The man seemed a little uncomfortable, and unconsciously touched his chin with his hand.
The sudden silence and scrutinizing gazes of the two women at the door made him feel even more uncomfortable.
"Mr. Sanlang?" The maid came back to her senses and shouted, with a bit of surprise.
Xu Maoxiu raised his head to look at the maid, then quickly looked down at his clothes.
"Doesn't it fit? I think it's okay," he said.
"Mr. Sanlang!" The maid interrupted him with a smile this time, "If you shave your beard, I won't even recognize you!"
Xu Maoxiu was obviously not used to shaving his beard. He was always a little uneasy when he sat down and occasionally tugged at the corners of his clothes.
The maid couldn't help laughing at the side.
"I'd better change into my new clothes and wear them on the New Year's Day to avoid getting wrinkled," Xu Maoxiu said.
The maid hurriedly got up and opened the door.
"Sanlang-kun, this dress fits you so well." She smiled.
"You made a good choice." Xu Maoxiu said with a smile and went out.
"Madam, don't the husbands all look different after changing into new clothes?" the maid smiled, looking out the door with a bit of naughtiness.
But it's a pity that the men who then wore new clothes to show their sisters either didn't change or became even more ridiculous.
"...This one is too small..."
"...I've tried it all, and this is the biggest..."
"..Mr. Liulang, I will take note of this and replace it now..."
"...I'll go with you so that I don't have to change my clothes and ruin my clothes..."
Xu Maoxiu, who was talking and laughing here, had changed into his old clothes and felt much more comfortable, turned to smile at Cheng Jiaoniang.
"Don't worry about New Year's goods or anything else," he said.
Before he finished speaking, Brother Jin ran in from outside the door.
"Madam, New Year's gifts have arrived from Mr. Chen's family."
This shout shocked everyone in the room, and they all immediately stood up.
"Ms. Chen? Who is Mr. Chen?"
Other men don't understand, but Xu Maoxiu naturally understands that it is not ordinary people who can be called husband-in-law.
"Sister, let's stay away." He said hurriedly.
Cheng Jiaoniang shook her head.
"Brother, what you said is wrong. You are brothers, why do you still want me, a sister, to entertain guests?" she said.
The men in the room suddenly became even more panicked.
Xu Maoxiu watched Cheng Jiaoniang take a deep breath and nodded with a smile.
"That's it, brother." He looked at Fan Jianglin, "We welcome guests."
Fan Jianglin nodded, shook his clothes, and took the first big step.
"...I...why don't I put on new clothes..."
There were other men's low voices behind him.
In the yard, the steward of the Chen family was watching the boys unloading the truck. When he heard the footsteps, he hurriedly straightened his clothes and came over to salute. When he looked up and saw several strange men, he couldn't help but be startled.
"A certain Fan Jianglin thanked me on behalf of my little sister." Fan Jianglin, as the eldest brother, was the first to say.
The steward of the Chen family responded quickly and saluted immediately.
That day, the misunderstanding that Brother Jin was abducted and trafficked was widely circulated in private. Now when I took a closer look, I understood.
It turns out that these people are not only acquaintances with Mrs. Cheng, but they are all brothers and sisters.
The manager of the Chen family paid the courtesy seriously, without asking Mrs. Cheng. He only treated Fan Jianglin and others as the master's family, handed over the post and the gift list without any slightest care.
Fan Jianglin accepted the gift, and Xu Maoxiu was responsible for speaking. Although he was unfamiliar, he did not panic and sent the steward of the Chen family out after a while.
"Oh, my mother." Xu Bangchui immediately shouted, stretching out his hand to pretend to be sweating, "I am getting this first New Year's gift when Bangchui grows up."
Some people went to see the gifts, while others urged Xu Maoxiu to read the post.
"Which family is that family?"
Xu Maoxiu opened the famous post.
Quzhou Chen Pu.
I didn't recognize the name, so Xu Maoxiu looked through it again. There were actually two gift lists in a famous post. In addition to the biggest one, there was another gift list.
The host of the gift also left his name.
Chen Shao.
The post in Xu Maoxiu's hand flickered, and Fan Jianglin quickly reached out to catch the falling gift list.
"The third child?" he asked, "Who is he?"
"Yes, Mr. Chen Xianggong, the Minister of Civil Affairs." Xu Maoxiu said in a low voice.
Although they could not understand the officials of the imperial court, big and small, at least a few high-ranking officials were well known to everyone, not to mention the Xianggong of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, who was in charge of promotions.
"This is a man who knows the world." Fan Jianglin said in surprise and couldn't help but look back at the room.
The maid in the house was writing something down, and Cheng Jiaoniang whispered something from time to time, looking like a female family member of any family.
Xu Maoxiu pondered for a moment, put away the name card, and stepped inside.
"Sister, what do you think we should give in return? It's our first time in Beijing and we don't know the customs here, so we need you to make up your mind." He said with a smile and handed over the name card without asking any questions.
Cheng Jiaoniang looked at him and curled her lips.
"Brother, I have just come to the capital." She said, looking at the maid again, "But Banqin is a familiar visitor to the capital."
Xu Maoxiu couldn't help but look at the maid.
This maid is actually a regular customer of the capital? But Cheng Jiaoniang is not from the capital? Is this?
"Okay." Xu Maoxiu nodded with a smile and called Fan Jianglin, "My sister left a lot of money last time, so Banqin can take it and buy it."
The maid saluted and said yes.
"I'm keeping the money, you come with me to get it." Fan Jianglin stood up and said.
"Also, by the way, let's go to the street together and send the clothes to the shop for modification." Xu Bangchui also said.
"By the way, let's buy new year's goods." the maid said.
"Yes, yes, I need to buy peach charms, firecrackers and everything else."
"Wine, wine."
"There can be no shortage of people offering incense and candles to ancestors."
"Go all, go all, I haven't visited the capital yet."
The brothers all stood up, chatting and laughing. If they hadn't deliberately lowered their voices, the roof would have been blown off by the noise.
Xu Maoxiu withdrew his gaze and looked at Cheng Jiaoniang. He saw the woman opposite sitting quietly with her mouth curved.
Since we met, it's rare to see this woman's expression fluctuate, and it's rare to see her emotions exposed like this.
"I've disturbed you," he said. "We are rough guys and don't understand any rules."
Cheng Jiaoniang looked at him.
"A family doesn't need rules," she said. "It's lively and festive this way. Thank you, brothers. You are not restricted and don't see anyone outside."
Xu Maoxiu reached out to touch his beard, and then he remembered that the tentacles had been shaved off, and he touched his chin twice uncomfortably.
"Look, if you always act like this, you're out of touch." He smiled.
"That's what my brother said." Cheng Jiaoniang said, sitting up straight.
There was the sound of burning bamboo from outside, the street door opened, and children on the street ran past laughing and laughing. The New Year is coming.
The sound of firecrackers on the street became more and more loud. The maid dodged a few laughing children who ran past holding rabbit lanterns, and walked into Kwai Yuen Residence.
The guy immediately greeted her with a smile when he saw her.
"Sister is here," he said. "Han Langjun has given instructions. When you come, I will call him."
The maid smiled and thanked her.
Not long after, Han Yuanchao came over wearing a big cloak.
The waiter outside the door also notified the carriage and rushed over. The maid got on the carriage, Han Yuan mounted the horse, invited a doctor, and the two of them headed out of the city.
"The girl's accent is from Jiangnan?" Han Yuan chatted to the other side.
It's a fine day today. The maid opened the curtain and wrapped herself in a big cloak without feeling cold, so she could talk to Han Yuanchao.
"Yes, from Jiangzhou." The maid nodded without any concealment.
"Living in the capital permanently?" Han Yuanchao asked again.
"Is this it?" The maid shook her head, "I don't know yet, just listen to my master."
Han Yuanchao nodded in understanding.
"There is one more thing." The maid said, "Mr. Lang may not know that this Shenxianju has some contacts with Mr. Liu Xiaoli, the official of Zhongshu's secret pavilion."
Han Yuanchao was startled and turned to look at the maid. (To be continued)
