There was the sound of firecrackers in Taiyuan Prefecture, colorful flags and buildings were scattered all over the bustling market, and ten carriages creaked and rolled through the streets, arriving in front of the entrance hall where Li's house was hung.
Li Fengjing stood on the porch wearing a fur coat and watched the carriage lift off the thick felt cloth.
"Fourth Master, these are from the Grand Governor to the eldest lady and eldest uncle." The escorting steward rubbed the wind and frost on his face, handed over a booklet, and took out another, "These are from the Grand Governor to the Fourth Master."
Li Fengjing smiled reservedly: "Why should this kid be polite to me?"
The steward smiled respectfully: "Master Fourth, thank you for your hard work in taking care of the eldest lady here."
Li Fengjing stopped being polite. The fourth master would not be frightened when he saw something now. He nodded and called the people standing in the yard: "Arrange for everyone to have a rest."
The servants in the yard responded in unison, crowding around the visitors from Jiannan Road and retreating.
Li Fengjing left one thick and one thin account book on the table. It was too hot in the room and he opened half of the window. He could see that the carriage was being unloaded in the yard.
The attendant Li Fengjing brought from home poured the tea, and Steward Jiang reached over to take it away.
"Four Masters, would you like to order some for yourself?" Manager Jiang handed the tea to Li Fengjing and asked.
Because of the shared secret, Manager Jiang who came from Jiannan Road to marry him has become someone Li Fengjing trusts.
Li Fengjing shook his head: "No need." He just looked at the account book on the table, the thick one.
"Then send it to the eldest lady and eldest uncle now?" Manager Jiang asked.
Li Fengjing's fingers gently turned over one page, two pages, three pages, and four pages... His fingers stopped and put down one page and two pages. After much deliberation, he finally settled on it. He opened the account book with a snap and pointed at half of the account book.
: "Send these to the eldest lady and uncle." He pointed to the other half and said, "Leave the others here first. I will keep them for the eldest lady."
The Xiang family member is not the real eldest lady. It is reasonable for the eldest lady's things to be kept here. After all, this is the Li family's residence on Jiannan Road.
Hearing what he said, Manager Jiang from Jiannan Road did not object at all: "I will send it to the eldest lady right now."
There was a burst of excitement in the yard, and Manager Jiang left with two carriages.
The attendant stretched out his hand: "Four Masters, please go and put ours in storage."
Li Fengjing nodded reservedly, and his entourage happily took the account books on the table into his hands. Although he did not have as much power as the chief steward at home, he handled much more money than the chief steward.
"Fourth Master, the New Year's goods have been sent to Jiannan Road and Jiangling Prefecture. It is about to be the 15th day. Can you choose some interesting items from Taiyuan Prefecture and send them to the Governor and the old lady?" he suggested again.
Li Fengjing hummed indifferently: "You choose first, I don't have time to see all those miscellaneous people."
Mr. Li Si is very dignified, and not everything can catch his eye.
The resounding response from the entourage was that there was an entourage outside the door holding a few posts: "Four masters, the Wang family of Taiyuan Prefecture, the chief shopkeeper Long Shengxing, and the official Huang Tuiguan of the government invite you to appreciate the plum blossoms."
Li Fengjing looked out the window lazily: "It's fun to appreciate these plums when it snows. If you have anything to reward them now, tell them I'll hold a banquet for them when it snows."
Li Fengjing's front door was very busy going in and out. The carriage that left Li's house and arrived at the Xiang family also bustled through the Xiang family's mansion and arrived in front of a separate courtyard.
There are two characters on the courtyard: "Zhaixingxing".
This is the house that Mr. Xiang specially ordered to organize for Li Minglou after he learned that Li Minglou was going to marry. The Xiang family is a century-old family in Taiyuan Prefecture. The house has been passed down for hundreds of years and is simple and vicissitudes. It is also somewhat complicated because of the numerous residences of its descendants.
It is narrow, and the courtyard for Li Minglou occupies half of the garden. It is very spacious. Standing on the pavilion, you can see ancient trees and rocks, which has a unique flavor in winter.
Li Mingqi was wearing a small coat and sitting by the window, not looking at the scenery, but looking at the account book handed over by Nian'er.
"Miss, the things are still in the yard. Do you want to check them before putting them in the warehouse?" Nian'er said happily, "Our warehouse can be filled up."
It should have been filled long ago, but unfortunately the dowry was lost along the way, and now something finally arrived. Nian'er felt that her heart had also been filled, and she felt heavy and comfortable.
Li Mingqi didn't cover her face anymore. The warm room made her face rosy. She twisted her nose and snorted: "Why fill it up? What was delivered is much worse." She closed the account book and said, "This is mine.
Fourth uncle really doesn’t know how to be an elder.”
Nian'er understood clearly: "The fourth master actually withheld the things that were given to the eldest lady! He is so bold."
But after speaking boldly, I felt guilty.
"It's because we are not really eldest ladies."
So what can they do if they are not really eldest ladies? Just have as few things as possible. These are things they have never had before.
Li Mingqi reached out and poked the useless girl's forehead: "I'm not a real eldest lady, so he should rely on me. I'm not on the road now. I've been seen by people from Taiyuan Prefecture. I entered the gate of Xiang's house and paid homage to him.
The ancestor of the Xiang family, as the elder, doesn’t he know the importance?”
Nian'er only understood one sentence, the fourth master now relies on them, they don't need to be afraid of the fourth master?
So what to do?
Li Mingqi patted the account book in her arms: "Go and tell Fourth Uncle that I am now the daughter-in-law of the Xiang family. It is better not to put the things sent by the family in Li's house, lest the family appear to be separated."
Nian'er is stunned, is it okay?
Li Mingqi blinked at her: "You will know if you try it and see if your fourth uncle dares not to give it."
Nian'er held the account book and was eager to try it. A girl outside the door shouted: "My uncle is here."
Li Mingqi hurriedly stood up and looked at the door with a smile on her face. The curtain was lifted and Xiang Nan walked in.
They were already married, but because Li Minglou was young and had filial piety, he would not consummate the marriage three years later, so they did not live together, but Xiang Nan would come over occasionally.
"It's very cold today, it's going to snow soon." Li Mingqi said, and told Nian'er, "Make a cup of the tea Mingyu just sent."
Nian'er, holding the account book, responded and stepped back.
Xiang Nan looked at the girl standing leaning on the table in front of the window. She had a pink face and a red coat and a pomegranate skirt. The narcissus blooming on the corner of the table contrasted with the richness and beauty.
She looks happy.
"Are you not angry at all?" Xiang Nan sat down and asked.
Xiang Nan didn't come here often, and he didn't talk much. He only talked about the weather, food and drink. This was the first time he asked people's hearts, so people's hearts are shaped by getting along with each other over time. Li Mingqi frowned slightly and said, "Why are you angry?
"
Xiang Nan said: "You left home and came here to replace others..."
Li Mingqi smiled faintly: "Mr. Xiang, that is none other than my sister."
"This is a marriage, nothing else." Xiang Nan asked, "Do you want to come? Besides for your sister and the Li family, what about yourself? What do you think?"
Li Mingqi tilted her head and thought for a while. The little girl was weak and confused: "Without the Li family, there would be no me."
She is a silly girl raised in a boudoir. Xiang Nan sighed lightly. What does she know? Not everyone can be as domineering as Li Minglou.
"As long as you're happy," he said, standing up to leave.
Li Mingqi didn't try to persuade him to stay, but sent him away with a smile. Nian'er walked to the corridor with tea in hand and felt very regretful: "Master Xiang didn't take a sip of tea."
Li Mingqi picked up the tea and took a sip: "Don't be in a hurry, drinking tea is not at this time."
There is a lifetime.
"What did Mr. Xiang say to the young lady?" Nian'er asked curiously.
Li Mingqi smiled: "He is taking pity on me."
It's great to be a woman, weak, pitiful and helpless. How can I live without a man?
The annual gifts of Taiyuan Prefecture first arrived at Jiannan Road, and then were sent to Nanyi, where Xiang Yun was stationed.
New Year's gifts and family letters from the Xiang family in Taiyuan Prefecture were all placed in the room. Xiang Yun only picked up the shoes made by his wife and put them on. He did not read the letters from home. He only asked: "Is there the whereabouts of Li Minglou? Where is Li Mingyu?"
The entourage sighed inwardly. It was really surprising that the Governor did not let Xiang Yun accompany him when he went to the capital, and he was not even recalled to Jiannan Road.
"Miss Minglou is still missing. Young Master Mingyu is still brewing wine in Quanzhou. In order to find the eldest lady, General Yan plans to send another group of troops." He told the news one by one.
Xiang Yun stroked the corner of the table: "The soldiers and horses dispatched still have nothing to do with us Longyou, right?"
The attendant bowed his head and answered yes.
Their Longyou soldiers and horses seem to have been forgotten.
"The dead will be forgotten." Xiang Yun said, he stood up, "I'm not dead yet."