After Wan Qingmiao arrived at Huailiu Lane, he stayed in the bookstore for only two days before he felt like he had a nail stuck in his butt and couldn't sit still. He then ran to the next door and begged the shopkeeper, Wang, to take him out to broaden his horizons.
Shopkeeper Wang naturally responded to all requests.
This time he was completely wild, traveling around the towns and villages all day long, getting to know many merchants and farmers, and becoming very familiar with them.
However, this did not delay the main business.
After he figured out the whole situation, he quickly finalized the purchase of grain, and then made a decisive decision to ask Manager Wang to collect Beijing grain and goods on behalf of the Wan family in Beijing, and then transfer them back to Chongzhou.
He also did not let Manager Wang help for free, and would give him 20% of the profits.
In this way, the Wan family would not have to waste manpower and go to Beijing to purchase goods every year, nor would they have to worry about being deceived and incurring losses, and it would also allow Manager Wang to earn more money.
It can be said to kill three birds with one stone.
Manager Wang only thought about it for a long time before agreeing readily.
In business transactions, if you only focus on one side of the relationship, it is inevitable that there will be unfairness over time. It is better to have both benefits and favors, so that neither party owes the other and it can also enhance friendship.
Xu Jiang and Xi Zhi did not interfere in their affairs.
They trusted Manager Wang and were willing to let Wan Qingmiao gain experience on his own.
Shopkeeper Wang has a rough and cheerful personality and acts in a steady and mature manner. Wan Qingmiao is young and energetic, and inevitably impetuous. It is better to have him teach and train him than to leave him in the bookstore to hang around.
The day quickly reached the 28th.
There is a poem that says: The sounds of felling trees are heard, and birds are chirping. They come out of the deep valley and move to the tall trees.
It is time for the two birds, Lou Yunchun and Xu Jiang, to "leave the deep valley and move to the tall trees."
The new house had been renovated, and Yinyin and A'shou had already taken a few maids and servants to clean it.
The moving date was set for March 28th, which was a time when all officials had their day off. The father and son of the Lou family did not have to attend court, so it was a good time for them to host a banquet.
In three days, after the actual moving day, Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun planned to have a family gathering here while Xizhi and Wan Qingmiao were still in the capital.
Originally they had planned to invite them on the special day, but because both the Wan and Lin families were in mourning, Xizhi, Wan Qingmiao, Mr. Lin, and Lin Hongchu had all informed in advance that they could not come to warm their home on that day, for fear of offending the foundation god and the house god.
Therefore, we had to hold another family dinner two days later.
Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun didn't care at first, but since the elders didn't agree, they had no choice but to obey their wishes.
Since this house was originally the private residence of Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun, and not the main residence of the owner, it is not suitable for grand celebrations and banquets.
Therefore, on the wedding day, only some close relatives and friends were invited to warm the house. There was no big ceremony and no publicity.
The new house was located in Zijin Lane. Xu Jiang named it Luming Courtyard according to the occasion. Lou Yunchun also thought it was a good name, so he wrote it and she carved it, and thus the plaque was erected.
Before moving, the owner of the house needs to bring people to clean the house.
In addition to cleaning up the old items and debris left by the previous owner, you also have to burn mugwort or sandalwood to drive away snakes, insects, rats and ants, and then ask a Taoist priest to pray to the gods to drive away evil spirits to ensure the prosperity of the family and the safety of the home.
After cleaning the house, the door must be closed for three days, and only when an auspicious day and time comes can the door be officially opened and people can enter.
On the day of moving, before dawn, the four members of the Lou family came to Zijin Lane with a group of slaves and several carts of household items.
Uncle Cao and Xu San arrived earlier than them. They came to set up the bed in the new house.
Moving into a new house is also called "setting up the bed" in the folk. Like moving into a new house, it is a very solemn matter and must be carried out on the day of moving and at an auspicious time.
When setting up the bed, you not only have to set up the new bed for the newlyweds, but also the old bed.
Yesterday, Xu Jiang asked Cao Shu and Xu San to dismantle all the beds and couches in the bookstore and move them to the Luming courtyard along with the new bed, placing them in the side room and the study.
The empty bedroom in the bookstore can be used to store books and plate.
Nowadays, bookstores are printing more and more books, and the space is becoming more and more cramped. Freeing up a room to store books and editions can just make the store more comfortable.
The space where Lou Yunchun's bed was originally placed can be used to make two shelves for books, making the bookstore appear more spacious.
The bookstore will no longer be inhabited, and the kitchen will only be used to prepare tea and snacks. The poultry, firewood and other sundries in the yard will all be moved to the new house.
In this way, the backyard will be much wider and tidier, and after she rearranges it, it will be more convenient for entertaining guests and printing.
However, Stubborn Donkey, Uncle Jackal and Moon Slave will remain in the bookstore as usual. One will be responsible for travel, one will be responsible for guarding the house, and one will be responsible for catching mice. They are all very useful family guards and none of them can be missing.
At dawn, Lou Jing went forward to unlock the door, then asked the servants to carry in an eight-tenths full rice bucket, a seven-tenths full water bucket, bowls and chopsticks, a dustpan, clothes and bedding, and an old stove.
These are the 'Six Things for Moving into a New House', which are the necessary auspicious items when moving into a new house, symbolizing ample food and clothing, and prosperity.
After the six items have been brought into the house, the owner can enter.
This house was bought by Lou Yunchun and Xu Jiang. Lou Jing let the two children enter first, and he and his wife followed behind.
Because the bed can only be brought into the courtyard at 3:15 am, Uncle Cao and Xu San had to wait for an auspicious time.
Everyone entered the yard and first carried rice, water, bowls and chopsticks, dustpans, and stoves into the kitchen, and then took clothes and bedding into the bedroom.
After everything was properly arranged, at exactly three quarters past three in the morning, the new and old beds were brought into the house, and then the knocks started with a clanging sound.
The kitchen is also set up, and the newlyweds light the stove and fire together, and then start preparing offerings to worship the earth god and the house god to bless the family with peace.
Breakfast and a warm-house banquet must also be prepared.
The Warming House Banquet is also known as the Fire Wine Banquet.
"Entering the Fire" means to place a pot of blazing fire in the main room of the new house after the worship. Fire is the heart of a house. When the fire is blazing and the heart is blazing, everything will be blazing.
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