"Do you have close contact with your brother and sister-in-law?" Xue Tao asked.
"During the holidays, they occasionally come to see me."
Xue Tao pondered for a moment and said: "Maybe you haven't encountered it yet, but I still want to remind you that you must be careful when dealing with brother-in-law issues. Your husband has given them enough money, so they shouldn't have anything to do with them.
Please, of course it’s okay to have a family gathering, but it can’t have a purpose or a plot, do you understand what I mean?”
Min Qiu hesitated for a moment and asked for a while: "Sister, what exactly does this plot refer to?" Xue Tao guessed it immediately and asked: "It seems they have something to ask you for help?"
Min Qiu nodded, "Last time my sister-in-law came to see me, she said she could take care of the business here. My brother has nothing to do at home. Can you find him a job?"
Xue Tao sneered and said: "I'm afraid it's not as simple as an errand!"
Min Qiu sighed, "She told me it was an errand. Because I didn't make it clear, she didn't say anything further, but I guess my brother wants to be an official."
"You agreed?"
Min Qiu shook her head, "How dare I agree? I'm afraid that my husband will be angry."
"It seems you are not stupid. Let me tell you, it has been a taboo for relatives to interfere in politics since ancient times. If it is serious, it will destroy the country. Even if it is lighter, it will destroy the reputation. Although it is not a big problem for your brother to be an official, but if he is corrupt
It’s a violation of the law, where are the common people?
Or because he is your brother, he dominates and acts as a bully. This kind of thing will never be tolerated by your husband. I am afraid that at that time, whatever your brother does will be blamed on you, because it is
You are indulging them."
Speaking of this, Xue Tao also realized that her tone was a bit harsh, so she softened her tone and said: "Of course, the matter has not happened yet, and it is far from serious, but we must guard against minor glitches.
I know the situation of your brother and sister-in-law very well. In Zhangye and Taiyuan, they have received too much. They have more than thirty shops alone. Not to mention what your husband gave them, let’s talk about the various jewelry and jade you gave to your nieces and nephews.
It’s almost worth tens of thousands of dollars!
But they are not satisfied yet, they want to follow you to Chang'an to complain about their poverty and get another twenty shops!"
Min Qiu shook her head quickly, "I didn't give them that much. My husband gave me twenty shops, I gave them ten, and I left the other ten for my children."
"That's a lot!"
Xue Tao said earnestly: "The key is that now that they have enough money, they start to want to be officials again. Min Qiu, your life is hard-won, don't let your brother and sister-in-law's greed ruin it."
Min Qiu was a little scared, and she worriedly asked: "Then what should I do?"
"You have to show your attitude. There are some things you can do, and some things you must never do. For example, if your brother and sister-in-law's restaurant opens today, and you are invited to attend, it is just to use your identity to bring glory to them, but they don't
Think about it for you, can you show your face in public on such an occasion? I believe that my husband is already unhappy about this matter today. "
Min Qiu nodded, "I feel like your husband is a little unhappy!"
"The reason is that you indulge them too much. You have to agree to them even for such a small thing as opening a restaurant. You don't have your own bottom line. Of course your husband will be angry."
"Sister, if you teach me a lesson, I really won't refuse them."
Xue Tao thought for a while and said: "You listen to my arrangement. From now until next spring, you ignore them. This is not a matter of family affection, but you have to show your principles. You have given them a lot of wealth."
, they must stop in moderation, and if they want to be officials, they should educate their children well, take part in the imperial examinations, and become officials based on their true abilities, rather than relying on you to arrange it!"
Xue Tao added: "Look at my brothers and nephews on my mother's side, and my grandfather, none of them are officials, they are all teachers. My uncle was laughed at when he was an external professor at Taiyuan Guozixue.
It was said that he must have found connections to enter the Guozi School, but no one in the Taiyuan Guozi School knew that Han Wei was actually the uncle of the princess.
Look at my aunt again. She sells wine in a wine shop in the West Market. When the weather is hot, the wine goes rancid. She apologizes to the customers with a smile on her face, and then gives them a bottle of new wine. She is the sister of the King of Jin!
So first of all, we cannot indulge our family members, we must be strict with them, and then they will learn to be strict with themselves."
Minqiu let out a long sigh, "I finally understand!"
...........
Three carriages drove up Xi'anmen Street, and the street was crowded with people. They did not get off the car, but looked at the scene on the street through the curtains. At this time, not far in front, there was the sound of gongs, drums, and suonas. It was a family.
A new restaurant has opened.
It was Min Qiu's brother and sister-in-law's Hanyang Restaurant that opened for business. Through the car curtains, Min Qiu saw his brother and sister-in-law standing at the gate to greet guests from a distance. There was an endless stream of people coming to congratulate them. It seemed they were all businessmen.
She was secretly glad in her heart. Fortunately, she didn't go. Otherwise, wouldn't she have been dragged by them to greet the guests at the door? If her husband knew about it, he would really be furious.
Xue Tao also saw the restaurant and said to Min Qiu: "You can call them over and tell them that you won't go today."
Min Qiu shook his head, "No need, they live their own lives and I don't want to participate."
Xue Tao didn't force himself, and walked about another mile. He saw an apricot-yellow flag banner standing on the other side, with four big black characters "Mei Shou Shao Chun" written on one side, and the word "authentic" written on the other side.
Xue Tao recognized at a glance that it was her husband's handwriting. She immediately looked towards the shop with interest, and saw a long queue next to the shop. Their sister-in-law Guo Ping was sitting in front of the shop with a smile and chatting with several women.
It was time to say hello. Xue Tao quickly asked a cavalry guard to go over and say hello. The cavalry guard dismounted and ran across the Cao River from a small bridge to the wine shop. Three carriages were parked next to the small bridge.
When Guo Ping heard that several of her sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces were here, she was startled and hurriedly followed the guards.
Xue Tao opened the car curtain and said with a smile: "Why is Auntie here?"
The children all called Guo Ping aunt, and Xue Tao and the others also called them aunt. Guo Ping stepped forward and said with a smile: "I will open a branch here. It is more lively here. I asked the shopkeeper to take charge of the West Market, and I will take care of the shop here."
,Are you...going out to play?"
"Hello, aunt!" Several children poked their heads out of the rear windows and waved to her.
Guo Ping suddenly smiled and narrowed her eyes, "Okay! Okay! Okay! Why don't you come down and go shopping? It's boring to be on a carriage!"
Xue Tao said apologetically: "There are too many people on the street, mainly because I am afraid of being unsafe."
Guo Ping rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "There is a way. I have reserved the third floor of the Mingzhu Restaurant next door. I own the restaurant and arrange for you to have lunch on the third floor. There will be a flower boat parade in half an hour, but
It’s getting lively, and you’ll see it most clearly when the time comes.”
Xue Tao heard that it was a flower boat and was a little worried: "Can the children see it?"
"Why not? It's full of musical instruments, dances, and all kinds of exquisite costumes. It's really beautiful. It would be a shame not to see it!"
Guo Ping suddenly understood and said with a smile: "Brothers and sisters, this is not the kind of flower boat you are worried about. This is a government-run colorful boat. It is covered with colorful satin, just like blooming peonies, so everyone calls it a flower boat.
Xue Tao thought about it and said happily: "Then let's make arrangements!"
Guo Ping asked the groom to go to Guanghuamen Square in front and turn around to Xiyi Road, the back door of Mingzhu Restaurant, while she went ahead to arrange the restaurant.
There were arch bridges along the way, and the carriages could not pass. The three carriages drove all the way to the city gate in front, which is the middle of the street. A city gate was built, called Gwanghwamun.
The Cao River flows in next to the gate and then divides into two rivers. One river goes north to the new city, and the other goes south to the old city. The flower boat comes from outside the city gate and then goes south. Because the flower boat
It is relatively high, so the bridges along the way must be built into very high arch bridges.
There is a flat bridge to the north of the city gate for carriages. When the carriages cross the bridge, there is a huge square in front of them. It is more than a mile long. It is called Gwanghwamun Square. It is paved with stone slabs and is full of squares.
There are juggling performers and small stalls selling various gadgets. The crowds are surging and it is even more lively. The key is that there are many stone slabs and stone benches for tourists to sit and rest.
The carriage drove into Xiyi Road from a suspension bridge. When the flower boats came over, the suspension bridge had to be pulled up so as not to block the passage of the fleet.
Xiyi Road is also relatively wide, and there are various shops inside, mainly small shops that provide various services. However, there are obviously not as many pedestrians as Linhe Street, but the businesses here are mainly regular customers and are more professional, such as moving and moving trees.
At this time, three carriages slowly stopped in front of the back door of Mingzhu Restaurant, where Guo Ping and the shopkeeper were already waiting.
Guo Ping clapped her hands and said with a smile: "Everyone goes directly to the third floor from here. There is no one on the third floor. I booked it at noon today."
Guo Weiwei and her sister Guo Yaner ran up first, and finally followed them to the third floor. The third floor actually consisted of four private rooms. Xue Tao asked the guards to sit in two rooms, the maids and wet nurses to sit in one room, and their family to sit in one room.
Once the four sturdy guards stood at the top of the stairs, the guests below would not be able to get up.