Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 77
Zhuang Hao looked at Zhang Nianmei.

Zhang Nianmei curled her lips, "If you want to die, don't drag me." After speaking, she turned and went to sleep.

"Yes, why did I forget that the son is a rabbit." Zhuang Hao sat up and looked at the cat playing with its tail again, "It's short, it can't reach it, but it's still enough. Isn't that looking for abuse?"

Zhuang Hao stood up with a whoosh, and said to himself in surprise: "The little general who understood did not kill her with a sword in anger, but replied in a mood, not only that, but also returned the jade water drop, What do you mean? Have you identified her?"

Zhuang Hao couldn't calm down anymore, he kept walking around in the corridor.

Mr. Tian came out of the office room, went back to his room to rest, walked to the corridor, saw him walking up and down non-stop, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Hearing the gentleman's question, Zhuang Hao turned around quickly, opened his mouth to ask, but stopped when he reached the edge of his mouth.

"What do you mean by opening your mouth and not talking?" Seeing Zhuang Hao who was a little dazed, it was rare to see him like this, Mr. Tian laughed.

Zhuang Hao paused: "Sir, how is the little general's sleep recently?"

Mr. Tian thought he was concerned, and replied: "Not good."

"..." Zhuang Hao stood dumbfounded.

"But not too bad."

"Sir, what do you mean by that?"

Mr. Tian replied: "In the past two years, no matter what, Zian can still fall asleep at one or two hours around midnight, unlike before, when he couldn't sleep all night."

"Oh--"

"What do you ask for this?"

Zhang Nianmei jumped out of her room, "He panicked out of boredom and wanted to go out to play."

Mr. Tian asked with a smile, "Where are you going?"

"He wants to go to a restaurant to drink fine wine, to go hunting in Xiaoniu Mountain, and to go to a Taoist temple to learn from a teacher." Zhang Nianmei rushed to answer for Zhuang Hao.

"You are the worm in my belly." Zhuang Hao glanced over.

"Haha..." Zhang Nianmei walked up to the two of them in a few steps, "You just say I'm right, right?"

"Yes, yes, all right." Zhuang Hao turned his eyes away from him.

Mr. Tian smiled: "Young people, good wine and fine wine, and entertainment are fine. Go if you want. After being tired for so long, go and relax. Don't be bored in the camp like an old man all day long."

"Sir, do you want to bring the little general with you?" Zhang Nianmei asked.

"You still remember to care about Zi'an, the sun really hits the west." Mr. Tian scolded with a smile.

Zhang Nianmei smiled: "Hee hee, I have always cared about the little general, it's just that he is not interested in the places I go."

"If Zian fooled around with you, his body wouldn't be tossed into pieces of paper." Mr. Tian stared.

Zhang Nianmei shrinks her head: "Sir, only you dare to say such a thing, we dare not."

Mr. Tian reached out and patted his head, "Don't play tricks on me." After finishing speaking, he went back to his room to rest.

Zhang Nianmei smiled and said: "Go to that restaurant, do you want me to say hello in advance and give you a [-]% discount."

Zhuang Hao turned his head back: "Zhang Tiaozi, have you spent all your money and spoiled my wine?"

"That's not a good thing to say. We are all brothers. It's not good to say anything."

"Hmph!" Zhuang Hao turned and went back to the room.

They all went back to their rooms, and there was only Zhang Nianmei in the corridor, "Are you talking about the exact date!"

After dinner, after all the guests had left, Ma Qifeng took the children to say hello to his second elder brother and second sister-in-law and prepared to go back.

"Sixth, the guests are gone, it's rare for us brothers to get together, why don't you leave without chatting?" Master Ma Er is now full of ambitions, really looking for an opportunity to show off, how can he succeed if he doesn't show off.

Ma Qifeng glanced at the youngest daughter, smiled and replied: "Second brother, Yue'er is young and tired from playing during the day, and now her eyes are swollen, so I will take her back to sleep."

The seven-year-old Xiao Yueer rubbed her eyes as if she was in need, as if she was dozing off.

"Tsk tsk, sixth son, it's not my brother talking about you. My younger siblings have been away for so many years. You are doing well now. Why don't you find a mother for the child and let her take care of the child. You are a big man who spends all day with a mother." What do you look like?"

"Boy...the kids are used to me, so I think it's okay."

"Lao Liu, you are only in your early thirties, so you really have a pure heart and few desires?"

"Second brother, the children are still here, these words are still...let's save it for later between us brothers."

Ma Laowu sneered: "I'm already living in the county seat, and you don't go, what kind of brotherhood?"

"Sixth brother, what's the use of guarding a big house in the country all day long? No matter how big it is, it's still a country house. It's like we live in a county town." Ma Laojiu said proudly.

When Mrs. Ma heard what the two brothers said, she stood aside, secretly angry, her chest heaved with anger, it was fine if she didn't say this, but she would get angry when she said this, these two can buy a house in the county town, the money is all a lie If you get a son-in-law, no, she will tell Jian'er that her husband can no longer fool around with these two, and if he continues fooling around like this, all the money of the Liu family will go into their pockets.

Second Master Ma's face, which was still laughing just now, quickly changed, and he looked at his two younger brothers in disbelief.

Ma Qifeng didn't want to get involved in their affairs, so he quickly handed over his hands: "Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth..." He called out in order, and hurried out of Luo's old house after returning the salute.

Ma Miner brothers and sisters also came out.

Looking at the decaying Luo Zhai in the night, Ma Qifeng shook his head and led the children towards home.

On the way, when there was no one around, Ma Min'er asked, "Father, did that brother-in-law, brother-in-law, ever bet with you?"

Ma Qifeng nodded, "Yes."

"Ever since Fifth Uncle and Ninth Uncle stared at him, they haven't looked for you, but they liberated you."

Ma Qifeng smiled helplessly: "I heard people say that your Fifth Uncle and Ninth Uncle have been supported by this man for the past two or three years."

"It can be considered a skill."

"It's all crooked stuff."

Ma Min'er said: "When I went to the county seat, I heard people say that Uncle Wu and Uncle Jiu brought all the food, drink, and entertainment in Beijing to Pingding County, so that those rich children who are not doing business in Pingding all followed suit and lived extravagantly. Many families hate it so much that their teeth itch, and some people even complained to my grandfather and scolded him very badly."

"I know, your grandfather got sick with anger several times."

In the moonlight, the Ma family walked on the country road. Although the early winter wind was a little cold, the family members who were together were warm with each other, and they didn't feel it. They arrived at the end of the village in a short while, in their newly built big house.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Father Fu knew that the owner was back, and hurriedly opened the door with an oil lamp, "Master, you are back."

"Dad—"

Ma Dalang conveniently helped Father Fu close the courtyard door, Fu Xiaoyou was inside the door, and said with a smile: "I'm back from the wedding."

"Yeah." Ma Miner asked, "You didn't take dad out today, where did you go alone?"

Fu Xiaoyou smiled brightly: "Guo Daping and I went to the county to learn from teachers."

"Apprentice?"

"Yes!"

"Who is it?" Ma Miner asked curiously.

"It's the shopkeeper Qiu of our shop in the county seat."

"Oh, that guy is very attractive, did you agree?"

Fu Xiaoyou nodded happily, "Agreed."

"So good?" Ma Min'er remembers the haughty look when she used him, which was comparable to Xia Zhen's.

Fu Xiaoyou smirked: "I know why he agreed?"

"Why?"

"The business of the shop is getting more and more busy. There is no one available for him. I reckon that he will not only teach me and Daping, but also recruit a few apprentices." Fu Xiaoyou analyzed.

Ma Min'er raised her eyebrows.

"What's the matter, Min'er?"

Ma Min'er grinned: "This guy probably resigned to his fate, and has made up his mind to stay in Pingding for ten or eight years."

"Oh." What Ma Qifeng said to his daughter seemed half-understood.

Ma Min'er laughed and said, "The clothes you design can be sold to more places after he makes them, and more women can wear your clothes!"

"Min...Min'er, if things go on like this, the matter of father being a female worker will be known to others one day."

Ma Min'er walked up to her father and took his arm, "Father, you've heard that some of the famous craftsmen belong to women."

"Famous craftsman?"

"Yes, father, you are not a woman working as a worker, but a craftsman."

"But your grandfather looked down on craftsmen the most."

Ma Min'er curled her lips and let go of his father's arm, "All his positions as the young master were dethroned by the emperor."

"Min'er—" After all, it was his father, even if it was his daughter, Ma Qifeng couldn't help defending it once.

Ma Min'er said: "Father, don't deny that, except for the great principles in his mouth, except for his rigid behavior, he is far worse than the rumored young master——Feng Jiangyi."

"Min'er is your grandfather."

"Father, I know. I just analyze it in front of you. In front of outsiders, I don't know how to say a word."

"Oh." Ma Qifeng sighed helplessly.

Ma Min'er smiled and said: "Father, why are you sighing, Qiu Wei is about to release the rankings, and my brother is about to be selected, you should be happy."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Ma Qifeng immediately came out of his depressed mood, and patted Da Lang on the shoulder happily, "My Da Lang will definitely win the exam."

"Father, sister, don't you be so sure, I don't even have confidence in myself." Ma Dalang smiled embarrassedly.

"Brother, it's enough for us to have confidence in you." Ma Min'er smiled, "I asked Zhao Yuyan today, he will continue to take the exam, and go to the capital in three years. What about you, brother?"

"If I win the exam, I will continue."

"Okay, good son." Ma Qifeng felt that his unfulfilled ideals and ambitions in life would all be realized in his son.

Ma Min'er suddenly thought of a question, "Father, we have to train Shi Xiaoe and Peng Xiaomiao's embroiderers, and I will also be in charge of embroidery and drawing in the future, so you don't need to interfere."

"Ah..." Ma Qifeng felt puzzled, just now he said that he was a craftsman, and that the clothes he designed would be worn by more women.

Ma Min'er was also helpless, but it was like this in ancient times. Fortunately, she was prepared and said, "Father, I heard that craftsmen have an influence on brother's imperial examination."

"Then...then what am I going to do in the future?" Ma Qifeng was at a loss.

"Father, there is one thing that suits you better than embroidery."

"Wh...what's the matter?"

"Set up an elementary school in the village."

"what……"

Not only Ma Qifeng was surprised, but Dalang and others were also surprised, "Big sister——"

"Brother, I dare to say this after thinking about it."

"Why?" Ma Qifeng asked.

Ma Min'er replied: "Father, Sanlang is studying in his grandfather's private school. Although he will soon transfer to the county school, I can see the hidden side of Meng's private school from Sanlang..."

"What cover?"

"They only train children for the exam. Many unqualified civilian children have no chance to read and write. Why don't we set up an elementary school to recruit children from ordinary farmers in the vicinity so that they can also have the opportunity to read and read, not for future scientific examinations. , just to be a better adult.”

Ma Qifeng was moved by his daughter's elation, "Is it really feasible?"

"Believe me, dad, your easy-going personality and experience in the capital are more than enough to teach you."

"If...if..."

Ma Min'er immediately knew what Dad was worried about, "Dad, you have almost never gambled money, even if you gambled once, it was to help Uncle Shen win back the shop, this is righteousness."

Ma Qifeng was laughed at by his daughter, "Why did everything come out of your mouth, and it became a big deal."

"Haha, of course." Ma Min'er said: "Father, let's not build another house. When I built this house, I reserved a place for the children in the village to study."

"Min'er...you think so long-term?"

Ma Min'er shook: "Father, I have selfish intentions. I have had He Daping since I was a child. I thought that if I really became a big landlord in the future, I would have many people under my command. I didn't think that there would be no one available."

Ma Qifeng nodded, "I understand, you want to do both."

"Yes, Dad, I have someone who uses it. They can read and write to make a living in the future. Why not do it!"

"Yes, this is what you call a win-win situation."

"Father, when are we going to do it?"

"Winter is here, and the farmers are not so busy anymore. They no longer need the children to help them. Now is the time when they are going crazy. Why don't I take care of it."

"Haha..." Ma Min'er smiled when she saw her father's serious face.

Ma Dalang and Ma Sanlang also laughed, Dad can finally do what he likes openly and aboveboard.

Ma Yueer said: "Father, I will help you."

"Okay, thank you, my little Yueer."

No one knows how Ma Yaner married the county magistrate's brother-in-law, but after this wedding banquet, the reputation of Ma Miner, the eldest daughter of Master Ma Liu's family, spread throughout Pingding at the speed of the wind. county seat.

"Tsk tsk, that little lady is the prettiest little lady I've ever seen, she's so touching."

"Even if it's the top card in Hualou, it's not as stunning as her."

"pretty……"

……

Hey, doesn't Ma Min'er often go to the county to do business or buy things, why is it that people say she is beautiful until now!At the age of ten, when Ma Miner completely lost her complexion on the way to exile, her skin and appearance improved to a higher level. When she realized this, she often went out in a boy's dress, and applied a little dark yellow powder fat.

But when you go to Er Bo's house for a wedding, you can't wear men's clothes, and you don't wear dark yellow makeup. Even if you dress up very plainly and low-key, you will still be spotted by those who care about you.

Who is the brother-in-law of Jiantang, and how good is the person who can come with him to greet the relatives? In this way, her outstanding appearance spread all over Pingding County with the speed of the wind, especially in the ears of those boring rich children.

Zhang Nianmei finally got Zhuang Mouse's big meal, and happily brought them to the best restaurant in Pingding County——Qianxiju, and reserved a private room on the third floor, but Xia Zhen stopped walking as soon as she entered the lobby up.

"Is it really as beautiful as you said?"

(End of this chapter)