The inner residence of Kunshan County Government.

With his feet covered in mud, Zhao Shouzheng hurried to the entrance of the hall and saw Zhao Liben and Zhao Shouye sitting in the seats facing the door. Wu Chengen and Fan Datong sat on their left and right, drinking tea and chatting with the two Zhao family members.

Mr. Zhao was overjoyed and hurried into the hall. "Dad, why are you here?"

"So I can't come?" Zhao Liben was originally talking to Wu Cheng'en in a friendly manner, but when he saw his son coming in, he immediately frowned and put down the teacup heavily.

"Why can't you come?" Zhao Shouzheng's eyes turned red. He knelt down and kowtowed to his father, choking with sobs, and said, "Your son has been looking forward to it day and night, and finally your father is here."

Although Zhao Liben had been to Kunshan several times, this was the first time he saw his son. Seeing Zhao Shouzheng almost lost his figure, with high cheekbones and dark and rough skin, the old man would be lying if he said he didn't feel sorry for him.

"You're lucky you still have some conscience. You're as thin as a monkey. How do you take care of yourself?!"

"Yes, brother, why is your skin so rough?" Zhao Shouye was also very upset.

"There's nothing I can do. The wind is too strong in winter. How can I get any good out of running on the dike all day?" Zhao Shouzheng felt warm in his heart, thinking that this hurdle was over. He got up and said to his father with a shameless face:

"You must stay a few more days this time."

"You said so." Zhao Liben said with a half-smile, "Then I will spend the New Year here."

"That's great." Zhao Shouzheng was overjoyed when he heard that. "Although Kunshan is poor, there are still many good gardens. Mr. Wu, please find a big garden for my father to live in for a few months during the winter."

Wu Cheng'en was about to agree, but Zhao Liben waved his hand and said, "No need. Although my family is rich, you, as a parent official, still have to be careful about the impact. I will just make do in the back office."

In fact, the county magistrate's residence in the county government office was a three-courtyard house with a garden, seven main rooms, more than a dozen side rooms, and two small cross-courtyards in the east and west. It was quite spacious for the Zhao family to live in.

Of course, compared with Zhaoyuan in Yangzhou, it is indeed quite ok.

~~

Zhao Shouzheng was very happy that the old man could come, and immediately asked Fan Datong to prepare a banquet. He also called Xu Wei to come and welcome his father and elder brother.

While Xu Wei was discussing with the old man which of the 'Ink Grapes' was his authentic work, Zhao Shouzheng pulled his eldest brother aside and asked in a low voice: "What is our father talking about?"

Zhao Shouye was also confused. Boyi said, "I don't know either. I received a letter from my father the other day, asking me to take a long vacation to meet him in Suzhou. I thought there was something urgent, but I didn't expect to come to you."

"Dad, didn't he tell you anything?" Zhao Shouzheng asked unwillingly.

"Don't you know how tight our father's mouth is? It's as tight as a rock." Zhao Shouye pouted and said, "But when he was sleeping at night, I heard him talk in his sleep - 'Help me, I can't swim!' 'This time I'll make you pay!'"

“Uh…” Zhao Shouzheng scratched his head and said, “Father dreamed of falling into the water. Let’s ask Mr. Qingteng to interpret his dream later.”

Unable to get any information, he stopped trying to get to the bottom of the matter and went into the house with his eldest brother to sit down and drink with the old man.

~~

Having nearly gotten into trouble, Yu the gatekeeper dared not be so careless anymore.

He and his nephew stood guard at the gate of the yamen with their necks hunched and their hands clasped behind their backs.

You know what, there are really many distinguished guests here today.

At ten minutes after noon, a magnificent horse-drawn carriage slowly stopped outside the gate of the county government office.

Yu Men did not dare to be negligent any longer, and hurriedly went to meet the maid who got off the carriage, and asked with a smile, "I wonder what your master can do for you?"

The little maid said, "Please tell the elder brother that the elder master's cousin is here to see him."

"Cousin?" Yu Men was stunned, thinking that today was really a good day, as the master's family members came to visit one by one.

Just as he was about to ask further, he saw the maid put down the brocade cushion and open the car door.

A middle-aged maid helped a noble lady wrapped in mink get off the carriage.

Yu Men was petrified instantly...

He recognized at a glance that the maid was Liu Shang Gong from the Princess's Mansion, and the young woman was actually, actually, actually, actually Princess Ning'an!

The Yu brothers and Guo Da and others were all servants given to Zhao Hao by the eldest princess. How could they forget what their original owners looked like?

What the hell, what the hell, Yu Men screamed in his heart. He felt that it was not surprising that the next visitor would be the Jade Emperor.

Yu Men subconsciously wanted to kowtow to the princess, but was stopped by Liu Shanggong with a sharp look.

"Young man, why are you still standing there instead of reporting?" Liu Shanggong guessed Yu Men's identity by listening to his accent and watching his reaction, and hurriedly warned him in a low voice: "Keep it a secret."

"Oh, I understand." Yu Men hurriedly opened the gate tremblingly, bowed and invited Her Highness to come in, asked his nephew to lead the way for them, and stumbled to the back court to report the news.

~~

In the hall of the rear government office, the banquet was coming to an end.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Zhao grew taller again.

He patted his chest drunkenly and said to Zhao Liben with a silly smile: "Haha, Dad, you haven't been home for a while, and your son is very upset."

Zhao Liben was not a drunkard like him. Although he drank a lot, he was still in high spirits. Hearing this, he sneered, "How dare you say that? If you agree to any of the marriages I suggested to you, I will call you dad."

Xu Wei and Wu Cheng'en were both stunned, thinking that this old man was a tough guy. No wonder the young master was not afraid of anything except his grandfather kicking his butt.

"Dad, I've listened to you in everything my whole life. Can't you let me be my own master?" Zhao Shouzheng said in a crying voice.

"You have the final say on everything else, but this matter is not negotiable!" Zhao Liben blew his beard and glared.

Seeing that the father and son were about to quarrel again, Zhao Shouye and the two teachers hurried to put out the fire... They adopted the simplest method and tacitly gave Zhao Shouzheng two more glasses of wine.

It seems that everyone is well aware of Mr. Zhao's habit of falling asleep as soon as he gets drunk.

Sure enough, Mr. Zhao nodded a few times and slowly fell towards the table.

Zhao Shouye and Wu Chengen quickly supported him and took him directly to the dormitory to sleep.

As soon as the person over there left, Yu Men came in to report.

"Master, there is someone outside... Eh?" Not seeing Zhao Shouzheng, he quickly stopped the oligarch.

"Who is outside? He is drunk and it's the same if he talks to me." Zhao Liben took a sip of wine.

"It is said that she is the eldest master's cousin." Yu Men had no idea of ​​the discord here, so he hurriedly reported it in a low voice.

"Oh? Which cousin is she? What's her cousin-in-law's name?" Zhao Liben asked pretentiously.

Yu Men replied with difficulty: "Cousin, my cousin's husband should have passed away."

Then he reminded in a low voice: "Old Master, you'd better go and greet her quickly. It will be a pity if you are late."

"What are you talking about?" Zhao Liben said calmly, "My niece is here? I have to go out to greet her and let her come to see me!"

ps. The first of three consecutive updates.