kvmb Chapter 897 Small Gift
Chapter 897 Small Gift
Housing prices in Kyoto are high. Even for ordinary officials, if they are not greedy or corrupt and have no additional sources of income, they can only buy a small courtyard in a civilian area throughout their lifetime.
Just like Qin Keqing's father Qin Ye, as a construction official in the Ministry of Works, he was in charge of the construction and renovation of the royal palace and mausoleums. It should have been a lucrative job with some benefits to be gained.
But Qin Ye was an honest official, and originally from a poor family, with little money. After struggling for most of his life, he could only barely have a foothold in Kyoto. The Qin family's yard was not far from the yard where Lu Cheng lived now, and the size was about the same.
After Qin Keqing married into the Ningguo Mansion, with the support of the Ningguo Mansion, the Qin family's situation gradually improved.
Now, thanks to the popularity of "Three Heroes and Five Gallants" and some money from the newly opened Shui Mo Xuan, Lu Cheng can also buy a large mansion with three entrances.
It took two or three days to select a dozen houses, and finally a three-story house left by a retired official from the Ministry of Revenue was chosen.
Lu Cheng used his knowledge of architecture to redesign the entire house, planning to remove some of the flashy rockeries and strange rocks, open up a separate martial arts training ground, and arrange some relatively elegant bamboo forests and waterside pavilions.
After designing the drawings, Lu Cheng hired craftsmen to redecorate the place.
At this time, Jia Zhen's funeral was being held in Ningguo Mansion, and Rongguo Mansion was also actively cooperating.
For a big family like the Rong and Ning mansions, the funeral was also very grand. All the nobles and relatives who were related to the deceased had to come to pay their respects. In addition, the distant relatives of the Jinling Jia clan also came from thousands of miles away.
Everything in the Jia Mansion had to be decorated inside and outside, and there had to be people serving and guiding people everywhere, so as not to neglect the guests.
For this reason, Qin Keqing, the head of Ningguo Mansion, had to invite Wang Xifeng, the housekeeper of Rongguo Mansion, to handle the complicated funeral process together, from small things like lamp oil, candles, and tea to big things like welcoming and seeing off guests, chanting sutras, and praying for the deceased's souls to be reborn.
Speaking of which, because Jia Zhen died too hastily, Ningguo Mansion lacked prior preparation, not even the coffin was ready.
The coffins used by wealthy families are naturally different from those used by ordinary people. They need to be carefully made of high-quality wood. Ordinary coffin shops do not have ready-made goods, and they must be ordered in advance.
Just when the Ningguo Mansion was worried about this, Xue Baochai's brother Xue Pan sent a top-quality coffin.
When Jia Rong of Ningguo Mansion saw that the coffin was extremely extraordinary, he was worried that the price was too high and did not want to use it for his father. However, Xue Pan was very smart and waved his hand generously: "This coffin was originally brought by my father and was intended for Prince Yi Zhong. It's a pity that the old prince ruined it and the coffin was not used.
It's just right for Master Zhen to use, so it's not a waste. This quality coffin, as long as you pay for it, I won't sell it for 1,000 taels of silver. But our two families have a good relationship. You only need to pay the workers, and I won't charge you for the wood."
When Jia Rong heard about this good thing, he agreed immediately. However, Jia Zheng beside him advised, "Rong'er, I'm afraid we can't use this kind of coffin. In my opinion, the best fir wood will be enough."
Jia Rong didn't want to spend any more money, so he said directly, "It's just a coffin anyway. It's a bit too late to order one made of fir. It's midsummer now, and we can't just leave father's body there forever."
"Hey, you, don't let anyone go out and talk nonsense."
However, there were many gossipy people in Ningguo Mansion, and the news that Jia Zhen used top-quality mast wood for coffin soon spread out, and naturally it reached the ears of Emperor Changtai.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Changtai was displeased: "This Jia family is becoming more and more outrageous. How dare they overstep their bounds!"
Dai Quan, who was standing below, spoke carefully, "Your Majesty, do you want to send someone to Ningguo Mansion?"
Emperor Changtai shook his head: "Not yet. How is the Daming Palace doing recently?"
"Reporting to your Majesty, the Emperor summoned the younger generations of Duke Qi and Duke Li yesterday and gave them some gifts..."
There was no change on Emperor Changtai's face, but Dai Quan could sense the emperor's dissatisfaction.
In the evening, in the Lu family’s small courtyard.
Xiangling was busy tidying up the books that were hung out to dry today, Qingwen was mending Lu Cheng's coat, Cuihua and Li were busy cooking in the kitchen, and Laiwang was cleaning the hair of the horses that pulled the cart.
At this moment, Lu Cheng brought Lai Shun back from outside the city. Lai Shun was carrying a fishing rod on his shoulder and a fish basket in his hand. There were several fat fish in the basket.
As soon as Lu Cheng entered the courtyard, everyone in the courtyard quickly put down their work and stood up to greet him. Xiangling and Qingwen also hurriedly came forward to greet him.
Lu Cheng put down the stool in his hand and casually ordered: "Process those fish, steam one, braise one, and keep the rest in the tank."
When Lu Cheng walked into the room, Xiangling hurried over to take Lu Cheng's coat, and Qingwen brought a basin of water.
Lu Cheng simply washed his hands, then took out two brocade boxes from his arms and handed them to the two girls respectively: "On the way back, I passed by the market and happened to see a man selling hairpins. I thought these two hairpins were pretty good and should match you better. Take them and play with them."
The two girls received the gifts with smiles on their faces. They thanked each other and couldn't wait to open them.
"Brother, can you put it on for me?"
"Of course, I'll see how to wear it to make it look better."
As he spoke, Lu Cheng picked up the silver plum blossom hairpin and inserted it into Xiangling's hair.
When Qingwen opened the brocade box and saw the silver hairpin inside, which was made of the same material but a different style, she immediately fell in love with it.
Seeing Lu Cheng personally putting the hairpin on Xiangling, Qingwen looked at Lu Cheng with anticipation. Although she didn't say anything, the meaning in her eyes was very clear.
Lu Cheng smiled slightly, picked up the lotus hairpin, and put it on Qingwen's head.
The two little girls looked at each other, then immediately ran back to their respective rooms and looked in the mirror.
Seeing the two little girls cheering and jumping for joy, Lu Cheng was in a good mood too.
Life always has to have a sense of ritual.
Recently, as the Jia Mansion was busy dealing with Jia Zhen's funeral, Lu Cheng couldn't go to the Jia Mansion often, and he hadn't seen Lin Daiyu for some time.
After work the next day, Lu Cheng went straight to Xishi and prepared to pick out a better gift for Lin Daiyu and have someone send it to her.
After visiting two jewelry shops, Lu Cheng picked out a golden hairpin with pearls inlaid on the top. He bought it with satisfaction, put it in an exquisite gift box, and prepared to give it to Lin Daiyu as a gift.
At the same time, a large water tank half a person's height was placed in an open space in the backyard of the Duke Rong's Mansion.
Daiyu tied her dress around her waist and walked in circles along the edge of the water tank, with her hands clenched into fists, performing a set of Baguazhang with extreme skill.
As Daiyu walked faster and faster on the edge of the water tank, the water in the tank began to rotate.
Zijuan and Xueyan on the side were also used to it. They each held a towel and tea in their hands, ready to serve at any time.
At this moment, there was a burst of laughter outside. Then Yingchun, Tanchun and others came here with Xue Baochai.
"Hey, Sister Lin is practicing again, and she's getting better and better."
Xue Baochai had seen Daiyu standing still several times, but this was the first time she saw Daiyu walking on a water tank. She was inevitably curious: "What kind of exercise is Sister Lin practicing?"
Tanchun shook her head: "I don't know either. I only know that it was passed on to Sister Lin by my future brother-in-law."
At this moment, Daiyu also heard the conversation of several people. After walking the last circle, she jumped and landed lightly on the ground.
"Sisters, how come you have time to come and have fun with me?"
"Today, we have nothing to do, so Sister Bao suggested that we drink tea and recite poems together. How can such an event be without Sister Lin? But we came at an unfortunate time. Sister Lin was practicing martial arts."
Lin Daiyu took the towel from Xueyan's hand and wiped the sweat off her forehead, then drank another sip of tea: "Is your second brother Bao going? If he goes, I won't go."
Tanchun smiled and walked forward, holding Daiyu's hand: "I know you don't like my second brother. If he were here, we wouldn't dare to invite you..."