Carpenter's Lady

Chapter 61

Zhang Mu is going to name the women's school Gongjin School for no other reason than Zhou Gongjin is her favorite historical figure. She guesses that she will press the golden finger of the girl from the Wu family to see the Romance of the Three Kingdoms someday. And Water Margin have come out, she was worried when she thought about it, she couldn't bear Zhou Gongjin to be named under that girl's name.

Zhang Mu thought of a compromise, first used the name Gongjin, and even if Zhou Gongjin really appeared in the future, it would be a name for her women's school!After all, hers came first, didn't she!
According to the family's discussion, the women's school hall was first placed on the second floor, and a two-story building was built on the north side of the backyard later for teaching and the living of the masters.

At Shenshi on February 28, the foster mother and the cook, who had recommended books from Mrs. Zheng, went to the women's school on West Street. Zhang Mu received the letter from Mrs. Zheng two days earlier, and he was prepared early in the morning.

Seeing that the person who came here had a serious face, a straight figure, and did not look sideways after entering the door, with a serious face that seemed to have been drawn out by the years, he couldn't help but think of the Rongmao in Huanzhuli , I know that this is probably the nurturing mother.The other with a pleasant smile was a plump, white woman in a bright yellow skirt, so she guessed it was the cook.

The foster mother's surname is Wang, who is the foster mother of Miss Yunyang Hou's Mansion, and the cook's surname is Liu, an old cook from Ming's family. The two were originally from the same township, and they were both from Taizhou Prefecture. Wang's mother never married. The well-educated young lady wanted to live a more unrestrained life after she got married, and returned to Taizhou to find the old widowed sister. As soon as they met, they heard that the old lady of the Zheng family was choosing a wife for her granddaughter-in-law's women's school.

Mrs. Liu has a daughter, who is married to Mr. Ming's entourage. There is an old mother and father in that entourage.

After discussing with Zhang Mu and Ding Erniang, they arranged for Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Liu to live in the second west wing of Liuye Lane.These two are also very diligent, Zhang Mu didn't wake up the next day, and saw Ding Erniang and Mrs. Liu in the kitchen and said politely: "Sister Liu is too polite, you are the masters hired by the women's school, so why bother you?" Come cook for us!"

While driving the rolling pin, Mrs. Liu said with a smile: "Oh, Mrs. Dong, I just work so hard. I don't cook for a day. I don't feel good all over the body. You, don't think I'm making trouble! "

"Where is it, if you show your hand, the two little ones in our family will look down on me in the future!" Ding Erniang smelled the fragrance wafting from the stove, and smiled again: "There is another one in my family." Boy, he is very gluttonous, come back from the academy tomorrow, but you have to trouble Sister Liu to teach me how to satisfy his gluttony!"

"Good talk! Good talk!"

We only talked about Azhu in the morning, and at noon, Azhu came back straight to Liuye Alley. Hearing the knock on the door, Ding Erniang couldn't help but cheered, "This little brat must be famine again!" He hurriedly went to the front to open the door.

Seeing Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Wang looking at her mother-in-law's back in a panic, Zhang Mu explained: "It's my younger brother. Every time I come back, my mother has to run to see the door. I wish I could see you soon, the two aunts." Look, we'll have to quarrel after a while." Because a few women came, Ding Erye and Wu Ling were eating in front, and they didn't share a table with them.

Zhang Mu reckoned that her mother-in-law would also stay ahead to eat, but he didn't expect that Ding Erniang would bring Azhu over after a while, followed by a woman in a white skirt for a month, leading a soft and cute little girl.All three stood up to greet them.

After entering the house, Erniang Ding said to Zhang Mu: "Amu, this is the wife brought by Azhu, surnamed Li."

Zhang Mu thought for a while, the dean of Azhu Academy seems to be surnamed Li Lai, this presumably is a relative.

"Mrs. Dong's hello. I heard my elder brother said that we are recruiting female wives, so I dragged Mr. Azhu to bring me here. I hope Mrs. Dong's wife will not blame me for being abrupt." Li Shi spoke softly and calmly. She had the look of a great lady in her eyes, and she felt a little puzzled, it was not surprising to say that she was abrupt, but in fact, she had already taken this master into her pocket in her heart.

"Sister-in-law, Mrs. Li's calligraphy and painting are quite well-known. She wants to teach both calligraphy and painting by one person, and the money will be given to each person. She just hopes that Xiao Maolin can study in the academy." Ah Zhu said to Liu and Wang. After the ceremony, he turned around and explained to Zhang Mu.

Mrs. Li is the widowed younger sister of the principal of Azhu Academy. Hearing that the women's school in the county is recruiting female teachers, she is very interested. She is arguing with her elder brother to come. Take care, but the days are boring and tight, and there is a girl under her knee who is already eight years old, and she feels distressed when she is bored on the mountain all day.

When she unfolded the calligraphy and painting works she carried with her for everyone to see, Zhang Mu saw the picture of pine and stone spread out on the table, with a few strokes on the side to outline the figure of a little girl snuggling up, which seemed to be quite suitable for her. Her women's school does not intend to teach what kind of talented women come out, but hopes to instill in them a relaxed and free attitude, a skill to live in the world.This Mrs. Li is very confident and casual.Zhang Mu felt that Ah Zhu had brought back the treasure.

Because Mrs. Li also came directly with his luggage, Ding Erye, Ding Erniang, and Azhu lived in the front yard, and there was no extra room. Wu Ling and Zhang Muxiao lived in the east wing of the back yard. Mu was in a bit of a dilemma as to how to arrange Master Li.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Wang, who has always been serious and unsmiling, would rarely say: "Mrs. Dong, let Mrs. Li live in my side room. I live with Mrs. Liu, and it will be more lively on weekdays!"

The little girl standing next to Mrs. Li hooked up with the beauty early in the morning. After hearing what the fierce-looking aunt said, she hugged the beauty and said sweetly: "Thank you auntie, I will let my mother give it to you tonight." Make sweet-scented osmanthus cake!"

Seeing her face upturned, Mrs. Liu stretched out her hand, wanting to pinch her little cheek, moved back slightly when she reached her face, touched Xiao Maolin's shofar braid, and said with a slight grin: "You don't need to do it, I will Do it for you!"

The Gongjin Girls’ School officially opened on the third day of March, and there are 30 female students enrolled. Although there are many curious people, there are still not many who are willing to send girls to study at the price of one or two per month. , more people still adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

These girls range from six to 12 years old, and some of them can read a little bit, and the older female students can do embroidery with one hand.But because there is no systematic teaching, there are many bad habits. Zhang Mu decided to divide them into two grades. Girls aged 6 to 9 are in Grade B, and girls aged 10 to 12 are in Grade A.In the morning, I study calligraphy and etiquette, and in the afternoon I study embroidery and cooking. The two shifts take classes alternately.The one who taught embroidery was Mrs. Su from Ruyi Embroidery Workshop in Tongtai County. In the early years, a pair of rich and noble peonies sold for a sky-high price of 800 taels. He has accumulated some furniture. In Linglong Lane not far from Liuye Lane, there is a small courtyard with a single family, and there is a little girl in it to help take care of the daily life.

After formally teaching the course, both Zhang Mu and Ding Erniang got busy. Zhang Mu knew a little about embroidery, big characters, and cooking. When the female masters were teaching, she often helped.

Because there is relatively little homework, Aunt Liu and Nanny Wang often take cooking classes together, and Nanny Wang and Madam Li will also help in the embroidery class if there is no class.The women's school is very lively every day. A few widowed ladies, Aunt Liu, when everyone was having dinner around the table one day, she suddenly sighed: "This day is much more interesting than usual. This is how people live." day!"

The ladies at the table were all silent, right? As a widowed woman, she has to guard the door carefully every day, worrying about the housewives outside and unscrupulous prodigals. Don't dare to take a wrong step, how can there be such a lively life in the academy.

Ding Erniang tapped the table with her chopsticks and said, "Okay, okay, don't be sad, old sisters and sisters, the days to come will always get better and better!"

Wang Momo looked at Ding Erniang's jingling chopsticks, and said silently: "Don't talk when you eat, don't talk when you sleep, the host's wife's chopsticks must be silent."

The ladies at the table saw Ding Erniang drop her chopsticks in embarrassment when she was stunned by Nanny Wang's sudden attack, and suddenly, the beauty's plump little body rushed over and grabbed the head of the chopsticks , looking up at Ding Erniang flatteringly with her little head up, beckoning her to take it away.

"Wow—the beauty is awesome, awesome!" Xiao Maolin shouted while clapping his little hands excitedly.

The ladies were overwhelmed with joy, and even Nanny Wang seemed to have a smile on her face. Aunt Liu patted Nanny Wang's arm while suppressing a smile and said, "Madam, this old bastard is just kidding around!"

Erniang Ding looked up at Nanny Wang, and saw that the corners of her mouth were really curled up. She patted her heart and sighed, "Oh, I lost my mind for a while, I was really scared by Nanny! I can't spare Mommy!"

As he said that, he wanted to go up and scratch Wang Momo's itch, Xiao Maolin looked at this group of crazy aunts and wives in amazement with chopsticks in his mouth!
Mrs. Li embraced her daughter, stroked her head, smiled and said nothing.

One day Zhang Mu realized belatedly that these female wives were all widows!

Sure enough, it is rare for a strong woman to have a happy marriage in any dynasty. At night, she becomes more gentle and understanding to Wu Ling, and she doesn't complain about pregnancy symptoms such as inability to eat, soreness, etc., and she wants to make a pair of socks for Wu Ling It's just that there is something wrong with the handwork. Wu Ling looked at the two crooked cloth tubes in his hands, looked at the daughter-in-law who was waiting for praise, and asked a little strangely: "My lady, what is this?"

Zhang Mu felt a little embarrassed, seeing Wu Ling frowning in confusion, she felt that it was really hard for her to say that it was socks, but it took several days of work, if she didn't say it, how would this good-hearted man know!right!Mind is the key!

Taking the socks from Wu Ling's hand, he said shyly, "It took me a long time to make them for you. It's so sad for my husband to say that!"

When he raised his head again, he saw Wu Ling staring at him with burning eyes like fireballs in his eyes.

Zhang Muxin was startled, he wouldn't be so easy to ignite this person's lust!She wasn't ready to annoy him! !
"A-Ling, A-Ling, someone from your grandfather's family is here!"

Wu Ling and Zhang Mu heard Ding Erniang shouting outside in a hurry, and hurriedly put on their clothes to open the door, "Mother, what's wrong?"

"A Ling, your second uncle, say that your cousin is pregnant with your child!" Ding Erniang gasped and said intermittently.

Zhang Mu's pupils shrank sharply, his mouth squirmed, and he looked straight at Ding Erniang, "Mother, what did you say?"

(End of this chapter)