in spring

Chapter 178 Amazing Advice

Zhou and Cai seemed a little hesitant when they heard Chunying's question, but Cai Guanshi still replied: "It's the Nanyang Fleet." He turned his head and smiled at Zhou Guanshi: "It's nothing, at most two days, the news will come soon." If word spreads, these two are capable people around Miss, and Miss will not be offended." Steward Zhou stroked his beard and remained silent.

After hearing this, Chunying knew that it was a secret matter of the Huo family, so she didn't want to ask too much. She looked around and saw that no one was passing by, only two women were poking around at the second gate.She thought for a while, then smiled and said in a low voice: "Please don't be offended by the two stewards. I just heard that the two of you went to Nanyang with the fleet. I want to ask you about a person. I don't know if he is okay now? That person's surname Hu, whose single name is Fei, and his surname is Wangshan, is from the capital, and he is only in his early twenties."

Manager Zhou was a little surprised and said: "So it's him? I know Hu Wangshan. He was recommended by the young master of the family. Although he is young, he is very experienced in handling things and can endure hardship. We have been with him for two years and we are very happy." I admire." He glanced at Guanshi Cai, who then asked, "So Miss Chunying recognizes him? Are you relatives? Acquaintances?"

Chunying hurriedly said: "It's not a relative, he...he was my uncle's neighbor, we used to see each other when I was young, so I have some friendship. Since he went to the south, he has never returned. The neighbors are all thinking of him. "This is not a lie. She did know him when she was a child. At that time... she was 11 years old. Now she is almost sixteen.

Cai Guanshi listened and said with a smile: "So that's the case. Speaking of which, I remember hearing that Hu boy mentioned that he was a neighbor with a long follower under the command of the eldest young master in the house. He had received a lot of kindness from his family. It must be Uncle Ling." We also said at the time that Boy Hu had burned high incense in his previous life to meet such a good neighbor. He not only rented a house for him, but also found a job for him, and finally recommended him to the fleet. What a rare good man in the world! I never expected to meet this good man's niece, what an unexpected fate!"

Chun Ying never expected that Hu Fei would tell anyone about this, so she felt a little embarrassed, and said a little coyly: "What Cai Guanshi said..." Cleared her throat, "So, brother Hu is doing well now? I don't know Did he... did he say when he'd be back?"

Cai Guanshi smiled and said: "It's hard to say, he had the opportunity to come back with us, but he was seriously ill and couldn't go out at all!"

Chunying was taken aback: "Is he sick?! What kind of disease? Does it matter?"

Cai Guanshi tilted his head: "This... How do I know?" He smiled kindly, "Miss Chunying is so anxious, maybe we are not just an acquaintance with him when I was a child?"

Chunying paused, wondering why Guanshi Cai spoke in a strange way?Did she say something wrong to annoy him?She hesitated for a moment, and felt that Hu Fei's news was more important: "You are joking, I have always known acquaintances since I was a child, and knowing that he is sick, I have to ask."

Steward Zhou glanced at his companion, and then replied with a faint smile: "At first he just had a minor cold, but because he didn't pay attention, he became seriously ill, but it wasn't a serious illness, and he may have recovered now. As for when he will return to Beijing, We don't know."

Chunying was relieved when he heard the words, and felt that Hu Fei should not be seriously ill. Although the medical conditions were backward in ancient times, he also suffered from colds and colds during the time in the small courtyard. He knew everything about taking medicine and precautions. She also taught him a few small folk remedies and dietary prescriptions, so she must be able to handle it.It was not easy for him to go south for several years, to be able to live in peace until today, and almost to return to Beijing.She let go of the big stone in her heart, and began to have the energy to face the two stewards in front of her.

Guanshi Zhou seems to get along very well with Nanqi, Guanshi Cai interjects a few words from time to time to make Nanqi smile, but he is a bit colder towards Chunying.Because this is in front of the second gate, it's not easy for the maids in the inner house to chat and joke with outside men for a long time. Chunying looked at the women on the second gate and whispered, and the servants from the outer courtyard also started talking in a low voice, so they quietly pulled him away. He took off Nan Qi's sleeve, and said to Zhou and Cai with a smile: "The two stewards must be busy, so we won't bother you any more, and you will come to say hello to Miss later, you can send us a message, please don't be too polite. "

Guanshi Cai wanted to say something with a smile on his face, but Guanshi Zhou cleared his throat, and he stopped talking.Nan Qi looked down at Guanshi Zhou's shoes, and said in a mosquito-like voice: "I want to send a message to Miss, or deliver a letter or something... Just tell me..." Guanshi Zhou nodded solemnly: "I see. "Turning to Chunying, "Then let's take our leave first. Later, the little girl will come to greet the young lady. She is young and has some ignorance. Please take care of her." Nanqi's face turned pale, and his voice was lower A: "Hey."

Chunying sent them away with a smile, and stared back at Nanqi, puzzled.

She seemed to have seen something just now, but felt that it was unreliable.Zhou Guanshi is enough to be her and Nan Qi's father!And a daughter!I wonder if he still has a wife? !
Nan Qi avoided her gaze, said in a low voice: "Go back." Then he turned and walked into the second gate.

Chunying has been following her, wanting to ask, but also worried that girls in ancient times have thin skins, and generally can't stand people asking her about marriage matters directly. If she guesses wrong, it will affect her relationship with colleagues and not be good.Therefore, after struggling for a long time, I still couldn't hold back: "Just now...that Steward Zhou..."

Nan Qi interrupted her: "Who told you that I was on the second gate? Dong'er?"

At this time, she had arrived at a secluded path near the small courtyard. Chunying looked back and forth, and took a step back: "Dong'er said it, she said that the lady asked me to go out with you to meet people, and said that the two stewards had just come from the south. Coming to Beijing, I will come and go frequently in the future.”

Nan Qi smiled palely: "I see... what do you think of them?"

Chunying became even more wary: "We just met, and we didn't say a few words. What can you tell? I just think they are very kind and treat us very kindly." She emphasized the pronunciation of the last four words , and asked tentatively: "Why are you asking this? Don't you know that I will go too?"

Nan Qi lowered his head without speaking, and walked towards the small courtyard.Chunying was at a loss, so she had to follow. As soon as she entered the door, Nanqi quickly entered her room, so she had to go to the small kitchen to teach Xiaolianhua how to make soup.

After a while, seeing that the soup was ready and the tofu was brought, Chunying taught little lotus to simmer the tofu pot, Aunt Qing called the little girl to call Chunying, saying that she had something to discuss with her, so she had to hurry After confessing a few words, he followed the visitor to Aunt Qing's room.

Aunt Qing seemed a little embarrassed, after she sat down and exchanged greetings, she hesitated holding the tea bowl, hesitated to speak.Chunying felt strange, so she asked, "What orders does Auntie have?"

Aunt Qing smiled, put down the tea bowl, straightened her temples, and said: "Just now...Did Dong'er ask you to meet two people at the second gate?"

It turned out to be this thing.Chunying nodded with a smile: "Yes, Nanqi and I both went."

"Then..." Aunt Qing hesitated, "What do you think of the two of them?"

Why is this also a problem?Chunying replied with reservations: "We just met, how can we judge a person's character? But it seems that it is not difficult to get along with, and he will not put on airs when talking to us."

Aunt Qing breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "The two of them are different from others, they are used to making a living in Nanyang. I think he is not elegant enough, but I don’t know that such a person is good at dealing with people.”

Chunying echoed a few words before saying, "So, they are more suitable for doing business in Nanyang? Why did you specially call them back to Beijing?"

Aunt Qing glanced at the door subconsciously, and then said: "Actually, it's nothing, you must have heard some news that our Huo family's fleet was handed over to the emperor." Chunying nodded, and she continued : "However, the stewards and buddies sent by our family are all old people for many years. They can help, so the lady simply sent the slave release documents to the government. Therefore, Steward Zhou, Steward Cai, and others A few people are no longer our family’s servants, but have become the emperor’s subordinates, we still call them in charge, but for the sake of convenience, in fact, they are already regarded as officials.”

Chun Ying suddenly realized: "So that's the case, then I was a little rude today. I thought they were about the same age as my father, so I just greeted them as other elders in the house. If I had known, I should give a big gift. You should also be more polite." But after thinking about it carefully, she still felt that if she could ask about Hu Fei's recent situation, even if she offended Guan Shi a little, it would not be a big deal.

Aunt Qing blushed a little, she lowered her head and took a sip of tea before slowly saying: "These two stewards... are not too young. Steward Zhou married a wife in his early years, who was from a family outside, and now he has passed away. A young daughter is left behind, she is only 15 years old, and the girl came to report just now, saying that she has come to this mansion, and if she wants to come in to say hello to the young lady, she must have dinner before leaving."

Chunying nodded: "So that's how it is..." He suddenly asked again: "Since Guanshi Zhou is no longer a servant of the Huo family, his daughter won't come in to serve the lady, right? 15 years old... about my age, she only entered the mansion at this time Is it too old?" She had already struggled to discipline those six people, so she should add another one, right?

Aunt Qing quickly shook her head: "No, I just came to say hello." The redness on her face deepened, "Although there is still one thing to do, she won't stay..."

Chunying nodded, and asked hesitantly: "Aunt Qing, is there anything embarrassing that I can't say?" From just now, she has a troubled expression on her face, there must be something wrong!
Aunt Qing forced a smile: "No...can I tell you about another Guanshi Cai?" She quickly recovered her normal look: "But Guanshi Cai has never married a wife. He has been married since he was fourteen or five years old. Running in Nanyang, he is extremely capable. People who walk that line have all heard of his name. Don't look at him, he is actually a very funny person. When he was in Nanjing, the master called him every time. , always have a good day!"

She took Chunying's hand and said in a low voice: "These two stewards are going to Beijing now, and they plan to establish themselves here. From now on, they will help the court and the emperor handle the shipping affairs. Their future is bright... I heard that their nephews There are also people who entered Jinyiwei, and the lady and the housekeeper are very important. Since they want to settle here, they must marry a wife. If they marry someone close to the lady, they will be more loyal in the future, so... I discussed it with the butler, and asked the second master what he meant, and got the lady's nod, so I chose you and Nanqi..."

Chun Ying turned pale with shock, and stood up abruptly: "You...what did you say?!"

Aunt Qing hastily added: "The letter just came from outside, Guanshi Zhou has taken a fancy to Nanqi, so Guanshi Cai is left..."

Chunying thought of the short and fat man in his 30s, and his eccentric tone, and couldn't keep the smile on his face anymore, and took a deep breath: "Auntie's words... are you an order, or are you asking me? !"

Aunt Qing hurriedly said: "Of course I'm asking what you mean, Miss will never force it! It's just..."

"No more!" Chunying said firmly, "I will never agree!" She stared straight at Aunt Qing: "Auntie, I respect you as an elder, please think about it carefully, those two...don't say anything!" Besides, just because of his age, he can be my father! You...you are not guilty of saying that?!"

Aunt Qing sneered, knowing that she was being unkind, forced a smile and said: "Don't rush to answer, although their talents are inferior, their family background is really good, even when they were servants in the past, they were wealthy... When you get married, you will be the mistress of the house, and in a few years you will be the wife of the official family, nothing more decent..." Seeing Chunying's face getting worse and worse, she sighed: "Forget it, I know you don't want it in your heart, but it doesn't matter. It's not a bad thing, you go back and discuss it with your parents, and it won't be too late to come back to me."

Chunying glanced at her coldly, then walked out.

She also wants to marry into a good family and live a good life, but... she will never be hungry!

(End of this chapter)