novelhk Chapter 214 Making a Snowman
Chapter 214 Making a Snowman
It snowed the day before, and Wen Zongji got up early the next day to go to work. He felt even colder and had to put on a cloak over his official robes to keep out the cold wind.
Thinking that Pei Rujing was still sleeping in a warm room, Wen Zongji couldn't help but feel envious. While envious, he still had to take a carriage to the Beijing Gazette Office.
Fortunately, the snowfall yesterday wasn't too heavy and didn't affect the carriage's passage. However, the driver deliberately slowed down the carriage's speed for safety reasons.
When Wen Zongji arrived at the Beijing Gazette Office, the others had already arrived.
Yao Maofang followed Wen Zongji to the office.
Wen Zongji handed the article linking the probability of difficult childbirth in women to their age at childbirth to Yao Maofang, saying, "Make room in the legal education section to publish this article."
Yao Maofang took it, glanced at it briefly, and his expression changed slightly: "My lord, shouldn't we discuss this matter with the imperial physician?"
Wen Zongji waved his hand: "No need. Just make it clear when you publish it that it is based on a summary of many years' worth of files from Shuntian Prefecture, and there may be some discrepancies."
It's not easy to consult the imperial physician about this matter, because nowadays it's the norm for girls to get married and pregnant at fifteen or sixteen, and even if you know this, there's nothing you can do to change it.
Moreover, this article only states that women with early pregnancy have a higher probability of difficult labor, but it does not mean that they will definitely have a difficult labor. Many people have wishful thinking.
But for some families who love their daughters dearly, this article gives them a reason to keep their daughters for a few more years, since the Beijing Daily now represents authority among the public.
To put it bluntly, this article only works for those who believe in it.
Wen Zongji's choice to publish this article was simply to plant a seed in people's hearts.
With this article, every woman who suffers from a difficult childbirth due to early pregnancy will continue to verify its accuracy until it changes the perceptions of most people.
They would naturally postpone the time when women got married.
Of course, this is just Wen Zongji's positive expectation for the future; he is not sure what will actually happen.
Even if laws in later generations stipulated a legal age, some families would still let their children get married early for various reasons, let alone in this era without a legal age.
Yao Maofang, slightly excited by the sensation this article would cause after its publication, asked, "Who wrote this article, and how is it signed?"
Wen Zongji shook his head: "This is a summary based on the annual records of Shuntian Prefecture. It is not a personal achievement, so no signature is needed. Just explain the source of the data."
Yao Maofang nodded: "This humble official will adjust the layout immediately."
The next issue of the Beijing Daily had already been typeset and was about to be sent to the printing press, but now the Beijing Daily suddenly wants to add an article, so it will definitely have to be retypeset.
Wen Zongji said, "Starting next month, the Beijing Daily will be published three times a month."
He noticed that the atmosphere at the Beijing News Bureau had become somewhat lax recently, mainly because there were too many people.
The junior clerks at the Beijing Gazette Bureau are now quite skilled at reviewing manuscripts, and with two issues of the Beijing Gazette published each month, they are not under any pressure.
As a result, Wen Zongji planned to increase the number of times the Beijing Daily was published each month.
It will then gradually increase until it becomes a daily report.
"I will inform everyone."
Yao Maofang then left.
……
Pei Rujing slept soundly and felt incredibly refreshed when she woke up. She was pleased with herself for keeping her bottom line the night before and not letting Wen Zongji come.
After having breakfast, Pei Rujing looked at the snow outside that had just begun to melt. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough snow to build a snowman.
The next moment, she exclaimed, "Huh? What is that person doing?"
Pei Rujing pointed to a maid in the courtyard, who was squatting in the snow, busy with something.
Qinghe immediately looked over and ordered, "Go and take a look."
A maidservant immediately ran over.
A moment later, the maidservant ran back, holding a small snowman in her hands: "Princess, this is a small snowman that she made herself out of snow."
Pei Rujing took it and examined it carefully: "You're quite skillful."
After saying that, she handed the snowman over; she had no interest in taking things from maids.
Immediately afterward, Pei Rujing rolled her eyes and said, "Since she's so skillful, let her sculpt one of me. If she does a good job, I'll reward her handsomely."
If we can't build a snowman, this is a good way to make up for it.
The maidservant immediately went to deliver the message.
The maid who made the snowman was just a cleaning maid. It was the first time that Pei Rujing had taken notice of her. She was both nervous and excited, but when she heard that there would be a reward, she put her full effort into making the snowman.
As it turned out, the maid was indeed very skillful.
Even though the Pei Rujing she sculpted didn't have particularly defined facial features, her noble air was clearly visible.
Pei Rujing was very satisfied: "Reward me!"
The maid was overjoyed and excitedly said, "Thank you for the reward, Princess... I can make other things too."
Pei Rujing raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
The maidservant, eager to seize the opportunity to speak with Pei Rujing, said solicitously, "This servant can also pinch the young master."
Hearing this title, one could tell that she was from the Marquis of Zhongyong's household, and not a dowry brought by Pei Rujing.
After all, if you are part of Pei Rujing's dowry, you should understand one thing—don't bring up Wen Zongji in front of Pei Rujing.
Upon hearing this, Pei Rujing's smile faded. She glanced at the maid's appearance and, finding her to be of average looks, lowered her guard. However, she lost interest in having her make the snowman and waved her hand, saying, "No need, you may leave."
The maid was confused, but dared not disobey Pei Rujing's orders, and could only think that she had lost the chance to be rewarded again.
Pei Rujing played with the snowman for a while, then planned to go back to her room, tossing the snowman to Qinghe: "It's warm inside, the snowman will melt in no time, so leave it outside."
"Yes."
Qinghe looked around and then placed the snowman on the railing so that Pei Rujing could see it through the window.
Pei Rujing said, "There shouldn't be much snow on the road tomorrow. Arrange the carriage, and I'll go to Ruijintang tomorrow."
Granny Feng said, "It's going to be very cold these next few days, how about we go in a few more days?"
"Just wear more clothes."
Pei Rujing had made up her mind, and Granny Feng couldn't persuade her otherwise. She could only have the carriage made warmer so that Pei Rujing wouldn't catch a chill.
A few hours later, Wen Zongji returned home after his shift. As he approached the main house, he saw a snowman standing alone on the railing.
Wen Zongji was taken aback. He walked over and took a closer look, a smile playing on his lips: "She looks exactly like my wife."
Changdong flattered, "The snowman is nowhere near as good as the county princess."
Wen Zongji glanced at him and said, "Your wife isn't here, so you won't get a reward for being so attentive."
Chang Dong chuckled: "Young Master and the County Princess are of one mind. I'm sure you're pleased with what I've said."
"Well said, you deserve a reward!"
Pei Rujing came out at some point and happened to overhear their conversation.
Changdong immediately thanked her, saying, "This humble one thanks the county magistrate for her generosity."
Wen Zongji quickly went to Pei Rujing's side and embraced her as they returned to the main room: "It's cold outside, why didn't you put on a coat before coming out?"
As soon as I entered the room, I could feel a distinct warmth.
Wen Zongji took off his cloak and waved away the chill.
Pei Rujing enjoyed Wen Zongji's concern: "It'll only be for a little while."
Wen Zongji picked up his hot tea and took a sip: "Don't take advantage of your good health to overexert yourself."
"Okay."
"By the way, who made that snowman?"
"What's wrong with a maid?"
"Why don't you let her make more? My wife is so beautiful, she should have a whole row of them made. That would be so pleasing to the eye."
Pei Rujing was amused by Wen Zongji and said coquettishly, "You just know how to say nice things to coax me."