Peasant Girl Bookseller

Chapter 216 The Predecessor
Mai Xiang received the signal from Huaici, changed her words and said: "Godfather, sir, the food and drink are ready, they say that wine is too rare for a bosom friend, today master and godfather must have a good drink."

Mai Xiang's idea was to wait for Cao Xueqin to drink too much, and then try to test his attitude, maybe there will be some unexpected gains.

"Okay, drink, today I will give up my life to accompany the gentleman, get drunk with Brother Cao for [-] rounds, today we will not cook wine to discuss calligraphy and painting, we will cook wine to discuss "The Story of the Stone"." Ji Xiaolan heard Cao Xueqin said that he did not intend to let The novel was handed down, and the question was not pursued.

"Unfortunately, there seems to be one person missing today." Huai Ci said.

"Who said, how can such a good thing as drinking be without me?" Yongen came in with a folding fan, and the servant behind carried two small jars of wine.

"Brother-in-law, why are you here?" Mai Xiang was really surprised.

"I sent someone to deliver the letter. I didn't expect Prince Li to give me such a face." Ji Xiaolan laughed.

"You don't have to give other people's face, but Mr. Cao and Mr. Ji's face must be given." Yongen didn't wait for the master's order, and sat down cross-legged on the kang, and the servant put the wine on the kang table and left automatically .

"Girl, if you have southern wine, you must have some roasted duck." Cao Xueqin saw the seal on the wine jar and smiled, as if he didn't feel that Yong En's visit was such an honor.

"No problem, it's guaranteed." Mai Xiang said hastily.

"Mr. Cao, just now I heard you guys say that today you are going to cook wine and talk about "The Story of the Stone". I don't know what "The Story of the Stone" is. Can I have a look?"

In fact, Yong En just wanted to test Cao Xueqin, because he had already obtained the manuscript from Mai Xiang, and of course he knew that there were some cryptic descriptions about the imperial court in it. What he wanted to know was whether Cao Xueqin regarded him as a friend or as a Li Prince.

"Of course, it's okay. It's just that Cao scribbled in his free time, so it can't be taken as real." Cao Xueqin hesitated for a moment, but agreed.

"Thank you Mr. Cao for your kindness." Yongen was happy, and saluted Cao Xueqin with his fists, and then picked up a few scattered manuscripts on the kang table.

"Mai Xiang, go and make a few delicate dishes with your mistress, and we'll drink and talk in this study."

"Okay, the food is ready on my side, I'll take it right away." Mai Xiang said and turned to go home.

When Mai Xiang entered the door with a food box, Liu Huilan was setting wine cups and bowls and chopsticks on the kang table. After the two of them arranged the food one by one, Liu Huilan took Mai Xiang's hand and retreated.

"Master, just now Mr. Ji said that he will do his best to make his manuscript come out, and don't let his talent be buried. Why doesn't he agree?" Mai Xiang saw that she couldn't hear anything from Cao Xueqin, so she had to fight again. It was Liu Huilan's idea.

While Liu Huilan was talking, she brought Mai Xiang to her room, and Li Xiangyun was playing with two children on the kang. Liu Huilan gave birth to a daughter, and Li Xiangyun gave birth to a son, and everyone got what they wanted.

"It's not so easy for your husband's manuscript to be published. Now that the literary prison is prevalent, if something happens, the Cao family will really be doomed." Li Xiangyun said.

Upon hearing this, Mai Xiang hurriedly said: "Mr. Ji is Tanhua of the current dynasty, a person close to the emperor, and Prince Li is a member of the emperor's clan. They should be able to grasp this speed."

Mai Xiang also remembered now that there is another most important person, that is Qianlong's biological mother, Empress Dowager Xiaoshengxian, she is the most die-hard fan of "Story of the Stone", if she speaks, who would dare to say that this book is anti- Book?
"It doesn't matter if we say anything about it. It depends on your husband's intentions. He has no such plan. If you ask me, I'd rather not toss about it. It's hard to live a stable life for a few days." Liu Huilan said .

Liu Huilan has survived the hard times. Although the current Cao family is not rich, they do not have to worry about food and clothing. She is really content with having a little extra money throughout the year.

"Who says it's not? But that book is the second brother's life's painstaking efforts." Li Xiangyun also sighed after finishing speaking.

"The master's book hasn't been finished yet, so don't worry too much about the two mistresses. If you are not sure, Mr. Ji and Prince Li will not take this risk. Besides, I have read the first few books, but I haven't read them." What's wrong? Isn't it because Qin Keqing's funeral and the concubine Yuan's family visit are overblown?" Mai Xiang asked.

"I didn't expect that even our Mai Xiang could see that this scene was too big, so you really read this book carefully." Li Xiangyun seemed very happy. Before, she thought that Mai Xiang was just watching a scene.

"Of course, I have read it several times. I also found several things wrong. Qin Keqing's background is also very suspicious. How can she marry the eldest grandson of the Ningguo Mansion as an abandoned baby brought back from the Yangshengtang? Isn't the rich family the best?" Pay attention to family status, right?"

"Okay, the more you talk about it, the more excited you are, but it's just a novel, why do you have so many questions?" Liu Huilan interrupted Mai Xiang, she obviously didn't want to talk about this topic.

Li Xiangyun glanced at Liu Huilan and said, "Don't worry, I've already put it down."

"What did Auntie put down?" Mai Xiang asked hurriedly.

Liu Huilan was about to reprimand Mai Xiang when she saw her, but Li Xiangyun said, "Mai Xiang is just a child, and she didn't mean anything, so you blame her for what she did. Well, your mistress won't tell you, so aunt will tell you. My aunt once had A cousin, who had no father or mother since she was a child, was fostered by Cao's family, which is similar to Lin Daiyu's life experience in the book. Your husband likes her very much. Later, she entered Prince Li's mansion, the prince's son Hong Xi's mansion, To Lord Kangxi, Hongxi is also equivalent to the eldest son and grandson."

As soon as Mai Xiang heard it, she knew that this person was the Li Xiangyu that Liu Huilan had mentioned before. The question was, wasn't Qin Keqing "the obscene and mourning Tianxianglou"?How could such a character be Cao Xueqin's favorite?
Mai Xiang asked her own question again.

"Well, the characters in the book are created after all. Qin Keqing's characters have too many contradictions. Your husband has piled up characters and events from different time and space, so you have so many questions. You are still young, these Don't ask any more questions." Li Xiangyun obviously didn't want to talk about it in depth.

Mai Xiang looked at Liu Huilan, and Liu Huilan said: "Your aunt is right, the little girl's family, this manuscript should not be shown to you, you just have to grind me to read it, and you still have to drag me If you break the casserole and ask the end, you must have told you everything you can tell, and you can't tell what you can't say, so don't ask too much, this is the behavior of a boudoir girl."

After hearing this, Mai Xiang guessed that the question involved the relationship between men and women, and since she was still a 13-year-old girl, it was really not appropriate to ask these questions.

Seeing Mai Xiang, Li Xiangyun felt a little frustrated, and said: "Actually, to put it bluntly, the prototype of the character Baoyu in the book is not entirely based on your husband, it is a kind of creation, not an autobiography. In this way, it will be easier for you to understand. "

There are many secret things in the book, even if Li Xiangyun knows, she can't tell Mai Xiang, there are too many things involved, Mai Xiang is just a child, if she doesn't keep it all, it will leak out.

"Okay, let's not talk about this, Mai Xiang, the fields seem to be a bit dry this year, tell me, should I buy a few more acres of land with the money in Master's hand, or save it to buy a shop in the town in the future?" Liu Huilan asked.

She has always been a layman in matters of investment and financial management. In the past few years, Mai Xiang has been guiding her, which is why she is slightly less productive today.

"It's better to save it and buy a shop, it's more worry-free, and drought and flood are guaranteed."

Just as Mai Xiang finished speaking, Li's wife came over and asked where the dinner was served.

An hour later, Mai Xiang took Cao Ji and Mai Di to play under the grape arbor in the yard, only to see Huai Ci helping Ji Xiaolan out, Yong En and Cao Xueqin stumbled out, and they were still talking "Happy, good wine, enough friends" and other words.

"Brother, how much wine did you drink?" Mai Xiang asked after seeing off the guests.

"Both my master and I didn't drink much. The master doesn't have the capacity for alcohol, but my brother-in-law and my husband really had a good time today. The two of them fucked up the 18-year-old Daughter Hong." Huaici laughed.

"Then what did you say?"

Although Huaici drank a little wine, his eyes were still clear, he looked at Mai Xiang, and stroked Mai Xiang's face with his hand.

Frightened, Mai Xiang took a few steps back and said, "But I'm really drunk, what should I do if people see me?"

"Sister, come back with me tomorrow, okay?" Huai Ci didn't come forward again, he tried his best to restrain himself, so he couldn't hold Mai Xiang in his arms.

"Go back tomorrow, so soon?"

"Fool, I'm going to receive the happy news in the morning of the next day, and I want to receive the good news with you."

"That's right, why did I forget this? Okay, I'll accompany you." Mai Xiang also wanted to see how the ancient admission notice was sent.

Seeing that Mai Xiang agreed, Huaici looked at Mai Xiang and smiled slightly. At this moment, he really thanked God for sending Mai Xiang to his side.

"Brother, you are really good-looking." Mai Xiang looked at his smiling face and said blankly, she has never been an idiot, she never thought that she would be dazzled by Huai Ci's smile.

"Fool, in my brother's eyes, you are the prettiest, and my Mai Xiang is the prettiest." Huai Ci said this, stepped forward a few steps, and grabbed Mai Xiang's hand.

"Brother, you haven't told me yet, what did you guys say just now?" Mai Xiang broke free from his hand and asked about the business.

"It's nothing, the master and brother-in-law are asking Mr. why this book doesn't want to be published, and I also mentioned some obstacles in the book, Mai Xiang, I just found out that the original prototype of this precious jade was not the master at all. Guess who it is?"

"Who? Could it be Mr.'s uncle?"

"Sister is really smart. The predecessor of this book is a novel called "Fengyue Baojian", and "Fengyue Baojian" was written by Mr.'s uncle when he was young. Unfortunately, he was not satisfied with the writing. Mr. It took over, and it took many years to revise, expand, and perfect, and only then did "Story of the Stone" come into being."

(End of this chapter)