After the banquet, the Rong family was quiet for a few days. On this day, Baochai went to Lady Wang's place to see how the renovation of his family's old house was going, in preparation for his brother's arrival in the capital.

Lady Wang tried to persuade him to stay, "You're a girl, how can you go to the streets?

The mama beside you didn't stop you!

It's cheaper for you to stay here with your aunt. "

Baochai smiled, "It's the mama who asked me to come and beg my aunt, so that Sister Chou can be at ease.

I have nothing to say about living with my aunt, but my brother, since he's a xiucai, he has to take care of the family. How can he give up his family's ancestral home and stay with his relatives?

It doesn't make sense.

Moreover, relatives also pay attention to the distant fragrance and the nearby smell. Just now, he was angry with Yun 'er. Who knows who Ming' er will be angry with next.

Also, when my brother comes, my mother will have to talk about his marriage. Is he going to marry a bride in my aunt's house?

It doesn't look like it.

I have to go back and make some arrangements. "

It was okay to talk about other things, but when it came to Xue Pan's marriage, Lady Wang had a plan in mind.

Her niece had been in the capital for more than a month. As she looked at her coldly, she felt as if she was somewhat similar to her younger sister-in-law, Jia Min, before she was married. Not only did her great reasoning block people's mouths and make them speechless, all the servants also praised her for being honest and considerate. In her heart, she was already somewhat unhappy.

In the past, she thought that Xue Pan's family was rich, and her son was a good-for-nothing. She thought that he would be a dowry in the future. If she could have such a capable and wealthy daughter-in-law, it would be great.

But now unexpectedly his nephew had suddenly repented and turned over a new leaf. Perhaps in the future he would still be a 'xiucai' official, and there was still hope for him to go one step further. Marrying a concubine's daughter to him was unexpectedly more suitable than marrying Baoyu to a merchant's wife.

Yinchun and Xichun were not the daughters of the second branch of the family. In the future, even if the old lady did not make the decision, her father and brother would make the decision for her. However, Tanchun in front of her was hindered by Concubine Zhao and did not want her to be happy. Wouldn't it be better for her to marry into the Xue family?

Her mother and her brother were in the palm of her hand, so she wasn't afraid of any trouble. She could only think of ways to get Xue Pan to help her family's Baoyu, and at the same time also help her own brother.

To the outside world, it could be said that she was married off to a son of a rich family with scholarly achievements. She was clean on both sides and had all four corners. There was nothing more appropriate than this.

No matter how he thought about it, the Baochai was like chicken ribs. For a moment, he was not very proud of it.

After calculating, she said to Jin Chuan, who was standing by her side, "Go call Zhou Rui's family over. Let her accompany Bao Yatou to the Xue family's residence to take a look.

Take care of them! "Baochai thanked her and then went out with Zhou Rui's family.

Mama Su had already ordered a carriage to wait at the street entrance of Pear Fragrance Courtyard. Bai Lu was on the side, waiting on Baochai to put on a curtain hat and sit on the carriage. He also arranged for a servant to run errands to follow on the side. He also asked Zhou Rui's family to sit at the back of the carriage. Only then did he ask the coachman to open the way.

This carriage and coachman were also brought into the capital by the Xue family. The servant pointed the way and the carriage rumbled toward the Xue family's old residence in the capital.

This residence was purchased by the ancestor of the Xue family who had been bestowed the Ziwei Hermit when the current dynasty was established. It had lasted for several generations.

Later generations continuously bought and renovated the houses on both sides. By the time the Xue Pan and Baochai's generation arrived, it had become a large residence with five sections.

Now that the Xue family's population was sparse, a residence with five sections was a bit too big. That was why Aunt Xue didn't want to live in it. It was very empty and scary.

Baochai calculated and took Xue Wu and Bao Qin with him. It was just enough for each member of the family to have a courtyard.

In the future, when his elder brother married his sister-in-law, he wouldn't be looked down upon like in his previous life. Therefore, he carefully instructed the head steward to renovate the residence.

The head steward knew that this residence was going to be used by his eldest brother to find a wife, so he naturally put in a lot of effort to renovate it.

The several shops were also cleaned up by the eldest daughter. Many good things were bought and sent into the residence in an endless stream. From the outside to the pillars at the front door and the horse stone, the inside to the roof tiles, the roof, the nursery garden, the screen wall between the alleys, the rockery, the pond, the koi fish, the lotus, the drooping flower gate, and the moon cave, everything was renovated one by one. Sometimes it was painted or new branches were planted.

The several old servants who were originally looking after the residence were directly detained by Baochai and brought back to Jinling to be dealt with by Xue Wu. Now, they were brought all the way here and some things were bought at the last minute.

The carriage passed through the streets and alleys. It arrived at a few wealthy and respectable alleys on the east side of the capital. After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, it arrived at the entrance of the Xue family's residence.

When the carriage came to a stop, the manservant hurriedly jumped down from the shaft and ran to the door. He bent down and dug under the carriage for a while. He took out a wide ladder and stuck it under the door. Only then did he raise his hand and lightly knock on the door twice.

Bai Lu was the first to open the door and jump down. He helped to invite Zhou Rui's family out. Only then did he open an umbrella and welcome Baochai down from the carriage.

The manservant had already gone up to call the door. When he heard the sound, the gatekeeper stuck his head out. When he saw that it was his eldest daughter, he hurriedly opened the door and welcomed her in.

After they entered the main door, the head steward ran out from the inner room. When he saw Baochai, he cupped his hands and greeted him, "Greetings to the Young Miss and Sister Chou."

Zhou Rui's family was looking around when she suddenly heard someone call her. She smiled and greeted, "Greetings to the Head Steward Xue.

Our madam said that her nephew has brought honor to the entire family. When we enter the capital, we must properly visit our relatives.

Because she thought that it would be inconvenient for a girl like Pao Girl to walk around outside, she told me to properly serve the Young Miss so that you won't delay your aunt's important matters. "

The head steward exchanged a few more pleasantries with her. Only then did he lower his hands and report to Baochai, "Replying to the Young Miss, the scenery and the tiles in the courtyard have all been fixed. The inside of the house has just been painted with lime paste. Once it's dry, we can put in the furniture.

A lot of the cloth we brought from the south isn't suitable for the curtains and windows. Therefore, we need to buy some special materials.

This humble one made the decision to sell the old tiles and some other materials that were previously removed. This small amount of money is enough to cover the expenses here. "

Baochai walked along the narrow path and looked at the five courtyards one by one. Only then did he nod his head and say, "The main courtyard is for Mother. The east courtyard closest to the main courtyard is for Gege. The east courtyard behind the main courtyard is for Yazi Ge 'er. The west courtyard is for Qin Jie' er and me. She's still young, so I don't feel at ease with her living alone in the courtyard.

The last courtyard will be used as a guest house. You can arrange the furniture according to this.

A lot of things were brought from home. Mother and Gege are going to the capital with a lot of things. Remember to clear out the storehouse as soon as possible. "

Along the way, there were always all kinds of servants running over to report on Baochai's tasks. Seeing this, Zhou Rui's family's servant clicked her tongue in wonder, "Young Miss is only thirteen years old this year, yet you're able to do things more efficiently than many of the wives. No wonder the courtyard is so orderly and clean." Baochai took a moment to look at her with a smile and said, "You're laughing at me!

Which steward under Auntie's command isn't better than me by several streets?

It's just that I'm the master and only need to say a few words to order them around. They're afraid of me and that's why they look so docile. "

As she said this, she looked around inside and then nodded her head in satisfaction and said, "I estimate that Mother and Gege will be going to the north by the end of April and late by the beginning of May. You should count the days and finish as soon as possible. Don't wait until the main family has arrived."

The head steward bowed and said, "It's rare for Young Miss to come out. Why don't we go to our own restaurant in the capital to try the new chef's cooking?

Many of the guests are giving him a thumbs up!

Luckily, Sister Chou is also there. The stewards in Rongguo Province must be extraordinary. Help me give some comments. "

Because it was still early, Baochai thought for a moment and then nodded, "Okay. Send someone to tell them to reserve a private room and put the bill on my place. Just treat it as me inviting Sister Chou to a restaurant. We'll enjoy it this time."

Zhou Rui's family was overjoyed. They eagerly waited on Baochai to get into the carriage and slowly drove out of the alley.

Xue family's restaurant in the capital was also an old one. It stood upright on the north-south cross street, facing the south and had three floors. This was the first time in both of Baochai's lifetimes that she had been here.

Although the manager of the restaurant was not "invited" to Pear Courtyard to drink tea, he knew that the Young Miss of the Master's family was famous for not rubbing sand in her eyes. When he heard the news, he immediately stood guard at the side door.

He saw his family's carriage.

It came from the east and hurriedly went forward to wait on them.

As usual, the servant lowered the ladder. Bai Lu held an umbrella and stood guard by the door to cover Baochai, who was wearing a curtain hat. Zhou Rui's family followed behind and went directly to the private room of the Master's family on the third floor.

The manager escorted them all the way to the private room. He paused for a moment and asked with a smile, "Young Miss, we just changed to a new chef and new dishes last week. Would you like to try some of the finer dishes?"

Baochai smiled and asked the manager to pass the menu to Zhou Rui's family, "Pick the best dishes first. Sister Chou can order a few more dishes.

If you feel that they are good, we can take a few back to show filial piety to Old Madam and Madam when we leave. "

The manager wrote down the names of the dishes and hurriedly ran to the kitchen to inform them. Not long after, a few servants in short robes brought the dishes to the door and lightly knocked on the door.

Zhou Rui's family was just about to stand up when Baochai stopped them, "Sister Chou, just sit down. Let them run errands."

The manager cupped his hands and personally went out to bring the plates and bowls in. Bai Lu and the servant who followed him all the way hurriedly got up and busied themselves. The large table was immediately filled with delicacies.

Seeing that the dishes were all ready, Bai Lu helped Baochai change the ebony chopsticks he brought. He stepped back and stood to the side to help her and Zhou Rui's family with the dishes. His movements were so smooth that it was too much for the daughter-in-law to take in.

She thought to herself, "My goodness, everyone says that Miss Lin is arrogant, but I never thought that this Xue family's daughter is not inferior to her. She probably didn't show off before because she was a guest, but now that she's in her own family, she actually means what she says.

I'm afraid that when she marries into the family in the future, no one will be able to subdue her. She's actually like the second young mistress of the Lian family! "

She thought as she ate. After eating two chopsticks on each plate, she was almost full.

Baochai usually didn't eat out much. After tasting the food, she put down her chopsticks and waited for Zhou Rui's family. She estimated that she had eaten half of it and then let Bai Lu order tea.

At this time, the manager knocked on the door again and came in with a smile, "Miss, how was the taste?"

Without waiting for Baochai to speak, Zhou Rui's Yi Jing nodded and praised. He pointed to a plate of golden and silver eel shredded and said, "This is a bit interesting. That fried crispy and salty yellow sparrow is exactly what the old lady likes to eat in her porridge at night. It's good for Miss to know."

Baochai pondered for a moment and then called the manager, "Sister Chou pointed to these two dishes and some fruit. Put them in two food boxes and we'll bring them back. We'll show filial piety to our ancestor and aunt."

The manager immediately ordered the kitchen to make two new servings. He followed her instructions and sent them to the servant to carry. Finally, he rubbed his hands and said, "Miss, I think this cook is good. Why don't you take this opportunity to meet him through the door?

If he's successful, I'll sign a contract with him for a few years and let him stay as a master chef. "

The dishes on the table were not inferior to those meticulously prepared by Rongguo Province's big kitchen, so Baochai nodded and agreed, "Let him come up. If he's really that good, I'll give him some bonus. If you want someone to work for you, you have to give him enough benefits." While she was talking, a voice with a smile sounded from outside, "Boss, is my cooking good?"

Baochai, who was sipping her tea, almost choked on the tea in her mouth.

She pretended that she was scalded and complained to Bai Lu, who came up to help her massage her back. She lowered her head to hide the surprised expression on her face. Wasn't this the head of the Jinyi Guards that she met when she went to the palace to choose servants?

Why did he come to her restaurant to be a cook? Could it be that the salary given by the imperial court was so poor that he had no choice but to find a deputy job outside?

She coughed and said in a low voice, "Your cooking is quite good. Where are you from?" The cook outside smiled and said, "My family is in the capital. I'm just trying to make a living. Thank you for your praise, boss."

Baochai didn't say anything else and just nodded to the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper hurriedly went out to take the cook away, then got up and left the restaurant. Halfway there, he suddenly turned around and said to the shopkeeper, "This master chef's cooking is very good. Give him some shares and let him stay. When my mother and brother arrive in the capital, there will be a banquet. When the time comes, ask him to be the host."

The shopkeeper cupped his hands in acknowledgement. Baochai then got into the car with the help of Zhou Rui's family and Bai Lu and went to Rongning Street.

When the shopkeeper saw that the boss's daughter had left, he hurriedly smiled and found the cook to thank him, "Master Shen, we have to thank you.

The boss said that if you're willing to stay, you'll have to be given some shares.

Although our daughter doesn't like sand in her eyes, she's straightforward and open-minded. She works well and pays well. What do you think? "

The cook laughed and his phoenix eyes curved into two crescent moons, "That's good. It's just one thing. How long can our daughter's words count?

What if I reject another family here, and the girl gets married and leaves the house, and a new owner comes in? Will I still recognize these shares? "

"Bah, bah, bah!"

The shopkeeper hurriedly looked around and then retracted his head to glare at him, "You can't talk about our daughter like that outside.

Our daughter is going to enter the palace to be a study companion for the princess. Even if they want to talk about marriage, it'll still be a few years. Master hasn't talked about marriage yet. How can it be our sister's turn?

Besides, Xue family has always been honest in doing business. What's promised to you is yours. Who would cheat a cook like you! "

The cook hurriedly bowed and thanked him, "Since that's the case, I'll go back and talk to my family about quitting my original restaurant and moving here.

I won't be coming here in the afternoon. "

The shopkeeper waved his hand and let him go. He even took out five taels of silver from the counter and handed it over, "This is the private account on the counter. I'll make the decision to settle down with you. You'll move here first. We'll call the porter to move the goods slowly."

The cook hurriedly cupped his hands and took the silver. He went to the back and changed into a set of clean yellow clothes. He asked for leave and left.

He first went south through a few streets, then turned left and right. Not long after, he went east for a while. Finally, he appeared in front of a house with five entrances at the edge of the imperial city.

Chef walked to the side door and knocked on it. The doorman ran over to open the door and was immediately shocked. "Oh my god, Boss Shen, why are you dressed like this in the morning and in the evening?

I thought it was some cook who ran out. "

Shen Yu was the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guards who pretended to be a cook and sneaked into the Xue family restaurant undercover. He was the one who Baochai met when she entered the palace to select servants.

He reached out and pulled the door to the side, "Quickly move aside. Don't you have any eyesight? Your Master Shen has been tending to the vegetables outside all morning!

Where's that incompetent advisor?

Call him over. I have something to discuss with him. "

The doorkeeper hurriedly welcomed him in. He looked left and right and then closed the door after making sure there was no one behind him. When he entered the courtyard, he hurriedly called for a servant to give him some instructions. Only then did he run back to the door to guard it.

The servant ran into the house like a wisp of smoke. When Shen Yu entered the courtyard, he was holding a pot of tea and drinking by himself. Coincidentally, a young man wearing a scholar's robe came out from the inner courtyard.

The young man looked gentle and refined. He had a fair and clean face and a thin figure. He had quite the aura of the underworld. When he walked over to Shen Yu, he used a fan to knock on Shen Yu's arm, which was resting on the back of the chair, "Where did this cook come from? You actually dare to sit in the Embroidered Uniform Guards' house and drink tea. Could it be that you want to go to prison and relax?"

Shen Yu only glanced at him, "I'm lucky today. You all say that the Xue family is loose on the outside but tight on the inside, so it's impossible to sneak in. Coincidentally, I met their master today. Unexpectedly, I succeeded."

The young man was surprised, "The head of the Xue family passed away a few years ago. The master should be the Xue Pan, who just became a scholar this year. How could he be in the capital now?

Or did the Xue family actually hire someone to take the exam? "

As he said this, he reached into his sleeve to take out a notebook to write something down. However, he was stopped by Shen Yu, "You don't know anymore. The head of the Xue family is their daughter. She was the one who helped catch the assassin spy in the palace the day before yesterday.

Isn't it strange?

I said that ordinary girls wouldn't dare to fight with criminals. However, she dared. It's obvious that there's a reason for this. "

The young man sighed, "It's obvious that the men in the family can't handle things and have to drag the woman down. This girl's reputation will be damaged if she shows up in public. I don't know what will happen in the future."

Shen Yu looked at him with a smile that wasn't a smile and said, "Put away your dirty tricks. This is a girl from a good family. She's no longer your confidant in the red-light district. You don't need to worry about her."

The two of them chatted for a while before returning to the main topic. Shen Yu said, "His Excellency originally only ordered us to investigate the inside story of the Eastern Palace's witchcraft case a few years ago. Who would have thought that these four bastards had already thrown their lot in with a new master. For a while, it's complicated and we don't know where to start.

On the other hand, the Xue family's foundation is shallow. It's easier to adjust. Perhaps we can dig out some good things from here.

In my opinion, this girl from the Xue Clan is really a brave and resourceful hero. If we can get her to help us, she'll definitely be able to help us.

Hey, how do you think we should find a way to get in touch with her? "

The young scholar clasped his hands together and laughed, "I have an idea. You just need to bring a four-colored gift and invite a matchmaker. If you can get a beautiful wife, you'll have an extra pair of hands."

On the other side, Shen Yu heard this and spat out a mouthful of tea. He jumped up and waved his fists, saying, "Liu Zi 'an, you spend all your time thinking about how to steal women. Watch how I deal with you this time!"