Flowers in full bloom

Hualei thought about it, and took Xiaoyuan to the bank again to exchange some broken silver and copper coins. Now one tael of silver was exchanged for one thousand copper coins. After returning, the brother and sister discussed it in detail on the second floor. They tied the exchanged copper coins together with a rope. They found another empty small wooden box and put all the coins in it. Then Hualei wrote down everyone's monthly silver amount on a piece of paper and put it in the wooden box.

In the evening, Ping An and Xiao Qun came back with smiles on their faces. Things went smoothly. They found several suppliers' workshops. After reading the letters of introduction, they all expressed their willingness to supply goods, but the price would be based on the price in Shangjing City. Hua Lei understood that after all, the price in Shangjing City was higher than that in the old house, so she could just raise the price accordingly when selling.

As they were talking, Xile and Aunt Song came back and said that all the items that needed to be ordered had been ordered and would be picked up in three days. They also brought a finished bookcase, which several men carried to the second floor and placed against the wall. Things went smoothly on both sides, and everyone was very happy, including Hualei.

Seeing that it was still early, Aunt Fu took Xile, who had just returned, and Sister Luo to the nearby cloth shop to buy cotton. The cloth shop was not far away and they could have walked there, but since it was inconvenient to buy cotton and bring it back, she took Xile and drove the mule cart out.

Seeing that it was still early, Aunt Song began to prepare the braised pig offal. In the afternoon, Xiaoxiao had already cleaned all the pig intestines and marinated them with sake. As for the two pig stomachs, when Aunt Luo had some free time in the afternoon, she cooked one of them in a clay pot and cooked the other in a white-boiled casserole. At this time, a strong and unique aroma was wafting over.

Hualei looked at Xiaofei, who was wandering around the yard smelling the food, and her lips curled up. She turned around and gently picked up Yaya, who was twisting her body in the cradle, and changed her diaper skillfully, then coaxed her to watch the mule eating. Yaya was two years old in age, but actually only ten months old. She was white and tender, and exuded a pleasant milky fragrance.

After traveling for more than half a month, the little girl didn't have much impact. It should be because Mrs. Luo took good care of her. She was not thinner than she was in the old house two months ago. On the contrary, she had grown a lot. Her eyes were staring at the grass in the mule's trough, and some suspicious saliva flowed from the corners of her mouth. Hualei laughed, took out a sweat towel, and carefully wiped her saliva.

Turning around, she saw Xiaoyuan beside her, staring at her and Yaya, "Do you want to hug me? My sister smells so good." "I can't hold her. Grandfather said I would drop my sister." Hualei held Yaya in one hand and Xiaoyuan in the other hand and returned to the front of the hall. She let Xiaoyuan sit on a small stool, then carefully placed Yaya on her lap and carefully protected her. Xiaoyuan held her stiffly, not daring to move. Looking at Yaya sitting on his lap, drooling and smiling at him with two small teeth showing, Xiaoyuan couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth.

Xiaofei, who was wandering around in the yard, came over and clamored to hold his sister. Hualei also let Xiaofei hold her for a while. The two little ones had a satisfying time. Although their sister was already ten months old, they had never held her. Aunt Fu would rather let Yaya lie in the cradle and cry than let them hold her.

The most they could do was to touch Yaya's hands when Luo Dasao was holding her. They wanted to touch her face, but Luo Dasao wouldn't let them, saying that Yaya would drool if they touched her face. Although they didn't understand the connection between touching the face and drooling, now they not only touched Yaya's hands, but also quietly touched Yaya's soft face. It felt so good. The two little ones were very happy.

Seeing that it was getting dark, Hua Lei put Yaya in the cradle and told the two little ones that they could only watch but not do anything. Then she helped Xiaoxiao to collect the pieces of cotton cloth that were drying in the west courtyard. The cotton cloth was not dry enough and needed to be exposed to the sun tomorrow.

With a creak, the gate of the courtyard opened. Mrs. Luo took the key and came in. Xile followed behind with a mule cart full of cotton and stopped in front of the main hall. Mrs. Fu got off the mule cart and they were busy again. Mrs. Fu entered the main hall with two pieces of cotton cloth in her arms. Hualei followed her in. "Miss, I got two pieces of cotton cloth, both light-colored. The lotus-white one has a flowing cloud pattern, and the fish-white one has a water wave pattern. I will make a set of spring clothes for you and the young master. Look, do you like the patterns?"

Hua Lei walked forward and touched the fabric, and said, "Aunt Fu arranged that Xiaoyuan and I cannot wear brightly colored clothes. These two colors are good." Aunt Fu sighed softly. In fact, there were better brocade and silk fabrics of the same color in the cloth shop, but they were too expensive. Brocade cost fifteen taels per piece, silk cost five taels per piece, and even this fine cotton cost one tael per piece.

The prices in the capital are really expensive, half the price of fabrics in Laozhai Town. I am really short of money now, and when I make a lot of money in the future, I will buy the best brocade and silk for the young lady and the young master to make clothes. The young lady and the young master are all good-looking, and they will definitely look better in good-looking clothes. Aunt Fu swore secretly in her heart.

Hualei didn't know what Auntie Fu was thinking. She put down the cloth and told everyone to eat when they came back. The stewed chicken was soft and fragrant. It might be because it was a local chicken in the countryside. It had a strong aroma and was the most delicious thing Hualei had ever tasted. Auntie Song cut a portion of the blanched pork tripe and ate it with soy sauce. She also fried a portion of pickled cabbage brought from the old house with a little chili, which was particularly appetizing. She also stir-fried a few fresh vegetables bought from the market. She steamed an egg custard. Hualei ate half a bowl of rice.

After dinner, they took a short rest. When Mrs. Luo and Xiaoxiao, who had cleared the dishes, returned to the main hall, Hualei had already put her small wooden box from the second floor on the dining table. Hualei looked at everyone, a little embarrassed, and said, "Uncle Fu, Aunt Fu, and Aunt Song, I neglected something earlier. Xiaoyuan reminded me today, and I remembered that I haven't paid everyone monthly wages for two months. Too many things happened during this period and I neglected it. Today I will make it up to everyone."

Aunt Fu tried to stop her and said, "Miss, you are short of money now. Don't worry. We don't have anywhere to spend the money recently. Let's wait until our bookstore and bun shop make money." Hua Lei smiled and said, "That doesn't make sense. Even if we are short of money, we can't deny you what you deserve." Hua Lei insisted.

"I looked at my grandfather's account book. The monthly salary should have been paid until December 15th of last year. So by the end of February, there are still two and a half months left. Now it's almost the end of the month, so I will pay it directly at the end of the month. In the future, the monthly salary will be paid according to the natural month. On the eighth day of the next month, I will pay everyone the monthly salary for the previous month. What do you think?" Uncle Fu looked at Hua Lei, "Miss, how about paying one month's salary first?"

"No, it will be distributed until the end of February. After this distribution, the next distribution will be on the eighth day of April. Everyone is very busy during this period, so I will give everyone an extra half month's salary." "Miss, don't mess around." Aunt Fu patted Hua Lei on the back. Hua Lei smiled and said, "It's okay.