270 Marriage
The little days this month came at a really bad time. Meimei had to deal with many things personally, such as the banquets from the noble ladies, which she could not refuse. When the wife of Marquis Weiyuan was dying, the noble ladies had come to express their condolences, and she had repaid them one by one, but only half of them had been repaid so far. Most of the invitations received this year were for birthday banquets, which were also opportunities for women to get together privately after being bored at home for a long time. Meimei could only accept the invitations and walk around. Under the host's hospitality, she had to drink a little wine. Her menstrual blood increased and she felt very uncomfortable. She went home and told Cuixi privately, but Xu Junying heard it and angrily blamed her for not taking care of herself. He specially invited the imperial physician to see her. The imperial physician said that she needed to lie down and recuperate, and she was not allowed to get out of bed the next day. He asked Cuixi and others to serve her well, and she was in bed with him for food and drink. He also came back early after the court was dismissed, took Heng'er to have lunch, and took official documents to read in the study, and stayed there for three days.
It was not until Meimei said that her good days were over and that if she continued to lie in bed she would really get sick that she was willing to let her get out of bed, and she warned her:
"I asked the imperial physician, and he said that women's daily life is like confinement after childbirth, and it cannot be taken lightly. They need to rest and recuperate... You shouldn't have attended that banquet in the first place. Wine is something that activates blood circulation, and you dared to drink it! You lost so much blood, and your face turned so pale, don't you understand this? Don't you ever do that again!"
"I see, thank you for your concern!"
Meimei agreed, but she complained in her heart: What a fuss, women do this every month to detoxify, right? Why is your face so pale? I looked in the mirror when I was dressing up just now, and it was pink. If you drink chicken soup every day and then lie down to sleep, it would be strange if you don't become fat.
Two days later, Meimei checked the business account books outside. When she flipped through the Xianmen account book, her mouth opened into an O shape. Cuixi beside her said anxiously:
"Master Hou said that he won't tell you yet. Wait until he comes to tell you himself!"
"Call him over here!"
Xu Junying just came out of the study room: "Who should I call over? Why is there no fruit tonight? I want to eat two slices of pear."
Meimei glared at him and patted the account book: "Want to eat pears? I think I'll give you two a slap!"
"Why are you so anxious to talk to your husband?"
Xu Junying glanced at Cuixi, who bowed, lowered her head and walked away.
"Look for yourself! There are hundreds of free banquets here and there, but Lu Xiangfeng actually... How did you do it?"
"How to do it? Just sign a note and write the three words Xu Junying. Don't you think it's money? I only wrote ten notes at first. When I found out that they really spent them, I wrote ten more. Lu Xiangfeng is your man, so he still gave me face. Not bad, Cui Xi will give it to him!"
"Don't you want to give it yet?"
"If you make me angry, I won't give it to you. So what? One of my subordinates hasn't given up yet!"
Xu Junying smiled and leaned over to sit next to her, holding her slender waist with one hand: "If my ancestors knew that they gave me this name, and that it was used for this purpose later, what do you think he would think? Would he be happy or angry? My wife used it to exchange for silver to open a restaurant, and I used it to treat people to dinner and drinks!"
Meimei pouted: "You are a good leader, but I am the one who suffers!"
"You know how to calculate. You only paid for the food and drinks at our Xianke Restaurant, so we don't want any profit. If I give them money to eat at other restaurants, they will make money, and that would be a loss!"
Mei Meizhong offered: "The cost of the food and wine, as well as the commissions of the waiters and chefs, is also a huge sum, give it to me!"
Xu Junying patted her hand gently: "It's too far for a couple to talk about this, right?"
"Not far! I'm right here!"
The two of them were laughing and joking on the couch. Meimei snuggled into Xu Junying's arms and asked him, "Why do you have to pay for the reward for your subordinates? Won't the emperor give it to you?"
Xu Junying kissed her pink earlobe gently: "Give it to me! How can I not give it to you? When I was at the border, I was in charge of the military affairs of the northeast. At the same time, I was in charge of the emperor's orders and took care of some secret movements. I needed to employ people. If the people I employed did a good job, they would be rewarded extra. If I wanted to complete the work quickly and smoothly, I also needed silver. In previous years, the emperor would assign people from various places to send me silver, and I just collected it when I was outside. Back in the capital, in full view of the public, the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue are clear, and it is not so convenient to withdraw silver. I have to draw it one by one, but the things I need to do cannot wait, so so far, I have added more than one million taels of silver by myself!"
"So much! Isn't that a big loss? Also, where did you get so much private money?"
Meimei shrank her neck, and Xu Junying chuckled: "You have private money, so can I. There are always ways to get it, as long as it is not stolen! By the way, Meimei, how much money do you have now?"
"I won't tell you!" Meimei smiled and hid from him: "I have to protect my house from thieves..."
"I am a thief?" Xu Junying glared at her: "I am your husband! Come here, let me carry you in to take a bath!"
"No! You go first, I haven't finished reading yet.
Meimei glanced at him guiltily. They had been having fun until midnight last night and she felt sore all over when she woke up in the morning. She had to have a good rest tonight and couldn't play anymore.
Xu Junying seemed to see into her heart, and smiled and came closer: "Let's take a bath, then have a good sleep, and do nothing else!"
Meimei shook her head, and Xu Junying said, "Come here, I will tell you something, it's related to your money!"
"You're trying to trick me? I don't believe it!"
"Don't you believe it?"
Xu Junying and Meimei nodded and said, "Hongtong Bank, the new bank in Beijing, you have 36.9 million taels of silver, go in as a share of the money!"
Meimei's eyes widened: "How do you know...the number?"
Xu Junying laughed so hard that he trembled: "What shares did you buy? That shopkeeper Qian is my man! Thirty-six million nine hundred thousand taels is considered to be entering the family!"
"Ah - no!" Meimei wailed, "I'll ask Lu Xiangfeng to withdraw tomorrow!"
"Why are you retreating? This is so good, we should live together as a family! Okay, okay, what's yours is yours, and what's mine is yours, so you won't lose out - come on, take a shower and go to bed!"
Meimei huddled in his arms, her voice filled with tears: "Lu Xiangfeng, you idiot, why didn't you ask around? I don't want to get involved with you officials - the silver isn't all mine, there's also Li Qiuge and the others, several groups of people..."
"I know." Xu Junying coaxed her softly, "I won't let you suffer any loss - what's wrong with being involved with an official? You even married an official! Lu Xiangfeng has a good eye. If he hadn't put in some effort, Manager Qian might not have wanted him as a shareholder. Don't worry, Manager Qian is a genius, and I guarantee you will make a profit!"
"You are lying! You have no money left - Manager Qian is a master at fraud. He tricked Lu Xiangfeng into buying shares. You are just trying to get something for nothing... Woohoo... You bad guys!"
"Haha! Hahaha... Meimei, how come you are so smart?"
The next day, just after dawn, Xu Junying got out of bed quietly and Meimei crawled out from behind him. Xu Junying asked in surprise, "The sun is rising from the west today?"
Meimei put on her embroidered cotton slippers and rushed to the bathroom ahead of him: "The sun hasn't come out yet, how do you know where it will come out from!"
One of Xu Junying's cotton slippers was kicked away by her. He jumped over to put it on, but he couldn't catch up with her. He knocked on the door outside:
"Hurry up! I'm going to be late. It's not good to be late for court!"
Meimei opened the door and splashed water all over his face: "The green salt is ready for you, the hot water is in the basin, and the towel is hanging there!"
Xu Junying grabbed her and said with a smile: "Why don't you serve your husband..."
"Well, that would make you even more late!"
"Xing, forget it. I'll do it myself."
Coming out of the bathroom, Meimei had already changed her clothes, and Cuixi was combing her hair. Outside, Cuilian and Cheng'er were setting up breakfast. Xu Junying asked Meimei:
“What are you going to do today?”
"Get out!"
"I'm just going out, why are you so nervous?"
"I can't help it. I have to be punctual for my appointment. Cui Si, quickly get me my official uniform!"
Cuisi brought the official uniform over and helped Xu Junying put it on, but she couldn't fasten the jade belt properly. It was either too tight or too loose. Meimei had put on the hairpins and rings on her head, so she came over and fixed it with a few strokes. Cuisi smiled and said:
"Young Madam is really skillful!"
"No, I made a mark on the jade belt. Didn't you see it? It fits right where the clip is!"
As he walked out of the room, Heng'er ran in, stopped two steps away, and bowed in a formal manner: "Father! Mother! Heng'er greets you!"
Meimei smiled and said, "How good of you! Come and eat! Ask your father if he wants to eat?"
"I have food but I don't want to eat? I'm not that stupid!"
Xu Junying sat down at the top seat: "Just walk a few steps faster on the road."
Meimei served him some porridge first: "Let's take the bus. It's not good to travel right after a meal!"
"How can we be so particular about what to do during the march?"
Xu Junying handed a white steamed bread to Heng'er: "By the way, you haven't told me where you are going today and who you have an appointment with?"
"With Madam Changle Hou. She asked me to see the flowers bloom."
"See the flowers bloom?"
"Yes, she planted a strange flower. When the sun shines on the flower buds, they bloom suddenly. That moment is very beautiful and shocking!"
"You said it so well. I want to go and see it. Heng'er, you can go with your mother!"
Heng'er begged Meimei: "Mother, please take Heng'er with you. Heng'er wants to see the flowers!"
"Hmm..." Meimei pondered, "Mother has something to discuss with Madam Changle today. You should stay at home with grandma. I'll take you out next time, okay?"
"Okay, mother, please remember this!" Heng'er responded, biting the steamed bread with relish.
"Don't worry, I won't forget!"
Xu Junying failed to plant a secret agent, so he had to ask himself: "What's the important matter?"
Meimei glanced at him and said, "What else could it be? Sixth Master's marriage!"
"Huh? Haven't you settled the matter yet? I've checked everything I should check. You guys are too slow!"
"The girl doesn't want to get married!"
Xu Junying had another surprised expression: "Why? Do you look down on Lao Liu, or do you look down on Hou Mansion?"
"Do you think every girl is interested in the family background of the Hou Mansion? She cares about her family and her younger brother. If the Sixth Brother goes to visit her, she might agree!"
"That's ridiculous! That's impossible!"
Xu Junying put down the bowl: "You guys eat slowly, I'm leaving first!"
Meimei stood up and took Heng'er to walk him to the corridor. Baoju was already waiting there. Xu Junying walked a few steps, turned back and said to Meimei:
"Tell Lao Liu that if it doesn't work out, forget it. Just find another one. There will always be a better one!"
Meimei held Heng'er's hand and stood in the corridor to watch him go. She bit her lip and laughed secretly: This guy seems to have completely forgotten what he did. He came to my house and insisted on having you. What did he miss?
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