After Guan Zhuofan returned home, the Bai family and the Ming family, for the first time, the two sisters were worried, afraid that Guan Zhuofan would blame them for being reckless, and they didn't want Guan Zhuofan to quietly listen to the cause and effect, his face stretched out, and his thumb was upturned: "Okay!" You've done a great job! ”

After a pause, he looked the two women up and down with very appreciative eyes, and said with a smile: "I didn't know that the two sisters-in-law were actually first-class heroines!" ”

Bai and Ming glanced at each other, and they both saw that each other's faces were red, but they were strangely appropriate in their hearts.

Guan Zhuofan was angry and waited for the French minister to come and make a "serious protest" - he really hoped that the French would come and make trouble for him.

However, Guan Zhuofan was disappointed, and the French did not show their heads.

In fact, on the day of the incident, as soon as Zhuang Tangni left Fayuan Temple, he went to the French Legation in Dongjiaomin Lane. Originally, in terms of Catholic affairs, the French liked many things the most, but this matter was different: Xiaorui did not sign a deed of sale, did not sign a labor contract, and did not join the Church—it was simply "a mouse pulling a turtle, and there was nowhere to put his mouth".

Besides, it is not a business to have a direct conflict with the prime minister of the Chinese government for such a trivial matter.

However, the minister said that he could recover "financial compensation" from Prince Guan for the church, which is what Bai called "food silver".

Zhuang Tony's face is not so thick - so engaged, can it still be called "charity"? Spread out, where will the reputation of "Nantang" go? Besides, if he really wants to recover any "food silver", he doesn't need the French legation to come forward. The "Mrs. Zhenguo" has already taken the initiative to express herself.

At last. Zhuang Tony had to be empty-handed. Wandering home.

Xiao Rui stayed in Baylor House.

At the beginning, because Xiaorui was fluent in literature and ink, the Bai family sent her to wait for the messenger in the study. Guan Zhuofan was soon satisfied with Xiaorui. Bai vaguely felt that Guan Zhuofan seemed to have other thoughts about this little girl, so he pushed the boat down the river and sent Xiaorui to be Lord Belle's personal maid.

Of course, before Xiaorui entered the study. Her background and military investigation department are "from the bottom", as she herself said, it is meticulous and there is nothing suspicious.

This one in front of the gate of Fayuan Temple caused a great sensation in Beijing at that time. "Mrs. Fayuan Temple Zhenguo Rescues Orphan Girls" was even compiled into a storytelling joke, bookstores, teahouses, and restaurants, and it was preached for a while.

This thing. For Guan Zhuofan, it has played a very positive public opinion blessing: First. From the foreign devils, they forcibly "snatched food from the tiger's mouth", and the Chinese people were naturally comfortable and applauded. Second, some of the old-fashioned defenders have always attacked those who do foreign affairs openly and secretly, "admiring foreigners and flattering foreigners", and even "traffic outsiders" - the previous King Gong and the current Guan Zhuofan are not exempt from this kind of blatant slander. When the matter of Fayuan Temple came out, the mouths of this group of people couldn't be louder.

In these three ways, this kind of "pulling out orphaned girls out of the fire pit" is originally the most popular drama of the Chinese people.

As Ming said: "If you do something wrong, you will get into trouble, if you do it right, there will only be benefits, where is the trouble?" ”

The fourth point is that Guan Zhuofan secretly took the initiative to guide him: This matter, which court official to handle, maybe he is at a loss, but Mrs. Zhenguo, a woman, has done it "reasonably, forcefully, and modestly", and foreigners can't let out a fart, why?

This is all because Mrs. Zhenguo and Guan Beile are a family, and they know where the foreigners are, so they hit the snake and hit the seven inches, and as soon as they make a move, the foreigner can't move! Therefore, if you want to be self-respecting and self-reliant in front of foreigners, you must "know yourself and know your opponent", that is, you must "open your eyes" and "go out", otherwise, you will be confused about the world and the world outside, and when you deal with foreigners, you will only be bullied.

On the night of the second day when Bai "refused" Xiao Yun to go abroad, Guan Zhuofan told Bai the idea of arranging Xiaorui to study abroad.

Bai couldn't hide her surprise, and the expression on her face was complex and subtle.

However, naturally there is no objection - including recognizing Xiaorui as a "sister".

"But," Bai asked tentatively, "in that case, isn't it...... It's not good to ask Xiaorui to be a maid again? ”

Guan Zhuofan thought, how about we not call this messenger a "maid" and change it to a "life secretary"?

Although I think so in my heart, I don't say it on my lips.

He smiled and said, "It's not necessary, if you ask her to eat for nothing, she will feel uneasy." ”

Bai Shi said no more.

The next day, things changed—not for Xiaorui.

At night, as soon as Bai entered the study, Guan Zhuofan found that her expression was different: her eyes were red - she cried again.

Guan Zhuofan was taken aback. However, looking at her carefully, the expression was not quite the same as the day before yesterday: there was no sense of despair and sadness, but confusion and confusion, mixed with a trace of inexplicable relief - in short, very complicated.

Guan Zhuofan took her hand, sat down, sighed, and said, "Shuangshuang, you can't cry when you see the sky!" Aren't you rubbing my heart around—how can I stand it? ”

Bai's face turned red, he took out a hand, slapped Guan Zhuofan lightly, then brushed his hair, and said, "I don't have the heart to laugh with you." ”

After a pause, he said softly: "I'll talk to you about the little international students...... Xiao Yun said, she ...... Alone, but ...... Willing. ”

Yes?!

Guan Zhuofan's eyes widened and opened his mouth slightly.

It was his turn to "open his mouth".

Bai smiled bitterly and said: "I think, it's not good to hide this matter from her completely, I always have to say hello." I never thought that she would be willing! Moreover, when it comes to the future, there are ideas that make me anxious! ”

Guan Zhuofan's mind was in chaos, and he said in his heart: Hurry up, hurry up, quickly figure it out!

"Alas," Bai wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, "I don't know what is wrong with this sister?" I...... I've been raising her for so many years! ”

At this point, he choked up again.

"It's hard to say that!" Guan Zhuofan hurriedly said, "As the saying goes, 'a woman can't help her mother'...... Ah, no, no, no, I'm not right! Well, I mean, the bird is big, its wings are hard, and it has to fly on its own......"

It's still not right.

Guan Zhuofan was quite annoyed: Where did my sharp teeth go?

"Forget it," Bai said, "she thinks about it, let her tell you herself, I don't care about this matter—I can't care about it!" ”