Li Yan has been staring at Wu Niang, but he hasn't come up with any way yet, even if people hear it, they can't kill people here, right?

At this time, Master Niu came out with a step shake, he handed it to Wu Niang, and said, "Here, I melted your two hairpins and made a step shake." It's a pity, it's silver, if it's gold, it can be sold for at least seventy or eighty taels, but this silver is only a dozen taels at most. ”

Li Yan glanced at it and saw a bird finch embedded in it, with two wicker sticks in his mouth, and in the action of handing it to Wu Niang, the wings of the bird began to shake up and down, as if it was spreading its wings and flying, and the willow branch in its mouth was also constantly trembling.

"Ah, it's beautiful!" Wu Niang took the step shake, looked at it carefully, and shook it a few times from time to time to make the wings of the birds flutter. She also forgot her fear of Li Yan at this time, and took the step to the left corner, where a bronze mirror was placed. She put her steps in her bun in front of the bronze mirror, looking left and right in admiration.

When she had enough self-appreciation, she was a little reluctant to take off the step. As soon as she turned around, she saw that Li Yan was still looking at her, and her fair face was immediately occupied by a flush. She hurriedly lowered her head, took out a string of copper coins from her sleeve - only twenty or thirty, handed it to Master Niu, and said, "Thank you, Daddy Niu, here is fifty wen, I know that this money is not enough, but I only brought so much, and I will make up for it for you next time." ”

Master Niu took the copper coin, waved his hand, and said with a smile: "Enough, enough, it's just a little manual fee, these are enough." ”

"Thank you, Daddy Niu, I'll bring you chrysanthemum tea next time." Wu Niang thanked Master Niu, and then turned to leave.

Master Niu hurriedly stopped her: "Wu Niang, wait." After Wu Niang stopped, he instructed: "Take it and sell it in Baoxing Building, at least eight taels." Don't go to the pawnshop, those local treasures can also be used for rags. ”

Wu Niang bowed to Master Niu and said sweetly: "Well, I know, thank you Daddy Niu." ”

When Wu Niang had already left, Father Niu shook his head and sighed: "It's a pity, it's a pity." ”

"Master Niu, this girl is not your relative, is she?" Li Yan asked, "Why did you give her so many benefits?" The manual cost of the step shake is at least worth one or two silver. ”

Master Niu sat down and said casually: "To be a man, you must accumulate virtue and do good." Wu Niang is not easy. What's more, she calls me dad every time, and my old man is called dad in a county supervisor, so I'm happy to charge less money. ”

"The county lord? Zhou Wangfu's? Li Yan said in disbelief: "Do you really believe in the old man? The county lord is carried by eight sedan chairs, and she is at most a rough maid in the palace. ”

Master Niu said with a look of disdain: "What do you know? Wu Niang is the county lord in the palace, and everyone in this neighborhood knows it. Her mother was a maid in the palace, and she was raped by the prince after drinking, but coincidentally, only this time, she gave birth to Wu Niang. But the prince is just drunk and promiscuous, and there are only nine daughters, and she is not impressed. And in the end, it was a disgraceful thing, so they never took care of their mother and daughter again, so that their mother and daughter were not even as good as the decent maids in the palace. Her mother's health is not good, if it weren't for the fact that Wu Niang had made some money doing needlework and weaving cloth outside over the years, maybe Du Niang and her children would have starved to death. ”

"Cut!" Li Yan still said in disbelief: "The secrets of the palace are also known to you?" ”

"The nephew of the mother-in-law of Qianjie is on an errand in the palace, so can there be a fake?" Master Niu immediately defended: "Why is her name Wu Niang?" is because she is the fifth daughter of the prince. But I don't like it, I'm nineteen years old, I haven't asked for a seal yet, and I don't have the jade of the Zongren Mansion, so I guess I'll be an old girl for a lifetime. ”

Li Yan didn't discuss the matter of Wu Niang with Master Niu again, whether that Wu Niang was a liar or really the unpopular county lord of the palace, it had nothing to do with him. Even if Wu Niang heard what he said about the fire cannon, it shouldn't be much trouble, because Wu Niang didn't know who he was at all.

"Master Niu, let's not talk about the county lord." Li Yan said: "You can make a price, how much does it cost, are you willing to make bronze for me?" ”

Master Niu smiled and said: "Childe, if you have any utensils and jewelry that need to be made, you just say it, and I am sure that it will be made for you at all." But if I want to build a cannon again, then there is no negotiation. Our small shop can earn the whole family's chewing bread in a month, and we can save a little money. In a few years, when you save enough money and buy dozens of acres of land, your children and grandchildren will have a stable life. ”

"You come with me, when you get to my house, I'll give you ten acres, no, twenty acres of land, water the land, how about it?" Li Yan immediately tempted.

Master Niu looked Li Yan up and down and asked, "Twenty acres of watered land?" Where is it? Cheng? Close to the embankment? ”

Li Yan replied: "If you agree, you can pack your things, and I will pick you up in a few days." Not only will I give you 20 acres of watered land, but I will also give you a salary of 5 taels a month, how about it? ”

Master Niu hesitated for a while, but finally shook his head and said, "Forget it, I don't want to participate in this deed, old man." Let's still eat honestly with our craftsmanship, and save money to buy land in a proper manner. But don't worry, the old man has a tight mouth, and I won't cause trouble for you. ”

Li Yan couldn't force it anymore, he raised his eyes and looked at a few people in the workshop, and asked, "What about your apprentices?" Is there anyone willing to go? ”

"Childe don't bother," Master Niu refused, "These are my children and grandchildren, and no one will go." ”

Li Yan had no choice but to give up. When he was about to leave, he thought of another idea, so he asked, "Master Niu, what if I send a few people to you to learn the trade?" How about each person giving you twenty taels? With this money, you will be able to buy land outside the city. ”

"Hehe," Master Niu laughed dryly and said, "This is a family handicraft, and it is not passed on to children." ”

"You think about it again, I'll come back to you in two days." Li Yan had no choice but to give up his persuasion of Master Niu.

On the way home, he was thinking about how to make cannons, how to use guns and cannons. As he walked in the direction of the mansion with a small crowd of people, he sketched out new tactics for using muskets and artillery in his mind, imagining the scene of battle.

"Oops." A man crashed into him, let out a low scream, and seemed to fall to the ground. There were also a few clanging sounds, as if something had fallen to the ground.