When the old man heard the guard's words, his footsteps stopped for a moment before he started walking again. He didn't say anything else. After the group entered a room on the second floor, the old man said to the assistant, "Are you all going back during the New Year?"
The waiter thought that the visitor wanted to order food. Seeing that the visitor was asking about this, he replied, "Sir, I do need to go back. I am from the inner courtyard of the Zhang Family's manor. When the time comes, there will be a lot of firecrackers in the courtyard. I can even receive a reward."
The waiter knew this old man. Last time, Steward Zhang also called the old man "Lord", so he followed suit. He could be considered the smartest waiter on the second floor. This time, he answered more honestly and didn't say "that guy" or anything like that.
"How much is the reward? I'll let you people from Between the Clouds and the Water continue to work, and I'll give you double the money? " Auntie Wang said proudly. She only wanted to spend the New Year here, but she didn't expect others to spend the New Year not only because of money. Perhaps she was thinking that she couldn't go back to spend the New Year, so she had to spend the New Year with others.
The waiter showed an awkward expression. Seeing that everyone was staring at him, he said, "Sir, guests, this is not a matter of money. I have a family, and I want to have a New Year's Eve dinner with my family. I have to …"
"I'm asking you how much." Jujube asked. She didn't want to buy him not to go back for the New Year. She just wanted to know how much the waiter from the inner courtyard earned.
The waiter calculated, then raised his head and said in a low voice, "I can't say, but since you want to ask, I'll tell you. It's not much. My monthly salary is 50 copper coins. After working for so many days, it only adds up to a few hundred copper coins."
When Xiao Zao heard this amount, she and Da Zao looked at each other and revealed a relieved expression. This amount was not much. The two of them earned more than eighty copper coins a month. Including the money from tips, they could still save two or three strings of coins throughout the year.
Just as the two of them were relieved, the shop assistant continued, "This is the monthly salary. The reward can be a little more than the monthly salary. The little one's work is barely enough to impress the master. It's estimated to be 120 strings of coins, and some other rewards such as cloth and meat."
"How much? How much money can you make Between the Clouds and the Water in a year? Give you 120 strings of coins? What do you think? "Aunt Wang was no longer as steady as before. She stood up all of a sudden.
The shop assistant smiled bitterly and replied honestly, "I don't know how much money Between the Clouds and the Water earns, but I do want this reward, or maybe more. Steward Zhang just told me yesterday that he would let me be a shopkeeper elsewhere next summer."
The shop assistant understood that the reason he could get so much money was because he did a good job when dealing with people who wanted to scheme against Zhuangzi. He said 120 strings of coins, but in fact, it was more. When the owner gave the reward, it would only be more and not less. When the owner told him the amount of money, it would definitely not be that much.
Dzao and Jujube stared at the shop assistant with a pair of eyes that contained many meanings. They wanted to see if this shop assistant looked different from ordinary people. 120 strings of bones, and other things. What was this shop assistant doing? It was just serving a dish and saying a few words. Why was there so much? Why?
At this time, Steward Zhang, who had received the letter, hurried over. When he heard that it was the lord who came last time, he did not dare to neglect. When he entered the room, he saw the shop assistant there with an honest look. Everyone else was looking at the shop assistant.
"Lord, you're here? I didn't expect to see you before the New Year. I wish you a happy new year. " Steward Zhang did not know what was going on, so he could only speak first. At the same time, he looked at the shop assistant. He felt that this shop assistant should not have offended anyone. He was the best shop assistant Between the Clouds and the Water.
"Don't be in a hurry to give a new year's greeting. We can meet again. You seem to be lying." The old man smiled and looked at Steward Zhang.
Steward Zhang was stunned for a moment. Of course, he was lying. A shop assistant should be honest. Between the Clouds and the Water would be over if the shop assistant was honest. However, he could not say that out loud. He glared at the shop assistant and asked, "Zhang Liang, how dare you lie to the lord? Your one hundred and twenty strings of cash this year is gone. "
"Yes, Steward Zhang. I accept the punishment." The shop assistant was also clever. He knew that Steward Zhang was just joking. He held back his laughter and respectfully replied, pretending to be sad.
At this time, the others were stunned. They looked at the shop assistant and then at Steward Zhang. None of them knew what to say. Finally, the old man said, "Oh, I was wrong. The shop assistant told the truth. We just asked him about his reward. He said one hundred and twenty strings of cash. We didn't believe him. Since the housekeeper said it again, everyone here believed him."
"So that's how it is. My Lord, this Zhang Liang may look clever, but he is actually the most honest person. He will answer whatever you ask him. Because of this, he has offended many people. The second floor is quiet and there are fewer people, so I arranged for him to stay on the second floor."
Steward Zhang immediately followed up and said to the shop assistant, "Why don't you thank the lord for interceding for you? Go home and see your mother at noon. Yesterday, the courtyard sent someone to make a prescription.
Your mother's legs are also weak. Go to the fifth storeroom to get the things and make a bath for your mother. Also, get a ginseng and a chicken. Cut them into two pieces and bring them back to let Master Ni cook for your family. You offend people outside all day and don't think about home. "
"Thank you, Steward Zhang. Thank you … I will do my job well in the future." The shop assistant naturally knew who gave these things. The fifth storeroom belonged to the young master and his wife. With the medicine, his mother would feel better.
Just now, the old man and others were surprised when they heard that the shop assistant's annual reward was one hundred and twenty strings of cash. This time, they were surprised again. What was the shop assistant doing? Just now, Steward Zhang looked like he was condemning him. In the blink of an eye, he was giving medicine and ginseng. Even the chicken was prepared.
The cheapest ginseng was worth more than ten strings of cash. It seemed that he gave the whole ginseng to the shop assistant and asked him to slice it and eat it slowly. Aunt Wang pinched her leg with her hand and grimaced in pain. She knew that it was not a dream. She looked at Steward Zhang and asked,
"Are you Zhangjia Zhuangzi's housekeeper? Can you give things to your subordinates casually? Don't you need to ask the head of the family? Don't you need to ask the madam? Are you doing this behind the family's back? "
Steward Zhang did not know who this was. He wondered what the Zhang family's business had to do with others. Why should they care about him? After thinking for a while, he asked, "Sir, this is …?"
"Oh, this, this is the person who came with me. He is going to spend the New Year here and won't go back. He is asking the shop assistant and others to stay and do some work. Do you think this will work?" The old man stared at Aunt Wang and said to Steward Zhang.
Steward Zhang hurriedly said, "I can't make the decision. I will ask Master when I go back."
"How could you make the decision when you gave the ginseng just now?" Aunt Wang said in a low voice, but her voice could still be heard by the people around her. She was afraid of the old man and did not dare to raise her head.
Housekeeper Zhang was also curious when he saw the old man. Also, this old man should have helped in the capital. A few days ago, two officials in the capital had specially sent people over to take away the things written by the old master. The imperial nephew had not done anything yet, and County Magistrate Cheng had not gained a firm foothold yet. It was impossible for him to send two sixth-rank officials over.
So he could only say.
"Sir, I couldn't manage this kind of thing in the past. Later, when the family had more money, there were more things to do. Madam was in charge of the family, and I … Master and Master were afraid that madam would be too tired, so they gave me some rights to the fifth storeroom.
Each time, the items are not more than 20 strings of coins. I can make the decision. When the time comes, it will enter the account and be checked once a month. As long as there is no mistake, it will be fine. When the ginseng was bought, it was 13 strings of coins, exchanged with pork, and a chicken. The chicken was raised by the family, so it was only a few dozen coins. The medicine was ordered by the master.
In total, it is less than 14 strings of coins. I can make the decision. Zhang Liang's mother has old cold legs. When she was young, she accidentally injured them when she was working for the master. Zhang Liang is the youngest child in the family. He has two older brothers. His eldest brother also broke his leg when he was working for the master. He is still doing some carpentry work for the master.
Sir, how can the master not take care of such a person? Master often said that without them, there would not be the current Zhang family. What I did was not breaking the rules. "
After Steward Zhang said this, everyone fell silent. Zhang Liang lowered his head. His eyes were red. He wiped them with his sleeve and said to Steward Zhang, "Steward Zhang, I will work hard in the future. I will not lose face for the master. Even if I die, I will protect the master."
Originally, it was a case of the master being nice to the servant and the servant being grateful. However, Aunt Wang muttered at the side, "What if something goes wrong?"
"Shut up. What does the Zhang family have to do with you? Back then, you … Sigh! "Now that I look at it, the Zhang family has the money and manpower. The last time I came here, it was this shop assistant who served me. He spoke flawlessly and did things steadily. Also, the people from the Seedling Protection Team were not bad either.
To be able to take care of the servants like this, the master must be very capable. If a servant can do this, how can the housekeeper be bad? If something goes wrong, the Zhang family will take care of it. Do you think this is your home? You are a housekeeper and you want to take care of other people's housekeepers? "
At this time, the old man was angry and scolded Aunt Wang. That Aunt Wang did not dare to say anything. She was so scared that she almost knelt down. Dazao and Jujube stuck out their tongues at the side and had a scared expression. The adults were angry. They usually did not put on airs when they came out. Now that they were done for, their future days would not be good.
Steward Zhang was a little puzzled. It seemed that the Zhang family and the old woman who was talking had something going on. Could it be …?
Steward Zhang suddenly remembered something, but he was not sure. It seemed that he had to go back and tell Master and Madam. Yes, and the young master and young lady. These people did not come for the young master and young lady, right?
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