"You two, I wonder if there is a name card that I need someone to pass in?"
The concierge of the Zeng Mansion was very civilized, but he didn't seem to want to let the two of them in or inform them.
There is a big event in the house today, and many important people are coming. You can't just announce everyone who comes. Only a good concierge can select the concierge who should be seen by the master and when the master should not be seen.
The last concierge was kicked out of the house by his wife because he let someone in who shouldn't be allowed in.
Li Yi held Zeng Zuimo's hand and said calmly: "You just need to go in and tell Mr. Zeng that an old friend from Yangliu Lane is visiting."
He already knew about the changes that had happened to the Zeng family over the past ten years, but he was still very clear about the inside story from time to time. Zui Mo was unwilling to admit that she was a member of the Zeng family and was unwilling to call Zeng Shichun "second uncle". There must be her reasons.
Of course he had to follow her.
The concierge showed a smile on his face and said: "Boss, I'm really sorry, my master has something important to do today. How about you two come back another day?"
There is no name tag, which means they are not big shots. The two of them are so young. They don't even know their identities. They only say that they are old friends - some old friends. At first glance, they heard that the master has been promoted and want to establish connections. If
On other days, just in case, he would still go in and pass the news, but today is different. If he disappoints all the adults, he, a small concierge, cannot afford it.
Li Yi came today not to reason with the Zeng family, and there was no reason to reason with him. The Zeng family would definitely not give him what he wanted, and he had to get it. In such a situation, he would need to rely on other means to solve the problem.
Problem.
Li Yi looked at the sloppy old man standing not far behind the two of them.
The sloppy old man covered one side of his face and walked over with a slightly gloomy expression.
His gloomy look was not because he was ordered by Li Yi, but because one of his teeth was broken and half of his face was swollen, which naturally caused some emotional fluctuations.
"Miss, is the lady back?"
The sloppy old man didn't come over, but an old voice suddenly came from inside the door. His voice was trembling and excited.
When the concierge saw him, he immediately bowed and said respectfully: "Waiting for the housekeeper."
The old man who was called the housekeeper ignored him, walked over quickly, looked at Zeng Zuimo with an excited face, and said in a trembling voice: "Thirteen years, thirteen years and nine months, Miss, you..., you finally
came back."
Zeng Zuimo looked at him for a long time before sighing: "Uncle Hou..."
…
"Congratulations to Master Zeng for your promotion. With Master Zeng's ability, your career will be smoother in the future..."
"I would like to offer you a drink first, Mr. Zeng!"
"No matter what Mr. Liu said, it was all based on rumors..." Zeng Shichun clinked glasses with an acquaintance official, and another voice came from the other side.
"This is not just speculation. Someone has seen Mr. Zeng's appointment letter. It is estimated that the latest will be after the Lantern Festival, and the earliest, I am afraid it will be announced during the court meeting. Come on, I will also pay a toast to Mr. Zeng..."
After Zeng Shichun had another drink, his body became a little shaky. Today, when these people came to the house, he had drank a lot. His usual drinking capacity could only be considered average, but now he had almost reached his limit.
A gorgeously dressed woman walked in from the door, held his arm, turned her head, and said apologetically: "Sir, I'm really sorry. Master Cui is hosting a banquet at Zuiyue Tower tonight. Master Qin and
Mr. Chen and the others will also go there, and I am afraid they will have to discuss some matters by then. My husband really can’t drink anymore..."
"In this case, it's better to let Mr. Zeng take a rest as soon as possible. If we miss something important, we can't afford it."
"Yes, yes, please let Mr. Zeng rest quickly."
These people also knew what the three surnames Cui, Qin, and Chen represented, and did not do anything to stop them.
"As a woman, I won't disturb the adults." The woman looked at the two maids beside her and said, "Why don't you help me to rest quickly..."
"yes!"
As soon as the woman walked out of the hall, a figure hurriedly walked over and whispered something in her ear.
When the woman heard this, her brows instantly wrinkled.
"Hasn't she already denied that she is a member of the Zeng family? What kind of trouble would she come to make at this time..." A trace of disgust appeared on her face and she said: "Master has already rested, let's let her go for a while, then,
Just find any reason to send her away..."
The servant immediately bowed and said yes.
"I'm just a lost star. I really thought I was still the eldest daughter of the Zeng family..." The woman murmured and left with a sullen face.
…
"From the time I can remember, Uncle Hou has been taking care of all the chores at home. Uncle Hou treated me very well at that time..."
While the two were waiting in a side hall, Zeng Zuimo looked at the old man standing at the door and whispered.
The old man looked around and finally walked in with a smile on his face. He looked at Li Yi and asked: "Miss, this young man is..."
"I am her husband-in-law." Li Yi held her hand, looked at the old man, and said with a smile: "When Zui Mo was a child, I was taken care of by Uncle Hou..."
Zeng Zuimo's face turned red, but he did not resist and held his hand tighter.
The old man was startled when he heard this. He looked him up and down, and then a smile broke out on his face again, and he said: "It turns out he is my uncle. He is really a talented person. He is a perfect match for the young lady's talent and beauty..."
He looked at Li Yi for a while, and then a servant came in from outside and said, "I'm drunk. I'm resting in my room now. You want to see me. Wait until I wake up, or come back tomorrow."
"Drunk?" Li Yi shook his head and said: "It seems that Mr. Zeng is really in high spirits on happy occasions. He is not in the Hubu Yamen at this time, but he is drinking and having fun at home. He has not yet become a Jing Zhaoyin...
…”
The servant was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then said angrily: "What did you say..."
"Okay, you can go down." The butler waved to him. The servant wanted to say something else, but after being glared at by him, he could only bear to leave.
Butler Hou then looked at Li Yi and whispered: "Uncle, this is the Zeng family, be careful what you say, be careful what you say..."
"What are you talking about... Where is Zeng Shichun? I want to ask, is this how he, the Minister of Household Affairs, usually serves the imperial court?"
Li Yi took a step forward, and Zeng Zuimo grabbed his sleeve. She looked at him and shook her head, then turned her head, looked at Butler Hou, and asked, "Uncle Hou, can we take a walk in the house?"
The old man nodded repeatedly: "This is the Zeng family, of course, but this house has changed a lot from before, so let me lead the young lady and uncle."
A quarter of an hour later, in front of a certain courtyard of Zeng Mansion.
Zeng Zuimo stood in front of the courtyard gate and stared for a long time before asking: "Uncle Hou, can we go in here?"
"Except for the maids and servants who clean up regularly, the master usually doesn't let anyone in here." The old man hesitated for a moment and then said: "But since she is a young lady, I guess even if the master knows about it, he won't blame me."
"Thank you, Uncle Ho."
Zeng Zuimo smiled lightly at the old man, stretched out his hand, and the courtyard door opened with a creak.
Li Yi followed her in and saw that this was an ordinary courtyard, nothing surprising.
There are stone tables and chairs in the courtyard, and a swing hangs under a tree against the wall on the left.
The tables and chairs were spotless. She walked over, stretched out her hand to touch them, looked around everything, and finally walked under the swing.
"This is where my father, mother and I used to live." She sat on the swing and said, "There is also this swing, which my father tied for me with his own hands. Once I got too high and fell off, my father fell down.
He put the swing away. I begged him for a long time before he agreed..."
"But this swing is no longer the same one as before."
"And here, half of the tiles here are missing, it's still the same..."
"Look here, this is the name I carved on the tree when I was a child. Unfortunately, it's been a long time and I can't see it clearly..."
"Here, this brick can actually be removed. When I was a child, I hid things in it, and my parents didn't even know..."
She really took out the brick in the corner. In fact, it was only half a brick, so there was a small space inside. She took out a yellowed paper package from it, and the paper package broke into pieces when she opened it.
, there is some black residue inside, and the faint words "Xu Ji" can be seen faintly on the paper package.
She stood up, clapped her hands, and murmured: "This place is exactly the same as before..."
Li Yi held her hand and asked, "Do you like it here?"
She nodded slightly and said softly: "When I came here, I remembered many things from the past."
"As long as you like it." Li Yi nodded, looked around, and murmured: "As long as you like it..."
