Glory all the way

Chapter 137 The Apprentice
Instead of being angry, she smiled, and a confident smile appeared on Bai Yingluo's face.

Shopkeeper Hu Da noticed it from the corner of his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.

The room was a little quiet, with the faint smell of incense lingering in the nose, and the sound of the maids walking back and forth in the yard could be heard next to my ears. For a while, the quietness in the room became more and more frightening.

Shopkeeper Hu has been traveling around for so many years, and he has never seen any battles, but now, facing a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl like Bai Yingluo, he suddenly felt a little uneasy.

The silver silk charcoal in the charcoal basin ignited with a beep, beep, beep, and inadvertently, there was a "pop". The shopkeeper Hu Da was shocked, and he felt a thin layer of sweat seeping from his neck instantly, which made him feel a little uncomfortable. He twisted his neck comfortably.

"Shopkeeper Hu, although you came here with your grandmother, you are not considered to be from the Jing'an Hou Mansion now. If I remember correctly, you and your grandmother signed a 50-year contract, right?"

Bai Yingluo took a sip from the tea bowl, then slowly put it back on the table, raised her eyes and asked slowly to Shopkeeper Hu.

Surprised in my heart, a trace of resignation to fate floated on the face of shopkeeper Hu Da.

"Yes, when the old lady married into the Jing'an Hou Mansion, the old slave and other eight shopkeepers signed a contract with the old lady. After 50 years, the old slave and others will be considered free. It’s not a master-servant relationship anymore to be in charge of subordinates.”

Shopkeeper Hu replied in a low voice.

"Then now, is the time limit up?"

Bai Yingluo looked up at Shopkeeper Hu and asked.

"This... has not yet expired, and there are still more than ten months before the agreed date."

Shopkeeper Hu said with some reluctance.

Among the rich and powerful families, such things happen from time to time. Some shopkeepers who signed the contract did not arrive on the agreed date, but because of physical discomfort, or other reasons that can be accommodated, the owner will be extra merciful and transfer the original contract. The days that have not been fulfilled in the regulations above will be written off, and the benevolent master will also give the old shopkeeper an additional pension.

Shopkeeper Hu Da thought exactly like this, so he wanted to resign without any fear, but what he was thinking in his heart, whether he really resigned, or whether he was using this to embarrass Bai Yingluo by relying on his elders, only he himself knew clearly. .

"It's not impossible for you to resign in advance if you feel unwell, but now I have just taken over these industries, and I have a lot of clues, and I can't sort them out so quickly, so I'm sorry, but I have to Please wait a little longer for shopkeeper Hu, and when the deadline is up, I will definitely give shopkeeper Hu a generous pension, so that you can go home with peace of mind and have grandchildren, how about it?"

Bai Yingluo's words were extremely polite, but inside and outside the words, there was a trace of unquestionable affirmation. In addition to the contract in black and white, the shopkeeper Hu was wronged, and he was prepared to deal with the words , I was a little speechless at once.

After muttering for a long time, shopkeeper Hu Da sighed helplessly, stood up and bowed to Bai Yingluo: "Since this is the case, this old slave must be as conscientious and cautious as before, and do a good job in this last year's errand. That old slave I just stepped back, and I’m going to go back tomorrow.”

Bai Yingluo nodded, "Then I won't stay any longer. At dinner time, I will ask the small kitchen to send a banquet to your room. It is my practice banquet for you."

"The old slave thanked Miss Six."

After bowing hands, shopkeeper Hu came out of Lanxin Pavilion.

"What's the matter? I heard the commotion in the yard..."

Remembering that there was a sudden sound of playfulness in the yard just now, Bai Yingluo turned her head to look at Liu Ying and asked.

Liu Ying smiled without saying a word, turned her head and shouted to the door: "Come in."

The curtain of the house was lifted, and Bai Xiu, dressed in brand new clothes, entered the door. In her ear, Liu Ying said happily: "Miss, you don't know, Xiu Niang brought a lot of things from home, and brought little things for the sisters in the house." Gifts, just now the little girls lost their minds and started laughing in the yard."

"Xiu Niang has a heart..."

Smiling and praising, Bai Yingluo raised her eyes to look at Bai Xiu, and she nodded with unconcealed joy in her brows and eyes. Immediately, Bai Yingluo felt as if a big stone had fallen from her heart.

After retreating from the crowd, the room became quiet again. Bai Yingluo beckoned for Bai Xiu to come to her side, and asked impatiently, "Did you see Mr. Tao? What did he say?"

Who entrusted herself and Li Dazhuang, when did she go to Tao Town, and what Mr. Tao said every time they met, Bai Xiu explained it in detail, and at the end, Bai Xiu said with some regret: "Old Mr. Tao said that he is old now and can't help tossing around, so he can't work for Miss, please forgive me. However, he can send his son to help and see if Miss is of any use. up place."

Seeing that Bai Yingluo remained silent, Bai Xiu moved her mouth, then retracted her words hesitantly.

Bai Yingluo noticed it, smiled and said, "Xiu Niang, if you have your own opinion, you can tell it and listen to it, it's fine."

Biting her lips lightly, Bai Xiu hesitated for a moment, then said with hope on her face: "Miss, this servant thinks that Mr. Tao's saying that he is too old to be troubled is just an excuse. What I think: Mr. Tao must be thinking about it. The lady just wants to hire someone to take care of some farms and farms under his name, but after all, you are the daughter of the family who is going to marry, and how much property can you have? So, old Mr. Tao I was afraid that I would be overqualified, so I didn't want to come. But, thinking about it from another angle, maybe I can use this opportunity to get involved with the Jing'an Hou Mansion, so Mr. Tao is a little bit tempted."

Pausing for a while, seeing that Bai Yingluo was listening seriously, Bai Xiu continued: "Additionally, the servant girl and Da Zhuang invited people to lobby over and over again. Mr. Tao saw that we are so sincere, so he thought He came up with such a compromise. It is all about throwing stones and asking for directions, and asking his son to find out what is going on. If it is good, he will not be considered a loser if he goes out of the mountain again. If it is not good, his son is still young after all, and there will be more There is a way to get away from Miss."

She hit the right way, but she didn't expect it to be exactly as she wanted. Although she doesn't know which son of Mr. Tao is coming, Bai Yingluo is still full of joy.

Hearing Bai Xiu talk about this big deal at this moment, I didn't expect her to think so clearly, Bai Yingluo was a little surprised, and immediately praised without hesitation, "It's hard for you to think so much, it seems that you are also a delicate person Yes, in the future, if there is anything I want to tell you about my house, it seems that I can rest assured."

Bai Yingluo's words were undoubtedly very dignified to Bai Xiu. Immediately, Bai Xiu kowtowed and thanked: "Miss Xie's compliment, the servant must be good at doing errands, and I will live up to the love of the young lady."

When Bai Xiu got up, Bai Yingluo asked a little anxiously: "I don't know, which son did Mr. Tao order?"

"Mr. Tao has three sons under his knees. The one who came with us this time is the youngest son, Tao Jianming."

Bai Xiu replied truthfully.

The surprise in my heart cannot be expressed in words, Bai Yingluo took a few deep breaths, and then suppressed the joy in her heart, "You are tired from the long journey, so go down and rest, and send a message to Tao Jianming. Let him go to the main room of Qing'an Hall to ask Ann to call back."

"Yes, slaves obey."

After bowing her knees and performing the blessing ceremony, Bai Xiu got up and went out.

At a moment's notice, Bai Yingluo met Tao Jianming, the shopkeeper of Yongji who was famous in the capital in his previous life.

Tao Jianming was only in his early twenties when his fame was the most sensational, right?It's really young and promising...

Looking at the man in front of her, Bai Yingluo secretly sighed in her heart.

Tao Jianming was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a straight face, a pair of thick eyebrows and big eyes that added a bit of fierceness, but the faint smile on his lips dispelled the chilling aura, and made him look worthy of duty Faith, but a little more loyalty.

However, it is impossible for a person who can become the big shopkeeper of Yongji to have too much relationship with Zhonghou. Bai Yingluo glanced roughly, then lowered her head, quietly listening to the old lady Bai's question.

"What's your name? Where are you from?"

Asking kindly, the old lady Bai looked at Bai Yingluo suspiciously, and seemed to be asking silently: Is it reliable to be so young and ignorant?

"Tao Jianming, born late, is from Taozhen. He used to be the second shopkeeper of Taozhen Shibapu."

Tao Jianming replied respectfully.

He was wearing a green cotton robe with bamboo leaves and a leather hat on his head. But after entering the house, Tao Jianming took off the hat and handed it to the little maid by the door curtain. A trace of shrinking and embarrassment, it can be seen that he has seen big scenes on weekdays.

"Eighteen Shops in Tao Town? You said, but the Tao Town in the suburbs of Beijing? The antique shop called Nostalgia Pavilion on the East Street of Beijing is also yours?"

Seemingly unbelievable, the old lady Bai looked Tao Jianming back and forth several times, and asked in surprise.

With no expression on his face, Tao Jianming nodded, "Exactly."

Tao Town Shibapu, as the name suggests, there are only [-] shops, but these [-] shops involve all walks of life, such as rice grain shop, rouge gouache shop, antique shop and jade shop. For decades, I have never heard of any unpleasant customers in the shop. Therefore, although there are only [-] shops, the Tao family has made its own because of the [-] shops in Tao Town. Shop sign.

I couldn't help being satisfied, and the old lady Bai praised: "You have become the second shopkeeper at a young age, which shows that you are talented. Now, I have invited you to take care of those unknown properties for my sixth lady. You Do you feel condescending?"

Tao Jianming raised his head and glanced at Bai Yingluo, then turned his head to look at the old lady Bai and replied, "Wansheng is not here to be the shopkeeper, but to be an apprentice."

"apprentice?"

Originally, she thought that Bai Yingluo had spent all her time to invite the second innkeeper of the [-]th Shop of Tao Town to take care of her property, but now, hearing Tao Jianming say that she was here as an apprentice, the old lady Bai suddenly felt a little confused.

As for Bai Yingluo, her expression was determined, as if it was not surprising that Tao Jianming would say that.

Tao Jianming smiled gently and said: "My father often said that you live to learn and learn. Those old shopkeepers in the Hou Mansion have gone through so many things after traveling all over the world. You should ask for advice when you are late. Therefore, you are here to do it. Apprentices, I hope the old lady and young lady agree."

The old lady Bai gradually understood Tao Jianming's words, and figured out the key point. The old man suddenly joked, "The master leads the door, and the learning is up to the individual. To steal a teacher, there must be a teacher to steal. Among them, you You can take care of yourself."

The implication is that he agrees with Tao Jianming to be an apprentice.

Bai Yingluo exhaled lightly.

(End of this chapter)