Bachelor

Chapter 15
"You are Sun Dan. The steward Sun Zhongda has already told me about you. Come in and talk." The person who spoke was a man named Sun Fu, who was said to be the housekeeper.Like Sun Zhong, Sun Gui was also a domestic servant of the Sun family of the Marquis of Huichang, and was originally the playmate of the third master of the Sun family when he was young.The third master of the Sun family died early, not as prominent as the second master Sun Zhong followed.Therefore, Sun Fu can only take the position of housekeeper under Sun, unlike Sun Zhong, who can go to both the inner and outer houses, and the masters in Shanxi run both ways, and live a good life.

However, in the eyes of ordinary servants, Sun Fu is already a big man.

"Thank you, Manager Sun." Sun Dan thanked, and then asked: "Where did Manager Sun go?"

Sun Fu replied: "You are talking about Sun Zhong. He went to the Beijing Normal University and the Second Master early this morning as servants, and he probably won't come back in three to five months. You see, I am very busy here. Let me first Let me make it clear to you that our Huichang Hou Sun’s family is not a small family. Everything has its own rules. We don’t come and go whenever we want. We only go home on the first and fifteenth day of every month. You are here Our Hou Mansion works as a gardener for a few days and does some daily chores. Now that the Chinese New Year is just over, all the buddies in the ethnology school and the boys from the branches of the Sun family are on winter break. It will take another three days to start classes. You first Get acquainted. This is your wife, if you have something to say quickly, I will find someone to lead you into the house after I finish."

After all, he was from a rich family, and Sun Fu could speak Beijing movies well, his speech was urgent and fast, but soft and pleasant to the ear.

Today is the day when Sun's residence recruits boys and maids, many children from small families came, and Sun Fu's place is full of people, very crowded.The parents of those children all pulled their children by their side and whispered something.

Hearing that Sun Fu said that she was Sun Dan's wife, Zhiniang blushed quietly, trying to explain something, but her lips moved, but no sound came out.

On the contrary, Sun Dan smiled generously, pulled Zhi Niang outside the house, and whispered: "Zhi Niang, I'm going in soon, if you have anything to say, hurry up, otherwise we won't meet until the end of the month."

"En." Zhi Niang replied in a low voice, and then her expression suddenly became a little sad: "Sun Lang, why don't you go to work in the Sun's residence. I help people darn every month, and I can still earn some money. Besides, Zouping is so big, no matter what, he can find a job. The Sun family is a noble family with many rules. How can you feel comfortable in your own home? I'm afraid you won't be used to it."

"I'm a big man, how can I live by you. Besides, I have owed you a lot in the past three years. I am already an adult and a man. I always have to take on the responsibilities of my family independently." Sun Dan looked The little girl looked uneasy, and she felt amused, and comforted her: "I am weak. Although Zouping is big, there are not many jobs suitable for me. You don't have to worry about it. Fortunately, General Manager Sun Zhongda introduced me to work in the mansion." I'm a gardener, I'm not tired of work, and my body should be able to bear it. Besides, I'm also a child of the Sun family. Although my identity has not been confirmed yet, Chief Executive Sun went to the capital to find out my identity. There is news. Since we are all a family, it is impossible for the Sun House to let me do dirty and heavy work. The Marquis of Huichang's family is very powerful, and he doesn't care about raising a poor relative like me."

Sun Dan didn't tell Zhiniang that he entered the Sun's mansion for the sake of clan studies.Being a gardener is still a second priority, it's just a part-time work-study program, to solve the problem of the belly, and by the way, reduce the burden on Zhiniang.Not only that, but there is also a monthly salary to get.I live in the mansion by myself, and I don't need a salary. I can help Zhiniang at home improve her life.

Only by studying ethnicity and obtaining the qualifications for the examination can one take the county examination in March, pass all the boy's examinations within one year, and obtain the status of a scholar.

Of course, this is only Sun Dan's preliminary plan, and he has already figured out how to go in the next year or two.

It's just that it's not convenient to talk to her about all this.

If she really said this to her, Zhiniang would think that her brain was burnt out and send herself to see a doctor.Don't even think about coming to Huichang Hou Mansion.

So, after breaking up with Sun Zhong yesterday and going home, Sun Dan only said in front of Zhiniang that the housekeeper of the Sun family recommended him to be a gardener in Sun's residence, and how much money he could get as a monthly salary.Anyway, I can't help much at home, so I might as well go to Huichang Hou's house to work.

Sun Dan originally thought that Zhi Niang would object.

Just like what Sun Fu said just now, when entering the Sun Mansion, there are rules for everything, and you can't just go home if you want to. There are only two days of family leave per month.If it was in later generations, my husband could only go home two days a month, I'm afraid the wives would have fallen out by now.

However, Zhi Niang didn't say anything, she just asked, "Sun Lang, do you really want to go?" After getting an affirmative answer, she silently packed her luggage for Sun Dan.

Actually, there's not much to clean up either.

As soon as they enter Huichanghou's mansion to work, even if they are servants of the Sun family, everyone will get a new set of cotton clothes, and Sun Dan's family clothes will not be needed.

But Zhiniang still washed Sun Dan's underwear, because it was cold and the clothes would not be dry for a while.She lit the stove and roasted overnight.

Sun Dan is not a careful person, he was still engrossed in his longing for the future, and he didn't even notice that Zhi Niang just sat in front of the stove all night, her little face was blackened by the smoke.

When it was dawn, she made breakfast and served Sun Dan to finish, then hurriedly wiped her face, and sent Sun Dan to Huichanghou's mansion in person.

Huichang Housun's house is located 27 miles east of Zouping County. The two of them walked for half a day without talking, and arrived at their destination at noon.In fact, the two didn't have much to say.Zhiniang is a person who doesn't talk much, and Sun Dan was a [-]-year-old adult in his previous life, so he really didn't know how to communicate with a little girl from ancient times.

The two of them walked back and forth like this, sweating all over in the cold weather, only then did they see the huge house.Huichang Hou Mansion has a history of more than 50 years, and it looks simple and solemn, very majestic.There are two bluestone lions at the main entrance of Hou Mansion, the middle door is closed tightly, and only two side doors are opened.

Sun Dan didn't understand the rules of the ancients, so he walked straight to the left-hand side door, but was stopped by a porter.After asking about Sun Dan's purpose, the concierge impatiently pointed to his left hand, saying that he was here to apply for a gardener. I heard from the housekeeper Sun that you can go around and walk a hundred steps to see a small door. , Butler Sun Fu is waiting for you there!

Sun Dan didn't think much of it, but Zhi Niang next to her seemed a little scared, but when she saw Sun Dan's calm expression, Zhi Niang felt at ease.

After bypassing the long red wall, I saw a large group of people, both men and women, all aged eleven or twelve.When I asked, it really was here.

It turned out that the New Year had just passed.As usual years ago, the Hou Mansion had to pay some over-age servants, and those who should be married should be moved to other manors.And the vacant vacancies must be filled by new recruits from outside.

Therefore, the new year has just passed.All poor families with girls and boys of the right age came to the door with their children to see if they could be favored by the Hou Mansion and beg for a bite of food.

Sun Dan looked at it for a long time, and exclaimed in his heart that it was interesting.This scene is really similar to the scene of a modern job fair. In fact, if a child from a poor family enters the Hou Mansion, although he is sold as a slave, he can live a life without worrying about food and clothing, and he can be regarded as an iron rice bowl.

The number of servants recruited by the Hou Mansion is limited every year, and only when there are vacancies will they be filled.But seeing so many people in front of them, there might be thirty or forty people in total, and I don't know how many of them will be able to sell themselves into the mansion in order to get food and clothing.

Recalling the time when he graduated from university, carrying a big bag of resumes and rushing around the job fairs, Sun Dan couldn't help but sigh. －－－－ The ancients also had employment pressure!
Hearing Sun Dan explaining herself, although Zhiniang felt very melancholy in her heart because she was going to part with her future husband, she still forced a smile and said: "Sun Lang is right, I think you were introduced to the mansion by Mr. No one will embarrass you, I think too much." After speaking, she stretched out her sleeve to wipe the sweat on Sun Dan's forehead.

After walking such a long distance and being squeezed in the crowd for a long time, the foreheads of both of them were steaming.

Sun Dan turned his head slightly to avoid it. He was still not used to this kind of intimacy.

Seeing Sun Dan dodging away, Zhiniang sighed unobtrusively, took out a rice ball wrapped in zong leaves and stuffed it into Sun Dan's hand, and stopped talking.

After receiving the rice ball that still had Zhi Niang's body temperature, a feeling of emotion suddenly rose from my heart.The family was already so poor that he and Mrs. Zhi lived on porridge. Dried rice balls like this were a kind of extravagant food that could no longer be extravagant.Sun Dan felt ashamed when he remembered that he actually spent a penny to buy a steamed bun yesterday.

Four hours have passed since morning, and the rice ball is still hot.Thinking about it, Zhi Niang kept hiding the rice ball next to her body, just to let herself have a bite of hot food at noon.

Sun Dan felt a little sour all of a sudden, his eyes turned hot, and he quickly turned his head to the side: "I'm not hungry, I'm going to the mansion soon, after I enter the mansion, I should be able to eat hot rice, you should take the rice balls home .” After speaking, he stuffed the rice ball back.

Pushing away the rice ball handed over by Sun Dan, Zhi Niang said: "Sun Lang, you are lying to me." Well, big families have regular meals, and if you miss a meal, you have to wait until dark. You are growing up, but you can’t be hungry."

His throat was a little salty, Sun Dan couldn't help it anymore, and whispered: "I really can't say anything about you, you didn't eat it... Don't worry, Zhi Niang, I will let you live a better life than you can imagine in the future Yes, I swear, I can do that too."

Zhi Niang: "Don't talk stupid things, Sun Lang, I don't ask for anything else. I just hope that you can live a good life, and if you are happy... that's enough."

"Come on, let's go, let's go, Sun Dan has never been clear about your friendship in this life." Sun Dan tore open the rice dumpling leaves, took a bite of the rice ball, and swallowed it abruptly.Then he handed the rice balls to Zhi Niang: "We are together, we will be rich and honored, don't forget each other. I'm already full, you can eat the rest."

Although she couldn't understand what Sun Dan said, Zhi Niang still smiled happily.She only lightly nibbled a few grains of rice on the rice ball, and then put it into her arms carefully: "I'm full too, I'll take the rest home, and I can cook a small bowl of porridge at night."

"Are you a kitten? That's what you eat." Sun Dan stared, about to feign anger.But I heard someone behind me "Hey!": "This girl is not bad, I want it, Sun Fu, I still need a rough girl in my room, so she is the only one."

Sun Dan turned around, but saw a finger pointing at Zhiniang.

(End of this chapter)