PS: For the new book issue, please click and recommend and vote for favorites!

"Master, it would be a good idea to rent out the yard. Not to mention the inner house, you and Aunt Wang should also stay there. The front yard where the old slave lives is divided into east and west courtyards, and each courtyard can be divided into two small courtyards.

, the old slave lives in one of them now. In this way, at least three yards can be rented out, but..." When Butler Xu said this, he raised his head and glanced at Zhou Zhong, as if he didn't dare to say something.

"If you have anything to say, just say it. We are the only two men at home now. Don't think of me as a young master, just think of me as your junior!" Zhou Chong also saw Butler Xu's hesitation, so he said

.

Zhou Zhong had previously suspected that Butler Xu stayed here just to earn a living, but now that he was so considerate of the Zhou family, he was also a little moved. However, while being moved, Zhou Zhong strengthened his previous suspicions, because the other party was...

After working as a housekeeper for so many years, the money he saved was not enough for them to eat until the New Year. In his situation, he would definitely starve to death if he left the Zhou family, so naturally he could only hold on to the Zhou family and not let go.

Butler Xu was a little excited when he heard Zhou Zhong's kind words. He said in a dry voice: "Master, the idea of ​​renting out the yard is a good one, but the key point is that our Songjiang Mansion is a small place.

, there are really not many people who need to rent a house, such as the shop assistants who are recruited from the countryside. Most of them will be provided with food and lodging by their hosts. In addition, it is already mid-October, and the Chinese New Year will be in two months, so we

It’s probably not easy to rent out the yard at this time!”

After hearing Butler Xu's explanation, Zhou Zhong also felt like a basin of cold water was poured on his head. He had never thought about this problem before. Although Songjiang Mansion is the Shanghai of later generations, the current Songjiang Mansion is a small one that cannot be smaller.

It is a local place. The government only governs two counties, Huating and Shanghai, and the population is not very large. Not to mention compared with Shanghai in later generations, even the neighboring Suzhou and Hangzhou are countless times more prosperous than Songjiang Prefecture.

In a small place like Songjiang, there is little population movement. Most people have their own place to live. If you want to rent out the house, you must have someone willing to live in it! Thinking of this, Zhou Zhong couldn't help but feel a headache again.

, and at the same time secretly resented in his heart, why is it not Shanghai in the 21st century? Otherwise, just with the yard in his hands, he would be enough to become a multi-millionaire!

Seeing that Zhou Zhong was a little depressed, Butler Xu hurriedly comforted him: "But don't be discouraged, young master. We can spread the news about renting out the yard. Although Songjiang Mansion is not big, there are still a lot of people doing business.

Our home needs a yard to store goods, and if we set the rent a little lower then we should be able to rent it out!"

After hearing this, Zhou Chong could only nod feebly and said: "Okay, I'll leave the rental matter to Butler Xu. In addition, just use our clothes as a pawn, but don't need the clothes of my aunt and little sister."

If you move, don’t tell them about the situation at home for the time being, I will find a way myself!"

"Yeah!" Butler Xu agreed, stood up and put the clothes he was going to take to the pawn shop into a bundle. However, when Zhou Zhong saw him stuffing the pair of bright red silk pants into the bundle, he couldn't help but stop him.

: "Butler Xu, just keep the big pants for yourself. I have more clothes, so just get a few more!"

After hearing Zhou Zhong's words, Butler Xu agreed, and then reluctantly took out his trousers. Although he thought the fabric of these trousers was very good and could at least be used as a few pennies, but since the young master said so

, he had no choice but to keep it. In fact, this kind of trousers was called trousers in ancient times. It was a kind of shorts that did not reach the knees. Its function was similar to the underwear of later generations, but it was more loose.

Butler Xu and Zhou Zhong came to the inner house together and picked out a few clothes with exquisite materials. However, it was getting late and the wind outside was very cold, so Zhou Zhong specifically told Butler Xu to go cook first.

It's not too late to go to the pawn shop tomorrow.

When it was getting dark, Zhou Zhong went to the kitchen to find Butler Xu and prepared to deliver the prepared meals to the courtyard where Aunt Wang lived. Although there was a special restaurant in the house, only the five of them lived in the whole house now.

It was pitch dark at night, and it was also cold, so it was inconvenient for Aunt Wang and the others to go out, so they usually had dinner at Aunt Wang's place.

The kitchen of the Zhou Mansion is located on the right side of the main entrance. In the past, meals for the entire Zhou Mansion had to be prepared, so the area was quite large. The kitchen was also divided into two parts. The large kitchen was used for cooking for the servants, and the small kitchen

It was the place where Zhou Chong and his aunts in the back house cooked meals, and it was not far from the main entrance.

Just as Zhou Zhong poured the prepared porridge into the porcelain basin, and helped Butler Xu prepare two pickles to take to the inner house, he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door of Zhou's mansion, which surprised both Zhou Zhong and Butler Xu.

They looked at each other, and then Zhou Zhong put down his dinner and said to Butler Xu: "I'm going to take a look. I don't know who will come to our place in this cold weather?"

Zhou Zhong said and turned around and left the kitchen, but at this time the wind started to blow. Although the wind was not strong, in the damp and cold air in winter, there was a bone-chilling feeling, and Zhou Zhong couldn't help but shrink his neck.

, he walked quickly to the door and opened it, only to find an acquaintance standing outside, which made Zhou Zhong stunned.

"Aunt Luo, why are you here?" Zhou Zhong said with some surprise. Standing outside the door was a fat woman in her fifties, with thick hands, thick feet and a thick neck. At first glance, she could tell that she was the kind of person who often does sex.

A living person, with a chubby face full of oil and an appearance of overnutrition. In fact, this person whom Zhou Zhong calls Aunt Luo is a cook. To be precise, she is the former cook of the Zhou family. Her cooking skills

She was very skilled. She used to be responsible for cooking for owners like Zhou Zhong and Zhuo'er. Later, when the Zhou family collapsed, Aunt Luo and a group of servants were dismissed by Zhou Zhong.

Aunt Luo outside the door was holding a food box in her hand. When she saw that it was the young master who opened the door for her, her eyes turned red and she said: "Master, I am now hired by Mr. Wu from the north of the city to cook at home. I am worried about you and the two of you."

The young lady is not used to eating food cooked by other people. It just so happens that there are too many dishes cooked in the Wu Mansion today, so I will bring you a few things, young master. Don't worry, these have never been on the table and are absolutely clean!"

Hearing that Aunt Luo braved the cold wind to deliver food to him, Zhou Zhong also felt a sense of warmth. He wanted to say thank you, but his throat seemed to be blocked and he couldn't make a sound. In the end, he finally

Yi Yi thanked Aunt Luo: "Thank you so much, Aunt Luo. You are so old, why don't you let Da Luo or Luo Er deliver it? Come in quickly and warm yourself up, don't freeze outside!"

Aunt Luo's husband died early, and she only had two sons, named Luo Da and Luo Er. They were a little older than Zhou Zhong and were his playmates when he was a child. However, later Zhou Zhong liked to study, and Luo Da and Luo Er had to stay together.

They were working in the mansion, so the three of them had little contact with each other.

"Young master, what you said is untrue. When my wife died of illness, there were two more children at home clamoring for food. Fortunately, I met the master and Aunt Wang. In the end, the master not only paid for the burial of my wife, but also gave it to me.

Only by arranging work can I raise my two sons. Although the family is encountering difficulties now, it will be fine as long as we get over this hurdle. As for the two bastards at home, I don't worry about how careless they are!

"Aunt Luo is also an old man from Zhou's mansion. She has lived in the mansion for more than ten years, so she was not polite to Zhou Zhong and entered the mansion with a food box. During this period, Zhou Zhong wanted to take the heavy food box, but was stopped by Aunt Luo.

Refused.

Aunt Luo carried the food box into the kitchen on the right side of the door. After knowing the purpose of Aunt Luo's visit, Butler Xu also praised Aunt Luo for her kindness. However, when Aunt Luo saw the dinner prepared by Butler Xu, she was...

I couldn't help but shed a few tears.

Aunt Luo is a cheerful woman. She quickly stopped her tears, then took off the lid of the food box and took out several dishes inside, including a plate of steamed fish, a portion of sweet and sour pork, and a dish of stir-fried cabbage.

and a bowl of mushroom soup. Steamed fish is Zhuo'er's favorite dish, sweet and sour pork is Zhou Zhong and Duo'er's favorite, so the portion is the most abundant, and stir-fried cabbage and mushroom soup are for Aunt Wang, who is a vegetarian.

Prepared. In addition, the food box in Aunt Luo's hand is also reserved for wealthy families. The bottom is a compartment for holding boiling water, which can be used to keep it warm, so several dishes are still steaming when taken out.

It can be seen from these dishes that these dishes are definitely not leftovers from the Wu family. They should be secretly cooked by Aunt Luo for them. If her behavior is known to the Wu family, she will be reprimanded at least, and at worst, she will be reprimanded.

Then she might not even be able to keep her job. But she was afraid that Zhou Zhong and others would be worried, so she didn't tell the truth.

Now Zhou Zhong is no longer the unreasonable nerd he was before. Naturally, he can tell from these dishes that Aunt Luo was lying before, which also makes him even more moved.

At this time, Aunt Luo put a few vegetables on a tray in the kitchen, then picked up the pickles on the tray and put them aside and said: "Master, it is not good to eat too many of these pickles. You can eat these vegetables today first, and tomorrow

I’ll bring you some more tonight!”

Hearing that Aunt Luo was going to deliver food tomorrow, Zhou Zhong was moved and hurriedly advised: "Aunt Luo, the weather is so cold now and the north of the city is so far away from here. You must not deliver food anymore. I have been here for the past two days."

I have already thought of a way to make money with Butler Xu, and the situation at home will slowly recover soon, and I might even invite Aunt Luo to come back and cook!"

Housekeeper Xu is also a shrewd person, and at this time he also advised: "Yes, the young master is right. It will not be easy for you to find a job, Aunt Luo. Besides, the Wu family is very discerning. If someone finds out, you will give me a job."

The Wu family will not be willing to send food to my old master’s house, so you must not send food to me again in the future!"

After hearing what Zhou Zhong and Butler Xu said, Aunt Luo didn't understand that they were doing it for her own good? She packed the food box, then nodded to Zhou Zhong and the two of them and said, "Okay, young master, you are very capable.

This person will definitely restore the prestige of the Zhou family, and the old lady will come back to cook for you and the two young ladies!"

Aunt Luo has never been a procrastinator. After saying the above words, she said goodbye to Zhou Zhong. Zhou Zhong also knew that Aunt Luo had to walk a long way back to the north of the city, so he did not keep her and Butler Xu.

They walked her out of the gate together, and then brought her food to Aunt Wang's yard.

Aunt Wang, Zhuo'er, and Duo'er were also surprised when they saw the food they brought. After all, since they dismissed the servants at home, Butler Xu cooks most of their meals every day, and they are still in debt.

, the food is naturally very simple, and now several of their favorite dishes are served at once, making them happy but also a little confused.

Zhou Zhong did not hide anything, and told the story about Aunt Luo's delivery of food just now. As a result, Aunt Wang and Zhuo'er were moved to tears. However, Duo'er, who was only four years old, was not sensible yet and just stared at the plate of his favorite food.

I love the sweet and sour pork and my mouth is watering.

Seeing Duo'er's appearance, Zhou Zhong hurriedly persuaded Aunt Wang and Zhuo'er, and took the opportunity to point at Duo'er. As a result, Aunt Wang and Zhuo'er were both amused and distressed. They stopped crying immediately and greeted Xu.

The housekeepers sat down to eat together. Butler Xu's status in the Zhou family was already high, but now that the Zhou family has been defeated, he is still loyal and refuses to leave, so Aunt Wang doesn't treat him as an outsider. Everyone eats together these days.

, Butler Xu declined a few times at first, but then he just sat down.

There is nothing to say about Aunt Luo’s craftsmanship, especially Zhou Zhong’s favorite sweet and sour pork. This is a kind of southern Cantonese cuisine. The taste is mainly sweet and sour, so it is also called sweet and sour pork. It is made of tenderloin wrapped in flour.

, and then deep-fried in oil until it is six-mature, and then stir-fried with the prepared sweet and sour sauce. When you eat it, it is sweet and sour with the tenderness of the tenderloin, and it feels really great.

A dish of sweet and sour pork was all wiped out by Zhou Zhong and Duo'er. Even Zhuo'er, who never had a big appetite, ate most of the steamed fish. Aunt Wang drank a bowl of porridge and ate some stir-fried cabbage, and the mushroom soup was eaten by Butler Xu alone.

After drinking it all, the remaining vegetables and half of the bowl of porridge ended up in Butler Xu's stomach. Even so, Zhou Zhong estimated that Butler Xu was still not full. After all, he had seen it with his own eyes before.

Butler Xu ate eight bowls of rice in one meal. He was definitely a real rice eater.

After dinner, Butler Xu took things to the kitchen to clean up. Duo'er's mother, Aunt Zhao, ran away. Naturally, she had to sleep with Aunt Wang at night. In addition, Duo'er ate a lot of meat tonight, and Aunt Wang was worried that she would sleep too much.

He couldn't digest the morning meeting, so he and Zhuo'er took Duo'er to play in the room. As for Zhou Zhong, he returned to the room and continued to worry about feeding his family.

After a night of silence, Butler Xu went to the pawn shop the next day with the clothes he had packed yesterday, and by the way released the news about the rental of several yards in front of Zhou Mansion. However, what he did not expect was that as soon as the news was released, it would soon be
Chapter completed!