Meng Zhao tightened the reins to keep the horse still. Meng Dashan, standing beside her, nimbly dismounted and walked to Xu Yunrong's side. He supported her calf with his left hand and raised his right hand to give her leverage. Once Xu Yunrong was safely off the horse, Meng Dashan couldn't help but say, "My daughter is standing right there. She's not going to run away, is she? You're a mother now, yet you're still so clumsy. You'll make your daughter laugh at you."
Xu Yunrong rolled her eyes at him, about to retort, when Meng Zhao affectionately took her arm: "Mother, when did you learn to ride a horse? I almost didn't recognize you when I saw you from afar. Your dashing figure was just like a female knight-errant!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yunrong proudly raised her chin at Meng Dashan. Meng Dashan looked at the mother and daughter's identical expressions and shook his head with a helpless smile.
Xu Yunrong patted her daughter's hand: "It's just that the journey was too long. The carriage ride made my back ache and my head spin. It's much more comfortable to ride a horse, so I learned from your father."
Hearing Xu Yunrong say this, Meng Zhao felt a pang of heartache. He came up behind her and reached out to massage her shoulders. "You must have had a hard journey, Mother. Tonight I'll give you a good massage, along with my special medicated oil. I guarantee you'll feel completely comfortable."
Xu Yunrong couldn't bear to see her daughter suffer, so she pulled her hand off her shoulder and said, "As long as our family can be together, it's not hard."
Meng Zhao snuggled against her mother's chest affectionately, then took her parents' arms: "Father, Mother, don't just stand at the door, come in and take a look. I've carefully chosen this house for a long time."
Just as the three were about to step into the mansion, two clear voices suddenly called out from behind: "Manager!" The voices were filled with undisguised joy.
Meng Zhao turned around and saw He Jianxia and Meng Jianqiu, the two maids, staring at her expectantly. She then patted her forehead and said, "Oh dear, I was so busy talking to my parents that I forgot to ask you two if you've had a good journey? Are you tired?"
He Jianxia waved her hands repeatedly, her eyes sparkling with the joy of reunion: "It's no trouble at all! We were so happy to be able to come to the capital to help the manager that we haven't slept well for several nights!"
Meng Jianqiu nodded eagerly in agreement, "Yes, yes! We've been wondering what the capital city will be like all this way, and how grand the shopkeeper's new shop will be!"
When Meng Zhao chose Su Meng to come to the capital with her, the two complained to Meng Zhao several times, both openly and secretly. Meng Zhao reassured them that they had worked in Qingshi County for a long time and that she trusted them more, so the two stopped complaining.
Later, they heard that the shop in the capital was about to open, and the shopkeeper asked them to come and help out for a while. They started preparing early, and they were overjoyed to see Meng Zhao today.
Meng Zhao smiled and said, "Don't rush. You've traveled for so long and must be tired. Rest for a day or two first, and then I'll take you to see the shop."
While they were talking, Huang Cui went to the back to call the bodyguards who had come with her and told them to drive the carriage into the courtyard.
Before even stepping through the courtyard gate, Meng Dashan couldn't help but exclaim, "The capital is truly wonderful! Even the walls here are much higher than back home." His gaze lingered on the black plaque with gold lettering above the gate, and he added, "This plaque is also exquisitely made; it's truly magnificent. Zhaozhao, you must have spent a fortune to furnish this house!"
Meng Zhao shook his head. "I didn't think that much about it, Father. The owner of this courtyard was in a hurry to sell, so the price was much cheaper. Even the broker said I got a bargain."
Meng Zhao affectionately took her parents' arms and led them across the threshold. The courtyard was paved with blue bricks and decorated with flowers and plants, presenting an elegant scene.
"Father, Mother, this is Aunt Li, and this is Granny Wang. They live in the south room and are responsible for cleaning the yard and preparing meals." Then, turning to the two women, he said gently, "These are my parents. They will be living in the capital from now on. They've just arrived and are probably having a lot of trouble adjusting, so please take good care of them."
Aunt Li and Granny Wang quickly stepped forward to greet them. Aunt Li rubbed her hands and said, "Master and Madam, you must be tired from your journey. I don't have many other skills, but my cooking is passable. If there's anything you'd like to eat, please just let me know."
Granny Wang chimed in, "Yes, we clean the courtyard carefully every day to make sure you're comfortable. If you need any clothes washed or dried, just bring them to us. We always have hot water in the kitchen, so please forgive us if we're not attentive enough."
The two women were getting old and no mansion was willing to take them in if they wanted to sell themselves into servitude. They were originally registered with a house brokerage firm, and the brokerage firm would send them to move or clean up the house whenever someone needed to. Last time, when they came to the Meng mansion to clean up, they were surprised to be kept by Meng Zhao, who asked them if they would like to sign a contract to stay there long-term without having to sell themselves into servitude. The two women naturally agreed.
Xu Yunrong nodded kindly, "You two don't need to stand on ceremony. From now on, we'll be staying together, so we'll just talk directly if we need anything. Please feel free to make yourselves at home."
Aunt Li and Granny Wang exchanged a glance, their faces breaking into relieved smiles. It seemed that Meng Niangzi's parents, like Meng Niangzi herself, were very easy to get along with. Meng Zhao then told Aunt Li a few of her parents' favorite dishes, asking them to prepare them and bring them over that evening.
After saying that, Meng Zhao led the two through the corridor. "This is the inner courtyard. The main house has been prepared. Parents can move in directly. I am currently living in the east wing. Call me if you need anything. Jianqiu and Jianxia, you can stay in the west wing for now."
After introducing the house, I led them through a small gate to the backyard. "Although this is a two-courtyard house, it is about the same size as a three-courtyard house. It's just that the original owner turned the back building into a small garden. I've been busy lately and haven't had time to tend to it, so it looks a bit desolate. If you're interested, Mother, you can hire a gardener to plant some flowers, trees, and shrubs. It will definitely look beautiful."
Xu Yunrong looked at the garden and nodded repeatedly, "This place is really nice! When spring comes, we can even dig a small pond and raise a few koi."
Meng Zhao took her arm and said, "I'll do whatever you say, Mother. You can arrange it however you like."
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