Two or three branches of pear blossoms think of peach blossoms

  The Sanmingwa boat was inconspicuous in the crowded river, even in this era of flat-bottomed boats, the number of boats entering and leaving Suzhou City was still staggering.

  Yu Guozhen, standing at the bow of the ship, saw this scene. Although he was used to seeing the prosperity of later generations, in this era, he could still see such a huge cityscape, which made him sigh with admiration.

  At this time, Suzhou was at its peak and decline. The silk produced in Suzhou dominated the world, and in South America, Peru and Chile, the local silk was defeated, and even used as a springboard to sell it to its colonial master Spain. In the entire city of Suzhou, it is said that there were two million people, and in the northeastern part of the city, almost all were industrial workers related to sericulture!

  This is a city dressed in finery, the bell of Hanshan Temple, the small bridge and flowing water of Zhongshan Park...

  At this time, the Humble Administrator's Garden should be called the Garden of Retirement, for it had only recently been acquired by Wang Xinyi - like Zhou Daling, he was a retired official.

  Yu Guozhen was unaware of all this, he was only amazed by the prosperity of the city, although he did not enter the city directly now, but just passed through, and was already shocked and heartbroken.

  Even in Europe at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, there was no city where handicrafts were as developed and commodity economy was as prosperous as this city!

  "Both elder brothers, remember the things I entrusted to you. If they are done well, when we return, I will speak well of you in front of our uncle, and from then on, you can come and live in Suzhou often!"

  Yu Guoning and Yu Guoan were overjoyed when they heard this. The two brothers had first seen the bustle of Jinling's ancient city, and now they saw the prosperity of Suzhou Prefecture. Thinking that they would have to return to their hometown in Xiang'an, their hearts felt as restless as a scratching kitten.

  "Don't worry, we'll definitely get it done. It's just a matter of spreading some rumors at Qinlou Chuguan. We're experts at this!" These two brothers were only seventeen or eighteen years old and were spoiled by their family, so they were a bit frivolous.

  Yu Guozhen nodded and gave a few instructions to Gao Buping, who was following the two men. These two brothers were just an optional part of his entire plan, so it wasn't necessary for him to take action personally.

  Wujiang Shengze's silk industry is not inferior to Suzhou Prefecture, and the local culture and commerce are extremely prosperous, with many large families and wealthy clans. The Zhou family is one of them, and it is said that they can be traced back to Zhou Dunyi of the Song Dynasty. Moreover, the current retired official Zhou Daodeng was a Grand Councilor, so the Zhou family's residence is much larger than that of Xiang'an Yu's family.

  Zhou Dao Deng is now over sixty years old, but his elderly mother is still alive and in good health. Most of the household chores are managed by her. At this moment, he stood in front of his mother with a flattering face: "Mother, I have something to ask you today."

  Mrs. Zhou smiled and raised her hand, the little maid beside her immediately handed the tea cup into her hands. Zhou Daoteng glanced at the little maid with a wolf-like gleam in his eyes. The little maid was frightened and shrank back, carefully avoiding his gaze.

  This scene was all seen by Mother Zhou, and she had a clear understanding of her son's character. After taking a sip of tea, she coughed and said: "Deng'er, what's the matter? Just tell your mother."

  "My son wants to take a concubine." said Zhou Dao.

  Zhou Mu was not unexpected, his own son had been a jinshi for over 30 years, but after the emperor ascended to the throne and wanted to select university scholars for the cabinet, he recommended ten candidates and then chose his own son, who had already retired, as a cabinet minister. However, this term as cabinet minister lasted less than a year before he retired again. After returning home, his own son indulged in wine and women. Taking concubines was nothing new to him, and now there were over ten wives and concubines.

  "Deng Er, if you want to take a concubine, why come ask me? Just look at whose daughter you like and send a matchmaker over."

  "The child he favors is not someone's daughter, but the mother's servant girl." Zhou Dao Deng stared straight at the little servant girl beside his mother, who had already turned pale and had a strange look in her eyes, it was unclear whether she was afraid or had other thoughts.

  This little maid is extremely beautiful, although slightly short, but with bright eyes and white skin like jade, especially those sparkling eyes, lively and vivid, without much of the usual maid's shyness.

  Zhou Mu turned her head and glanced at the little maid, her eyebrows furrowed.

  This little maid was bought from the "Returning Home Institute" and has been in the mansion for several years, serving Madame Zhou. She is clever and lovely, and Madame Zhou is very fond of her. Zhou Daodeng also dotes on her, and Madame Zhou knows that he has taught this little maid poetry and songs more than once. Originally, Madame Zhou thought that this was just because Zhou Daodeng had no children of his own and felt a pang of love for the clever and lively child. But she didn't realize that Zhou Daodeng had other intentions in mind - after all, he is already over sixty years old, while Little Ai is only fourteen!

  "Xiao Ai, you go out first." said Zhou Mu.

  The little maid curtsied and quickly walked out of the house. Mother Zhou watched her slender figure, her eyebrows furrowed even tighter.

  "Deng Er, how could you think like that?" Zhou Mu sighed: "You're already over 60 years old, but Xiao Ai is only 14... I didn't expect this little girl to be a seductress, actually knowing how to entice her master!"

  She said that at this point, her words already carried a stern meaning. According to the rules of the Zhou family, fox spirits who seduce their masters are to be punished by family law and then sold off!

  "Mother, not little Ai, hehe, this is really the son's intention." Zhou Dao blushed and smiled: "It's like this, my son is now over 60 years old, although I have many wives and concubines, but still nothing. It is said that there are three unfilial things, and having no descendants is the biggest one. I had someone take a look, and although Ai'er is a bit young, he has a masculine appearance, for the sake of carrying on the family line, mother... hehe, just give little Ai to my son!"

  At this, Zhou Daoteng suddenly knelt down, his face full of the same expression as a child asking its mother for something delicious. Zhou Mu originally wanted to refuse, but seeing his gaze, her heart softened.

  Decades ago, when Zhou Daoteng was still a child, if he wanted something and didn't dare ask his father for it, he would ask her instead.

  As people get older, they tend to reminisce about the past. So, Mother Zhou put down her cup, sat up straight and sighed: "Deng Er, since you're so keen on it... then let's do it this way, but... Xia Ai was bought from Xu Fo, she's his adopted daughter, we should at least inform him. Besides, she's just a young girl like a bean sprout, don't take advantage of her."

  "That's natural, thank you Mother, Mother just rest assured." Zhou Dao got up and swayed a bit, after all, he was also old, his body was a bit uncomfortable after standing up, but after a while, he happily said: "Son will go now... Tomorrow is the auspicious day, tomorrow son will take in Xiao Ai!"

  This sudden change of expression was so unbearable that even his mother couldn't stand it. "Pfft!" she spat, "You've had your way, now get out of my sight!"

  Zhou Dao's heart was filled with joy and satisfaction, he laughed happily and ran out, just as he reached the door, he saw Xiao Ai hesitating at the entrance. His lustful thoughts arose: "Xiao Ai, go back and prepare well, waiting for great happiness, hahaha..."

  Xiao Ai lowered her head and remained silent, Zhou Dao Deng looked at her again, feeling a great sense of relief in his heart, and couldn't help but sing: "Just as the third spring is in its prime, no one sees it, unexpectedly startled by the fish sinking and the geese flying away... fearing that the shy flower will close and the moonflower will tremble with sorrow..."

  This is a singing phrase from the Kunqu opera "The Peony Pavilion". Xia Ai understood it, and her body trembled slightly as she slowly backed away. Zhou Daodeng was about to go forward to tease her a bit, or at least warm up his hands, when he heard the old mother coughing in the house: "Xia Ai, Xia Ai, come here!"

  Xiao Ai immediately pulled her legs and walked towards the house, wrapping her small feet, so she swayed like a weak willow in the wind as she walked. Zhou Dao followed behind, looking at her with an itchy heart, thinking that he would get what he wanted tomorrow, and smiled to himself as he went out the door.

  "The scholar is so delighted, isn't there some good news?" As soon as he came out, he was met with a group of beautiful women, who were his several wives and concubines. The youngest among them was only seventeen or eighteen years old, each with rosy cheeks and charming eyebrows, their eyes sparkling with spring-like beauty.

  Zhou Dao Deng was delighted in his heart and immediately said: "Of course there is good news, great joy, haha!"

  "Oh, where does this joy come from?" His fourteenth concubine, who was originally the most favored, naturally asked with a spoiled and coquettish tone at this time.

  "Haha, guess what!" Zhou Daodong said.

  "Isn't it the news from Tonggui's side that has arrived, and that rustic fellow who came to surrender has already offered up all his family's fields and houses?" a small concubine asked.

  Zhou Tonggui was the nephew of Zhou Daodeng's clan, and since Zhou Daodeng had no children, he was very close to him in daily life, with the intention of being able to inherit as a son. However, Zhou Daodeng did not have this intention for a long time, and he gradually gave up his thoughts, so he began to think about using Zhou Daodeng's identity to plot some benefits. Zhou Daodeng was at least a retired official, still having some face in the officialdom, but Zhou Daodeng was cautious by nature, not daring to do too much in the neighboring countryside, so Zhou Tonggui could only go to Wuwei to think of a way.

  "That's not how things went, the Yu brothers were fighting over inheritance, and they couldn't avoid a lawsuit first." Zhou Daodeng smiled and said: "Besides, considering those country bumpkins, how much land, houses, and family property could they have? It's not something to be happy about!"

  "I know I know!" The 14th concubine clapped her hands and said: "It must be that news has come from the capital again, the Emperor is thinking of the scholar's talent and wants to reinstate him!"

  Zhou Dao's face immediately fell: "Nonsense!"

  He scolded with a straight face, and the little concubine, although favored, was also called to lose her beauty. Seeing their appearance, Zhou Daotong snorted: "Court affairs, you don't understand, now I retire to my hometown, as my old friend from Wujiang, far better than the muddy water of the past court."

  As he said this, he couldn't help but shrink his neck a little, feeling a chill behind him.

  "What's making the scholar so happy?" The thirteenth concubine of the thirteenth house gave a sideways glance at the unlucky fourteenth, and with a charming smile came over to give Zhou Daotong a back massage.

  At this time, Zhou Dao also stopped selling Guan Zi. He burst out laughing and turned his anger into joy: "You are going to add another sister-in-law! Master Xue is going to take a concubine! I'm going to marry Xiao Ai as my concubine... Hmm, this matter must be handled quickly."

  As soon as these words were spoken, the women suddenly fell silent. Before they could respond, Zhou Daoren hastily walked out and left all these delicate beauties staring at each other in dismay.

  "Xiao Ai... that little maid in Old Madam's room?" After a while, the Fourteenth House gritted her teeth and said: "This sly vixen!"

  I am a shameless vote splitter. The following is not the main text (PS: When the fourteenth house scolded her like this, the other concubines also gave her a sideways glance. In the past, she had also monopolized favoritism, and at that time, people also scolded her in the same way.)

  "Can't you think of a way? I've seen that little wench, she's only fourteen but already so delicate and charming. If Master really takes her in, none of us will ever see him again!" The fourteenth mistress glared at the other concubines: "Don't come crying to me later!"

  "What can be done? He is the master of the house, after all!"

  "The old lady is the greatest, let's ask the old lady to go!"

  "The old lady has already allowed him to have fourteen rooms, but won't allow him a fifteenth?"

  "The Emperor is the greatest, we will go to the Emperor!"

  "Heaven is high and the emperor is far away, who cares about what happens here? Besides, this is a private matter!"

  At this point, the women looked at each other in dismay, feeling that there was nothing they could do. Just then, someone suddenly said: "There is still one person who is even more powerful than the emperor; if we ask him, he should be able to stop the old master."

  "Who?"

  "Nature is the author's intention, this story was all made up by the author, and it wasn't allowed for Master to marry Aier, it's just a thought of the author!"

  The women suddenly realized, but again with furrowed brows: "We don't have any relationship with the author, even if we ask him, he may not be willing to help us!"

  "There's no need to worry about this matter." The 14th house smiled and said: "Directly asking the author won't be of any use, but there are other people we can ask. As far as I know, the author is currently worried about not being able to get on the new book charts. What's lacking for getting on the new book charts is just collection clicks and recommendations. All you sisters, bring out your charming tactics and beg the readers to give some collection clicks and recommendations. Once the author sees it, they'll understand our intentions!"

  All the women heard and said in unison: "That's right, that's right! The heaven is big, the earth is big, but the reader is the biggest. Even if you are the author, you have to listen to the reader. Go ask the great reader!"