As Li Qing expected, in just one day, the number of young ladies from wealthy families who came to apply for jobs was so overwhelming that they almost lined up outside the Marquis's residence.
Li Qing felt very worried about this.
Li Hao was not surprised. He was extremely beautiful. In his words: "I, Li Hao, am wealthy, handsome, and have inherited a title. It is not uncommon for women who want to marry me, from Jinling to Suzhou and Hangzhou."
As a result, Li Qing got two big mouths.
"do not care!"
Li Qing said the next sentence, it's time to go fishing, it's time to listen to the opera.
Don't blame him for being lazy, it's just that... there were too many people, but the quality was pretty good. He was almost spoiled for choice, so he simply handed it over to Zhu Wanqing.
As his mother, she has more say in this matter than him.
After a few comfortable days, Li Qing rested and was ready to leave for Jiaozhi.
"Uncle Li, can you come back before the end of the year?" Zhu Wanqing asked.
"Why, are you still afraid that you won't be able to handle the maritime trade?"
"What my mother means is that you don't delay in drinking my son's full moon wine." Li Hao added shamelessly, looking like he was going to have a big fight.
"...bastard!" Zhu Wanqing was furious.
"Why is this a bastard?" Li Hao said weakly, "If I wasn't a bastard, how could you have a grandson?"
"you……"
"Mom, please calm down," Li Hao said, "Don't worry, you can choose a wife for me. After ten months, I will definitely return you a fat boy, maybe more than one... Oh, it hurts."
"Haha..." Li Qing couldn't help laughing, "Let's go."
After that, he got on his horse and raised his whip.
'Xilulu...'
The horse neighed, spread its hooves, and carried Li Qing away. After a while, it disappeared at the end of the alley.
Zhu Wanqing said angrily: "I haven't even said my farewell words to your Grandpa Li yet."
"That's not a bad thing." Li Hao touched his head and smiled, "Besides, it's not like he won't come back, why are you so sad?"
"What do you know?"
"I don't understand, but... after being together for so long, I feel that Mr. Qing is quite melancholy. I have never seen him smile. It's my ability to make him smile when we say goodbye." Li Hao said with a playful smile. .
Zhu Wanqing raised her hand, but didn't put it down. She just sighed softly.
…
~
Spring March.
Cochin.
Han Dynasty Palace.
"You're here," Zhu Qijin was very happy. "Has it been a hard journey?"
"fine."
"I didn't expect you to come so early." Zhu Qijin said, "Based on time, next year is the deadline."
"Mainly because I'm afraid that you'll lose your temper and think I'm going to break the appointment." Li Qing took a sip of tea, frowned slightly, and then put it down.
"Is it not as delicious as Daming's?" Zhu Qijin asked.
Li Qing nodded: "It's also Longjing. The taste of freshly picked tea leaves is naturally different from those transported long distances."
Zhu Qijin smiled, and after completing the pleasantries, he got straight to the point:
"Shall we start now?"
"There's no rush. You should do the things at hand first. It's not just a day or two for us." Li Qing said with a smile, "I've already been here, can I run again?"
After a pause, "I want to walk around Jiaozhi and see someone who can speak Chinese."
"That's no problem." Zhu Qijin readily agreed, "I do have a lot of things to be busy with right now. How about... about a month from now when I will officially start recuperating?"
"Okay." Li Qing had no objection.
There was nothing important in Ming Dynasty and he was not in a hurry. When he came to Jiaozhi this time, he also wanted to know more about Jiaozhi.
In the words of the civil servants of the Ming Dynasty, Jiaozhi was a barbarian land. Of course, in their perception, all except the Ming Dynasty were barbarians.
However, Jiaozhi was of considerable strategic significance to the Ming Dynasty.
——Maritime Supply Station!
It is not the only one, but it is the one that deserves the most attention!
…
Li Qing spent a month walking along the coastline. During this period, he not only visited the current 'supply station', but also gained a full understanding of Jiaozhi's customs, ideology and other aspects.
After thinking about it for a while, Li Qing felt at ease.
People all over Jiaozhi held a positive attitude toward the Ming Dynasty maritime merchants.
There is no other reason. If this natural route is compared to a highway, then Jiaozhi is a high-speed service area. The more developed the maritime trade of the Ming Dynasty, the greater the benefits for Jiaozhi.
There are too many business opportunities derived from it, such as supplies for merchant ships and consumption by merchants... It has greatly improved the lives of the people of Cochin, and they are naturally happy to see it like this.
At the same time, Li Qing also began to try to learn the Jiaozhi language.
As time goes by, the bloodline weakens, and the feelings of the Hanwang lineage towards the Ming Dynasty will become weaker and weaker. Li Qing does not dare to expect that Jiaozhi will always be so obedient.
Although the two are mutually beneficial, there is no guarantee that Cochin will not raise prices and turn the supply depot into a black shop in the future.
Only by understanding the customs and mastering the language can we respond better.
After a round, Li Qing returned to the Han Palace to nurse Zhu Qijin's body.
In fact, these don’t take much effort. In fact, they are not much different from vacations. On average, they are only busy for less than an hour a day, and there are still days off.
Working five days a day and two days off, he worked for one hour every day and could spend the rest of his time freely. Half of his free time was used by Li Qing to learn the local language.
Zhu Qijin was extremely courteous to him and tried his best to meet his needs to the greatest extent.
Because of the maritime trade, many things from the Ming Dynasty can be seen, bought, and used here; in general, Li Qing's life is quite comfortable.
However, the only drawback is that the food and entertainment are far less comfortable than those in the Ming Dynasty.
…
Early summer, midsummer...
While Li Qing was learning about the customs and customs of Jiaozhi, he was also learning the language of Jiaozhi. He nursed Zhu Qijin's body back to health, which became a mere incidental matter.
It was obviously a job abroad, but he treated it like a vacation abroad.
In the process, Li Qing keenly discovered that the climate of Jiaozhi was different from that of the Ming Dynasty.
Summer here is much hotter.
In other words, winters here will be warmer.
As Li Qing expected, when the time came to late autumn or early winter, his suspicion was verified.
Not to mention it's warmer than the capital, or even Jinling.
This discovery made Li Qing extremely excited. If it is operated properly in the future, the granary of Ming Dynasty will not be limited to Ming Dynasty.
He is more confident about breaking through.
~
Before you know it, the winter solstice is coming quietly.
Zhu Qijin's 'second phase of treatment' ended, and his whole face was radiant. Li Qing also gained a lot. Not only did he find another key to breaking the game, but he also mastered an additional foreign language.
He can now communicate with locals almost without any barriers.
The fulfilling life of the past six months was generally very pleasant. If there wasn't a sick person at home, he would have really wanted to stay there for a while longer.
Influenced by Han culture, the Winter Solstice has now become a festival in Jiaozhi.
——Eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice.
The hot dumplings were served, and they looked very appetizing. However, Li Qing only tasted one and put down his chopsticks.
The dumplings are indeed dumplings, and the fillings... I really can't praise them.
It's not that it tastes bad, it's just a little weird.
"Not to your taste, sir?"
"It's normal for people to have different tastes." Li Qing smiled and said, "I'm leaving."
Zhu Qijin was not surprised and asked: "When will it happen, I will prepare it for you sir."
"I'm leaving tomorrow, prepare..." Li Qing smiled, "Be prepared for some expenses."
"Is there any more?" Zhu Qijin asked.
"There is no need for anything else." Li Qing shook his head and warned: "You should pay attention to your diet. Don't just eat meat, but also eat more vegetables. Even though the wine and sex are good, they will hurt people if they don't know the moderation. No matter how good the medical skills are, they will be hurt. no good."
Zhu Qijin nodded slowly: "You can give me another prescription. I usually use it."
Li Qing: "..."
Youxin said it was not necessary, but also thought that he would be gone for several years, so he still gave him a warm prescription.
"Take it once every seven days, after meals."
"Seven days?"
"It's seven days." Li Qing corrected him, fearing that he might have misunderstood.
Zhu Qijin nodded, "I understand."
~
Early the next morning, Li Qing embarked on his return journey...
At the beginning of the twelfth lunar month,
Yongqinghou Mansion.
"It's so fast. A year has passed in a flash. I don't know if the grandson has fulfilled his original bold words." Li Qing muttered and knocked on the door.
The person who opened the door still had a strange face. Li Qing reported his identity. After a while, Li Hao came over.
"Hey, Master Qing, it's really you!"
"Where's your mother?"
"She went to do some business and won't be back until two days later." Li Hao hurriedly made an invitation, "Master Qing, you are late. You said you would be back before winter."
"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and prepare the food and drinks. I'm exhausted after traveling all the way." Li Qing asked as he walked: "Have you had any children in the house?"
"Uh... not yet, but I'm pregnant." Li Hao said with a smile, "It's spring after the new year."
"Is that so?" Li Qing was disappointed. "If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have come. It would be great to go to the capital."
If Empress Zhang was really pregnant, she would have given birth by this time, and she might have been able to catch up with the full moon wine and have a royal meal or something.
"...I obviously worked very hard." Li Hao said bitterly.
Li Qing's face was filled with dark lines, "Are you trying hard? Are you just indulging in women's sex?"
Li Hao:-_-||
"You're all here, let's celebrate the New Year here."
"No, your uncle is still here in the capital," Li Qing sighed, "I've been away for so long, and if I don't go and see him, I won't be able to live a peaceful New Year."
"Okay then." Li Hao sighed and asked, "We made so many pills for my uncle before, so he shouldn't be worried, right?"
Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief, "Theoretically, that's the case, but if you don't take a look at it, you won't be at ease."
While talking, the two came to the living room.
Li Hao asked his servants to prepare wine, food, bath water, and summon his beloved wife.
"This is Grandpa Li, the distant elder of our family, who is beyond the nine clans." After Li Hao introduced his beloved wife, he said to Li Qing, "Master Qing, this is my wife Xiao Song."
"Hello Grandpa Li."
"Okay," Li Qing took out a handful of golden beans from his arms, "I came in a hurry, so I'm not prepared."
Ms. Song was shocked. This ridiculously young grandfather was really...unique.
"Thank you, Grandpa Li." Mrs. Song calmed down and stepped forward to take it with both hands.
"You're welcome, this is what he should do." Li Hao said with a smile, "It's cold and you're pregnant again, go and rest."
Mrs. Song nodded and said apologetically: "Grandpa Li, I'm sorry to be with my granddaughter-in-law."
"It doesn't matter." Li Qing nodded slightly and waited until she was far away before asking, "What's the situation in her natal family?"
"I'm a small landowner. I have thousands of acres of mulberry fields at home. In Jinling... I'm totally out of the ordinary." Li Hao said.
"Is there anyone in the family who is an official?"
"It was done in the previous dynasty, but it has long since declined."
"That's good." Li Qing felt relieved and urged: "Hurry up and serve the food and wine, I'm still in a hurry to get on my way."
Li Hao was dissatisfied: "Are you so anxious?"
"Of course, there is a wedding banquet waiting for me in the capital."
"What kind of wedding banquet?" Li Hao wondered, "My old uncle is like that, how can he still have a concubine?"
Li Qing: "...your cousin-in-law has given birth."
