Zhu Daolin returned to the newly completed West Cross Courtyard of Zizhu Garden, and then walked around the renovated courtyard with Zhao Xunting with great interest.

Today's two-entry courtyard is like a beautiful Jiangnan garden, the smooth stone path divides the wide garden-style front yard into two, the exquisitely carved small stone bridge cleverly connects the clear lotus pond with the hexagonal pavilion with red pillars and gray tiles, and the original chaotic and crowded purple bamboo forest only leaves two slim bushes in the corner, which looks particularly elegant and quiet against the backdrop of Taihu Lake stone.

Located in the center of the courtyard, the two-storey main building is very satisfying to Zhu Daolin, the solid stone wall foundation is unpretentious, the thick blue brick walls are neat and clean, the split-format glass windows are bright and elegant, the smooth mirror-like terrazzo brick floor is tinged with blue-gray luster, and all the furniture in the interior is sour branch wood and nanmu boutique, which is full of the unique charm of the water town in the south of the Yangtze River.

Zhu Daolin cares most about the bathroom and toilet, and the bathroom and toilet are the most satisfied. The spacious bathroom, which sits at the back of the master bedroom, is paved with finely carved bluestone slabs, and the four walls and cistern are carved with beautiful lotus carp motifs, and the white bedpan that is inlaid into the large bluestone floor seems to be the most inconspicuous of all these days.

In the face of Zhu Daolin's continuous admiration, Zhao Xunting was extremely proud, and just wanted to say a few modest words, Yuhu hurriedly came in to report that Mr. Ying had arrived, bringing a group of servants and gifts from the three major carriages.

Zhu Daolin hurriedly pulled Zhao Xunting out together, and when he returned to the lobby, he met Ying Changpei and his wife who both stepped in.

How dare Zhu Daolin and the others slack off? If it was just the big shopkeeper who was used to messing around, Zhu Daolin and Zhao Xunting would at most return the salute, but now Ying Changpei Zheng'er Bajing came to congratulate the female relatives of the family, the meaning is completely different, and it is clear that he is telling Zhu Daolin that his family has treated Zhu Daolin as their own brother.

This strong affection, how can Zhu Daolin not be secretly moved?

Zhu Daolin immediately clasped his fists with both hands, bent down and saluted respectfully: "Daolin has seen Mrs. Sister-in-law, but I didn't know that Mrs. Sister-in-law came, so I didn't go out to greet him, and I asked Mrs. Sister-in-law to do a lot of Haihan!" ”

Ying Changpei's concubine returned the salute kindly, and returned to her husband's side with a smile and stood upright, Ying Changpei saw Zhu Daolin respecting his concubine so much, and he was very happy and satisfied, but he joked to Zhu Daolin:

"Has the virtuous brother been overseas for a long time and still doesn't understand my Ming etiquette? You're all wrong about who is the head of the family, how can you get it? Didn't I see my brother standing here? ”

How do you know that Zhu Daolin glanced at him without guilt: "Do you understand that ladies are first?" Respecting ladies and giving preferential treatment to ladies is the demeanor that any cultured man must have, besides, you and my brother get together for three days, can you use so much courtesy? ”

"If I salute respectfully every time I see you, even if I'm not tired, I'm afraid you don't want to make such a mess with each other, right?"

"Haha...... Mrs. Sister-in-law is invited, sit here, I'm sorry, I just moved to the tea, I must make up for Mrs. Sister-in-law next time, and wait for the younger brother to go to Tianshu Pavilion next time, I must learn a good tea ceremony. ”

Ying Changpei was completely out of line, and watched Zhu Daolin respectfully invite his concubine to sit down, but he still ignored himself, and had no choice but to pull his friend Zhao Xunting, who was holding back his smile, and complained: "Brother Mengshan, take a look, look at it, this kid is getting more and more disagreeable, brother, am I careless in making friends!" ”

Zhao Xunting finally couldn't help laughing: "Brother Dao Lin is like that, people outside the party are chic and uninhibited, just get used to it, hahahaha!" ”

"Do you want me to get used to him? Okay, you Zhao Mengshan, was bought by him, right? Ying Changpei shouted excitedly, but in exchange for hearty laughter.

Ying Changpei's concubine covered her small mouth, politely rejected Zhu Daolin's hospitality, and leaned silently beside her husband with a smile and silence. When the laughter had stopped, she whispered to her husband for his opinion, and after obtaining his permission, she turned and walked to the gate, and led the twenty or so servants standing in the courtyard into the main hall.

"Brother Ying, this is ......"

Zhu Daolin immediately realized that these servants were likely to be one of the gifts that Ying Changpei gave him, but he still didn't dare to confirm it.

Ying Changpei replied with a big grin: "With such a big courtyard, how can you do it without a few people?" Don't worry, these people are all white people specially selected by me and your sister-in-law, they are passable in age and appearance, and the most important thing is that they all have a pair of big feet you like, haha, hahaha! ”

"Huh!? Why are you stunned? Go and sit down on the right seat in front of the incense case, the family mainly has the majesty of the head of the family, go and sit down, let your sister-in-law lead you over one by one and slowly introduce you. ”

Ying Changpei couldn't help but drag Zhu Daolin to the main seat, motioned for Zhao Xunting to come too, sat on the two Taishi chairs on Zhu Daolin's left and right, and shook his sleeves elegantly, put on a rather serious face, and waited for the people to come over and salute one by one.

Zhu Daolin looked at Ying Changpei, who looked like an old man, and then turned his head to look at Zhao Xunting, who was also serious, and felt ridiculous after thinking about it: "I said...... Two brothers, it seems that we are missing a teacup or a folding fan or something, it doesn't seem to be majestic enough! ”

"Shut up! The master should look like the master, sit down, this is not a joke. ”

Ying Changpei scolded in a low voice and straightened his posture again, Zhao Xunting nodded to Zhu Daolin, signaling Zhu Daolin to obey Ying Changpei, Zhu Daolin had to correct his mentality and cheer up.

Ying Changpei's concubine is very capable, with a smile on her face, and she speaks softly, but she makes more than 20 male and female servants who are in their forties and thirteen or fourteen years old in awe.

Under the instruction of Ying Changpei's concubine, the servants bent down one by one and knelt down in front of Zhu Daolin and kowtowed, Ying Changpei's concubine stood close to her husband's side, came and knelt down to introduce one to Zhu Daolin, her voice was not slow, her tone was not light or heavy, and her expression was indifferent, which taught the ignorant Zhu Daolin a lesson, so that Zhu Daolin knew what the demeanor of a famous family should be.

Zhu Daolin could only nod frequently, and after the capable sister-in-law introduced one, he nodded and motioned to the servants kneeling in front of him to get up, and kindly ordered to wait for a while, feeling grateful for the thoughtfulness and affection of Changpei and his wife.

These servants are all good-looking and respectful, from cooks to gardeners, from laundry and sweeping women to sturdy male servants who watch the door, from fair-eyed and well-eyed maids to fair-skinned and peugeot.

When the last tall maid wearing a pale cyan silk dress was introduced, Zhu Daolin's heart contracted suddenly, his eyes were shining, but his mind was in a trance, and the little maid's panicked glance in an instant made him feel a huge shock in his respiratory arrest, and he had an incomparable sense of amazement, so that he ignored the girl's graceful figure, mutton fat-like skin, and slightly cold pale face, and only saw the indescribable poignancy and weakness of the girl when she knelt down, so that Zhu Daolin almost couldn't help but step forward to hug her in his arms and take care of her.

"Ahem—"

Ying Changpei's timely coughing woke up Zhu Daolin, and also woke up Zhao Xunting, who was distracted, and the Jade Tiger Taoist priest behind him.

"Uncle should let Xiaoying get up."

Ying Changpei's wife and concubine were very satisfied with Zhu Daolin's reaction, and deliberately delayed for a moment before reminding Zhu Daolin with a smile.

Zhu Daolin, whose face was red, nodded hurriedly: "It's time to get up, I'm sorry, I'm distracted, this ...... It's called Xiaoying, right? ”

Ying Changpei immediately looked sideways at Zhu Daolin, his two beards were raised so high, his face was full of disdain, his eyes were full of disdain, but his heart was slightly painful, thinking that Lao Tzu finally bought it back and carefully kept it in captivity for nearly four years, and he didn't even have a chance to touch it, so he was forced to give it to you to enjoy this dog day, the sky has no eyes! This time it's cheaper for you, and I won't get back 180,000 yuan on your dog day as compensation, and I swear not to be a person!

Ying Changpei's concubine seemed to see what her husband was thinking, and glanced at her graceless husband with disgust, turned to Zhu Daolin and smiled gently:

"Why doesn't my uncle remember it in a blink of an eye? Xiaoying's real name is Xia Yuying, the jade of Meiyu, the smart Ying, Xiaoying's nickname was given by her deceased mother when she was sensible, speaking of which, Xiaoying is still from the lady of the official family, since she was a child, she has been taught strictly, she is knowledgeable, she has a good duty, and she has a good song, if it weren't for the sudden change in the family more than three years ago, it would not be as helpless as today, alas! God is jealous! Now it seems that my uncle and Xiaoying have a fate! ”

Zhu Daolin hurriedly stood up, sincerely thanked his sister-in-law again, and under the reminder of his sister-in-law, he instructed Yuhu to take the servants out of the familiar courtyard, distribute housing and work for everyone, and finally remember to boil a pot of boiling water to make a pot of tea.

Seeing Zhu Dao's hurried appearance, Ying Changpei, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but roll his eyes again, and then felt a burst of disdain in his heart.

"Uncle, you sit down first, these three little girls have to be taken to the study to get acquainted with it, and see what else is missing, and make up for it as soon as possible." Ying Changpei's concubine is extremely thoughtful.

Zhu Daolin hurriedly thanked: "Thank you, Mrs. Sister-in-law, but I just moved here today, and the study is empty, except for the empty bookcases and desks and chairs on half of the wall, so I don't need to clean up." ”

"It's still going to be cleaned up."

Ying Changpei's concubine smiled, and led Xiaoying and the two handsome little maids to the east room.

Ying Changpei grabbed Zhu Daolin, who wanted to follow up to explain, and leaned close to his ear and asked viciously: "Do you really not know or pretend not to know?" ”

"Know what?" Zhu Daolin was inexplicable.

Zhao Xunting also came up, and he smiled and started the round: "It seems that Brother Dao Linxian really doesn't understand women's things, thinking that his brother and sister really took a few little girls to tidy up the study, hehe!" ”

Zhu Daolin was even more confused: "Two brothers, what's going on has to be made clear!" ”

Ying Changpei finally understood that Zhu Daolin really didn't understand, and sighed and told him angrily: "The study and bedroom are all for the maids to be familiar with and take care of as soon as possible, but the important thing is not these, the three little girls brought in by your sister-in-law will be your personal maids from now on, your sister-in-law will warn your personal maid on the first day, what can be done, what can not be done, how to serve you well, how to abide by the duty of the maid, and even tell them how to warm the bed for you, understand?" ”

Zhu Daolin completely understood, and Xiaoying's beautiful face immediately appeared in his mind, his lips were slightly open, and the liquid was shining, Zhao Xunting smiled again when he saw this, and patted Zhu Daolin's shoulder affectionately to express his understanding.

Ying Changpei, who was uncomfortable in his stomach, gritted his teeth with hatred when he saw this, and took the opportunity to give Zhu Daolin a punch to relieve his hatred, and scolded him with righteousness after the fight: "Look at your lust-lost appearance, how can you have a gentleman's demeanor?" Shut up, shame on you! ”