Cao Yin, he called Chen Liu and his wife back to Jiangning, bought [-] acres of fertile land outside the city for the couple, and helped them settle down in Jiangning.At this time, the Zhou family gave birth to two more sons, but her concern for the eldest son did not diminish at all. Knowing that his son was studying in the capital, he was happy for his son, but also worried that no one would take care of his life.

Although Mrs. Zhao Jia is in charge of weaving the inner house in name, it is actually managed by Cao Yi.Six months ago, after Li's recovery, Cao Yong told Li that Cao Yi was ruled by women.Mrs. Li was furious, and dealt with the two women severely, without saving any kindness.In her heart, besides being a niece by blood, the most important thing is that Cao Yi is her son's savior.If there is no Cao Yi, maybe the son will be gone.For such a benefactor, I am not willing to neglect, how can I allow others to humiliate me.

After being reminded by her son, Mrs. Li realized that Cao Yi was different from Cao Ying and Cao Yan. She thought that she was not the daughter of the Cao family, and always had a bit of self-pity.She wanted to tell the truth, but she was worried that the old lady would not be able to stand the stimulation, so she had no choice but to continue to hide it.He just brought Cao Yi by his side during the daily board meeting, and taught her little by little how to manage the house and how to deal with the servants.The money that Lin Xiazhai distributed to Cao Yi every month, Mrs. Li had someone carefully collect it. When she gets married in the future, in addition to the dowry, plus this money, Cao Yi should be able to live a more comfortable life.

After half a year, Cao Yi learned well, and was able to take over daily chores. When encountering any important matters, he sent someone to report to Mr. Zhao Jia or the old lady for adjudication.Because of Li's previous speech and Cao Yong's backing, the whole family has nothing to say about Cao Yi's management of the inner house.Now, some people may regard Cao Yong as a child, but no longer treat Cao Yi as a child.According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, men can marry at sixteen and women at fourteen.The sixteen and fourteen here refer to the imaginary age, not the full age.Cao Yixu is thirteen years old, according to the law, he can talk about marriage next year.Cao's family is in the banner, and the daughters of the bannermen have always been honorable, and it is common for them to learn how to manage the family from the elders of the family before they get married.

At the beginning of September, Cao Yin sent someone back to deliver a letter. After Cao Yan passed the election of the show girl, she was raised the flag and given the surname Cao Jia. Arranging the matter of marrying a daughter in Beijing.Naersu was born in the 29th year of Kangxi, one year older than Cao Yan. He inherited the title in the 40th year of Kangxi. Now he is the owner of the bordered red flag and is in charge of the affairs of the bordered red flag.Cao's family is full of joy.Although there have been many stories about Kangxi marrying Cao Yan to the prince or the clan, but the Prince of Pingjun is an adulterer, and he is also a descendant of the Fujin Dynasty.

Cao Yong knew it well, and it was not surprising. According to historical records, Cao Yan married Naersu and gave birth to four or five sons, of which the eldest son inherited his father's title.

Cao Yin has another letter to Cao Yong, asking him to bring someone to open the treasury here, and choose gorgeous things from Li's dowry to add dowry to Cao Yan.Because they had to repay part of the deficit in the past two years, and sent people to various places to buy tea factories, the Cao family was not rich on the books.Cao Yong knew that Cao Yin must have made such a bad move because he did not have enough money to do the dowry.

Cao Yong checked his small treasury, Lin Xiazhai's three-year dividends, after deducting the distribution to everyone, and deducting the expenses of the past few years, there are still about 17 taels.Cao Yong took out 13 taels of banknotes, 10 taels of which were packed into an envelope, and 3 taels of money was packed into an envelope.After installing it, Cao Yong went to Zhuang Chang and asked him to send a reliable person to bring the banknote to Cao Yin in Beijing. The 10 taels is for parents to arrange the dowry and wedding, and the 3 taels is a gift from his younger brother to his sister.Cao Yong has long seen that this Zhuang Chang is by no means a simple staff member.In Cao Yin's study in the weaving mansion, even Cao Yong, the son-in-law, was not allowed to come and go at will, but there was no restriction on Zhuang Chang.In these years, whenever Cao Yin left Jiangning, Zhuang Chang had the full power to take care of the affairs of the weaving government office. This is a power that ordinary staff can grasp.The Cao family is the emperor's eyes and ears in the south of the Yangtze River. It is a secret to people in this world, but it is already well known to Cao Yong hundreds of years later.Therefore, he speculated that Zhuang Chang might be the main force of the monitoring agency and Cao Yin's right-hand man, which is why he received such great trust and respect.

13 taels is not a small amount in the eyes of anyone, and Cao Yong is really worried if he entrusts others.As for Zhuang Chang?That is the intuition in the heart plus the trust in Cao Yin's human eyesight.

At the end of September, Cao Yin's second family letter arrived in Jiangning, mentioning that Cao Yan's wedding date had been set on October 26.The old lady was overjoyed when she heard this, and asked someone to open the box, found out many treasures, and sent the person in charge to send them to Beijing.That night, the old matriarch asked his wife and son to come over with a few grandchildren, together with Cao Yong and Cao Yi, they made a family banquet, which was quite lively.The old man was greedy for a while, drank two glasses of wine, somehow caught the wind at night, and began to feel uncomfortable the next day.

Everyone didn't think it was a big deal, anyway, there were two imperial doctors sent by the emperor to serve the old matriarch, at first they only said that they had caught a cold, and it would be good to drink two medicines to sweat.However, after three or five days, the old lady became seriously ill.Cao Quan and Cao Yong wanted to send someone to Beijing to deliver a letter, but they were stopped by the old lady, who only said that they were not in the way, and they did not want to delay their granddaughter's marriage due to their own reasons.Cao Quan and Cao Yong thought about waiting for two days to see the situation.

By mid-October, the old lady seemed to be in better spirits, and everyone felt relieved.

On the afternoon of October [-]th, the old lady drank a bowl of millet porridge and ate half a plate of mixed fresh bamboo shoots. She seemed to have almost recovered.The old matriarch sent someone to call his son, daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughter to the bed, including Cao Yi, and even Cao Shun, who was about to turn one year old, was brought by Liuli.

The old lady turned her eyes around the faces of the people, and said: "A few days ago, I was lying on the bed, in a daze, and I always felt that there was something important to do. I have thought it through these two days, so I asked you to come over and explain Tell me what happened!"

Cao Yong felt uncomfortable when he heard the ominous words of the old lady.Cao Quan and Zhao Jia's couple even said repeatedly: "The old lady will live a long life, and now she is getting better again. It is too early to say these words."

The old matriarch smiled and said: "It's just an explanation, to comfort my old woman's heart, and to comfort your hearts too!"

Cao Yong's eye circles were already red, and he lowered his head, unwilling to be seen losing his composure.Whether it's the doting in Xiao Cao Yong's memory, or the endless love behind him, in front of Cao Yong, the old lady gave him all the care and love that a grandmother can give.The fear of facing another world at the beginning of the year was calmed down by the doting of the old matriarch.

"My headgear and clothing materials will be divided equally between the two daughters-in-law. Whether you reward others or use them for yourself, it's up to you; the antique calligraphy and paintings will be divided equally between the two sons." He said, looking at it. Cao Quan: "In the past two years, your brother sold the possessions of the mansion without telling me, must it be to repay the shortfalls of the previous visits?"

After sighing, the old matriarch said again: "Although welcoming the driver is our Cao family's dignity, it is too wasteful. You brothers are not good at management. I still have 14 taels of silver notes here. 3000 taels of silver and 5000 taels of gold. 3 taels of silver notes will be left, and the remaining 11 plus gold will be returned to Kilometers. Let your brother pay back the deficit of our Cao family. The law of the country is merciless, even though Long Live God treats our Cao family with great kindness , but we should act more cautiously so as not to disappoint the emperor. For the 3 taels of silver bills left behind, the unmarried grandchildren in front of us, except for Yonger, each of them will share 5000 taels of money as a marriage gift The 3000 taels of cash, 500 points will be given to the girls in my yard as dowry. Pearls and amethysts, 100 taels per person, eight second-class ones, 200 taels per person. The rest will be divided The remaining 2 taels is more or less my wife's kindness, and I don't want them to wait on me for nothing. The [-] taels, apart from taking care of my funeral, the rest will be used as funds to help the spirit go north."

There was silence in the room, except for the occasional muffled sobs.

The old matriarch had almost made the arrangements, so he said to Cao Yong: "You started Linxiazhai at the age of ten, and your monthly income is thousands of taels of silver, so grandma didn't leave you any silver. I'm a servant in Beijing. When I married Cao's family, I married a Zhuangzi in Changping. Although there is not much land, it is one of my thoughts. Now I will leave the Zhuangzi to you, so that you can help grandma when you arrive in the capital. Take care of them. These girls in my yard are also entrusted to you. If you are willing to go home, you will arrange to get out of citizenship; if you are willing to marry, you will help prepare the dowry; "

"Yes, grandma, grandson takes orders!" Cao Yong knelt down in front of the old lady's bed, bowing his head and answering.

On October 45, the 28th year of Kangxi, Cao Yan, who was already a wife, and her husband, King Pingjun, returned to the old house of the Cao family in the capital to complete the ceremony of "returning to the door".After seeing off his daughter and son-in-law, Cao Yin received an urgent letter from his family through the post station Baili: before the end of October [-]th, the old lady passed away.

Cao Yin was stunned, the page of the family letter slipped from his hand, and slowly fell to the ground.

At this time, in Jiangning thousands of miles away, Cao Yong in filial piety was kneeling in front of the mourning hall, his face sinking, not knowing what he was thinking.

(End of this chapter)