The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

The New Year was approaching, and heavy snow had made the situation in the capital even worse. Many people could not buy food and had no charcoal, so their lives were very difficult.

Although Xia Mianwan had the habit of storing food and charcoal, the amount used in the mansion, workshop, and bookstore was also large. Early in the morning, Xia Mianwan took inventory of the food and charcoal in the mansion and planned to reduce the amount slightly.

The business of Manyue Tower is not too bad these days. The rich live in luxury while the poor freeze to death on the streets. This has been the case for thousands of years.

Xia Mianwan was thinking about opening the bookstore to accept some elderly people, women and children. Each person only had to pay two cents to enjoy the heating in the shop as well as hot tea and a steamed bun.

Xia Mianwan and Qinghe discussed the rules and had some more food and charcoal delivered to the bookstore. Madam Yang was now in charge of the bookstore and the flower newspaper, and she had very little time on weekdays. As the Chinese New Year was approaching, Mr. Yang returned to the capital, and Madam Yang became even busier.

Therefore, Xia Mianwan didn't ask Mrs. Yang to make an extra trip and directly sent someone to deliver it.

As soon as the bookstore sign was hung up, it was crowded, so Xia Mianwan thought of opening the public rest area in Manyue Workshop.

Xia Mianwan and the Pei family had stored a lot of food in their several farms. These days, Xia Mianwan had people deliver it.

Xia Mianwan's action attracted a lot of attention. Madam Sang added fuel to the fire and let more people know what Xia Mianwan did. Now, those ladies in the capital who wanted fame donated generously and found places to shelter some people whose families were struggling to make ends meet.

But the beggars in Beijing have a hard time. Most of the money they receive has a threshold, and the beggars cannot afford to pay the money.

Xiaowu was born a beggar. When he saw the beggars in the dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city, he felt sympathetic and wanted to help them, so he made a special trip to Pei's house to discuss ideas with Xia Mianwan.

Xia Mianwan thought about it for a long time and came up with a charter.

"Xiao Wu, I think you should gather all the beggars in the city together first, and screen out those with relatively good character. We will provide them with shelter and food, and they will provide labor to take care of some of the more needy elderly, women, and children in the city. Help with shoveling snow, fetching water, and other work, while another part of the people will go to clear the snow at the city gate. In short, we can't let them get something for nothing." Xia Mianwan said.

Xiaowu found the screening a little difficult, but it didn't bother him.

As for the refugees...

The royal family should be in the spotlight, but she has no right to do so.

As soon as Xiaowu was sent away, a servant came to report that Mrs. Zhao, the wife of the scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion, was at the door.

Xia Mianwan asked someone to carry Shi Ge'er and Yuan Jie'er away. She tidied her clothes a little and went to the flower hall to meet people.

Xia Mianwan walked out gracefully, and Mrs. Zhao was already sitting in the flower hall drinking tea.

"I didn't hear you were coming. Look, I let you sit there empty-handed for a while." Xia Mianwan smiled and sat down at the main table.

Mrs. Zhao was probably in her thirties, with a round face and bright eyes, which made people feel very happy when they looked at her. This was the so-called face of peace and prosperity.

"It's okay. Your tea is delicious. It's the best pre-rain Longjing, right?" Mrs. Zhao said with a smile.

Xia Mianwan smiled slightly, "Mrs. Zhao knows tea."

Mrs. Zhao put down her teacup and said with a guilty look on her face, "I invited you to the banquet at my house that day, but I didn't expect such a mess to happen. I am really upset."

"This tea cake was made by me. Madam Zhao, please try it." Xia Mianwan said, pointing at the tea cake brought up by the servant.

Mrs. Zhao quickly and politely picked up a piece of tea fruit and started eating it in small bites.

Xia Mianwan then said, "It wasn't me who was in the carriage that day. What's the trouble? It's okay. You don't have to mind it."

Madam Zhao tried to figure out what Xia Mianwan meant by that. It seemed that... she didn't blame the Zhao family for this. She breathed a sigh of relief and said tentatively, "I feel really guilty. There are gossipers in the capital who just can't stand other people's good relationships. They insist on saying that the chaos that day was arranged by our Zhao family. This is really wronging me. I was so anxious after hearing the rumor that I came to your house without saying hello. I'm sorry, Madam Pei."

Xia Mianwan picked up the tea bowl and lowered her eyes to hide her thoughts. This Mrs. Zhao was really good at talking.

When Xia Mianwan put down the tea bowl, she raised her lips slightly, "Since Madam Zhao said it was a rumor, how could I believe it? If it is not true, I will not bring it up on the table."

Xia Mianwan's indifferent tone made it difficult for her to continue the topic.

After a moment of silence, Madam Zhao started talking again, "I heard that blood was seen that day. Is your maid okay?"

Xia Mianwan asked, "Mrs. Zhao is very concerned about this?"

Mrs. Zhao saw Xia Mianwan asking this and knew that Xia Mianwan was difficult to deal with. If she played tricks, she might not be Xia Mianwan's opponent, so she said frankly: "My master is worried that Lord Pei is suspicious, so he told me to ask you. I dare to guarantee that this chaos was definitely not instigated by our Zhao family. My master is only a fifth-rank official, a university scholar, how can he have such great ability. Even if you want me to swear, I dare to do it. If what happened that day was done by my Zhao family, I will be struck by lightning and die a miserable death! The descendants of my Zhao family will be slaves and prostitutes for generations."

Xia Mianwan had never thought that Madam Zhao would swear such a vicious oath, and hurriedly said, "I've already said it's a rumor, why do you still swear such a vicious oath? My husband has never thought that it was the Zhao family who did it."

Regardless of whether they had thought about it or not, since Xia Mianwan said this now, the Pei family's meaning was very clear. The Pei family would not believe that this incident was done by the Zhao family.

This is what Madam Zhao wanted. She had a purpose in inviting Xia Mianwan to her house for a banquet that day, but who would have thought of such a thing? The strangest thing was that Xia Mianwan did not get on the carriage that day, but asked a maid to pretend to get on the carriage. So, whether the Pei family had long suspected the Zhao family and deliberately staged such a drama, or Xia Mianwan got the news in advance and avoided it, it was a headache for the Zhao family.

The apparent strength of the Zhao family is only that of the Third Prince's mother's family. If Pei Yanxu really misunderstood and took his anger out on the Zhao family, the Zhao family would be in tears.

It was all too coincidental, so coincidental that the Zhao family was at a loss for words to explain. Mr. Zhao had wanted to explain to Pei Yanxu in person, but Pei Yanxu had been so aggressive these days, and Mr. Zhao was afraid to offend Pei Yanxu. However, Pei Yanxu was always indifferent, which really made the Zhao family anxious. No matter how they explained, it was pale, so Mrs. Zhao decided to come to the door and say these words, and then swear such a poisonous oath.