Shangguan Min's expression was stagnant, he turned back to Fang Zilan blankly, and said blankly: "Master, what did you say?"
Fang Zilan calmed down and said: "You asked me why Mrs. Ouyang did this to Miss Ouyang, but I want to ask you, why did Mrs. Ouyang treat Miss Ouyang?"
"As expected." Shangguan Min's expression was dark and unclear, and he said after a while: "Mrs. Ouyang treats Miss Ouyang very well, but secretly she sent the craftsman to be her eyes to monitor everything about Miss Ouyang for her. If Miss Ouyang has any Everything she did was sabotaged secretly. No matter what the craftsman did, it was with her permission..."
He said as if he suddenly remembered something, and added: "There is also Miss Ouyang's brother, he also knows, so he will try to protect the craftsman."
"Yes, children can be taught." Fang Zilan nodded with satisfaction, "But you are wrong. Mrs. Ouyang is not only very nice to Zirou on face, she is really nice to Zirou."
Shangguan Min asked eagerly: "But why..."
"The reason you just said is that Zirou is a woman." Fang Zilan tapped her fingers on the table, "The food is getting cold."
Shangguan Min looked at Fang Zilan as if she had seen a ghost, and she said calmly: "Why, do you think it's incredible?"
Shangguan Min remained silent, and Fang Zilan signaled: "You eat first, and listen to me while you eat."
Seeing that Shangguan Min was still motionless, Fang Zilan said helplessly: "Good apprentice, master teaches you one thing. No matter what happens, even if the sky falls, you still have to eat when you should."
Shangguan Min picked up the chopsticks and picked up the food bite by bite. Seeing this, Fang Zilan continued: "The Ouyang family has been in charge of the Ministry of Industry for many years, and it can be regarded as quite satisfactory at best. Although there are no major problems, they have never had the achievements of pioneering mountains and rivers like their ancestors. Under such circumstances, Zi Rou emerges as a woman and takes up all the limelight of the Ouyang family. What do you think the other people in the Ouyang family will think?"
"But Mrs. Ouyang, she is also a woman..." Shangguan Min choked on his food as he spoke, and Fang Zilan handed him the tea cup, "So she is protecting Zi Rou in her own way. She feels that Zi Rou will not be allowed to be among the workers. This department is just for Zirou’s good.”
Shangguan Min drank half a cup of tea and said in disbelief: "How is that possible?"
"Everyone in the world is different. Naturally, everyone has different ways of doing good to others." Fang Zilan said quietly: "For Mrs. Ouyang, she completely cut off Zirou when she was still young and imprisoned her in the golden palace. Living in a silk cage with fine clothes and fine food for a lifetime is the greatest good thing for her."
Shangguan Min shook his head like a rattle, "I still can't believe it."
"Mrs. Ouyang was originally a noble daughter of the Wei family. The Wei family has many children, but she is not outstanding. She was able to marry into the Ouyang family and become the wife of the family head because of her cautious and stable temperament." Fang Zilan said eloquently, "She didn't do anything after she married. Zirou's brother was born in two years, and she has established a firm foothold in the Ouyang family because of the value of mother and son."
Shangguan Min couldn't help but interjected: "I met Miss Ouyang's brother today. He looks much older than Miss Ouyang."
"Yes." Fang Zilan nodded, "Mrs. Ouyang was already quite old when she was pregnant with Zirou. She risked her life to give birth to Zirou. Do you still think she only treats Zirou superficially?"
Shangguan Min's hand holding the chopsticks stopped in mid-air, and Fang Zilan continued talking to herself, "Look at how many daughters from aristocratic families can be like Zi Rou, who leaves the house and hangs out in the workshop every day? What if Mrs. Ouyang had no choice but to If I had followed Zirou's temper, I'm afraid we wouldn't be where we are today."
Shangguan Min wondered: "Since Mrs. Ouyang is willing to tolerate Miss Ouyang's temper, why don't she want her to be listed in the Ministry of Works justifiably?"
Fang Zilan's expression was cold, "Have you ever thought about what kind of situation her brother would be put in if Zirou was legitimately appointed to the Ministry of Works?"
She said and sighed, "The palms and backs of the hands are all flesh. What's more, if there is no accident, Zirou's brother will be the next head of the Ouyang family. How could Mrs. Ouyang watch Zirou become an accident?"
Shangguan Min frowned, "Even if Miss Ouyang is in the Ministry of Industry, can she compete with her brother for the position of head of the family?"
"Why not?" Fang Zilan's lips curled up slightly, "Since I am a minister, I can be regarded as the head of the family. There is also General Xiahou. She was also the head of the Xiahou family. Being a woman is never a reason, just an excuse."
Shangguan Min was so shocked that he couldn't speak, but the smile on her face became brighter, "Shangguan Min, now that you have become my apprentice, you have to throw away those useless prejudices. Family status, surname, gender, all It can be a criterion for evaluating a person, but it is by no means the only criterion.”
"Me too?" Shangguan Min's voice was very soft, but Fang Zilan heard it clearly, "Yes, you too."
"But..." Shangguan Min didn't say anything, and Fang Zilan understood clearly, "Do you think others will think of sinners when they hear the surname Shangguan?"
Shangguan Min pursed his lips, and Fang Zilan raised her hand to cover his shoulders, "People's hearts are complicated, how can you fully understand other people's thoughts? Just like when I heard the surname Shangguan, in addition to the name of a sinner, I also thought of the title People with this surname are well-educated. But no matter what others think, Shangguan is just a surname and cannot represent you personally."
"I understand." Shangguan Min's face became much calmer. Fang Zilan took back her hands and straightened her sleeves before returning to her voice, "Speaking of Zirou, Mrs. Ouyang is not really afraid that she will compete with her brother for the position of head of the family. , She is just afraid of something unexpected happening. After all, she has been cautious all her life, and she has been here like this, and it is reasonable for her to want Zi Rou to be like her. "
Shangguan Min said unwillingly: "But Miss Ouyang is both talented and willing to work hard, and the armament of the capital can be improved to a higher level. Is it necessary that Mrs. Ouyang's cautiousness and what others call a stable life should be buried here?" ?”
"What you can think of, do you think Zirou can't think of it?" Fang Zilan looked at Shangguan Min amusedly, "Zirou didn't reveal what happened today because of the love between mother and daughter, and she didn't want Mrs. Ouyang to be embarrassed. Otherwise she would Why do you have to go to your majesty quietly?"
"You mean Miss Ouyang has known for a long time..." Shangguan Min said in surprise: "How is that possible?"
Fang Zilan took her time and said: "It's not easy for a woman to stand up, so the ability to observe words and emotions is indispensable."
"Miss Ouyang begged your majesty. Sooner or later, Mrs. Ouyang will know about this matter." Shangguan Min looked hesitant, "She..."
"Although there are things she can't do, there are things she can do." Fang Zilan picked up the tea cup and shook it. The clear tea surface in the cup kept swaying, but her eyes reflected in it were extremely firm and never wavered in the slightest.
"Since Zirou asked me for help, I must do something for her." Fang Zilan said solemnly: "Shangguan Min, you will join Lao Cao tomorrow to get the craftsman over in my name."
