The husband's son-in-law

The weather in Zhaozhou in early June was really hot, like a scorching heat, which was different from the north. It was very sweltering here, and if you moved a little to do some work, you would be covered in thin sweat and sticky.

When Xiao Qi and his grandfather left the Rong Mansion, they brought a whole set of clothes besides the clothes they were wearing.They weren't wearing the clothes of the Rong family's servants. It was more than a year ago that he and his grandfather lived with the master, and the master gave them a reward for making them for them.

A quilted jacket and a thin spring and summer coat.

Xiao Qi changed into thin clothes in mid-May, the material is good material, cotton absorbs sweat, but the style is long clothes with long sleeves, tightly covered.

"Aren't you hot?" Housekeeper Zhou met Xiao Qi and took a look at this body, and he immediately panicked. He said, "Our Zhaozhou is no better than yours in the north. The summer is long and sultry. You will suffer from heatstroke if you wear it like this. Clothes are too hot." Wear less, preferably wider, shorter, cooler."

Xiao Qi looked at Butler Zhou's clothes, it was not flowing silk, it looked like fine linen, but it was made in a cool style.

"I still don't wear it like this anymore, it costs money to do it."

Butler Zhou smiled, "Just change your clothes."

Xiao Qi only wears this thin coat, he is afraid that after shortening it, the young master will not stay in Zhaozhou, if he goes back to other prefectures and cities in the north, wouldn't he have no clothes to wear?But he didn't know how to reply Zhou Steward's words, so he hesitated.

Steward Zhou saw it, and didn't try to persuade him any more, saying: "You don't mind the heat, so I won't chat with you anymore. Today, we have a banquet at the mansion, and there will be a show behind, so don't disturb your young master's quietness."

Xiao Qi could hear the meaning of the words, and hurriedly said: "Grandpa and I will not go back, and the master will not walk around when he is recovering from his injuries."

"I know that you two, grandpa and grandson, have been around your young master since you came to the mansion. You can't understand the rules, but today is different. There are female relatives here." Steward Zhou said more.

This female family member is also different from the wife who was a businessman in the past. This is the new Mr. Liang's family. Their adults and bosses are all prepared carefully, and they even invited a play—the old lady Liang should love to go to the theater of.

So solemn, butler Zhou also cares.

Xiao Qi hurriedly said: "Butler Zhou, you are busy." They borrowed to live in Li Mansion, and the owner of Li Mansion took them in, and even treated the young master's injuries. Xiao Qi was too late to be grateful, why would he feel unhappy because of a word from Steward Zhou? ?

Housekeeper Zhou knew that Xiao Qi was a good boy, and his grandfather was a gracious one, so he waved his hands and said, "Go back to the yard quickly, if it's hot, wash it with water, it's not a problem if you keep being heated." After finishing speaking, he raised his foot out.

The gate of Li Mansion was open, and Steward Zhou sent someone to watch at the entrance of the alley, and if the carriages of Chen Mansion and Liang Mansion arrived, he would go to inform the boss again.

After waiting for about a moment, the servants at the entrance of the alley came back quickly, not feeling well, and said, "Housekeeper Zhou, the carriages from the Chen and Liang residences have just passed Yamen Street."

That's fast.

"It's done, you go and take a break and don't need to guard." Zhou steward asked the boy to take a rest. The running blushed and panted. He walked in and reached the safety gate leading to the backyard, calling for someone Said: "Go and send a message to the boss, saying that the two adults are coming soon."

The maid was busy delivering a message.

The courtesy of receiving the Liang family today is the same as when Gu Zhaogang's family visited Mrs. Chen's house on his first New Year's Day in Zhaozhou. There are also differences.The difference is that Gu Zhao doesn't actually have to greet him in person, after all, he is going to the peak with two people now.

But Gu Zhao still treated him solemnly and courteously.

Zhaozhou has a different meaning to Gu Zhaoli and Zhou Zhou. On this land, the two have displayed their talents and ambitions, and spent time and sweat to build a vibrant state city that has just broken ground. Gu Zhao said that Zhaozhou is his. Confidence is the base camp, and so is Yu Li Zhouzhou.

Now Zhaozhou is handed over to Liang Jiang for management.

Although Gu Zhao is on the top and can suppress people with his official authority, Liang Jiang dare not not act recklessly, but Gu Zhao thinks long-term and can suppress for a while. If he is transferred to another place, what will happen afterwards?

The position of Zhaozhou Tongzhi was facilitated by Gu Zhao, and the Liang family also contributed, so it is best to form a good relationship, both public and private, so that both parties are in harmony.

Gu Zhao also changed into casual and formal clothes, an embroidered round-neck gown, and Zhou Zhou did the same, after all, he was meeting guests, and even Fu Bao was new clothes.

"We have parent-child clothes here, and we made one for dad, but I don't see him wearing it," Gu Zhao said.

Li Zhouzhou said with a smile: "Father can't wear it. He said that he is getting old and always cute. He will be laughed at."

"Everyone has the love of beauty, regardless of age."

While the husband and wife were talking, they took Fubao and went to the door.Fu Bao followed the two fathers and asked, "Father, are they the younger sister and younger brother you saw in the Cuju field?"

"Yes, a child of Uncle Liang's family." Li Zhouzhou replied.

Liang Jiang is older than Gu Zhao.

The family of three arrived at the door and didn't wait long before the carriages of Chen's and Liang's families arrived. The servants moved the stools and helped the owner's family get off before putting the car on. Liang Jiang got out of the car and saw Master Gu's family standing at the door, and he was ashamed immediately. , said again and again: "Sir, how can I let you greet me in person, I am overwhelmed."

"Yeah, Xiao Gu is out of character, he greeted Xiao Liang, but he didn't greet me before." Chen Weng laughed and played a rogue.

"Isn't everyone welcoming each other?" Gu Zhao smiled back, and affectionately called Liang Jiang, "Ben Gu, today is a family feast. My elder brother Chen is here, and your friend is here. There is nothing wrong with it."

Li Zhouzhou exchanged greetings with Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Liang, Fu Bao obediently called for someone, and then went to call for younger siblings, nephews and nieces, there are many guests today.

"Let's go in and talk. I don't know what Mrs. Liang likes, so I invited a theater troupe today." Li Zhou Zhou said.

Mrs. Chen first said: "It's good to watch the theater, and it's lively, so I like to watch the theater."

"Madam Gu is bothering you. I thought Zhaozhou would be useless." Mother Liang said.

All the way into the mansion to the backyard.Naturally, we can't use the open-air stage to watch a show this day, it's going to be so hot, they have a large side hall, and today's reception will be held here.

As soon as everyone arrived at the gate of the side hall, they felt a little bit of coolness. When they went in, they saw icebergs at the four corners of the hall, and behind them were hand-operated fans—made by Mr. Gu.

The fan blades are made of bamboo and paper. If you turn them by hand, the three fan blades will rotate gently. The wind blows the icebergs. Isn't this cool?

"Using ice? I haven't seen such a big ice for this rare thing in more than 30 years." Chen Weng sighed, and then asked: "I wanted to ask you last time, where did you get the ice?"

Gu Zhao joked: "Of course I'm smart."

Liang Jiang nodded in agreement, Chen Weng: ...

Today, the Chen family brought two children, one boy and one girl. Knowing that the Liang family had children, they brought them of similar ages—but the Chen family had many children, and the youngest of the grandchildren was Chen Chen, who was ten years old this year.The girl is 13 years old, her name is Youniang, and she is a granddaughter from the first line.

Now Li Zhaoxi is called little uncle.

"Little uncle, the hair rope you gave me last time is beautiful, thank you, little uncle." Chen Youniang said coquettishly.

Li Zhaoxi, who was only eight years old and pretended to be an old man, nodded steadily, "You can do it if you like it." Hearing his father's idea, he took the materials and asked Brother Lin to help him make it.

Can run errands after busy work.

Chen Chen: "I got a piece of coconut sugar, but I haven't eaten it yet."

"He also took coconut sugar with him." Chen Youniang betrayed her younger brother.

When Li Zhaoxi heard it, he said, "Be careful, don't melt it." It's such a hot day, how can a piece of coconut sugar be covered and eaten?

Chen Chen's face flushed a little, but fortunately Li Zhaoxi didn't pay attention to it. Li Zhaoxi was looking at his new siblings, so he couldn't neglect the new guests. The younger siblings had to be taken care of by him.

"Hi, I'm Li Zhaoxi."

Aunt Liang blushed a little, she was excited, she glanced at the mother and grandma who were talking beside her, and she didn't notice their side, so she said in a reserved tone: "I know, I saw you play football in the Cuju competition last time, You played really well."

Although the child was pretending to be reserved, he talked too much, with a smile on his face and sparkling eyes, showing kindness and intimacy at a glance.

"Yes, brother, can you teach me how to play football?" Liang Erlang said in a childish voice with admiration.

Li Zhaoxi proudly puffed out her chest.

"Of course, I'll make a small ball for you later on." My brother is so young, they played cuju ball a bit heavier, so I made a smaller and lighter exercise for him.

Liang Erlang blushed with excitement when he heard this, and thank you brother one by one.Aunt Liang looked envious, she also wanted to play football.

"Otherwise I'll take you to my yard to play ball?" Li Zhaoxi asked.

These children all live in the same yard with their parents and do not have an independent yard, especially the children of the Liang family. When they heard that Li Zhaoxi had their own yard, they immediately envied and admired him even more——Liang Erlang, especially, with those eyes that looked like Li Zhaoxi. It's sparking.

"Can I go?" Aunt Liang hesitated.

Chen Youniang said: "Let's go to Uncle Fubao's yard to have fun, shall we eat there later? My dear sister, do you want to stay here to watch a play?"

Aunt Liang quickly shook her head, "I'm afraid my mother won't agree."

"I think if we stay here, adults still think we are young, and it's inconvenient for them to talk." Chen Chen said.

"You look like a grown-up." Chen Youniang continued to tease her younger brother, this means that Fu Bao became an uncle, and now Chen Chen has also learned to be calm, laughing to death.

Li Zhaoxi, a person of high seniority who is both an uncle and an elder brother, please tell me.

"You wait for me."

Li Zhaoxi went to the adults to inquire, but he didn't tell his father, but first saluted the young mother and the old lady's family, and after saying hello, he asked: "I would like to invite young mother, seventeen, younger sister, and younger brother to my yard together. Play, uncles and aunts, don’t worry, I will take care of it.”

Mrs. Chen couldn't be happier, every time she saw Uncle Fu Bao making pies, she would be happy. This sweet dumpling child readily agreed, and said jokingly, "Then I will hand over your nephew and niece to you." This uncle is in charge."

"You just have to rest assured." Li Zhaoxi was almost assured of the order.

Mrs. Liang looked at Liang's mother. Liang's mother wanted to refuse at first, but thinking of Li's courteous treatment today, Mr. Gu is Jiang'er's upper peak, so they value it so much, so they said: "The two of them If you are a child, I will trouble you."

Let the servant watch some more with the past.

Aunt Liang Erlang was very happy to hear the news. Erlang couldn't hold back and cheered, but when he saw his mother looking over, he immediately suppressed his voice.A group of young ladies and young masters moved to Li Zhaoxi's courtyard, and naturally they had to accompany the maids and women of each family to wait on them.

It is impossible to let Li Zhaoxi take care of everything.

The adults talked and chatted. In fact, Mrs. Liang's mother, Mrs. Liang, was not used to sitting together like this - even the outsider chatted together, and they were a little timid.

In the past, when we communicated, it was the back house and the back house, and men talked to men.

What about Li Mansion...forget it.Liang's mother swallowed the word 'no rules' back.

After a while, Li Zhouzhou asked the butler to serve the meal. The meal was still in the side hall. It was cool here, but there were two small round tables. Mother Liang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it. These men sat at the same table to eat, and she didn't know how to eat for fear of losing her appetite.

Fortunately fortunately.

Li Da didn't want to come, he sat and ate with the officials and didn't talk to each other, so Zhao'er said that Dad was here, so you don't have to think about how to find something to talk about, just eat and drink, feel happy and happy, and want to stay If you come down to watch the play, then watch the show together. If you don’t want to, just go back to the yard and take a nap.

Come on then.

Li Da thought, Mr. Liang is an official in Zhaozhou, and his family came to his house as a guest, so he can be regarded as the master of the mansion, there is no reason why he should not see people.

Fortunately, as Zhao'er said, he didn't have to think about how to flatter others. After exchanging greetings, Zhao'er talked about official affairs, and he just took care of the food and drink.

What Gu Zhao said was that he was going to go to Wuzhou, "Go to Wuzhou first to see how the road is being built, but I want to go to Xinzhou for my own sake."

"Xinzhou?" Liang Jiang was stunned, why did your lord want to go there.

Wuzhou is where the chief secretary is located.

"It's next to Rongzhou, and I don't worry about the people there because of the war." Gu Zhao said without hiding it.

Master Chen sighed when he heard this, "This war is still suffering for the common people."

"Yes." Liang Jiang Qiqi looked at Mr. Gu with admiration in his eyes.

Gu Zhao: ... Ben Gu's eyes are too hot.You don't have to.

"Since I am the Chief Secretary of Nanjun, it is my duty to do my best to keep the people of Nanjun safe." He saw that the atmosphere at the banquet was low, so he changed the subject and talked about the two prefectures of Bolin and Annan. The villages and towns under the county, "there is next to Nanyi. I have notified before that it has become a self-defense force. Just in case, after I leave, this will be handed over to you Bengu."

Liang Bengu had a solemn expression on his face, and he wanted to stand up to make a promise, but Gu Zhaoxian pushed him down on the table, "It's actually not a business, my family pays for the self-defense force, I'm thinking about waiting for the government tires to be sold. Then the official uniform will take over with full power, and before you pay, the people don’t want to go through the formalities if you don’t pay the money.”

"My lord, isn't this a good thing? Why don't you want to do it without paying?" Liang Jiang wondered.

Chen Weng drank and said at this time: "You haven't been to the village once. The people live a hard life, and they have to do odd jobs in the fields to try to earn a few more money. They work hard all day long for their livelihood. , go back to sleep after eating, why not practice again? The practice is not tiring? It is said that it is a war, but there is no blood, so it is a peaceful life for them. This is not the fault of the people. , Master Gu's long-term thinking, planning for a rainy day."

"Brother is so polite." Gu Zhaojing took a cup to Chen Weng.

At this time, Chen Weng didn't care about things, but it didn't mean that Chen Weng was really an empty-handed official in the past, and he didn't care about anything. In the past 30 years, Chen Weng also went to the grassroots and saw the hardships of the people.

When Liang Jiang at the banquet heard this, he immediately felt that he was superficial and didn't know the sufferings of the people.

"You don't have to be ashamed of yourself. This is what people don't know. No one is born knowing everything. You live a prosperous life. This is not a bad thing. In the future, as long as you want to be a good official, you will always be a good official." Not bad."

Eating, drinking and talking about business.

The other table was only two meters away, and there was no screen between Li Zhouzhou and Mrs. Chen's wife, Mrs. Liang's mother, Mrs. Liang. Mrs. Chen asked, "How is Yu's marriage?"

"I want to make a decision, but it happens that my husband hasn't left yet, so I'll ask a matchmaker to pass the post tomorrow." Li Zhouzhou told the truth, trusting Mrs. Chen.

Mrs. Chen is about the same age as his father, if Mrs. Chen hadn't been drunk and betrothed her father-in-law back then, she wouldn't be of the same generation now, but in his heart, Li Zhouzhou respected Mrs. Chen as an elder.

"You are so low-key?" Mrs. Chen was a little surprised.

Li Zhouzhou said: "It's Brother Yu's own idea, I don't want to be too ostentatious."

"He is a good boy, and he will be able to live a peaceful and beautiful life in the future." Mrs. Chen affirmed that this brother Yu is a relative of Boss Li, and Boss Li values ​​him, but he is not arrogant. If you are rich, you can still recognize yourself. Only when you are not high-minded can you be at ease.

If you have a high spirit, you have to have family capital.

Li Zhouzhou saw Liang's mother, Mrs. Liang, in a daze, so he explained, "A cousin of mine followed me to Zhaozhou when he was half a year old. This year, he just took a fancy to her and is engaged tomorrow."

"So that's the case." Mother Liang nodded and expressed her joy.

Mrs. Liang smiled and asked, "Which family is your son? He is worthy of Mrs. Gu's nephew."

"Character is precious." Li Zhouzhou replied.

Mrs. Chen laughed, Boss Li could speak, and carried the sedan chair for the Hou family.How else can I say it?You can't say that Brother Yu's husband's family is a small merchant with no family, right?But she has also heard about that boy Hou Tong, he is honest and upright.

"The Hou family has a good family style. The three brothers from one family have never seen the house in a mess. Hou Tongren is also good. I will know when Mrs. Liang, Mrs. Liang, comes to have a look together tomorrow." Mrs. Chen explained, and said with a smile: "Yes Shall we come?"

"I won't talk about it anymore. Even Mrs. Liang is full of children and grandchildren. The daughter looks beautiful and intelligent, and Erlang is born smart. Brother Yu must be pleased with Mrs. Liang's joy."

Li Zhouzhou naturally agreed, what Madam Chen said, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law of the Liang family also loved it very much.

This banquet is also good to eat and chat happily.After the banquet was over, it was convenient for each of them to rest for a while—the female relatives had to straighten their clothes and skirts, and they had to go to the toilet for convenience.

Li Zhouzhou prepared a resting yard, and all the guests can take a little sleep.

"How's the food at Fubao's place?" Li Zhouzhou asked the housekeeper.

Butler Zhou replied: "Young Master's table was withdrawn two quarters ago. The young ladies and young masters in each mansion finished their meals and played chess, and they are still sleepy now. Young Master settled down and let us sleep for a while."

When Gu Zhao heard about it, he praised Fubao for his thoughtfulness.

"I know it's good to sit for a while after dinner and then go to bed. Don't worry about Zhou Zhou. I'm going to change my clothes. The smell of alcohol is overwhelming me." Then he went to the back room.

Li Zhouzhou didn't care about it, as long as there was no trouble.

It was not the first time that Li Zhaoxi received his guests.

In the Fubao yard, Aunt Liang and Youniang Chen slept in the same room. The quilts were all new. The two of them took off their outer shirts and jewelry and went to bed. — Chen Youniang is like this.

Aunt Liang is obviously younger, but her hair is combed beautifully, and the jewelry she wears is also exquisite.

"My good sister, come up and take it easy for a while. In this hot weather, you are so tired of wearing jewelry. Don't let the mother-in-law wear it for you later." , sent out to rest.

After Madam Liang finished, she walked slowly to the bedside, her skirt lifted up slightly, revealing a pair of embroidered shoes.Chen Youniang was sitting by the bed waiting for her younger sister. When she saw the shoes, her eyes widened and she said, "Sister, your jewelry is exquisite and beautiful, even the embroidered shoes are beautiful, and they are small and exquisite."

"Made by embroidered mothers in Chuzhou."

Chen Youniang praised it for being beautiful, but after watching it for a while, she saw that Sister Liang was moving her feet without leaving any traces, so she asked concerned: "What's wrong with your feet? Did you just sneeze? I shouldn't be urging you."

"No, no, I just have a pain in my toes, just take it easy."

"The toe hurts?" Chen Youniang wondered, "Is the shoe uncomfortable..." She took another look, and saw that Sister Liang's embroidered shoes were so small, then looked at Sister Liang's feet, and immediately stretched out her hand to gesture.

Aunt Liang was startled, shrank back, and said stammeringly, "What's the matter, sister? Don't, don't touch my feet, this is indecent."

Chen Youniang finished drawing her sister's feet, then took the embroidered shoes and looked at them, and said, "Sister, your shoes are smaller than your feet, don't you feel uncomfortable wearing them? No wonder your toes hurt, take off your socks and rub them well." , I’ll ask the nanny to get mine for you later.”

"No need." Mrs. Liang didn't dare to bother the Chen family, and said, "These shoes are intentionally small. These are the shoes I wore when I was five years old."

"You are seven years old."

Chen Youniang was stunned, why are you still wearing small shoes?

"My aunt said that girls' feet should not be too big. If they are too big, they won't look good, so I said that they should be worn smaller, so as to save the length." Aunt Liang said.

In fact, Grandma also said that she had to bind her feet at that time, and she wrapped her toes with a bowl of porcelain and broke her toes. Aunt Liang was afraid of pain when she heard this. Grandma said that it is naturally not good now, but she can't too long.

Chen Youniang frowned, and took off her socks, revealing a pair of white and tender feet, with stretched toes and pink nails, she said: "Look, these toes are smooth, no Regardless of suffering, Cuju will definitely run very fast in the future—although I don’t like Cuju.”

She likes to dress up and draw, but doesn't like running sweaty.

Mrs. Liang also took off her socks. Her toenails were white. Because she had been held back for a long time, her toes were also scratched in, and they were uneven. She looked at her sister's feet, and then at her own. It will be uncomfortable for a while, where can I run and play Cuju.

"We Zhaozhou girls don't wear small shoes! Now that you have arrived in Zhaozhou, you can let go of the rules of Chuzhou that make you unhappy and uncomfortable." Chen Youniang said.

Aunt Liang was moving her feet and her heart was moving, but she was afraid, "I don't know how to tell my mother."

"Then you talk to your father."

"My mother said that my father is an official and worries a lot, how can I let the housework disturb my father."

"Now you are also a citizen of Zhaozhou. Mr. Liang is an official of Zhaozhou, so of course you can take care of it." Chen Youniang said in an unreasonable and arrogant way.

But Mrs. Liang listened, because she really didn't want to wear small shoes too uncomfortable, she wanted to play Cuju.

When listening to the play in the afternoon, the children also came to watch the excitement.

Aunt Liang put on Chen Youniang's spare shoes, which were a little too big and made her walk old. Fortunately, the skirt was long and covered them up a bit, so she could sit down when she walked to the seat, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Her feet moved in the boat-like shoes, and she couldn't help laughing.

There is an open and rich place, not as tight as before.

Li Zhouzhou thought of what his husband had mentioned, so he wanted to ask around while watching a play, and then talked about the customs of Chuzhou, and talked about the girls' shoes and dresses.