Jingling, east of Tea Villa.
There was another snowfall last night, covering the ground with a layer just enough to cover the feet.
The snow has just begun and the weather will get colder and colder.
Early in the morning, the door to the west side of Tea Villa opened, and servants filed out, taking shovels and brooms to start clearing the snow in front of the door. And just like this high-ranking family with "Xu Mansion" hanging on the door, there are also every household in Zhuangzi who sweep the snow.
Tea Villa produces tea, but its reputation is not supported by the tea here, but by the dozens of large houses here.
The environment of Tea Villa is very good, with beautiful mountains and clear waters and it is close to the imperial city. It only takes half an hour to get there by taking the official road. Because it is surrounded by mountains, it is warmer in winter than in the city, and cooler in summer. Many wealthy families purchased land in this village to build villas.
The serious locals of Tea Villa now live in the north, and most of them work in various large houses. They have a worry-free livelihood, and their income is much higher than before by just growing tea and frying tea.
Especially in winter, it is warmer in Zhuangzi than in the city. In addition, the environment is better, so some wealthy families in the city will stay with their families for a while until the spring flowers bloom before returning to the city. Even some elderly people will always live in Zhuangzi, saying that they can live two more years if they are exposed to the earth's energy, rain and dew.
In fact, there are many houses in Zhuangzi built by large families from other places. Some of these outsiders are even from the south. Why do they come here instead of waiting for the winter when the climate is more suitable? Haven't you seen the opportunity and want to get close to those high-ranking officials in the imperial city in Zhuangzi?
There are many people in these sects and villages.
That is to say, the houses of these outsiders will often be bought and sold. This year it will be the Zhang family, and next year it may be the Li family or the Wang family. Only those real red walls and high doors are unbreakable.
For example, the "Xu Mansion" to the west was still the "Zhang Mansion" a few years ago. I heard that the business failed and I sold the house to cash out. The Xu family that took over the business was also a sound producer, and their stall was very big.
Being rich is one way to squeeze into the tea villa. Of course, you have to be very rich.
In local terms, a family like the "Xu Mansion" is called a "rich man", while those with high red walls are called "rich".
However, most of the employees in these rich families are found in Zhuangzi, unlike those in wealthy families who almost always have their own old employees. Therefore, although the locals sincerely look down on these rich people who "just have a few bad money", most of their revenue is paid to them by these rich people.
In the early morning, as soon as the servants of the Xu family swept away the snow outside the door, two pretty figures like elves jumped out of the door.
She is the young lady of the Xu family.
The people in Zhuangzi have only met the young ladies of the Xu family this year. They have only seen the young master here before. It is said that the two young ladies of the Xu family are distant relatives of the head of the family and now live in the Xu family.
They are two very beautiful and lively girls, and the people in Zhuangzi are, at least on the surface, very kind to them.
The two ladies usually don't like to go out, but every time it snows, they will happily run out early in the morning to play, have snowball fights, build snowmen, and watch the snow scenery. Although it was early winter this time, the surrounding snow was only a few inches thick, but it did not hinder the enjoyment of the two young ladies who lived in the south and rarely saw snow scenes.
"Miss, please wait a moment and run slower!"
"Ouch! Miss, don't run away!"
The elf looked lively, but the maid who took care of them was exhausted. She had to carry a cloak to keep out the cold and a small car for playing with snow, and she was very tired of chasing after them.
"Hehe, let's run! If you run too slowly, what will you do if the snow melts later?"
"Come on, Zhi Di, hurry up!"
He ran all the way out carelessly, laughing and laughing, followed by two maids holding big and small bags, chasing after him hard.
The place where the two girls played in the snow was on the large lawn outside the entrance of Zhuangzi. After winter, the withered grass on it can carry falling snow very well, and it is easier to form snow than on mud or stone roads. Moreover, few people usually step on the lawn, so the snow will be very clean. Even if you fall on it, your clothes won't be stained.
Elder sister Xu Zhiyuan likes to build snowmen, while younger sister Xu Zhidi prefers snowball fights.
Therefore, the normal routine of two sisters playing in the snow is generally: Xu Zhiyuan is building a snowman with a bang. When it is about to be completed, Xu Zhidi throws a snowball from a distance. If she is lucky enough to hit the snowman, she will have better luck. Just hit my sister...and then the snow battle will officially become intense, and their respective maids will also be involved as foreign aid.
I'm very happy. It snowed again last night, and it's still a sunny day this morning. The scorching winter sun makes people feel particularly comfortable. So at Xu Zhidi's insistence, the two sisters first built a snowman, and then stood in the distance and smashed it with snowballs...
Most people can't understand this kind of gameplay...it's better to smash each other...
At the right time, a carriage drove towards Zhuangzi from the sidewalk, but when it just passed the lawn, a snowball flew over and hit the curtain on the window.
The carriage stopped immediately.
The two girls laughed and didn't think it was a big deal. They comforted the somewhat panicked maid and said that she would just go up and apologize later. It was just a snowball and it didn't hit anyone even if she said no. What are you afraid of?
The carriage stopped, and a man wearing a sky-blue gown got out. This man is a bit strange. He looks like he is in his fifties, but his hair is completely white.
"It wasn't our intention to hit your car. I'm sorry."
The two girls smiled without fear. They bowed to the man who got off the car and apologized.
"It's okay. Are you having a snowball fight?" The man was also smiling, especially when he saw the sunshine on the faces of the two women when they apologized, his smile became even gentler.
"Yes. Uncle, do you want to come and play too?"
"Don't make trouble! Sir, I'm sorry that our sisters accidentally hit your carriage while playing around."
"Sister, why am I making a fuss? This uncle obviously also likes snowball fights, right uncle?"
The two sisters talked to each other, but they made the man a little embarrassed. He had an unusual status. How could he play snowball fights in the snow with two sixteen or seventeen-year-old girls?
"Haha, I have something to do at home today, so I can't play with you. Let's wait for another day." The man smiled and waved his hand, preparing to turn around and get in the car to leave.
"Uncle, what's your name? We will live in the village for a long time. Are we going to play with you tomorrow?"
"Zhi Di! Why are you so ridiculous! How could you ask someone's name like that?"
Although the elder sister was saying that the younger sister was rude, she also looked curiously at the man who was about to get in the car.
"Haha, my surname is Bai, my name is Bai Changqing. I also live in Zhuangzi recently. It's the house near Peach Blossom Creek."
After Bai Changqing finished speaking, he returned to the carriage and asked the coachman on the way: "Whose family do those two young ladies belong to?"
"My lord, I am from the Xu family on the west side of Zhuangzi. I heard that he is a distant relative of the Xu family. The family was in trouble and only the two little girls were sent to our family to raise."
