Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 537: A chat before the New Year [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you 40k more]

"Girl, are you awake?"

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng who opened his eyes,
Yunmu, who was standing beside him, said with a smile.

"Ah."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded and sat up from the couch wrapped in a thin quilt.

Hearing the conversation between the master and the servant,

The maid in the room came over with warm water and a face towel.

Covering his face with a warm towel, Chai Zhengzheng took the tea and rinsed his mouth. After handing the teacup away, he stared blankly at the incense burner not far away.

After a while,
"girl?"

Yunmu brought a refreshing tea and called out softly with some doubt in his eyes.

"Well?"

"Oh!"

Chai Zhengzheng took the tea and sipped it.

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng who was in a daze again, Yunmu asked, "Miss, what happened just now?"

Chai Zhengzheng, holding the tea bowl in both hands, took a deep breath, looked at Yunmu, smiled, and said, "Nothing! I just had a dream."

Yunmu nodded, smiled and reached out to take the teacup handed to him by Chai Zhengzheng.

Chai Zhengzheng stretched lazily and said:

"Oh, right! Will the manager of my shop be paid the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes girl!"

"Well, the New Year is coming soon. We have worked hard all year! The manager will get an extra five months' salary, the clerks will get an extra three months' salary, and those who are in the store around New Year's Eve will get an extra half month's salary."

"Yes, girl!"

"You guys, double the number."

Yun Mu bowed and said with a smile, "Thank you, young lady!"

After Chai Zhengzheng finished speaking, he stood up from the couch and walked towards the table in the room.

After sitting down for a while,

Fu Yi came over from behind the screen and said, "Young lady, the shop has delivered some fabrics. Madam has specially selected some for you to take a look at."

Chai Zhengzheng, who was writing with his head down, did not look up and said, "Well, send it in!"

Fu Yi should have walked out.

Zi Teng, who was standing by, came over holding the account book and said, "Miss, just now when I went out to get the account book, I saw dark clouds coming from the north!"

"Hmm? Dark clouds? Will it snow?" Chai Zhengzheng said with his head down.

"This, I don't know."

quickly,

Silks and satins with intricate patterns and gorgeous colors, hung on several wooden frames, were carried into the hall.

Behind the table,

After writing the last few words, Chai Zhengzheng raised his head and looked at the brocade hanging on the wooden frame.

Among them, the color of several pieces of brocade was the same as the hairband of Miss Feiyan in my dream just now.
The rest are the colors that were passed on and that Xu Zaijing liked.

This made Chai Zhengzheng's expression suddenly freeze.

Yunmu and other personal maids, who knew a lot of things, looked at the color of the material with smiles in their eyes.

They waited quietly for Chai Zhengzheng to pick out some materials with a smile on his face.
"Mother is so thoughtful! But! Forget about these colors of material. I don't want to wear them!"

After Chai Zhengzheng finished speaking, the maids in the room looked at each other with surprise in their eyes.

Chai Zhengzheng continued, "If you have any material with patterns or embroidery in these three colors, no matter what the color, bring it to me!"

"Yes, girl!"

Yunmu and others responded.

quickly,

All the materials sent to Qiu Sheng Garden were carried out.

In the Matron's Courtyard,

Madam Chai, who was sitting on a chair, looked at Fu Yi who came into the courtyard to report with a smile on her face and said, "How is it? Does your girl like the materials?"

The manager of the Chai family's silk and brocade shop standing nearby also had a smile on his face, waiting for his master's praise.

Fu Yi bowed, looking embarrassed, and said, "Madam, the girl said."

Listening to Fu Yi's report, Madam Chai's smile disappeared, and she frowned, wondering, "Why did this happen today? This shouldn't be the case!"

As Mrs. Chai spoke, Fu Yi, who was standing below her, nodded repeatedly.

Waving her hand, Madam Chai said, "Okay! Just do as she says and look for it again!"

After the silk and brocade shop managers and Fu Yi had left the room,
Madam Chai, who was sitting on the chair, looked at the housekeeper and said softly:
"What's wrong with this girl today? She's so difficult to please!"

"If I had known this, I wouldn't have gone to so much trouble to find these materials for her!"

The housekeeper at the side said, "Madam, why don't you keep a few of the good-looking ones? You can make clothes for the young lady. Who knows, maybe she'll wear them if she changes her mood one day?"

"Okay! Make a few in all three colors!"

in the afternoon,

When Chai Zhengzheng woke up, it was still sunny outside.
After an hour,
Dark clouds floating over from the north covered the sun which had not yet set, and the sky darkened.

Quyuan Street,
Yong Yi Hou Mansion,

In the study room of Xu Zaijing's courtyard,
Looking up at the darkening sky outside, Xu Zaijing behind the table washed the brush in his hand in the brush washer and put it aside.

The handwriting on the homework on the table was not yet dry. Xu Zaijing pressed it down with a paperweight, then stretched his body and walked to the fish tank.

Xu Zaijing's mind was empty. He sprinkled a few pinches of fish food and stared absentmindedly at the fish swimming in the large white fish tank.

At the door of the study, Hua Xiang pushed open the door and said:

"Sir, the second sect has sent a message saying that the second young master of the Zheng family has returned to the capital. We invite you and several other young masters from other families to have a chat at Panlou in the evening."

Xu Zaijing, who was standing in front of the fish tank, nodded, glanced outside, and said, "Yeah! Brother Zheng really knows how to pick the right time."

It's a cloudy afternoon with dim light, which is not a good time to study.

"So, sir, are you going to ride in a car or on horseback?"

Hua wanted to ask.

Xu Zaijing patted the fish food crumbs on his hands and said, "Get in the car. All three of you follow me!"

Hearing this, Hua Xiang smiled and bowed: "Yes, sir."

After getting dressed,
Xu Zaijing and three maids got on the large carriage, and Qingyun rode a horse beside them.

Exit the gate of the mansion,
The carriage drove along Quyuan Street for a while.
The sound of gongs and drums came from outside the carriage, and there were also shouts of "exorcising evil spirits" and "asking for rewards".

Listening to the noise outside,
Qingcao, who was sitting on the side of the carriage, opened the curtain and looked at the people on the street outside, holding drums and gongs, wearing masks and dressed in different clothes. He smiled and said, "Sir, it's Chu Zhan and the others."

"Do you want a reward for beating the night thief?"

As they spoke, Qingcao and Yunxianghua took out a few strings of copper coins from their purses and threw them out.

The guys who followed Chu Zhan hurriedly picked up the copper coins.

Chu Zhan lifted the mask to his forehead, and bowed to Qingcao and the others in the carriage with a smile: "Thank you, three sisters! Thank you, Fifth Master!"

Xu Zaijing in the carriage smiled and nodded.

Qingyun on the side said: "Chu Zhan, go back early today, you still have to go to Yichun Lane with me tomorrow!"

"I know, Brother Qingyun!"

As he spoke, Chu Zhan bowed again, put on the mask, and led others to continue beating gongs and drums and playing the Yehu along the street.

After leaving Quyuan Street,
Walking on the way to Panlou,

Although it was a dark and cloudy day and felt much colder than when the sun was shining, it did not prevent the people in Beijing from doing business.

From time to time, the sounds of various street vendors could be heard entering the carriage.

Qingcao and the other three maids would occasionally lift the car curtains and look outside.

Moreover, every time they lifted the carriage curtain, the cool afternoon breeze blew in, cooling the cheeks of the three maids, but they still enjoyed it.

Xu Zaijing sat in the middle of the carriage. Following the gap in the curtain that Yun wanted to open, he saw an old man with his child setting up a stall on the roadside and said, "Qingyun! Buy some good sugarcane and take it with you."

"Yes, sir!"

Seeing Qingyun, who was dressed elegantly, coming from the expensive carriage, the old man selling sugar cane immediately smiled and bowed, saying, "Sir, you want sugar cane? This little guy's sugar cane is from..."

Qingyun smiled, dismounted and said, "Old man, cut off a section for me to taste first."

After a while,
"Indeed."

Qingyun spat out the sugarcane residue and walked towards the carriage parked nearby with an embarrassed look on his face. After handing a few small pieces of sugarcane to Qingcao through the window, he said, "Sir, I tasted it and it's not as sweet as the ones sent home from the south."

Qingcao and the other three maids looked at the street, and after each of them tasted a small piece, Yunxiang smiled and said, "Brother Qingyun, it's actually not bad, it's quite sweet."

Xu Zaijing, who was chewing a piece of sugarcane, nodded and said, "Let's collect it. When we get to Panlou, let them choose for themselves."

"Yes, son."

After Qingyun finished speaking, he walked back to the old man, bargained for some time, and handed a small piece of silver to the old man.

Subsequently,

The old man tied up two large bundles of sugarcane and was ready to carry them on a stick, while leading the child and getting on the carriage.

in the carriage,
Seeing this, Yun Xiang turned around and looked at Xu Zai Jing: "Sir."

Xu Zaijing smiled and said nothing.

Outside the carriage, Qingyun, who had not yet mounted his horse, had already spoken: "Old man, stop picking, and give me the things!"

As he spoke, Qingyun placed two heavy bundles of sugarcane, one in each hand, to where the driver was sitting, in front of the old man's surprised eyes.

The Xu family's carriages have already left here.

The vendors who were also setting up stalls on the street looked at the old man with the child with some envy in their eyes and said, "Uncle Zhang, you can go home earlier today and don't have to suffer the cold with the child."

The old man smiled and bowed to everyone around him. After picking up the wooden stick on which he carried the sugarcane, he glanced at the carriages and horses in the distance, then walked towards home with the child who was suffering from a runny nose from the cold.

Xu Zaijing arrived at Panlou Main Street in his carriage.
The sky is getting darker.
Compared to the road,

Panlou Main Street is much more lively, and there are many more vendors on both sides of the road than in other places.

Lanterns have been hung in the shops and restaurants on both sides of the street, candles are lit in the private rooms along the street, and the sound of stringed and wind music can be heard from the buildings on both sides.

After Qingyun carried the bundles of sugarcane aside,

Only then did Xu Zaijing come out of the carriage with the maid.

Min Ge'er, the tea and wine doctor standing at the door, saw Xu Zaijing and Qingyun, and hurried forward, smiling and bowing, saying, "Brother Yin, I haven't seen you for a long time!"

finished,

Min Ge'er bowed to Xu Zaijing and said, "Greetings, Wulang! Wulang, please come in."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded, then walked into Pan's building through the cotton curtain that was lifted by the doorman.

Qingyun, who was following behind, smiled and patted Min Ge'er on the shoulder, pointed to the two bundles of sugarcane behind and said a few words.

"Don't worry, Brother Yin, the stuff will be delivered right away."

"Thank you for your hard work." Qingyun smiled.

Xu Zaijing entered the building.
There were many lanterns lit in the building, and the light was much brighter than outside.

The shopkeeper on the first floor walked over here quickly, bowed to Xu Zaijing, and said, "Wu Lang, I haven't seen you for a long time!"

"Manager Ran, long time no see." Xu Zaijing nodded.

Shopkeeper Ran was delighted, and he extended his hand to invite her in, saying with a smile, "Hey! You actually still remember me! Please go upstairs. Brother Zheng's private room is on the third floor."

As I walked toward the stairs,
Many people in the lobby on the first floor looked at Xu Zaijing.

The reason for watching was that Xu Zaijing was quite tall, and the cloak he wore was given by the Queen.

One could tell at a glance that Xu Zaijing was not an ordinary wealthy man in Bian Jing. Moreover, Xu Zaijing looked very impressive, and was followed by Qingyun, who was well-dressed, and three maids.

Watching Xu Zaijing and his group walking upstairs.

From time to time, guests who were dining on the first floor would stop the waiter.

In front of a table,
A waiter put down the dishes on the tray, looked at the guest at the table and asked with a smile:
"Oh? Sir, are you asking about the guy who came upstairs? To be honest, he is a frequent visitor to our Pan Building, Wulang from the Xu family of the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion."

"Hiss! It's this guy in person. Seeing is believing!" the guest nodded.

"Sir, you are right. The dozen or so warriors that were famous in the past are right there." The waiter pointed to a place on the first floor and continued, "They were destroyed one by one by this young man!"

The guests at that table leaned forward to look at the place the waiter pointed at, and asked in confusion: "Just now I saw that this guy doesn't look that old!"

"Sir, you have been in Bianjing for a short time, right?" Seeing the guest nod, the waiter said, "I remember it was during the Lantern Festival a few years ago. This young man was not very old, so he made a move..."

Pan Building, 3rd Floor,

Manager Ran, who had led Xu Zaijing and his companions to the door of the private room, had already said goodbye and gone downstairs.

"Ta-ta."

Xu Zaijing stood at the door and knocked gently a few times.

The door opens,

Zhique opened the door behind the private room screen, looked at Xu Zaijing at the door, bowed and turned back to say: "Sir, Wulang is here!"

"Brother Jing is here?"

Gu Tingye’s voice rang out.

A figure walked out from behind the screen. It was not Gu Tingye, but Zheng Xiao with a smile on his face.

"Bang bang bang bang."

Zheng Xiao walked up to Xu Zaijing and hugged him, patting his back affectionately.

After the two separated, Zheng Xiao said, "Brother Jing, come in."

Xu Zaijing untied his cloak and handed it to Qingcao, saying with a smile: "Second Brother Zheng, we haven't seen each other for less than a month, why are you so enthusiastic!"

Liang Han in the private room said, "Brother Jing, Second Brother Zheng seems to be in high spirits because of good things happening to him. Did he pat me like this when I came?"

Xu Zaijing looked at Zheng Xiao and asked in confusion, "What's the happy event?"

Zheng Xiao waved his hand at Liang Han and said, "Go away, Liu Lang, why are you making such a fuss? There is nothing to it."

Seeing Xu Zaijing's expression, Liang Han smiled and said, "Brother Jing, on the day when Second Brother Zheng returned to Beijing, he not only went to the Zheng family, but also visited the Zhang family! My mother said that the wife of the Duke of Ying was interested."

"Liu Lang, shut up!" Zheng Xiao shouted with some embarrassment on his face.

"Okay, I won't say any more!"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing looked at Zheng Xiao and said with a smile, "Could it be that the two families are going to have a deal?"

The draft proposal is the first step in discussing marriage.

Zheng Xiao waved his hands with an embarrassed look on his face, "No, it's still early! Madam England was just joking with my sister-in-law."

At this time, Zheng Xiao's attendant said at the door: "Sir, the young master is downstairs."

"Okay, I'll go meet him."

As he spoke, Zheng Xiao walked out.

Xu Zaijing sat down, looked at Gu Tingye beside him in the candlelight, and said, "Erlang, you came early today."

After Gu Tingye forced a smile, the corners of his mouth twitched for some reason.

"what happened?"

Xu Zaijing asked doubtfully.

Gu Tingye looked embarrassed for a moment and said, "Brother Jing, don't ask anymore."

As he spoke, Gu Tingye bared his teeth and moved his shoulders.

Xu Zaijing frowned as he watched Gu Tingye's actions and asked, "Are you injured?"

Gu Tingye was stunned and nodded slightly.

Xu Zaijing whispered, "What did you do? Those guys in the capital are not on good terms, so a fight shouldn't hurt you!"

Thinking about Gu Tingye's love for his own dragon colt, Xu Zaijing's eyes turned and hesitantly said, "Erlang, you are not because of the dragon colt I promised to Xingge'er."

Gu Tingye glared at him: "Jing'er, you! Am I that kind of person? Xing'er, he's my nephew, how could I..."

Xu Zaijing: "Then why are you doing this?"

Gu Tingye pursed his lips and said with some shame: "My father said that I am addicted to women."

Hearing this,

Xu Zaijing looked around the private room and indeed, he did not see Gu Tingye's personal maid, Qiu Niang.

Looking at Gu Tingye's somewhat exhausted expression in the candlelight, Xu Zaijing shook his head and said, "Erlang, you need to control this a little."

(End of this chapter)