Gathering more than a hundred maids brought by the traffickers in the open space outside the hall, Gong Zhuoliang sat in the hall and flipped through the roster of servants in the mansion, as well as the reports of lack of manpower sent up from everywhere. Six, seventy.
Gong Zhuoliang frowned slightly, thinking that Mrs. Qiao only let out a dozen people before, why so many were missing in a blink of an eye? Even if the literati will be released one or two years later, there is no need to prepare so many now.
Looking at the existing servants in the main house, there are already more than one hundred servants and rough envoys alone, and there are only a few serious masters in the mansion. There are not so many maids, and looking at those families with children who are all in charge, Gong Zhuoliang doesn't know what kind of job they are in this mansion. To put it bluntly, the servants in this booklet really work It would be good to have half of them, the rest are basically raised for nothing, and you can’t get anything for a year, and these people who work may not be enough to really serve the master.
"Is this the style of a rich family?"
Gong Zhuoliang put the booklet aside and muttered secretly with a sneer, thinking that he would never be able to repair the attitude of raising a lot of moths for nothing, but the ancients loved these flashy and prosperous things, and they wanted to keep their homes busy. It's good to dress up like a bunch of flowers.
"What did the young lady say?"
The daughter-in-law in charge who was waiting at the side didn't hear Gong Zhuoliang's words clearly, so she licked her face and asked with a smile when she saw that he had finished reading the brochure.
Although she was sent by the madam to 'instruct' the young madam, she also knew that the person in front of her was not a good one, so she tucked her tail and behaved honestly.
"It's okay, let's call in."
Gong Zhuoliang glanced at the daughter-in-law in charge, and saw that she did not rely on his wife's order to fight with him, so he also smiled at her faintly, thinking that it was not his own money that was squandering anyway, they loved raising her. As much as he raised, he just took care of his and Qiao Yingze's property.
The daughter-in-law took the order to call the traffickers in, and Gong Zhuoliang asked the maid to line up with the children and come to the front one by one to answer a word.
Since he accepted the job of the old lady, Gong Zhuoliang would try his best to handle it well, so he acted as an interviewer, repeatedly asked about the names, ages, families, and specialties of these children, and felt that he was very similar to the old lady. The examiner teacher from kindergarten to elementary school...
Finally, the initial screening eliminated some who were too stupid, too ugly, and too small, and Gong Zhuoliang finally left 80 Xiaodoudings who entered the re-examination.
"Okay, let's take those out first."
Resisting the urge to caress his forehead, Gong Zhuoliang asked the servant girl to take out the children who had been screened out quickly, and those who belonged to so-and-so's family. They really treat Qiao's mansion as a kindergarten, and they actually treat the children who are more than five years old. My baby is sent in as a seven-year-old, what can I do if I buy it? When the time comes, should we let her serve others or let people serve her!
"Lead them down to wash up and have something to eat. They are all tidy. The old lady will take them to the yard after dinner."
Let Wenshu and the daughter-in-law lead a group of Douding down first, Gong Zhuoliang went back to the yard, changed clothes and ate something, then ordered Hanshu to invite Qiao Yingze's two younger brothers and sisters to come and play in the afternoon, and then went The old lady serves meals in the yard.
After the meal, the old lady asked about Qiao Yingxuan's acceptance of the house. She always valued children and rules. Because of their father's incompetence, she became more and more concerned about the virtues of Qiao Yingze's brothers. They were not allowed to mess around too much before marriage. They followed their father's romantic temperament, and feared that the young and arrogant would be moved by their true feelings, and they would cause scandals of spoiling their concubines and destroying their wives. "Don't worry, mother-in-law, girl Jingshu has a simple and honest temper, and her appearance is also very ordinary. I think Xuan'er's appearance seems unlovable."
Mrs. Qiao sat down and smiled, and then she mentioned Qiao Yingxuan's marriage, saying that she was optimistic about the eldest daughter of her cousin's family, who was about the same age and happened to be married, but it would take more than a year for her to be married. In the meantime, Qiao Yingxuan's marriage will have to be postponed until the end of next year.
"This... Ying Xuan is not the eldest son, and the other party's family background is higher than ours. I'm afraid it's not a good match."
Mrs. Qiao listened carefully, and glanced at Gong Zhuoliang, who was sitting beside her, and saw that his expression was calm, she nodded secretly, and turned to look at Mrs. Qiao.
"It doesn't matter. Because my cousin loved his daughter so much, he stayed until fourteen last year before he started looking for his in-law's family. Unexpectedly, his uncle at the beginning of the year passed away suddenly, which delayed his granddaughter's wedding. After the filial piety period expires, I will find a suitable one in Beijing." It's difficult for others, because of my aunt's relationship, it's quite satisfactory to marry into our family."
Mrs. Qiao was really full of joy when she said this, she was only thinking of finding a good wife who was caring and helpful to her son, and she came from a wealthy family, so she would be able to take care of the house in the future.
"It's a good thing to get closer, but Xuan'er has to wait for two years, and the other party is indeed older."
Seeing Mrs. Qiao's pride, Mrs. Qiao showed some displeasure on her face, thinking that your daughter from an official family is also so unruly? It's taboo for the second son to marry better than the eldest son, and now the second daughter-in-law is older than the eldest daughter-in-law. If this is really a pass, can I serve my sister-in-law as the housekeeper in the future
"It's easy to get along when you are of the same age. You can also hug your great-grandson earlier, can you be an ancestor? And you have already agreed to your daughter-in-law. Ze'er's marriage is your decision, and Xuan'er's marriage is according to your daughter-in-law's." .”
Mrs. Qiao covered her mouth with a veil and smiled as if joking, but the glimpse of Gong Zhuoliang from the corner of her eye had some ambiguous meaning, but the obvious contempt could not be misunderstood.
"..."
Gong Zhuoliang lowered his eyes and looked sad, but in fact he had already started to caress his forehead in his heart, thinking that when you talk about Qiao Yingxuan's marriage, just say that he is, what are you talking about about us and my husband!
"Hmph... If that's the case, then it's all up to you."
Mrs. Qiao was choked, and she answered impatiently with a long snort. When Qiao Yingze was seriously ill last year, she insisted on celebrating Qiao Yingze. Mrs. Qiao was very unwilling to decide on this merchant's daughter. She cried and refused. The old lady was so annoyed that she could follow Mrs. Qiao's words about Xuan'er's marriage, so now she can't go back and lose her prestige .
At this time, Wen Shu brought the little girls over to choose for the old lady, and everyone changed the topic. It happened that Mrs. Qiao was also here, so she took away the candidates from her courtyard and Qiao Yingxuan's courtyard, and passed the election for Qiao Yingxuan. Without Qiao Yingze, she doesn't have the face of Gu Qiao Yingze's house at all.
"O sin!"
After Mrs. Qiao led the people away, the old lady retreated from the crowd, took Gong Zhuoliang's hand and let out a long and tired sigh.
"Grandmother..."
Gong Zhuoliang pursed his lips, showing a little aggrieved look, but the fit was not too artificial, and he didn't say anything to complain, anyway, everything was kept silent.
"Girl Yan, there are some things that grandma shouldn't have said to you juniors, but instead of letting you make wild guesses after hearing some rumors and hurting your family's feelings, it's better for me to tell you in person, so that you know what's going on." good."
The old lady leaned against the cushion, stroking Gong Zhuoliang's hand and slowly spoke.
It turns out that the old lady's lineage was just a side branch of the rich family. At the beginning, both of the parents of Mrs. Qiao died, and after the filial piety period, she went to Beijing alone to take the exam. She was quite powerful when she was young, and her husband was not allowed to take concubines for a few years after marriage, and she relaxed a little after having a son and a daughter.
But Mrs. Qiao died of illness in middle age, and he was the only male of Mr. Qiao's generation. The first daughter died young, and the two concubines didn't have much contact with each other after they got married. He successfully entered the official career through fame and fame, and then he coaxed the father-in-law of a high-ranking official in Beijing with his good looks and eloquence, and he was promoted step by step by relying on the power of his mother and wife's natal family. Only then did his family flourish.
But after the marriage, Mrs. Qiao's natal family provoked holy wrath and almost fell into ruin. Although she was restored by grace later, Mr. Qiao revealed his flirtatious nature at this time. He wisely protected himself when his father-in-law's family was in danger, causing Mrs. Qiao to give birth prematurely due to grief. He had another dystocia, nearly killed two people, and was so tired that Qiao Yingze gave birth prematurely and was weak, and was rejected by his biological mother...
"At that time, I thought she was pitiful and felt guilty, so I aborted my concubine's concubine's son for her sake, kept her dignity in this family, and taught her how to stabilize her position. Later, I also delegated power to her. I was pregnant with Xuan'er again, and it didn't take long for my mother's family to recover, and the family gradually got better..."
Speaking of the family's past, the old lady also sighed unceasingly. She thought that when the daughter-in-law first entered the house, they also looked at each other and hated each other. Later, when the son made a mistake, she and the daughter-in-law were once better than the mother and daughter, but later because of Seeing Qiao Yingze and some other things, they turned against each other again. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed.
"Then why..."
Looking at the old lady hesitantly, Gong Zhuoliang knew that when she understood what he wanted to ask, he was not interested in the grievances of the older generation of the Qiao family. How can one be regarded as an enemy, and the other as a treasure
"It's all muddled. Back then, I didn't know who talked to your mother-in-law, saying that she was destined to have a son to restrain her and a son to favor her. When your mother-in-law was pregnant with Ze'er, something happened to her natal family, and Ze'er was difficult to deliver. After tossing your mother-in-law for a day and a night, she couldn't survive it, so your mother-in-law hated and was afraid of Ze'er. Later, she became pregnant with Xuan'er, and her mother's family soon recovered. She gave birth naturally and didn't suffer at all. In addition, I blamed her for Ze'er's affairs, and Ze'er has always been weak and sick and never got close to her, so your mother-in-law believed in her fate even more, and the relationship with Ze'er became worse and worse."
Speaking of Mrs. Qiao, there is really nothing she can do, just like she would insist on cheering Qiao Yingze who is seriously ill. Mrs. Qiao believes in Qiao Yingze's mother in her heart. No matter how much she persuades her, it is useless. Someone mentioned that even if he knew that Qiao Yingze had resentment in his heart, he couldn't explain anything to him. Otherwise, with Qiao Yingze's temperament, how would he deal with himself after knowing this
"..."
After secretly gritting his teeth and listening to the old lady's explanation, Gong Zhuoliang just wanted to yell, 'Damn! '
No wonder it is said that feudal superstition kills people, what kind of thing is it that adults' grievances and grievances fall on children! Who doesn't know that giving birth is painful, especially the first child, otherwise would there be so many mothers-to-be in modern times who would rather have a caesarean section than give birth by themselves? As for Qiao Yingxuan's easy birth, wouldn't that be more nonsense? It was a natural delivery and a second child. His brother gave him a good advice. As long as he is not a giant or deformed child, it will be easier than his brother... Well, Gong Zhuoliang admits that the problem he is struggling with now is a bit weird, but he is really angry, his eldest Qiao is such a good and good child, why did he end up with such immoral and superstitious parents!
"Yan girl, what's wrong with you?"
After the old lady finished speaking, Gong Zhuoliang's whole face changed, and she looked so angry, it looked like Ying Xuan's when she was a child... Before the old lady was surprised, she saw Gong Zhuoliang threw herself into her arms and threw herself into her arms. Hug yourself tightly.
"Grandmother, thank you on behalf of the granddaughter-in-law. The granddaughter-in-law knows what to do, so don't worry, grandma."
Gong Zhuoliang hugged the old man in front of him tightly, thanking her for protecting Qiao Yingze for so many years, and at the same time, he also understood that the purpose of her telling him these things was to make him understand Mrs. Make the family restless.
What Gong Zhuoliang heard from the old lady, he would not explain it to Qiao Yingze, at least not now, otherwise that careful and introverted person would take Kemu's absurd remarks seriously, and then take all the responsibility on himself of.
"Okay, you girl, you are really painful, no wonder Ze'er protects you so much."
The old lady was amused by Bie Gong Zhuo Liang's small appearance, and pinched his nose reproachfully.
The old lady had thought about it a long time ago. With Qiao Yingze's indifferent temperament, in the past she would not go out unless she chased him away, but now she went out to recuperate and escape the summer heat. It was not because she was afraid that his little daughter-in-law would be wronged, but why? The old lady waived Gong Zhuoliang's rules with her mother-in-law to show consideration for her grandson, but now it seems that her intentions were not in vain, this granddaughter-in-law is indeed a pain in the ass.
"Grandmother..."
Gong Zhuoliang pretended to be tender with the old lady again, and then he calmed down and went back to his yard. Seeing that Qiao Yingze had kept food waiting for him to come back, Gong Zhuoliang walked over and put his arms around his waist.
"I didn't come back until this time, are you hungry?"
Qiao Yingze touched Gong Zhuoliang's face that was rubbing against his neck, dragged him to the table, lifted the cover of the plate, the food was still steaming, obviously it had been warmed repeatedly.
"I made it up before I went, but you are not in good health and don't eat on time. If I come back late in the future, I will eat first, don't be hungry."
Gong Zhuoliang changed the appearance of the uncle who usually asked Qiao Yingze to serve the meal, and sat down with him first, and then sat next to him.
Hmph, from now on, his husband will be covered by him, and no one will be able to bully him again!
"It's okay, by the way, I saw that you came back late, so I asked Yuanyin and Ying Zi to come back later. You asked them to choose a maid?"
Qiao Yingze seldom interacts with the younger brothers and sisters of these two brothers, but he will not ignore them like Qiao Yingxuan because of his mother, so when Gong Zhuoliang was at home, he invited them to have dinner and tea together, and Qiao Yingze followed him.
"Both of them don't have any suitable maids around them. Let them choose two by themselves. After all, they are our own brothers and sisters. We don't have to let the servants bully them casually. In the future, we can help as much as we can. Scholarly family"
Buying people's hearts for Qiao Yingze, this is what Gong Zhuoliang has been doing. Needless to say, the old lady, Qiao Yingxuan is temporarily holding a wait-and-see attitude, and Qiao Yuanyin and Qiao Yingzi are of little importance in this family, but the blood relationship here can make Qiao Yingze It's always good to feel loved.
"Oh, that's okay. Speaking of which, Zi'er is really a smart kid. Everything I teach him is easy to learn, and he can learn to write with patience. He will be promising in the future."
Speaking of Qiao Yingzi, Qiao Yingze's tone was a bit proud of his brother. In the past, Qiao Yingze didn't feel much like a brother because he had a grudge against Qiao Yingxuan, but now he looked at that little guy Qiao Yingzi who always clinged to him with a face of admiration. Qiao Yingze had to admit that it felt good.
"If you like him, just call him over to play. Let's have dinner first, Mr. Wang."
He touched Qiao Yingze's stomach and told him it was time to eat. Gong Zhuoliang saw that he was embarrassed and stopped, so he smiled and picked up the small water basin next to him to let him wash his hands first...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX After Gong Zhuoliang had completed the matter of the new maid, he asked Wen Shu to bring the roster to report to the old lady. Hearing this, Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze couldn't help but look at each other. He took the letter and opened it. It turned out that the eldest grandson of the head of the Gong family had won the first prize. They will return in early April. The hometown worshiped the ancestors, and the young master Gong Zhuoxiang from high school specially made a detour to Bocheng to meet this family relative.
"Gong Zhuoxiang?"
The moment he saw this name, Gong Zhuoliang’s fuzzy memory inherited from the deity suddenly became clear, and a handsome and handsome young man appeared in front of his eyes, as if he saw the young man sitting by the pool with his arms around the deity and telling stories His gentle appearance seems to have heard his mellow and charming laughter...
Gong Zhuoliang was terrified instantly, dizzy, what is that pedophile doing here
"Just tell the tigress that Gong Zhuoliang was traveling far away, and she didn't find it. As for the matter of asking the husband to help him receive it, our master must avoid suspicion. It is not convenient to invite him to live in Qiao's mansion. The husband will invite him to come here in the name of a private person." Temporarily staying in another hospital."
Glancing at Qiao Yingze who was puzzled but still had no objection, Gong Zhuoliang handed the letter to Ruo Lan. He had a headache thinking about how to deal with it. Surprise, and the silence and loneliness after the surprise.