His Excellency the Count of Grandet

After this wave of turmoil, the spring in Paris has completely bloomed.

While the city may be associated with glitz and depravity in many people's minds, it's undeniably beautiful.The tall elms and sycamores have already sprouted new green, and the fog-like fluff seems to have shrouded the solemn and elegant stone buildings on both sides of the street.The sky in the distance has shown a tinge of blue, and the moist breath of the marshes and the subtle fragrance of seasonal flowers linger on the tip of the nose, creating a hazy and fresh aesthetic feeling.

Guillaume has returned to Paris, and normal working conditions have resumed.And Charles buried his head in the pile of materials all day long, planning to read them before going to Bordeaux—yes, those documents were sent to him by Michel.

"It seems that Mr. Michel really only wants you to do it." When it was mentioned once, Guillaume said so.In fact, it took him a while to be absolutely sure that his son had become the hottest upstart in Parisian high society circles.

Charles turned a page and made no comment.Because in fact, Michelle just made the choice that is best for him, and it cannot be regarded as his personal friendship.

"Two years ago, I was still thinking, I don't know how long it will take until you grow up to take care of yourself." Guillaume looked at the clusters of crowded elm money on the tree outside the window, and continued to sigh with emotion. "Unexpectedly, it has already been realized now." Not only was it realized, but it was beyond imagination - he stayed in Epernado for more than ten days, just in time to bring back the first batch of products from the textile factory; Only then did I realize that everything had really settled down!

"Did you think of something else?" Charles put down the paperwork, feeling that Guillaume's tone had a hint of "I'm really old". "No matter what, you are my most beloved father."

Guillaume couldn't help laughing. "You know how to coax me with sweet words!" He said of Shire, but there was no real blame in his tone. "When do you plan to leave Paris this time?"

Charles withdrew his gaze and estimated the thickness of the documents on the table. "Probably not more than a week," he said. "But it's not urgent. I think I should go for a walk with you. That way, maybe you won't feel a little lost."

"Stinky boy!" Guillaume was amused by the description of "inexplicable loss".He just mentioned it casually, and it turns out that Ciel has captured this hidden emotion? "But to be honest, of course I don't mind, as long as you have time." He said, and glanced at the desk schematically-there were piles of documents, various types of pens, pens used in different places. Seals and ink, etc., are placed full.

Charles was a little embarrassed, his eyes flickered, and he touched the tip of his nose with his fingers. "Of course, of course I have time to accompany you."

Guillaume looked sideways at Charles, expressing his disbelief.But in the end, he only asked uncomfortably: "I know you have a lot of things to do, and I don't really want to take up your precious time. But there is one thing you must do-don't tire yourself." Talked the most - who made his son tend to forget food and sleep as soon as he started working?

Ciel nodded, then realized that he too could use this opportunity. "It's time for me to tell you." He said, "You have so many responsibilities, and you may not be easier than me."

"What do you mean by that, it's time for me to resign and retire?" Guillaume said jokingly, but he didn't take it seriously.

Charles knew this would happen.Because there are many positions that still retain life tenure, there is no such thing as retirement.It's really hard to find someone like Victor's father.However, he didn't expect to convince Guillaume immediately, so he just smiled.

"Okay, I know you understand everything, so I won't say more." Guillaume said, turning and walking towards the door of the room. "I'll go for a walk, and then you'll have to come down on time for dinner, so it's decided, huh?"

Seeing the back of his father disappear behind the closed door, Charles heaved a sigh of relief, reconfirming that he is better at dealing with his boss.He couldn't bear Guillaume's softness, so he had better read the document quickly!

But God probably didn't want Shire to make it too easy.Because at the dinner table, he found that his father's expression was not right.It can't be said to be angry, but it can't be said to be happy either.If I had to describe it, it would be closer to something preoccupied.

"You don't seem very happy?" Charles thought that Guillaume was still worrying about the afternoon, "Wait for me..."

But before Charles could finish speaking, Guillaume raised a hand. "No, it has nothing to do with you." Facing Charles' puzzled eyes, he could only continue talking: "Someone sent me a letter just now, from Saumur."

We have to say that it is very rare for Guillaume to voluntarily spit out Saumur, at least only this time in the past two years.And letters from Saumur are even rarer—after Guillaume got married, the Grandet brothers never met again; in the twenty years before Charles became an adult, the two brothers didn't even have a message. passed.

"Uncle?" Charles responded quickly, and at the same time, he didn't think that his famous relatives in the world would bring him any good things. "What did he say in the letter?"

"My brother said that my wife is not in good health, and he is going to send her to Paris for treatment." Guillaume replied, the expression on his face was inevitably filled with worry and doubt. "If possible, my brother hopes that we can take care of Mrs. Sister-in-law."

If Charles had the teacup in his hand at this moment, it would have but one fate—to fall to the ground and be broken into pieces.

Looking for a doctor to recuperate Mrs. Grandet's body?Of course there is no problem at all!But the question is, is that really an unsolicited request from a world-famous cheapskate?

You know, how did Mrs. Grandet die in the original book—because of her husband’s rage and fright, Grandet never asked her for a doctor, and finally died of a lingering illness—compared with the present, what he is really wearing is "Eugénie Grandet"?

Charles has only one thought about this: the painting style is wrong, dear!Is there really no need to rewind it?

Brief silence.

"Although it's not very kind to say that," Guillaume said again, "but it's a bit weird." He looked at Charles while talking, "Do you know how your wife is doing?"

Of course, this matter can only be asked of Charles, because only Charles has been to Saumur recently.

"During my cousin's birthday, my aunt looked a little sick, but I don't think it's serious." Charles replied, while thinking about whether there was anything that might make Madame Grandet's condition worse——

He took Eugenie's gold?No, he even gave some back!

That box of gold coins was found by his uncle?That's nothing to happen, right?

Eugenie disobeyed his uncle?It doesn't make sense, his cousin looks like she's already fallen in love!

"I don't understand." Finally, Charles said tactfully. "Maybe we should wait for someone to come and see what happens."

"In fact, my wife and niece are already on their way," Guillaume replied.If part of his misgivings were due to the fact that his brother had written to him, a greater part was due to this preemption.No matter how you look at it, he feels that his brother is rushing to send someone to Paris!Sister-in-law treats illnesses, niece takes care of...

Thinking of this, Guillaume looked at his son's fair and beautiful face again, and felt that he seemed to have caught something. "I never asked before, because I thought it unlikely that my brother would allow such a thing; but I want to know now, what is Eugenie's attitude towards you, Charles?"

Well, I knew his father would think of getting married!

"Although from your point of view and most people's point of view, young people in Paris will definitely cause a stir and be sought after in the interior, but my cousin is not like that." Charles said decisively, vowing to kill his father's thoughts In the cradle, "she is a dignified and lovely girl, and no one who has met her will dare to desecrate her."

Guillaume frowned disapprovingly.With Charles's appearance, he was in no position to be disadvantaged among women in Paris, let alone in a small town like Saumur?So when Charles said this, he was just tactfully but firmly expressing that he was not interested in Eugenie? "Perhaps you're right," he said, "and they'll find out when they come."

Two weak women flowed to Paris, one of them was still a sick man, so he could only take a carriage, and the speed would definitely not be fast.This made Charles postpone his trip—because he wanted to know what kind of medicine was sold in his uncle's gourd.

This delay was invisible to others, but Victor, who had a deep understanding of Charles' work efficiency, noticed it at a glance.So when he accompanied Charles into the Tuileries Palace (dedicating carefully selected woven pattern fabrics to the king), he asked why: "I thought you should rush to Bordeaux by now?"

"There was an accident," said Charles, and then he gave a general outline of the whole matter.

Victor had heard about the relatives of the Grandet family in Saumur in Paris, and he didn't care at all.All he cared about was probably: "Is your cousin coming?"

"Yes, the relationship between their mother and daughter is as good as that of sisters." Charles didn't think there was a problem with this arrangement.If his uncle only let Madame Grandet come, the problem would be even bigger!

Victor was not surprised to find that Charles' focus had shifted from him again, and he had nothing to say for a while.In Shire's dictionary, there is no room for the word "jealous" at all, right?It's good not to be flirtatious, but it's a bit too incomprehensible...

"However, I think I can probably guess some." Charles said his guess, "Uncle probably really moved his heart, in terms of the factory. And he is always cautious, this time he may hope to pass his aunt and The cousin got some information useful for his decision. For, had his usual attorneys been sent--Notary Cruchot or Monsieur de Grassin--my father and I would not have said a word to such a person. .”

"I thought you didn't have a good relationship with your uncle?" Victor took back his thoughts that had strayed too far, and asked something to the point. "The way you mentioned him doesn't sound like you're praising him."

"For a qualified businessman, doing business has nothing to do with his own emotional likes and dislikes." Charles said lightly. "Maybe you will also want to meet my uncle in the future—his investment business is just like what your surname represents. He has never failed, and even exceeds expectations every time, earning a lot of money."

Victor's footsteps rarely stopped for a moment. "Are you serious?"

"Of course, you will know when the time comes." Charles affirmed.

Victor didn't continue to ask, but he had already thought of a worse possibility - the Grandet family was shrewd, right?Does that seemingly harmless cousin really know nothing?

After thinking about the recent events, Victor came to a conclusion resentfully: why is it so difficult to fall in love?Can't stay like this in Paris any longer!

The author has something to say: Victor: Shall we go abroad for fun, dear Charles?

Charles: England?

Victor: Of course not! ...not even Europe, it's not far enough!How about America?

Charles: Sounds good.

Victor: Great, that's it! [Finally there are only two people, hehe Michelle & Alphonse: Can you show some face?