in spring

Chapter 123 The Voyeur

Another year of spring is coming, and the spring is just right.

Chunying sat on the steps of the small courtyard, bowing her head and wearing a new net.This is a new trick she saw by accident on the street outside, and she thought it looked pretty, so she remembered it carefully and called to try it when she got home.

There were footsteps and voices outside the door. It seemed to be a neighbor who lived nearby: "That's right here. Brother Hu lives in this yard, but I don't know if he is at home. Guests just knock on the door and ask. If he is not there, Leave a message, and he will find you."

"Thank you, auntie, this is a small thought..."

"Oh, the guest is so polite..."

Chunying put down the net, walked over to open the door, looked out carefully, and saw a man in his thirties, with a dark complexion and a slightly fat body, wearing a thick silk robe, a small handkerchief wrapped around his head, and a Wearing a jade pendant, it is in the shape of money with a circle on the outside and a square on the inside. It must be a businessman.

As soon as the neighbor's aunt saw Chunying, she greeted her with a smile and said, "Sister Chun, this guest is a businessman from out of town, and he said he wanted to talk to Brother Hu about business." Yes." Hearing the words, the aunt laughed a few words, grabbed one sleeve, and left quickly.

Chunying wished the businessman all blessings, and then said: "Brother Hu's family has gone out, and he won't be back until evening. If the guest has something to leave for him, just tell me."

The businessman hesitated for a moment before saying: "My surname is Wu, and my single name is a flute. I was originally a cloth merchant from the south of the Yangtze River. I heard people at the pier say that Brother Hu here has a lot of friends, and he has the best way. No matter what kind of business, he can do it. Find another home for someone. I sold a batch of fabrics and came to Beijing. Before I settled down, I received an urgent letter from my family saying that my father was ill and had to go back as soon as possible, so I had to come to Brother Hu to try."

Chunying hurriedly said: "Please wait a moment, I will be right back." After that, she went back to the house to get the booklet and pen for shorthand, and went back to the door to open it: "Please tell me where you are now, and there is still cloth The type, quantity, price, etc., later, someone will come to you to inspect the goods, and when Hu’s brother returns home in the evening, he will talk to you.”

The businessman Wu Di was stunned, a little reluctant: "Why do you still need to inspect the goods? I haven't found a buyer yet. If there is something wrong in the middle and it gets dirty, wouldn't I be at a disadvantage?"

Chunying smiled and said: "Guest, you are from another place. If my elder brother of the Hu family wants to be a middleman for someone, he has to be trustworthy. You have to confirm the goods first. Don't worry, the inspectors are all experts. If there is any difference Late, I will never let you suffer."

Wu Di reluctantly accepted it, briefly described the situation of the goods, and left the address of the inn where he is currently staying.Seeing that Chunying had written a few lines on the pamphlet, he stretched out his head and glanced at it, but was a little surprised: "Little girl, your handwriting is really good. Originally, it is rare for a girl of your age to be able to read." Yes, your brother taught you this? Brother Hu is still a scholar?"

Chunying smiled and didn't answer, but just showed him the pamphlet: "Check it again, is there any mistakes or omissions?"

Wu Di glanced roughly, then said "it's all right", and looked Chunying up and down carefully.

Chunying has long been used to it, she just smiled lightly and let him look at her, but Wu Di herself was a little embarrassed, so she smiled and said: "Then I will take my leave first, please come to me as soon as possible, Brother Hu, I am really in a hurry."

Chunying sent him off politely, and then went back to the house to write a text message, walked out of the street, waved, and called a street boy of about ten years old: "Five eggs, you go to Funing Street, Send this letter to shopkeeper Shi of Yunxiang Pavilion, don't waste your time because of playfulness. This is your reward, and when you come back, I will give you another five dollars."

Wudan lowered his head and counted the five copper coins in his hand, and rolled his eyes: "I only need these five coins, and the five sisters Chun will use five steamed buns to pay for it? I want white flour, fresh, hot ! It doesn’t matter if there is no stuffing!”

Chunying smiled and poked him on the forehead and pointed: "Only three! Five yuan for five steamed buns, what a deal! If you do a good job, I will make you another big cake, which is another reward." How about yours?"

Wudan happily accepted the letter.One flatbread is worth two steamed buns, and the price is even more expensive. This deal couldn't be more cost-effective.

Chunying watched him go with a smile, and went back to the small courtyard to continue making nets. After lunch, shopkeeper Shi came.She hurriedly went up to meet him: "Hello shopkeeper, have you been there or are you going?"

This remark was a bit out of mind, but shopkeeper Shi understood it, and he was not polite. He sat on a small stool in the yard, poured a cup of tea, and said: "I have experienced it, and the things are not bad, but it is a pity. A dozen or so horses were soaked for some reason, and after being dried, they looked like dried salted vegetables. I think the guy named Wu was a little dishonest, and the price was too high. Tell Hu Xiaoge that if you really want to take over , if the price is lowered by [-]%, the Wu surname will not lose money."

Chunying hurriedly brought out the snacks she made to entertain him: "I heard that all he brought were white cloths, if they were soaked, who else would buy them?"

"I heard that there was a big fire near Guangning Gate in Xicheng yesterday, and many people were killed. It is estimated that the white cloth will be sold well in the past few days. For those that have been soaked, they should be soaked in water again, straightened and dried in the sun, presumably There are also poor people who are willing to buy it." Shopkeeper Shi swallowed two pieces of dim sum, "Xiaochun's craftsmanship is getting better and better, this pea yellow taste is good enough! —— I'm planning to take my brother-in-law with me to transport the coarse white cloth accumulated in the warehouse. For sale, if brother Hu wants to come, we will meet at Chongwenmen before [-]:[-] pm tomorrow, and we won’t wait when it’s over.”

Chunying hurriedly took notes.When shopkeeper Shi saw it, he smiled and said: "Xiaochun's knowledge is getting better and better. The writing is correct and beautiful. When will you go back to Yunxiang Pavilion? The two monkeys Su Luosuyi have worked hard recently, but I often do my homework with Brother Dong, but I am always inferior to others, so come and see how their homework is when you have free time?"

Chunying raised her head and glanced at him. Seeing his twitchy expression, she thought it was a little funny: "Okay, I'll go there in a few days, but I don't dare to guide their homework. I haven't read those books and articles before. The shopkeeper Aren’t you also literate? Why don’t you do it yourself? If you can’t, just ask Brother Dong, and Brother Dong will definitely tell you.”

Shopkeeper Shi coughed a few times, a little bit shy, and a little bit eager to try, said a few casual gossips, couldn't sit still anymore, and left.

Chunying smiled and sent him out all the way, bought hot steamed buns and pancakes, and sent them to Wudan, and then came back and took the booklet and read it while thinking.

Although it is a tragedy for people in the west city to catch fire, they always have to buy white cloth. They are kind people if they don’t raise the price... If there is any leftover, they can accumulate it and sell it slowly. right...

In the evening, she was busy with two dishes in the kitchen. When she heard the hooves of mules passing by outside, she knew that Hu Fei had returned. She hurriedly put the dishes on the plate, put out the fire and went to the courtyard of Wei's house. Come: "Brother Xiaofei is back? There is good news today! Come and try my fried chicken shreds with fish-flavored eggplant and pea sprouts first, and see how it is cooked?"

Hu Fei's face was a little uncomfortable, and he looked out the door from time to time. When Wei Po saw this, she asked him: "What's the matter? What's there to see outside?" The dish, boasted: "You know it's delicious as soon as you smell it, and the girl is more and more capable."

Chun Ying was not puzzled by him: "Tell me quickly, what's the matter?" She walked to the door and opened it to look out. Hu Fei moved, as if she wanted to stop it, but she didn't have time.

Chunying looked left and right, but still could only see an empty alley, she turned her head puzzledly: "Is there nothing outside?"

Wei Gong also came over with a bowl of braised pork, and tapped the cigarette stick: "Quickly tell me, what can you hide from us?"

"It's nothing..." Hu Fei rubbed his head embarrassingly, "I always feel that someone is following me, but when I turned around, I didn't see anyone suspicious, so I felt a little uncomfortable..."

Wei Gong said: "There are eight hundred people walking on this road every day, and you know that they must follow you?" He waved to his wife: "Bring my bottle of wine, the food is ready today." , I want to have a good drink with Brother Xiaofei!" Wei Po gave him a glare, but went away helplessly, still thinking "I'm going to get drunk again...".

Hu Fei asked Chunying in a low voice what the good news was about, and Chunying told him about Wu Di, and he nodded: "Then I'll drink a couple of cups less, and I'll go to the inn to find him after dinner, Bring the fabric back."

"There seems to be a lot? One carriage is not enough."

"Then transport one first, and only pick the poorer materials, and sell them tomorrow. There are no rich people in the west city, so let's keep the good materials and sell them slowly. I can ask the people in the inn to help me guard first." Pick up the goods, just pull them back slowly."

Chunying and Hu Fei discussed in a low voice with their heads down, and then they heard someone knocking on the door, and hurried to open the door, but it was a yamen servant.He greeted Hu Fei first, and then said: "Under the order of Lord Fu Yin, I came here to inform everyone that a thief has been committing crimes in the capital recently, and many people have been plotted by him and almost lost their fortunes. He is a villain who will not let go of ordinary people. Neighbors, please be vigilant and watch your belongings. Once you see a stranger, you must be more careful. If the stranger behaves suspiciously, you should immediately report to the yamen, you know? ?”

Duke Wei hurriedly agreed, and invited him to a bowl of wine again. The yamen servant turned his eyes around the fragrant dishes, took another sip of the wine, and then hardened his mind: "I still have two full bowls of wine. People in the middle of the street want to inform, where is the time to drink?" After looking at the wine bottle a few more times, he turned around and left.

When Chunying came back after closing the door, she talked about the thief with everyone. Grandma Wei had heard countless gossips from the market, and she was eager to share with others, but Duke Wei only cared about eating and drinking, and persuaded Hu Fei.Hu Fei had no choice but to say that he still had business to do after dinner, so he managed to drink four or five cups before he got away.

The transaction with Wu Di went very smoothly, and early the next morning, Hu Fei loaded most of the coarse white cloth into the borrowed carriage and went out.Chunying stayed at home sorting out the remaining fine white cloth, picked out a softer one, and planned to make some new coats for Hu Fei and Wei Gong and Wei Po, but she couldn't help but think of her father and second uncle who had been away from Beijing for a long time.They have been away for more than half a year, when will they come back?

She was in a daze for a while, then remembered that the sewing basket was still at home, and hurriedly got up to get it, when she suddenly caught a glimpse of someone passing by in the alley.She thought it was a passer-by, and didn't care, so she went into the house to get the basket, and when she was about to lock the door, she suddenly felt a strong force coming from behind, and she avoided it vigilantly, but her left shoulder felt a sharp pain, and then After being quickly pressed against the wall by the door, a man's rough voice came from behind: "Say! Is there a young man surnamed Hu living here?!"

(Guess who caused this?)

(It’s a disaster to divide the volume, and the addition failed. This is actually Chapter 1 of the fourth volume "Ladies"...)
(End of this chapter)