Chapter 505 Little Aunt, don't worry, I'll definitely keep it with me at all times.
The steward and guards surrounded Xiao Su Bao and Madam Qian, their eyes piercing as if they were filled with knives.
The people in the brokerage firm became tense.
They never have such distinguished guests here on ordinary days!
"I wonder what kind of servants Your Excellency would like to choose?" The old woman standing at the front walked over with a respectful expression on her face.
However, compared to others, the old woman in front of him was surrounded by a layer of radiant merit.
Little Su Bao was very curious and couldn't help but take a few more glances at the matchmaker.
After all, she had always heard that matchmakers were bad people.
Most of them would do anything for money.
Sensing Xiao Su Bao's scrutiny, the matchmaker simply smiled slightly and bowed respectfully to Xiao Su Bao.
Little Su Bao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly averted her gaze.
The butler standing nearby said, "We'll pick out some if we find anything suitable. Why don't you show us around first?"
The matchmaker nodded, then led the steward and Madam Qian inside.
This brokerage firm must be the largest official brokerage firm in the capital. Although it doesn't have pavilions and waterside terraces, the environment is really nice, and there is also a courtyard with many flowers.
This place is worlds apart from the dirty and chaotic dental clinics that Little Su Bao and his friends had seen before.
For some reason, Ms. Qian felt a pang of heartache. With such a high-end dental clinic, she felt her wallet was about to be emptied.
However, the Qian family remained prudent and decided to buy fewer items...
The brokers in the brokerage firm couldn't help but take a second look at the two little darlings, and they all became excited.
This is a wealthy family!
After all, when Tang Bugui had his ghost marriage, those truckloads of dowry couldn't have been faked!
Xiao Su Bao is now Tang Bu Gui's only child, and her wealth is beyond their imagination.
However, Madam Qian's expression grew increasingly worried.
Fortunately, the veil concealed her unease from them.
Ms. Qian originally thought that this place, if not dirty and chaotic, must not be very good either.
Unexpectedly, when I entered, the room was clean and tidy, and I could even hear a few girls reading aloud.
Madam Qian was slightly surprised, after all, there were very few opportunities for women to study.
Ms. Qian couldn't help but stop and look inside.
The butler was also taken aback. This was the first time he had come in person. In the past, he had always told them his requirements and they would bring the people over.
When the matchmaker saw them stop there, she paused and stopped.
The girls here have all been trained by us, and most of them are from respectable families.
They only sent their children here because they couldn't make ends meet.
The old woman from the Tang family had heard a bit about it. These days, it's much better for young ladies to win the favor of the princess than to go to some random, shabby noble family.
"The child in this room is quick-witted; he's read some simple books and can recognize a few words." The matchmaker took a couple of steps inside, her tone tinged with pride.
Xiao Su Bao and Qian Shi both looked inside, and sure enough, the girls inside were all wearing the same white clothes and looked very well-behaved.
They were not very old, the oldest being only eleven or twelve years old.
Seemingly sensing that someone was there, the children didn't stop reading; instead, they read even louder.
This was the first time Mr. Qian had ever seen such a grand spectacle, and he was currently in a state of astonishment.
Putting aside other things, the girls here are not much different from the daughters of some minor officials.
"These children now know the Thousand Character Classic, the Hundred Family Surnames, the Three Character Classic, and some ancient poems!" the matchmaker said to Qian and the others.
Granny Liang looked at Madam Qian and Xiao Su Bao, but her gaze finally settled on Madam Qian.
"The children here can grow up alongside the princess and become her confidants in the future!" Granny Liang whispered to Madam Qian.
Ms. Qian paused slightly and quietly touched her purse.
Damn it, she's smitten!
Just look at the appearance of these children, they must be very expensive!
It's such a waste to send such a good child to be a maid or something!
Madam Qian couldn't help but say, "It's such a waste that these children are made into maids!"
"They've all learned to read and write, and they're even more well-behaved than girls from humble families. They must have very high aspirations."
Can Xiao Su Bao, with her gentle nature, handle someone with such a high spirit?
Qian was somewhat worried, especially about the servant becoming too powerful and disrespecting his master.
The children of Tangjia Village never had the opportunity to go to school before, which shows how rare the opportunity to study was.
Granny Liang was slightly taken aback, but then quickly said, "There's nothing to be proud of. They need to live first, right? Besides, they were sold to the princess, so their lives are in the princess's hands. They are slaves, and the princess is their master!"
As Qian listened to what Liang the matchmaker said, she thought of some things from the past, sighed, and nodded.
"What you said is not wrong!"
Granny Liang glanced at Madam Qian subconsciously. When she brought people here before, no one cared about these things.
The distinguished guest who came today is rather strange.
"Children, come here!"
Liang the matchmaker called out into the room.
The children came out one by one obediently.
Only then did Ms. Qian realize that there were some boys on the other side.
They must have been separated by that screen.
The boys and girls each stood in a row, there were only twenty children in total.
"Su Bao, go and see if there's anything you like!" Madam Qian gently stroked Su Bao's head and asked.
The girl is not young anymore, and should have two maids serving her closely by now.
Little Su Bao glanced into the crowd and immediately spotted two very pretty, yet quiet, little girls.
"I want them!" Xiao Su Bao whispered to Qian Shi.
Following Xiao Su Bao's gaze, Qian looked over and saw that the two girls seemed nice, so she didn't hesitate and agreed immediately.
The two little girls are both twelve years old this year. They look fair and clean, with clear eyes.
"Greetings, young lady!" The two carefully bowed to Xiao Su Bao.
"From now on, you will follow Her Highness the Princess closely. She will be your mistress!" Granny Liang looked at the two of them, feeling a little reluctant to part with them.
The two little girls were abandoned babies, left at the entrance of the brokerage firm.
She was also raised by Granny Liang.
They treated Granny Liang more like their own daughter.
It's a blessing that the two of them can be with Xiao Su Bao now.
"Yes!" The two little girls kowtowed to Granny Liang and then followed behind Xiao Su Bao.
Although Xiao Su Bao now has maids from the palace by her side, she still needs some of her own people.
The two little girls stood quietly and obediently beside Xiao Su Bao.
Qian said nothing more and led the group forward.
They went to the second room, which had more girls, with only a thin boy mixed in.
"These children are all learning embroidery..." Granny Liang led Qian and the others inside for a tour.
When Qian and Sun Cuihua looked at the children's embroidery, they were quite surprised; the embroidery skills were truly excellent.
Sun Cuihua, in particular, took a liking to one of the girls at first sight.
The little girl was very cute, and Xiao Su Bao thought she was nice too.
Ms. Qian simply chose one for each of Sun Cuihua and Wang Xiuer.
The girls are a little older, around fourteen or fifteen years old.
The wives of the third and fourth sons had no shortage of maids and servants, so Madam Qian wouldn't go looking for trouble.
Later, with the help of the steward, Madam Qian selected six rough-working women and a few boys who could read, to be sent to each of her eldest and second sons.
Qian specifically chose a servant who knew some martial arts to serve her second son, mainly because she was worried that her second son would be beaten to death sooner or later...
"How much silver is this in total!" Madam Qian looked at the matchmaker, already prepared for a huge financial loss.
Granny Liang was taken aback and subconsciously looked at the steward.
The steward stepped forward and respectfully said to Madam Qian, "Madam, you don't need to worry about these things. They're all on the General's Mansion's account, and we'll settle them all at the end of the month!"
Madam Qian looked at the steward and frowned slightly.
She paid for the person; how could she expect Tang Bugui to pay for it?
Just as Madam Qian was about to speak, she heard the steward continue, "The general said that if you don't want it, he will cause trouble for me when we get back. Madam, please have some compassion. Besides, this amount of silver really isn't that much!"
Somewhat helpless, Qian could only go back first and then talk to Tang Bugui later.
After finishing all that, they were about to take Xiao Su Bao home.
Who knew that when the Qian family went out to eat, they ran into an acquaintance.
Looking at the person in front of her, Qian was also surprised. If his face hadn't changed so much, Qian would have thought she had mistaken him for someone else.
This person was actually Fang Gou, who had been away from the village for a long time!
"Hehe, greetings, Aunt Qian, little auntie!"
Fang Gou looked much more energetic than before, and now that he was dressed in a guard's uniform, he looked quite imposing.
Moreover, compared to before, Fang Gou now has more integrity and less of a rogue's temperament.
Little Su Bao looked at Fang Gou and noticed that he looked quite well; he must be doing well!
"Brother Fang!" Little Su Bao called out obediently.
Fang Gou laughed heartily: "Little Auntie has grown taller, and has she grown stronger? I'd like to arm wrestle with Little Auntie!"
Ignoring the surprised looks from his brothers behind him, Fang Gou revealed a hint of fighting spirit towards Xiao Su Bao.
"Brother Fang, don't bully a kid! If you get addicted, come find me!"
A slightly chubby boy muttered to Fang Gou.
Fang Gou turned around and glared at his brother: "What do you know? My little aunt can pick you up and spin you around with one hand. Who do you think you are..."
He wanted to swear, but when he saw that Qian was looking at him, he immediately stopped.
"Hello, Aunt Qian, you look younger and younger. Did you eat ginseng fruit?" Fang Gou chuckled and quickly said.
Qian looked at Fang Gou's appearance with a hint of speechlessness in her eyes.
This guy is still like this even now that he's in the capital...
"Say less in the future, or you'll get yourself into trouble!" Madam Qian admonished, after all, they were all neighbors.
Fang Gou chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"I know, I'm just happy today!" Fang Gou said, scratching his head.
"By the way, I'm working for Princess Mulan now. If anyone bullies you in the future, you can send someone to Princess Mulan's residence to find me. I still have some influence over her!"
Mulan...
When Xiao Su Bao heard this name, for some reason, she felt like she had heard it somewhere before.
However, the little girl couldn't remember it for the time being.
Just then, one of Fang Gou's brothers said, "Brother Fang, we've finished our business. We need to hurry back, otherwise the young master will make a fuss if he wakes up and can't find you!"
Fang Gou felt somewhat helpless upon hearing the words behind him, but a gentle look appeared in his eyes as he thought of his young master.
"I understand, I'll be right back!" Fang Gou nodded.
He took out one of the brands he usually used and handed it to Ms. Qian.
Then she took out a bracelet that only little girls use and handed it to Xiao Su Bao.
"I bought this before, and I originally planned to give it to my aunt when I had time to go back. But now that I've run into my aunt in the capital, I'll consider this my way of showing my respect to her!" Fang Gou said cheerfully.
Some people standing nearby, who didn't recognize the Qian family, were curious.
After all, Fang Gou was usually very arrogant and fearless, even towards the elders in the mansion. However, when facing Madam Qian and Xiao Su Bao, Fang Gou seemed to have restrained himself considerably.
They're not stupid; some of them had tried to cause trouble for Fang Gou before, but Fang Gou dealt with them all.
Princess Mulan trusted Fang Gou very much and kept him by her young master's side.
Fang Gou knew what the person behind him was thinking, but he was too lazy to explain.
He was truly grateful to the Qian family and Xiao Su Bao for treating them like family.
You know, if it weren't for Xiao Su Bao reminding him, he probably would have been dead long ago.
He would never meet the princess again. Everything he has now was given to him by Xiao Su Bao and the others, so of course he respects them.
"Um, Aunt Qian, young lady, I have some things to attend to here. Where are you staying? I'll treat you to a meal when I have time!"
Fang Gou smiled and said to Qian Shi and Xiao Su Bao.
Ms. Qian paused for a moment before saying, "We live at No. 108 Jinli Lane. You can come and find us there!"
Fang Gou was taken aback; he hadn't expected the Qian family to have the money to buy a house there.
"Okay!" Fang Gou said, and then turned to leave.
"Brother Fang..."
Seeing Fang Gou about to leave, Xiao Su Bao frowned and couldn't help but call out.
Fang Gou turned around in surprise, but his expression became very tense. He looked at Xiao Su Bao with burning eyes.
Little Su Bao pursed her lips, her little face showing a serious expression.
"Brother Fang, please don't go out tomorrow, and preferably not the day after tomorrow either. Also... be careful..."
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Su Bao took out a few more amulets from her bosom and gave them to him.
"This is a talisman I drew myself. Brother Fang, if you don't mind, you can carry it with you. You can also give this to your young master..."
Fang Gou immediately became alert. Xiao Su Bao was a miracle in the village; she had single-handedly changed Tangjia Village.
Fang Gou had complete faith in Xiao Su Bao on this point.
He solemnly accepted the two amulets from Xiao Su Bao's hands.
He gave Xiao Su Bao another deep look.
"Don't worry, little auntie, I'll definitely keep it with me at all times!"
Fang Gou suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask, "Little Miss, do you have any extra talismans? Our princess has been having nightmares lately. Are these things useful?"
Little Su Bao nodded immediately, took out another amulet, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Seeing the amulet in his hand, Fang Gou felt inexplicably more at ease, and his smile brightened.
He's been feeling uneasy these past few days. Come to think of it, he wasn't supposed to come out for today's job, but he suddenly felt a sudden urge and insisted on coming!
In retrospect, his feeling was indeed correct.
As Qian watched Xiao Su Bao and Fang Gou talking, she sighed inwardly.
This little girl, if anyone is even slightly kind to her, she'd give them her whole heart!
What if the little girl encounters a swindler in the future!
Mrs. Qian was worried, but the little girl was happy and didn't seem to care at all.
On the contrary, I feel like I've saved someone right now.
Madam Qian reached out and patted the little girl's head before saying goodbye to Fang Gou and leaving.
Wang Xiuer, who was standing to the side, had never liked Fang Gou. This kid was a notorious troublemaker in the surrounding villages.
"Mother, I never expected Fang Gou to have such good fortune. I wonder if their ancestral graves were blessed with good luck!"
Wang Xiuer was quite curious about that princess.
"By the way, Mother, our Su Bao is now a princess, and His Majesty has assigned people to her. Do you think we should also find some guards for Su Bao?"
Wang Xiuer was very envious of those who were being questioned. She looked at Qian Shi excitedly and asked.
Madam Qian gave Wang Xiuer a disapproving look, then, as if remembering something, she said, "This matter is not urgent. Her father should have made arrangements."
Wang Xiuer wanted to say something, but Qian Shi glared at her and she dared not speak.
Just after they left, a figure slowly emerged from the brokerage, coldly watching Xiao Su Bao and the others' retreating figures.
Lan Xin'er's eyes were filled with intense jealousy. She felt it was all because Xiao Su Bao was unlucky, which was why all the bad luck came to her!
After all, she was very wealthy in her past life, and this life is like this because Xiao Su Bao doesn't bear the bad luck herself.
Just thinking about it made her very angry.
She has now been thrown into a brokerage firm by that strange man, and will only be able to work as a slave from now on.
She was very unwilling to accept it.
Because of his bad voice, he was bullied by the people in the dental clinic and could only do some manual labor.
She hated Xiao Su Bao to death, and she hated everyone in the Tang family.
One day, I will definitely... I will definitely make them die by my own hand!
She was forced to dance and learn tea-making and flower arranging at the pharmacy.
Learn those things that please men...
These are things she disliked before, and now she hates them even more!
All she wants now is to enter the princess's residence and replace Xiao Su Bao...
Thinking of that person's words, Lan Xin'er's excitement grew even stronger.
She gently stroked her face, her eyes filled with excitement.
"What are you looking at? That's Princess Fu'an! Don't you dare cause me any trouble. I knew I shouldn't have let you come along. You're so insensible!"
Just then, an old woman came out from the shop next door and spoke to her in an unfriendly tone.
Lan Xin'er was startled and quickly lowered her head, hiding the murderous intent in her eyes.
She followed obediently behind the old woman, her head bowed.
"Fine, fine, I'll forgive you this time since you can't speak properly, but not next time!" After saying that, the old woman swayed her round buttocks and headed towards the dental clinic.
They had already entered through the side gate while they were talking.
Xiao Su Bao vaguely sensed something, and she lifted the curtain to look at the brokerage shop not far away.
They just happened to miss the side gate, and there was nothing outside the brokerage shop at that moment; it looked quiet and peaceful.
"What's wrong?" Madam Qian asked, looking at the little girl.
"It's okay, Mom, I want to eat shortbread. Let's go eat shortbread!"
Xiao Su Bao's eyes suddenly lit up, and she said with a hint of excitement.
Looking at the little girl's appearance, Madam Qian smiled even more.
"Okay, whatever you say!"
After Qian finished speaking, she seemed to remember something, and the smile in her eyes deepened.
Princess Xiaosubao's residence quickly became the most talked-about topic in the capital.
Little Su Bao was unaware of all this; the little girl looked at her older brother and sister-in-law with a heart full of reluctance.
This time, Tang Dabao and his children stayed in Beijing temporarily.
But Tang Cheng and Sun Cuihua were about to return to the village.
The group saw them off early in the morning.
In the end, Tang Bugui made the decision to have Tang Cheng take thirty retired veterans with him back with him.
These veterans all have some physical defects to varying degrees.
Some went blind, some lost their hands, and others suffered injuries in other parts of their bodies.
These people used to follow Tang Bugui, and now Tang Bugui has finally found them a place to belong.
Watching the group leave in a grand procession, Xiao Su Bao felt a little sad.
Ms. Qian felt depressed and uneasy.
Only when they were completely out of sight did the Qian family turn back.
Little Su Bao is busy now, going to the palace to study before dawn every day.
Although the other children in the family did not go to the palace, they were arranged to go to a relatively large academy in the capital.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Lan Chou frowned, his expression not good.
He hadn't expected that Tang Bugui would actually be able to find so many of his people.
Nearly two-thirds of the Yama Palace's influence in the capital has been wiped out!
If I hadn't stopped the bleeding in time, I might have been able to uproot Tang Bugui completely!
He underestimated Tang Bugui after all.
Thinking of this, Lan Chou snorted coldly.
"Bring Qiu Feng back and have someone train her!" Lan Chou paused and said to the person beside him.
"yes!"
The subordinate turned and left.
Lan Chou, however, was looking at the sky.
I thought of my older sister.
He never expected that the Nightmare Gu would also affect him.
Lan Chou saw his sister from back then; his sister hadn't left him on purpose!
So what!
She actually forgot about herself; that was her sister's fault!
She clearly loved her sister so much, she was clearly her sister's family, the emperor deserved to die, the crown prince and those bastards all deserved to die too...
After he kills them, he will take his sister to live the free life she desires.
Lan Chou curled his lips into a smile, his eyes filled with a perverse excitement.
But before that, he had to do the most important thing: get those things!
Thinking of this, Lan Chou's expression turned sour.
He never expected that the house he had his eye on would be bought by the Qian family.
In that case, he would have to find a way to sneak into the Tang residence!
Fortunately, the Tang residence was neither General Tang's nor Princess Tang's residence, making it much easier to enter.
"Guards, go and change my identity. I want to infiltrate the Tang family myself!"
Little Su Bao was unaware of Lan Chou's calculations; the girl was currently frowning as she looked at the person in front of her.
"I want to see just how capable that little girl really is!"
He was calculating in his mind, a strange light shining in his eyes.
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch...
At that very moment, inside the Princess's residence, Mu Lan's lips twitched as she looked at the thing in her hand, her eyes filled with helplessness as she looked at Fang Gou.
"Fang Gou, you're saying this amulet was drawn by a little girl?"
"Yes, Princess, please believe me, our little aunt is really amazing. Please keep this amulet close to your body!"
Fang Gou's face was full of sincerity, mainly because he genuinely believed it.
Mulan rubbed her temples, somewhat speechless.
However, after pausing, he didn't say anything more.
These past few days, Fang Gou and his son haven't left the house at all, which has relieved Mu Lan of a lot of worry.
"By the way, His Majesty has asked me to take the little one with me to the Spring Hunt this year. You all get ready, we'll be leaving in three days!"
Fang Gou instinctively wanted to refuse, but then Mu Lan continued, "There's no way to refuse, you have to go. His Majesty has issued an imperial edict!"
Fang Gou...
"Yes, sir, I understand!"
Fang Gou turned around to prepare.
Mu Lan rubbed her temples, looking at Fang Gou's retreating figure with a hint of speechlessness.
After a pause, Mu Lan smiled. This guy was more like a friend than a subordinate to the others in the manor.
Mulan was used to being in a high position and had seen all the flattery from others, so she found Fang Gou's behavior quite amusing.
She returned to her room, intending to prepare some things.
While tidying up, she saw something.
That's Lan Feng's jade pendant!
Mulan was slightly taken aback, thinking of what had happened back then.
I wonder how Lan Feng is doing!
But it doesn't matter, she said before that the two of them were no longer related.
Mulan placed the jade pendant at the very back of the box and stopped thinking about it.
Anyway, it's all in the past now...
I still owe them a favor...
No, just a child!
Mulan felt a little guilty!
Thinking of her son, Mulan's eyes softened.
She paused for a moment, then decided to stop tidying up and went to see her son.
If Xiao Su Bao were here, she would find that the little guy in front of her looks five parts like her uncle and three or four parts like herself.
"Uncle Fang, have some...have some candy!"
The little guy, who was just over two years old, called out to Fang Gou in his childish voice.
The little guy is very cute, with an adorable, chubby face that makes you want to pinch his cheeks.
"No, you ate too much candy today. And you lot, if you give the young master candy again, you'd better watch out!"
Fang Gou didn't expect to see his young master secretly eating candy as soon as he returned.
Upon seeing me approach, the little master hurriedly stuffed the candy into his mouth, making himself look like a little squirrel.
Fang Gou was genuinely worried that his young master might accidentally hurt him!
"One win, one win!" the little guy said, his hands behind his back and his mouth chattering away.
"No way!" Fang Gou said fiercely, his face dark.
Seeing that Fang Gou was angry, the young master could only look at Fang Gou dejectedly.
Fang Gou took all the candy.
The little guy got angry and locked himself in his room.
When Mulan arrived, she saw this scene.
She touched her nose, somewhat speechless.
You gave yourself that candy!
Mulan left quietly, as if she had never been there.
As evening approached, the little fellow kept the door closed, with the maids and servants standing guard at the entrance.
The little guy was furious. With a quick dart, he stealthily slipped away from everyone and crawled into his dog hole.
Fang Gou had gone to get food for his young master. The maids and servants had been busy all day and were only taking a nap when he was already gone.
The little guy peeked out of the dog hole, his big eyes blinking as he looked ahead.
Suddenly, his hair stood on end, and he felt completely terrified!
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