Yi Haoran handed the baggage umbrella to Ah Chun and asked, "Master, are you at home?"
"The master has gone to the aftermath bureau." Ah Chun put the things away and went to the back to fetch water to wash his face. "Sir, did you go out to collect the bill this time smoothly?"
"The war was in chaos, and the shopkeepers didn't know where they had gone!" Although Yi Haoran went to collect the bill under the pretense of going out for a trip, he also went to some places to avoid the shopkeepers from becoming suspicious. "Fortunately, the market has recovered a bit now, and the collection has been good. Got some money."
"It's a good thing to receive the account." Ah Chun said and went to pour the washing water. "Sir, go and rest in the back. The business on the counter is very clear now. I can't wait for one or two items to come to my door in a day."
Although the rice shop does not do retail sales and has much fewer customers, in addition to large sales during peacetime, rice shops and rice vendors everywhere also sell small amounts, and there are always people coming in and out of the door. Now it is empty.
However, Luo Yangming paid no attention to his own business. Instead, he went to the aftermath bureau every day to do chores. Not to mention the proprietress A Tao, even Yi Haoran found it baffling—could it be that the shopkeeper didn't want to open rice anymore and was ready to curry favor with the thief and became a pretender.
Yi Haoran returned to the accounting room, put the received money into the cash box, spread out the account book, balanced the received accounts, and registered them. These are just a few strokes. Business is slow these days, and there is nothing to keep or calculate.
In the past, he would probably find Li Wensheng or the bookkeepers of several neighboring stores to kill a few games of chess and play "horse games" to kill time.
However, today he had no such interest at all. The excitement brought to him by the reunion with Jiang Suo has not dissipated yet. He knew from Jiang Suo's words that there were many officials and soldiers scattered outside Wuzhou City, and many of them had even sneaked into the government offices of the thieves to work. If these people can be gathered together, they will be a force that cannot be underestimated. It can definitely come in handy.
How to bring these people together? Yi Haoran originally just wanted to win over Chang Qingyun and rely on him to go to the prisoner camp to show off. But this time his ambitions became even greater - although the people in the prisoner camp could be used, they had to cross the Guijiang River to rush from Sanhezui, and there was also the obstacle of the Great Cloud Gate. It was necessary to cooperate with the inside and outside, and there were only people outside the city. , and there must be talented people in the city.
He thought over and over again in his mind, thinking about how to speak when he saw Chang Qingyun, and what methods to use to persuade the officials and soldiers who were separated in the city to participate. Suddenly he heard Ah Chun shouting from outside:
"Mr. Hao! Mr. Hao!"
Yi Haoran hurriedly responded and walked out. I saw Ah Chun standing at the door of the small courtyard and looking inside. Seeing him coming out of the room, he hurriedly greeted him:
"Mr. Hao! Someone is looking for you outside."
"Oh? Who is he?" Yi Haoran was a little strange. He had no relatives or friends in the local area, and there were very few people who knew him among Xiong Wencan.
"It's a woman," Ah Chun gestured, "Is she an old relative of yours?"
"Relative?" Yi Haoran was stunned for a moment, and then he remembered that it was Jiang Qiuchan. Since Jiang Qiuchan asked someone to introduce him to "Yuxin", he has not met him yet. Yi Haoran regarded himself as an upright gentleman, and Jiang Qiuchan was a newly widowed woman. Even if she was given the title of "cousin," it would not be appropriate for the two of them to meet each other. So I never went to find her.
Why did she suddenly come to the store to look for him? Yi Haoran was suspicious but didn't dare to show it, so he could only say: "I'll go out right now..."
The person who came outside was indeed Jiang Qiuchan. She was wearing a blue cloth skirt and jacket. She omitted all decorations except for a wooden hairpin on her bun and a white flower. There was a bamboo basket beside him. When he saw him coming out, he quickly stood up and felt deeply blessed.
"Cousin..."
Yi Haoran hurriedly returned the gift and said politely: "Why is my niece going out alone? There is a chaos of war outside..." He then greeted, "Come on, come and sit inside."
"Thanks for your concern, cousin. The streets are quite peaceful now."
Mihang has a reception room specially designed to entertain customers. Normally, it does not accept female customers. Since there is no business at the moment, it doesn't hurt to borrow it temporarily.
Ah Chun brought the tea and immediately withdrew. Yi Haoran felt slightly embarrassed. Looking at this "cousin", although her face is a little pale, she is in good spirits.
"My niece came to the store today to see my wife..."
The wife she mentioned was naturally Luo Yangming's wife Ding Atao. Yi Haoran had long heard her say that she had contacts with Ding Atao before she left the cabinet, and it was because of this relationship that she recommended Yi Haoran here.
However, today Ding Atao took Wen Yun and was accompanied by the old shopkeeper Li Wensheng to offer incense and was not in the store.
"My wife has gone out to enjoy some incense."
"Cai Shi Ah Chun has already told me that my cousin is the only one in the store now, so I can only entrust the things to my cousin." Ding Atao pointed to the basket on the table, "This is what she asked me to make. The needlework is only done now, please don’t dislike it.”
"Easy to say, easy to say."
Jiang Qiuchan hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn't. After a while, he whispered
"My niece has something to ask her cousin for advice."
Hearing that he had to consult him about something, Yi Haoran was determined. He smiled and said, "We are all relatives, so there is no need to be so polite. Just ask."
"My cousin used to be an errand in the Xiong Governor's Office. Does he know anything about Australians?" Her voice was very low. She knew Yi Haoran's origins and knew that his identity could not be revealed.
Yi Haoran was shocked and wondered what she meant? Thinking again that they had shared the same sorrow, Qiu Chan's question made sense and there was no ill intention.
He also lowered his voice and said: "I know a little bit. I wonder what my niece wants to ask?"
"The thing is like this..."
Jiang Qiuchan's natal family owned a silk and satin shop in Wuzhou. Although it was not a big business, it was a century-old shop. He has always had contacts with the Yamen. This time, word came out from the retained staff in the yamen that the newly arrived Australian prefect Mr. Xie wanted to hire a "accompanying wife."
"...It is said that Mr. Jie has fallen in love with a woman named Cai, and now she is in his yamen. Since there is no one to take care of him, he needs to find a woman from a good family and well-educated to accompany and take care of her." Qiu Chan said, "My brother from my mother's side After hearing about it, he said he would recommend me for this job."
Now her husband has passed away and she is raising her son alone without any income. During the war and chaos, I couldn't go back to my husband's house in Teng County. Although she had a natal family in Wuzhou, she was a married daughter after all. Living in her natal family would make her feel like being dependent on someone else, so she wanted to take up this job.
However, after all, this was a business trip to the Australians. Neither Qiu Chan nor her family knew much about the Australians. Although the retained staff in the yamen did not have a bad opinion of the Australians, they could not believe what the police officers said.
After thinking about it, she thought of Yi Haoran - since he had fought with the Australians, he naturally knew a lot about the Australians, and it was always more reliable to ask him.
That’s what happened! Yi Haoran thought to himself, this is a decent job. They can earn food and clothing for their mother and son. During his conversation with Jiang Suo, he learned a lot about the Australians and knew that the Australians had decent personal ethics. There is also a sense of propriety in how you behave. There is no risk for Qiu Chan to do this job.
Suddenly his eyes jumped, his surname was Cai? He seemed to have remembered something and asked hurriedly: "Is this woman's maiden name Cai Lan?"
"Exactly." Qiu Chan was a little confused and asked, "Why, does my cousin recognize her?"
"I can't say we know each other," Yi Haoran said, "Her husband and I have met a few times."
Cai Lan is the wife of Xing Chenghuan, and Xing Chenghuan is the Shuqi master of Hu Duhua, the prefect of Wuzhou. We had a relationship because of official business. One time there was a banquet held at the Governor's Mansion, and the two of them were sitting next to each other. During the drunken chat, they found out that he had a fiancée named Cai Lan, who had been sent to Wuzhou to prepare for the marriage.
"...If I knew that Wuzhou was going to suffer such a war, I would never have brought her here." After saying that, Xing Chenghuan, who was already blushing, sighed heavily.
This incident left a deep impression on him. Because of the war, Xing Chenghuan and Cai Lan did not go to the church to get married, let alone consummate the marriage. It is said that he was "afraid of delaying her". At that time, Yi Haoran was quite moved and felt that he was an upright gentleman. Later, I heard that he committed suicide when Wuzhou fell, and Yi Haoran was even more in awe of him.
Unexpectedly, the fiancée he left behind would now be willing to be the concubine of the thief! Thinking of this, Yi Haoran's face changed slightly. However, he thought again, if Qiu Chan could get to this shameless and despicable woman, he would be like putting an eye and spy into the thief leader Kun's room.
Thinking of this, Yi Haoran calmed down and said with a smile: "In my opinion: Australians are quite decent in character. They are by no means a stubborn person. You are an orphan and a widower now, and it is difficult to support your family. It is absolutely impossible to do this job." No harm done.”
Jiang Qiuchan looked relieved, and it was obvious that she really wanted to do this job.
"With my cousin's words, my niece feels relieved."
"Where, where, my niece will work as an errand for the Australians in the future, and my cousin may have to rely on you." Yi Haoran laughed. Then he whispered, "It's just a matter for my uncle, not something to discuss with outsiders..."
"My niece knows." Qiu Chan nodded, "One more thing, my niece wants to trouble her cousin, but she just can't speak..."
"Oh? What's going on? We're all one family." Yi Haoran was in a very good mood.
"It's Li Heng..."
Qi Liheng is her son, he is six years old this year.
"He has now reached the time of enlightenment..."
As the son of a scholar, it was natural for his father to take care of this enlightenment matter. However, the child now has no father. Although there are several private schools in the city, she can't afford to pay for the education. To be honest, she doesn't trust a child without a father to study in such a mixed place.
"...I know that Mr. must have excellent knowledge and be a decent man. Can you please come and give a lecture to the dog..." Qiu Chan was afraid that he would find it troublesome, so she quickly said, "I will receive the money for the study." The wages will be paid.”
