With the example of failure at Linqing Chaoguan in the past, Du Jin certainly would not doubt whether Xu Xun was selling sheep over others and using the emperor as a cover, and his face immediately showed genuine shock. Before he returned to Beijing, he heard that
He said that his ancestor Li Rong had some troubles with Xiao Jing, the eunuch in charge of the ceremony, and he also had a small disagreement with Xu Xun. Therefore, when he saw someone coming to his door today, he was a little apprehensive, fearing that he would be asked to report the news, but unexpectedly
It was such a good thing. But although pie in the sky was good, he had to worry that the other party would use it to blackmail him into betraying Li Rong. If word spread, his reputation would be ruined.
"Master Xu, if the emperor wants to inquire, whether it is Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites or Eunuch Li, wouldn't it be more detailed?"
"Who is Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites? The top scholar, the most respected person in etiquette, wouldn't it be boring to bring the emperor back despite all the difficulties? As for Eunuch Li, he grew up watching the emperor and is always a little embarrassed.
.Besides, people all pay attention to the words of a matchmaker who is ordered by his parents. Even though the emperor is the emperor, he should not be involved in these matters." Seeing Du Jin regretting his mistake, Xu Xun said sincerely, "As for other channels,
, it’s not that I can’t find out, but since you’re here, why should I bother with that?”
"Yes, thank you Mr. Xu for reminding me."
"It's oyster, Eunuch Du, remember to take care of it for me to Eunuch Li."
"Ah...I will definitely bring it, I will definitely bring it."
Seeing that Du Jin agreed repeatedly, Xu Xun knew that he would never really go to say hello to Li Rong on his behalf, so Xu Xun didn't say anything more, only smiled and mentioned a few words about what he should pay attention to in the Ministry of Etiquette.
Such news. After Du Jin got off the car, he didn't stop anymore and directly ordered to turn around and go home. As the car was driving on the road, he was in a good mood and saw that A Bao seemed to have something on his mind, so he casually asked: "A Bao, what are you thinking about?"
I'm worried, could it be that I fell in love with someone?"
The question of a young man who has just started to make fun of women is always the best way to confuse people. Now A Ying was directly dumbfounded by Xu Xun's sudden words. He hurriedly turned his head without even thinking about it.
It shook like a rattle: "No, no, no, I don't have anyone in mind! I was thinking about my master and... A few days ago, when my master graciously allowed me to go back to Tongzhou to see my grandpa, he had just been ill, and now his muscles and bones are not as good as before.
The waterway from Tianjin Wei to Tongzhou is difficult to navigate. Grandpa almost fell into the water several times back then. I am really worried about him..."
Only then did Xu Xun think of A Bao's grandfather, the man named Chen on Caohe River. Thinking of the dozens of people under his command, he asked thoughtfully: "How long has your grandfather been working on Caohe River?"
?”
"Grandpa has been in the water since he was eight years old. It must have been more than fifty years ago." A Bao raised his head proudly, counted on his fingers and said with a smile, "Grandpa told me when I went back that time, Caohe is now
Among the people who go to the boat to slim down, there is almost no one older than him... Ah, he also taught me to follow the young master and be obedient..."
"There's no need to say anything about being obedient. I take you everywhere now, which proves that you are obedient enough." Xu Xun smiled slightly, and suddenly an idea came to his mind, and he immediately raised his fingers at A Bao with a smile.
When he got closer, he asked again, "What kind of people are there among the people under your grandfather's command?"
"I have two uncles, three cousins, two cousins, and a few miscellaneous relatives. In short, we are all one family." Abao habitually crossed his fingers again, and then he came to his senses and chatted hurriedly.
Putting down his hand, "Grandpa said, this business seems to only require strength, but there are off-seasons and peak seasons on the Caohe River. If there are too many people in the off-season, there will not be enough food, so there are always only a few people. We are a fixed business. There are many peak seasons on the Caohe River."
Those who come here to help, other times do odd jobs here and there to earn money, and their lives are even harder than ours."
A Bao now has a fixed monthly allowance in Xing'an Bo Mansion, two clothes a year in spring and autumn, two clothes in summer and one suit in winter, which is a total of five sets of clothes. It is almost unimaginable to live in these days, so when he thinks of facing those relatives when he goes back
Looking at their envious gazes, he felt a little uncomfortable. At this time, he could only distract himself by thinking about those people who had a worse life. However, what he never expected was that Xu Xun suddenly asked a question that was completely out of his mind.
His unexpected words.
"Then do you want to bring your grandfather and others to the capital?"
"Ah?" Abao stared blankly at Xu Xun for a while with his mouth wide open, then suddenly he knelt down with a plop. As a result, the carriage was so narrow that he directly bumped into the edge of the small square table. But he didn't care.
So many, he kept saying, "Young master, I think, I can only dream of it! If the young master can accept grandpa and the others as an errand together...".
"Get up!" Xu Xun couldn't help but feel angry and funny when he saw that A Bao's head was bruised. He screamed and when no one stopped, he scolded him with a straight face, "Why, I just praised you for being obedient. Now,
Are you disobedient?"
"No, no, no, of course I listen to the young master...,.
Seeing Ah Bao getting up in confusion, Xu Xun said sternly: "You are mistaken. Xing'an Bo's Mansion is only a big place. Now it only has a lot more servants. There is no need to hire more people." Seeing Ah Bao, he got up in confusion.
There was a hint of disappointment on Bao's face, and he said slowly, "However, there is no shortage of manpower in Xing'anbo Mansion, which does not mean that there is no shortage of manpower in other places. Next, I have to do a big thing, and I need some honest and hard-working people.
.Although it is still hard work, it is safer and easier than making a living on the canal.
I'll give you two days' leave. If you want to go back, you might as well go back and tell your grandfather...if he wants to, let him come to Beijing to see me.
This time Abao was finally overjoyed. He hurriedly knelt down again and kowtowed several times, saying thank you repeatedly. When the carriage entered the Xing'an Bo Mansion and stopped at the second gate, Xu Xun ordered him to go to the accountant to collect it.
With some money, he took a car back to Tongzhou. When the little guy ran away, he saw Jin Liu was a little envious, so he smiled and said, "Why, are you envious of A Bao?"
"The young master is joking. How can I envy him?" Jin Liu hurriedly lowered his head and said flatteringly, "Young master knows that the young master trusts me, so he uses me as his driver every day."
"It's good that you know." Xu Xun knew what kind of character Jin Liu was, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Zhu Ying mentioned something before, your mother-in-law is in charge of the kitchen and she keeps careful accounting every month and there are no discrepancies. She said that she should mention something
It's not without hardship for you to have been with me for so long, so I'd like you to mention her monthly payment as well, starting from this month. In addition, you and your wife are both very young, but you don't have a child and a half.
With a girl by your side, what are your plans?"
Hearing that his mother-in-law and he had gained a monthly salary of Jinliu together, he felt happy. When Xu Xun mentioned his heir, his face drooped. He was not a fuel-efficient lamp. I saw him when he was in Jinling.
There was no movement in the mother-in-law's stomach, so she tried hard outside, but nothing came of it. Finally, she went to several doctors and they all said it was his problem, so he could only beat his chest and stamp his feet. However, at that time, he was indifferent.
He didn't want to think about these things. Now that he had become somewhat successful, his mind became more active.
"Reporting to the young master, I have an elder brother near Nanjing who has several sons. I plan to adopt a younger brother."
"In that case, send someone to pick him up." Xu Xun nodded and agreed. After turning around and entering the second door, he suddenly stopped again. "When we get to Nanjing, we can find out how Tao Hong is doing. We can come back together."
, you can also have a companion. If you are of the right age, let him and Tao Hong serve pen and ink in the study together after you arrive, and learn to read and write. You have already signed the living contract, so the little one does not need to sign anymore.
A hundred coins as pocket money, I will send you to school when I am older."
Jin Liu himself had limited literacy, so he thought that the reason for adopting a younger child would be to give him a good education so that he might become a great person in the future. Now that Xu Xun actually proposed such a generous offer, the unjust thoughts he had in Zhouzhou disappeared immediately.
, was replaced by unconcealable ecstasy, and he hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed just like A Bao did at the beginning. Today, all matters concerning A Bao and Jin Liu were settled in one package. Xu Xun had to think a little and entered the second door.
He went straight to his father, Xu Liang, and told him his plan, which immediately elicited a burst of laughter from his father.
"When it comes to winning over people's hearts, there is no one better than you. Everyone depends on you." Xu Liang never dismissed his son's ideas, so this time there was no exception. After thinking about it, he added, "But don't be too unfavorable to one."
, the original servants of Xing'an Bo Mansion should be rewarded for their hard work, so as to prevent them from feeling resentful. I will look for someone to arrange this matter later... But having said that, when the late emperor is officially buried in the mausoleum, you
Isn’t it time to celebrate this happy event? A house would be miserable without a hostess. What’s the point of us two grown men interfering with household affairs all day long!”
"I just wanted to, but this matter now depends on the emperor's face." Xun listlessly relayed Zhu Houzhao's words. Seeing his father dumbfounded, he said helplessly, "We share blessings and share hardships. The matter of choosing a queen is one day away."
There is no result, I am still putting off this matter."
I was depressed, but when A Bao rushed back with the dusty old man Chen in the evening, Xu Xun naturally did not show his unmotivated look.
Seeing that Father Chen knelt down and kowtowed as soon as he entered the small living room, he hurriedly asked Rui Sheng to help him up, and then asked A Bao to get some small tuna and asked Father Chen to sit down. This was the first time he entered such a wealthy family.
Father Chen was so embarrassed that he didn't even know where to put his hands. It wasn't until Xu Xun exchanged a few pleasantries and got down to business that he suddenly became energetic.
"Your Majesty, after hearing what you asked A Bao to say, I was really happy. However, we have all been sailing on the canal for decades. Although there are some people who understand the work of masonry, carpentry and so on.
A little bit, but it’s not even good, I’m afraid it will delay your business, and then we’ll all die.”
Hearing that Father Chen did not agree happily, Xu Xun was indescribably satisfied. He glanced at A Bao and said, "It's great that you are so sincere. Masons and carpenters are naturally required, but
In the early stage, the land needs to be leveled, foundations laid, and various materials moved. Many labor-based tasks need to be done by people. Since you are willing, even though you are old, you still need to be a foreman who supervises the work.