Flowers on the other side [Comprehensive Red House]

Zhao Lin and his wife brought half a boatload of dowry gifts that Lin Qian hastily prepared, as well as Lin Hai's plans to give to Fang Shi, Zuo Shi, the same year's annual gift, and the Jia's annual gift, and braved the severe winter months to go to Beijing.

But Jia Lian, who was supposed to follow him back to Beijing, only sent a young servant back to Jia's mansion to deliver a letter, saying that he would celebrate the New Year in Jiangnan.

Zhou Kuangming clapped his hands and laughed, "Dong Weng, congratulations, you have picked up an eldest son for nothing."

Lin Hai was also very proud of his smile, "What Kuang Ming said is true. This Jia Lian has grown so big, it is estimated that the Jia family has never put him in the position of the heir to the lineage, and raised him well. Seeing that we have taught him with all our heart, I was reluctant to leave."

"If someone has a conscience and knows how to repay his kindness, it will be worth our effort."

"Although Jia Lian is a bit flirtatious, it is also the normal state of young people. Looking at it in the past six months, his temperament is not bad."

"Dong Weng has always been very accurate in judging people. I heard Yulin said that he seems to be quick to get started with money, grain, and accounting. If you really want to be an official, you should go to the Ministry of Household Affairs."

Lin Hai nodded, and handed Jia Lian over to Zhou Ming to teach and train him. He also asked Jia Lian what he had learned and realized every day after dinner. But every time he took a homework test and asked Jia Lian to get stuck, Daiyu secretly reminded Jia Lian .Lin Hai pretended not to know, and after the two discussed it, Jia Lian answered again.After coming and going, the relationship between Jia Lian and Daiyu improved.Jia Lian looked at this five or six-year-old little cousin, who was lonely and had no companions. She gradually developed the appearance of a big brother and a younger sister. Occasionally, when she went out for a stroll, she would pick and buy some novelty gadgets. Like this, coaxing Daiyu to play.

When Lin Hai knew that Jia Lian was buying small things for Daiyu, he called Lin Qian over, "Remember to give the cousin 50 taels a month. It will not exceed 300 taels a month, let him buy it, and let the accountant settle the bill."

Lin Qian sent Zhao Lin and his party away and started preparing for the New Year's chores.In the past, he didn't feel anything when he worked with Lin Cheng.But this year there is no wife in charge, Lin Cheng and his wife are not around, and his own daughter-in-law is accompanying Daiyu, so it will be very difficult.Seeing that Lin Hai was free, he came over and said, "My lord, the wife and nuns for the eldest girl have all come to the house to wait. The younger one also gave birth to a child from home, and picked some maids for the eldest girl, and they have been teaching them all the time. Let's see when the master is free, take a look and settle down."

"What kind of background does the lady come from?"

"The female wife is a widow, surnamed Qiao, who is from Yangzhou Prefecture. She is in her 30s and has no children. Her husband's family doesn't allow her, and both her natal parents have passed away. She taught female students in various families. I interviewed the younger one carefully, and she has a good reputation. .Because the last female student got married, it was vacated. I heard that female celebrities in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting are all good, and their personality is also gentle. The rich mother is younger, less than 30 years old, and she lives in a town around Yangzhou Prefecture. After being released from the palace for a few years, I couldn’t get along with my family when I returned to my hometown, and I didn’t want to fill houses for others, so I came out to teach etiquette to female students.”

"After dinner. The eldest girl and the cousin are here, and let them meet with Mr. Qiao and the rich mother. The maids will teach for a while longer, and the rules will be stricter. The eldest girl's maids were changed years ago. .”

Lin Qian answered "Yes" and went to arrange things by himself.

After dinner, Lin Hai stopped taking Jia Lian's homework test, but said to Jia Lian and Daiyu: "I hired a wife and nun for Yu'er. Here are their documents. You two should take a look first. See them again in a while."

After Guigui led the two of them in, Lin Hai guessed which one was Mrs. Qiao and which one was the rich mother when he saw them saluting.After a little questioning, Lin Hai knew that Lin Qian was seriously looking for his wife and nanny, so he made an agreement with the two to stay in Yushifu to teach and educate Daiyu.Then, Gui Ni sent the people out and handed them over to Lin Qian's family to arrange a place to live and so on.

When only Jia Lian and Daiyu were left, Lin Hai began to ask questions.

"Come on, tell me about Mrs. Qiao and Mrs. Fu, what impression do you have? Lian'er will talk first."

"Uncle, Mrs. Qiao seems to be quite amiable and rather weak. The rich mother seems to be very polite."

"Where's Yu'er?"

"In addition to what my cousin said, Mrs. Qiao is a strong person, and so is the rich mother."

Lin Hai smiled, the little girl is more sensitive to people than Jia Lian, this is innate, Jia Lian still has a long way to go in seeing people.

"Both of them seem to be polite people. The rich mother's etiquette is cultivated in the palace, and every word she speaks is so peaceful that there is no change in the slightest. Master Qiao looks gentle and gentle, but the two The essence of people's heart is to be strong and not to be manipulated by others. Lian'er, you need to look at people's inner qualities. In this regard, you have to think about it carefully. Go back and tell me what you have seen in this mansion, whether you are familiar with it or not. Or not, analyze their personalities, five days, and leave it to me."

Jia Lian's face was bitter. There were dozens of servants in Yushi's mansion.

"Go ahead, I'll write tonight, there's too much difference, I need a handboard."

When Daiyu heard that she was going to play hand-banging, she rolled her eyes at Jia Lian and slapped her right hand with her left hand, making a pained expression, and gasped in response.

Lin Hai was amused by such a lively Daiyu, "Lian'er, write well, don't let your sister laugh at you."

"Yes." Jia Lian stood up and agreed, then said goodbye and went back to do her homework.Before he left, he leaned forward and slapped Daiyu's head twice, messing up Daiyu's hair, and then went out happily.

"Daddy, Daddy." Daiyu covered her head and asked Lin Hai for help.

"Call my cousin back, and play hands first?"

"No. Oh, my hair." Daiyu pouted, neither happy that her hair was messed up, nor willing to hit Jia Lian.

Daiyu's maid hurried over to help the little girl comb her hair and tie up the two little girls.

"Yu'er, is your cousin treating you well?"

"Okay. Daddy, what's the matter?"

"No. It's just that Dad thinks, if your mother had given birth to an older brother for you, you would be as old as your cousin now."

"Daddy," Daiyu hugged Lin Hai's arm, "Daddy, marry another bride to Yu'er, so that the bride can have more younger brothers." Daiyu knew that her parents were seriously ill when they lost their younger brothers one game.If you want to cheer up your father, you have to wait for the bride's own brother.

"Daddy, Mr. Jia taught me how to play chess, and Yu'er can beat my cousin. From now on, Yu'er can teach my younger brother how to play chess."

"Okay, good girl. Go back to rest earlier today. Lin Qian's family has been with you for so long, how do you want to thank her?"

"Daddy said how to thank you?"

"Think about what she needs most? What is her favorite? When giving a gift, the most important thing is to match what she likes."

Daiyu frowned and thought again and again, "Daddy, I can't think of it."

"Yu'er can ask people who are familiar with Lin Qian's family, or ask your maid to ask her what she likes. If you really can't find out, give her jewelry, hairpins, hairpins, etc. what women like."

Daiyu nodded, "Daddy, I understand, if you don't know what the recipient likes the most, then you can give the gift that most people like, right?"

"Yes. Yu'er is so smart. I went back to rest earlier, and I will learn how to play the piano and draw with Qiao Fuzi in the afternoon."

Lin Hai sent Daiyu back to her room. Seeing that Lin Qian's family had settled Mrs. Qiao in a yard not far from Daiyu and Daiyu, and the rich nun had also settled in Daiyu's yard, she told Daiyu to go back.

As the Chinese New Year is approaching, there are more posts posted on Yushifu, and more New Year gifts. In previous years, these were organized by Lin Cheng and Lin Qian together. This year, Lin Hai sent his long follower, Lin Jin, to help Lin Qian, so Lin Hai sent Jia Lian to replace Lin Jin to deliver gifts for some matters between various yamen.At the end of the year, Lin Hai called Jia Lian to the study.

"Lian'er, have you figured out any way to give gifts these days?"

Jia Lian has long been used to Lin Hai asking him to do something, so he will definitely ask him why later.After pondering for a while, he said, "Uncle, my nephew wonders why the annual presents sent to the governor are lighter than those given to the subordinates? And the annual presents given to the yamen, why are they all fluffy and worthless?"

"Lian'er, do you think about my official position?"

"Is it because my uncle is the censor?"

"Yes, I am the censor of Yushitai. Not only do I have to inspect the salt road, but I also have the duty to supervise the officials of the Yangzhou government. If I exchange generous gifts with them, the person who supervises me secretly will report to the saint. "

"Is there anyone else watching Uncle?"

The corners of Lin Hai's lips twitched slightly, "Naturally. Otherwise, if I privately indulged the flood of private salt, I would lose the saint's tax revenue. Otherwise, how can I change the position of inspector salt censor? It's not that I should take it if I'm greedy." The money is to collude with other officials, and the death of a inspector who inspects the salt will not catch a bunch of corrupt officials.”

"Uncle, isn't it dangerous for you to be in this position for many years?" Jia Lian was a little anxious.

"I'm not short of money, and I don't get mixed up with those who love money and always want to get ill-gotten gains. Your uncle is a lone minister. As long as you manage the salt road well, the salt tax will be enough. It's flat."

"Uncle, my nephew has a question, I don't know if I should ask it or not?"

"Go ahead."

"Uncle, it is said that three years of clearing the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflakes silver. Your position is still a fatter job than the magistrate. If you don't keep it private... Isn't it too bad?"

"Hahaha," Lin Hai laughed when Jia Lian said this, "Lian'er, in my position, other people want to borrow my rights to make money. If I spare the salt smugglers, I will be committing suicide." Way to go. Why should I find my own way to die?"

"Gui Ni..." Lin Hai raised his voice and called Gui Ni to come in, "Go, let the second housekeeper bring in the annual gift booklet you received this year."

After a while, Lin Qian came in with two thick account books.

"Master, do you want to see this year's annual gift brochure?"

"Yeah. Put it here, you can get it tomorrow morning."

"Yes." Lin Qian saluted and retreated.

Lin Hai picked up a copy and handed it to Jia Lian, "Look, the sage allowed me to accept this annual ceremony. I accepted the annual gift from the salt merchant and followed the court's rules. I didn't condone the salt smugglers. Don't make extra trouble for these salt merchants."

Jia Lian read each page, and the more he read, the more his eyes widened. "This, this, more than a hundred thousand!"

"That's right. Your uncle doesn't blackmail or extort. He always says that the county magistrate ruined the family and the magistrate destroyed the family. But I am an upright official from Yushitai, a capable official from a sage, and a good official from a salt merchant. What conclusion can Lian'er draw from these?"