Counting, counting, counting. Looking to the east, it was snowing in winter, the bridge in the east, and the market in the east. There were a lot of people, a lot of people, a lot of noise, and a happy New Year. Five o 'clock was not early, so the peddlers carried the goods. They sold New Year's pictures, garlic sprouts, and rice cakes.
The wind was strong, and the snow was still floating, floating, floating, floating, floating from head to foot. It floated to the pine trees in the forest, and there was the sound of horses in the distance. Horses, horses, horses … there were so many horses. Who was it? It was almost the New Year, and they were coming here in a group?
Zhang Xiaobao was showing Wang Juan how to count the treasures when a lot of horses and two carriages came. Zhang Xiaobao stopped and stood there blankly. Wang Juan was also stunned.
After a while, Wang Juan patted the snow on her head, stomped her feet, and said to Zhang Xiaobao, "Maybe they didn't prepare New Year's goods at home, so they didn't have enough time. They went to Between the Clouds and the Water to eat, but Between the Clouds and the Water will be closed during the New Year. Xiao Bao, am I right?"
"I think so, or they don't have a place to stay at home. They came here to rent a few houses in the market, and when we calculate the money later, we can ask Xu Si and Er Gou to give them a discount. It's not easy to come so far."
Zhang Xiaobao also followed Wang Juan's words. Today was the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. Between the Clouds and the Water, there were only a dozen wanderers whose homes were far away. They couldn't go back, so they found a place to stay at the back of the market. There were no other people. The market was lively, and it was estimated that no one would come for another two days.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan stood on one side of the bridge. They were wearing thick clothes, and their arms couldn't even stick to their bodies. They could only stand there with their arms spread out. They looked like penguins with round and furry heads. If they were to change from white to another color, people would believe that they looked like two mushrooms from afar. They were penguins with mushroom hats.
Pomegranate, Cherries, Xiao Hong, Erniu, and Huzi were standing by the side. Just now, they saw Zhang Xiaobao talking about something interesting and wanted to listen more. Then, someone came over. Pomegranate quickly crouched down and hugged the two mushrooms in her arms. She said to Erniu beside her, "Let's go take a look."
Erniu nodded. When he was about to run over, Zhang Xiaobao said, "No need. Retreat. I think they are coming here. They are all tall and strong. It's scary."
Erniu and Huzi immediately took one mushroom each and ran back with Pomegranate and the other three behind. The people on the other side also saw the situation here. An old man looked at them and laughed. He said to the person who got off the car next to him, "The two most interesting little guys are the little ancestors of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan."
Because it was still snowing, they could only see the two children being carried and running. At this time, the two children were no longer visible, as they were blocked by the people carrying them. The person who got out of the other car frowned and said, "That's right.
"Sir, he doesn't know the rules of this family. He let the two children stay outside. Not to mention getting a car, but to find more people to protect them. If something goes wrong, it won't be enough even if they die a hundred times."
Hearing this voice, it was obvious that it was a woman. She should not be young. Her clothes were neat and tidy, and there was only a mink scarf around her neck.
The old man laughed and said to this person, "What can go wrong? I heard that the two little guys are very smart, sensible and obedient. Ever since they turned one, they have never cried or made a fuss. They are not like the other kids who are always looking for trouble for the servants who take care of them. "
"Sir, if the people on our side are bad guys, what's the use of being sensible if they rush over and kidnap the two children?" The woman seemed to disagree with the old man's words.
At this time, without waiting for the old man to speak, a guard next to him said, "Aunt Wang, we can't rush over. Look at the house in the market. There is a small room above the house. There are people inside, and there are hunting bows aiming at this side. Look at the people in the market. Many people have squeezed out of the crowd and walked to the side of the road."
Hearing the guard's words, the woman looked in that direction. Sure enough, it was as the guard said. She asked doubtfully, "So what?"
"Aunt Wang, if we rushed over just now, we would have been stopped by them. When the two children were picked up and turned to run, the people in the market moved. They are all farmers in Zhuangzi. The farmers of the Zhang Family and Wang Family are different from ordinary farmers in other places. They will protect each other with their lives."
The guard explained again.
"Fighting to the death is enough? Even if they run to the courtyard of the main house, they can be caught and tied up. There are so many of you. Can't you rush over? "The woman continued to speak.
"Haha." The old man smiled and said, "If that's the case, it doesn't matter whether the children come out to play or not. Let's go. We won't go over first. Let's go to Between the Clouds and the Water. You haven't been feeling well these days and have spent the New Year here. You are the one who doesn't know the rules the most."
When the woman heard the old man's words, she realized that she had said something wrong. She responded and followed the crowd to Between the Clouds and the Water. Two maids came to accompany her.
"Jujube, look at those farmers. Are they all wearing the same clothes? Why would they want to make the same clothes? When they wear them, they look strangely neat. It's easy to tell which one is a farmer and which one is a foreigner. "
One of the two maids whispered to the other next to her. At the same time, she pointed in that direction with her hand. The one called Jujube also saw it and said curiously, "It's true.
It's really the same. Even the children are wearing the same clothes. I can't see what material they are made of. It shouldn't be coarse linen. Otherwise, it wouldn't be that color. "
The old man was not far away. When he heard the two maids talking, he put down his arrogance and said to the two maids, "This is why Leather Guard said that it wouldn't be easy to rush over."
Leather Guard immediately followed and said, "Sir, you are right. The main family of the Zhang Family and Wang Family specializes in making clothes for the farmers. Although the clothes they make are not expensive, they are not cheap either. This year, they specially made clothes for work. When the children go to school, they have to change into looser clothes.
They also build houses for the farmers and give them rice and meat during festivals. They also help the farmers raise livestock and sell poultry. The life of the farmers is not worse than that of some of the wealthier families. If someone wants to touch the little ancestor of their main family, how can the farmers not fight? "
"Ah? They are so good to the farmers? Then aren't the people in the courtyard even better? Da Zao, how much worse do you think the people in their courtyard are compared to us? "Jujube opened her small mouth in surprise.
Da Zao did not dare to ask the old man. He could only ask the Leather Guard next to him, "Big Brother Leather, can you tell us about their courtyard? Do they usually get a few copper coins as a reward?"
"This … I'm not sure." Leather Guard shook his head and looked at the person next to him. This person was not a guard. He was dressed like a student. When he saw the guard looking at him, he said, "I know a little about their courtyard.
"I know a little about this. I spent a lot of time asking around. The servants in their courtyard are divided into several different ranks, similar to the servants in other manors. All of the servants sign a death contract. Usually, there is a monthly salary, according to the stars. I didn't manage to find out more, but the lowest is a hundred copper coins a month.
There are a few special ones that I know. They are the ones who just left with the two little ancestors. One of them is called Cherries. She is in charge of hatching chickens. Usually, when she leaves Zhuangzi to do something, someone will follow her. The hairpin on her head is worth at least 70 strings of coins.
There is also one called Pomegranate. She wears two bracelets on her wrist. Together, they are worth at least 300 taels. There is also one who is doing something outside and has not returned yet. His name is Song Jinggong. He is also a High Scholar. I can't guess his net worth. He has the final say in Little Luoshui. If he wants to eat, countless merchants will take the initiative to invite him. If he wants to play, countless scholars will follow him. "
"Ah?" This time, it wasn't only Date and Jujube who were surprised. The one who was called Aunt Wang also turned her head and carefully looked at the other side of the bridge, as if she wanted to see something.
"So much money, Date. We can't compare to them. Three hundred taels of coins bracelets and 70 strings of coins hairpins. If we can do something in the courtyard of Zhang Family and Wang Family, with our knowledge, then …"
"Huh?" Before Jujube could finish her words, Aunt Wang turned her head and glared at her.
"Aunt Wang, I was just talking nonsense." Jujube finally reacted and said something that she shouldn't have said.
"Hmph! You don't know the rules. Zhang Family and Wang Family also don't know the rules in Zhuangzi. A servant who thinks about hairpins and bracelets all day long. How can she do anything? Wearing three hundred taels of coins bracelets, how can she do anything? Is she adopted for nothing? "
Aunt Wang began to pick on this problem again. She didn't know that Pomegranate didn't need to do much work. She only needed to look after the fungus and tremella. Compared to the goods stored in the warehouse, two bracelets were nothing.
The two maids didn't dare to speak anymore. They looked at the other side of the bridge with envious eyes and quickly turned back, lowering their heads and walking. Jujube saw her bare wrist and then looked up at the hairpin on Date's head that was worth five strings of coins. She used to be envious of that hairpin and pouted.
Seeing that they were about to reach Yunshuijian, the Leather Guard came up to the old man and asked, "Sir, are you really going to celebrate the New Year here? What about your family …? "
"My family has also sent someone to pick me up. My body is getting worse and worse. I'll spend the New Year there, welcoming people and sending people off. After the busy period, I might not be busy anymore. I'll come here for leisure. After the New Year, I'll prepare to retire and return home."
The old man sighed, tried to straighten his back, and said with some helplessness.
The Leather Guard naturally knew that the old man's body was really not good. Looking at Between the Clouds and the Water, he thought that the scenery here was better, the food here was not worse than any of the big restaurants in the capital, and there was a courtyard at the back. He felt that it was good. But he suddenly thought of something, so he asked,
"Sir, it's the New Year. If other people go home, who will cook for you? Is it possible that people from your family can use the restaurant's kitchen? "
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