Chapter 609: Firecrackers (Part 1)

The outer courtyard has an accounting office and a reception office. Jiang Geer pointed to the reception office in the western chamber and said, "It's a manager there. He wears a straight gown in the color of autumn fragrance and has two small mustaches."

Behind him, Chen Ge'er said excitedly, "Should we go find him and beat him up?"

Hongwen felt that his back seemed to be sweaty again.

She smiled softly and said, "We are not guards, why would we beat anyone? It would be disrespectful. Let's go find Butler Bai and let him take care of him."

Jianger nodded and went to a two-room wing to the west of the main hall. Because of Xu Siyu's marriage, General Manager Bai was temporarily handling all the affairs of the Xu Mansion there. There were stewards coming and going from time to time. When they saw Jianger, they bowed and called him "Sixth Young Master" and "Seventh Young Master" with a smile, and their attitudes were very cordial and friendly.

Another steward said to Jiange'er, "Sixth Young Master, do you still remember me? Last time in Fourth Young Master's room, I was ordered by Steward Zhao to deliver a letter to Fourth Young Master, but it started to rain, so I carried you to the Chuihua Gate!"

Jiang'er looked at the steward blankly, obviously having no impression of him at all.

The steward immediately said, "My name is Wang Erhu."

"Oh," Jian'er responded casually and walked forward.

The steward couldn't help but reveal a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

When they walked under the eaves, a young man with fair skin, handsome appearance, and wearing a steward's blue silk robe came out of the room. The man was stunned when he saw Jian Ge'er, and hurried forward to bow to Jian Ge'er: "Sixth Young Master, I haven't seen you for a while. Are you okay? How is the Fourth Madam? I and my wife have been thinking about the Fourth Madam and the Sixth Young Master."

Hong Wen smiled and said, "This is Cao An, the manager. He works in the warehouse. His family member, Yan Rong, used to serve the lady, but after she got married, she was released."

Jian'er looked at Cao An twice more and said, "Mom is fine. I am fine too." Then he ordered Hong Wen, "Reward him two taels of silver!"

Cao An had seen two taels of silver before. But this was a gift from Jian Ge'er, so it was naturally different. He took the silver respectfully, thanked Jian Ge'er gratefully, and then asked Jian Ge'er carefully: "Are you looking for General Manager Bai?"

Jiangeer nodded.

Cao An said, "I'm here to look for Chief Steward Bai as well. Chief Steward Bai just went to the office, and a servant has gone to call him. He should be back soon." He stood aside with his hands hanging down, "How about we invite Sixth Young Master to come in and sit for a while?" He glanced at Hong Wen, "Miss Hong Wen can also serve you."

Hongwen nodded to him gratefully.

This is the outer courtyard, and all the people coming and going are men.

As she walked along, everyone was staring at her and she felt a little overwhelmed.

"Thank you, Manager Cao!" Hongwen followed him into the compartment.

There were several people who looked like stewards standing around talking. When they heard the noise, they looked over and saw that it was Jian Ge'er. They all came forward to greet him. Some saw that Jian Ge'er was dirty and personally fetched water for Hong Wen so that Hong Wen could help Jian Ge'er and Shen Ge'er clean their hands and faces. Some also helped Jian Ge'er to find the chief steward Bai. After cleaning up, they served tea, snacks, and chatted with him. It was very lively.

Cao An asked Hong Wen thoughtfully, "I heard that after the summer, Mother Gu went back home. Which mother is serving the Sixth Young Master now?"

Hong Wen smiled and said, "There has been no suitable one. Madam is in charge of Sixth Young Master's affairs personally!" Although she said this, she was thinking about the candidates recommended to Fourth Madam by Second Madam, Fifth Madam, and Third Madam from Sanjing Hutong in recent days.

If someone acts in a gentle manner, the Fourth Lady says he is too weak and is afraid that he cannot control the Sixth Young Master; if someone acts in a strict manner, the Fourth Lady says he is too cold and is afraid that he will make the Sixth Young Master stupid... I don't know what kind of person is suitable!

"Then you will have a hard time! You have to shoulder everything." Cao An talked to Hong Wen with a smile, but his eyes occasionally glanced at the stewards who were flattering in front of Jiange'er.

Since the Sixth Young Master grew up safely to the age of five, the atmosphere in the mansion has become a little different. Some people want to get close to the Second Young Master, and some people want to get close to the Sixth Young Master. However, the Sixth Young Master is young and raised in the inner courtyard. The Fourth Madam keeps a close eye on the Sixth Young Master, so those people can't find a chance. Even so, there are still people who come to him and Wan Daxian to get close to him.

When he told this to his wife Yanrong, Yanrong warned him: "Don't think you can show off just because you are the Fourth Madam's man. The young lady of the Jiang family hasn't even entered the family yet. The Sixth Young Master still has a long way to go. At this time, we must be more careful and not cause any trouble that can be used against us, which will then implicate the Fourth Madam and the Sixth Young Master. You should learn from Wan Daxian and do your job well and ignore everything else. Try to get promoted to the second-class steward, the first-class steward, and the chief steward. Only then can you really help the Sixth Young Master and we can live a good life."

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile slightly, and focused all his attention on greeting Hong Wen.

Manager Bai walked in quickly.

"Sixth Young Master! Seventh Young Master!" He greeted Qin Ge'er and Shen Ge'er with a smile.

Hong Wen stood up quickly: "Butler Bai, our Sixth Young Master wants to talk to you!"

The steward didn't give the Sixth Young Master firecrackers because he was afraid that the Sixth Young Master would blow up his hands. It was a good intention. If the Sixth Young Master reported the steward in front of so many people, no one would dare to say anything when the Sixth Young Master did something wrong in the future. This is not helping the Sixth Young Master, but harming him. Daozi is someone close to the Sixth Young Master. If he prospers, they all prosper, and if he suffers, they all suffer. Naturally, the Sixth Young Master cannot be allowed to do such a thing.

After listening to this, Manager Bai glanced at the stewards in the room.

Those managers were all shrewd men and they immediately bowed and retreated.

Jiang Ge'er angrily told the butler Bai what had happened: "... help me get some firecrackers and give that butler a good lesson."

While he was speaking, Hong Wen looked at Manager Bai without believing in him, meaning that Manager Bai should just deal with Jian Ge'er in a perfunctory manner.

Manager Bai understood clearly.

He also heard a lot about the inner courtyard. There had never been a mother in charge of the children's room, and Shiyi Niang had brought up this son herself. She had put so much thought into it, so naturally she had many expectations for him.

But just hoping is not enough. Jian Ge'er is the youngest son, and if he wants to stand out, he can only work on his reputation. This kind of thing of teaching the mansion manager a lesson for a disagreement will only make Jian Ge'er have a bad reputation of being unreasonable and domineering, which is probably what Shiyi Niang is most unhappy to see.

He knew that many people in the mansion had their own thoughts. But he also had his own thoughts. After serving the Marquis for so many years, the Marquis was not confused at all. The Marquis just liked to keep everything in his heart. If he had any tricks, the Marquis would definitely not be able to hide them from him with his shrewdness, which would only disappoint the Marquis. Rather than losing his integrity in his later years, it would be better to serve the Marquis as always and loyally. He would do whatever the Marquis said. He could also get a reputation for being loyal.

A thought flashed through his mind, and Chief Steward Bai recalled what Xu Lingyi had said to him a few days ago: "...Jin'er will be enlightened in the spring of next year. Ask Steward Zhao to ask a few generals in my name to recommend a master who knows martial arts."

The Marquis had high hopes for this youngest son, so he naturally had to protect the Sixth Young Master's reputation.

Thinking of this, Chief Butler Bai smiled and nodded to Hong Wen, and said softly, "Don't worry, Sixth Young Master, let me find the steward you mentioned first, and then I will get back to you. As for the firecrackers, you don't know that there are many people in our house, and there are quotas for everything. In this way, those stewards and servants dare not take things randomly. Otherwise, why would those servants pick up the unlit firecrackers on the ground and set them off." As he spoke, he looked up at the sky, "It's almost noon, according to the rules of the house, what should we do? All things must be registered the day before, and no one is allowed to open the door of the storehouse after the beginning of the third month. Unless there is a card from the Marquis. Of course, if it is the Sixth Young Master who wants to pick up something, the Marquis will definitely give a card, but today is special, the Second Young Madam's dowry is about to be brought in, even if the Marquis has a card, I am afraid that the people in the storehouse will run to see the excitement and can't find anyone. "After saying this, he called "Sixth Young Master" very sincerely, "Or, I will make a register for you tonight, and I will personally deliver it to you tomorrow morning after I get the firecrackers?"

Although he had a quota on the right and a custom on the left, Jiang Ge'er was not confused at all.

What Manager Bai said meant exactly what he meant.

It was impossible to call the manager to give him a lecture, and it was also impossible to get firecrackers from him.

He was so angry that his face turned red. He stood up suddenly and said, "Isn't it just my father's matching card? I'll go and get it!" Then he strode out.

Chen Geer looked at it and also lost it. "Let's go find Fourth Uncle to ask for it."

After saying this, he ran out.

"Thank you very much, Manager Bai." Hong Wen thanked Manager Bai in a hurry, "There's nothing I can do. If the Sixth Young Master was blown up by firecrackers, I would die a thousand times and it wouldn't be enough!" As he said that, he trotted after him.

Xu Lingyi was sitting and talking with Liang Gelao, Dou Gelao, Wang Li and others when a servant came in to report that the Sixth Young Master had come. A warm smile suddenly appeared in his eyes.

Although Liang Ge Lao and the others remained calm, some were drinking tea, some were talking, but they all glanced at the door out of the corner of their eyes.

Jian Ge'er walked in calmly and saluted respectfully to the adults. Xu Lingyi called him over and asked, "Why are you here? Where is your mother?"

"Mother is talking to my aunt and aunties." He said in a loud voice, "I want to set off firecrackers, but Manager Bai said that I need your permission. So I came to find you." As he spoke, he pouted and looked at Xu Lingyi, "Dad, I want to set off firecrackers!"

From the tone of his voice, Xu Lingyi seemed to have found many people, and none of them gave him firecrackers. Although he didn't understand the process, his son was so young, yet he could find him and clearly and loudly state his request in front of so many people... He suddenly thought of Xu Sizhen... and sighed in his heart.