Nanyang Storm 1864

Chapter 20 Bring a few more people
next morning
After the two pretty maids Qiao Yue and Qiao Xing helped Zheng Guohui to get up, they began to wash and dress up in the bedroom. They tied up their hair in a bun in front of the mirror and inserted the pearl and jade hairpin given by the old lady.

It was not until breakfast time that the two pretty girls ran over in a hurry and stood behind Zheng Guohui, serving him carefully.

She peeled the boiled eggs and cooled the boiling soup, taking care of me in every possible way.

From time to time, her beautiful red lips would slightly rise, revealing a smile from the heart.

This era
There is no maid who doesn't want to climb into bed. Now that they are taken into the young master's room, the two maids who warm the bed see hope for the future.

If her performance still satisfies the young master, she may be taken as his concubine after he gets married, which would be like her becoming a phoenix from a tree.

Of course

It is also possible that she will be a maid who warms the bed with no status and name, and when she grows old and ugly, she will be sold by the master's family to marry, which is another ending.

But it is better than being rejected by the lady, beaten half to death and then sold to a brothel as a prostitute, where you have to put on a fake smile for the rest of your life. That is the most miserable ending.

Zheng Mansion Backyard
"Mother, I greet you and wish you good health and a happy smile."

"My son, come here and sit next to your mother. You come back in a hurry after just a few days and you have to leave again. Your mother can't bear to let you go." Mother Zheng Qian grabbed Zheng Guohui's hand, her eyes turned red as she spoke, and tears were about to fall again.

Zheng Guohui quickly said to comfort him;
"Mother, don't be sad. In just over a month, during the Great Winter Festival to worship our ancestors, I will definitely return home to visit my family and stay at home until after the Spring Festival.

Jinling City is a bustling and prosperous place. I want to take my mother there to live for a while after the spring next year. It's a good opportunity to relax and unwind."

"Let's talk about it later. How can mother leave now?" When mother Zheng Qian heard her son say that he would be back to visit her in more than a month, the sadness and reluctance on her face eased a lot.

She took Zheng Guohui's hand and patted it gently, her face full of doting, with only Zheng Guohui in her eyes.

More than a dozen children, big and small, knelt on the floor inside the house to pay their respects. The youngest was the youngest son of Zheng Guojun, the head of the second wife, who was only two years old.

Another baby girl, only a few months old, was still in her wet nurse's arms.

Zheng Qianshi seemed oblivious to these children. She just held her son Zheng Guohui's hand and said lovingly:
"Mother knows that you can't take care of yourself. Now that you have Qiaoyue and Qiaoxing by your side, they can warm your bed and tell you whether you are cold or hot. I feel much more at ease.

Mother has also arranged a few servants for you, including four maids, two cooks, two housekeepers and a housekeeper, who is Zheng Gui's mother.

you know too
Zheng Gui's mother is my maid who came with my dowry. She is diligent and has a good eye. She can keep the backyard in order, so I feel at ease.

Also, you should take Zheng Gui, Zheng Fu, Zheng Kang, and Zheng Ning with you this time. At least they can make a career in the army and bring honor to their family when they return home.

These are all children born in our family. Mother has seen that they are all good children who work hard and do their best. I feel at ease when I leave them by your side and let them do my bidding."

"I will listen to you, mother. These people will be taken care of in the army. Please don't worry." Zheng Guohui agreed solemnly.

His words

The several middle-aged maids standing by and serving were so excited that they couldn't suppress their excitement. Their eyes were full of gratitude, and some of them even shed tears of excitement.

With my wife's instructions, my child will have a bright future in the army.

Seeing that Zheng Shun is now a majestic captain, dressed in gorgeous clothes, who wouldn't envy the style of an official?

We are all servants of the Zheng family. Why do you get to sit in a high position and ride a fine horse? What makes us inferior?

This person is afraid of comparison, the gap will be revealed once compared.

Qianzong is a battalion officer of the sixth rank, a military officer of the imperial court who can command a battalion of hundreds of people. He is commonly known as "Ying Qianzong", which is almost equivalent to the deputy battalion commander in later generations.

As for the "Ba Zong", he is a seventh-rank military officer, usually commanding dozens to hundreds of people, equivalent to the deputy company commander in later generations.

But no matter what, these are officials who are paid by the court, and their parents can also escape from their lowly status, be proud in front of others, and bring glory to the family.

Zheng Shun's family is busy renovating their house, because his family can also use double lintels and eaves, which is extremely majestic and makes people so jealous that their eyes will pop out.

Zheng Shunjia is now prosperous, why should he still work for the Zheng family? Isn't this nonsense?

Everyone knows that without the second son Zheng Guohui leading the way, there would be no Zheng Shun family to be so proud today, and they would be beaten back to their original state in a minute.

Wouldn’t it be stupid not to hold such thighs tightly?
Never underestimate the wisdom of the working people. In many cases, they can see things more clearly than even the bureaucrats in their official careers and know what is important and what is not.

Kneeling in the room were Zheng Guohui's 15-year-old third brother Zheng Guoliang, 14-year-old fourth brother Zheng Guoyao, 11-year-old fifth brother Zheng Guotai and three younger sisters. The youngest sister Zheng Xiuyun was only seven years old, but they were all born out of wedlock.

His wife, Zheng Qian, gave birth to two sons and one daughter, namely the eldest son Zheng Guoguang, the second son Zheng Guohui, and the eldest daughter Zheng Xiuyan.

Zheng Xiuyan is the eldest sister who married the Jinshi aide Dong Huanzhang. She is the wife's legitimate daughter and was doubly loved in the past.

The eldest son Zheng Guoguang died young. Now in the eyes of his wife Zheng Qian, only Zheng Guohui occupies most of the care and love, and very little is left for other illegitimate children.

All the family children who are capable and have some potential were sent to the army in order to help Zheng Guohui expand his power and enhance his voice in the clan.

Just think about it
These people, who had been slaves and servants in the Zheng family for generations, enjoyed the utmost trust from their masters. Many of them became stewards and housekeepers, managing the family workshops and internal and external affairs, and were a vital force in the clan.

Since my own child is developing in Zheng Guohui's army, isn't my heart completely devoted to the eldest wife?

This is human nature, nothing strange.

After talking to his mother, Zheng Guohui did not forget to give some instructions to his younger brothers and sisters, which were nothing more than teaching them some general principles of how to be a human being and do things, such as not to cause trouble or ruin the family's reputation.

As an older brother, he has to say something.

Madam Zheng Qian thought it was a good idea and immediately had it written down on paper. She asked the children who came to pay their respects in the room to copy 50 copies each and memorize them all. She would check them at any time.

Seeing his mother Zheng Qianshi being so serious, Zheng Guohui was speechless.

Okay, as long as you are happy, mom.

"My son, mother has something else to tell you. There are about ten children from your uncle's family who seem promising. Do you think you can place them?"

"Mother has spoken, so I must settle them down no matter what. But I've already said that those who have excelled in the military will be given important positions. But those useless people are useless..."

"Don't worry, kid. If there is a punishment, then punish it. If there is really some dog meat that is not presentable, just kill it." Zheng Qian waved her hand and said with a domineering look.

She was willing to help her uncle's family from the bottom of her heart, but the prerequisite was that it would not affect her son's career, otherwise no one could help.

"I understand. No matter how difficult it is, I will take care of everything you asked me to do. Please rest assured." Zheng Guohui felt warm in his heart and nodded in agreement.

His place is already an army, so it would be no problem to accommodate not only 20 or 30 people, but even several times the number.

But that's not how it works. You have to show the difficulty in order to gain enough gratitude.

Sure enough, after Zheng Guohui paid his respects and was about to say goodbye and leave, several middle-aged maids knelt down in the corridor at the entrance.

"Young Master is kind-hearted. We are so grateful. I have caused you so much trouble. I will repay you in my next life by tying the knot with a grass and holding a ring."

"Master, I don't know how to express my gratitude. I kowtow to you and wish you great blessings and a high position in the future."

"Master, I kowtow to you."

Alas, whoever’s child is loved by everyone? The feeling of all parents in the world is the same, only endless gratitude.

It's inevitable. After returning, I'll tell you again and again that you must serve the young master well and never fall behind others...

With such manpower, Zheng Guohui would save himself a lot of effort and worry, and he would wish for more of them.

(End of this chapter)