Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 663: Cold Wind·Zheng Zheng Fulfills the Promise [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you 37k more]

In late June,

It has been more than ten days since Young Master Lu from the Duke Lian family invented the hand-cranked fan.

The dog days of summer have reached the middle of summer.

If you walk outside during the hour of Wei (after 1 p.m.), the air you breathe will feel dry and hot.

If your clothes are wet, just walk in the sun for a while and they will dry quickly.

Under the scorching sun, the previously cool night began to become so hot that people tossed and turned and couldn't sleep.

While Xu Zaijing was exercising in his own yard, the officials of the Great Zhou who were attending the court were also walking towards the palace.

When they lined up at the palace gate, the hot and windless weather forced most of the officials to put their tablets at their waists, take off their official hats, and wipe the sweat from their foreheads with handkerchiefs.

The same was true for Sheng Hong, who was dressed in a crimson official robe. While wiping his sweat, Sheng Hong said to his colleagues, "It's too hot today."

"Yes! It will be better when we enter the hall. There will be ice cubes in the hall. It will definitely be cooler than outside."

Sheng Hong nodded repeatedly: "Not bad!"

As he spoke, Sheng Hong put on his officer's hat.

Then he waited quietly.

quickly,

The eunuchs' shouts were heard at the palace gate, and the ministers outside the palace filed into the palace.

Sheng Hong entered the hall and noticed something wrong with the light. He looked around and saw that the candle holder that was lit in the past was now covered with a lampshade.

In the dim light, there were vaguely objects that were more than a person tall and had a metallic luster, standing around the palace.

In addition to Sheng Hong, other court officials also saw this thing. The emperor had not arrived yet, so everyone couldn't help but talk about it in low voices.

"Sir Sheng, do you recognize that new thing?" a colleague whispered.

Although Sheng Hong had a look of realization in his eyes, he still shook his head: "I don't recognize it, and I don't know what it is."

The colleague in the candlelight nodded and said, "I don't know if His Highness will come to the court today."

"He should be coming." Sheng Hong said with a smile.

"Your Majesty is here!"

As the eunuch shouted, the buzzing noises of discussion suddenly disappeared.

After paying respect, the emperor smiled and said, "My dear ministers, I believe you have seen the objects in the palace today. This is the rotating fan newly presented by the Ministry of Works. My dear ministers, try it today to see if it can cool you down."

Zhao Fang, who was standing next to the emperor and kept looking out, also turned his gaze to the side of the hall.

The tall and strong palace guards, in groups of two, pushed a turntable similar to the one used to lift the city gate's sluice gate and began to turn it vigorously.

The Ministry of Works and the various government offices in the palace have no shortage of skilled and experienced craftsmen.

Nowadays, with the ability to throw coins into the high gates of Beijing and the principle of gear turntables, the rotating fans used in the court meetings were naturally extremely exquisite, with great expense spared no effort in their production.

This rotating fan seemed to have learned from the experience of the palace. It blew out a cool breeze, which was obviously filled with ice cubes, and there was also the scent of flowers in the cool breeze.

Feeling the cool breeze blowing towards them, the heat on the ministers seemed to be blown away in an instant.

The lanterns in the hall were also affected, and the candlelight in the lampshade shook slightly.

Several officials in purple with gray hair and beards, who were positioned close to the rotating fans, squinted their eyes as the breeze blew on them, and their beards swayed in the wind.

After enjoying it for a while, the great minister bowed and said loudly: "Old minister, thank your majesty for your kindness to all the officials."

Having said that, the Grand Master fell to his knees.

Seeing this, other ministers echoed it.

this morning,

Jiying Lane,
Sheng Family Academy,

The sun is blazing, the sun is blazing,
The cicadas on the trees outside the yard seemed to be annoyed by the sun and kept chirping.

In the yard, the chirping of cicadas was almost non-existent. The reason was that Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye personally climbed up the trees and killed the summer cicadas on the branches one by one.

inside the house,

The fan, which had been 'updated' in style, stood quietly in the corner without anyone shaking it.

There was no one behind the desks of the three Lans. Minglan and Rulan had gone to a farm outside the city, and Molan did not come either because he had a heat stroke.

Xu Zaijing, wearing a light-colored thin shirt, sat behind the desk with a wet towel draped around his neck. He listened to the lecture by the scholar from Shangshou Village while waving a fan.

When a dry breeze blew in from outside the house, Xu Zaijing felt a cool breeze on the place where he put the towel or sweated.

"Okay! Let's take a break first, eat some melons and drink some water to cool off."

"Yes, pedant!"

After everyone responded, Qi Heng waved the folding fan in his hand and habitually glanced towards Minglan's position.

Looking at the empty seat, Qi Heng sighed with a little regret.

The servants and maids of Xu Zaijing and others came forward to take the handkerchiefs of their masters, walked aside and put them into the bucket of cool well water to soak.

Afterwards, the watermelons, melons and other fruits that had been soaked in water were brought out, cut and handed to everyone.

Zhuang Xuejiu, who was sitting at the top of the class, was holding a piece of watermelon in his hand. He looked at the students and waved his hand, saying, "I will go outside to enjoy the cool air under the bamboo forest. You can do whatever you want."

Hearing this, everyone agreed.

As soon as Master Zhuang left the room, Gu Tingye immediately waved to his personal attendant Zhique.

Zhique hurried to the fan, grasped the handle and started shaking it.

Everyone gathered around the rotating fan, feeling the cool breeze, and most of them sighed in comfort.

Xu Zaijing looked down at the man beside him who was too short to feel the cool breeze only on his head, and he grabbed hold of him and lifted him up into the air.

Bu Wei, who had seen the situation clearly, quickly moved Molan's stool over and placed it under Chang Qiang's feet.

Looking down at Changzhang who was not standing on the stool, Xu Zaijing said helplessly: "Buwei, go and move Minglan's stool over."

He did not respond and quickly changed the stool.

Seeing this, Chang Qiang smiled embarrassedly at Xu Zaijing and stood on the stool to enjoy the breeze.

Two days later,
Taking advantage of the cool morning, the old lady brought the two Lans back to the Sheng family from the farm outside the city.

It's time (after ten o'clock in the morning)

The sun outside is already quite hot.

backyard,

Shouantang,
The old lady sat on the Luohan chair, holding a cup of summer drink in her hand, and looked at Sheng Hong below with doubt, saying, "Hong'er, did you stop the rotating fans in the school?"

The housewife, who was fanning the old lady, also looked over with some surprise.

Sheng Hong, who was about to drink, stopped immediately and nodded with a nasal voice, "Yes, mother."

Seeing the old lady's inquiring eyes, Sheng Hong put down the teacup and said, "Mother, His Majesty is kind and has set up several rotating fans in the court hall a few days ago. You know about this, right?"

The old lady nodded.

Sheng Hong continued, "The craftsmen in the Ministry of Works are also very capable. They actually came up with the idea of ​​inserting copper pipes into ice cubes and then blowing them with wind. This made the hall very cool."

"Then why did you stop studying at the private school, Hong'er?" the old lady asked puzzledly.

Sheng Hong shook his head: "Mother, you don't know, maybe they were too close to the fan, and the wind was too cold. Over the past few days, several of my husbands have caught a cold."

"Wind chill?"

Sheng Hong nodded: "Yes, mother, it's a cold!"

After saying that, Sheng Hong rubbed his nose feeling a little uncomfortable.

The old lady pondered for a moment and said, "This is because the senior officials are a little greedy for coolness. The palace is so cool, and the government office outside the palace is hot. The contrast between the cold and the heat will definitely make the elderly uncomfortable."

"Mother said yes, so now the court hall no longer uses ice cubes, only well water! Zhuang Xueji is about the same age as the senior officials, so my son stopped the rotating fans in the school."

"Well, on such summer days, I also like to stay in a cool room, but you should also ask Mr. Zhuang what he thinks! Those who know you will say that you care about Mr. Zhuang's health, while those who don't will think that our family is stingy with ice." said the old lady.

Sheng Hong was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Mother is right, my son didn't think it through."

The old lady smiled and said, "Well, Hong'er, you should also pay more attention to yourself." "Yes, mother." Sheng Hong stood up and said.

Looking up at the nodding old lady, Sheng Hong said, "Then, my son will go to the study first."

"Go."

the other side,
In the lush pavilion,

Wang Ruofu fanned herself with a round fan, pursed her lips, frowned and looked at her daughter Rulan, and said, "Ruer, how long have you been out of town with your grandmother? How come you are so tanned!"

Mother Liu, who was standing by, looked at Rulan, whose skin had become much darker, with worry in her eyes. At the same time, she glanced at Xi Que beside her with some reproach.

Feeling the look in Mother Liu's eyes asking "How do you take care of the Fifth Girl?", Xi Que, whose skin was also tanned, lowered his head in embarrassment.

Rulan scratched her cheek a little embarrassedly, and said with a turn of eyes: "Mother, doesn't my daughter have to practice polo with my sixth sister? Polo can't be practiced indoors, we can only go to the wheat field on the farm. The sun is so strong outside, how can my daughter not get tanned?!"

"Really?" Wang Ruofu looked at Rulan and asked.

"Of course it's true. How could my daughter lie to you?" Rulan said righteously.

Hearing this, Mother Liu sighed helplessly.

"So you practiced polo in the wheat field?"

"Yes!" Rulan nodded.

Wang Ruofu tapped Rulan's forehead angrily and said, "Do you really think that I, your mother, have never been to the farm?"

Rulan was stunned: "Ah?"

"I grew up with your great uncle, and I played all kinds of games on the farm! Right now, the farm is harvesting summer crops, and the wheat fields are occupied. How can you practice polo?"

Rulan was speechless. After remembering what Minglan had done on the farm, she changed her words and said, "Well, my daughter was riding a horse and pulling a stone mill to help collect the grain!"

Wang Ruofu glanced at Rulan and said, "Humph! Aren't you going out to catch crickets in the sun?"

Hearing this, Rulan frowned and looked at the magpie.

The magpie continued to lower his head, not even glancing at Rulan.

"Don't look at it, I'm just guessing." Wang Ruofu said, and then sighed: "Just stay in the house for a few days! You are so tanned, how can you compare with the girls in Linqi Pavilion?"

Wang Ruofu continued, "If the young master saw this, it would be strange if he didn't despise you."

Rulan, who wanted to argue, pursed her lips helplessly and nodded when she heard this.

After looking at Rulan again, Wang Ruofu turned and walked out.

Mother Liu gave Xi Que a look that said 'take good care of the fifth girl' and hurried to catch up.

Wang Ruofu left the room, fanning herself with a round fan, and said, "They are all little girls. Ming's complexion didn't change much, but Ru'er, on the other hand, got so tanned!"

"Madam, the Fifth Miss is very innocent." Looking at Wang Ruofu with a smile, Madam Liu continued, "When you were your age, you also climbed trees to catch birds and went to rivers to catch fish. The Fifth Miss is almost the same as you!"

Hearing this, Wang Ruofu looked towards the empty space outside, her eyes full of memories, and she said softly, "I was carefree back then! My uncle and aunt loved me, and there were no rules like those that apply to me after returning to the Wang family."

Mother Liu smiled.

"What is the Wei family doing recently?" Wang Ruofu asked.

"My dear Madam, Miss Wei has been embroidering recently. She said that Miss Ming's aunt is pregnant, so she is making things in advance."

"Oh!" Wang Ruofu was a little surprised and said, "Aunt Minglan got pregnant quite late."

"Who said it wasn't true!" Mother Liu said, "I heard that Aunt Wei is pregnant, and the host gave her a red envelope so that she can rest at home!"

Wang Ruofu frowned and said, "Hiss, then there is no precedent?"

"Mrs. Wei said it's just a routine job!"

"This master is really kind." Wang Ruofu said while fanning herself.

Without waiting for Mama Liu to say anything, Wang Ruofu looked outside and said, "Go, have someone send some more ice cubes to the school. In this weather, Bai'er might get a heat rash again!"

"Oh!" Mother Liu responded quickly.

evening,

The sun that had been scorching the earth sets and the temperature drops slightly.

After it gets dark,

Lights in the city of Bianjing began to light up. It was cool at night, but the area around the brothel was much more lively than during the day.

East of the palace,

By the moat, the lanterns on the palace walls are reflected on the river.

To the north of this place is Donghuamenwai Street, to the south is Panlou, which is not far away, and to the east is the bustling Jiucaomen Street.

The noisy noises came faintly from three directions, making the place even quieter and more comfortable.

Chai's backyard,

Qiushengyuan,
Bright lanterns were hung under the roof of the veranda, and maids passed by the corridor from time to time.

It was dark in the grass and trees outside the veranda, and insects were chirping.

The main house in the courtyard,

Looking from the outside, the doors and windows were brightly lit by the candles inside the house.

Cool interior,
A light breeze blew the thin curtains slowly.
Chai Zhengzheng sat behind the table, looking at Wei Fangzhi who was standing not far away in the candlelight.

Looking down at the account book in his hand, Chai Zhengzheng said softly, "Fang Niang, do you remember how long you have been in my courtyard?"

Wei Fang, who was not holding the pipa and was only wearing a summer dress, raised her head and looked at Chai Zhengzheng behind the table and said, "My dear, it has been about three years."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and nodded, "That's right! It's been so long. I checked the money I gave you to redeem you these past two days and it's enough. There's even an extra 5,000 strings of cash."

Before Wei Fang could finish speaking, Chai Zhengzheng continued, "This business is doing well."

Wei Fang nodded.

Chai Zhengzheng glanced at Yunmu who was standing beside him. Yunmu understood and turned around to take the prepared wooden box from the side.

"Since you, Fangniang, have done it, I have to do it too. Here is everything you need to regain your good status. Take a look." Chai Zhengzheng said with a smile.

Yunmu glanced at Chai Zhengzheng, walked up to Wei Fangzhi, and handed the wooden box in his hand to Wei Fangzhi with a smile.

Wei Fangzhi, who was not nervous when performing the pipa in front of the emperor in the palace, was now breathing rapidly.

Reaching out and touching the exquisite wooden box, Wei Fangzhi raised his head and glanced at Chai Zhengzheng.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng's smiling and suggestive look, Wei Fangzhi took the wooden box, lowered her head and slowly knelt on the ground, saying in a deep voice: "Mother Fang thanks the young lady for her kindness."

Wei Fangzhi grew up in a music school and had seen a lot of what happened to the girls there.

For seniors as talented as her, the best fate is to grow old and lose their looks and marry a businessman.

For example, Yang Luoyou, the leader of the Yang family, destroyed his own face, and only then did he have some freedom. If he hadn't had the opportunities provided by Viscount Zhu's family and Marquis Yongyi's Mansion, who knows how miserable his life would have been.

She was just a commodity, and after her last bit of value was squeezed out of her by the music and brothels, she was thrown aside like garbage.

Wei Fangzhi knew that with her own abilities, if she stayed in a brothel, she could remain popular for at least five or six years, and the value that could be squeezed out of a brothel was far more than these tens of thousands of strings of cash.

This also means that it is extremely difficult to free her from her status as a slut, and not just anyone can do it.

And these things cannot be bought with just tens of thousands of coins.

It is not excessive to kowtow and express gratitude.

Chai Zhengzheng, who was standing behind the table, looked at Wei Fangzhi, who had become more beautiful over the past three years, and said with a smile, "Get up."

Yun Mu, who was standing by, smiled and stretched out his hand to help Wei Fangzhi up from the ground.

Looking at the tearful Wei Fangzhi, Chai Zhengzheng said with a smile: "You will still live in the store under my name in the future. Why do you act like you are parting forever? Don't cry."

"Yes, girl." Wei Fangzhi took a deep breath and smiled at Chai Zhengzheng with tears in her eyes.

"Go."

Chai Zhengzheng said with a smile.

Afterwards, looking at Wei Fangzhi's departing back, Chai Zhengzheng took a deep breath with some sigh, perhaps lamenting the passing of time.

Then, as if thinking of something, Chai Zhengzheng glanced towards the bedroom and a smile appeared on his face again.

(End of this chapter)