Yi Haoran handed the baggage umbrella to Ah Chun and asked, "Master, are you at home?"
"Master has gone to the aftermath bureau." Ah Chun put away the things and went to the back to fetch water to wash his face. "Is it going well for you, sir, to collect the bill this time?"
"The war was in chaos, and the shopkeepers didn't know where they had gone!" Although Yi Haoran went to collect the bill under the pretense of going out for a trip, he also went to some places to avoid the shopkeepers from becoming suspicious. "Fortunately, the market has recovered a bit now, and the collection has been better.
I got some money."
"It's a good thing to receive the account." Ah Chun said and went to pour the washing water. "Sir, go and rest in the back. The business on the counter is very clear now. I can't wait for one or two items to come to my door in a day."
Although the rice shop does not retail and has much fewer customers, in peacetime, in addition to bulk wholesale, rice shops and rice vendors everywhere also sell small amounts, and there are always people coming in and out of the shop. But now it is deserted.
However, Luo Yangming was indifferent to his own business. Instead, he went to the aftermath bureau every day to do chores. Not to mention the proprietress A Tao, even Yi Haoran found it baffling - maybe the shopkeeper didn't want to open the rice line and was ready to curry favor with Shang Kun.
The thief has also become a fake.
Yi Haoran returned to the accounting room, put the money received into the cash box, spread out the account book, settled the accounts received, and registered them. This was just a few transactions. Business was light these days, and there was nothing to record or calculate.
.
In the past, he would probably go to Li Wensheng or the bookkeepers of several neighboring shops to kill a few games of chess and play "horse games" to kill time.
However, today he had no such interest at all. The excitement brought to him by the reunion with Jiang Suo had not dissipated yet. He knew from Jiang Suo's words that there were many officials and soldiers who were separated outside Wuzhou City, including many.
A few people even sneaked into the Kun Thief's government office to do things. If these people can be gathered together, they will be a force that cannot be underestimated. They can be put to great use.
How to gather these people together? Yi Haoran originally just wanted to win over Chang Qingyun and rely on him to develop in the prison camp. But this time his ambition became even greater - although the people in the prison camp can be used, but
To rush from Sanhezui, we still have to cross the Guijiang River, and there is also the obstacle of the Great Cloud Gate. In order to coordinate the inside and the outside, it is not possible to have people outside the city, but also in the city.
He thought over and over in his mind, thinking about how to speak when he saw Chang Qingyun, and what methods to use to persuade the officials and soldiers who were separated in the city to participate. Suddenly, he heard Ah Chun shouting from outside:
"Mr. Hao! Mr. Hao!"
Yi Haoran hurriedly responded and walked out. He saw Ah Chun standing at the door of the small courtyard and looking inside. Seeing him coming out of the room, he hurriedly greeted him:
"Mr. Hao! Someone is looking for you outside."
"Oh? Who is he?" Yi Haoran was a little strange. He had no relatives or friends in the local area, and there were very few people in Xiong Wencan who knew him.
"It's a woman," Ah Chun gestured, "Is she an old relative of yours?"
"Relative?" Yi Haoran was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered that it was Jiang Qiuchan. Since Jiang Qiuchan asked someone to introduce him to "Yuxin", he has not met him yet. Yi Haoran prides himself on being an upright gentleman, and Jiang Qiuchan is a newly widowed widow.
He was called "cousin" and it was not appropriate for the two of them to meet. So he never went to see her.
Why did she suddenly come to the store to look for him? Yi Haoran was suspicious, but he didn't dare to show it, so he had to say: "I'll go out right now..."
The person who came outside was indeed Jiang Qiuchan. She was wearing a blue cloth skirt and jacket. She spared no makeup except for the wooden hairpin in her bun and a white flower. There was a bamboo basket beside her. When she saw him coming out, she quickly stood up and gave a deep blessing.
"Cousin..."
Yi Haoran hurriedly returned the gift and said politely: "Why does my niece go out alone? There is a chaos of war outside..." He then greeted, "Come on, come and sit inside."
"Thanks for your concern, cousin. The streets are quite peaceful now."
Mihang has a reception room specially designed to entertain customers. Normally, it does not accept female customers. Since there is no business at the moment, it doesn't hurt to borrow it temporarily.
Ah Chun brought the tea and immediately withdrew. Yi Haoran felt a little embarrassed. He looked at this "cousin" and found that although his face was a little pale, he was in good spirits.
"My niece came to the store today to see my wife..."
The wife she mentioned was naturally Luo Yangming's wife Ding Atao. Yi Haoran had long heard from her that she had been in contact with Ding Atao before she left the cabinet, and it was through this relationship that she recommended Yi Haoran here.
of.
However, today Ding Atao took Wen Yun and was accompanied by the old shopkeeper Li Wensheng to offer incense and was not in the store.
"My wife has gone out to enjoy the incense."
"Cai Shi Ah Chun has already told me that my cousin is the only one in the store now, so I can only entrust the things to my cousin." Ding Atao pointed to the basket on the table, "This is what she asked me to make.
The needlework is only done now, please don't dislike it."
"Easy to say, easy to say."
Jiang Qiuchan hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't. After a while, she whispered
"My niece has something to ask her cousin for advice."
Hearing that he wanted to consult him about something, Yi Haoran felt relieved. He smiled and said: "We are all relatives, why should we be so polite? Just ask."
"My cousin used to be an errand in the Xiong Governor's Office. Does he know anything about Australians?" Her voice was very low. She knew Yi Haoran's origins and knew that his identity could not be revealed.
Yi Haoran was shocked and wondered what she meant. Thinking again that they shared the same sorrow, Qiu Chan's question must be reasonable and not malicious.
He also lowered his voice and said: "I know a little bit. I wonder what my niece wants to ask?"
"The thing is like this..."
Jiang Qiuchan's natal family owns a silk and satin shop in Wuzhou. Although it is not a big business, it is a century-old shop. It has always had contacts with the yamen. This time, word came out from the retained staff of the yamen that the newly arrived Australian prefect Mr. Xie wanted to hire a
"Housewife".
"...It is said that Mr. Jie has fallen in love with a woman named Cai, and now she is keeping her in his yamen. Since there is no one to take care of her, he needs to find a woman from a good family and a well-educated woman to take care of her." Qiu Chan said, "My brother from my mother's side.
After hearing about it, he said he would recommend me for this job."
Now that her husband has passed away, she is dragging her son with her alone, without any income. During the war, she cannot go back to her husband's family in Teng County. Although there is a natal family in Wuzhou, she is a married daughter after all, and living in her natal family will inevitably feel like being dependent on others.
, and wanted to take on this errand.
However, after all, this is a job for Australians. Neither Qiu Chan nor her mother-in-law know much about Australians. Although the retained staff in the yamen do not have a bad opinion of Australians, they are still working as servants.
Well, they can't quite believe it.
After thinking about it, she remembered Yi Haoran - since he had fought with the Australians, he naturally knew a lot about the Australians, so he had to be more reliable when asking him.
So that's what happened! Yi Haoran thought to himself, this is a decent job. It can earn food and clothing for their mother and son. He learned a lot about Australians during the conversation with Jiang Suo, and he knew that Australians are very private.
Everything is passable. She also has a sense of propriety in doing things. Qiu Chan will not be at risk in doing this job.
Suddenly his eyes jumped. Her surname was Cai? He seemed to remember something and asked hurriedly: "Is this woman's maiden name Cai Lan?"
"Exactly." Qiu Chan was a little confused and asked, "Why, my cousin recognizes her?"
"I can't say we know each other," Yi Haoran said, "Her husband and I have met a few times."
Cai Lan is the wife of Xing Chenghuan, and Xing Chenghuan is the Shuqi master of Hu Duhua, the magistrate of Wuzhou. They had a relationship because of official matters. One time there was a banquet held in the Governor's Mansion, and the two were sitting next to each other, and they only found out about him during a drunken chat.
There is a fiancée named Cai Lan who has arrived in Wuzhou to prepare for the wedding.
"...If I knew that Wuzhou was going to suffer such a war, I would never have brought her here." After saying this, Xing Chenghuan, who was already blushing, sighed heavily.
This incident left a deep impression on him. Because of the war, Xing Chenghuan and Cai Lan did not go to the church to get married, let alone consummate the marriage. It was said that he was "afraid of delaying her." At that time, Yi Haoran was quite moved and felt that he was an upright gentleman.
Later, I heard that he committed suicide when Wuzhou fell, and Yi Haoran was even more respectful to him.
Unexpectedly, the fiancée he left behind would now be willing to be the concubine of the thief! Thinking of this, Yi Haoran's face changed slightly. However, he thought again, if Qiu Chan could come to this shameless and despicable woman, he would be free.
An agent went to the room of the leader of the bandits.
Thinking of this, Yi Haoran calmed down and said with a smile: "In my opinion, the character of Australians is pretty decent. They are by no means a stubborn person. You are an orphan and a widower, and it is difficult to support your family. It is absolutely impossible to do this job."
No harm done.”
Jiang Qiuchan looked relieved, and it was obvious that she really wanted to do this job.
"With my cousin's words, my niece feels relieved."
"No, no, my niece will work as an errand for the Australians in the future, and my cousin may have to rely on you." Yi Haoran laughed loudly and whispered, "It's just for my uncle, not something to talk to outsiders about..."
"My niece knows." Qiu Chan nodded, "There is one more thing. My niece wants to trouble her cousin, but she just can't speak..."
"Oh? What is it? We are all one family." Yi Haoran was in a very good mood.
"It's Li Heng..."
Qi Liheng is her son, he is six years old this year.
"He has now reached the time of enlightenment..."
Originally, as the son of a scholar, it was natural for his father to take care of this enlightenment. However, now this child has lost his father. Although there are several private schools in the city, she can't afford to pay for them. To be honest, she can't afford them.
Don't worry about a child without a father going to study in such a mixed place.
"...I know that Mr. must have excellent knowledge and be a decent man. Can you please come and give lectures to the dog..." Qiu Chan was afraid that he would find it troublesome, so she quickly said, "I will receive the money for the education."