Qing Shu was not lightly frightened, and immediately panicked, pushing Zhou Boyan to hide quickly. Zhou Boyan was not very reluctant, but he still retreated behind the screen according to her pushing force, just holding her hand.

She warned in a low voice, "Hide, don't make trouble, or I'll ignore you again." Then he pushed his hand away, quickly turned out of the screen, and continued to pack clothes and other items for Qingyang.

After a while, there was no voice from Su's mother outside, Qingyang poked his head in and looked around, puzzled, "Sister, where did my brother go?" ”

Qing Shu breathed a sigh of relief, pointed in the direction of the screen, and quickly tied the wrapper, "Xiaoyang, it's been done, my sister still has something to do, so let's go first." ”

She was in a hurry to leave, and the person who was very reluctant to hide behind the screen was unhappy, "You want to leave me?" This tone, no matter how wrong it sounds, is like a complaining husband protesting against being abandoned by his mother.

When she heard this, she said angrily, "Good children have prizes, and children who love to make trouble are ignored." As he spoke, he had already walked out.

Qingyang took over the comforting errand, "Brother, sister is most afraid of Mother Su's nagging, it's not that I don't want to pay attention to you." ”

Zhou Boyan was speechless for a while. What did you do to promise her to wait for her for five years? It's good now, you have to worry about this and that when you meet and talk, you have to be interrupted when you finally find a chance to get close. To be honest, he can actually find a way to solve the five-year agreement, but there is only one thing that he can't break no matter what, and that is such a major event as keeping filial piety. Three years of filial piety, and nearly two and a half years, he waited in addition to waiting. Thinking of Wu Fu, the culprit who caused this situation, he became more and more annoyed. If the general's wife hadn't had an accident, maybe he would have married someone by now.

At the end of the hour, the caravan arrived to pick up the goods. Everyone was busy for a while, loading two families with a total of 400 barrels of sauerkraut into the car, and the two truckloads of goods that Gufu was going to deliver to Guji Bun Shop were also loaded.

In this way, the people of the caravan, Zhou Boyan and his escort, plus Mr. Lu, Qingyang and his party, and the safety escort team escorting the goods, more than 50 people and carriages and horses lined up in a long line and set off.

Qing Shu watched them go away and turned to enter the house. She didn't go to Xu Wuniang's side to be a female celebrity, but stayed in her room and was busy settling accounts. The accounts were sorted out for one day, and on the second day, she instructed Su's mother to start preparing materials for making silk flowers.

A letter from Beijing said that the juanhua sent to Beijing by the ancient government a few years ago was very popular with the ladies and ladies in Beijing because of its good color and lifelike appearance. In this way, it is hoped that Gufu will continue to make juanhua to supply to the capital. Also, the batch of juanhua that Qingshu sent to Jinyang City at the end of the year was sold by the shopkeeper Lin of Yipinlou. Shopkeeper Lin is worthy of being a businessman, and he actually sold all of them to the largest jewelry store in the city. I heard that the jewelry shop sells jewelry, and I also earned a sum of silver from it, and asked the shopkeeper Lin if there was any goods.

Because of this, Qingshu decided to gather the original team to start making juanhua again before the farm work began. Transported to the capital, it can be carried by Zhou Boyan's caravan. Here in Jinyang City, she wants to sell it in the newly opened Jixiangzhuang.

Looking at the brightly colored good materials that came out of the warehouse, Su's mother touched and touched them with a distressed face, "Miss, this good material is all whole, and it is going to be cut to make juanhua, it's a pity, it's better to collect some rags!" ”

Qing Shu smiled, "Mother Su, you only feel sorry for the fabric under your eyes, why don't you want to think about how much silver you will get back after making juanhua?" Besides, aren't the rags that can be collected in the town for people to collect! And there are few good materials in those rag heads, ordinary cloth accounts for the majority, and there are not many that can be used. ”

Su's mother said that it was this reason, but she was touching the good material in her hand, and she still looked distressed.

The various materials required were prepared for one day, and on the third day, the original team that made Juanhua arrived a few years ago, plus Lu Niangzi and Zhao, a group of women got together to start work. Knitting bracelets doesn't make much money, so Qingshu gave up this item and let everyone concentrate on making juanhua.

Adults do things, and the children at home are left unattended. The Zhao family doesn't have to worry about it, Zhou Xing is used to playing in the house, bring it in the morning, and take it away when he goes home in the afternoon, Zhou Xingzi will play with Maizi and them. Ning Si's mother and mother originally entrusted the child to the neighbor's aunt, but the neighbor's aunt was recently jealous of the Ning family's errand of earning money, so she stopped taking care of the child. When Su's mother heard about it, she asked Qingshu and allowed Ning Niangzi to bring the children of the family into the house. As for the others, the family is sibling, and the relatives and neighbors are good, so there are no such troubles.

Juanhua did it for two days, and Ning Si's mother privately asked Su's mother if she still needed someone. Su's mother said that the young lady was afraid of encountering someone with improper mental skills or unclean hands and feet, so even if there was a shortage of manpower, if she didn't know the roots, she wouldn't want it. Ning Si's mother mentioned a person, saying that this person was absolutely credible, and he also made a guarantee in terms of character.

Mother Su pondered for a moment and went to Qingshu's side.

Qing Shu was spreading out the paper, burying his head in drawing something on the table. Hearing the news of Su's mother's coming, she put down the brush in her hand, looked up, and saw that Su's mother just entered the door, so she beckoned, "No need to salute, come and sit." ”

Su's mother insisted on saluting, and then stood in front of the bookcase, and when she saw what Miss had drawn on the paper, she looked dazed, "Miss, what is this?" How do you draw pieces of paper? ”

Qing Shu pointed to the explanation drawn on the paper, "This piece of paper is compared to a whole wasteland, this is a small hill, this is the orchard encircled here, this side wants to grow peppers, build a house here, build a livestock shed here, and many other ideas, I will mark the same when I think of it, so as not to forget it when I get it." ”

Su's mother didn't understand the planning sketch, but the question in her heart still had to be asked, "Miss, can you probably plant trees in that wasteland, but can you grow vegetables?" ”

"Just try it. It doesn't matter if it doesn't work, let's plant trees and raise poultry, there will always be a little harvest, and we won't lose money. ”

"Miss said yes, then it will definitely be done. The old slave is still waiting to eat the fruit planted by the young lady! Su's mother said happily, in her eyes, her young lady is amazing, and there is nothing that cannot be done if she is determined to do it.

"Okay, when the fruit is ripe, Mother Su can eat as much as she wants."

Mother Su couldn't close her mouth with a smile, but when she thought of the right thing, she quickly straightened her face, "Miss, Ning Si's mother just mentioned a woman to the old slave, and the woman wanted to find an errand to do in the house, so she asked Ning Si's mother to help inquire." Miss, Juanhua's side, do we still need people? ”

"Oh, did you ask the woman what her character was?"

"I asked, the woman is nine years Chinese New Year's Eve old today, her husband's surname is Mo, but the man died early, and she was widowed in her early thirties. I heard that there is only one son in the family, and the mother and son have been living together in the town for a long time, and their lives are not rich. In terms of character, it is good, and the neighbors can't find fault with the mother and son. What is rare is that there has been no right and wrong in front of the door all along. The husband's relatives are all in the countryside, and every once in a while several brothers-in-law, nephews or nieces will come to visit, and I heard that they get along very well. By the way, miss, you don't know, that Sun Niangzi's son is named Sun Mo, and he is still a talent! ”

Qing Shu was stunned, "You mean, Xiucai's mother wants to get an errand in the house?" "There are many literati who are high-minded, will Xiucai's son be willing to work in a big family to earn copper plates?

"Miss, the old slave was also taken aback when he heard this, and felt that this could not be done. didn't think about it, Ning Si's mother said that although this grandson is not young, her hands are still dexterous, and she goes to big families from time to time to do embroidery work, and at the end of the year, she will help the kitchen to earn money. His talented son is also a good one, in addition to studying hard, he also sets up a stall from time to time to write and paint to earn copper plates to supplement the family. Coincidentally, the Sun family is not far from the Ning family, and the relationship between the two families is good, and they look very good. A few days ago, when the neighbors of the four Ning families refused to help take care of the children, it was this grandmother who squeezed out time to help take care of them. ”

"You ask Ning Niangzi to bring someone over tomorrow to have a look, you decide whether to stay or not." Qingshu gave the decision to Su's mother.

Mother Su hesitated, "Why don't you send someone out to inquire?" "She deliberately used Sun Niangzi, otherwise she refused on the spot, and she wouldn't have come over to ask Miss about it.

"Cheng, you look at the arrangement."

Su's mother hurriedly withdrew and asked the housekeeper to send someone out to inquire. After this inquiry, Su's mother changed her mind and told Ning Si's mother that there was no one in the house for the time being. In fact, what came back from the inquiry was similar to what Ning Si's mother said, and the reason why Su's mother changed her mind was that the family who went out to inquire saw Sun Niangzi's Xiucai son and Gu Qingjia together. The family who found out about this inquired again, and only then did he learn from others that this Sun Xiucai and Gu Xiucai (Gu Qingjia) were classmates. In recent days, these two people have either sat together to talk about fame, or set up a stall together to write and paint for others, and the relationship is very good.

Ning Si's mother is not confused. She knew that there must be a reason why Su's mother's attitude changed quickly. So she took the opportunity to ask Su's mother if she was not good enough for Sun Niangzi.

Su's mother didn't hide it from her, "I don't hide it from you, Gu Xiucai, who is good with Sun Xiucai, is none other than the eldest son of Miss's uncle's family." Alas! You said why we left Beijing, it was really the eldest uncle of the young lady who deceived people too much, not only robbed the grange and shop left by the general to the young master, but also looted all the money and valuable items in the house. Madame had no choice, so she broke off the relationship with that side and brought the young lady here. Now that the young master's life is better, the people over there squandered the looted property and chased after him, and when he entered the mansion, he scolded the young master and wanted to occupy the young master. Miss was forced to have no choice, and besides, she had broken off the relationship before leaving Beijing, so although she knew that people were terrible, Miss still drove people out on the street. ”

Ning Si's mother sighed, "Alas! This poor man has the suffering of the poor, and the rich house has the difficulties of the rich house. ”

"I deliberately use Sun Niangzi, but Sun Xiucai is better with those over there, in order to avoid sideways complications, the house will never dare to use Sun Niangzi. There are enough rumors outside, and I can't recruit Sun Niangzi to do things knowing that there might be trouble. Miss is not easy, outsiders don't know, you know some. ”

"It's not easy to raise a family of four, let alone feed a family! Fortunately, Miss is a capable one. ”

"Alas! If it's a worry-free person over there, I wouldn't be afraid of it. I don't know what kind of person Gu Xiucai is, but the eldest lord and his wife, they really want to go back and search for things anytime and anywhere. Miss Nali ran this way from time to time, and at first she thought she could make friends, so she didn't stop her. Unexpectedly, Miss Li is also uneasy and kind. Alas! Don't mention it. It's not too early, let's go back! ”

Ning Si's mother said goodbye to Su's mother and went out from the corner gate with her daughter-in-law and grandson. Ning Si, who was waiting outside, saw him, greeted him, hugged his son and put it around his neck, and the family of four went home.

In the evening, Qing Shu heard Su's mother's reason for rejecting Sun Niangzi, but she just smiled and didn't say anything.

In the midst of their hustle and bustle, Qingyang and Hao, who had been away for seven days, followed Mr. Lu back. came back with Luo Xiaorong and Chen Qiaojiang.

Qingshu greeted the returning group. Seeing Mr. Lu's proud appearance, she knew that when she went to Wenjie Academy, the four of them in Qingyang must have grown a face for Mr. Lu.

While the masters were talking, Xu Sanniang and Guan Pozi were busy in the kitchen, and Lily of the Valley and Xiaoya helped them. The ingredients are washed, washed, cut, and prepared in advance, and now they are in full swing of steaming, cooking, frying, and frying.

At the end of the banquet, Luo Jiumao, who sent Luo Xiaorong over, said goodbye to his second son, and Chen Qiaojiang's father, who sent Chen Qiaojiang over, also said goodbye. Both of them took their respective people and prepared to go back to Jinyang City together.

Mr. Lu was happy, a little drunk, and went back to sleep after seeing off the guests.

The little four were very excited, and ran to Qingshu's house with something in their hands, and rushed to talk around Qingshu.

Qing Shu was stunned by the four of them, so he spoke, asking them to speak one by one from the oldest to the smallest, and also made a request, when one spoke, the other three were not allowed to interject.

Chen Qiaojiang was the eldest of the four, and he was the first to speak. With a proud face, he put the box in his arms in front of Qing Shu, "No, this is a gift for my sister." My grandfather and grandmother said that this is a good thing, and I am not allowed to give it to others, and I want my sister to keep it for herself. ”

Qing Shu was surprised, opened the box, unwrapped the silk, and took out an object, "What is this?" ”

Chen Qiaojiang glanced at Qing Shu incredulously, "Sister doesn't know about the hand warmer?" ”

Qing Shu didn't feel embarrassed, "Sister is poor, it's not that you don't know, what's so surprising about this!" She said this, and then carefully observed the so-called hand warmer in her hand. Although she is the daughter of a general, the mansion was really poor when she crossed over, and there were good things that Gu Yunfu had looted, to be honest, she had never seen anything like this.

It is said that the hand warmer is very expensive, and ordinary women from rich families do not necessarily have it, but only those women from noble or dignitary families in the palace. This is true not only because the stove itself is expensive, but also because the fuel used in the stove is also expensive. Therefore, this kind of luxury, even if she has a lot of money in hand now, she has never considered getting one back.

Chen Qiaojiang didn't find fault like in the past, but just asked, "Does my sister like it?" ”

Qing Shu nodded, "I like it." "It's a luxury, it's a white one, can you not like it?

Chen Qiaojiang was happy in his heart, "Grandmother got two, one was named as a dowry for the fifth sister, and the other was given to the elder sister. ”

Qing Shu stared at the delicate hollow pattern on the top, and sighed in his heart, luxury is luxury, exquisite and beautiful.

Hao leaned forward and put a burden in front of Qing Shu, "For my sister." ”

Qing Shu hurriedly put the hand warmer back into the box and wrapped it, and then opened the burden given by Hao, with a look of surprise, "There are a lot of fried goods, all of them are my sister's favorite food, Hao is really good." ”

Hao smiled and showed his little tiger teeth, sat next to Qing Shu and stopped talking.

At this time, Qingyang also gave Qingshu a burden, "Brother Yan took me to buy a lot of fruits, I haven't seen them before." ”

Qing Shu also opened it and looked at it, and said with a happy face, "The ones that Xiaoyang bought for my sister must be delicious fruits." ”

Luo Xiaorong was at the end of the line, a little anxious, and hurriedly brought his box over, "Sister, and me, and me." ”

Qing Shu stretched out his hand and gently pinched his little face, "Do you miss my sister?" ”

Luo Xiaorong hugged her arm and coquettishly, "Yes." ”

Chen Qiaojiang felt that Luo Xiaorong was blocking him, "Go over there, go over there, don't stand in my way, I still haven't told my sister." ”

Luo Xiaorong didn't argue with Chen Qiaojiang, and wanted to go to the other side of his sister, but when he saw Hao sitting there, he pouted slightly.

Qing Shu saw it, hugged him, and kissed him on the little cheek, "Quickly open the box and let my sister see what's inside?" ”

Luo Xiaorong grinned and opened the long box, revealing a scroll lying inside.

Qingshu, "This is?" ”

Luo Xiaorong said, "This is the "Morning Dew Peony" in the famous painting "Peony Spectrum" of the Peony Fairy. My grandfather once said that "Morning Dew Peony" and the fairy's famous work "Picturesque Rivers and Mountains" are called two unique and rare treasures. ”

Absolutely, it should refer to the meaning of a peerless masterpiece. Then this painting is too precious, Qing Shu didn't dare to accept it, "This is too precious, my sister doesn't dare to ask for it." Although she doesn't know anything like calligraphy and painting, she has heard of the fact that famous products in antique calligraphy and painting can be sold at sky-high prices in modern times.

Luo Xiaorong is only responsible for sending it, but he doesn't care about taking it back, "Sister, this must be taken away." Dad said that it was a dowry from his grandfather to his sister. ”

Qing Shu was dumbfounded, "What? Trousseau? ”

Luo Xiaorong nodded seriously, then took out a letter from under the scroll and handed it to Qing Shu, "Sister, this is a letter from my grandfather to my sister." ”

Stimulated by the word dowry, Qing Shu opened the letter in a daze. Luo Shangshu said that there is no reliable elder around Qing Shu, and it is not easy to do it when Qing Shu gets married. Moreover, Qingshu is a little girl, and she prepares her own dowry, which is definitely unthinkable in many places. Therefore, Luo Shangshu said that as Qingshu's grandfather, he had to pay attention to this matter as early as possible. So, I first picked such a famous painting and sent it, saying that it was one of the dowries given by my grandfather to my granddaughter. I don't want to make my grandfather angry, I don't want to hurt my grandfather's heart, Qingshu, the granddaughter, must collect this dowry and use it as the bottom of the box.

If nothing else, it is the heart of others that can move you. Qing Shu also understood at this time that Luo Jiumao didn't give it to her for such a valuable thing, but let Luo Xiaorong give it to her, just because she was afraid that she wouldn't accept it. Chen Mansion probably means the same thing, let Chen Qiaojiang hand over the expensive stove to her, not the elders of Chen Mansion themselves.

With complicated feelings, Qing Shu carefully took out the scroll and unfolded it on the spot. Although she was forced to study Chinese painting for a year in modern times, the little bit she learned was enough to see! Even so, from her layman's point of view, this "Morning Dew Peony" is indeed good. The magnificent peony, the dew drops hanging on the peony petals and buds, are as if they are alive, and they seem to be rolling off in a blink of an eye. This kind of dynamic artistic conception, this kind of living painting, is known as a peerless work, and it is definitely deserved. "The painter called the peony fairy, it must be a woman." She couldn't help but guess.

Luo Xiaorong shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

Qingyang thought for a while, "Sister, I'll ask Mr. Lu." Luo Xiaorong and Chen Qiaojiang agreed, and in the end, the four of them ran together to find Mr. Lu.

Qing Shu shook his head and smiled, carefully collected the scroll, put it back in the box and wrapped it, and didn't know where to receive it for a while. After hesitating, she temporarily locked the famous painting in a cabinet containing silver coins. As soon as she pulled out the key and put it away, Qingyang went and returned, saying that Mr. Lu wanted to see the painting and asked her to take it personally.

So she took the painting and took it to Mr. Lu's residence in person.

Mrs. Lu was making juanhua in the embroidery room, Maizi was playing outside, Mr. Lu was sitting in the house, and Chen Qiaojiang was sitting straight.

Qing Shu presented the painting.

Mr. Lu took the painting with both hands with an excited face, and asked Qingyang and Qingshu to sit down. There was nostalgia in his expression, mixed with melancholy, and a certain extremely deep affection that was indescribable and inexplicable.

Qing Shu asked hesitantly, "Mr. knows the painter Peony Fairy?" ”

Mr. Lu stabilized his feelings and replied, "There are only three sides. ”