I

The next day, early morning.

Dong Fu, a maid from the inner courtyard, quietly came to Zhongqinyuan.

The mighty Mrs. Ling immediately went out to greet her after hearing the news, and said flatteringly, "What is Miss Dongfu's order? Is it the job of the governor?"

Dong Fu remained expressionless, and said slowly: "At the order of Young Madam, I came to pick up a girl from you."

"May I ask which girl it is?" Mrs. Ling asked.

Dong Fu said, "Zhao Zhenfang."

Madam Ling's expression was a little displeased, but her smile returned instantly, and she immediately scolded the maid beside her: "Don't go and bring Zhao Zhenfang!"

"No, I'll go there in person." While speaking, Dong Fu had already stepped forward.

Madam Ling hurriedly followed, looking for something to say: "Miss Dongfu rarely comes to Zhongqin Court, why not have a cup of tea before leaving? A few days ago, my husband went to Gongbei Court to serve as an servant, and the master gave him two taels of good river black tea. .”

River black tea is a local specialty of Qianshan Mountain. It has been sold all over the world and is very popular among European nobles.

"Since the master rewarded me with good tea, I'm afraid I, a servant girl, won't be able to enjoy it." Dong Fu walked slowly to the east chamber without looking sideways, and knocked lightly on the door, "Is Brother Han there?"

Zhao Han pushed the door open: "I am, say hello to my sister."

Dong Fu finally smiled, and introduced himself: "Brother Han, my name is Dong Fu, and I am the young lady's maid."

"So it's Sister Dongfu." Zhao Han saluted.

Dong Fu explained the purpose of his visit: "I'm here to take Zhenfang's sister to the inner courtyard."

Zhao Han greeted him respectfully, "Please sit inside the room, sister."

"Forget it, let's go sit down." Dong Fu entered the room with a smile.

Zhao Han said again: "Madam Ling, please come in."

This title made Madam Ling a little panicked, and subconsciously looked at Dongfu.

Dong Fu had already entered the house without looking back, as if he didn't hear anything.

Mrs. Ling followed anxiously, looked around at the furnishings in the house, and said loudly: "It's a bit shabby, this wash stand is broken, I don't know it has been used for many years, I will send someone to send a new one when I turn back."

Zhao Han said: "Thank you Madam for your kindness. I am just a house boy, and my body is not that expensive."

"Don't call me ma'am, isn't this cutting my life?" Madam Ling became more courteous, "Brother Han is highly valued by the young master and the young madam, if he still uses a broken wash stand, wouldn't it be a disgrace to the young master and the young madam?"

While speaking, Zhao Zhenfang took the initiative to pour water for the guests.

Chipped china cups, old clay jugs, plain cold boiled water.

Dongfu picked up the cup and drank it. At the same time, he looked at Zhao Zhenfang and praised, "It's really cute and sensible."

Madam Ling seemed a little disgusted. She picked up the broken glass and didn't drink it, but she was too embarrassed to put it down. She even thought the bench was dirty and torn, and was afraid of staining her clothes, so she just stood there holding a water glass and smiling, and by the way, she could show her respect for Dongfu.

After taking two sips, Dong Fu put down the cup, took Zhao Zhenfang's hand and said, "Let's go with my sister."

The siblings communicated with each other last night, and Zhao Zhenfang said reluctantly, "Second brother, I'm leaving."

"Go, so you are obedient." Zhao Han encouraged.

After sending his sister to the gate of the inner courtyard, Zhao Han returned to the Zhongqin courtyard alone, and Mrs. Ling had long since disappeared.

Qin Xin, Jian Dan and Jiu Po, the Hum Ha trio, came together to congratulate.

There are almost no male servants in the inner courtyard, and the maids and maids there really eat and sleep with the master.

Regardless of their lack of presence, they hardly show up at ordinary times, but Madam Ling has to take care of anyone who comes to the Zhongqin Courtyard.

The little girl was taken to the inner courtyard, not only was she worth a hundred times, but even Zhao Han was honored.

Does Zhao Han need to be touched?

He just admires the young mistress Lou's, who does things with kindness and prestige without making people feel disgusted.

The younger sister was taken to the inner courtyard to be trained, which can be regarded as a reward or as a hostage.

Whether it is kindness or power is entirely up to Zhao Han himself.

...

That afternoon, Zhao Han was reading "Da Ming Law" by heart.

He forgot to return this legal book when he left Jinghai County, and the old official of the county government was too embarrassed to ask for it.

Suddenly, the maid Mo Xiang came to the East Chamber to send an order: "Qin Xin, Jian Dan, Jiu Po, and Brother Han, pack up your clothes and go to Yongping Town immediately!"

The hum-ha trio who were playing cards in the room suddenly jumped up and down, packing up for a business trip in a panic.

Mo Xiang handed Zhao Han a bookcase: "Brother Han, this is your outfit."

"Thank you, sister." Zhao Han smiled and took the bookcase.

Mo Xiang yelled into the house again: "Hurry up, pick up your gear and leave, you can change your clothes when you get on the boat!"

It seems that the task is urgent.

"Come on, come on!"

The trio ran out of the house, Qin Xin was carrying a qin, Jian Dan was carrying a sword, and Jiu Po ​​was holding a jug of wine.

Together with them, Zhao Han left from the side door of Fei's house and trotted all the way to Ehu Town. Someone picked them up at the pier.

The passenger boat went down the river, the oars were rowing very fast, it seemed that they were in a hurry.

Tired from running all the way, he lay on the boat to catch his breath for a while, Zhao Han finally calmed down and asked, "What is so urgent?"

Qin Xin guessed: "It must be the governor, who changed his itinerary temporarily and went to visit other places."

Jiu Po ​​took out a comb and a red-haired rope: "Brother, I'll give you a bun first."

"Why is it red?" Zhao Han resisted.

Jiu Po ​​held the red headband and said with a smile, "It's red and festive."

Zhao Han asked, "Are there any other colors?"

"How about this?" Jian Dan handed over a navy blue hair rope.

"It's okay." Zhao Han reluctantly accepted.

Jiu Po ​​combed Zhao Han's hair, Jian Dan combed Qin Xin's hair, and soon they combed into a double bun. For specific hairstyles, please refer to Nezha.

After combing each other's buns, they changed into work clothes, and the four of them lay down in the boat with their eyes closed and chatted nonsense.

Qin Xin is fourteen years old, and in two years' time, she should be ordered to change jobs. He didn't know which unit to go to, so he asked his brothers to give some good advice while taking the boat.

Jian Dan suggested: "Go to the academy, first work as a handyman in the library for two years, and then study with Mr. for a few years, then you can be a teaching assistant to teach children."

Jiu Po ​​said: "Although being a teaching assistant is leisurely and face-saving, you can't earn a lot of money. It's better to ask for an errand in a shop, or go to a paper mill. The monthly salary of the shopkeeper can get ten taels, which is good enough to pay back at the end of the year." There are bonuses."

Qianshan is not only a trade distribution center, but also has many special products.

Qianshanhe black tea is sold all over the world, and Qianshan is also famous for its four papers. The paper industry can be traced back to the later Han Dynasty.

Qin Xin muttered: "I want to be free and decent, but also want to earn enough money. Brothers, can you find a way?"

Jiu Po ​​couldn't help laughing and said: "There is a way."

"What method?" Qin Xin asked hastily.

Jiu Po ​​pointed out in detail: "Get out of the cabin, jump into the Xin River, reincarnate, and be the young master in the next life."

"Hahahahaha!" Jian Dan laughed loudly.

Zhao Han couldn't help laughing, he gave a thumbs up and said, "Sure enough, it's a good idea."

Qin Xin had no choice but to roll her eyes in return, lying down and said: "Oh, then I'd better go to the academy, at least I can be decent for the rest of my life."

"Don't talk about it, it's still early to go to Yongping, let's play cards for fun." Jiu Po ​​took out a set of Mohe cards from his arms.

This thing is the predecessor of mahjong, but it still belongs to the form of playing cards, which are divided into three suits: Wenqian (cake), Suozi (bar) and Wanguan (ten thousand).

The two cakes of mahjong tiles probably originally represented two Wen coins, and Er Tiao represented two hanging coins.

Zhao Han quickly understood the playing method, thinking about how to improve it someday, because the first version of mahjong only has 60 tiles, and three pairs plus a pair (11 tiles) can win the game.

After playing a few hands, I felt weak, because there were only two cards in each suit.

Since there are only two cards of the same suit, you can't touch them, and you can't open the Kong. What's the point of mahjong without the flower on the Kong?

Zhao Han suddenly asked: "Who still has the cards?"

"I have." Jian Dan also took out a pair.

Zhao Han said: "Two decks of cards are played together, and each player starts with an extra three cards."

"Then how to play?" Qin Xin felt unreliable.

Ever since, Zhao Han taught mahjong hand in hand, and the three of them were soon addicted to it.

There are already Hongzhong, Facai, and Whiteboard, but unfortunately there is no wind from the southeast to the north.

In the evening, we finally arrived at Hekou Town.

But the boat did not stop, but lit the lanterns, turned and sailed into the Yanshan River, and went straight to the Yanshan County.

The four took out dry food, sat around in the cabin, and ate cakes with clear water.

By the way, light up the night battle and continue playing mahjong with oil lamps on.

Docking at Yongping Town in the middle of the night, everyone realized that it was too late, and hurriedly put away the mahjong and fell asleep.

From Ehu Lake to Yongping, all this tossing was purely a convulsion from the governor of Jiangxi, who suddenly said that he would pay homage to Xin Qiji's tomb.