The Honest Man of the Red Chamber

Wang Guizhi turned around angrily, and rushed back into the room, "I'm a little tired, I need to rest for a while." Disillusioned, she desperately needed to calm down.

"Yes." Although Caiyun and the others didn't understand why his wife's mood turned sour all of a sudden, they obediently withdrew and stayed outside to watch.

After a while, Yuan Chun came over to relieve boredom. She knew that her father was entertaining guests in the garden today, so naturally she would not go out for a casual stroll. When her younger brothers and sisters were not finished school, she thought of coming over to talk to her mother.Unexpectedly, I saw several sisters embroidering outside or registering and discussing something in a low voice.

As soon as Caiyun saw the orangutan felt curtain opened and the eldest girl entered the room, she hurriedly stood up and said, "Hello, eldest girl."

"Hi sister Caiyun, where's mother?" Yuan Chun asked with a smile.

Caixia put down her needlework, "What tea would the eldest girl want to drink? The wife said she wanted to take a break."

"I feel a little dry, have a cup of chrysanthemum tea."

Rest at this time?Yuan Chun put a question mark in his heart, his mother's work and rest has always been very regular, even if there are many complicated things on weekdays, when it's time for a nap, she will definitely take a rest.The sky is bright now, why should we rest?Could it be that there is something embarrassing and annoying?As she took the dish that Caixia brought over, she felt faintly worried.Since I came to Shanxi, what my mother did and why she did it, I would tell her one by one when I was not busy, and I didn't feel that she was keeping those things from her when she was young.

Wang Guizhi took the pillow as Yuan Kang and beat it hard, and when he was tired and sweating, he threw it away relentlessly, and then fell down on the couch with his shoulders slumped.Damn boy, if he is someone else's son-in-law who is so good, hey, really... No matter how I think about it, I still feel so angry!Although he knew that this was indeed not Yuan Kang's fault, Wang Guizhi was still a little depressed. Even if Yuan Kang was a county king, how good would it be if he were an idle county king?It would be great if the old prince, the benefactor of Zhenwei Restaurant, had such a son!Needless to say, she promises that Yuan Chun can hold his stomach firmly for the rest of his life.But it happened to be the queen's youngest son!When Jia Zheng told her that King Yijun was going to come to be the governor, she had heard a little about him, and although she didn't take it to heart, she also understood that when Jia Zheng had finished most of the work, she could come and be the governor. The person who is here must be someone who is trusted and loved by the emperor.

The prince, if he is still the queen's son, it is very likely that he will be involved in the battle for the throne...

Today's emperor has four sons, Xian, Cheng, Li, and Yi. Among them, King Xianjun and King Yijun are both born to the empress. The four princesses, their mothers are Li, He, Xi, and Concubine Kang in order of age.Really counting it, the ten fingers of the Holy Majesty's harem can be considered clear.Although there is no crown prince now, the ministers, including Jia Zheng, think that they will be crowned Prince Xianjun.But the battle for the throne can never be cut off in the royal family, so if there is no official canonization for a day, it is... Besides, it is not uncommon for someone to be crowned crown prince and then be abolished. It's not impossible. If you want to talk about the factions supported by the princes, although Jia Zheng doesn't know much, if you really ask him, you can talk about it all day.

In the harem, there is no friend, no family affection, only struggle!Thinking of this classic line in the Gongdou drama, Wang Guizhi shuddered, and he was very glad that he only thought about it in his heart and didn't tell Jia Zheng and Yuan Chun, otherwise one of them would let himself be misled It's not good anymore.Fortunately, it doesn't matter, Wang Guizhi cheered himself up again, it's still early, don't worry, don't worry, marriage, it still needs a little fate.

Putting this section aside, Wang Guizhi thought that it would be great if he could meet the Shanxi merchants. A lot of information about the chamber of commerce would indeed be handed over to her as soon as possible, not to Jia Zheng, but Sometimes she has a lot of doubts, just looking at the books and income and expenditure is too ineffective, and now she can say that she is sitting on mountains of gold and silver, not to mention supporting Jia Zheng and the children, she can afford to support even the entire Jia family. .Then why does she still want people to learn a lot of crafts, and she is so excited when she sees landscape ink and silk, to be honest, Wang Guizhi herself has a lot of vision from Mrs. Wang, let alone now.

Wang Guizhi always thought that Dream of Red Mansions was a warning book, not only talking about the family affairs of the men and women of the Jia family, but also the various poems, folk customs, etiquette, life, and the prosperity and decline of a family.Why the Jia family fell, Leng Zixing made it very clear at the beginning of the chapter, it is because one generation is not as good as the previous generation, because no one has successors.After setting up the Jitian family school, Jia Zheng is still there. Even if her children are useless, the torch will be passed on in the future. She has done her best.

But in the end, I still want to keep something more. When I was successful in elementary school but failed in girls' school, Wang Guizhi's idea became more and more obvious.

"Mother?"

Yuan Chun was still a little worried.

Wang Guizhi quickly sat up, tidied up his clothes, "Come in."

"Mother, why are you uncomfortable?" Yuan Chun saw that his mother seemed to be crooked on the couch for a while, and the hairpin with the wings of the blue bird on her temples was a little crooked.

Her daughter has always been alert, so Wang Guizhi rubbed her temples and said, "I suddenly felt dizzy just now, maybe it's because I'm tired these days." Her appearance like this is particularly bluffing, Yuan Chun immediately believed it, and said distressedly, "The mother Why don't you invite Dr. Zhang to come and see?" As he spoke, he stretched out his hand for his mother to gently rub, Wang Guizhi was so comfortable enjoying his daughter's thoughtfulness, he closed his eyes and said softly, "I don't look like you young people , full of energy, maybe it was blown by the cold wind, and I was a little bit cold. Tonight, I will take a pill and sleep, and it may be fine. If it is not good, it will not be too late to ask Dr. Zhang to see it." She didn't count It's a complete lie. When she first found out that Yuan Kang was the king of Yijun, she was so angry that she had a headache.

Yuan Chun did not agree, thinking that his mother was like this, often thinking about their bodies, but never caring about himself.I wanted to tell my father right away, but then I remembered that my father was having a banquet today, yes, it was probably because of this that my mother thought it would be a little comfortable and just bear it.

This Prince Yijun really hates him. His father's performance requires him to pick peaches, and he has to pretend to be his grandson to accompany him with his tail between his legs. What's more, his mother dare not even ask the doctor to come back when she is sick. After all, it is the mentality of a young girl, Yuan Chun Carefully helping my mother massage, thinking resentfully in my heart.

Every time after Yuankang opened his mouth to have fun, Jia Zheng would not take him to Bowei Building, where there are often some novel performances, and if you are willing to spend money, you can also order juggling and martial arts or something; Shennong Temple Fair, Dragon Boat Festival, and several large-scale chamber of commerce bazaars, and he often transformed himself into Yuan Kang to play games with Qi Gong, Wang Chundao and other students at Shanxi College (Jia Zheng knew it well, but he only blinked one) Close one eye), this time flies by, and it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Qin Bao wiped his master's back with a wooden sponge in the bathroom, "Master, it's Mid-Autumn Festival, you have to remember to write a letter! This time, I need to write more to the empress. Last time you wrote two or three sentences..."

"Noisy, rub your back well, your skill is far inferior to that of a golden bull's back scrubber!" Yuan Kang Jindao Dama sat in the bathroom and criticized Qin Bao's handiwork, with a large wooden bathtub leaning against the wall beside him Standing there, several animal heads protruded from the wall, all of which opened their mouths, and hot water flowed out of them.

He has never learned how to rub his back, so why don't he go back and ask Mr. Li from Jintangchi for advice? Qin Bao thought for a while before he came to his senses, and was dragged to the other side by his master again, "Master, my good master , you should take pity on me. It will be almost a year since I arrived in Shanxi. You are diligent in writing letters to the emperor, once or twice a month. Concise and to the point..." My son is healthy and safe, and I miss my mother so much, so I attached some interesting things for my mother to enjoy, and it's gone!The Empress has always been respectful and prudent, virtuous and promising, in order to set an example for the harem, she dare not ask more about the affairs of the court.But it's human nature for a mother to pity her son, so why didn't I know how to write more.

Yuan Kang let Qin Bao babble, after a while he washed the foam off his body with a wooden spoon, and then stepped into the bathtub with long legs, "Go out, I will soak for a while by myself."

"Yes, sir."

Qin Bao is a loyal slave, he doesn't understand it, let his mother think he is naughty and playful anyway.

In the past six months or so, not only did he see the art of balancing interests from Jia Zheng, he also learned a lot from Shanxi College, and nothing else. When discussing why a certain generation died, someone said , Others didn't feel it, but he felt it was very shocking, but all the emperors can only share the rich and the noble, not the poor and the humble.

As a prince, he, Yuan Kang, would be lying if he really said that he had never thought of being a king of extremes.But after watching his father become his father, not to mention that the relationship with his mother is not the same as before, even the relationship between the brothers... the second brother and the third brother are also face-saving, but the eldest brother is like a brother like a father, he doesn't want to Competing with him, let alone being above the big position, how can he be as comfortable as he is now?In Beijing, when he was in the palace, he could often hear his mother talking about when his father would rest, and which ministers he called to ask questions, that is, the daily reply papers were all above [-] characters, and he worked hard. It can be said that ten thousand catties are carried on one shoulder.

No wonder there is a saying among the students that it is easy to be a fool, but difficult to be a wise one.

Yuan Kang slowly sank down, but fortunately the tub was big enough to allow him to thump a couple of times. This was only learned in Shanxi. In Beijing, the empress watched closely, for fear that he would drown in the water, so he never succeeded. But when I got here, I was accompanied by a thousand people. Although I did eat a lot of lake water, I learned it quickly.

He didn't want to be a faint king, nor a wise king, but an idle prince.

Therefore, you must be careful in the letter to the emperor, and you must report it in detail, because he is a minister, even though he is a son, he is a minister, and he should be loyal to the emperor and not make mistakes.And the letter to the queen mother is a signal to my brother, I hope my brother can understand.

"Master, it's a quarter of an hour, it's time to get up."

"come in."

Yuan Kang was changed into clothes by Qin Bao, only to realize that they were official uniforms, he couldn't help saying, "Change into a Confucian shirt."

Qin Bao quickly tied his master's belt, "Master, you were too lazy to read the papers yesterday and the day before. Mr. Jia said, please be sure to approve the papers today, otherwise you will be in trouble!" No, if you want to say something else about Mrs. Jia, it's that the serious face is more terrifying than the aura of Tai Chang Shu in the palace!

Yuan Kang had no choice but to sit in front of the case and read the papers for approval, while sighing at the same time, just so that he would not read these papers in the future, he also felt that it would be better not to be the emperor!

After reading the preparatory plans for the autumn harvest in several counties, Yuan Kang approved a letter of approval after Jia Zheng's word of permission, put it aside, and saw Qin Bao holding another stack of papers, and said with wide eyes, "Why is there another so much?"

"Master, you forgot, this is preparing for the scientific examination!"

Although it is once every three years, it is from Juzi to Jinshi, and there is also preparation for work, and there are layers of screening such as township examinations and county examinations.

Yuan Kang stroked his forehead and sighed. It seemed that this time he was going to miss the appointment again. Let’s have a nice Mid-Autumn Festival ceremony... No, I can’t go with Brother Qi and the others. He’s going to find Jia Zheng.

Wang Guizhi was wearing a veiled cap covered with dense green gauze, and Caiyun Caixia gently helped her lift the wide skirt, and Xu Bo led her to look at the Moon Worship Tower under construction. The largest supplier of wood was Jin Jiaqiao. Qiao Yanxue from home.Thinking about her, she told Jia Zheng that she wanted to ask some businessmen about something, and Jia Zheng called Qiao Yanxue to her, and she still felt warm in her heart.

Seeing the carriages and horses, Qiao Yanxue knew that it was the Chief Secretary's wife who came, so she hurriedly explained to her wife, "After a while, you can hear what Madam asks and what she wants, and just agree to it, you understand? No matter what Everything is fine, and..."

Mrs. Qiao smiled and said, "I see, master, you have said this eighteen times, it is true."

They had to come to Wang Guizhi to salute one after the other.

"Greetings, madam."

"Ann, you are all well, you are all outside, no need to be polite." Wang Guizhi stretched out his hand to help, and the two quickly stood up straight.

"Ma'am, what do you think of the height of this building?"

Qiao Yanxue pointed to the Octagonal Moon Worship Tower, which already had a prototype. At the beginning, his wife asked him if he was in the timber business, and asked him if he knew that he was passing by the sea area of ​​Great Britain. It is said that although there are some mountain people, they are Takagi Lin Li, and even secretly told him that there might be gold mines next to the forest that was more than a hundred years old.Of course, the most important thing is to ask him, that kind of wood is the personal freight, whether such a business can be done, she wants to build a moon worship building for her daughter, Mr. Jia has always punished the tree planting before cutting down trees, and she is not willing to violate the law. I mean, I'm not afraid of it, but the older the trees are, the more precious they are, so it's better to spend some money and cut trees from other places.

Qiao Yanxue had never done timber business before, but she agreed without hesitation. After asking a lot of people, she found that as long as the boat is big enough, there are wood sources and water and sea access, this business can be done!After all, the worst thing about timber transportation is that the wind and waves are too strong, but when the time comes, people can hold the wood to survive, no more than other things, even if they want to salvage it, they will never end up with nothing.Besides, if you don't have what Madam wants, you have to have it!Immediately, the leather goods workers were sent to find the place with topography and geology masters. Although the forests (and gold mines!) They are nothing more than trees (they are ready for ship repairs), which can be bought with gold and silver or exchanged for fur goods. Other things can also be purchased depending on the situation. Behind them is the strong capital operation of the chamber of commerce, the timber business Immediately did it.

Wang Guizhi wants to build the Moon Tower, but she just wants to find an excuse for herself to open up overseas markets. Even if she can't invent the steam engine for a while (why didn't she watch the technology channel more?), but she can at least open the news through business routes The window, so that the country where she is located will not miss the moment of taking off together.As long as a huge chain of interests is formed, even if the king of a country wants to close it, I'm afraid he won't be able to close it at that time!

Yuan Chun himself followed behind with her skirt and hat on. At that time, she didn't know what her mother and daughter were talking about, so her mother said that she wanted to give herself the most beautiful and elegant gift, and let her draw with a ruler and other fine brushwork. The design, after discussing with Xu Bo of the Mohist School, first went to Ying County to investigate, and finally drew an octagonal moon worship building that was more magnificent and exquisite than her first draft. She said that the building was actually a tower, and the design was twelve stories. Xu Bo Said that he was very confident and built a wooden pagoda higher than Yingxian wooden pagoda.Today, as soon as my mother said that she would come to see, she couldn't wait to follow.

"Not bad." Wang Guizhi praised. According to Xu Bo's introduction, all the main columns, brackets, wooden rings, deep frames, etc. of the entire tower are only made of wood with various bamboo shoots and tenons.At that time, she will be very shameless and hang the portraits of herself and her daughter in the tower, hehehe.

Seeing that many craftsmen were busily busy, and even a little farther away, two wood sawers took off their coats, revealing their strong and sweaty chests. After they put on their clothes, she realized that something was wrong. She quickly turned her head and took Yuan Chun's hand, and squeezed it lightly, "It's okay." spread out.

Yuan Chun didn't see clearly at all, but her daughter's family was still shy about this, she lowered her head and whispered, "I know, mother."

"Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so let them have three days off. I'm not in a hurry here." Wang Guizhi asked Caiyun to write it down again, and asked Xu Bo to count the number of people here, and each person will have two mooncakes for the festival.

The main purpose of her trip was to meet Yuan Chun and she just wanted to have a look. By the way, she met Qiao Yanxue. It would be great if the overseas timber business can develop.

Back on the carriage, the two took off their veiled hats. Yuan Chun's face was still a little flushed, but he was excited to see his vision become a reality, "Mother, I still want to draw a picture like that." The old Mr. Shan Ziye who drafted the manuscript for Shanxi College, she also visited Shanxi College with her mother dressed as a man and visited with her brother. Compared with her, the Moon Belief Tower, which could not have been formed without the help of Xu Bo, I don’t know how much better it is. .

"Ah? You mean, portrait painting?" Wang Guizhi said, seeing Yuan Chun was puzzled, by the way, "Gongbi painting!"

Yuan Chun laughed again, "Mom, you said portrait, that's very considerate, why bother with fine brushwork. The word "portrait" is very good." She hugged her mother's arm, "Tomorrow my father will be on vacation, right? Grandma celebrates her birthday. When we wished her a cup from a distance, my father was too busy to be at home, and the moonlit night of the Mid-Autumn Festival should be the reunion festival, and he should be with our family."

"It should be. Didn't he say that he would take us to the Mid-Autumn Festival? I also bought a lot of fireworks tubes. When the time comes, our family will play and watch, okay?" Wang Guizhi said.

Yuan Chun was so happy that he clapped his hands, "Okay, okay." If her father could take them out to play, it would be the first time since she was born.

Jia Zheng looked at Yuan Kang with some embarrassment. The king of Yijun was uninhibited and a little out of touch. People who fight against each other, so they get along well for half a year.

"How is it? Mr. Jia, you have arranged so much work for me, so the Mid-Autumn Festival ceremony must take me with you." Yuan Kang took the tea cover and gently pulled out the tea, sniffing the tea fragrance. The items were all "samples". Since Jia Zheng was not allowed to accept gifts, these merchants had no choice but to send "samples" on the grounds that the goods would be taxed and they didn't know how to judge them.

"The king of the county invited me, and I really should not refuse, but I have already promised my family that I will enjoy the moon with them in the Mid-Autumn Festival." Jia Zheng rejected Yuan Kang for the first time, and in the past six months he has understood that this Although King Weiyi is young, his descendants of phoenix and dragon are much superior to him. Besides, he has his own father and mother, and they will not interfere with his affairs anymore. Naturally, he will do as he pleases. Own worry.

Yuan Kang frowned slightly, mid-autumn festival, of course he also knew that it was the time of family reunion, he suddenly said, "Then I don't care, or you will go with me, or I will go with you?"

It's strange to say that last time he met Mrs. Jia at Shanxi College and admired him very much, but after so many months, even Wang Chundao mentioned that he saw Mrs. Jia again, but he never saw her again. Go!What's the point?For no reason, is it weird?Does his identity make Mrs. Jia feel uncomfortable?

"This..." Jia Zheng felt more and more embarrassed. The family could do whatever they wanted, but if King Yi went, how could they be happy?But want to talk fat?

"What? I'm not worthy to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with your family?" Yuan Kang pretended to be angry.

Jia Zheng had no choice but to accept, "Don't you dare to invite the county king to travel with Xiaguan's family during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

"That's about the same." Yuan Kang nodded.

Seeing Jia Zheng leave, Yuan Kang asked Qin Bao to prepare a Mid-Autumn Festival gift, "Choose some exquisite and good ones."

"Yes." Qin Bao agreed, thinking that the master must be lonely, thinking of the empress, the emperor, and the capital, and asked the servants to prepare gifts, so he took out his pen and ink, and tried his best to write in Zhengzheng. , Today, because of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the master misses the Empress, the King Xianjun, and the Emperor very much. He prays and sometimes sighs sadly. Looking at the east, it must be...

There is no way, the master dare not write, and the empress misses her son, so he, a half-toned slave, is forced to write.

When Jia Zheng returned home and told Zheng Xing about the matter, a mother and daughter who were "models" and a painter, Wang Guizhi and Yuan Chun's expressions became a little subtle.

The author has something to say: Wang Guizhi: Ah, why did this kid show up again!Put fat fish in front of the cat to make her claw?

Yuan Chun: Hmph, it's not a big deal to disturb her house all the time, but you also want to come out to join in the fun during the Mid-Autumn Festival?