After Sun Yuanhua's inspection, it was already the end of the year, Chen Xin distributed the remaining combat rewards to the soldiers, and issued the annual fee, the army system was all elated, Liu Minyou was also busy accounting for the performance of various departments, and issued a year-end bonus, the best performance is not surprising is the fake money workshop, they are not many workers, but the efficiency is very good, this year's profit reached 20,000 taels, the second place is two weapons factories, other workshops and stores were established late, the bonus is slightly worse, but also make those workers overjoyed.

When the end of the year was approaching, after the Wendeng battalion left the troops on duty as usual, those with family members went home, and those without family members took leave on their own. The tun households in Weihai have set up their own temple fairs, the increase in income has greatly increased their consumption power, the traders of the Acropolis have come to Mazi Erdun to sell New Year's goods, some opera troupes and performers are also famous, the shops in the fort have increased more, except that there are no gambling stalls, the whole atmosphere is much more lively than last year.

The original Mazidun has existed in name only, those Dun people since they were smashed by the soldiers once, no longer dare to oppose this emerging force, as the new Tunpu is more and more prosperous, many of the original Mazidun people also went there to work temporarily, and the estrangement between the two sides was quickly eliminated under the economic ties. More and more Weihai households took refuge in the past and went to Xintunpu on the side of Wendeng Camp, looking forward to dividing the land in the future. Yang Yunnong did not dare to complain in the face of this population loss, his tea shop was crumbling under the impact of the comprehensive store, and the same was true of Wang Yuanzheng's grain store, so he had to consider changing the industry again.

Liu Minyou and Chen Xin took advantage of the holiday to hold a wedding banquet for concubines, and Liu Minyou was naturally Li Ranzhu. Chen Xin put the house-filling maid Juxiang into the house, and there were also happy events in Tunbao everywhere, and many soldiers and officers in the Wendeng battalion were busy getting married.

In the sound of firecrackers, Chongzhen ushered in the fourth year, and on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Xin finished eating dumplings according to the rules of previous years. Just sit down in the study, waiting for the subordinate guards to come to pay New Year's greetings, and the sound of a group of women chirping sounded in the courtyard. Zhao Xiang poked his head in and saw Chen Xin, stuck out his tongue and said, "Little man, we all went to the temple fair." You don't want to go. ”

Chen Xin shook his head with a smile and said, "I won't go, you remember to go to the temple to worship, and ask Guanyin to let us have a son next year." ”

Zhao Xiang sneered, and left with a white glance, and the courtyard quickly quieted down, leaving only the sound of sea seals stomping on the door of the study, Chen Xin leaned comfortably on the blanket recliner, thinking nothing in his head, enjoying the rare peace of a person, at this time, the firecrackers and noise in the distance seemed to be in another world.

There was a soft knock on the door. Chen Xin didn't open his eyes, someone would inform him when the guests came, and the one who came in was either a guard or a maid, only to hear the man gently add charcoal to the brazier and change the spices in the incense burner. When the lid is placed, it is a little heavier and makes a clanging sound. The man seemed to let out a sigh of fright.

Chen Xin opened his eyes slightly, and saw that Xiao Jiahua was tiptoeing out, he still felt a little guilty about this woman, and he rarely had time to talk to her on weekdays, so he said, "Miss Xiao." Why didn't I go to the temple fair? ”

Xiao Jiahua thought that he had woken up, turned his head to look at Chen Xin, and said with a blessing: "Back to my lord, I don't like those excitement." Today, the lady and the maid are out, so I will stay and take care of them. ”

"On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Miss Xiao will go to relax today, I can do these things myself, you find a few good sisters and friends, go to see the temple fair, buy some rouge gouache and the like, things at the temple fair are cheaper than usual."

"I don't have any friends, and the yard is quiet, better than outside."

Chen Xin sat up straight, pointed to the chair opposite and said, "In that case, sit down and let's talk." ”

Xiao Jiahua pointed at herself, a little incredulous, Chen Xintou crooked and said: "What are you polite, where is your original bold temper." ”

Xiao Jiahua raised her head, sat down opposite Chen Xin, and put the plate in her hand on Chen Xin's table.

Chen Xin smiled and said to her: "That's right, we don't have so many rules here." ”

Xiao Jiahua snorted, "My lord, that's not it, there are a lot of rules in the family, and many of them are set for me." ”

Chen Xin sighed strangely, he almost never set any house rules, and he had never scolded anyone at home, and after a little thought, he knew that it should be Zhao Xiang who deliberately embarrassed this Xiao family, and the reason was the thing he did at the beginning.

He didn't open his eyes and say nonsense, nodded and said, "It's embarrassing Miss Xiao, if it's really excessive, you can sue me, and I will warn them." ”

Xiao Jiahua lowered her head and said, "What's the use of that, you are not here on weekdays, and they are not in charge." ”

Chen Xin sighed, changed the topic and asked her: "I've been at home a lot lately, and I haven't seen you every time." ”

"Juka arranged for me to go to the kitchen."

"Kitchen? So you are cooking rice and stir-frying now? ”

"No, it's just carrying water, chopping wood, lighting a fire, and helping them wash their clothes."

Chen Xin frowned, there were originally male servants in his courtyard to do these physical jobs, but he didn't expect Ju Xiang to deliberately arrange it for Xiao Jiahua. He immediately smiled again and said, "You don't have to do this, it's all a man's job, how can you let a woman do it." ”

Xiao Jiahua smiled when she heard this, but it was still completely different from the original arrogance, Chen Xin wanted to ask him about the marriage leave, but remembering what he had done before, coupled with Xiao Jiahua's own character, now Xiao Jiahua heard that she had a very bad reputation in the castle, and no one dared to marry her, but being excluded by Ju Xiang and others at home like this also made him feel sorry.

"Miss Xiao, would you like to go out and do something? The kind with monthly money. ”

Xiao Jiahua raised her eyes to look at Chen Xin, and asked in a half-loud voice, "My lord wants to drive me away." ”

Chen Xin hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Of course not, I mean you can do a job, just ...... is like Li Ranzhu, who works during the day and comes back to live at night, and has a monthly income. ”

Xiao Jiahua breathed a sigh of relief and immediately agreed: "I want to go to the comprehensive store, there are all women, I heard that there is a Wang Erya in it, who is a good hand at doing business, even Li Ranzhu can't compare to her......"

Chen Xin interrupted in a low voice: "Miss Xiao, look. It's okay for me to call him Li Ranzhu, you have to call her Mrs. Liu, or the lady of the Liu family, otherwise she will have prejudices against you sooner or later, and when you are assessed at the end of the year, you will be deducted a few points, and sometimes a few points are not important. But sometimes, these few points can determine your position in the future, both to do things well. You have to be a good person, women are generally small-minded, and deal with female owners like Li Ranzhu. In fact, there is one of the simplest, you have to praise his husband, and if you have a child in the future, you will praise the child, which is more effective than praising her. Wang Erya is the kind of person who is different, she only looks at the results, you have to say less and do more if you follow her, don't try to justify if you make a mistake, go and change it yourself, if Wang Erya and Li Ranzhu have different opinions, what about people like Wang Erya. It's useless to be with the mud, you have to stand on Li Ranzhu's side, why, she is Liu Minyou's wife, and Liu Minyou is the boss of civil affairs. You have an advantage that others can't compare, you are Li Ranzhu's neighbor, you have to follow Li Ranzhu to work every day, just wait at her door, Lord Liu can see a familiar face when he goes out, and it is also an opportunity to communicate feelings on the way to work. You can also go over on weekdays and give you a small gift, it doesn't have to be too expensive, she has suffered, you say yourself is bitter, it is more bitter than Coptis chinensis, of course, before I bought you. ”

"In addition, the store is full of women, most of them like to be short in the east and west, at this time you have to say good things about others, if you can't say it, don't speak, these words behind it, one day will reach the ears of others, but you have to remember who is at odds with whom, if there is someone in it who is almost capable of you, you will hand over the small words behind the person to Li Ranzhu, and Li Ranzhu will most likely deduct her points. As long as you do things well and behave well, promotion is certain in the future, and if you are promoted, you must have subordinates, what is the essence of management, and let others do what you want him to do, there are many ways, the difference between good and bad is ......" Chen Xin took a piece of paper while gushing, and drew a character relationship diagram on it with charcoal.

Xiao Jiahua listened quietly, looking up at Chen Xin from time to time, and then her eyes stared at Chen Xin's face brightly, and her face was shining.

Happy times are always very short, a few male geese shouted in the courtyard, it was the main officers of the Wendeng battalion who came to pay New Year's greetings, Chen Xin looked at Xiao Jiahua and said, "Do you understand?" ”

"Huh? Yes, yes, understood, to and dilute the mud. ”

Chen Xin didn't pay attention to Xiao Jiahua's answer, the officer was waiting for him to meet him, he hurriedly said to Xiao Jiahua: "I will arrange this matter, and I will report to Li Ranzhu in the next year, remember to be a person first and then do things, if there is something difficult that you can't do, come directly to Wendeng Camp to find me." ”

Xiao Jiahua heard the officers coming to the study, got up to salute Chen Xin, picked up the plate and opened the door, let the officers in, a group of officers noisily greeted Chen Xin for the New Year, Xiao Jiahua hurriedly went out of the door, followed the corridor to the firewood room in the backyard, and just closed the door, he jumped up with a bang-

Liu Minyou took Li Ranzhu to mix in the crowd of the temple fair, and behind him was a stupid monk who could never get rid of him, he didn't wait for people to greet the New Year like Chen Xin, and directly asked people to leave a table at the door, on which paper and pen were placed, and let the people who pay New Year's greetings register by themselves. He took Li Ranzhu to the temple fair.

Li Ranzhu managed the comprehensive store in an orderly manner, and later a Wang Erya was very capable, and the two quickly straightened out the comprehensive store, and established a very good credit in the hearts of the tunhu, Liu Min saw Wang Erya for the first time in the old camp of Wendeng Camp, and thus knew some of Xu Yuanhua's careful thoughts, he was deeply impressed by Wang Erya's watch that day, and Li Ranzhu also valued this deputy very much. It is said that even during the Spring Festival, the clerks of each store are forced to continue to be on duty.

Li Ranzhu was reluctant to miss the holiday with Liu Minyou, took a vacation in the name of marriage, and accompanied Liu Minyou to visit the temple fair today, they ate all kinds of snacks all the way, many people on the road greeted them, these two people are both teaching in school, and they are in charge of civil affairs, these tun households love them from the bottom of their hearts, and they also return the gift all the way, always at such a time, so that Liu Minyou feels that a year's hard work is very worthwhile. There are some tun households on the side of the road who have fallen into stalls, many people gamble money there, but the stakes are not big, and there are constantly patrols to check, Wendeng camp does not prohibit prostitutes in Tunpu, but all Tunpu are forbidden to open gambling houses, only during the Spring Festival, you can play some small amounts of falling into the roadside and other games.

The two also went to a gambling stall to play a few handfuls, those tun households know them, but everyone is a new hand, want to let it can't let it, as a result, Liu Min has two people lost five in a row, no interest, continue to go to the Guanyin Hall, here the tun households themselves contributed to the material repair, there is a long queue outside the door, many craftsmen and soldiers who have just become married are also inside, they all bring their daughters-in-law here to ask for children, there are a few patrols and calm sergeants around, Liu Min is also honest and finally lined up. Finally waited for them to go in, Li Ranzhu knelt respectfully, and whispered to Guanyin to bless him to be able to send a child this year, Liu Minyou didn't believe it in his heart, so he made a look, but he still hoped to have a child sooner in his heart.

They went to buy some New Year's goods again, and then when they returned to the residence, they found Xu Yuanhua waiting at the door, and as soon as he saw Liu Minyou, he came up and said: "My lord, on the way from Wendeng to Weihai, tax cards have been set up on the three bridges, and taxes must be collected on each bridge, including the things in our Wendeng camp." ”

"Who's got the tax card?" Liu Minyou asked in surprise, Wendeng has always been very poor, and the tax cards set up in the past were all from Wendeng to Ninghai or Laiyang and other county seats, and there has never been a way from Wendeng to Gewei.

"It is said that he is from the Hengwang Mansion."

"Does the army know about it?"

"I haven't heard of it."

Liu Minyou hurried to Chen Xin's yard next door, and when he arrived at the study, Chen Xin was leisurely ordering gifts, he looked at Liu Minyou's New Year's goods, and said with a smile: "Brother Liu is too polite, what else does the neighbor next door bring, put it down, put it down." ”

Liu Minyou looked at the New Year's goods in his hand, forgot to put them back, pouted, and had to throw them on Chen Xin's table, and hurriedly said to Chen Xin: "Wendeng set up a tax card on Weihai Road to collect our taxes." ”

Chen Xin opened the paper bag and said, "Well, knowing this, Sun Yuanhua has said it, we can't afford to offend the palace, let him set it up." ”

Liu Minyou said angrily: "Then don't say a word about it, and then talk about collecting taxes like this for a long time, the amount is not small, where is the back cover of this King Heng?" ”

"The fiefdom of King Heng's Mansion is in Qingzhou."

"Then how did you receive Dengzhou?"

Chen Xin didn't care about unpacking, let Liu Minyou sit down and said: "He's late, besides, there aren't many princes nearby, it's good if he doesn't occupy our land, it must be to see Wen Dengfu a little bit, commercial goods come and go frequently, and his eyes are red, in the future, the bulk goods will be shipped by sea, let them collect a little bit, which means a little." When Sun Yuanhua said it at the time, I was also reluctant, but he gave us 10,000 catties of nitrate and tens of thousands of catties of iron, which is a lot of calculations, and it should not be a loss. ”

Liu Minyou made a rough calculation, the price of nitrate is the most expensive, about two dollars of silver per catty, much more expensive than copper, it is the most important component of gunpowder, tens of thousands of catties of iron can also be worth thousands of taels of silver, so he didn't say anything more.

Chen Xin said with a smile, "It's not a loss, it's also difficult for Master Sun, looking at the official university, in fact, there are many people below who don't dare to offend, let's help if we can, don't we pay attention to a compromise when we do things." ”

Liu Minyou sighed, "Why did everyone want to grab Tang monk's meat as soon as they saw that Wendeng Camp was better." Then he hurriedly bowed for a year and left.

Chen Xin sent him out, and when he came back, he happily opened the paper bag that Liu Minyou had raised, glanced at it and scolded: "Why is it all sugar cakes, and the New Year's greetings are too picky." ”