Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 298: Agricultural Bureau

She smiled and nodded, saying, "I think Miss Qingge and Mr. Pei are of similar age, and they are childhood sweethearts. As long as they both like it, I think it's a good match."

"Miss Hua, do you think so too? That's great. Miss Hua and I have the same opinion. Haha..." For some reason, looking at Hua Lei's smiling face, Mrs. Han suddenly didn't want to say anything.

She took a sip from the teacup and sighed softly in her heart. Alas, this girl Hua should understand her feelings, right? As long as she doesn't marry Jin'er, she won't care. Wen Bing is indeed not a good match, so she should not harm the girl. It is not easy for Hua to be both a sister and a mother.

So, Madam Han said some more rambling things before letting Hua Lei go. Hua Lei refused the ruby ​​headdress, but Madam Han still asked Nanny Li beside her to follow Hua Lei to Qihuayuan, and Hua Lei had no choice but to accept it.

After taking a nap in Songhe Hall, Mrs. Pei was shocked to hear Mrs. Han calling Lei'er to Changfeng Garden. How come she hadn't cared about Lei'er in three years, but suddenly called Lei'er over today? What was she doing?

She hurriedly asked Nanny Chen beside her to inquire about it, and the report she heard was that Madam Han had made a ruby ​​headdress for Hua Lei, saying it was a thank-you gift and a housewarming gift. Is it true? Although Madam Pei felt that Madam Han was unlikely to change suddenly, she calmed down a little when she heard that this headdress was indeed the only one in Jinding Pavilion.

I can only blame myself for being old. A few days ago, the Marquis' Mansion held a three-day banquet. Although I didn't need to do it myself, many mistresses from noble families came to visit me one after another, and it was impossible for me not to see them.

So, I sat in Songhe Hall every day to meet and entertain guests, and I was exhausted these two days. So today I specifically asked Chen Mama not to disturb her, and as a result, this happened. Alas!

Hualei returned to Qihuayuan, looked at the headdress, and didn't think about it anymore, and continued to pack her things. Because she didn't have many relatives in Shangjing City, and Hualei herself didn't want to be too high-profile, so she wanted to just hold a few tables of banquets in her new home and forget about it.

The date was finally set: moving on October 26 and the wedding banquet on October 30. On October 25, Hualei was tidying up in the new house.

Aunt Song, Uncle Fu, Xiao Xiao and others were all helping in the new house. Suddenly, there was a commotion at the gate, and Xiao Xiao hurried over and told Hua Lei that Lord Pei had come in with a eunuch.

Ah, eunuch? This... Hua Lei was startled, and hurriedly straightened her clothes, followed Xiao Xiao out of the room, and hurried to the gate. In the front yard, Lord Pei was chatting with a wealthy eunuch. Seeing Hua Lei coming over, he smiled and said, "Lei Er, good news is coming, kneel down and accept the decree."

As he said this, perhaps worried that Hualei didn't understand the rules, he personally stepped forward, pushed Hualei to the ground, and knelt beside her. Everyone in the yard knelt on the ground.

The plump eunuch Fu unfolded a bright yellow imperial edict and began to read it.

Imperial Edict

By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor summoned Hua Lei, the daughter of the Hua family, who is extremely intelligent and has made contributions to the country. As a token of the Emperor's grace, he appointed her as the sixth-rank agricultural official in the Agriculture Bureau of the Ministry of Revenue. In addition, he granted her a plaque for the Hua family's residence.

Two people who looked like guards behind him carried up a plaque.

Hua Lei was confused, and she didn't understand what was going on until Lord Fu left. After Lord Pei sent Lord Fu and his guards away, he turned around and saw Hua Lei still confused. He patted her arm, pulled her into the main room, and sat her down at the guest seat.

He smiled and said, "What's wrong? Are you shocked? This is a good thing. All the merits you have done are great. That's why the emperor gave you a reward. Originally, he wanted to give you the title of county lady, but I suggested it, and old Marquis Bai Wanli also helped to suggest it, so it was changed to the current agricultural official."

Seeing that Hualei didn't understand the difference, she explained, "County Lady is just a title. Although it is also a sixth-rank rank, it is a nominal position without any other substantial benefits. This Agricultural Officer is different. It is a real position. Although it is a floating official, it has many benefits. The biggest benefit is that you don't need to report to the government office every day. It is suitable for a girl like you. Going there once or twice a month is enough. It is somewhat similar to your previous position as a farming official in Shuiwadi.

You can go to the official fields when you are free. They will come to consult you if they have any questions. I heard that you have planted a new variety of corn, so you will have to pay more attention to the corn planting in the capital. There is also the ten taels of silver per month in the first month of the agricultural year, and the four-season clothing. Although it is not much and you may not like it, it represents a kind of right. In the future, you can go to the Du Mu Cao under the Sinong Bureau and the Agricultural Science Academy to buy seeds and chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, etc. at a 20% discount, which is very beneficial to you. "Old Marquis Pei explained.

"Thank you, Grandfather Pei. I'm really sorry for the trouble you've caused me this time. I didn't expect that the emperor would reward me. To be honest, I've done so much just to earn more money. I've never..." Before Hua Lei could finish her words, Old Marquis Pei shook his hand to stop her. He leaned over and said in a low voice.

"You silly girl, don't say that when you go out. When you go out and someone asks you about it, you should say that you racked your brains, worked hard, and stayed up all night to make these down jackets and chicken feather sleeping bags. Even if the task is only 70% difficult, you should say it is 100% difficult. Don't say that you came up with it just to make money for your family.

Our emperor is indeed a wise ruler, but he is also a bit cunning. You see, Jin'er's father, his uncle and I have been planning for half a year, and spent more than two months to encircle and suppress the Xiaowan tribe. He was also worried that I would falsely report my military achievements, so he sent a newly appointed official to take over from me, and secretly sent his shadow guards to investigate Changling Mountain inside and out.

When he received the news from the shadow guard that was exactly the same as the military intelligence I reported, he issued an imperial decree to promote our mansion. So, in front of this emperor, you can't exaggerate the results, and you can't exaggerate them. But you can quietly exaggerate the process, understand?" Worried that Hua Lei still didn't understand, Marquis Pei whispered another example.

"It's like if you want to give someone an apple, you should not only tell them how big and sweet the apple is, but also how much effort you put into growing the apple tree, including watering, fertilizing, and pruning. If you hurt your hand while pruning, even if it was just scratched by a branch, you should say it's serious. Doesn't this make the apple more precious?