Chapter 593 Arrogant at first and respectful at the end
Since Li Huan took charge of the Taichang Temple, it only took about half a year for the Li family to go from having few visitors to being crowded with guests.
For the women in the harem, the daily life was so boring that it was uninteresting. Therefore, Chang liked this kind of excitement.
But after the excitement, there is always a sense of emptiness, and then people will chase after the excitement again. In this constant tossing and turning, people have turned themselves into animals chasing desires.
It was not until Li Tian returned to her parents' home one day and saw several noble ladies chatting enthusiastically with Chang, and that the house even had room temperature dishes prepared, that she reminded Chang that many things are excessive or insufficient.
——The more beautiful the situation is, the more cautious you should be.
Chang was a little annoyed, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt that it was indeed too lively recently. Li Huan also warned her at the right time that many people outside could not do anything about their son-in-law, but they would keep an eye on our family. If they were caught, not only would their family be in trouble, but Xin'an Lane would also be implicated.
Chang finally calmed down. But even so, the exchange of gifts was inevitable.
The Li family pretended to avoid visiting unless necessary, but they couldn't stop others from coming to their house under the pretext of giving gifts!
You can politely decline other guests, but would you like to meet the woman of an official from the Taichang Temple?
At this time, the lady's diplomacy was a legitimate thing, and even Li Huan could not stop it.
Today, the wife of an official from the Taichang Temple happened to come to visit. The reason was that her family got some southern specialties during the New Year, so she wanted to give some to Chang.
After the meeting, Chang took a look at the gift list. They were all specialties from the south, not very valuable, but not cheap either. It would be convenient to return the gift without any headaches.
Sure enough, he is a smart person... Chang glanced at the woman sitting opposite him.
The woman's surname was Jiang. She smiled and said, "Those things are not worth anything. I'm not here for that. Madam, you know, there are people out there who are trying to take advantage of your son-in-law."
son in law?
The eldest son-in-law or the second son-in-law... Chang was stunned and immediately thought of Jiang Qingzhi.
"Oh!" Chang picked up the teacup and concealed his emotions.
Jiang said: "Excuse me for being blunt, Princess Huating is good in every way, and she and the uncle and his wife are deeply in love, but they still have no children..."
Jiang looked at Chang, waiting for her attitude.
If Chang changed her attitude, she would not say the next words.
Li Tian's childlessness was a concern for Li Huan and Chang, and it was mentioned every now and then. Hearing this, Chang was furious, but she quickly suppressed her anger.
Jiang's husband was Li Huan's subordinate, so naturally he didn't dare to offend her.
Then it must be bad news... Chang's heart skipped a beat, "You say."
Jiang then continued, "Someone outside is saying that a hen that doesn't lay eggs can steal the position of the Lady of the Earl... I naturally treat that as bullshit."
A hen that doesn't lay eggs... Chang was furious. If she saw the person who said this, she would pounce on him and tear his mouth apart.
Jiang said: "Some people actually said that since the county lady cannot have children, she should abdicate and let someone else take over."
Chang sneered, "That's their business, why are those people worrying about it?"
"That's right, but..." Jiang sighed, "Not only did they say that, but I know that at least three families have prepared candidates and are just waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of it."
Jiang left, but her words made Chang feel uneasy.
——One year without a child, two years without a child, three years without a child… Five years without a child, could Elder Wilbur endure? Could he still love his wife as before? The lady was smart, and she knew that after a few years between husband and wife, no matter how beautiful her face was, it would not make a man linger. At that time… you would only hear the laughter of the new couple, not the crying of the old couple.
——Madam, we must make preparations early.
Chang couldn't sit still any longer, so she hurried to Xin'an Lane and asked Li Tian when she saw him, "Can we draw lots during the New Year's incense burning?"
On New Year's Day, the wife of the Duke used her connections to get the first incense stick and specially asked Li Tian to burn incense and pray for a child.
"I beg you." Li Tian nodded. She didn't want to beg, but the Duke's wife forced her to do so, so she finally begged for a fortune.
"How?" Chang asked.
Li Tian said: "It seems to be..."
"It seems so?" Chang gritted her teeth and said, "You still don't care at all. I am really worried about you."
Li Tian smiled and said, "It seems to be above average."
"Average is not enough!" Chang said, "I will find some good doctors later. Don't refuse me this time. Take good care of yourself. I hope I can have a grandson soon."
In the past, Chang had sought out several famous doctors who were said to be good at helping women have children, but Li Tian declined.
"Mom, there's no rush. Just let it happen!" Li Tian picked up a book, but Chang snatched it away.
"No hurry, no hurry!" Chang said angrily, "People outside say that you, Defu, are not worthy of being the lady of the baron. They say that you have no children! No hurry? Those people are eyeing you covetously, and are all preparing to replace you!"
Li Tian was stunned. "Replace it?"
"What did your father say... Qin lost his deer. If you lose your child, you will lose the deer." Chang poked Li Tian's forehead. "This matter cannot be delayed any longer. What did the imperial physician say?"
Li Tian said: "The imperial physician in the palace said that I am not sick, and neither is my husband."
"Who is sick?" Chang asked.
"My husband said that maybe God is sick."
The next day, someone invited Li Tian to a banquet.
When Li Tian arrived at the banquet, he found that the noble ladies looked at him with mockery or ridicule.
Mo Jia and Jiang Qingzhi had many enemies, and Li Tian was alienated by the mainstream circle of noble ladies in the capital. But fortunately, noble ladies were not as black and white as men, so Li Tian successfully maintained a social circle.
Don't underestimate this social circle. You can analyze a lot of useful information from the gossips that those ladies casually say. Later generations once said that the circle you are in determines your height. The original meaning of this saying is not to ask you to curry favor with the powerful or anything. Rather, it means that the amount of information brought by the circle you are in determines your personal height.
Think about it, if you are in a circle with successful people, all they talk about is how to run a company, how to open up sales channels, product development, and how to employ people... After hearing and seeing these people, when you go out to do things, not only will you get twice the result with half the effort, but it would be a miracle if you don't succeed.
Du He's wife was also there. After coming over, she whispered, "Someone said earlier that the county lady..."
"Not laying eggs?" Li Tian said with a smile.
"Yes. County Lady, be careful!"
Li Tian sat down calmly.
Drink tea leisurely while everyone is paying attention to you.
Someone suddenly laughed and said, "I have a joke here. It's about a couple who have been married for many years but have no children. At the beginning, the husband said that I have a deep love for my wife, how can I divorce her just because we have no children? Everyone was amazed."
This is talking about Li Tian!
Du He's wife sneered, "You are just blaming me!"
The noble lady continued, "A few years later, the couple still had no children. Just when the wife thought her husband was still deeply in love with her, she returned one day and found a new girl at home. The girl was pregnant and called out, 'Greetings, my lady...'"
The noble lady glanced at Li Tian and said, "The wife was so ashamed that she packed up her dowry and went back to her parents' home that day. The man was affectionate and went to his father-in-law's house several times to pick her up. But the wife was too embarrassed to go back and said that if she came again, she would commit suicide..."
call!
With a whistling sound, a teacup was thrown over and hit the table in front of the lady. With a bang, tea splashed everywhere.
Ma, the wife of Marquis Xianzhang, stood up and pointed at the noble lady and cursed, "You gossipy woman, die a miserable death!"
The lady stood up, brushed off the tea and leaves on her body, looked up and sneered, "I was just telling a joke to make everyone laugh. So, who did this hurt? If so, just tell me, I apologize!"
Everyone was looking at Li Tian.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Tian said calmly: "Other people's family affairs, what does it have to do with you?"
The lady said, "I told you, it was just a joke!"
Ma picked up the plate, and the lady changed color and stepped back hastily, "You mad dog... Ouch!"
The plate hit the lady's head hard, and she covered her head and shouted, "Why don't you help me!"
That day, the banquet ended in a bad mood.
Li Tian returned home and did not tell anyone about this.
After the New Year, Jiang Qingzhi had more things to do.
He first went to the Ministry of Works to ask for craftsmen.
"Chang Wei Bo, this is too much." Jiang Hua said bitterly, "Three hundred good craftsmen, where can I find them?"
Jiang Qingzhi was asking for an exorbitant price, "At least two hundred and sixty."
"Not even two hundred and fifty." Jiang Hua said, "If it were an ordinary craftsman, I would not hesitate to ask for one thousand or two thousand from you, Chief Wilbur. As for a good craftsman... if you give me three hundred good craftsmen, my Ministry of Works will become an empty shell!"
The officials from the Ministry of Industry in the lobby all felt that Jiang Qingzhi had gone too far.
"Captain Wilbur, three hundred skilled hands. I think they are all good at mechanics, right? I'm afraid my entire department of industry doesn't even have three hundred."
"If we give it to Long Wilbur, what else can our Ministry of Industry build in the future?"
Jiang Hua was very satisfied with the help from his subordinates, but he had promised Jiang Qingzhi that he would not destroy him lightly, so he said, "Fifty at most."
Damn it, Lao Jiang!
Jiang Qingzhi was furious, "Fifty? Are you sending away beggars?"
Jiang Hua laughed, "Chang Wei Bo, go to the Armory Bureau and ask. Let alone fifty, I bet they won't even give up ten."
Someone added: "When those good players throw them out, wealthy merchants will scramble to grab them. Does Long Wilbur think these are big buns? They are everywhere."
Hey!
Jiang Qingzhi bowed and said, "I'm leaving."
It is true that my sword is still as sharp as ever... Jiang Hua stroked his beard and smiled, causing the officials to laugh out loud.
Jiang Qingzhi walked to the door and turned around. "Oh! I forgot one thing. The Mohist School has been thinking about something recently. I think the Armory Bureau will be quite interested."
After saying this, Jiang Qingzhi ran away.
"Long Wilbur!"
Jiang Hua stood up suddenly, "Chang Wilbur, stop!"
I don’t care about your bird eggs!
Jiang Qingzhi walked faster and faster!
Jiang Hua lifted the hem of his robe and rushed out with a whoosh.
What the hell!
Shangshu's speed is so fast that I am ashamed of myself!
The officials were stunned, and someone shouted: "Not good, if the Mo family's good stuff is given to the Armory Bureau, our Ministry of Works will become a decoration."
"Long Wilbur!"
"Long Wilbur, stay!"
"Everything is easy to talk about, easy to talk about!"
(End of this chapter)
