Carpenter's Lady

Chapter 60

Looking at the backs of the two women, the boy in the bookstore said to the shopkeeper who was dozing off behind the counter: "Boss shopkeeper, when I saw that little lady just heard that the books were written by the Miss Wu family, she seemed a bit confused. Disdain and contempt are really weird, no one in this county will not admire Miss Wu's deeds!"

The big shopkeeper slightly opened one eye, glanced sideways at the little apprentice, and said casually: "A woman's ignorance is virtue! I'm afraid that little lady thinks the same way!"

Besides her simple and honest little apprentice, Miss Wu's family is really so powerful. She is a lady who has not yet reached the level of a boudoir, and it is understandable for her to write graceful poems about waiting for the moon and the West Chamber. A lady who has never left the capital city, If you can really shout: "there are sun and moon hanging at night, there are ghosts and gods who hold the power of life and death. Heaven and earth can only distinguish between clear and turbid, but how can they get confused like Robber Zhi and Yan Yuan. Those who do good will suffer from poverty and shorten their lives. Those who do evil enjoy wealth and prolong life. Heaven and earth, made to be afraid of the strong and bully the weak, turned out to push boats like this. Earth, you don’t distinguish between good and evil, what is earth? !"

It's ridiculous, except for a few brilliant passages in that book, there are many unreasonable passages, and the poems in that book of stones are even more extreme, either a good one is thrilling, or a tongue-in-cheek one is surprisingly awkward , he always feels that it is not written by one person, but if it is said that it is written by many people, but these books are often incomparably exquisite in one sentence, and inexplicable in the next sentence.

The great Confucianists of the present generation may not be able to produce a masterpiece even if they spend their whole life, but she, a young girl, can produce three works!Heh, he wouldn't believe it if he said there was nothing tricky in it!However, everyone in the world spreads rumors that a girl in her prime is already respected like the number one strange person in Wu Dynasty!
The little boy saw that the master wanted to complain about the pedantry of the little lady just now, and saw that the big shopkeeper closed his eyes and fell asleep again, so he had to complain and muttered dissatisfiedly to stack the old books in the corner!
Wu Ling was building a group of Duobao Pavilion, which had already been shaped and planed. Seeing his mother and daughter-in-law approaching, he paused and asked, "Mother, Amu, why are you here at this time?"

"Amu is so bored, I will accompany her to the bookstore to find some books to read." Ding Erniang glanced at the shop that had already taken shape. After it was done, he couldn't help laughing and said: "You two's craftsmanship has not retreated at all, and this job is so impressive!"

"Hey, how dare I slack off my skills to support my family!" Erye Ding blew his beard and glared while painting the arch.

After Zhang Mu walked in, Wu Ling saw that the three books she held in her arms were books, and the top one had a delicate cover, which was a meticulous painting, on which a graceful girl with a hoe stood Exiting, Qi said: "I have never seen such an elegant book, what is this daughter-in-law talking about?"

"The few stories I've heard before came from books!" Zhang Mu laughed while teasing the beauty who ran down from Ding Erniang's arms early in the morning.She has read the classics of Chinese classical literature many times before she went to university. She has memorized all the slightly better poems in Dream of the Red Chamber. Yes, I didn't expect this girl to be so bold, to plagiarize so openly!

"My lady, it's good if you read more books, the children you will give birth to in the future will be smart!" Wu Ling looked up at Zhang Mu and said with a serious face after blowing on the sawdust floating on the wood.

"Sanggong, what do you think of me opening a women's school first?"

"Ah?" Wu Ling thought he didn't hear clearly, "Girl's school? Do you teach, lady?"

"No, I'm in charge of the management. I'll find a few ladies who are popular, educated, and well-mannered to teach. I think the nursery will take a while to prepare, and many things have to be purchased slowly, but the nursery for women The preparations are relatively simple. I was in the bookstore today, and I heard from a buddy that after the Wu family in Beijing had a talented daughter-in-law, not to mention making a lot of money every day, the saint and the empress in the harem were awarded many times. The Minister of Rites Because this young lady is so popular in the capital, even many families in the county are paying a lot of money to hire female wives!"

"But, Amu, where are we going to invite female wives? And even if we invite female wives, would the ladies from rich families be willing to come to study with us?" Ding Erniang couldn't help but hear her daughter-in-law put forward a new idea. I'm a little unhappy living here, the nursery is almost ready, why is there a new trick!You must know that every piece of work is silver!Are they rural people still thinking about teaching the young lady from the rich family?
"No, mother, we don't necessarily recruit ladies from rich families, we just recruit families from decent families who don't have spare money to hire a wife for their daughter." Zhang Mu sensed her mother-in-law's dissatisfaction and was a little embarrassed, but she didn't expect that The girl is so powerful, she spends a lot of money on food and clothing, and she doesn't know anything about it. She even dares to plagiarize such a great book as "Dream of the Red Mansions". Her newly born ambition was once again hit by this girl!

"Old lady, anyway, this bamboo strip shop won't be able to open for a while, so just listen to what my daughter-in-law wants!" Ding Erye hurriedly said when he saw his wife's complexion changed slightly.

"That's enough, that's enough, don't think of me as a villain, I'm afraid that you will lose your money for nothing if you don't think carefully! Since the three of you think this is feasible, I won't make a bad face!" Ding Erniang After talking, he pulled a chair and sat down, saying that he didn't care, but he couldn't help but feel a little unhappy in his heart!
Seeing that his mother-in-law's face softened a little, Ding Erye said to Zhang Mu: "Our old couple is getting old and our brains are not working anymore. You young ones, just do whatever you want. In short, we still have support! If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back to the town and guard the shop to live!”

"Father, mother, I really didn't think carefully this time. I have one thought every day. It's because your elders and A Ling are used to me and make troubles with me! It's just that this time, I don't need to buy anything more. There are tables and chairs at home. Yes, please trouble me to ask Master Yan and Master Liu about the matter of the female wife, and I will also ask Azhu to help me when Azhu comes back at the end of the month!" Zhang Mu said bravely, this ancient woman wanted to do something. It's not easy at all, but she is not reconciled no matter what to let her stay at home like the women here to take care of her husband and raise her children!Did she read the books for those years just to cook for the birth of a child here?
Do not!
This time, Zhang Mu is not going to ask Erye Ding to pay the money. In the evening, he discusses with Wu Ling about the money on hand. In addition to the 5000 taels of silver notes sent by Mr. Ming, there is also Mrs. Zheng who has saved Wu Ling for these years. The new year's money is also a full 800 taels, plus the 80 taels saved by the couple in the town before, excluding the 200 taels for buying flowers in this small courtyard, there are still 680 taels.

There is only 30 taels of silver in cash, and the rest are 50 or [-] taels of silver bills. Zhang Mu divided them into four parts and hid them in a corner of the house. At this time, they are spread out on the pedals .

"Meow! Meow!" The beauty stared at the purse embroidered with flowers and scratched her paws.

"Little bastard, don't make trouble, if you dare to move, I will never buy little salted fish again!" Wu Ling stared at the beauty and threatened.

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" the beauty lay on Zhang Mu's instep, sullen.

"My lady, the money is here. I have no objection to what you want to do!" Wu Ling handed Zhang Mu the four purses containing all the belongings of this small family.

"A Ling, I will make them produce a lot of gold and silver!" A lot of gold and silver, and a safe and secure future for her and my husband.

According to Zhang Mu's idea, there are four compulsory courses for women's red, books, etiquette, and cooking, and then two courses for chess and painting are optional. As for the piano, considering the high price of a piano, I think it is not affordable for ordinary small families. Because of this, Zhang Mu decided not to set it up for the time being.They are all two taels of silver in January, and an annual gift of six taels of silver at the end of the year.

As soon as Master Liu released the news, the streets and alleys of Tongtai County were bustling for several days. With Miss Wu's jewels in front of her, everyone had been fascinated by girls from the moment they entered school, and the ladies from rich families had already hired female wives to stay at home. Professor, those from decent families who love their daughters have long been looking forward to having a women's school.

The old master hadn't been recruited yet, but many parents came to inquire about the situation, specifically the admission standards, tuition fees, and what the school's homework was.

Ding Erniang was a little surprised to see the noisy house coming and going in the past few days. I didn't expect that there were so many people willing to let their daughters study. When they went to bed at night, they sighed with Ding Erye: "Amu, this girl , I really think about it!"

"Old woman, I thought that this girl, Amu, was not simple. Do you remember the time when she beat Zhao's mother-in-law in the town? Think about it, who in the town would dare to act like this! Which girl is not afraid of ruining her reputation! I After beating the Zhao family away, she went to Ada's to buy meat and brought it home!" Second Master Ding recalled the past, and felt that A Ling had a good eye!

Ding Erniang also remained silent when thinking of that matter.

Female celebrities and female cooks are easy to find. The old embroidered lady in the embroidery workshop is getting old and has bad eyesight. When I heard that someone recruited an embroidered lady to teach female students, dozens of people came to apply for the job. Mother, a cook from a rich family, and some down-and-out noble ladies apply for calligraphy and painting, but Zhang Mu still wants to ask Azhu to be recommended by the gentlemen in the academy. In the past, when reading books, the ladies of the gentlemen in the academy always There are some talented characters!

For the etiquette class, she wrote a letter of trust to Mrs. Zheng to find her in Taizhou City. This class needs an experienced old lady to be convincing. Otherwise, some younger wives will teach it. Be stricter, and it is estimated that female students They are not too convinced.

(End of this chapter)