Chapter 264: Cold Sweat

Zhao San's sister-in-law stood below and bowed her head and said, "Back to Mrs. Talk." This was originally a method that the young people came up with in the village in the past years when they saw that the annual income was small. Because Zhuangzi is close to the South Garden, in recent years, the royal family has opened the South Garden for the princes and grandsons to hunt and play, and the prey in the garden is not enough, so the admiral ordered people to buy outside. The little ones thought that the place on the edge of the horizontal forest was also large, so it was better to buy some chicks and cubs of birds and beasts and bring them back, raise them and sell them to Nanyuan, and they could also add some income. At first, I just raised some rabbits, brocade chickens or something, and then even raised a dozen or so sika deer. Although young deer are rare, they also come a year, and there are hundreds of taels of money. Because Nanyuan was silent, and the old lady was in office in the south, the little ones didn't dare to mention it in the letter, and they didn't dare to report to the wife until they returned to Beijing and received the latest account. ”

Zhuo raised his eyebrows and flipped through the two pages of the account book: "Since you said ...... There are hundreds of taels of profit every year, so why is it less than four hundred taels in the past few years? ”

Zhao San's sister-in-law hurriedly said: "When I first started trying to raise. The wife of Xifu sent a steward to be the head of the village, and the little ones accidentally told him to know about it, and thought that the matter would not be done, but the Cao steward was so bold that he hid it from the West Mansion and partnered with the small ones, and he took the lion's share. The little ones were afraid that he would shout out and let outsiders know, which would affect the reputation of the old lady, so they could only agree. The first year was a loss, and the second year began to make a profit, but it was not much, and Steward Cao took half of it. This is the money that the little ones have saved in the past few years, and they have handed it over, and they will never dare to swallow it privately. ”

When Chunying heard this, she deliberately glanced at her, and saw that Zhao San's sister-in-law's face was full of sincerity, and she was secretly amused in her heart. Is it possible that it is less than four hundred taels of silver for three or four years? Those precious birds and animals were originally bought with money, and most of them were bred later, except for the cost of labor and feeding, plus some cold things, basically no big cost. She remembered that in the small six months after Uncle Wang took over, the income she got was more than 300 taels, excluding the cost and the "hush money" for each family in the village, after several families discussed again, Zhao Zeng's two families each got 80 taels. The three families of Cao Wanglu each got thirty taels, which is already a lot of money. Even when Steward Cao was there, the Zhao family also took the lion's share, and this money, I'm afraid it was his family's own share, and it was discounted, but no one knew about it, and they came to offer their courtesy, what was it for?

Zhuo Shi smiled: "Privately swallowed...... You don't dare, at most you will deduct some money, this bit of silver, will I still be able to deal with you? If I am an ungenerous master, I should have been angry when I heard rumors of your wealth. ”

Zhao San's sister-in-law hurriedly knelt down: "The little one is really wronged, the small family lives in the village, and even the house is more than ten years old. Even if the family really hides wealth, it is hidden by the masters, not the wealth of the small one! He looked at Chunying again: "The girl of the Lu family has lived in the village. I've been to the small house several times, so let's defend me! ”

Zhuo Shi turned his head to look at Chunying, and Chunying had no choice but to smile and said: "The slave maid has indeed been to Zhao San's sister-in-law's house, the house is a little old, and the furniture is also old, and it looks like a slightly richer Zhuang family." In the whole Zhuangzi, only the house at the head of the village is more decent. As for the rest, the slave and maid do not know. "In fact, there is really no rich family in the village on the surface, and the Zhao Zeng family, like the Cao family, both bought real estate in or near the town, so their residences in the village maintain a simple illusion.

Zhuo Shi smiled and asked, "Since you live in their Zhuangzi, have you ever heard of their business with Nanyuan?" ”

Chunying hesitated slightly: "It's not clear, it's just that the Wang family of Xinzhuangtou and the slave maid family entered the village at the same time, and once the slave went to talk to his daughter, I heard them talk about the lack of two brocade chickens or something, I didn't understand it at that time, but today I heard Zhao San's sister-in-law say, I understood." ”

Zhao San's sister-in-law naturally knew that Chunying was lying for her, and hurriedly said: "That time it was because it snowed heavily at night, and the shed collapsed in the place where the golden chickens were raised, and a few chickens ran away. ”

Zhuo Shi smiled: "So, the rumors are really untrue, you really didn't hide anything from me?" His eyes swept to Chun Ying again.

Chunying knows that her father is involved now, and she will be implicated if she is not careful, but if she does not satisfy the second wife, her situation will be very embarrassing. Hurriedly smiled and said to Zhao San's sister-in-law: "Sister-in-law, let's tell the truth, can you still hide it from your wife?" Not to mention anything else, just the silver borrowed from the neighboring village, I don't believe that my sister-in-law told the truth. ”

Zhao San's sister-in-law quickly understood, and said angrily: "The girl really doesn't give us face!" Then he turned to Zhuo's and begged: "It's all small, isn't it, because there is no water source in the neighboring village, he pays ten taels of silver to the small ones every year, so that he can borrow the water from the village." The little ones thought about this bit of silver, and the wives would not pay attention to it, and the little ones were in the village...... It's not going to be easy......"

Zhuo Shi put down the account book with a smile and said: "That's it, I'm afraid there are still ones, but you have also worked hard in the past few years, it's hard to believe that you haven't forgotten your roots, and you know how to hand over the money you earned, so I'll turn a blind eye!" But what's going on with the current head of the village? ”

Chunying immediately pricked up her ears and listened attentively. I saw that Zhao San's sister-in-law told the story of Cao Da's being taken over by Wang Da, and then said slowly: "This Wang Da is a sensible person." When Steward Cao was there, half of the income of the village was deducted by him, and the rest was handed over to Xifu. After Wang Da took over, he didn't refrain from saying anything, and divided the things into two parts, one was handed over to Xifu, and the other was handed over to the small ones to take care of. Suggesting that the little ones send things back to the house. He never asked about the silver he got from trading with Nanyuan. usually manages Zhuangzi, but he is much more capable than Cao before. ”

"It's a rarity." Zhuo Shi smiled, "He's not afraid of being blamed by his master?" ”

Zhao San's sister-in-law hurriedly smiled: "Speaking of which, he is not an outsider. Jiuru, who was waiting for the fourth lady before, was his eldest daughter, and now his youngest daughter may have been given to Aunt Xu's grandson, and besides, their surname is Wang, and they also have relatives in our house. In the end, this is the right reason, there were no rules before, and our house is the main master of Zhuangzi, isn't it? ”

"Don't say it again." Zhuo Shi smiled, his expression a little serious. "They are all close relatives, what does the family know so well? The brothers and sisters-in-law also saw that it was inconvenient for us to take care of them, so they sent their families to help. Didn't we break my brother and sister-in-law's hearts when we withdrew the people as soon as we returned? She gently knocked on the edge of the table three or four times with her fingers, and said: "That's it, since this Wang Zhuangtou is well managed, I don't have to bother, go back and mention it to the grandmother of Xifu, even if we borrow a room from them for family help, and the monthly money and silver rice will be paid by us." Suddenly remembered one more thing, and turned to Chunying: "Your old son is also in the village?" ”

Chunying's mind was in a flash, and she already had an idea: "Yes, the slave's parents have been idle since they were brought to the village last autumn, and they can only take one or two small errands when they are busy with farming." The third young master went once last winter and said a lot of things, one moment he said that he wanted to promote the slave's father, and the other said that he would punish his old man, and the slave and maid were worried for a long time, and then saw that the third young master seemed to be inactive, so he relaxed a little. ”

Zhuo had heard about his nephew's "great achievements" from his son during the day, and although he didn't fully believe it, he didn't think much of him. She has always respected her identity and has high requirements for her son, and she believes that the children of large families should study and reason, or practice martial arts to kill the enemy, wander around the study all day long, and play temper with a girl, what does it look like? ! Thinking that Chunying was already a person in her own house, if she was too elbowed by the old master, it would be a hidden danger. It wasn't a big deal, so she said, "In that case, then I'll bring your family over." Your father was the shopkeeper, didn't he? Now our family's shop is managed by people from Xifu, and there is nowhere to place it, I want to transfer Zhao San to another Zhuangzi, and your father will stay in Lijiazhuang as a foreman to help deal with the affairs of the village. Didn't you say that your family was on good terms with the new boss? ”

Chunying's heart was overjoyed. Hurriedly thank her. Zhao San's sister-in-law was a little uneasy in her heart, but she also thanked her, and when she heard Zhuo's saying that she wanted to promote her man to be the head of another newly bought Zhuangzi, she changed her joy and kowtowed again.

At the end, Zhuo Shi said again: "You can tell your family, be a good errand, I have everything in my heart." Don't gossip about Xifu without rules. The aunts and brothers and sisters-in-law of Xifu were well-intentioned, but when they saw that we were not at home, they were afraid that the housekeepers would not take care of them, so they sent their own family members to help take care of them. ”

Hearing this, Chunying's heart was worried, and she couldn't help but be worried. Unexpectedly, Zhuo's tone changed, and he said: "Next, we are afraid that we will stay in the capital, and call the shopkeepers or stewards of all the Zhuangzi, shops, and restaurants to report the accounts." In the end, it is our own industry, and there is no reason for my brother and sister-in-law to bother all the time. Now in the house over there, the old lady is sick, the Hou Ye is busy with government affairs, the wife is not in good health, the young grandmother is good, but she is young, and the affairs in one house are enough for her to be busy, and then add the affairs of our family, isn't it tired? I have to work hard and pick things up again. ”

Chunying knew that the second wife was going to take power. It's also good, it was the Hou Ye and his wife who were calculating the brother's property at the beginning, but now that the master is back, they should also spit out the things. is already a wealthy family, and it is too much to keep an eye on this little money from his brother's family!

Zhuo's housework, so he kept Chunying on the side, Chunying didn't dare to make a mistake, waited quietly, and waited until the housekeepers and ladies left, Aunt Xu glanced at her, and then glanced at Zhuo's teacup. Chunying hurriedly brought hot water and poured a cup of hot tea for Zhuo's family.

Zhuo Shi raised his eyes to look at her and said with a smile: "Look at me, I forgot you for a while, and you didn't remind me a word." ”

Chunying smiled and curtsied: "Mrs. is on the council, how dare the slave and maid disturb?" And thanked her for giving her a bracelet to herself.

Zhuo smiled and asked about the diet and daily life of the second old lady, Chun Ying answered carefully, and also mentioned the excellence and well-behaved of the fourth young master and the fourth young lady, which made the second old lady very happy. Zhuo's mood was happy when he heard it, but his mouth was in a few words: "These two children know that they are pestering the old lady to be coquettish!" The old lady is still spoiled. He also told Chunying a lot of words, including the old lady's three meals a day and the places that need to be paid attention to in daily wear. Although it was all a cliché, Chunying still listened carefully and wrote it down carefully.

Seeing her like this, Zhuo's tone slowed down a lot: "Ago, you persuaded Brother Dun to concentrate on studying, and you did a good job." I know you're a smart man, not like some frivolous girls who just think about climbing high branches. In the future, when your old lady enters our house, you don't have to worry about the family anymore, just serve our old lady well, and you don't have to worry about other things. ”

Chunying hurriedly responded to the ceremony, and when she exited the house, she felt a cold sweat on her back, and a gust of wind blew, making her shiver.

This second lady is a powerful person, not so easy to fool. In fact, she couldn't get used to seeing the appearance of the third young master during the day, and she couldn't help but vent it out when she blocked a breath in her heart before, and she also faintly regretted it later. Anyway, his parents are still in the name of the Hou Mansion, if the third young master is angry and wants to take them out, won't he regret it? Fortunately, now the second wife has come forward and brought her parents over, although she is still a slave, at least she doesn't have to worry about being retaliated against by her wife and the third young master.

She still honestly behaves as a maid, coaxes her boss well, and leaves the house with dignity in the future, which is what she should do, as for the people in the Hou Mansion, let them go aside!

Since then, Chunying has been more low-key, just doing her part honestly, teaching the little girl, and consciously reducing the number of times she appears in front of the fourth young master and the fourth lady.

The second wife, Zhuo's family, borrowed people from the Hou Mansion to ask for people, but not only the Wang family and Chunying's family, among the big girls around the old lady, Bailing had a sister who was from the Hou Mansion, and she also asked for it, and also "borrowed" a few family members, all of whom were stewards or deputy stewards who helped take care of the properties under the name of the East Mansion. When she reported all these things to her mother-in-law, she mentioned another thing: Qiu Yan next to the second old lady was a girl bought in the south, and she had no relatives in the house.

The second old lady smiled: "That's good, if I want to buy anything in the future, let Qiu Yan find her godmother!" It's just that three of my people have been bribed by you. ”

Zhuo Shi hurriedly said: "Mother misunderstood her daughter-in-law, the daughter-in-law is thinking, whatever the mother wants every day, she must report to the daughter-in-law first, and then arrange it, which delays a lot of effort, it is better to let the girls around the mother take some errands at home, so that the things that are purchased, the mother can also use it at ease, isn't it better than handing it over to others?" If the mother doesn't like it, the daughter-in-law can make another arrangement. ”

The second old lady waved her hand: "It's just a joke, you take it seriously." That's great, I don't have to look for you for everything, you're running out of time! Then he started talking about other topics, "Daughter-in-law Zhang has always sent people to invite you recently, hasn't she?" What do you always shirk? A family of concubines, just go and have a look, just don't just agree. ”

Zhuo Shi was busy, and after some gossip, he left the room, and after going out, he stood for a while before sighing secretly and leaving. Chunying lowered the curtain and wondered in her heart.