With so many temptations, he still wanted to be with Aunt Xu. Min Jia wiped away her tears and nodded.
Mother Liu disagreed, frowning and saying, "Sister, you haven't been to the street yet, and the food there is so filthy..."
Xu Lanyin didn't want to talk to Mama Liu any more, so she said, "Send someone to ask Butler Hao." She felt he would agree. Besides, letting the little girl see more things and people would also help her free herself from the past.
More than half a minute later, the little girl came back to report that Butler Hao agreed and asked them to bring a few more servants and an extra set of things that the little girl usually used.
After a busy period, Xu Lanyin led Min Jia, followed by six maids, and went to the front yard. Zhao Wu, Housekeeper Hao, and several guards were already waiting there. Zhao Wu looked normal, but Housekeeper Hao's face was not so good.
Butler Hao saw that Xu Lanyin had liver pain again.
He rushed to the outer study before daybreak today, sent the other servants away, and said to the Fujian household who was having breakfast, "Master, what do you think of Miss Xu?"
Minhu smiled happily and said, "Very good. She is smart, capable, kind-hearted, and very understanding. If she encounters any difficulties, Uncle Hao will do his best to help her."
Housekeeper Hao was overjoyed and said with a smile, "The old lady and the master have been so worried about your illness and my sister's. If we can keep Miss Xu in the mansion for a long time..."
Min Hu said, "I have asked Miss Xu to be my personal physician and female advisor for a long time. She can not only help me with personal matters, but also with special official matters." He also instructed, "Don't spread the news of her help with official matters. If you need her in the future, you must arrange all her affairs and ensure that she has good accommodation and food."
Seeing his master who was clever in everything except women, Butler Hao had to explain more clearly, "Master, what I mean is that Miss Xu should be kept in the mansion for a long time. She can be used by you all the time without having to invite her."
Minhu's face darkened a little, and he asked, "Uncle Hao means..."
Butler Hao continued, "The eldest lady has been interfering in the master's marriage, proposing marriages for you everywhere and repeatedly pushing women into your way. Although the master has rejected them all, the old lady and the master are still unhappy with you because of the heir. Miss Xu's family is not well-off, and the old lady will not agree to let her become your principal wife. It would be better to take her as a concubine. Not only can she continue to help you and my sister, but she can also provide for your family..."
Before Butler Hao could finish his words, Minhu's face darkened. He slammed his bowl down on the table and shouted, "Enough! Miss Xu came to help me out of kindness, and then helped Jia'er. She's been so kind to me and my daughter, how could I possibly let her be my concubine? I'm harming her and repaying kindness with hatred."
He stood up and walked out the door. When he reached the threshold, he turned back and said, "How could a woman like Miss Xu be willing to be a concubine? That would be a blasphemy to her. Kill that thought of yours and don't let her see it, or I'll push her away."
After saying this, he went straight to the yamen.
Housekeeper Hao had been Min Hu's childhood companion, always respected by him. Today was the first time he had been humiliated. Housekeeper Hao's face flushed and paled. He simply couldn't understand why, not only could a maid from the Shangshu Mansion, who was only slightly pretty, want to be a master's concubine, but even many daughters of officials wanted to be his concubines. He had come up with this idea, thinking it would both solve his master's problem and provide Miss Xu with a better future, but his master thought it was harming her...
Seeing Xu Lanyin approaching with the young lady, Housekeeper Hao finally noticed how stunningly beautiful this peasant girl was. Her demeanor was no less impressive than that of a noblewoman from the capital, and she even possessed a unique charm that no noblewoman possessed. He had previously considered her merely a pretty peasant girl, not realizing she possessed such grace. Since the master didn't want her to be his woman, but he also didn't want to push her away, he decided to treat her as a female advisor and doctor whom the master valued...
Butler Hao suppressed his anger and asked Xu Lanyin and Min Jia to get on the first carriage.
A line of carriages and horses marched out of the gate of Min Prefecture in a mighty procession.
The carriage entered the busy street, and the constant shouting made Min Jia very curious. He lifted the curtain a little and looked out.
Mother Liu wanted to stop her, but Xu Lanyin shook her head gently.
Xu Lanyin also bought a sugar figurine and sugar-roasted chestnuts for the little girl as promised.
Li Zi didn't dare let her eat more and only fed her two.
They first visited the Minfu fur shop on Qingqu Street. It was one of the largest shops on the street. Its black tiles and whitewashed walls, its doors and windows carved with vermilion, were magnificent and luxurious. The backyard was also quite large, with two buildings housing eight rooms, plus east and west wing rooms. The yard boasted two lush trees, flowers, rockery, a well, and two screen doors.
Such a big shop costs three thousand taels of silver. If Xu Lanyin had money, she would definitely buy it immediately, but unfortunately she doesn't.
Afterwards, I went to the shop Hu Wan had bought. It was the same size as the Min family shop, but older, and there was construction going on next to it. I ran into Hu Wan, who was supervising the construction.
Hu Wan also saw them and ran over enthusiastically to invite them to dinner at the restaurant next door.
Xu Lanyin knew that he wanted to build a relationship with Butler Hao, so she agreed. Butler Hao saw that Xu Lanyin was willing, so he did not object.
Hu Wan said that the deed had been processed and he would give it to Xu Lanyin when she went to Hu's house tomorrow.
After dinner, they said goodbye to Hu Wan. They first went to the embroidery workshop and bought the little girl some beautiful handkerchiefs to use as bedding for the kitten and the duck. They also bought her some small purses and sachets, all of which were paid for by Xu Lanyin.
Afterwards, we visited two teahouses. One had singers and storytellers, while the other was mainly for chess and card games, with rooms for Go, Chinese chess, and card games. The latter used leaf tiles, which were a bit like mahjong in our past lives.
Business is very good, and there are even rooms specially prepared for women.
Time was tight, so I just took a quick look around and didn't drink tea. I just bought some snacks for the little girl.
The two teahouses were on opposite sides of the street. When he returned to Minfu, the sky was already filled with rosy clouds. The Minhu had also left the government office, and he was delighted to see his daughter enjoying herself.
Everyone had dinner in the outer study, Min Hu and Zhao Wu sat at one table, and Xu Lanyin and Min Jia sat at another.
Minhu whispered to Zhao Wu that he had official business and would be back in Beijing in a few days. Zhao Wu's dimples grew brighter with joy, and he thought about writing a letter to his elder brother that night, asking Lord Min to deliver it. He would tell him that he was still alive and that his elder brother's "leg disease" could be cured...
Min Hu then casually said that he had just received a letter from the Minister of Personnel, stating that the Ningzhou Prefecture's Tongpan had been approved to retire and return home, and someone had recommended Min Can. If nothing unexpected happened, Min Can would take up this sixth-rank position before the end of the year.
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