It was the day of the monthly cleaning again, and Lu Zhu sorted out all the clothes in the east chamber, but when she got to Ji Mingxiu's pajamas, she found that one piece was missing.
"Mandarin ducks," she called out.
Yuanyang is a second-class maid in the courtyard, and is also in charge of Ji Mingxiu's daily affairs, but she doesn't have the face that Luzhu has in front of her master.
"Sister Luzhu, what's the matter?" Yuanyang walked in.
Lu Zhu asked puzzledly: "Master's pajamas seem to be missing a piece, have you seen it?"
"Which one?" Yuanyang asked.
Lu Zhu gestured: "The white one, the one with cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem."
Yuanyang had an epiphany on his face: "I know that one, it's the master's favorite pajamas, is it missing?"
"Where did you receive it?" Luzhu asked back.
Yuanyang shook her head innocently: "Master's things are all arranged according to your instructions. Pajamas are hung on the right, and ordinary clothes are hung on the left."
Lu Zhu asked suspiciously: "You didn't take it, and I didn't move, how could it disappear? Could it be that the courtyard was robbed?"
Yuanyang said amusedly: "There are so many valuable things in our yard, wouldn't the little thief just look at a piece of pajamas?"
Luzhu patted her on the shoulder: "You don't understand this. I'm sure they came for the master's personal belongings. Two years ago, before you came to the courtyard, the courtyard was once thieves."
It's been too long since that incident, it's not just a coincidence that something similar happened, Lu Zhu might not be able to remember it for the rest of her life.
Official Ji Mingxiu paid homage to the prime minister. He was young and handsome, so he was admired by many girls in the capital. Not as good as a daughter named Ma.
That Ma Qianjin was originally from Bingzhou, and his ancestors were cabinet bachelors, so he can be regarded as a well-known family. His father worked in the Ministry of Officials, which is known as the head of the six departments. People who work in the Ministry of Officials generally do not mix well would be too bad. Ma Qianjin is at the age of youth, and it is said that her appearance is also delicate and beautiful. Coupled with her unique background, it is not difficult to find a happy marriage.
But this Ma Qianjin is going to die. If you admire the current prime minister, just admire him. Who didn't have a dream lover when he was young? But she probably dreamed a lot, and her courage became fat, so she didn't sleep most of the night, and climbed the wall into the courtyard.
How did she know that Ji Mingxiu lived here? It was a coincidence anyway. Ji Mingxiu and Seventeen Yanfei were definitely not there that night. Into the yard.
Ma Qianjin had never been in a courtyard house, but for a daughter of a wealthy family, it was not difficult to find the upper house. Ma Qianjin entered the east chamber and stole Ji Mingxiu's personal clothes.
The personal clothes were stolen, and I don't know what unspeakable things the other party will do with these clothes.
But Ji Mingxiu is not an awkward little girl after all. If this matter ends here, it’s fine. Confidence with the handkerchief, the handkerchief was a big mouth, and it was passed out at once.
Once it was passed on to ten, ten to a hundred, and then the whole capital "knew" that the prime minister had an affair with Ma Qianjin.
This incident was quite a sensation at the time. Because of the clothes as evidence, the prime minister's mansion was in a headache for a while. In order to quell the rumors, the elders of the clan forced Ji Mingxiu to take the woman into the mansion as a concubine, and Ji Mingxiu was willing to accept it. It's not Ji Mingxiu who is at the mercy of others.
Ji Mingxiu went to Ma's house and asked Ma Qianjin to hand over his clothes, and came forward to clarify the misunderstanding, but Ma Qianjin refused.
Ji Mingxiu is not a vegetarian, so he found an enemy spy that night, and matched Ma Qianjin's "marriage in dew".
The charge of collaborating with the spy of the enemy country to frame the current prime minister caused the entire Ma family to disappear from the capital completely.
Luzhu sighed: "Look, this is called a murder caused by a piece of clothing."
Yuanyang didn't expect the master's methods to be so ruthless, and couldn't help but sweat coldly for the thief who stole the pajamas, but it's weird enough not to steal so many good things in the prime minister's mansion, but to steal only one pajamas.
While speaking, Ji Mingxiu stepped into the courtyard.
The two bowed and saluted.
Ji Mingxiu nodded lightly, and went to the study.
Luzhu hesitated for a moment, then said: "Master, there is something I want to report to you."
"What is it?"
"Your pajamas are missing, I don't know if they were stolen..." Luzhu lowered her head, it was her fault for not guarding her master's things.
Ji Mingxiu's eyes moved: "Where do you usually put your pajamas?"
"Here." Luzhu walked to the closet, opened the door, and the pajamas were hung in the most conspicuous place. From left to right, the color changed from light to dark.
Ji Mingxiu touched his chin: "Where are the obscene pants?"
Luzhu didn't understand why the master suddenly asked about her trousers, she was startled immediately, and quickly replied: "There are a lot of obscene trousers, the slaves have already counted them."
"I'm asking where."
"In the drawer."
As Luzhu said, she opened the drawer at the bottom of the closet. There were three layers in total, and the bottom layer contained Ji Mingxiu's obscene pants.
"So hidden?" Ji Mingxiu frowned.
covert means...
Without waiting for Luzhu's answer, Ji Mingxiu said again: "Hang it out, and hang it in the most conspicuous position."
…
On the mountain, Qiao Wei got up early and made breakfast for the children. Jing Yun was as diligent as ever, and Qiao Wei got up soon after getting up. Wang Shu and Xiao Bai were lying on the soft bed in a big shape. On the ground, the head and feet of one big and one small are in the same direction, the belly is also exposed, and the snoring sounds come and go.
Jing Yun spread out the white paper, and drew the bear images of the two of them. Then, as if not enjoying himself, he looked around, raised his eyebrows, walked to the bedside with a brush, and drew on the naked belly of one man and one beast. There are two big pig heads.
Qiao Wei was making carrot omelette in the kitchen, when she heard Wang Shu crying loudly from inside the house, Qiao Wei quickly covered the pot and went to the bedroom.
Wang Shu was standing in front of the bronze mirror in the Ba Bu bed with his naked body upright, crying loudly.
The cry woke up Xiaobai, and he looked at her in a daze.
Jing Yun was sitting by the bed reading a book with a very calm expression.
"What's wrong with Wang Shu? Did you fall off the bed?" Qiao Wei stepped forward worriedly and wiped her daughter's tears.
Wang Shu cried loudly: "I, I have piglets growing on my stomach!"
Qiao Wei looked down and saw that there was really a grinning little pig's head on Wang Shu's chubby belly, and as she cried and twitched, the pig's head also trembled, Qiao Wei couldn't hold back: "Pfft —”
Mother laughed, and Wang Shu was even more sad, wow, wow, wow, shaking the world.
Seeing that there was a pig's head on Shu's belly, Xiaobai also looked down at his own.
Huh
it also has
Xiaobai drooled and bit down on the pig's head!
"Ow—"
The hairs all over Xiaobai's body exploded!
Qiao Wei turned to look at her son: "Did you do it, Jing Yun?"
Jing Yun's expression remained unchanged and he said, "What?"
Qiao Wei said: "The pig's head on my sister's stomach."
"Does my sister have a pig's head?" Jing Yun's expression was very calm, "It's not me."
It's not you who is weird, besides you, there is another person in the whole room? How much courage do you have to tell such a lie that can be exposed immediately? Still so blushing and heartbeating, I don't know who I learned from.
"Don't cry, mother will wash you up." Qiao Wei put Wang Shu down and went to the kitchen to fetch water.
Wang Shu walked up to his brother sobbing, and showed him his little pig's head: "Brother, I have a piglet growing on my stomach, will it eat me?"
Jing Yun patted his sister's head: "No, it will be fine after washing."
"Why is there a piglet on my stomach?" Wang Shu asked pitifully.
Jing Yun looked at her belly: "Little pig likes you, it just came to rest on your belly."
Wang Shu said aggrievedly: "But I don't like it, my brother should take it away."
Qiao Wei fetched water and came in. Seeing that her son was still fooling her sister, she patted her son's little butt: "Don't bully my sister."
Jing Yun opened the scroll as if nothing had happened, and began to read it seriously.
Wang Shu's temper came and went quickly, and he stopped crying when his belly was washed in vain, and ate a few egg pancakes happily. He was so happy that he took his brother's hand and walked out of the yard intimately.
"Brother Zhong, it's time to go to school!" Wang Shu looked at the courtyard and shouted.
Last night, the Feng family was laughing and joking until very late, so noisy that Brother Zhong didn't sleep well, so he got up late in the morning, when he heard Wang Shu calling him, Qiniang hurriedly stuffed the steamed buns into his hands: "Eat while walking." , the water bag is in your book bag, remember to drink water."
"Understood, mother." Brother Zhong obediently went out.
Mrs. Feng happened to be washing her son's face in the yard, and saw Brother Zhong carrying a bookbag and Jing Yun brothers and sisters coming down the mountain: "Bi'er, what are they doing here?"
"Go to school." Bi'er washed her clothes and hung them on the rope.
"Where are you going?" Feng asked curiously.
Bier replied, "There is a private school in the village, where the children attend classes."
"Girl dolls can go too?" Feng Shi was dumbfounded. In her impression, the ladies always invite their masters home in class, and don't study with the young masters.
Bi'er was the first to know that Wang Shu also had the same reaction as Feng's when she was studying in a private school. Generally, private schools do not accept female students. Maybe the old man is fine.
Feng stretched his neck, looked at the backs of the three little dolls, and said enviously: "The private school is very expensive, right? Why did Brother Zhong go too? Is it for the little master to accompany you?"
Originally Feng thought that when Bi'er was working in a poor village, her master must be not very good, but after living here and eating the food here, she realized that it was not what she thought at all.
Bi'er hung the clothes on the rope to dry and spread out: "Brother Zhong went to study by himself, the old man is kind-hearted, and he doesn't limit himself to repairing money."
Feng's tongue clicked even more: "Don't stop cultivating? Why is there such a good thing? You don't think the old man is just..."
Bi'er interrupted her: "Mother, what are you thinking? The old man is a scholar in the village, and he is highly educated. It's not that he doesn't dare to accept him if he doesn't restrain himself, it's just that he doesn't want to."
In the eyes of the Feng family, a scholar is a man of great learning. How could he be a poor gentleman in a small village? Feng said regretfully: "He went to the city to find some work to do, not to mention anything else, a random accountant is worth two taels of silver a month!"
People are not for money.
Bi'er didn't want to talk to Feng Shi anymore, lest there would be another quarrel at the end.
Bi'er took the wooden basin and went back to the house, Feng called her: "Bi'er, do you think your brother can go to school?"
Bi'er gave her a look that she didn't even think about, and went back to the house.
Feng patted his son: "Go to the latrine by yourself."
Brother Beer has gone.
Feng Shi chased into the house and looked at her daughter with a smile: "Bi'er, how much do you pay per month?"
Bi'er looked at her vigilantly: "Why are you asking this?"
Feng said: "Look, you can eat well, live well, and go to a private school here. It's really a good place. Mother just wanted to ask, is there any work?"
Bi'er said: "You and dad don't need to work, I'll buy you a house so that you can take care of yourself forever."
Feng's face darkened: "What are you raising? The money has to be reserved for your younger brother to study and marry a wife! Your father and I can still do it!"
Bi'er's chest was really congested: "That money is enough to buy you a house, and it's also enough to educate your younger brother. As for marrying a wife, won't he earn it himself when he grows up? You are all old, don't go out to work son."
Feng scolded: "Don't spend that money, the money belongs to your brother, you don't even want to move a penny!"
How did the money she earned become her brother's? She is an older sister, so she can help her younger brother, but should she give her blood to him? Meat for my brother
Why didn't I find her mother so unreasonable before
Bi'er put down the basin angrily: "I'm going to work!"
Feng Shi held her back: "Hey, I haven't finished talking, is there any work to do?"
As for my mother's temperament, she has to be suppressed by countless mothers Lin above to dare not break out of the waves. If she really works by Madam's side, why not make a few holes in Madam's villa
"No!" After Bi'er finished speaking, she went out without looking back.
Feng Shi gritted her teeth: "Damn girl!"
Although Bier rejected Feng Shi, Feng Shi did not give up. Feng Shi had too little expectations for the mountain, so that when he arrived here, he was dazzled by all kinds of surprises. Except that the mountain is not prosperous enough, everything is better than the city Li Qiang.
The servants in the city want to feast on big fish and meat, go ahead and dream, it would be nice to give you some fat for a meal, maybe it’s because the master has leftovers and doesn’t want it, just eating food, Feng Shi is reluctant to leave the mountain .
Looking at private schools again, they don’t charge money. In the capital, the most shabby private schools cost three liang of silver a month to repair them. This is a lot of money, and it can be saved here!
Thinking about it this way, Feng wanted to give it a try.
After breakfast, Agui and the others went to the workshop. Feng had nothing to do, so he took a broom and swept the yard. The yard had already been swept clean by Qiniang, not even a single leaf. She was just pretending, but I was doing it in the backyard, but the man in the house couldn't see it, so Feng walked out of the small courtyard with a broom.
Carrying ingredients in front of the workshop, a lot of grass clippings fell, Feng swept the grass clippings happily, and went to the villa door, intending to go in and sweep Qiao Wei's front yard as well.
Qiao Wei was going to the town to deliver goods to Boss Rong when she went out and saw a woman wearing a maroon gown. She guessed it was Bi'er's mother and said, "Ma'am, this place has already been scanned, so don't bother."
Mrs. Feng was only the last servant in Enbo's mansion. She had never seen Mrs. Qiao who was raised in the boudoir, so she did not recognize Qiao Wei's identity. However, she vaguely felt that this lady's appearance was a bit kind. She smiled gently and said, "I am Bi'er's mother."
"I know." Qiao Wei said.
Feng said with a smile: "I've heard from Bi Er that Madam takes good care of her. I'm here, and I thank Madam on her behalf."
I really love Bi'er so much, why did you beat and scold me yesterday? Qiao Wei looked at her amusedly and made love.
Feng Shi smiled dryly and squeezed the broom: "We used to work in the city. I was the steward, and her father was the housekeeper."
steward, butler.
Qiao Wei still just smiled lightly and didn't speak.
"I've lived in the city for a long time, and occasionally come to the country, and I think the country is quite interesting." Feng couldn't help putting gold on her face, "Originally, her father and I wanted to stay in the mansion for a few more years, so that She saved some dowry money, she insisted that we do it, she wanted to buy us a house to take care of us, we are not old yet, where can we let her take care of me? I am the most restless person. There are hundreds of people, I am the most diligent one, if there is any work in the madam's room, don't be shy to ask, just tell me."
It's as if Qiao Wei couldn't wish for more.
Qiao Wei smiled: "I'm sorry, ma'am, I don't have much work to do in the house. If you really can't be free, you can make two clothes for Bi'er. Except for the new set of clothes, everything else is broken. gone."
Feng choked.
…
However, after Mrs. Xu got the formula, she immediately found Director Cui in the palace through her relationship, and explained her intentions to Director Cui: "...don't worry, my preserved egg is the authentic formula, which is better than the one you bought in the countryside. A hundred times stronger."
Mrs. Xu's husband is the envoy of the Taiyuan Hospital, and he still has face in front of the palace masters. Director Cui took a sip of tea calmly, and said with a smile on his face: "As far as I know, this preserved egg is a unique secret recipe."
Mrs. Xu said seriously: "Of course it is a unique secret recipe. It belongs to my family. The village woman bribed my servants and stole my formula. I only got the news two days ago, and immediately drove away the family of the maid who was eating inside and outside. .”
"So, the recipe originally belonged to Madam?" Manager Cui asked with a smile.
"yes."
Manager Cui smiled: "Since it's the same formula, why is yours a hundred times stronger than hers?"
"I..." Mrs. Xu choked for a moment, and said, "The formula is the same, but some medicinal materials that are difficult to buy in the market are used in it. She, a country woman, can't buy it at all. Only our Ganoderma lucidum hall has such financial resources." Physical power."
Director Cui was thoughtful: "But the miscellaneous family eats the preserved egg, it tastes good."
Xu sighed: "The taste is good, but it is harmful to the body. If you eat it for a long time, you will definitely suffer from it."
A trace of astonishment flashed across Manager Cui's face, he pondered for a moment, and then said, "I don't know where Madam's formula comes from?"
Mrs. Xu smiled warmly: "Eunuch Cui, do you still remember my elder brother and sister-in-law?"
A trace of respect appeared on the face of Director Cui: "Uncle Zheng and Doctor Shen, the miscellaneous family will remember it, could it be that this formula..."
Mrs. Xu nodded and said: "That's right, this formula was brought by my sister-in-law from the Medicine Valley. Eunuch Cui also knows that my sister-in-law is from the Jianghu. , prescription, this preserved egg is one of them.”
Shen is the miraculous doctor who saved the crown prince and the late empress, and the prescription she left behind must be excellent.
Director Cui didn't really trust Mrs. Xu at first, but once Mrs. Xu moved out Qiao Zheng and Mrs. Shen, Mr. Cui became silent.
"Let's see, why don't you return her and book my house instead?" Mrs. Xu asked cheekily.
Whether or not to refund Qiao's order is his own business, so why should others dictate? Director Cui is disliked, but over the years, there are many people who dislike him. He never refuses to associate with someone just because he doesn't like him. You know, opportunities don't always come your way. on the person.
Manager Cui said with a smile: "The miscellaneous family has signed a contract with her for a whole year, so it is impossible to keep your word. However, if Madam has the goods in hand, I can ask Madam to order more."
I wanted to order more from Qiao Wei, but Qiao Wei's monthly output is only 10,000. It would be a good thing if I could get the exact same goods elsewhere.
Mrs. Xu smiled sarcastically, well, let that little bitch enjoy herself for a year, and after a year, she will take over all the business in the palace and let that little bitch drink the northwest wind!
Xu smiled and said, "How much does Eunuch Cui need?"
Manager Cui thought about it in his mind, and said, "Twenty thousand per month, is there any?" One part entered the palace, and the other part was sold by him privately, which is also a good income.
It's only 20,000, just invite more people, Mrs. Xu replied without thinking: "If you have some, leave it to me!"
In the afternoon of that day, Director Cui signed an agreement with Mrs. Xu.
Mrs. Xu happily rented a workshop in the capital, hired people and bought materials, and the money was spent like running water.
There is no impenetrable wall in the world. Qiao Wei got the news almost as soon as Mrs. Xu and Eunuch Cui met. When Qiao Wei urged the goods, she mentioned Xu's order by the way.
"Oh, I didn't expect her to smear me so much." Qiao Wei sighed very hurt.
Compared with a country widow, Xu's persuasion is obviously stronger, Eunuch Cui smiled calmly: "Don't worry, Mrs. Qiao, I'm not interested in who made the formula, I just need my goods. "
As soon as Qiao Wei heard this, she knew that Eunuch Cui didn't believe that the formula belonged to her, and Qiao Wei didn't blame Eunuch Cui. In fact, Eunuch Cui was willing to reveal it to her clearly, which was considered very sincere.
Qiao Wei also said with sincerity: "Lu Yao knows that horsepower will see people's hearts for a long time, and who owns the formula, Eunuch Cui will understand one day."
After a pause, Qiao Wei said again: "However, 20,000 is not a small sum, so is your father-in-law afraid that she won't be able to pay it by then?"
"this… "
Qiao Wei coaxed and said: "Eunuch Cui wants so many goods, so he must have entered the palace, right? There are always a few boxes that need to be distributed to the market. The shelf life of preserved eggs is limited. You can't wait until you get them to sell them. In case of unsalable sales, you will lose a lot. You'd better sign contracts with several restaurants in advance, so that the restaurants can make publicity and preparations."
The reputation of preserved eggs in the capital is still very good, so Eunuch Cui didn't think about the issue of shelf life at first, but if it is really like what Qiao said, if the shelf life is over and they are not sold out, wouldn't he be at a big loss
Qiao Wei saw that Eunuch Cui's expression had loosened, and quickly filled it with firewood: "Rongji's business didn't happen overnight. At first, it was fifty preserved eggs in two days, and gradually it was fifty a day, and now it's only eight a day. Ten, does Eunuch Cui think that you can sell better than Rong Kee without doing anything?"
To be honest, Eunuch Cui can trust the strength of the market demand for preserved eggs, but the human heart is a very strange thing. After Qiao Wei knocked him down a few times, he felt a little uncertain.
It is safer to establish the sales channels in advance. In this way, the requirements for the delivery date will be much stricter.
On the same day, Eunuch Cui found Mrs. Xu after returning to the capital, and drew up an additional agreement with her - if the delivery cannot be made on time, he will have to pay three times the amount of compensation.
"Three times." Qiao Wei sneered, "If you steal my formula, I will pay you to death!"
Mrs. Xu didn't know that she was gone forever on the road of losing money. In order to catch up with the goods, Mrs. Xu invested a lot, and used all the money for her son to marry a wife.
Qiao Wei sat in Rongji all afternoon, helping to count the accounts of the past few days, and then went to the small kitchen to look at the beer she had brewed, and was about to go home.
But suddenly, Master He screamed from the kitchen: "Where's my shrimp? My shrimp! My shrimp is gone!"
Qiao Wei raised her eyebrows strangely, then turned and went to the big kitchen: "What's the matter, Master He?"
Master He said in disbelief: "The crystal shrimp balls I just put here disappeared in the blink of an eye! It really took a blink of an eye. I found a spoon in the cupboard, and when I turned around, the shrimp disappeared. Gone."
The plate was bare with a bit of sauce left over from the shrimp.
Xiao Liu hehe said: "Master He, it's not like you ate it yourself?"
"I can eat a whole plate in one go! You really think highly of me!" Master He yelled angrily, wanting to pour something, narrowing his eyes, "Did you steal it, Xiao Liu?"
"Me? Why should I steal your shrimp? Your shrimp is not as delicious as Master Hai's!"
Master Hai frowned: "Did you steal my shrimp balls yesterday?"
"Your shrimp balls are gone too?" Master He was surprised.
Master Hai said: "Yes, I also put it on the stove, went to fetch two handfuls of green onions, and the shrimps were gone. I thought it was one of you who ate it."
"I don't have one." Xiao Liu raised his hands.
Yao Qing shook his head: "Me neither."
Another master also said: "I thought it was the second idiot."
Master He was startled: "What do you mean? Yours is also..."
The master nodded: "Yes, the shrimp balls I made are gone too! It's just the day before yesterday!"
Everyone found the second idiot, the second idiot is stupid, and he does some rough work in the kitchen and firewood room, but the second idiot is not bad, he can't do such things as stealing food.
"Second Master, what's going on?" Everyone looked at Qiao Wei.
Qiao Wei touched her chin: "Aside from crystal shrimp balls, are there any other dishes missing?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Qiao Wei paused: "Has anyone else entered the kitchen besides you?"
Everyone shook their heads again, Rongji often develops new dishes, the kitchen is a forbidden area, let alone outsiders, and the employees inside Rongji are not just anyone who wants to enter.
Qiao Wei frowned strangely: "That's weird, neither you ate it yourself, nor was it stolen by an outsider, so why did it disappear?"
Xiao Liu's complexion changed: "Is it haunted?"
The crowd huddled together in fright.
Qiao Wei looked around, pondered for a while, and said, "Go out first, close the door and windows tightly, and don't come in without my order."
Everyone thought she was going to catch ghosts, so they went out with wind on their feet.
Qiao Wei first opened the cupboard, then the woodpile, and then opened all the jars and rice vats, but found nothing: "I saw you, come out to grandma, as long as you are willing to change your past, grandma will spare your life."
Nothing happened.
Qiao Wei grabbed a few prawns from the basket, shelled and deveined them, and fried a plate of prawn balls with green peppers, then pretended to look for chopsticks in the cupboard.
On the beam, a small black figure hung upside down on the cloth strips, and slipped down without a sound, holding a bag in one small hand, and grabbing the plate with the other hand, and poured the shrimp balls into the plate. When picking up the bag, Qiao Wei suddenly turned around and pinched that hand!
With a quick twitch of the hand, Qiao Wei only grabbed a cloth bag.
Such agility!
Qiao Wei's eyes sharpened, she grabbed the dustpan and covered it up.
The little figure jumped nimbly, avoiding Qiao Wei's claws, then the little figure opened the door and flew out.
Everything happened so fast, everyone only saw a black shadow flashing past, thinking that they really saw a ghost in broad daylight, they all screamed in fright.
Qiao Wei caught up with that figure.
The little black shadow flew over the eaves and walls.
It can't help that Qiao Wei is familiar with the terrain. Qiao Wei can't climb the roof, but Qiao Wei can drill alleys.
Qiao Wei chased after silently, turning left and right, and finally caught the shrimp thief in front of a dilapidated courtyard.
"Squeak—" Pearl screamed.