Ajiu

Chapter 1
In August of the third year of Tianqing, the house behind the government office in Suzhou.

Autumn is cool and crisp, with osmanthus in full bloom, evergreen and luxuriant osmanthus trees dotted with golden chestnuts.In the elegant courtyard, the intoxicating scent of osmanthus is permeated everywhere.

In the wing room on the west side of the back house, a light and graceful young woman is sitting leisurely on a rose chair, doing her makeup in front of the mirror.She is about 20 years old, wearing a light yellow embroidered folded flower Mingguang brocade beige on the upper body, and a blue cloud silk long skirt on the lower body. On the playful Japanese bun, there is a bright golden step rocker, inlaid with pearls and precious stones. , glittering and translucent, making her smooth and beautiful face even more beautiful.

In the mirror, she is charming and unspeakably beautiful, she is clearly a rare beauty.However, she was still dissatisfied with the face in the mirror, inspected it with critical eyes for a moment, then stretched out her slender hands to the make-up, wanting to touch up the makeup again.

A slender and graceful girl with a handsome face stood beside her, her eyes full of envy.Is this not enough?You are already beautiful, I am a girl, and my heart beats when I see you.

"My dear miss, I dare to love you again..." The door curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged nanny in Tsing Yi came in. She was a little anxious, but she didn't dare to speak loudly. She suppressed her voice and smiled, "Third Grandma It's about to give birth, and the eldest grandma is so busy that her feet don't touch the ground. Good lady, you are the second grandmother of the Pei family, the elder sister-in-law's sister-in-law, and it's not good to let the eldest sister-in-law suffer alone, so you can help me out anyway."

The young woman ignored her, and still focused on looking at the mirror, sweeping her crescent eyebrows lightly, and lightly brushing her rouge.She was so understated and inconsiderate, the poor Tsing Yi nanny was in a hurry and had no choice but to beg softly, "My dear miss, auntie, just listen to my nanny!"

"Miss who is not worried, she is the mother of two children, and she is still so childish!" Tsing Yi's mother looked at the young woman who was concentrating on making up in the mirror, and lamented in her heart.

This young woman's name is Lin Youhui, the youngest daughter of Lin Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, the wife of Pei Mi, the second son of Pei Kai, the prefect of Suzhou, and the second grandmother of Pei's family.Her father, Lin Xun, had been the governor of Su Song for several years, and since the governor Su Song was stationed in Suzhou, he was acquainted with the prefect of Pei, and they became relatives of his sons and daughters after they came and went.

Governor Lin has two sons and two daughters. Lin Youhui is the second daughter and the youngest.Ever since she was born, she has been loved by her parents, spoiled by her brothers and sisters, and has a very delicate temperament.No, there have been a lot of things to do in the past few days, and her brother-in-law, Xu Shi, the third grandmother of the Pei family, is about to give birth, so she still has the mind to take a break from her busy schedule and dress up.Tsing Yi's surname is Li, she is her nanny, seeing her like this, there is no reason not to worry.

The Pei family is a good family of innocence and kindness, as well as a family of rules.Being a daughter-in-law in Pei's family should not be neglected.

In fact, no matter which family you are a daughter-in-law in, you should not be careless.Only when I get to the day when I become a mother-in-law can I take a little breather.

The prefect of Pei is an upright official, and he disciplines his children and grandchildren quite strictly. He never allows his children to be loose and playful.Mrs. Fang's temperament is generous and loving, but mother-in-law is mother-in-law, and daughters-in-law are very respectful and filial when they come to her.

The eldest grandmother of the Pei family, Gu Shi, was born in an old family in the south of the Yangtze River. She is gentle and virtuous.She also cares for her two younger sisters and daughters-in-law, and she is very demeanor of being a sister-in-law.

The third grandma of the Pei family, Mrs. Xu, has an extraordinary background. She is the daughter of Duke Wei's mansion, the jewel in the palm of Duke Wei and his wife, but since she married into the Pei family, she has also worked hard and never dared to slack off.

On the other hand, my young lady, from the young lady of the Lin family to the second mistress of the Pei family, from a boudoir girl to the mother of two, still has an innocent and innocent disposition, obsessed with brocade clothes and delicacies, and loves grooming, and has never changed.

Prefect Pei and Mrs. Fang are both very fair elders, but there are three sons in the Pei family, the eldest son is naturally the most valued, the youngest son is naturally the most favored, and the second master Pei is caught in the middle, who is most likely to be ignored by his parents son.Miss, you are married to the second son, but you are still so self-willed, I am really anxious to death.

While thinking about what was on her mind, Nanny Li persistently begged, "Good lady, auntie, please stop doing this. Adding people is a big deal. The third grandma is about to have a baby, and the eldest grandma is busy going around. Miss, you are the second son of the Pei family. Grandma, no matter what, I can't hide away at this moment."

The young woman reapplied her makeup and looked at the mirror for a long time, with a satisfied smile on her white jade face, "Nurse, you don't have to panic, it's fine, I know it well. Although it's better to be a daughter-in-law to be diligent, but I'm the second son." Daughter-in-law, it’s different from sister-in-law. Besides, the third brother and sister have only just started, and they are still too early to die.”

Xu Shi, the third grandmother of the Pei family, is now having her third child.It took her two days and two nights to give birth to her son Heng, and it was not smooth when she gave birth to her second son, Jing. With her physique, it was impossible for her third child to go smoothly. For a long time.Now that she is just starting to hold her stomach and complain of pain, will the sisters-in-law guard her nervously?
Nanny Li didn't think so, and tried to persuade her again, the young woman smiled and raised her hand to stop her, "Okay, nanny, I understand, let's go and help sister-in-law." Don't talk too much, I'll go, okay? ?

The young woman stood up gracefully, and chanted softly: "'A middle-aged woman can stop worrying about her family, and she can't worry about the family like a big woman.'" She turned her head and smiled sweetly at Nanny Li, "Nurse, the second daughter-in-law just likes to dress up in her busy schedule , Song poems say so, it can be seen that from ancient times to the present, people's sophistication is almost the same."

Nanny Li is angry and funny, miss, you recite crooked poems and talk crooked reasoning!You were so naughty when you were young, it was nothing when you were at the knees of the master and wife, but now you are married and have children, and you are still naughty.

Nanny Li and the eldest girl Han Zi served the young woman out of the house together.The young woman was walking on the clean path, breathing in the pleasant scent of sweet-scented osmanthus, with a faint smile on her lips, "Do you smell sweet-scented osmanthus?" Nanny Li and Han Zi, who were used to her, answered with a smile, "Smell it." !"

The scent of osmanthus is everywhere, how could it not be smelled.

The young woman smiled contentedly, and walked lightly into the depths of the path.

At Liujiagang in Taicang, Suzhou, hundreds of treasure ships, warships, boats, horse boats, grain ships, high walls and big masts were moored at this time.This is the empire's huge ocean-going fleet, returning from the west.When they sailed from Liujiagang to the Western Ocean two years ago, what they took away were the silk, porcelain, jewelry, and medicinal materials that the empire was famous overseas. The most important things are lions, leopards, unicorns, camels, ostriches and spices. Of course, the most important thing is the tribute and submission of Western countries, which is what His Majesty the Emperor values.Originally, the purpose of the voyages was to "show off soldiers in foreign lands and show China's prosperity."

In the yamen of the prefect of Suzhou, a man in his fifties with a handsome appearance sat on an official hat chair with a dignified expression.The ocean-going fleet returns to the voyage, and the rations of nearly 50 people need to be supplied by the Suzhou government. This is not a small amount.

Is it apportioned to the people?cannot.The tax and grain tax of the entire empire was only more than 280 million shi, while the grain tax of the seven counties in Suzhou was [-] million shi, accounting for one-tenth of the tax revenue of the entire empire.The common people in Wuzhong have suffered enough.

"Open the position." The man made a decision.

However, if he really wanted to open a position, it was not something that he, the prefect of Suzhou, could decide on his own.On the boundary of Suzhou, there is one person with greater authority than him, and that is Governor Su Song.The current governor of Su Song, surnamed Tie Mingqiang, has an outspoken temperament, which is really a bit stern and selfless.

Prefect Pei stood up and gave a simple and clear order, "Prepare the sedan chair and go to the governor's office."

After dark, Prefect Pei just came back exhausted.Mrs. Fang greeted him with a smile on her face, and personally loosened his clothes and put on a comfortable Taoist robe. "The third child is born, and he is a boy. Master, we have eight grandchildren!"

Prefect Pei was startled, and asked with some disappointment: "Another kid?"

Mrs. Fang blamed, "What? You despise Xiao Ba?" She just had a fat grandson, and it's time to be happy, so it can be seen that her husband's expression is so undisguised.

Prefect Pei smiled wryly, "My own grandson, what do I dislike? I just thought, we only have three sons and no daughters. The eldest and third child are the same as us, each with three sons and no daughters; the second child, There are only two sons, no daughters; madam, we are destined to have no daughters, don't we even have granddaughters?"

Mrs. Fang sighed softly, "What's so good about a girl? She has worked so hard and put all her heart into raising her, but she has to bear the pain and marry into someone else's house, and live in the face of her parents-in-law and husband-in-law."

Even though she said that, there was pity and regret in her eyes.

Prefect Pei has been husband and wife with her for decades, how could he not understand her?She wants a little granddaughter more than anyone else, but she just pretends to be brave.

The couple looked at each other, feeling helpless.

"Is the yamen going well?" Mrs. Fang asked softly, handing over a cup of hot tea.

"The ocean-going fleet is returning, and the rations of nearly 3 people need to be supplied urgently. Fortunately, the iron governor took pity on the people and agreed to open warehouses." Prefect Pei said with a smile, sipping a sip of tea.

"It's so good." Mrs. Fang felt relieved.

The ocean-going fleet sails to the west every four years, and the place of departure and return is Liujiagang under the jurisdiction of Suzhou.Supplementary supplies for ocean-going voyages and other important tasks are also handled by the Suzhou government.Of course, it would be great if it could supply the ocean-going fleet in full without increasing the burden on the people of Suzhou.

"Two years later, I'm afraid we'll be sailing again." Prefect Pei put down the teacup and said calmly.

This has been the case for more than 20 years. It takes about two years to go to the West each time and rest for two years after returning.After that, go to sea again.

Once every four years, it consumes countless manpower and material resources.

Of course, His Majesty the Emperor didn't bother to pay attention to the huge cost of sailing to the West.As the true son of heaven, how could he take these things seriously?When foreign businessmen came to the Celestial Dynasty to do business, he also specially ordered not to collect taxes, "Today the barbarians come here looking for righteousness, and they are invading their interests. They earn a lot, but they generally lose a lot of humiliation."

A gentleman can be ashamed of his words, let alone an emperor.

However, magistrates can't do it.As local officials, they must pay taxes and taxes in full and on time, and turn them over to the state treasury.Local officials have to do practical things, and they can't be aloof.

Thinking of the supply of the ocean-going fleet that will be faced in two years' time, Prefect Pei lost his mind for a moment, and Madam Fang was also silent.

"Our family has a happy news!" Mrs. Fang lifted her spirits and told her husband with a smile, "Today, Zhonglang's daughter-in-law seems to be in poor health, so she quietly went back to the room several times. Invite the doctor to come..."

At this point, Mrs. Fang paused, smiled and looked at Prefect Pei, but did not continue.

Prefect Pei coughed softly, "You're happy, right? Ma'am, in my opinion, Zhonglang and us, his elder brother and third younger brother share the same fate."

I have three sons, and each of my sons has three sons, which is really uniform.

Mrs. Fang looked apprehensive, "Isn't it? You're still a kid? This is too...too a coincidence, right?"

Although Mrs. Fang said so, she really believed it in her heart: the daughter-in-law of Zhonglang is pregnant this time, and [-]% of it is also a boy.

It's no wonder that Prefect Pei and Mrs. Fang have no confidence. It's because they have given birth to sons one after another for most of their lives.When the son grew up and married a wife, he gave birth to grandchildren one after another, one, two, three... until the eighth.

They no longer dare to count on their little granddaughter, whom they had longed for.

"I'm afraid he's another kid." Not only the Prefect Pei and his wife thought so, but also the three families of the Pei family, Da Lang, Zhong Lang, and San Lang.

To everyone's surprise, the second grandmother of the Pei family, Lin's pregnancy period expired in October, and when it was ripe, she gave birth to a baby girl.

The whole family felt very strange.

(End of this chapter)