"How do you sell this seal?"

Tan Ting asked. The young man looking at the shop was stunned for a moment and looked at him carefully.

"Are you...the uncle of the Tan family?"

Tan Ting nodded, thinking he was going to ask the shopkeeper to entertain him.

Not thinking about the little guy, he immediately took Xiao Yin back.

"This is not for sale."

Tan Ting raised his eyebrows in surprise.

The shopkeeper heard the sound and rushed over. Seeing the confused look on Mr. Tan's face, he quickly explained.

"Uncle Tan, let's take a look at the other ornaments and seals. The small seal has been set by the guest officer next to you."

Tan Ting silently glanced at the shopkeeper, and then at the boy.

This is obviously not the case.

But Tan Ting couldn't force the question.

He frowned and looked at the small seal with the word "和" again with regret.

The seal was really good, and it was rare that he had some affinity with him. I wonder what kind of ingenious person carved it...

But they didn't sell it to him, so Tan Ting had no choice but to leave in silence.

When he walked away, Shopkeeper Jiang breathed a sigh of relief and patted the young man.

"Why do you speak so bluntly?"

The boy pouted in the direction Tan Ting left.

"Mrs. Xiang's life is difficult, and I have never seen the Tan family care about her. It can be seen that she does not understand Mrs. Xiang. In this case, he should not buy the lady's seal, and there is no need to delay this. Seal."

He said it so logically that Shopkeeper Jiang laughed.

But then again, the boy was right.

How much more could the eldest son of the Tan family cherish Mrs. Xiang? Why would she be in such a difficult situation?

Tan's clan house.

As soon as Xiang Yi returned home, she saw Qiu Zhaoyuan's maid waiting for her in front of the door, looking anxious.

"Madam, please go to Qiuzhaoyuan quickly."

When Xiang Yi arrived, the anger still remained on Zhao's face.

Mrs. Zhao was not the type to make trouble out of nothing. Xiang Yi stepped forward and asked warmly, only to find out that it was several carpenters who often worked for the Tan family. They drank too much at the wedding and got into a fight over a few words.

Zhao wouldn't care about such a trivial matter.

But when they fought, they actually moved the wood used to build Tan Rong's dowry box, damaging two quite good pieces of wood.

Zhao was easy to talk about other things, but she wouldn't give in to matters involving her only daughter, Tan Rong.

"Our Tan family has always given rich money to the craftsmen. They don't think about the good of the Tan family, but do whatever they want. Before, some members of the clan said that they were becoming more and more sluggish in their work, and now this kind of thing is happening... This batch of We can't have any more craftsmen."

She called Xiang Yi, "The craftsman who built your sister's dowry box must be replaced by someone suitable."

The original craftsmen had been in use by the Tan family for some years, and it was said that they were the rich third wife of the clan. Maternal cousin.

As his name suggests, Mr. Fusan's family is considered wealthy among the Tan clan. However, after passing the imperial examination, he will not be able to become a Jinshi no matter what.

The third rich man has never done anything else in his life. He only studies and makes friends, and relies on his ancestral property for money.

But Mrs. Fusan is not a rigid person. She is very dedicated to running the business and takes over a lot of work, large and small.

Only money flowed into her hands, and nothing escaped from her fingers.

Xiang Yi thought and warned Mrs. Zhao,

"...if mother were to replace someone directly, I'm afraid Mrs. Fusan would have to say something." Mrs.

Fusan's cousins ​​are full of carpenters. A few years ago, the Tan family replaced When they were craftsmen, they gave them all the work.

However, Mrs. Zhao waved her hands impatiently, "If the job is not done well, someone should be replaced. Just say it is my wish. If she has any excuses, come to me. You can find a reliable craftsman for your sister first. There are many jobs. , it must be settled early."

After hearing this, Xiang Yi had no choice but to nod.

But Qingkan County is only so big, and the craftsmen are very limited. What Zhao wants is not the other craftsmen, but craftsmen who can carve patterns and wood for Tan Rong's dowry box.

She thought for a while, and inexplicably thought of what she heard at Jixiang Seal Shop today.

After leaving Qiuzhaoyuan, I asked Chun Bamboo to go to the Jixiang Seal Shop and ask the carpenters to bring some decent wooden shapes to look at.

Xiang Yi finished his instructions and returned to the main courtyard.

Since Uncle Zhongqing's residence is in the capital, and the New Year is approaching, Yang Zhen's return home for three dynasties has been changed to three months. Tan Jian will follow Yang Zhen back to Beijing for a month's stay next year.

On the way back to the main courtyard, Xiang Yi happened to meet Tan Jian.

However, Tan Jian looked tired and walked away from the other side without seeing her with drooped eyelids.

Xiang Yi was surprised, guessing that Tan Jian was probably worried about the heavy homework assigned by Tan Ting, so he didn't interfere.

...

There were no stars or moon that night, and the stagnant atmosphere of the past was repeated in the main room, as if the ice and snow for many years had never melted at all.

Xiang Yi is already used to it.

Early the next morning, people came to the door of the Tan family's ancestral room early.

A few craftsmen looked simple, carefully holding the wood in their arms, and cautiously asked the concierge to pass it on.

"It's a convenience, brother. Mrs. Xiang asked us to come here to deliver the wood."

The concierge looked at them and saw that they were dressed like carpenters, and there was still a slight smell of sawdust on their patched clothes, so he let them Wait here, go in and pass the message.

When Xiang Yi came over, he saw them still standing in front of the door.

Icicles hung under the eaves, and the craftsmen were so cold that they could only rub their hands, but they looked up at Tan's black lacquered door plaque with gold accents and did not dare to step in rashly.

Xiang Yi asked them to go to the concierge to have a cup of hot tea.

"It's ice and snow, don't freeze."

They waved their hands repeatedly, "It's a blessing for craftsmen like us to have the opportunity to visit the Tan family once! If we can get the Tan family's errand this time, it's worth freezing to death at the door. "

Aristocratic families like this, all the good work goes to the in-laws or well-connected workshops.

Rural craftsmen like them, no matter how good their craftsmanship is, can't get into the industry. They can only join some disbanded companies and have to be squeezed out of wages.

Seeing them like this, Xiang Yi's expression became softer and softer. He took the wooden form they brought and looked at it, and nodded involuntarily.

As Shopkeeper Jiang said, although these craftsmen are of low origin, their skills are not low.

She couldn't help but said, "If the old lady can like the craftsmanship, Tan will definitely hire you to work at a fair price."

When the craftsmen heard this, they were all very happy, and they even stamped their feet and rubbed their hands to keep warm, becoming more and more energetic.

Xiang Yi saw that the craftsmen were still embarrassed when he asked them all to go to the concierge to avoid the cold again, Xiang Yi said with a smile.

"The old lady has time now, please wait here, maybe there will be good news soon."

The craftsmen were overjoyed and thanked Xiang Yi repeatedly.

Xiang Yi didn't stop and had people take their wooden forms and go to Qiuzhao Garden together.

When Zhao was free, she saw that Xiang Yi had sent the wooden sample over and looked through it directly.

She looked back and forth, her eyes gradually showing satisfaction.

"This work is done carefully and solidly." She asked Xiang Yi, "Are they craftsmen from the state capital?"

Xiang Yi smiled and said no.

"They are the craftsmen of this county, but they didn't have such opportunities before, so they could only do some casual work here and there."

This made Zhao a little surprised, and she looked at the wooden appearance carefully.

"This piece seems to be newly carved..."

It was made overnight, so it's not fake anymore.

Zhao became more and more satisfied and looked at it for a while before giving orders to Xiang Yi.

"Then let them try making a few carved boxes and cages first. If they do well, they can stay in the Tan family and work instead of running around."

Xiang Yi listened with a smile in his eyes.

"Thank you, mother."

While talking, Tan Rong came. When she heard that a new carpenter was about to be hired, she said, "I was just thinking of making some gadgets, why don't I let them do it too."

Xiang Yi naturally said yes, and Tan Rong smiled and said, "Then I'll go back and draw it carefully and send it to them another day."

Xiang Yi nodded. As long as Tan Rong feels good about it, the matter will be settled.

In the concierge, several craftsmen were still waiting cautiously.

When Xiang Yi came over, they were all shocked.

"Is it our stuff that the old lady doesn't like?"

Several strong men were so nervous that sweat broke out on their foreheads.

When Xiang Yi saw it, he quickly said, "It's not bad, it's very good."

As soon as he finished speaking, several people were stunned and did not dare to speak.

The wind shook the lantern in front of the door.

Xiang Yi laughed and said, "The old lady has promised you to try making a few cages first. If they are done well, then we will keep them."

After saying this for a few breaths, everyone suddenly came back to their senses.

They knelt down to kowtow to Xiang Yi.

"Thank you to the old lady and madam for being so kind and generous, for allowing us to come and work at Tan's! We will not let the old madam and madam down!"

Xiang Yi did not need to thank them with such a courtesy, and quickly asked the concierge to help them up.

"No need to thank you, as long as you do a good job and be careful and careful."

The craftsmen responded repeatedly, and they deserved it loudly.

"Don't worry, madam!"

The Tan family's work usually doesn't fall on them, but this time it does, how can they dare to neglect it?

But they didn't dare to delay Xiang Yi's affairs, so they resigned immediately, saying that they would go to work in Tan's workshop tomorrow.

Xiang Yi also had other matters, so he also left with spring bamboo shoots.

But as soon as everyone left, someone came up to them.

"What does that group of people do? How did they get to Tan's house?"

The person coming was none other than Mr. Qiu.

She was feeling uncomfortable because everything was not going well, and she was secretly watching the movements of the clan and Xiang Yi.

The concierge did not hide it, but told the old lady and his wife that Tan had replaced the craftsman.

Qiu's eyes widened when he heard this.

"Where did these people come from? How come it's their turn for good things to happen?"

"Our wife found them. They are very skilled in craftsmanship."

The concierge said this, but Mrs. Qiu showed a strange expression.

Mrs. Xiang always helps these poor families settle down. Is she really so kind? Could it be that he really took a bribe?

She is now very suspicious that there must be something in Xiang's accounts that cannot withstand inspection!

If someone could check her out, wouldn't that solve his own problem?

Qiu murmured secretly in her heart for a while and thought of another thing.

"By the way, she is the one who wants to replace Mrs. Fu's third wife. I don't know if Mrs. Fu's third wife will agree to it!"

Mrs. Qiu's heart brightened when she thought about it, and she turned around and went straight to Mrs. Fu's third home.

...

Others don't know what Qiu thinks.

When Xiang Yicai arrived at the entrance of the main courtyard, he saw Tan Jian circling nearby, looking torn about wanting to go in but not knowing whether he should or not.

Recalling his defeated look before, Xiang Yi stepped forward.

"Second Master, are you looking for me?" Tan Ting is not at home today.

When she asked, Tan Jian was startled, but under Xiang Yi's eyes, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

He suddenly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Xiang Yi, with an aggrieved tone.

"Sister-in-law, please save me!"

Xiang Yi was surprised.