Time flies by under the lamp, but words on paper are hard to polish. When the lamp oil ran out, Xu Jiang had barely finished copying half of the book.
When I heard the night watch again, it was already midnight.
Take a break, she blew out a small lamp.
The rabbits sink and the crows rise, the morning light part the clouds and fog, revealing the hustle and bustle of the city.
When Xu Jiang came back after delivering the meal to Mrs. Lin, she saw an ox cart parked in front of the shop. It was Xu San.
Yesterday, after Xu Jiang went to Lou's house, she went to the East Market on the way and showed Xu San the sketch drawn by Cao Shu. She also told him the materials to be bought and asked him to help with the purchase. She didn't expect that it would be done so quickly.
"Brother Xu, why are you here so early?"
"I have to go help Uncle Cao later, so I'll bring the materials here early. I'll wait for him to send Lu Zhen off, and then we can go to the employer's house together."
So that's how it is. Xu Jiang couldn't bear to delay him, so she quickly opened the corner gate and helped him move the materials into the backyard. After they unloaded the goods and counted the money, Cao Shu still hadn't arrived.
Xu San walked around the donkey shed twice and asked, "Boss, are you planning to get another donkey or a horse?"
Xu Jiang blushed when he asked her that. She coughed dryly and replied, "I still want to raise a horse."
Xu San scratched his head. "It's okay to raise a donkey, it's just enough to make ends meet, but if I raise a horse, this place is a bit too cramped." He measured it again, then pointed at the donkey and said, "If I sell this donkey and buy a horse, it would be just right."
The donkey glared at Xu San and opened its mouth to bite his hand, but Xu San flicked its nose with his finger, and it behaved itself.
"This donkey has been with me the longest, and I can't bear to sell it. I'll just squeeze it out a little bit." Besides, Lou Yunchun's horse only comes to burrow occasionally, so it won't cause any trouble.
"Since the boss is reluctant to let me go, I'll just have to accept it for now. When the business gets bigger, I'll move to a bigger house and build a big stable, and then I can raise as many cows as I want."
Xu Jiang was amused. "Thank you, Third Brother. I must work hard to earn more money so that I can buy a big house in the capital and build a big shed for it."
Xu San was very confident in Xu Jiang. "The boss is so capable, he will definitely be able to do it."
The two of them hadn't said much when a voice called out from outside: "Xu San, let's go."
Uncle Cao is here.
"Coming, coming." Xu San hurried outside.
Xu Jiang went out and said hello to Uncle Cao, then watched them leave.
The Spring Festival is approaching, and every family is putting up couplets and writing couplets. Xu Jiang has been working at his ink stall for several days, writing couplets and couplets for people until his hands are tired.
But the income is still considerable.
After waiting for several days, Zeng Zhui finally showed up. These days, Xu Jiang went to deliver meals, and Lin Hongchu almost rubbed her ears into calluses.
It was her fault that she was in such a hurry that day that she forgot to bring the letter to Yuan Zuzhi's house who was attending the banquet with her, and asked him to give it directly to Yuan Yanyan.
"Madam Xu, business is booming." Zeng Zhui rode on his donkey and looked into the shop. "Where's the little hoe? Why can't I see her?"
"Auntie is not feeling well. She is taking care of me at home and won't be coming to the shop anymore."
"Not coming?" Zeng Zhui was stunned for a moment, then realized that Mrs. Lin might be in trouble, so he pulled the rope and went to the private school.
Xu Jiang hurriedly called out to him, "Wait, are you going to Yuan's house later?"
"No, Zhuchun has been at home these days helping with his studies. I'll go to his house later to see him."
No wonder he hasn't come here recently.
"Madam Xu, do you have something to bring to Mr. Yuan? I'm going to see Madam Lin and I'll bring it to you on the way."
Xu Jiang laughed. After all the circles, it still had to be him.
"Little Hoe has a letter for Yanyan."
"Yuan Yanyan?" When did these two little girls know each other? Zeng Zhui stretched out his hand, "Give it to me, I'll take it."
Xu Jiang came into the house and brought him the letter. He took the letter, put it in his arms, slapped the donkey's butt and ran away.
Xu Jiang looked at his back and sighed.
"Madam Xu, please write me two spring couplets and two pairs of blessing characters."
"Okay."
When Lou Yunchun arrived, Xu Jiang was packing up his stall, so he hurried forward to help.
After cleaning up, Xu Jiang settled into a reclining chair and didn't want to move. Lou Yunchun boiled water for tea, then cut up a few blood oranges and placed two plates of snacks in front of her.
"But you're tired?"
Xu Jiang stretched out his claws, "My hands are sore."
Lou Yunchun quickly took over and massaged her, "I'll write some for you later. You should write less tomorrow."
"A pair of spring couplets costs 40 wen, and a pair of scrolls costs 20 wen. Wouldn't it be too much of a loss to sell the calligraphy of the top scholar at this price?"
"There is no Tanhualang here, only Zhaoyue."
Xu Jiang chuckled and dragged a stool over for him to sit on. "The Dali Temple is so busy, and you still come to write for me? Aren't you tired?"
"Not tired." Lou Yunchun touched her face. "But you have lost a lot of weight in recent days."
"After this busy period, eat more during the New Year and you'll grow back."
"How is Madam Lin?"
"It has been used well these days, and it seems to be getting better."
"Then you have to pay attention to your body."
Xu Jiang didn't dare tell Lou Yunchun that besides getting up early to cook for Madam Lin, she also burned lamps at night and continued carving during the day. She just nodded and said, "Don't worry, it's okay."
She had put the Yaoxian County Chronicles on hold for now, fortunately, the deadline was still a long way off, allowing her to slowly revise and annotate them after the New Year. She hadn't yet heard from the printer for the second edition of "New Collection of Elementary Studies," but it was likely that with the upcoming New Year's Eve, everyone would be busy and no one would be willing to come, so she would have to postpone it until after the New Year. Her most pressing task now was engraving the plates, which she hoped to complete before the New Year, allowing the two shopkeepers to have a happy and carefree New Year and also allowing her to raise enough money to hire people and purchase materials for her own publication after the New Year.
In order to cope with the spring school and imperial examinations after the New Year, she had to print the books and magazines as soon as possible.
"Are your hands still sore?"
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