There were calls one after another outside, and Zhao Pan'er and the three people inside heard them.
Yin Ping looked strange: "Ms. Zhao, your tea shop isn't open either. Who is outside?"
Zhao Pan'er was also surprised, and the voice sounded somewhat familiar.
"I'll go out and take a look."
Zhao Pan'er walked to the door, did not open the door at first but took a look through the gap, and then opened the door overjoyed.
"Uncle De, Uncle De, is it you?"
Outside the door was an old servant wearing a hat and carrying a bag. When he saw Zhao Pan'er coming out, he immediately bowed and saluted.
"Old slave pays homage to Madam Zhao."
Zhao Pan'er excitedly helped Uncle De and asked excitedly: "Uncle De, why are you back? Where is Ouyang? Is he okay? Will he fail the exam again?"
She thought Ouyang failed the exam again and was too embarrassed to come back to see him, so she asked Uncle De to come back alone.
Uncle De retorted somewhat unfavorably: "I mean, how can I do that? This old slave just came back to announce the good news. He was appointed by the royal family of the Jiying Palace of the official family. Master, he is now the most popular star in Jinke."
"Ah? Tanhua?"
Zhao Pan'er's eyes widened, she covered her mouth, with an excited look on her face: "Than Hua? Did you really win?"
Uncle De nodded repeatedly, feeling inexplicably excited, and said to Yourong: "Well, I won, I really won. I am the best in Jinke. Master, he is now the best in Jinke."
"That's great, that's great. Uncle De, come in quickly and tell me about his time in Tokyo."
At this moment, Zhao Pan'er's heart and mind were filled with joy and excitement, and she pulled Uncle De and walked inside.
"You said it was true that he just wrote a letter and asked you to run thousands of miles to pick me up. But he is also true. There are so many books and boxes and cages that I can't even pick up one person.
It's good to have your help."
Zhao Pan'er was so excited that what she wanted most now was to see Ouyang Xu. She didn't notice Uncle De's expression at all and couldn't wait to ask.
"Uncle De, when we go to Tokyo this time, shall we take the water route or the land route?"
Uncle De quickly stopped him and persuaded him: "Madam, don't be impatient. Let's discuss it in a long term. The official asked me to bring you a message, saying that since he is now an official, then..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Pan'er interrupted: "If you have anything to say, let's talk about it after we go into the room. I'll make you a cup of tea and we'll talk slowly."
Uncle De immediately chased after him. When he saw Song Yinzhang and the silver bottle in the room, he unconsciously frowned and felt disgusted.
Song Yinzhang said hello naturally: "Uncle De."
"Ms. Song."
While making tea, Zhao Pan'er said to Uncle De: "Uncle De, I know what Ouyang is worried about. Doesn't he just think that I shouldn't do business anymore? It just so happened that something happened to the teahouse, so I closed it down.
,Uncle De, have you had breakfast?"
Her grab for the opportunity had already made Uncle De feel impatient, and he said with a sad face: "No, madam, I have something to say to you, please listen to me first, I..."
At this moment, Sun Sanniang suddenly ran in from the door.
"Pan'er, Yin Zhang, when did you come back?"
Song Yinzhang did not speak. Zhao Pan'er said with a smile: "We came back last night. I will tell you about Yinzhang later. I will make a cup of tea for Uncle De first."
"Ah? Oh."
Only then did Sun Sanniang react. When she saw Uncle De next to her, she shouted in surprise: "Uncle De, you are back."
Unable to get Uncle De's answer, Zhao Pan'er couldn't wait to show off: "Sanniang, Ouyang is hit, Tanhua."
"Tanhua?"
Sun Sanniang's eyes widened in excitement, and then she saluted Zhao Pan'er.
"That's great, congratulations, congratulations, Miss Tanhua, you got to wear the phoenix crown and harem earlier than I did. That's great, it's really great."
She was really happy for her friend, because she knew how long Zhao Pan'er had been waiting for this day, and she also knew how much Zhao Pan'er had paid for this day, and now it was finally going to pay off. She was really happy for Zhao Pan'er.
"Pan'er, will you have to go to Beijing in two days? Then I'll help you pack up."
Zhao Paner walked over with a smile and a tea tray, followed by Song Yinzhang. Although he was in a bad mood, he also expressed his sincere blessings.
"Sister Paner, congratulations. If brother-in-law Ouyang becomes an official in the future..."
Zhao Pan'er knew what she wanted to say, so she smiled and said, "I know what you want to say. Don't worry, as long as Ouyang becomes an official, I will definitely ask him to help you deregister."
Song Yinzhang, who had been crying all night, finally showed a smile.
"Sister Pan'er, thank you."
She did have feelings for Zhou She, but after all, the two had only known each other for more than ten days, and the relationship was not necessarily deep. What really tempted her was that Zhou She agreed to help her deregister her citizenship and was willing to marry her as his wife.
Without these two items, she would never have left Zhou She.
It's very realistic, but also very normal. No woman with a lowly status would want to leave her status. Who among the women in Jiaofangsi doesn't want to live a normal life? Who doesn't want to be an upright wife?
Uncle De watched the three sisters congratulate each other in turn and started discussing happily. He became even more impatient. He couldn't bear it anymore and shouted.
"Ms. Zhao, Mrs. Sun and Mrs. Song are not outsiders either. Let me just say it bluntly. I am not here to take you to Beijing."
One sentence instantly froze the smiles on the faces of Zhao Pan'er and the others, but the more fatal thing was yet to come.
"Master, he is fortunate to be granted a marriage by the wise concubine in the palace. After Guyu, he will get married to Gao Observer's daughter."
In an instant, Zhao Pan'er was stunned. She stared at Uncle De with dull eyes, unable to believe her ears.
Sun Sanniang was even more excited. She rushed to Uncle De and asked, "What are you talking about?"
Uncle De said with a proud look on his face: "After the Guangji Army was stationed for observation at Jiedu, the infantry deputy commander Gao Hu was appointed."
Although Sun Sanniang and the others didn't know what kind of official this was, they could tell that this was a high official. For a moment, they didn't know what to say.
Zhao Pan'er stood there, motionless, just staring at Uncle De: "Say it again."
Uncle De said again: "Ouyang, official, is going to marry Gao Hu's daughter."
Zhao Pan'er couldn't bear it anymore. The tray in her hand fell to the ground, and the tea and snacks spilled a little, but she held on to the edge of the door and did not fall down.
"Sister Pan'er."
Song Yinzhang and Yin Ping hurriedly stepped forward to help Zhao Paner. Sun Sanniang also excitedly went to help. The three of them looked at Zhao Paner nervously and worriedly.
Zhao Pan'er suddenly shook his head and said bitterly: "Sanniang, Yin Zhang, I'm fine, I really am fine."
"Sister Pan'er."
Song Yinzhang felt sad. At this moment, she realized that her affairs were nothing compared to Zhao Pan'er.
She and Zhou She had only known each other for more than ten days, but Zhao Pan'er had taken care of and supported Ouyang Xu for three years, but in the end she had such a result. If it were her, she would not be able to stand, and she would probably drown.
Sun Sanniang even cursed angrily: "I used to think that Zhou Hou and Zhou Guanren were exaggerating. People can't be so heartless. Now it seems that what Zhou Guanren said is right. Some people really can't be counted on to become rich."
Will fall out, Ouyang Xu, he is a despicable and shameless villain..."
Hearing Sun Sanniang's scolding, Uncle De was unhappy. He changed his previous humble attitude and pointed at Sun Sanniang and scolded her.
"Ms. Sun, what are you talking about? My master is now an official. If you dare to scold my master, you are scolding an official. If you go to the Yamen, you will be punished."
Sun Sanniang looked back and angrily said: "Then you go and sue. Your master is a villain, and you are not a good person. When you were raised by Paner, why were you not so proud? Now that you have won the title of Tanhua, you are more confident? Don't say that.
Ouyang Xu just won the top prize, even if he won the first prize, I will scold him, if you can, go ahead and sue him."
"You, you, are unreasonable, unreasonable, Mrs. Zhao, look at all the people you are dating. Fortunately, my master wants to marry the daughter of a high observer. If he marries you, I don't know how many of you will give to the master.
How much trouble will it cause?"
Because Ouyang Xu won the lottery, he is now confident. As the saying goes, a seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's door. Although his master is not the prime minister, as his master's old servant and housekeeper, he is much better than ladies like Zhao Pan'er.
Sun Sanniang angrily cursed again: "Sure enough, turning the page is faster than turning the page in the book. Pan'er's conscience is really fed into the dog's belly."
"Okay, Sanniang, stop talking."
Zhao Pan'er slowed down, stopped Sun Sanniang, and looked at Uncle De again, but this time, her eyes were different.
"Is this really what Ouyang meant?"
"Ms. Zhao, Master has no choice but to do so. This is the wish of the virtuous concubine in the palace. Master, there is no way he can disobey it."
"Can't violate it?"
Zhao Paner showed a smile that was not only self-deprecating, but also mocking.
"Even a virtuous concubine has no reason to preside over a marriage casually. Didn't she ask Ouyang if he was engaged before this?"
Uncle De replied: "It's true that I asked, but between the master and Mrs. Zhao, there is no order from the parents and no words of matchmaking, so it doesn't count at all..."
Zhao Pan'er didn't say anything, but Sun Sanniang couldn't help it anymore and yelled again: "Shut up, you still have the nerve to say this. Others don't know, but we all know about Pan'er and Ouyang's engagement."
Uncle De said with disdain: "I mean, that's just a verbal agreement. Without three documents and six certificates, how can it be called a marriage contract? What's more, Mrs. Zhao has a bad background."
"I bother."
Sun Sanniang pointed at Uncle De and cursed: "You still have the nerve to say that Pan'er has a bad background, but you have a good one? You are just an old servant, what qualifications do you have to say this?"
Uncle De argued: "This is a fact. Lady Zhao is of low birth. If the master marries a low birth woman, what will others think of him? If the master among the virtuous concubines rejects her niece for a low birth woman,
The consequences..."
"Who are you calling cheap? I think you are really cheap. You are just as cheap as your master. If I hadn't seen that you are already very old, I would have really wanted to beat you up." Sun Sanniang's teeth were itching with anger.
There is a posture of "I want to punch you".
Seeing that Sun Sanniang was really gearing up, Uncle De was frightened and took a few steps back. Finally, Zhao Paner stopped her.
"Okay, Sanniang."
Zhao Pan'er looked at Uncle De coldly and said in a calm tone: "Even if you are an official, you will not condone your relatives to seize the wives of ministers. Also, when I met Ouyang, I had already quit my citizenship. I am a son of a good family."
Uncle De didn't take it seriously: "Mrs. Zhao, why are you doing this? Even if you have lost your citizenship and are no longer a lowly citizen, you are still a businessman, a scholar, a farmer, an industrialist, and a businessman. Businessmen rank last. Among the nobles,
In my eyes, as long as you are doing business, even if you are extremely wealthy, you are still not in the mainstream."
Zhao Pan'er suddenly laughed when he heard this.
"Yes, among scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, businessmen do come last. The nobles do look down on businessmen, but that doesn't mean everyone. At least, some nobles don't."
For some reason, at this saddest time, the figure of Zhou Chen suddenly appeared in her mind, and she remembered that Zhou Chen had talked to her about the businessman not long ago.
She felt that Zhou Chen was different before, but now when she compared Uncle De, Zhou Chen's difference was even more evident.
Uncle De, an old servant, looks down on businessmen, but a marquis like Zhou Chen does not despise businessmen. The difference is clear at a glance.
At this time, Song Yinzhang, who had always been the weakest, suddenly rushed out, pointed at Uncle De and scolded him.
"What's wrong with the humble status, what's wrong with the merchants, if it weren't for me, Sister Pan'er, you and your master would have starved to death long ago. In the past three years, you have been eating from Sister Pan'er, drinking from Sister Pan'er, and even went to Beijing to take the exam.
All the money is from Sister Pan'er. Others can say that Sister Pan'er, but you masters and servants are not qualified. You are simply not worthy of being human."
After spraying so much in one breath, Song Yinzhang gasped for air, but his eyes were still waiting for Uncle De fiercely.
Sun Sanniang, Zhao Pan'er, and the maid Yin Ping all looked at Song Yinzhang in disbelief. They had never seen Song Yinzhang in such a posture.
But Uncle De didn't take Song Yinzhang seriously at all. Zhao Pan'er had resigned from the country after all, and Song Yinzhang was just an official prostitute.
"Ms. Zhao, you have been helpful to the master, but we can return these to you."
"Repay? How are you going to repay?" Sun Sanniang sneered with great disdain.
Uncle De continued: "Mrs. Zhao, as long as you don't make this matter known to everyone, the master will definitely compensate you."
With that said, he took off the baggage on his back, opened it and placed it in front of Zhao Pan'er.
"This is eighty taels of gold. It is the master's wish. The master also has a piece of the same heart for you. Please return it to Mrs. Zhao."
He said so much and did so much just to get the Tongxin Pei. As long as he got the Tongxin Pei, even if Zhao Paner wanted to make trouble in the future, she would not be able to make it without evidence.
But Zhao Pan'er angrily pushed the gold away and scattered it all over the floor.
"Ms. Zhao, what are you doing? Are you too young?"
"few?"
Zhao Pan'er's face was full of contempt. Uncle De, who used to be quite good in her eyes, now really made her feel sick just looking at him.
"When Ouyang landed in Hangzhou, I bought the land for him so that he could settle down and retake the imperial examination. It's a pity..."
Uncle De heard a different meaning: "Ms. Zhao, do you really want to rely on the master? If you really make a big deal and make it known to everyone, you are not afraid of letting everyone know that you are
Official prostitute?"
The women present looked embarrassed, and Zhao Paner said angrily: "That's enough, you know I care about this the most, so you use this to threaten me, right?"
"No, no, I am doing it for your own good, Mrs. Zhao."
"Okay, don't you just want to sever ties with me? You can, but eighty taels of gold is not enough. I want five hundred taels of gold."
"Five hundred taels?"
Uncle De's eyes widened: "Is it too much?"
Zhao Pan'er ignored him and continued: "As long as you bring five hundred taels of gold, I will break up with him. If you can't make the decision, go back and ask him."
Uncle De hesitated for a while, and finally picked up the eighty taels of gold scattered on the ground, and ran away without even daring to look at Zhao Pan'er.
Sun Sanniang and Song Yinzhang sat down on either side of Zhao Pan'er respectively. Song Yinzhang did not speak, while Sun Sanniang comforted her in a low voice.
Zhao Pan'er was confused all day long, and Sun Sanniang didn't dare to be careless. She asked Song Yinzhang and Yin Ping to take good care of Zhao Pan'er, and then she dared to leave.
Qin Yi followed Zhou Chen's order to deal with Zhou She and came back one night later.
"Master Hou, Zhou She has finished dealing with it."
Zhou Chen just asked indifferently: "Didn't you leave any traces?"
Qin Yidao: "It's natural to fall into the water in a boat. He is just a wealthy family with a small fortune. He has already fallen into ruin. Even if he is discovered, there will be no in-depth investigation, let alone us, unless someone is found.
Give way."
Zhou Chen knew what he meant and said: "Don't worry, Gu Qianfan and Madam Zhao will not leak anything. Even if someone finds out something, will they cause trouble for me for a dead person?"
He didn't take this matter to heart at all. He had read Zhou Huai's investigation information on Zhou She and knew the bad and dirty things Zhou She had done in the past. This kind of person deserved to die.
"Go and call Jin Huan back, and ask Zhou Huai to find a boat and prepare to return to Beijing by water."
Qin Yi suddenly became energetic. Now that his home has been settled in Tokyo, apart from being there for a month, of course he also wants to return to Beijing as soon as possible.
"Yes, Lord Marquis, I will make arrangements now."
"Um."
Zhou Chen walked to the courtyard and looked at the peach tree with deep eyes.
If the plot has not changed, Ouyang Xu's servant should have come back to have a showdown with Zhao Pan'er by this time. Zhao Pan'er may not be having an easy time at this time.
However, he did not go to the tea shop to find Zhao Pan'er. Instead, he went to Zhao's tea shop the next day.
The person who opened the door for Zhou Chen was Song Yinzhang's maid Yin Ping. When she saw Zhou Chen, she was startled and then saluted.
"I've met, I've met the Marquis."
She saw Zhao Pan'er calling him that, so she followed suit.
"Just call me Young Master."
Yin Ping did not dare to disobey, so he called Young Master again, and then led Zhou Chen into the tea shop.
Song Yinzhang in the room was stunned for a moment when he saw Zhou Chen, and then immediately saluted.
"I've met the Marquis."
"Ms. Song."
Zhou Chen nodded towards her, and then asked, "Is Mrs. Zhao here? I'm here to say goodbye to him."
Song Yinzhang was a little surprised. This Marquis seemed to be very familiar with Sister Pan'er, and he actually came here to say goodbye. Could it be that he was interested in Sister Pan'er?
"Sister Pan'er is here, but she, she's a little not well."
She didn't know how to describe it to Zhou Chen. She couldn't just say that Sister Pan'er had been abandoned by Ouyang Xu, right?
Although she is not very smart, she knows not to say that.