Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Looks Familiar
Xu Yi has more than a dozen martial servants who can read and write, but Xu Yunfan has no one available, so he can only send Sixteen, Fifteen, and Fourteen to Dashan Village to help, but this is not a long-term solution.
For this reason, Xu Yunfan could only find Jiang Lanfang.
The students in the academy have their place of origin registered by special personnel from the day they enroll.
As the dean, Jiang Lanfang couldn't remember every student, but there were always some students who made him feel sorry. These students were naturally the ones he thought had the greatest chance of making the list, but ultimately failed. Even if these students didn't make the entrance, their knowledge was no less than that of other students. Jiang Lanfang was the first to recommend them to Xu Yunfan.
Xu Yunfan was reluctant to say what kind of factory he was going to build. Jiang Lanfang was tactful enough not to ask any further questions. After he gave the household registration of several students to Xu Yunfan, Xu Yunfan called Qi Xiu Ze and others and ran away immediately.
On the way, Qi Xiu Ze asked, "Brother, you just said you wanted to build a factory. What kind of factory are you building?"
"Printing house."
Lin Xiaoran: "What? Printing house? What is that?"
Xu Yunfan stared intently at the household registration address in his hand and said casually, "You'll know when I take you there. There's no point in talking too much now. By the way, two of the people the dean gave me are from our county. Please do me a favor and go take a look. Yunrun Restaurant is opening in a few days, and we'll be in need of people then."
Xie Baizhou couldn't help but feel worried for Xu Yunfan. His studies would begin next year, and many students had to hurry. Xiao Qin's business was getting bigger and bigger, and it would be inappropriate to let the villagers handle the business of bringing goods and purchasing. It was approaching the New Year, which was the best time to sell goods, but Xu Yunfan had no one to use.
Before, they could borrow some people from their families to help, but this was not a long-term solution. Not to mention that Xu Yunfan had no one available, even the people they hired from their own family had to be selected and trained.
"Even if these people come, they can't start right away because they have no experience."
Xu Yunfan hummed, "So they still need training, let the 'old man' lead them. Xiu Ze, can you do me another favor and find a shopkeeper and a bookkeeper to come and train them for a few days?"
Qi Xiu Ze patted his chest and said, "Okay, it's all a small matter."
Shen Ruxi, who had not said much, suddenly asked: "Yunfan, there is a child in your family, right? In the cafeteria that day, I saw Runge holding a child. I saw it."
Xu Yunfan: "Oh, you mean Xiaobao, he is indeed my family."
"Who is he to you?" Ever since he saw Xiaobao, Shen Ruxi couldn't figure it out. Qin Run had no other relatives, and Xu Yunfan came from overseas. It was impossible for anyone to leave a child to them. Moreover, he only took a look at that child and always felt as if he had seen him somewhere before. He looked familiar.
It was not Shen Ruxi's fault that he could not remember. Children changed every day, and he had seen many children. But Xiaobao was cute and handsome. The first sight of him reminded him of a young master who had impressed him half a year ago. So, Shen Ruxi could not help but take a few more glances, and the more he looked, the more familiar he seemed.
But no matter how familiar he looked, what surprised Shen Ruxi was that this child looked quite similar to Xu Yunfan.
Since his brothers had asked, Xu Yunfan didn't hide anything and told the truth, "Xiaobao was brought back by Run Ge'er. It was a while ago that there was a lot of noise about a kidnapping case. That child was abducted here by a kidnapper."
Shen Ruxi frowned, "Is it such a coincidence?"
Xu Yunfan noticed that Shen Ruxi seemed to be particularly concerned about this matter, "What's wrong?"
"He looks a bit like a child I met before, but I'm not sure." Shen Ruxi scratched his head. "That was half a year ago. I almost forgot what that child looked like. But when I saw him at that time, I thought...how should I put it, I think your little treasure looks a lot like him."
"Is it very similar? Whose child is that you are talking about?" Xu Yunfan suddenly became annoyed.
Shen Ruxi: "The grandson of the current Grand Tutor Fang."
"Grand Tutor Fang?" Xu Yunfan frowned even more. "That's impossible. He's from the capital. Not to mention how far away he is from here, just think about their family. How could kidnappers want to abduct their little grandson? It would be very difficult. These kidnappers must be crazy to kidnap the grandson of the current Grand Tutor. Is he tired of living?"
After Xu Yunfan said this, Shen Ruxi, who didn't know Fang Zixi would leave Beijing, suddenly felt that she had thought too much.
Yes, how could the Fang family’s grandson be abducted?
Even though the child is just a grandson, he is quite favored in the Fang family. His older cousins are not as well-known as him. In addition, the child is good-looking, and even Fang Zixi's sisters-in-law love him very much. So, how could the Fang family not be optimistic about the child?
Lin Xiaoran and Xie Baizhou had never seen the grandson of the Fang family, but he had heard about Fang Zixi and his son. Xie Baizhou patted Shen Ruxi on the shoulder and said, "You are just thinking too much. How could the grandson of the Fang family be kidnapped? The favored young master like him is just like us when we were kids. Whenever he goes out, the people following him are either maids or guards."
Speaking of kidnapping, Qi Xiu Ze couldn't help but get angry. "My uncle told me that those unscrupulous kidnappers weren't just one person, the people behind them were also powerful. They kidnapped children and sold them to neighboring countries. Those buyers would often train them to be assassins or use them for other purposes. They're simply insane."
"Only if they weren't completely mad would they do something like that?" Xie Baizhou shook his head and sighed. "There are many good people in this world, but naturally there are also many bad people. It's okay if they can be bought and trained as assassins, but I'm afraid there are some black-hearted people who don't behave like human beings."
…
Xu Yunfan returned to the village with the students' household registration and wrote more than a dozen deeds that night. He was busy all night and couldn't get up the next morning.
Qin Run was busy making breakfast, so he left the difficult task of waking up Xu Yunfan to Xiaobao.
"Dad, get up~get up~"
Something seemed to be calling in his ear, and it seemed as if someone was pushing him. Xu Yunfan rubbed Xiaobao's head out of habit, as he stood on tiptoe and looked at him. "Don't make trouble, Xiaobao, be good and let your father sleep for two more minutes."
Xiaobao didn't understand what two minutes meant. He only knew that his little daddy asked him to wake up his father for breakfast, otherwise it would be too late.
Xiaobao grunted and pulled the quilt to try to climb onto the bed, shouting, "Daddy, get up and eat some meat."
The quilt on his body was pulled away, and cold air rushed in. Xu Yunfan shivered with coldness and subconsciously tried to pull the quilt back. However, as soon as his hand grabbed the quilt, Xu Yunfan stretched out another hand to protect Xiaobao, who was grinning and trying hard to climb up. "Tsk, why do you listen to your little dad so much? Don't you know how to love your old father?"
"Xiaobao loves his father. Meat tastes better when eaten hot, so Dad, get up quickly."
With Xiaobao's noise, it was impossible to sleep. Xu Yunfan pounded the bed and said angrily, "Your little daddy is really cruel."
Qin Run used to come and call him to get up, but since Xiaobao came, Xiaobao would disturb his sleep two days out of three. But no matter how he coaxed him, it was useless. Xiaobao just wouldn't listen and was stubborn and insisted on getting him up.
Xiaobao is very smart. Before he came to call people, Qin Run told him not to believe whatever his father said, and not to take seriously what his father said when he was sleepy. Xiaobao kept his mission in mind and didn't care if Xu Yunfan played the victim.
Xu Yunfan stood by the well, rubbing his messy hair and rinsing his mouth and washing his face. Even after washing his face, he yawned and looked as if he was still very sleepy. Qin Run saw him at the kitchen door and couldn't help but laugh, "Yunfan, I cooked roast duck noodles and steamed dumplings this morning. Come and eat quickly."
"I'll be right there." When Xu Yunfan heard there was something delicious to eat, he immediately became energetic. He was no longer sleepy and weak. He hung up his towel and ran to the hall.
The whole family started slurping noodles early in the morning. After eating and drinking their fill, those who needed to go to school went to school, and those who needed to go about their business went about their business.
After seeing Xu Yunfan off, Qin Run went to the old house to find Xu and his group and gave them the deed.
Among Xu Yi's group, the oldest is Xu Yi and the youngest is Xu Shiliu.
Xu Yi is in his thirties this year, but probably because of years of martial arts training, he looks no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He exudes a cold and aloof air that keeps strangers away. His facial features are three-dimensional, with clear contours, and his appearance is truly superior.
For some reason, every time Qin Run faced Xu Yi, he always felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere, but he couldn't remember where.
In the old house, Xu Yi and others were gathered together to eat breakfast, which was prepared for them every morning by Aunt Liu, hired by Qin Run.
The weather has been cold recently, so Sun Wu brings back flour from the town every day, and then hangs the flour into the well. It won't become sour if left overnight.
However, eating noodles can easily make people hungry, let alone Xu Yi and his gang. Therefore, Aunt Liu would make buns and other things for them every day.
The Qin family provides good welfare benefits to its workers. Although Xu Yi and others are servants, unlike workers, Qin Run is not stingy with food. He lets everyone eat and drink well every day. The identities of Xu Yi and others mean that they don’t have much pursuit of food. Usually they just want to have enough food and not go hungry, but who doesn’t like to eat better?
Xu Shiliu and the other kids were still young, and what they looked forward to most every day was the meal. They gathered together and ate the delicious food. Perhaps because of the different environment, in Dali Village, which was different from the royal family full of intrigues, they were not too vigilant. But as soon as Qin Run arrived outside the courtyard gate, Xu and his group still discovered him.
"Young master, is there anything wrong?" As the eldest brother of the group, Xu Yi put down his bowl and chopsticks and stood up to go out.
Qin Run took out the contract from the backpack and said, "This is the contract. My husband should have mentioned it to you yesterday."
Xu Yi glanced at the contract and raised his eyebrows unconsciously. He didn't expect that their young master had such a talent. Look at the words on the contract, they are neatly written. On the next page, all the rules and regulations are clearly listed, and there is not a single wrong word. It is even better than their previous master.
"Yes, the young master gave clear instructions yesterday, and we will set off soon."
…
Dashu Village is located in the north of Qinghe Town, two and a half hours' walk from the town, which is equivalent to a five-hour journey. At this distance, it is not easy for the villagers to go to the market.
Because the travel time is too long, Dashu Village is naturally not rich. If you want to say who is the most promising person in the village now, it is undoubtedly Li Jin, who works as a waiter in Wanbaozhai in the town, with free food and accommodation, and a monthly salary of 650 coins.
Why do I say "now"? The main reason is that a few years ago, in the eyes of the villagers, the most promising person was not Li Jin, but Zhou Yangxing, the only student in their village.
Zhou Yangxing is an extraordinary person. Since he was an age when other children could not sit still and were playing in the mud, he was the only one who would hold a book neatly and read it with great interest. It was obvious that he was born to be a scholar.
As the only student in the village, he is not like Li Yunfei who is arrogant and self-proclaimed extraordinary because of his student status. Zhou Yangxing is a man of really good character. He never feels that he is superior to others or that his family should serve him because of his status.
Zhou Yangxing was always friendly to the villagers. During his days off in the fields, he would never be lazy or use reading as an excuse to avoid working. He was diligent and smart. At the age of fourteen, he passed the examination to become a student and entered Qingfeng Academy. In the eyes of the villagers, if he could enter Qingfeng Academy, he would definitely become an official in the future.
During that time, countless villagers envied the Zhou family, thinking that they had finally come to a happy ending after suffering so much. But where there were envy, there were naturally people who were jealous.
There are more than a dozen people in the Zhou family. Zhou Yangxing is the youngest child in the family. Among his four older brothers, only the eldest and second oldest Zhou have wives, and naturally they have children after getting married.
Zhou Lao Da and Zhou Lao Er had four children in total. Because the family had to support a scholar and raise four children, they could not raise enough money for the bride price, so the three brothers Zhou Lao Si were delayed.
A few years ago, everyone would think that the third and fourth sons of the Zhou family couldn’t get wives without the bride price, so would they still have to worry about these things once Zhou Yangxing passed the imperial examination?
Maybe by then, because of Zhou Yangxing, people will have to pay to marry into the Zhou family even if they don't ask for a dowry. Who doesn't want to have a scholar as a relative?
But they have no idea how difficult the imperial examination is!
Zhou Yangxing took the examination for the scholar twice in a row, but failed to make the list each time. He spent six years in Qingfeng Academy. Even though he would copy books to earn some money, studying was too expensive after all. The village was too far from the town, so Zhou Yangxing had to live in a boarding school, and the accommodation fee cost several taels of silver a year.
On weekdays, no matter how frugal Zhou Yangxing was, if he only had two steamed buns with pickles a day, he would still have to spend some money in a year.
For his sake, the Zhou family tightened their belts and lived a frugal life. There were more than a dozen people in the family, and they didn't buy new clothes for several years. Usually, the clothes were worn by the eldest child and then the second child, and they had to be patched up and worn for another three years.
His four nephews were also very thin. No matter how poor other families were, they could at least eat eggs laid by their own hens every now and then to nourish their bodies. However, the children of the Zhou family might not be able to eat one in half a month.
Although the two sisters-in-law never complained, Zhou Yangxing couldn't pretend not to see what he saw.
His mother's face was covered with deep wrinkles due to overwork, and his father, who was less than fifty years old, was even hunched over. He was so worried about his tuition and daily expenses that he dared not rest and was busy all day long.
As for his brothers, the eldest and second brothers didn't even care about their own families for the sake of their younger brother, and the third and fourth brothers couldn't even find wives. The four brothers didn't dare to rest when they had free time, and most of the money they earned was spent on him.
Zhou Yangxing saw the efforts of his family members and felt pain in his heart.
He had tried to persuade himself to grit his teeth and fight again, but he could not bear the condemnation from his conscience.
Enough!
How long will this blood-sucking worm continue to suck the blood of his family?
After Zhou Yangxing failed the exam for the second time, he cried for a long time under the red list in the county town. The next day, he dropped out of the academy and went home.
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