Dark clouds rolled and strong winds blew. One could see the horizon. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, creating rain and mist as if covering the distant mountains.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan stood on a small bench and looked out of the window. The heavy rain was pouring down, hitting the ground bit by bit. Bubbles appeared and disappeared one after another. It looked foggy. Countless small streams of water gathered together and undulated towards the low-lying areas.
"I originally wanted to give some carrots to the people in Zhuangzi today, but it seems that I can only wait until the weather clears up." Wang Juan said vaguely while biting a carrot stick in her mouth.
"Yes. I heard people say that carrots need to be cooked with oil so that people can better absorb the nutrients. How can the farmers have so much oil? Carrot seeds can produce oil by themselves, right?" Zhang Xiaobao frowned when talking about the farmers. He appeared to be worried.
"Yes, and it's very expensive. I bought it before. Do you know how to make it?" Wang Juan wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said. Drooling was a natural phenomenon.
"No, but I know how to make soybean oil. It's very simple. Just make a barrel-shaped thing and put the beans in it. Then, keep adding wedges and rely on physical pressure to get the oil out. What's left is the bean cake. Some wicked people use the bean cake to make tofu. It's not delicious at all."
"Wow, you know a lot of things?" Wang Juan had never seen such a method of making soybean oil and was a little skeptical.
Zhang Xiaobao didn't argue. He just said leisurely, "This is nothing. There are some old people who know a lot of things that can scare you to death. Some simple herbal prescriptions, acupuncture, cupping, scraping, the work of masons, raising livestock and looking after livestock, growing all kinds of grains, carpentry, burning charcoal, baking bricks, weaving baskets and so on.
While some people show off these as knowledge, those simple people pass it down from generation to generation. It has already become a way to survive. It's an instinct.
Apart from what I just said, my Grandpa Dean also knows how to draw, write calligraphy, carve, measure Feng Shui, heat the vats, wash the basins, wash the bowls, sharpen the scissors, and other things in the courtyard. He is also the one who does everything. "
As Zhang Xiaobao spoke, he seemed to be immersed in his memories. The expression on his face kept changing. In the end, he let out a long sigh and smiled at Wang Juan, telling her not to worry.
"It can't be? I'm not saying that no one knows these things. I'm saying that your orphanage can't even afford a bowl, right? Who still knows how to make bowls? I used to hear my parents say that when they were young, they would be beaten if they made a bowl. Later on, no one cared at all. "Wang Juan was a little surprised.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. When there is light, there is always darkness on the other side. A good environment is nothing more than a shadowless lamp. It just makes the darkness more hidden and not easy to find. Above the shadowless lamp, there is also darkness. This time, I got a lot of money from Swindler Song. Tomorrow, I'll get someone to harvest the soybeans. I want to squeeze the oil."
Zhang Xiaobao wiped away a drop of rain that blew on his face and returned to the expression of a child. He said in a relaxed manner.
The two people's voices were relatively soft. Xiao Hong, who was sitting at the door, only knew what the little ancestor was talking about. She didn't know the details.
Right now, she wasn't worried that the little master and his wife would be in any danger. What she needed to do was to help by the side. Today, it was raining heavily outside, so she could sit here and learn how to read. This was the little master's request. Everyone in the courtyard had to be able to read and write and be able to do simple accounts.
In addition to these, Cuckoo also said that in the future, the two children in Zhuangzi would have to hire someone to teach them. All the expenses would be paid by the Zhang Family and Wang Family. The only requirement was that regardless of whether they succeeded in learning or not, they had to respect Zhuangzi's honor and disgrace.
Xiao Hong couldn't understand how the two little ancestors thought. The things they did were always so imaginative. En, these were the words of the accountants in Zhuangzi. Knowledgeable people were indeed different.
When the three of them split into two groups to do their own things, Manager Zhang's voice came from the rain outside.
"Young Master Song, it's raining today. Look, it's so heavy. The little master can't come out to play, so he's in the room. Please wait a moment, I'll go inform him."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Manager Zhang." Song Jinggong's voice sounded, sounding a little weak.
Manager Zhang entered the room outside. When he walked in again, he saw Xiao Hong sitting there thinking about something. According to his usual habit, he was about to scold her. Just as he was about to speak, he looked up and saw the two little ancestors standing close to the window. He swallowed his words.
He knew that the little master wasn't someone who was easy to fool. If Xiao Hong didn't have the little master's permission, Xiao Hong definitely wouldn't dare to do this. If he really scolded the little master's servant girl, then the consequences … Just thinking about it scared him. Song Jinggong was such a smart person. Look at how he was bullied by the little master.
"Steward Zhang, what's the matter? The little master and Cuckoo usually don't allow others to disturb them. "Xiao Hong also saw Manager Zhang and was a little scared. She put the book in her hand behind her back and said.
"There's something important. Song Jinggong, Young Master Song, is here. He came to Zhuangzi last night and didn't dare to disturb the little master's rest. Today, he came here in the rain. En, go and tell him to read well. The people around the little master can't be worse than those of other families."
Manager Zhang saw that Xiao Hong had a book to read, so it must be the little master's arrangement. This little ancestor really didn't know how to comment. Song Jinggong was such a powerful person, but he was so scared that he didn't sleep well last night. There were still dark circles under his eyes.
"En, you're here? Please come in. Make the tea according to the method I taught you. This way, I can be less busy. " In fact, Zhang Xiaobao had already heard Song Jinggong's voice outside, but he still waited for Xiao Hong to finish before opening his mouth.
Song Jinggong held an umbrella and stood in the rain, letting the rain water wet his shoes. He didn't move at all. Even when the wind blew and the rain soaked the lower half of his body, he still didn't feel anything.
He kept thinking about what Cherries said when he came over yesterday. He asked Cherries which expert schemed against him. Cherries pursed her lips and said, "Why would we need an expert to scheme against you? My little master is enough. That day when you stepped on the bridge, there was no turning back. "
That was scary. Those who knew clearly that the bridge connected Gejia Village and Zhang Wang to the two Zhuangzi. Those who didn't know would think that it was the Bridge of Helplessness.
Of course, Song Jinggong didn't believe it. In the end, Cherries reminded him, "Did you forget how you gave the money and the jade pendant that day? I, Zhangjia Zhuangzi, can deal with you. Sending a one year old child is enough. "
This was the reason why Song Jinggong was conflicted. He wanted to see if that child was as powerful as Cherries said.
"Master Song, my little master invites you in." Just when Song Jinggong was still thinking, Manager Zhang came out to greet him.
"Okay, thank you, Manager Zhang. Manager Zhang, wait a moment. I have some doubts in my heart and would like to ask Manager Zhang for help." Song Jinggong was just about to enter when he pulled Manager Zhang back.
"Master Song, there's no harm in asking."
"I would like to know if what Manager Zhang and Madam Zhuang said that day outside my window was meaningful. What does it have to do with your little master? "Song Jinggong thought of some details.
"Master Song, we will work together in the future. Please take care of me." Manager Zhang didn't answer the question. He gestured with his hand and turned to leave.
Song Jinggong walked in with doubts. He walked around the outer room and saw that there was a cushion in the inner room. There was a small table between the cushion and the cushion. Song Jinggong naturally knew that the cushion was for him to sit on. He didn't stand on ceremony and walked in and sat down.
When he looked at the cushion, there was no one. At this time, his eyes adjusted to the light in the room. He looked again and saw that the two children were standing by the window and looking at the rain outside.
"Xiao Bao, don't you think it's better to go out than to stay at home?" Song Jinggong heard the girl's voice.
"No, it's raining heavily outside. Besides, it's tiring to hold an umbrella." Song Jinggong heard the boy's voice again.
"Why hold an umbrella? Just wear a straw raincoat. Look at the mountains and watch the rain. What's that saying again? Oh, it's called 'Ren Ping Sheng in the Misty Rain'." The girl's voice was heard.
"No, I'll get sick. When that happens, I'll be blown away by the wind and rain." The boy's voice was heard.
When Song Jinggong heard this, he felt that he had come to the wrong place. This was not Zhangjia Zhuangzi. This was the Imperial Academy. In front of the window were not children, but two Elementary Scholars.
"Ah, Young Master Song is here. Sorry for the lack of manners. Xiao Hong, serve tea." Zhang Xiaobao seemed to have just realized that there were other people in the room. He pulled Wang Juan and jumped down from the stool. The two of them walked over to the cushion and sat down to greet the guests.
"Well said, well said. Young Master Zhang is too engrossed. May I ask who the young lady beside Young Master Zhang is …?" Song Jinggong unknowingly treated the two children in front of him as adults. After speaking, he realized that they were obviously two children.
"Oh, this is Zhang's childhood sweetheart, Wang family's Cuckoo from Zhuangzi." Zhang Xiaobao gestured with his hand and introduced.
"Childhood sweetheart?" Song Jinggong was confused again. What did that mean?
Wang Juan opened her mouth at this time, "It means that the two of you rode a bamboo horse and circled the bed to play with the plum blossoms. You're so stupid. How can you be a High Scholar? You don't have any knowledge. If you want to cheat someone, you won't be able to do so."
Wang Juan had lowered her voice towards the end of the sentence, but Song Jinggong still heard it clearly. If it was someone else who said this, he would definitely argue. Today, facing these two children, he could only feel a sense of helplessness. Where were the ancestral graves of the Zhang Family and Wang Family buried?
At this time, Xiao Hong had already served tea. In front of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan was hot tea. In front of Song Jinggong were two types of tea, one hot and one cold. Regardless of whether it was hot or cold, they were all green and were different from the tea that Song Jinggong had drunk before.
"Young Master Zhang, this is …?" Song Jinggong pointed at the herbal tea and asked.
"Iced tea." Zhang Xiaobao explained.
"Oh, then why am I the only one who has it?" Song Jinggong asked again.
"Why would a person of status drink iced tea? It's just a joke. Cuckoo and I are too young to drink cold things. "Zhang Xiaobao said with a smile.
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