Chapter 137: Knowing Yourself and Knowing Your Enemy

After taking two steps, Qiu Chen turned back and asked Shunzi, "How did they come here?" How many women, no one to escort? ”

"Yes, there were six men escorting them, but when they arrived, they saw the second master, and the six people left, without indicating their names and identities. But ......" Junzi glanced at Qiu Chen and hesitated.

"How?" Qiu Chen frowned slightly and asked, and said, "You just say what you see and think, and I will deal with it myself, no matter what I say, I won't blame you." ”

"Yes," Junko agreed, thinking about it, "Although those people are not wearing knives and guns, and they are wearing ordinary clothes, but, Xiao always thinks that those people are not ordinary people, well, those people look at people very ...... Scary. ”

Qiu Chen squinted his eyes slightly and nodded, "I know the way, you can go!" ”

After speaking, Qiu Chen turned around, pulled up a smiling face again, greeted the people at the gate, and said hello to Daxing, who was collecting medicine, and without saying much, he went straight through the front yard to the East Cross Courtyard.

Shunzi stood in place for a moment, watching Qiu Chen enter the gate before he walked up to Daxing and helped Guowei. The two of them glanced at each other, and both saw a trace of deep melancholy hidden in each other's eyes.

Yesterday, those six men were just scary in their eyes...... The coldness emanating from those six people, as well as the stiff emphasis of those people's words, made Junko and Daxing deeply afraid. Although the two of them are not from the same township, and they did not enter the Liao Mansion together, they both have a very terrifying memory in their childhood, that is, the Rong people buckle the edge. It was the Rong people who buckled the border and made them lose their homes, and it was also the Rong people who buckled the border and made them experience such a bloody scene when they were young, nine times out of ten, the people in the village were killed and burned to death, all kinds of finances were looted, and beautiful young women were taken captive...... And the bloodthirsty gaze of those Rong people, and the stiff accent...... It's all the same as the six people from yesterday...... It's so similar!

The smile on Qiu Chen's face couldn't be kept after entering the gate, and he kept his face solemn until he entered the East Cross Courtyard.

In the East Cross Courtyard, it is still busy and orderly, but, I don't know if Qiu Chen is thinking too much or what, she always feels that the air pressure in the East Cross Courtyard today is a little low, the laughter and laughter of the past are gone, especially quiet, quiet, the sound of the pounding tube and the squeak of the stone grinding handle over the side of the smashing of the medicinal herbs are particularly clear.

Qiu Chen stood at the gate of the courtyard, slightly distracted, and the workers over there had already seen her. Immediately, the originally quiet East Cross Courtyard was like water dripping into a hot oil pot, and it suddenly became lively and noisy.

"Begonia, are you back?"

"The proprietor is back......"

Qiu Chen gathered his mind, greeted everyone with a smile, straightened his back as usual, and walked towards the nearest shed where Luo Bu hemp was fried first.

When Lan Ying heard the voice, she also walked out of the kitchen, and she didn't care about anything else, so she hurriedly came to Qiu Chen's side, pulled Qiu Chen away a few steps, avoided everyone, and said in a low voice: "Why did you come back......"

After subconsciously complaining, Lan Ying also realized that her words were meaningless, raised her hand to stop Qiu Chen, who was about to reply, and continued: "Yesterday, five or six men suddenly sent three women in a car, saying that they were the old lady of the Lin family, the aunt and the fifth lady...... I'm surprised, since your father-in-law moved to Liujiaao with Shengzi and Xuzi, I haven't heard of anyone else. Daxing and Junko won't let them in. Later, I called Xuzi back from the school, and I don't know what the old woman showed Xuzi, so Xuzi actually arranged for them to enter the door. Although I didn't hear the recognition...... But does this mean that in the future, you will have two more mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law out of thin air? How is this said...... Why didn't anyone come when you couldn't eat or wear, and now the family is booming, and you are rushing to recognize your relatives...... Hey, let me tell you, although the two old women and the girl don't look good, they are much better dressed than you, silk and satin...... It's all shiny material...... It's not like it's a sad ......."

Qiu Chen listened silently, and didn't say anything about these people, only worried: "Who did Fu'er Man'er follow last night?" ”

Lan Ying patted Qiu Chen's hand and said, "Last night, I took Fu'er Man'er to my house and slept with me all night. I'm going to school today, and for lunch, Junwen and Fu'er Man'er are also eating here......"

Qiu Chen sincerely showed a grateful smile and shook Lan Ying's hand: "Sister Lan Ying, it's really thanks to you!" ”

"What are you telling me about this...... Lan Ying also flashed a smile on her face, and then said nervously, "You haven't gone in yet?" ”

Qiu Chen nodded: "I have to ask for clarification by falling out of thin air so inexplicably, two mothers-in-law and sister-in-law." I'll wait here for Brother Xu, and when he comes back, I'll ask what those people have shown him, and let him arrange a few strangers into the house......"

Lan Ying hurriedly comforted again: "Haitang, don't complain too much about Xuzi, that kid is young after all, I don't know how powerful it is, and maybe he really brought some tokens...... Your father-in-law hasn't seen anyone for so many years......"

Patting Lan Ying's hand, Qiu Chen comforted her and said, "I know that Xuzi is not that kind of reckless character. I'm just waiting to ask him why, so I can deal with it. ”

Lan Ying relieved her heart at this time, watching Qiu Chen leave her, going around as usual, and talking to those helpers with a faint smile...... Lan Ying's heart fell after a day and a night.

Haitang is so calm, she must know how to deal with it, and she doesn't have to worry or worry!

Thinking like this, Lan Ying relaxed her expression and walked to the kitchen.

Although Qiu Chen said that she would not be allowed to go to the kitchen to be busy anymore, she would only be in charge of the storage and procurement of ingredients and utensils, but Lan Ying, who was accustomed to work, was always idle, and the little work of sending and receiving and receiving every day was done, and the work of buying vegetables and meat in the morning was also brought back by the carriage that went up to the town, and she was still used to going to the kitchen to help choose vegetables and wash the rest of the time, otherwise, she always felt that it was not appropriate to take such a high salary.

After that, Qiu Chen heard some words similar to Lan Ying from the mouths of the Qingshan family, Liu Zhanfeng, and Brother Quan. When these people arrive at Lin's house every day, they go directly to the East Cross Courtyard to work, and she rarely goes into the backyard when she is at home, not to mention that when she is not at home, she can't provide much information.

After the last, Qiu Chen walked up to Chengzi, who was making soap.

Chengzi was taking a few strong workers to pour the boiled soap into the mold, and when he saw Qiu Chen coming, those strong workers just smiled and said hello, and Qiu Chen opened his mouth to talk to Chengzi, and while talking, he walked to the shed where the raw materials were placed: "In the sales situation of Fucheng, gardenias and roses sell the best, and when the ingredients are added in the future, these two will increase the amount of feeding...... Well, double the feed for the time being. The others don't move yet. ”

Chengzi nodded, followed behind Qiu Chen, and came to the ingredient shed dozens of steps away. Yang Shumeng was in charge of this ingredient shed before, and after Yang Shumeng returned home, Qiu Chen was in charge of it himself. When Qiu Chen and Yang Shumeng were not there, Chengzi was responsible for taking out the raw materials that had been prepared.

Standing in front of the shed, Qiu Chen directly changed the subject: "Have you seen those people yesterday?" ”

"yes, I see." Chengzi nodded in response and continued, "When those people came yesterday, I was here, and when I went out, the second uncle had already returned, and he was instructing the Daxing family to bring people into the backyard......"

Speaking of this, Chengzi looked up at Qiu Chen, saw Qiu Chen nodding, and continued: "I didn't ...... with those people The ladies spoke, but I looked at them and there was something wrong with them. ”

Qiu Chen raised his eyebrows: "No...... What do you see? ”

Chengzi said in a calm voice that did not match his age: "Auntie, although those people are dressed well, their faces are haggard, yellow, and old, and their hands are thick, and their hair is withered...... Well, those people look at people and things, and they always ...... Some sneaky looks. ”

Withered and old? Thick palms? Withered hair......

Such a word is used to describe the gray-haired old man and wife, or the kind of person who has a bad life and has no food and clothing...... Is such a person really the old lady of the Lin family? If so, where did those people get their satin clothes, and some people escorted them here...... Where are these people all these years?

Qiu Chen remembered that Lin Xu said that the Lin family came to Liujiaao from the capital...... The men said they were coming from the north......

All kinds of clues are tangled together, like a mess, which makes people unable to solve and can't help but be irritable.

Trying to calm his mind, Qiu Chen nodded and said to Chengzi: "I know what you said, these days, you just have to restrain the helpers to do their jobs well...... Don't worry, this family can't be messed up. After this is done, soon, we will have to recruit a group of workers...... You pay attention to the people under your command, those people are available, and those people are not available. Among the available people, there are a few more who can be reused, and when there are more people in the future, you can't manage it on your own, and you have to find a few small stewards for you, you take care of them, and they take care of the helpers below. ”

Speaking of work, the melancholy on Chengzi's face disappeared, revealing a look of confidence and joy, and nodded his head again and again.

The mass investigation has basically come to an end here, and although Qiu Chen has not seen the old lady and the fifth lady who fell from the sky, he has already had a general understanding from the side.

These people must have lived no better, as for how they got the silk clothes and were sent here...... With this in-depth information, you can only ask Lin Xu, or directly ask yourself.

However, at this time, Qiu Chen had recovered from the state of enlightenment when he first heard the news, and he had also calmed down. These people, no matter what token they were carrying, did not verify their identities...... Or that she won't admit it until she really accepts it!

However, there is another headache for her, that is, Lin Xu between the two parties. Although Lin Xu has no impression of these people at all, or it is likely that he has not seen them since birth, if it is really related to flesh and blood, what Lin Xu will choose, she is completely uncertain, and she has no way to imagine...... She hoped that this simple, kind and intelligent 'little uncle', the child she accepted as her younger brother, would always be with her and Afu Aman, and in her heart they were family...... But if Lin Xu has a different choice, then she also respects his choice!

Because, with this line of concern, she is so cautious and so roundabout to deal with this matter, and she also hopes that the result will not disappoint her too much!

Let Chengzi go back to work, Qiu Chen saw Daxing with two helpers carrying the newly harvested Luo Bu Ma fresh leaves, and knew that Luo Bu Ma had been harvested.

Qiu Chen naturally walked over and asked about Daxing's acquisition of Luo Buma, and the two of them naturally came to the long table where the helpers were eating, and Xiu'er brought two bowls of large-leaf tea with a very eye-catching look.

Not to mention, after rushing all the way, Qiu Chen was really tired and thirsty, so he took the tea brought by Xiu'er, took a few sips first, and then began to talk to Daxing.

Daxing's narrative is more comprehensive, more detailed, and more relative to the guest officer, but there is only one sentence that gives Qiu Chen a new hint"...... Those men had a strong smell of cattle and sheep, and those people were wearing a kind of thick cowhide boots that were common in the northern grasslands. ”

Qiu Chen passed in his mind, it was true, although they were in the north, it was a custom in the Central Plains, and they generally wore cloth shoes in summer and autumn, and there were a few who wore boots, and they also wore thin-soled fast boots, and the boots were made of cloth. And she thought back to some of the people she had seen in Huairong, and some of the people in the barracks, but there were many of them wearing cowhide boots.

When she saw it at the time, she didn't care much, but now when she heard Daxing say this, she realized that the clothes worn in this era are far from the deep integration of the north and the south like in modern times. The costumes of this era still have very distinct regional and national characteristics.

Shen Yin nodded, Qiu Chen asked again: "Shunzi said, it was your family who served in the backyard last night, did she say anything to you when she came back?" ”

Daxing thought for a moment and said, "The women are long-winded...... Ahem, the little one is that the little wife is verbose, and when she came back, she said a lot to me, but she was picky about eating, but her face was not very good-looking, and she didn't complain. Other...... Oh, last night, the little master and the little lady were brought home by the full hoard, and those people didn't say anything, it seemed that they ...... It seems that he is not too close to the little master and the little lady. ”

Qiu Chen nodded. This sentence, Daxing said very reluctantly, after all, the self-proclaimed old lady should be Fu'er Man'er's grandmother, and grandma should be very close to her grandchildren.

But Qiu Chen was not surprised, not to mention whether the identity of those people can be determined now, and those people are related to Afu Aman's blood, even if there is, it is really a grandparent relationship, how much affection can he have for a grandchild like Afu Aman, who has never seen before?

Qiu Chen was not only not unhappy, but secretly relieved. From this matter, it can be guessed that those who are not good at acting, and those who are not good at acting may be easier to deal with.

After that, Daxing said again, Lin Xu didn't go up again since he was instructed to bring those people into the door, and he didn't eat last night, so he went back to his room directly. I had a simple bite to eat early this morning, and I went to the school, and it was also noon......

From this point of view, Lin Xu is also very inclose to these people who suddenly appeared, or in other words, he can't get close to them. Perhaps, it will be very sad - if it is really sure that the old lady is Lin Sheng Lin Xu's mother, what is Lin Shenglin Xu's fatherless and motherless orphan life these years?

As he spoke, the sun gradually set in the west, Qiu Chen looked up, and felt that it was almost time for the school to get out of school, so Qiu Chen asked Daxing to go down first. She herself got up and went into the kitchen.

If the identity of those people is confirmed, she doesn't want to be involved with them for a day, living in a courtyard, looking down all day long and not looking up. And she would feel unsafe with several strangers living in her home...... Fortunately, the Lin family has two courtyards, east and west.

If the identity can't be determined, then, very well, Qiu Chen will not be unprincipled to be a good person, where do you come from, go back, even if Qiu Chen sticks some money for the passage.

If the identity is confirmed, then she can't help it, after all, she, a descendant, has no room for beaks in this relationship. Then, move these people to the west courtyard and buy them one or two messengers...... Even if the daily expenses are from the East Courtyard, as long as she doesn't intervene in her life, she won't care about such a few people eating. But two old ladies and a girl, how much can it cost to eat!

found Lan Ying, Qiu Chen told her, asked her to give Uncle Dachuan a message, and took advantage of this time to find a few plasterers and carpenters, and wiped the inner walls of the west courtyard, suspended ceilings, doors and windows, and pankang......

These jobs are also laborious to wipe the interior walls, find a few more people, and try to get out in the shortest time. Qiu Chen had already ordered the furniture in the west courtyard, because there were no labor-intensive items such as shelves and beds, but some tables, chairs, cabinets, boxes and the like, which did not cost much, and they had already been sent over, and they were placed in the west wing of the west courtyard. Once the house is cleaned up, just move in and put it on the line. There are also some curtains and bedding that were used in the guest rooms, so I used to use them first...... Of course, these still depend on Lin Xu's statement.

While talking to Lan Ying, Junzi hurriedly ran in: "Madam, the second master is back." ”

Qiu Chen raised his eyes and looked behind Shunzi, but he didn't see Lin Xu's figure, and his heart jumped and asked, "What about people?" ”

"As soon as the second master arrived home, the old aunt and grandmother came out, saying that the old lady asked the second master to go over and have something, so she took the second master into the backyard......"

Qiu Chen frowned slightly, nodded, but he was not in a hurry, and still said to Lan Ying: "What I told you just now, you go back to Uncle Dachuan as soon as possible to talk about it." If there is anything, you come and call me, and I will go to your house and say. Don't let Uncle Okawa come here! ”

Lan Ying didn't understand it, but she knew that she could listen to Haitang's words unconditionally, and immediately agreed: "I'll go back to find his grandfather." I'll hear back to you in a moment. ”

Qiu Chen nodded, turned to Shunzi and said, "Let's go!" ”

Shunzi responded and followed Qiu Chen out.

Qiu Chen said again: "How many of them are Ah Fu Aman and Junwen?" ”

"The little lady and the little master are with the nephews and young masters, saying that there is still homework in the school that has not been completed...... Well, the second master came back early, and I should have heard that Mrs. has returned home. ”

The smile on Qiu Chen's face gradually disappeared after turning around and leaving the kitchen, and at this time, it came out with a hint of coldness.

As he walked, he commanded: "You must be optimistic this time, Afu Aman and Junwen will wait for me in the front yard when they come back." Don't be called away by someone who suddenly came out of nowhere! ”

Junko's heart jumped, and she hurriedly agreed.

Qiu Chen didn't pay attention to it anymore, raised his feet and walked out of the east cross courtyard, passed through the second entrance gate, and went straight into the backyard.

In the kitchen in the corner of the courtyard, the Daxing family, the Shunzi family, and the Qingjiang family were all busy, and when they saw Qiu Chen coming in, they all put down their work one after another to meet them.

Qiu Chen waved his hand and ordered directly: "Give me water first, I have been on the road for a day, and my body is full of dirt and sweat!" ”

The three mothers-in-law originally had something to say to their masters, but they didn't expect that Qiu Chen didn't give them a chance to speak at all, and immediately ordered the work, and the three of them were inevitably a little surprised and stunned. It is still the heart and eyes of the Qingjiang family, and it is clear in a blink of an eye that the master has been back for more than an hour, and he has not come in, but he is afraid that he will inquire about everything clearly, and now he is ordered like this, obviously to those few people who ran out of nowhere and claimed to be the master, they just do what the master tells them. As for the rest, they can't take care of it, and it's better to leave it alone.

So, the first one of the Qingjiang family smiled and agreed: "Yes!" Madame went back to the house to rest for a while, and immediately brought hot water to Madame. ”

Seeing that the Qingjiang family was like this, the Daxing family and the Shunzi family also immediately understood, and they also smiled and agreed.

Daxing's family also smiled and said: "Madam, I got a big fish today, the slave and maid have cleaned up, Madame take a break, can you give the slave and maid guidance, how to do it!" ”

Qiu Chen hooked the corners of his lips, and his mood was eased a little because of the amusement of several women, and he nodded: "Sisters-in-law, you have to let me rest for a while to drink saliva first......

A few of the Daxing family hurriedly responded with a smile, and hurriedly retired to the kitchen.

Qingxing and Yufeng also heard Qiu Chen's voice coming out of the main room at this moment, the two girls were young after all, and they hadn't gone through much of it, and they both felt a sense of relief when they saw Qiu Chen.

Qiu Chen entered the house without squinting, Qingxing and Yufeng immediately came up with tea, Qiu Chen took it and took a sip, listening to Yufeng talk about the placement of things. After Yufeng finished speaking, Qingxing said that after they came back, they heard what their mothers said......

Qiu Chen listened to her babbling like a little old woman at a young age, and couldn't help but interrupt her funny: "Okay, you go and clean up the hot water first, I want to bathe." I'm soaking in the bath, what do you have to say, tell me carefully. ”

Qingxing seemed to be a little unsatisfied, but was pulled out of the door by Yufeng with a smile.

Qiu Chen shook his head with a smile, entered the house, and packed up a set of cocoon silk clothes and pants with duck eggs and green. Qingxing and Yufeng also came in and said that the hot water was ready.

"Let's go, rub my back, everything is enough for you to finish!" Qiu Chen greeted Qingxing with a smile, and then instructed Yufeng, "You go ahead and wait, Ah Fu Aman is out of school, so let them go with their nephew and young master to finish the homework left by Mr. first." I'll be there later! ”

Yufeng responded unequivocally, handed the cloth towel in her hand to Qing Xing, and whispered to Qing Xing: "Madame is very tired, don't talk about it, press and rub it more for Madame, you can rub it comfortably." ”

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