Since entering the twelfth lunar month, both Jiao Shun and Jia Zheng have become busy.

Jiao Shun was busy processing the reports and requisition forms from the previous year; Jia Zheng was leading the inspection team out of Beijing at the end of the first year, so he needed to make intensive preparations for the trip.

However, Jia Zheng has been accustomed to leisure all his life, why has he ever worked so hard?

He fell ill before the middle of the month, but he didn't feel anything bad about it himself. He still went to the Yamen every day to discuss matters. However, several court officials were frightened, fearing that the imperial concubine's biological father had something wrong with him.

So he took turns to make insinuations and asked him if he wanted to temporarily change the general.

But Jia Zheng is a man who has the best reputation. If he had fallen ill before being elected, he might have backed down early. But now he is riding a tiger and has to grit his teeth and hold on no matter what.

Seeing that they could not persuade him, several court officials had to secretly add more capable people to Jia Zheng's inspection team, so that he would not have to work as much as possible in the inspection team.

As for Jiao Shun, although he is much busier than Jia Zheng, firstly, he has experience in his previous life, and secondly, his physical strength and mental strength are not comparable to Jia Zheng's.

While severely punishing several subordinates who had falsely reported their accounts - the most honest one among them, the purchase price was more than three times higher than the market price - on the other hand, he was able to find time to improve Baochai and Yingchun's favorability.

Progress on Baochai's side is still slow, or basically no progress at all.

But Jia Yingchun is obviously a fool.

Since that time when Xiu Ju came to complain, Jiao Shun would occasionally get some snacks and knick-knacks, and ask Xiang Ling to give them to Si Qi, who would then pass them on to Yingchun.

Over and over again, Yingchun specially gave back a hand-sewn sachet - this was already an extremely bold act for Yingchun, who was always cautious in his words and deeds.

But it's not surprising that she would react like this.

After all, I already regard Jiao Shun as my future support in my heart, and for the first time since I was young, I felt "cared for" by others - Siqi Xiuju was not included - which inevitably touched my heart.

In addition, he did not stop contacting the You family, and even took the time to receive the Yang family.

Although I got some extra sweetness, it was a pity that without the starry sky in the greenhouse, it always felt like something was missing.

In addition to thanking Qin Xian, this Yang family was also thinking about waiting for the other courtyard to be repaired and looking for a job there.

Jiao Shun's heart was moved after hearing her request. Yang was originally the steward of Shangye, and now the Qin brothers have succeeded in getting high positions in the mansion because of their butterfly wings.

In this case, after the other courtyard is repaired, wouldn't it be natural to secretly recommend her to be the head of the night watch women?

With this kind of relationship, wouldn't it be very convenient for him if he had any affairs in the future?

All in all, this situation can be said to be very good!

But Jiao Shun, a greedy and dirty person, always had the desire to win over Shu.

I have to worry about it every now and then, not knowing when and how long I will be able to get in touch with Sister Lin - after all, one missing girl always makes people feel a little uncomfortable!

but……

After thinking about it for a long time, there was nowhere to start.

So I can only continue to suppress my wolfish ambition in my heart.

…………

Time flies.

Seeing that it is the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month again.

Originally, the Jiao family wanted to worship the stove by themselves, but Jia Zheng strongly invited him. In addition, his father also wanted to participate in the collective sacrifice of the stove at the house, so Jiao joined the Rongguo Mansion sacrificial team.

Last year he was at the bottom of the team, standing like a follower, but this year it was completely different. He was right behind Jia She and Jia Zheng, with Jia Lian on the left and Bao Yu on the right, a proper boss position.

Speaking of which, this was the first time Jiao Shun saw Jia Lian after the farce of catching a traitor.

While he was waiting in the queue to present the tribute, he secretly scanned Er Ye Lian's face, and sure enough he saw a few shallow scars on the left side of his face.

This Wang Xifeng is really ruthless!

The process of worshiping the stove in Rongguo Mansion is almost different from last year, so I won’t go into details in the book.

However, the routine Zao Opera in the evening had to be held in Dongfu instead because the large flower hall had been demolished.

But after they finished offering sacrifices to the Stove Lord, Jiao Shun and Baoyu agreed to make an appointment at Shen Zheng [four o'clock in the afternoon] to rush to Xifu together, and then went home on their own.

Although the solemn ceremony was cancelled, the matter of burning the Stove Prince's portrait still had to be done by himself as the head of the family.

Wu'er, Yuchuan'er, as well as the cook and servants all have their parents in the hall, and they are all given a special day off today - only during the day - so they are only accompanied by Jiao Da, Xiang Ling, Granny Hu and their grandchildren.

Seeing Jiao Shun lighting the portrait with a fire and preparing to stuff it into the stove, Jiao Da hurriedly pointed outside and said, "You just became an official this year. According to the rules, you should use a pole to lift it to the roof."

What kind of rule is this?

But since there was such a rule, Jiao went outside to pick up the burning portrait with a bamboo pole and put it on the glazed tiles of the roof.

The portrait was almost burnt, so Shuan Zhu took two more five-hundred-ring thunderbolts, tied one end of them with his trouser belt, and started to explode in circles around the yard like a dog walking.

This little ceremony was not over until the ground was covered with red paper.

Jiao Shun took a room near his godfather - the old lady from the Ning Mansion had also gone home to reunite - and helped him make a cup of strong tea to warm him up, and then made some silly remarks before returning to the east wing.

She took off her coat, hugged Xiangling and made love to her. She was usually careless, but on this day of family reunion, how could she not have mixed emotions?

Jiao Shunzhi teased Xiangling for a long time, letting her cry on his shoulder, and then he coaxed her into loving her.

Seeing that the appointed time was approaching, he hurriedly asked Xiangling to prepare four or five hand stoves and foot stoves, wrapped them in a small cloth bag and took them to Dongfu.

Because they had made an appointment with Baoyu a long time ago, neither of them took the car and took their maids and servants directly through the private alley and entered the Ningguo Mansion.

Seeing the black smoke rising from the boiler room on the road, Jiao Shun felt as if he had lived a lifetime ago.

By the way...

Although Jiao Shun had gotten closer to Baoyu recently, this was the first time he saw Mingyan.

Look at this kid cowering and hiding at the end of the team. It was obvious that he had been deliberately hiding from him before.

I remember that when Jiao Shun first traveled to this world, he thought about how to avenge his original owner.

Now……

He turned back and looked at Ming Yan meaningfully for a few times. He looked at the boy and buried his head in his chest, and then calmly withdrew his gaze.

Revenge must be avenged, but there is no need to take risks for such a small character.

As time goes by, I will always find suitable opportunities.

When they arrived at the Yimen of Ningguo Mansion, Jia Rong had already led the stewards to wait for a long time. When he saw the two people arriving, he hurriedly stepped forward and said "uncle".

Jiao Shun said with a half-smile: "I heard that your marriage has been finalized and you will get married in the next year? Don't forget to leave me a message then."

Jia Rong's smile froze and she said with a sneer: "Of course I have to invite Uncle Jiao over for a drink."

Although marrying a wife is a good thing, it makes people really unhappy when the daughter-in-law they want to marry is booked by their biological father first.

Especially the idea of ​​replacing the old with the new was ruined by Jiao Shun.

"You, you are getting married again?"

Jia Rong was getting more and more frustrated when she thought about it more and more, but she saw Baoyu's color changed, and she asked with a tight face: "But Qing... It hasn't been a year since Mrs. Qin died, right?"

"Tonight it will be exactly one year."

While Jia Rong answered honestly, he secretly looked at Baoyu's expression.

But I heard Baoyu say sadly: "It turns out that flowers are similar every year, but people are different every year."

After hearing this, Jia Rong became more and more suspicious, and said to herself: "It is obvious that my wife died, but why does he care so much? Could it be that my little uncle also had a share of the pie in the past?"

The three people entered the large flower hall in the inner courtyard with different thoughts.

The layout here is the same as that of Rongguo Mansion. Tables and chairs are placed on both sides to entertain the prominent servants of the two mansions. A light gauze tent is set up in the middle for the masters to have a banquet and have fun.

Jia Zheng had not arrived yet, only Jia She and Jia Zhen stood talking loudly.

I heard Jia Zhen say: "It's a pity that Qiang'er hasn't come back from going south, otherwise there would be no need to hire people from outside. Because of the dispute between the palace and the competition for actors, the troupes in the capital have become very popular, but I was late in recruiting people."

It’s so crowded that it’s almost impossible to get enough people to sing this song.”

"That's why I have to build my own team."

Jia She said with embarrassment: "You have to use other people's efforts to make fun of me. How can you show that you are not from our family?"

At this time, Jia Rong led the two people forward to greet them.

Jia Zhen didn't dare to offend her, so she hurriedly returned the courtesy to the two of them.

Although Jia She still raised his neck, his attitude was much better than before. After all, more than half of the benefits sent through Qin Xian fell into his pocket.

but……

He was still a little bit worried about Jiao Shun's willingness to sell only one fan bone.

After a few casual remarks, Baoyu never liked to join in the fun with men, so he went to the table with You, Li Wan and Wang Xifeng to accuse him.

Youshi smiled and greeted him to sit down, but her watery eyes looked directly at Jiao Shun. After all, Jiao Shun was busy with many things. Although he never ignored her, he did not visit her for six or seven days to communicate.

Now that this drama is happening in Dongfu, the two of them must seize the time to have a good time.

Because she had Jia Zhen's approval, she didn't bother to hide it. However, Li Wan had been a little confused before and couldn't help but pay attention to her every move. Now he immediately saw some signs.

But Li Wan couldn't believe it.

Although Jiao Shun has already risen to prominence and cannot be taken lightly, to put it bluntly, he is just a boy of sixteen or seventeen years old, and he is not handsome. In terms of appearance and background, he is far inferior to Jia Rong and Jia Qiang.
To be continued...