Liu Yanjing knew that Princess Zhaoyang had divorced. He knew it after a little thought. Princess Zhaoyang's husband was not a good person. If Princess Zhaoyang had not divorced, how could she have come to the northwest?
The last time Liu Yulian came to deliver something, she had a few words with Liu Yanjing. Liu Yanjing also knew some things, so there was no need for Liu Yulian or He Xiyuan to say more.
Princess Zhaoyang is a royal daughter. The emperor asked Princess Zhaoyang to come here, probably because he intended to marry her into the Jingning Marquis's Mansion.
Liu Yanjing had been raised as the heir apparent to the Jingning Marquisate since childhood. Having previously been divorced, he knew that marrying the princess was a good option. However, he had no say in the details of what would happen next.
"Carve your things." Liu Yanjing said.
They should not say too much about Princess Zhaoyang, as she might not necessarily want to marry him.
He Xiyuan didn't say much more. He himself didn't like to talk about other women. He said that sentence just to remind Liu Yanjing.
In fact, Princess Zhaoyang is not bad. If Liu Yanjing and Princess Zhaoyang get married, then Princess Zhaoyang should have someone take good care of Liu Yanjing's two children. Princess Zhaoyang has no need to take action against the two children. It is said that Princess Zhaoyang does not have her own children yet.
He Xiyuan was not a gossipy person, and he did not say anything about whether Princess Zhaoyang would have children in the future. He was not Liu Yanjing, so there was no need for him to care about such things.
"It's cold, dress warmly." He Xiyuan said. The clothes Sister Lian gave him were really warm, warming his body and heart.
He Xiyuan even deliberately took off his clothes. How did Sister Lian make such warm clothes?
"Shut up." Liu Yanjing said, don't say anymore, or you will talk about the clothes made by your sister.
This guy just says these words when he has nothing to do. He has said them several times and is still saying them.
Liu Yanjing didn't say much about this matter. The less He Xiyuan said, the quieter his ears became. He didn't feel that He Xiyuan was getting something for nothing. His sister was so nice. She even helped this man do so many things.
“…” He Xiyuan shut up and continued looking at the wood he had carved.
In the county town, Concubine Chai stayed overnight at the Second House, where she had a lot of conversations with Concubine Qing. Concubine Chai wanted to unite with these concubines and go to the First House to force them to back down.
But concubines are concubines after all. No matter how many concubines there are, they are all concubines.
They were useless in the past, because other families didn't have so many slaves. Once those slaves came, they would be useless.
"I feel much better after telling you all this." Aunt Chai held Aunt Qing's hand. "If I don't talk about it, I'll keep it all in my heart. If I tell others, they won't be able to understand my difficulties. I'll just tell you. The people in the fourth house are useless. They still stay in the village."
Aunt Chai thought the second wife's family was more useful, while the fourth wife's family was the most useless. If it were her, she would definitely try to go to the town, and if her family had no money, she would go to the first wife's family to look.
If that doesn't work, go find Liu's father privately and try to persuade him in every way possible.
Chai Yi Niang had not succeeded in getting benefits from Liu's father, so she hoped that others would try to get them. She didn't want others to get benefits, but she wanted others to give the first wife a hard time and make things difficult for her.
"It's nothing, don't worry." Aunt Qing said, "We can't take care of so many things, so let's just focus on the things at hand. When life gets better in the future, we won't have anyone to rely on."
Qing Yi Niang could only say this to Chai Yi Niang. She couldn't keep encouraging Chai Yi Niang to run to the eldest house. Encouraging her once or twice would be enough. If she encouraged her too many times, her intentions would be discovered.
"That's true, but we've never done these things before," Aunt Chai said. "We even had to help out in the shop, working so hard and earning very little money all day. In the past, our jewelry was more expensive than those things."
Aunt Chai thought that she couldn’t even earn back the money she spent on the jewelry, and she had spent so much money on the shops in the town, so they could only grit their teeth and persevere.
"Our business in the county town isn't that good either," Aunt Qing said. "Some things happened a while ago, and we have fewer customers. There are so many evil people out there, and it's hard to do even a small business."
Aunt Chai felt a little happier when she heard that the Second House was also facing difficulties. She didn't want to see the Second House continue to make so much money. They couldn't compare to the First House, and they could still say that the First House was the legitimate daughter, while the Second and Third Houses were illegitimate.
Being in the same position, Aunt Chai didn't want the second wife to do better.
"Yes, there are many black-hearted people." Aunt Chai nodded, "There's no need to pay too much attention to them. Without this, there are still others. These people are all like that, they don't want others to live a good life."
Aunt Qing knew that Aunt Chai would never consider the second wife, and perhaps Aunt Chai was even very happy in her heart.
"Are you going back today?" asked Aunt Qing.
"Well, I have to go back." Aunt Chai said, "Something is going on at home, so I can't stay here all the time."
"After dinner, we'll find a car and take it back." Aunt Qing said.
Concubine Chai stayed in the second house for dinner for the time being, and Concubine Qing arranged everything. Concubine Chai didn't feel that they didn't value her.
After Aunt Chai left, Aunt Qing said a few words to Su Qiuya.
"The eldest wife really doesn't care about these people." Aunt Qing said.
"Yeah." Su Qiuya thought that if it was her, she wouldn't care. Even if she felt that Dafang Boliang didn't care much about them, if it was her, she wouldn't care too much either.
This kind of thing only hurts when it happens to yourself, but if it happens to others, they won't feel anything.
It is very normal that the first wife would not treat Concubine Chai very well, as she always goes to the first wife's side and tries to take advantage of them.
"Last time, the letter was written like that, so we didn't go." Aunt Qing thought of that letter and wondered if Father Liu hadn't written it any better.
These people have no status at all in Marquis Jingning's heart. If they had a little status, things would not be like that.
"..." Su Qiuya didn't expect that Aunt Qing would think of the last letter again.
Su Qiuya really didn't think there was anything wrong with the letter. The Mei family was not a good thing at all. Jing Ninghou threatened the Mei family with a divorce, but the Mei family didn't dare. As for whether the second young master Mei's wife would use the divorce as a threat to the second young master, this was not something others could control.
"Among the Marquis' daughters, the legitimate ones marry well." Aunt Qing said.
"..." Su Qiuya believed that legitimate children should indeed marry better, and she herself was also a legitimate child.
Su Qiuya simply didn't say much, so as not to upset Qing Yi Niang. She found that there was still a big difference between her and Qing Yi Niang. She was a legitimate daughter, someone's main wife, while Qing Yi Niang always liked to say that the main wife lived well and the legitimate daughter lived well.
Su Qiuya would think about things from Liu Yanbo's perspective, but she didn't like to think about things from Qing Yi Niang's perspective. Qing Yi Niang was a concubine, and Su Qiuya looked down on even her stepmother, let alone a concubine like Qing Yi Niang.
If Aunt Qing was not Liu Yanbo's biological mother, Su Qiuya would have kicked her out long ago.
Su Qiuya actually wanted her husband to be a legitimate son, but her husband was not a legitimate son at all. Her husband was a bastard son, a bastard son oppressed by his mother. Her husband did not dare to perform well in his studies.
"Waiting for my husband to take the imperial examination." Su Qiuya said.
"Yes, wait for him to study and take the imperial examination." Aunt Qing thought, isn't this what they are waiting for now? Only when Liu Yanbo passes the imperial examination can their family truly rise.
In the capital, ever since Lord Ouyang asked his two children to stay in the house outside, he found that his two children had gained some weight, and his daughter's temper was not as bad.
Seeing his well-behaved children, Lord Ouyang wondered why he hadn't noticed something was wrong with Mrs. Huo sooner. A woman who could abandon even her own children, let alone her stepchildren, who had no blood relationship with her.
"Father." Young Master Ouyang knew some of the things that happened at home, and he also knew that the old lady had originally planned to send him and his sister to the countryside.
Young Master Ouyang didn't know what life was like in his hometown. He only knew it couldn't be any better. If it were, then the old lady wouldn't have thought of sending them back.
They had to be sent away just because their stepmother was pregnant.
"Is father going back?" asked Young Master Ouyang.
"Well, you have to go back and take good care of your sister. Your father will come to see you tomorrow." Lord Ouyang came to see his children almost every day. Even if he couldn't come because of something, he would ask someone to come and tell him.
The two children had lost their mother, and he, as their father, was their last resort. If the servants knew he hadn't come, would they think he didn't care about his children?
"You must study hard." Lord Ouyang patted his son's head. "Don't worry about other things. The New Year is coming soon, and we have to prepare some things here. No matter where I spend the New Year, I will never forget you, understand?"
Lord Ouyang was afraid his son would grow up crooked, as his mother had been so kind to him. Now that Mrs. Huo was pregnant, the old lady placed even greater importance on the child in Mrs. Huo's belly, and everyone else stepped aside.
This made Lord Ouyang feel uncomfortable, as his two children were so innocent.
"Remember." Young Master Ouyang nodded, "I will study hard, please rest assured, father."
When Young Master Ouyang saw what happened to him and his sister, he knew that he had to study hard. Only in this way, when he could make a name for himself, would he not have to be afraid of his stepmother.
Lord Ouyang went back to see Mrs. Huo. Mrs. Huo was pregnant, so he had to see her more. He couldn't just leave her at home all the time without him coming to see her. If he didn't come to see Mrs. Huo, she would definitely make a fuss, and he was worried that she would go and cause trouble for his two children.
"Going to see them again?" Mrs. Huo was in a bad mood. Her husband always went to see the children left by his original wife. This was worse than her husband going to the concubine's side.
As long as she gave her concubine the abortion soup, she would not be able to get pregnant.
Lord Ouyang did not respond to Mrs. Huo's words, but only said, "I came to see you."
"My husband is busy outside and must be tired." Mrs. Huo was angry, but she knew she couldn't keep criticizing her stepson and stepdaughter. They weren't around, so she couldn't try to extort money from them across the street. "How about this, give a maid a favor and let her serve you."
Lord Ouyang frowned and turned to look at Da Huo.
"She followed me from my uncle's mansion. She's clean and innocent," said Mrs. Huo. "It doesn't look like I'm married and not a virgin."
"I already knew it when I married you." When Lord Ouyang heard what Mrs. Huo said, he knew that this woman was going to make trouble again.
"Then consider it as making up for it," said Mrs. Huo. "If you like children, go to her more often and have children if you can."
Anyway, it was impossible for her to let that maid give birth to a child. Mrs. Huo wanted Lord Ouyang to go to that young and beautiful maid more often, so that Lord Ouyang would not always care about his stepson and stepdaughter.
"It's up to you." Lord Ouyang did not refuse the maid.
That same day, Mrs. Huo gave the maid a favor and ordered her to serve Lord Ouyang. The maid didn't know that Mrs. Huo had given her a sterilizing drug. She thought that Mrs. Huo was so narrow-minded that she might not be able to recover if she followed Lord Ouyang.
But the maid had no other choice, her indenture was in the hands of the great Huo family. A maid with a life-long indenture had no right to say she would not serve her master, as they all obeyed her master's orders.
In the northwest, Liu Yulian would visit the cement factory from time to time.
The people at the cement mill are working very hard, but they haven't yet developed a perfect cement. This is understandable; the mix proportions and materials all have to be right.
"The New Year is coming soon, so give everyone an extra month's salary." Liu Yulian hopes that these people can work harder, so she will give them more money, which is equivalent to a year-end bonus.
People in other shops and villages have it, so people in the cement factory should have it too.
Liu Yulian asked these people to study cement. As long as they worked hard, they should gain a lot.
The people at the cement mill envied the people at the wool mill, who could earn more every month. But they also knew that the wool mill was profitable, while the cement mill was not, constantly spending money. They were also worried that Princess Rongning would close the cement mill, and then they would no longer be able to work and earn money.
Working in a cement mill is basically a permanent job, not just a few days a month. They also have a place to live and food, so they can save a lot of money and send it back home.
Most of these people were from nearby villages or towns, and some were from the county seat or the provincial capital. They all hoped that the cement factory would not fail and would continue to operate for a long time.
No one was willing to give up the money they had earned. After hearing what Princess Rongning said, they became more motivated.
Although they didn't know what cement was, they just did what they were told.
"Thank you, Princess."
"Princess, you are a good person."
"We can have a good new year this year, thanks to the princess."
…
These people were all saying good things about Liu Yulian, but Liu Yulian just smiled.
"When you finish the product sooner, you can get more rewards." Liu Yulian said, "and your wages can also be increased."
Liu Yulian said this to encourage these people. She wanted to prevent some people from thinking that their current life was good enough and there was no need to work harder. If these people didn't work hard, how could they have developed cement earlier?
"Not to mention doubling your wages, you can at least earn a few dozen more coins per month, or even a hundred more coins," Liu Yulian said. "It all depends on you."
There weren't many people working in the cement mill; they were all carefully selected by Liu Yulian. Not everyone could work in the cement mill; one had to have at least some knowledge of soil, or be strong and willing to work hard.
Liu Yulian wasn't just making empty promises. Cement was a good thing. Once cement was developed and the imperial court wanted to produce it, these people would be put to good use. They had also worked so hard for so long, so it was only right that they received some rewards.
The cement mill is very dusty, so Liu Yulian asked them to be more careful and even made masks for them. Breathing too much dust can be harmful to the lungs.
Some people felt uncomfortable wearing masks and wanted to take them off. Liu Yulian told them that cement dust is very high and breathing it in will shorten their lives.
When they heard that dust could shorten one's life, they wore masks when they went to work. In places with less dust, they occasionally took off their masks, but in places with more dust, they dared not take them off.
Masks in ancient times were not disposable. In ancient times when people were short of food and clothing, these things were used many times.
The most Liu Yulian could do was to ask these people to be more careful, as safety was the most important thing.
When Liu Yulian returned home from the cement workshop, she saw Aunt Chai at the door. Aunt Chai was not cursing at the door, but crying.
"..." Liu Yulian was speechless. Why was there so much drama in Aunt Chai's life?
Liu Yulian ignored Aunt Chai and planned to go straight in.
"Princess." Aunt Chai hurried forward to stop Liu Yulian, "I feel so miserable."
"Coptis chinensis is even more bitter." Liu Yulian answered subconsciously.
Aunt Chai didn't expect Liu Yulian to say such a thing. What's the use of Coptis chinensis? Why not say "A dumb person eating Coptis chinensis cannot express his pain".
"Princess." Aunt Chai wanted to follow in, but was stopped.
Aunt Chai cursed in her heart, thinking that this little girl Liu Yulian knew nothing, and she was Liu Yulian's stepmother after all.
Liu Yulian doesn’t care whether she is a stepmother or not, her biological mother is still alive.
Chai wanted to go to Liu's mother and cry a few words, but Liu's mother refused to see her. Chai sat outside and cried, wanting others to see her. However, Liu's mother ignored her, so she just let her sit there and cry.
It is impossible for Liu's mother to let Aunt Chai in, as Aunt Chai has not caused such trouble once or twice.
"Aunt Chai is sitting outside again." Liu Yulian mentioned this when she saw Liu's mother.
"Let her sit down," said Liu's mother. "If she wants to cry, let her cry. We don't have to worry about the gossip. Even in the capital, she can sit by the door and cry."
Liu's mother was not afraid at all. If this person wanted to sit at the door and cry, then let him cry. Liu's mother also wanted to see how long Aunt Chai could hold out. Anyway, she would never pay attention to Aunt Chai.
Chai Yi Niang was sitting there crying, just wanting to bring bad reputation to the Marquis's Mansion. But in the face of absolute power, who is afraid? Others thought that Chai Yi Niang had offended the Marquis's Mansion and did not dare to have much contact with her.
"If your father knew about this, he would probably have someone drag her back." Mother Liu said with a smile. She had not touched Concubine Chai so that Father Liu would gradually become unable to tolerate Concubine Chai.
It’s not easy to be a woman, you have to be virtuous.
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