The Salesian Office in Fucheng is located in the east of the city, half an hour away from Nishang Embroidery Workshop.
The Salesian Bureau was built with government funding. From the outside, it looks like a three-story house that occupies a large area.
A carriage had stopped at the door of the Salesian Bureau. When Shen Xiu got off the carriage, she glanced at the carriage and felt that it looked familiar.
Before she came to the Salesian Bureau, Guo Abacus had already asked someone to greet the director here.
Therefore, as soon as Shen Xiu appeared at the door, a steward from the Salesian Bureau personally greeted him.
The steward flattered Shen Xiu a few words beforehand, and then a servant girl came over and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Ms. Shen, the young lady from the government office is here today. She heard that you were coming and wanted to invite you over."
No wonder the carriage at the door looks so familiar. It turns out that Mrs. Shen has also come to the Salesian Bureau.
Shen Xiu followed the steward into the inner courtyard. Shen was standing in the corridor. When he saw her, he waved from a distance.
When Shen Xiu came closer, Shen asked with a smile: "Why are you here?"
Shen Xiudao: "There is a batch of jackets in poor condition in the embroidery workshop. I wanted to donate them to the Salesian Bureau, so I came here. Madam, why are you here?"
Mrs. Shen smiled and said, "It's not because of you. My father-in-law sends my mother-in-law here every month. Now that my mother-in-law is banned, all I have to do is let me come."
She wanted to have a few private words with Shen Xiu, so she asked the manager to go ahead and sent the maid away. Then she looked at Shen Xiu and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that Madam Shen, looking at Wen Jing, your methods are very clever. My mother-in-law fell into your hands."
"You don't know, my mother-in-law looks kind-hearted, but she actually has a lot of thoughts. Fortunately, I'm not stupid, otherwise I would have been played around by her."
Shen Xiu didn't want to talk more about Mrs. Gu, but said, "It's not easy for her either. She became a stepmother at a young age."
Shen said: "Actually, neither my husband nor I are cruel people. As long as she is willing to live in peace, we may not be able to tolerate her. It's her own unwillingness to live in peace, so don't blame us for being unkind. Already."
It is difficult for an upright official to deal with household affairs, not to mention that the Qin family not only has conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but also between stepmother and stepson and daughter-in-law.
Shen Xiu didn't want to get involved, so she changed the topic: "Why did the prefect send you here? Is it because you are afraid that the Salesians Bureau will abuse the orphans?"
"That's not true." Ms. Shen said softly: "Although my father-in-law was not born as an orphan, he was almost like an orphan. He once lived in the Salesian Bureau in his early years. So he would donate some money to the Salesian Bureau every month, hoping that those Orphans without fathers and mothers live better."
While the two were talking, a burst of noise suddenly came from the room in the inner courtyard.
Shen Xiudao: "It seems like someone is quarreling."
Mrs. Shen also heard the commotion and asked someone to call the steward.
The steward came quickly and said with a smile: "Young Madam and Madam Shen are laughing. The Salesian Bureau has always been short of clothes. Today Madam Shen did not bring many jackets. The orphans were fighting for clothes, so There's a quarrel. I just reprimanded them and they won't quarrel again."
"Just reprimanding is not enough." Shen Xiudao: "As the saying goes, if things are not equal, they will cry. Since there are people quarreling, they must feel that the division is unfair. Bring a few of them over and let me see."
Normally, Shen Xiu would not mind her own business. But when she came to the Salesian Bureau, she wanted to select a few orphans to adopt, so she naturally wanted to observe the character of these orphans.
Moreover, she and Mrs. Shen came to the Salesian Bureau one after another. The person in charge would definitely tell the orphans that there was a distinguished guest from the Salesian Bureau today.
But under such circumstances, the orphans still started to quarrel, which shows that someone did it intentionally.
Shen Xiu also wanted to know the reason behind this, so he asked the steward to bring them over.
The steward glanced at Mrs. Shen, who nodded and said, "Since Mrs. Shen has given the order, please bring the person here!"
But after the steward left, Mrs. Shen said to Shen Xiu, "What are you doing meddling in this nosy matter? Not only will you not be doing well, but you will be disliked by the steward."
Shen Xiu smiled slightly and said, "Of course I have my own intentions."
After a while, the steward brought out the quarreling orphans.
Shen Xiu took a cursory glance and saw that these orphans were both male and female. Among them was a boy who was particularly tall. He had just put on a fine cotton jacket, but the expression on his face was a bit timid and uneasy.
Except for this boy, the others are all eleven or twelve year old girls.
There was a girl who was particularly eye-catching. She not only had fair skin, but also had a high nose bridge and big eyes.
These orphans were more or less nervous after seeing Shen Xiu and Mrs. Shen, but this girl was generous and looked at herself and Mrs. Shen calmly.
Shen Xiu saw the girl's movements, but said nothing. She just glanced at the steward.
The steward smiled sheepishly and said, "I brought them all. It's just that they have always lacked discipline. If there is any offense in their words, I hope the young lady and Mrs. Shen will not take offense."
Shen Xiudao: "There is no need to say more." After speaking, he looked at the orphans and asked: "Why are you quarreling?"
Several orphans were silent, and finally the girl with big eyes spoke: "It was A Zhuang who took advantage of his height and strength and snatched the jacket from Amei. I couldn't get angry, so I quarreled with him. Amei and the others were afraid that I would suffer a loss, so they stepped forward to help me."
"Is this the truth of the matter?" Shen Xiu looked at the young man named A Zhuang.
The young man did not dare to raise his head and did not speak.
The girl with big eyes said: "Azhuang, don't dare to act like this. You have bullied us not once or twice because of your strong appearance. Last winter, you already got a cotton-padded jacket. Logically speaking, these Jackets, it's our turn. Look at what Amei is wearing, they are all summer singles, but after wearing so many layers, she is still freezing cold."
The girl had sharp teeth and a sharp mouth. When she spoke, A Zhuang lowered his head again and again.
Shen Xiu stepped forward and pinched Amei's clothes. It was indeed very thin.
The big-eyed girl saw that she was showing a sense of intolerance towards Amei, and said hurriedly: "Ms. Shen, don't look at Amei's thin appearance. In fact, she can sew and thread. She sewed any damage to our clothes. She also wants to be an embroiderer!" After saying that, she pushed Amei.
The little girl named Amei was thin and shy. She gave her a push and said, "Ms. Shen, I do know how to sew." After saying these two sentences, she ran out of courage and said no more. Can't go down anymore.
The girl with big eyes said on her behalf: "Ms. Shen, your embroidery workshop should still need some help! Even though Amei can't speak, her hands are very skillful." After saying that, she took a look from Amei's arms. He took out a coarse cloth handkerchief.
"Look, the plum blossoms on this handkerchief were embroidered by Amei."
Shen Xiu glanced at the handkerchief and saw the plum blossoms embroidered on it. The stitches were of different sizes, but the only thing that was commendable was that they were somewhat similar in shape.
Before she could finish her words, the steward had scolded her: "Liu'er, what are you talking about? How can the little needlework that Amei does catch the eyes of Mrs. Shen?"
It turned out that the girl with big eyes was named Liu'er. Shen Xiu saw that she was being scolded and did not say anything. She just bit her lip stubbornly and said, "Although this needlework is not very good, at Amei's age, , it’s pretty good.”
Liu'er's eyes lit up, "Ms. Shen, are you willing to adopt Amei?"
Shen Xiu smiled and nodded: "Because of your hard work, I can adopt Amei. But do you know me well?"
Liu Er smiled and said, "I have heard a lot about you, Madam Shen, and I know that you are not a bad person. It is better for Amei to follow you than to be bullied here."
Shen Xiu smiled and said: "Actually, I came to the Salesian Bureau to adopt a few orphans and help me. If you are willing, you can come with me."
Liu'er was obviously stunned. She didn't expect that Shen Xiu would take a fancy to her. She pointed to her nose and said, "Ms. Shen, are you willing to have me?"
Shen Xiu nodded.
Liu'er said: "Mrs. Shen probably doesn't know that I am a notorious thorn in the Salesian Bureau. I have to quarrel with people every few days."
Shen Xiudao: "You are standing up for others, not looking for trouble. I understand."
After hearing this, Liu'er's heart felt hot, and she said without saying a word: "Okay, since Madam Shen is willing to adopt me, then I am willing to go with you."
Every year, people come to the Salesian Bureau to adopt orphans. As long as those people are clean and willing to pay, the Salesian Bureau will naturally be happy to support a few less people.
Shen Xiu's identity is there, and she is generous in her actions, so she naturally has no reason to refuse to do things.
He smiled and said, "I'll let Amei and Liu'er pack their luggage right away."
"It's not just her two." Shen Xiu pointed to A Zhuang next to him, "I want this young man too."
Liu'er thought she had heard wrong. Mrs. Shen actually wanted to adopt A Zhuang. She wanted to say something, but Amei pulled her back and she remained silent.
But Liu'er couldn't bear it for long. When Shen Xiu separated from Shen and took the three of them into the carriage, Liu'er ignored A Zhuang's presence and asked directly: "Ms. Shen, why did you adopt A Zhuang? He is the most bullying person and fears the strong."