Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 223
Ma Min'er smiled and said, "Master, this is New Year's wine!"

"The old man has a lot of age today, and the New Year's wine and the thank you wine are here." Feng Jiangyi raised his glass: "Come, everyone come together."

The people at the two tables raised their glasses one after another, touched each other with the people around them, and reached out to the middle, and clinked glasses together, "Thank you, old master, thank you, princess..."

Everyone drank the wine in their glasses together.

"Sit down, everyone is free." Feng Jiangyi put down his cup, sat down, and stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of pork belly, "I am old and have bad teeth, so I like this piece of meat that is both fat and thin. It is chewy and chewy." move."

"Master, you are not old, you have good teeth, and you eat deliciously."

If it wasn't for the piece of meat in his mouth, Feng Jiang Yi could laugh loudly, "You girl, you are really having fun."

"Hee hee." Ma Min'er said to everyone, "Don't be tight, everyone, eat, eat everything!"

In the dining room, the charcoal-fired pot kept bubbling, and the heat emitted warmed the whole room, making everyone eat happily and warmly, very refreshed.

Ma Xiaowu, who was just able to walk, and Zhao Yuyan's three-year-old eldest son, Brother Huan, were sitting on the carpet beside them, playing and frolicking, while their daughter Luer, who was holding her in her arms, wanted to go down to play, so Ma Meier had to take the little daughter It was also placed on the carpet, and the three children didn't even eat it.

More than half an hour later, the dinner was over, and everyone moved to the small living room. There was a fireplace in it, and it was not cold. Everyone sat around and chatted and laughed.

Sitting near the fireplace, Jiang Fengyi and Xia Zhen had a conversation, "Zian, Erniang, I'm sorry for you."

"Master, don't blame yourself, Zi'an and I are not suitable for dealing with people. It is a good thing for us if the emperor does not let us enter the palace."

"That's what I said, but that's not the reason. This is the attitude given by the Holy Majesty. You will be ignored by the nobles of the aristocratic family and the people who climb the dragon and the phoenix in the capital!" Feng Jiangyi apologized.

"Don't we have friends like Master, as well as Zhuang Fuma and Liu Zaicheng, Prince of Luowang County, so many people can be friends." Ma Min'er laughed.

"Don't talk about these unhappy things!" Feng Jiangyi said, "Master Zhao went from house to house in the past two days and collected nearly a million taels of tax."

"Wow, isn't it a good year for the Holy Majesty?"

Feng Jiangyi nodded, "That's right, the request for money submitted by the Sangong Jiuqing and the Six Departments has been approved by Zhu at three levels. The life of the officials' government offices is much better."

Ma Min'er said: "This is the tip of the iceberg. If you keep collecting it, the tax will be even more substantial."

"I hope the iceberg can be exposed." Feng Jiangyi looked forward to next year's taxes.

"As long as all the ministries work hard and cooperate fully, the iceberg will always be exposed."

Feng Jiangyi smiled, picked up the tea cup at hand, turned his head and looked not far away, Ma Dalang was hugging his younger brother, his granddaughter Yaoyao was standing in front of him, teasing the child, as long as a pair of young people stand together , there is endless talk.

Ma Min'er saw his master's gaze, and looked towards his father who was sitting on the sofa. Ma Qifeng thought his daughter was calling him, so he got up and said, "Min'er, what do you do?"

"Uh..." Ma Min'er couldn't let her father go to Feng's house to propose marriage in front of her face, it was too late for this matter, and her parents will do it after the next year.

Ma Qifeng followed his daughter's gaze, and immediately understood what it meant. He was a little nervous, saying that marrying low and marrying high, and his son marrying Taishi Feng's granddaughter were too high-ranking, so he dared not find a matchmaker.

Grand Master Feng came tonight, besides bringing his son or granddaughter, Ma Qifeng understood that this was a reminder to his family to propose marriage quickly, so... just wait until the next year?He almost said this sentence.

Xia Zhen leaned aside and chatted with Zhuang Hao and Zhang Nianmei in a low voice, all about how to bring down Xiao Lin, the number one son of Bada Hutong.

"I often discuss with him, and I know him quite well. This person looks gentle, but in fact he is as dark as a wolf. It is difficult to have an opponent. You actually let him submit. I am really curious, Zian, what method did you use? "

"Of course the most effective method was used."

"The most effective? I know him. It seems that he is greedy for everything, but in fact, he is not greedy for anything. No one can control him." Zhuang Hao was puzzled.

Xia Zhen smiled triumphantly, "I promised Min'er to keep it a secret for him, I can't tell you anymore."

Zhuang Hao twitched his brows and looked at Ma Miner, "I really want to know what to do!" He sighed with regret.

Xia Zhen smiled and took a sip of tea, and asked, "Has your wedding date been set yet?"

"It's fixed, next September."

"so late?"

"The days are counted by the Heavenly Supervisor."

"It must have been a good day."

……

After all, the Chinese New Year is coming, Xia Zhen and his wife don't have many friends in the capital, and they don't have any human relations. In addition, they can't enter the palace to see each other, so there are many fewer things.

They are not busy, which does not mean that others are not busy. For example, Feng Jiangyi, starting tomorrow, until the third day of junior high school, spent almost all the time in the palace, either watching the night with the Holy Lord, attending the New Year's Day dinner in the palace, or accompanying Emperor Yuantai to sacrifice Li, how can you call the word 'busy'?

Expressing his gratitude, Feng Jiangyi got up and resigned first, "The next time we meet, it will be next year. Everyone, I wish you a happy Chinese New Year in advance."

"The master is polite."

"I'm going back too." As the future Fuma Lord, Zhuang Hao is also busy during the New Year's Eve, and all kinds of entertainment can make him dizzy.

"We're going back too." Zhao Yuyan cupped his hands.

"Brother Zhao, I have arranged a room for you, please go back tomorrow morning."

"During the New Year's Eve, my friends and colleagues moved around too much. I'm afraid I'll be too busy to go back tomorrow."

Ma Min'er was worried, and turned her head, "Zian, get Brother Zhao some good ones."

Xia Zhen nodded, "Okay." After finishing speaking, she turned her head and whispered something to Zhang Nianmei.

"Well, this subordinate understands." Zhang Nianmei nodded, and stretched out her hand to ask, "Master Zhao, I will send you back today from my humble position."

"General Zhang, you can't help it, we husband and wife will go back by ourselves."

Master Feng understood Ma Erniang's worry, and said, "Master Zhao, you are on the cusp of the storm, so be careful if you can."

"Okay, then it's better to be respectful than obedient." Until now, Zhao Yuyan realized that as he did practical and great things, he had to have hidden guards around him, not only to protect himself, but also to protect his wife and children.

Friends and relatives have all left, and the Ma family has closed their doors to celebrate their new year.On New Year's Eve, Ma Qifeng took a group of children to visit Ma Zucheng and his wife with New Year's gifts, and had a reunion dinner under the management of Mrs. Ma San.

Just like Ma Xiaowu's birthday, the Ma family brothers usually do not move around, and the family relationship is very weak. After the reunion on the scene, they all bid farewell and went home.

There is a rule on New Year's Eve, you can't leave the house before the sun goes down, Ma Qifeng was the last one to leave, and when he got home, the sun had not yet set, Xia Zhen who went to the barracks to watch the soldiers returned home almost at the same time as them.

"So fast?"

"Mr. Wei and Gu Dun have made arrangements. I just showed up and distributed New Year's money and condolences to everyone. After the distribution, I will go to the city."

"Oh," Ma Min'er said with a smile, "tonight is the New Year's Eve, so go and squint for a while."

"What about you?"

"I'll help Dad make dinner."

Xia Zhen nodded, "Well, call me when the time comes."

"know."

In the year when there was almost no entertainment, it was a leisurely and refreshing life, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating, it was the standard configuration of a big fat pig.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, there was a festive lantern outside the palace wall, and Xia Zhen and his wife did not go. When the common people rushed into the city to watch the lantern, the couple took their father-in-law and his family out of the city and went to Xicaogou. Ma Dalang, Ma Saburo who went to the academy.

"Wow, God, is this still Xicaogou a month ago?" Ma Min'er was stunned by the neat and orderly cluster of log cabins.

Qiu Baiyan showed eight snow-white teeth: "Almost all the refugees from Xicaogou have returned. They have money, which makes them very motivated. In a few days, the wooden house was built."

"The working people are amazing."

Qiu Baiyan pointed to the place near the back mountain, and said, "According to our style, that is the log cabin they built for themselves."

"Seeing that they also built a wooden house for themselves, I feel at ease. Everyone is really happy." Ma Min'er smiled with relief.

"Young Madam is so kind."

"It's not that I'm kind, but for peace of mind."

Xia Zhen stretched out her arms to embrace the young daughter-in-law, "Let's go back to our cabin."

"Okay." Ma Min'er had just walked a few steps when the concept of fire prevention suddenly flashed in her mind, "Wait a minute."

"what's wrong?"

"Brother Qiu, the houses are all made of wood, so how do you make them fireproof?"

"This is what I want to ask you."

"ask me?"

Qiu Baiyan said: "Yes, there is a mountain spring in the back mountain, but it is too far away, and there is always a feeling that the water can't quench the near thirst."

Ma Min'er followed Qiu Baiyan's gaze towards the back mountain, "It must be seven or eight miles from here to the back mountain."

"Yes." Qiu Baiyan nodded.

Ma Min'er frowned, searching for a good solution, "How many wells have you dug?"

"Basically there is a well for every two rows of houses, but it seems inconvenient."

"Why don't you dig more wells?"

Qiu Baiyan laughed, "Digging a well costs more money than building a log cabin."

This is true, Ma Min'er said, "Let me think about it, I will tell you when I think about it."

"it is good."

Although there was almost no entertainment in the capital, she still felt uncomfortable. When she entered the warm spring-like cabin, took off her cloak, and leaned on the pit with four legs and four legs, Ma Miner felt a paradise, a kind of feeling all over her body. All feeling relaxed.

"What about you, Xia Zhen, do you also feel this way?"

Xia Zhen sat crookedly by the pit, and said with a smile, "Well, I think we can make villains pretty well."

Hearing this, Ma Min'er's head was covered with black threads, and she was able to make a villain, mother, men's thinking is really different from that of women, she got up, pushed the bathroom, and began to wash her face and feet, making her body alive , After sitting in the carriage for a whole day, I almost fell apart.

Xia Zhen stood at the door of the small bathroom, "Do you think our son has come?"

Ma Miner was washing her face, she raised her face and turned to look at him, "Maybe."

Looking at the perfunctory little daughter-in-law, Xia Zhen stood behind her, putting her arms around her small waist, "The one named Xiao is only two years older than me, and the eldest daughter is eight years old, we have to work harder." Great."

Ma Min'er pursed her lips and slapped him, "I was only ten years old when you were there. Can ten years old have children?"

"Then we can work harder now."

"Aren't you working hard?"

Xia Zhen stretched out her head and kissed the side of the young daughter-in-law, "You have to work harder."

Uh……

Living in the group of cabins, Ma Min'er asked the girls to take turns to be on duty. In their small yard, except for Shan Xiaodan who was free to come and go, there was only one girl who came to clean up or send something they needed in the morning and evening.

Xia Zhen's young couple basically lived independently, and they did most of the things by themselves. It felt like an ordinary young couple's life, except for Xia Zhen's military training in the early morning and evening.

Xia Zhen has already sent [-] of his soldiers to the mountain to the west of Xicaogou, where they set up camp, train and live.

Wei Ren said: "My lord, in fact, we have 3000 soldiers."

"An increase of more than 3000 people year after year?"

Wei Ren nodded, "We have taken in some young homeless men, or young people who want to join the army."

"Be careful, don't let people get caught."

"My subordinate understands!"

-

Ma Min'er has been thinking about the fire prevention of the wooden houses. She thought of the modern tap water. It would be great if the spring water on the North Mountain was led to the village through tap water pipes.

But she knew that this was unrealistic. Even if PP pipes were not needed, iron pipes were still needed. However, iron pipes are not so easy to cast at this time. Use bamboo?

Ma Min'er asked someone to try it, not to mention the inconvenience of the bamboo joints, and the lifespan of this bamboo seems to be not that long, and it is not durable.

What should I do?

Unknowingly, Ma Miner took Shan Xiaodan and Xia Xiaoren to Beishan, climbed up a small hill that was not high, and did not know that the water flowing from there was very clear, flowing down the stream all the way to a place The deep water pool stopped, and the fresh water turned into stagnant water with green layers, as if there were many floating creatures, which was really bad.

Ma Min'er saw that the people in the village were really struggling to carry water. The well in the village was dug, but it didn't store much water. Most people were still used to carrying water here for food.

How can the living water flow directly into the village?Open a small river.

"It will dry up." An elderly woman said carrying a water load. "People in our village have tried many times, but they can't hold water, just like the well you dug, there is no water."

Ma Min'er looked towards the village, but there was really no river, maybe this was one of the reasons for its poverty.

"But spring is coming soon, and I still want to grow melons, fruits and vegetables by myself. How can I water them without water?"

"Who says it's not?" The old woman left with the water.

Ma Min'er looked at the deep water pool again, "I don't want to drink such water?"

"Young Madam, then ask someone to build a few more water carts."

Ma Miner shook her head, "This is not a long-term solution. If we don't solve the problem fundamentally, once we leave, the population of these three villages will continue to disperse, and people's lives will be poor again, entering the next endless cycle."

"so what should I do now?"

"Yeah, what should I do then?"

Ma Min'er thought of Liangzhou City, "Underground rivers, dry wells..." He suddenly remembered a small town he once visited, "I have a solution."

"Young madam, should we use the method of Liangzhou city?"

"Yes, oh...no...no." Ma Min'er ran excitedly, "Let's go find Big Brother Qiu."

After hearing Ma Miner's idea, Qiu Baiyan nodded, "I think it's feasible. I'll go find a craftsman and recruit handymen."

"Brother Qiu, this is related to the well-being of generations of people in Xicaogou, so don't be careless."

"I see." Qiu Baiyan smiled brightly.

-

Xia Zhen is training soldiers in Xicaogou, and Ma Miner seeks to benefit the people of Xicaogou. In the capital, Fengjiangyi has stepped up efforts to collect business taxes, collecting every five days, and paying every ten days. The speed increased.

"Old master, you really did not disgrace my mission, okay, okay." Emperor Yuantai sighed again and again.

Feng Jiangyi lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes.

Sensing his attitude, Emperor Yuantai narrowed his eyes, "Is the Grand Master blaming me?"

"Your Majesty, the words are serious, how dare the old minister." Feng Jiangyi hurriedly saluted and accompanied him carefully.

Emperor Yuantai leaned on the back of the dragon chair, "Old Master, tell me, if I don't deal with Xia Zian, should I deal with you, or the officials of the official department, and let them block the mouths of the big family?"

"My lord..." Feng Jiangyi raised his head.

"When Xia Zi'an left Beijing two years ago, he provoked the anger of all the aristocratic families. If I don't talk to him, who will I turn to?"

Emperor Yuantai's rhetorical question made Feng Jiangyi speechless, "Old...old minister..."

"Old master, I am very pleased that you have traveled to the north and become friends with Xia Zi'an."

"Your Majesty..." Feng Jiangyi sighed inwardly, it turned out that His Majesty knew everything in his heart, so it turned out that he was also in trouble.

"Originally on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, I wanted to summon him, but he arrived and left the city."

"Thank you, Your Majesty..." Feng Jiangyi saluted again.

"Now that you understand what I mean, tell him when you have time, who made him an idiot."

"..." Feng Jiangyi really didn't know what to say besides saluting.

He didn't know what to say, but Emperor Yuantai knew what he wanted to say, and said, "The first lunar month is coming to an end, and the tax on the Eight Great Hutongs alone is equivalent to the tax on the entire Beijing in previous years, I..."

Looking at Emperor Yuantai whose face was getting darker, Feng Jiangyi said slowly: "My lord, once the prosperity of commerce enters a virtuous circle, then the taxation will increase exponentially."

"What does the old lady mean?"

Feng Jiangyi said: "My lord, in the twelfth lunar month of last year, common people's business was easy to do, not only made common people's life easier, but also drove more prosperous shops, one ring after another, so the merchants in the Eight Great Hutongs levy taxes..."

"I understand what you mean." Emperor Yuantai narrowed his eyes slightly, "Don't relax, don't let business taxation be endless."

"Yes, the old minister understands."

-

Liu Zaili had the first breakfast of the first lunar month with his father and mother.

"Zi Li—"

"Father!"

King Ning asked, "How much profit has your shop lost?"

Liu Zaili raised his eyes, paused and replied, "It's almost the same as usual."

"How much tax do you pay?"

"Same as you, father."

"Then why is it the same as usual?"

"My business has a lot of seasons. It happens to be the twelfth lunar month, and the volume of goods increases, so there is no difference overall."

King Ning shook his head, "The shop and property owned by your mother and I have lost a lot of money."

Liu Zaili twitched his lips slightly, "That's because you didn't pay taxes before, father, so it's like cutting your flesh at first."

"Isn't it just cutting flesh?" King Ning shook his head repeatedly.

"Father, once the emperor and the courtiers, sometimes we will contribute when our clan should contribute, so that we can..."

"Father understands the truth, but it still hurts to take out the white money."

"Father, it doesn't have to be like this." Liu Zaili said some more words to relieve his father's inner loss. The emperor supported Grand Master Feng so obviously, he couldn't let his father bump into this node, and the harm to the entire Prince Ning's mansion would be unacceptable. Estimate.

Concubine Ning saw that their father and son had almost talked, she said: "Li'er, you were too busy a while ago, and my concubine didn't let you go to the Shangshu Mansion. Now that you are free, go there quickly. It is impolite not to show up."

Liu Zaili paused for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, mother, please prepare a gift for me."

"Mother and concubine have already prepared it, and it is up to you." Ning Wangfei said while talking to her son.

"Yes, concubine mother, I understand."

-

Before the end of the first month, Liu Zaicheng became impatient, ran out of the city, and slipped to Xicaogou, "Hey, Ma Erniang, I'm coming!" Before the person arrived, the voice had already passed.

A group of people were gathering in front of something, whispering, and when they heard the cry, they stood up one after another, turned their heads, and looked at the person coming.

"Ma Erniang, Ma Erniang..."

"My second sister isn't here, so stop screaming." Ma Yue'er looked at the passerby displeased, what the hell is calling, really.

Running to the front, Liu Zaicheng grinned his white teeth, "Si... Si Niang..." The ignorant little man, his brows and eyes were full of embarrassment.

"Is there a problem?"

"What are you squatting here for?" Liu Zaicheng sneaked over to play, but he couldn't get back there, so he had to ask back.

"It's nothing." Ma Yue'er didn't answer directly.

"Nothing? Then what are you squatting here for?"

The little boy in the village said, "We are looking at the waterway."

"Waterways?"

"Yes, nobleman, look." The boy called him a nobleman because of his clothes.

Liu Zaicheng hurriedly approached, "Isn't it just a sink made of stones?"

"Hee hee..." Xiaocun Tong didn't know how to reply, and said with a smile, "We are waiting for the water from the north of the mountain to be released."

"So that's why you stood at the entrance of the village."

"Yes."

At the end of the stream in the north mountain of the village, the flowing water has been received into the stone trough, and the water flows along the stone trough to the low-lying village.

Ma Min'er led a group of people to follow the water in the tank and ran towards the village, "Look, the water is flowing faster and faster, and we can hardly keep up with it."

Qiu Baiyan followed for a few steps, stopped, stood by the edge of the stone tank, bent down and stretched out his hands to scoop up a handful of water, it was clear and clear, and looked at the stone tank again, the tight bottom structure, the water will not Seep down and disappear, as long as the stream on the mountain keeps flowing, the water here will never stop, and even the water in rainy days can gather.

Qiu Baiyan looked at the little owner who was running happily with the water. Everywhere she went, she could always do her best to benefit others. Maybe she was a fairy who fell from the sky.

Ma Min'er followed her all the way to the entrance of the village at the top, watching the water pass through every house, just like a ditch, people can use water anytime and anywhere, and now they don't need to carry water or carry it , Whether it is daily water, or watering vegetable beds and fields, it is very convenient, great!

(End of this chapter)