Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 190 New Year’s Gift

There is no perfection in this world. Marrying the wrong wife or the wrong man is a lifelong event.

Old Madam Pei thought of Madam Han again and felt a little angry. She always cared about her two brothers from her mother's side and even contributed some of her dowry into them.

She didn't care about the children she had given birth to. The farm and shop that Ruyi asked her to take care of were just left there every year, with nothing left over. Zhenzhu would be married in a year or two, but as a mother, she couldn't even give Zhenzhu's dowry. I don't know what she was thinking. Alas, Mrs. Pei sighed again.

Looking at Hualei, this girl is smart and good at business. It is indeed feasible for Ruyi to ask her for ideas, but as Lei'er said, even if I give you a cash cow, you have to stay in Shangjing City to shake it. You can't take your farm and shop with you. What's the use of having a good idea if no one helps you implement it? Your own mother can't even manage her own dowry. Do you still expect her to make money for you?

But if Ruyi doesn't follow her grandson-in-law to take up his post, the couple are still young and they need to have another son or daughter. They can't not go. Does she really think that illegitimate sons and daughters are better? If there is no other way, who likes to send someone to her husband and make things difficult for herself? It's really a dilemma.

However, this is not something that can be solved in a short time. Ruyi still has more than half a month to stay in Shangjing City. She can think about it slowly. Madam Pei put aside her current worries.

Several people had dinner at Madam Pei's place. Ruyi and Zhenzhu returned to Changfeng Garden, and Manju returned to the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's Mansion. Hualei also said goodbye and took Qinglian back to Qihuayuan to rest.

Because the Chinese New Year was coming soon, Hualei specially made a lot of egg yolk cakes and roast duck, packed them into gift boxes, and prepared to give them away. Hualei sent a portion to each room in the Marquis's mansion.

The flower buds were also prepared for Zuiyuelou, Qianweilou and several other restaurants. Of course, the three brothers Fang Youtian were not forgotten, and even the steward Chen of Sifangyuan was not left out.

For all the academies and private schools that had contracts with her own bookstore, Hualei also prepared a roast duck and twelve egg yolk cakes and asked Uncle Fu to deliver them all before the end of the year.

Originally, the girls in the clan school wanted to wait for Xiaoyuan to go to the Imperial College for the New Year holiday, but the Imperial College had a late New Year holiday, and the clan school would have a New Year holiday in two days. There was no other way, Hualei could only deliver the New Year gifts to the teachers of the girls in the clan school by herself. The teachers in the clan school were very surprised. Xiaoyuan was not in the clan school anymore, so why did he send the New Year gifts?

Hua Lei thought that since she was still in the girls' school, if she only gave gifts to the teachers of the girls' school and not to the teachers of the clan school, it would be awkward when they chatted. Anyway, there were not many people and they had taught Xiao Yuan with all their heart, so it was reasonable for her to give a gift, so she gave them all. The teachers of the clan school once again admired Hua Lei's thoughtfulness and generosity.

Bai Yunhe had jokingly said before that the thank-you gift could wait a while, so Hualei thought about it for a while and finally prepared egg yolk pastry and roast duck, and asked Uncle Fu to wait at the Imperial College, and then gave it to Yunhe when he got home from school.

When Bai Yunhe saw the tall and strong Uncle Fu carrying a gift basket of exquisite egg yolk cakes and roast duck in front of his carriage, he was speechless. However, he still accepted the gift basket very politely and handed Uncle Fu a wooden box of pills to him and asked him to pass it to Hualei.

Hua Lei personally went to the printing house in the North City District to deliver New Year gifts. As usual, she also prepared a small gift for the chief steward and the second steward.

In addition to the annual gift to Gui Jijiu, Hualei also sent a gift to Lv Dianzhuan, hoping that Gui Jijiu would help pass it on. Of course, the two gifts not only included egg yolk cakes, roast duck, freshly made braised food, but also two jars of five-jin rice wine.

Unexpectedly, Gui Jijiu was also in the printing house. Hualei was very happy, and Gui Jijiu was also very happy. Seeing that Hualei also prepared a New Year gift for Lu Dianzhuan, Gui Jijiu couldn't help but sigh at Hualei's thoughtfulness, and it was worth Lu Dianzhuan's personal purchase of roast duck. Putting down the gift basket, the old and the young drank tea and chatted for a long time at the long table.

By the time the gifts from the chief priest's family were delivered, Hualei's gifts had basically all been delivered. Of course, my family also received a lot of gifts.

After delivering the New Year gifts, Hua Lei hurried back to the Marquis' Mansion, changed into loose clothes, and went directly to Songhe Hall.

Mrs. Pei was resting on the couch. When she saw Hualei coming in, she patted the seat next to her and asked Hualei to sit over. Hualei did not refuse. She lifted her skirt and sat next to Mrs. Pei, and spoke to her softly.

"Lei'er, what did you say? Do you mean that the books printed for the imperial examination should be pushed to the local level? Do you mean that Ruyi and her husband should open a bookstore in the provincial capital where they work, and strive for the agency sales rights of this provincial capital?" Old Madam Pei sat up straight.

Hua Lei nodded, and Madam Pei held Hua Lei's arm and told Nanny Chen to call Ruyi over. Soon, in less than a cup of tea, Ruyi came hurriedly. It can be seen that she didn't even change her clothes, and there were some creases on her clothes from the child's hands. Behind her was her husband Tang Yuancheng, who also looked tense.

After the two of them bowed to Madam Pei, they sat down. Ruyi couldn't wait to speak, "Sister Hua, is the place you said where the imperial examination books are printed and pushed down true? Can we apply for the right to sell them?" After Hua Lei bowed to Tang Yuancheng, she also sat opposite Ruyi. After hearing Ruyi's question, she nodded slightly.

He replied softly, "The news has not been released yet, but it should be true. The Ministry of Rites will implement this matter after the new year. But not all prefectures and states will implement it together. At that time, the Ministry of Rites should have some choices for the prefectures and states to be promoted, so you don't tell others. But as far as I know, Chengyun Prefecture, where Brother Tang went this time, is on the list of prefectures to be promoted.

My suggestion is that Brother Tang should take advantage of this New Year holiday to meet more with his classmates and colleagues in the capital as well as friends he knows in the Ministry of Rites to secretly learn about the situation, and then you can make some preparations first.

If we can obtain the right to sell the books printed for the imperial examinations in Chengyun Prefecture, it will not only be beneficial to Brother Tang's official career, but also to Sister Ruyi's bookstore. It can be said that they will achieve mutual success.

Chengyun Prefecture, where Brother Tang was appointed to work, had a well-developed textile industry and a very good economic situation. People had plenty of money, so they were relatively keen on letting their children take the imperial examinations to change their family's status. Therefore, there should be quite a few schools in the prefecture.

Moreover, there are ten counties under Chengyun Prefecture, and each county has ten villages. Each county has a county school, and each county also has a village school.