As soon as Zhuang Meiyan said this, Sister-in-law Yang was stunned, after all, everyone has been together for so long, and Han Niu'er is also an enthusiastic young man. Shu Cun's jaw was full of stakes, and if the crime was confirmed, Han Niu'er would definitely die, and Sister-in-law Yang couldn't bear it in her heart, and almost burst into tears.

Zhuang Meiyan took a deep breath, pushed open the window, and looked at the bright banks of the Milky Way, where the Cowherd Star and the Vega Star looked at each other in the distance. She said calmly and firmly: "I never believe that Brother Niu will be such a person, he has already made a marriage, and he will hold a marriage ceremony with Ruolan's sister in a few days, even if he is young and ignorant, he will never do something ridiculous at such a time." ”

"Let's talk about the daughter-in-law of the Hong family, you also know this person, she works in our embroidery village, usually she is silent, but she is the most righteous person, and she does not let her eyebrows. We weren't in the store that day, Hu Lao Er led the owners of the restaurant to come over and make trouble, if she hadn't stopped her desperately at the staircase, I don't know what the trouble would have been! How could such a person not know what was going on, and chose to do something foolish with Brother Niu at such a critical juncture. ”

Zhuang Meiyan's words made Sister-in-law Yang's face flush, she lowered her head silently, and said ashamedly: "What the third girl said is that the little woman is shallow in her knowledge, and she doesn't see things as thoroughly as the third girl. The two of them are not foolish people, and they really shouldn't have done foolish things, so I'm afraid it's a bit strange to say this. ”

Zhuang Meiyan lowered her eyebrows slightly, and said, "Whether there is anything strange about this matter, only the two of them know best." ”

Sister-in-law Yang immediately worried: "Yes, but both of them are locked up, otherwise they can ask what happened." What now?"

Zhuang Meiyan was also at a loss, but she knew that she was now the backbone of these people, if she showed anxiety and confusion or some kind of inappropriate attitude, it would immediately affect other people's opinions, so she just smiled faintly and said: "There is always a way to everything, we have gone through so many ups and downs, it's okay! Sister-in-law Yang, you go and call Yang Xiucai to come up, I have something to discuss with him." ”

Sister-in-law Yang saw that Zhuang Meiyan was calm and relaxed, and her heart suddenly felt a lot relieved, and said: "I knew that the third girl must have a way, and Brother Niu's life will be pointed to you." ”

As she spoke, she walked downstairs, and after a while, Yang Xiucai hurriedly walked upstairs with the placket of her robe.

"Three girls. Yang Xiucai cautiously said, "Do you have something to do with Xiaoke?"

Zhuang Meiyan nodded and motioned for him to sit down first.

"Xiucai, you help me prepare a big gift, I'm going to meet the patriarch of the Zhuang family. ”

Yang Xiucai hesitated and said, "Third girl, will you go over now? Will it be too late?"

Zhuang Meiyan shook his head and said, "We can wait, but Brother Niu is afraid that he can't wait." The detention is just a temporary measure, Xiucai, you also know the rules of the town, and I'm afraid it will be too late tomorrow morning. ”

Yang Xiucai sighed and said, "We also know that this matter is embarrassing for the third girl, the third girl, you are a young lady who has not been out of the cabinet, and it is not good for your reputation to be involved in these things." It's just that Xiao Ke feels that something must be strange at this time, Niu Ge'er must have been wronged, Xiao Ke doesn't believe that Niu Ge'er will be such a person. ”

Zhuang Meiyan's eyes lit up, just now even Sister-in-law Yang felt that it was Han Niu'er's drunken disorder, but why was Yang Xiucai so sure?

"Xiucai, tell me what you think about this matter. ”

"In the meantime, we outsiders naturally can't know the truth, but, judging from Brother Niu's usual behavior, he is not the kind of person who has an unhealthy atmosphere, and whenever he does this kind of thing, there are always some signs before, we live together every day, it is impossible not to see it at all, Brother Niu has little contact with the daughter-in-law of the Hong family, how could he suddenly do something with her? According to Xiao Ke, even if Brother Niu has the heart to do that kind of thing, he can choose Chunju girl and will not choose the daughter-in-law of the Hong family!"

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional, Zhuang Meiyan was shocked in his heart, and said, "Why do you think like this?"

Yang Xiucai explained with a smile: "Xiao Ke is just an analogy, Xiao Ke feels that on weekdays, except for the third girl, Brother Niu listens to the words of Miss Chunju the most, and he hasn't even met the daughter-in-law of the Hong family a few times, let alone any friendship." ”

There was a crisp "click" outside the door, and the two were stunned. Yang Xiucai got up and took a look outside the door, only to see a puddle of water stains and a few pieces of porcelain bowl fragments by the door, and there was no human figure. He looked back and closed the door, shook his head and said, "Maybe Cui'er brought tea over, but I didn't see anyone." ”

Zhuang Meiyan said: "There are no outsiders in our house, and we are not afraid to speak." Xiucai, you go and prepare a gift first, and I'll leave right away without further ado. ”

Yang Xiucai got up and said goodbye.

The room was quiet, Zhuang Meiyan sat on the main seat of the Taishi chair, playing with the small porcelain cup in her hand, pondered for a moment, and said solemnly: "Come out! How long will you hide?"

The door was gently pushed open, Chunju stood at the door with her head down, she slowly walked in front of Zhuang Meiyan, suddenly knelt on the ground, and cried: "Miss, it's all the slave's fault...... It was the slave who harmed Brother Niu. On that day, Miss Xi came to make trouble, and Brother Niu also came to find the slave and maid, saying...... He said that the person he liked was a slave, and the slave told Niu Ge'er that he had no fate with him in this life, so he died of this heart...... He went to propose to Miss Xi that night, I thought he was changing his mind about Miss Xi, who knew that since then his temperament has changed greatly, and he drinks all day long, which caused such a disaster. ”

The entanglement between Chunju and Han Niu'er, Zhuang Meiyan also vaguely knows something, but now it seems that this is just Han Niu'er's wishful thinking. She stretched out her hand and pulled Chunju up, and said: "This kind of thing can't tell right and wrong, besides, it's still unknown whether Brother Niu has done something foolish, don't rush to take the blame on yourself, don't blame yourself too much." ”

Zhuang Meiyan raised her head slightly, and suddenly caught a glimpse of a person standing at the door, and couldn't help but be taken aback.

"Sister Ruolan!" she exclaimed.

Chunju trembled even more and slowly turned her head. Xi Ruolan held the door frame with one hand, pursed her slightly pale lips vigorously, her chest rose and fell sharply, and her eyes burned with a deep hatred, staring at Chunju. Chunju was timid in her heart and didn't dare to raise her head to look at her.

"Sister Ruolan, when did you come over?Why don't you come in and sit?" Zhuang Meiyan gently wanted to make a round.

Xi Ruolan gritted her teeth and said: "I came here just when my sister was talking to Sister Chunju, it seems that Ruolan came over at a really bad time! Sister Chunju, should I thank you for your hard work?

The circles in her eyes were already full of tears, Xi Ruolan stubbornly held back not to let the tears flow out, and said "thank you" in her mouth, her words were cold and faintly hostile. Zhuang Meiyan saw that Xi Ruolan had a misunderstanding about Chunju and Han Niu'er, and knew that she couldn't explain it at this time, so she hurriedly came over and grabbed her hand, and persuaded her: "Good sister, you misunderstood! Things are not what you think! The most important thing now is to rescue Brother Niu first, and explain the rest to you when he comes back." ”

Xi Ruolan shook her hand and said angrily: "Explain what? Explain that he just came to ask me for marriage because he was angry with others? Explain that he never liked me? I, Xi Ruolan, am not that spineless woman, from now on he is him and I am, and the two of us have nothing to do with each other!"

Before she could finish speaking, she turned and left.

Chunju, who was originally leaning on the small square table, heard these words, and immediately sat on the ground, tears couldn't help but flow out, and she was both aggrieved and sad. Zhuang Meiyan looked at Xi Ruolan's back, and then looked at Chunju, and her heart was also very uncomfortable. This is Yang Xiucai already greeting her downstairs.

"Third girl, the carriage is ready, and the gifts are in the carriage, do you want to go out now, or wait a little longer...... Oh, Miss Xi, what's going on?"

Yang Xiucai collided with the angry Xi Ruolan, and was raised by Xi Ruolan to the side, she couldn't help but be a little surprised, and when she looked up again, she saw Zhuang Meiyan slowly coming downstairs.

"Let's go. Zhuang Meiyan commanded calmly.

The patriarch's house is located in the north of the town, and the ancestral hall of the Zhuang family is only separated by an alley. Zhuang Meiyan paid attention all the way, although this house is not as chic and beautiful as his own Zhuang Garden, but it reveals a solemn momentum everywhere.

As soon as you enter the hall, there is a portrait of a person hanging on the wall in front of the portrait, and there are melons and fruits on the table under the portrait, and incense is offered in the incense burner all year round, and the green smoke is filling, and the house is full of strong incense smell. There are several landscape calligraphy and paintings hanging on the left wall, which looks solemn and elegant.

The house was quiet, the master had not come out yet, the little girl in Tsing Yi led her into the hall, she sat down, and the little girl quietly retreated after serving tea. After a while, with a violent cough, an old man with an old dragon bell slowly walked out from behind with the support of the little servant and sat down on the main seat.

Zhuang Meiyan hurriedly got up and saluted the patriarch. The patriarch waved his hand and motioned for her to sit down quickly, and the old man trembled for a long time, and finally asked a word.

"Third daughter, the old man knows the intention of your late night visit, but this matter is very dirty, and it is not your girl's family to ask. ”

Zhuang Meiyan knew that this trip was not easy, but she didn't expect the old man to block the matter in the first sentence, and he didn't let her talk about it at all. She thought for a while and said with a smile: "Grandpa, Meiyan is just a little woman, but she knows that righteousness comes first in everything, if I don't even care about the life and death of my buddy, who will dare to help me do things in the future?"

The patriarch gasped and shook his head and said, "Third daughter, don't take this matter so simply, if this matter breaks out, I'm afraid even you won't be able to escape the blame." ”

Zhuang Meiyan smiled and said, "Grandpa, what does it mean to be old?

The patriarch said: "The ugliness of the family should not be publicized, the old man has some friendship with the patriarch of the Hong clan, and is willing to come forward to help you mediate, their own daughter-in-law is not strict in discipline, hook up with men, and hand it over to them to discipline well." The man on our side hangs up and beats him up, and you drive him back to the country, and don't show his face in the town from now on, and the matter slowly dies down, and after a few days people will forget about it. ”

"In this way, regardless of the reason, each of them will play fifty boards, and forget it?" Zhuang Meiyan raised his eyebrows.

The patriarch was not satisfied with her attitude, and said: "Third daughter, the old man is a good man, otherwise he would not have helped you bring people back to the ancestral hall -- wouldn't it be more worry-free to directly ask the people of the Hong family to beat him to death according to the rules! The old man is all looking at your face, you have collected a lot of money for the town to repair the mountain road, and even donated the happy money of the 'wine fairy', which can be regarded as a contribution, if it were not for this point, the old man would not have come forward today." ”

Listening to his invitation to rely on the old and sell the old, Zhuang Meiyan bowed slightly and said: "Thank you grandpa for taking care of you, since grandpa grandpa has the heart to save people, why not save people to the end, and give them a clean and fair life!"

The patriarch looked at her in surprise, and twisted his beard and said, "Third daughter, how do you say this?"

The night is getting deeper, Qiyang Town has fallen asleep, and the people in the "Li Ji Silk Shop" are waiting anxiously.

Zhuang Meiyan finally brought Han Niu'er back, the man with big shoulders and a round waist, squatting in a corner of the store's vestibule without saying a word, wearing a coat and gown, hanging his head, no matter what others asked, his mouth was always closed tightly. The meal was placed on a table not far from him, and he didn't even look at it, his black and red face was as silent as iron, and his silkworm brows were furrowed.

It had been some hour since he returned, and he would not drink water or food, nor would he answer his questions, and the people around him who cared about him were dying.

At first, he asked in a rambling manner.

"Brother Niu, are you okay? They beat you, didn't they?

"Brother Niu, what's going on?"

"yes, you're going to talk quickly. Don't be afraid, we big guys won't let them bully you. ”

"Yes, if they dare to make trouble again, there will be our big guys. ”

"Brother Niu, how could you and the daughter-in-law of the Hong family be tied up? What happened to the two of you last night?"

Han Niu'er's face turned red when he was questioned, he held his head, buried his face between his legs, and finally yelled: "I don't know! Don't ask me! I won't tell you anything!"

This loud roar immediately stunned the people. The guys in the winery are all from the "Phoenix Nest" village, and they all believe that Han Niu'er, who grew up with them, will not be that kind of shameless person, let alone do shameless things, and they desperately hope to get a negative answer from Han Niu'er's mouth. However, Han Niu'er's irascible answer clearly disappointed them.

The scene was a little embarrassing, Han Niu'er seemed to be unable to bear this embarrassment in front of everyone, and the originally concerned eyes slowly turned into doubt, and even contempt and indignation. He suddenly got up from the ground, and without saying a word, he pushed through the crowd and walked to the back of the house.

He moved too violently, and accidentally bumped into Chunju from the back door, Chunju entered the house with a basin of hot water, startled, couldn't hold it in his hand, "bang", the whole copper basin fell to the ground, hot water splashed on Chunju's legs and wrists, she couldn't help but "ouch", with a painful expression on her face.

A trace of panic flashed in Han Niu'er's eyes, and she instinctively raised her hand to help her, but as soon as her hand was stretched out, she retracted it again, hanging her head, not daring to look at Chunju's eyes.

Chunju didn't reproach him, but said slowly: "Brother Niu, you have been wronged, this big guy knows it, but holding it in your heart will only make you bitter and make everyone worry about you." If you don't explain the matter clearly, how can you be worthy of the hard work of the young lady, but she rushed back from the 'Phoenix Nest' overnight, and specially asked the patriarch to guarantee you before she got you back. ”

After saying something reasonable, Han Niu'er's face turned red, and he turned around to catch a glimpse of Zhuang Meiyan walking upstairs, so he kowtowed to her, lay on the ground and said, "Third girl! Brother Niu can't stand your hard work! This matter is Han Niu'er's mistake, and it is not someone else's business." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately lowered his head and stepped into the backyard, regardless of the exclamations and chatters of the people behind him.

Chunju belched, but Han Niu'er strode forward without looking back, she frowned slightly, and she could only give up. Zhuang Meiyan stopped at the corner of the stairs and looked at his back, thoughtful.

Early the next morning, Zhuang Meiyan's family was having breakfast on the second floor, when they heard a commotion downstairs. Chunju quietly came upstairs and said a few words in Zhuang Meiyan's ear.

Zhuang Meiyan was holding a porridge bowl in her hand, carefully blowing the porridge, and feeding her mother one bite at a time. After listening to Chunju's words, she just nodded slightly, and continued to smile at her mother: "Mother, how is it? This seaweed lean porridge tastes quite refreshing, the seaweed was just fished out by Sister-in-law Yang and their seaside, and it is fresh!"

Mother nodded, looked at Zhuang Meiyan and smiled slightly, her eyes soft and kind.

"If you like it, eat more, this porridge is appetizing and refreshing, and it is most suitable for your age. There is also this vegetarian vermicelli bun, you can try it all. I asked Chunju to make a few more dim sum that you liked to eat last time, put it in the dim sum box in your room, and eat some when you think about it, at your age, if you eat well, your body will be fine. ”

Zhuang Meiyan spoke eloquently, and her tone was gentle as if she was coaxing a child. The mother nodded her head, but her eyes looked out of the window, and suddenly she pointed out the window and grinned, "Flowers, flowers are blooming." ”

Zhuang Meiyan bowed her head and said, "Well, yes, the flowers are blooming, but they are fragrant! ”

Chunju couldn't figure it out, and whispered to Zhuang Meiyan strangely: "Miss, there are only a bunch of old men living in this backyard, how can there be any flowers?"

Zhuang Meiyan smiled slightly, and said: "Mother, she doesn't know that she has moved out of the big garden, she still thinks that she lives in the capital, she is talking about the osmanthus tree in the garden, she likes osmanthus the most, isn't it the best time for the osmanthus tree to bloom?"

Chunju suddenly realized, looked at the old lady who was sometimes sober and sometimes confused, and sighed: "Old lady, that's really not easy to do!"

Zhuang Meiyan fed her mother the last mouthful of porridge, put down her rice bowl, and said lightly: "Isn't it just to live back in the garden?

Chunju was a little puzzled, but Zhuang Meiyan had already turned her face to Zhuang Rongxi next to her and said, "Hurry up and eat, why are you late today, you will go to the school late, Mr. should punish you again!"

Zhuang Rongxi put down the porridge bowl and said with a smile: "Sister, Mr. has something to do today, and we have a day off, so we don't have to go to the school." ”

"That's right, sister. Zhuang Rongxi asked curiously: "What's the commotion up there, it seems that someone is crying, as if someone is dead, it's scary!"

Zhuang Meiyan sneered and said, "It's really a death, they don't dare to come over and make trouble!

Chunju was already anxious like ants on a hot pot, she learned things to Zhuang Meiyan, but the latter was indifferent, still slowly and methodically serving the old lady, she was a slave and did not dare to urge the young lady, now she heard the young lady speak, and hurriedly accosted: "Miss, what should we do now? Many people from the Hong family came, naming us and asking for Brother Niu, and they kept saying that they would severely punish the murderer. The old man Hong also said that he wanted to see Miss and ask Miss to uphold justice, but the bad mother-in-law of the Hong family's daughter-in-law had already fainted from crying. ”

Zhuang Meiyan frowned and said: "Those people hate it when they see it, you go and send them all away, just say that I am not at home, and if there is anything, wait for me to come back." ”

When Chunju heard this, she immediately felt embarrassed and said, "What if they don't leave?"

Zhuang Meiyan smiled mischievously and said, "They don't feel tired, so let them wait." ”

Chunju didn't dare to disobey Miss's meaning, "hey" and pushed the door away, just stepped out of the door with one foot, Zhuang Meiyan shouted to her again, and admonished: "You just say that Brother Niu is not here with us, if there is anything, you just push it on Brother Niu." If they come hard, tell our men not to be idle, and if they just cry, I know you have a way to deal with it. ”

Chunju was puzzled in her heart, she really didn't know what medicine was sold in Miss's gourd, so she just had to go downstairs to deal with it.

Zhuang Meiyan turned around like no one was fine, clapped her hands at Zhuang Rongxi and smiled: "Little brother, you help my sister clean up, and in a few days, let's move!"

Zhuang Rongxi's childlike nature couldn't suppress his curiosity, and he pestered his sister and asked, where are you going to move, do you want to go back to the Phoenix Nest? Zhuang Meiyan smiled and did not answer.

Chunju tried her best to sing red face, white face for a while, and finally sent people away, and when she returned to the house, she saw the young lady very leisurely crooked on the couch drinking tea, eating snacks and reading books, looking leisurely.

She couldn't help but sigh sadly, and then saw that something was wrong with the cleanliness of the house, she rubbed her eyes vigorously, and couldn't help but say in surprise: "Miss, you, what are you doing with so much baggage? Where are you going? Let's not move to avoid trouble." ”

Chunju stammered when she spoke, swallowed her saliva vigorously, and she hurriedly comforted her again, saying, "Miss, don't worry. Just now, those people were messing around, and as soon as they entered the door, they were so aggressive that they wanted to demolish our shop. Later, I told them according to what Miss said, Han Niu'er didn't know where to go, and Miss was not at home. They made a fuss for a while and found it boring, so they left. ”

"So easy to dismiss?" Zhuang Meiyan smiled, but his eyes were still staring at the book in his hand, obviously unimpressed.

Chunju pouted and said: "The slave really thought that she was here to ask for justice, the mother-in-law of the Hong family's daughter-in-law was rolling and crying in our shop, looking for death and life, Yang Xiucai squatted down beside her and whispered a few words, and stuffed something into her hand, and she immediately stopped crying." The tears were really easy to come by, and he only said 'It's all up to the three girls', and he forgot why he came. ”

"Afterwards, the slave quietly asked Xiucai what magic weapon she gave her, and Xiucai also pretended to be mysterious and said something 'access god', hum, dead Xiucai, didn't he just give her a silver ingot?"

Zhuang Meiyan sighed and said, "Money can be used to the gods, and that's really the case!" You go down and tell Xiucai, let him take care of it outside, how to deal with it, and how to deal with it himself, if you need the silver, you can use it on the account, and you don't have to go back and forth to me." ”

"Hey!" Chunju breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Miss, in the end, you have an idea, as soon as they make a fuss, the slave maid has already panicked." ”

Zhuang Meiyan smiled slightly and said, "You handled it properly, next time you come to make trouble, you just have to deal with it." ”

Chunju nodded yes, she looked at the pile of baggage piled on the table in the room, and couldn't help asking, "Miss, where are we moving to?"

Zhuang Meiyan closed the book in her hand, squinted her eyes and glanced at the sun outside, it was close to noon at this time, she straightened the folds on her clothes, and said calmly: "People say that it is best to move at noon, and it is better to choose a day than to hit the day, just today." Chunju, you tell Da Zhuang to prepare the carriage, and we will set off later. ”

Chunju was confused and said, "Miss, where are you going?" You have to say a place, or how can the slave tell Da Zhuang?"

Zhuang Meiyan smiled: "You just have to go, I'll tell him how to get there when I get in the car." By the way, you can help me change my mother's clothes first. ”

Saying that, Zhuang Meiyan held up a set of brightly colored and luxuriously styled clothes, and Chunju was even more confused, Miss, which one are you singing?

A royal blue car with a blue cover and blue glaze car was parked steadily at the gate of the Zhuang's courtyard, and it has been a year since the Zhuang adults and their families went to the capital, and this rural house has been a lot empty. The red paint of the vermilion gate is a little peeling off, the fist-sized door nails and the door knocker of the beast's head can still show the majesty of the past, the two stone lions at the door are covered with a thin layer of dust, a lot of dead leaves have fallen at the door, and an old man with gray hair is hunched over his waist and slowly sweeps the steps.

He heard the sound of the wheels turning, and turned around with the same slow speed to look at the comer. It's not a matter of a day or two that the owner is not at home, who will come to visit?

The royal blue curtain was gently opened, and a clever little girl jumped down first, wearing a lotus-colored narrow-sleeved shirt, an emerald green gauze skirt, and a dark green cardigan. The old man rubbed his eyes and looked at the maid's dress, the person who came must be from a big family.

The maid opened the curtain and carefully helped out a middle-aged lady in her forties with the people in the sedan chair, wearing a yellow dress and a purple and red skirt lady dress, a wide robe with large sleeves, a cardigan, and a large peony embroidered with golden silk thread on the purple veil. The lady was full of pearls and hairpins, her willow eyebrows were crooked, her eyes were like water, and her appearance was dignified and beautiful.

On the right hand side of the lady leaned on a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, dressed as usual, wearing a pair of embroidered plum blossom satin green short jackets, with a garnet red pleated skirt underneath, black hair gently coiled up at the back of the head, only an ordinary silver hairpin obliquely pinned, the expression on the face was indifferent, especially a pair of bottomless eyes, people did not dare to look at it, but it was a pity that there was an obvious birthmark on the right cheek to destroy the appearance. The girl's momentum was no weaker than that of the noblewoman, she quickly glanced around, immediately retracted her eyes, and carefully helped the noblewoman out of the sedan chair.

These three people are none other than Zhuang Meiyan, her mother, and Chunju's master and servant.

The old man who was in charge of cleaning the door greeted him tremblingly, and said suspiciously: "Madam, who are you looking for? The owner of the mansion has already moved to the capital, and this is an empty mansion." ”

The old man naturally thought that the big relative of the owner's family came to visit, so he kindly reminded him.

Zhuang Meiyan smiled slightly and said, "Daddy Rong, you don't recognize me, I'm from this house, I'm not here to find anyone, I'm just going home." ”

The old man was even more puzzled, although he was a doorman and a watchman, the characters in the house had seen it from afar, and he was particularly unfamiliar with this lady and young lady.

Chunju said: "Daddy Rong, you should always recognize me." I'm the maid who serves the third lady in the house, and I've asked you about the way when I go out a few times. ”

The old man took a closer look at Chunju, and finally vaguely remembered, and said with a smile: "It turned out to be Chunju girl." Who are these two?"

Chunju complained: "Father Rong, are you old and confused? Aren't these our lady and third lady? Why don't you open the door and let us in!"

While talking, Chunju cleverly took a small piece of broken silver and put it in the palm of the old man's hand, urging: "This is the young lady's reward for you." Daddy Rong, don't be stupid, go and open the door. ”

The old man was frightened by their formation, and obediently opened the gate, which had not been opened for a long time, and the door made a piercing "squeak" sound, and the dust on the wooden beams fell. Zhuang Meiyan couldn't help but clench her mother's hand, but her mother was as usual, and said with a smile: "Let's go, Yan'er, let's look at the osmanthus flowers." In September, osmanthus blooms, but fragrant. ”

Zhuang Meiyan glanced at the snow-white wall facing the gate, which was tattooed with lifelike birds and beasts, she sighed, nodded lightly and said, "Okay! Mother, let's look at the osmanthus flowers!"

The two crossed the tall threshold side by side, and Chunju followed. Looking at the backs of the three of them, the old man was still in a daze, holding the small piece of silver in his hand, and secretly checked it, it was enough to weigh two or three, which was worth his salary for several months, and he couldn't help but be overjoyed, and he didn't care about considering whether the identities of this lady and young lady were real.

Zhuang Meiyan helped her mother pass by the main hall and hall, she didn't plan to go in, she just wanted to go around the side door corridor to the backyard, but her mother insisted on walking to the hall. The big houses and huts in the house have been locked, and looking through the cracks in the papier-mâché windows, the large furnishings inside have been covered with white cloth sheets one by one, and the original appearance cannot be seen, and the big house is silent and depressed.

The mother gently stroked the wooden ridges on the doors and windows, and always lingered in front of the door of the hall, her eyes narrow. Zhuang Meiyan knew that the construction of the hall house was similar to the Zhuang Mansion in the capital, and her mother was afraid that she remembered something from the past when she saw the injury. She felt a little sad in her heart, so she persuaded softly: "Mother, my daughter must cure your illness, let you recover your memory, and return to her father." ”

Naturally, the mother didn't understand these words, and just looked at her daughter and smiled.

Zhuang Meiyan continued to walk to the backyard with her mother in her arms. The overall design of this house is no different from that of a large house in the countryside, with three entrances and three exits, the main hall and hall are the places where people are entertained, and the side rooms on both sides are the study and living room of the master's family. The two rows of wings are as tall as the main building, connected by a cloister in front of the door, and the east wing is the master's bedroom.

Go inside along the back door of the cloister, the back room is where the wives and concubines live, and then the backyard is a huge courtyard, and several exquisite small buildings or small houses scattered among the flowers and green leaves are the residences of the young ladies and young masters.

The Zhuangjia Courtyard is located in the north of Qiyang Town, the terrain is high, to the south can overlook most of the town, to the north can look up to Qilian Mountain, the location is the best, and the courtyard is huge, the design inside is exquisite and pleasant, the mountains and rivers depend on each other, and it is not lost to the famous courtyard in the capital at all.

At this time, Zhuang Meiyan and her mother sat in the pavilion by the lake to rest, with their backs to the emerald water like jewels, looking around the lake shore weeping willows, the cool breeze was blowing, the branches and leaves were swinging, and they were as graceful as a woman. A little farther away there is the rockery of Taihu Lake stone, a little farther a little more planted begonia trees, it is autumn now, although it does not bloom, but it has been embellished with fruits, the tree is red, yellow and green, the fruit is fragrant, but it is a unique scenery.

Zhuang Meiyan sat in the pavilion, and remembered that he was also in this place a year ago, and he fainted due to poisoning, except for Jiang Fubai, no one was willing to lend a hand, and there was great hatred in his heart.

Zhuang Meiyan and they walked around the garden for most of the hour, and finally found the osmanthus tree, the mother loved the fragrance of osmanthus the most, and lingered under the tree for a long time, with a happy smile on her face. At the end, I picked a large handful and let Chunju carry it in her dress, saying that she would take it back to make osmanthus cake.

The three of them were resting in the pavilion, and they saw an old man behind the rockery coming over from a distance. Chunju's eyes were sharp, and she immediately pulled Zhuang Meiyan's sleeve and pointed it out to her, Zhuang Meiyan nodded.

That person is the old man Rong Dad who cares for the house, he opened the door and thought about it, and finally felt that something was wrong, and followed into the garden, he entered the backyard for the first time, and it took a lot of effort to find Zhuang Meiyan and them.

The old man panted and beckoned, "Third Miss, Third Miss, it's not too early, when are you going to go back?"

Zhuang Meiyan gave Chun Ju a look, and the latter immediately stepped forward and said kindly: "Father Rong, I just said that you are confused, aren't you? ”

"Stay, but ......" Father Rong became more and more confused the more he listened.

Chunju immediately rushed to say: "Of course, this is the home of Mrs. and Miss, where do you let them go?"

"Yes! But ...... before"

"Didn't Miss get sick last year? Dr. Jiang said that he should find a secluded place to take care of it, and he couldn't bother at all, but now that Miss is sick, he naturally wants to come back to live with his wife. Madame and Mademoiselle are coming back, aren't you happy Daddy Rong?"

"No, no......" Father Rong waved his hand again and again, his wrinkled old face showed panic, and said repeatedly: "No, no, no, the old man dares there!" ”

Zhuang Meiyan said angrily: "Chunju asked you to talk to Daddy Rong about something serious, look at you scared Daddy Rong." ”

Chunju pursed her lips and smiled: "The slave doesn't dare, so I'll match Daddy Rong with one." ”

Chunju was slightly blessed, and Father Rong stopped with both hands, and said a little helplessly: "Miss Chunju, this can't be helped, kill my old bones." If the young lady has any orders, just say. ”

Chunju said: "Miss said, now only she and Mrs. come back to live, and there is no need to be too public, by the way, the houses have been locked, and the father will only open the door of the east wing in front of him later, and by the way, call all the people in the yard over, Miss has something to say." ”

Father Rong agreed one by one, and said: "The keys are all stored in Manager Liu's place, the villain only has the keys to the gate and a few miscellaneous rooms, and there is really no key to the big house." ”

Zhuang Meiyan thought for a while, and then said: "Then let's be here, the annoying father called all the big guys over, I have a few things to explain." ”

Father Rong took the order and left, and after a short time, he brought a few servant women over. Since Zhuang Yanyuan returned to the capital, most of the subordinates have followed back, leaving only a few elderly servants to guard the mansion and be responsible for simple maintenance and management. Zhuang Meiyan looked like they were all inferior servants, most of them were fifty years old, not to mention themselves, even Chunju didn't know much.

Zhuang Meiyan glanced at the few people kneeling on the ground, and said with a slight smile: "The master went to the capital, the lady likes to be quiet, and I will live in this mansion in the future, you can still do your part, understand?"

The servants looked at each other in disbelief, but no one answered.

Chunju raised her eyebrows, and was about to open her mouth to scold, Zhuang Meiyan waved her hand lightly, and said with a pleasant face: "Oh, by the way, how much is your monthly money?"

An elderly servant replied cautiously, "It turned out to be five pieces of silver, and later said that those who stayed to see the old mansion would be given two more dollars." However, this place is far away from the capital, and we can't give us the regular money on a monthly basis, and we have not given it for nine months since the New Year. For example, it is a trivial matter not to give money, and the account office does not come to settle the account for more than half a year, and it is a problem for a few of us to even eat. ”

The servant's voice became smaller and quieter, and at the same time she secretly looked up at Zhuang Meiyan's face, Zhuang Meiyan's expression was flat, and she didn't seem to care. This woman is indecent, and the red mole on the right side of her face makes people a little frightened at first glance, but her speech and demeanor are very magnanimous, so the servant woman is a little worried when she talks about this, for fear of annoying the young lady.

A middle-aged woman kneeling next to her seemed to be a little angry, and said: "Miss, the house doesn't give us money, the right to save for us, and it's the same at the end of the year, but the account office doesn't even send a penny of expenses, but it's going to starve these people to death, and the slave and maid are in charge of the daily meals of these people, and if they can save it, they can save it, and they already owe the rice shop for several months, and they can only cook some porridge and vegetables every day." ”

As soon as the middle-aged woman began, several people followed and complained.

Zhuang Meiyan smiled: "There should always be a person in charge here, why don't you let the person in charge ask the house for money?"

Father Rong shook his head and sighed: "When the master left, he arranged for Manager Liu to take care of the house, but Manager Liu only took care of his own wine shop and didn't come once a year. We went to ask for money, but he drove us out. ”

"Yes, Daddy's leg was injured by his fellow men, and he has been raising it for a few days. The fast-talking middle-aged woman hurriedly said.

So, everyone said that Mr. Liu was not in charge, deducting arrears, embezzling garden repair costs, and so on.

Zhuang Meiyan nodded slightly and said, "I know what you said, and I will deal with it." I will make up for how much money the house has left you, and in the future, your money will be twice as much as before, and you will follow Chunju to my account later. Follow my Zhuang Meiyan to do things, I will never lose my heart to deduct your money, let alone treat you badly, because I know that you are making hard-earned money, but there is one thing, if anyone is with me in the future, I will also have my own way to punish her, do you hear clearly?"

The voice behind gradually became stern, and the few people kneeling below did not dare to come out, and when she finished speaking, they all kowtowed honestly and said in unison: "Follow Miss's orders!

Zhuang Meiyan had a satisfied smile on her face. Several people stammered around Chunju, smiling all over their faces, and began to discuss in a whisper about the amount of money they were missing.

At this time, behind the rockery in the distance, a few hurried figures turned, and the first person was short and fat, it was Liu Feihe, the shopkeeper of Liu's wine shop.

Zhuang Meiyan knows that the main owner has just played!