Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 277 Things change and people change
Butler He came on board with a group of maids and servants, and Xiao Cai and the others gave them instructions on how to carry the luggage.

After all, seven years have passed, and the personnel of a wealthy family like the Gao family have also undergone some changes. Some maids and servants who came in the past few years occasionally looked at Chen Xuan and others curiously while carrying luggage. These maids and servants who came later had heard a lot about the eldest young master and the people around him, but had never seen them, so they were inevitably curious.

But everyone abides by the rules. After all, those who follow the eldest young master to study for a few years can be expected to play an important role in the Gao family in the future.

Chen Xuan smiled and nodded in surprise at Leng Bing who was looking at him at the dock, as a greeting.

Although they had a good relationship back then, Leng Bing has changed a lot. There are so many people at the dock now. I can't just shout "Sister Leng, long time no see" and judging from her current mentality and personality, she may not pay attention to me.

Retracting his gaze, Chen Xuan approached Butler He and bowed, saying, "Butler He, long time no see."

Under normal circumstances, Gao Jingming has grown up and returned from his studies. He will slowly take over the family business in the future. As a servant, Chen Xuan's status is not lower than that of Steward He, and he will slowly replace Steward He's position in the Gao family in the future.

This is assuming his own cultivation level is not taken into account. However, Chen Xuan is not an arrogant person, nor is he an ungrateful person. In the Gao family for so many years, he has a good relationship with almost everyone. People took good care of him when he was little, and he always regarded himself as a junior. Therefore, even after many years, he still showed respect to Butler He as an elder.

Butler He was a bit older. He looked at Chen Xuan with a look of deep emotion and satisfaction. He smiled and said, "Xiao Xuan, long time no see. Seven years have passed. You have grown so tall. When I first met you, you were still so small."

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to gesture at Chen Xuan's height when he entered the Gao family at the age of five. Now he is a head taller than the housekeeper He.

In the past, housekeeper He was called Chen Xuan A Xuan or Xuan Ge'er, but now he is Xiao Xuan. It seems that there is no difference, but there are some special factors involved that ordinary people do not understand.

Chen Xuan himself understood that it was not that the two sides had become estranged, but that He Guan could no longer treat him with the same attitude as before, and there was a hint of respect.

In fact, this is not what Chen Xuan wants to see. He still wants to get along with her like they did before, but he can't go back. After all, he has set foot in 'Xiantian', and core figures of the Gao family like Butler He must know about it.

With his innate cultivation, he would get enough respect wherever he went, not to mention the Gao family.

"People always have to grow up," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

He said, "Well, Master and you have grown up, but I'm starting to get old. Haha, it's good to be back. Has everything been going well with Master over there these years?"

"Very well, thank you for your concern, Butler He."

In fact, we have been exchanging letters almost every month over the years. How could they not know the situation over there? However, the concern that comes from the heart cannot be faked.

Noticing the situation with the luggage, Chen Xuan nodded to Butler He and then said, "Don't worry about the flowerpot, I'll do it myself."

Hearing this, the two servants who were about to carry away the peach tree pots looked at He Guanjia, who said, "Listen to Xiao Xuan."

So the two servants nodded respectfully and went about their other business.

Now the peach trees are planted in two and a half foot long pots, which are almost the same size as buckets, but not as high as buckets. However, the mouth of the pot is larger than the bucket. Together with the weight of the soil and the peach tree itself, it exceeds one hundred kilograms, which makes it very difficult for ordinary people to carry.

Then Butler He said in silence: "Xiao Xuan has been taking care of that peach tree all the time. It has only grown a little bit in all these years."

"It's probably because of the variety. It's been so many years anyway, so it's fine to use it as a bonsai," Chen Xuan said casually.

After so many years, almost everyone in the Gao family knew that the peach trees he planted did not grow well, and there was nothing surprising about it. The Gao family also planted exotic flowers and plants and had a dedicated gardener.

There is strength in numbers. During the conversation, the luggage was almost moved. Butler He said, "Let's go. Let's go downstairs. Don't keep the madam and the others waiting for too long."

"Yeah," Chen Xuan nodded, walked over and picked up the flowerpot easily, then got off the boat with one hand around his arms.

After getting off the boat, the excitement of Gao Jingming and his mother calmed down a little, especially Mrs. Gao herself. In front of everyone, she had regained the composure of a noble lady. Only the slightly moist corners of her eyes proved that she had cried before.

Looking at Chen Xuan and the others getting off the boat, she gently waved her hand to signal the others to move aside. Then she knelt slightly to thank Geng Hong and Zhao Erhe, saying, "Master Geng and Master Zhao, thank you for your hard work in accompanying Ming'er over there all these years."

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it," Geng Hong and Zhao Erhe said hurriedly in panic in return.

Nodding, Madam Gao looked at Xiao Cai and Xiao Ye and saluted, saying, "Xiao Cai and Xiao Ye, thank you for taking care of Ming Er for so many years."

"Madam, please don't do this. This is what we should do," Xiao Cai and Xiao Ye waved their hands hurriedly.

Smiling, Madam Gao finally looked at Chen Xuan, a trace of emotion flashed in her eyes, and she bowed again and said, "Xiao Xuan, Ming'er, thank you so much for all these years."

Chen Xuan quickly put down the flower pot and bowed, saying, "Madam, I am sorry for the humiliation. It is my due."

After all, she has been living with her son thousands of miles away for many years. As the mother of the family, she must express her gratitude. It cannot be said that she is being humble to win people's hearts, but the gratitude comes from the heart.

Recovering her composure, she glanced around and said, "It's good that you're back. You've all grown up and are good children. Let's go home."

"Well, let's go home." Xiao Cai and Xiao Ye were so excited that their eyes were red. The Gao family was their home. Gao Jingming stayed with his mother and turned around and said, "Let's go, A Xuan, let's go home." Then he said to Mrs. Gao, "Mom, let's go home, go slowly, I'll support you."

"You kid, your mother is not too old to walk..."

Seven or eight carriages, surrounded by groups of maids and servants, started off and headed towards Yang County under the envious and awe-inspiring gazes of the people at the dock.

Gao Jingming naturally went to the carriage in front to have endless conversations with Mrs. Gao, so Xiao Cai, Xiao Ye and the others didn't dare to disturb him at this moment.

On one of the carriages, Chen Xuan recalled that when he went from here to Gao's house, the driver was still Old Wu, but now it has become Niu Le. He was originally one of the guards, but now he acts as the coachman. He was probably an acquaintance who was deliberately arranged.

"Brother Niu, has your family been doing well these years?" Chen Xuan chatted casually. They had already exchanged pleasantries before.

Niu Le smiled brightly upon hearing this and said, "Very good, Xuan Ge'er, I have two sons now, hehe."

"Congratulations, it's a pity that I couldn't drink the wedding wine," Chen Xuan immediately smiled, thinking that it was also fortunate for Xiaojuan.

Niu Le was so happy that he narrowed his eyes and said, "I'll make it up to you another day. Xuan Ge'er can drink now, right? Don't mention it, you are a grade taller than me, and you are so handsome. You can choose any unmarried maid in the mansion."

As he spoke, he became envious. With his simple mind, he had never thought about whether those maids were worthy of Chen Xuan. Of course, he did not dare to joke with the young ladies in the mansion.

Chen Xuan smiled but said nothing. He had no way of responding to this.

However, Niu Le couldn't stop talking once he started, and he rambled on: "A lot has happened in the mansion during the years you were away. The master has two more wives. Miss Jing Qing is already married. She's the young master of a scholarly family in the next county. Young Master Jing Hao has already married and moved out. Miss Jing Xue and Young Master Jing Ning are both engaged. They'll be married in the next year or two. Miss Jing Fei and Miss Jing Xun aren't engaged yet, but they're already arranging it. Then there are five more young masters and young ladies in the mansion. Oh, right, Old Wu, who used to drive the coach, passed away last year. Uncle Liang, the gardener, went home to retire, and his son took over the gardener's duties. Let me think, five years ago, County Magistrate Zhou was transferred elsewhere, and Young Master Zhou Lin followed him. The new county magistrate has been on the job for five years and is about to be transferred. I heard that the county is going to have a new county magistrate soon..."

Listening to Niu Le's chatter along the way, Chen Xuan couldn't help but sigh in his heart. So many things had happened in seven years, and the fate of many people had changed.

I never thought that several of the young masters and young ladies in the mansion have already started their own families. They were still children back then. As illegitimate children, they had no control over their own lives when they reached a certain age and could only obey the arrangements of their family.

Gao Jingqing is already married, but she didn't marry for love. She liked Zhou Lin at first, but she didn't marry someone who liked her. Deng Lingfeng liked her back then, tsk.

It’s not that Chen Xuan was thinking about the girl. After all, they had known each other for a while and had a good relationship, so it was inevitable that he would sigh.

Moreover, in just seven years, the county magistrate of Yang County has changed twice. No one knows who the new one is, but no matter who it is, he has to visit the Gao family to establish a good relationship.

Now, even if we put aside Gao Jingyu’s identity as a princess, just considering Master Gao’s official position, is there anyone in the small Yang County more dazzling than the Gao family?
This is probably what they call things have changed and people have changed.

Che Linlin and Ma Xiaoxiao returned to Yang County after a few hours.

Although time flies, for Yang County itself, there has been almost no change in the past few years. It remains the same as before, with only some inconspicuous details that have changed.

When they returned to the Gao family's gate, a large group of people were already waiting there, with the main gate wide open, welcoming the eldest young master home.

When I got off the car, I saw both familiar and unfamiliar faces at the gate.

"Welcome back, young master (brother)..."

When Gao Jingming showed up, everyone at the door congratulated him in unison, no matter if they were maids, servants, guards, or concubines. Although Master Gao was not at home at the time, Gao Jingming's return was like the backbone of the family returning. In the future, the family would have to rely on Xiao Gao to support it.

"No need to be polite, everyone. The family has been working hard for you while Jingming is away," Gao Jingming said as he looked at everyone and saluted. Now that he has grown up, he has the demeanor of a head of the family.

Mrs. Gao was very pleased that her son's years of studying were not in vain.

"When you finish your studies tomorrow, we'll prepare a welcoming banquet for you," said Mrs. Gao.

Gao Jingming supported her and said, "Mom, let's go home."

After that, he turned around and said, "Hurry up, Xuan, let's go home."

In fact, when everyone returned to the Gao family's door, including Butler He, everyone else made way for Chen Xuan, and he stood in the first echelon.

Then, he walked in through the open main gate of the Gao family under the gaze of the people, just behind Mrs. Gao and Gao Jingming. The servants at the door greeted him with water and willow branches that had sprouted tender buds in early spring.

The ground is still the same ground, the door is still the same door, but now I can walk into the house with my head held high.

I remember back then, standing at the Gao family's door like a minion...

(End of this chapter)