"According to what Miss Xia Qing said, fifty thousand taels." The old steward said softly.

Ningxia Qinghu glanced at it suspiciously, and asked quietly: "Then what?" ”

The old steward's voice was cold: "If after three years, Miss Xia Qing has the ability to pay 50,000 taels, the mulberry garden can be handed over to the Xia Qing girl, if the Xia Qing girl does well in the future, she has nothing to say, but if the Xia Qing girl does not have the ability but wants to do it, the clan will not look at it, and will definitely return the mulberry garden to the clan property." However, the annual rent will still be paid to the old lady of your family. ”

Ningxia Qingxin said, what he said was to pay the old lady instead of her, this is the idea of completely snatching her mulberry garden when the old lady is old. Ning Xia Qing asked with a sarcastic smile: "I don't know how to evaluate whether I am doing well in the eyes of the third uncle?" It can't be a sentence from the third uncle, so give me a sentence. ”

"Naturally not. After Miss Xia Qing takes over the mulberry garden herself, if she can enter the silk shop in the county within two years, it will be considered that Miss Xia Qing has managed well, and she can rest assured that the mulberry garden will be handed over to Miss Xia Qing at that time. The old steward's tone was unwavering.

Ning Ningqing's tone was a little playful: "The silk line in the county? ”

The old steward was expressionless: "Exactly." The silk shop is full of families in the county who are based on the cloth business, if Miss Xia Qing can really enter, it will prove that Miss Xia Qing has been recognized by this industry, and it can also prove that Miss Xia Qing is really capable. ”

Ning Xia Qing suddenly showed a sarcastic smile: "If I remember correctly, the president of the silk line in the county is the third uncle." ”

The old steward was silent.

Ning Xia Qing sneered, knowing that this was a trap set for her by the clan, if she didn't agree, with the auction lease period, she could also keep the ownership of the mulberry garden for a long time, if she agreed, after five years, there would only be two results, either to get back the mulberry garden, or to completely lose the mulberry garden, but Silk Xing was almost completely controlled by the Ning clan, and it was difficult for her to enter the industry. Ning Xia Qing did not hesitate: "I agreed." ”

"Miss Xia Qing has to think clearly." The old steward looked at Ning Ningqing, then at Xiao Jingyuan and Gu Xuesong, and said meaningfully: "Once Miss Xia Qing takes charge of the Mulberry Garden, she must fulfill her promise to recruit her son-in-law to continue the incense, and if she has descendants, she must also have the surname Ning." Once Miss Xia Qing violates her oath, the mulberry garden will be confiscated to the family property, and it will have nothing to do with Miss Xia Qing. ”

How did Ning Xia Qing not know the voice of this old steward. Many people in this private room speculated a lot about the relationship between Ning Xia Qing and the two noble sons, and they had to have that kind of dirty thoughts, thinking that Ning Xia Qing could retreat through the oath of recruitment. Ning Ningqing couldn't help but show a slightly uneven smile, and said chicly: "Once the word is out, the horse is difficult to chase." Since the third uncle is not at ease, I swear that it is okay to promise. ”

The old steward was slightly stunned, and then as if he was watching a good show, he ordered: "Then let the store put pen and ink." ”

The oath is made.

Within three years, Master Ning needed to pay Ningxia Qing rent according to the contract signed by Ning Yongda before his death. Three years later, Ningxia Qing either took out 50,000 taels or handed over the title deed.

Even if she gets Sang Yuan back, she still needs to join the Silk Shop within two years, and if she can't do it, Sang Yuan will also be taken back by the clan, and only pay them a pitiful rent when the old lady is alive.

In addition, she is not allowed to marry outside for the rest of her life, and she needs to fulfill her vow to continue the incense.

She looked at the written contract, as if she saw the rest of her life with a thousand heavy responsibilities. She said softly: "Since the contract has been made, only the guarantor is missing. ”

The old steward smiled leisurely: "Since it is Miss Xia Qing who signs the contract with the clan, what guarantor do you need?" Could it be that Miss Xia Qing is afraid of denial in the clan and does not honor the contract? Could it be that in Miss Xia Qing's heart, are the people of the Ning clan all rogue robbers? ”

Ning Xia Qing didn't bother to pay attention to the sarcastic words of the old steward, Gu Xuesong said to the old steward at this time: "Since it is a business, it is natural to have a guarantor, if the businessmen all over the world rely on the understanding of each other's conduct to do business, then why not make a verbal agreement, and why do you need a contract?" ”

The old steward was speechless.

Gu Xuesong stood up and arched his hand: "Because Brother Xiao's Wan Shengxing is involved in the previous lease auction, so Brother Xiao is already involved in this matter, if Brother Xiao is the guarantor, I think the Ning family will suspect that Brother Xiao is biased." In this case, if you don't give up, you are willing to be this guarantor. ”

Seeing that Gu Xuesong's appearance was elegant and unparalleled, his bearing was as light as ice and snow, and his clothes and ornaments were luxurious, he naturally had a respectful attitude towards Gu Xuesong, and bowed his hand and declined: "It is the glory of the Ning family to be looked down upon by the nobles." It's just that this is a matter within the Ning clan, and if Gongzi doesn't have anything to do with this matter or has something to do with this trip, I'm afraid it's inconvenient to act as a guarantor. ”

Gu Xuesong only smiled faintly, Xiao Jingyuan waved the unfolded folding fan in his hand, and said in a voice that everyone in the private room could hear: "This son is the Gu family, and the Gu family is also involved in the fabric business, since this is the case, this son can be regarded as having something to do with this trip." ”

The old steward's expression changed: "Gu ...... Gu family? Dare to ask...... Who is Childe from the Gu family? ”

"Under Gu Xuesong."

The expressions of the people of the Ning clan in the private room changed, Gu Xuesong's appointment as the promotion official of the city boat department is news that many merchants know, and he is the Gu family, whether it is an official position or a background, it is a very important existence in this private room, and the old housekeeper is not easy to refuse, so he has to squeeze out a smile and say: "It is the glory of the Ning clan to be able to enter the blue eyes of Lord Gu."

After signing a tripartite contract and keeping one of them intact, Gu Xuesong officially became the guarantor of the gambling between Ningxia Qing and the Ning family.

The old steward took the contract, looked at the harsh conditions on it, couldn't help but show a little smug eyes, and arched his hand: "Since the contract has been signed, I will go back and talk back to the patriarch." Xiao Gongzi, Master Gu, farewell. ”

Xiao Jingyuan replied, but Ningxia Qing said in a very timely manner: "If Miss Ning still intends to auction the lease period after five years, Wan Shengxing will accompany her at any time." ”

The old housekeeper's footsteps froze, and then he left quietly, Master Ning and Master Ning San were all full of anger, but they couldn't say anything, they left with a pale face, and the stewards of the Ning clan followed behind.

Those people were gone, Ning Xia Qing looked at the contract in his hand, showed a slightly relaxed look, got up and blessed, and said gratefully: "Thank you Xiao Gongzi and Gu Gongzi for helping each other." ”

"It's a trivial matter." Xiao Jingyuan said: "But I just said that Wan Shengxing will accompany her at any time, not just to give Miss Ning a strong voice, I hereby promise Miss Ning that as long as Miss Ning is willing, no matter what pressure the outside world has, Wan Shengxing is willing to take over this order at any time." ”

"Xiao Gongzi is righteous and grateful." Ning Xia Qing thanked him, then looked at Xiao Jinru, who was sitting next to Xiao Jingyuan, and said warmly: "Just now, when they didn't know Gu Gongzi's identity and intended to prevent Gu Gongzi from serving as a guarantor, I saw that Miss Xiao seemed to be thoughtful. ”

Hearing Ning Ningqing's words, Xiao Jingyuan looked at Xiao Jinru with some puzzlement.

Ning Xia Qing said with a smile: "Miss Xiao's status is precious, and she is the eldest lady of the dignified Xiao family, so it can be regarded as having something to do with the cloth line. I guess if Gu Gongzi hadn't served as my guarantor in the end, Miss Xiao would have planned to help, right? ”

Xiao Jinru didn't speak, almost acquiescing, but he was embarrassed to admit it.

Ning Xia Qing said with a smile: "Miss Xiao is a heroine among women, and I am grateful for Miss Xiao's compassion. ”

Xiao Jinru learned Xiao Jingyuan's tone and said heroically: "Such a trivial matter, why worry about it!" ”

Ningxia Qingjian made Xiao Jinru happy, and then asked: "By the way, my family's Ah Zheng seems to have collided with Miss Xiao just now, I don't know what happened?" ”

Stretching out his hand not to hit the smiling person, Xiao Jinru at this time naturally couldn't lose his temper with Ning Xia Qing, so he had to stare at Ah Zheng and complain unhappily: "He bullied my horse!" ”

"I didn't." Ah Zheng firmly denied it in a flat tone.

Xiao Jinru shouted at Ah Zheng: "You are obviously bullying my horse!" ”

"Tell me, then, how I bullied your horse?"

"I ......" Xiao Jinru avoided his gaze with some weakness, didn't dare to look at Ah Zheng anymore, and muttered: "Although I didn't see it, you must have done something!" ”

"I didn't." Ah Zheng denied it again, and then said to Ningxia Qing: "Girl, I'll go and prepare the carriage first." Then he went downstairs and didn't reason with Xiao Jinru.

Xiao Jinru's face turned red with anger, and shouted at Ah Zheng's back: "I haven't let you go yet, you dare to go?" ”

Seeing this scene, Ningxia Qing also understood that it was estimated that there was only a little friction, at most it was to lose a horse, which was really not a big deal, and apologized with a smile: "My family's Ah Zheng is not good at words, so there are some verbal conflicts, and I hope that Miss Xiao will forgive her sins, why don't I pay Miss Xiao a good horse?" ”

Xiao Jingyuan immediately said: "Miss Ning don't want to be like this, if Miss Ning really loses the horse, I won't have the face to see Miss Ning again in the future." My sister is spoiled by the family, she has always been looking for trouble for others, how dare others find her trouble? It's definitely the same this time, Miss Ning, don't care. ”

Since Xiao Jingyuan said so, it was naturally impossible for Ningxia Qing to insist on losing the horse, so he had to apologize to Xiao Jinru a few more words, and then he was blessed and said goodbye to the two sons.

After watching Ning Ningqing leave, Xiao Jingyuan asked Xiao Jinru with a smile: "What's going on?" ”

Xiao Jinru was eloquent: "When my horse passed by the coachman, I didn't know what he did to my horse, and it frightened my horse!" ”

"Did the coachman touch your horse?"

"Didn't I say it, I didn't see ...... clearly"

"Tell the truth."

“…… No. ”

"And how did he scare your horse?"

"He glanced at my horse."

"And then it startled your horse?"

“…… Well. ”

Xiao Jingyuan showed a slightly incredulous expression, and then said, "Speaking of which, I just saw that the coachman is indeed different from ordinary people. He turned to Gu Xuesong and asked, "Since you know Miss Ning, do you know where Miss Ning's chauffeur came from?" Isn't it as simple as a subordinate? ”

Gu Xuesong replied: "That Ah Zheng should really be just a buddy of the Ning family, as for his identity and origin, I don't know." However, that person is indeed different, although he obeys Miss Ning's words and does everything effectively, he is not like an ordinary loyal servant, this person has a heroic bearing, and everything is not in his eyes, not a thing in the pool. ”

Xiao Jingyuan nodded and said, "I just saw that he is humble in his speech and demeanor but not humble, and his eyes are sharper than ordinary people, maybe that look scared Jinru's horse, but this is a little bizarre." ”

Several people left the Drunken Flower Pavilion, walked to Xiao Jingyuan's carriage, and asked Xiao Jingyuan's coachman, but they learned from the coachman who witnessed everything that Ah Zheng really just glanced at Xiao Jinru's horse, and shocked Xiao Jinru's horse.

Xiao Jingyuan was really unexpected, Gu Xuesong, who had known Ah Zheng for a long time, was not surprised by this, and said, "Thank you Brother Xiao for coming to help me today." ”

"How can you and I talk about thanks. It's that Ning girl, not only is her face gorgeous, but what is even more frightening is her heart, there is absolutely no second woman like this in the world, no wonder you can value it so much. ”

Xiao Jinru snorted unconvinced: "What do you mean 'there will never be a second woman like this in the world', is your sister and I also a heroine among women?" ”

Xiao Jingyuan pretended not to hear it, and asked his subordinates to drive the frightened horse back for Xiao Jinru, and threw this troublesome sister into his own carriage and took it away.

Ning Xia Qing and Cuiyu got into the carriage and drove away from the Drunken Flower Pavilion, Ning Xia Qing couldn't help but lift the curtain and asked in surprise: "Ah Zheng, what happened between you and that Xiao girl?" ”

"It's really nothing. And while I was waiting there, the girl passed by, and she thought that my carriage was in her way, and arrogantly asked me to give way to her, and I gave way without saying anything, and somehow her horse was startled, and the girl came to me, and she had to pull me upstairs, and said that she would find her brother to judge me and her. ”

"Why did her horse suddenly startle?"

"How do I know?"

"You really didn't do anything? Her horse was shocked? ”

"Why did the girl ask like this, how could I have lied to you, besides, I am not a troublemaker, and the girl does not know."

Ning Xia Qing lowered the curtain of the car, thinking that Ah Zheng was right, and while wondering why Miss Xiao's horse was frightened, she noticed that Cuiyu was looking at her with a worried face.

Ning Xia Qing couldn't help touching Cuiyu's face and asked, "Does it still hurt?" Ning Zhiheng is just referring to Sang scolding Huai, in the final analysis, you have suffered it on my behalf. ”

"The girl and I are the master and servant, no matter what I do for the girl, it is right, just like the girl said, our master and servant are proud of what is honored, and what is lost...... And I don't hurt either. Cuiyu hurriedly shook her head, and then asked worriedly: "Girl, can we really get 50,000 taels in three years?" ”

Ning Ningqing looked away, sighed, and said, "Anyway, there are still three years to go, let's take a look." ”

A gust of wind lifted the curtain slightly, and Cuiyu couldn't help but be slightly stunned, glanced out, and asked with some hesitation: "Girl, this is not the way home, right?" ”

Ning Ningqing nodded: "Well, I asked Ah Zheng to take us to the mulberry garden to have a look, and I had already greeted the old lady and Mrs. when I went out." ”

"What is the girl going to do in the mulberry garden?"

Ningxia's green eyes sank, revealing a look of reminiscence of the past, and said meaningfully: "For so many years, I haven't even taken a good look at this mulberry garden in my own house, and now I naturally want to take a good look." ”