Liu Tong cursed and returned to the back hall. The steaming breakfast was placed on the table, but his wife, son and daughter looked like they lacked appetite, and no one moved their chopsticks.
Liu Peng was unhappy because he had just been scolded innocently. He stared at his breakfast luck and wanted his mother to comfort him.
But Mrs. Liu knew her son's temper and would not coax him. As long as someone moved their chopsticks, he would definitely start eating, so she focused all her energy on her daughter who was in poor condition and secretly wiping away her tears.
Liu Xueer has been crying ever since she heard from Xiaomei that Xiao Feng and Qiaoqiao passed through the house without entering. Her eyes, which were originally bright and lively, were swollen from crying, which made Mrs. Liu feel distressed and angry.
"Xue'er, be good. Listen to mother and eat first. Xiao Feng is not an ungrateful child. He will definitely come back."
"Mom, please stop comforting me. It's already twenty-nine, and tomorrow is the New Year's Eve. If he doesn't come today, how can he come again?
He didn't have anything at home before, but he still came to see it every year with gifts, not to mention he was living so well now.
They all blame their father. It was just a bad reputation before, and Brother Xiao didn't care about it. But this year he caught Qiaoqiao and forced Brother Xiao to sell the house!
Brother Xiao must be really angry this time, that’s why he refuses to come!”
Mrs. Liu was speechless by what her daughter said. Knowing that what her daughter said was true, she turned all her anger on Liu Tong, who had just sat down at the table and picked up the chopsticks.
"Eat, eat, eat, you know how to eat! You can eat all the food on the table, and we will starve to death!"
When Liu Peng saw that his mother was ignoring him, he quickly expressed his loyalty.
"Mother, there are three, mother, three!"
As a result, my sister ruthlessly kicked me out of the small group with the same hatred and hatred.
"Pull it, Dad hasn't held the chopsticks firmly yet, half of your steamed buns will go in. None of you men are good!"
Liu Tong was holding back her anger and did not dare to vent her anger on his wife, but he still wanted to refute his daughter's remarks.
"Presumptuous! Is this your attitude when talking to your father? For Xiao Feng, look at what you are like, how can you spread the word?
Do I, the dignified young lady of the Liu family, still have to marry him, Xiao Feng? Since he is ruthless and ruthless, don’t blame me for being unkind!
I hereby declare that if anyone in the family dares to mention the word Xiao Feng again, don’t blame my family for serving you!"
Liu Peng blinked his eyes in confusion. He had never heard of a family law in his family. He only knew that there was a family rule: food is the most important thing for the people.
"Dad, will you support us to death?"
Liu Tong was stunned for a moment, and then became angry: "Stop talking nonsense, if anyone dares to mention the word Xiao Feng again..."
The housekeeper hurried over from the front hall: "Master, Xiao Feng wants to see you!"
The scene was silent, Liu Xueer jumped up in surprise, Liu Peng had half a steamed bun stuffed in his mouth, eager to express his opinion, but Ula Ula couldn't say anything clearly.
Mrs. Liu, on the other hand, had the calmest temperament. She glanced at her stunned husband and gave a decisive order.
"Let the servants hang up the curtains and open the door, and the master will go out to greet you!"
The housekeeper glanced at Liu Tong, who snorted and expressed his acquiescence, and the housekeeper hurriedly ran down. After a while, he heard the sound of the door creaking open outside.
This is not because the quality of Liu Tong's door is not good, but because the door is rarely opened these days, and people usually go through the small door.
Only when very respected people come to the home, such as superior officials coming to visit, or when there is a big event at home, will the door be opened to show respect.
Xiao Feng was shocked when he saw the door open. In his memory, he could not even enter the small door in the past, and gifts were always sent in by the concierge.
Then after a while, the concierge would lead Xiaomei out like a thief, secretly stuff a handkerchief bag to Xiao Feng, and tell him in a low voice.
"Mr. Xiao, inside is a return gift from the young lady and madam. Go quickly, don't let the master and the housekeeper see it."
Today the door is opened, which opens Qiaoqiao's eyes wide.
"Wow, sir, it turns out the door can be opened. I thought the door was fixed."
Xiao Feng smiled and touched Qiaoqiao's head. No wonder Qiaoqiao thought so. Since Qiaoqiao came to the Xiao family, the Xiao family has never had the opportunity to open the door to welcome guests.
When Qiaoqiao came to Liu's Mansion, she naturally never saw the door of Liu's Mansion open. Based on Qiaoqiao's knowledge, she thought that the door was just a fake, but in fact it couldn't be opened.
The butler was already waiting on both sides of the door with several servants, bending to the standard sixty-five degrees, proudly demonstrating his qualities as the leader of the servant class.
"Master Xiao, please wait a moment. My master is changing his clothes and will come to greet you soon."
Xiao Feng waved his hand: "No, no, I'm just here to give you a gift. The concierge can just send it in for you. No need to bother."
The housekeeper grinned and thought to himself that this boy was really vindictive. He still remembered how he was not allowed in every year.
Liu Tong came out with square steps at this time. Although he had a straight face, he was not very angry in his heart.
Ever since he heard that Xiao Feng had come after all, he suddenly felt less angry in his heart.
Don't you want to see this little bastard? Why do you feel relieved?
In any case, with the door open and everyone outside watching, Liu Tong must take care of etiquette.
He chose among the identities of Xiao Feng, and finally decided not to follow the official rules.
"My nephew is here to pay me a visit. If you are not welcomed from afar, please come into the hall and serve tea."
After Xiao Feng saluted as a junior, he led Qiaoqiao and Qiaoqiao, carrying the gift box, into the central hall.
A bead curtain has been hung between the middle hall and the back hall, which is a standard feature for the female relatives of wealthy families to meet guests.
Qiaoqiao raised the four-color gift above her head and placed it on the table. Liu Tong had been in the officialdom for many years, so he naturally knew the goods. This gift box would cost at least five taels of silver.
Thinking that Xiao Feng was almost kicked out of the capital for ten taels of silver, Liu Tong's face felt hot and she quickly took a sip of tea to calm down her shock.
"My uncle was promoted to a doctor in the household department, and my nephew should have come to congratulate me. But my uncle was busy at the time, and my nephew was also busy, so he didn't come to bother me. It's really rude."
Xiao Feng smiled sincerely and did not mention at all that Liu Tong was afraid of the strict Party and asked the whole family not to have contact with Xiao Feng's family.
Liu Tong was very embarrassed and quickly took another sip of tea.
"On the way to Xiyuan a few days ago, I ran into Pan Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue and exchanged a few words with him.
Pan Shangshu said that he had asked his uncle to greet me and asked my uncle if he had mentioned it when we met."
Liu Tong was shocked. Pan Huang had indeed said this at that time, and he said it specifically after rescuing himself from the siege.
Ask yourself to explain to Xiao Feng on your behalf that it was not Pan Huang's idea for the Ministry of Revenue to investigate Zhang Tianci's glutinous rice.
But I didn't want to meet Xiao Feng at all at that time, let alone come to the door to say these things, and I forgot about it after going back and forth.
Liu Tong has been in the officialdom for a long time and knows the unspoken rules of the officialdom. If the Shangguan tells you something seriously, he might think it is just farts, and then he will be punished.
But what Shangguan tells you in an understatement may be something he really cares about, and you must not take it lightly!
Thinking about it now, although Pan Huang said it lightly at the time, this matter involved the issue of whether he would become enemies with Xiao Feng. This was not a public matter, but a private matter! The officer's personal matter is as big as heaven!
Liu Tong wanted to slap himself twice at this time. He originally wanted to work hard to make progress, but now it seems that this doctor is probably over.
"When I heard this, I thought my uncle had forgotten it because he was busy, so I told Pan Shangshu that my uncle had mentioned it to me specifically.
Everyone works for Long Live, handles official business, and are all friends in private. Pan Shangshu is very happy and praises me that my uncle is capable of doing things and is a rare talent."
This... Liu Tong's face really turned red. He lowered his head and took another sip of tea, only to realize that his tea had been drained.
He hesitated for a moment. If he carried the pot to refill the water but Xiao Feng's teacup was untouched, he would inevitably be suspected of seeing off guests. But there were no servants around at this time, so he couldn't let Xiao Feng pour the tea.
When I was in trouble, I heard footsteps from behind the curtain, and then my wife's happy voice.
"Xiao Feng, I haven't seen you for a while. You look a lot stronger!"
Liu Tong almost dropped the teacup on the ground: Madam, do you sound like you are speaking to the wife of a rich family? How unbecoming is it?