The poor little girl who traveled through the book, her father was lazy, her mother was stingy, and

After trying more than forty times in total, Lin Xiaoman finally succeeded in making a complete handmade osmanthus soap without cracks, white powder, water backflow, or oil leakage.

The ratio of lard to lye water is seven to three, and the temperature is controlled at around 40 to 50 degrees, which is higher than the hand temperature but not hot.

Because the amount of alkali in wood ash or ash from burning rice straw cannot be controlled very accurately, lard must be added to the alkaline water three times. Pour two-thirds of the lard in the first time, stir for more than twenty times, then pour in the remaining two-thirds of the lard, stir thoroughly to produce a saponification reaction, and the remaining lard can generally be added in full according to the actual situation.

When making handmade soap, a little more lard can actually increase the moisturizing property of the soap, but too much alkali is not good. The white powder on the edge means there is too much alkali. Excessive alkali can also cause the texture of the soap to be abnormal, such as too soft or too hard, and it will break when touched.

When adding osmanthus powder, you need to sift it on gauze to remove large particles of powder.

Osmanthus powder needs to be added after lard and alkaline water have fully undergone saponification reaction, and then stirred thoroughly to allow the powder to fully blend. The soap blocks made in this way will have a fine texture and will not easily crack.

This is the conclusion drawn by Lin Xiaoman after making handmade soap for more than forty times and using up two pieces of rough paper by Lin Jingzhe.

Today, there are more than forty bamboo baskets hanging under the eaves of the Lin family's courtyard, and the scene is quite spectacular.

There are more than a dozen bars of soap in each bamboo basket. Except for the last bamboo basket, the soaps in the remaining forty or so bamboo baskets have more or less defects. However, the soaps in the last few bamboo baskets are completely fine for washing clothes and only have some minor flaws.

Afterwards, Lin Xiaoman pounded the dried mugwort leaves left over from Qingming Festival into powder and made mugwort soap according to the proportions, which was also successful.

A light green soap, very pretty.

In this case, Lin Xiaoman decided to go all out and went to the medicine store in town to buy Polygonum multiflorum, Angelica sinensis, Poria cocos, Lithospermum officinale, Honeysuckle, and Morus alba. He also went to the foot of the mountain to pick Platycladus orientalis leaves, intending to make several more kinds of handmade soap.

To make black hair growth soap, boil water with Polygonum multiflorum, Angelica sinensis, Morus alba bark, and Platycladus orientalis leaves. After the water cools down, soak it with wood ash to make alkaline water. Then use appropriate amounts of Polygonum multiflorum, Angelica sinensis, and Morus alba bark to pound them into powder.

The final soap is brown-black in color, which complements the name "Black Hair Growth Soap".

Afterwards, Lin Xiaoman took the trouble to make comfrey soap and tuckahoe honeysuckle soap. The finished soaps were light purple and almost white yellow, which were lighter than the osmanthus soap.

In this way, Lin Xiaoman has five colors of soap: osmanthus, mugwort, Polygonum multiflorum, lithospermum, Poria cocos and honeysuckle.

Although it cannot be used yet and needs at least two months of natural saponification, it will not prevent her from taking the samples to discuss business!

After making the soap, Lin Xiaoman began to look forward to the time when his father would come to the city.

At this moment, she hoped very much that the case designed by her third uncle could be tried as soon as possible so that her father could take her to the county town.

Unfortunately, things went against our wishes. The case seemed to have disappeared without a trace and there was no news for more than ten days.

I don’t know if the secret trial encountered any difficult problems, otherwise there should be a result.

The days seem particularly long in the anxious waiting.

Fortunately, news finally came from the village head's eldest grandson, Lin Yaowu.

Lin Dajiang didn't want to bring Lin Xiaoman with him at first, but he couldn't resist Lin Xiaoman's eloquence and the beautiful soap in her hand that looked like a piece of cake. Under the influence of these two factors, Lin Dajiang nodded in agreement.

Thinking of the more than 40 bamboo baskets under the eaves of his house and his daughter's spirit of never giving up until she succeeds, Lin Dajiang felt very proud.

What girl could be so persistent?

She is Lin Dajiang’s daughter.

There is nothing a girl like this can't accomplish! Just like that, at the end of April, Lin Dajiang, who had changed into shorts, took Lin Xiaoman and Lin Dahai into the city.

Lin Xiaoman kept the fact that she was making handmade soap a secret from others, not even her closest aunts knew about it.

The reason is simple, because Lin Xiaoman himself is not sure whether he can make handmade soap.

If she fails to do so, her act of wasting lard will be condemned by everyone, and it might even affect Lin Jingzhe's path to the imperial examination.

Even the entire Lin family would be accused of being extravagant and wasteful, and would be criticized and targeted by the villagers.

Fortunately, she succeeded.

When I had done it more than thirty times, I already wanted to give up. Why bother?

Lin'an tabloids have already made a lot of money, and my father and mother have also made a lot from preserved eggs and sausages, which is enough for their family to live a good life. Why should she be so obsessed with making soap?

But later I thought that if I could make soap and reach a cooperation with a shop in the city, the poor people in my uncle's family and nearby villages might be able to make more money.

It's not that she is a saint, it's just that the people here live too hard.

The first winter when she first wore it, the children in Shanglin Village had no coats and had to stay in bed all day. Whoever wanted to go out had to put on a coat, and the brothers and sisters took turns wearing it.

It’s much better in the past two years. I wouldn’t say it’s more, but at least every child has a jacket to wear.

But this situation only happens in Shanglin Village.

People in other villages are still living a hard life.

Sharing happiness with others is worse than enjoying it alone. Now that they have no worries about food and drink, why not let them make big money and let the nearby villagers make small money?

With this idea in mind, Lin Xiaoman gritted his teeth and persisted.

Fortunately, her hard work paid off and she succeeded.

The bamboo basket in Lin Xiaoman's hand was covered with gauze and the mouth of the bamboo basket was tied with a hemp rope.

The bamboo basket was made by Lin Lichun in a hurry.

When they arrived at the county town, Lin Xiaoman made an excuse to buy rouge in front of Lin Dahai. Lin Dajiang, who knew the whole story in advance, was very unhappy that Xiaoman went to discuss business alone, worried that a little girl like her would be cheated.

But Lin Xiaoman said that this matter must be kept secret until it is completed, so Lin Dajiang could only put Lin Xiaoman down and said, "Don't run around. I will take your second uncle to the county government office and come to pick you up."

"Don't worry." In order to reassure Lin Dajiang, Lin Xiaoman entered the rouge shop under his nose, turned around and waved at Lin Dajiang.

Afterwards, Lin Xiaoman pretended to be a customer buying soap, walked around and secretly observed the female owner of the rouge shop.

Not knowing the other party's background, she didn't dare to act rashly.

With willow-shaped eyebrows, oval face and crescent lips, she should be a plain woman, but her face was sallow and she looked miserable, giving me an indescribable sense of disconnection.

Incongruous and weird.

It's like a deliberate disguise.

It is located in a busy city and there are so many customers that the ladies who introduced the customers are simply overwhelmed.

Even the female shopkeeper did not come forward to help.

He seems to be busy with his own business, but in fact his eyes are looking around.

Like her, she seemed to be observing every guest.

She was in the dark while the female shopkeeper was in the light. She only needed to observe the female shopkeeper, but the female shopkeeper had to observe so many customers.

As a result, Lin Xiaoman didn't dare to take the soap out of the basket.

She walked around as if nothing had happened, bought a box of rouge, and walked out leisurely like any other customer.

After going out, I strolled along the alley, stopping from time to time.

With the changes in her hearing and vision, she is more sensitive than the average person.

As soon as she came out of the Rouge Shop, she felt someone following her.

She didn't dare look back, as that would reveal her true identity.

The last time I was in the rouge shop with my father, no one was with him when he bought the rouge.

As a result, her behavior of quietly observing the female shopkeeper was discovered.

That’s why this happened later.

Lin Xiaoman bought three meat buns at the bun shop.

I also bought two head flowers at the market and put them on my head without letting go.

Then he walked towards the county government office.

......

"Madam Zhuang, there is nothing wrong with that girl. She and her elders from the family set out from Shanglin Village to pick up the prisoner at the county government office. They came to the county town 20 days ago."

"I bought a box of rouge from our shop, and a gold hairpin from the jewelry store."

"We are just ordinary farmers. There is nothing wrong with relying on the wealthy businessman Gu You to do business in Dayi Town."

"In addition, the sausages and preserved eggs that you brought back to the capital all came from the Lin family."

"So, I was wrong?" The female shopkeeper's eyes were sharp, she didn't believe that she was wrong, "No, I must report this to the master."

"Xiaoman, why did you come back so soon? Have you bought the rouge?" Lin Dajiang winked at Lin Xiaoman.

The two walked aside.

"Xiao Man, did the deal fail?"

Only when the negotiation failed did Lin Xiaoman rush to the county government office.

"Not only did we not reach an agreement, I didn't even discuss it."

"Ah? Why?" Lin Dajiang was puzzled. Lin Xiaoman was full of confidence when they set out. How could this happen?

Lin Xiaoman changed his hand to hold the bamboo basket and said solemnly: "I think there is something wrong with the Rouge Shop. I dare not take out the soap."

"Is there something wrong with the rouge shop?" Lin Dajiang was shocked. "Oh, the rouge I bought for your mother last time, your mother has already applied it several times, nothing will happen, right?"

"There's nothing wrong with Rouge, I mean there's something wrong with the store."

Lin Dajiang didn't understand. "Since the store has problems, how can Rouge be okay?"

Lin Xiaoman didn't dare to say more, fearing that there might be ears on the other side of the wall. "There are too many people here, let's go back and talk."

An hour later, Madam Zhuang returned to the rouge shop.

In less than half a day, the young master of Ruyi Tower received a summons from Zhen County Magistrate.

The county government had just solved a strange case of fraud and deception, and when he was summoned, the young master was a little confused about Magistrate Zhen's intentions.

He hurried to the county government office, but received only one instruction from the legal advisor of County Magistrate Zhen.

The county magistrate was going to visit the Lin family workshop in Shanglin Village.

this......

Although the young master couldn't figure out his thoughts clearly, he had to obey and do as he was told, regardless of whether he could figure them out or not.

-

When Lin Xiaoman and the other two saw Lin Dajiang in the county jail, they couldn't believe that the man in front of them with untidy beard, sunken cheeks, decadent face, and almost skin and bones was the scholar who was so high-spirited and energetic in the past.

"Big river."

"Uncle Three."

When Lin Dahe saw his family, he suddenly lost his strength and was unable to walk. He staggered and was about to fall, but was caught by the quick-eyed and quick-handed Lin Dajiang.

Lin Dahe didn't care about maintaining his image. His eyes were filled with tears and snot and he started crying, "Big brother, second brother, I feel so miserable."

The escorting bailiff looked at him coldly and said, "Lin Dahe, you are lucky this time. Most of the money you were cheated of was recovered. If you do this kind of thing again next time, you will have to pray for the best."

Lin Dahe, who was originally planning to howl and complain, suddenly choked.

Lin Xiaoman's ears escaped the disaster temporarily.

With the help of Lin Dajiang and Lin Dahai, Lin Dahe climbed onto the carriage with great effort.

Lin Xiaoman said nothing, holding the bamboo basket in her arms, protecting the soap in the basket.

"Brother, I feel so ashamed of my parents and fellow villagers. I wish I could peel off their skin, pull out their tendons, and cut them into pieces while I am in prison."

Lin Dahe looked regretful, but Lin Dajiang didn't buy it. "Third brother, you are the most educated among the three of us, and you are also the most polite. This time you should reflect on yourself. Why are you the only one who helped others count the money after being cheated?"

Lin Dahe opened his mouth and wanted to explain but was speechless.

"Brother, I..."

"Also, go back and write down the money owed by the villagers. The yamen runner just said that some of the silver has been recovered. What are you going to do?"

“Of course, the money should be returned to the villagers.”

"Then there is still a small amount of silver that cannot be recovered. What are you going to do?"

"Brother, I am penniless now. After something like this, I'm afraid no boss in the entire Jialin County would be willing to hire me as an accountant." What he meant was that he had no way of paying back the remaining silver.

Lin Dahai hurriedly advised: "Dahe, you have hands and feet, and you can read, so you will definitely be able to find a job."

Lin Dahe's skinny face had a dull look, and he grasped the carriage wall with one hand. "Second brother, I'm not like you. You've been hardworking since childhood, but I can't be like you. I've read the books of sages for so many years, but I was easily cheated. Hahaha, what's the point of studying? What's the point of making money?"

Seeing that his uncle was a little crazy, Lin Xiaoman quietly moved aside.

After all the talk, Uncle San still felt ashamed and decided to just give up.

Lin Xiaoman despised this the most. As the ancients said, a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. In the beginning, he was imprisoned for the sake of profit, which was already a loss of gentlemanly demeanor.

After discovering that she had been cheated, she felt desperate and frustrated, and she didn't even have the most basic responsibility in life. Lin Xiaoman began to doubt whether her idea of ​​letting Lin Dahe teach the children to read was wrong.

"Uncle San, Heaven moves forward and a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement. How can you give up on yourself?" Lin Xiaoman was a little angry at his lack of fighting spirit.

"Hey." Lin Dahe smiled bitterly, and this time his smile was uglier than crying. "Xiaoman also knows this sentence, who taught you?"

Lin Xiaoman muttered, "It's not Third Uncle anyway."

"Dahe, you are the head of the family now. Your wife and children are waiting for you to come back, so don't say discouraging words." Lin Dajiang was afraid that Lin Dahe would be upset and would do something weird.

He had to send his third brother back quickly and personally hand him over to his parents safely. If anything happened later, he must not be blamed.

"Dahe, lean back and take a rest. Your mother will definitely feel uncomfortable if you stay like this."

Lin Xiaoman thought to herself, oh for sure, she had already anticipated that when Third Uncle came home, grandma would definitely take the opportunity to make a scene.

Headache!

If Uncle San can help him up, then I will. But I'm afraid he is a fool who can't afford it, which would be really terrible.

Later, Lin Xiaoman simply sat outside the carriage. She almost fell asleep listening to her uncle's occasional groaning inside.

The carriage galloped all the way.

Arriving at the entrance of Shanglin Village, Lin Dajiang asked Xiao Hei to stop with a "whoa". He originally wanted to quietly send his third brother back to the old house, but he didn't expect that under the crooked tree at the entrance of the village, there was a crowd of men, women, old and young.