Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 76

    “What are you doing?” Qin Shi was shocked.

    However, the terrible situation she expected did not happen. After a group of women surrounded her, they didn’t know who was leading, and they all knelt down for her.

    “The old lady has pity on us!”

    “The Duke of Lu has a lot of money, please ask the old lady to save us!”

    Why did the poor and wounded soldiers only seek help from the British government? Is it because all their families served under Wu Qingyi or Wu Zhong? Of course not, it was just that Wu Qingyi’s name was even louder in the past.

    Now it’s different, the Duke of Lu is very popular in Beijing, and Feng Yuan became famous earlier than Wu Qingyi, so the wounded soldiers who retired naturally knew him.

      , isn’t it cheaper to act?

    These women who came are naturally the families of the wounded soldiers. As for why they came together, it is also a “coincidence”.

    Most of them are not from the capital, they came from outside, and found the cheapest hotel to stay in the capital. The second child gave them an idea, saying that it is rare for a big family to see ordinary people once, and there are many people Some, but also have a basis.

    They were a little afraid, but someone helped them come up with ideas.

    The Qin shi was irritated by the loud cries, and she waved her hands and said, “Get up, kneel down, what am I doing?”

    The women didn’t move naturally, but each cried out about the hardships at home.

    The Qin family is not a fool, what else is there to understand?

    They all come to seek relief, and to say something ugly is to beat the autumn wind!

    “Why did you find our mansion?” Qin scolded, “Shouldn’t you go to the British mansion?”

    It is not a secret that the British government provides relief to wounded soldiers, and many people in Beijing know it.

    In private, Mr. Qin didn’t laugh at his stupidity, but he didn’t expect why these people came to him!

     “What the old lady said, now who doesn’t know that your family is the first noble family in the capital?”

    “Yeah, I heard that the old lady even considers a few thousand taels of silver as a small amount of money.”

     “Minwomen didn’t really believe in the rumors of the outside world. When I saw you today, I realized that your family is so rich.”

    “Our family…our family…” Qin’s lips moved, wanting to say that he had no money.

    But not only others don’t believe this, but even Qin himself does not believe it. And when you say this, doesn’t it mean that you slap yourself in the face?

    Qin closed her eyes, and simply prepared to pretend to be dizzy.

    At this moment, a soft female voice sounded in the hall—

    “Ladies, listen to me, let’s all sit down and speak slowly if you have something to say?”

    She didn’t speak loudly, but she had a calming aura.

    Everyone quieted down, Qin shi looked around and saw Chen shi standing at the door of the flower hall.

    “What are you doing?” Qin Shi, who consciously lost face, became more and more angry.

    Chen shi smiled softly and disapprovingly, stepped forward to take Qin shi’s arm, and explained, “I heard that there are many guests, and my daughter-in-law was afraid that my mother-in-law would not be able to entertain them, so she came to help.”

    Qin smirked, just about to say that I can’t handle things, can you still do them well?

    Being worried about the presence of many outsiders, she finally swallowed the words and saved some face for the Chen family.

    In the back, Mrs. Chen helped Mrs. Qin to sit down in the main seat, and then asked a group of women to come forward to speak.

    After the organization, some order was finally restored in the flower hall, and there was no more noisy situation of dozens of people talking together before.

    These women came here specially from other places, of course, the situation is really difficult. When they talk about the difficulties at home, when it comes to the emotional part, even the Chen family has red eyes.

    What they want is not much, that is, some silver money for the winter.

     Qin Shi hadn’t said a word, but Chen Shi’s wife, Mrs. Chen, spoke first.

    Although Qin Shi was reluctant, he couldn’t bring down the face of the princess for such a small amount of money.

    Of course, these individuals also have the courage to open their mouths with fifty taels, and then said: “The women are not empty words, but I heard that the British government used to help people like us, and it was five Twelve and one household! Your family is so much richer than the British government, and women only need the same amount of money, so they shouldn’t be greedy, right?”

    This is from the past. If you can compare the British government, let alone fifty taels, it is five hundred taels. But now everyone in the hall looked at her like a hungry wolf rushing towards food, and Qin Shi didn’t dare to respond to this sound.

    “Don’t say that,” Chen shi smiled soothingly, “Although fifty taels of silver is not much, look, there are so many people here today… It’s the twelfth lunar month, before the end of the year. There will be more and more people in need of help, and if the money is scattered in the front, what will happen to the people in the future?”

    Others immediately said, “Yeah, I haven’t been on my turn yet, why don’t you think about the future?”

    “That’s right, I want to say, the money of the British government is to be used up by people like you!”

    The woman blushed at what everyone said, and didn’t dare to mention fifty taels, so she just had to chew for the winter.

    Chen asked his servants to make a book by the side, and each household gave 10 taels of silver. If the situation was particularly difficult and the basic life was unsustainable, an extra 10 taels would be given.

    After receiving the money, these people also need to sign and sign.

    As soon as they registered and distributed the money, the women dispersed before noon.

    The Duke of Lu had spent a total of nearly 1,000 taels of silver this morning.

    Without the presence of outsiders, Mr. Qin naturally stopped showing face to Mrs. Chen, threw the tea cup at hand, pointed at her and scolded: “Well you prodigal, send it out in the morning With so much money, you also know that there will be later generations after today, and even if our family is sitting on gold and silver mountains, we can’t stop those people!”

    The tea cup cracked at Mrs Chen’s feet, and the tea stained her skirt. Mrs. Chen respectfully said: “You are right. But if you don’t do this, you can hide it once Do you hide every time? How is our family’s reputation? Even if the mother-in-law doesn’t care about our house, you should think about the imperial concubine of Yong’an Palace, and the prince and princess from the imperial concubine…”

    Mentioning this, Qin’s complexion finally softened.

    Yes, the future of the Duke of Lu is not just in front of you, but in the back.

    If this incident can give Yonghe Palace a good reputation, then the money can be used to its fullest.

    I didn’t expect that Chen Shi, an orphan girl, had this vision.

    Although she was quite surprised, Qin Shi didn’t praise her, she waved her hand and let her go.

    Chen went back to her small yard to change clothes, and Feng Yu, who was born to her, came over not long after.

    Feng Yu just passed his tenth birthday. Although he is a half-old child, he is much smarter than ordinary children because he grew up in the army.

    Seeing the dress that the maid took out, Feng Yu smelled a hint of tea, and the smile on his face stagnated.

    When Chen shi changed clothes and went out of the inner room, Feng Yu quickly walked up to meet him, and said with concern: “Grandma embarrassed mother?”

    Chen shook his head and said, “It’s just a small matter.”

    Feng Yu is very clear about the things in the house, and he said, “It was my grandmother and my father who provoked this. My mother helped me thoroughly, and my grandmother shouldn’t blame you…” Said He took a deep breath and said, “Mother can bear it any longer. When her son is older, she will not teach her to suffer any more.”

    Chen looked at him lovingly.

    This stupid kid is talking stupid again.

    Of course, when Feng Yu grows up, he will most likely be the heir to the throne, but the dynasties have always ruled the country with filial piety.

    Not to mention that Concubine Feng is the daughter of the Qin family. With her support for the Qin family, Qin family will be able to hold power in the house for a day.

    After ten years in the Feng family, Chen Shi has already seen clearly that her good life is not when her son grows up, but after Qin Shi’s funeral.

    These days…and some of them are boiling.

    Since this day has passed, as Chen said, more and more families of wounded soldiers have come to their homes for help, and their money has been spent like water.

    Finally, Duke Lu Feng Yuan couldn’t sit still, so he personally went to the palace to ask Emperor Zhengyuan to tell him about this.

    However, before he could speak, Emperor Zhengyuan smiled when he saw him: “A Yuan came just in time, I’m about to reward you!”

    Feng Yuan was stunned for a moment, and saw that Emperor Zhengyuan waved his hand, and the palace servants unfolded the scroll, and a picture of calligraphy with flying and phoenixes displayed in front of Feng Yuan, with four words written on it – “Home of Accumulation”.

    “How does A Yuan look?” Emperor Zhengyuan asked him with a smile, “This is what I asked Mrs. Wen to write for you.”

    Mr. Wen is the head of the civil service. Does this mean that the literati also acknowledges his credit?

    “This…” Feng Yuan was emotional, “This minister deserves it!”

    Emperor Zheng Yuan waved his hand dismissively, “A Yuan is too modest, you are the founding minister of the country, and this time, you are relying on righteousness and wealth to help the wounded soldiers. This is what you deserve!”

    As soon as these words came out, Feng Yuan was embarrassed to complain, and Emperor Zhengyuan asked for help.

    Emperor Zhengyuan said again: “However, the matter of helping the wounded soldiers is still the responsibility of the court. After the year, I will let people go to care for them. Do your best.”

    Feng Yuan exhaled a long breath and said gratefully, “Thank you for your compassion!”

    The two brothers, the ruler and the minister, talked for a while. Emperor Zhengyuan had other government affairs to deal with, so Feng Yuan naturally retire.

    Although it is almost two months before the Chinese New Year, Feng Yuan is hot inside.

    The money is so worth it!

    And the front of the British government has also done such a thing. I have never heard that Emperor Zhengyuan gave his family any praise or reward. It can be seen that Emperor Zhengyuan still prefers his own family!

    When he was the founding emperor, he had no money in his hands. His mother and the old lady made two new clothes, and he had to worry about the money at home. The hero at the bottom will brag about how rich he is when he comes up, who can endure this?

    However, the Feng family is not very smart, he already knew it, otherwise he would not choose the daughter of the Feng family to enter the palace.

    However, someone picked up the hot potato, and the burden on Emperor Zhengyuan was still a lot lighter.

    He stretched his back and turned to Qian Sansi again: “When all the debts are recovered, remember to remind me to plug up the holes in the British government, I don’t have to let their family care about this. Empty your home.”

    Qian Sansi refrained from laughing, while answering “yes” and thinking, which one is the real Jane in the heart of the emperor, it’s not a compliment on the surface, but it has to be implemented. stuff too!

    …

    In mid-October, the capital knew that Emperor Zhengyuan rewarded the inscription “House of Goodness” to the Duke of Lu, which was equivalent to appointing his family as a family for relief of wounded soldiers. An endless stream of people came to the door, and I heard that the threshold of the Duke of Lu’s mansion was a bit lower.

    After making sure no one came to ask for help, Gu Yin was finally able to buy her favorite restaurant.

    It’s a bit funny to say, 15,200 miles, the big end is the money in the government, and the small end is Gu Ye won from the casino. freely manageable.

      There is a rumor that “there is money to buy such a big restaurant, it can be seen that the British government’s family is solid.” At that time, the current situation of Lu Guo’s government will have to be replaced by its own. At that time, the British government naturally couldn’t provide the money to help the wounded soldiers, and he was afraid that in the end, this incident would become a typical example of Shengmi’s fighting against rice.

    Don’t worry about those now, Gu Yin and Shopkeeper Zhou went to pay and settle the contract early in the morning.

    There are two copies of the land deed and the building deed. Gu Yin originally wanted one to write her own name and one to write Wang’s name.

    But she hasn’t mentioned it yet, her mother-in-law is like a roundworm in her stomach now, and she said directly: “Write your own name, don’t write mine. Although Wanliang came from home , but you deserve it, the five thousand taels were won by Ono, don’t write my name, write Ono’s.”

     Of course Gu Ye didn’t want to, “What do you say? This is the son’s filial piety to his mother, and it is also what the mother deserves.”

    Everyone in the family has a unified voice, and even the most shallow relationship with Gu Yin, Wu Zhong, has nothing to say, thinking that Gu Yin deserves it.

    Gu Yin is not awkward with them either, she is a family both vertically and horizontally, no matter whose name is written on the deed, the restaurant is owned by the whole family.

    Because it was sold directly by the imperial court, the procedure was simpler than usual. For the money delivered in the morning, Gu Yin became the owner of the restaurant at noon.

    Although it is a new location, it is already the second store, so Gu Yin is well prepared for this store opening.

    First of all, the sign of the shop, this time I asked Mrs. Wen to write it.

    Mr. Wen happened to have a rest that day, and Taibai Street was not far from his home, so he visited the restaurant in person that day, looked inside and out of the restaurant, and said, “This time the place is really good. , is much better than the one in Hanshan Town. Compared with this scale, I have to write you a more atmospheric one. As for the material, you don’t need to worry about it, I will find it for you.”

    After entering Beijing, Mr. Wen regained his former glory and his former busyness.

    The two have not seen each other for a long time. After talking about this, they have to talk about family affairs.

    It was mainly Mrs. Wen who asked Gu Yin, but he was still worried about her.

    Although Gu Yinben’s family is in the British government, but people’s hearts are fickle, and there are a lot of pickled things in the big family. Who can ensure that after the prosperity, the family will still be treated with the same attitude as before?

    Gu Yin said: “It’s all good, really good. Whoever dares to treat me badly, my mother is the first to let him go.”

    Although it was almost the same as what I guessed, Mrs. Wen was still relieved, stroked his beard and said, “Yes, yes.”

    Then the store decoration and recruitment.

    The first two floors below the restaurant are brand new this time, just hire someone to clean it and add some basic things.

    Fortunately, Beijing is the hometown of Shopkeeper Zhou. He has been in Beijing for a month, and he has also contacted some old friends and has already booked a pair of red and white chefs.

    With Gu Yin, there are four cooks, more than enough to deal with the two-story restaurant temporarily open. In this way, occasionally there is something wrong with Gu Yin’s house, and when it is inconvenient to come here, it will not affect the operation of the entire restaurant.

    Local chefs naturally have connections in the local area, and a series of people such as second chefs and small workers don’t need to bother to contact them, and they can all work together at once.

    Gu Yin is responsible for the solicitation of the court servant.

    In the afternoon the job notice was posted, someone came to see the job.

    Gu Yin wore her homely clothes for an interview.

    The embarrassing thing happened again, just like the time when Hanshan Town recruited workers, when I came to see the workers, I didn’t know where to go.

    Wait to hear the shopkeeper Zhou explain that Gu Yin is the owner, although the man did not show any contempt on his face, he bowed his hands to meet Gu Yin, but still whispered to shopkeeper Zhou: “This restaurant The day-to-day operation of the company should still be in the hands of the shopkeeper?”

    Obviously she still doesn’t like the female owner.

    The shopkeeper Zhou said: “If our boss is not available, then I will naturally act as a proxy. If the boss is available, then the boss will naturally be in charge.”

    There is a look of thinking and struggle on the other side.

    Those who look down on women and think women can’t do anything, Gu Yin naturally wouldn’t hire them, so she invited them out.

    Afterwards, Gu Yin simply went out and added a new sentence to the notice, stating that the requirement was male or female.

    Just as she posted the notice, a young woman with a towel on her head and a vegetable basket passed by.

    “Recruitment… two taels per month, regardless of gender.” The young woman finished reading it with difficulty, and then asked Gu Yin, “Does your family’s recruitment really matter for men and women?”

    Gu Yin turned her head, but before answering, she looked at the other party and said with surprise: “Is it you?”

    Speaking, the young woman was about to squat down and salute, Gu Yin immediately helped her up, and after identifying it carefully, she recognized the young woman in front of her. The man with both legs broken.

    “It’s you. Don’t be so polite outside.” Gu Yin invited people into the restaurant to speak, and asked her, “Is everything okay at home now?”

    The young woman nodded and said: “It’s all right, the general gave my family medicine and money, and my man used to lie on the kang… Well, I’m not hiding it from you, he I just don’t want to live, I don’t want to drag me down. Since I’ve met the general once, he’s completely different. For example, when I go out to sell eggs, sell vegetables, and do some small business, he takes care of the housework at home… Thanks to your family!”

    In the past, she did not dare to leave home for too long, for fear that as soon as she left, the man she was determined to die would find short-sighted.

    Gu Yin was also very relieved, and asked her, “Where are you selling these now?”

    The restaurant naturally has to buy ingredients. The eggs and vegetables in the woman’s basket looked pretty good at this time, obviously they were extremely fresh.

      Selling it to a place like yours, and I can’t afford the booth fee in the city, there is no fixed booth, I just walk around the streets to sell it.”

    Speaking of this, her eyes became firm again, “Don’t worry, as long as I live, I will do a day’s work, and I will definitely pay the money back.”

    There are also many people in the British government, but I have never heard of any one that regards the silver as a loan and intends to return it.

    Gu Yin couldn’t help but glance at her and smiled: “I think you are very smart in speaking and doing things, and you can read. Are you interested in finding an errand in our store?”

    The young woman’s face was flushed, and she spoke quickly and authentically: “I have never done any work in the hall, but if you give me this opportunity, I will definitely take a good look and study hard!”

    Running the hall is not a particularly high-tech job, as long as you are not particularly timid and talkative, you can do it well.

    Gu Yin ordered her to come, and asked the shopkeeper Zhou to hand over the deed that had been prepared a long time ago.

    Gu Yin also knew about her related situation – her maiden name was Wei, she had no big name, and her family called her Sanniang. Her family was gone in the war, only she and her family man were left, and now they all live in Shuiyun Village on the outskirts.

    The arrival of Wei Sanniang also reminded Gu Yin.

    She can provide jobs for the families of wounded soldiers. It is better to teach a man to fish than to teach him how to fish. Just a sum of money to settle down can’t protect the family’s life for the rest of their lives.

      . Especially when guests come to eat out, most of them bring their family members, and it is not good to scare timid children. If it’s modern, you don’t have to worry about it.

    Of course, if it was before, Gu Yin would not do it even if she thought of it – there are too many people who need help, and it is absolutely impossible to take care of it. It is easy to fall into the trap of others, and even forge a grudge.

    Now you can start. Because everyone knows that if you go to the Duke of Lu’s mansion to cry and beg, you will be able to receive cash for the winter, and the imperial court will also issue money for pensions after the year. The more difficult it is, the more money you will get.

    Invisibly, she helped her screen out a group of people who were too active and restless.

    When Wei Sanniang heard that she had this idea, she couldn’t help herself, and she trembled: “We have two families like this in the same village, and their men are also injured, so it’s not as good as mine. It’s that serious, but it’s very difficult to go to the ground every day. It’s just that the two eldest brothers, like my men, are not allowed to enter the city to ask for relief…”

    After saying what she thought abruptly, she lowered her voice and explained a little embarrassedly: “It wasn’t that time…that aunt who went with me that time, I didn’t know the aunt in the same village before. It’s that kind of person who doesn’t interact with her family anymore. The two families I just mentioned are really good.”

    “It’s okay, I understand what you mean.” Gu Yin patted the back of her hand, “Then please go back and send a letter to see if they are willing. Of course it doesn’t have to hurt. Family members of soldiers, and other people who want to come to the city to work, as long as they are honest and responsible, we are all welcome here.”

    Wei Sanniang stood up immediately, thanked first, and then went back to inform the people of the same village.

    In the afternoon, shopkeeper Zhou was responsible for the delivery of the purchases. The two had just tried two dishes in the back kitchen when Wei Sanniang brought them over.

    The two women have Zhou Zheng appearance, are a pair of sisters, both surnamed Sun, are also twenty-five or sixteen years old, married to a pair of brothers.

      The time is still alive, but after all, it is still worse than the average person.

    The Big Sun and the Little Sun are also cheerful people, especially the Big Sun, whose lips and teeth are more agile than Wei Sanniang.

    Gu Yin settled both of them.

    The restaurant is still in the preparatory stage, and the deed will only take effect in November, so after signing the deed, Gu Yin is going to let them leave first to do her own business.

    But the three of them heard that the shopkeeper Zhou was going to hire someone to do the cleaning, and they refused to leave. Nothing at home.

    The three of them are really quick and quick, and they cleaned the whole floor in half an afternoon. Although they were all busy and sweating profusely, their eyes were smiling and full of hope for a new life. !

    Of course things didn’t go smoothly, just like when Shiweitian just opened, the workers saw that the guys in Gu Yin’s house were all women, so they shrank. This afternoon, It is also a similar situation.

      Moreover, Hanshan Town’s food for the day was prepared for half a month, and now it is not in a hurry.

     After spending a whole day in her own restaurant, Gu Yin wanted to pay Wei Sanniang and others for the hard work of cleaning, but they refused to accept anything.

    Gu Yin did not force herself. In the evening, she bought some ingredients nearby and made a sumptuous evening meal with Shopkeeper Zhou.

    The braised lion head with thick red oil sauce is fragrant, and the gravy is overflowing when you bite into it.

    Another plate of fried rapeseed and Gu Yin boiled vegetable porridge.

    When she was cooking porridge, Wei Sanniang and others wanted to help, saying that they dared not bother her to cook for them.

    Manager Zhou helped Gu Yin and said, “This is our boss’s hobby. If the ladies don’t let us, our boss won’t be happy.”

    Gu Yin also smiled and said, “The shopkeeper is right, the store will open next month.

     Wei Sanniang and the others didn’t stop her, but they still helped out, burning the stove and adding firewood.

    It really feels like a dream to be able to eat meals made by the general’s wife in this life!

    It is the heat of course. When the heat is up, the deliciousness of the ingredients themselves are integrated into one place, and even the most common ingredients can make the best taste.

    Gu Yin saw that they only drank porridge and did not eat vegetables, let alone meat, so she asked the shopkeeper Zhou to take a few buckled bowls and put the rest of the lion heads, and they took them back .

    After the evening meal, the sky was getting dark outside, and the shopkeeper Zhou found an ox cart to send them back to the village.

    Gu Yin carried the food box containing the porridge, locked the front and rear doors briskly and left.

    The carriage of the British government parked at the street corner.

    There was no driver on the carriage, only a burly young man sat there.

    One of his legs was bent and the other long leg was hanging in the air. One hand held the lantern, the other rested on his lap against his chin.

    Under the soft candlelight, he closed his eyes and dozed off, the half of his face without a mask was covered with a warm halo, as quiet as the person in the painting.

    Gu Yin couldn’t help slowing down, and when she came to the front, she reached out to touch his half of the silver mask.

    Before touching the mask, he caught her hand with his hand against his chin.

    “Why do you still wear a mask at night?” Gu Yin asked him softly.

    He opened his eyes, and his voice was a little tired and hoarse, “I’m used to wearing it, and I didn’t go home to change clothes after the next value.”

    As he spoke, his palm rubbed the back of her hand, “Why are your hands so cold?”

    Gu Yin lowered her eyes and said softly, “Your hands are not hot, how long have you been waiting? Why don’t you go in?”

    Wu Qingyi is usually in the late evening, and it is already dark now, so he waited for at least half an hour.

    He let go of her hand, moved his neck, and said indifferently: “It’s okay, it won’t take long. If I go, the people in your store will be afraid.”

    After he finished speaking, he reached out to her again, “I’m done, go home?”

    Gu Yin pursed her lips and chuckled, handed him her hand, and he pulled herself onto the cab.

    “Well, home.”