"Drawing lots?"
The people present immediately laughed when they heard this. They did not expect that this candidate was selected in this way.
Zhang Xuzhen's face turned red: "It's me, I'm more lucky."
Su Xiuzhi said: "In fact, it is the most fair method."
If it's a competition, it depends on everyone's ability, but if you draw lots, it depends on luck.
Nian Jinniang nodded: "It is indeed a good idea. Otherwise, everyone would be dissatisfied."
Zhang Xuzhen said: "We thought the same way before. We were all vying for that position before, and no one accepted it. If it were a lottery, we would have to blame our own bad luck."
Although they fought with each other, they were not without conscience. Everyone wanted the position of Lotus Girl, but what they had to do at that time was to pull Qinglian down. If Qinglian continued to sit here In terms of position, they will still be implicated, and they don't know what the outcome will be.
Zhang Xuzhen was a little embarrassed: "So I am really not qualified to get this money. Thank you madam for looking after me. If I still participate in the lotus picking competition next year, I must win it back with my own ability."
Su Wan said: "Since I have spoken out, there is no reason to go back on it. Although your victory is dishonorable, it can be considered excusable. If someone's behavior affects me, I will try my best to pull her down and change her. status quo."
"Since you worked hard together to get it, then you can share this money together."
"Miss Xuzhen is able to say these things today. She is not a shameless and shameless person. I hope you can change the current situation and live a better life in the future."
Zhang Xu was really embarrassed to accept this money, but after hearing what she said, it was hard to shirk it. After all, money is something that no one wants. She neither stole nor robbed it. This lady wanted to give it to her. , she is naturally happy.
And this money is no longer her business alone, it belongs to everyone. Some of these girls are not having an easy life. With this money, they can at least improve their family's situation.
"Na Xuzhen, thank you madam."
Su Wan asked Xiao Sang to take out the banknotes. Su Xiuzhinian, Jinniang and others also took out the money they had promised previously. The girls collected a total of 550 taels, plus Su Wan's 3,000 taels, the total was Three thousand five hundred and fifty taels.
Zhang Xuzhen had never seen so many banknotes, and she was a little worried. When she found that there were five hundred and fifty taels more, she asked, "Why are there so many more banknotes? Is it a mistake?"
Nian Jinniang said: "I haven't found it yet. The three thousand taels were given by Mrs. Li, and the rest were collected by us. Miss Xuzhen also knows that we also hate Qinglian. Thank you for getting rid of her."
Qinglian had private contacts with many young men from noble families, and there were quite a few noble ladies and ladies who hated her. After hearing this, Zhang Xuzhen said, "We do it more for ourselves."
"all the same."
Zhang Xuzhen didn't stay long. After thanking him, he left with the banknote. Then he went to the place agreed with his sisters to meet up and took out the banknote. Everyone present was silent for a while, thinking about how to divide the money.
After a long time, someone suggested: "Why don't we give the one thousand taels to Sanniang's family, and the rest can be divided equally."
Sanniang is the girl who committed suicide by throwing herself into the lake earlier.
"That's fine, I agree."
"I agree."
"I have no objection either."
This proposal was approved by everyone, and they began to divide the money. In addition to the one thousand left for Sanniang, there were still a total of two thousand five hundred and fifty taels. There were twenty-two of them, and twenty-one of them each received one hundred and eleven. Fifteen taels, Zhang Xuzhen was elected as the lotus picker, and she got the money back, so she got a little more, one hundred and thirty-five taels.
After the accounts were settled, Zhang Xuzhen took the banknotes to the bank and exchanged them for one hundred denominations and some silver. He distributed the money to everyone, and then went to Sanniang's house and gave her one thousand taels of silver. Home.
After doing this, the matter came to an end, and they still had to discuss with Zhang Xuzhen how to rectify the name of the Lotus Girl.
.
Su Wan dispersed after Zhang Xuzhen left. She left her temporary residence address to Du Mingzhu and said that if she could get Mr. Guan's lotus picking picture, she would send it here.
Du Mingzhu happily agreed, and when she returned home, she found her second brother, Mr. Du Er, and asked him to help ask Guan Zhongyue about the lotus picking picture. Mr. Du asked her a few questions, understood the situation, and felt that it was not difficult, so he agreed. down.
"But I don't know if he has any paintings this year. If not, I have two paintings in my study, so you can just pick one and give it to him."
Du Mingzhu was startled: "Second brother, are you okay?"
This guy Shou Cai was known throughout the city to be stingy, and even a girl like her didn't want to take advantage of him, so he actually asked her to pick out a painting to give away.
Oh, this is really the sun coming out in the west.
Mr. Du Er said: "What do you know? You said that this lady gave away three thousand taels. You think she is not an ordinary family. Lao Guan's paintings are not easy to give away, but the lotus picking picture is okay. It’s not worth much anyway.”
"Just think of it as a good relationship. Maybe there will be some fate in the future."
Du Mingzhu's face twisted a bit, trying to say what he was thinking, but he also thought it would be good to pick something off this stingy guy, so he said: "Then I'll just go to your place and get it, it's almost the same anyway, Li Madam just wants a picture of lotus picking."
"Okay."
Seeing that he agreed, Du Mingzhu took her maid to his study. She originally wanted to choose one painting, but after thinking about it, she took away both paintings and planned to let him choose.
As the sun set, Du Mingzhu took two paintings to the yard where Su Wan rented. At this time, Su Wan was leading people to pack things and prepare to leave tomorrow. After staying for ten days, there were a lot of things.
Du Mingzhu was in a hurry when she came, with thin beads of sweat on her forehead.
Su Wan asked someone to bring her a bowl of warm tea: "I'm not leaving now, why be in such a hurry."
Du Mingzhu said: "It would be better to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would be a pity if it is delayed. These two paintings are both done by Mr. Guan, but they are works from previous years. They were taken from my second brother's study. If Mrs. If you don’t mind, just choose one from them.”
"Since it's your brother's treasure, wouldn't I take advantage of it?"
"Nothing, my brother and Mr. Guan are in a good relationship. If you really want it, if Mr. Guan paints it again in the future, just let him keep it. Anyway, it's a picture of picking lotuses."
Su Wan thought about it and said, "Then I will thank your second brother."
Su Wan asked people to unfold these two pictures. Both pictures showed the scene of the lotus picking competition. One was the scene of girls dancing among the lotus bushes, and the other was the scene of returning from lotus picking. There were also pictures on the side of the painting. The inscription and payment were signed.
The inscription on the front piece reads: as graceful as a startled giant, as graceful as a wandering dragon.
The inscription at the back reads: All mountains are full of spring water, and I will collect lotus for you and return home.
