Jia Cong accompanied Jia Mu and others to his upper room.
The floor has been covered with gorgeous carpets purchased from Persia, and in the middle is a large gilt-enameled brazier with an elephant trunk and a three-legged loach.
There was a huge black bear skin spread on the Kang in front, and there were back pillows with big red embroidered clouds and dragons holding birthdays. There was also a black fox skin bag draped on it. Jia Mu was invited to sit on it.
Leather mattresses were also spread on both sides for two or three of Jia Mu's generation to sit on.
The small kang behind the row of horizontal heads next to it was also covered with leather mattresses for Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang to sit on.
Twelve lacquered chairs facing each other on two sides of the ground are all covered with sable mattresses. Under each chair is a large copper foot stove for the Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun and other sisters to sit.
You took Qin Keqing, Ping'er, Yuanyang and others to serve tea to Jia Mu, Mrs. Xing and others.
Jia Mu took a sip of tea and handed the tea cup to Yuanyang beside her.
He touched the bear skin under his body and said with a smile: "This bear skin is really warm. I spread the one you asked me to give to me in the winter. I don't feel cold at all when I sleep at night. I heard that Did you hunt that one with your own hands? Could it be that you also hunted this one with your own hands?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "The bear skin given to the old lady was indeed hunted by my grandson himself. At that time, he just arrived in Liaodong and went hunting in the Black Mountains. He happened to encounter it and was shot to death by his two arrows. , someone brought it back and gave it to the old lady.
Later, although I often went out hunting, usually on the grasslands, I never encountered a black bear again. This one was given to me when I was in Liaodong. "
Jia Cong's bear skin was brought back from the old slave's palace. There were several bear skins and tiger skins.
However, you can't talk nonsense about this matter to others. It won't be a good thing for you if it spreads. You can only deal with the old lady perfunctorily.
When everyone heard this, they also clucked their tongues, especially some of Jia Mu's contemporaries, who were even more amazed.
Jia Mu was still very satisfied with Jia Cong's answer and felt that it was very honorable.
After chatting for a few more words, Jia Mu got up and left.
After all, this process happens every year. Everyone is waiting for me to go back and kowtow to me for the New Year. I can't keep everyone waiting for a long time.
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Old lady, why not celebrate the New Year with your grandson this year? I guarantee that you will be more comfortable and happy than in previous years."
Youshi also smiled and said: "We have already prepared the old lady's dinner, but we don't want to have some dignity and have dinner every year. Sure enough, we are not as good as Feng girl?"
Wang Xifeng supported Jia Mu and said with a smile: "Old ancestor, hurry up, let's go to dinner, and ignore her."
Jia Mu smiled and said: "You are providing for your ancestors here. You seem to be busy. Where can I tolerate my troubles? Besides, every year I don't eat, you have to give it away. Why don't you give it away? I can't eat it and keep it for tomorrow." If you eat again, why don’t you eat more?”
Jia Cong said with a smile: "The old lady's plan is good. We can't suffer too much. We will eat with the old lady for a while. We can save our family and have an extra meal."
Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "Hey, Brother Cong, you are so rich and you are so good at calculating. Your calculations are better than those of our ancestors. You are worthy of being our ancestor's grandson, and you are as shrewd as our ancestors."
If Sister Feng can get along well in the Jia family and win the love of the old lady, she is indeed somewhat capable and can please the old lady.
Look at the flattery. While teasing Jia Cong, he didn't forget to flatter the old lady.
Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister-in-law Feng, you realize now that I am a bold, calculating, and thick-skinned old lady, but I am just a casual old lady."
When my mother heard this, she laughed and said, "You little monkey, I'm not as thick-skinned as you, and you don't follow me at all."
Everyone laughed when they heard this.
Mrs. Xing looked at Jia Cong with a smile on her face. This child was not only filial to herself, but also made the old lady happy. He was such a good child.
Although there was a smile on Mrs. Wang's face, she looked like she was smiling but not smiling. I wonder what she was thinking in her heart?
Seeing that Jia Mu was happy, several of Jia Mu's old sisters-in-law also joined in and said, "Brother Cong, this kid is getting more and more promising. It's all thanks to my old sister-in-law's good teachings. Since I became the clan leader, everyone's life has been great." It's getting better and better, and it's all thanks to you."
My mother was even happier after hearing this, and felt extremely satisfied.
After a few more jokes, they got on the sedan and left Ningguo Mansion surrounded by everyone.
On Ningrong Street, there is a line of ceremonial instruments of Duke Ning on the east side, and a line of ceremonial instruments of Duke Rong on the west side. Pedestrians who come and go avoid passing by.
On the Rongguo Mansion side, the main entrance hall is also opened all the way.
Jia Cong asked someone to pull a cart of watermelons, as well as dishes prepared for Jia Mu, and called Youshi, Qin Keqing, Yuanyang, Ping'er, and Xiaohong to accompany Jia Mu's sedan to Rong Mansion.
After passing the hall, turn to the west and get off the sedan in the main hall on Jia Mu's side.
He followed Jia Mu to the main room, which was also decorated with a brocade embroidered screen and had a completely new look. The brazier on the ground was burning pine, cypress, and lily grass.
After Jia Mu sat down, she called Jia Cong to her side and asked, "I saw you drove a car over. What was in it?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "Old lady, what I got you this time is definitely a rare thing. You won't be able to guess it. Why don't you give it a try?"
Jia Mu thought for a while, but she really couldn't think of what it could be.
She wouldn't guess one by one. If she couldn't guess, it wouldn't look good on her face, so she looked directly at Yuanyang.
Yuanyang glanced at Jia Cong, smiled and leaned into his mother's ear, whispering a few words quietly.
After hearing this, Mother Jia was a little surprised and said: "Oh, watermelons are really growing in this winter. It is indeed a rare thing at this time. Bring one over here and let me see."
Jia Cong came to the yard, moved two large watermelons from the car, came to Jia's mother's house, and placed them next to her.
"Old lady, look, is this true?"
Jia Mu looked at it for a while, then reached out to touch it and flicked it again. It was indeed a watermelon.
Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan, Yingchun, and Tanchun all got together and looked at the watermelon in front of them, marveling at it.
Wang Xifeng said: "Brother Cong, you are so capable. You actually grew watermelons in this winter. My sister-in-law is really impressed by you."
Li Wan said: "When we visited Zhuangzi last time, Brother Cong said he wanted to plant watermelons. At that time, I thought it was a joke. It was just a talk. I didn't expect it to actually grow. It's really surprising."
Tanchun said: "Third brother, is this the watermelon you planted?"
Jia Mu said, "Brother Cong, were these watermelons also caught in your greenhouse?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "The old lady is still smart. She guessed it right away. It is indeed planted in the greenhouse. It's just the first year of planting. She has no experience and doesn't grow much. I can only let you have a taste."
Jia Cong took a watermelon knife, cut one open, took a piece of watermelon, and handed it to the old lady.
Looking at the bright red flesh of the melon, Jia Mu suddenly felt her appetite whet her appetite. She opened her mouth and took a bite. A stream of sweet juice flowed into her mouth, making Jia Mu instantly narrow her eyes.
"It's delicious. It's so delicious. It tastes much better than watermelon in the summer. Don't just look at it, try it all."
Jia Cong picked up the remaining watermelon and distributed it to everyone. Even Xichun, Yuanyang and others did not leave behind, and he also took a piece and ate it.
Wang Xifeng took a few bites, raised his head and said with a smile: "The ancestors are right, this watermelon tastes so good, it is much more delicious than summer watermelon. Brother Cong, how did you grow it? No, you can also grow it in summer. Let’s make a batch and let’s all have some good food.”
This old lady, you really think about it, there are six to seven hundred people in the two mansions, how many watermelons do you need to grow to have enough food?
Besides, summer watermelons are not valuable, so just buy them.
When Jia Mu heard this, she also looked over. She also liked such delicious watermelon.
When everyone heard this, they all looked over. This watermelon was indeed delicious, and they also wanted to taste such a good watermelon.
Jia Cong shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I can't grow such delicious watermelons in summer. In an environment with a large temperature difference between day and night, the melons grown are particularly sweet and delicious. .
My greenhouse is illuminated by the sun during the day, and it is very warm inside. When there is no sunlight at night, the temperature drops. The temperature difference between day and night is relatively large, so this melon is delicious. "
Hearing this, Mother Jia nodded and said, "So there are so many more things here. You have nothing to do all day long, so you just think about these things?"
Jia Cong smiled and said: "I only think about it occasionally, mainly to summarize the previous experience and make use of it. This knowledge has actually existed for a long time, but few people pay attention to it."
Mrs. Wang said: "Brother Cong, do you still have more watermelons over there? If there are more, bring a few more carts over and send some to some close friends and relatives so they can have a taste."
No need to think about it, she must have thought of her natal Wang family again.
This old woman has children and grandchildren, but she still thinks about her natal family and regards herself as a member of the Wang family. I don’t know what she thinks?
The reason why Jia Cong didn't send watermelons until the 30th year was because he was afraid of this situation.
Ordinarily, watermelon is not a valuable thing, and Jia Cong doesn't care about the money. The problem is that it is indeed a rarity in this season.
After all, the space in the greenhouse is limited, and it has to supply vegetables to the two provinces. It is impossible to grow too many. If everyone knew it, there would simply not be enough to share.
If someone with good connections really came to your door and asked for a few, would you give them to them or not?
If you give it to the first one, the second one will come. There is no way to prevent it.
If you don't give it, you'll offend someone. It's really not worth ordering something worthless.
That's why Jia Cong kept it secret and didn't reveal it.
In addition to providing Lin Daiyu with watermelon to eat every day, plus food for her own house, she also sent five or six to Miaoyu, and Xue Baochai did not even see it.
It's not that I reluctantly gave it to her, but I wanted her to live in Rong Mansion. If I gave it to her, everyone in Rong Mansion would know about it, which is similar to giving it to an old lady.
Wouldn’t you like to keep some for yourself?
If Mrs. Wang really gave it to the Wang family, they would not necessarily remember her as a favor.
Jia Cong smiled and said: "If the second wife wants to give it away, don't even think about it. I even eat it myself and save it for more than ten days, just to surprise the old lady and let everyone try something new during the New Year. In addition to giving In the car the old lady brought, there were more than a dozen people at home.
A few days ago, Brother Xue sent me three carts of New Year's goods. In order to save some for the old lady, I didn't even give them to him. It's the Chinese New Year, so I should give a few to Aunt Xue to try, right? There are only a few left, so I can’t eat all myself. "
Wang Xifeng said: "Brother Cong, your greenhouse should be quite big. You have given us all the vegetables in this house. Why do you only grow so many?"
Jia Cong rolled his eyes and said angrily: "Sister-in-law, you are standing and talking without pain in your back. You also know that the vegetables in the house are all grown in my greenhouse. How big do you think it is to have so many vegetables?" Where can it be grown?
This greenhouse has limited space. With so many vegetables planted, there is not much space. The distance between each watermelon tree must be kept at about three feet, and each tree only grows one watermelon, that is Said, after eating these watermelons will be gone. "
Mother Jia nodded and said, "Although your greenhouse is not small, if you really have to grow a watermelon three feet in size, you won't be able to grow many. How many have you brought here this time?"
Jia Cong said: "Old lady, there are about forty people in this car. I won't send them to the house here anymore. I don't want to. If you always want to give them some, then you can see how they are divided. .
If you want to keep it for yourself, then keep it all. You can keep it this winter. It will be fine if you keep it for ten or twenty days. Don’t let outsiders know, lest others want it but we can’t give it to them. Call us stingy.
The old lady also knows that grandson, I am not a stingy person. If there are any rare things, almost everyone in the house will have a share. This time, there are really too few watermelons. Even if all my greenhouses are full Planting watermelons is not enough for everyone to eat. It takes up too much space. "
Tanchun said: "Third brother, there is only one watermelon planted three feet away. Why does it sound like planting a tree? When I went to Zhuangzi in autumn, I saw that the beans were planted very densely."
Jia Cong smiled and said: "You have never planted the land, so naturally you don't know this. A bean is only about the size of a watermelon. To grow such a big watermelon, it also needs nutrients. If they are too close together, the nutrients in the ground will be lost." If it’s not enough, the watermelon won’t grow big and won’t taste good.
The third sister also knew that the trees should be planted far apart, because the trees would not grow big if they were too close, and there would not be enough nutrients in the ground for them to share. "
Yingchun smiled and said, "Brother Cong knows so much, he's almost catching up with you sir."
Xichun said with a smile: "My brother is the most powerful."
Jia Cong laughed and said: "In some aspects, many gentlemen are not as good as me. I am still very confident about this."
Jia Mu smiled and said: "You brat, you started blowing it again. Since you gave it to me, just leave it alone. I will handle it properly."
Jia Mu was still very happy with Jia Cong's performance.
Giving all such rare things to himself and letting him make the decision, this child is indeed thoughtful.
Jia Cong smiled and said: "With the old lady's words, I feel at ease.
By the way, old lady, it's still early, and my grandson has something to do. He has to go out for a trip. I will come back later to have New Year's Eve dinner with you. I won't salute you with everyone. I will kowtow to you first. "
Mother Jia looked at the sky outside the window and asked, "It's the Chinese New Year, what else is so urgent? Do you have to go out now?"
Jia Cong said: "I have been entrusted by someone to do some personal business. I went to see someone. I will be back soon."
Jia Mu said: "Since you are entrusted by someone, then go back quickly."
Jia Cong nodded, came to Jia Mu, and kowtowed respectfully.
"My grandson kowtowed to the old lady and wished her good luck in the new year, good health, everything goes well, and longevity as long as heaven."
Jia Mu laughed and said, "Okay, get up quickly. If I really do what you said, why don't you all call me old and immortal?"
