Shen Huan was coaxed into the small courtyard of the village chief's house by her mother. Before entering, she didn't forget to give Zhuang Keqing a fierce look. But how could Zhuang Keqing have time to pay attention to this kid? She had a lot to do. She had to go home to get her things. A quick trip to the mason's house would be gone in a short time.
Here, Mrs. Zhou entered the courtyard and saw an old man sitting on a stone bench, so she asked, "Is this old man the village chief?"
Li Shu had been notified by the girl before and knew that this was the Shen family who returned to the village yesterday, so he did not dare to neglect. He stood up and nodded slightly: "But Shen Juren's wife?"
Ms. Zhou was not surprised either. She knew that her family's return was a bit high-profile, and the village was rundown and poor. She had probably never seen such a big battle, so it was expected that the news would spread quickly.
"Exactly, the master asked me to come back this time and come to see you, the village chief." After saying this, she gave a gentle blessing.
"Madam, you're welcome. I'm joking. I watched Shen Juren grow up. He has been smart and polite since he was a child, and he was able to pass the Juren examination early. He is a man of great fortune."
The village chief twirled his beard and smiled.
Zhou Ming was very happy to hear these words. Her father had seen the future of this poor boy before marrying her. Although he has not been admitted to the Jinshi these years, he has chosen a good official. Although this It caused some trouble this time, but it will be resolved soon.
Thinking of this, she felt even more proud, her face showed a little arrogance, and she waved her hand to ask the servant behind her to present the gift.
"I would like to express my gratitude to you, please be my subordinate."
Two pieces of fine cotton cloth, two jars of wine, two pieces of sugar and some snacks.
In the eyes of an official family like her, these things are not valuable at all, but to the villagers, even if they are given to the village chief, they are still a generous gift.
The village chief saw clearly and had a smile on his face.
"I heard that you brought a lot of things when you came back this time, but you want to stay permanently? Why didn't Shen Juren come with you?" After receiving the gift, he wanted to say a few words and ask the other party why he came back, so as not to cause trouble to the village. What trouble.
"The master is serving as the county magistrate in Qian County, and he can't get away. This time, because of the ancestor worship, he can only let me bring Huan'er back to stay for a while." Mrs. Zhou pulled him over and stood beside him, bored. Shen Huan said, "This is my son, Shen Huan."
Hearing that Shen Qiao, who had been admitted to the Juren Examination many years ago, was now an official, the village chief was not only expected but also honored. "It turned out to be the wife and son of an official. It's rude and disrespectful."
Mrs. Zhou expected that by using her title as a master, she would be able to calm these ignorant country people. She smiled calmly and was about to boast a few more words when she saw her son Shen Huan throw away her hand and walk to the stone table. He looked closer to his face and looked at the things on it.
"What's this?"
Shen Huan was not happy to listen to his mother and an old man talking about boring things. When he was bored, he saw some things he had never seen placed on the stone table.
It was milky white, regular squares, and there were some things stacked together like coarse cloth, but it smelled like food. He poked at it curiously, but the force was too strong, and he directly poked a hole in the square.
Zhou was shocked and saw that her son's hand had been inserted into the thing, so she said anxiously: "Huan'er, what are you doing?! You dare to touch anything, and you hurt your hand carefully!"
After saying that, he took a few steps forward and grabbed Shen Huan's hand. He took out a handkerchief and wiped it clean, then checked it over and over again, fearing that something was wrong.
Seeing the behavior of mother and son, the village chief frowned slightly.
Since she is the wife and son of an official, she must know etiquette and integrity, but look at this child's behavior and his mother's reaction.
Hey. With a slight sigh in his heart, he knew exactly how to deal with it. After all, the other party was a member of the official family and had different status, so he couldn't neglect it.
"There is no need to panic, madam."
The village chief chuckled, walked to the table, broke off a small piece of tofu that had been smashed, put it into his mouth, sipped it lightly and drank it. "This is tofu. There is no danger in eating food made from beans. "
Hearing that he was eating and Huan'er's hand was indeed uninjured, Mrs. Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.
"Village Chief, don't blame me. I only had such an only son when I was thirty-two years old. I was confused when I cared about him, and I lost my temper for a while."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. I understand your wife's love for her son."
After Shen Huan's interference, Ms. Zhou didn't want to stay any longer. She originally visited the village chief just to clear the way for her return home, but now that her goal was achieved, she was too lazy to stay here any longer, so she took her son to leave.
"This has been disturbing for a long time, so we are going back."
"Madam, go slowly. By the way." The village chief picked up a piece of tofu and some dried tofu skins that were still intact on the stone table and gave them to the servant: "This is a specialty of this village. Since the young master is curious, he will take it back to try it. , and taste the freshness.”
I am the wife of a county magistrate, and I have never seen anything good, so why do I still need you to be so lazy?
Although Ms. Zhou thought so, she didn't show it on her face. She asked her servants to accept the gift, thanked the village chief, and then she took her son on the bullock cart and left.
He politely sent the person to the door and looked at the ox cart driving away. The village chief couldn't help but shook his head. This Shen Qiao is not a good wife. How could he not see what Zhou was thinking? Now he just hopes that they will During your stay, just don't bully others in the name of official relatives. This will save you the trouble of being the village chief.
Mrs. Zhou returned home with her son Shen Huan. As soon as the mother and son rested, the servant took the tofu he got from the village chief and asked the hostess what to do with it.
"I have never seen anything decent in the countryside. If anyone dares to enter it, just throw it away." Mrs. Zhou ordered, asking someone to find a place to dispose of it.
Shen Huan followed her mother and was fiddling with a small ring in her hand. At this moment, she saw a figure passing by the side room out of the corner of her eye. She was moved in her heart. She raised her eyes and said to Mrs. Zhou: "Mother, why don't you give this thing a reward?" Brother, I think he will like it."
Mrs. Zhou knew what her son had in mind, but she pretended to be angry and said, "How can he be worthy of being your brother? You are the only young master in the Shen family!"
Having expected that her mother would say this, Shen Huan buried herself in the woman's lap and raised the corners of her mouth proudly.
After a lot of laughter, Zhou finally gave up to her son and asked the wet nurse to order the servants to give those things to Shen Ling who was chopping firewood in the backyard. She also told her that these were fresh things that Shen Huan could not bear to eat, and that they were all his meals today. .
Shen Ling didn't react at all when he got something. He just nodded to show that he understood, and then asked people to put it aside and continue chopping firewood.
Zhuang Keqing went back home, took out money and things, and left. It happened to be noon when he arrived at Mason Lu's house in the next village.
"Uncle Lu."
She still stood at the door and called people.
"Here we come." Mr. Lu was about to eat. At this time, he came out of the kitchen with a bowl of boiled pig sesame and brown rice. When he saw that it was the girl from yesterday, he nodded and motioned for her to come in.
Zhuang Keqing didn't hesitate, raised her hand and pulled the latch of the door of the small courtyard and walked in. Stonemason Lu was sitting on a small stool, enjoying the delicious food in front of the pig, without even looking at her.
"Uncle Lu, I brought you money."
Lu Tietou saw the little girl put down the things wrapped in leaves in her hands, then untied the plain purse wrapped around her waist, poured all the copper coins inside on the stone table, then arranged them in a pile of ten and pushed them to him
before.
"Fifty cash, plus yesterday's deposit, the deposit is complete, you can count it."
He wasn't afraid that this girl was short of his deposit, he just looked at the things wrapped in leaves on the table with questioning eyes.
Zhuang Keqing understood what he meant and explained with a smile: "Uncle Lu, this is homemade food at home. You try it and it tastes good. I will give you some more when I pick up the goods next time."
"That's right..." The little girl paused, seeming a little embarrassed.
"Can this stone mill be made faster? I need it urgently at home."
Lu Tietou had long been used to it, knowing that the other party's gift was something he wanted for himself. From all over the country, people who placed orders sometimes couldn't wait and would either add money or give something away. This was the rule.
Don't hit the smiling person, and this girl is true to her word. She said she would pay the deposit today and came today, and she also brought something with her. She is very particular. The stone mill she ordered is not particularly big, so it won't take much time to get it together.
, it’s not a big hassle to catch up on a few days of work by yourself and get some time in advance.
With this in mind, Lu Tietou agreed to the request and asked the other party to pick it up in twenty days.
Zhuang Keqing felt relieved. The two things he planned for today were almost completed. It was a worry.
"Uncle Lu, this tofu can be cooked or served cold. Adding some green onions will make it most delicious. The weather is getting hotter, so it's refreshing and not greasy. You can try it."
After introducing her own tofu, she didn't stay long, said goodbye and left. Mr. Lu was busy picking rice from the bowl, and only waved to her and said hello.