The world is impermanent, white clouds and dogs.

Some people say that if you believe in many things with your heart, they will develop in the direction of your heart.

As long as there is hope, no matter what the outcome of the future is, it is good.

However, does reality really change by the will of the individual?

Can a person's fate really deviate from its original trajectory?

The answer is unknown.

Zhang Jingzong chatted with Meng Hao for a long time and said a lot of things that were usually hidden in his heart. Later, the servant came to urge the two of them, saying that the food and wine were ready, and they were waiting to be seated.

In the banquet hall, Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Meng were already seated, still gossiping. After seeing the two of them come in, they got up to greet each other.

After that, there is a scene where the host and guest are suitable.

As the night deepened, Mrs. Meng expressed some worries about her son Meng Ran and wanted to go back early, so Meng Hao also asked Zhang Jingzong for his resignation, saying that they would meet again another day.

Seeing Meng Hao and his wife walking out side by side, Zhang Jingzong was a little emotional, I don't know if the night wind is too strong or the sand has entered his eyes, and his eyes can't help but be a little moist.

On the way home, Mrs. Meng asked Meng Hao, "Have you talked to Brother Zhang about the children's marriage contract today?"

Meng Hao nodded: "Let's chat, Brother Zhang and I have a lot of intimate words, and this will be the family of my children in the future." ”

Mrs. Meng was a little worried: "But I chatted with Yanniang, and I always felt that she looked down on our family, and she always looked arrogant in her words, as if she shouldn't have come to Lin'an County from the capital." Also, I don't think she's very affectionate with Cher, which is really puzzling. ”

Meng Hao disagreed, and said: "That's none of her business, Xue'er is not her child, so naturally she won't care too much." As long as Brother Zhang is willing, we will order this family business. Besides, although I have only met Cher once, I think she is a good boy and will definitely be a good wife in the future. ”

Mrs. Meng also smiled and stopped talking about Yanniang.

Back at home, Mrs. Meng hurriedly went to Meng Ran's bedroom, looked at her son, and found that when her son was still addicted to reading, she couldn't help complaining: "Ran'er, you are obsessed with books all day long when you are so young, are you okay when you grow up? Besides, when you grow up, you will have time, don't worry. ”

Meng Ran smiled and said, "Mother, the child knows, the child must pay attention to protecting his body." After a pause, he said, "Mother and father should also take care of their health, don't work too hard, otherwise the child will be worried." ”

Hearing such a genuine concern for her son, Mrs. Meng was greatly moved and hugged her son again and again. After sitting for a while, Mrs. Meng let her son go to bed earlier and then went back to the room to rest.

After blowing out the lamp, Mrs. Meng seemed to suddenly remember, and said to Meng Hao: "Ran'er has been studying for half a year now, and she is about to make a marriage contract, why not take this opportunity to arrange a personal maid for Ran'er." ”

Meng Hao's expression couldn't be seen clearly in the dark, and he only heard one sentence: "But is Ran'er a little younger?"

Mrs. Meng objected: "He is now a little adult, he knows how to read every day, and no one is around to supervise him, I am afraid that he will be tired of his body." ”

Meng Hao no longer objected: "It's just that there are no children of the right age in the family, so I can only go to the tooth store to have a look." ”

Mrs. Meng agreed: "Okay, let's settle this matter, I'll go to Yaxing another day to see if there is a suitable little girl." ”

Meng Hao snorted and agreed.

After a while, Mrs. Meng suddenly asked again: "By the way, about the marriage contract, we need our man to come to the door." When are you going?"

Meng Hao was already a little sleepy, and said casually: "Invite someone to see a good day in a few days, and then go after picking up gifts." ”

Soon after, there was a burst of snoring in the dark.

The next afternoon, after Mrs. Meng was busy, she called her personal maid Xiaohuan and the maid in the front yard Agui to follow her out, saying that she was going to Yaxing to see if there were any suitable little official slaves.

Pedestrians came and went on the street, and Mrs. Meng took Xiaohuan Agui and rushed straight to Yaxing.

Although Lin'an is a county seat, it is only a few dozen miles away from Hangzhou, so the economy is relatively prosperous.

When I arrived at the door of the dental shop, before I entered, a person from the dental shop ran out and asked enthusiastically: "Madam, do you want to buy a slave? What kind of do you want? This dental shop can guarantee quality and quantity." ”

Mrs. Meng smiled faintly and asked, "How much does it cost to buy a little girl today?"

The guy from the tooth shop hurriedly introduced: "This price depends on what kind of lady you want." There are convicted official ladies, although the price is the highest, but literacy, understand etiquette, and are more delicate, and it is still a good choice to raise a small young master in the back house as a personal maid; there are also children from large families, the price is second, although they know some rules, but they are illiterate, and people are rougher, so it is okay to be a girl; there are also little girls from the countryside, who are the cheapest, but they are more stupid and can only do some rough work. I don't know what Madame wants?"

After hearing this, Mrs. Meng said, "What is the price?"

The tooth guy smiled flatteringly: "They are 8 taels, 5 taels and 4 taels, do you want to take a look?"

Mrs. Meng frowned after hearing the price: "The price is a little expensive, but you take me to see it first, if it is appropriate, it is not too late to talk about the price." ”

When the guy in the tooth shop heard this, he felt that there was hope for this business, so he worked harder to promote it.

Mrs. Meng followed her men into the courtyard where the slave girls were held, and saw rows of wooden cages in the humble house, and inside the cages were all kinds of women dressed in shabby clothes, from children to women, tall and thin.

Mrs. Meng's face was a little unbearable, but she was powerless, so she had to pretend not to see it. Silently walked to the area where the little girl was.

The guy from the tooth shop spoke at this time: "Madam, look, this piece is full of little girls, which one do you like, Madam, just open your mouth and tell me." ”

Mrs. Meng nodded, carefully watching the little girls in the wooden cage.

After looking at it, Mrs. Meng only fell in love with two. One of them sat quietly in the corner of the cage, even if someone walked in front of her, she didn't look up, but just immersed herself in her own world, like a dogtail in the courtyard, fluttering in the wind but quiet and indifferent; ”

After Mrs. Meng told the guy in the tooth shop, the guy complimented: "Madame has a good eye, that little girl who doesn't like to talk is from an official eunuch, but her family was convicted a few days ago, and she ended up here; ”

Mrs. Meng nodded with satisfaction, and then walked into the courtyard: "The little girl looks good, I want both, but this price is cheaper." ”

The guy from the tooth shop was overjoyed: "Madam, these two little girls are very good, our tooth shop generally does not bargain, and besides, you are a nobleman, and there is no shortage of silver in the family." ”

Mrs. Meng smiled: "There is no shortage, but no one thinks that there is a lot of silver." You discuss it with your boss, I only give 12 taels, and if I can, I will ask for these two little girls. ”

The young man looked embarrassed: "Madam, without you bargaining like this, this is too much, I can't be the master." Besides, our tooth shop is also profitable, if the customers are bargaining like this, we can't do this business. ”

Mrs. Meng sneered and said, "Your teeth are still thin, you young man doesn't talk about drafts." In this way, I won't fight a lawsuit with you, I only pay 12 taels, and if I want, I will send people to Mengfu in Songren Lane, if not, I will come for nothing. ”

With that, he walked out of the tooth shop with his servant without looking back.

Seeing that it was too early, Mrs. Meng also wandered around the market.

In the evening, Mrs. Meng came back from the street and bought a lot of snacks and fabrics, saying that she was going to prepare them for the two little girls.

Before dinner, Mrs. Meng explained to the housekeeper Fu Bo about the matter of the tooth shop, and said: "Tomorrow, if the person from the tooth shop comes to send the little girl, let Xiaohuan go to see if it is the two in my photo, and if so, I will allocate 12 taels of silver from the account to the tooth shop." ”

Fauber nodded and stepped back.

During dinner, Mrs. Meng inadvertently talked about the affairs of the official slave and expressed infinite sympathy: "That little girl is really pitiful, skinny, really pitiful." ”

Meng Ran just lowered his head and listened, thinking about the content of his miscellaneous book.

Meng Hao didn't feel anything about this, so he didn't speak, after all, their family can be regarded as a small person who enjoys special treatment.

There was no word since.

Nothing was said all night.

Early the next morning, someone came to Yaxing, saying that Mrs. Meng had ordered two little girls from them yesterday and came to trade today.

said that it was a transaction, but after the inspection, the shopkeeper of the dental store still refused to accept the money.

The shopkeeper said: "The little one was not in the store yesterday, if I knew that it was the lady who came to the store to buy the little girl, I would have accompanied me personally." The guy in the shop didn't have the eyesight to recognize the lady......"

Before the shopkeeper could say more, he was interrupted by Fuber: "This shopkeeper, since he is a transaction, he treats both money and goods, how can there be a reason to accept goods from people without paying." ”

The shopkeeper rubbed his hands, took out a string of copper coins from his sleeve, stuffed it into Fu Bo's hand, and said: "Accommodating, accommodating, just want to give Master Meng a little heart, tired and accommodating." ”

Fu Bo smiled: "The shopkeeper, it's not that I'm unreasonable, but the Mengfu family rules are strict, don't let the old man I break the rules." Forgive me. ”

That's it, you pushed me and made a fuss for a while.

Eventually, Fauber said, "The shopkeeper doesn't need to be like this. As long as these two girls do a good job in the house in the future, the Meng Mansion will naturally remember that the teeth are good, if you have to do this today, it won't look good, what do you think?"

The shopkeeper felt that Fauber was right, so he exchanged the contract.

At this point, the money and goods are finally cleared.

The shopkeeper of the tooth shop also left with the money, and the housekeeper Fubo asked Xiaohuan to take the two little girls to the backyard.