Today, the Zhong Family estate had been cleaned from top to bottom, from the outer courtyard to the front courtyard, the rear main hall and inner courtyard, as well as the little pavilion, flower beds, and every passage and covered walkway.
New lanterns hung everywhere the eye could see, and the servants had splashed water over the blue stone paving on the paths and scrubbed it until it shone.
A lean-looking member of the Zhong Family in blue robes walked from the main hall into the open space in the front courtyard. Stroking the little beard on his chin with one hand, he looked at the servants in plain cloth beside the path and barked a string of reprimands.
"Move faster! We have an honored guest coming today. If your sloppy cleaning puts our guest in a bad mood and holds up the Zhong Family's important business, you'll be dealt with under family law!"
At those words, the servants already at work became even more diligent. Those crouching on the ground scrubbing the paving splashed water over it again, carefully washing even the dust out of the cracks between the stones.
Only then did the Zhong Family elder stroking his beard nod in satisfaction. Just as he was about to move forward, he immediately stepped back.
Someone came up the steps from outside the courtyard. It was none other than Zhong Li, the current head of the Zhong Family.
Although the bearded member of the Zhong Family belonged to a senior generation, he still observed propriety before the family head, calling out from the side.
"Family Head!"
"Mm."
Zhong Li was already in his fifties. By the Song Kingdom's reckoning, he was an old man, yet he still had a rosy complexion and crane-white hair, having taken reasonably good care