Become a cat [Zhan Zhao]

Before Ah Lan followed Zhan Zhao back to the capital, the latter had specifically asked her not to call him master in front of others.When Ah Lan asked the reason, Zhan Zhao only said that the court is not comparable to the Jianghu, and did not explain further.

In fact, this is only part of the reason - if he simply brought a girl by his side, maybe only Bao Gong would give him a few words about it.But if the girl's identity is his apprentice, then things will become complicated, and maybe Baogong's political opponents will take advantage of this and join him in a book.

Although Zhan Zhao has no intention of being in love with the officialdom, he promised Bao Gong that he would assist him.As the saying goes, a gentleman's words are hard to follow, so Zhan Zhao decided that it would be better if he could cause less trouble.

As for the rest of the reasons, Zhan Zhao did not delve into it, or was unwilling to delve into it.Even if he regretted accepting Alan as his apprentice, he would never admit it.After all, taking Alan as his disciple seemed to be the only way to keep this girl by his side. If Alan hadn't stayed by his side at that time, Zhan Zhao felt that he wouldn't be as deep as he is now.

No matter what, Zhan Zhao finally decided to ask A Lan to conceal their master-student relationship.Deep down in his heart, he seemed to be vaguely expecting some kind of change in this relationship in the future, so that the fewer people knew about it, the less resistance he would receive.

Fortunately, although Ah Lan always likes to ask all kinds of questions, she is usually very obedient when told to be obedient.So when he saw that Zhan Zhao was not going to give any further explanations, Ah Lan turned to ask, "Then what should I call Master?"

"Anything." Zhan Zhao wanted to know what A Lan was going to call him, so he pretended to be careless and answered casually.

Alan frowned in embarrassment, and murmured: "Then why don't I continue to call you sir?"

"..." Zhan Zhao took a deep breath, "Change to another." This title is not as good as master.

Alan racked her brains and thought again and again, but in the end she couldn't think of anything, so she said, "Master, I really can't think of it."

"Then how about," Zhan Zhao suggested in as casual a tone as possible, "Brother?"

A Lan was taken aback: "How good is that?" She blurted out, obviously without hesitation.

"Why not?" Zhan Zhao was a little dissatisfied with Alan's reaction, but he didn't show it, "Why are you talking about it?"

Ah Lan couldn't answer why for a while, and finally said: "But you are my master."

"I'm only seven or eight years older than you," Zhan Zhaoxiao said with reason and affection, "What's wrong with you calling me big brother, why don't you still call me grandpa?"

Alan murmured stubbornly: "But you are my master." She thought to herself, how much effort she had to make Zhan Zhao agree to call him master, how can calling him elder brother be closer to master.

If Zhan Zhao knew what Ah Lan was thinking, he might be so angry that his eyes would go dark.

But in the end, it was Zhan Zhao who made the decision—because there really was nothing else to shout about.Although he didn't mind Alan calling him by his name directly, but that was obviously too close, and Zhan Zhao thought it would be better to take it step by step.

In order to reach the capital before the Chinese New Year, the two did not waste any time along the way.So, after traveling for a period of time, the two finally returned to Kaifeng, the starting point of the original journey.Although it was still cold today, it was a rare sunny day.The faint heat from the sun, not enough to dispel the cold, magically made it less cold.The surrounding scenery showed a blue-gray color, as if even the snow had this color, so it looked thicker.

Although A Lan has been living in a small county under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng, in fact she has never passed through the capital, and only heard a few refugees mention that the capital is very prosperous.

Therefore, when he saw the city gate of Kaifeng from a distance, Ah Lan still felt a faint excitement in his heart.Although it was the New Year's Eve, there were still many people coming and going at the gate of the city.In addition to those riding tall horses, there were also those riding in carriages and sedan chairs. Ah Lan's eyes widened.

At this moment, she was sitting on the same horse as Zhan Zhao, because her horse slipped on the snow earlier, Zhan Zhao asked Alan to sit behind him.Although Alan had already put his arms around his waist, Zhan Zhao still worried that Alan would fall off the horse from time to time.

Fortunately, Ah Lan sat quite firmly. She thought riding a horse was a bit cold at first, but after sitting behind Zhan Zhao, the wind was no longer blowing, and the people in front of her were as hot as a stove.

After leaving the main street, Zhan Zhao and Alan dismounted.There are more and more pedestrians here, Zhan Zhao told Ah Lan not to get lost, but to follow closely.However, A Lan still looked around like a little country bumpkin entering the city for the first time, pointing excitedly.Zhan Zhao looked helpless, and suddenly stretched out his hand to wrap around her waist and lifted A Lan to the horse.

"Hey, what's the matter, master?" Ah Lan was caught off guard, and even the elder brother who had been struggling to change his words in the past few days forgot, and blurted out that it was master.It was only after she finished speaking that she remembered this, and quickly pursed her lips.

Zhan Zhao didn't pursue it, but replied flatly, "I'm afraid you might get lost. Besides, sitting on a horse, wouldn't you be able to see more clearly?"

Alan couldn't help but bit her lip and smiled.

People come and go on the street, no one pays attention to such a dusty traveler.After walking for half an hour, Zhan Zhao took Ah Lan to the back door of Kaifeng Mansion.

"Ah, Mr. Zhan is back!" The gate guard cheered up, and hurried forward to lead Zhan Zhao's horse, "You have been walking for several months, it must have been hard work."

Zhan Zhao simply responded with a few words, and then led Alan into the back office.It was the first time in Alan's life that he entered the yamen, followed Zhan Zhao and asked quietly, "Master, can I enter this place?"

Zhan Zhao also quietly replied: "If you call me Master again, it will be fine."

"..." Alan quickly changed his words, "Brother."

Zhan Zhao is satisfied.He didn't take Ah Lan to the front, but went straight to the back kitchen.Although this place is mostly a place where handymen come and go, it is still well-organized, clean and tidy.Because of the Chinese New Year, there are strings of air-dried chickens and ducks hanging in front of the kitchen, and on the side shelf are cages of pre-steamed steamed buns.Everyone was very busy. A fat and kind old woman was sitting on a bench at the door, pinching duck feathers, and she grabbed several small handymen to pack the cabbages that had just been taken out of the cellar.

"Aunt Qi." Zhan Zhao stepped forward to say hello, and greeted with a smile, "You've been busy these days."

Like all lean and capable young people, Zhan Zhao is very attractive to the elderly.When Aunt Qi saw that it was Zhan Zhao, she quickly stood up, wiped her hands on the apron, and said with a smile, "Master Zhan, you are back, you have worked hard all the way."

When the other small handymen heard that it was Zhan Zhao who had returned, they also peeked over, and Aunt Qi turned around and yelled at him before hurriedly continuing to work obediently.

"Where?" Zhan Zhaoke politely said a few words to Aunt Qi, and Alan couldn't help poking her head out from behind him.

Aunt Qi couldn't help being startled when she saw it, and said, "Oh, this Nier is so handsome, is she a friend of Mr. Zhan?"

Alan couldn't help feeling embarrassed.Zhan Zhao responded, and asked Alan to call for someone, so she called "Aunt Qi".Aunt Qi looked A Lan up and down, and she was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth from ear to ear: "Oh, I have lived for most of my life, and I have never seen such a well-groomed and beautiful person. Sure enough, Mr. Zhan is a dragon and phoenix, and so are the friends I know. outstanding."

"Auntie?" Alan blushed with shame, "I'm not half as good as big brother." Although a little nervous, she didn't call Zhan Zhao as master again.

Zhan Zhao coughed, and said to Aunt Qi: "Alan is unaccompanied in the capital, and it's the New Year's Eve, so I was wondering if I could ask her to help you here. If it's inconvenient, that's fine."

"It's convenient, it's convenient." Aunt Qi guessed that there was a shortage of people, so she agreed as soon as she heard it, but she was a little embarrassed, "It's just a friend of Mr. Zhan, why don't you follow us to do some rough work."

Alan hurriedly said: "Whatever Auntie said, I might have done it, and I can do anything."

"That's right, Aunt Qi, just order her around, don't be polite." Zhan Zhao also smiled, and patted Ah Lan on the shoulder.

Aunt Qi smiled brightly: "Oh, what a girl."

"Then Aunt Qi, I'll go back to Master Bao first, so I won't bother you." Zhan Zhao said to A Lan, "Listen to Aunt Qi, don't make trouble, do you hear me?"

Alan nodded honestly, "Yes, big brother." She watched Zhan Zhao leave, and then turned her head and smiled at Aunt Qi.

Aunt Qi saw that she couldn't make people work as soon as they came, so she put aside the work at hand and said, "Come with me first, and find a place to settle down. You don't have a place to live yet, do you?"

"No." Alan said shyly, "I'm sorry, Auntie."

Aunt Qi waved her hand: "Where is it? Son, I hear you also have a local accent, right?"

"Yes, but it's the first time I've come back to the capital." Ah Lan replied.

Aunt Qi saw that she was a girl's house, and she couldn't go home after the Chinese New Year, so she guessed that something happened at home.She didn't say anything, just said: "Our mansion is very lively during the Chinese New Year, and the city will also be lively on New Year's Eve. When Mr. Zhan is free, let him take you for a stroll."

Alan nodded excitedly upon hearing this.

After walking around in the backyard a few times, Aunt Qi took her to a clean guest room and said, "There are usually people sweeping here, but no one has lived in it for a long time. You stay here first, and I will stay here later." Find someone to clean up."

"Don't bother Auntie." For fear of causing trouble to Aunt Qi, Alan put down his luggage in the extremely simple room and rolled up his sleeves, "Aren't you busy before, I'll help you."

Aunt Qi rejoiced in her heart, but she said: "How can it be done, you are full of travel and dust along the way, so you have to rest and rest anyway. Good girl, it's not too late to talk tomorrow."

A Lan had no choice but to agree, not to mention cleaning up.

And Zhan Zhao finally went to Yaqian to meet Baogong after taking care of things briefly, and was reprimanded as expected.