Little Lori pouted: "I don't allow you to like me." ”

Zeng Jize originally wanted to say to Xuan Yuemeng that he couldn't just say to girls that he liked these two words, and wanted to educate Xuan Yuemeng, but when he heard Zeng Siping say this, he forgot his original intention, "Siping, why can't Yuemeng like you?" It is everyone's freedom to like who to like. ”

Xuan Yuemeng looked at Zeng Jize and felt that Zeng Jize was different from most sour literati in this era, his thinking was very advanced, and he actually knew how to talk about freedom.

Little Lori didn't buy it: "Anyway, I don't allow him to like me, even if he praises me for being beautiful." ”

Zeng Ji Zeqi said: "Why? ”

Xuan Yuemeng also wanted to know what special words this little Lori could say, staring at the little girl's big eyes. There's no girl who doesn't like to be liked, right? There's no girl who doesn't like to be complimented on her beauty, right?

It's kind of interesting.

Zeng Siping smiled happily: "Gege...... Gege ......"

"Because, he's not as tall as me."

Xuan Yue Meng sweated profusely.

Zeng Jize laughed, I don't know if he remembered the childhood past that seemed very distant, and hugged Zeng Siping together, "The two of you can play together in the future, you can't quarrel and fight, do you hear it?" ”

Zeng Siping made a grimace at Xuan Yuemeng, and then asked Zeng Jize: "Dad, I won't beat him, he's so short, a short ghost, has he ever beaten me?" ”

Zeng Jize put the two of them down with a smile, "You can't beat it, people Yuemeng is still young, she must be taller than you in the future, is it okay to beat you when Yuemeng is taller than you?" Girls should be knowledgeable, and if your grandfather sees that you are disobedient, he will punish you. ”

Zeng Siping stuck out his tongue and said with a smile: "Grandpa is reluctant to punish me, grandpa likes me the most, let's go, let's play." ”

The first half of Zeng Siping's words were said to Zeng Jize, and the second half of his words were said to Xuan Yuemeng, and he also held Xuan Yuemeng's hand after speaking.

Xuan Yuemeng sweated, this is his first lead, and the first kiss is as precious and greasy, the most important thing is that he doesn't like Zeng Siping very much, or not only because of the little girl's elf and ghost's personality with a sense of superiority, but also because of Zeng's mansion, thinking that Zeng Guofan came up and lost 460,000 taels of silver to foreigners, and killed so many Chinese people, he was disgusted.

Outside the gate of Xuan's house, it was very lively, this time Xuan Hongyu had a treat, and the pomp was huge! It is at least twice as big as Xuan Hongtao's last time.

Because the last time Xuan Hongtao was an official, the Tianjin teaching plan had not yet ended, and the officialdom on the ground in Tianjin had fallen by more than half, and Xuan Hongtao did not have the help of the old man.

Although the old man Xuan Zonglu is now idle at home, he is still young, he has just arrived in his fifties, and he has the opportunity to make a comeback at any time, which is not difficult to explain why even Zeng Jize will come today, not only Zeng Jize but even Li Hongzhang has sent representatives.

Xuan Yuemeng and Zeng Siping were holding hands and playing outside the gate of Xuan's house, followed by Zeng Siping's personal maid, and Xuan Yuemeng's attendant servant.

Xuan Hongyu trotted to help pull the curtain of the sedan chair, and a person got down from the sedan chair.

This person Xuan Yuemeng recognized that it was Sheng Xuanhuai, the chief staff of Lord Li Hongzhang, and the last time Xuan Yuemeng accompanied Xuan Hongtao to find Li Hongzhang, Sheng Xuanhuai was also there. Sheng Xuanhuai himself also has a four-rank official position, and he is one of the best red-top businessmen in this era! A characteristic of the late Qing Dynasty is that there are a lot of red-top businessmen, and many of the court's foreign industries are undertaken by these red-top businessmen.

"Shanda! Please come to the Humble House, my Xuan family is really full of flowers. Xuan Hongbo's eloquent and bowed his head and waist were born with a servile appearance.

Sheng Xuanhuai nodded, said a few polite words, and entered the mansion with Shen Baojing, who came down from the sedan chair behind.

Sheng Xuanhuai and Shen Baojing were able to come, which was already a great face, and he was personally accompanied by Xuan Hongtao.

The next few tripod sedan chairs made Xuan Yuemeng a little dumbfounded, one is more noble than the other, listening to Xuan Hongyu's greetings, you can know the identity of these people, one is the famous Chinese General Taxation Department in history, this person controls the customs of the entire Qing Dynasty for more than half a century, even longer than the number of years Cixi has been in power, another foreigner next to Hurd is De Zhulin, Li Hongzhang is preparing for the Customs Road and Tianjin Taxation Department in Tianjin Customs, Hurd took De Huanglin to take up his post, and by the way, he contacted the foreign officials in Tianjin, Do a few big things.

Zeng Siping took Xuan Yuemeng's hand, "Go inside and find something fun, right?" What's there to see here? ”

Xuan Yuemeng wanted to see Timothy Li's performance, he was very uneasy, so he casually perfunctory Zeng Siping: "After the firecrackers are finished, we will pick up firecrackers and play." ”

Zeng Siping is a little girl, and she has long wanted to try what it is like to blow up firecrackers, so she hurriedly clapped her little hands and applauded.

Xuan Yuemeng glanced at Timothy Lee, who was still waiting for the opportunity to enter, and Timothy Lee immediately understood and followed Hurd and De Xuanlin in.

Xuan Yuemeng didn't know in advance that high-ranking foreign officials like Hurd and De Xuanlin would come, he was thinking that he would let Timothy Li and Zeng Jize go in together, and then he would talk to Xuan Hongbo again.

Sure enough, Timothy Lee followed Hurd and De Xuanlin and other foreigners into the room, and even saved the red envelope. However, Xuan Yuemeng was not ready to give red envelopes, he thought that there was really no way, so he told Xuan Hongyu that Timothy Li was his father's friend, and Xuan Hongyu didn't dare to say anything more.

The next heavyweight guest is Xuan Yuemeng, who has never even heard of his name, several of them are above the fourth grade, and all of them seem to be very familiar with Xuan Hongbo, which makes Xuan Yuemeng suddenly impressed by Xuan Hongyu, I didn't expect that Xuan Hongbo is usually not completely bragging, and he does recognize a few characters.

The leader seems to be a relative of the emperor, Zheng Beile, with blistered eyes and red ears, and at first glance he is a long-term alcoholic. Then there is a tall and thin man, who is about the same age as Xuan Hongbo Xuan Hongbo, but he shows a deep temperament, and his face is very scheming. Licking and shouting: "Yo, Lord Zhilin, I never thought that you would invite Zheng Beile and General Shouchuan here, it's too dignified, what can I say?" ”

That Zhilin smiled indifferently, "You're welcome? Second Master Xuan, in the future, things on the ground in Tianjin will not have to trouble your brother. ”

Xuan Hongbo bent his waist to the end, "It should be, as long as Lord Zhilin says a word, I, Xuan Hongbo, will go to the soup!" ”

The man behind Zhilin was grinning like a rough military attaché, and slapped Xuan Hongbo's shoulder heavily, "Second Master Xuan, congratulations to you here?" ”

Xuan Hongbo's voice was crisp, "General Shou, you can come to the cold house, it is the blessing that our Xuan family cultivated in the previous life, do you see what you said?" A few distinguished guests slow down, Lao Xuan, all greet the point, please inside, please inside. ”

Xuan Yuemeng said secretly, you Xuan Hongbo, you usually blow the cowhide through the sky at home, and now this face is a good material for a natural pug.

However, Xuan Yuemeng did not look down on Xuan Hongbo at this time, according to the perspective of officialdom, although Xuan Hongbo looks very disgusting, but it is indeed more suitable for being an official than Xuan Hongtao, officialdom, how disgusting it is, how dirty it is, not the most disgusting, only more disgusting, as a child of an official eunuch, Xuan Yuemeng has already seen a lot. It's just that from the perspective of a modern person, coupled with the contrast of Xuan Hongbo, I feel a little weird, and it is estimated that there is no such feeling in habits.

Xuan Hongbo is very suitable for being a runner, this is Xuan Yuemeng's re-understanding of Xuan Hongbo, after all, this is the first time Xuan Yuemeng has seen Xuan Hongbo in front of outsiders, especially in front of high-ranking officials.

Xuan Hongtao seems to be a nobody, neither happy nor worried, sitting in an inconspicuous corner, chatting with people, drinking, similar to a bookkeeper, no official demeanor, Xuan Yuemeng sighed in her heart, such a big scene, it's good for you to know more people? Isn't being an official creating a social circle, you look like an ordinary person.

Xuan Zonglu personally came out to accompany him in the main seat, the guests were almost all there, just waiting for Zeng Jize to get a good start, among the people who came today, the highest status was Zheng Belle, but Zheng Belle did not have an official position, only a title, that is, a lord who ate and drank, purely to save face for Xuan Hongbo, followed by Zeng Jize, Zeng Guofan was still in power, Zeng Jize was higher than everyone in terms of grade and family background. Zeng Jize should be counted as Hurd, although Hurd is not of high grade, he is a popular real power faction in the Qing Dynasty.

Hurd is followed by Sheng Xuanhuai, Sheng Xuanhuai is silent, but it is undoubtedly the center of everyone's attention, many distinguished guests who came today are not actually buying for the Xuan family, but coming for Sheng Xuanhuai! Beiyang Yamen expanded the Tianjin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, built the Grand Canal, and built a military station grain station, what a big business these are? Not to mention the construction projects, just being able to supply the military salaries, food, and winter clothes of these tens of thousands of troops, these money can live a little in their hands, a thick layer of oil!

After Timothy Li entered Xuan's house, he found an inconspicuous position by himself, and actually sat with Xuan Hongtao.

Xuan Yuemeng sweated profusely, why are you two sitting with some people who don't even have official bodies?

Xuan Yuemeng pulled Xuan Hongtao's clothes and said in Xuan Hongtao's ear: "You take Timothy Li to sit at the main table, you are the eldest son of the Xuan family, and you are fully qualified to sit!" ”

Xuan Hongtao was stunned, "The old man didn't call me to go?" I'm going to sit on my own? ”

Xuan Yuemeng couldn't help but sweat again, waiting for people to call you for everything? At least a director of your grade in modern times, how can you make it look like a virgin? "It doesn't matter if he shouts you or not, the main table today is full of leading figures, and you will have to deal with these people in the future. Anyway, even if you know each other, when you need to speak in the future, you won't be completely speechless? Got it? ”

Xuan Hongtao hesitated and looked at the direction of the main table, everyone was talking and laughing there, "I'm not going, I don't know anyone, Master Sheng hasn't usually spoken to me, I sit with those adults, and my heart is not steady." ”

Xuan Yuemeng is no longer a sweat that can be described, don't be an official, just like you, no matter how much you help, it's useless, the owner of a small restaurant can't socialize, right? Xuan Yuemeng knew that it was useless to reason with Xuan Hongtao, so she said to Timothy Li: "Mr. Timothy Li, you and my father should go to the main table and sit down with others and talk to more people." ”

Although Timothy Lee is also quite honest, he is a foreigner after all! In terms of socializing, it is still better than Xuan Hongtao, hearing Xuan Yuemeng say this, he came over to hold Xuan Hongtao up, Xuan Hongtao was helpless by the two of them, so he had to go to the main table.

Xuan Hongtao went over hard, and Timothy Li didn't, although Timothy Li knew what Xuan Yuemeng meant, he also listened to a lot just now, and Sheng Xuanhuai in the main table was mentioned to him many times by Xuan Yuemeng, and he knew that if he wanted to win the order, he had to win Sheng Xuanhuai first! However, Timothy Lee was still very empty.