Huo Xi received the information from Mu Yan and was waiting for the guests in the side hall.
"I've met Madam." Qian Qianke saluted.
"Mr. Qian, no courtesy." Huo Xi smiled at him and nodded, motioning for him to take a seat next to him.
Qian Qianke secretly glanced at Mrs. Shizi and felt relieved when he saw her dignified and generous smile. This was the first time he had such close contact with Mrs. Shizi.
He is still confused until now.
It is true that he is an old staff member in the mansion. He has been responsible for both the old marquis and the late marquis, but he has never been involved in such a big matter.
Let him take charge of the project to benefit the people? 1.2 million taels?
Now he was still very worried, fearing that he would mess up the prince's affairs.
"You don't have to be restrained." Huo Xi saw his nervousness and smiled to reassure him, "The prince and I didn't expect to receive so much money. First, Jiu Shengxing's boss kindly gave a cart of stones to the prince and I to play with. We didn't expect it.
The price has actually gone up, and we got a lot of money from selling it. The prince and I thought of using the money to do something for the people, but we unexpectedly attracted wealthy households and good people in the city to donate a lot. It's really unexpected."
"This is why the prince and his wife have great righteousness and have the people in their hearts, which is why they attracted everyone's support."
"Mr. Qian, thank you for your praise. The prince and I have been living in the capital for a long time, and we are determined to do something practical for the people of Yunnan, but we can't help ourselves. This time, I am lucky enough to have everyone's support, so I want to make this matter a success. Now the prince is helping
The Duke of Guo is busy with external affairs, and I, a woman in this world, am helpless. Since the prince has recommended you, he must be one of the best among men, so I have to rely on him for this matter."
Frightened, Qian Qianke hurriedly stood up and held up his hands: "I am extremely frightened. How can I be worthy of the praise of the prince and his wife?"
"Sir, you don't have to be too humble. There are dozens of staff in the palace. If the prince can choose you, he has his own merits."
"The Crown Prince raises his love."
The two chatted with each other for a while, and then discussed how to use the money.
Huo Xi didn't expect to receive 1.2 million taels.
In addition to the 200,000 yuan she got from selling jade, this amounted to a hundred thousand or a few hundred thousand. Originally, she and Mu Yan thought that the money might not be enough and they would have to supplement a lot. How could they expect to receive so much in one night.
"My son and I originally wanted to repair some of the main roads in the city, and dig a few more wells in areas where people gather to make it easier for people to use water. Now that we have money, the gentleman will look at what areas in the city need to be improved.
, make good use of this money and do more projects to benefit the people."
"Yes. I will not let the prince and his wife down."
"Very good." Huo Xi praised him very much.
He added: "The prince works vigorously and resolutely, and doesn't like to be sloppy. You can select a few more accountants from the mansion, and the steward will help handle the matter. You can select any manpower you need. If there is anyone who disobeys the order, you will report it."
Listen to me and the prince. The construction period must be tight, and we must not be sneaky and let the people see our jokes."
"Yes. I'll keep this in mind."
"In addition, when recruiting migrant workers, priority will be given to the dependents of soldiers stationed in the city and people from poor families. The wages must be paid in time and no arrears are allowed. A lunch must be provided every day to ensure that the migrant workers are well fed and have the strength to work."
"Madam is so kind. On behalf of the migrant workers, I would like to thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Huo Xi handed the box containing 1.4 million taels of silver notes to Qian Qianke, "There is a list of pledges here. The names of the benefactors need to be engraved in each engineering office so that future generations can remember the memory of the predecessors."
Be kind and don’t forget the well-digger when you are drinking water.”
Qian Qianke stood up and saluted: "My lady is very kind, I will remember it carefully and never miss the name of a good person."
After some discussion between the two, the project to benefit the people in the city was launched. Qianqianke held the box of banknotes as if he were holding eyeballs, and began to recruit people non-stop inside and outside the house.
The movement was so great that no one in the house knew about it.
Mu Zuo and Mu You personally came to Huo Xi with their private money, saying that they would also contribute.
"Second sister-in-law, this is our private money. It's not much. Each of my brothers only has two thousand taels. There is no need to remember our names. My two brothers just want to be like my second brother and be people with the people in their hearts.
"
"Okay, then the second sister-in-law will accept it. Thank you on behalf of the people. You are so sensible. You will surely grow up like your grandfather in the future and become a person loved by the people of Yunnan."
The brothers were excited and a little shy after hearing this, "It's enough that we can learn a little bit from our grandfather."
The image of grandfather is as high as a mountain in the hearts of the people, and it is also an unattainable image in their hearts.
"Your grandfather will be very pleased to see you so sensible in heaven."
After the two brothers left, Mu Jun's wife Che also came over with her only son Mu Lin in her arms. She also brought money, which was much more than the brothers.
"It's not a lot of money, it's just a little thought from my mother-in-law, husband-in-law and me."
Huo Xi asked someone to take the box: "On behalf of the people, I would like to thank the third lady, the fourth son and my younger brothers and sisters. Working for the people cannot be measured by the amount of money. Having this kind of heart is enough."
Seeing Huo Xi holding her son and teasing her, Mrs. Che smiled and said, "My mother-in-law said, my husband always thought that he was so good before, but these days when I follow the prince, I realize that I have many shortcomings. Let my husband and I learn more from our second brother and sister-in-law."
study."
Huo Xi fed Mu Lin a piece of soft and glutinous pastry, then brought him a glass of fruit drink and watched him drink it happily with his mouth pursed.
Then he smiled and said: "We both have a lot to learn. Your second brother is an upright and serious person. Not many people in the capital are willing to get along with him. After leaving school, everyone goes to drink and watch the dance together, and he is the only one."
I turned around and went home, no one invited me."
Mrs. Che laughed, "It's not like the second brother loves the second sister-in-law and rushes back home to see the second sister-in-law after getting off work."
"He is not in a hurry to come back to see me, but to come back to see his son. As soon as it's time for him to leave for work, my little fisherman rushes to the gate to wait for him. He insists on sitting on the threshold to wait for him, and he won't listen to anyone's advice.
. He was afraid that if he returned home late, his son would freeze on the threshold and suffer."
Huo Xi looked at the obedient Mu Lin in her arms and thought of Xiao Yuer, her eyes moistened.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Second sister-in-law misses Xiao Yu'er, right?"
Huo Xi pressed the corners of her eyes, "No, it makes my heart and soul ache just thinking about it."
"Second Aunt, don't cry." Xiao Mu Lin raised her flesh hand and wiped it on Huo Xi's eyes.
Huo Xi kissed his little face twice and said, "Our Lin'er is so good. Second aunt likes you the most!" This little face is so tender and smooth, and his eyes are bright and lively, just like little Yu'er.
Mu Lin was embarrassed to be kissed, and leaned in Huo Xi's arms with a red face, looking well-behaved.
"Look at our Lin'er, now we only know our second aunt, and we don't even want our own mother."
"Are you still jealous of Lin'er?"
"That's not true! My son almost doesn't care about me as a mother anymore." Mrs. Che said with a smile.
Looking at Huo Xi, she felt that she was worthy of being from the capital. There was nothing to criticize about her conduct and behavior. Although she had only been in contact with this second sister-in-law for a short time, she was actually more mature than her elder sister-in-law Wushi, who she often met in the mansion.
Easy to get along with.
The husband was right, the second brother and the second sister-in-law were worthy of being the crown prince and his wife. Even the mother-in-law changed her mind.
After returning from Cuihuang Courtyard, Mr. Che went to Duan's Courtyard to pay his respects.
"Did you give me the banknote?"
Mrs. Che nodded, "I gave it. My second sister-in-law asked someone to take it to Mr. Qian, and she also asked me to record my and my mother-in-law's names."
Mrs. Duan sighed with emotion: "The prince and his wife are both fair people."
Such a large amount of money was not spent at all. It was not used for other purposes, nor was it given to one of my own people. Instead, it was given to the staff of the government to take charge of the affairs.
"Yes. The second sister-in-law's work is admirable. Mother is right. The second brother and second sister-in-law are the future of the Mu family and can carry forward the past and the future."
Duan smiled and said, "I originally thought that as long as our third wife does our own thing, we don't have to get caught between the second brother and his brothers. But now it seems that this prince dislikes people who sit on the fence the most. Jun'er wants to stand out.
, we should still stand behind the Crown Prince, even if the Crown Prince wants to return to the capital in the future, we can only choose the Crown Prince."
She was wrong before.
She feels that the crown prince will always return to Beijing as a hostage. If her son chooses the crown prince, he will inevitably be suppressed by Mu Zhan in the future.
But now it seems that sitting on the fence is not flattering on both sides. Moreover, the prince seems to be more capable and capable than Mu Zhan. Even if he is not in Yunnan in the future, his prestige will not be reduced.
Moreover, after the prince returns to Beijing, it will be of great benefit to Jun'er if Jun'er becomes his person in Yunnan.
"You stayed in Cuihuang Courtyard for dinner?"
Mrs. Che nodded, "I see that the second sister-in-law likes Lin'er very much. I'm afraid she misses Xiao Yu'er, so Lin'er and I stayed with the second sister-in-law to have dinner before going back."
"Well, you've done a good job. Since she likes Lin'er, you should take Lin'er to walk there more often. Also tell Jun'er to stay with the prince more often and help him out."
"Yes, my daughter-in-law has remembered it."
I remembered that when I came here just now, I heard the servants talking secretly and asked: "Mother, I heard that there was a quarrel in the second room?"
Duan's mouth curled up.
"Isn't the Crown Prince's wife going to build a project to benefit the people in the city? Aunt Jun is afraid that she won't want such a good thing to happen to the Crown Prince and his wife, and she also wants to gain some reputation for Mu Zhan. I also heard that our third-bedroom company Mu Zuo Mu Youmu
Zhong and the others all donated money and wanted Wushi to pay for it and build a road in the name of their second wife. Who would have thought that Wushi didn't appreciate her painstaking efforts..."
"Wu Shi refused?"
"Didn't you refuse? Wushi entered the Mu Mansion with her head held high, thinking that Mu Zhan could win the title of crown prince. In the early years, she had contributed both money and effort. How could she have imagined that the crown prince would fall to someone else?
To hide my disappointment. No, I am not willing to spend money and contribute."
"This...isn't this also for her second wife?"
"But she didn't understand. As the eldest daughter of a big chieftain, she couldn't do such a thing as bowing to the people for fame. I heard that she had a quarrel with Aunt Jun in the afternoon, and she said that if she wanted to pay, she could
Let Aunt Jun do it herself. If it's not enough, let the Jun clan do it a little more, that will be enough. I heard that Aunt Jun is very angry."
After saying this, Mrs. Duan covered her mouth and laughed.
"This, this is really true." Mrs. Che didn't know what to say.
In the courtyard of the second room, Aunt Jun called Mu Zhan over and scolded her. Mu Zhan let her scold her and said nothing.
Apart from some money, his maternal grandfather's family couldn't do much to help him. Besides, the Jun family had lost his uncle Jun Mingzhang, and the Jun family was closing down for rectification, so they couldn't help him. He had to rely on Wushi's natal family for help.
, there is no need to offend Wu Shi.
"Mother, Mu Yan has already done this. No matter how much I spend money and effort to build roads and bridges, it's just a slap in the face and puts me in the lower class. Why do I bother to do such a thing?"
Aunt Jun was furious: "Are you thinking that Mu Yan will return to Beijing one day, so you don't take him seriously?"
This is true isn't it?
But he didn't speak.
Aunt Jun saw what he meant from his expression, and she was so angry that she pointed at him and scolded him.
"I thought you were quite smart before, but now you are doing more and more unscrupulous things! Mu Yan has won the hearts of the people, what good will it do to you in the future? He has taken root in the hearts of the people, even if he returns to Beijing, his
Can a reputation be easily removed? How much effort will it take for you to eliminate its traces?"
"Mother, you are serious. At that moment, Mu Yan was here, so everyone remembered him. If he is gone in the future, they may not even be able to remember what he looks like. Besides, it is difficult to build a reputation. It takes many years, but
Isn’t it easy to ruin someone’s reputation?”
As a person who has lived in Dian for many years, how can he not be able to defeat Mu Yan who will stay in the capital in the future?
Aunt Jun felt a little tired when she saw that he didn't listen to his advice.
"I told you, Mu Yan is not to be underestimated, and now that Zhang is helping him outside, look at your good wife, nothing can compare to her!"
Now if I ask her to give me some money, she will jump ahead and ask her to move Ying'er to the front yard, but she still hasn't done it yet. It's so stupid that I can't believe it.
"Mom, I know it well. And the Wushi family is no worse than the one with the surname Zhang."
Mu Yan and Huo Xi didn't know what the second and third bedrooms said. As usual, they had dinner and walked hand in hand to eat in the mansion at night.
Huo Xi still remembered the history books that she had read before. Comparing the princes and grandsons of the last two dynasties, it was said that the palaces of the princes of the Qing Dynasty were a mansion in the city, while the residences of the princes on the fiefdoms of the Ming Dynasty were a city within the city.
.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! The residences of vassal princes in various places in the Ming Dynasty were more than 150 feet long from north to south and more than 120 feet long from east to west, covering an area of hundreds of acres.
Now take a look at the Mu Mansion, the Duke of Guizhou's mansion. In the past few days since he came back, Huo Xi has finally visited it.
Taizu treated Lao Houye, his adopted son, fairly well in terms of housing.
Although the area was not that large during the times of the old marquis and the former marquis, as Mu Sheng became the Duke of Guizhou, the mansion was expanded. Looking at the entire mansion from the highest pavilion in the mansion is quite spectacular.
"Do you feel that the responsibility is on your shoulders?" Huo Xi asked Mu Yan.
Looking at the entire mansion, candles were lit in various courtyards at night, twinkling brightly in the winter night. Looking at the city, there were also stars.
Mu Yan held her shoulders and watched the lights of the city with her.
"I still remember what my grandfather said to me... He said that Taizu asked him to guard the border out of responsibility and trust. He never dared to forget it. Even in his dreams, he thought about how to guard David's southwest gate.
I also told future generations to guard the borders and govern the Yi and Han people. Now that I am the heir apparent, I should uphold my grandfather's legacy, protect the people of this area, and protect the southwest gateway for the country."
Huo Xi looked up at him and felt that he was surrounded by a dazzling light.
Holding him, "You are not alone."
Mu Yan pressed his forehead against hers, "Yes, I'm not alone. I have you."
"And little fisherman."
"Yes, there is also Xiao Yu'er." Caressing her in his arms, "Do you miss your son?"
Huo Xi nodded: "I really want to."
Mu Yan didn't speak for a long time. For a long time, he said, "Then let's give birth to a younger brother and sister for Xiao Yu'er."
"Don't you want a son?"
"My daughter is also here. I will have a son in the future."
Huo Xi pinched his waist hard. The couple stood on the highest floor of the house, watching the sparks all over the city.
After a while, I raised my head and asked him: "Is it time to remove the stone we left in Jiushengxing?"