Jiang Zhenlu said: "Our family's savings over the years are not good...... If you can't do it, be frugal on weekdays and make up for a meal. Our Jiang family has been building for decades, and a million taels of silver, shouldn't we be able to take it out? ”

Jiang Fang said: "If you don't care about anything else, just say that this million taels, but you can make it up." But four years ago, did you know what happened? The family spent the million, and suddenly lost the cash, and seeing that the salt class silver was being handed over soon, they couldn't cut off the trade route. Had...... I had to ask other rich merchants to borrow money after about five cents. The Jiang family has not lost money for decades, but in that year, it lost a lot of money for the first time. In the Qing Dynasty, private individuals were forbidden to sell salt at will, and merchants could only use this as a basis for operating the salt industry by handing over the "salt tax silver" to the imperial court and obtaining the "salt citation" issued by the imperial court.

Thinking of the business situation in the past few years, he said: "And in recent years, the private salt has gradually risen, and the places where the Huang family and the Wang family originally sold salt have been affected a lot, so they began to sell salt to the two lakes, and the previous market has been squeezed out by them a lot." In the past few years, the Jiang family's profits have been declining, and many of the deficits four years ago have not been made up to this day. ”

Jiang Zhenlu said: "Daddy, I think this year's salt transportation revenue and expenditure is not as good as that year, and the total amount is also passable, why is it so difficult to make up for the deficit now?" ”

Jiang Fang said: "You may not know anything about going to Jiangxi and Yangzhou all these years. Three years ago, Su Forty-three rebelled against the imperial court in the northwest, and his brother donated a lot of money to help the army in order to serve the imperial court. Not to mention the things of Dajinchuan in the past. Yangzhou Nursery Hall, workhouse, Yamen said that there was no money, the first thing that came to mind was us. In order to ensure that the salt can be distributed to the hands, the annual money for the salt transportation envoy Yamen to recognize the nest is also more than in the past. When the salt case was introduced, the brother's righteous act made the businessmen return to their hearts, but eighteen years have passed, and the general merchants have gradually changed to new people, who cares about those? After the salt is smuggled, they will take care of each other. Before, the family had sufficient capital and had not yet considered the deficit, but this change four years ago made these things clear. The so-called "pocket money" means that in order to ensure that they have the ability to transport and sell salt, the salt merchants handed over the deposit of the salt transportation envoy Yamen.

Jiang Zhenlu said: "If that's the case, Daddy, this time in the south, my family won't take over, so why spend this unjust money to suffer for yourself." ”

Jiang Fang said: "Actually, I also thought that the emperor is seventy years old, and this should be the last time." He made six southern tours, and my family took over five times, which was enough. If it costs a million more silver this time, I'm afraid it will only ......"

"This time, it must be my Jiang family!" Jiang Chun's voice came from outside. When Jiang Fang and Jiang Zhenlu looked at each other, Jiang Chun was over sixty years old at this time, and he was already working hard, and he was already white. With a cane in his hand, he walked towards the flower hall step by step. But in Jiang Chun's eyes, there was an undoubted stubbornness.

Jiang Fang and Jiang Zhenlu were busy helping Jiang Chun, walking all the way into the hall, and finally helped Jiang Chun sit down. Jiang Chun continued: "Orange, you have a talent in management. But the people's hearts in politics are not enough. This time, the emperor has made six southern tours, and my Jiang family not only has to take over, but this scale can only be more grand and grand than before! As for the shortfall, it is to catch up with the income of my Jiang family for several years, and it doesn't hurt. ”

Jiang Fang sighed: "Brother, why do you have to be like this? You have taken over the emperor five times, and he naturally knows you as a person. Even if you can't take over this time, you are powerless, and it is understandable? ”

Jiang Chun said: "Orange, you should also know that the Huang family and the Wang family have been waiting for four years to take over today." Over the years, my Jiang family has fallen behind in the salt affairs of the two lakes. If it is a matter of taking over, it will also be handed over, maybe only a year or two, and the position of the head of the two Huai general businessmen will not be guaranteed. ”

Seeing that Jiang Fang's father and son still did not fully understand, Jiang Chun continued: "You wait to watch the Jiang family prosperous on weekdays, but you don't know that outsiders buy the salt of my Quanta firm, most of it is not because the quality and price are better than his Wang family's Huang family, but just because you have seen the name of our family. They feel that the salt sold by the number one general merchant must not be bad, and the salt they bought is to give the chief president face, and if there are difficulties in the local area on weekdays, the chief general manager can also help. So thinking about it the other way, if our family is not the president, we are only afraid of salt transportation along the river, and there is a worry about thousands of miles. ”

Jiang Fang said: "But brother, even if we really take over, the emperor will be able to keep my brother peaceful?" We may be able to keep this position, but the deficit of a few years is indispensable to make up. If you can't make up for it, won't you lose your wife and lose your soldiers? ”

Jiang Chun said: "What we need most at the moment is time. The emperor is old, but his body looks fine, and there are still some days. If the emperor goes on a southern tour this year, you and I will take over again, in the past few years, the emperor will see that my Jiang family is loyal, and maybe he can also reward him and let our family be the chair of the head of the family for a few more years. ”

He smiled bitterly and said, "But if it is this time, it will not be our Jiang family." Haha, when the time comes, the only thing left will be my old face. It's hard to say what the emperor will do at that time. If there are any more rumors in the DPRK, then my Jiang family, hehe, maybe it will not be ten years...... In less than ten years, hehe......"

Jiang Fang listened to his brother's words, and also felt that the current six southern tours were really a big difficulty that the Jiang family could not escape, and only in the past could they think about the future. said: "Since my brother is resolute, I have no opinion." It's just that there is not much money in cash at the moment, so where can I raise a million taels of silver? ”

"It doesn't matter." Jiang Chun sighed: "Yangzhou mansion, there are still a few places at the moment, if there is really no money available, sell one or two, and there will be money." Na Yi Xing Tang ...... If you really need money, you can sell it at a discount, I'm afraid that there will be only a few years left in my life, so I will keep it, and I won't be able to look at it a few times. ”

Jiang Fang knows that these garden mansions, a flower and a stone are carefully built by Jiang Chun, when the Yixing Hall was built, in the place where the mountains and forests are reflected, quite using the Western architectural style, it is now known that the Chinese architecture of the eighteenth century, adopting the Western style, only the Western Building of the Changchun Garden in the capital and the Yixing Hall of the Jiang family, there is no third place. Therefore, in addition to real money, there is more Jiang Chun's talent and enthusiasm, thinking of this, not only secretly heartache. But since the elder brother has decided, he has no choice but to abandon the car to protect the handsome and focus on the Jiang family's foundation.

Of course, only the family knows about the hard work at home. For outsiders, the Jiang family is still the first salt merchant in Yangzhou. On this day, the wind and the sun were beautiful, and the wharf of Yangzhou was once again jammed with ships from all over the world, and the merchant ships carrying salt accounted for a lot, but there were also some passenger ships carrying tourists from all over the world who came to Yangzhou to enjoy the scenery in early summer. At that time, the mainland was too peaceful, and it was not uncommon for rich people to go out to play.

One of the passenger ships gradually docked, and most of the people who came off and below the boat were living in Huguang and returning to their hometowns by boat. As soon as the boat stopped, these people gradually walked down, and the goal was clear and ran to all parts of Yangzhou. There was only one traveler, wearing a hat common in Guangxi, standing on the pier and not moving.

This man was tall and muscular, but not strong, and looked like a southwesterner. Obviously, it was the first time he came to Yangzhou and he didn't know the road. But after standing for a long time, the man suddenly remembered that he might be able to find a restaurant to ask for directions, so he left the dock and found the largest wine store in the South Gate area.

The shopkeeper hurriedly greeted him and said, "This master is invited, our store has a good smoke, I wonder if this master wants to order one?" ”

The man didn't care, and said, "Then order one, plus two side dishes, I don't know what it looks like to smoke, don't lie to me." ”

"Of course, no one who entered our store didn't say that our house was smoked." The shopkeeper smiled, and suddenly, he felt that this person's accent was a little strange, and said, "Where is the guest officer?" I have been around this pier for many years, and I have seen many people from other provinces, and I have never heard such an accent from a guest officer. ”

"Hunan." The man said, "I came by boat from Changsha." ”

The shopkeeper said: "I have seen a lot of Hunan people. To be honest, your accent is a bit similar, but it's still ...... It's a lot worse. As he spoke, the smoked dishes and side dishes were already placed in front of the man. The man was not busy eating, and said:

"Man, in this Yangzhou city, is there a family surnamed Ruan?"

"Surname Nguyen? There are so many surnames like this, where do I remember? ”

"The surname is Ruan, and he has been a general, or he has been a general before. He is not low, and it should not be difficult to find him here. ”

"If that's ......," said the shopkeeper, "Grandpa told me the story of Yangzhou at that time, saying that there was a Ruan guard who married the biggest merchant in the city, the young lady of the Jiang family. At that time, few people can catch up with the wedding now! As for whether the Ruan guards are the general you said, I don't know. ”

"It's that Ruan guard! Where is his home? The man seemed very excited.

"What about this Ruan family...... In fact, I have been in Yangzhou for so many years, and I have never heard of the Ruan family. However, the Jiang family had heard of it, and went out from here to the east, until there was a Kangshan thatched cottage in the easternmost part. You can see the Jiang family. ”

The man was overjoyed, thanked his shopkeeper, and began to eat the smoke. When Yangzhou smoked and roasted exquisitely, the taste was sweet and mellow, and under the sauce, the original flavor of the roast meat was not lost.

What made the shopkeeper even more unbelievable was that such a person wearing a big hat and a mouth full of Hunan accents like Hunan Africa paid the bills more happily than the locals.

But even if you find the Jiang family, it is not easy to find the Ruan family by following the vine. The man asked at the door of Jiang's house for a long time, and several people didn't know each other, but there was a servant who had sent Jiang Cai, and when he heard that he was looking for the Ruan family, he didn't think much about it, and said Luo Wan by the way. The man thanked him again and again, and strode towards Luowan.

When I came to Luowan, there was indeed a house, and the lantern on the door had the word Ruan Mansion written on it, and the man saw it and thought that it should be here, so he strode over. When I arrived at the door of Deruan's house, I saw that there was no one to take care of it, only a seven or eight-year-old girl burying something on the ground.

"Hehe, this position, Miss shouldn't be able to find it, right? Usually she hides things, she always wins, and this time I also saw me win her. When the little girl had finished burying something, she suddenly found an uncle with a big hat standing in the doorway. The little girl also seemed to be a little scared, her voice trembled slightly, and she said, "Uncle...... Uncle was standing in front of my house, there was ...... What's the matter? ”

The man said, "Child, I'm only twenty-seven this year, how can I become your uncle." I'm here to visit relatives from the south, may I ask this family, the owner is called Ruan Chengxin? ”

The little girl said, "You ...... I'm twenty years older, why aren't you an uncle? You say Ruan Chengxin, who is that? I haven't heard of it, my master's name is Mr. Xiangpu. ”

The man said strangely: "No, I was at the Jiang family before, and I said this name, how come they know it as soon as they hear it?" To make it clear that in Luowan, you are Luowan, and there is no other Ruan family, who is your master if he is not Ruan Chengxin? Tell me, are you a child in this house, or a thief who stole something and didn't dare to go home? ”

When the little girl heard the man so stern, she was so frightened that she couldn't help crying. Crying: "Help...... Help me! Miss help me, let me tell you where the purse is, can you save me? So saying, he ran to the house.

I only heard a gentle voice in the courtyard say, "What's wrong with Wenru?" It's just hiding things to play, so what are you afraid of? While speaking, a beautiful young woman was already standing in front of the door, and when she saw that the person was dressed strangely, she was a little frightened, but she still bowed and said, "I don't know who this big brother is looking for here?" ”

The little girl was still very afraid of the man, and hid behind the young woman and did not dare to probe.

The man said: "Hello madam, my surname is Yang Mingji, big ...... From Suining County, Hunan, may I ask Madam, is the owner of this house called Ruan Chengxin? He saw the young woman's graceful manners, but he did not dare to raise his voice.

The young woman frowned slightly, and said, "Actually, it's my family, it's just ...... It's just this big brother Yang Ji, my family...... My family can't ...... "Qing Dynasty name etiquette from ancient times, out of the door to ask the name of outsiders, will not directly say the name, generally will first report the number, really do not understand and then ask the name, this Yang Ji's question, in fact, in ancient times is very rude.

"Yes, that's fine." The man named Yang Ji said: "Madame, please also inform me, Ruan Chengxin is my father-in-law, and I came here today to repay the kindness of my father-in-law." ”

It seemed that he did not know what he was wrong, and the young woman hurriedly turned her head away, not wanting to see such a faux pas.

Coincidentally, at this time, Ruan Chengxin was chatting with Yang Lu, and when he heard some movement in front of the door, he walked over together. I probably heard the last few sentences. said: "This friend, I am Ruan Chengxin, I don't know why you call me ......"

"Grace Lord, please accept my bows. Engong saved my whole family, I went to the soup to fight the fire, and I fought for Engong's life! When Yang Ji heard that the person in front of him was Ruan Chengxin, he couldn't help but bow down immediately and kowtow again and again.

Ruan Chengxin was also puzzled, and first led Yang Ji into the main hall and asked him to sit down and talk. Yang Ji was reluctant to live or die, Ruan Chengxin forced him to sit down, and then reluctantly agreed. Ruan Chengxin listened to him and knew the ins and outs of the matter.

It turned out that the place where Yang Ji came was not an ordinary county seat, but a Miao village called Daqing Village under the rule of Suining County, Hunan, and Yang Ji was a Miao person. Therefore, he usually said that he was from Daqingzhai, and after he came out, he changed to a Suining person in order to be "civilized". It's just that Daqingzhai has rarely interacted with the Han people in Hunan, and he doesn't know much about avoidance, and Yang Ji doesn't pay attention to these etiquette details, so he doesn't know this tradition at all. At this time, the young woman, that is, Jiang Cai, Ruan Yuan's wife, saw that Yang Ji was not a bad person, so she said the rules of avoidance. Ruan Chengxin is right, and recently he has been the No. 1 Xiangpu, and when others talk about him again, he is called Ruan Xiangpu.

After Yang Ji talked about his family history, everyone knew the reason. It turned out that as early as the fifth year of Qianlong, the Miao people of Daqing Village rebelled against the imperial court together with the surrounding Miao villages, and the imperial court sent a large army to suppress it, and one of the leading generals was Ruan Yuan's grandfather Ruan Yutang. Ruan Yutang can fight well and has made many meritorious deeds. But he is very benevolent, and has always insisted that some people rebel and only punish the evil. On this day, when the Qing army saw that it was about to capture Daqing Village, Ruan Yutang asked his boss for a lenient punishment for the village, and finally only beheaded a few leaders of the village who took the lead in resisting the imperial court. For most of the Miao people, including Daqing Village, they are all open, and one of the Daqing villagers is Yang Ji's father.

Yang Ji's father's Daqing Village was originally just coerced by the surrounding cottages, and it was insignificant in the eyes of the Qing court, so the whole village was not pursued in the end. Later, Yang Ji's father thanked Ruan Yutang for saving him, and served as an official with Ruan Yutang for several years, and has been serving as a guard for him. Ruan Yutang was dismissed for some reason, and Yang's father returned to Miao Village and became the owner of the village. He has always taught his clansmen the grace of General Ruan's rescue, so in Daqing Village, the villagers all worship Ruan Yutang as a god. Yang Ji is the third son of his father, and he can't inherit the family business, but he has always been exposed to it, and he just wants to meet Engong's family in his lifetime and repay Engong's great kindness for saving the lives of the whole family. It's a pity that there is no way out, and I can only think about it on weekdays, and I still live in Daqing Village.

He is active by nature, and there is no affairs to share in the village, so he often goes to play outside the village. This year, I came to Suining County by chance, and suddenly heard a merchant in the teahouse talk about some stories about Hanyang, and even mentioned the word Ruan Chengxin. When Yang's father was in the army, he knew that Ruan Yutang had a son named Ruan Chengxin, so he also told Yang Ji. When Yang Ji heard this, he was overjoyed as if he had been in a long drought and rain, and hurriedly asked the merchant Nguyen Thanh Sin where he was, and when he learned that he was in Hanyang, he went home and quit his father. Yang's father was also willing for his son to go out for a walk, so he agreed.

Yang Ji went all the way to Changsha and took a boat to Hanyang. But when I asked about the Quanta branch here, I learned that Ruan Chengxin had left Hanyang three years ago and went back to Yangzhou. Yang Ji heard him say that Yangzhou is prosperous, far wider than Huguang, and the world is also the first rate, so he is more interested in Yangzhou, so he continued to take a boat and went all the way east to Yangzhou.

The little girl who followed Jiang Cai, named Liu Wenru, was only eight years old this year, three years ago when Jiang Cai was still in the Jiang family, she came to Yangzhou with her parents to avoid debts, seeing that the family was in a difficult situation, her parents abandoned her next to Jiang Mansion, and she has not been heard from since. Jiang Cai saw that she was young and pitiful, so he took her in and took her with her like a sister. Later, Jiang Cai got married, and she was afraid that she would be bullied by others in the Jiang family, so she brought her over. She has only lived in Ruan's house for a few months, and she is a little timid and afraid of life, so she never knows Ruan Chengxin's name. Before, Liu Wenru saw that Yang Ji's face was very different from that of the locals, and he was asked a few words loudly, and he was still crying at this time. Yang Ji saw that she was also pitiful, so he found some smoked pork that he brought out and gave it to Liu Wenru to eat, which made her laugh.

I heard Yang Ji report to his family, and the first person to speak was not Ruan Chengxin or Jiang Cai, but it was Yang Lugao, an old servant who had stayed in the Ruan family for more than 40 years. Yang Lu was shocked: "Child, you mean...... Did you say that you were originally from Daqingzhai? My home...... My house was originally a Hengpo village, it should be ...... It's thirty or forty miles northeast of your house, right? ”

Yang Ji was overjoyed and nodded again and again, only then did he know that Yang Lugao was originally an orphan, and the reason why he became an orphan was because his parents were both killed in that war. But they died in the first wave of Qing troops that invaded the village, not under the jurisdiction of Ruan Yutang, Yang Lugao was still a baby at the time, and he was asleep and did not move, so he escaped. Later, Ruan Yutang's subordinates entered the village, and Ruan Yutang heard the baby's crying, so he found him, told his subordinates not to hurt the child no matter what, and took him back and raised him himself. Later, Ruan Yutang informed him of all the causes and consequences, and let him decide the future by himself, but Yang Lugao deeply felt the grace of Ruan Yutang's raising, and also knew that he had nothing to do with the death of his parents, so he served Ruan Yutang's father and son for the rest of his life and was unwilling to leave. It's just that after all this, he has no intention of dealing with the government, and will only be the housekeeper of the Ruan family in Yangzhou for the rest of his life.

After listening to Yang Lugao's story about his family history, Yang Ji couldn't help crying with joy, and said: "Uncle, I didn't expect that you and I were saved by Ruan Engong, uncle, your surname is Yang, and I am also surnamed Yang, and you will be my uncle in the future." Uncle, you are also old, and the family affairs are done by your nephew. Uncle, you have worked hard all your life, but it is good to have someone to take care of. ”

Ruan Chengxin saw that Yang Lugao and Yang Ji recognized each other, and remembered these two uncles and nephews, one was in danger of being killed by the knife, and the other almost didn't even have a chance to be born. It was because of his father that he was reunited, and he couldn't help but be happy and sad at the same time. Seeing that Yang Ji was honest and sincere, he said: "Yang Ji's nephew, if you have no one else to rely on here, my Ruan family is your family, and you will live here in the future." As for family affairs or anything, don't worry too much, don't worry about yourself. ”

"Thank you...... Thank you, little Engong! Engong saved my whole family, and I have come to repay Engong in this life, where do I say that I am not tired. Yang Ji couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw that Ruan Chengxin was willing to take him in, thinking that Ruan Yutang was the Engong when he saved his whole family, so he called Ruan Chengxin Little Engong. After thinking about it again, it seemed that something was not clear, and said, "But Xiao Engong, I listened to my father." When Engong was alive, he was a third-grade military attaché, and Engong's family should be a wealthy family, why is it that I have been looking for a long time in such a small alley now. ”

Although Ruan Chengxin was a little embarrassed, he had to say: "My family has been ...... recently." Recently, there have been some unsatisfactory things, and they are not as good as before. If I neglect you, I hope you will forgive me. ”

"Little Engong, where are you talking about this? Since Xiao Engong asked me to stay, I have to do some work for Xiao Engong. It's just a little engong, do you have another heir? Your family looks like it's still ...... Not as much as I do. ”

"I do have a son, I went to the government exam in Yingfu a few days ago, and today I happened to release the list, and I went to see the list earlier. The one in front of you is my son-in-law. Ruan Chengxin pointed to Jiang Cai and gave Yang Ji a detailed introduction. Thinking that Ruan Yuan went to see the list, he has not returned yet, and said: "This house test should not be difficult for Bo Yuan, let's go, let's go and see what the situation is." ”

Yangzhou Mansion School is in the south of the old house of the Ruan family in the old city, a little far away from Luowan, where the Ruan family now lives, and Ruan Chengxin only brought Yang Ji over. Along the way, Ruan Chengxin had nothing to do, so he casually told Yang Ji about his family, and when it came to Ruan Yuan, Ruan Chengxin was very confident: "My kid can't do anything else, and he is smarter than anyone else in reading." Anyway, I think he's definitely above me. ”

Yang Ji asked: "I heard my father say that the old Engong was a jinshi back then, but I don't know who the son is now...... Is it lifting? Although Yang Ji did not know the official system of the Qing Dynasty, his father had spent several years under Ruan Yutang's account and still knew a little about the imperial examination process. In the eyes of Father Yang, the lowest is called Xiucai, and the next is to raise people and jinshi. But under Xiucai, there are still two levels of exams, and Father Yang is not clear.

"Lift people, then it will take a few years. If he is admitted this time, in the coming year, he will be able to take the examination as soon as the next year, and only after he has passed the examination can he go to the examination. You may not know the word shengyuan, commonly known as Xiucai. Ruan Chengxin said. Suddenly, his eyes changed, and he saw a person walking in front of him, it was Ruan Yuan.

Ruan Chengxin saw that his son's face was calm, and knew that the exam should be fine, and said, "Bo Yuan! I can read the list today, how is the situation? ”

Ruan Yuan saw that it was his father, and he was also overjoyed, and said, "Daddy! Daddy, don't worry, I've read the list just now, and I'm in fourth place! The quota of Yizheng County School this year has also been decided, and in the autumn, you can go to Yizheng to enter the official school! ”

Ruan Chengxin was naturally overjoyed when he heard that his son had passed the test, and he hugged Ruan Yuan regardless of the pedestrians on the road, and said happily: "Great!" Dad said that you must be able to pass the exam, all these years of studying with Mr. Li, where is the reason why you can't pass the government exam? You, you're much stronger than your father, your father is a son of the country, and you still rely on grace to come, you are the fourth place in the house exam, and you will be a candidate in the future, it's not a matter of course! ”

Ruan Yuan saw that his father was happy, he finally broke through the government exam, within a year, he passed two levels in a row, went straight to the official school, and finally made up a lot of the process of taking the exam, and his heart was naturally happy, and he was busy saying: "Daddy, let's celebrate today, let Uncle Yang be a fish, these days are busy with the exam, and I have almost forgotten what Uncle Yang's fish tastes like." As he spoke, he took his father's hand and went home together, leaving Yang Ji alone behind.

And Yang Ji also felt that this little boy didn't seem to see himself at all.

After a while, the father and son of the Ruan family had returned to Luowan's house. As soon as Ruan Chengxin entered the door, he shouted loudly: "Lao Yang! Bo Yuan Chinese style! Fourth place! Today is a day of great joy for our Ruan family! Lao Yang, go buy the best anchovies, it's rare to be admitted to the Boyuan Mansion test today, it's nothing to celebrate. ”

Yang Lu said with great joy: "Bo Yuan...... It's been 20 years, Uncle Yang has watched you grow up, you love reading so much, Chinese-style, that's how it should be! You can come out like this, God has eyes, God has eyes! As he spoke, he ran out of the door, and happened to meet Yang Ji, Yang Lu was overjoyed, and he didn't have time to speak, so he only made a gesture and asked him to enter the door to celebrate together.

At this time, Jiang Cai heard the voice in front of him, and also walked out with Liu Wenru, saw Ruan Yuan go home, and listened to Ruan Chengxin's previous voice, Ruan Yuan should have passed the government test. Naturally, he was overjoyed, and he also walked in front of everyone in small steps, took Ruan Yuan's hand, and said, "Master, everything is going well, right?" ”

Ruan Yuandao: "Madame, don't worry, I am the fourth among the people who have been admitted in this government examination." It's just that...... It's just that I'm going to Yizheng, and it's going to take about half a year, and I still can't be with you. ”

Jiang Cai said with a smile: "Master, don't worry about me, you took the fourth place in the exam in your house, so next year's college exam is not very promising?" If you can pass the exam all at once and come back after winning the show, there will be more when you and I are together in the future! Master has been reading for so many years, and if he persists for another half a year, he will be able to complete his studies, and I am too late to be happy! ”

Ruan Yuan was also very moved when he saw that his wife was so well-informed, and said, "My wife has worked hard for half a year when she entered my house. When I came back this time, I would also accompany my wife for a few days. Even if I go to Yizheng, I will definitely continue to study, and next spring, I will definitely help my wife get a show before coming back! ”

The father and son of the Ruan family were so happy to talk and laugh, but no one remembered Yang Ji, Yang Ji watched the Ruan family fall to this point, and he didn't know how much more depressed than the Engong family in his mind. Looking at Ruan Yuan's exam this day, it seems that he has passed the exam, but he has the conditions to take the Xiucai exam, whether he can be admitted to Xiucai, it is a matter of two things.

Back then, Ruan Yuan's grandfather was born as a Jinshi. He has been in Miao Village for 27 years, and he only thinks that Ruan Yutang is a fairy-like name, and his descendants should naturally be admired like immortals. But Engong's grandson didn't know how trivial an exam was, so he was complacent......

He finally couldn't help it anymore and said angrily: "Xiucai is a fart!" ”

Ruan Yuan was startled, and after following the voice, he realized that there was one more person in the family. Yang Ji couldn't bear it anymore, pointed at Ruan Yuan and scolded loudly: "Boy, your grandfather is in our village, and he is a god-like figure in the world. When he was an old man, he was a Jinshi, but my father said that his old man has always been modest and gentle, and he has never been as complacent as you! You are the grandson of Engong, Engong did such a great good deed back then, I thought that his old man's grandson should also do something to glorify his ancestors, who knew that it was you, a bad seed! Your grandfather, my father-in-law's face has been lost by your unworthy grandson! How old are you, you're not even a showman, are you worthy of your grandfather?! ”

Ruan Chengxin was in a hurry and hurriedly told Yang Ji to shut up, Ruan Yuan didn't know what to do, Ruan Chengxin realized that he hadn't actually introduced Yang Ji to his son yet. hurriedly pulled his son to the side and briefly introduced the ins and outs of Yang Ji to his son. Ruan Yuan often listened to his father tell the story of his grandfather, and knew that when his grandfather was fighting in the southwest, he saved the lives of thousands of people in a village. Now when I hear it, I know what is going on with Yang Ji. So he hurriedly turned around and said:

"This Brother Yang, I was only thinking about the exam just now, and I really didn't notice you. I was wrong about this, and I ask Brother Yang to forgive me. He bowed his apologies. He also said: "But Brother Yang doesn't know, the scientific examination should be gradual, even if I want to continue the exam, I will have to wait until the time of the next year to take the Xiucai exam again, and the same will be true later." If Brother Yang laughs at me for not being a showman, I'm afraid that it will be difficult for some strong people. ”

Yang Ji still looked down on Ruan Yuan, and said: "Your grandfather is loyal and good, and he is a third-grade general, and if you want to come to the house, you should be as big as the prefect yamen here." I think you are mediocre and incompetent, and you have ruined your family like this, with this one, you should be scolded! ”

Ruan Yuan was a little helpless, and said: "Brother Yang, my family is a family of poetry and books, and I don't care too much about whether the family is rich or poor. Whether or not we can keep the words of the saints and do faithful deeds is the key to being a human being. How can Brother Yang conclude that people know high or low because his family is rich and poor? ”

"You don't look like a third-grade official, you should be scolded!" Yang Ji still wants to teach Engong a lesson for this "unsuccessful" grandson.

In fact, what sounded the most uncomfortable thing about these words was Ruan Chengxin, and what Yang Ji said should not be the responsibility of the twenty-one-year-old Ruan Yuan. Seeing that Yang Ji was unrelenting, he had no choice but to come over to play the round, and said: "Yang Xian's nephew, no matter what Bo Yuan says, he is only twenty-one years old this year, and he was still ...... before There are still three years to go. Now that I've taken the government exam, it's not too late. My family has become like this, in fact, I should be blamed, because I only know how to study on weekdays, and I don't want to be an official and make a living, so I am negligent. So virtuous nephew, don't call me Xiao Engong, I was originally sorry for my father. ”

When Yang Ji came to Ruan's house, the first person surnamed Ruan he saw was Ruan Chengxin, so he was very grateful to him from the beginning. At this time, I heard what Ruan Chengxin said, and I didn't want to blame him, so I still said to Ruan Yuan: "What's wrong with being twenty-one years old, you look at those farmers in the countryside, they went to the field at the age of eleven, you are not even a show talent at such an age, you should still be scolded." ”

Ruan Yuan said: "Brother Yang's lesson is that in the next year's exam, the younger brother will definitely do his best." Ruan Chengxin was afraid that Yang Ji would continue to talk about it and damage the family relationship, so he dragged him away. said that he wanted to find him a room to live in to ease the atmosphere at home.

Yang Ji's anger was still not gone, and said: "Just like you, I'm afraid you'll be a talent in this life!" ”

For several days after that, Yang Ji did not speak to Ruan Yuan. Ruan Yuan has been thinking about how he can explain clearly to Yang Ji and improve the relationship. But Yang Ji was born in a rural Miao village, and he was completely different from the readers he was familiar with, and he didn't know how to communicate. Thinking that it would not be long before he would be separated from his wife, he accompanied his wife first and spent a few days relaxed.

Seeing that a small half of this year has passed, Qianlong has also explained during his southern tour that he will not stop Yangzhou when he comes, and when he returns to Beijing, he will stay in Yangzhou for a few days, and the Yangzhou gentry will have to take more trouble to prepare. Tianning Temple and Gaomin Temple are the places where Qianlong once stayed, and they were also widely spread out for a while, and the fragrant flowers were all over the road. It was easy to wait for Qianlong's return trip in Hangzhou, and finally arrived at Yangzhou Wharf on this day.

On this morning, Ruan Yuan's family heard the direction of the south of the city, the drum music shook the sky, and the voices of people were boiling. When Ruan Yuan walked out of the door, he only listened to the pedestrians passing by outside, saying that the emperor was coming, seeing that there were more and more pedestrians, Ruan Yuan thought that Qianlong had been on his southern tour last time, so he couldn't go, and felt that Qianlong had been in power for a long time, and he was afraid that he would not have the opportunity to see the face of the sky again, so he told Ruan Chengxin, hoping that his father would allow him to go to the dock to see the honor guard of the Son of Heaven.

Ruan Chengxin thought that after all, his son had not seen Qianlong yet, and agreed. Yang Ji felt that it should be a good thing that there was a lot of noise outside, and he didn't care about Ruan Yuan's presence, so he went to the dock with the Ruan family's father and son. Jiang Cai was left to see that there were many people on the street, and he was a little afraid of life, and Yang Lugao wanted to take care of his family, so he didn't follow him.

When they arrived at the wharf, it was difficult for the three members of the Ruan family to squeeze into the front row, but more and more people came behind them, so they couldn't pick any more places, so they had to stand still and not move. After a while, I heard someone shouting in front of me: "The emperor is here!" Everyone didn't know what was going on, so they knelt down one by one. Yang Ji looked at him and didn't know what was going on, and when he was wondering, he was also pulled to kneel on the ground by Ruan Chengxin.

Qianlong's guard of honor has been on call for a long time before. After a while, I saw the dock, and the emperor's halogen book gradually drove in, first a row of guide bands, two play bamboo, six pipes, four flutes, two sheng, and then cloud gongs, guide drums...... Then there is the royal battle, four standing melons, four lying melons, followed by ten five-color golden dragon flags, ten five-color dragon flags, five pairs of group fans and five pairs of nine dragon umbrellas. A nine-dragon crank canopy slowly passed by, and the Son of Heaven was walking in front of him.

In addition to what the people of Yangzhou saw four years ago, where have they seen such a battle? They all bowed their heads for a while, not daring to raise them a little, for fear of offending the holy driver. Only Yang Ji has just arrived, and he doesn't care about the Son of Heaven and the royal rules, he just looks up and looks at the rows of honor guards walking by.

Seeing the chariot passing in front of him, there was an old man with gray hair and only a little black and gray beard in the chariot, his eyes were slightly blind, his mind was calm, and dozens of guards with knives stood around. Thinking of this old man, he is the Son of Heaven of the Qing Dynasty, the most noble person in the four seas: Aixin Jueluo Hongli.

Yang Ji heard from the Ruan family that the Son of Heaven and even the Holy and Wise people have been in control of the world for 50 years. After listening to this, there is still three points of awe in my heart. But at this time, when I looked at the old man in the bush, I only felt that I was gloomy, and there was no trace of wisdom and martial arts. Unconsciously, his awe was gone, and he snorted softly: "Hmph, bad old man." ”

Ruan Chengxin's father and son listened, where was he allowed to say this? In case these words are heard by the guards, I am afraid that the Ruan family will not be able to go back. So one left and one right, covered Yang Ji's mouth together and pressed him to the ground. Yang Ji also wanted to resist, but at a glance, he found that Ruan Chengxin's eyes were full of unbearable color, and he understood a little for a while, so he stopped making a sound, but fortunately, the guards didn't hear it.

Suddenly, Yang Ji saw that Qianlong's eyes seemed to open slightly.

Yang Ji's eyes were sharp, and he had already seen that in Qianlong's eyes, although it seemed to be as calm as water, but in the depths of this water, there was a faintly visible sharp sword, which flashed and lit up in front of Yang Ji's eyes. Yang Ji was shocked, after all, he had just walked out of Miao Village, and he was still a hairy young man, where could he compare with Emperor Qianlong, who had ruled the world for 50 years? I didn't feel cold sweat for a while, and with three points of fear, I lowered my head, not daring to look at Qianlong anymore.

When he looked up again, Qianlong had already passed in front of Yang Ji. Yang Jicai wiped his sweat, and lightly added with a little unwillingness: "Hmph, bad old man." ”

The two sentences are exactly the same, but the latter sentence really has no confidence.

Seeing in front of them, the group was dressed in splendid clothes, and the first few were still wearing official uniforms, and when they saw the honor guard, they knelt on the ground together. The front line of the halogen books also got out of the way, allowing these big men to see the driver. Qianlong Bu Yuan saw these people coming, and he also stopped for a while, Qianlong slowly walked down, looking at the Yangzhou officials and gentry in front.