in spring

Chapter 236 Marriage
Lu Yougui was speechless for a long time after listening to his daughter's introduction and the allusion to her 1000 taels.

Chunying stood on the side with an obedient and respectful face, only secretly raised her eyes to see her father's face, feeling agitated, then glanced to the left, Hu Fei looked calm.

After a while, Lu Yougui let out a sigh of relief, and glanced at Hu Fei: "You really are a caring person... Not to mention anything else, the 1000 taels of silver were actually born out of the 100 taels that Chun'er borrowed. Is there such a good deal?! Besides, when did Chun’er accumulate such a large sum of money, and not tell the family, but just give it to someone else?!”

Chun Ying hurriedly said: "That's when I was living outside, the money I earned from doing needlework, and from doing business with Brother Xiao Fei. At first it was just a little bit, slowly it accumulated more and more, and later I sold it again. I got a jade token from the third young master to make it together." At this point, he glanced at his father with a bit of complaint: "I originally wanted to use this money to redeem my family...but father and mother I always refused, and my mother always said that I shouldn't have these thoughts... I was discouraged for a while, thinking that since it is useless, it is better to give it to those who need it, and earn money anyway..."

Lu Yougui glared at her: "Even so, you should tell the family! Which family's daughter has saved such a large sum of money without letting the family know?! You said you gave it to Brother Hu as an envoy, then Is it just entanglement?"

Before Chunying could answer, Hu Fei opened his mouth first: "It wasn't a gift, nor was it a loan. Chunying was optimistic about my going to Nanyang to do business, and saw that I didn't have enough capital, so I bought the stock. At that time I only had three or 400 taels of silver in my hand. I added the 100 taels and borrowed some from my friends to make up 500 taels, which was enough to meet the requirements of the ship's merchant. If it wasn't for Chunying, I could only give People do odd jobs, how can there be the glory of today? After a few years, the interest earned has doubled several times, and the 1000 taels were calculated according to the quota, and there was no overpayment or underpayment.”

Chunying glanced at him, and understood that he said this to block all the reasons that her father might use to question, but felt that he was a little too worried. Although her father loves the truth, he has experienced it in the mall after all. Yes, how could it be possible to push out the silver that deserved it?Dad made a special trip to ask this question, probably to settle the accounts clearly and ensure that there will be no disputes in the future, right?
Sure enough, after hearing Hu Fei's words, Lu Yougui didn't even raise his eyelids, and said, "In that case, you take out the money and I will hand it over to the eldest daughter to keep it. Chunying is ignorant and treats you as a The bank is gone, and I don't even think that you are busy with business, how can you have that free time?"

Hu Fei blinked, held back a wry smile, and bowed his head respectfully in response: "Yes, when I return to the capital, I will send the bank note and the completed deed to the Lu family."

Lu Yougui stared at him a few times: "Brother, please remember to deduct the rent."

"...Yes, Uncle Lu, don't worry, I will take care of myself."

Chunying looked left and right, feeling a little awkward: "Father! Look at your tone of voice? Brother Xiaofei is helping us!"

Lu Yougui became depressed again, glanced at his daughter, and sighed: "Forget it, I won't keep girls! Brother Hu, just give me an accurate word! What kind of rules are you putting your heart into?"

Hu Fei quickly replied: "As I said last time, the younger generation's mind has never changed. Now as long as we find a way to let Uncle Lu's family get out of the family, everything will be easy. Uncle Lu is not a person without money, presumably You won't mention the words about Qi Dafei and his family being right?"

Chunying was frightened by their conversation, are they talking about her marriage with Hu Fei?She just started dating, right?
I only heard Lu Yougui quickly pick up: "Then you have to resign first! I have discussed the future plans with the old brothers of the Wang family, and people from his family have also inquired about it in the mansion. Don't let up! Besides, the new shopkeeper who pulled me off the horse, as well as his family members, will never let me go back. My family is going to leave the Hou Mansion. I'm afraid it will be even more difficult! Chunying's mother and I Forget it, she's getting older, there's nothing to worry about, and her brother is still young, and it will take a few years before she can work. What I'm most afraid of is that Chunying will be seventeen soon, and after next spring, she will be eighteen years old. , most of the girls in the mansion are married at the age of eighteen or nineteen. At that time, even we parents will not be able to make decisions!"

Chunying was in a cold sweat when she heard this: "Isn't it? I always have to ask. There are many children in the mansion who are optimistic about their own children, so they beg for the master's grace. ? I'm not a big beauty."

Lu Yougui gave her a white look: "If it was fine in the past, now you think our family is still so respectable? I'm afraid that when the housekeepers think about it, they will count you together with the rough envoy girls and make a random match." Something!" Turning to Hu Fei again, "It's not that I don't want to do it, I really can't do it!" After finishing speaking, she quickly gave Chunying a glance and stopped what she was about to say.

Hu Fei didn't see it, he just pursed his lips tightly, and after a while he said: "Uncle Lu, don't worry, I will never let Chunying suffer this wrong! I will not let Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu, and Xiaohu be bullied."

Lu Yougui raised his eyebrows: "Then tell me, is there any way to solve it?"

Hu Fei thought about it carefully, and said: "I think Mrs. Hou has a lot of housework to take care of every day, and your family has never offended her badly. She may not hold grudges for too long. After waiting for a year or so, she will be fine." Forgot all about it. I heard that in the old days when the Madam was in charge of the House of the Marquis of the Kingdom of Qing, people would be released from the mansion every year. Half of them were old family members and half were young children. Housework, although people are released every year, the number of people is much less, and most of them are old family members who have been in charge for many years, but there are fewer young people. In my opinion, the number of servants in the Hou's mansion is increasing day by day, and the expenditure will naturally increase. In the long run There must be a deficit, and layoffs are a foregone conclusion. Mrs. Hou can't experience everything in person, and she must hand it over to the steward or the steward's wife. Among these people, there are always people who have never had an enmity with us, and give them some benefits , ask them to put the names of Chunying...as well as Aunt Lu Shu and Xiaohu in the inconspicuous place in the booklet, and let Mrs. Hou take a look at them and then nod. Isn't everything going well?"

Chunying blinked and thought about it carefully, it was really a good idea, she hurriedly said with a smile: "This is a good idea! Even if my wife still remembered our names at that time, as long as there are more names in the booklet, how can she see each one of them? Come here? Isn't this kind of thing decided by the steward or the steward's wife? In the past, they got a lot of benefits from this matter!" Suddenly remembered: "I just don't know how long it will take to wait for the opportunity to let so many people out. Let me think about it... the number of children in the mansion has increased year by year, and in the past two years, because the wife can't trust the Wang family, she dismissed his family's errands, but bought some people from outside. There used to be several empty yards, but now there are only two left, but the original people in the mansion were not released, and not many people were sold... Huh, it’s not that I underestimate people, my wife’s temper, She is not willing to let others take advantage of it. Even if the children of the family can't use it, she will not let it go for nothing. But if this continues, the monthly distribution of silver and rice will be a lot of money! The wife can't sit still, Sooner or later, I will make up my mind to release him, but I don’t know how long it will take?”

Hu Fei said with a smile: "You don't have to wait until things get so bad. Famous people in the capital will inevitably express that when encountering important court events, such as palace celebrations or funeral events, freeing slaves is a common way to do good deeds." It is a means of accumulating virtue. Furthermore, the major events of my own family are also a reason. In my opinion, the most likely major events in the Qing Guohou Mansion in the past two years are two major events. It was the third son who married his wife. Among them, Mrs. Tai's condition is worrying, Lord Hou heard that he is a dutiful son, and there must be some things about letting slaves to accumulate virtue."

"Oh!" Chunying clenched her fists, "That's the latest thing! Unfortunately, I heard that the old lady's condition has improved. We are a step late, and I'm afraid we won't be able to catch up with this time!"

Hu Fei comforted in a soft voice: "It's not certain, the old man is sick, and he has to take care of her for a while. When she is well, Lord Hou may come to the temple to make a wish or something, and he may release her at that time." Slave." He turned to the thoughtful Lu Yougui, and said respectfully: "This is just my junior's opinion. If the two major events are passed, Uncle Lu's family will not have a chance to be released. I'm afraid the junior will have to retreat. Secondly, I have acted in a roundabout way, and I hope Uncle Lu will forgive me."

Lu Yougui stared at him: "What do you mean by taking the next best thing and acting in a roundabout way?"

"As Uncle Lu said just now, sister Chunying is the most dangerous, but Aunt Lu and Xiaohu are safer. If it is really impossible to get out of citizenship, the younger generation can open up the joints of the Marquis Mansion and let people write the name of Miss Chunying in the house to be released. In the roster of maids, I asked the lady in charge to report to Madam Hou, saying that your family is poor and afraid, so you asked for grace to marry your daughter to a shabby small businessman, so that you can earn a few taels of money. If Madam Hou doesn't bear the grudge Ying, it's all right, even if you hold grudges, you won't stop this marriage if you think about it. After Chunying's sister gets away first, after a while, sister-in-law Lu will come forward to redeem Lu Shu and Aunt Lu, Xiao Hu If you are under the age, it will not be included in the roster, so it will be listed together, right?"

After Hu Fei finished speaking, he secretly went to look at Lu Yougui's expression. Chunying pinched his nails secretly, and reproached him in a low voice: "How did you make up such a reason? Even if it means that I am sick and dying That's fine, why bother to ruin my parents' reputation?! Besides, if you use this kind of words to deceive people, even if I get away, my parents are still in the mansion. If my wife finds out the truth, what will they do?" Thinking about it, Hu Fei had indeed been negligent, and smiled embarrassingly.

Lu Yougui could see it openly, and waved his hand: "That's okay, it's just a casual talk, once you get away, you will stay far away, and no one in the house will know if you marry, how can they guess? As long as you I can have a good future with your brother, what does my reputation matter?" Then he turned to Hu Fei and said solemnly: "Since you have an idea, I will put it here. What I want is to marry my daughter off in a dignified manner. I don't intend to wrong her, if you have a way, I will promise her to you! Just one thing, you are not allowed to do anything wrong, and you are not allowed to ruin my daughter's innocence! If you think it is too much trouble, or If you fall in love with a girl from another family, tell me as soon as possible that our family will never get involved!"

Chun Ying blushed immediately, but she secretly glanced at Hu Fei worriedly, and saw that he straightened his expression, straightened the hem of his clothes, and bowed solemnly: "Hu Fei will live up to the expectations of my father-in-law."

Chunying blushed even more, and muttered in a low voice: "Who is your father-in-law? Don't shout!" Seeing her father looking at her jokingly, biting her lip, she turned around and ran out, and heard her father's voice coming from behind. Laughing loudly, she ran even faster.

Hu Fei chased after her and called her: "Sister Chunying, don't run away!" Chunying stopped and looked back, the blush on her face spread all the way to her ears, adding a bit of charm, and her eyes were fixed on Hu Fly, his heart skipped a beat, and his whole body softened: "Don't run away, I...I have something to tell you..."

Chunying looked away, looked up at the sky, then stared at the ground, and spoke not much louder than a mosquito: "What are you talking about?"

"I...I...that...sister..." Hu Fei stuttered suddenly. Chunying was amused when he heard it. He heard a call from a distance: "Brother Wang Shan——Brother Wang Shan—"

He was stunned for a while, looked around and found that it was his good friend Li Xu who came, he couldn't help frowning, and thought to himself: "Why did he come?"

(End of this chapter)