Chapter 9 Encounter in the study

December 23 of the lunar calendar, February 11, 1901 in the Western calendar.

In the morning, in the wind and snow, a Western-style carriage slowly led to the wide and tortuous official road in the suburbs.

Sitting in the carriage, with his hand on the stove to slow down, Chen Moran lifted the white lace curtain of the window from time to time and looked outside. The sky is gray, and many old trees on both sides of the road are stretching short bare branches to the turbid sky. If you are careful, you can also find a tender yellow bud between the wrinkled branches.

The land under the car was dark and muddy under the snow. Looking forward, the hungry eyes were slowly soaked with some green. Chen Moran knew that those not very warm greens were flooded from Asakusa in early spring. Maybe spring in the south came early, but spring is still far away, but it can penetrate into the spiritual world of some people.

The carriage stopped in front of a water emblem-style mansion more than ten miles away from the city. As soon as the car stopped, Chen Moran picked up the gorgeously packaged gift box and got off the car. As the end of the year was approaching, Chen Moran was going to visit his landlord.

The thick door opened, and an old servant in a horse coat stood up behind the door. The old servant did not see the common ostentat of a large family's servants on his face, but he looked extremely humble.

"Master Chen, did you tell me early? By the year, Master Chen was young, and he just started business. It's not easy to do business. Save a little money and leave it for the factory. Please return the gift!"

"That! Father Wu! Look at it..."

Chen Hanmo, who didn't understand the meaning of the words, picked up the beautifully packaged gift box in his hand.

"It's getting old. Mr. Nanping, on the one hand, is my senior in the business world, and on the other hand, he is the elder of Ranzhi. He should come to visit him. He also invited Father Wu to spread it on his behalf!"

No more!

Are you kidding? Although it has only been a few months in this era, at least on those scales, Chen Moran still knows that when he rents other people's houses, when he is old, he will come to the door, one is courtesy, and the other is to finalize the rent for the coming year.

"Manshun, I'll go in later. You go to the car and calm down for a while. Don't freeze your body in the cold weather!"

When Father Wu entered the door to report, Chen Moran, who was carrying the gift box, turned around and rubbed his hands with cold laughter. He was full of breath in the palm of his hand, and ordered that this full of Shun was the carriage shop hired by Chen Moran when he went to China and Russia last time. Because his legs and feet were not good, now as long as he went out, Chen Moran would be invited to take the carriage. That's why I rented this carriage.

"Yes! Young master!"

The frozen nose nodded quickly. After being in contact with the young master for so long, he knew that the young master's words were not polite, and he cared about himself from the bottom of his heart.

"Master Chen, please go to the study!"

The door opened again, and the housekeeper Wu of Sun's house came out from behind the door and made a gesture of invitation. After entering the door, under the guidance of the housekeeper Wu, Chen Moran carefully followed the housekeeper. The big family often followed the rules. At this time, he did not want to be kicked out of this mansion and the factory because of any rules.

"Master Chen, the master will come over in a moment!"

After introducing Chen Moran into the backyard study, the housekeeper Wu ordered and retreated. After the housekeeper Wu left the study, Chen Moran looked at the study in front of him. This was the second time he saw the study of a large family in this era. The study was still simple and elegant. The room was surrounded by bookcases and neatly packed with all kinds of books.

At the window sill, several pots of evergreen trees are spitting out dark fragrance. Looking at the pots of flowers and trees, Chen Moran suddenly felt refreshed, and the green in winter always made people feel comfortable. Standing in the study for about half a minute, she turned into a teenage girl from outside the door. The pure and touching expression from those big twinkling eyes only made Chen Moran's eyes suddenly light up, and his heart should shake inexplicably.

When the girl by the door saw the person standing in the room, she was shocked first, and then politely.

"Who are you looking for, sir?"

Chen Moran was surprised by the gentle appearance of the girl. Before he could take a closer look at the girl's appearance, he remembered the taboo of the big family. He quickly lowered his head and bowed his fists with both hands.

"Chen Moran, the word is Ranzhi, the year is coming, I came to visit Sun's mansion..."

At this point, Chen Moran remembered that his words were simply the meeting words of the gentleman he found before he came to Sun's house. He didn't think that this would be used on this girl first.

"I don't know what to call the young lady?"

"Ha ha! Mr. Chen, my father will probably come later..."

My father... Good boy, the little girl in front of her is Sun Jingnan's daughter. After knowing the girl's identity, Chen Moran couldn't help looking up at the girl.

Fang Yi looked up, which was different from the previous light in front of him. Chen Moran felt amazing. What a beautiful little girl, just very small! It looks like a fourteen- or five-year-old, with a pair of bright big eyes, a pretty nose, and plump lips, dotted on the beautiful melon seed face, but the flexible eyes in her eyes, which adds this mischieplay to her gentle temperament.

"You are..."

The sight of the man in front of him made Sun Xiyun blush. He had never been so big that he had never been looked at by a man, especially his eyes.

"It's rude, it's rude! Miss, don't be surprised!"

The coquettishness of the stunning little Lori in front of him made Chen Moran come back. He dared to stare at others again, held his fists in both hands, and apologized.

"Listen to humanity, this new Chen from Shanghai..."

The girl put one hand under her chin and looked at the crutch in Chen Moran's hand with great interest.

"Ha ha, Chen squeal, this may be a nickname for everyone to help!"

Chen Moran took over the words for the girl in front of him with a smile. Chen slitt is now what he calls himself outside.

"Mr. Chen, don't get me wrong!"

Chen Moran's calmness made Sun Xiyun embarrassed and quickly explained.

"My father once mentioned you, saying that you grew up in Europe and the United States since you were a child, and this return to China is the idea of saving the country with industry..."

"I dare not do it. It's really Mr. Nanping's praise."

When he didn't dare to hold his fists with his hands, Chen Moran's eyebrows were more or less proud. That time, he really fooled Sun Jingnan's Tanhualang, pretending to be a so-called Massachusetts graduate, living in Europe and the United States for more than 20 years.

The reason for this is to cover up your origin on the one hand, and also to give yourself money.

Although the gate was opened by the British with cannons 60 years ago, how many Chinese people really know about foreign countries in this era? Just like Sun Jingnan, although he has been a magistrate, he can't even say anything about several countries in Europe, not to mention other people, or this is the reason why Sun Jingnan will ask his "fake" about the current situation. They don't understand Europe and the United States at all. China's real understanding of Europe and the United States is actually Xin Chou. After that, before that, the vast majority of people still took it for granted.

"Guck!"

The delicate smile in his ear made Chen Moran's mind for no reason. Looking up, the little girl in front of him was covering her mouth and smiling.

"No wonder my father said you were nondescript!"

"Ah!"

The girl's words stunned Chen Moran. What's going on?

At this moment, a voice outside the study interrupted Chen Moran's thoughts.

"Yes, you are really too polite! It's just right. You came to visit today, and an old friend is also in the house. I'm just going to introduce you today!"

Between the words, there was already an old man with a red face standing outside the study. Chen Moran looked back and saw who it was not Sun Jingnan, and beside him stood a middle-aged man of about 40 years old. The man looked at himself with a look of interest.