Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 312 Fishing Chat and Elders' Discussion
No one turned around, but they all already guessed who this person was.

There's no other reason than that the one who could come here must be He Hongwen Wuer.

After all, besides him, there was no one else who could go up to the third deck to enjoy the breeze.

It couldn't possibly be an old matriarch of the Sheng family who came out to spread rumors, could it?
That's impossible!
Regardless of whether the elderly women like being exposed to the wind or not, their bodies absolutely cannot tolerate the slightest cold or chill!

Therefore, when Minglan and the others stopped and looked back at the person who had come from the other side, what came into their view was naturally He Hongwen with a bright smile on his face.

"Sixth Sister, Seventh Brother, what are you doing?"

Seeing Minglan and her group walking arm in arm, He Hongwen asked, half out of curiosity and half out of concern.

Because the two families were old friends, and He Hongwen had often interacted with Minglan and her brother in the past few days, He Hongwen had become much closer to Sheng Changquan and the others in his speech, and the two sides addressed each other as brothers and sisters.

Upon seeing He Hongwen, Danju and Xiaotao immediately became a little reserved.

"Young Master Hongwen!"

They knelt and bowed to He Hongwen to show proper respect.

"Well, hello!"

He Hongwen replied to Xiao Tao and the others in a gentle manner, which showed his excellent character and did not look down on their status as servants in the slightest.

"Minglan greets Brother Hongwen!"

After He Hongwen finished speaking, Minglan curtsied to him and greeted him.

"Hey!"

A smile immediately appeared on He Hongwen's face, as if he wanted to say something.

but!

"Brother Hongwen!"

Just as He Hongwen was about to say something, Sheng Changquan suddenly spoke up: "We're going to go fishing on that deck over there!"

Sheng Changquan took a step forward without making a sound, completely hiding Minglan behind him, and then smiled leisurely at He Hongwen before slowly explaining.

"To let Brother Hongwen know, just now, we saw several white carp leaping in the water over there, so we were thinking of catching a few fish so that the old lady and the others could have a taste."

"Ideally, we should try the method you suggested, Brother Hongwen, and see how effective that medicinal diet recipe is?"

Since the white carp that He Hongwen gave her before was cooked by Minglan herself, but not in the form of medicinal cuisine, if she can catch a few more fish this time, she can try the method He Hongwen mentioned to see its effect.

"Huh? Really?"

He Hongwen didn't notice Sheng Changquan's little movement, but assumed it was unintentional. Therefore, after a slight disappointment, he didn't take it to heart.

"In that case, may I come with you?"

At this point, a hint of anticipation and shyness appeared on He Hongwen's face.

He was looking forward to it because he wanted to be closer to Minglan, and he was shy because of his fishing skills.

"Actually, I can fish too!"

After offering a perfunctory explanation, He Hongwen felt somewhat embarrassed and then said with a hint of helplessness, "However, I'm afraid my skills aren't very good."

“In the past, I rarely caught any fish!”

In fact, besides doing business, studying medicine, and practicing medicine, He Hongwen had no other interests, so his fishing skills were naturally not very good.

"Haha, it doesn't matter!"

Sheng Changquan did not refuse He Hongwen's request in a heartless manner.

After all, although he was somewhat displeased with He Hongwen's "wolfish ambitions," he couldn't possibly act recklessly and forcefully reject the other party.

Regardless of the relationship between the two families, He Hongwen himself is a very good person.

For this reason alone, Sheng Changquan would naturally not go too far.

"If Brother Hongwen is interested in coming, that would be wonderful!"

Since He Hongwen was an outsider, at this moment, the person speaking and communicating with He Hongwen was naturally Sheng Changquan himself.

"Actually, none of us in this group are fishing experts!"

Sheng Changquan smiled and comforted He Hongwen, continuing, "We're just newcomers here, trying to get familiar with life on the river and pass the time!"

"Brother Hongwen, you don't need to worry about it too much!"

"Ah? Really?"

Upon hearing this, He Hongwen's expression gradually relaxed.

"If that's the case, then I can rest assured!"

He Hongwen smiled gently, as if his worries had been put to rest.

It must be said that He Hongwen truly has the demeanor of a gentleman. He always speaks and acts in a calm and unhurried manner, gentle and refined. He is like a pool of spring water, always so calm and peaceful.

"hehe!"

"Brother Hongwen, then come with us!"

Sheng Changquan smiled, then turned and winked at Danju and Xiaotao, signaling them to go down and find a boatman to get some fishing rods so they could carry out their fishing plan.

Don't ask the boatman if he has a fishing rod. It's like asking a herder if he has cattle. How could someone who makes a living by the water not have a fishing rod?
"Then thank you very much, Seventh Brother!"

He Hongwen secretly glanced at Minglan, and only when he saw that there was no unusual expression on her face did he cautiously breathe a sigh of relief, as if he had overcome some great difficulty.

……

Inside the three-story painted boat building, Old Madam Sheng sat opposite Old Madam He.

Besides the two old ladies, there was no one else in the room except for Mama Fang, who was standing next to Old Madam Sheng, ready to serve her at any time.

"Grandma, the tea is ready!"

At this moment, Madam Fang picked up a Jianzhan teacup, offered the tea inside to Old Madam Sheng, and said softly.

At the same time, she brought another cup to Old Mrs. He for her to drink.

"Madam He, please!"

"Hehe, thank you for your trouble!"

Grandma He accepted the Jianzhan teacup handed to her by Mama Fang, thanked her, and didn't look down on her at all.

Because Old Mrs. He knew Fang Mama and understood what kind of status and trust she held in Old Mrs. Sheng's heart.

Madam Fang had accompanied Old Madam Sheng through so many years. Although they were nominally mistress and servant, they were more like sisters. Everyone in the Sheng family knew that in Shou'an Hall, Madam Fang's words represented Old Madam Sheng's words.

The two women were truly as close as sisters, inseparable.

Fortunately, Madam Fang was a well-mannered and polite person. Even though Old Madam Sheng often treated her with great respect, she always remembered her duty and only did what she was supposed to do.

As for other matters beyond her capabilities, she never intervenes. At most, she silently memorizes them and then seeks an opportunity to reveal them to Old Madam Sheng later. These matters are entirely up to Old Madam Sheng to decide.

Such a loyal and virtuous maid, who knew when to advance and when to retreat, was indeed something that Old Madam He envied.

After all, there's no one like that around her anymore!
"You're too kind, Madam He!"

After serving tea to the host and guest, Madam Fang took a step back and quietly stood behind Old Madam Sheng, becoming still once again.

"Hoo~" Grandma He gently blew on the Jianzhan cup in front of her, watching the cloud-like patterns rise and fall on it, and took a small sip, savoring its rich and fragrant taste.

"Well, good tea!"

After tasting the tea that Mama Fang had specially prepared, a look of surprise appeared on Grandma He's face.

"Neither dry nor soft, but creamy and sweet."

"This tea is perfectly served!"

The tea of ​​this world is made using the whisking method, which is not as clean and pure as the clear tea of ​​later generations.

"Heh, do you even need to tell me?"

In response to Grandma He's praise, Grandma Sheng rolled her eyes and replied dismissively.

"Ruan learned her tea ceremony skills from me!"

"How could my apprentice be any worse?"

Because she was in front of her peer, Old Mrs. He, Old Mrs. Sheng would unusually lower her guard and speak like a young girl. After all, they were old friends, so she spoke much more casually and comfortably, without the hypocrisy of others.

Or, one could call that kind of hypocrisy "etiquette."

"Hehe, you two old ladies are joking!"

"My meager skills are hardly worthy of such praise!"

Hearing the two men praise her, Mrs. Fang acted coy, verbally refusing, but her body language betrayed her true feelings—she smiled broadly, her lips constantly curving upwards.

"Ha ha!"

"You old guy!"

"..."

Seeing Fang's mother's appearance, the two old ladies couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"uh-huh?"

Mrs. Fang was secretly pleased, and her face was filled with a smile.

However, she kept her mouth tightly shut and made no attempt to defend herself.

In an instant, the three old men, whose combined age was nearly two hundred, all became quite happy.

a long time.

After the three elderly people finished joking around, the atmosphere in the room gradually warmed up.

"Older sister, actually!"

"I've come here today because I have a favor to ask of you!"

Grandma He knew Grandma Sheng's personality, so she didn't hesitate much and directly stated her purpose.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Sheng couldn't help but turn her head and exchange a silent glance with Fang Mama beside her.

"Shh!"

In a split second, the two seemed to exchange something.

However, when she met Old Madam Sheng's gaze, Fang's mother simply smiled at her, as if she had expected it, but said nothing more.

Grandma Sheng raised an eyebrow, then turned back without making a sound, frowning at Grandma He, seemingly "angry".

"We've been best friends for decades, why are we still talking about feelings?"

"For no reason at all, you've made a laughing stock!"

"Yunniang, just say what you have to say!"

Yunniang was the given name of Old Madam He. When she was a young girl, her family and friends all called her that.

"Older sister!"

Hearing Old Madam Sheng's words, Old Madam He was also very "moved". After she "sincerely" called out, she continued, "Well... since that's the case, I'll speak frankly!"

At this moment, Old Mrs. He's face did show some sincerity.

She raised her head, looked directly into Old Madam Sheng's eyes, and her tone became extremely solemn.

"Older sister, actually!"

"I've taken a liking to your Minglan!"

……

on the deck.

Minglan, Xiaotao, Danju, Sheng Changquan, and He Hongwen sat on one side of the painted boat, each holding a fishing rod and fishing silently.

However, because of the difference between men and women, they were divided into two small teams. Minglan and her two servants were in one team, while Sheng Changquan and He Hongwen were in another.

Moreover, Sheng Changquan positioned himself closer to Minglan and the others, effectively separating He Hongwen from the three women.

They were separated very far apart!

"Brother Hongwen, how long do you plan to stay in Bianjing this time?"

Casting down his fishing rod, before any fish took the bait, Sheng Changquan suddenly asked He Hongwen a question.

"That's not confirmed yet, but it will probably take at least two or three months."

While awkwardly holding the fishing rod in his hand, He Hongwen answered Sheng Changquan's question: "Because starting this year, it seems that my grandmother intends to hand over those businesses in the capital to me."

"Therefore, this time when I return to Beijing, I not only need to go through all the accounts for this year, but also review the old accounts from before, so as not to be unfamiliar with this business and be deceived by the shopkeepers in the future."

"Ok?"

Sheng Changquan was somewhat startled and couldn't help but laugh, "How is this possible?"

"They still dare to deceive the He family of Baishitan?"

Because the He family of Baishitan was quite famous, their Baishitan Academy was even more renowned, producing many pillars of the imperial court.

Although the vast majority of these people went down to the grassroots level and became county magistrates in remote areas, they were still local officials.

Moreover, although these people are not of high rank, their numbers are extremely large, and they are spread all over the country. The network of relationships they can form is naturally quite large.

Although the relationship wasn't exactly strong, the academy's connections meant they could lend a hand, so Sheng Changquan didn't believe these managers would dare to deceive He Hongwen.

After all, which of those who become managers are stupid?

They naturally understood the principle that the common people cannot fight against the officials.

"and!"

Sheng Changquan continued, "Don't they know your family background, or that your uncle is also an official?"

The most outstanding member of the He family is He Hongwen's eldest uncle. Although he is not a Beijing official, his rank is the same as Sheng Hong's, making him a high-ranking official in his region.

After all, a fifth-rank official in a local area is no small matter. At the very least, he is definitely a big shot in the local area. Not to mention, he can exert even greater influence by leveraging the connections of the He and Zhang families.

I'm too tired, I'll continue revising tomorrow! (Many thanks to the generous donors: My Favorite Book, Lofty Righteousness, and Huai Ye!)
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(End of this chapter)