After returning to London that day, Wickham did not go to the newly bought mansion, but took Alice to find a nice hotel and rest for the night. After breakfast the next morning, Wickham took Alice in a carriage to the Wickham Mansion in the Sinkenton borough.

Perhaps because of Wickham's presence, Alice seemed very lively and chattered all the time. "Mr. Wanhu, I have read Marco Polo's travels, it is written in your country, the floor of the house is paved with gold bricks, is this true?"

After knowing that Wan Hu was from that ancient eastern country, Alice's curiosity increased, and she kept asking some questions that she couldn't laugh or cry about, such as the current one.

The etiquette of the Qing Kingdom is very strict, although Wan Hu is already nineteen years old, he has never had such close contact with the unmarried lady, when Alice leaned over like a curious baby, Wan Hu's muscles stiffened, and he had to say with a dead face: "Miss Alice, the book you read is probably just a false rumor, even the palace does not have a room with a gold brick floor." ”

If China was really as rich as described in Marco Polo's travels, then there would not be so many tragedies of changing children and eating in every famine year, but this sentence Wan Hu just muttered in his heart, he was afraid that saying it would scare the young lady, and then the sin would be great.

Wan Hu's English is not very good, and he always has a strange tone, which makes Alice can't help but laugh out loud. However, Alice soon realized that her behavior was somewhat out of lady's manners, and playfully stuck out her tongue and sat up.

Because Alice started talking, Wickham remembered that he didn't seem to be familiar with this always taciturn bodyguard, so he asked: "Huzi, I heard Brother Mingxia say, your fist and foot kung fu is very good?" ”

Every man has a martial arts dream in his heart, and Wickham grew up watching martial arts novels and martial arts TV series in his previous life, and he yearns for the knights who fly off the wall and are happy to take revenge. Now that there is a master of southern boxing in front of him, Wickham will naturally not let go of this opportunity.

Wan Hu pondered the words for a while, and then said: "Lin Gongzi, that's Mr. Zhang Liao Zan, I just learned some fur from the dart master of the Southern Fist Sect." Many brothers in the Heaven and Earth Society are stronger than me, but Mr. Zhang has already explained, and I will definitely protect Lin Gongzi. ”

Wan Hu's fist and foot kung fu can only be said to be middle and upper in the Heaven and Earth Society, but he is talented and intelligent, and he is the most outstanding one among his peers, which is why Zhang Mingxia values him.

The Southern School of Boxing is one of the most famous schools of the late Qing Dynasty, and Mr. Du Xinwu, the master of the Republic of China, was a teacher of the Southern School of Boxing. Wickham's confidence in Wan Hu suddenly rose, and when he thought of the "magic skills" in the martial arts TV series, he asked with great interest: "So have you heard of Yiyang Finger, Ling Bo Weibu and Ten Thousand Buddha Dynasty?" "If it's one of the Ten Thousand Tigers, then he Wickham will make a lot of money.

It's a pity that Wan Hu hadn't heard of these messy things, and shook his head blankly: "Lin Gongzi, I haven't heard of these moves, maybe it's the kung fu of the north." But don't worry, Childe, ordinary five or six big men can't get close to me. Wan Hu only believed that Wickham couldn't trust his efforts, and hurriedly assured.

Wickham was a little disappointed, it seems that most of the magic skills in martial arts novels were compiled by Mr. Jin Yong himself, and it is not believable.

At this moment, the carriage suddenly stopped, and the coachman was heard, "Mr. Wickham, the Wickham Mansion has arrived." ”

Alice happily leaned on the window of the car and shouted excitedly, "Brother, is Alice going to live here in the future?" ”

Wickham rubbed Alice's silky blonde hair dotingly, and said with a smile: "Of course, my little princess, this place will be our home from now on, and you can live as long as you want." ”

Because in the morning, Wickham had already sent a manservant from an inn to the Wickham mansion to report the news, so William Edward was already waiting at the door of the mansion with his newly recruited servants.

As soon as Alice got out of the car, she saw William Edward wearing a blue uniform and a white wig, so she jumped over and hugged William: "Brother William, I didn't expect to see you here, I'm so happy!" But Brother William, why are you wearing a wig, it's too ugly. ”

William Edward was made to smile bitterly by Alice, and smiled helplessly: "Brother William will be the housekeeper of the Wickham family in the future, and I wear it for the sake of the Wickham family's decency." Miss Alice, you are a little lady now, and you must do these rude actions again in the future, or there will be bad rumors. ”

Alice pouted, and there was a small oil bottle hanging on it: "Okay, okay, Brother William, I was almost suffocated when I was at school, you can let me relax when I get home." ”

Wickham patted Alice's little shoulder and smiled, "Okay Alice, I'll find you a tutor in the future, so you don't have to go to school." ”

Hearing this, Alice raised her head, and her eyes flashed with little stars: "Really? Brother, I really don't have to go to school? "The management of St. Margaret's Girls' College is very strict, and after losing that freshness, Alice began to get a little tired of the complicated and rigid rules of the college and the heavy schoolwork, and Alice, who was still a child, naturally did not want to go to school again.

"I promise you." Wickham made a hook-and-hook pose, which immediately made Alice smile.

The education of women in this era is really lackluster, it is nothing more than some painting, music, female celebrity and etiquette courses, to put it bluntly, it is to prepare for marriage and housekeeping after marriage. So Wickham decided to get a couple of governesses back and impart some real knowledge to Alice, and he didn't want Alice to be a shallow woman who only thought about jewelry and clothes, and then waited in a daze to marry a long-term meal ticket.

William Edward bowed his body and said to Wickham, "Young Master, these are the servants I found yesterday, a cook, four maids who are in charge of cleaning the house, a coachman and three male servants who are in charge of chores, and another young maid who is a personal maid for Miss Alice. If the young master is not satisfied, I can find a new batch. ”

Among the servants recruited by the Wickham Mansion this time, several of them are William's relatives, and they are all relatively simple and capable countrymen, and such people are more comfortable to know the roots.

William Edward is not the poor sailor he used to be, but now he is the butler of a decent family. When William Edward told his poor relatives in London that the wickham mansion had hired servants, they were overjoyed, and for the poor it was a very good job to be a servant in a decent house.

Wickham didn't know the twists and turns inside, and he didn't want to take care of it, he entrusted all the affairs of the family to William, on the one hand, because William's character was excellent, and on the other hand, he didn't care about these trivial things, as long as no treacherous people got in, these servants looked good.

"That's it, William, I'll not stay at home long, and I'll leave these things to you."

William Edward could feel Wickham's trust, and his heart was a little moved, and he secretly vowed that he would not fail to live up to this trust.

William turned around and clapped his hands at the servants: "This is Young Master Wickham and his sister Miss Wickham, I hope you can serve the Wickham family well in the future." ”

After listening to William's butler's introduction, those servants hurriedly saluted Wickham: "Good day, Master Wickham, Miss Wickham." ”

Wickham nodded to the servants and led Alice towards the house. Wickham felt a new look when he entered the living room, where all the furniture had been replaced with rosewood furniture that Wickham had brought back from China, and a few beautiful blue and white porcelain vases were placed on it. The most amazing thing is that the oriental-style furniture and the western-style living room are perfectly blended together, without the slightest sense of disobedience.

Wickham remembered that he had not brought the porcelain ornaments back from China, so he asked suspiciously, "William, where did these porcelain vases come from?" ”

"Young master, these are all sent by Miss Ye from Qingguo yesterday. By the way, this living room was also decorated with the help of Miss Ye, young master, you also know that I have never seen these oriental furniture, so I can't help but be a little overwhelmed when arranging it, but fortunately, Miss Ye and her maid gave some appropriate suggestions. As he spoke, William touched his nose a little embarrassed.

Ye Shihan originally wanted to be the first person to congratulate Wickham on his housewarming yesterday, but he didn't expect to pounce that Wickham had already taken Wanhu to Hemerton. At that time, Ye Shihan was in a little disappointed, but when she helped William decorate the living room, she was happy again, because it made her feel like a hostess.

Thinking of Ye Shihan, Wickham had a headache, Ye Shihan knew how to read, Georgiana Darcy was petite and cute, Margaret Berner was empathetic, the three girls had their own beauty, but what was the matter when they all got together, he now suddenly envied the Chinese compatriots who could have three wives and four concubines, but unfortunately in Western society, except for Mormons in the United States, they can only marry one wife.

Wickham stopped thinking about such a mess and followed William Edward up to the second floor, wanting to surprise Alice.

William Edward also saw Wickham's thoughts, so he led the two to the door of a room, and said, "Young master, this is a room for young lady. ”

Wickham smiled and opened the door to the room: "Alice, do you like your new room?" ”

As soon as Alice stepped into the room, she was stunned by what she saw: the walls of the room were covered with pale pink wallpaper, which contrasted with the pink curtains, and was full of girlish feelings. The oak floor is covered with a thick Ottoman-style carpet that you can step on as if you were walking on a cloud. The rococo bed with gold on a white background is covered with a thick duck down mattress, which is very soft and comfortable at first glance, and the bed is a burgundy gold lace flannel imported from Florence, which exudes a luxurious atmosphere. There is also a large dressing table in front of the window, which can be used for dressing up and writing letters on it.

Alice was moved to tears when she saw the well-furnished room, and since her father's death, she had been living a life of exile with her mother, and later she met her brother Wickham, and that time at the Schmidt Hotel was her happiest time. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for Wickham to go to sea, so she was sent to St. Margaret's College, where she met her friend Adela Burke, but also suffered from the malice and some ugly gossip of the noble ladies.

And now, she finally has a home, a home with Wickham's brother, she is finally not the little poor little who no one loves, I believe that my mother and father in heaven will be happy.

Wickham saw that Alice had a tendency to cry more and more fiercely, and immediately panicked, and hurriedly comforted: "Why is our little princess crying, if Alice doesn't like it, my brother will change it for you." ”

After crying for a while, Alice stopped crying and hugged Wickham tightly and didn't let go: "No, brother, Alice likes this room very much, I cry because I'm happy." Listening to Alice's words, Wickham breathed a sigh of relief, he owed Alice two years, so he was willing to give Alice the best life and education, so that she could live happily like a little princess, which was also his promise to the deceased Mrs. Schmidt.

William Edward then took Wickham and Alice on his way to inspect the renovated house. William Edward, though he was only a coachman who had never seen more than a little spectacle, hired a housekeeper from a noble family to furnish the Wickham Mansion at a high price.

There is a music room with a piano and a painting room with painting tools, both for Alice, of course. Others, such as the chess and card room, banquet hall, dining room and study, have remained largely unchanged, except for new carpets and curtains, and the dining room and tea sets have been replaced with Jingdezhen porcelain brought back from China by Wickham.

After a bit of scrutiny, Wickham nodded with some satisfaction and acknowledged William's efforts. Wickham was not particular about living in London, just a decent place to stay, and his ideal home was to go to the countryside and buy a beautiful estate, preferably like Bloombury Manor.

By the time the three of them had finished walking around the house, the hour hand had already reached half past one in the afternoon. Wickham asked the butler William Edward to instruct the cook to make a sumptuous lunch, eating lamb chops and vegetable soup, Wickham misses Chinese food even more, maybe it is a good note to go to Ye Shihan to eat more in the future, because Wickham remembers that Ye Shihan seems to have brought a cook from Guangzhou.

There was nothing to do in the afternoon, so Wickham stayed home with Alice. Alice saw the piano in the music room, and happily wanted to play the piano to Wickham, looking at the little girl's treasure-like appearance, Wickham couldn't help but laugh, in front of him, Alice is always a quirky and cute look.

Alice's piano skills can only be said to be of average level, because when she went to St. Margaret's College, she was already twelve years old, and she was already past the best age to learn an instrument. However, seeing Alice's intoxicated appearance when she played the piano, Wickham secretly decided in his heart that he planned to find a tutor with a high piano level to teach the little girl.

And just like that, the first day of moving into a new home was spent with the sound of Alice's piano. And early tomorrow morning, Wickham should report to the War Office.