Father Lan, Qi Jiguang and Zhang Wuxin all came out of the house and started tinkering with the door.
The gate of the Xiao Mansion is not comparable to that of the Liu Tong family. As the former president of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce and the apparent richest man in the capital, Tan Xinren shows off his wealth without scruples, and the gate is one of the manifestations.
The heavy hardwood is wrapped with thick iron sheets and door nails, making it heavy and strong. The huge door slot is always filled with anti-corrosion lubricating oil.
But no matter how grand this house is, the door is rarely opened.
When people from the business world came to his home, he would naturally not open the door; he also did not look down upon ordinary minor officials in the officialdom.
Officials like Zhao Wenhua and Yan Shifan would not come to his home at all. At most, they would ask an errand boy to invite him to his house.
Therefore, the door was quite difficult to open. Even though Zhang Wuxin and the others were young, strong, and skilled in martial arts, they worked hard for a while before they were able to open it.
People on the main street saw the huge and wide gate of Xiao Mansion slowly opening. Standing on both sides of the gate, in addition to two men dressed as servants - Qi An and Lan Dad, there was also a military attaché and a Taoist priest. They were all amazed.
.
"Master Xiao has both a military officer and a Taoist priest in his family, how strange it is!"
"What's so weird about this? Mr. Xiao is both an official and a real person. How could it be weirder?"
"Look at the many women behind Mr. Xiao? Are they the three wives and four concubines in people's legends?"
"Screw you. Mr. Xiao is not married yet. Besides, let alone his wife, he is his concubine. With his status, can he show his face to you?"
While people were talking about it, Wang Tuiguan took a step forward and faced the smiling Xiao Feng at the gate, clasping his hands and kneeling on one knee!
This confused everyone. Even if Wang Tuiguan saw Yan Song, there would be no reason to perform such a courtesy. Officials of the Ming Dynasty only knelt down to the emperor, not to superior officials.
Xiao Feng had long expected Lao Wang's move, so he just stepped forward to support Lao Wang and whispered: "Just act."
Lao Wang said loudly: "I cannot express my gratitude to you. Your Excellency protected me from being killed by thieves when the circumstances of the case were unknown;
And when Xiaguan was facing implication, he protected the young master of Xiaguan's family. His great kindness and kindness will be unforgettable by Xiaguan forever!"
What Lao Wang said was partly true and partly meant for the onlookers outside. The purpose was to let the onlookers understand three things.
First: Xiao Feng did not become interested in his wife and daughter, and it was not Xiao Feng who put him in jail. On the contrary, Xiao Feng was protecting him and his family.
Second: My wife and daughter are innocent. They have neither followed Xiao Feng nor are they real slaves. They are mainly daughters. Otherwise, how will my daughter be able to hold her own head and behave as a human being if she is born a slave in the future?
Third: I am the person under Xiao Feng's protection. If any of you want to trick me in the future, you have to think about it yourself. If there is someone from Yan Shifan in the crowd, it is best to pass this news on.
As early as when Lao Wang asked to open the door, Xiao Feng thought of Lao Wang's purpose, so he did not interrupt Lao Wang, just listened to him with a smile, and then pulled him up with both hands.
"Your release from prison without charge and your return to office is a great joy and worthy of celebration.
You should have been allowed to go home for reunion, but your house has been uninhabited for many days, and it is a cold room with a cold stove, so it is inevitable that it will be inconvenient.
Why don't you spend New Year's Eve here with me, and I'll ask Zhang Tianci to send someone to your house to clean up the house first, and then go back soon."
Lao Wang hesitated. He was actually willing to take the opportunity to get closer to Xiao Feng, but he didn't know what his wife and daughter would think.
From what he thought, no matter how Xiao Feng took care of them, they were outsiders after all, and they entered the Xiao Mansion as slaves, so they would definitely feel uncomfortable.
A golden nest and a silver nest are not as good as your own doghouse. How can you be as comfortable as you want in your own home under someone else's roof?
Now that he is out, he cannot sacrifice his wife and daughter's feelings just because he wants to have a relationship with Xiao Feng.
So, when he was about to decline politely, his daughter rushed up to him, grabbed his arm and dragged him to the nave.
"Father, since Brother Xiao is so thoughtful, let's stay here for New Year's Eve. The bed at home is always cold, and isn't your waist always a little sore?"
Lao Wang was surprised to be dragged by his daughter. Just when he was about to explain that his waist didn't hurt much, he felt someone pinched him hard on the back of his waist.
"It hurts, it really hurts!"
Mrs. Wang's wife looked at her daughter's little actions and felt angry and funny. She also bowed to Xiao Fengfu and hurried up to help her daughter support her husband.
Seeing the Wang family entering the main hall, Qiaoqiao was having a silly laugh, Zhang Yunqing rolled his eyes: "Chunqiao, what are you laughing at?"
Qiaoqiao whispered: "Sister Yingxiang pinched Wang Tuiguan very hard. She probably wanted to see if Wang Tuiguan had lost weight in prison."
Zhang Yunqing patted Qiaoqiao's head helplessly: "Chunqiao, you are so stupid. Yingxiang doesn't want to go home and insists on staying here to celebrate the New Year! Huh, you are so thick-skinned!"
Qiaoqiao raised her head in surprise: "Is it shameless to celebrate the New Year at someone else's house?"
Zhang Yunqing nodded affirmatively: "Of course, it's not like she has no home. Her father has been released from prison, and she still spends the New Year at someone else's house, so she is thick-skinned!"
At this time, a carriage drove in through the gate that had not been closed. Zhang Tianci jumped out of the carriage and greeted Xiao Feng.
"Brother, I've got some New Year's goods, so you don't need to send people to buy them. I can move them directly into the warehouse for you."
Xiao Feng smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, the Wishiguan side should also send some new year's goods. Don't pay for the Wishiguan side. The bills there have to be settled separately."
Zhang Tianci agreed repeatedly, then turned to Zhang Yunqing: "Daughter, your mother asked me to take you home for the New Year.
It’s just that you usually like to play with Qiaoqiao. There’s no reason to stay at Big Brother’s house during the Chinese New Year. It’s not like you’re homeless.”
Zhang Yunqing's face suddenly turned red, as red as if he had been slapped twice.
She looked at Qiaoqiao from the corner of her eyes guiltily, racking her brains to think of a reason.
"Um, Dad, our family is too small, so the Chinese New Year is not very lively. Look at how lively Brother Xiao's house is.
Wang Tuiguan and his family are also celebrating the New Year here, so why don’t you bring mom over to celebrate the New Year together? Please, Dad, I can’t bear to leave Qiaoqiao!”
Qiaoqiao was very touched. She didn't expect that Sister Yunqing was so kind to her that she couldn't bear to leave even on the New Year's Day. Naturally, she forgot about the fact that Zhang Yunqing had just been slapped in the face.
Zhang Tianci looked at his daughter suspiciously, feeling that his daughter's reason was far-fetched, and he looked at Xiao Feng helplessly.
"Brother, this girl has been spoiled by me. Look at this..."
Xiao Feng didn't care. The more people there were, the more lively it was. This was the first New Year that he had traveled through time. If it was really deserted, he was afraid that he would think too much and not even be able to sleep.
"Come all, come all. Such a big house would be too deserted if there are few people, but it would be lively if there are many people."
Zhang Yunqing got his wish and ran towards the backyard with Qiaoqiao in his arms, fearing that Zhang Tianci would change his mind if he was slow.
At this time, the door slowly closed, and the crowd watching the excitement on the main street dispersed with satisfaction, still talking about Xiao Feng's good deeds.
"You heard it, it's all nonsense. How about framing officials and taking away wives and daughters? I already knew it was impossible."
"Oh, that's not what you said just now. You also said that people's hearts are separated from each other, and you can't take everything at face value."
"Well... that's right. I mean, don't take everything at face value. On the surface, it looks like Mr. Xiao framed officials and took away their wives and daughters, but it's actually not the case!"
"You're still talking about Chunyan Tower! It's so conclusive, as if you saw it with your own eyes!"
"Don't tell me about this, I actually saw it with my own eyes. I spent the night in Chunyan Tower that day..."
"Pull him down, you are the only one who earns that amount of money and is worthy of spending the night in Chunyan Tower. How much do you think I believe you in the hook bar?"
"Looking down on people? I won the bet that day. I went there once and caught up! Mr. Xiao really pulled Yan Niang into the guest room..."
"Don't we always look at the surface? What's actually going on?"
"Well, it's enough to just look at the surface. What else can you do by entering the guest room in Chunyan Tower? Could it be that you can also try a case?"
Liu Tong didn't even listen to the comments of passers-by because his mind was buzzing at the moment.
Seeing his wife ordering the housekeeper to drive home, he followed with heavy steps.
After entering the house and everyone got out of the car, Liu Tong followed from behind, took out a piece of silver, wrapped it in red silk, and handed it to Liu Xueer in a flattering manner.
"Xiaoxue, um, this year's lucky money is only two taels of silver. Whatever you like, just go and buy it."
Liu Peng's eyes widened in surprise: "Don't you give me five cents of silver every year? Why is dad so generous this year?"
He stretched out his hand expectantly, and Liu Tong gave him five cents angrily: "Your sister has grown up, and you are still a child. What do you need so much money for?"
Liu Xueer smiled and took the red envelope, stuffed it into her arms, and then pointed at Liu Tong's belly.