It was the night of the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were lying on the kang bed. Pomegranate was lying next to them. All three of them had their eyes open and were wide awake.
"Xiao Bao, tomorrow is the New Year. We are one year older. Do you have any thoughts about the New Year?" Wang Juan couldn't sleep. She looked at the ceiling with the help of the light in the room.
"Nothing. Let's just celebrate the New Year. I'm used to it. Come closer to me. Don't touch the wall. It's burning." Zhang Xiaobao didn't sleep either. He was thinking about other things. At noon, the county yamen in Sanshui County sent news that the last batch of cucumbers had been sold for 150 copper coins per catty. It was estimated that all of them would be sold in the afternoon.
They had made a profit. Tomorrow, they would get about 300 taels of silver. They didn't plant the cucumbers in vain. Including the money they invested in the grass curtain, they only got 27 to 28 taels of silver. Ten times the profit. The people in Zhuangzi also sent some cucumbers to other places. It wasn't a small amount.
Wang Juan also felt the heat beside her. She moved closer to Zhang Xiaobao and said, "I didn't ask you to think about the New Year. I asked you to think about Zhuangzi next year. You should at least make a conclusion."
"Yes, I do. This year is a special year. It's a harmonious year. With the efforts of everyone in Zhuangzi, Zhang Family and Wang Family have achieved good results in the construction of spiritual and material civilization. Following the tradition of Zhuangzi …"
"To be honest." Wang Juan impatiently interrupted Zhang Xiaobao. She had heard too much and was numb to it.
"It's really too difficult. Without money, how can we survive next year? I have to think of something." Zhang Xiaobao calculated his own money. There were still some carrots that could be sold for a thousand and eight taels of silver. The soybean oil was almost sold out in the past few days. The chili sauce just happened to be sold out yesterday. It was all bought out by people who wanted to have a good New Year.
Generally speaking, it was not a small amount to have 1600 to 700 taels of silver on hand. Many people would not be able to earn that much in their lifetime. However, this was not enough to satisfy him. Next year, he would need to repair the roads, plan the land, and buy a lot of things. Furthermore, he would need to bribe the officials. He heard that someone would be inspecting the land next year.
"Then, have you thought of one?" Wang Juan helped Zhang Xiaobao remove the wound on his neck.
Zhang Xiaobao also moved a little. This was the bad thing about the Northwest. In the winter, there was a kang bed below, and it was hot and scalding. Above, there was a chilly wind, and both sides were suffering. Fortunately, there was a stove in the house, which raised the temperature a little, but he could still feel a gust of wind blowing around him.
"Tell me, have you thought of a good idea?" Wang Juan urged.
"There is no other way. When everyone is done with their work at the beginning of spring, I plan to set up a market at the small bridge. We have a lot of things in our warehouse. At that time, we will take out some of them every day and put them there for the two people of Zhuangzi to exchange. The things we exchanged can continue to be exchanged.
Everything has to be set by the people in our courtyard and exchanged for the same value. Otherwise, we will use other money to make up for it. At that time, there will be people from the nearby Zhuangzi. At that time … "
"At that time, you are going to collect taxes? That won't work, right? "Wang Juan suddenly interrupted as she listened to Zhang Xiaobao's words.
"What taxes? As long as the market is set up, we will have the right to set the price. Then, we will be able to get a lot of benefits. We can build a few small warehouses and rent them to store their things. We will provide protection. We can also set up a few small tea stalls or snack bars there. We can earn some money and don't have to worry too much. "
Zhang Xiaobao's voice gradually weakened. It seemed that he was sleepy. That was enough.
Wang Juan seemed to be infected by him. She yawned, tilted her head, and fell asleep while leaning on Xiaobao. The topic was settled.
Pomegranate laid there with her clothes on. When she saw that the two young masters had finally fallen asleep, she got up and checked that the stove outside was not smoking. She sprayed some water at the place where it was connected. When she saw that there were no bubbles, she was relieved and turned to leave the room.
She went outside to check on the two young masters who were still sitting there reading. She told them to pay more attention to the stove at night. Then, she went back to lie down and slowly fell asleep.
*****
Sanshui County, where the county magistrate lived behind the yamen.
Cheng Lingxiang hugged the concubine in his arms. He couldn't sleep for a while. He was estimating how much help the cucumbers would get this time. After selling cucumbers for a few days, the news had already spread to the ears of those who wanted to know. However, no one sent anyone to inquire about it. The document that was submitted had also not been replied. It was like a stone sinking into the sea.
"Master, those cucumbers are so delicious. Don't give them to others. Keep them." The concubine in Cheng Lingxiang's arms still had a rosy face after the passion just now. She stretched out one arm and kept moving it on Cheng Lingxiang's body.
Cheng Lingxiang frowned. "What do women know? If I don't give them, where can I find a future? If you want to eat them, it's easy. Tomorrow, I will send someone to deliver money to them. Then, I will ask for some cucumbers back. "
The concubine became honest and no longer asked about this. "Master is still the best. You can sell a cucumbers that are usually worthless at such a price. Yes, master is also good at other things."
With this praise, Cheng Lingxiang touched the concubine's smooth body and was a little restless. He turned over and the passion appeared again.
*****
Early the next morning, the people sent by County Magistrate Cheng set off with the heavy silver. There were a lot of people on the streets today. Everyone wanted to take advantage of the morning to buy some things that had not been prepared at home. There were also people who had not prepared the couplet at home and were anxious to ask someone to write it for them.
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan woke up, the people at home were all busy, especially the cucumbers in the back. The people in the courtyard picked the cucumbers that were still wet with dew and piled them aside. They were ready to send them to the farmers on Zhuangzi later.
"It's the New Year. It's still lively here. I don't know if I should go back or stay at your house."
Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao no longer drank milk. They could eat porridge and pickled vegetables made with tofu. The nutrients their bodies needed were enough. Thinking of the New Year, Wang Juan did not know what to do.
"According to common sense, you should go back, but there are exceptions to common sense. Didn't they say that we can't be separated from each other when we can open our eyes? Once we are separated, we will cry. You can spend the New Year at my house. If you can't, we can go back and forth on the eve of the New Year."
Zhang Xiaobao knew what Wang Juan meant. She wanted to spend the New Year with him at the same time. It was as if they had completely abandoned the past. He also thought so. Since they came here, they were destined to work hard together.
"Okay, it's settled. When will Erniu be sent out? It's also grand on the 15th of the New Year here. "Wang Juan put a piece of bone marrow into her mouth and nodded in agreement.
"Not on the 15th, it's too late. Let's do it on the 6th of the New Year. It's more tiring now, but it will be better in the future. Find a place and bring back the Mai Fan Stone. Let's put it in earlier while the ground is still open and see how the yield is." Zhang Xiaobao decided after finishing the last mouthful of porridge.
The New Year was naturally different from usual. Jang Wong Clan was busy with work with the housekeeper. They did not have time to come and see their children. Those who still had family in the manor had gone back, so there was obviously less manpower. They were all ordered around in the courtyard. They were so tired that they did not want to leave, but their faces were full of joy.
After Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had eaten, they did not exercise today. They divided the ten bundles of firecrackers that they had made over the past few days into five bundles and asked someone to send them to the Wang Family. They also brought Pomegranate along with them.
Time passed slowly under the anticipation of countless people. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan washed their hands that were covered with noodles in the basin. Even if the dumplings were made in advance, they would go to sleep for a while in order to keep watch at night. They had the willpower, but the children's bodies could not bear it.
As the night came, every family lit a fire outside their house. They took out the prepared bamboo poles and threw them into the fire, making a crackling sound. The wealthier families even put in some salt to make the sound louder.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also prepared a lot of bamboo. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan went to the Wang Family first and then came back. Seeing that someone was throwing bamboo into the fire, they also took out the five bundles of firecrackers. They would set off three bundles tonight, and one at noon and one at night tomorrow. They still had to do it then. They would set off five bundles of firecrackers on the fifth and fifteenth day of the New Year.
Jang Wong Clan, Zhang Xiaobao's father, Old Madam and Old Master Zhang also stood in the courtyard to listen to the sound. They hugged the two children in their arms and enjoyed this kind of family affection. When Pomegranate lit the firecrackers and covered her ears to avoid them, the whole family was surprised when there was an even louder sound.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan did not tell anyone that they were making firecrackers because they wanted to give everyone a surprise. In the end, not only was there a surprise, but there was also a shock. It was so loud that everyone was stunned. They only reacted when Pomegranate went to light the second bundle of firecrackers.
"Xiao Bao, what is this? It sounds like there is a lot of noise. Make more of it and sell it. " Jang Wong Clan was still quite business-minded. When she saw the firecrackers being lit, she thought of business.
"Mom, this thing is called firecrackers. It is not easy to make, and there may be accidents. If too many people know about it, the recipe will be leaked. There are many businesses that can make money. Let's not do this first." Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan did not want to make firecrackers known to everyone now. They thought that the Wang Family's reaction would be the same at this time.
"My son is right. Let's go. It's time to eat dumplings." Jang Wong Clan thought about it and agreed. She did not think about it anymore and went into the house with her family. The dumplings were already in the pot. There was also a hotpot on the table. The younger generation kowtowed to the older generation to wish them a happy new year. After receiving red packets, they began to eat.
Seeing the adults eating in full swing, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan could only choose some things that could be bitten, such as duck blood, tofu, and small mutton. After a few bites, the two put down their chopsticks at almost the same time and said to each other, "It's been three years since the Kaiyuan Era. Happy New Year."
Yesterday, they had said that they would update five chapters, but they did not. They did not plan to celebrate their birthday, but their friends came over at night. They drank three bottles of beer and then half a liter of white wine and a few bottles of beer. They were drunk and wanted to make up for it today.
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