Farming Beneath the Changbai Mountains

On September 24, Zhixin also returned to town. The ginseng seeds have been sown, and the work in the ginseng field is almost done. Zhixin entrusted the ginseng land to the Wang family and Fang family, and returned to the town. The in-law family is coming to deliver the betrothal gift the day after tomorrow. How can he do it if he is not the father?

As soon as the old man saw his eldest son coming back, of course he had to ask carefully about the situation on the mountain. While everyone was chatting here, the gatekeeper Lao Wang came in and said that Zhixiang had sent someone back.

"Hurry up, please come in." When the old man heard that his youngest son had sent someone, he was extremely happy.

A man came in outside. He was about forty years old. He looked like he was a housekeeper. The man entered the house and quickly saluted the old man and the old lady, "My old man asked the young man to come to the old lady and say hello to the old lady. The old man was out and busy with business and could not come back to attend the eldest lady's wedding, so he asked the young man to prepare some gifts for the young lady. Come back. There is also a letter from our master." The housekeeper took out the gift list and the letter and handed it to Zhixin.

Zhixin is illiterate. Zhiming and Wencheng went back to the village today and were not at home. Just as Jinghan was in the room, Zhixin handed the gift list and letter to Jinghan. Jinghan didn't read the gift list, but read the letter first. Zhixiang said in the letter that he was too busy now and had no time to come back to see the bride off. I can only ask someone to take some things home to show my respect for being an uncle. "Butler Fu, my fifth uncle said in the letter that he has prepared two dowry girls for my sister, right? Did they bring them? Can you let me see them?"

The Xu family was from a farmer's background and had never thought about this at all. There were four girls in the family, but no one looked up and thought. This is probably what Zhixiang's wife thought of. She comes from a wealthy family and knows a lot about these things. Jinghan secretly admired the fifth aunt's thoughtfulness. Although the Yue family was not a family of officials, it was considered one of the best in the town. It would indeed be bad if Jingya got married without two dowry girls.

Butler Fu quickly brought in two girls from outside. Jinghan looked at them carefully and found that the two girls were of average appearance and could barely be considered pretty. He is only around 14 or 15 years old, not too old, and can still use it for a few years. "What are your two names?" Jinghan asked when her grandparents couldn't react for a moment.

"Miss, my name is Erya and her name is Taohua." The slightly older girl quickly replied.

When Jinghan heard this, she knew that these two people might be new buyers, and the fifth aunt meant to ask the eldest sister to name them. That's fine. The two girls look quite honest and don't look outstanding, so they won't have any unnecessary thoughts. Just stay with the eldest sister for a few years, and then find a similar family to marry. If you can marry the steward of the Yue family, maybe you can help the eldest sister in the Yue family.

Fortunately, the two girls the fifth aunt found were not outstanding, otherwise Jinghan would have been annoyed. Generally, when a wealthy family marries their daughter, they will prepare a few outstanding-looking dowry girls as a means to win over their uncle. If this is what Zhixiang's wife sent, Jinghan would be the first to send them away. Fortunately, these two are not outstanding, they are probably just the fifth aunt who is afraid that the eldest sister will not be used.

Huh, if Yue Pengcheng dares to have other thoughts after marrying the eldest sister, then he will never have a good life in the future, Jinghan thought secretly in her heart.

Here, Butler Fu and a few people carried in all the things Zhixiang sent, and placed four large boxes full of them on the ground. "Old man, old lady, our master said that these four camphor wood boxes will be reserved for the eldest lady as dowry. Among the things inside, two boxes are for the eldest lady, and the other ones are for the old man and the old lady. "

The old man nodded, "Boss, Butler Fu has come a long way, so he should be tired. Let's get them settled first and have a good rest."

Zhixin agreed, and then led Butler Fu and the two servants out.

"You two, follow me to the backyard and meet my eldest sister. From now on, you will stay by my eldest sister's side. As long as you can serve me wholeheartedly, your benefits will be indispensable in the future." Jinghan turned around and told her grandparents. He led the two girls out.

Mrs. Chen watched Jinghan go out and said to the old man, "Thank you for Wanting's thoughtfulness. How do our family know these rules? If Jingya didn't bring a dowry girl to marry, she would have to People look down upon her. It seems that the young lady from this wealthy family is really different. Alas, although our family is getting better, when it comes to these things, it is really not a bad thing." The old lady sighed. With.

"Isn't that right? As the old saying goes, the third generation sees food, the fourth generation sees through, and the fifth generation sees articles. Our family is just a farmer, how can we compare with others who have been rich for five or six generations? Don't worry about it. Without the accumulation of several generations and hundreds of years, how can we become such a family? Our family is just a nouveau riche with a hundred thousand taels of silver." The old man persuaded his wife with a smile.

"I understand what you're saying. We can't wait for these things to happen in a hurry. I just hope that Wenhan and the others will be able to stand out in this life. In a few generations, maybe our family will be successful. We can become a real aristocratic family." The old lady has great hopes for her grandchildren. "However, speaking of our Jinghan, she is extraordinary. She is so young. Look at what she just said. She didn't show any timidity at all. This child is already old, and I am really worried about her marriage. When we started a family, Didn’t you say you were going to mention it to Zixuan? Why has there been no movement these days?”

"Why are you so anxious about this matter? If the Lin family doesn't mention it, why can't Jinghan get married? Jinghan is only fifteen, and I can't bear to let her get married too early. Let's wait and see." The old man advised the old man. A few words, madam.

"Well, if our family is still as poor as before, I won't worry about it. I think now, I'm just afraid that people will say that we want to keep Jinghan at home to make more money for us. Our family can still have one Most of it is Jinghan's fault, and people won't be able to say that our family is reluctant to let go of Jinghan's money tree?" The old lady sighed and told her troubles.

When the old man heard this, he nodded, "That's what you said, it's true. Okay, after Jingya's wedding is completed, we'll prepare it for Jinghan first. As for the Lin family, I'll let Zhixin know everything After that, let’s ask him about his intentions. At first I saw that Zixuan was interested in Jinghan. I have to ask about Jinghan’s own intentions. If she doesn’t have that intention, let’s look at another one.”

Of course Jinghan didn't know that her grandparents were thinking about her marriage. She led the two girls to the backyard and found Jingya. "Sister, these are the two girls our fifth aunt bought for you. What do you think?"

Jingya was stunned when she heard this, "Girl? What kind of girl should I use?"

Jinghan was speechless immediately and pulled Jingya over, "Sister, do you really think that the family you married into is the same as ours? Although the Yue family is a merchant's family, it has been rich for many years. It is rare for the family to have slaves and maids. , How can you get married without two dowry girls? Besides, Brother Pengcheng is an only son, and he will be in charge of the family business in the future. You will be the head of the house in the future, and if you don’t have many confidants, How can such a person take care of the family business?" Jinghan could only explain to her sister slowly.

After hearing Jinghan's words, Jingya suddenly realized and her face turned red, "I have to thank my fifth aunt for this. If she hadn't thought carefully, no one in our family would have understood this." Jingya then looked at it carefully. These two girls.

"Sister, the original names of these two girls are not nice. You can give them new names as you see. They should be named nicer and easier to remember." Jinghan reminded.

"How can I choose a name? Why don't you help me with my sister's name? Honglian and the others were also given names by you, and they are quite nice." Jingya couldn't think of a name, so she asked Jinghan to help.

Jinghan had no idea, so she had to help her think for a while, "Let's call them Bai Wei and Bai He. If we buy another girl in the future, we can also choose the name below to save trouble. From now on Erya will be called Bai Wei, and from now on Taohua will be called Bai He, did you hear everything?"

The two girls quickly replied, "I would like to thank you, Miss Second, for the name. I will definitely serve you with all my heart and soul."

"Okay, you can live with Hong Lian and the others for the time being. It won't last more than ten days before you have to follow my eldest sister to your in-law's house. Hong Lian, take them to the house where you live, and then find me Mom wants two sets of bedding. Hong Lian, your needlework is good. Wait for me to tell Mom. You guys will each come up with a set of clothes in the next few days to make a few more sets for Bai Wei and Bai He. It's our family's face, but we can't be embarrassed about it." Jinghan called Honglian and asked her to help settle the two of them.

Honglian led the two girls to where they lived. Jinghan went to her mother's house and told Ms. Xue about the need for fabrics. Only then did Ms. Xue know that there were two more girls in the house. "Your mother is still in charge of the things in the house, and I have to ask your mother for this matter. Let's go, let's go over together and pick out two pieces of material. It's time to make some sets of clothes for these girls." With that, Ms. Xue said Lead Jinghan to the front yard.

"Mom, don't go to the mountains anymore. I'm getting older at home, so you have to take over this place at home. Honglian and the others, I don't plan to let them come back to serve the family. They have to do things on the mountain. Silkworms and mushrooms. Think about buying a few more people at home. There must be at least one woman who cooks in the kitchen, and two girls. You can't have someone at home and you have to bring tea, right? He is a scholar, and he might be able to pass the imperial examination in the future, but our family will not be like this now," Jinghan said to her mother as she walked.

"Okay, Mom will listen to you. When your eldest sister is finished with her business, Mom will do as you say." Ms. Xue agreed with a smile. "Our family, Jinghan, has grown up and knows a lot."