Steward Ma's family lives in the north of the city. The house is not big, but there are several people including young and old.
When I left the child to deliver the message, Manager Ma's house was preparing to have lunch.
On the table are steamed buns, two plates of pickles, and a bowl of porridge for each person.
Liu Hao glanced at the food on the table and said to Steward Ma, "Ms. Shen asked me to pass on a message. She wanted to ask Steward Ma when he would be free so that we could talk about managing the fields."
Guanshi Ma's wife heard that Shen Xiu intended to keep Guanshi Ma, and hurriedly said for him: "We are free any day."
"Since Steward Ma is free, let's go to the embroidery shop after dinner! Madam Shen will be waiting for you there." Liu Hao passed the message and was about to leave, but was held back by Steward Ma's wife.
She insisted on keeping the child for dinner, and asked her eldest son to go to the street to buy some cooked food.
The eldest son knew that there was no money left at home and the cooked food must be on credit, so he stood still without touching it.
Liu Hao didn't want to stay for dinner in the first place. Seeing this situation, he hurriedly said: "Ms. Shen is still waiting for my reply. I have to go back."
Guanshi Ma's wife then let go and sent him out enthusiastically.
After Liubao left, Manager Ma said with a stern face: "It's not like I can't find any errands, but why are you so diligent?"
Guanshi Ma's daughter-in-law knew her man's nature, and immediately said: "I'm not doing it for you, just because of your bad temper. Look at which employer wants to hire you. If I hadn't delivered the baby to Mr. Hao's daughter-in-law, After saving the lives of their mother and son, you still can't find a customer like Hao Yuanwai!"
Manager Ma said: "That's because I'm very capable. If I hadn't had the skills passed down from my ancestors, Mr. Hao wouldn't have hired me for more than ten years. I put my words here, I, old Ma, rely on my ability to make a living. .Whoever takes a fancy to my ability, I will work hard for. If anyone doesn’t take a fancy to me, it’s because he is short-sighted.”
Having said that, the family can hardly open the pot, and Manager Ma naturally hopes to stay and manage Shen Xiu's land.
It's just that he has a stubborn temper, and even if he cares in his heart, no one can tell on his face.
Shen Xiu had dealt with many people, but it was rare to see someone as incompetent as Guanshi Ma.
Since the other party did not follow common sense, Shen Xiu said directly: "This land cannot be left alone. I want to sign a one-year contract with Manager Ma first. If we get along well in the future, then I will I signed a long-term contract with Manager Ma. I just don’t know what Manager Ma wants.”
One year is a buffer period. If Manager Ma manages the fields properly, Shen Xiu certainly doesn't want to replace him.
Manager Ma understood what Shen Xiu meant. Since the other party said so, he nodded: "Then sign a one-year contract first. But I will say ugly words first. I am not a vain person. Good is good. If it is not good, it is not good. If I have to evict any tenant in the future, it will be because he is not good at farming. My boss must not interfere with this."
"Of course." Shen Xiudao said: "I don't know how to farm in the fields. From now on, the farming and tenant farmers will naturally be left to you. But one thing is, you can't bully the tenant farmers at will. If you let me know, I won't be lenient. of."
Manager Ma said with a straight face: "My boss is wrong. I have never bullied a tenant in my life. Otherwise, you should ask the former tenants to see if I have ever bullied anyone."
Shen Xiu was just reminding the other party, how could he expect that the other party would be so serious.
She had no choice but to soften her tone and said: "That's all I said. I didn't say that Manager Ma would bully the tenant farmers."
Manager Ma no longer had a straight face. Shen Xiu saw this and felt that Manager Ma really had a temper. However, capable people tend to have a temper.
Shen Xiu just hopes that he is really a capable person, so that she can tolerate him even if he has a temper.
After both parties had no objections, Shen Xiu signed a one-year contract with Manager Ma and paid him half a year's wages in advance according to Manager Ma's request.
Next, Shen Xiu entrusted all the affairs of Liangtian to Manager Ma, while she devoted herself to the double-sided embroidery.
By the time Shen Xiu finished the double-sided embroidery and sent it to Qiao Meier, it was already the Double Ninth Festival.
Now, as the hostess of the county government's backyard, Qiao Meier was making arrangements for the Double Ninth Festival. When Shen Xiulai gave her double-sided embroidery, she also gave Shen Xiu a box of flower cakes.
Although the Double Ninth Festival is not as important as the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is still a festival.
Shen Xiu watched the maids coming and going and knew that Qiao Meier had a lot of things to do, so she quickly said goodbye.
Qiao Meier was indeed very busy, so she ordered the maid next to her to send Shen Xiu out.
When Magistrate Zuo was in office, Shen Xiu came here countless times. Later when Magistrate Shi took office, she also came here once or twice.
Today, the small flower garden in the backyard of the county government has changed again after County Magistrate Shi left.
The original vegetable racks were all pulled out and replaced with various flowers. None of these flowers were precious varieties. Now in late autumn, all the flowers have withered, and only the chrysanthemums are still in bloom.
When Shen Xiu saw the chrysanthemums, she remembered several kinds of precious chrysanthemums that Mrs. Wen had planted before.
I heard from Luo Gong that after Magistrate Zuo returned to the capital, he relied on his original political achievements and the influence of Mrs. Wen's natal family to find a position as a prefect.
I thought that Mrs. Wen's life would be better now that Zuo County Magistrate became Zuo Prefecture.
She was thinking about Mrs. Wen when the maid behind her suddenly called out: "My lord."
When Shen Xiu came back to her senses, she saw Magistrate Zhen coming to the backyard at some point. He was wearing regular clothes and had a calm look on his face. He didn't know what he was thinking.
Shen Xiu called "Sir" in a polite manner. Magistrate Zhen gave a faint hum, but did not leave. Instead, he said: "Mei'er is the only sister in the county. If you have nothing to do, come and see her often.
She’s quite bored alone.”
Magistrate Zhen's expression when speaking to Shen Xiu has changed. It used to be that he was entangled with her, but now that he has Qiao Meier, when he sees her again, he no longer has that bond.
At the same time, the two had a very unhappy time because of the substitute incident.
Magistrate Zhen didn't want to offend one more person for nothing, not to mention Qiao Meier was on good terms with Shen Xiu, so he lowered his dignity and said these words.
But Shen Xiu was still a little wary of him and would not believe him easily, so she just hummed softly.
Magistrate Zhen said nothing more, looked at Shen Xiu for the last time, and walked away.
As soon as he left, Shen Xiu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he had been too careful.
It's just that Magistrate Zhen's persistent harassment in the past left Shen Xiu with some shadow. Now she would rather be careful than be targeted again.
After coming out of the county government office, Shen Xiu was still hesitating whether to go back to the shop or the house, but saw a familiar figure standing on the street.
The man was talking to someone who was asking for directions. He had handsome features and a warm expression. He was Wei Yan, whom he had not seen for more than half a year.