Chapter 49: Worried

  The man seemed somewhat ill at ease, his hand unconsciously rubbing back and forth on the stubble of his chin.

  The sudden quietness of the two women at the door and their scrutinizing gaze made him even more uneasy.

  "Third Brother?" The maid exclaimed, with a hint of surprise.

  Xu Maoshou raised his head to look at the maid, then quickly lowered his head to look at his clothes.

  "Doesn't fit? I think it's fine." he said.

  "Sanlang!" The maid interrupted him with a smile this time, "You shaved your beard, I almost didn't recognize you!"

  After shaving his beard, Xu Maoshu also seemed quite unaccustomed to it. When he sat down, he was somewhat restless and occasionally pulled at the hem of his clothes.

  The maid couldn't help but laugh on the side.

  "I'd better take off this new outfit and save it for New Year's Day so it doesn't get wrinkled," Xu Maosheng said.

  The maid quickly got up and opened the door.

  "Sanlang, this dress fits you perfectly." She said with a smile.

  "It's good that you chose." Xu Maoshou said with a smile and went out.

  "Miss, will all these young masters change their appearance after changing into new clothes?" The maid asked with a smile, looking at the outside of the door with a hint of mischief.

  Unfortunately, however, the men who put on new clothes to show off to their sisters either remained unchanged or became even more ridiculous.

  "...this is too small..."

  "...I've tried everything, this is the biggest..."

  "Sixth Master, I'll remember this and take it out to change..."

  "...I'll go with you then, otherwise it's a waste of good clothes..."

  Looking over here with a smile, having changed into old clothes and feeling much more at ease, Xu Maosheng turned his head to smile at Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "Don't bother about New Year's goods anymore," he said.

  Before he had finished speaking, Golden Boy ran in from outside the door.

  "Miss, Mr. Chen's family has come with New Year's gifts."

  This shout left everyone in the house stunned, and they immediately scrambled to their feet.

  "Mr. Chen? Which Mr. Chen?"

  Other men didn't understand, but Xu Maoshu naturally did; someone who could be called "husband" wasn't just anyone.

  "Sister, let's avoid it." He said hastily.

  Jiang Yao shook her head.

  "Brother, you're wrong," she said. "You're the older brother, are you going to make your younger sister entertain guests?"

  The men inside suddenly became even more flustered.

  Xu Maoshou looked at Cheng Jiaoniang and took a deep breath, nodding with a smile.

  "So be it, big brother." He looked at Fan Jianglin, "We'll receive our guests."

  Fan Jianglin nodded, shook his clothes and stepped out first with big strides.

  "...I...I'd better change into new clothes..."

  A low voice of another man came from behind him.

  The steward of the Chen family in the courtyard was watching the young servants unload the carriage, and hearing the footsteps, he quickly tidied up his clothes and came over to pay his respects. However, when he looked up, he saw that it was several strange men, and he couldn't help but be startled.

  "Someone will thank you on behalf of Little Sister." Fan Jianglin, as the eldest, bowed his hands and said.

  The steward of the Chen family reacted quickly and immediately paid his respects.

  On that day, the misunderstanding of Jin Ge being kidnapped had spread secretly everywhere. At this time, taking a closer look, it became clear.

  It turned out that these people not only knew Cheng Niangzi, but also called each other brothers and sisters.

  Chen's family manager, with a serious expression, made a bow and didn't ask about Madame Cheng. He treated Fan Jianglin and the others as if they were the real masters of the house, handing over the invitation card and explaining the gift list one by one without any negligence.

  Fan Jianglin accepted the gift, and Xu Maoshu took charge of speaking. Although they were unfamiliar with each other, they didn't panic. After a while, they sent Chen's family manager out the door.

  "Ah yo, my mother!" Xu Bangzhu immediately shouted, stretching out his hand to pretend to wipe sweat, "This is the first New Year's gift I've received since I was born."

  Some people went to see gifts, and some urged Xu Maoshu to look at the post.

  "Every family has its own way."

  Xu Maoshou opened the name tag.

  Quzhou Chen Pu

  This name doesn't seem familiar, Xu Maoshu took another look inside and found a name card with two gift lists, in addition to the largest one, there was another accompanying gift.

  The host of the banquet also left his name.

  Chen Shao

  Xu Maoshou's hand shook as he held the note, and Fan Jianglin quickly stretched out his hand to catch the falling receipt.

  "Old Three?" he asked, "Who is it?"

  "Yes, it is Chen Shangong, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel." Xu Maoshu said in a low voice.

  Although the high-ranking officials of the imperial court did not understand, at least several big officials were well-known to all, let alone the Minister of the Ministry of Officials who was in charge of promotion.

  "This must be the person who has an audience with Heaven." Fan Jianglin exclaimed in surprise, unable to help but turn his head back to look inside the house.

  The maid in the house was writing something with a brush, while Chang Jiaoniang occasionally whispered two sentences beside her, looking just like all ordinary women.

  Xu Maoshou hesitated for a moment, put away the name card, and stepped inside.

  "Sister, what gift should we bring back? We're new to the capital and don't know the local customs, so it's up to you to decide." He said with a smile, handing over the invitation card without asking or mentioning anything.

  Jiang Yao looked at him with a slight curve of her lips.

  "Brother, I've just arrived in Beijing too," she said, looking at the maid, "However, Banqin is an old acquaintance of Beijing."

  Xu Maoshou couldn't help but look at the maid.

  This maid is actually a familiar customer in Beijing? But isn't Cheng Jiaoniang from Beijing either?

  "That's good." Xu Maoshou nodded with a smile and called out to Fan Jianglin, "There was still some money left over from last time when your sister came. Take half of it and go buy what you need."

  The maid servant makes her curtsy at the sound of his voice.

  "Keep your money, come with me." Fan Jianglin said as he stood up.

  "Also, let's go out on the street together and send our clothes to the store for alteration." Xu Bangzhu also said.

  "By the way, also prepare for the New Year's goods." The maid said.

  "Yes, yes, we need to buy couplets and firecrackers."

  Wine, wine.

  Incense and candles for ancestor worship cannot be lessened.

  "We're all going, we're all going, but I haven't strolled around Beijing yet."

  The brothers all stood up, laughing and talking. If they hadn't intentionally lowered their voices, the roof would have been blown off by the commotion.

  Xu Maoshou withdrew his gaze and looked at Cheng Jiaoniang. He saw the woman sitting quietly across from him, with a slight smile on her lips.

  It's rare to see this woman's emotions fluctuate since I've known her, and this is already a rare display of emotion.

  "I'm disturbing you, aren't I?" he said. "You're all rough men, don't understand any rules."

  Jiang Nang looked at him.

  "A family doesn't need rules," she said. "It's lively and joyful like this, thank you brothers, no restraint, no outsiders."

  Xu Maoshou stretched out his hand to stroke his beard, only to remember that he had already shaved it off. He felt a bit awkward and rubbed his chin twice.

  "You see, you always have to be like this, it's just being too polite." He said with a smile.

  "Brother is right," said Cheng Jiaoniang, straightening her back.

  Outside came the crackling sound of burning bamboo, the street gate opened, and children laughed and ran across the street, the festival was about to arrive.

  The firecrackers on the street grew more frequent, and the maid dodged a few laughing children holding rabbit lanterns as they ran by, entering the Kaiyuan Garden.

  The fellow saw her and immediately smiled in welcome.

  "Sister has arrived." He said, "Mr. Hanlang ordered that when you arrive, I will call him immediately."

  The maid smiled and thanked her.

  Before long, Han Yuanchao came over wearing a large cloak.

  The fellow outside the door also informed the carriage to come over, and the maid got on the carriage. Han Yuanchao got on the horse again and invited a doctor. The two of them went out of the city.

  "Is the young lady's accent from Jiangnan?" Han Yuan asked casually.

  Today is fine, the maid lifted the curtain of the carriage, wrapped in a large cloak and didn't feel cold, it's also good to talk to Han Yuan Chao.

  "Yes, I am from Jiangzhou." The maid replied without hiding anything, nodding slightly.

  "Are you staying in the capital for long?" Han Yuan asked again.

  "This is it." The maid shook her head, "I don't know yet, listen to my master's."

  Han Yuanchao nodded slightly.

  "There's something else," said the maid. "Young Master may not know, but this immortal residence has some dealings with Liu Xiaoli, the secretary of the Imperial Secretariat."

  Han Yuanchao was startled and turned his head to look at the maid.