Cai Lan came back from Longmu Temple and was in a daze. Shortly after returning to the Third General Mansion, she excused herself from "ill health" and went to bed early. She didn't even look at the paintings Xie Erren brought her.
The painting, Xie Yuanlao said he painted it himself, but Cai Lan knew at a glance that it was not his handiwork.
Of course she was not good at understanding people by seeing paintings, but Xie Yuanlao usually stumbled around when writing a few calligraphy, so it was naturally impossible for him to draw landscape paintings.
Although she knew it wasn't him who drew it, Cai Lan had some feelings for this man these days. A woman's state of mind is so strange sometimes. Although the man in front of her could be regarded as a "husband-killing enemy", he did not care about assassinating her in the street, and allowed her to have a place to stay and live comfortably in her loneliness. To be fair, no other man in the world had ever treated her with the tenderness and consideration that Xie Erren had shown her.
The conversation between her and Yi Haoran today aroused the hatred that had been indifferent at first - if it weren't for the Australians' rebellion, how could she have fallen to this point and become a dirty, dirty woman?
But what happens next? Although Yi Haoran did not say what he wanted to do, it is not difficult to guess the purpose of his visit: he was hiding in the city and trying to see himself, naturally not to return the fan, but for the Ming Dynasty. Cai Lan thought to herself, she never expected that there were such loyal and courageous scholars in Wuzhou City! Over the past few days, all she had seen and heard were people who kowtowed to the Australians. Now there is such a hero who is willing to take risks for the sake of the imperial court. I can't help but admire secretly in my heart.
Cai Lan lay in bed for a long time, but her eyes were bright and she could not fall asleep.
Because she didn't sleep well at night, whenever Xie Erren didn't come to spend the night, she would often ask Qiu Chan to sleep with her. She was lonely and helpless here, and Qiu Chan had recently lost her husband. Having her company at night can alleviate the loneliness a little bit.
Hearing her heavy breathing, Jiang Qiuchan knew that Cai Lan had not fallen asleep, so she comforted her and said, "Miss Cai, I have been out for a day out today and have already woken up. Please rest earlier..."
Cai Lan shook his head and said, "I'm not tired." He stood up from the bed and put on his clothes. Looking blankly at the night sky outside the window, she suddenly asked: "Aunt Jiang, what do you think of Mr. Hao?"
"He is a good person." Jiang Qiuchan replied without thinking.
"Yes, he is a good person..." Cai Lan's eyes were blank, "It's a pity that he overestimates his abilities."
"Not overestimating one's own capabilities?" Qiu Chan was surprised and didn't understand why she said that.
"Well, don't overestimate your capabilities."
"What's wrong with the girl?" Qiu Chan didn't know what Yi Haoran said to Cai Lan today. Could it be that Chang Qingyun was some kind of "key criminal"? She hurriedly said: "You don't overestimate your abilities and just treat him as if he said a few crazy words..."
Cai Lan shook his head and asked: "Madam, how did you and Mr. Hao meet?"
Jiang Qiuchan was shocked. How could this be explained by Mr. Yi's killing of the rebels? He forced a smile and said: "He is a relative of my mother's side, and he is my cousin..."
"Don't try to deceive me." Cai Lan said, "Mr. Hao is not your cousin at all."
This made Cai Lan panic. Just as he was about to speak, Cai Lan said: "You don't have to be afraid. As for Mr. Hao, I have known him much earlier than you - he was originally a staff member of Governor Xiong. ,Is not it?"
Qiu Chan became more and more panicked now, and said after a while: "Maybe so. I only know that he used to be a master in the Yamen..."
"That's it." Cai Lan's eyes were piercing, "Speaking of which, he and my late husband can be considered colleagues."
Qiu Chan knew this, but she didn't know why she suddenly mentioned these things in the dark night. I felt a little flustered.
"so……"
"Don't worry, ma'am." Cai Lan said leisurely, "Although I am a shameless woman, my conscience is not bad."
Qiu Chan breathed a sigh of relief and forced a smile: "I can trust you, girl!" She was eager to change the topic and said: "It's getting late, let's take a rest early."
Xie Erren has not spent the night at Cai Lan's place for a week. At first he was a little tired of her. After the psychological pleasure of conquest has passed, Cai Lan is not a suitable partner in terms of sex alone. Secondly, documents were flying onto his desk like a snowflake in front of him. His job as the mayor of Wuzhou was really difficult. To be honest, heavy administrative work was not suitable for an artistic young man like him.
Three months have passed since he came to Wuzhou to take charge in April. Nothing has been accomplished in terms of construction. The originally grand "Wuzhou Business Revitalization Plan" has become a waste of paper due to the war in Guangxi. The market in Wuzhou is still half-dead. As the mayor of Wuzhou, he is more like the depot commander of the Fubo Army than the local chief executive. The most important thing every day is to coordinate the land and water transfer of the endless supply team.
The war is going smoothly in the front, but troubles are happening in the rear. Especially after the Yao rebellion broke out in April and the Guangxi side "turned troops into bandits", he was not only responsible for the transportation of supplies in the rear, but also "suppressed" the place. Finally, after August, the large-scale bandit riots were basically suppressed, and the Xijiang route was restored to smooth flow. Although armed escorts were still indispensable, the situation had improved compared to the wars and wars a few months ago.
But he couldn't relax for a moment. Although the market in Wuzhou had improved somewhat compared with when it was just recovered a few months ago with the Fubo Army's march into Guangxi and the improvement of local security, the overall situation was still very depressed. In addition to selling grain on a daily basis, more and more families are in need of relief. Since the pontoon bridge and city wall were repaired, there are no more urgent projects to be carried out in the local area, and the "relief for work" program has become urgent. Fortunately, Wuzhou is an important transportation thoroughfare. The Military Depot Department has set up large military depots here and recruited many local unemployed laborers, making the work-for-relief program sustainable.
A few days ago, Zhu Fuyuan from Dachang came to Wuzhou secretly and informed him of the grain adjustment plan. Although he does not need to handle the specific grain distribution, 10,000 shi of grain is transported to Wuzhou by water and then distributed from Wuzhou. All aspects involved need to be coordinated and arranged by him - when he thinks of this, Xie Erren's head Almost exploded.
And this food problem is the most important thing at the moment. It can even be said to be related to the overall stability. If anything goes wrong, he doesn't have to think about anything else in the Senate and is waiting to be treated like Lao Zhang. Waiting for death.
On this day, he had been busy in the office for most of the day. He took a break for lunch and felt dizzy. Thinking that I haven't been to Cai Lan's place this week, I feel a little missed. Although he had no emotional basis for Cai Lan, he was alone in the city and busy with affairs, and she was the only one who could comfort him with a little tenderness.
"Old Zhao!" he shouted.
Zhao Toyota responded: "Chief."
"Take a photo of someone and go to the Third General Office, and let me know that I will be there tonight."
His office and dormitory are located in the Wuzhou Magistrate's Yamen. Every time he goes to Cai Lanna, he must notify Cai Lan in advance so that the servants can be prepared to welcome him. Additional security personnel must be dispatched to supervise the preparation of food and accommodation.
"Yes, chief." Zhao Toyota was about to go out when Xie Erren stopped him again:
"Have my paintings been delivered?"
"They were all sent away," Zhao Toyota said.
"What did Miss Cai say?"
"I didn't say anything. But she doesn't paint often recently. I asked her what she wanted, but she didn't say anything."
"Oh, it's okay not to draw." Xie Erren nodded, "It's just that I don't have much entertainment, so I'm afraid I'll have random thoughts again."
"Aunt Jiang, who I have been using recently, has become a favorite with her! I often stay with her overnight, and I feel that my mood has improved a lot recently. It makes a difference to have someone to talk to and keep company with."
"In this case, let's give Mrs. Jiang a salary increase next month - I heard that she is a widow with a child, which is not easy."
"It's been less than a month since I arrived, so it's too fast to say it's rising. At any rate, it'll be three months later."
Xie Erren smiled, this Zhao Toyota is really a master! He thought for a while and said: "Then the salary will not be increased. Next time, I will bring some candies to her children."
The news that Xie Erren was coming immediately reached Cai Lan's room. The servants in Cai Lan's room became busy.
Although the house is cleaned every day, it will have to be cleaned again this time. The elders love cleanliness, and the stains and dust that people are accustomed to are intolerable to them. However, it is difficult to keep a century-old house like the Third General Mansion clean and tidy. Therefore, the staff at the Jie Office make it important to clean the place thoroughly before each visit by Xie Erren.
After the cleaning, the maids and servants changed the bedding and placed a large piece of ice in the room - this ice was transported all the way from Guangzhou. Xie Erren's pajamas for the night and a change of clothes for bathing are also prepared. The laborers picked up well water and poured it into the cast iron enamel bathtub shipped from Guangzhou. The firemen outside started to light the fire and boil the water.
A cook was sent from the Municipal General Affairs Office, brought the ingredients, and prepared them in the kitchen of the Third General Office. Xie Erren followed the hobby of a scholar and was particular about eating. However, Wuzhou is a frontline city after all, so he can't be too extravagant. He usually eats simply when working, but coming to Cai Lan is to "relax". He has to be more particular about food and drink.
Jiang Qiuchan helped change the flowers in the room - Elder Xie liked this tune; he chose a landscape "handwritten by Chief Xie" to hang on it and lit incense. He also served Cai Lan to take a bath and change clothes.
Cai Lan took a shower, dried her hair, and applied a little makeup. Jiang Qiuchan was about to get her clothes when Cai Lan suddenly stopped her.
"Ms. Jiang, please put on the clothes the master sent me."
Jiang Qiuchan was surprised. She said that this set of clothes had been delivered to her for a long time. Miss Cai had never opened it and took a look at it. Why did she suddenly think of wearing it?
This group uniform is a "Song suit" ordered by Xie Erren from Store No. 39. This so-called Song Dynasty costume is actually the "Han costume" brought by female senators.
