After finishing the wine, the three of them left the restaurant and separated.
The housekeeper walked drunkenly on the streets of Xicheng, staggering along the way, and came to the door of the Xu family's mansion alone.
Looking up at the Xu family's door plaque, he lifted his legs and walked up the steps in front of the door.
As the in-laws of the Xu Mansion, everyone in the Xu Mansion knew him. The servants in the concierge hurriedly came over to help the housekeeper who was shaking.
The concierge supported the other party and said, "Mr. Xing, how much wine have you drunk? Why don't you go to the concierge to have a rest first, and I will make you a cup of strong tea to get rid of the alcohol smell."
As he spoke, he winked at the servant of the Xu family on the other side and motioned for him to go to the back house to deliver the message.
"Come on, take me to see Fatty Xu. I have something good to say, hiccup!" The head of the household department couldn't help but let out a wine burp.
"Just wait, let me help you in." The porter waved to a servant.
The servant came running over.
The concierge said, "You can help Mr. Xing with this and take him to see our master."
The servant took over the position of the porter and helped the housekeeper to walk into the yard.
The Xu family is a large house with several entrances and exits. It is no smaller than the Xu family house in the past. The wealth accumulated by the Xu family for several generations makes the home even more luxurious.
After passing through a long corridor and a courtyard gate, the butler of the Xu family came out to welcome him after receiving the news.
As soon as they met, he said, "Master, I didn't even tell you in advance that you were coming, so I could send someone to pick you up."
The two servants following Butler Xu stepped forward, took the servant from the servant who was supporting the household servant, and supported him on the left and right.
"Steward! Quick, take me to see Fatty Xu. Yes, there's something good, something good for your Xu family." The housekeeper urged when she saw Butler Xu.
"You two, take the father-in-law and follow me to see him." Butler Xu turned his head and said to the servant who helped the housekeeper over, "Go back and leave him to me."
"Yes, please excuse me." The servant bowed, stepped back and left.
Fatty Xu had just finished his meal and was sitting in the side hall drinking tea.
The weather was hot, and he, a fat man, was more intolerant of heat than others. Five copper basins were placed in the side hall, containing ice cubes from the cellar. There were servants nearby who kept fanning him with fans. .
"In-laws, I'm here to tell you the good news. It's a great thing." As soon as they entered the side hall, the housekeeper shouted loudly.
Butler Xu, who followed him into the side hall, curled his lips. Before they met, Xu Fatty called Xu Fatty, but when they met, they became in-laws.
The housekeeper walked to the seat in front of Fatty Xu and sat down.
Smelling of alcohol, Fatty Xu raised his hand to cover his nostrils and said, "Housekeeper, prepare a cup of herbal tea for the in-laws to get rid of the alcohol smell."
Butler Xu agreed, went out of the side hall door, and arranged for his servants to prepare.
The head of the Household Department leaned forward and said, "My dear, do you know who I was with just now?"
Fatty Xu leaned back, shook his head slightly, and said, "How did I know this?"
"Secretary Yang and Mr. Jia in the torture room." The housekeeper said, "Yang Guangyu defected to the garrison house. At the wine table, he helped Mr. Jia and I to win over."
Fatty Xu was made uncomfortable by the smell of alcohol coming out of the other party's mouth when he spoke, and when he heard the news that Yang Guangyu had defected to the garrison, he frowned.
The housekeeper didn't notice, and just listened to him continue to say, "Master Guard promised that as soon as the tiger flag falls, you will be the president of Dongshan Chamber of Commerce. I didn't even go home after drinking. I came directly to your place to make this good." I’ll tell you the news.”
The door to the side hall opened, and Butler Xu walked in with a cup of herbal tea.
He stopped in front of the housekeeper and said, "Master, please have tea."
"I'm really thirsty." The housekeeper grabbed the tea cup and drank heavily. He drank the whole cup in one go and finally returned the tea cup to Butler Xu. "One more cup, burp!"
At the end of the day, he also burped.
"My father-in-law likes to drink it. Let me prepare it for you if you are young." Butler Xu put away the tea cup, handed it to the servant on the side, and ordered, "Send me another cup of herbal tea."
The servant excused himself and retreated from the side hall.
The head of the house leaned back and said, "As soon as I heard this good news, I will tell you as soon as possible. In the future, you will become the president of the Dongshan Chamber of Commerce, but don't forget me."
As he spoke, he patted his chest.
Fatty Xu held a tureen in his hand, holding the lid in his hand to poke the tea inside, and said in a calm tone, "This is not good news."
"Why isn't this good news?" the housekeeper said in a low voice, "Behind the guard is the deputy commander-in-chief Li Kaiyang and Mr. Li. No matter how powerful the tiger-character flag is, it can still be more powerful than a deputy commander-in-chief."
Fatty Xu picked up the tea bowl and blew it, took a sip, and then said, "If they are really as powerful as you say, what else do they want from you and Master Jia? It would be much easier to send troops directly to Lingqiu to suppress the Tiger Flag." "
"This..." The housekeeper was startled, thinking that Fatty Xu's words made some sense.
Fatty Xu added, "The most profitable businesses in Tiger Character Banner are Dongshan Iron Works and Xujiazhuang, and finally the mule and horse business. The deputy commander-in-chief of the garrison and Datong have contributed their efforts. Why should they give up the bulk of their benefits to me?" .”
"You, you mean Yang Guangyu lied to me!" The housekeeper's face sank.
He is not a brainless idiot who can be a housekeeper. He can figure it out after just a little thought. However, he was blinded by Yang Guangyu's promise before and didn't think about it for a while.
"I don't know whether he lied to you or not." Fatty Xu said, "I only know that this matter will not do any good to the Xu family. Why should I risk offending Hu Ziqi and help them deal with Hu Ziqi."
"This..." The housekeeper opened his mouth, wanting to say that Yang Guangyu promised to let him and Master Jia serve as assistant officials in the future.
He only thought about this in his mind but did not say it out loud.
He knew Fatty Xu too well. Considering the person he was, he would never agree to something that was not beneficial to the Xu family, even if he, an in-law, asked for it.
"Master, your herbal tea is here." Butler Xu took the herbal tea from the servant and handed it to the housekeeper.
The housekeeper took it in his hand, took a sip, put it aside, and persuaded, "There are still several properties in Tiger Character Banner. Even if we can't get the Dongshan Iron Farm, Xujiazhuang and the Mule and Horse Factory, we just need to capture these two properties." , the Xu family will make money every day from now on."
Fatty Xu sneered and said, "Without Dongshan Iron Farm, Xujiazhuang will fall into decline soon. As for the mule and horse business, do you think anyone can start the business? If you don't have a man who can fight or kill, even if you take the mule and horse business, Once I get it, I can only do some small business in a few counties around Lingqiu, and the little money I can earn will not attract the attention of my Xu family."
"Is there really no discussion at all?" The housekeeper frowned.
"There is no negotiation." Fatty Xu said, "I don't care what benefits they promise you, but don't involve my Xu family in seeking death. The Tiger Flag is not as easy to mess with as you think."
The housekeeper held a cup of herbal tea in her hand.
He knew that what Fatty Xu said had some truth, but he was unwilling to let go of such an opportunity that would allow him to become an official.
Fatty Xu put down the tureen and said, "Butler, see the guests off, I'm a little tired."
Butler Xu came to the housekeeper and said with a smile, "Master, please come back!"
The housekeeper looked dissatisfied.
After all, he was also an in-law of the Xu family, but Fatty Xu told him to leave.
