Chapter 13 The Embrace of Life
There was lightning and thunder at night, and heavy rain poured down. It was still light rain until early in the morning, and it was really refreshing.
Li Sanniang was sitting at home waiting for Chen Yalang, wondering if the rain kept falling and whether she could complete the purchase and rent of a house this morning.
The rain kept falling and did not stop until lunch was finished.
Come on, there’s no need to think about it today. At noon, the boss, Chen Yalang, asked someone to come over and tell him that the owner of the second house is in the outer city. It’s raining and it’s not going to be cheap. We’ll make an appointment tomorrow. formalities.
However, as soon as the rain stopped, Li Sanniang went to a house in the alley next door and spent ten copper coins to bring back a little native dog that was just one month old.
Isn’t this, last time I thought about little Luzhu’er, she had no one to play with. Wouldn’t it be interesting if she had a puppy to play with.
Li Sanniang still heard from Mrs. Li that this family had a female dog that gave birth to eight or nine pups. The owner couldn’t raise them, and it was not a thin dog that could hunt and run fast that rich people like nowadays. It wasn't the long-haired lion dog that rich ladies loved, or it was a big, stupid big yellow dog that was raised to look after homes and nursing homes, so I only spent ten copper coins to bring one back.
The puppy I picked up was khaki in color, with its little tail raised, and it looked like it was clumsily walking around people. It was so cute!
Little Luzhuer was so happy when she saw it! She couldn't even walk steadily, and she still insisted on holding the puppy. Li Sanniang was really afraid that after she dropped the dog, she would drop herself too.
Finally, I temporarily used a long-used straw mat in Li Sanniang's house as the puppy's nest. I found a broken porcelain bowl and cooking pot for the puppy and placed it under the jujube tree.
Thinking about it, I would go back to the carpenter and ask him to make a small house out of leftover wood as a doghouse, and then use old clothes to make a mat to make it more comfortable for him.
I planned to take Lu Zhuer and Mrs. Li to the gold and silver shop in the afternoon to buy Kogoro's full moon gift, but the puppy took away all of Lu Zhuer's attention, so she decided to take care of it at home. Puppy, let Li Sanniang go out on her own.
"Aniang, the puppy has just arrived. Pearl will accompany him first. Next time, Pearl will accompany Aniang to the shop."
"Okay, okay, Aniang is such a big boy. Be good at home.”
"Be good, Pearl! Be good, too, the puppy!"
Haha, it's so funny to see little Pearl smoothing the coat of the short-haired puppy. I can't help it. Li Sanniang is so happy. Laughed out loud.
Finally, Mrs. Li and Li Sanniang went out together.
This time when she went out, the first thing Li Sanniang wanted to buy was cotton. Yes, it was cotton. However, this thing is not called cotton now, it is called Baidianzi. In the past, wealthy people appreciated it as a flower.
After Emperor Wu came to the throne, he needed clothes to withstand the severe cold in the winter during the Southern and Northern Wars, so he found this thing because there was a native plant called kapok that was not as effective in keeping warm as this thing.
But artificial cultivation has just begun, and it is still quite expensive. It is supplied to the military first, and then to wealthy families, and the remaining bits can go to the hands of civilians.
So, if the price is too high or unavailable, Li Sanniang can only settle for buying kapok to use as a menstrual belt.
I followed Mrs. Li to the shop selling fabrics. There was a female shopkeeper standing on the high platform. She was plump and beautiful.
After asking around, cotton is not in stock. If you want it, you have to book it in advance. You can have some in two or three months, and it’s not cheap.
Li Sanniang gave up after hearing this and asked about kapok.
"Mrs. shopkeeper, is there kapok here?"
"Is there kapok? It was just harvested in May this year. The seeds have been picked out and dried. Madam, do you want to take a look?"
The shopkeeper found a bag of kapok from the room behind the counter. Li Sanniang touched it and found that there were indeed no seeds. It had been dried in the sun and was quite soft to the touch.
After asking how a hundred copper coins could buy such a small bundle, Li Sanniang thought about making ten or twenty menstrual belts for herself, Sister-in-law Li, and Sister-in-law Li, so she asked the shopkeeper if she could buy more. Is it possible to get a discount? In the end, I spent one tael of silver to buy two large bags of kapok.
Sister-in-law Li turned her back and asked Li Sanniang why she bought this. It was still early to prepare winter clothes.
Li Sanniang didn't feel embarrassed. After all, the thinking brought about by modern times cannot be changed in a month or two, so she directly told the shopkeeper that she brought it for menstruation.
The shopkeeper is indeed a merchant. She didn’t see Mrs. Li blushing because Li Sanniang said something embarrassing about her daughter’s family in public. The shopkeeper still wanted to ask Li Sanniang what she wanted to do?
Li Sanniang told in this way how she hated the menstrual belts that were reused with plant ash. She thought about replacing the menstrual belts with cotton, making them wider and changing them more frequently each time. Clean, less odorous and easier to move around.
After hearing this, the shopkeeper nodded and said yes, it just cost a little more.
Li Sanniang said: "Girls' affairs cannot be simple. We need to pay more attention to this matter, and we can reduce the risk of getting sick."
The shopkeeper's wife couldn't believe it. After all, she lived in the same workshop, so she knew that she was a girl from the Bencaotang family of the medical hall. A girl who could diagnose and prescribe was not comparable to ordinary girls, because Li Sanniang was really talented when she was young. Because of his talent, Father Li often took him to the hospital for treatment.
It was only in the three or four years since I married that this reputation gradually dissipated. The shopkeeper heard that she wanted to make a new menstrual belt, so she recommended a slightly yellowish undyed fabric suitable for making small clothes. Li Sanniang thought it was good and the price was not too expensive, so she bought half a piece. , just go back and share it with your two sisters-in-law.
Later, under the introduction of the shopkeeper, I bought a piece of beautiful light green fabric, thinking that it would be very nice to make a small underskirt for little Luzhuer.
Sister-in-law Li only bought three pieces of dark-colored linen. She bought them for her father, elder brother Li, and second brother Li. She carefully made clothes for each of them that can go out to meet guests. They made them last time. The clothes he wears when meeting guests have faded and become dull.
Of course, Sister-in-law Li used the public money, and Li Sanniang used it as her own private house.
Finally, the shopkeeper not only delivered the goods to your door, but also presented a scarf for scholars and a headband for girls, which made people feel that the money was well spent and they will come back next time.
After spending more than half an hour in the fabric shop, I finally entered the most important part of today’s trip, the gold and silver shop!
Sister-in-law Li and Li Sanniang discussed buying a small longevity lock for the family and a pair of life-saving bracelets for the family.
This is a local tradition. When a child is born, when the baby is full moon, the relatives will give longevity locks, which means longevity and peace. The life-saving bracelets are a pair of auspicious bracelets. Silver bracelets worn by children with patterns can ward off evil spirits and ensure safety.
In the gold and silver shop, there was a man who was not too old and had no beard. However, business people can talk. The shopkeeper talked a lot. If it weren't for the tight money, Li Sanniang would like to give some to everyone in the family. Children's accessories.
Li Sanniang and Sister-in-law Li were dazzled by the choices, and finally chose a pattern that they thought was very beautiful.
Seeing that it was still early, Li Sanniang suggested going to Xiangguiji to buy some pastries and candies, firstly to sweeten the children's lips, and secondly, to keep them in case guests came.
Well, Li Sanniang is actually greedy and wants to see what new products are available to buy and eat.
Xiangguiji is really a time-honored brand. Li’s mother said that when she was a child, her Aye bought her Xiangguiji’s candies for the first time she came to Chang’an. The sweet taste is so sweet to this day. It's also very nostalgic to say.
As soon as you enter the door, there is a row of high cabinets. There must be five or six young men busy. Those who take the pastries, weigh the pastries, package them, do accounting, and collect money. A complete assembly line, which makes people feel that, as expected, It's a time-honored brand.
After all, in other small business shops, it is good to have one or two waiters at their disposal. In many small shops, the shopkeeper has to not only greet the customers, but also pack and collect money, and also send the customers out. .
In addition to these little waiters at Xiangguiji, there are two small tables and four small stools on the side. There is a little waiter waiting aside, and there are white empty porcelain plates on the table.
After asking the waiter, I found out that this is a seat for people to taste pastries and candies. Some customers who have children with them and it is inconvenient to buy goods, let them put their children here and give them a piece of maltose. , the little boy looked at it, he could not only carefully select pastries and candies, but also be assured that the children would not get lost, which was really considerate.
However, most people are too embarrassed to leave their children alone and just buy a few pastries. Most of them are the ladies from wealthy families who come with a group of people and can spend more than ten taels or dozens of taels of silver. .
Li Sanniang was really dazzled by the variety of pastries and candies. Common ones include date cakes, red bean cakes, mung bean cakes, osmanthus cakes, almond cakes, etc. There are also many types of cakes and candies opened by Hu Shang in the West Market. The biscuits sold are actually biscuits baked in a stove with some white sesame seeds added to them. They are divided into two types: sweet and salty.
There are not many types of candies, including maltose, brown sugar, and maltose, in various shapes. There was no white sugar at this time. If Li Sanniang could know how to refine brown sugar into white sugar, she would probably be able to Make a fortune.
Seeing this, Li Sanniang really had this idea. When I read novels before, there seemed to be such a plot. It seemed that it could be done with yellow mud water. I might try it if I have the opportunity in the future.
Xiangguiji is willing to spend a lot of money. When Li Sanniang and Li Ersao were choosing here, the young man not only introduced it to you, but also had samples for you to taste. Although you can tell by looking at it that it is an inexpensive variety, but This is also very good. No wonder it has become a time-honored brand. It has a set of business methods.
When the sister-in-law and sister-in-law were discussing what to buy, the woman who was sitting at the small table next to her came in with the woman who was taking care of the child. She suddenly screamed and the woman inserted her finger into The little child seemed to be digging something out of his mouth.
The mother-in-law who was supposed to be the child next to her heard the mother-in-law’s scream and ran over quickly. It seemed that the child had eaten a candy bar fed by the mother-in-law, and some of it had probably melted in her mouth. It was not chewed, but slipped directly into the airway, blocking the airway.
The anxious lady also reached out to dig out the candy from the child's throat. Seeing the child's uncomfortable look, she was so anxious that tears immediately flowed down her face.
The waiters standing by were also shocked. The other waiters hurriedly went to the backyard and called the shopkeeper out. The shopkeeper didn’t know what to do, so he just said to the side and sent the nearest one quickly. Go to the hospital down the street and check it out. Don't wait until the child has passed.
Li Sanniang watched this from the side, and made a quick decision and went over to the lady and said, "Madam, I know some medical skills. I saw that your young man's airway was blocked by candy. It may not be too late to rush to the hospital. Just let me try. I have a way to get this candy."
Looking at the child's blushing face, the lady nodded vigorously in agreement. Li Sanniang said. After getting permission, I started working directly.
Sorry, it's quite late today. It's too late to get off work. The social animals can't afford to be hurt.
Thank you Huai Xun1 for casting 5 recommendation votes for the 8th time. Thank you.
(End of this chapter)