The next day, before dawn, the Zhao family courtyard was already brightly lit.

Qiaoqiao came to work at four o'clock in the morning. Zhao Jin got up early and had breakfast. Then, with the help of Fang Wen, he washed and dressed, put on his official boots and robe, and tied the leather belt he had not worn for a long time.

When he walked out of the east wing holding the black gauze hat in his hand, Zhao Hao and his son were already waiting in the yard.

"Haha, it's different, completely different." Zhao Shouzheng clapped his hands and laughed, "My nephew looks ten years younger."

Zhao Hao pointed to a sedan chair carried by four men outside the door and said with a smile, "Brother, please get in."

"Thank you, brother." Zhao Jin shook Zhao Hao's hand gratefully. He was worried about how to report to the government office. It was too undignified for a seventh-rank official to walk.

At least there should be a donkey to ride... In fact, most of the censors and seventh-rank officials in the low-income offices in the two capitals could not afford a sedan chair, and some did not even have the money to raise a horse. They could only ride a donkey and let an old servant hold an umbrella and lead the donkey.

But if you walk through the streets in such a shabby manner, you will be laughed at all the way.

Zhao Jin was worried for half the night, but he didn't expect that Zhao Hao had already arranged everything for him without saying a word.

There were four sedan bearers dressed in red, an umbrella bearer holding a Luo umbrella, and Yu Peng who was leading the way with a "Fengxian" lantern.

"Time is tight, so we can only rent a sedan chair for now." Zhao Hao smiled and called Yu Peng over, saying, "I have discussed with the old captain and asked Yu Peng to serve as your long-term attendant for a few days. When your brother finds someone he likes, he can return to the store."

Now, he has all the dignity that a seventh-rank official should have!

"My dear brother is really caring. I will be blessed in the future." Zhao Jin was so moved that his eyes filled with tears. He felt that this dear brother was the best person in the world to him.

"We are brothers, it's too formal to say these things." Zhao Hao smiled and sent him into the sedan chair and said, "Brother, please leave quickly and don't miss the time."

"Okay, see you tonight." Zhao Jin waved at him and then slowly lowered the curtain of the sedan chair.

"Lift the sedan chair..." Yu Peng sang loudly: "The censor is going out to the streets!"

The sedan bearers lifted the sedan steadily and, guided by a pair of lanterns, slowly walked out of Caijia Lane.

Watching Zhao Jin's sedan go away, Zhao Hao breathed a sigh of relief.

He was actually a little worried. Zhao Jin was the kind of snob who could share adversity but not wealth. What if this guy woke up from his sleep and didn't recognize him as his little brother? Wouldn't it be a waste of firewood to keep him company?

Fortunately, Zhao Jin was not alienated at all, but became even more friendly.

Zhao Hao rubbed the back of his hand that was so painful from his grip and put his heart back in his stomach.

When he turned around, he found that Zhao Shouzheng was still craning his neck, watching Zhao Jin's sedan chair go away.

"Father and my brother have such a deep relationship?" Zhao Hao couldn't help but wonder.

"I envy his sedan chair." Zhao Shouzheng swallowed his saliva and said, "Your father has been riding in it for more than ten years. Suddenly, I can't ride in it anymore. I feel empty inside."

"It depends on you, father." Zhao Hao taught him earnestly, "You are just a student now. Even if I buy you a sedan chair, can you sit in it and go to school?"

"That can't be done. If Gou Xuezheng sees me, he will scold me to death." Zhao Shouzheng smiled bitterly and said cunningly, "In the beginning, I always had someone get off the sedan chair outside the memorial archway, and then I walked in myself."

"It's like being a thief. How can it feel?" Zhao Hao rolled his eyes and said in a muffled voice, "When you pass the imperial examination, I will buy you a brand new sedan chair and equip you with sedan chair bearers and umbrella bearers!"

"Ah..." Zhao Shouzheng's expression suddenly darkened when he heard this. He was about to say something, but then he remembered that today was a good day for his son, so he stopped talking, put his arm around Zhao Hao's shoulders and said with a smile: "Just wait for the money to be spent!"

The father and son returned to the yard while talking, and Qiaoqiao brought them breakfast.

Two batches of breakfast need to be prepared today, so Qiaoqiao made some small wontons, served them with a soup base made from bones, added a little bit of super fresh vermicelli, and served them with green chopped green onions. The father and son were very satisfied with the meal.

"Qiaoqiao's cooking is getting better and better. I have to pay more." Zhao Shouzheng sipped the soup while praising her: "You've only been here for a few days, and I've gained several pounds."

"I'm glad the master doesn't mind." Qiaoqiao covered her mouth and laughed, looking at Zhao Hao proudly, looking forward to his praise.

Zhao Hao stared at the restaurant in front of him, which had already turned on its lights, and began to worry whether Xuelang could invite the gourmets from Nanjing City...

As long as people come, he has the confidence to shock them. But if they don't come, even if he uses all his tricks, no one will buy it, right?

Seeing that he didn't react at all, Qiaoqiao pouted depressedly and went downstairs with the tray.

"Wow, it smells so good..." At this time, Fan Datong came in from outside and happened to bump into Qiaoqiao. He picked up the large bowl from the tray.

In the large bowl were the wontons that Qiaoqiao had prepared for the father and son. After they were full, there was still half a bowl left.

Fan Datong held the large bowl and started eating with a spoon.

Zhao Shouzheng saw that he was dressed up and even wore a new Tang scarf on his head. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother, are you going on a blind date?"

"Puff..." Fan Datong almost spit out something and quickly covered his mouth with his hands to avoid wasting the wonton in his mouth.

After a long while, he swallowed his food with great effort and said to Zhao Shouzheng with a smile, "Isn't this my order from the noble young master to be the welcoming guest of the restaurant?"

"Oh." Zhao Shouzheng suddenly realized, and looked at Fan Datong for a while before nodding and saying, "You are smooth-talking and good at handling things, so this is just right for you."

"Brother, this doesn't look like a compliment. After all, I am a student." Fan Datong protested while drinking soup.

"Student of the Imperial Academy? How many times have you been to the Imperial Academy?" Zhao Shouzheng glared at him and said, "I see that you want to give up the exam again this year."

Fan Datong accompanied Zhao Shouzheng to the prison for a few days at the beginning, but soon he couldn't stand the restraint. Anyway, he and Zhao Hao were already familiar with each other, and he could come to eat for free without Zhao Shouzheng's guidance, so he simply stopped showing up at the Imperial College. When he was hungry, he would come to eat directly, and when he was not hungry, he would not see him for a few days.

However, Zhao Hao's restaurant has been hiring recently, so he has been coming here quite frequently.

After the three of them finished their meal, it was already bright outside, so they went to the Wei Ji Xian Restaurant in front together.

In the morning light, a girl with thin eyebrows and eyes, as thin as a willow, was standing outside the restaurant with a lyre in her arms.

"The store isn't open yet."

The gatekeeper Wu Yu stopped her from entering, but she could only hear her voice, as sweet as the chirping of an oriole, saying:

"My name is Ma Xianglan, and I am the zither player hired by your employer."

In the distance, Zhao Shouzheng opened his mouth in shock. "Ma what Lan?"

"Ma Xianglan." Fan Datong's mouth opened wider than Zhao Shouzheng's. "She really came?"

The two looked at Zhao Hao at the same time, only to see that Young Master Zhao had an unfathomable expression on his face. He walked to the door of the store with his hands behind his back and said to Wu Yu, "Yes, I invited him."

Wu Yu quickly made way for him. Ma Xianglan was surprised when she heard this. She obviously didn't expect Zhao Hao to be just a boy...

But the surprise was fleeting. Ma Xianglan quickly adjusted her mood and bowed to Zhao Haoping.

Zhao Hao nodded, took her into the store, pointed to the wooden table in the corner, and said with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work today, Miss Ma."

After saying that, Zhao Hao went upstairs leisurely without saying another word.

Ma Xianglan was stunned for a while, then she walked slowly to the wooden platform, placed the lyre straight, and sat on the stool.

After testing the sound and tuning the strings, she put her hands together and played a lively piece of music.

ps. In the new week, please vote for recommendations and comment on the chapter~~~I will not take a break during the Chinese New Year this year, and will write for you all every day. I wonder if you are touched?