The back of the kitchen immediately became busy, with people boiling water and people cooking.
A group of big men entered the courtyard and passed the pond, passing through the courtyard gates one after another. They saw blooming flowers and grass, clear water, delicate trees and tender willows beside the blue stones, and brilliant flowers. Even in the dark night, they still felt that the world was bright and the spring scenery was bright. abundant.
The house is very large, but even with a group of people moving in, it seems empty.
The housekeeper was about fifty years old, short, and his surname was Zeng. He immediately came to introduce the mansion to Xia Zhaoyi and the current situation in Mingtai County.
After the butler finished speaking, Zhan Ning asked curiously: "Butler Zeng, are you a local?"
"No, no, I am from Hengxiang."
Li Man was surprised: "Steward Zeng is from Hengxiang? Is he from the same hometown as me?"
"Haha," Manager Zeng laughed, "I came here half a year ago. Manager Wang said that the big boss wanted me to do nothing in the past six months, just hide in the alleys, hide in the markets, and practice my accent. OK, I bought this house years ago."
"Second Miss, you made arrangements so early." Zhan Ning looked at Xia Zhaoyi.
Xia Zhaoyi smiled and said slowly: "This is Li Qian, how could I not arrange it?"
A simple sentence, in the ears of others, seems to be the end of a plan.
A maid appeared at the door of the courtyard and softly called Butler Zeng to come over.
Butler Zeng went out and turned back soon, hesitating: "Miss, the Nie family next door wants to send their third daughter to stay here."
"Who is the Nie family?"
"An old local family in Xucheng has made a living by renting for generations. The family has a substantial fortune. His third daughter was involved in the acquisition of rice merchants in the city. She was 'taught a lesson' by the princess today."
"It's her," Su Yumei said, "Mrs. Nie, Nie Qingling."
"Well, do you know the girl?"
"I heard about it on the road," Su Yumei said.
"I can't help," Xia Zhaoyi said, "She has suffered a lot from the rice merchant's acquisition. If she comes into our house and sees all of us again, she's afraid she will be involved in a bigger whirlpool."
"Well, then I'll refuse."
"Wait a minute," Su Yumei said, getting up from the stool, "I'll go."
She looked at Xia Zhaoyi and said, "Miss Ah Li, I want to go around the neighborhood. I'm going to be busy this month, so I might bump into a lot of things, so I stopped by to talk to the Nie family at the door."
Su Heng frowned: "Sister, it's getting late and it's not safe outside."
"It's okay," Xia Zhaoyi said, looking at Zhan Ning and Xia Songyue, "I'll do my best to protect Miss Su."
"Yes!" Zhan Ning and Xia Songyue said in unison.
Su Yumei smiled slyly at Xia Zhaoyi and looked at her brother, completely ignoring his displeased expression.
Su Heng looked away from her and looked at Xia Zhaoyi.
Just met the girl's clear snowy eyes.
Su Heng was frightened and hurriedly avoided it. He raised his hand and gave her a weak fist: "Then, Su will go to rest first."
"Sweet dream, Mr. Su." Xia Zhaoyi said calmly.
·
Mao Zilong sat downstairs at Sihai Teahouse for half an hour, distracted the whole time, with a dull look on his face.
Zhili sat by the window, holding his cheek and playing chess with an old man.
Mao Zilong's men suddenly ran in quickly from outside.
In the teahouse that was about to close, the few tea patrons looked up.
The subordinate's voice was very soft and fast, whispering in Mao Zilong's ear.
"What? The head of that mansion is here?" Mao Zilong said.
"right."
Mao Zilong frowned, his unhappiness intensified, and he punched the tea table with his fist, causing the tea cup to jump.
"What's going on these days," Mao Zilong said angrily, "Why are so many unlucky things coming together, all kinds of troubles, all kinds of troubles for me! Do I really have to go find an immortal gate or a Taoist temple and pay my respects?"
Zheli took a look and saw a piece dropped on the chessboard, with disgust written all over his face.
The old man opposite coughed lightly, raised his hand and said "shhh" to him, signaling him to take it easy.
After sitting for a while, Mao Zilong stood up and prepared to leave.
When I reached the door, I looked up and saw Mr. Ma leading a group of men not far away.
A passerby was walking with his head buried when he was suddenly caught by Mr. Ma's silly and fat men.
"When you see so many of us, don't you know how to step aside? Who allowed you to block our way? Give us money!" the fat man stretched out his hand and shouted.
It is better to do less than to do more. Passers-by trembled and took out their money.
Mao Zilong quickly took his men and ran to hide behind the pillar on the east side.
Looking up, he met Zhili's contemptuous eyes. Mao Zilong glared and warned him with his eyes not to cause trouble.
Zhili snorted coldly, and the chess pieces fell on the chessboard, crisp and round. He stood up and walked outside.
"Master, this man!" Mao Zilong's men whispered angrily.
Mao Zilong looked around and led his men towards the backyard of the teahouse.
Under the eaves of the teahouse, a row of small floral paper lanterns sway leisurely in the evening breeze, and the candlelight is quiet.
As soon as Zhili went out, he heard the group of people cursing and moving forward, saying that they were going to find someone to take advantage of and demand a huge sum of money. Someone suggested that they go find the Zhiye.
Zhili raised his eyebrows, so he didn't step forward.
The waiter, who was serving food, was very eccentric, and he and these young men were willing to fight and suffer.
There was movement in the alley outside the teahouse. He turned around and saw Mao Zilong and his entourage walking out of the alley after making a circle.
Mao Zilong looked at Zhili coldly and said, "You are still aware of current affairs and did not sell me out."
"The surname is Ma!" Zhili immediately shouted in the direction where Mr. Ma and the others disappeared.
Mao Zilong and his men ran away as fast as they could. As he ran, Mao Zilong turned back and pointed at Zhili: "You, you have the guts, wait for me! Wait!!"
"Just wait," Zhili said, stroking his clothes, walking to the other side and following Mr. Ma.
Zhiye's inn is also in Shiliudaofang.
After crossing Dashui Bridge, the first hotel on Qingshi Embankment is called Luojiu Inn.
Every February and March, many merchants come here to collect malt sugar and cane sugar, and some come to place large orders for this year's silk.
Therefore, the current season has the most visitors and is the busiest in Mingtai County.
However, the problem this year is really big, and many merchants are already planning to return.
Now, the business of the inn is very good, the building is full of lights, only two groups of guests have arrived, and the waiters are entertaining them attentively.
Mr. Ma and the others had a clear purpose. As soon as they arrived, they said directly: "Let that Zhiye get out of here!"
All the guests in the lobby immediately looked at them.
"Master Zhi?" several merchants whispered.
"Could it be the one from Shoushi before?"
"Oh my God, he is in Xucheng? In this inn?"
"No way. If that's the case, then our trip is not in vain."
"Why don't we leave first and stay here for a few more days? That boss is a shrewd man. So far, his business has never suffered a loss!"
…
"Didn't you hear that?" The fat man stepped forward, stepped on the bench, and slapped his fat palm on the table, "Tell that branch man to come down, come down!!"
The table was shaking as he patted it again and again.
