my grandmother

Chapter 27 The Stewards

Packing the luggage of the five members of the Li family was extremely simple.

In the five big tile-roofed houses of Li Xiucai's house, there were only two looms, one spinning wheel, two beds, a lame table and a broken bamboo chair. It has to be worth more than these furniture.

Li Jinzhu settled the score, gritted his teeth and gave up these few pieces of furniture, leaving them for the clansmen who tenanted the fifty mu of land.

Except for a few large baskets of freshly harvested rice, seven or eight chickens that have been marinated, half a basket of eggs, and the rest of the luggage of Mr. Xiucai and his four sisters, there are only two medium-sized boxes and a small bag of rags. .

One of the two boxes contained books, and the other contained pens, ink, papers and inkstones. Even the boxes and other things were given by the Hong family.

Li Wenliang went to Gaojiaji, asked Mr. Gao to accompany him, and sent Li Xuedong to Pingjiang City to enroll together.

Early in the morning, Li Wenliang took two young men from the Li family and drove two large carts to Gaojiaji to pick up Mr. Gao, and then they rushed to Xiaolizhuang together.

Two young men drove the car, Li Xuedong, Mr. Gao, and Li Wenliang took a car, and the four sisters Li Jinzhu took a car. Under the envious eyes of the whole village, they left Xiaoli Village and rushed to Pingjiang City.

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This is Gu Yan's second trip to Prince Rui's Mansion Pingjiang Bieye. The first time he came here was when he was seven years old. He followed his father to inspect the south of the Yangtze River and stayed in Pingjiang Bieye for one night.

That trip arrived when it was almost dark, and left early the next morning.

This is already an extremely distant past, he only remembers a bridge in front of the gate of Pingjiang Bieye, the bridge is extremely wide, and he doesn't remember anything else.

In the past, he went to Linhai Town countless times.In order to save the time of going back and forth, every time, he crossed the river directly from Yangzhou, lived in the stone giant, and even dealt with official business while eating.

At that time, he always thought that Pingjiang Bieye was a place of pleasure, and he never visited it.

The long follower led the way, and the group of people passed through a lush forest and stopped beside a dense green hill. A wide bluestone step started from the hill, and after about ten steps, it circled behind the hill.

"Is this the main entrance? Where's the bridge?" Gu Yan got off his horse and asked casually.

"There are five gates in our Bieye, two of which are water gates, and the five gates are regardless of the main gate or the partial gate. The bridge that the son of the world said is the closest gate to Pingjiang City, and it is east and west of this gate." Chang Sui hastily bowed to answer.

Gu Yan groaned, and strode up the steps.

Just turning into the small hill, far away, Hong Bo, the chief manager of Bieye, led a dozen managers, and ran all the way to meet him.

"Tell them to slow down, don't worry." Gu Yan stopped and ordered.

Shi Gun hurriedly raised his voice to convey.

More than a dozen stewards hurriedly stopped, walked quickly from running, and greeted them.

"It's not that you don't know my temper. I always act according to my heart, and I come as soon as I say it. I won't blame you for not welcoming me. Why are you still so flustered?" Gu Yan watched the old manager Hong Bo rushing to him, and smiled.

"This is the son who cares about the little ones. The old slave received the letter at noon the day before yesterday. The old slave thought that the son was coming from Ximen, so he stayed there all the time.

"The last time I saw my son, my son was only this tall. It has been six years and four months." Hong Bo looked at Gu Yan, tears streaming down his face.

According to the rules of Prince Rui’s Mansion, the stewards of Hangzhou and Pingjiang Bieye grew up in Hangzhou or Pingjiang City, and went to the capital’s palace at the age of fifteen or sixteen to work as errands. After 40 years old, they returned to Hangzhou or Pingjiang Bieye. messenger.

The chief stewards of the two villas are people who have served Prince Rui or Gu Yan for many years.

Hong Bo, the general manager of Pingjiang Bieye, was picked to serve Gu Yan since he was born, and he watched Gu Yan grow up.

"You are still the same as you were six years ago. You haven't aged at all. It seems that this Pingjiang mansion is really suitable for living and raising people." Gu Yan walked around Hong Bo, looked him up and down, smiled road.

"My son praised you." Hong Bo laughed out loud.

Gu Yan followed Hong Bo and traveled more than half of Pingjiang Bieye before returning to his own yard.

Just after dinner, the servant came in to report: He Chengze, Linhai steward, and his son He Ruiming, please see the eldest son.

Gu Yan just picked up the cup without raising his eyelids, then took a sip of tea, raised his hand to signal to come in.

He Chengze was in front, and his son He Ruiming followed behind, entering the Chuihua Gate.

Gu Yan sat on the couch under the south window, through the silk screen window, looked coldly at He Chengze and his son, who were walking through the hanging flower gate and walking in small steps.

Whenever this father and son saw him, they always looked respectful and cautious, including when he was locked up and escorted out of the capital overnight, the father and son saw him off outside the gate of Weizhou, and the three glasses of farewell wine were spilled on When he was on the ground, he was also so respectful.

"He Chengze, the steward of Linhai, and his son He Ruiming, send greetings to the eldest son."

He Chengze brought his son into the house, knelt down and kowtow respectfully.

"Get up quickly, there is no need to be polite. How do you know that I have arrived in Pingjiang Bieye? I just arrived, who sent you the letter?" Gu Yan asked with a puzzled smile.

"The restaurant where the eldest son eats in Linhai Town is also the property of our Prince Rui's mansion. Wu Shi, the manager of the restaurant, followed the villain to the capital to send a gift, and saw the elder son from a distance. He didn't expect, didn't Dare to admit it, report the little one.

"The little one got a letter from Mr. Hong yesterday, saying that the elder son will come to our Pingjiang mansion for a short stay today and tomorrow. The younger one also knows that the elder son has received an errand to go south to inspect the folk customs. Linhai Town is a must for the elder son to go south to inspect the people. I was going to take a look, but the young one thought that Wu Shi was right, that it must be the arrival of the eldest son, so he hurried over with his son, unexpectedly, it was the arrival of the eldest son."

He Chengze answered respectfully and in great detail.

"That restaurant is not bad. The dishes are delicious, clean and thoughtful, and the decoration is very pleasing to the eye. After a while, you can ask Hong Bo for five taels of silver and give it to Wu Shi." Gu Yan listened carefully, looking surprised and surprised, and laughed .

"Yes, the young one thanked the son for Wu Shi." He Chengze also looked very happy, "The little one was in a hurry to see if the son was really here. He came in a hurry and only brought the ledger of Linhai Industry. Let Rui Ming rush back overnight, tomorrow..."

"Don't worry, I'm going to live here for a year. When I'm free, I'll go to Linhai, and then I'll take a closer look at your general ledger and other details." Gu Yan looked casual and undisciplined, "Where are you?" If you are not busy, let your son wait by my side for a while, I am taking this job as a watcher..."

Gu Yan frowned, looking very troubled.

"Hey, other things in Jiangnan are fine. The sea tax is really complicated and difficult to understand. It's better to have an expert follow me, watch for me, and give me pointers from time to time."

"Don't dare to act, dare not act!" He Chengze and He Ruiming bowed down together, not daring to act.

"It's right, three people must have my teacher, and besides, no one knows more than you father and son in the customs. By the way, do you have words?" Gu Yan pointed at He Ruiming with a folding fan, and asked with a smile.

"Master, the little one has no words yet." He Ruiming hurriedly leaned over and replied.

"If you don't dislike it, how about I send you a word? You father and son are independent chief executives. You follow me. It's not appropriate for me to call you by your first name. It's more convenient to have a word. " Gu Yan frowned slightly as he said, with a serious look on his face.

"It's a small honor." He Ruiming smiled respectfully.

"How is Xiangsheng?" Gu Yan frowned and thought for a moment, then smiled.

"Thank you, my son, for giving me the word!"

"He Ruiming, He Xiangsheng. I've been bothering Xiangsheng for a while." Gu Yan shook his folding fan, and seemed quite satisfied with the word Xiangsheng he used.

Shi Gun, who was standing by the door with his hands down, glanced at He Xiangsheng enviously.

Alas, although the word Xiangsheng is not pleasant, compared to my own name...

Thinking of his name, Shi Gun felt sad.

(End of this chapter)