Two hundred and eleventh chapter each with their own minds
Cai Lan came back from Longmu Temple and was in a daze. Shortly after returning to the Third General Mansion, she excused her "illness" and went to bed early. She didn't even look at the paintings that Xie Erren brought her.
The painting, Xie Yuanlao said he painted it himself, but Cai Lan knew at a glance that it was not his handiwork.
Of course she was not good at understanding people through paintings, but when Mr. Xie wrote a few calligraphy strokes on weekdays, he stumbled all over the place, so it was naturally impossible for him to draw a landscape painting.
Although she knew that he was not the one who drew it, Cai Lan had some feelings for this man these days◇Ling Ling Kanshu.com◆. Sometimes a woman's state of mind is so strange. Although the man in front of her can be regarded as a "husband-killer and enemy", however
He didn't care about his assassination in the street, and he also allowed her to have a place to stay and live comfortably in her loneliness. To be fair, no other man in the world had ever given her the tenderness and consideration that Xie Erren treated her.
,
Today's conversation between her and Yi Haoran aroused the hatred that had been indifferent at first - if it weren't for the Australians' rebellion, how could she have fallen to this point and become a dirty, dirty woman?
But what should we do next? Although Yi Haoran did not say what he wanted to do, it is not difficult to guess his purpose: he hid in the city and tried to see himself, naturally not to return the fan, but to Daming. Cai Lan thought to himself
, I didn’t expect that there are such loyal and courageous scholars in Wuzhou City! In the past few days, all she has seen and heard are people who kowtow to the Australians. Now there is such a hero, who is willing to do anything for the imperial court.
Taking risks. I can’t help but admire him secretly.
Cai Lan lay in bed for a long time, but her eyes were bright and she could not fall asleep.
Because she didn't sleep well at night, whenever Xie Erren didn't come to spend the night, she would often ask Qiu Chan to sleep with her - she was all alone and helpless here, Qiu Chan had also recently lost her husband, so the two of them were in the same boat, so it was a good idea to have her at night.
Companionship can alleviate the feeling of loneliness a little bit.
Jiang Qiuchan heard her breathing heavily and knew that Cai Lan had not fallen asleep, so she comforted her: "Miss Cai, I went out for a day of shopping today and got up early. Please rest earlier..."
Cai Lan shook his head and said, "I'm not tired." As he said that, he put on his clothes and stood up from the bed. He looked blankly at the night sky outside the window and suddenly asked, "Aunt Jiang, what do you think of Mr. Hao?"
"He is a good person." Jiang Qiuchan replied without thinking.
"Yes, he is a good person..." Cai Lan's eyes were blank, "It's a pity that he overestimates his abilities."
"Not overestimating one's own capabilities?" Qiu Chan was surprised and didn't understand why she said that.
"Well, don't overestimate your capabilities."
"What's wrong with the girl?" Qiu Chan didn't know what Yi Haoran said to Cai Lan today. Could it be that Chang Qingyun is some kind of "important offender"? She hurriedly said: "I don't know what I can do, just think that he said a few crazy words."
…”
Cai Lan shook his head and asked: "Madam, how did you meet Mr. Hao?"
Jiang Qiuchan was shocked, how could she explain Mr. Yi's killing of the rebels? She forced a smile and said: "He is a relative of my mother's family, and he is my cousin..."
"Don't try to deceive me." Cai Lan said, "Mr. Hao is not your cousin at all."
This made Cai Lan panic. Just as he was about to speak, Cai Lan said: "You don't have to be afraid. As for Mr. Hao, I have known him much earlier than you - he was originally a staff member under Governor Xiong.
,Is not it?"
Qiu Chan became more and more panicked now, and said after a while: "Maybe so. I only know that he used to be a master in the Yamen..."
"That's it." Cai Lan's eyes were piercing, "Speaking of which, he and my late husband can be considered colleagues."
Qiu Chan knew about this, but she didn't know why she suddenly mentioned these things in the dark night. She felt a little flustered.
"so……"
"Don't worry, ma'am." Cai Lan said leisurely, "Although I am a shameless woman, my conscience is not bad."
Qiu Chan breathed a sigh of relief and forced a smile: "I can trust you, girl!" She was eager to change the topic and said: "It's getting late, let's take a rest early."
Xie Erren has not spent the night at Cai Lan's place for a week in a row. At first, he was a little tired of her. After the psychological pleasure of conquest passed, Cai Lan was not a suitable partner in terms of sex alone.
Secondly, documents were flying onto his desk like a snowflake in front of him. His job as the mayor of Wuzhou was really difficult. To be honest, the heavy administrative work was not suitable for an artistic young man like him.
Three months have passed since he came to Wuzhou to take charge in April, and nothing has been accomplished in terms of construction. The originally grand "Wuzhou Business Revitalization Plan" has become a waste of paper due to the war in Guangxi. Wuzhou's market is still half-dead. He
The mayor of Wuzhou is not so much a local chief executive as he is the depot commander of the Fubo Army. The most important thing every day is to coordinate the land and water transfer of the endless supply team.
The battle at the front was going smoothly, but troubles in the rear were endless. Especially after the Yao rebellion broke out in April and the Guangxi side "committed troops to banditry", he not only had to be responsible for the transportation of supplies in the rear, but also had to "suppress" the place. Finally entered the eighth
Months later, the large-scale bandit riots were basically suppressed, and the Xijiang route was restored to normal traffic. Although armed escorts were still indispensable, the situation had improved compared to the wars and wars a few months ago.
But he couldn't relax for a moment. Although with the Fubo Army's march into Guangxi and the improvement of local public security, Wuzhou's market has improved compared to when it was just liberated a few months ago, but the overall situation is still very depressed. Except for the planned sales
In addition to food, there are more and more families in need of relief. Since the pontoon bridge and city wall were repaired, there are no more urgent projects to be carried out in the local area, so the "relief for work" program has become urgent. Fortunately, Wuzhou is an important transportation road and a military depot.
The ministry set up a large military depot here and recruited a lot of local unemployed labor, making the work-for-relief program sustainable.
A few days ago, Zhu Fuyuan from Dachang came to Wuzhou secretly and informed him of the grain adjustment plan. Although he did not need to handle the specific grain distribution, 10,000 shi of grain was transported to Wuzhou by water and then distributed from Wuzhou.
He needed to coordinate and arrange all aspects involved - when he thought of this, Xie Erren's head almost exploded.
And this food problem is the most important thing at the moment. It can even be said to be related to the overall stability. If something goes wrong, he doesn't have to think about anything else in the Senate and is waiting to be treated like Lao Zhang.
Waiting for death.
On this day, he had been busy in the office for most of the day. He took a break for lunch and felt dizzy. Thinking that he had not been to Cai Lan's place this week, he felt a little missed. Although he had no emotional foundation for Cai Lan.
, but being alone in a lonely city with busy affairs, she was the only one who had a trace of tenderness that could comfort her.
"Old Zhao!" he shouted.
Zhao Toyota responded: "Chief."
"Take a photo of someone and go to the Third General Office, and let me know that I will be there tonight."
His office and dormitory are located in the Wuzhou Prefecture's Yamen. Every time he goes to Cai Lanna, he must notify Cai Lan in advance so that the servants can be prepared to welcome him. Additional security personnel must be dispatched to supervise the preparations for food and accommodation.
"Yes, chief." Zhao Toyota was about to go out when Xie Erren stopped him again:
"Have my paintings been delivered?"
"They were all sent away," Zhao Toyota said.
"What did Miss Cai say?"
"I didn't say anything. But she doesn't paint often recently. I asked her what she wanted, but she didn't say anything."
"Oh, it's okay not to draw." Xie Erren nodded, "It's just that I don't have much entertainment, so I'm afraid I'll have random thoughts again."
"Aunt Jiang, who I have been using recently, has become a favorite with her! I often stay with her overnight, and I feel that my mood has improved a lot recently. It makes a difference to have someone to talk to and keep company with."
"In this case, let's give Mrs. Jiang a salary increase next month - I heard that she is a widow with a child, which is not easy."
"It's been less than a month since I arrived, so it's too fast to say it's rising. At any rate, it'll be three months later."
Xie Erren smiled, this Zhao Toyota is really in charge! He thought for a while and said: "Then the salary will not be increased. Next time, I will bring some candies to her children."
The news that Xie Erren was coming immediately reached Cai Lan's house. The servants in Cai Lan's house became busy.
Although the house is cleaned every day, it will have to be cleaned again this time. The elders love to clean, and the stains and dust that people are accustomed to are intolerable to them. However, it is difficult to keep a century-old house like the Third General Mansion clean and tidy.
Therefore, the staff of the Jie Office make it important to do a thorough cleaning before every visit by Xie Erren.
After cleaning, the maids and servants changed the bedding and placed a large piece of ice in the room - this ice was shipped all the way from Guangzhou.
The preparations were complete. The laborers brought water from the well and poured it into the cast iron enamel bathtub shipped from Guangzhou. The firemen outside started to light the fire and boil the water.
A cook was sent from the Municipal General Affairs Office, brought the ingredients, and prepared them in the kitchen of the Third General Office. Xie Erren followed the hobby of a scholar and was particular about food. However, Wuzhou is a frontline city after all, so he did not
The Dharma is too extravagant, and I usually eat simple meals while working, but coming to Cai Lan is to "relax". Men and women naturally have to be more particular about food and drink.
Jiang Qiuchan helped change the flowers in the room - Elder Xie liked this style; he chose a landscape "handwritten by Chief Xie" to hang on it and lit incense. He also served Cai Lan to bathe and change clothes.
Cai Lan took a shower, dried her hair, and applied a little makeup. Jiang Qiuchan was about to get her dress when Cai Lan suddenly stopped her.
"Ms. Jiang, please put on the clothes the master sent me."
Jiang Qiuchan was surprised. She said that this set of clothes had been delivered to her for a long time. Miss Cai had never opened it and took a look at it. Why did she suddenly think of wearing it?
This group uniform is the "Song Dynasty clothing" ordered by Xie Erren from Store No. 39. This so-called Song Dynasty clothing is actually the "Han clothing" brought by the female elders.