Before Guo Shao left the inn, he sent Lu Chengyong to Chen Jiali's house to say hello.
Lu Chengyong rode to the front of Chen's house. This is a relatively remote area in the west of the city. Today, there is a long road jam. The street is full of carriages and horses, and a group of people are queuing outside the gate. Lu Chengyong was not wearing armor at this time. He wore a scholar's robe and a hat. He rode straight up, but heard some people scolding: There is a first-come-first-served rule, waiting behind.
After hearing this, he asked: What are you doing
We will do what you come for. A fat man in a silk robe snorted.
Lu Chengyong ignored them and went straight to the door and shouted.
In a wing room in the front yard, there was only a bamboo curtain hanging at the door. Several people stood under the eaves but did not go in. They were bowing and talking to the people inside.
Chen Jiali clasped her hands in front of her stomach, paced a few steps slowly, and sighed: I am a poor widow, usually very careful not to get involved in trouble, you are all men, why do you always come to my house
A middle-aged man bowed and said: "Mrs. Shen, Shen Chen, is still a member of our Shen family after all. If it weren't for the former head of the family, Dalang has called you mother for several years. For Dalang's sake, come forward to preside over the business affairs, everyone is looking forward to your coming out."
Chen Jiali showed a hint of smile at the corner of her mouth, but her tone was full of resentment: How dare I? Brother Shen's words really embarrass me. I have already hidden in this secluded place. If my second sister-in-law doesn't say nasty things about me behind my back, I can't say anything.
This woman who doesn't know the general situation, I will definitely punish her when I go back. The middle-aged man said angrily, we are here today to apologize for treating the lady so badly before; the lady is generous and doesn't mind, helping us get the goods back. This kindness, our Shen family will never forget it.
An old man said angrily: If she really said something bad, she should come to the mansion this afternoon and kowtow to Mrs. Shen to admit her fault.
Chen Jiali hurriedly said: Don't be like this, although my second sister-in-law is not from the same family, she is older than me. You want her to hate me to death
Another young man in a long robe holding a fan said hurriedly: "The Shu Road is now controlled by the Zhou army. If we don't take action to seize the supply and sales, it will be a bargain for others. Madam, since you have such a powerful backer, if you come forward, many people will be waiting to give money to invest, and we will have everything we need."
Someone said excitedly: With the support of the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty, we can become royal merchants and get involved in the salt industry.
Chen Jiali said quietly: "What backer? I just did a few business deals with his family and have a little bit of friendship with him. You said it so harshly, and some people gossiped about it, as if I was not a faithful wife."
The middle-aged businessman immediately said in a serious tone: Anyone in our business group who dares to slander the madam's pure and innocent reputation will be condemned by both humans and gods.
Everyone immediately agreed: "Yes, Madam Shen has been widowed at a young age and has raised Shen Dalang with great difficulty. I suggest that the officials of Kaifeng Prefecture submit a memorial to erect a chastity memorial arch for Madam Shen. In this chaotic world, there are not many people who are as loyal as Madam Shen. It is worse than pigs and dogs to slander her reputation."
Why didn't Mr. Chen come? It would be easier if Mr. Chen was invited.
At this moment, a middle-aged woman hurried in and called out at the door: Madam. Chen Jiali responded, and the woman opened the curtain and walked in, whispering a few words to Chen Jiali.
Chen Jiali was immediately delighted and said: Prepare the carriage and horses.
She hurriedly took the veil and put it on, then walked out of the door. Everyone looked at her respectfully: Madam
Chen Jiali said: "Let's talk about this big thing later. I have to go and take care of something urgent."
She took a carriage and headed north to the West Market. Aunt Sun was in the same carriage with her. Chen Jiali's face flushed and she whispered: Those people just now said they wanted to build a chastity arch for me. It was so funny. I would like that.
Aunt Sun said: There were hundreds of thousands of strings of goods, but the Zhou army warriors were unmoved and returned them all. Not to mention the Shen, Chen and Li business gangs, even those small merchants believed that the lady had a lot of connections.
Chen Jiali said softly: It's just a word from him, I didn't do anything.
Aunt Sun laughed and said: Gao Baoxu, the one who intercepted our goods, was so scared that he vomited out everything he had eaten, and he also made us lose so much money and goods of unknown origin.
That's nothing, it's not like I haven't seen money before. Chen Jiali raised her head and said, "I felt relieved and relieved. I wonder if that bitch who only speaks ill of me behind my back will come and kowtow to me tomorrow. She doesn't even know who she is, and she still has the nerve to humiliate me."
Aunt Sun agreed: I heard that Shen Er bought a house outside and kept a concubine. He doesn't come home for ten days or half a month. The woman is like a widow.
Soon they arrived at the place, and they went in from the warehouse entrance behind the shop and asked where Guo Shao was. Chen Jiali stopped her followers and went in with Aunt Sun one after the other, only to see Guo Shao and a young woman sitting by the table waiting.
Chen Jiali took a look and was slightly startled. The people that Shao Geer associates with are really strange. Last time he brought a dirty, smelly, and half-starved person, but this time he brought a village girl.
Chen Jiali really couldn't describe the feeling in her heart. It was okay that a girl like her cousin Zhou Xian could make Guo Shao fall in love with her, but why was he involved with a village girl? He didn't even think about what kind of person he was and why did he humiliate himself
However, Chen Jiali would of course not reveal her thoughts, but she smiled and bowed gently: I am here to greet you and congratulate General Guo on his victory in the attack on Shu.
Guo Shao casually clasped his fists in return and said with a smile: Let us congratulate each other. The cessation of war in the world will benefit all industries.
General Guo's words make sense. Those powerful people who own fertile land may not care so much, but people like us who do business hope that the trade routes are smooth and the roads are safe. Chen Jiali said casually.
Unexpectedly, Guo Shao seemed to be lost in thought after hearing this, and did not respond to the topic for a long time.
Chen Jiali naturally turned her eyes to the village girl next to her with a smile of admiration on her face. It was obvious that the village girl had never seen the world. Not to mention her rustic clothes, she didn't even show any courtesy just now. Chen Jiali said: "What a pretty girl! I wonder who is General Guo?"
Guo Shaodao: Her surname is Lu, her father is known as the Divine Doctor Lu, and we are old friends. Madam Chen, don't underestimate Madam Lu because she is young. Her medical skills have been famous for a long time. Madam Lu, this is my good friend, Madam Chen.
As expected, the young lady looked at him with her bright eyes, and she was quite impressive. Chen Jiali bowed with a smile: "It is an honor for our shop to receive Madam Lu." Lu Lan remained silent.
Guo Shao said: Madam Chen, please take Madam Lu to pick some clothes. Don't use silk or satin. She may not be used to wearing them for a while. Something plain will do. After that, he turned around and advised Lu Lan very gently: Linen is too rough and uncomfortable to wear. This is the reward you deserve. Don't mind it.
Lu Lan said helplessly: "Okay." After saying only two words, her accent was completely different from that of a Tokyo native.
Chen Jiali said: Let’s go to another place, upstairs.
The group got up and went upstairs to a very luxurious room. There were a few ready-made clothes hanging outside, a few tables and chairs, and even a chessboard; inside the warm room there was a round hole door with exquisite embroidery, which was where women's underwear was stored and where they could change clothes.
Since Guo Shao personally brought people here, how could Chen Jiali neglect it? She took the young lady into the warm room and specially picked out expensive materials. Chen Jiali smiled and said: Madam Lu, take off your clothes first, and let's try the inside first.
Lu Lan was seen pulling at her clothes, looking very shy. Chen Jiali said softly: "You see, the people serving you are all women, and there are no windows in here. Some of the rich ladies in Tokyo dare to change clothes here, so you can rest assured."
Only then did Lu Lan undress.
Chen Jiali looked at her calmly, and felt that Guo Shao had a sharp eye. Although this woman was petite, she had a very good figure and skin, and her breasts alone were unmatched by many women. However, she was wearing a loose dress with poor cuts, which affected her appearance. She looked as pure and refined as a lotus root with its rough shell peeled off.
I just heard General Guo say that he didn't bring any money, so he probably had to buy on credit. Lu Lan seemed to like Chen Jiali a little bit, and finally talked to her, so she didn't have to choose something too expensive.
When Chen Jiali heard this, she couldn't stop laughing and said: Don't worry, I'll choose the cheaper one. If he refuses to pay, my loss won't be big.
Lu Lan said: I won’t default on my debt.
Chen Jiali picked up a top with light-colored floral patterns and a dark cross collar and said: Try this one, you see it's made of cloth, it's not worth much money.
This material is made of silk and cotton, which are woven together. This cotton must be imported from the Western Regions, and it is woven very slowly, requiring the most skilled and careful weavers; the patterns on it are even more laborious. This material does not look as shiny as silk, but it is more than ten times more expensive than ordinary silk. It absorbs sweat and is breathable, so noble ladies prefer to wear it in summer.
The tailoring is so exquisite that the stitching is beyond the ability of ordinary tailors, and the clothes in the palace are not necessarily made by specialized merchants.
Lu Xiaoniang picked up the corner of the clothes and took a look: The things in the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty are indeed very good.
Chen Jiali smiled but said nothing, thinking: This girl is not an ordinary village girl, she is quite knowledgeable. Moreover, Chen Jiali took a casual look and saw that the girl had pierced ears but did not wear earrings. This girl was obviously not a conservative person, probably just from a poor family.
Chen Jiali asked someone to help her dress, and she called Aunt Sun over. Soon, Aunt Sun came in with a jewelry box. Chen Jiali picked out a pair of the smallest gold earrings for Lu Xiaoniang to wear. At first glance, they were not very obvious, but the patterns carved on the earrings were very small, which was in line with the simple appearance and exquisite inner dress as Guo Shao said.
After a while, Lu Xiaoniang changed her clothes from inside to outside and came out dressed neatly. Guo Shao was stunned. Chen Jiali praised from the side: There is a mirror over there. You can see that it is not ostentatious, but no one dares to look down on you. If there is, she must be an ignorant vulgar person.
Mrs. Lu glanced at herself in the bronze mirror. She said nothing, but her face flushed, and she must be very happy.