Zhao Weizhong was not an official family, and he became rich in one or two years. Before that, it was only a well-off family, so there were no rules at home. Zhao Ping grew up at Zhao Weizhong's house and had some blood relatives. He also played with Zhao Shuilan when he was a child. When he grew up, he often went to and from Zhao Shuilan's boudoir to do things. There was no taboo, such as cleaning or moving items, otherwise Zhao Ping would not have been able to target Qiu Qing. Zhao Quan asked Zhao Ping to go to Zhao Shuilan's boudoir by himself. It was not a matter of overbearing rituals at Zhao Weizhong's house.

Zhao Shuilan's boudoir is in the backyard, but it is actually a house with different rooms such as living room, bedroom, study, etc. When Zhao Ping came to Zhao Shuilan's boudoir, Zhao Shuilan's maid Qiu Qing had received a notice, opened the door in the living room, and stood at the door waiting.

Seeing Zhao Ping coming, Qiu Qing smiled and said, "It turns out that Brother Ping is back, but it's rare."

When Zhao Ping saw Qiu Qing, his heart was a little beaten and tried his best to make his tone normal, saying, "Yes, when will the lady usually come back? Will she come back for lunch at noon?"

Qiu Qing said: "I definitely won't come back at noon, and I often don't come back to have dinner at night."

Zhao Ping said: "Is that so? I came back this time and brought some gifts to the lady. Since the lady is not here now, I will leave it to you to collect it. Just wait for the lady to come back and give it to her." As he said that, he handed the gift to Qiu Qing.

After taking the gift, Qiu Qing smiled and said, "When the lady comes back, wouldn't it be better if you give it to her yourself? Why should I hand it over to me first?"

Zhao Ping also smiled and said, "It's the same for you to leave it."

Qiu Qing took over the gift and said, "Brother Ping, why didn't you give me a gift?"

Zhao Ping hurriedly said, "Of course there is." As he said that, he took out a small wooden box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a pair of silver bracelets inside. He kept his voice normal, and said, "This is for you."

Qiu Qing's face turned red. She had just said casually, but she had no idea of ​​asking for gifts from Zhao Ping at all, but she didn't expect that Zhao Ping had something to give her, and it was a pair of bracelets. Qiu Qing was a 12-year-old slave in the Zhao family. She is now a 17-8-year-old girl. She has learned some words with Zhao Shuilan, and she has read "Dream of the Red Chamber", "The West Chamber", "Peony Pavilion", "Peach Blossom Fan" and other books. She also understands a little about men and women. Seeing that Zhao Ping gave her a pair of bracelets, this was a woman's personal ornament, she didn't understand what Zhao Ping meant, and she suddenly felt like a deer bumping into her ears, her ears were hot, and her mind was blank, and she didn't know anything.

Seeing that Qiu Qing did not refuse, Zhao Ping couldn't help but become brave and handed the box to Qiu Qing and said, "Hold it."

Qiu Qing felt panic and said incoherently: "I...I don't want...I don't want...No...No...I can't want...I can't...I can't...I can't...I can't...

Zhao Ping was about to say something again, but suddenly he heard someone shouting outside, "The master is back, the master is back." Both of them were shocked. It was Zhao Ping who reacted first, hurriedly grabbed Qiu Qing's hand, stuffed the box into her hand, and said, "I will tell the master." After that, he left the room as if he ran away. Qiu Qing was still blushing and her ears were hot for a long time before he recovered.

After leaving the room, Zhao Ping tidied up his military uniform and calmed down his mood. Then he came to the main hall and met Zhao Quan in front of him. Seeing that Zhao Ping was coming, Zhao Quan immediately said: "Hurry up, Master, come back."

So the two of them came to the main hall together. At this time, Zhao Weizhongji took a seat in the main hall. Zhao Quan took a few steps forward and said, "Master, Brother Ping is here."

Zhao Ping came to Zhao Weizhong a few steps, saluted a military salute, and said, "Master."

Zhao Weizhong stood up, patted Zhao Ping on the shoulder hard, and said, "Okay, okay, it really looks like a soldier." He looked at Zhao Ping's epaulette again, and laughed and said, "It's already the rank of a second lieutenant, not bad, not bad! I plan to stay for a few days when I come back this time."

Zhao Ping said: "I have five days off and I have to go to Germany after returning to the army, which will take about 4 months."

Zhao Weizhong nodded and said, "The official can't help it. When I come back this time, I'll play at home for a few days. I have some things to ask you?" Turning back, Zhao Quan said, "Have Ping'er's room been cleaned?"

Zhao Quan hurriedly said, "Go back to the master, it has been cleaned up."

Zhao Weizhong said to Zhao Ping again: "You just came back, and it was just a slutty man. First go back to your room to rest, and have dinner with me in the later period. Tell me how you lived in the military camp for the past year."

In the past, Zhao Ping lived in a house with others at home, but now he arranged a single room for him. Zhao Ping put his luggage away and then sat alone on the bed thinking about his worries. Although he had just told Qiu Qing that he would mention it to Zhao Weizhong, it was a blurted out in an impulse. Zhao Ping hadn't thought about it yet, and even thought about several solutions, he felt it was inappropriate.

Just as Zhao Ping was thinking about it, someone called him. It turned out that it was time to have lunch. Because Zhao Ping accompanied Zhao Weizhong alone for lunch, the lunch was in Zhao Weizhong's study. Zhao Ping had no other choice but to act according to the opportunity, so he came to the study with the gift given to Zhao Weizhong and first gave the gift to Zhao Weizhong.

Zhao Weizhong nodded and said, "Okay, it's rare that you have this intention. I'll accept it this time. Don't spend it like this next time I come back. These are the hard-earned money you earned from the military's life. Please keep it yourself. Sit down and have a few drinks with me."

After the two drank a few glasses of wine, Zhao Weizhong said: "You know that I can have my current family business all by relying on the line of overseas Chinese. I am not afraid to tell you the truth. The Qing Dynasty has been alive for a few years. Overseas Chinese will sooner or later go to Beijing to take the Longting. Do you think so?"

Zhao Ping smiled and said, "Your Majesty understands it. In fact, these words are not taboos in Qingdao. Moreover, in the future, overseas Chinese will sit in the Dragon Court. Our family is the first to be a dragon. The master is also a founding hero."

Zhao Weizhong laughed and said, "Actually, there are no taboos in Tianjin, but I am just a businessman. Even if I was the first to be a dragon, I would not be a founding hero."

Zhao Ping said: "Your Majesty can't say that. Who says that businessmen can't be founding heroes? Overseas Chinese have always attached importance to industrial, commercial and economic industries. Many of them do business and start businesses. Moreover, Western countries all regard business as the foundation. I heard that Western countries are all from businessmen, so the national strength is so strong. As long as the master manages well, he will definitely have a chance to make a comeback." After hesitating, he said: "I heard that when I come back, the lady is working in the Tianjin government now? I don't know if it's true or false?"

Zhao Weizhong said: "This is true, but Lan'er is a daughter's family after all, so it is inappropriate to show up like this, let alone she will get married sooner or later and take care of her husband and children."

Zhao Ping smiled and said, "It's not me, you are still the old tradition of the Qing Dynasty. Overseas Chinese are all new eras. Not only women can become officials, but even if they marry, they can become officials. We know in Qingdao that many overseas Chinese still let their wives and concubines work after getting married, so even if the lady gets married, she can still continue to be an official."

Zhao Weizhong singed for a while before saying, "It turns out that it's different to be a soldier, and he has gained a lot of knowledge."

Zhao Ping said: "There are all learned in the army."

Zhao Weizhong couldn't help but smile and said, "Do you still teach this in the army?"

Zhao Ping said: "The leaders said that our People's Army is a soldier of the new era. We must not only learn how to fight, but also learn advanced culture, society, economy, and scientific knowledge. In the future, even if we retire from the army and return to society, we will still become useful people. Unlike the Qing court, even the few new troops established now, we will all teach soldiers to blindly obey, either being foolish and loyal to the Qing court or being loyal to individuals."

After hearing this, Zhao Weizhong felt a little thoughtful. In fact, he knew very well about the behavior of overseas Chinese, but he didn't know much about the army. Now it seems that they are still in line with each other. After a while, Zhao Weizhong said: "Ping'er, you are now a second lieutenant officer of the People's Army. Your future is still unlimited. If you still be a servant in my family, it would be inappropriate."

Zhao Ping was startled. He had never thought about leaving Zhao Weizhong's home and hurriedly said, "Master, I..."

Zhao Weizhong smiled and said, "You listen to me and finish my words first. I don't mean to drive you out. I just can't let you be the current people anymore. And we are also distant relatives. This way, don't call me 'master' in the future, just call me 'uncle', and don't call Lan'er 'maid', just call Lan'er 'sister', and Lan'er 'brother', and the other servants have changed their words, what do you think?"

Zhao Ping was stunned. In fact, he and Zhao Weizhong were distant relatives, so they should call Zhao Weizhong an uncle. However, he certainly understood that Zhao Weizhong was not trying to clean up the relationship, but formally adopted him as his adopted son. Although he only called Zhao Weizhong an uncle, he actually recognized Zhao Weizhong as his father. This is of course a good thing. He suddenly changed from a servant to a master in the Zhao family. Therefore, he said: "What the master said, just do it."

Zhao Weizhong laughed and said, "Why are you still calling me a master? Why don't you change it quickly, call me uncle."

Zhao Ping then said, "Uncle."

In fact, Zhao Weizhong did not think of Zhao Ping as his adopted son for a while, but he had considered it when he sent him to join the army. Zhao Weizhong said to overseas Chinese that Zhao Ping was his nephew. At that time, Zhao Weizhong's plan was: If Zhao Ping could not make a fortune in the People's Army, or died in battle, it would be fine, but he was just a servant with a nephew's reputation. If he could make a living in the army, he might as well formally adopt Zhao Ping as his adopted son. This would not only strengthen his relationship with the People's Army, but also provide him with a care for his old age.
Chapter completed!