Chapter 131 Seven Years Later, I'm Pregnant Again...

Chapter 131 Seven Years Later, I'm Pregnant Again...

In the evening, Du Li came out of the kitchen and asked, "Wang Zhou, has your uncle returned?"

"Not yet." Wang Zhou shook his head. "Is dinner ready?"

“Yes.” Du Li wiped his hands and took off his apron. “I went out to check. Curfew is almost here, why haven’t they come back yet?”

Wang Zhou followed them out. As the father and son walked out the gate, they saw Meng Chun's figure appear at the end of the alley.

Meng Chun saw them too, and he started running, waving his arms.

"Come back earlier next time, don't be on the last minute. If something happens on the way and you can't get back before curfew, you'll be in big trouble," Du Li reminded her. "Go inside, dinner is ready."

"Where's my sister?" Meng Chun asked breathlessly.

“She’s writing a letter to Master Konghui. Tomorrow, the third sister will send a letter to Dr. Xu, and she’ll also send one to her eldest uncle,” Du Li said.

The three entered the house and were just as Meng Qing came out. Meng Qing glanced at the sky and asked, "Little brother, you're back so late?"

“There’s a reason. I came back from the county government office. You and my brother-in-law weren’t at the school. Magistrate Yin summoned me to ask about something. Do you remember the first customer who made colorful paper funerary objects?” Meng Chun said mysteriously.

Meng Qing nodded, "I remember, an old wealthy businessman. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have had the idea of ​​making colored paper offerings."

"He's dead. He took poison. I just delivered the colored paper funerary objects he ordered to him yesterday. After looking at them, he donated fifty strings of cash to the charity school. He seemed like a cheerful person. Who would have thought he would take poison and die today?" Meng Chun sighed.

"Did he poison himself?" Du Min came out and asked.

"You don't believe it, do you? His family didn't believe it either, which is why they reported it to the authorities. Prefect Yin summoned me to confirm the exact date the old merchant commissioned the funerary object for himself. In the end, it was determined that he had long intended to die, and once he got the funerary object he wanted, he committed suicide by poisoning himself," Meng Chun explained.

Du Li brought out the food, and the family ate and chatted. They finally concluded that the old wealthy businessman must have been ill and had been unable to recover, which led him to contemplate suicide.

Indeed, the wealthy old man had been suffering from rectal bleeding for three years and could no longer bear the torment, which led him to contemplate suicide. The appearance of the colorful paper funerary objects gave him that final push.

However, as the news spread, it evolved into the story that the wealthy old man had committed suicide so that he could use the colorful paper effigies as soon as possible. This rumor spread far and wide, and the colorful paper effigies also became famous.

Before Meng Qing could even start promoting it, the free school and the paper horse shop had already been taken over by wealthy merchants and gentry. The production of colorful paper funerary objects couldn't keep up with the demand, and even the ugly paper figures that apprentices were practicing with were being snapped up.

Upon seeing this, Meng Qing immediately ordered Du Li to take several cartloads of colored paper back to Heqing County and to bring ten skilled apprentices from Heqing County.

When the colored paper funerary objects appeared in Heqing County, they were immediately looted. Fortunately, the dye house that Meng Qing bought in Heqing County also started operation, and the scarce colored paper was supplied, so there was no need to transport paper from Luoyang.

The booming business lasted for a month. Meng Chun found Meng Qing and said, "The price of paper in Luoyang has gone up. Some scholars in the city are criticizing us, saying that we have driven up the price of paper, making it impossible for scholars to afford to study."

Meng Qing scratched his head. "I'll go with your brother-in-law to Huaizhou and Ruzhou nearby. Under these circumstances, there's no way that paper mills in Luoyang can be sold. We can only buy paper mills from the surrounding prefectures and counties."

"Just the two of you?" Meng Chun was worried. "You stay in Luoyang and I'll go with my brother-in-law. No, it won't work. If my brother-in-law leaves, you'll be all alone at home, which is even less safe. Sigh, if only Mother had given me a brother."

Meng Qing smiled. At this moment, she realized that she didn't have anyone capable of taking on important responsibilities. She thought for a moment and said, "I have an idea."

*

The next day.

Meng Qing, Meng Chun, and Du Li went to the street to post notices.

"Madam Meng, what are you doing?" asked the patrolling constable.

"We are seeking knowledgeable and capable individuals to serve us. In the next six months, anyone who can purchase a paper mill for the school within the jurisdiction of Dongdu will be appointed as the head of the Luoyang Qingniao Paper Craft School, with an annual salary of two hundred strings of cash." Meng Qing looked at the people around him who were listening intently.

"An annual salary of two hundred strings of cash?" The yamen runner was astonished. "That's equivalent to ten years of my salary in one year."

Meng Qing nodded with a smile, "It's absolutely true. Besides, since the Yishu (Free School) is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites, it's an official school. Working at the Yishu won't affect my household registration."

The surrounding area erupted in commotion. People who were drinking tea, drinking alcohol, or watching the acrobatic performances nearby all gathered around to confirm the news.

Meng Qing had already left, so she went to post more posters elsewhere.

That very day, some people went to the school to inquire about the news. The servants guarding the school pointed to a notice posted on the wall and said, "My master said that those who are interested should bring their household registration for an oral examination in five days."

People flocked to read the notice. Among them, a thin man dressed in light clothing read the contents of the notice, and his tense expression relaxed. Those who passed the test would receive ten strings of cash for travel expenses, so he didn't need to worry about not having enough money to travel.

*

"Sister Qing."

Meng Qing didn't realize she was being called. She frowned and counted the days until another "Mrs. Meng" came, at which point she turned to look for the source of the voice.

"Sister Qing, I didn't expect to meet you here. Where did you come from?" Yin Caiwei walked out of the embroidery workshop with her maid.

"Caiwei, it's you?" Meng Qing smiled. "It's been a while. I'd almost forgotten there was a girl who called me Sister Qing. There's a teahouse up ahead; their tea and snacks are quite good. Shall we go try some?"

Yin Caiwei agreed.

The two, accompanied by a maid, went to the teahouse. There weren't many customers at the time, so Meng Qing chose a secluded cubicle to sit in.

"The weather is nice today, but it's a pity it's windy. The sun is shining brightly, but it's not very warm," Meng Qing said, starting the conversation with the weather in a cliché way.

Yin Caiwei nodded, "I noticed that Sister Qing doesn't look too well. Let her drink some hot tea to warm herself up."

Meng Qing picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then warmed her hands with it. "You came out to buy embroidery thread today?"

Yin Caiwei smiled shyly, "The embroidery of my wedding dress is missing a strand of embroidery thread. I came out to see which embroidery shop has better thread, and I also took the opportunity to stroll around."

Seeing her shy expression, Meng Qing couldn't help but smile.

"Sister Qing, I heard you've been sending out invitations to heroes all over Luoyang?" Yin Caiwei's eyes brightened slightly. "Have you found any talented individuals?"

"You've heard? The oral exam isn't until tomorrow." Meng Qing's heart skipped a beat, and she tentatively asked, "Would you like to come and take a look?"

"Okay!" Yin Caiwei had been waiting for this sentence.

"Does Madam Yin allow you to go to such a mixed place?" Meng Qing laughed. "I won't take you now, but once you're inside the Du family, I'll take you along if you're still interested."

“My father will allow it,” Yin Caiwei said. “How about I bring a constable with me tomorrow? I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

"Alright then, go back and discuss it with your parents. Take the constables and maids and go to the free school at the foot of Baima Temple Mountain to find me." Meng Qing agreed.

Yin Caiwei was pleased, and she chatted casually, "Has Wang Zhou been to Luoyang recently?"

“No, his father and I are busy and don’t have time to go back to pick him up. His third uncle is even busier and doesn’t have time to send him over either.” Meng Qing thought of the news she had just learned from the clinic and said, “After I finish my work tomorrow, I will choose a good day to visit your house, and then I will go back to Heqing County for a while.”

Yin Caiwei understood why she was going to her house. Half a month ago, Meng Qing came to ask for her name and took both of their birth dates and times to divine good or bad fortune. The next step was to accept the auspicious omen and exchange marriage certificates.

"When I return from Heqing County, I will bring Du Min to your home to formally propose marriage," Meng Qing said with a smile.

Yin Caiwei's cheeks flushed slightly, but she wasn't timid: "I'll be waiting for you at home."

Meng Qing laughed out loud. Du Min is really lucky to have met such a generous and opinionated girl.

The two chatted for a while longer, and then the teahouse became busier. They paid their bill and left.

Meng Qing escorted Yin Caiwei back to the county government office, and then walked a short distance back to the rented courtyard. Upon entering, she first checked the warehouse where money was stored, and found it had not been robbed.

An hour later, Du Li and Meng Chun returned one after the other. Meng Qing had already cooked sauerkraut and tofu soup, as well as a pot of rice.

"No meat?" Meng Chun asked.

"No, I can't stand the smell of meat. If you want to eat meat, go to a restaurant," Meng Qing said, feigning indifference.

"Can't stand the smell of meat? Did you drink cold water last night and chill your stomach?" Du Li glanced at her sideways.

“If you boil water for her, she won’t drink cold water anymore,” Meng Chun immediately defended her.

"I'd like to, but your sister specifically asked for cold boiled water; she insists on drinking it cold, she won't drink it hot." Du Li felt wronged.

"That's because she cares about you and doesn't want you to be up all night," Meng Chun snorted.

Du Li was speechless. "You're right, it's my fault."

Meng Qing laughed until her cheeks ached. "Alright, you two stop arguing. My stomach is fine, and it has nothing to do with the cold water last night. It's just that I'm pregnant and can't stand the smell of meat."

Du Li and Meng Chun paused, both looking at her, then at her stomach.

"Seven years later, I'm pregnant again," Meng Qing said once more.

"I'm going to be an uncle again!" Meng Chun said with a smile. "Sister, have you written to Mom and Dad? Send it back tomorrow. They've been waiting for this news for so long."

"Not yet. I'll go back in a few days and tell Wangzhou the news," Meng Qing said.

"Can we take a carriage? I'll go back and fetch him," Du Li said.

“Yes, let’s bring Wang Zhou over,” Meng Chun agreed.

“I picked him up and then had to send him off. He was unhappy the whole way back, so I’d better go back myself. I haven’t seen my parents for over a month.” Meng Qing felt that her body was fine. “Drive slowly and put two mattresses in the car. Everything will be fine.”

Meng Chun subconsciously listened to her. She insisted, so he had no objections. He even said that he wanted to go back too, as he hadn't seen his parents for more than two months.

Du Li glanced at him but didn't say anything.

*

The next day.

Meng Qing, Du Li, and Meng Chun went to the free school at the foot of Baima Temple Mountain for an assessment. Not long after the three entered, Yin Caiwei also arrived in a carriage.

"Caiwei, over here." Meng Qing came out again, called out, and then instructed, "The assessment can begin now. Only one person can come in at a time."

Yin Caiwei went into the small cubicle and sat quietly to the side to observe.

The first to enter was a slightly shorter middle-aged man, dressed in coarse linen clothes, neatly tailored and well-fitting. He had a ruddy complexion and a calm demeanor, suggesting a confident and composed person. He chose to sit down in front of Meng Qing. "Madam Meng," he said, "my name is Qi Yunshan. In my youth, I was a laborer, carrying loads of trinkets and selling small items. I also worked as a broker, introducing workers to dye houses and cloth workshops. Later, I saved up some money and bought a small shop. I collected coarse cloth and silk fabrics from the countryside to sell in the city. Year after year, I accumulated enough to expand the shop by several feet. The Qi Family Cloth Shop in Jinxiu Lane is now mine. A couple of years ago, my son took over the shop, and I became idle. I also traveled by boat around the Eastern Capital. I believe I still have some skills, so when I saw your invitation, I came here specifically to give it a try."

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Author's note: See you tomorrow night at 8 PM.