Red makeup against the world

Chapter 899

Luoshui Wharf is busier than ever, with ships constantly docking in and out.On the wide Tongji Canal and Yongji Canal, boats come and go continuously.

A merchant ship transporting cloth from the Xu family's company docked at the pier, and a short and fat shopkeeper in a thick coat wrapped in a Ge Yijiao came down.He rubbed his palms and let out a breath of hot air.

This is Ma Zheng's first visit to Beijing.My heart was fresh and excited, and I thought about bringing some good things from Beijing to the mother-in-law at home for the New Year.It's just that the further north you go, the colder the weather, which makes him, who has never been out of Suzhou in his life, feel very uncomfortable.

After asking the direction, he stepped into the city.The farmer's day is used to it, and he didn't call for a small sedan for transportation, so he walked into the city and walked on the lively street.

As the crowd moved forward, he was literally dazzled.I think that Suzhou City is already considered prosperous and lively, but compared with the capital city, it can only be regarded as a small city.

Row upon row of shops, all kinds of novelties that have never been seen before, people who buy new year's goods exuded confidence, and orchids selling wine...all the lively and festive things in front of him opened Ma Zheng's eyes.

After wandering around for a while, he remembered his business, quickly calmed down, asked the way again and headed towards Duke Zhong's mansion.

That's the government office.As soon as he thought about it, Ma Zheng couldn't help getting a little excited.In his life, he never thought that there would be a day when he would be able to enter the Duke's mansion.

I found the corner gate of Duke Zhongguo's mansion for the servants to come in and out and asked for an interview, only then did I know that the young lady had entered the palace to serve the Empress Dowager, and had not yet returned to the mansion.Ma Zheng felt excited, he felt honored that his young lady was so promising.

The steward of the outer court arranged for him to stay, and see him again when the young lady returns home.

Without letting Ma Zheng wait for a few days, Xu Wanzhen returned home from the palace.Naturally, it is impossible for him to leave the palace because of his meager management, but Mrs. Xu's [-]th birthday is tomorrow.

When Empress Dowager Xiao heard about it, she drove Xu Wanzhen out and asked her to enter the palace to accompany her after the Chinese New Year.

For Xu Wanzhen, Empress Dowager Xiao felt pain to the bottom of her heart, and she was absolutely unwilling to make her feel embarrassed at all.

For Mrs. Xu's birthday banquet, if Xu Wanzhen went directly from the palace, it is inevitable that those who are jealous of her will gossip.Said that she only wanted to please the queen mother, and even forgot her own grandmother.

Next is the Chinese New Year, as the second young lady of Duke Zhong's mansion, even if she doesn't preside over Zhongfu, there will be human relations waiting for her to preside over it.

Empress Dowager Xiao is absolutely unwilling to let Xu Wanzhen be accused of being a follower because of her.

In the past few days, Xu Wanzhen did her best to serve Empress Dowager Xiao in the palace, and did not sleep well.After returning home, Madam Zheng personally gave her a body massage to relax her muscles and bones, and let her take a good nap before getting up to be a director.

Xu Wanzhen looked at the birthday gift prepared for Mrs. Xu again, and sent someone to Xu's house to spread the word.Wu Zhengxiang knew that she was back, so he sent someone to send a message, and waited for him to have dinner together in the evening.

Qingluo came to report that the manager from the Su family had arrived and had been waiting for her for two days.Xu Wanzhen let him in and went to the Nuan Pavilion to talk.

Counting it, she hadn't seen anyone from Suzhou for three years.

It was originally planned that a steward would go to Beijing to reconcile accounts with her every year, but because she had been in a coma for more than two years, Xu Wenmin took care of the two villages.Suzhou is the ancestral land of the Xu family, and the silk business is also there. Xu Wenmin also goes back once or twice a year.He didn't let anyone go to Beijing, and he checked the accounts when he returned.

Ma Zheng was very excited to see Xu Wanzhen.

Is this noble and dignified lady in front of you the young lady from back then?He was originally Xu Wanzhen's mother's servant, and he felt close to Xu Wanzhen in his heart, which was different from ordinary people.

If the eldest lady saw today's young lady, she wouldn't know how happy she would be.

With trembling lips, resisting the moisture in his eyes, he knelt on the ground to salute: "The villain has seen the young lady." There was uncontrollable excitement in his tone.

Ma Zheng was short and fat, kneeling on the ground looked a little funny.But everyone in the room felt his mood, and no one laughed at him.

"Get up quickly." Xu Wanzhen said softly.

Seeing the old man, she also had a lot of emotion.I remember that when she first met him, she had just arrived in the Gaomang Dynasty, and she didn't quite understand many things.

The gentle and smiling mother in my memory, the only thing left in my thoughts now is the dowry.

Ma Zheng got up, presented the account book respectfully, and handed over a small box full of banknotes, and said, "Eldest young master asked me to put together the income of the past two years, and said that the young lady will hand it over to you when she wakes up." .”

Qingmai stepped forward to take it, Xu Wanzhen said: "In the past few years, I have worked hard to manage things."

She had already heard from elder brother that another steward who was in charge of the farm raised the rent of the tenants privately to fill his own pockets while the master was away.After being discovered by Ma Zheng, the two even had a fight and had a quarrel.

After being found out by Xu Wenmin, he dealt with that person and appointed Ma Zheng as the steward in charge of the two Zhuangzi.

This incident proved what Mrs. Xu said back then, that Ma Zheng is the one who is loyal to the Lord.

"Don't dare." Ma Zheng lowered his head and refused again and again, saying: "It's all the villain's job. The villain brings some medicinal materials from the village. If the young lady thinks it is good, the villain will send it over."

He was quick-witted, and after the two Zhuangzi were in his hands, he expanded the area of ​​the medicine field.

This time I went to Beijing, of course I also brought New Year's ceremony.It was handed over to the mansion on the first day, and Madam Zheng asked Bai Yao to register and put it in the warehouse.

"It's rare to come here once, so why not stay a few more days to buy new year's goods." Xu Wanzhen ordered, "Qingmai, ask the front yard to assign a young man to manage the horse, and take him around Beijing."

Then, looking at him again, he said, "I know you are loyal. Recently, there are some good materials in the mansion, which are not available in Suzhou. Take some back and cut some new clothes for your family, so that it will be good for the New Year."

This is a great honor, Ma Zheng's eyes showed gratitude, and he respectfully kowtowed to thank him.

Qingmai gave him a letter of silver, Xu Wanzhen said: "Take these, and make good purchases for the New Year."

Keep him for a few days, so that Zhiyan can look at the account books.It's not that I can't trust him, it's just that it's time to pay dividends at the end of the year.If one year's income is not counted, there is no way to divide it.

This afternoon is busy.

Just as Ma Zheng left, Manager Tang arrived again.This time, his attitude was respectful and awe-inspiring, and he presented the booklet for rechecking the accounts.Xu Wanzhen left it to Zhiyan to investigate.

Feng Qi reported that they had found Lu Kun, told him what had happened, and were taking him back to Beijing day and night.

Xu Wan was really relieved that Lu Kun was alive.Now that she has agreed to Zhiyan, she also hopes that this matter will have a satisfactory result.With the manpower sent by Fengqi, even if the Lu family finds him, he will be safe.

Wu Zhengxiang went back to the mansion as soon as it was time for dinner.

He has been in a good mood these days.After the two finished their meal, Wu Zhengxiang said with a smile: "I found a boxing master for Wen Yu and sent it to the Xu family. Now, you should feel relieved."

(End of this chapter)