By Jia Xiuzhen

Ever since the day started to get hot, it hasn't slowed down for a while. The sun is shining brightly every day, but after more than a month, there are rumors that some areas have suffered from drought again.The waterwheel on Li Wan's Zhuangzi was erected long ago. From the beginning, it was only a few times faster, and later it was changed in some places, and the output was dozens of times, which shocked Li Wan and Madam Xu. more and more worried.On the contrary, Duan Gao and his eldest son are like treasures, holding the news from the agency almost all the time, thinking about it without sleep or food.

They added some heavy machines made of wood and iron one after another, borrowed water power, and worked smoothly.Duan Gao's mind is active, thinking that there is water power to push, people just watch, renew the yarn, straighten the messy thread, etc. If he still only works in the daytime as before, it will be a waste of time.

So I discussed with Madam Xu, divided the people into three groups, and changed them every four hours, and only then did I produce dozens of times the output.This drought lasted for more than a month, and the water in the river was a little insufficient. Fortunately, the river was so big that it wouldn't run out of water.

Mother Xu told Li Wan about the lack of water, but Li Wan didn't take it to heart at all. Originally, she only wanted to increase by a few percent, but she didn't expect it to be so amazing. She said, it would be better to slow down.Seeing her like this, and the amount of water depends on the sky, it's not easy to do anything, so she stopped thinking.On the other hand, Lao's, just because Li Wan had filled in so many people because of her, and the shipment volume increased greatly, it was really a life-saving thing, and he raised the price of the goods by [-]%, Li Wan felt ashamed of it .

In the summer, Jiamu, Mrs. Wang and others are in the house of the ice basin and the wind wheel, which is naturally cooler than other places, and others are fine.This day came again, and I happened to see a basket of cantaloupe, with pink and white skins and Biqingdi, some with a few melon leaves, coming in under the bright sun, just looking at it made people salivate.

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard a few girls talking, one of them said: "Can it be cut? Clean out the intestines of the melon, and don't get it wet with raw water. It's a pity that Baoyu can't use ice. It will be more crispy if it is iced."

The other said: "Go and change the plate. This one looks so hot on a hot day. Take that clear water glazed plate." There was another sound.

Seeing that no one came out, Jia Huan lifted the bamboo curtain and went in by himself. Just in time, a little girl came out with a slag bucket. Seeing Jia Huan, she wanted to salute.

Looking back, I saw a light blue glazed plate on the high table, filled with neat crescent moon pieces of melons. The glazed plate was placed in a large celadon vat. I don’t know whether it contained water or ice, and it was covered with asparagus bones. The small veil, bursts of sweet fragrance come out from inside.

Jia Huan was so envious, he found a place to sit, and said to Jin Chuan'er, "Cut the melon for me."

Jin Chuan'er quietly rolled her eyes, and said, "The third master's Xiexia division hasn't been sent over, so how can there be any melons?"

Jia Huan blushed, and said angrily: "Isn't that melon? There's a big basket out there, pretend I'm blind and can't see it?!"

Jin Chuan'er sneered and said: "It was specially sent by my uncle and wife, and my wife told me to keep it to honor the old lady. My wife hasn't tasted it myself yet. The third master is so proud of me!"

Jia Huan stood up, pointed to the glazed plate and said, "What is that? Don't pretend I didn't hear it. You prepared it for Baoyu. Now you are talking about honoring the old lady and coaxing ghosts!"

Jin Chuaner was about to lose his temper when Caiyun on the side spoke first: "What the hell? We don't know. The melon was rewarded by the old lady and named to Baoyu. If the third master wants to eat it, it's better to let the old lady eat it." My wife will give you a few rewards too. Just messing with us, where did we get you a melon from Oden?"

Once Jia Huan was run on by the two, he would get angry if he couldn't make up his face.But seeing Baoyu bring Qingwen in from the outside, seeing Jin Chuan'er and the others, he first asked, "Where's your wife?"

Jin Chuan'er hurriedly said: "My wife took a rest for a while, and she is in the small Buddhist hall at the back, only Caixia is left to wait on her."

When Jia Huan saw Baoyu, he had no choice but to come up to salute. Baoyu never cared about these things and just waved his hands.Yu Chuan'er had already made tea, and Caiyun went to bring Baoyu the Royal Melon, and said with a smile, "This is just cut, and no one else did it. We cleaned it up. It's very clean. Two Grandpa use some."

Baoyu looked at the melon and said with a smile: "This melon tastes good. I used a few yuan from my ancestors, and now I drink hot tea, so it's not good to eat it. The taste will be weak after leaving it. It's not as good as my sisters." Use it, I'll wait for my wife here, sisters don't worry about me."

After hearing this, Jin Chuan'er and the others knew that Baoyu would not tell lies, and that the melon was not easy to get, so they were naturally happy.Caiyun said to Qingwen: "Sister, let's try something new together."

Qingwen hurriedly said: "Don't dare to disturb the sisters, just now at the old lady's place, I have already been rewarded by the second master."

Caiyun and the others stopped caring about her after hearing this, and took a plate to share the melons in a side room. Occasionally there was laughter, and Baoyu was happier when he heard it than if he had eaten ten or eight melons.

Jia Huan stayed in the room with nothing to do, and was full of anger. He saluted Baoyu and went away.

Besides, when Jia Huan came out of it, thinking of Jin Chuaner and the others squeezing him, Baoyu gave the melon to the girl without thinking about him at all. He didn't move them, but got a little bit of dust.The more I thought about it, the more irritable I became. After all, I was in Mrs. Wang's courtyard, I didn't dare to make a mistake, I rushed out of the courtyard, and before I could look around carefully, I kicked a osmanthus tree violently.

Just as he was about to catch his breath and kick again, he heard a voice shout angrily: "What kind of manners is this?! Who are you angry with!"

Jia Huan felt his feet go limp, and immediately fell to his knees.It was Jia Zheng who went to the main room to find Mrs. Wang to discuss matters. He happened to see Jia Huan kicking a tree and seeing him kneeling down. Humph, why are you still talking about reading? I think you have read it into the stomach of a dog! Several times I tried to teach you a lesson, but your mother stopped me and said that you are still young and ignorant. I think you are being spoiled. I don’t know the heights of the sky and the depths of the earth!”

Jia Huan lowered his head and said nothing.Jia Zheng was even angrier when he saw it, and scolded: "Look up for me! Can you hear what I said clearly?!"

Jia Huan raised his head timidly. Jia Zheng looked at him blankly at himself with a pair of white and black eyes, and couldn't help feeling disgusted. He stomped his feet and said, "Get out, get out, get out!" Received an amnesty, quickly got up and ran to the side courtyard.When Jia Zheng saw that he acted like this, he was even more furious.

Hearing the news that the master had returned from outside, Baoyu, who was tired of Mrs. Wang's arms, stood up in fright and sat down on the side. Jin Chuan'er and the others bowed their heads and laughed when they saw it, and Mrs. Wang gave them a quick look.Jia Zheng entered the room angrily, and seeing Baoyu talking to Mrs. Wang, Baoyu stood up and saluted.

Jia Zheng asked, "What did Huaner come in just now?"

After hearing this, Mrs. Wang asked Baoyu, "Has Huan'er been here?"

Baoyu quickly replied: "When my son came, I saw Huan'er sitting in the room. Because I wanted to wait for my wife to come out of the Buddhist hall, Huan'er sat for a while and then went out. I didn't do anything else."

Jia Zheng said, "What kind of madness did he have?!"

Mrs. Wang was afraid that Baoyu would be implicated, so she hurriedly asked Caiyun and the others, "Since Baoyu came, Huan'er was already there, what did you say?"

Jin Chuan'er replied crisply: "When the third master came, he asked us to cut melons and eat with him. He said that he saw the basket of melons outside, but it was specially reserved by the wife to honor the old lady, so we dare not make decisions." , the third master didn't seem to believe it, and then the second master came, and the third master sat for a while and then went out."

Mrs. Wang said "Oh" and didn't say much.

Jia Zheng slapped the table and said, "Sinister! If I knew this, I should have given him a good lesson just now, and let him go for nothing!"

Mrs. Wang served Jia Zheng tea, and persuaded: "It's just that the child looks fresh, and he doesn't know the reason, so we can't blame him." Then she said to Caiyun, "Give the watermelon that I divided today to Huan. take it."

Jia Zheng sighed, "I've always known that you are a charitable person, but this ring is not as temperamental..."

He glanced at Baoyu, swallowed, and continued, "And he has his own rules in daily life. Don't spoil him, a loving mother often loses her children!"

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "Master is too worried, after all, he is still young. Besides, in our house, how can we let the child lose his mouth?"

Baoyu has been uncomfortable since Jia Zheng came in, but he dared not say leave. Mrs. Wang said to him, "I am eating fast today, and I am not in any serious discomfort. You can feel at ease when you come to see me, and go to accompany the old man." Ma'am." Baoyu hurriedly got up and answered.

Jia Zheng said, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "It's just an ordinary bitter summer, this child has to come and see it to be at ease."

Jia Zheng glanced at Baoyu and said in a deep voice, "Go soon."

Baoyu bowed to Mrs. Jia Zhengwang, and retreated out in a proper manner. After walking a little farther out of the courtyard gate, Fang started to run, exhausting Qingwen who was following her to death.

After Baoyu left, Mrs. Wang asked Jia Zheng, "My master is here now, but what's the matter?"

Jia Zheng nodded and said, "It's just a difficult thing. Today, Mr. Zhu and I have a long talk. It's because the teacher has something important to do. I'm afraid I can't sit in our house."

Mrs. Wang nodded and said: "I think Mr. has been busy in the past six months, and I expected this day."

Jia Zhengdao: "He is a man of fame, and he has no reason to teach in our family all his life. It is rare for Bao Yulan to accept his teaching these days." Mrs. Wang nodded in agreement.

Jia Zheng said again: "It's just that Mr. Zhu is gone. Where will I find a suitable gentleman in a while? If I don't have time, I will waste my studies."

Mrs. Wang smacked her lips and said: "Because Mr. Zhu has been in the same way for the past six months, I have mentioned it to my sister-in-law several times. It is difficult to find someone with Mr. Zhu's background. If you find a gentleman with some talents, it is better some."

Jia Zhengxi said, "Oh? Sure enough, you have thought carefully."

Mrs. Wang frowned and said: "My sister-in-law mentioned that there was an old Confucian student. Although he was not as good as Mr. Zhu, he was also famous. He only taught students, and he didn't accept those who were too young. Our Brother Lan is not yet five years old, so I I dare not open my mouth."

Jia Zhengdao: "How can we only look at the age of the students? Lan'er was younger when she was with Mr. Zhu, but Mr. Zhu loved him very much. This time he was leaving the library, and he told me that he would recommend Lan'er to study in Liancheng Academy. But Baoyu Sinister, Mr. Zhu only said that he is smart and talented, but he didn't mention the matter of going to the academy, I'm afraid that in the eyes of Mr., he is not a material for studying!"

Mrs. Wang hurriedly said: "How can you say that you are smart and talented if you are not a material for reading. Mr. Zhu has a deep understanding of human feelings, so even if you look at the old lady, you will not say something like asking Baoyu to go to the academy."

Seeing that Jia Zheng's expression softened, he continued, "It's even Lan'er. If a person goes to some academy alone, the old lady will definitely not follow him. He's just a good man, and when the other children are so old, they are very good. You are naughty. If you follow Mr. Zhu to study like this, the old lady is reluctant to mention it every time, and blames you for being cruel. In the past six months, I seem to be tired, and I have lost a lot of weight. I was planning to discuss it with the master. He needs to stop for a few days to take a good rest."

She wiped the corners of her eyes as she spoke, and said, "I'm a woman, I don't understand big things, but Zhu Er's example is the first, and nothing is as important as a child's body."

Jia Zheng also felt sad for a while when he heard this, and said: "You said that, I also found that Lan'er's complexion is not as good as last year in the past six months, and you are right, he is still young. Mr. Zhu resigned, he It's just a good time to rest. It's just that Baoyu can't let him waste his time here. It would be best if the old gentleman you mentioned just now can be invited, so he can only teach Baoyu and beat him up. We can talk about it after we have raised it." Mrs. Wang nodded repeatedly after hearing this.