Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 594

On New Year's Eve in the 54th year of Kangxi, Cao's mansion was immediately deserted due to acne.

The Orchid Court cannot set up banquets, and the mats are placed in the flower hall of the front yard.

This year's New Year's Eve dinner included not only the members of the Cao family, but also two brothers, Zuo Cheng and Zuo Zhu. Tian's name is Mr. Zhuang's niece, and he wanted to honor Mr. Zhuang's filial piety, so he ate in his own room.

Because of Cao Shuo, Cao's parents' room and second room were free from alcohol.There is only one table for the female relatives, besides Li Shi, Zhao Jia Shi, Chu Yu and others, there is also Su Xin who has already returned from home.

Zhaojia chattered a few homely things, seeing that Su Xin was quiet and refused to say a word, he lost interest.

On the contrary, the fourth sister and the fifth son have learned the rules from Aunt Luo and Aunt Chang, and seeing that Su Xin's actions are taught by the aunts, they are not as strict as the aunts, and they feel close to her.

Su Xin lowered her brows and smiled lightly, but she was quite miserable in her heart.

After all, it was New Year's Eve, but she temporarily stayed at someone else's house in the name of an errand.In addition, there were gossips she heard when she returned home, which made her even more afraid, and she didn't want to have any contact with Zhao Jia.

It is true to say that you miss your relatives during the festive season.

Even though his parents and sister have passed away for many years, and his mother and sister have never seen each other, Han Jiang still misses her.

She put incense on the memorial tablets of her parents and sister Wenxiu, and then sat by the table and lost her mind.

On the table, there are authentic Huaiyang dishes, most of which are Han Jiang's favorites.

This was all made up by her maid Xiaoxi. Han Jiang looked at the delicious food on the table, but he didn't raise his chopsticks at all.

It's okay to say other times, I'm busy with business, and I can't think of anything else; but during the holidays, it's inevitable that I will be touched and think of my parents and relatives.

Han Jiangshi hesitated for a moment, and asked Xiaoxi to fetch the pen and ink.

Jiang Wu, who was born in a side branch of the Jiang family, was said to be the brother of the Han Jiang family. He died of illness two years ago, leaving a widow with two sons.

In the core of Han Jiang's heart, he pities the poor and the weak, and does not see women suffering.In addition, Mrs. Jiang Wu is an honest and responsible person. In the past few years, she has helped a lot.Even if he moved to the capital, he sent some money there.

Mrs. Jiang Wu's second son, who is four years old this year, if she adopts her as an adopted son...

Thinking about it, Han Jiangshi already spread out the pen and paper, and took up the pen to write a letter to a clan uncle.

After writing a few lines, she stopped writing, sighed, tore up the letter, and threw it into the paper bucket.

Even if Mrs. Jiang Wu is an honest person, who can guarantee that her child will grow up to be a good person?
If the Jiang family used the heir's banner to plot against her in the future, then she wouldn't be throwing a brick at her own foot.

In fact, in her heart, she really had no respect or affection for those members of the Jiang clan.The fact that those people joined forces to divide her family property was still fresh in her memory.

If it weren't for the Cheng family to rely on, she would have been swallowed alive by those people.

Or wait until the market opens and go to the "People's Market" to have a look, Han Jiangshi has made up his mind.

*
In Cao's mansion, everyone's interest is not high at all. In addition, to avoid acne, frying and frying are not allowed in the mansion, and even the food is not as good.

This New Year's Eve dinner, but the people who ate were not in the mood, and they left early.

Cao Yong and Chu Yu were afraid that the Banyan Courtyard would be deserted and sad, so they prepared Niu Niu's favorite snacks and sent them there.

Because it was late at night, it was inconvenient for Cao Yong to go, so Chuyu went for a stroll and talked with him for a while.

Cao Yong sent Zhao Jia back to the East Mansion, and said a few housework with Cao Song in the East Mansion.

Whether it is about accumulating blessings or buying a good reputation, the land rent of this Zhuangzi cannot be too high.Every land boundary has its own charter. If you collect less rent, you will offend the neighbors and landlords. If you charge too much, you will be punished.

Cao Song is not a fool, so he naturally knows that people in the capital place the most importance on face.

If this leads to the reputation of being "stingy" and "greedy", then it will become a laughingstock for others in the future.

Therefore, Cao Song hurriedly nodded his head when he heard his brother talking about it.

In addition to renting a child, it is a matter of avoiding acne in the East Mansion.Although several of the Cao Song brothers have been vaccinated, there are also Tianhu and other female relatives who have never had flowers, so we must take strict precautions.

Especially Tianhu, who is less than a hundred days old, is Cao Shuo's posthumous son, so there must be no mistakes.

In the inner house of the East Mansion, Mrs. Zhao Jia returned to the house, took off the jacket outside, crossed her legs on the kang, lit a cigarette bag, and looked at Jinghui, hesitating to speak.

Because she didn't tell her to leave, Jinghui stood there with a low eyebrow and pleasing eyes, thinking that what Chuyu had said in private before, her mother-in-law was determined to open a shop, and she would ask her for a shop if she didn't expect it during the Chinese New Year.

She felt a little uneasy, fearing that Zhao Jia would take advantage of the shop to get angry at herself.

Today's New Year's Eve dinner, Zhao Jia's eating is not happy, Jinghui can see it.

Zilan and Luju took two maidservants to serve Zhao Jiashi to eat cigarettes, and stood aside with their hands down.

Zhao Jia took two puffs of cigarettes, raised his eyelids, and asked Jinghui, "Is your shop still rented to the previous person? How much is the rent? Has it increased?"

Jinghui didn't understand the intention of the question, weighed it in her heart, and replied carefully: "The rent is still in accordance with the previous years. Because the contract is signed for a long time, it is not easy to raise the price at will. However, compared with the rent at the Drum Tower, it can be regarded as an upper-middle class." gone."

Zhao Jia put down his cigarette pouch, nodded, glanced at Jinghui's stomach, and said, "You've been busy in Xifu for half a day, go back and rest."

Seeing her put down like this, Jinghui was a little surprised, but she didn't show it on her face, she bent down and responded.

As soon as I walked to the door, I heard Zhao Jia's saying: "Zhuangzi has little interest. I showed people two shops. I have already paid a deposit. After the sixth day, I have to pay other money. There is a lot of money in this family's account. , if you are cheap, temporarily move 800 taels of silver and let me use it.

If she talks too much, Jinghui can push it with a lot of money.What Piansheng said was 800 taels, no more, no less, and Jinghui couldn't bring it up even if she wanted to refuse.

Because years ago, when she married Zhuangzi to pay the bill, the local products and food she sent were nearly a thousand taels of silver.

Although Jinghui disapproved of her mother-in-law opening a dim sum shop in her heart, she couldn't go against her mother-in-law's wishes over and over again for this matter.Zhao Jia looked on anxiously, if she said "no", she didn't know what would happen next.

So she responded: "It just so happened that my daughter-in-law got into the account a few years ago, and there are 760 taels of silver. If my wife asks, my daughter-in-law will send it to me tomorrow."

Hearing this, Zhao Jia frowned slightly, and said, "It's only 760 taels? Well, it's okay, I'm sorry to trouble you." His expression could not hide his disappointment.

Jinghui sighed inwardly, turned and went out.

When her back was far away, Zhao Jia took a puff of cigarette and asked the maid next to her, "How is the young master? Did you cry today? How many times have you had milk?"

Zilan and Luju glanced at each other, Zilan took a step forward and said: "Go back to Madam, from noon to night, the young master woke up four times and drank milk three times."

"It's good to be able to eat and sleep. These flowers are not a joke. If they spread to the family, don't they make people worry about death? No one is allowed to enter the Xikua courtyard except you." Mrs. Zhao Jia Said.

Zi Lan bowed in response, and Zhao Jia nodded in satisfaction, and said: "I know you are loyal and careful, don't worry, after these two months, it will subside, and I will praise you."

In this case, Zhao Jia said it more than once, and Zilan blushed, lowered her head but dared not speak.

Luju watched from the sidelines, but couldn't help but rejoice.

Not long after Tianhu landed, Zhao Jia asked Zilan and Luju who would share her worries and take care of Tianhu.

Lu Ju has always been clever and thinks a lot, so she knows that Zhao Jia will not say this for no reason.

Cao Shuo's branch in the mansion doesn't have a mistress, even if there is a biological mother, Tian Xiang, she is just a faceless housekeeper, not qualified to take care of Tianhu.Not to mention, Mrs. Zhao Jia didn't want to see her at all. If Cao Song hadn't interceded, Mrs. Zhao Jia would have found a reason to send her out of the house.

Logically speaking, Jinghui, the eldest aunt, as the future mistress of the house, has the responsibility to take care of her nephew.

She is busy, and she needs to take care of the housework inside and out.

Zhao Jia also knew this, so he found another suitable person around him to take care of Tianhu.

This flattery meant that Cao Song would be his concubine, acting as a guardian mother.

Before Cao Shuo's accident happened, Zhao Jia thought about using the two servant girls around him, one for the eldest son and one for the second son.The matter was delayed because of Cao Shuo's accident.

Now, because of taking care of Tianhu, the old saying is repeated.

But Luju was unwilling, so she backed down repeatedly.

She was a good smoker and worked as Zhao Jia's internal accountant. Zhao Jia couldn't do without her for a while, so he complied with her and asked Zilan to take care of Tianhu.

Long before Jinghui started, Zilan knew that she would be Cao Song's concubine in the future.Now this arrangement, she is a little shy on the face, but she is happy in her heart.

*
Not to mention Xiao Jiujiu, who was waiting for everyone in the East Mansion, Cao Yong talked with Cao Song for a while, and then came to the outer hall to persuade Cao Xiang and his brothers for a few words before turning back to the West Mansion.

He didn't go back to the inner house immediately, but went to Zhiran's yard.

Although Buddhism pays attention to the cleanliness of the six senses, but after all, it is the New Year's Eve, and it is always a bit bleak to live alone.

I have already sent someone to deliver the noodles here, but I don't know how the little monk used it?
Cao Yong was thinking while entering the yard, but he heard the sound of pushing cups and changing cups from the upper room.

"Buddha sits in his heart, wine and meat pass through his intestines... the monk is the real free and easy person... done it..." Who is the one who speaks with a big tongue, not Li Wei?
"Sin, sin, Brother Youjie, please be careful with your words, you have offended the Buddha carefully." The person who is more devout than a monk is naturally Cao Yong's aide, Jiang Jian.

Although he couldn't hear Zhiran's movements, Cao Yong could imagine him watching silently.

These few people are not ordinary people.

Together, it seems that a lot of aura has been added to the mansion.

If Mr. Zhuang is still there... Cao Yong still feels very uncomfortable when he thinks of this.

He picked up the curtain to enter, and the servant here was outside, concentrating on watching the water on the stove, and there was a tea set next to it, it seemed that he was waiting for the water to boil to make tea.

Seeing Cao Yong come in, the young man got up and bowed to greet him.

Cao Yong waved his hand, told him to avoid it, and strode into the back room.

Li Wei and others were sitting on the kang, Jiang Jian was sitting facing south, Li Wei was on his left, and Zhiran accompanied the prime minister.

When Cao Yong entered, Li Wei was holding the jug, and was staring at Zhiran's glass of wine, not idle, and said repeatedly: "Do it, do it! It's a beautiful day, but the sky is beautiful, and the wine is a song. The geometry of life, the food and wine, the bliss of life.”

He has always been reluctant to read, although this time it is very literary, but he does not know where he heard the drama, and it is neither fish nor fowl when it comes to it.

Zhiran and Jiang Jian couldn't help smiling when they heard the words.

Jiang Jian had already seen Cao Yong, and hurriedly got up from the kang, Zhi Ran followed Jiang Jian's line of sight, but raised his brow slightly.

Cao Yong's friendship with him as a young man is very speculative.

Although Zhiran didn't open his mouth, he just raised his eyebrows, but Cao Yong understood the meaning of his expression, he was asking: "Is the New Year's Eve dinner finished?"

Cao Yong nodded and said: "It's been a while, I just talked to Xiaoer in Dongfu, otherwise I would have come here."

Li Wei had already put down the jug, got up and went to the ground, and said with a smile, "Even if the uncle doesn't come now, Li Wei will have the cheek to ask someone to invite you. Please take your seat quickly. I'll go to my uncle's house to have lunch today. Here comes the good wine...the lotus white that has been cellared for more than ten years...is really a fairy liquid..."

Xu Shi drank for a while, Li Wei's face was flushed, and he spoke awkwardly.

Not only Li Wei, but even Zhiran's cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were blurred.

Only Jiang Jian, although he smelled of alcohol, was shameless, which was still the norm.

Looking at the clear lotus white and smelling the mellow fragrance, Cao Yong also had the desire to drink.

He gave way to the crowd, and seeing that everyone refused to take his seat, he no longer shied away, took off his boots, and took his seat on the kang.

Jiang Jian sat on the east side, Li Wei sat on the west side, Zhiran took the stool and accompanied the prime minister.

Zhiran asked the boy to take the bowls, chopsticks and wine cups, and Li Weiti slipped away the wine pots and cups, starting with Cao Yong, poured everyone a full cup.

The four of them toasted together and drank the wine in the glass to the full.

Lianhuabai is neither baijiu nor rice wine, but dew wine.

This is a craft handed down from Dagong, which is a low-alcohol wine made of lotus stamens mixed with medicinal materials such as Astragalus, Amomum, Angelica, Polygonum multiflorum, Wujiapi and other medicinal materials.

This kind of wine, not only tastes fragrant and sweet, but also can nourish yin and kidney, relax tendons and activate blood circulation, dispel wind and avoid miasma.

Cao Yong is not a person who is addicted to alcohol, but he also likes this wine.

When he was free, he and Chu Yu would have a few drinks sometimes.

Li Wei has already brought the flagon again and filled it up for everyone.

Zhiran and Jiang Jian are not people who like to talk, and for a while, Li Wei was the only one on the table muttering: "Master, the tender meeting on February [-], if you really bid, can you get the Mongolian tea ceremony? If so, wouldn't it be cheaper for those guys? I don't have enough money. Even if I clean up the family, I can't compare to those people. gone."

Cao Yong nodded, and said: "It's a book approved by the emperor's imperial pen, can there be a fake? It's just that there is no upper limit for this bid, and it will be a matter of who has a strong family. You can't ask for a false price, or after winning the bid, If there is no money to pay, it is the crime of deceiving the emperor. The previous deposit and silver are all mentioned, and you have to be responsible. These words, you should also find an opportunity to remind those people. They are no more than Shanxi merchants, who go to the royal business. , know the seriousness of it."

Li Wei listened, nodded quickly and said: "Understood, starting tomorrow, those people will take turns to treat guests. The young ones have also been honored by the adults and become guests...I will let them give the old man a face, let those who are waiting to watch the fun The guy is dumbfounded..."

*
Today is the 1st. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the monthly pass last month. Nine, I will work hard to update it this month.Now the ninth monthly ticket, Khan, tears begging for a guaranteed monthly ticket.

(End of this chapter)