The joyous New Year's Eve passed. When the sky brightened up again, those who had not slept the entire night were saved from paying their New Year's greetings. They had gathered together last night and had already paid their respects to each other. They had also given out all the New Year's money.
There were also many candies and other things distributed by the Zhang family. They were all given to the children in Zhuangzi. This allowed the children to save money on candies. Each child was also given five hundred firecrackers and a small bundle of incense for them to unwrap.
Everyone returned to their own homes. The houses were temporarily left here. They would be used again after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which was also the Lunar New Year's Eve. Li Xun also left with his people and returned to Zhuangzi. When he left, he promised that he would return in two days.
That old man, who was a minister, actually did not feel tired even after enduring for an entire night. Perhaps it was caused by the continuous performances, especially the crosstalk and skits that were interspersed with the singing and dancing performances. When one laughed, one's body no longer felt sleepy.
When the sun rose, the old man arranged for someone to send Manager Wang away. Ever since Li Xun told her not to say anything wrong, she really did not say a word. She sat there, other than eating, she was thinking about things. Perhaps it was because the things that happened today had a huge impact on her.
She also saw the enthusiasm of the people in the inner courtyard of the Zhang Family and Wang Family. They did not need anyone to care about them at all. When there was work to be done, they would rush to do it. Their faces were always full of joy.
Looking at the clothes they were wearing, the hairpins on their heads, their fair skin, and the way they talked, no one would have thought that they were the servants of Zhuangzi.
When Xiaobao and Wang Juan returned home, they fell asleep as soon as they hit the pillow. The two of them were tired. Housekeeper Zhang would come over to ask about something, and they had to take care of every family member. They would pick up the food, say something to make the family happy, and perform a few small acts. After a while, the child's body finally couldn't take it anymore.
Big Zao and Jujube didn't feel sleepy at all. The two of them were in a state of excitement. Today, not only did they take revenge on Manager Wang, they also followed Lady Qiao here to do something. They slapped her and said a few words to vent their anger. In their eyes, this was the best revenge.
Qiuju yawned as she led the two of them to the courtyard. She arranged a room for them in one of the courtyards where the maidservants lived. She then brought the two of them to the storeroom to get their things. They were given three sets of clothes and shoes, two sets of bedding and pillows, and two sets of tools for grooming and washing.
They didn't have money, so the main family gave them a silver hairpin. When they had money, they would exchange it for something better. But this was already very good for the two of them.
Hand oil and some gadgets for daily maintenance, as well as some handicrafts for decorating the room.
When Qiuju gave the two of them some of the Four Treasures of the Study, the two of them blinked and asked, "Did I get it wrong? These things should be for the Master and the Young Master, right?"
"That's right, the ones used by the Master and the Young Master are better than the ones used by us. The ones we used were of average quality. They were bought from other places and were cheap. They were left behind from the last time we did an advertisement for Between the Clouds and the Water. We haven't used them since. It seems that the two of you can't read. In the future, if you want to learn how to do things in the courtyard, you have to at least be able to read, write, and keep accounts.
Zhangjia Zhuangzi is in the inner courtyard. In the future, we might send you out to do things. If you don't know how to do these things, how can we let you out? Other than learning these, you have to learn other things. Don't worry, there's time to learn, especially when you're on night watch.
There's not much work in the courtyard usually, so when there's time, you have to hurry up and learn. The courtyard specially hired a teacher to teach us. If there's anything we don't understand, we can ask the teacher. If the teacher can't answer, then we can ask the steward, the Master, and the Madam.
If the steward, the Master, and the Madam also can't answer, then it means that you're asking about something else. You can ask the Young Master and the Young Madam. Basically, the problem isn't a problem anymore. "
Qiu Ju explained to Da Zao and Jujube. The more they listened, the more surprised and happy they were. Many times, they dreamed that they could learn how to read, but when they woke up, it was still the same life. Now, the two of them felt that they were dreaming. After dreaming so much, they were afraid of dreaming.
"Let's go, don't stand here in a daze. The two of you should rest first. I'll go back and sleep for a while. When I wake up in the afternoon, I have to do things. During the New Year, we take turns to rest. Those who went to bed early last night have to get up and do things now."
Qiu Ju could understand the two's behavior when they were together. There weren't many families that could let their servant girls learn these things. They didn't need to, unless it was the personal servant of a young lady. Everyone in the Zhang Family and Wang Family had to learn. They had to learn even if they didn't want to.
Da Zao and Jujube went back to their room in a daze. After Qiu Ju told them that they couldn't go out and do things now, the two of them sat on the warm kang bed and looked at each other. They didn't know what to say.
However, they understood that it was a blessing from their previous lives to be able to find such a master. They had to work hard in the future.
*****
After New Year's Eve, it was the fifteenth. During this time, the sound of firecrackers never stopped. The two Zhuangzi children could go to the grocery store every three days to get five hundred firecrackers to play with. After all, Zhuangzi were in the business of making firecrackers. They didn't lack these things. It was the wish of all adults to let their children have a happy New Year.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the three Zhuangzi still discussed and decided to celebrate together. However, on the thirteenth day, Ge Yingxi from the Ge Family came to find them and wanted to join them. This time, it became four Zhuangzi together.
Ge Yingxi couldn't do anything about it. The pressure was too great. Zhang Family and Li Family's gathering on New Year's Eve made the Ge Family's villagers very envious. They would talk about it whenever they had nothing to do.
After Ge Yingxi found out about it, he sighed at how rich the three families were. He had no choice but to think of a way to organize a gathering. Coincidentally, it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. This time, he would have to spend a lot of money. Seeing that the three Zhuangzi were going to be together again, he came to find them to discuss it. This way, they could save some money.
After getting the approval of the three families, Ge Yingxi trotted back to his own Zhuangzi. He immediately asked the people in the inner courtyard to go out and advertise. He also knew how to use this phrase now. He told the villagers that the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month would be provided by the master family. Each family would have one lantern. As for new clothes, there was no need. They had already been given them during the New Year. They couldn't wear them for fifteen days and become old.
There were also firecrackers. Like the lanterns, the Zhang family gave them to Ge Yingxi at cost price. Ge Yingxi didn't forget about the effect of the Zhang family's words last year at this time. He also asked people to light torches. On the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month last year, there was a moon in the sky.
According to the situation where clouds covered the moon on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month and the snow lit up the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was a sunny day. They could see the stars. It should be a good day.
After finishing all of this, Ge Yingxi heaved a sigh of relief. He sat at the door and looked at the small bridge. He muttered, "I've been troubled by you all."
Then he looked at the happy smiles on his Zhuangzi and muttered again, "But it seems that I've taken out more, but I've actually earned more."
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the old man, who didn't know who the minister was, naturally brought his family to participate in the celebration. He was very satisfied with the Zhangjia Zhuangzi. Other than walking around, he saw people with happy expressions on their faces. When everyone was happy, he was happy too.
"Kang 'er, do you see this? This is the hearts of the people. What the Zhang Family and the Wang Family do is to win the hearts of the people. Other families don't dare to do what they do, but they can let the people eat and wear warm clothes. If you think of the people in your heart, the people will think of you. "
When the old man saw such a village, he said to his son beside him.
Kang 'er nodded. "Father, I understand. I will be a good official in the future. I won't be greedy for a single penny. I think of the people all day long."
"Wrong. I don't want you to be such an official. Do you see County Magistrate Cheng? Just be an official like him. You won't lack money, and you can also get a good reputation. The people under your rule will also live a good life. "
The old man had been an official for so many years. How could he not know which kind of official was the most popular? However, Jia County Magistrates didn't understand. He was much worse than County Magistrate Cheng. As long as he did things steadily and made Sanshui County further improve, he wouldn't lack money. He would also have political achievements. Why bother?
"Father, County Magistrate Cheng just got political achievements. They are greedy." Kang 'er asked, puzzled.
The old man said with a smile, "He doesn't covet the people's money. He covets Zhangjia Zhuangzi's money. Do you know what he did in the capital? He visited the officials one by one, organized poetry gatherings, spread Zhang Zhong's poems every time, and invited people to banquets in big restaurants. Do you think he has so much money? "
"Ah? So much money? I understand. It's the Zhang family who gave him the money. " Kang 'er understood now. As long as he had a relationship with some rich people in the local area, helped them do some small things, and then improved the lives of the local people, he would be a good official.
The old man used the people's hearts of Zhangjia Zhuangzi to teach his son. Night slowly came. When it was dark, torches were lit on the four Zhuangzi. Countless lanterns were carried by people and gathered at the small bridge. Looking from the top of Between the Clouds and the Water, it was very spectacular.
"Let's go, grandpa. Let's go down too." The old man's granddaughter saw so many lanterns and torches. She pulled her grandpa and walked out. The other family members followed behind.
Zhang Xiaobao also had an activity this time. It was not the kind of activity where he stayed up all night. He made riddles for everyone to guess. Those who guessed correctly would be rewarded. In this way, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang's families in Zhuangzi had an advantage. After all, they had more people studying and had been studying for a longer time. Unless there was a miracle, they would win the most.
The old man also guessed a few riddles and won a lantern and a small toy for his granddaughter. He didn't continue guessing and let others play. With his ability, guessing such a simple riddle would be bullying others. These riddles were prepared for the villagers.
After the excitement, the crowd dispersed. They hung the lanterns under the eaves of their houses with joy and anticipation for the next day.
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