Outside the door, a child walked in. He was only eight or nine years old. He was wearing a sapphire blue brocade robe, and a moon-white embroidered cloud-patterned belt around his waist. There was a white jade pendant hanging from it, and an autumn fragrance-colored pendant hanging from it.
purse.
He has a handsome appearance, fair skin, a pair of dark eyes, and is indescribably cunning and intelligent. His hair is combed into corners and pinned with a small crown inlaid with sapphire.
It's Xiaowu.
Xiaowu jumped in, first bowed to the old man and Jiang who were sitting at the top, and then saluted each elder one by one. When he arrived at the little cousin Huang Wenkang, he tilted his head and thought for a moment, and then
I gave him a courtesy as a senior citizen.
"Hey, Xiaowu has grown up too. Look at his body, he is stronger than our Wenkang. Wenkang, come here quickly, this is your cousin, Xiaowu, do you still remember?" Tian Huaifang called her son over and smiled.
said.
Huang Wenkang is ten years old this year, one year older than Xiao Wu, but he doesn't know whether it's because of being spoiled or something. His body is a little thin and a little girly. He first looked at Xiao Wu, and his eyes fell on the jade pendant on his waist.
He said: "Remember." Then he added: "This jade pendant is so beautiful. Mom, I want to wear one too."
After hearing this, Tian Minyan's lips curled up slightly and she looked at Tian Huaifang. Her smiling face showed indescribable embarrassment and awkwardness.
Luo Shi coughed slightly, and after all the juniors came up to see the gifts, he said: "It's been a long time since we last met, and my aunt and aunt have nothing good to give you. Don't dislike the small meeting gifts." After saying that, he tilted his head slightly.
Huang Wenru and the others immediately sat up straight. Even Tian Huaifang and Jiang Shi looked at the girl holding the tray behind Luo Shi, and their eyes fell on the tray.
The silk cloth on the tray was opened. Luo Shi first picked up the fish-shaped white jade pendant and gave it to Huang Wenkang. Then there were only four pieces of jewelry left on the tray, which were a diamond necklace, a jade hairpin wrapped with cinnamon branches, and an agate hairpin.
The filigree step shakes, the jasper hairpin.
"I don't know what you like, you can choose it yourself." After saying that, he asked the girl to hold it in front of Huang Wenru and the others.
Huang Wenru looked at the several pieces of jewelry, they were all very beautiful, and she wished she could put them all in her arms, but she knew it was impossible. Huang Wenyuan pulled her sleeves and said with a smile: "Sister Ting and sister Jing are the youngest, let's
Let them choose first."
Huang Wenru was a little unhappy after hearing this, but when she saw Tian Huaifang's warning eyes, she had no choice but to suppress her anxiety.
Tian Minyan saw this and shook her head. With this kind of magnanimity, she couldn't compare to her sister.
Tian Minting also wanted to keep these jewelry in her pocket, and she secretly blamed her third aunt for being stingy, but she also knew that she had no place to comment.
She stretched her neck and was not polite. She touched this jewelry and that one, undecided. Everything looked good, but she didn't know which one was the most expensive.
"You choose first." Finally, she bit her lip and said to Tian Minjing.
Tian Minyan didn't have much thought. She glanced at it, pursed her lips, picked up the necklace, bent her knees and saluted Luo Shi, "Thank you, Third Aunt."
Looking at Tian Minting, she finally picked the filigree hairpin. Huang Wenru didn't wait for Huang Wenyuan and picked up the jade hairpin first, so Huang Wenyuan finally asked for the jade hairpin. Tian Minting looked at Huang Wenyuan's jade hairpin, as if
I regret a little, that hairpin seems to be more valuable.
Everyone thanked Luo Shi, but Luo Shi smiled and said softly: "As long as you like it."
"You guys, you have to serve your third aunt well. When your third aunt is happy, she might give you all the jewelry at the bottom of the box." Tian Huaifang pursed her lips and said with a smile.
She thought she was just making fun remarks, but she didn't expect that Luo Shi and these people had never been close to each other. No matter how happy he was, he would not give away the things at the bottom of the box. He was not a fool.
Therefore, Luo Shi didn't answer her words at all, and only said to the girl: "Let's put some food on the table. Master and the others must be hungry."
Tian Huaifang was a little embarrassed and asked: "Hey, why don't you see Brother Rui?"
"Brother Rui has gone to Liaoning Mansion." Tian Huairen replied.
"Why are you going there?" the old man asked.
"Fang Yu, the young master of the Fang family, and Brother Rui are classmates. Now he no longer takes the imperial examination. He said he is taking care of the family's business and will go to Liaoning to open a shop this year. Brother Rui wants to go around and have a look, and plans to go there.
There are also several shops opened in Liaoning Prefecture, but no, I didn't even go back during the Dragon Boat Festival, I was busy with the work there."
After Tian Huaifang heard this, he rolled his eyes, hurriedly pulled Huang Baoquan's sleeves, and interjected: "Oh, you are going to open a shop again? Third child, your business is getting bigger and bigger."
"It's not like we want to go big. Anyway, there are a few big workshops and supply is no problem. Liaoning Prefecture doesn't have our business either, so let's go and have a look." Tian Huairen smiled modestly.
But the old man became anxious. He sat up straight and said, "Brother Rui is not going to take the imperial examination? Do you want to go into business?"
"He took the exam. He just wants to gain more knowledge and wait two years before taking the exam again. He is studying while taking care of business." Tian Huairen said hurriedly.
The old man frowned after hearing this and said, "Can this be done at the same time? Besides, can he be there alone?"
"Don't worry, old man. My brother wrote to say that he has settled well in Liaoning Mansion. Fang Yu is here, and Uncle Fang Yu is also the prefect there. The shop is running smoothly. My brother said, wait for that
I'm back now that my business is on track." Tian Minyan interjected.
"Hey, people say that children from poor families have long been the masters. I don't think so. Look at Lao San, he is not very rich now, and Brother Rui is still working hard outside. Lao San, you are so lucky. Unlike
Sister, you have to bloom two flowers for one penny." Tian Huaifang said with some envy and sigh.
"Third brother, your eldest brother-in-law is fine now. Since he has opened a shop again, let's see if your eldest brother-in-law can also find a position and be a shopkeeper or something." Jiang suddenly spoke at this moment.
"Ah?" Tian Huairen subconsciously looked at Tian Minyan and Luo Shi.
Jiang felt like having a fit when he saw him like this. Tian Huaifang winked hurriedly and said quickly: "Lao San, your eldest brother-in-law is very bored with nothing to do at home. Not to mention the shopkeeper, he is just a handyman. Look at you.
The nieces and nephews are all grown up, and they need to prepare the dowry, and money is needed for everything. Just treat him like a handyman and give him something to do."
"Don't worry, third uncle, we are all relatives no matter what. If you invite me, I will take good care of you." Huang Baoquan also said at this time.
"this..."
At this moment, Tian Minyan raised her head and said with a smile: "I don't mention it, if my uncle is really capable and can bear that anger, it's not that he can't be put in a management position, it's just..."
Tian Huaifang was overjoyed after hearing this. She didn't know why this shrewd girl suddenly became so easy to talk to. She quickly said, "Just what?"
"My brother wrote a letter saying that the shop in Liaoning Prefecture is about to open. We really need to find a few shopkeepers. If my eldest uncle is willing to go, it's not impossible." Tian Minyan took a sip of tea and said: "Everything will be according to the procedures of other shops.
.”
"Ah, going to be the shopkeeper in Liaoning Mansion?" Tian Huaifang frowned after hearing this.
"Now only Liaoning has a location. The other shops are all mature and the shopkeeper is doing a good job. We don't plan to change. Of course, it is really uncomfortable to be away from home. That's all.
Auntie, just think I'm just talking casually. Well, why haven't the food been served yet? Ruyi, you go to the kitchen and have a look."
"Why."
"Yan Yatou, it's not that I won't go, you let me think about it, think about it." Huang Baoquan said at this time.
"Nothing, uncle, please think about it before it's too late. Let's not be in a hurry. Let's eat first, otherwise this dish will get cold." Tian Minyan said with a smile.
A whole room of people came to the table and took their seats, but Tian Huaifang and the others had something on their minds, so they ate a little absent-mindedly.
Tian Minyan just pretended that she couldn't see them, and after eating, she chatted with them for a while, and asked the maid to take Tian Huaifang and the others back to Qiuyue Yuan, and then went to Luo Shi's house in the main courtyard.
Luo Shi was talking to Tian Huairen and Xiao Wu. When he saw her coming, he quickly gave up his seat.
Xiao Wu poured a cup of tea for her obediently. Tian Minyan complimented her and said with a smile: "I know what you want to say. You just want to ask me why I changed my mind?"
"Don't you always disagree with your eldest uncle coming to our house to manage the shop?" Tian Huairen asked, frowning.
"Yes, you said it yourself, you don't want to catch a mouse in a rice vat, so what?" Luo Shi was also very anxious. In her private heart, she didn't want to have too much trouble with Tian Huaifang's family.
"Mom and dad, don't worry, sister must have her reasons." Xiao Wu said with a smile.
"Xiaowu has actually improved since he went to school." Tian Minyan pinched his cheek with a smile, took another sip of tea and said, "Have you ever heard of this saying, you are not afraid of thieves, you are only afraid of them missing you."
"This..." Luo Shi and Tian Huairen looked at each other, then looked at Tian Minyan, waiting for the next step.
"I don't think highly of my eldest aunt and the others, but as you saw, my eldest aunt's family is the only one who came to Kyoto today, and no one else followed. I don't believe it. There is no eldest aunt's push in this. Our family
They all see what kind of wealth we have now. In the past years, we have pushed it again and again, but we still don't give up. Now we are repeating the old story again. If we refuse this time, what will happen in the future? Unless we cut off contact with them."
"I think my aunt is here this time. Seeing our family like this, she doesn't want to leave even more. She will definitely stay and let dad find something to do for my aunt. This time or two, that's it. It's always like this.
It bothers me. Didn’t my eldest uncle work as a shopkeeper before? He wants to be our shopkeeper, just like the shopkeepers of all our shops, he signs contracts, makes agreements, and follows our rules and procedures.
Don't try to play the family card. If he does a good job, we will really hire a shopkeeper. If he has some bad intentions, we don't have to be polite and just resign. If we want to stop him in the future, it won't be possible.
, we are also reasonable, right?”
"Sister, what you mean is that if my eldest uncle really comes to be the shopkeeper of our house, then he will be content. If he is not content, he will be fired and will not be hired again in the future. Moreover, who can be used to catch him?
They have nothing to say, and they don't dare to do anything to upset the autumn wind again?" Xiao Wu soon realized it, and said with bright eyes: "Sister, do you want to invite you to the urn?"
"Okay, you kid, you will be different after studying. I think I might as well let you take the child test next year." Tian Minyan raised her thumb and praised with a smile.
Xiao Wu smiled happily, and when he saw Tian Huairen frowning, he winked at Tian Minyan.
Tian Minyan said: "Dad, it's not like we judge a gentleman with a villain's heart. Although there is some meaning in it, if it was my uncle's true duty, we wouldn't frame him regardless of our family ties.
If he really does his duty as the shopkeeper and manager, can we still treat him badly?"
But if you really act like a mouse, don't blame them for not caring about family ties and being rude.
Although they could have refused, she was tired of the endless pretense of pity, scheming, and Jiang's self-righteousness. She just wanted to get over it once and for all.
They thought, Cheng Quan, after all, the shopkeeper always needs to be hired. What Huang Baoquan can do is to hire a senior executive and send him to Liaoning Mansion from afar, so he doesn't have to worry about himself all day long. If he can't do it well,
, or if you do something you shouldn't do, then it's hard to say whether you will have the face to fight against the autumn wind in the future!
"Aren't you still happy? Do we really want to support them with money, then they are relatives?" Seeing Tian Huairen's face, Luo Shi turned slightly cold and said, "Don't forget how they treated them in the past.
Our third-bedroom apartment? Let’s ignore the past grudges and they should burn incense. It would be weird if we change them to someone else and don’t climb them out.”
"Look what you said. How could I have said anything else?" Tian Huairen clicked his tongue and said.
Luo Shi snorted, pulled the sewing basket aside, wound up the thread, and said: "You and I still don't know what we are thinking? The old man has told you a lot to help them, right? In the past few years, there have been people
Have you helped us? To put it bluntly, this is a favor, and not helping us is a matter of reason. Don't make too many troubles."
"I know, I didn't say anything." Tian Huairen sighed and said, "I just think I can help. They are them and we are us. If we are like them, then what do we have to do with them?
the difference?"
Luo Shi paused his hand and hummed.
Tian Minyan chuckled and said, "Dad, you are talking nonsense, what are they and ours? Anyway, we put the words aside and gave the opportunity. It is up to them whether they want to seize it or not."
But she thought that Huang Baoquan would catch it. After all, even as a shopkeeper, he could earn dozens of taels a year. If he was really good, he could earn hundreds of taels a year. Their Tian family's
In the industry, the welfare benefits provided to shopkeepers and workers have always been very good.
Tian Minyan guessed right. The next day, Huang Baoquan couldn't wait to find him, saying that he wanted to visit the Liaoning Mansion. Tian Minyan explained to him the contract agreement of being the shopkeeper, and even showed it in front of the old man Jiang.
With such a face, he said all the good and bad things first.
Although Mrs. Jiang was not happy and said that Tian Minyan was too good at grooming, there was nothing she could do about it. She also knew that she could not be the master of the third house!
