my grandmother

Pingjiang City.

Li Jinzhu sat on the porch, looking carefully at the letter she had just received. She read it once, picked up Li Xiaonan's letter, and read it again carefully. Everything else was fine, except for the last paragraph, which she didn't understand.

"It's time to eat." Sister Mei called out after setting the food.

Li Jinzhu stood up, hesitated for a moment, and went to the second door first, outside the second door.

Big Eye is brushing the fur of two healthy mules with a big brush.

Big Eye is a member of the Li clan. Li Shikuan chose him to drive Li Jinzhu's carriage several times. Li Jinzhu liked his down-to-earth and honest nature, so he kept him as a driver.

After discussing with the clan, Li Shikuan bought a small house on the next street and moved the Big Eye family from Lijiaji to Pingjiang City.

Big Eyes works full-time as a driver for Li Jinzhu and receives a share of driver's money from Li Jinzhu. Big Eyes' daughter-in-law is clumsy but has good strength and works in a preserved egg shop.

Dayan's eldest son was fifteen years old. Li Shikuan arranged for him to learn crafts in a shop in Linhai Town. Dayan's two daughters were eleven and six years old. Li Jinzhu made the decision. The older one was sent to the Weaver School to learn weaving. Lord, he also learned to read and read. The younger one went to the elementary school on the next street to study.

The big-eyed couple are honest people who only try their best. They could barely get by in Lijiaji. Because of their job as a coachman, the family has climbed to the top in one step. Big-eyed and grateful are all used in their work. On board, whether it's a car or a mule, the service couldn't be better.

"Let's go to Linhai Town. I'll leave after eating." Li Jinzhu told Da Yan and went into the house to eat.

Around evening, Li Jinzhu rushed to the old house of the He family in Linhai Town.

When He Chengze heard that Li Jinzhu was coming, he was a little surprised and hurriedly came out to greet him.

Li Jinzhu and He Chengze said a few polite words and said with a smile: "I came here specifically to see Mr. He, the shopkeeper."

"If you have anything to do, just say it." He Chengze said with a smile.

"It's A-nan's business. A-nan said in the letter that when I see Mr. He, I should ask Mr. He: Do you know that she has accepted a disciple?"

Seeing that Li Jinzhu stopped talking, He Chengze hesitated and confirmed, "That's it?"

"Yeah." Li Jinzhu looked at He Chengze, who was frowning slightly, and wanted to ask Grandma if there was something wrong, but she swallowed her words. He Chengze was from Prince Rui's palace, and she shouldn't ask him.

"The Crown Princess has a disciple named Liu, and his family is in Nanyang. I know this." He Chengze answered Li Jinzhu's words solemnly.

"That's good." Li Jinzhu stood up and turned to leave. He Chengze followed her out and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Madam, the Crown Princess is doing very well."

"Yes. Thank you." Li Jinzhu said goodbye to He Chengze, got in the car, and told Da Yan to stay overnight at Li's shop before leaving.

After sending Li Jinzhu away, He Chengze thought about Li Jinzhu's question for a while, and then asked his confidants to go to Liu's house and ask where Liu Jingting was now.

The princess's question sounded like she wanted to see Liu Jingting for something.

........................

Jianle City.

Outside the city, Mrs. Shi stood at the entrance of the courtyard, watching the royal guards deploying their defenses on both sides, and watching Li Xiaonan holding up her skirt and climbing up the stairs.

Mrs. Shi came to the steps and bowed slightly, "I didn't expect you to come here. Does the princess know that you are coming to my place?"

"I told the princess and the crown prince to come see you, so I came here specially." Li Xiaonan asked Mrs. Shi.

"You have to go first." Mrs. Shi signaled.

Li Xiaonan went up the steps before Mrs. Shi.

After entering the courtyard, Mrs. Shi looked at Li Xiaonan and said, "You shouldn't have come."

"Why shouldn't you come?" Li Xiaonan looked around.

Tables, chairs and tea tables and tea stoves have been set up in the corridor.

The palace had already sent someone over to inform her of her coming one day in advance.

"It's not easy for you, and it's not easy for me either." As Mrs. Shi spoke, she motioned for Li Xiaonan to sit down, and she also sat down and started making tea.

"Then it's more difficult for you when I come here?" Li Xiaonan looked at the beautiful pots of orchids in the yard.

"That won't happen."

"It won't be harder for me. I've wanted to come here for a long time, but it's really inconvenient. Have you seen the circle of people?" Li Xiaonan made a circle with her fingers.

Mrs. Shi knew that she was talking about the guards who were on guard, so she smiled and nodded.

"How is the princess treating you?" Mrs. Shi asked with lowered eyes.

"It's not bad, it's better than I thought." Li Xiaonan watched Mrs. Shi making tea.

Mrs. Shi looked back at Li Xiaonan and laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Li Xiaonan asked.

"Qian'er, Sister Ninth came, cried a lot and stayed at my place for one night." Mrs. Shi pushed the tea in front of Li Xiaonan.

Li Xiaonan hummed.

"My place is now sparsely populated. Only Sister Ninth still comes here every now and then as before. Sister Ninth feels aggrieved every time she comes." Mrs. Shi took the tea and chatted leisurely with Li Xiaonan.

Li Xiaonan hummed.

"My sister-in-law always comes here every ten and a half months. The last time she came here, she met Jiu Jie'er on the way. When she came to my place, she talked about Jiu Jie'er, saying that she used to think Jiu Jie'er was very cute and naive. , why do I feel that she said some things that I shouldn't have said? It's really annoying. She said that she hasn't learned how to speak and behave after being with me for so many years." Mrs. Shi's tone was calm.

Li Xiaonan sipped her tea and listened to her gossip. "My second aunt loves Sister Jiu the most. She came here these two times and talked about Sister Jiu with me. She was very worried. She said that Sister Jiu is becoming more and more ignorant and has retreated instead of making progress. However, I feel that Sister Jiu is becoming more and more ignorant. My sister is much more sensible than before.

"Sister Jiu already knows how to look at my face and doesn't dare to speak. But everyone thinks she is getting more and more ignorant. Isn't it interesting?"

Li Xiaonan hummed, "When my third sister got married, the prince went to add the dowry with gongs and drums. At that time, the children in the clan would be beaten out and scolded if they came to the wedding tent to ask for food and drink. But when I went to ask for something, they always gave me what I asked for, and they praised me for being smart. Later, when they asked for something, they used my name, saying that I asked them to get it, and they always gave me what they asked for.

"The sisters-in-law and aunts in our clan have never felt that they treat other children differently than they treat me. They just think that I am sensible no matter what I do, and those children are ignorant no matter what they do. They speak from the heart, truly I think so."

Mrs. Shi listened attentively and sighed softly.

"If you don't come over today, I have to find a way to see you and ask for your help." Madam Shi looked down at the cup in her hand, "I didn't expect that everyone could say a lot of bad things about me. At that time, again..."

Mrs. Shi's words stopped abruptly. After a moment, she smiled bitterly and said, "By then it will be too late."

"What about the charity association?" Li Xiaonan asked.

"Well, did the princess tell you?" Mrs. Shi looked at Li Xiaonan.

"No, the only thing that can support you is what you said."

"Well, I went to the Prince's Mansion in Changsha and asked in person. The old lady said that although she is in charge of the Charity Society, the matters of the Charity Society are only minor matters, but for larger matters, she has to discuss them with Princess Wei. She decided to do it after discussing it. She said that she was in charge of Princess Wei, and it was a huge matter for her to hand over the Ciyu Society, and she couldn't make the decision.

"I asked the second aunt to ask Princess Wei, but Princess Wei did not reply to the second aunt's question. After that, I asked my mother-in-law to go there again. Princess Wei said that the Ciyu Association was not in her hands and it was not her responsibility. He spoke, and said that the handover of the charity society always requires the emperor's permission."

Mrs. Shi simply said it directly without making any circles.

"What do you think about this?" Li Xiaonan asked.

"There are probably important matters in the Charity Association that I don't know about. Secondly, the princess probably doesn't want to let me go."

"I can't speak to the princess. I'll ask the prince if there is really something important about you in the Charity Association that I don't know about." Li Xiaonan paused, "Let's ask first and then we'll tell you. See what happens."

"Okay." Mrs. Shi paused for a moment, looked at Li Xiaonan, and said with a wry smile: "It's only in the past two years that I have learned what it means to be in a difficult world."

"I will come here as often as possible from now on to chat and drink tea." Li Xiaonan looked at Mrs. Shi and said.

"Thank you." Madam Shi felt a surge of vicissitudes of life rushing over her, and she hurriedly lowered her head to sip her tea.

........................

Before Li Xiaonan could figure out how to tell Gu Yan about the charity society, Awu brought in a message from Liu Jingting: He had arrived in Jiale City.

Li Xiaonan asked Ah Wu to send two messages back and forth, and they made an appointment at a teahouse very close to the palace.

After lunch, Li Xiaonan changed into Wan Qing's clothes, sneaked out of the corner door with Yuting, and followed Awu who was waiting outside the corner door to the tea house.

Liu Jingting was already waiting in the private room upstairs. He looked at Li Xiaonan, who was dressed as a waitress, and quickly held back her laughter.

"I was negligent in not leaving a person to deliver the letter to the Crown Princess." Liu Jingting first admitted his mistake and apologized.

"I want to ask you, does Nanyang have style? What does Nanyang style look like? What is it used for?" Li Xiaonan asked directly.

"Yes, it's not as useful as here." Liu Jingting paused and shook his head, "It has no use."

"How about measuring the land and calculating the size? And you are traveling across the ocean?" Li Xiaonan frowned.

"The old people who measure land all start learning from their masters at the age of seven or eight, and there is no need to go to special training. Other trades such as tailors and carpenters all start from elementary school, and each has its own special skills. As for beauticians, Crossing the ocean is a life experience of almost death, what can Gezhi do?" Liu Jingting asked bluntly.

"Do you think that if you can make a fortune by learning Gezhi well, do you think many people will learn Gezhi?" Li Xiaonan asked immediately.

Whatever she wanted to ask Liu Jingting, she had already thought about it.

"Yes, can Ge Zhi make a fortune?" Liu Jingting raised his eyebrows.

"Well." Li Xiaonan took out a roll of paper from her sleeve and handed it to Liu Jingting, "See if you can make this thing. If you can't make it, I have something else."

"What is this?" Liu Jingting turned around, not knowing which was right and which was wrong.

"You take a look first and then ask me. I'll come here tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Li Xiaonan stood up to leave.

"Wait! I have other things to do. I'm afraid I won't be able to stay in Jianle City for a long time." Liu Jingting rolled up the paper.

"If this can be done, it will be a golden mountain and a silver sea. Can other people do other things?" Li Xiaonan stopped.

"Let me take a look first." Liu Jingting leaned over and smiled.

He can be delayed in Jiangle City for more than ten days, let's see what this is first.

........................

Not long after Li Xiaonan left the corner gate, the matter was reported to Princess Wei.

The mother-in-law guarding the corner gate lowered her hands and exited. Nanny Shen looked at Princess Wei's expression with her heart in mind.

Princess Wei looked very unkind.

"Grandma, it's really true that when I go to see Mrs. Shi, I can ask the princess to tell her in person what I'm going to do." Aunt Shen looked at Princess Wei and asked with a smile. "How about I go take a look?"

"What are you looking at?" Princess Wei said angrily.

"You can't just ignore it, right?" Aunt Shen said with a smile.

"Let's take a look first." Princess Wei thought for a moment and said coldly.