in spring

Chapter 171 Mother and Child Dialogue
An shi heard what her son said, but she laughed: "She brought it here yesterday, and she told me the reason. You have been with your father all day long. Maybe she didn't have time to tell you? Turn around and I Teach her for you!"

Li You frowned: "Why? What reason? No matter how big of a reason she has, she shouldn't hide it from me!"

"You child!" An Shi stared at him reproachfully, and saw Manru who was already kneeling on the ground outside the door, and said with a smile, "She saw you quietly put away these contracts, and she was afraid that you might be tricked. , told those girls to take advantage of it, and then sent the things here. I know she didn't mean to hide it from you, but it's just that she didn't have time to say it for a while. You are so busy these days that you don't even have time to have a meal with your mother. How can you still listen to her? Don't be angry, it's rare that this girl is really thinking about you. "

Li You smiled sarcastically: "I see, I didn't know there was such a loyal maid under my hand! But if she really wants to say it, when can't she? I have to go back to the courtyard to read and sleep every night, and she has no shortage." Nagging! What's more, she shouldn't have taken it! No matter what the reason is, she took it without a word, but she shouldn't! If I didn't look at it on a whim today, I don't know when I will find it. Thinking about it this way, she can take whatever she likes from the things in my house, if she is deceived by lard and takes out some antiques and curios and puts them in her pocket for silver, I'm still dreaming!"

Manru kowtowed vigorously outside the house in horror, crying: "Third young master is very aware, this servant has absolutely no such thoughts!"

"Really?" Li You raised his eyebrows, "In the past few years, what have you brought home every time? Do you really think I don't know?!"

Manru cried even louder: "I'm wronged! Third young master, I really don't have any servants! What I brought back home were only a few needles and threads made by myself. The widowed mother of the servants was alone at home. She was old and her eyesight was not good. This servant wants to serve the third young master, so I can't stay by her side to fulfill my filial piety, so I want to make more clothes, shoes and socks..." After a pause, I choked up and said, "I did use the needlework and cloth from the courtyard. I know I was wrong, please. Third young master, spare your life!"

Li You didn't answer, just raised the corner of his mouth and looked at her.An Shi frowned, and gave Shao Yao a sideways glance. The latter thought about it carefully, and whispered something in her ear. After hearing this, An Shi frowned even more, looked at Man Ru dissatisfiedly, and scolded: "Why are you crying?" ?! Shouting, how decent?! If you have it, you have it, and if you don’t, you don’t have it. Could it be possible that you will be wronged?! Why don’t you go down and reflect on it?!”

Manru hastily kowtowed a few times and retreated.An took a sip of tea, then smiled and said to her son: "Okay, who doesn't have a few problems? Everyone is greedy for cheap things, but she steals things from the master's house and sells them for money... She still does this kind of thing Can't come out. I know you are annoyed by her, but there is no need to put an unnecessary crime on her head. "

Li You pursed his lips, glanced at his mother secretly, a little discouraged, and then said sternly: "Mother, I have grown up so much, what is my temperament, mother doesn't know? She said that I will be tricked by her own girl? I am too young Look at me? I am useful for those deeds, so I asked Ping An to find them for me, mother, you can return them to me—"

He prolonged his voice and acted like a baby, and An Shi was very happy when he saw it: "You kid, what tricks are you going to play?" The laughter is the joke, but after the joke is over, she still won't let her son deviate from her own thoughts: "You Whatever you want to play, go ahead and play, but these home-born girls have been raised at home for a long time, and when they are needed, I will not let you play them badly. What are you going to do, call Ping An to the market Come on, spend 20 taels, and you can pull a cart here! But you are not allowed to touch the things at home!" Although she dotes on children, there are some rules that cannot be violated. He has to be easy-going and loyal, besides, if something goes wrong and the outside world finds out, it will affect the reputation of the Hou Mansion.

Li You just couldn't laugh or cry: "Mother! Who do you think I am?! I have been paying attention to those girls for a long time, and they will be of great use in the future! How could they play badly?!"

An Shi knew that she had misunderstood, and was a little embarrassed, but she quickly thought of a possibility that Manru mentioned, and frowned, "Are you planning to take them into the house? There are too many people, right?" ? You are still young, it is enough to accept two for the time being, and my mother will arrange for you, so you don't have to worry about it!"

Li You deeply felt that it was becoming more and more difficult for her mother to communicate with her now. How could she think of going elsewhere for everything?I had no choice but to say: "Mother, I'm not a hungry ghost. As for this? Didn't I say it, is it of great use?!"

An Shi didn't understand: "What's the great use? How would I know if you don't tell me? You are young and don't understand many things. My mother has to check it out for you. Otherwise, if someone Mistake, what should I do if I call you a mother?"

Li You was a little displeased, but he didn't show it on his face. After hesitating for a while, he said: "Mother, father has already made an appointment. When I pass my 16th birthday in July, I will write a letter to ask you to be crowned son. I am now an adult Now, we should also learn how to take care of family affairs, and my father also said that I should pay attention to choosing a few people so that I can handle them in the future."

An's was overjoyed, although a conclusion had been reached on this matter, but when the second son Li Chang was about to return home, it was really great to hear the news.She immediately said joyfully: "Why didn't you say it sooner?! In July... this year's birthday has to be celebrated! Since we want to establish a son, many things have to be prepared in advance... Sigh, you should tell your mother earlier, why don't you?" There's less than half a year left, and I don't know if it's enough time, your big dress has to be made in the south..."

"Mother!" Li You had to interrupt An's words, "There is no need to be so ostentatious, now is not a good time, my father has discussed with me, this year is still low-key, just set up two tables at home to have fun gone."

An's was very disappointed: "Why is it not a good time? You have finally grown up so much that you can go out to socialize and visit. In less than a year, your reputation will overwhelm that second brother of yours! The daughter-in-law of someone in Beijing Didn't the young master's birthday be prepared half a year in advance and organized in a big way? How can this be considered ostentatious?"

Li You decided not to continue to entangle with his mother on this issue, and quickly brought the topic back to the right track: "In short, because I am going to have a son, I want to learn to be a director, and I need someone to order me around. But there are so many children in the family, I don't know Which one is reliable and which one is not. I picked out a few girls from the courtyard. They are all loyal, capable, careful and clever, and they may be useful at any time. Just like... Mei Xiang! Hold it in your hand, it's better to control it." He didn't mean to mislead his mother, the girls on the contracts, except Chunying, were indeed selected for this purpose.

An looked at him with gratified eyes and said, "My brother You has really grown up and knows how to win people's hearts, but it's too troublesome to pick people like this. Even if you point the girl over, you can't guarantee that those people will not betray the master. Well, if there are a few under my mother who can do things, you can order them to go! They are loyal and tight-lipped, and they are old enough to do things, so you can use them with confidence!"

Li You narrowed his eyes slightly, and said with a smile: "Mother is referring to Ping An? He is busy enough now, how can he spare his hands? Mother is at ease. When selecting candidates, I will ask my father to take care of me. Eye."

"It's good to let your father take a look, but he usually doesn't care much. How can he know the origins of each family? It's better to use my men. Anliang and Anjian are good, and Du Laocai's two sons are loyal and reliable. very."

What she was talking about were her sons who accompanied her roommate. Li You had known them since she was a child, so how could she not know their details?The brothers of the Du family are the most glib, and even flattering. Although they can do things, they can't avoid taking advantage of them; Cup, I can't control my mouth when I'm drunk!

The smile on Li You's face almost collapsed, and he couldn't forcefully refuse his mother, so he could only say: "They are all for my mother's subordinates. If they follow me, what will my mother do? Don't worry, if you encounter difficulties, I will help you." I will definitely ask my mother for help." After a pause, she walked over to her with a smile and said coquettishly, "Mother, you have to help me when the time comes—"

When An Shi heard this, her heart softened: "Okay, as a mother, I will never stop helping you, just come to me if you have anything to do!" Think about it, her son is growing up, so it's better to ask him to learn some practical things by himself, anyway, she will Watching from the sidelines will never make him make a mistake.

Li You secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and asked anxiously: "Those documents..."

An Shi said with a smile: "Let's put it here, don't worry, you won't lose it. According to the rules in our house, these things are kept in the hands of the mistress. There is absolutely no young master holding the deed of the maid at home." The principle of meddling in internal affairs. When you want to use it, tell me, and I will ensure that it will be done properly for you, mother."

"But..." Li You hesitated to speak, "What if I want...to allow them to redeem themselves as a show of kindness?"

"That's the same, I will return the deed to you."

Li You was extremely disappointed, stood up dissatisfied, and sat heavily on the chair next to her.Seeing her son losing his temper, Mrs. An smiled and pushed him: "Why are you angry? My mother is also afraid that you will be young and foolish. If you do something reasonable, how can my mother stop you?"

Li You looked sullen, and nodded indiscriminately. He only felt that Manru was becoming more and more annoying. If she wasn't busy, how could there be such a trouble?
An Shi took a sip of tea, and suddenly asked: "By the way, you said those deeds belonged to the girl in your courtyard. How did I see Chunying and Shi'er on it belonged to your cousin Huo? There is a Lixia, did you enter the mansion only last year?"

Li You's heart tightened, and he hurriedly said: "Chunying's ten children have been my maids. At that time, I asked Ping An to put away the deed. As for Li Xia, it was only selected this year, and I have to take a closer look." No matter where they work now, it will be the same in the future anyway, so what does it matter where the contract is placed?"

An Shi lowered her head and was silent for a while, then said, "Do you really want to marry your cousin?"

Li You blinked: "What's the matter, mother? Isn't it all settled? In the past, it was because my cousin was in the filial piety, so it was hard to mention it. Now that she is out of filial piety, grandma is planning to discuss marriage with her uncle." He had no dissatisfaction with Huo Yi, although the latter had a bit of a tough personality, she was a rare smart woman, with such a wife, he would have less worries in the future.

Anshi just didn't speak, and after a long while, he said: "Go back, read the books carefully, even if you don't take the merit test, you should learn more. Your second brother is coming back soon, be careful he is laughing at you!"

Li You took a few glances at his mother before nodding in agreement. After paying respects, he walked a few steps towards the door before turning around and saying, "Mom, maybe you like Manru, and I know she's just nagging, and she's doing it for my own good." Yes. But I really can’t stand her nagging, and it’s too annoying to take my things without saying hello! If she’s worried that I’ll make a mistake, she’ll just ask me out loud. Why is she playing tricks behind her back? She’s old , I just hope that you will arrange a good marriage for her as soon as possible, and get married early, so I can live a quiet life!" After saying that, he lifted his foot out of the room.

An Shi was startled when she heard the words, thoughtfully: "Shaoyao... why do you think Brother You hates Manru so much? Yanzhi has not been by his side these years, and Manru's appearance is not as good as Yanzhi, but it is rare Your beauty? I see that she has been attentive and considerate, and Brother You didn't say anything wrong with her, so why don't you want to see her?"

Shaoyao was disdainful in her heart, but said respectfully on her face: "I don't know, but Manru seems to make the third young master feel unhappy when she talks and does things. In the end, she still has too little qualifications, has little experience, and is not smooth enough in handling things." After a pause, she lowered her voice: "The servant listened to the third young master's tone, and seemed to have no intention of treating Manru, and even felt disgusted. Why did the wife argue with the third young master because of a girl? If the third young master really didn't like it, even if the wife praised Manru For example, she is useless."

An Shi frowned, knowing that Shao Yao's words were reasonable, Manru probably couldn't stay longer, is there any new maid in the son's courtyard that she can take for her own use?

(Suddenly discovered that Chunying did not appear in this chapter...)
(End of this chapter)