Li Zhensheng has been in business for over a decade. When it comes to business acumen and understanding people's hearts, he is far more capable than Li Laosan and his wife.
After hearing what he said, not only did Li Laosan and his wife learn something, but Li Laoer, Tao Hongying, and Jiayin also benefited greatly.
Jiayin, in particular, couldn't help but feel sorry for her uncle.
If it weren't for the Wang family's underhanded tactics that cut off his path to advancement, his uncle might now have a place in the imperial court...
After everyone had discussed it and agreed, they turned around and saw Jiayin sitting in a chair, resting her chin on her hand, her chubby little face full of regret. They couldn't help but laugh.
Li Zhensheng pinched his little niece's cheek and said, "Fu Niu'er, your third uncle has really taken a favor from Dean Zhou this time. Do you think we could find a couple of flowers as a thank-you gift?"
Jiayin quickly nodded in agreement. To support her mother's private kitchen business, she had accumulated quite a few beautiful flowers in her online space.
Most of them were collected with the help of the Marquis's head steward. Some were half-dead when they were delivered, some were just flower roots, and some were just seeds.
But the nursery was as helpful as ever, and now the flowers are growing lushly. Rows of flowerpots are placed in the backyard of the small courtyard, and she has to water and care for them from time to time, which is exhausting.
Now that she's given away two pots, things will be a little easier for her.
Thinking this, she patted her chest and confidently declared, "Don't worry, Uncle, whatever flowers you want, you'll get them!"
Li Laosan ruffled his niece's hair and said with a smile, "Alright, let your Uncle inquire and then have your Huan-gege come back to get it. If you can't find it, don't worry, your Uncle will think of another way!"
"Mmm! Mmm!" Jiayin giggled, hugging her third uncle's leg and acting coquettishly, "Third Uncle is the best."
Li Laosan squatted down, carried his little niece on his back, and planned to take a stroll around the yard to digest his food.
Li Lao Er was surprised and couldn't help but ask, "When did Fu Niu'er become so close to Third Brother?"
"Hmph, you've been kissing me all along!"
The father and son, who had reached the door, almost simultaneously retorted, causing Li Lao Er and the others to burst into laughter...
The next morning, Li Laosan and his wife were about to return to Luo'an.
Grandma Li was worried about her grandson who was about to take the imperial examination for the first time, and she also wanted to take her granddaughter out for a walk. So she told her son and daughter-in-law, "I heard that the academy is going to arrange for students to take the imperial examination for the first time? Jiaren should have taken the imperial examination for the first time when he was in Junyang. Unfortunately, there was a severe drought that year, and the court was in chaos. Later, the capital was moved, which delayed his taking the examination until now."
“Jiaren has studied for several years, so he should find the preliminary examination easy, but you should still keep an eye on him. In three to five days, when the spring plowing in the village is finished, I will take Fu Niu’er to stay for a while.”
“Okay, Mother. You and Fu Niu’er should go early, and take Hong Ying with you.” Zhao Yuru said with a smile, “This is the first time we’ve been handling such a big business, and we’re not sure what to do. We’re hoping that you’ll come and keep an eye on things for us.”
"Don't say that. How can you look down on yourselves? You two are the most steady and cautious people. You can do everything well. I'm just going to nag you a bit!" Old Mrs. Li patted her son and daughter-in-law, urging them to hurry on their way.
Jiayin also hugged her third uncle and third aunt, waving her chubby little hands happily.
Li Laosan and his wife smiled and waved in response.
Just then, Sister Qiong arrived in a carriage to deliver some things. She greeted Li Laosan and his wife briefly before passing by.
Sister-in-law Qiong carried down a lot of chicken, fish, meat, and eggs, which made Old Lady Li scold, "Jinrou, why did you send so much stuff over again?"
Sister-in-law Qiong replied with a smile, "Our lady said that she's too busy with spring plowing in the village to come over for the time being, so she's sending some food to help the family recover. Spring plowing is hard work, and we need to eat well to have the energy to work."
Old Mrs. Li knew this was just an excuse, after all, who in the Li family needed to work in the fields these days?!
The eldest son, Jia Huan, and Tao Hongying mostly stayed in restaurants in the city, the third son and his wife stayed in Luo'an with their children, and the fourth son stayed at the dockside military camp.
Currently, there are only three people who live in the house and can guard the courtyard: a first-rank imperial consort, a princess, and a duke...
Even if they want to work, the villagers can't let them.
Grandma Li wanted to load some return gifts onto the car, but there wasn't much good stuff at home at this time of year. In the end, Jiayin pulled her grandmother's hand and led her into the storeroom, where they brought out a basket of fruit and a basket of vegetables.
The fruit is alright; you can still occasionally find it in the market.
But bright green string beans, slender cowpeas, crisp cucumbers, and dark purple eggplants are a rare treat!
Sister-in-law Qiong was pleased to see this and said, "It's easy to get a sore throat in spring, and our lady has been busy, so her appetite has been particularly poor. Recently, the corners of her mouth have even cracked. With so many green vegetables, she can eat a few more bites."
Grandma Li quickly said, "In another month, the flowers on the mountain will bloom. Then we can invite her to stay in the village for a while. By then, all the vegetables at home will be ready, and she can eat as much as she wants."
Sister-in-law Qiong agreed and hurried back.
There weren't many people in the family, and they couldn't finish all the food, so Grandma Li called Hui Niang and Sister Liu over, and the family shared some.
Hui Niang and Sister Liu did not refuse, after all, they were on good terms with Madam Cui.
Hui Niang said, "I've been making shoes these past few days, and I'll bring a pair for Sister Cui and Auntie."
Sister Liu smiled and said, "What a coincidence, I'm sewing an inner garment right now, I'll bring two sets too."
While they were chatting animatedly, Jiayin quietly slipped out along the wall.
Unfortunately, Hui Niang caught her red-handed. "Lazy girl, where have you been? Come here right now and let me see the purse you sewed yesterday!"
Jiayin grinned, showing off her white teeth, and pretended not to understand.
Hui Niang understood everything. Her little apprentice, who had been diligent for only a few days, was now slacking off again!
But before she could speak, Old Mrs. Li had already made an excuse for her granddaughter, "Oh dear, the third son and Yu Ru came back yesterday, and Fu Niu'er was busy helping out. She forgot that the purse still needs sewing. Well then, tonight... no, tomorrow she'll definitely sew it!"
Hui Niang truly experienced He Mama's helplessness; teaching an apprentice is so difficult!
But the old woman had spoken, and the chubby girl had clung to her arm, shaking it and acting coquettishly. What could she say?
Although Grandma Li said she trusted her third son and daughter-in-law, she still couldn't put her mind at ease.
The couple had to take care of five boys and run the academy's canteen. With only Aunt Wu and Uncle Wu helping them, it was exhausting no matter how you looked at it.
So she asked Shuiyun to cook several good dishes for dinner, and after Li Zhensheng and Li Lao Er returned, she invited the village chief, Uncle Zhao, and Liu Biaotou over.
As for Dr. Zhang, the old man has recently made progress in his research on anesthetics and is currently engrossed in experiments, so he absolutely refuses to come over.
Fine wine and delicious food are not enough to make him leave the job he loves!
Having no other choice, Old Lady Li could only ask Zheng He to deliver a food box over.
Everyone was used to eating at the Li family's house, and no one felt uncomfortable.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, we started to get down to business.
The village chief and others were overjoyed to hear that Li Laosan was going to book the entire academy's canteen...
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