Gu Qi was invited over by Mrs. Meng in a daze, a little inexplicable, what was going on? It's probably related to nephew Lin Zhao! In the past few days, his mood was very complicated, Lin Zhao still didn't listen to him after all, and personally participated in finding out the truth.

The Meng family has a great kindness to them, and it is appropriate to avenge the Meng family's brothers and sisters. But Lin Zhao was in the limelight during this time, and he was even favored by the prefect, if it was someone else, it would be fine, and the prefect of the king was still a bachelor of Hanlin, and he was about to go to Bianjing to face the king......

Silly boy, why don't you listen to your uncle?

Gu Qi secretly walked into the back hall worriedly, Old Madam Meng had been waiting for a long time, and as soon as she saw her, she smiled and said, "Ah Qi is here, sit!" ”

Such enthusiasm made Gu Qi a little flattered, and he was relieved when he changed his mind, in his opinion, he was taking advantage of his nephew's light.

"Old Madam Xie!" Gu Qi sat down apprehensively!

Mrs. Meng ordered the maid to serve tea again, and said, "Ah Qi, you have been in the Meng family for almost twenty years, right?" ”

"Eighteen years!" Gu Qi speculated about the old lady's purpose.

Old Madam Meng nodded and said, "Then Lin Zhao should also be eighteen years old!" I still remember when you came to Meng's house with him, he was still in swaddling clothes, and now he has grown into a big guy! ”

"Not bad! Thanks to the old lady to take me in, otherwise my nephew would have starved to death on the streets of Jiangning! It is precisely because of this that Gu Qi is grateful to the Meng family.

Mrs. Meng said: "It's not easy for you, you fled all the way from the north with a child to Jiangnan...... You are really righteous as a brother, pulling your nephew to grow up Chengren and treat him as a parent. Sister Ling will be very pleased to have a spirit in heaven, thank you! ”

At the mention of this, Gu Qi's expression suddenly became a little gloomy, and his eyes were dull, as if he had returned to that night when the fire was raging......

"Lin Zhao's parents are gone, and you, who are uncles, will inevitably have to worry a lot...... Now that the child is eighteen years old, as the saying goes, men should get married, do you have any consideration for Lin Zhao's marriage? ”

Belch...... Belch...... Gu Qi was stunned, he didn't expect Old Madam Meng's purpose to be like this at all! When asked about the nephew's marriage, don't you want to say goodbye to Zhao'er? smiled: "I haven't taken care of this yet, I think Zhao'er is still young, and I'll talk about it in two years." ”

Mrs. Meng said: "It's not small, the marriage is a big event, the words of the matchmaker of the parents' order, I have an idea to talk to you!" ”

"That's what you command!"

"How about you and I being in-laws?" Mrs. Meng was silent, and her words were amazing!

There were too many things to be shocked today, Gu Qi's reaction was a little slow, and he said suspiciously: "Old lady...... You mean? Obviously, that's what it meant, but Gu Qi always felt that it seemed that it was impossible.

Old Madam Meng said: "The old woman said it directly, Ruogu just went, and there was only one girl left in the Meng family, Ruoying." I wanted to marry her beautifully, but ...... If this huge family business and the lintel of the Meng family are like this...... There is always some reluctance...... So I thought, recruit a son-in-law for Ruoying......

Chen Xuan's lesson made the old man understand a truth, the family background is illusory, and the good character is the most real. Lin Zhao was raised by you and me since childhood, loyal and honest, and smart and capable...... The most important thing is that Ruoying and Lin Zhao, the two children, seem to have some fate and affection...... So, I want to discuss with you, if I can, let Lin Zhao join my Meng family! What do you think? But don't worry......"

Mrs. Meng hurriedly added: "When they have a child in the future, one surnamed Meng and the other surnamed Lin can be ...... All in all, it will not cause the Meng and Lin families to cut off the incense......"

Gu Qi never thought that Old Madam Meng would want to recruit her nephew as her grandson-in-law!

Miss Meng's talent and appearance are all the best choice, and it is not bad to marry such a woman! But Mrs. Meng has already said very clearly, she is recruiting her son-in-law!

In ancient times, the status of a son-in-law was very lowly. From the Qin and Han dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, sons-in-law, like criminal officials, fugitives, and merchants, were quite second-class citizens, and were sometimes conscripted to distant places to serve as laborers and garrison the frontier. In the Song Dynasty, although it improved slightly, the son-in-law was still despised by others, and he undoubtedly had to abandon the original ancestral bloodline, and was despised in the feudal society of patriarchal male power.

Moreover, the status of the son-in-law is low, and the wife is the main one in everything, and the status in the family is not even comparable to that of the high-level servants. Therefore, Gu Qi naturally rejected it, not to mention Lin Zhao's background...... How can you get into trouble? As for what Mrs. Meng said, the heir follows both the mother and the father, which can be regarded as a grace to the son-in-law. Gu Qi felt very bad in his heart, whether it was Lin or Meng, he was never a surname...... Perhaps there is no longer a chance to recognize one's ancestors and return to one's ancestors......

Seeing Gu Qi's embarrassed face, Old Madam Meng said, "I also know that this matter is not easy...... It's just talking! ”

Gu Qi shook his head and said, "Old lady, forgive me, I really don't dare to make decisions on such important matters...... Otherwise, you will be ashamed of Lin Zhao's parents! ”

"Yes!" Old Madam Meng was quite disappointed, she thought that with the birth of slaves like Gu Qi and Lin Zhao, such a good thing would be tantamount to pie in the sky. If the news is released that the Meng family wants to recruit a son-in-law, it is estimated that the applicants will line up to the Qinhuai River.

Gu Qi politely refused, it seems that this family does have backbone! She felt that this was a great grace, and it was also a high climb to join Lin Zhao. As everyone knows, Gu Dongping is unhappy in his heart, how can he be worthy of Lin Zhao with the background of Meng Ruoying's businessman's daughter?

"Forget it, I don't know what the two children are thinking, it depends on fate!"

"Thank you for your understanding!" Gu Qi also breathed a sigh of relief! Old Madam Meng also reminded him that Lin Zhao is not young, and it is time to find a woman...... In fact, Meng Ruoying is not bad, but it is definitely not good to be rich...... Alas! Gu Qi's heart was full of sorrow, and it was very unpleasant......

Mrs. Meng said: "You and I should first understand the children's minds, and then let's think about it in the long run!" By the way, this time Lin Zhao made a great contribution to the Meng family, the old body is very grateful, and he should be rewarded! "If you can't recruit more, the rewards and punishments are still clear."

After Gu Qi went back, he asked on the side, and Lin Zhao bluntly said that he was only eighteen years old and didn't want to get married too early. Gu Yuelun said that he would keep filial piety for his brother for three years. As a result, the matter had to be put on hold for the time being.

A certain said, Mrs. Meng asked: "Lin Zhao, this time to avenge Ruogu and rescue Ruoying, you have a great favor in the Meng family, I don't know what wishes or requirements there are, the old body rewards and punishments are clear!" ”

"This ......" Lin Zhao muttered: "Old lady, since you asked, I will also say it directly!" I don't know what kind of contract my uncle had with the Meng family back then...... I would like to ask the old lady for permission, we will no longer serve for the Meng family, and we want to stand on our own and be a free citizen! He didn't know how to speak, and the question was an opportunity.

"You...... Do you want to leave the Meng family? Old Madam Meng was taken aback, and Gu Qi and Meng Ruoying were also present, all of them were stunned, and even a little nervous.

Lin Zhao said: "I am a good man, I am ambitious in all directions, and I don't want to be a slave who is despised and inferior...... As for the failure to meet the time specified in the contract, or the losses caused to the Meng family, I will compensate according to the price...... Just ask the old lady to forgive me a little while......"

Could it be that it was something that provoked him? Mrs. Meng guessed that Lin Zhao had studied with her grandson for many years, and he had the loftiness and arrogance of a scholar in his bones.

Gu Qi was very surprised, his nephew had never discussed this matter with him. Lin Zhao really shouldn't be a slave, and he was helpless back then...... But what about leaving the Meng Mansion? With his "flamboyant" surname, there is no protection from the Meng Mansion, in case ...... It's really unsettling......

Meng Ruoying looked at Lin Zhao in a daze, all this seemed to be expected, Lin Zhao's intelligence was extraordinary, it was not a thing in the pool, the Meng family couldn't tolerate him, and sooner or later he would have to leave!

Old Madam Meng said: "Don't worry, no one will despise you from now on." In this way, you don't have to do anything, just stay and study hard, take the state exam, and take the Jinshi exam...... In the early years, your uncle always hoped that you would have the opportunity to study for the imperial examination, and I still remember that he had a wish to let you be inscribed on the gold list, and the golden palace passed on to meet the saint...... But in the last three or four years, I don't seem to have heard him mention ......"

Gu Qi listened and listened, his expression was a little unnatural, but he restrained it very well, and others didn't notice it.

No way! Admitted to the Jinshi? Lin Zhao's head shook like a rattle. It's okay to "borrow" a few poems, but if it's true, it's not difficult to quote scriptures and write classical Chinese? Although he had the idea of entering the official career, this most direct way was directly excluded by him.

"Thank you for the love of the old lady, the article imperial examination is not my strength, not what I want, I think it is better to find another way!"

Old Madam Meng couldn't help but regret greatly, it seems that Lin Zhao is determined to leave, and he can't stay with such favorable conditions, alas!

Seeing this, Meng Ruoying said: "I know that you have extraordinary business skills, but at the moment you don't have much principal, it is naturally not easy to start from a young age, how about cooperating with my Meng family?" ”

"How to cooperate?" No capital, this is indeed a problem!

"First of all, fulfill your wishes, the Meng family can go to the government to withdraw the documents, and the four members of your family will be exempted from the term of service, and you will be free from now on."

"Thank you so much, Miss Meng!" Lin Zhao smiled: "Now let's talk about cooperation on an equal footing!" ”

"Inch by inch! I know that you are virtuous! Meng Ruoying said angrily: "That's the case, the Meng family's several restaurants in Bianjing have been cold recently, and they have lost a lot of money, so I planned to transfer them or change them to other businesses." However, after seeing the craftsmanship of the Yuelun girl, I changed my mind! I want to invite Sister Yuelun to go to the chef, and then run it with your cleverness...... After making a profit, you shouldn't lose money, right? ”

"Technology stakes?" Lin Zhao said with a smile: "Fifty-five accounts, the eldest lady is really generous, I am sure that you will not lose." But what...... There is a condition, the time is limited to three years, and after three years, we have the right to decide whether to withdraw or not! ”

"Okay, three years is three years!"

Mrs. Meng couldn't help but glance at her granddaughter, wanting to capture the art of indulgence! After being released from the slave status, Lin Zhao must be happy to leave them with the dividends of several restaurants. It's good to go to Bianjing, Jiangning is a sad place, let my granddaughter go out for a walk. He and Lin Zhao can also be together, if there is fate, the relationship should be even deeper. Just a little, I have to tell my granddaughter that you must not exceed the ban!

Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Uncle, we are free, how about we go to Bianjing together?" Speaking of which, I really want to see the prosperity of the capital of the Great Song Dynasty! ”

"What? Going to Bianjing? Gu Qi, who had been silent, was suddenly shocked and objected: "No, you can't go to Bianjing!" ”