Qi Su Niang was also a little uneasy in her heart, and said with a smile: "If the relatives and friends at home are in a hurry, but it is also one or two halves, let's help it, not borrow." I don't know the people outside, where do I dare to lend money at will? I only have the courage to borrow money, but I don't have the courage to put money. As for the sixty acres of land—" paused, "Lord Zhizhou is not in a hurry to put the ownerless wasteland in our village into the account, and it has been put in the account for seven or eight years, and I borrowed it for use, and he doesn't know." ”

Chen Yan was stunned for a moment, laughed, and said, "Which shop in Gaoyou City is so kind that he dares to give you these cotton seeds on credit?" ”

Qi Su Niang tilted her head and said, "Brother Chen, people only dare to give me credit when they look at your face." I originally went to Gaoyou City to buy salt, and I was watching the North Pawn Shop collect these dead pawns, thinking that it was useless for them to take them, so I went to discuss it. That shop was originally opened by Master Liu, a criminal name in the Gaoyou Zhizhou Mansion, who knew me, and gave it to me on credit without saying a word. ”

Chen Yan listened, the smile on his face slowly rose, Qi Su Niang looked at his face, and said softly: "Brother Chen, I'm sorry, I was greedy for a while to make this happen." When next year's harvest comes out, I'll pay back a lot of money. Don't go on credit anymore. ”

Seeing her being careful, Chen Yan sighed, touched her head, and said softly: "It's not for nothing, it's fair to make money, and it's not a big deal, but these favors and gifts still have to be repaid." As he spoke, he reached out and took out a slender pear wooden box from his sleeve, "This ......"

Qi Su Niang was slightly stunned, looked at Chen Yan, the fire in the charcoal basin was burning, and Chen Yan's face was red. He lowered his head and opened the box, revealing a small Ruyi golden hairpin on the red satin inside, "...... Although my mother and your father have agreed on the family matter, the three teas and six ceremonies have not been done yet, this is prepared...... When the filial piety period expires, the tea will be given to you regularly to insert hairpins......"

Chen Yan slowly put the box in Qi Su Niang's hand, "Look...... Loved ......"

Qi Su Niang lowered her head and looked at the golden hairpin in the box, the slender hairpin body of two inches and two minutes long, and the cloud-like Ruyi hairpin head, shining gently in the firelight, the light gently caressed her drooping cheeks, making her involuntarily murmur: "...... Joy ......"

Suddenly, the oil lamp on the table burst into two sparks, and the light of the ancient ornament suddenly sharpened, like a golden lock plate high above the poplar forest, stinging Qi Su Niang's eyes, Qi Su Niang's body trembled, and the remaining other word disappeared into her mouth......

Chen Yan was already overjoyed when he heard that word, and slowly stretched out his hand to hug her, "...... When our filial piety period is full, I will lead the matchmaker to the door, ask Brother Qi Qiang, and give you a hairpin......"

Chen Yan only had seven or eight days off, and set off to return to Qinghe on the second day, Qi Su Niang was busy packing his luggage early in the morning, and let him take the jade cups, jewelry, calligraphy and paintings that he received, which could be sold, and handed over the five hundred taels of silver tickets from the blue cloth lotus branch money bag, "Wait until next year to pay off the credit, the achievements in the following years are our own, and you don't have to worry about those entertainment gifts." In the yamen, there should be more etiquette than less, I don't make money at home, it's useless to hold it. I've also heard a little about the river work, and you can hold on to the money for a while. ”

Chen Yan looked at the silver ticket, but he didn't reach out to take it, just looked at Qi Su Niang, "Last night, I blamed you." Stretched out his hand, took Qi Su Niang and sat side by side at the table, his face was full of apologies, and gently hugged her into his arms, "You were worried that I wouldn't be able to turn around, so you went to ...... on credit."

Qi Su Niang bit her lip slightly, leaned on Chen Yan's arms, and said with a smile: "Brother Chen, tell me the truth, is the matter in the river really the same as the rumors outside?" The emperor's silver for the governance of the river——"

Chen Yan was silent for a moment, hugged Qi Su Niang tightly, and said: "There is not much silver and rice, and officials at all levels have divided some of it, and it is also human nature that the silver of the river will go to 20%. It's just that some people have a bigger appetite. In order to please the above, he deducted everywhere and went to Ercheng. I didn't dare to eat alone, so I wanted to block everyone's mouths, and I went to Yicheng again, so that there was only fifty percent left. Coupled with the corruption accumulated in the previous ten years, the hole in the river work is too big. ”

Qi Su Niang was dumbfounded for a while, and couldn't help but say, "Does Master Zhang know about this?" He-"

Chen Yan nodded and smiled: "Lord Ahsan, the governor of Liangjiang, and Lord Zhang Pengxi, the governor of the river, are all incorruptible officials, and that's it, Lord Zhang Pengnian, the governor of Jiangsu, and Lord Shi Shilun of Jiangnan Huai Xu Dao are famous direct ministers and Qing officials, if they don't stare at it, Gaojiayan won't be able to hold it out, but-" Chen Yan sighed and whispered in Qi Su Niang's ear: "I look at the prince on weekdays, and I always feel that my demeanor is as good as the emperor, and I am the most outstanding among the elder brothers." Although the food, clothing, and living are extravagant, I still feel that the nobles of the heavenly family should be, but I didn't expect it to be my turn, so I knew that the daily behavior was not a small section. ”

Qi Su Niang was startled, looked up at Chen Yan, and said in her ear: "Prince, do you know that it is the silver of the river worker?" ”

"You may not necessarily know, but then you will be good, and you will win, the emperor is almost fifty, in order to please the prince, the people below dare to do anything, I am afraid that it is not just the silver of the river worker."

When Qi Su Niang thought of the prince, her heart twitched, she racked her brains to think about how long Kangxi had lived, and where did she remember? only vaguely remembered that Kangxi's longevity was very famous among the emperors, and since he was long-lived, he would not live to be fifty, so he persuaded softly: "Brother Chen, let's only govern the river and be the emperor's courtier, we don't care about other things."

Chen Yan nodded and said, "You are right, if you want to twist with them, I am afraid that the river has not been cured yet, and the people are already gone." My father—" At this point, he sighed and fell silent.

Qi Su Niang didn't expect Chen Yan to understand this matter very well, and when she was surprised, she was curious when she heard him talk about her father, but when she saw Chen Yan stop, she knew that he didn't want to say anything more at this time, and was getting up and quitting, but Chen Yan hugged her tighter and said softly: "Now that I'm not at home, no one talks to you, I often worry that you are lonely alone." The elders of the four villages, if you have one or two people who can socialize, go around more, no one will gossip. ”

Qi Su Niang glanced at Chen Yan, estimating that he was indeed worried that she was bored at home alone, and did not suspect that she walked around and saw a wild man cuckolding him, so she smiled and nodded, "Sister-in-law Tianwang often comes to the house to talk to me, and I often go to the villages to walk around, and I always return on the same day." My brother comes for lunch every day—" Tilting his head, he said, "According to the rules, he is the eldest brother, and I don't know how to talk to him."

Chen Yan laughed, "I don't think Brother Qi Qiang seems to know how to talk to you——"