Chapter 233 Taking advantage of the situation
"A few days ago, someone saw Zhao Jiang having fun on a boat, and he was very generous."
Duan Qingshan frowned slightly: "It's just that Wan Niang said that she had never noticed such a person."
"Jiang'an County is not a big city, let alone a place like Huafang. There is only one place like this in Jiang'an County."
"If Zhao Jiang really went there, no one would know about it."
Jiang Anning frowned slightly: "You mean, someone deliberately created Zhao Jiang's whereabouts?"
"I'm not sure." Duan Qingshan said as cautiously as possible: "I just feel that things are a little abnormal, and I don't dare to make any judgments."
Jiang Anning thought for a moment.
"Good intentions are never rewarded. I've seen too many things about rice and rice. Since you want to keep them, whether you want to fulfill your kindness or have other thoughts, I have only one request, all the food. Water, bedding, money, shelter, etc. must be obtained through their own labor, and they cannot just sit back and enjoy the gains. ”
Jiang Anning's voice was a little low, as if she had thought of something bad, and her eyebrows were a little gloomy.
"My Lord, don't worry, I won't have to worry about it..." Duan Qingshan responded and suddenly realized, full of surprise: "My Lord! What do you mean, these people can stay? No need to drive them away?"
"Is this the case? Do I have any other choices?"
Jiang Anning sneered, extremely mocking.
She has already been brought to this position. If Duan Qingshan is asked to come forward to drive people away at this time, what is the difference between admitting that she, the "owner of the house," is unkind and killing them all?
When the time comes, the good people will be the ones who arrange for them to live there.
The reputation of the bad guy is going to fall on her.
If she really drives people away, it won't be long before Jiang Anning's reputation for adding insult to injury, being as heartless as a snake, and ruthless will spread throughout Jiang'an County.
It is more likely that her bad reputation will spread even in the capital!
At that time, an embroiderer whose reputation has been tarnished and whose moral conduct is lacking may not be able to bear such heavenly grace and glory as decreed by the imperial decree.
Even if the Holy One doesn't blame him, the Marquis of Jiang'an probably won't be happy either.
Who would want clothes made by a notorious embroiderer to appear on their children’s weddings?
How unlucky!
This is not the first time Jiang Anning has experienced something like this.
It is really difficult to deceive oneself and others and lie to oneself by saying, "There are still many good people in this world" and "It is not necessary to be bitten by a snake once and fear the well rope for ten years, and think of people so bad."
Previous life...
She has already learned her lesson.
At that time, she was still very proud of Chaohuang Embroidery Workshop, and she had to queue up and make an appointment in advance to have a chance to get an appointment with the great embroiderer.
Many families even spent thousands of dollars just to get a piece of her embroidered picture and get auspicious luck!
Until the third year after marrying Zhao Hai, the Zhao family secretly spread rumors outside her back, saying that she was not upright, behaved badly, and was disorderly.
This forced people who had previously admired her embroidery products to come to her to terminate their contracts and request refunds.
But the deposit was all taken by the Zhang family to buy betrothal gifts and dowries for brother and sister Zhao Jiang and Zhao Yinlian, and all was spent!
Where can she get the money to refund?
It was just a matter of negotiation with others, and she would wait a day or two before withdrawing, so that she could have time to raise money.
He was cursed by Mr. Zhang because he wanted to make money and ran away with the money.
As a result, she was once again breached by those customers, who demanded their money be refunded immediately, otherwise they would go to the Yamen to sue her.
Zhang, who was the one who stirred up the matter, still didn't think it was enough to add insult to injury. She spread the word that she was a liar and had defrauded many people of their deposits without refunding them. People came to collect debts, which made the old Zhao family lose face.
Just like this, her reputation was completely ruined.
No one dares to come to her for embroidery work anymore, and no one is willing to use her embroidery.
They all feel unlucky.
Even if some people don't care about these rumors and don't believe such groundless rumors, they can't stand being isolated and stay away from her in the end.
There are so many embroiderers in the world, there is really no need to make oneself unsocial, be ostracized and cursed, or even have the door knocked on and even the doors and windows smashed because of her...
Jiang Anning's eyes gradually drifted away, thinking of many things in the past, and she became increasingly defensive.
I even couldn't help but wonder, could it be that the person who instigated the Zhao family in many of today's events wanted to repeat his same tactics?
Duan Qingshan didn't know how to answer the question and looked at the person at a loss.
Jiang Anning had no intention of embarrassing him, and there was no need to provoke people into blackening.
"Since you have raised those people, let's give them something to do."
"Inquire about the source of the rumors in the city..." Thinking of something, Jiang Anning's voice paused slightly: "If you can't enter the city, you can go around the villages and listen to what those people are saying when they gossip. ”
"In addition, arrange more people at the entrance and exit of the city gate to keep an eye on the people coming and going to see if there is Zhao Jiang."
“If you meet someone, there’s no need to alert the enemy.”
"Just stare quietly and know where he is."
Jiang Anning lightly raised her eyelids: "Ask me to find a time to come and see me."
"Or, I'll go see her."
After another thought: "Prepare another small gift and send it to the Song family."
Duan Qingshan asked hesitantly: "Then, under what name are you sending it off?"
"Just say, thank you Mr. Song for running for me, so that I can get my house deed and land title back as soon as possible."
Jiang Anning's lips curved slightly: "Coincidentally, I spent money to buy the Zhao family's house in Jiangjia Village. The county magistrate also gave it back to me before. Before going to An Mansion, I also went to the Yamen. All the supporting documents were submitted and the transfer procedures were completed.”
“Now that we’re counting the time, we should be almost done.”
"When you and Mr. Song go to get the deed of the house outside the city, you should also take the deed and deed of the house back together."
"It also saves me an extra trip."
Since they are going to use her reputation as a raft, it makes sense for her to take the opportunity to take back her things, right?
Duan Qingshan did not doubt that he was there and respectfully responded yes.
-
Anfu.
When Jiang Anning arrived, there were already many ladies and ladies dressed in noble clothes, gathering together in twos and threes and talking.
"But I'm late."
After Jiang Anning met her master, she apologized briefly.
Mrs. An enthusiastically took the person's hand and said with a smile: "It's not too late, it's not too late. I'll be happy to see you coming."
As she said that, she glanced at the others, seemingly unintentionally: "What a coincidence, we just talked about you now, and now you are here."
"It's better for all of us to get to know you well."
"Let's get familiar with each other first."
"It also saves me the time in the future. I won't have the opportunity to get acquainted with you again. If I want to ask you to do any embroidery work, I won't be able to get a place."
As soon as Mrs. An finished speaking, a wise lady immediately led her daughter forward and chatted jokingly: "Looking at our Jiang Xiujiang, she is not very old, but she looks about the same age as my daughter. .”
"It's a coincidence. This girl in my family is usually very stupid. She does everything slowly and can't learn anything."
"The only thing I can do well is embroidery."
This man was wearing a sapphire green placket, a light-colored pleated skirt, and two beautiful velvet flowers on his low bun. He was grand but also low-key, not overwhelming at all.
Her words are delicate and soft, making people unable to help but listen patiently.
"But her three-legged cat skills are naturally not as good as Jiang Xiu Niang's. I'm afraid she will have to ask Jiang Xiu Niang for help in the future. Don't tell her that she really doesn't know anything and doesn't have any skills that she can master. , it will be hard to talk to my husband’s family from now on.”
Su Bai was very familiar with her. She took Jiang Anning's hand and put it together with her daughter's hand: "It just so happens that you two little sisters are about the same age. If you stay together, I think you will have something to say, so you might as well Just make a friend and hand it over as a handkerchief.”
In a few words, Jiang Anning was regarded as the friend of the taciturn girl.
"When she gets married in the future, she will also have a good sister who comes to add makeup to her house. Let people know that the girl in our family also has friends, and she will not dare to be bullied easily."
"When Jiang Xiu Niang gets married, my daughter will naturally do the same."
Su Bai looked at Jiang Anning with a smile, as if she was very loving: "In this way, it can be considered a beautiful thing."
The other ladies were a little anxious when they saw how quickly she started.
He also thought about bringing his daughter over to "get acquainted" with Jiang Anning.
"You two little sisters, please go play in the back. Although it is late autumn, the pond in the backyard of Mrs. An's house is still blooming with green flowers. The flowers are white with yellow, red, purple and green. It's terrible. It’s beautiful.”
Su Bai didn't give anyone else a chance to come forward: "I've heard a long time ago that what Jiang Xiu Niang is best at embroidering is not raccoon slaves playing, but lotus flowers. It just so happens that my daughter also likes it. If you are together, you can also interact with each other. Exchange and give some advice.”
Having said that, Jiang Anning couldn't even think about walking to the backyard.
She looked at Mrs. An. Mrs. An always maintained a decent and gentle smile, glanced at the women who were still arguing with their daughters in low voices, and the corners of her mouth raised a little more: "Mrs. Su is right, the green cover in my backyard is indeed open. It’s just right, now is the time to watch it.”
"There are some goldfish in that pond. You two little sisters, you might as well go to the back and play!"
She said politely: "Originally, I should have asked Yan'er to accompany you, but she is busy dressing up and I'm afraid she won't be free for a while."
With Mrs. An's words, Jiang Anning immediately responded obediently: "Then I will go to the backyard with this sister first, so as not to disturb the elegant conversation of the ladies."
There are always topics that adults talk about that are not suitable for children to listen to.
Just when she was walking far away, she heard a few people discussing which flower house had more useful men.
Some people even mentioned Zhao Yuanshan, saying that he was like a dog now, and most of the people he greeted and sent away were male guests. He was dirty but of no use.
Although counting his previous life, Jiang Anning is no longer a child.
But now, after all, she is just a "little girl with hairline talent" who shouldn't understand the dirty words they said together.
Jiang Anning and the silent girl had just gone to the backyard together. The other ladies also sent their daughters away to play in the back.
However, those few people were more than curious about Jiang Anning, but they did not take the initiative to come forward and say hello to him.
But the girl who had always been silent when she was with Su Bai spoke up: "I'm just a concubine of the Su family, you don't really need to take me seriously."
"Just listen to what my mother said."
Jiang Anning was surprised: "She said you also like embroidery, is that also a lie?"
Just now she saw the needle bag hanging with him, and the willow leaves embroidered on the purse were also very delicate.
If she didn't have a handy maid beside her to help with these things, she would have done the embroidery herself.
The embroidery work is really good.
"What's true? So what if it's fake?" Su Nong sneered: "Do I have any other choices?"
It's just that she has to listen and do what her aunt says.
"I don't know what you mean by having no choice, but if you are really interested in Su embroidery, we might as well discuss and exchange experiences with each other."
Jiang Anning gave the person a friendly smile.
Su Nong frowned: "Dealing with a concubine like me will not bring you any benefits."
"I am a soft-spoken person, and I can't even decide on my own marriage. You...may have made the wrong calculation."
She really couldn't imagine what the embroiderer's intention was.
"I have nothing to calculate."
Jiang Anning smiled: "You and I just met by chance. After seeing each other today, we may not see each other tomorrow."
She made it clear that she had no intention of getting close to anyone.
"I'm just sitting here, waiting for the host to start the banquet, and I don't know anything else. I can only embroider. If my sister is interested, we can have a chat."
She stretched out her hand and gently touched the lotus leaf that stretched over the railing: "If sister is not interested, we can just sit around, enjoy the flowers, blow in the wind, and wait for the host's dinner party."
Su Nong looked at the person for a long time, feeling a little strange in his heart.
"Don't you dislike me for being a concubine?"
Usually, when she goes out with her aunt, the ladies who are aunts don't like to talk to her.
"I am just a country orphan girl whose parents died young."
Jiang Anning is magnanimous and has no inferiority complex at all.
"But so what?"
How about being an orphan? So what if she is a concubine?
I have no control over my life, and my destiny is not up to me, let alone the words of others.
Su Nong was shocked, and then she became more curious about people.
Doesn’t this girl feel inferior to herself?
A wild girl from the countryside... shouldn't be able to stand out, but she seems to be more generous than cowardly at all.
Compared with Jiang Anning's generous self-confidence, it seems that she, a concubine from a big house, is even more unattractive.
But obviously, her background is better!
Su Nong was a little confused.
There was even more curiosity in Jiang Anning's eyes.
Jiang Anning allowed others to look at her and did not dwell on the previous topic.
She walked up to the pavilion in the middle of the pond and found a place with a wide view to sit down.
Soon a little maid with bright eyes came over and offered tea and snacks: "Girl, please use it slowly."
He speaks softly and smiles with crooked eyebrows, which is very pleasing to the eye.
Jiang Anning suddenly felt that it was great to have money.
Life is great for rich people.
"Thank you!"
After politely thanking the person, she randomly picked up a piece of peach-colored snack to eat.
...well, too sweet.
It seems that the life of rich people is not entirely good.
She reluctantly finished one piece, and drank several cups of tea to relieve her tiredness.
The way he drank tea like a cow made several other girls who were walking towards him laugh.
"Looking at her like this, I'm afraid she can't taste this fine golden seed, right? It's such a waste of a good thing."
Hearing the low-pitched teasing, Jiang Anning reminisced about the taste of the few sips of tea she had just taken.
Then, his eyes inevitably fell on her thumb-sized cup.
Hmm...the cup is too small, and after one sip, I really can't taste anything.
Even quenching my thirst is a bit difficult.
It's true that some of them are not useful.
It does seem to have the smell of rotten longan.
It also smells a bit like rotten tree leaves.
"What does a person from the countryside know about tea and wine? It's really unlucky to ask us to be with her."
"Only that concubine of the Su family is the same as her, so we can play together!"
"Bah! What kind of concubine? Don't put gold on that little bitch's face. She is clearly a foreigner, that is, a rude warrior like the Su family. She has no rules and etiquette and treats people as concubines. , she is raised in her name, and she wants us to go to banquets with her from time to time, and sit at the same table, it’s really a bargain!”
Several young girls in gorgeous and fresh clothes gathered together and gossiped about Jiang Anning and Su Nong.
Thinking that being far away would prevent others from hearing him, he would look at Jiang An Ning from time to time, covering his mouth and snickering.
Jiang Anning:......
She shook her head, not quite understanding these young ladies from wealthy families.
My eyes fell on the lotus in the pond. It was light pink and thin yellow, with red and purple tips and a little green. It was really beautiful.
When the wind blows, there is a rich fragrance that comes to your face, which makes you feel happy.
It's hard for Jiang Anning to think that she has such a comfortable and comfortable life.
She even suddenly had the idea, or forget it...find a quiet place, dig a pond, and plant lotus flowers.
Clear a field and plant some cucumbers, soybeans, and sweet potatoes.
Build a small yard and plant some plums, apricots, cherries, and pears around it.
Work when the sun rises and rest when the sun sets.
No longer pay attention to the turmoil in this world, hide in a place where no one is around, and spend this life quietly.