Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Update.
"I've only been here a short time, so I haven't seen the Shen family much."
Tian said, think about it carefully, it has been almost a year since she came here, and she has seen Shen only a few times.
She was a thin woman, dressed in plain clothes. She was not like other nuns who would chat with people when they met them. She would occasionally go out and ignore people.
"But I often see a maid from her family coming out to buy rice and charcoal. Last time I said to her, 'You dropped your handkerchief,' and she picked it up by the wall and walked away without paying any attention to me."
According to these old neighbors, Shen's husband's family had the surname Yangcheng. Their ancestors were military craftsmen who had served Emperor Gaozu. The two palaces of Changle and Weiyang in Chang'an were built and completed under the leadership of the ancestors of the Yangcheng family. They were granted the title of Wuhou during the reign of Emperor Gaozu and were posthumously named Qi. Later generations called them Wuqihou.
However, when the title was passed to the fourth generation, the head of the family was convicted of murder and was beheaded and thrown into the market. His title was revoked, his fiefdom ceased to exist, and the whole family became commoners.
Shen's husband was the fifth-generation descendant of the Yangcheng family, named Yangcheng Jian.
It was said that they had a daughter, but she never left the house, and Tian had never seen her.
"Don't say you rarely see them now, even we who have lived here for a long time don't see their family very often.
Their ancestors were dukes and kings, and in the past, we would kneel down and bow to them. They are so proud that they would never associate with common people like us."
Aunt Liu said.
The Yangcheng family had fallen on hard times and moved here from Changling.
At that time, Aunt Liu's eyes were still clear. She saw their family's carriage stopped at the entrance of the alley. There were four servants at that time, but now there was only a maid running around.
"Indeed, his status is not ordinary. Marquis Wuqi built the imperial city, so his descendants are naturally more noble."
Qiu Gu was weaving a straw raincoat and said with envy in her heart.
"A phoenix without feathers is no better than a chicken. The Yangcheng family's life is worse than that of Tian's wife. What's the point of being so strong-willed? Haven't you seen how thin Shen has become?
You don't even have any fat on your face, you might as well be like us and earn some money, it's not shameful."
The person who was speaking was Aunt Xiao, who had the same surname as the thief Xiao, the one that Xiao Yao used to be afraid of whenever he heard her name.
But she is a very down-to-earth person. Not to mention stealing a child, she has never even taken a needle or thread from another person's home.
As we were talking here, we heard the horses snorting outside, and some of them joked:
"Who's back? A golden lady is here, come in quickly."
Jindou went to the stable to tie up the horse. Tian asked her if the journey was good, took away the straw raincoat she was about to weave, and told her to stop working and just sit down and rest after running all the way.
Tian was tidying up her things and saw a piece of cloth on the kitchen box. When she opened it, she found it was square-mesh gauze.
She knew it. She asked the price at a cloth shop last summer but couldn't bear to buy it.
But now her daughter brought it home. She was guessing and happy in her heart, and put the gauze away in the east room.
The nuns were all curious about the Li family's affairs. They kept asking Ji Xu how big the place was, what it looked like, whether the Yu family was friendly, and whether the Li family had any secrets.
"Tell us about it."
Tian came out and said, "You guys have been talking non-stop and asking questions so many times. Please let my daughter have some tea and take a break.
Besides, I've already told you what's going on there. I've told you all the gossip the boss has been saying. Do you still want my daughter to work there? You guys!"
After giving them a nod, he stopped asking questions and focused on weaving straw raincoats.
"Many years ago, I was performing for a family in Maoling, and I actually saw Yu Shi. She was twisting someone's mouth and calling her a vixen."
Qiu Gu thought of this incident and said.
"Is there such a thing?"
Tian had been listening to her daughter's words. She thought that Ji Xu was a kind person who did not abuse his power to bully the weak. She then pulled Ji Xu up and down and asked,
"Did she ever hit you, twist your mouth?"
"No, he seems very friendly and never gave me any trouble."
As he said this, Ji Xu showed Tian the land deed tucked into his sleeve.
"She even gave me the burned-down shop as a gift for my good cooking."
"What? A gift?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked. That was Gao City, where the business was done by wealthy families. It was not like the hawkers here, which was a place for big merchants.
Ji Xu did not intend to hide it. He would open a shop in the future and make it public. He explained the origin of the shop as Yu had instructed, and then said:
"Maybe it's in a bad area in Gaoshi and it burned down. Her family didn't like it, so they gave it to me."
These words were spoken in a low-key and humble manner. She felt grateful to the Yu family and really liked that place, but she didn't want to exaggerate and appear to be showing off.
"I remember now that there was a thick smoke in that direction during the first month of the lunar year. I also went to the Wei Bridge to check, and it turned out that the shop of the Li family was flooded?" said Aunt Xiao.
The girls knew in their hearts that even if the location was not good, it would be something they could never reach in their lifetime, so they were extremely envious.
"She's a fairy! How rich is her family? They're willing to give away their shop."
Liu Chunniang was surprised and said that she combed people's hair well and the reward she received was at most half a string of coins, and she had never heard of giving money as a reward to a shop.
"So, Mrs. Yu is such a generous and kind person. I guess I misjudged her."
Qiu Gu said.
Some people also asked whether Ji Xu sold the shop for money or for some other purpose.
Ji Xu said, "I want to open a restaurant, but the grill is just a shelf, so I have to think about it carefully."
"Even the Li family's shop is worth it. Your skills will be even more valuable in the future. I'm afraid that the braised food will be sold out early."
Ji Xu told this story in order to enhance her own reputation. After all, if she opened a restaurant in Gao City in the future and was an unknown chef, no one would eat her food and she would lose money.
Say it out loud, and spread it to ten people, and ten to a hundred people, which is exactly what she wants, but she also said politely:
"If the aunts want to buy it, I will naturally buy it first."
They all laughed and said that they would help clean up the burned area in the future, so just call them.
"I won't charge you any money for helping out."
Only Qiu Gu lowered her head and weaved a straw raincoat without saying a word. When the time came, she went back to make dinner for Wang'er who was locked up at home studying.
"My dear daughter, they're all gone. Don't hide it from your mother. Tell me quickly, has Li Quanye's impotence been cured?"
After the nuns left, Tian gave Feng and Zhu some money and sent them to buy some rotten sheep stomachs. She also asked Jindou to go with them. When the mother and daughter were left alone in the main hall, Tian couldn't wait to ask.
When she heard it was her guess, she clapped her hands and said, "After all, you're my good daughter, so capable! You've taken care of it. According to Mother, this shop is what you deserve. It's worth all your hard work in tasting the dishes every day."
If it was said that Ji Xu still felt unworthy of the award, Tian Shi was completely the opposite.
Perhaps because she knew how annoying Li Quanye was, she felt that her daughter's craftsmanship was worth it and that she well deserved it. She would definitely brag about it when she went out in the future.
Just thinking about it, she was filled with energy. What a glorious thing it would be for the Li family's shop.
However, Ji Xu also said: "It is burnt down and in great disrepair. It is time to hire someone to tear it down and rebuild it. My daughter is wondering who should be hired to take charge of the construction."
"Miss Xiao's husband, whenever there's a leak in our stables or woodshed, we always ask him to fix it. He's a bricklayer who specializes in this, and he's honest and never asks for exorbitant prices."
Ji Xu shook his head.
"Mother, didn't you see that the shops in Gaoshi are all high-rise, that's why it's called Gaoshi, unlike the courtyards here.
There are even flying pavilions and aerial walkways there. If we build a mud house, it will not look good from the outside, so we have to build a two- or three-story one, and the planning of every place has to be done well.
I'm afraid Aunt Xiao's family won't do this. They are doing work for others. They need to have a plan for the house first, and then they will build it according to what the boss says.
Therefore, we can hire him to do the work, but the person in charge should be an expert who can build tall buildings and draw the appearance of houses."
"What kind of house will it look like? I never thought about that. Everyone in my hometown knows how to build a rammed earth wall, and even I know how to pile mud. But it's useless in Chang'an..."
Speaking of Chang'an City, Tian thought of someone.
"I got it! The family at the entrance of the alley, surnamed Yangcheng, had ancestors who were in charge of building the imperial palace. Now, it's the fifth generation, and they lost their titles, so they live in our alley. He can do it!"
He also told his daughter about the Yangcheng family, which he had heard from the nuns. Ji Xu nodded and thought it was okay.
Because he said his family was a descendant of Marquis Wuqi and behaved in a noble manner, he did not rush to visit him, but wrote a visiting card and asked Jindou to deliver it first.
"Hmph, just say your wife is ill and won't see any visitors."
Yang Chengjian looked at the visiting card and made the decision.
He was a middle-aged man with skinny cheeks, a green beard, and was wearing a half-worn robe. He threw the visiting card on the ground.
Since the mother and daughter of the Tian family were both female members, the invitation stated that the request was to see his wife, Shen, which was a reason between women.
He hadn't mentioned yet that he wanted to ask Yang Chengjian to be in charge of the construction. If he refused harshly, it would be difficult to ask again. Ji Xu thought about discussing it after meeting him in the future.
His wife, Ms. Shen, was doing needlework in the room, and his 29-year-old daughter was also embroidering there.
Shen had a cough, and her daughter Si Niang poured her some hot water.
"Mother, have some tea."
But there was no tea left. Shen was about to drink some when she heard some noise outside and went out. The maid Huaer was picking up the visiting card on the ground. She asked:
"Who posted this?"
Hua'er said, "It's Aunt Tian from down the alley. She said she wanted to talk to Madam."
Shen thought about it and realized it was the one that sold prepared food in the Jiaomen Market. Huaer had said that they also made money by selling wool. When they saw the visiting card, they said:
"Her family has some rules."
Yang Chengjian said, "You market-savvy people, don't even think about visiting me! Don't dirty my land."
"My wife is ill and will not see any visitors."
Jindou took Huaer's words back home, and later wrote two more visiting cards, both times claiming to be sick.
"What's wrong with you? It hasn't gotten better yet."
Tian murmured in confusion,
"I guess you don't want to see us anymore."
Ji Xu was working as a cook for someone else, and when he realized that the family was unwilling to see him, he put the matter aside for the time being.
On this day, Tian went to the pharmacy to get medicine, not because anyone in her family was sick, but to buy some herbs as spices for making braised food at home. Then she saw a familiar maid being chased out by the waiter.
"Open your eyes wide and look west! Changle Palace and Weiyang Palace were built by the ancestors of the Yangcheng family. We are descendants of Marquis Wuqi, and the current head of the family is a master in tower and city construction. How could we possibly be shortchanged in the future?"
"Go away, who would give you credit if you don't have money? After paying back the Marquis of Wuqi, you can't even afford the medicine. You're so poor, bah!"
The girl was pushed out, picked up the handkerchief on the ground and patted her body.
"Hua'er, are you Hua'er? I'm Tian Guzi, who lives in the same lane as you. Your wife's illness has improved. What medicine is she taking now?"
Tian, holding a basket, bent over to acknowledge her and wanted to strike up a conversation with her.
Hua'er curled her lips, turned away, and walked away, giving the guy a cold look before leaving.
The waiter paid no attention to her and only greeted Tian with a smile:
"Auntie Tian is here! What medicine did you get today? You are a wealthy man here. I heard that your daughter is so capable that even the Li family gave you a shop. You are much better than those descendants of Wuqi Hou who have only titles for nothing!"
You live in the same lane, but how come you are such different people? You treat us so kindly, unlike his family, who always have a sullen face and even use the same tone when buying medicine on credit."
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