The street where Jiang Zhiyue and Ming Yuanqing are currently located has the most bookshops and tea shops, as well as two private schools, and is usually relatively quiet.
Only in the past few days did the Newspaper Edition come out of Bi Lai Bookstore, which created this bustling scene.
The two of them walked towards another street.
The other street is mostly filled with shops. At this time, the street is very busy with people who come out to buy for the New Year.
On the streets that were always bustling with activity in the past, red lanterns were hung in front of the shops on both sides of the road, looking very happy.
The other street was crowded, even more crowded than in front of the bookshop just now.
Naturally, Jiang Zhiyue did not find Zhang and the others, but she did meet Bai Yifeng.
Bai Yifeng was wandering on the street, looking left and right, looking like he was looking for someone. When he saw Jiang Zhiyue and Ming Yuanqing, he immediately ran over.
Jiang Zhiyue saw him coming and asked, "Is the matter done?"
Bai Yifeng smiled and answered, speaking the truth: "Well, I sent a letter to my master and asked him where he is now."
Jiang Zhiyue asked curiously: "That master who was your former national master?"
Bai Yifeng gave an affirmative answer.
Regarding Bai Yifeng's master, Jiang Zhiyue had heard about him when Bai Yifeng wanted to stay with her, but she had never seen him.
Jiang Zhiyue said oh and reminded: "Then don't forget to pay your protection fee."
Bai Yifeng is autistic, please don't disturb him!
Jiang Zhiyue looked at him with a smile and did not mention the matter again.
"Have you met my mother and the others?"
Bai Yifeng shook his head. He had just handed over the news and came to the street when he met Jiang Zhiyue and the others.
The three of them had no choice but to wander around the streets to see if they could meet Zhang and the others by chance.
The town was considered big or small. After walking along the street for a while, the three of them saw two bullock carts, one of which had a carriage.
As for the ox cart without carriages, a lot of things were already piled on it. Jiang Yuqing was watching beside the ox cart.
The rest of the people weren't there, so they were probably shopping at a nearby shop.
Jiang Zhiyue and the others walked towards Jiang Yuqing.
Halfway through, the Zhang family came back to deliver things, and then they took Jiang Zhiyue and Ming Yuanqing to a clothing store to choose clothes.
Mrs. Zhang chose red jackets for Jiang Zhiyue, Ming Yuanqing and Zhang Xiaoyan, saying they looked festive. Everyone else also bought New Year's clothes, and their clothes were all stained with red.
Seeing how much money they had in their hands being spent, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Sun and Mrs. Huang Huaihua all took a breath of distress.
There are too many people in the family, and the expenses required are also large. When the new year turns, we still have to quickly find some work that can supplement the family income.
Otherwise, no matter how much money you have, it will be all in vain.
With this in mind, Mrs. Zhang planned to go back and discuss with Jiang Yuchao about teaching privately in the town over the past year.
By the time I bought all the things, it was already afternoon.
The slightly warmer temperature dropped again, and Jiang Zhiyue and the others quickly got on the bullock cart and started the journey back.
Today is New Year's Eve, and those of the Jiang family who stayed at home also posted Spring Festival couplets on their doors.
The couplets of the Jiang family and the Wang family are all about Jiang Yuchao. Bai Yifeng and the others had written them a day in advance, so they could post them directly on New Year's Eve.
Couplets representing good expectations are pasted on the brand new door frame, and two red lanterns hang outside the door, fluttering in the cold wind.
Jiang Zhiyue and others returned to Guhuai Village at this time.
There were a few small groups of people gathered around the village road, with a brazier burning in the middle. They formed a circle around the brazier, warming themselves and chatting.
Mrs. Jiang, Mr. Jiang, Mr. Jiang Kangde and Mr. Wang were among the group of older people, sitting there chatting with a small wooden board on the ground.
There were Saburo and the others playing nearby.
Two bullock carts entered the village in a jittery manner.
An elderly woman pointed in the direction of the oxcart and said to Mrs. Jiang beside her: "Is that the person who went to town to buy things in your family has returned?"
Mrs. Jiang raised her eyes and laughed, "They are really those from my family. I won't talk about it anymore. I'll pick them up."
Mr. Jiang and the others also stood up one by one and walked towards home with their hands behind their backs.
The remaining people did not move, sitting around the brazier and watching the direction in which the bullock cart left.
Only when the bullock cart got further away did the group of people find their voices.
"The Jiang family and the Wang family are really enviable. They don't have to worry about having enough to eat and wearing warm clothes."
"Isn't that right? Apart from the village chief's family, these two families are the most luxurious in our Guhuai Village."
Everyone gathered around and talked and laughed. Although they were talking about the Jiang family, they didn't look very jealous.
Someone said with a smile: "Thanks to them, my family saved a little more money last year, and yesterday they had all the flesh of my kid cut off."
"Haha, so does my family."
Everyone laughed, and the laughter floated far away, making the slightly cold wind feel warmer.
On the other side, the bullock cart first stopped in front of Wang's house, and his things were piled outside. After unloading, they rushed directly back to Jiang's yard.
The Jiang family's house has two doors, one is on the residential side, and the other is in the yard separated from it.
There was a long cowshed simply covered with straw and oilcloth in the yard, where the bullock carts were usually placed.
After returning home, Mrs. Zhang couldn't wait to ask Jiang Zhiyue if she had heard any news in the town.
Naturally, it is news from Zhangjiacun people or the Zhang family.
Jiang Zhiyue calmed down the emotional Zhang and Zhang Xiaoyan.
She said: "Don't worry, mother, I've entrusted this matter to A Ming. If I find the person, he will definitely send the news."
Mrs. Zhang wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded in agreement.
In the hearts of everyone, although Ouyang Ming is a troubled prince, he is still different after all.
With his help in this matter, the possibility of finding someone will be greater.
Mrs. Jiang asked, "Xiao Ming is here? Why didn't you call home? There will be a lot of people during the Chinese New Year tomorrow." Jiang Zhiyue told the story of meeting Li Wen in the town.
Then, she remembered the thick envelope that Li Wen had brought, and took it out from her arms. Jiang Zhiyue said, "This is from Li Wen, and it contains the money for the storybook."
With that said, Jiang Zhiyue took the initiative to open the envelope.
No wonder the envelope was so thick. There were two things inside. A dozen banknotes were folded into a stack and stuffed into the envelope. The signature on the banknotes was the number of Tongbao Bank.
Tongbao Bank was the largest bank in the Wu Dynasty.
Jiang Zhiyue knew that the master behind Tongbao Bank was apparently the mother's family of the fourth prince's mother and concubine, but in fact, the real master was the fourth prince's mother and concubine, Concubine Rong.
Concubine Rong's mother's family was the Ma family, but it was a pity that the only descendant of the Ma family was Ma Rong, one of the capable women who became the emperor of the Wu Dynasty and took the position of concubine.
There are only a few people left in the Ma family who are truly talented, and their status depends entirely on the promotion of Concubine Rong in the harem.
Jiang Zhiyue also knew that the fourth prince and Concubine Rong relied on this bank to support many private soldiers. In addition to the banknotes, this envelope actually contained a smaller envelope.
There are four elegant characters written on it: "Zhiyue Qinqi".
Everyone in the Jiang family is not pedantic. Everyone in the Jiang family is more or less literate, and they don't pay attention to the saying, "It is virtue for a woman not to have talent."
Even Mrs. Jiang can recognize how to write her own name and the names of many people in her family.
It just so happens that everyone recognizes the four words "Zhiyue Qinqi".
Everyone looked at the smaller envelope with curiosity in their eyes.
But it was written by Zhiyue personally, and everyone was too embarrassed to ask Jiang Zhiyue to open it and show them what was written inside.
Jiang Yuchao glanced at the envelope held in Jiang Zhiyue's hand.
Her eyes were unclear and she said, "It seems that Zhiyue has a good relationship with that boy."
Several people felt that what Jiang Yuchao said was a bit strange.
But Jiang Zhiyue didn't hear it. She didn't take it to heart and opened the envelope directly.
There were only two thin pages inside, with elegant handwriting on them.
Jiang Zhiyue didn't avoid anyone, she just took it in her hand and started looking at it.
Jiang Yuchao sat on one side of her, just in time to read the contents of the letter.
He naturally cast his unnatural gaze on the letter paper.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
It contains details about the storybook that Ouyang Ming took away from here, and also talks about some seemingly insignificant details about his daily life.
Finally, he gave friendly greetings to everyone present.
Jiang Zhiyue felt that there was nothing to say before, so she recounted the greetings written by Ouyang Ming to everyone, as well as his apology for not being able to come back to visit during the New Year.
Seeing that the letter paper only had two thin pages, and there was really nothing there, everyone withdrew their curious gazes. After retracting their gazes, everyone turned their attention to the stack of banknotes.
Jiang Zhiyue unfolded all the banknotes, some with a face value of 100 taels, and some with a face value of 500 taels. There were actually 1,300 taels of silver in all.
Jiang Zhiyue looked at the silver and handed it to Mrs. Jiang without thinking.
There are no divisions in the family, and the money earned is naturally collected and kept by the head of the family.
In order to prevent money from being lost during the escape, everyone agreed to store most of their property in Jiang Zhiyue's little treasure chest.
After settling down here, all the accounts that needed to be settled were settled, and then handed over to Mrs. Jiang. What was left in Jiang Zhiyue's hands was naturally her private property.
For example, the gold and silver jewels obtained by the monkeys in the forest were a thank you for saving the little girl of the Liang family.
The money given by the Mu family to thank them for bringing the Mu family father and daughter back safely, and the money given by the Ming family to take care of Ming Yixi, Ming Yuanqing brother and sister, were both given to Mrs. Jiang.
But this time, Mrs. Jiang did not accept the money handed over by Jiang Zhiyue.