It's the end of the month in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Sun Yuanqi went to the U.S. Legation to visit Mr. Conger once, gave some gifts, and expressed his gratitude. Mr. Conger took out sample journals and remuneration from Science and Nature, as well as a dozen letters. The remuneration for the manuscript is good, and there are nearly 300 silver dollars synthesized. As for the letters, most of them were for advice or questioning, and there were also two or three letters sent by universities or physics societies, inviting Sun Yuanqi to give lectures or lectures. These schools, mostly American, are going to be in the 21st century. Nowadays, across the ocean, you can only take a steamer, and it will take months to go back and forth, so you can only refuse politely.

Lao Zhao's family has completely settled down. The yard is not big, there are not many things, in addition to cleaning the yard every day, it is to wash clothes and cook. It's really not heavy to do such a little work, or six people. Sun Yuanqi also supported them to change a few clothes: on the one hand, they changed and washed frequently, and they were hygienic. In recent years, Beijingers have spent a winter in a cotton robe. Sun Yuanqi felt that this was not good, the dust in Beijing was so big, there were dirt roads everywhere, and in a few days, there was a layer of soil on the clothes, could you not wash it? On the other hand, it's almost the New Year, so there has to be something new.

This month's cultivation, the spirit of Lao Zhao's family is obviously much better, with a ruddy face and powerful demeanor, which is not the same as when he came. Especially a few children, it is a lot whiter. Of course, it may also be the result of Sun Yuanqi urging them to pay attention to hygiene every day. Adults and children don't have to worry about food and clothing, and the main family is good, and they don't have to do heavy work, so Lao Zhao's family feels as if they are living in heaven.

Every morning, as soon as the sky is bright, Lao Zhao begins to clean the yard, and Lao Zhao's family fetches water to wash clothes; Fourteen-year-old Caizhu and eleven-year-old red hearts boil water and cook; The two boys went around helping and helping out. Seeing Sun Yuan get up, Da Mao was responsible for bringing hot water and towels to the hall. When I finished washing up, I almost had breakfast. After eating, Sun Yuanqi either went to class, or corrected homework, prepared for class and wrote manuscripts. Lao Zhao's family is looking for work to do, such as cleaning the outside of the yard......

Right now, when the year is approaching, Chongshi Middle School is on vacation again, and Sun Yuanqi only remembered to visit Sun Jianai Sun.

After Lao Zhao finished sweeping the yard, Sun Yuanqi also finished washing, and was ready to eat. When I first came, there was no table, and it was on a stone pier in the middle of the courtyard, so it was not very convenient on a rainy day. Therefore, Lao Zhao bought a table of eight immortals and placed it in the main hall of the north house. At the beginning of the meal, Lao Zhao's family did not dare to eat with Sun Yuanqi. According to the rules of the Qing Dynasty, the master eats first, and the next person can eat only after eating. And only the owner can eat in the main hall, and the people generally hide in the kitchen or their own room to eat.

Sun Yuanqi was born in the spring breeze and grew up under the red flag, so he naturally doesn't pay attention to this. Lao Zhao's family couldn't screw it, so they had to eat it together. Lao Tong saw it once, and said that Lao Zhao's family "broke the rules", and said that "Mr. Sun is too kind". Sun Yuanqi saw that Lao Tong was also a person, and it was inconvenient to eat, so he asked Da Mao and Er Mao to invite him to eat. Again and again, there were exactly eight people on the table of the Eight Immortals.

During the meal, Sun Yuanqi made the main seat in the north by himself, and no one ever went to sit with him, and called Lao Tong several times, but Lao Tong didn't go over. Lao Tong and Lao Zhao sat in the east, of which Lao Tong sat on the head again. Da Mao and Er Mao sat on the south side. Caizhu and red hearts sat in the west, and the old Zhao family served the food, and then sat with Caizhu. I don't know if it's intentional or unintentional, in this way, Lao Zhao and Lao Zhao's family looked at Da Mao and Er Mao one by one. All the dishes, Sun Yuanqi sandwiched the first chopsticks on which plate, and everyone started to eat which plate. If you don't clip it, no one will move. It's just "rules". Sun Yuanqi didn't notice it at first, but slowly noticed it, and said it a few times, but no one did it. Colored beads and hearts are girls, so naturally they will not take a step beyond the thunder pool; Da Mao and Er Mao are not so particular, and when they are interested, they can eat whatever they want, and they can eat as much as they want. Therefore, Lao Zhao and Lao Zhao's family are on such a side, but if the two of them dare to deviate, they will be served by darts at the lightest, and slap and chopsticks at the worst. The two boys were beaten, and they didn't snort. And just like that, the seat stabilized. Every time he ate, as soon as Sun Yuanqi sat down, everyone sat down according to the order of their seats, and then began to eat. As soon as Sun Yuanqi dropped his chopsticks, the meal was over, no matter whether others finished eating or not, Lao Zhao's and Caizhu immediately stood up, cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks, served tea and water. Now, Sun Yuanqi had to chew slowly, and only after seeing that everyone had eaten well did he drop the chopsticks.

Sun Yuan dropped his chopsticks, took the tea handed by Caizhu, and then said to Lao Tong: "Over the past year, I have been taken care of by the university scholar Sun, so I want to visit it today." I don't know much about the etiquette here, so I want to trouble Lao Tong to go with me. ”

Lao Tong put down the teacup and immediately agreed: "Anyway, it's okay to be idle in the cold winter." Besides, Mr. Sun's business, if there is something, it has become nothing. Middle! ”

Sun Yuanqi smiled and said to Lao Zhao: "Lao Zhao, you go and hire a big car and carry the prepared gifts." ”

Lao Zhao responded and went.

It didn't take long for things to be ready. Sun Yuanqi set off with Lao Tong, Lao Zhao and Da Mao. Now, Da Mao, who is smart and knows some things, is Sun Yuanqi's "scholar", just a little follower: when he goes to class, Da Mao follows him with his schoolbag; went to the street, and Da Mao followed to carry things; It's okay, Da Mao stayed within ten meters of Sun Yuanqi, on call.

While talking, he arrived at the door of Sun Jianai's mansion. Sun Jianai's family is in Lianzi Hutong, although he was implicated in the Wuxu Reform, but the saint is still a scholar, a scholar of the Ministry of Officials, and a co-organizer of the university. Therefore, during the New Year's holiday, there are many carriages and horses parked in front of the door.

Sun Yuanqi didn't know the joints of the traffic, so he handed a few silver dollars to Lao Tong and asked him to come forward and ask. Lao Tong was really unambiguous, three or two sentences, as soon as he handed it over, the red envelope was delivered. I heard the porter say, "Is Mr. Sun Yuanqi Sun taught in the hall of Jingshi University?" My grandson is very busy today, and I will go and say goodbye, whether I see it or not, but it depends on your creation. And the porter went in.

After a while, the porter ran out: "Hey, you're lucky, the lord is invited!" ”

Sun Yuanqi instructed Lao Tong and Lao Zhao to move the gifts in, straighten their clothes, and enter Sun's mansion with the gatehouse. This is the second time I have entered the Sun Mansion, and the last time I came with Lord Ding Yunliang, I was not afraid. This time, he came alone, after all, he was seeing a big man at the level of deputy prime minister, and it was fake if he wasn't nervous.

In the flower hall, there was a group of middle-aged and elderly people in official uniforms sitting in the seats, chatting and waiting to be summoned. When he saw Sun Yuan coming in, he only glanced at it, thinking that it was the young master from the house who came to pay New Year's greetings, and he didn't care, he still chatted. Sun Yuanqi knew that this was queuing, so he had to find an empty chair at the next head, and he had to sit down and wait slowly.

At this time, Sun Jianai sent an official out, probably Sun Yuanqi's height of 1.78 meters in this group of officials is indeed a little outstanding, giving Sun Jianai a glimpse, and listening to him say: "Ah, isn't this Baixi?" Why do you have time to see the old man today? I thought you didn't recognize me as an uncle! ”

Sun Yuanqi didn't understand it, so he immediately came over and knelt down, saying "Meet my uncle".

Sun Jianai was not in a hurry, and waited for Sun Yuanqi to kowtow a few times before signaling him to get up, and said: "Ah, Baixi, they are all a family, why do you see each other so much and kowtow!" After a while, I will go into the house and talk about the family ceremony slowly! ”

Sun Yuan was a little depressed when he boarded, and thought: This old man is not kind!

Sun Jianai didn't look at him, and said to the official next to him, in fact, to all the officials present: "Zijiu, this is my nephew Sun Yuanqi, who is now teaching in the hall of Beijing Normal University. Learning is good, but it is not sophisticated, and even my uncle rarely visits. A few days ago, the Queen Mother also asked me, saying that there is a special teaching in the hall of Beijing Normal University, and the knowledge is excellent, and foreigners from England and America have gone to ask for advice, but they don't know who it is. The old man told him that it was the nephew of the old minister, but he was afraid that people would say that he was nepotistic, so he didn't dare to mention this relationship. The Queen Mother also smiled and said, this is a good thing that the virtuous do not avoid relatives! The old man was ashamed. ”

The official named "Zijiu" hurriedly agreed: "The boss really has a family history!" Seeing that Baixi's nephew is handsome and upright, and his aura is magnificent, he is really a dragon and phoenix among people! The surrounding officials were also full of praise.

Sun Yuan bowed to the side, making a look of shame, but he thanked him.

After sending off the guests, Sun Jianai ignored the officials waiting in the room, and only led Sun Yuanqi into the study. Entering the study, Sun Yuanqi was busy greeting him, after all, this old man was seventy years old, and in terms of age alone, he was already a grandfather; What's more, the old man has always helped himself. At that moment, he knelt on the ground: "Say hello to the boss!" ”

Sun Jianai sat on the Taishi chair, dissatisfied, "Huh? "Yes.

"Greetings to my uncle!" I had to do it again.

Sun Jianai was satisfied: "Get up." ”

"Yes." Sun Yuanqi got up and stood, looked around, it was worthy of being called "study", and the walls were full of books. It's just that the books are placed on the bookshelf one by one, instead of standing next to each other, which is different from what Sun Yuanqi had seen in his previous life.

Sun Jianai glanced at him: "Why does Baixi have time to come to see the old man today?" ”

Sun Yuanqi was very embarrassed by this question, and said cautiously: "You are always in charge, and the younger generation is afraid of disturbing, so it is not appropriate." Now at the end of the year, thank you for taking care of you all the time, and you didn't take the liberty to come. Please forgive me! ”

"Well," said the old man, noncommittal, "you are busy with classes and writing books on weekdays, and never go out to smelt and travel, but you are diligent and steady, which is rare among the younger generation." ”

Sun Yuanqi thought to himself: I want to go out to play, but who do I know? What's more, what's so fun in this Beijing city?

After a while, the old man said, "When Her Majesty the American Minister saw the Queen Mother, she mentioned you, saying that you are young and promising, and that even the professors of England want to ask you for advice. The Queen Mother was very happy when she heard this. ”

Only then did Sun Yuanqi know why Grandma Cixi knew, and hurriedly replied: "The younger generation is only shallow in learning, and I am very ashamed!" Professor Rutherford from England was just stopping by to discuss some issues......"

"It is good for young people to know modesty, but it is not advisable to be presumptuous." The old man nodded, "You've been living in the university hall recently?" ”

Sun Yuanqi was asked weakly, as if he had asked himself this question last time, so he had to bite the bullet and say, "I still live in the university hall." Originally, I wanted to buy a house, but I was unfamiliar with the place, and I was short of money, so I kept dragging it out. Now I still ask someone to ask......"

"A few days ago, the Queen Mother asked about you, the old man said that you are my nephew-" Speaking of this, the old man stared at Sun Yuanqi.

Sun Yuanqi sighed in his heart, and hurriedly knelt down again: "That's the junior who climbed high......"

"Well," the old man was satisfied this time, "Baixi is a young talent, and his future is limitless, not 'Gao Pan'." However, since the old man admits that he is your uncle, he should also take care of you. I still have a two-entry house in Shichahai, which is a little dilapidated, so I'll give it to you! The deed, I sent it over tomorrow. ”

Sun Yuanqi hadn't gotten up yet, and he had to kneel down again when he heard this: "Uncle Ancestor, how can this be done?" ”

"Haven't you read the Disciple Rules?" The elders give, don't dare to resign'! Sun Jianai waved his hand impatiently.

Sun Yuanqi really hasn't read "Disciple Rules", and he doesn't know the sentence "The elder gives, but he doesn't dare to resign". Seeing that the old man was impatient, he didn't dare to say more, and he was grateful, so he had to respond.

Sun Jianai asked again: "What books do you read on weekdays?" ”

Sun Yuanqi replied depressedly: "Don't read." I've been writing things......"

Sun Jianai sat up on the Taishi chair: "The old man also knows that you have a lot of experience in the study of Gezhi, but the people of China, self-cultivation, must eventually read the book of Chinese sages." The old man has always advocated that middle school should be the mainstay, supplemented by Western learning; Middle school is the body, and Western learning is for use. Baixi can't be biased! ”

Sun Yuanqi nodded helplessly: "The younger generation has been taught!" ”

The old man stood up, walked to the bookshelf, took out two letters from them, and handed them to Sun Yuanqi behind him: "This is Zhu Zi's "Commentary on the Collection of Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books" and the "Commentary on the Thirteen Classics" engraved by Ruan Wenda Gong of this dynasty, you take it back and read it carefully." ”

Sun Yuanqi looked helpless, and he had to respond.

"The end of the year is coming, so the old man won't say much. You should also hurry back and prepare to move out, it is not suitable to live in the house of the university hall for a long time, causing people to gossip. As he spoke, the old man picked up the teacup.

Before coming, Sun Yuanqi received Lao Tong's urgent "Qing Dynasty Visiting Officials Etiquette Training", knowing that this was to send off guests. Kneel down and kowtow again, then resign.

When they went out, Lao Tong, Lao Zhao, and Da Mao were all waiting at the door, and when they saw Sun Yuanqi coming out with two large letters, they hurriedly greeted and took them. Lao Tong said on the side: "These two letters are worth a lot of silver!" Master Sun is indeed blue-eyed towards Mr. Sun! ”

"Does this cost a lot of silver?" Sun Yuanqi still doesn't know much about the price level of the Qing Dynasty, but he knows that some things are ridiculously expensive, and some things are unbelievably cheap. For example, vegetarian buns, one for a big money, one for cheap; A cotton robe, often a dozen taels of silver, is too expensive!

"At least twenty or thirty taels," Lao Tong roughly estimated.

Sun Yuanqi gasped: This culture is really not something that ordinary people can afford to learn!

Lao Tong said again: "The eight-color gift we sent, Master Sun accepted the four-color, returned the four-color, and put it in the car." ”

This made Sun Yuanqi even more confused: gifts, and half of them are received and half are returned?

opened the curtain of the big car, but saw that bird's nest, shark fin and the like were all returned, and Sun Jianai only accepted the four treasures of the study. Sun Yuanqi couldn't help but sigh a little: This uncle is really a real person!

Lao Tong listened to it: "What did Mr. Sun say?" ”

Sun Yuanqi explained: "Just now Lord Sun and I renewed the family tree, you know, I and Lord Sun are both from Jianghuai, the source of the lineage, after the continuation, I know that Lord Sun is my uncle." Sun Yuanqi made up this nonsense, which is similar to Liu Xuande taking advantage of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty.

Lao Tong nodded: "This is a great thing!" ”

Sun Yuanqi also said: "Isn't that a good thing? Master Sun raised his hand and gave me a set of houses, which was really affectionate. I may have to move out of the university hall in the next few days. It's really troublesome for Lao Tong a lot during this time, I have to thank you for being old! ”

Lao Tong was stunned: "You want to move away?" ”

"Yes, Master Sun said that the old occupation of the house in the university hall has a bad impact, and others will gossip."

Lao Tong jumped to his feet and scolded: "Which little rabbit cub said gossip?!" I fuck his eight generations of ancestors!! ”

Sun Yuanqi naturally didn't know, so he only smiled. Lao Tong didn't speak either, and he was sullen all the way.

After returning to the residence of the horse temple, Lao Tong went back. Sun Yuanqi instructed Lao Zhao's family to pack up the things that didn't matter first and prepare to move. Although the deed has not yet been delivered, I think this uncle will not coax himself.

When it was time to eat lunch, he sent Da Mao to call Lao Tong, but Lao Tong couldn't come. Sun Yuanqi didn't doubt him, he only thought he had something else. When it was time for dinner, Da Mao went to call, but Lao Tong still didn't come. Sun Yuanqi was a little puzzled, and said in his heart: What is this old Tong? But it's hard to ask.

Early the next morning, Sun Jianai's house really sent someone to deliver the house deed. Sun Yuanqi wanted to go with Lao Tong and Lao Zhao with the servants of the Sun family to see the house first. sent Lao Zhao to call Lao Tong, but Lao Tong couldn't shirk it. Sun Yuanqi was even more puzzled.

Lao Zhao saw that Sun Yuanqi looked puzzled, so he said hesitantly: "Sir, Lao Tong has something on his heart......

"Well, what's going on? Lao Zhao, you said. ”

"Sir, you are the best good person in the world, Lao Tong is reluctant to let you go......" Lao Zhao is words were in his words.

Listen to the gong and listen to the sound, and listen to the voice. Sun Yuanqi understood: "Does Lao Tong want to go with us?" But he's gone, what will happen to the concierge of the University Hall? …… You go and call Lao Tong and see what he is going to do! ”

This time, Lao Tong came quickly, and when he saw Sun Yuanqi, he knelt on the ground: "Please Mr. Sun to enjoy a bowl of rice!" ”

Sun Yuanqi immediately stepped forward to help Lao Tong up: "Lao Tong, it's okay to say that!" In the past, you have always taken care of me. Now, if you are not afraid of hardship, you will move with us? ”

"Thank you, Mr. Sun!" Lao Tong's tears and snot came down.

Sun Yuanqi had no choice but to talk about something else: "If you leave, what will happen to the concierge of the University Hall?" ”

Lao Tong wiped his tears with his sleeve and said, "I've thought about it." Don't I have an older brother? He has a son, and the family lives on a few acres of thin fields, and life is very tight. When I left, I asked his old son to come and replace me, so that I could have a stable livelihood, which was much better than digging in the soil! In the future, the big guy will also have a ...... to take care of."

It seems that Lao Tong had a plan, and Sun Yuanqi agreed. Lao Tong immediately got up and followed Lao Zhao to see the new house together, running before and after, as if he was the "housekeeper of the Sun Mansion".

Sun Jianai's yard in Shichahai is said to be "a little shabby", but it is actually very tidy. The courtyard of the two entrances is not deep, but there are many more courtyard rooms than when I lived in the university hall, and there are always twenty or thirty rooms. When Sun Yuan arrived, a family stood at the door and waited. The servant sent by Sun Jianai introduced: "This is the servant in the house!" ”

There are four people in this family, a middle-aged couple in their thirties with a son of eight or nine years old and a daughter of five or six years old, who look quite honest. Seeing Sun Yuanqi get out of the car, they knelt down together. After the girl knelt down with the adult, she wanted to look up at Sun Yuanqi, but her mother held her head.

The servant sent by Sun Jianai said: "This master is the nephew of the elder, and he is currently a teacher in the Jingshi University Hall, and the eldest attaches great importance to it, so he transferred this mansion to him." Serve y, yeast! If you are sluggish, the boss can spare it, and the family law can not be spared! ”

The family kowtowed again and again, saying "I don't dare".

Sun Yuanqi realized that this house was sent together with the servants.

The family's surname is Zheng, and the head of the family is called Zheng Yousan, who has been in private school for several years; The two children, one named Jing Xian and the other Jing Yi, are pink and white, and they come from a big family! Compared with the old Zhao family's big hair and second hair, I don't know how many times stronger. When he went back, Lao Zhao begged Sun Yuanqi to give Da Mao and Er Mao a good name, at least not in front of the Zheng family. Sun Yuanqi didn't have much ink in his stomach, but he couldn't bear Lao Zhao's begging, so he named Jing Xing and Jing Fan respectively.

When I moved to a new house, there were more than a dozen people in the yard, large and small, and it immediately became lively. In the excitement and emptiness, Sun Yuanqi ushered in the Spring Festival of the twenty-fifth year of Guangxu.

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