Qin Fang has been very idle recently. The emperor has not arranged a position for him yet, and he is not familiar with the capital. Moreover, he is not the type of person who likes to go around and entertain people for dinner. He said that Du Ke once said that with his status, it is better for him to be quiet. The emperor does not like him to be overly active as soon as he arrives in the capital.
said that Qin Fang was still happy to make something for his son.
Yang Haiyan looked at the small park which was only one-third completed. She walked over and asked, "Are you tired?"
Qin Fang had heard her footsteps a long time ago. When she walked in, he saw her holding a cup of tea. He put down his work, took the cup and drank the tea: "Not tired, why are you here?"
Yang Haiyan said, "Just now the matchmaker from Guanya came. I bought ten boys, ranging from eight to thirteen years old. The older ones can take care of Linyang. Besides, the ten boys are not bad. If they are good in the future, they can become Linyang's right-hand men."
Qin Fang always listened to Yang Haiyan's opinions on household affairs, because he knew his wife's ideas were better and more thoughtful than his. "I'll listen to you. I'll arrange a martial arts master for them to practice their skills. When Lin Yang is a few years older, you can give him a medicinal bath and let him practice martial arts together."
Yang Haiyan said: "I have this arrangement, but I also plan to arrange for ten boys to study. I will ask a teacher to teach them in the mansion. Learning to read is secondary. The main thing is to teach them to be loyal to the master and protect Linyang well."
Qin Fang felt that what she said made sense: "You are really thoughtful in your arrangements."
Ten boys lived in a side room in Qin Linyang's yard, five people in a room, with beds side by side, but each person had an independent cabinet and table, all with locks. Their performance would be observed after a month, and those with good performance would be the captain of the five-person room, and the captain would receive a reward every month. Every day, they would go to the cafeteria to get their own lunch boxes, one meat, one vegetable, and one soup.
The boys stayed in the dental clinic for a few days, and they couldn't even get enough to eat every day. The food they ate was the coarsest. Today at noon, they suddenly received lunch boxes. Looking at the food inside, they not only drooled, but also felt suddenly very sour in their hearts.
Several boys who originally came from official families didn't feel anything as they were used to it. However, it was different for the boys who fled, the boys who were sold by their stepmothers, and the boys from official families whose families were in trouble. They thought of themselves and their families and felt very jealous.
Lunch consisted of a piece of braised pork, a bowl of fried cabbage, and a bowl of pickled vegetable and egg soup. The fried cabbage and pickled vegetable and egg soup were full. Although the braised pork was only half the size of a palm, it was good enough for them, and there was plenty of soup, which could be mixed with rice.
Everyone ate in silence. When they finished their meal, Nanny Lian and a few guards came with some things, which were newly bought cabinets and tables with locks.
Nanny Lian asked the guards to move the things in, and then she said to the ten-year-old boy, "You should have a good rest today. Tomorrow morning, go to Doctor Li's yard to get the medicine package to regulate your body. You have to make the medicine yourself. If you don't know, ask Doctor Li. After you drink the medicine tomorrow morning, I will come to teach you the rules. After you have regulated your body, there will be a martial arts master in the mansion to teach you kung fu. In the meantime, you still have to study. Although you know a few words, the words you know must be not many, right?"
The twelve-year-old Wu Qiyuan was the first to get excited: "Can we still continue our studies?" Something happened in his family, and he was reduced from a son of an official to a lowly slave. He was lucky to have food to eat, and he never thought that he could still study, so he was quite excited for a moment.
Not only was he excited, but the rest of the boys were also excited after they realized what was happening. They were able to come to the Qin Mansion because of the literacy of the mansion, so they also knew the importance of literacy. Now that the master was willing to let them study, how could they not be excited
Nanny Lian looked at the ten attentive and excited faces and said calmly, "Yes, studying is to help you understand more profound principles and to distinguish right from wrong. At the same time, you must remember the kindness of the master and not do anything to betray the master."
The ten boys said in unison: "Please rest assured, Madam, we will not betray our master."
Hiring someone to teach them is something that no host family would do no matter where they are. Of course, if Yang Haiyan was a native of ancient times, she would not do such a thing.
Seeing them express their opinions one after another, whether it was true or false, Nanny Lian was very satisfied. She had seen the boys one by one, and mainly watched the third boy Wu Qiyuan, the eighth boy Wang Youhang, and the ninth boy Qin Jiang. Madam asked her to observe the third boy, saying that although Wu Qiyuan was a young man who had committed a crime, he had a good mentality and knew right from wrong. He did not resent the court because the court sentenced his father. On the contrary, he knew that his father had done something wrong and was willing to accept this punishment. Since he enjoyed the blessings brought by his father, he had to bear the consequences of his father's mistakes. It can be seen that Wu Qiyuan has good moral character.
There is also the number eight boy, Wang Youhang, who sold himself on the way to escape so that his brother, sister-in-law and niece could be together, and he had no resentment. This also shows his character, that he knows right from wrong and is generous. He is generous but not a good person, but has his own ideas. In addition, the number nine boy, Qin Jiang, was taken in by an old beggar, and when the old beggar was sick, he sold himself to pay for the old beggar's medical treatment. These two boys are people who know how to be grateful.
If nothing unexpected happens, such a child will definitely become the young master's right-hand man in the future and will not lead the young master astray.
Nanny Lian continued, "Please find a place to sit down. I will tell you about our Qin Mansion. It is necessary for you to know how the Qin family started."
The ten boys hurriedly sat down and said, "Yes." At the same time, they also felt that the master was very different. Especially those boys who had been servants, when they were in other masters' houses before, they had never heard the masters talk about how they started.
Nanny Lian followed Yang Haiyan's instructions. Although she didn't know why the lady gave such instructions, she knew that the lady had her own reasons for doing things: "The affairs of our Qin family should start from..." Nanny Lian started from Qin Fang's joining the army in his father's place, and now Qin Fang has been transferred back to the capital. Whether it is the general's affairs or the lady's affairs, she talked about them in detail, and the details are naturally the things that are known by outsiders. Whether it is the ore or the ice making, it is all known.
After hearing this, the ten boys were shocked. They never thought that General Qin was once a good citizen and started his career as a good citizen. They also never thought that his wife was once a maid, but now she has become a second-rank lady with her own ability. It is really amazing.
Looking at the pairs of eyes flashing with excitement, Nanny Lian continued, "Don't worry, as long as you behave well and are loyal to the master, Madam promises that in the future, your children can be indentured. When your children become good citizens, those who are capable of taking the imperial examinations can take them, and those who are not, the general can also recommend them to the military camp for training, but the prerequisite is that you are loyal enough."
If the indentured servants were not released by their masters, not only would they be slaves for life, but their children would also be slaves. In the future, their children would be the sons of servants and would also be indentured. Therefore, it was extremely exciting for them if the indenture master could release their children.
Maybe the eight or nine-year-old boys didn't really understand, but the teenagers did. How could they not be excited when they heard what Aunt Lian said
Especially Wu Qiyuan. He was originally the son of an official, but his father committed a crime and became a slave. Therefore, he never thought that the descendants of the Wu family could be good citizens. But now, after hearing the assurance from Nanny Lian, he made up his mind with red eyes. He would always be loyal to the master and the young master, and free his children from slavery in the future. This would be worthy of his father and the ancestors of the Wu family.
Nanny Lian looked at the boys' expressions and felt that the madam had done a good job in using both kindness and severity. She was already an old woman, but was not as good as the madam in this aspect.
There were footsteps outside, and after a while, a little kid ran to the door. He stuck his little head out of the door and looked inside. The Wei brothers had already gone back, and he had eaten lunch and had a nap. He remembered that there were still many little brothers at home, so he pestered his mother to find them, but his mother did not come, so she asked the maid to bring him here. Qin Linyang ran in front, and the maid followed closely behind, fearing that the little boy would fall. Although he had a soft knee pad sewn into his pants, the maid was still worried. Fortunately, the little boy was quite steady along the way, and he arrived outside the house safely.
Everyone's eyes met Qin Linyang's, and the young man hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Hello, young master."
Qin Linyang, who was already two years old, smiled at them, looked at them with pure and clear eyes, and then walked in with his head shaking: "Hello, little brothers."
The teenager hurriedly said, "I dare not."
Nanny Lian did not correct the young master's behavior. Madam had instructed that the young master should make his own decision.
Qin Linyang was very brave. He was not afraid when he heard that Nanny Lian, who had watched him grow up, was inside. He walked into the room, looked at them curiously, and then looked at Nanny Lian: "Nanny, what are you doing?"
Aunt Lian said, "I'm telling them stories."
When Qin Linyang heard this, he quickly found a place to squat down, holding his chin with both hands: "Mammy, I want to listen too. Is it the story of Calabash Brothers?" He had heard his mother tell the story of Calabash Brothers, and he liked it very much.
Aunt Lian said, "No, it's about the story of your father being a hero in the war."
"Wow?" Qin Linyang opened his eyes wide, "I want to hear Daddy's story, too. Mammy, please tell me."
Seeing that he was tired from squatting, Nanny Lian walked over and carried him to the bed: "Okay, Nanny, I'll tell you." So Nanny Lian told the story of General Qin's suppression of bandits again. Of course, she decided to tell it in a simpler way, otherwise the young master might not understand. "It is said that General Qin was ordered to take up a post in Yunxiang County. On the way..."
Qin Linyang interrupted her: "Mammy, who is General Qin?"