Xue Liushi was a concubine's daughter, her mother having died young, so she didn't fight for those things. She knew that as long as she didn't do anything foolish, her mother would still treat her well, and she would receive her share and the clothes she was supposed to wear.
The servants did not dare to bully Xue Liushi. If they did, Liu's mother would intervene.
Xue Liu had never known how other concubines' daughters lived, but she knew there was a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children, and that she was fine with just about anything. She wasn't Liu's biological daughter, so how could she expect her legitimate mother to treat her like her own daughter?
When Liu's mother arranged marriages for these concubines, Xue Liushi didn't say much, letting her mother-in-law make the decision. She wasn't afraid of her mother-in-law finding a bad man for her. She was just a weak woman, without a mother, so what kind of family could she find on her own?
Xue Liushi had never imagined that her mother would actually let her marry a distant relative of the Xue family. Her husband was quite good, a scholar, and his family had some property. Life was not difficult, with servants to serve her, and she was still the wife of a man. What could she be dissatisfied with?
Don’t be fooled by the fact that there are many powerful and wealthy people in the capital, including many men and noble women.
Under such circumstances, it was difficult for a concubine's daughter like Xue Liu to find a suitable marriage. It would be too difficult for her to marry a man of high status or a man of low status.
Xue Liushi hadn't made a scene at first, but had listened to her stepmother's advice and gotten engaged. Her stepmother's judgment was indeed good; her husband hadn't abandoned her even when the Liu family was in trouble.
"At first, my mother wanted to arrange a marriage for my second sister, but she didn't agree." Xue Liu said, "She was determined to marry into a wealthy family. If she couldn't get into a wealthy family, she would marry someone who looked more powerful."
Xue Liu was not jealous of the second young master Mei's wife marrying into the Mei family. What was so good about the Mei family? The Mei family members were not that good to the second young master Mei's wife.
"They're not doing well right now, so they think others aren't doing well either," Xue Liu said, "and they want to drag us down with them."
"Yes." After hearing what Xue Liushi said, Xue Xiucai also thought that this was the case.
When Mrs. Mei and Master Mei returned home, they started arguing again.
The Second Young Master Mei felt that the people of the Jingning Marquisate were too cold-hearted. They were all relatives, so why didn't the Jingning Marquisate help the Mei family? The people of the Jingning Marquisate were so favored, so why not let them speak to the emperor? That would solve the problem.
It's just a few words, and the Jingning Marquis' Mansion doesn't need to pay any money.
The second young master Mei was angry, and he criticized his wife, saying that she had no status at all in her parents' home.
"I'm just a concubine's daughter, what else do you want from me?" Mrs. Mei Ershao was also angry. Those people didn't take her seriously at all.
Every time Madam Mei Ershao went to the Marquis of Jingning's mansion, she thought those people didn't bother her at all, just gave her a chair to sit on and let her talk. She suspected that those people were simply waiting to see her laugh, letting her talk without helping her.
"Back then, I rebelled against my stepmother in order to marry you," said Mrs. Mei, "The Marquis's wife didn't like you at all. She chose someone else!"
The Second Young Master Mei certainly knew that the wife of Marquis Jingning had originally intended to choose another family for the Second Young Master Mei's wife, but the Second Young Master Mei's wife still fell in love with him.
"Now that you're married, can't you think more about your family?" said the second young master Mei.
"What are you thinking about? Why don't you do better?" Mrs. Mei, the second young master, was angry. If the Mei family had done a little better, she would never be able to hold her head up in front of those people.
Everyone wants her to work hard, but what can she do?
How great it would be if she were Liu Yulian, Princess Rongning.
Mrs. Mei Ershao was very envious of Liu Yulian. She wished she could exchange souls with her so that she could directly enter Liu Yulian's body.
No matter how the second young master Mei and his wife quarrel, the Jingning Marquisate will never interfere in this matter.
At the Su family, Su Qiuya proposed to move out of her parents' home. She couldn't live there forever. She wanted to find something to hold against Madam Su, but not at the Su family.
"We've lived at home for so long, it's time to move out." Su Qiuya said, "If we don't move out, some people will laugh at us."
"Who's laughing at you?" Madam Su said with a smile, "It's not like we need another courtyard at home."
"It's better to move out. We can't live here forever and do nothing else." Su Qiuya had seen the things left by her mother a long time ago. With a shop and a farm, she wouldn't have to work so hard as before.
Su Qiuya also wanted to open a shop like Rongning Princess, opening it whenever she wanted. However, her cooking skills were not that good, and she was running a small business. If she opened the shop as she pleased, she was afraid that people would not like to come to her shop, and she would not be able to accumulate repeat customers.
Suixinpu has accumulated many repeat customers because the things it sells are quite different and fresh.
"Since you said so, we won't stop you." Mrs. Su thought that Su Qiuya had finally moved out.
Mrs. Su didn't want Su Qiuya to stay in the Su family at all. If Su Qiuya stayed in the Su family, she would inevitably have some difficulties.
For example, before the Chinese New Year, Su Qiuya had a conflict with the concubine's daughter, and Madam Su naturally stood on Su Qiuya's side. Madam Su also knew that Su Qiuya didn't need to stand on her side, Su Qiuya was very good at fighting.
This really shocked Mrs. Su. You know, before Su Qiuya got married, she wasn't that aggressive. After she got married, she became much more aggressive.
Mrs. Su wanted Su Qiuya to move out early to prevent her from quarreling with anyone else. She didn't want those people to complain to her. Su Qiuya was the only daughter left by the original wife. How could Mrs. Su say too much about Su Qiuya? She had to do a good job on the surface.
"If you need anything, come back." Mrs. Su said.
"Okay, I will." Su Qiuya looked at the smile on Mrs. Su's face and felt it was dazzling. This person was really good at pretending.
After Su Qiuya and the others left, Miss Su Er came to find Madam Su.
"They're finally moving out." Miss Su Er still wanted to move into Su Qiuya's courtyard, but her mother wouldn't let her, saying she had to wait a few years. If she waited a few years, she would be married.
This time, Su Qiuya came back and lived directly in the courtyard she used to live in. Miss Su Er was not too unhappy, because Su Qiuya's status would not become much noble in the future anyway.
"Yes, I moved out." Madam Su said, "Don't say it, don't be too happy, otherwise, those people will say what you are saying."
"I know." Miss Su nodded.
At the Marquis of Jingning's Mansion, Liu Yulian has been researching paper recently. She hopes to mass-produce paper, including sanitary napkins for women and toilet paper.
Liu Yulian looked at the system's papermaking methods, but those methods mostly produced expensive paper, not toilet paper. Who goes to the bathroom in a game? It's rare, and the game planners wouldn't plan such a plot. Paper people don't have such needs.
The reason why that book is expensive is also related to the high price of paper.
Liu Yulian wanted to use more plants to make paper, such as bamboo, trees, reeds... many things can be used to make paper. When she watched short videos before, she saw people using bamboo shoots to make paper.
Relying solely on manual labor, many things can't be produced on a large scale; they have limitations. Manual labor isn't as fast as machines, but simple machines can be a bit faster. Simple machines aren't as good as intelligent CNC machine tools, which reduce the need for manual labor, eliminating the need for so many people to operate and monitor the machines.
Liu Yulian had her period. She hadn't had her period before, so she hadn't thought about it. Sure enough, some things have to happen to them, and then they will think about it and do it more.
"Have some brown sugar ginger soup." Liu's mother specially asked the kitchen to make these things. Her daughter has grown up.
"It doesn't taste very good." Liu Yulian didn't really want to drink it, but she still drank it.
Mother Liu looked at her daughter sitting on the couch. Time passed so quickly. Before she knew it, her daughter had grown up. When she reached the age of marriage, she would have to get married. She herself had also grown old and was no longer as good as before.
"Mom, I'll prepare these things myself." Liu Yulian didn't want to use any wood ash or messy things, as she always felt that they were not hygienic enough.
Liu Yulian decided to make her own simple sanitary napkins. There was a movie about sanitary napkins in later generations, shot in another country. At least Liu Yulian knew something, so she could try to get someone to make one.
Even though not many people can afford such sanitary napkins in this era, Liu Yulian still decided to try it.
Some things women use should be clean and hygienic. How can you touch something close to your body casually?
Liu Yulian wondered where to start. Should she first look for fibers with good water absorption? Not all fibers absorb water well. Don't assume cotton is the only fiber that can absorb water. Cotton is good for warmth, but its water absorption isn't top-notch. She needed to do some research.
Besides, using cotton is not very good, so everyone should continue to use cotton to make clothes.
Liu Yulian wanted to find something that had good water absorption and was cheap. Only in this way could more people afford it.
"Then let's get ready." Liu's mother didn't say much. She had never thought about what Liu Yulian was going to prepare.
Isn’t that how those things are used? Liu’s mother thought there was nothing to do about it.
Liu Yulian hadn't been feeling well these past few days, so she hadn't been to the research institute. When she did go, she'd check on the steam engine research. She had to see how it was going. Once the steam engine was finished, she could then develop diesel engines, tractors, cars... all good. Most importantly, the invention of the steam engine could power many things.
High-temperature disinfection also requires these things, and they are not something that can be made with simple things.
Liu Yulian also knows that this requires a process, and the development of science and technology has never been achieved overnight.
During the Lantern Festival, He Xiyuan came to find Liu Yulian, and the two of them went out together to watch the lanterns.
The lanterns in the capital were all very beautiful, of all kinds. Liu Yulian followed He Xiyuan. They also brought servants with them, as there were so many people on the Lantern Festival, and they were afraid they would get lost accidentally.
He Xiyuan always looked at Liu Yulian from time to time. He didn't want to get separated from Liu Yulian.
"For you." He Xiyuan bought the lamp specially.
They didn't try to guess lantern riddles or anything like that. Liu Yulian wasn't good at that, so He Xiyuan didn't take her to guess. Otherwise, Liu Yulian wouldn't know how to guess, so she just watched He Xiyuan guess.
The two of them just walked around and looked around, there was no need to do anything.
"The capital is indeed more lively than the northwest." Liu Yulian sighed, the Lantern Festival in the northwest is not so lively.
"Yes." He Xiyuan nodded. When he was in the northwest, he basically stayed in the military camp. He didn't come out very often and rarely hung out outside.
He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian hadn't encountered any beggars on the street. They were very cautious, and if the children weren't making a fuss, it would be hard to tell they were beggars. They didn't deliberately take pictures of well-dressed children, as such children were from high-class families. If their families knew they were missing, they would go looking for them.
There are many powerful people in the capital. If the city gates are closed or something happens, those beggars may not be able to escape. The children of the wealthy families are also taken care of by others, unless they sneak out.
"Cousin." At this moment, a man and a woman walked over.
These two people are the nephew and niece of Lady Chengguo, and the woman is the daughter of Madam Qi. Miss Qi Er looked at Princess Rongning.
Miss Qi Er originally thought that He Xiyuan would break off his engagement with Liu Yulian. She thought she would have a chance to marry He Xiyuan and become the Crown Prince's wife or the Duke's wife. Who could have thought that He Xiyuan would run away to the northwest? He Xiyuan's brother's legs were healed, so He Xiyuan would not be able to become the Crown Prince.
Miss Qi Er still felt a little uncomfortable. Even though she hadn't thought about marrying He Xiyuan at first, those people gave her hope and made her think she could marry He Xiyuan. This was such a cruel thing. It would be better if those people didn't say those things midway, causing people to misunderstand.
Even though the Chengguo Mansion did not tell the Qi family directly, the Qi family still mistakenly thought that He Xiyuan wanted to cancel his engagement with Liu Yulian.
"Princess." Miss Qi Er is older than Princess Rongning, and she is also at the age to get married.
"You guys go ahead and have fun, we'll go first." He Xiyuan didn't want to stay in front of these two people. He was afraid that Miss Qi Er and the others would talk nonsense. He had never thought about breaking off the engagement with Sister Lian, nor had he thought about marrying someone else.
"Why are you walking so fast, cousin?" Miss Qi asked jokingly, "Are you worried that I might bully the princess?"
"Who are you? You're not even a county lady. How can you bully Sister Lian?" He Xiyuan said directly.
Liu Yulian tugged at He Xiyuan's clothes and told them to leave first and not talk about this in the street. She glanced at Miss Qi Er and said, "I can use my power to pressure people."
Then, He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian turned around and left.
Miss Qi Er was angry. How could these two people talk like that?
"Brother, look at them." said Miss Qi Er.
"What are you looking at?" Young Master Qi said, "They are right. Their identities are what you are."
Young Master Qi hadn't said much just now because he could see He Xiyuan's impatience with them. If He Xiyuan didn't want to talk to them, then why did they say all that? It was his sister who didn't understand the situation and said that.
When Liu Yulian and He Xiyuan walked away, Liu Yulian couldn't help but ask, "Aren't they your relatives? Why, you don't seem to like them very much?"
"Yeah, I don't like them." He Xiyuan nodded, "I didn't ruin their reputation."
He Xiyuan felt uncomfortable when he thought of what Madam Qi said at the Duke of Cheng's mansion. He hadn't done anything to offend the Qi family, so why did those people still want Liu Yulian to help them? Did they have water in their brains? Did they get kicked in the head by a donkey?
Of course, He Xiyuan would never let those people say those things in front of him, and he would never indulge them.
"Oh, I see." Liu Yulian didn't know the details, so she just listened to what He Xiyuan said.
"Don't pay attention to them." He Xiyuan said, "The examinations for the research institute are about to begin."
"Mid-February," Liu Yulian replied, "There should be quite a few people taking the exam."
"There are quite a few. The one I just met is also going to apply for the research institute." He Xiyuan said, "Those people think that if you can become the director of the research institute, then their daughters can also do so. They hope that their daughters will take the power from you in the future."
"Then let them give it a try." Liu Yulian wanted to see how those people could seize power.
Liu Yulian hadn't considered clinging to her power. Research was like that; it had to be divided into many different areas. The director of the institute couldn't decide where to spend the money; it had to be decided by several people. However, the director of the institute did have considerable power.
She became the director of the institute thanks to her research talents. If those people came to the institute, they would have to start from the lowest level.
At the lowest level, they had to work for at least two or three years. The higher they went, the longer it took them, three to five years, or even more than ten years. If they didn't come up with anything, they wouldn't be able to move up.
Administrative positions at the institute weren't as popular as research positions, nor were they as prestigious as those held by other officials at the imperial court. Those in administrative positions at the institute were more like handymen.
Liu Yulian was not really afraid of those people coming to seize her power. It would be better to have more talented people come and let them compete, so that they could grow faster. Liu Yulian hoped that outstanding talents would come to the institute, and did not want those who came to the institute to eat and drink for free.
After Miss Qi Er returned home, she didn't feel very happy. She was even a little worried that Princess Rongning would make things difficult for her. She was going to apply to the research institute, and if she got in, Princess Rongning would still be the director of the institute.
Only then did Miss Qi Er feel a little regretful.
After Su Qiuya and her husband moved out of the Su family, Su Qiuya took out a shop to do business. She still had to open a restaurant and could not stop doing business. Liu Yanbo had no talent. A scholar, at most he could teach people to read and write. Su Qiuya thought that Liu Yanbo was unlikely to make much money.
As for Concubine Qing, they should not expect her to make a lot of money.
"Oh no, Lord Mei has been dismissed from his post." Aunt Qing has been keeping an eye on the Mei family and trying to find out about their affairs recently.
As soon as the news of Lord Mei's dismissal came out, Aunt Qing returned home as soon as she knew about it.
"Yanbo, tell me, what should we do with your sister?" Aunt Qing originally thought that her daughter would be fine, but who could have imagined that Lord Mei would be dismissed from his post and never employed again, and his official title was also revoked.
This means that Lord Mei will never be able to hold an official position in the future, and no one else in the Mei family can take over, so the Mei family will only become more destitute.
Aunt Qing wondered how her daughter could endure this hardship. The Mei family had spent so much money on Master Mei's affairs, and now they were just a shell of themselves. It was impossible for the Mei family to stay in the capital. So, what would happen to Second Young Master Mei's wife?
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