After some fierce crying, scolding, and quarrels, the Bai family and the Ming family finally figured out the ins and outs of this public case.

Xiaorui is a native of Yingshang, Anhui, and his ancestors have also been Jinshi and the first, Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang dynasties, all of which have been out of office. In Xiaorui's father's generation, after the township test Chinese style, he took the test twice, but he failed to go further. However, the family has accumulated a small property for several generations, although it is not rich, but it is worry-free, so it is not too much, and it is impossible to enter the office.

Xiaorui is the only child in the family, so her father taught her as a son. Xiaorui is smart and smart, and her father has declared more than once: If Xiaorui is a boy, her future fame must be far above herself.

The long hair was messed up, and it was destroyed in the war. Xiaorui has more than ten families, all of them died in the chaos, only she is a teenage girl, who escaped by luck, with the large group of refugees, all the way to the north, wandering, suffering countless hardships, and finally went to Beijing for her.

It's a miracle. Looking back, I really have to thank my deceased parents, who were soft-hearted and didn't bind her feet for a while, otherwise, no matter what, it would be impossible for the little feet to go to Beijing alive.

It turned out that when Xiaorui was young, she cried endlessly when she wrapped her feet, and she was hoarse with exhaustion, and fainted. Tried a few times and it was all the same. The father regarded this only daughter as the pearl of his palm, and he was really ruthless, so he said: "That's it, that's it! ”

The mother was worried: "This ...... How can I get married in the future? Don't...... Is it possible to make a small amount for others? ”

The father snorted and said, "If you really can't get married, you will guard your father and mother for the rest of your life." There's nothing wrong with that! ”

But. Arrived in the capital. It doesn't mean that there is a way to live. The ground was freezing and the weather was cold, and Xiaorui, who was so hungry that her chest was close to her back, finally fainted on the side of the road.

The place where she collapsed was just across the road in front of the Xuanwumen Catholic Church, and the "priest" at that time, Abner, found this dying girl, moved with compassion, and took her in.

There are four cathedrals in Beijing. It is commonly known as "East Hall", "West Hall", "South Hall", and "North Hall". Among them, the "South Church" is the Xuanwumen Catholic Church, which was founded by the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci during the Wanli Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty, and is the oldest Catholic church in Beijing.

However, Matteo Ricci's Catholic Church is just a small Chinese-style courtyard house with a cross inserted to identify itself. The "South Hall" of Abner's "Priest", with its magnificent regulation and authentic European Baroque style, was built on the original site by the German missionary John Tong, who was the supervisor of Qintian in the Shunzhi Dynasty. The Kangxi Dynasty was rebuilt once and overhauled once. Yongzheng Dynasty overhauled it again before it was finally finalized.

In the eighteenth year of Daoguang, Xuanzong issued a decree banning Catholicism, and the Catholic churches were all returned to the imperial court. After the Xinyou Rebellion, it was returned according to the treaty, and Abner was sent by the Holy See to "receive" this "Nantang".

Xiaorui stayed in the "South Hall" as a helper.

Abner was very fond of this bright and clever girl, and when he had free time, he taught her English, French, Latin, and simple scientific and cultural knowledge. In the past few years, Xiaorui has mastered English proficiently, French and Latin are also considered "rough", and the rest of the "Western studies" are also quite rewarding.

fell from heaven to hell, climbed out of hell again, and lived a normal life again, Xiaorui was satisfied. She doesn't have higher requirements, so she just works as a maid and lives her life peacefully.

However, her life is destined to be unstable.

Abner was transferred by the Vatican to another diocese, and the priest of the "South Church" was replaced by a reddish-brown bearded Thony Zhuang.

As soon as Tonny arrived, he found that this little maid was still a lost lamb - how could this be?

In fact, Abner once asked Xiaorui if she wanted to join the church. Xiao Rui politely declined. Abner had a gentle personality and didn't think much of it, so he put his hand down on this matter.

But Thony is different. His character, his fierce paranoia, felt that the Church had a living grace for this little girl, but she refused to convert to God.

This is where the conflict begins. Every time he quarrels, Zhuang Tongni always looks like a roaring emperor, not only with a red face and a thick neck, but also with teeth and claws, as if he is about to start beating people at any time. He was burly and hideous, not only did he speak foul language, but his saliva also repeatedly sprayed on Xiaorui's hair, making Xiaorui both frightened and disgusted.

The contradiction intensified, and finally, Zhuang Tongny was ruthless, he claimed that if Xiaorui continued to be deceived by the devil, he would lock Xiaorui up, confess to God, when he figured it out, when he released it - if he couldn't figure it out for the rest of his life, he would be locked up for the rest of his life!

With Xiaorui's understanding of Zhuang Tony, this guy really did such a thing. She didn't have time to think about it, so she took a hole and rushed out of the church. Zhuang Tony was furious and chased after him. A translator with a surname Wen couldn't stop him, and he hurriedly caught up from behind.

Fayuan Temple and "South Hall" are both near Xuanwu Gate, and the distance is not too far. Xiaorui originally thought that after entering the Fayuan Temple and the pure land of Buddhism, Zhuang Tangni could no longer be fierce and domineering. I didn't want to run into the sedan chair alley, but I found that the mountain gate of Fayuan Temple was closed, and I couldn't enter the door. At this time, Zhuang Tangni and Wen Tong had already arrived one after another.

*

*

Bai Shi said calmly: "May I ask the master, this Xiaorui girl, has she signed a deed of sale with your church?" ”

Zhuang Tony was stunned for a moment and said, "This is not true." ”

"So, well, what about that ...... 'labor contract'?"

Zhuang Tangni and Wen Tong translated, but they didn't expect this young lady to know about the "labor contract", and they couldn't help but show a surprised look.

Several Chinese monks dressed in brocade robes were at a loss.

"Well, this one, no."

"In this way, Miss Xiaorui is a 'free body'."

After a pause, Bai Shi continued: "So, whether to stay or go, and where to go, naturally it is up to me to do so - Miss Xiaorui, what do you want?" ”

Xiaorui cried: "Back to Mrs., their church, I won't go back if I beat it to death!" I beg my wife to have mercy and leave me in the house...... Be a rough girl - Xiaorui is a cow and a horse, and repays the great kindness of his wife! ”

Bai Shi turned to Zhuang Tony: "Miss Xiaorui's words, did the master hear clearly?" ”

Zhuang Tony was anxious: "This ...... This is ridiculous! I can't agree more! ”

Bai Shi smiled faintly and said, "What country is the master?" ”

"Me? I'm French. ”

"Well, if the master has any objections, please ask your legation to negotiate with our Prime Minister's National Affairs Office. Alternatively, it is okay to ask the minister of your country to come directly to our Lord Belle. ”

Zhuang Tony and Wen Tong were stunned again.

It turned out that the Catholic Church in China was directly under the jurisdiction of the Holy See, and was not under the administration of Western governments. However, because the Vatican does not have a "cardinal" in China, nor does it have an "office" or other organization, the Church in China and the Chinese government and people have temporarily entrusted the management of disputes with the French legation.

At this level, the Bai family actually doesn't know. She thought that Zhuang Tony was French, and if there was a dispute with the Chinese, it was naturally the French minister who came forward to negotiate. But when Zhuang Tangni and Wen Tongyi heard it, they thought that she was "clear" in this regard, and they couldn't help but be surprised: many high-ranking Chinese officials are still confused about these things. It's really incredible!

"If you and the courts of our two countries," said Bai, "we both think that Miss Xiaorui should go back to your church, and I will have nothing to say—but for now I am going to take her away." ”

Zhuang Tony was in a hurry, stretched out his arms and stopped: "No!" ”

Where is his turn "no"? A guard of the Guards disguised as a servant arched his shoulders, and Zhuang Tony, who was a head taller than him, stumbled and stumbled several steps to the side, almost falling on his heels.

"That's right," Bai Shi stopped, looking back and smiling, "In the past few years, Miss Xiaorui's food and silver have been in total, please calculate it from the master, and I will ask someone to send it to your church." ”

So, Zhuang Tangni and Wen Tongyi watched Bai take Xiaorui, a large group of people, incense carts and angry horses, and go away.

*(To be continued......)