The rest of the journey was relatively smooth, and on October 28th they finally set foot in Linzhou.
"Your humble servant greets the Governor." The Linzhou Governor and a group of Linzhou officials were outside to greet them.
Shen Nian frowned. He had just arrived in Linzhou, and so many officials came to greet him. He didn't know how they got the news that he could arrive today.
Chen Nian got off the carriage, his face showing no emotion. "My lords, please stand up quickly. It's hard for you to come so far to greet me."
Although I was unhappy, I didn't say anything.
"It's not hard, it's not hard!" The Governor stepped forward. "Your Excellency the Governor has worked hard. I have been waiting for you for a long time, and finally you have arrived."
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Let's go." Shen Nian nodded, exchanged a few simple greetings with the adults, and got on the carriage.
Xiatian didn't get off the car just now.
It takes two days to get from here to Sangluo City, the capital of Linzhou Prefecture.
Two days later in the afternoon they finally arrived at Sangluo City.
The governor had already arranged for people to clean up the courtyard where the governor had lived before, and was waiting for them to move in.
Shen Nian asked the adults to go back and rest early, as they had been traveling for two days and were exhausted.
The governor and other officials also knew that the governor had been traveling for more than a month and was very tired, so they did not disturb him too much. They said that they would hold a banquet to welcome them at noon tomorrow, and then left with the other officials.
Xia Tian took Ningxiang, Ningxue and others with him and put away the things they brought one by one.
She did not touch the servants who had stayed in the yard. After asking what they were doing, she let them continue working.
They are unfamiliar with the place and don't have the energy to take care of these things for the time being.
It will take some time to sort these out.
However, Fu Gui's mother and wife are temporarily in charge of the kitchen.
It was late today, so after dinner, we all went to bed early.
The next day, Shen Nian went to the yamen after breakfast.
Xia Tian took a few maids to slowly pack up their things.
The courtyard where the governor lived was also a three-story compound. Mu Feng, Muchen and the others lived in the front yard, and Chen Nian's study was also in the front yard.
In the summer, she lived in the second courtyard with Ningxiang, Ningxue and others, while the other servants lived in the backyard.
The yard was quite spacious and there were no other messy people around, so Ningxiang and the others were allowed to choose a room to live in.
There were a lot of things to do here, so she didn't let Mu Feng continue to drive the carriage for her, and let Fu Gui follow her directly.
Fu Gui also has some experience in martial arts, so he has no problem driving the car.
Shen Nian agreed.
Nanny Zhang, Ningyue and Ningshuang are still mainly responsible for Chen Nian's daily life in the study.
After all, sometimes when I am busy, I spend a long time in the study.
At noon, the Governor Cao Heng hosted a banquet at the restaurant to welcome Shen Nian and the others.
Xia Tian was also invited, so she went with Ning Xiang and Ning Xue.
"Oh, this is the governor's wife? She looks so young, and she and the governor are a perfect match!" As soon as he got off the carriage, a lady in her forties came up to him and spoke.
Xia Tian looked at the smiling lady. Although he didn't know her, he didn't feel nervous and asked with a smile, "Who is this lady?"
"Oh, the Governor's wife doesn't know us yet. Let me introduce myself first."
The lady smiled and pointed at the ladies next to her and introduced them to Xia Tian, "I am the wife of the Governor Cao, and these are the wives of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Li, the Daotai Wu, and the Prefect Wang..."
Xia Tian nodded one by one, "Madam Cao, Madam Li, Madam Wu, Madam Wang..."
After they had all met, Mrs. Cao took them to the private room on the second floor of the restaurant.
There was a screen between the tables of the officials here and those on Shen Nian's side.
Looking at Mrs. Cao's ability to please everyone, Xia Tian felt a little envious.
What a social butterfly!
She also noticed that the wives of these other officials basically followed the lead of Mrs. Cao, but Mrs. Cao was very easy-going and liked to joke.
He could dispel any awkwardness at the table with just a few casual words, and he never let words fall to the ground.
"Madam Xia, I'm a few years older than you, so I'll just take charge here. If you have any problems in the future, feel free to come to me.
I've been in Linzhou for a few more years than you have. I know all the fun and delicious things here." Madam Cao said to Xia Tian with a smile, holding her wine glass.
Xia Tian also raised his glass and clinked it with Madam Cao's. "Thank you very much, Madam Cao. I'm new here, and I really might cause trouble to Madam Cao!"
"Oh, don't be shy with us. You can ask us anything you don't understand. If you need to entertain yourself, you can come to us and play cards or go shopping, right?"
Mrs. Cao chatted and laughed while asking other ladies present.
"Yes, yes, Madam Governor, please let me know if you have anything to say." The other ladies echoed.
"Well, thank you all ladies." Xia Tian took the initiative to pick up the wine glass. "This is our first meeting today, and I'm very grateful for your hospitality. This glass of wine is for you all, ladies. From now on, we can be considered acquaintances."
Mrs. Cao nodded secretly. She didn't expect that although the governor's wife looked young, she spoke and acted in a generous and appropriate manner. She couldn't help but look up to her.
"You're so polite, Madam Governor." Following the lead of Madam Cao, the other ladies also raised their glasses and drank.
The atmosphere of the whole reception was very harmonious. As everyone toasted each other, Xia Tian also got a basic understanding of each of the ladies.
Mrs. Cao has been in Linzhou with Mrs. Cao, the governor, for five years. She was supposed to change her job every three years, but for some unknown reason, she has been in office for five years now.
The other wives had been with their husbands in Chief Lin for seven years, and some for two years at the shortest.
Actually, they are more familiar with this place than them.
I just don't know why among so many officials, only Governor Luo was punished, and no one else was punished.
Xia Tian estimated that it would be difficult for them to carry out their work here. The complicated relationships involved were probably enough to make them feel distressed.
On the other side, the governor and other officials kept toasting Shen Nian.
This was Shen Nian's first time as the highest official in a state. When the current situation was unclear, he did not refuse the kindness of the adults and basically had a drink with every adult.
Seeing that the governor was giving Mr. Cao so much face, the smile on his face became much more sincere.
The whole welcoming banquet was a great success for both the guests and the hosts!
After returning from dinner, Shen Nian sent everyone else out and only talked with Xia Tian in the house.
Ningxiang took Cuiling to the kitchen to cook some sobering soup.
In the house
“What do you think today?” Shen Nian asked after seeing that there was no one in the room.
"I can't tell anything for now." Xia Tian thought about the scene at today's reception. "That Madam Cao is very good at getting along with everyone. The other ladies seem to be very familiar with Madam Cao as well."
“Yeah.” Shen Nian nodded, “Lord Cao is also like that, but after Lord Luo left, he is the highest official here, so it’s okay for those officials to listen to him.”
"That's true. But they've been here for several years, so we still have to be careful."
"Yeah, I know, don't worry."
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