Old things in Nancheng

Since ancient times, it has been a man's business to set up a family. Even if the modern society is open-minded and the status of pure labor is reduced, it still cannot change the original gap brought about by the physiological structure of men and women.

When Xingyuan City fell and the news that Prince Mo was alive or dead came, Lin Zhilan obviously felt the pressure, a family without the pressure of a male master.

From the servant girl to the housekeeper's account, everyone's hearts are fluctuating. If they hadn't signed the deed of sale because of the kindness of the master, they might have bid farewell to Lin Zhilan and found another way out.

Sitting in the green car, Lin Zhilan was worried about Wang Zimo who was far away on the one hand, and on the other hand, she was confused about her family's future.Now, she is no longer a little woman supporting a wonton stall. There are [-] or [-] people in her family, and there are five shops outside. How can this small family business not be a heavy burden on her shoulders? .

Recently, the flow of people in Yanguan County has been complicated. There are many more businessmen, refugees, rich households, and officials from the north. The price of goods has also risen a lot. Necessities, as well as high-end luxuries, are in short supply, and the economy has experienced abnormal prosperity.

When Lin Zhilan arrived at Dongshi Wonton Shop, Wang Xingen, Chen Wangshu and Zhao Liu came out to greet her. The three of them looked at her cautiously, with worried expressions on their faces.

"Everyone has worked hard these days. Let's hold on a little longer. When my husband returns, everything will be fine. Thank you, come in with me."

Wang Xingen followed Lin Zhilan into the inner room, and quietly served her a cup of tea.

"I've read the account book. The business in the shop is very good. I can see that you have been working hard recently."

"This is my nephew's job."

After more than a year of experience, Wang Xingen has matured a lot, and now the main store of Wang's Wonton is in charge of him, and the business is booming.

"Is there any special news from the county?" Lin Zhilan asked calmly while drinking the fragrant Longjing.

The so-called cats have cats, and rats have rats. Wang Qinian's news is official news, while Wang Xing'en is involved with all kinds of religions. This is due to his status as a beggar in the past and the contacts he accumulated from opening a shop. .

As far as the wonton shop is close to the common people, many merchants come here admiringly. With his cleverness, Wang Xingen often chats with the guest officials. When he comes and goes, many seemingly small and useless information will be leaked. In the midst of the chaos, There is always one or two pieces of news that are very useful to Lin Zhilan.

Wang Xingen thought for a while and said: "The world is not peaceful recently. Lin'an Mansion is recruiting a large number of civilians to build a palace for the emperor. Along the way, they have to clean up rivers and repair official roads. The burden of corvee is unprecedented. My nephew, brother Shu and six brothers are all here. Lie, if it wasn't for my aunt to clear it up, I'm afraid I would have followed everyone to Lin'an Mansion. Now there is a lot of resentment in the city, and there are everyone outside. Our Dongshi is better, and there are people fighting almost every day in the market. Refugees from the north competed with the coolies on the wharf for a very low price, which disrupted the rules of the wharf, and the Cao Gang must be ruthless in a few days."

"Above the canal, the Cao Gang is the most powerful, and the government can't do anything about it. I'm afraid those refugees will suffer a lot." Lin Zhilan nodded slightly.

"If the emperor wants to come, the government will definitely not allow any disturbances, and the Cao Gang may not be able to get a bargain." Wang Xingen shook his head and said: "The grandfather hosted a banquet for the Chamber of Commerce in the Ziwei Building the day before yesterday, and all the merchants in the city, large and small, went Well, the apportioned contribution is 100 million guan, and the food and silk will account for the majority, and I think I will have to live poorly in three to five years."

"Combining the donations from big households, this time our county can get at least 200 million guan, and there are also gold, silver and jewelry, silk beauties, and other odds and ends. We are only three feet away from digging the ground." Lin Zhilan said with emotion.

"Not only our Yanguan County, but also the nearby Renhe County. Yangzhou Prefecture, Pingjiang Prefecture, and Shaoxing Prefecture can't escape. Mingzhou (Ningbo) City Shipping Department is the most unlucky. Not only do you have to donate money for the emperor, you also have to pay tribute to overseas Spices and other rare things, I heard from people from the north that when the emperor left Jiankang, the people burned incense to celebrate, and everyone didn’t care about anything, they tightened their belts and raised millions of dollars for the emperor.”

"It's easy to ask the gods to send the gods away, so let the government worry about these things. Look at the store. Although we have opened a branch now, this main store is our root. I can't trust others. You and I know each other. Wei Mo, it's my nephew again, you are the only one I can trust now." Lin Zhilan said wearily.

"Xing En made a note. Auntie, you have to take care of yourself. I think my uncle will come back soon, and our life will be better by then."

Wang Xingen backed away silently, but what he said was not his sincerity. He hoped that the uncle who had never been masked would not come back.That uncle made my aunt suffer so much, Wang Xingen hoped that Prince Mo would die early and let Lin Zhilan live, so that he would have the opportunity to take care of Lin Zhilan.

After getting angry with Wang Xing'en, Lin Zhilan called Chen Wangshu in to talk, she was still very friendly to Chen Wangshu, she gave him a seat and tea, and never treated him as a shop assistant.Time is a good mediator. The conflict between the two in Wangjiazhuang has long since disappeared. Lin Zhilan has supported each other for more than a year.

"Brother Shu, I have something I want to discuss with you. Don't be angry after you hear it." Lin Zhilan said carefully.

"Lin, you don't need to talk about it. Let's postpone the marriage between Yan'er and me. Xiaoer is my brother. Now that Xiaoer's life and death are unknown, how can I have the mood to have a happy event?"

When Chen Wangshu and Lin Zhilan proposed their marriage, the news of the fall of Xingyuan Mansion had not yet come. Ai went to the city to give Chen Wangshu summer clothes, and when he learned that Chen Wangshu had paid off the money he owed, he wanted to marry him early.This is also fate, only three or five days, the situation suddenly changed, Chen Wangshu never imagined that the situation would become so bad.

"If you think so, I'm relieved. Since I've been waiting for all these years, it's not too late. Yan'er also means the same thing. Tell your family about it. I expect there will be news of Zimo in a few days." " Lin Zhilan was very pleased with Chen Wangshu's thoughtfulness.

"Please send someone to tell me at home, I want to go to Xingyuan Mansion to find Xiaoer."

"What did you say?!"

"Your family is orphaned and widowed. Even if something happens to Xiaoer, there is nothing you can do about it. Although the Wang family sent someone there, I still feel uneasy. I should go and see for myself. Whether it is life or death, I will find her!" Chen Wangshu said firmly.

Lin Zhilan was shocked. This is not as simple as buying a plane ticket in future generations. The journey is long and there are military turmoil. Going to Xingyuan Mansion at this time is like putting your head in your trouser pocket. There are so many people here. Where do you go? Find Wang Zimo.

"Brother Shu, I know what you mean, but it's too dangerous. Zimo hasn't returned home yet, so I don't want you to fall into it too." Lin Zhilan persuaded sincerely.

"No need to say more, I have made up my mind, Mrs. Lin, no matter whether Xiao Er and I come back, I hope you can remember Xiao Er's kindness to you and guard this home for Xiao Er."

Lin Zhilan looked at the thick man in front of her, and was at a loss for words.Chen Wangshu is still the same Chen Wangshu, he has his own persistence, although some ideas are simple and crude, but it is undeniable that this is a resounding man.

Lin Zhilan recalled that when he was in Wangjiazhuang, Chen Wangshu insisted on letting Wang Zimo send him away. This is the moral principle he insisted on. When Wang Zimo was enforced by the Wang family, he went all out to save Wang Zimo. , when Wang Zimo gave three mu of land to Chen Wangshu for cultivation, Chen Wangshu insisted on sending over the land rent.

Lin Zhilan has always felt that Chen Wangshu's ideological awareness is too low, he behaves rough, has a deep small peasant mentality, and treats women with appalling harshness, but it cannot be denied that Chen Wangshu also has his own shining points, and Lin Zhilan admires him for this alone.

There is no need to persuade him anymore, Lin Zhilan didn't think it would be of any use to persuade a person who couldn't be pulled back by eight cows, so she brought Chen Wangshu back to the Wang's courtyard, and Lin Zhilan gave Chen Wangshu a chance to see Yan'er. This might be the last time for Chen Wangshu See Rouge.

Lin Zhilan didn't stand by the two of them as before, or sent someone to follow her. She withdrew all the servants, and carried Bao'er back to the main room, leaving Chen Wangshu and Yan'er to talk to her. space.

"My lady, the Wang family is here."

"Who is it?"

"It's an accountant, surnamed Xing."

"Lead him to the study to entertain him, and I'll be there right away."

The arrival of Xing Rong was obviously beyond Lin Zhilan's expectation. Wang Qinian's words were always passed on by ordinary officials. A detached existence like Xing Rong usually only appeared at the most critical moment. For example, he asked the government to rescue him. Wang Zimo, for example, came to persuade Lin Zhilan to go to the funeral for Wang Ziyan.

Now that Xing Rong Baba is here, nothing major will happen, right?

Lin Zhilan's face suddenly turned pale, without a trace of blood. At this juncture, the only one who could make Xing Rong come in person was Wang Zimo, could it be. . .

Lin Zhilan didn't dare to think about it. Although she had thought about this ending many times in her midnight dream, she still couldn't accept it when it really came.In a panic, she told Mrs. Zhang to keep an eye on Bao'er, and walked towards the study with some staggering steps.

Xing Rong, who was drinking tea in the study, had lost the usual calmness on his face, and was covered with a thin layer of worry, and the faint wrinkle on his forehead looked very deep now.

Looking up and seeing Lin Zhilan with a strange expression, Xing Rong said, "Sit down, I have something to discuss with you."

Lin Zhilan sat down cautiously, a little at a loss, she was a different person from when she first saw Xing Rong.She wanted to ask but didn't dare to ask, she hesitated to speak, and she didn't even care about the basic salutes and greetings.

Some people seem to be invulnerable to swords and guns, as if they have learned the golden bell cover and iron cloth shirt. In fact, no matter what martial arts, there are dead ends, and no matter who they are, they have weaknesses.

Money, power, sex, love, even the old monks who have been through the years can't understand it sometimes. How many people in the world of mortals can be as calm as water.

Looking at Lin Zhilan like this, Xing Rong couldn't help but smile wryly.I am not the same, I thought the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed, and I was disheartened, but when I heard that the Xingyuan Mansion fell, Xiangyang was in a hurry, the life and death of his beloved apprentice was unknown, and the young master (Yue Fei) was in dire straits, how could he sit still.

"Lin, I have something to tell you about my visit this time, so please listen carefully." Xing Rong put down his teacup and said solemnly.

"Master, please tell..."