Chapter 8 Chapter 008 Mrs. Zhang, the magistrate of Zhang County.
Of course, down jackets don't get warm by themselves, it's the body temperature that gets warmed up after being wrapped in the down jacket. Feeling the warmth of the down jacket, Qin Yuan's hands and cheeks actually felt a little itchy, as did her feet. Speaking of which, people in the Dayong Dynasty were not so diligent in taking baths, so only Qin Yuan had to wash her hands and feet before going to bed, which led to the Qin family gradually following her habits and developing the habit of hygiene.
Our family usually uses more firewood than other families because we use hot water for drinking and washing our faces.
"Grandma, it's warm, right? From now on, just hold me like this, and we'll both be warm!"
A five-year-old child is very small. Qin Yuan thinks that she is at least ten centimeters shorter than those children in the modern world and is also a little thin. Except for being able to walk on the ground in spring and summer, Qin Yuan has always grown up in the arms of the Qin family.
"My Yoyo is really amazing. This dress is really magical. Grandma will definitely take good care of Yoyo."
Liu Chunhua also replied with a smile. The old lady was already happy that her granddaughter could spend the winter warmly. After all, after the snow fell, not to mention Qinjia Village, some villages outside might even freeze to death, and the elderly and children had the highest mortality rate.
She would not spy on Qin Yuan's so-called fairy friend, but just held her granddaughter and rocked her gently. After a while, Qin Yuan fell asleep in her grandmother's warm arms.
The Qin family was warm and cozy, but the few Qin family members who left home and headed towards the county town encountered a lot of hardships along the way.
It had only been two days since it snowed, and the snow on the road was very thick. If an ordinary person encountered such snow, he would probably get seriously ill when he returned home. However, it was different for the Qin family. The Qin family had many sons and they were very strong. They went hunting in the mountains in autumn. Qin Shan was lucky in his early years and got a deer. Deer are rare species. Not to mention the precious venison, the deer skin is very warm.
At that time, Liu Chunhua made the decision to keep the venison at home for everyone to eat. After skinning the venison, she processed the deerskin and made a pair of deerskin boots for each man in the family. In this way, they could go out to chop firewood in winter without worrying about freezing to death.
When people go hunting in winter, they can wear as little clothes as possible, but their feet must be kept warm.
Now Qin Shu and his brother were carrying the sedan chair for two people, but they walked forward in the snow with very steady steps, leaving two sets of footprints. Xie Yaer, who was sitting in the sedan chair, was wearing very thick linen clothes and covered her face with hemp cloth to prevent the cold wind from invading.
Qin Shan, who was standing by, was scolding his son Qin Niuniu.
"How old are you? You still don't know how to be steady? I was just carrying your aunt, and you were so impatient that you even caused the sedan to shake. If anything happens, I'll be the first to hit you!!!"
Qin Shan was holding a rabbit in his hand. It was strange to say, winter was the time when animals hibernated. Perhaps it was because the snow had fallen too heavily in the past two days. Just now, they were walking along the road surrounded by forests and no one was around. Unexpectedly, his son had sharp eyes and saw a rabbit digging snow at the roots of a tree from a distance.
Qin Doudou was carrying Xie Yaer at the time. The sedan swayed slightly due to excitement, which scared her father Qin Shan to death.
He rushed out with one step and grabbed the rabbit directly. Then he slapped it on the back of the head and turned to look at his sister-in-law.
"Sister-in-law, Niu Niu saw a rabbit with brown fur. Why don't we go back and make a pair of bunny shoes for Youyou?"
He laughed dryly and explained for his son that Xie Yaer, who was being carried, was actually quite cold. Fortunately, when she went out, her mother-in-law put hot water in the white porcelain bottle, which could keep her warm through the cloth, just like a hand warmer. In addition, the medicine jar was completely sealed, and it was still warm after almost an hour.
"Brother, don't blame Niu Niu. Since it was Niu Niu who saw the rabbit, why don't you go back and make a hat for Yue'er? I think the quality is excellent."
Her voice was soft, but it made the men feel even more embarrassed. In fact, they were all a little worried. Just now, Qin Shu and Qin Yu's steps became much softer.
"Okay, I'll listen to my sister-in-law." Qin Shan didn't say much, just agreed.
The Qin family is different from the outside world. In their parents' generation, their mother Liu Chunhua was the one who made the decisions. When they got married, it was their wives who made the decisions. However, their younger brother married a sister-in-law from a prominent family. She was knowledgeable and literate, and even taught their daughters embroidery. They naturally respected her.
Qin Niuniu knew he had made a mistake, so he didn't dare say anything. He just walked with his head down and in silence.
On such a cold winter day, the hot air they exhaled when they talked turned into mist. Fortunately, the Qin brothers were fast runners and soon arrived at the county.
When the officers and soldiers at the gate saw these people when entering the city, they were stunned at first. Originally, each person had to pay one penny to enter the city, but when they saw Qin Yu beside them, Qin Yu met the officers' eyes and walked over, taking out the names of himself and his family for the officers to check.
This is the ancient ID card. Without it, you would absolutely not be able to enter the city in ancient times. People without a registered ID would be considered refugees and would be driven away.
"Oh, Qin Yu from Qinjia Village? Let's go."
The official glanced at Qin Yu with envy in his heart, knowing that this lucky boy had married a girl from a noble family. When the county magistrate arranged for someone to send Fei Yi away, he had gone with them and knew that this boy’s family must not be offended. They must have connections in the capital!!!
As soon as Qin Yu took out the copper coins, he was pushed forward. He turned his head and wanted to say something, but there was nothing he could do.
But I didn't know that this official had the sharpest eyesight. He saw that several people from the Qin family were carrying sedan chairs. How could ordinary women have such treatment? I was afraid that the young lady of the Xie family came to the county for something. The young lady of the Xie family usually didn't go into the city, so who could she go to in the city?
After the group entered the city gate, Qin Yu took back his money and couldn't help but glance at his wife in the sedan chair, knowing that it was only his wife who brought the benefits.
The official had been to the Qin family before and might have recognized his wife.
Xie Yaer didn't feel anything about this. She just walked through the shops and houses in the city, and there were very few people around. It seemed that this winter was really freezing cold.
When they were about to reach Magistrate Zhang's house, Xie Yaer stayed in a teahouse for tea. However, the other people in the Qin family did not drink tea. Drinking tea was something that only the nobles did, and a cup cost more than ten copper coins.
Afterwards, Qin Yu personally handed the visiting card written by his wife to the doorman of County Magistrate Zhang's house. In fact, most families who knew the rules would submit visiting cards in advance, but it was impossible in winter.
In the Zhang Mansion, it was a winter day with nothing to do. County Magistrate Zhang was reading the files of the yamen in the study, while Mrs. Zhang was sorting out the account books in the backyard. She heard the noise of the little maid outside, and soon after, Mrs. Liu beside her brought a visiting card.
Mrs. Zhang only took one look at the visiting card and could not help but smell the sweet scent of pears on it. She instantly knew who wrote it without even looking at it.
In the entire Ming County, there is no one else who can produce such a visiting card, and even smoke it with pear fragrance, except the young lady of the Xie family who married here from afar.
She quickly put down what she was holding, and there was even a hint of nervousness on her face. Mrs. Zhang, who was already 36 years old this year, looked a little vicissitudes of life. Normally, she treated her servants and the shop owner with both kindness and strictness, and rarely encountered such an uneasy situation.
Taking out the paper from the visiting card, Mrs. Zhang was really excited when she saw that it said that the daughter of the Xie family actually wanted to visit her today!
In this world, there are scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, and merchants are the lowest class. Mrs. Zhang's maiden name is Jin Wan. If her father had not been kind to her husband in his early years, she would not have been able to marry her current husband with her status.
"Hurry up, tell someone to get ready, a distinguished guest is coming to visit." She was extremely excited, thinking about the decoration of the banquet hall, was it too materialistic?
"Oh, right, inform the master that the daughter of the Xie family is visiting. The daughter is a female guest, so it is inconvenient for the master to meet her. However, he should also meet the people of the Qin family."
Jin Wan made arrangements quickly, and was so happy thinking that the noble person from the Xie family would come to their house in half an hour.
The Xie family! The aristocratic clan! Jin Wan is the kind that can't even be touched! It's only because the Xie family's daughter is in such a desperate situation, otherwise they would never be able to get close to her.
As for why Jin Wan sent Fei Yi to the Qin family immediately after her husband came to Ming County to take up his post, it was because her husband received news that he should take good care of the young lady of the Xie family in Ming County, and there would naturally be no problem with her taking up the post three years later.
County Magistrate Zhang in the study was also extremely surprised. You know, apart from the gifts he gave to the young lady of the Xie family during the holidays when he came to Ming County a year ago, he had never met her before. The other party came in a hurry, and it was winter, which made County Magistrate Zhang frown, fearing that something might happen.
While no one was around, County Magistrate Zhang immediately went to find his wife and told her to ask if the young lady had been wronged. How could Jin Wan not agree? This was a girl from an aristocratic family!!!
After giving the Zhang family some time to prepare, Xie Yaer, who was in the teahouse, slowly came over on time.
This time she took off her linen clothes and was only wearing the beautiful light blue dress. When she got off the sedan chair, she saw County Magistrate Zhang and Madam Zhang standing at the door to greet her.
When County Magistrate Zhang saw the Qin brothers carrying the daughter and son of the Xie family out in winter, he knew that the Qin family must be very good to the daughter of the Xie family, but why did they come to their house?
"Greetings to Magistrate Zhang, Madam Zhang."
As a distinguished guest, Xie Yaer was even a little indifferent to the couple welcoming her at the door. The more this happened, the more worried the Zhang couple became.
"It is a great honor for my humble abode to have you visit me, young lady. Please come in quickly..."
County Magistrate Zhang would not call Qin Madam, but always called her Young Lady, which proved that Xie Yaer's status was higher than that of the Qin family.
The other members of the Qin family remained silent, having long been accustomed to it. Qin Yu hugged the cabinet where his wife once kept her books, knowing that there was a fragile and precious item inside.
Xie Yaer walked forward, followed by Magistrate Zhang and Madam Zhang. They could smell a faint sweet pear fragrance floating in the cold wind, which was different from the spices they had smelled before. It was as if they were back under the pear tree in an instant, ready to pick pears to quench their thirst.
It's so pure and clean! I don't know what kind of fragrance this young lady from the Xie family wears, why does it smell so elegant and moving?
Everyone entered the reception hall. County Magistrate Zhang was originally going to leave obediently, leaving the time to his wife and the young lady, and he would take the Qin family to entertain them. But this time, County Magistrate Zhang flattered his face and actually ordered people to place a screen in the banquet hall to separate the two tables.
On one side were Madam Zhang and Xie Yaer, and on the other side were Magistrate Zhang and several men from the Qin family. Tea was served soon. The grown men drank the tea with frowns on their faces. They felt that the tea was not very tasty, but it was salty and could replenish their strength.
Behind the screen, Jin Wan was about to blame her husband to death! She just thought her husband was such a country bumpkin. Her father had spent so much effort to find the main branch of the Zhang family, and now they were having a banquet! It was simply embarrassing for men and women to be in the same room!!!
But she couldn't say anything. She just smiled dryly and waited for the young lady of the Xie family to speak.
After Xie Yaer entered the room, she did not speak immediately, but just drank tea quietly. Her every move was like that of a lady from a noble family, which made Jin Wan anxious but she did not dare to ask too many questions.
Tables and chairs were not popular in Dayong, but poor families didn't care much and just ate at mud tables, so Qin Yuan hadn't noticed anything yet.
Now in the Zhang family's banquet hall, there are charcoal braziers placed around, but the temperature in the banquet hall is not cold. Everyone uses low tables and sits upright with legs supported under their buttocks and a prayer mat similar to a modern carpet below.
The hall was extremely quiet, with only the occasional sound of burning charcoal. Jin Wan felt as anxious as if she were being roasted by charcoal, and she was even sweating.
On the contrary, Xie Yaer, who had taken off her linen and was dressed in cool clothes, felt the most at ease. Years of family teachings had already made the rules ingrained in her bones.
"Madam Zhang, the tea in your house is good."
She finally said the first sentence, which made Jin Wan immediately smile ingratiatingly. She felt that the elegant words of the young lady from the Xie family were really beautiful.
"If you like it, I will arrange for someone to send it to you later."
Jin Wan smiled and spoke like this, her eyes falling on Xie Yaer, and she couldn't help but sigh in her heart. As expected of a young lady from the Xie family, her aura was unmatched even by ordinary men. Just now, this young lady didn't even look at the master directly when she entered the house. She was really amazing...
Xie Yaer just smiled faintly and didn't say much. Then after a while, she spoke.
"Zhang County Magistrate has been in Ming County for over a year. Madam Zhang has always sent gifts to the Qin family during the holidays. As the host, it would be my fault if I didn't visit them again."
Her words immediately frightened Jin Wan into panic. Behind the screen, County Magistrate Zhang also looked unhappy, wondering if this gift was sent to the wrong person.
Could it be that the young lady doesn't like his wife's business belongings?
He was just thinking about speaking for his wife later, but Xie Yaer said in the midst of Jin Wan's panicked expression.
"I'm sorry to have come to your house today. I just discovered a hand warmer in your home. I think it's a cold winter, and Master Zhang has worked tirelessly for the people of Ming County. He is diligent and caring for the people. This item is quite destined to be with Master Zhang."
Huh? Aren't you here to cause trouble?
Jin Wan was really scared at once, and only now did she force out a smile. She just thought that the young lady of the Xie family disliked the Feiyi she gave her, but she didn't expect that she actually came to give her something?
County Magistrate Zhang was also surprised through the screen, but when he looked at the Qin family members who were drinking tea and eating cakes with their heads down, he became very angry and knew that it was useless to ask them.
I’m afraid the Qin family has no idea about the good things sent by the young lady of the Xie family.
As long as he's not looking for trouble or making complaints, everyone is relieved now.
County Magistrate Zhang and his wife warmly invited the Qin family and Xie Yaer to dine together. The Zhang family's food was really good in winter, with a wide variety of meats. The Qin family's men liked it very much, and Qin Niu Niu was even more delighted.
The only vegetable on the table was the bean sprouts sent by the Xie family. The garlic sprouts had not been delivered yet.
After the meal, Xie Yaer said goodbye directly and was extremely arrogant. Madam Zhang Jin Wan did not dare to say anything more and quickly asked someone to see her out. Thinking of the blue dress on Xie Yaer's body, she quickly asked the maid to bring over the white fox fur cloak that she had kept in the bottom of the box. She casually threw it on Xie Yaer and then sent her out.
Xie Yaer seemed to be used to it, but she didn't know that after she left, County Magistrate Zhang and Madam Zhang finally breathed a sigh of relief...
The author has something to say:
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Feiyi: An elegant name for gifts given by ancient people.
See you tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock! Please collect the author's column!
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