The next morning, the mist was faint.

The major gates of Jinling City have not yet been opened, and the four-wheeled luxury carriage with the cyan triangular gossip flag leads a convoy composed of five carriages of various types, and slowly arrives at the towering Jinchuan Gate Tower.

Hundreds of civilians gathered at the entrance of the inner street of the city gate and waited to leave the city excitedly, all of them knew that there were only two four-wheeled carriages with cyan triangular gossip flags in the entire Jinling City, one was the car of the Taoist leaders of the Ziyang Temple who promoted the Taoism and helped the people, usually parked at the Ziyang Temple under the shogunate mountain, and the other was the exclusive property of the young and handsome but countless people who had lived countless people, and most of the time was in the city, so the hundreds of people waiting to leave the city speculated whether the respected little Zhu Daochang was on the four-wheeled luxury carriage at the beginning?

The excitement did not last long before they stopped, and almost everyone turned their attention to the brand-new coffin and white banner on the second carriage, and the civilian merchants in front of the convoy invariably made way for a wide passage, and then silently saluted the deceased in the coffin as the surrounding people.

Zhu Daolin, who was deeply moved, patted Xiaoying and Xiaomei, who were about to cry outside the car window, opened the car door and got out of the carriage, and thanked the kind people in all directions one by one.

Seeing this, the hundred households on duty at the city gate immediately ordered his subordinates to open the city gate in advance, and then stood aside to bow to the little Zhu Daochang who bowed down to salute solemnly, and the two merchants in the crowd quietly went around to the penultimate carriage and asked in a low voice what was going on with the familiar young coachman?

After listening to the young coachman's rather exaggerated description, the two traders were shocked and respected, and quickly told everyone around them about the poor identity of the deceased and the benevolence of Xiao Zhu Daochang.

The news then spread.

The little Zhu Daochang, who was affectionate and righteous in people's mouths, had already led the funeral convoy and disappeared into the long city gate hole, unable to hear people's sighs, let alone the rare moving and solemn on ordinary faces.

Maybe God heard people's deep regret for the deceased, after the funeral convoy left the city, the sky suddenly fell a rare drizzle, until Zhu Daolin led the servants and dozens of strong homeless people to bury Xiao Cui at the foot of Tiger Mountain, Ziyang Temple A group of respected Taoist masters began to surpass the soul of Xiao Cui girl, and it rained for two hours before it stopped, and the warm sun that rose to the middle of the sky sprinkled a warm light from between the clouds.

After the funeral, the servants took the carriage back to the Zizhu Garden in the city, Xiaoying and Xiaomei, who had been crying into tears, were led by Zhu Daolin to the row of low houses by the creek to rest, Xuanqing Daochang and others were very considerate of Zhu Daolin's grief, and left after talking for a while.

Zhu Daolin whispered to the two sad personal girls, this is his temporary shelter, he rarely comes back recently, the compound in front of Xiao Cui's tomb has been half built, it is the place where we will live for a long time in the future, if you think of Xiao Cui, you can visit her at any time in front of her grave.

After appeasing the two beautiful and kind girls, Zhu Daolin went to the warehouse next to the mountain behind the house alone, took out the key to open the heavy solid wood door, and walked to the center of the empty warehouse and sat cross-legged.

Half an hour later, Zhu Daolin walked out of the warehouse that was already full of stacks of boxes, locked the door and returned to the hut in front.

Ying Changpei walked a few steps quickly, and came to Zhu Daolin to apologize: "Brother Fool led the convoy and hundreds of servants out of Jinchuan Gate, only to learn about the misfortune of the little girl from the familiar 100 households on duty, and he didn't catch up to see off the little girl, and I ask the virtuous brother to forgive me." ”

Zhu Daolin waved his hand, nodded to the old housekeeper behind Ying Changpei and said: "The goods are in the big thatched-roof warehouse at the back, and the name and quantity of the product are written in black pen on the front of each box, this is the key, and the fourth uncle will call someone to move it away after the inventory." ”

The old housekeeper bowed respectfully, and hesitated when he took the key: "Xiao Cui is a quiet and sensible good girl, when the old man entered the tooth shop, she was almost bought by the two old bustards in the south of the city, the old man liked her temper and appearance, so he brought her back, but I didn't expect this child's fortune to be too thin, alas! The virtuous nephew can treat Miss Xiaocui so kindly, give her a funeral, and give her a generous burial, presumably she is also full of gratitude under Jiuquan. ”

Zhu Daolin looked at the back of the old housekeeper who turned away, shook his head and invited Ying Changpei into his cabin, Xiaoying and Xiaomei hurriedly got up and saluted, and then quickly made tea for Ying Changpei.

Perhaps Ying Changpei was really moved by Zhu Daolin's affection, took the hot tea offered by Xiao Mei and asked gently, "Mei girl, are your uncle and aunt okay?" ”

Xiaomei was a little surprised, looked at Zhu Daolin and replied in a low voice: "I don't have time to go back to visit them these days, I guess I am still selling vegetables in the vegetable market outside the Shence Gate." ”

Zhu Daolin asked with some reproach: "Why didn't you tell me that there are relatives at home?" ”

Xiao Mei hung her head guiltily, not daring to look at Zhu Daolin's eyes.

Ying Changpei smiled slightly and explained: "Brother Xian can't blame the girl, she has only been with you for a few days?" ”

"Speaking of which is also my negligence, Mei Yatou is actually a local Shangyuan County people, living in Xiaosi Village, five miles away from the Shence Gate, that is, the village under the small lime mountain, Mei Yatou when she was six years old, her father had an accident in quarrying, and her mother died of illness not long after, Mei Yatou and her four-year-old brother were taken up by her uncle, and her uncle's family was not having a good time, living by renting more than ten acres of land in the village to grow vegetables, and there were a bunch of children at home, but his uncle was still a man, gritting his teeth and standing up for two years, But in the end, he still couldn't support seven children who grew up slowly, so he had to sell Mei Yatou and his two biological daughters to the Jiaofang Division. ”

"A year ago, that is, when Mei Yatou just turned eleven years old, there were two girls in Brother Yu's family who were going to marry when they were old, so Brother Yu went to the Jiaofang Division to buy a few people to come back and make up for it, and he fell in love with Mei Yatou and her two cousins at a glance, so he brought all three of them back, until Brother Xian moved into Zizhuyuan, and your two sisters-in-law were worried that no one around you would call you to pick a maid, so they sent Mei Yatou and Xiaoying to you together."

"Mei Yatou's two cousins are still in the foolish brother's house now, diligent and obedient, quick hands and feet, and beautiful, in another year or two, your two sisters-in-law are afraid that they will marry again, haha!"

Only then did Zhu Daolin understand, and asked Mei girl embarrassedly: "Girl, I forgot to ask what your surname is." ”

Before the girl could speak, Ying Changpei's eyes widened: "I can convince you, I don't even know what my personal maid's surname is, I'm afraid it will make people laugh when I say it!" ”

"The slave's surname is Gu, and the name was given to the slave family by my father when he was alive, and it has not been changed." Mei girl replied embarrassedly.

"Gu Mei?"

Zhu Daolin read it together, and suddenly felt that he seemed to have seen this name somewhere, and he couldn't remember it for a while, so he had to continue to ask: "Girl, is your brother still at your uncle's house?" ”

"Here, when the slave family learned that they were going to be sent to the son, they asked the master and the mother to take a leave to go back and have a look, the uncle and aunt are in good health, and they are also very good to their younger brother, but this year the weather is too dry, and the vegetables grown are less than in previous years, and they can't sell them for money...... My younger brother is much more sensible and can help his uncle and aunt with their work. ”

After the little girl finished speaking, she leaned behind Xiaoying's shoulder, obviously reluctant to mention the matter.

Zhu Daolin was worried about hurting the little girl's self-esteem, so he didn't continue to ask, and after drinking a cup of tea, he pulled Ying Changpei out of the door:

"Trouble my brother to send someone to Uncle Mei Yatou's house, ask them if they are willing to work here with me, if they are willing, they will go to the courtyard under construction at the foot of Tiger Mountain in the west to do it first, if they don't want to, they will find a way to take Mei Yatou's younger brother over, how much child support is needed to pay him, if you are still reluctant, just say that I, Zhu Daolin, have taken a fancy to Mei Yatou's younger brother, and I want to receive it as an apprentice."

Although Ying Changpei was a little surprised, he was still willing to help: "It's a trivial matter, after moving the goods later, I will let the fourth uncle take a trip by the way, Mei Yatou's uncle and aunt will go to the city to visit Mei Yatou and her two cousins during the New Year and the holidays, and the fourth uncle is very familiar with each other, I estimate that as long as your name is mentioned, their family will come to you, not to mention work, it is to be a house slave for you, it is also a great blessing for their family, and it is better to spread it than anything else." ”

"Thank you, brother!" Zhu Daolin is sincerely grateful.

Ying Changpei patted Zhu Daolin's arm: "What do you thank for your brother?" Okay, the fourth uncle seems to have finished ordering, the foolish brother will tell his old man to go, and then he has to go back to the city first, there are still a lot of things waiting for the family, don't send me. ”

Zhu Daolin nodded to the fourth uncle who was striding forward, and saw him and Ying Changpei walking towards the direction of the small bridge in front of him, he sighed and turned back to the hut, his front foot had just stepped into the threshold, and before his back foot could be raised, Mei Yatou had already thrown herself into his arms, hugging his waist tightly and crying.

Xiaoying saw Zhu Daolin's inquiring gaze and nodded, Zhu Daolin picked up the charming girl in his arms and walked to the coffee table and sat down, raised his hand and slapped her pouting little buttocks: "In the future, if you eavesdrop on my son's words, it will not be as simple as spanking, you have to hang it up and beat it half to death." ”

The charming girl burst into laughter, and a crystal bubble suddenly appeared under Xiao Yao's nose, which immediately made Zhu Daolin and Xiaoying laugh.

The ugly girl hurriedly left Zhu Daolin's arms, ran two steps to face the wall, panicked and took out the silk handkerchief in the placket to wipe her nose violently, ran to Xiaoying after a few steps, buried her head in Xiaoying's arms who were laughing non-stop, and didn't dare to raise it for a long time.

Zhu Daolin looked at Xiaoying opposite with pity: "Are there any relatives at home?" ”

The smile on Xiaoying's face disappeared: "Since my father, mother and brother were unjustly killed in prison, those relatives have all avoided the shadow, and no one wants to look at the slave family again, now that the slave family has a son, there are relatives, and they will never be lonely in this life." ”

Zhu Daolin sighed: "Xiao Cui's death makes me very sad, I hugged you last night, I couldn't sleep when I thought about it, and it wasn't until I buried Xiao Cui that I suddenly understood, and I cherished everything I have now." ”

"Xiaoying, in addition to you and Mei Yatou, I also made a promise to two girls who are similar to you, no matter how difficult it is, I will bring them back before the Spring Festival, I hope you can understand me."

Xiaoying nodded obediently: "The slave family listens to the son." ”

Zhu Daolin stood up apologetically: "Xiaoying, listen, when the first month of the New Year is over, and you turn sixteen, I will hold a beautiful wedding to marry you, remember!" It's a wife, not a concubine! Okay, I'll go out and say hello to the master, you get ready, and then go back to the city together. ”

Xiaoying stared blankly at Zhu Daolin's distant back, tears of happiness burst out of his eyes, rolling down his fair face like pearls.