Chapter 173 Cousin Liu Chenghan

Hua Lanben sat in front of the dressing mirror and dressed herself up.

But when he glanced through the mirror on the table, he saw Cuichan's reaction at the moment, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Cui Chan, hurry up and pack up and tell the kitchen to prepare lunch. Can't you see your girl is hungry?" Yang Wenyuan said at this time.

"Oh……!"

Cuichan blushed and nodded stutteringly, not caring about the doubts and shyness in her heart. She quickly picked up all the bedding in front of her and walked out quickly.

As he walked out of the house, he glanced at his daughter from the corner of his eye. Looking at her increasingly plump figure, he thought to himself:

"In broad daylight, could it be that..."

But Cuichan immediately shook her head, driving this somewhat absurd idea out of her mind.

Not really, not really, my lady is the most polite and conservative one...

But... my own Marquis doesn't seem to be very serious?
inside the house.

Yang Wenyuan was very pleased with himself for standing up for Hualan, but instead of receiving Hualan's praise, he received a coquettish roll of the eyes.

Yang Wenyuan pursed his lips helplessly.

You weren't like this just now...

But it doesn't matter. Yang Wenyuan is a magnanimous person with a broad mind.

This little "grievance" is nothing but a little bit of wind and frost!
As the saying goes, the bottom line is meant to be broken!
Many things happen once and will happen countless times afterwards.

From that day on, the lunch time at Pingyang Marquis' Mansion began to be gradually postponed.

But there are other benefits as well.

That is, the master and mistress eat much more food every day than usual.

With this exercise and nourishment.

Hualan's originally thin figure became increasingly plump, and her mature woman's charm became more and more apparent.

……

The snow stopped for some reason.

Only late at night can you see some of them.

However, although the heavy snow has stopped, the bone-chilling cold between heaven and earth still exists, especially accompanied by the howling cold wind, which makes it seem even colder than before.

As time goes by, the year is almost coming to an end before we know it.

If it were this time of year in previous years, Yang Yuqing and Madam Chen's family would have moved back to the Marquis' Mansion and had a reunion dinner with Yang Wenyuan.

But Yang Wenyuan is now married and the head of the family, so no matter how Yang Wenyuan and Hualan persuaded her, Mrs. Chen was not going to come this year. She only sent someone to say:
"I have been helping you prepare for the New Year for so many years. I finally have a niece-in-law who is taking on this tiring job. You two still want to take me back to continue doing hard labor? You are dreaming!"

As a result, this year is the first time that Yang Wenyuan and Hualan's small family will celebrate the New Year alone.

This made Hualan suffer.

It was the first time for her to be in charge of the preparations for the New Year as the eldest lady of the family. She had only seen this happen a few times before with Wang Ruofu, not to mention the gap between the entire huge Marquisate and the Sheng family.

There were so many things to do that one after another that even with the help of Madam Li, who was sent by the old lady, and Madam Hu, the former housekeeper of the Marquis' Mansion, Hua Lan, who was doing it for the first time, was inevitably overwhelmed.

Sometimes at night she was a little absent-minded, and taking advantage of Yang Wenyuan's sympathy, she would unconsciously calculate in her mind what she had forgotten during the day and should remember tomorrow, etc., which made Yang Wenyuan very angry. He felt humiliated, and tried even harder to fight back, and would not give up until he heard "good brother" several times.

Zi Ze Ju.

Inner study.

The original large desk had been placed horizontally and moved half an inch inward, and a new nanmu desk was placed in the empty space.

The couple each occupied a table and sat opposite each other.

Yang Wenyuan practiced calligraphy and studied the lessons and Confucian classics left by Zhuangzi.

Hualan is not far behind.

A pair of soft and fair hands were used for different purposes. One hand held the account book, and the other held a purple brush to draw and check the policies. She muttered to herself in a low voice:

"New Year's goods are fully stocked..."

"This year's rewards for those below have been prepared..."

"The income from the manor and farm..."

"correct!"

Hua Lan suddenly frowned and quickly added an entry to the account book.

"I forgot to buy the firecrackers for New Year's Eve."

The fireworks and firecrackers for the festival had already been bought, but Hua Lan had forgotten about the firecrackers for the children to play with.

Originally, there was no need for these toys since there were no children in the family. Hualan seldom played during all the years she had been in the Sheng family. She only occasionally saw Rulan having fun.

However, Hua Lan remembered her mother Wang Ruofu's advice at this time -

Although you haven't given birth to a baby yet, you should still prepare these firecrackers for the sake of good luck and happiness.

Yang Wenyuan, who was sitting opposite him, had been resting his head, watching Hua Lan doing the accounts, but when he heard this, he immediately said:

"That's not necessary. The fireworks workshops I bought have made some interesting things this year. I'll have them delivered to you in a few days."

"Those fireworks workshops?" Hua Lan asked puzzledly.

Yang Wenyuan had never mentioned the secret black powder workshop to Hualan, and its account books were also kept in a separate volume, but Hualan knew clearly about the open fireworks workshop.

"Okay." Hua Lan nodded slightly and made a light mark on the account book.

Then he continued to work on his desk.

"What did my aunt say? Are you still unwilling to come?" Yang Wenyuan had finished his homework for the day and felt a little restless, so he simply wanted to pull Hualan aside to chat.

"Ok!"

Hua Lan said without even raising her head:

"My aunt and uncle didn't want to come, but my sister Rujin insisted on coming."

"She must want to come!"

Yang Wenyuan immediately showed a gloating smile on his face:

"Aunt saw that your old lady had invited Madam Kong from the palace to come home to help teach the young lady etiquette, and she felt that it was quite effective from your example. So, seeing that Rujin was about to reach the age of marriage, she also took advantage of the fact that it was inconvenient to go out in winter and specially invited a retired madam to come to your house."

"Rujin is used to making trouble. Now she is locked up at home and cannot go out. She must be feeling suffocated." Yang Wenyuan teased.

"How can Rujin be as bad as you say?"

Hua Lan gave Yang Wenyuan a nice look and helped to defend him:
"Rujin just thought that she was the only one of her age at home, so she wanted to come."

"Okay, okay, you're right!"

Yang Wenyuan did not argue, but continued:
"In a few days, it will be the day for the routine year-end reports of all the managers in the mansion. You, the eldest lady, have to show up. In addition, my uncle's cousin also got a job as an accountant. He just came back from my hometown a few days ago. He wants to have a meal at home that day."

When Yang Wenyuan got married, his uncle and his family came to visit him and helped his cousin Liu Chenghan find a job as a steward in the Marquis's mansion. According to Yang Wenyuan's subsequent observations, he found that Liu Chenghan had some talent in business and was more sensitive to numbers than the old steward in the Marquis's mansion.

After testing his loyalty and knowing that he was capable of being trained, and given their close relationship, Yang Wenyuan gave him full responsibility for purchasing fireworks workshops and craftsmen outside Bian Jing.

Liu Chenghan had no idea of ​​Yang Wenyuan's plan for the fireworks workshop.

So even though this job seemed to be paying for Yang Wenyuan's "playfulness", Liu Chenghan did not complain at all and did not do it perfunctorily, but instead completed his task meticulously.

Although he was somewhat puzzled about the sulfur and saltpeter being quietly transported to the fireworks workshop in the Yang clan through various waterways, he did not think of exploring the issue and only wrote a letter to Yang Wenyuan briefly mentioning the matter.

After receiving the reply saying “it’s normal process, no need to worry”, I stopped worrying about it and continued with my job.

Yang Wenyuan was very satisfied with Liu Chenghan's work attitude.

Not only did he not take advantage of his relationship to take bribes or embezzle money, but he also had little sense of keeping secrets.

Taking all of the above into consideration, Yang Wenyuan specially asked Liu Chenghan to return to Beijing to report and even invited him to have dinner at his home.

I also planned to subtly point out his job responsibilities so that he would exercise his subjective initiative, so that he would not really think that I was just being perfunctory.

If you keep hiding it, it will make him feel cold, which will not be a good thing.

"I understand." Hua Lan nodded.

Hua Lan had only met her cousin Liu Chenghan a few times during her marriage, and then he was sent to a local place by Yang Wenyuan to help with work in the Marquis' Mansion, so she didn't know much about him.

As far as Hua Lan knew at the moment, she only knew that the old man of the Liu family and Yang Wenyuan's uncle were both officials. As for his generation, not only was he the only male in the family, but he actually gave up his official career to go into business. He gave up studying and became interested in business affairs.

It's really hard to understand.

Liu Chenghan: Am I not studying hard? I am just not cut out for it!

After studying hard for so many years, I couldn't even pass the exam to become a scholar...

Do you understand the pain in my heart? !

However, although I have never met him, from the fact that he has been purchasing from the fireworks workshop and has been able to barely maintain a balance in the income and expenses in this area in the account, it seems that this cousin has good business skills.

In fact, Hualan was a little puzzled by Yang Wenyuan's obsession with the fireworks workshop.

If you like watching fireworks, then buying from these fireworks workshops on such a large scale, isn’t that a bit too...extravagant?

However, compared with other bad habits such as promiscuous women, Hualan was still very accepting of this.

What's wrong with adults having a little special hobby?
A few days later.

The managers of the Yang family's farm, fields, and shops gathered at the Yang family's house to receive this year's rewards from the Marquis' Mansion.

Because this year is the first year of Yang Wenyuan and Hualan's marriage, the rewards are doubled compared to previous years, which naturally makes the people below happy.

"Madam, you are so kind!", "Congratulations to my lord and mistress for having a baby soon" and other words of congratulations came out endlessly.

After all, saying auspicious words doesn’t cost money and it also allows you to show your face, so of course you can say as much as you want.

Finally, Madam Hualan also made a brief appearance and met with several stewards who were born into family families.

Watching the managers leaving one by one, Hua Lan actually felt a little regretful.

Originally, she was thinking of imitating the movements she made in the inner house, and then doing the three major moves that a new official makes upon taking office, making an example of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.

Who would have thought that in such a short time, when comparing the account books brought by the steward with the account books of previous years in the mansion, no major errors were found and the matter could only be left unresolved.

on the way back.

Yang Wenyuan saw that Hualan looked unhappy and asked her why. He couldn't help laughing.

"Most of these people are family-born and are counting on passing on this golden rice bowl to their descendants. It's possible for them to commit small corruptions, but how could they commit big mistakes?"

Yang Wenyuan counted on his fingers and said:

"And even if something went wrong, they were afraid of upsetting the host family and getting kicked out. If they could make up for it themselves, they would most likely make up for it themselves before reporting it."

During this festival, the children of hereditary noble families actually lived a very comfortable life.

As long as the situation of the master's family is not really critical, they will never have any bad thoughts in their minds.

Yang Wenyuan teased Hualan for a long time, causing her to complain.

After the lunch table was set, Yang Wenyuan sent Changqing to call Liu Chenghan over.

Since he had already decided to entrust Liu Chenghan with an important task, Yang Wenyuan naturally expressed his attitude from all sides.

Just a few days ago, Liu Chenghan returned to Beijing, and Yang Wenyuan arranged for him to stay in a market not far from the Marquis' Mansion.

The nature of that market town is similar to Jiying Lane.

Originally, Yang Wenyuan wanted to give the courtyard directly to Liu Chenghan. After all, others were so wealthy that they could spend a fortune on horse bones. Yang Wenyuan understood the principle that one cannot catch a wolf without sacrificing a lamb, let alone a mere courtyard.

However, Liu Chenghan refused to accept it.

In his words, no reward without merit.

Yang Wenyuan had originally assigned me a good job, and I had only done what was within my job, so how could I dare to ask for any reward.

As for the moves to purchase fireworks workshops, Liu Chenghan modestly said, "It's all relying on the reputation of the Marquis' Mansion."

Even though Yang Wenyuan knew the truth, he still felt flattered by Liu Chenghan's flattery.

In the end, Liu Chenghan couldn't refuse and finally moved into the villa. However, the two of them agreed beforehand that he would only stay there temporarily and would return it once he left Beijing.

The inner lake of the mansion.

In the large flower hall next to it.

The banquet was ready, and Liu Chenghan also showed up with his wife Wu and daughter Liu Chan.

When the two families met, they first exchanged greetings.

Outside, Liu Chenghan is Yang Wenyuan's subordinate, but at home, Yang Wenyuan and Hualan are still humble and call him cousin and sister-in-law affectionately.

He immediately looked at his timid little niece Liu Chan beside him.

"Is this Chan'er?"

Hua Lan looked at Liu Chan's cute, rosy face and couldn't help but feel happy. She took out the longevity lock she had prepared in advance and handed it to her:

"I haven't seen it before, and now I have the opportunity to take it out."

"Chan'er, why don't you thank your aunt quickly?" Mrs. Wu was very happy to see Hualan being so affectionate towards her daughter, and she hurriedly urged her.

"Thank you, auntie..." Liu Chan was obviously a little shy and introverted. With her eyebrows lowered, she only dared to secretly look at this beautiful auntie whom she had never seen before.

"Okay, take a seat."

Yang Wenyuan asked everyone to take a seat, but then, both Yang Wenyuan and Hua Lan paused.

Not far away, Liu Chenghan was carefully helping Wu to sit down slowly. His concerned look made Yang Wenyuan and Hualan look at each other at the same time.

They looked into each other's eyes, and saw clearly in each other's eyes——

Mrs. Wu is pregnant!

(End of this chapter)