Chapter 238: Friends Reunited

Merchant ships transport goods and passengers, that is a very normal thing, when you go out, it is convenient to be convenient with people, someone wants to take your own ship to Hangzhou, anyway, by the way, Shen Seventeen naturally agreed, and did not deliberately inquire about anything, but knew that the guest should be the son of a large family in Bianliang City.

But seeing the scene of the wharf sending off, and seeing the clothes of the people who came to see each other off, Shen Qiqi couldn't help but feel a little curious in his heart, and had the heart to understand the situation, but after getting on the ship, Chu Zhen rarely went out of the cabin to breathe, and most of the time was in all aspects of Qiantang County, and Changgui's entourage, trained by the Chu Mansion, also knew that silence was golden, so naturally they would not 'revue' Chu Qian's situation at will.

Shen Qiqi only knew that there was a noble son on his boat, and he didn't know anything about the name and background, and judged that Chu Zhen was a noble son, or speculated from the conversation and behavior of several entourages, after all, he was a servant from an official eunuch's family, and his style was naturally different from that of ordinary people.

Curiosity is the nature of human beings, besides, it doesn't hurt to run a boat to do business, and it doesn't hurt to know a few more nobles, Shen Seventeen, who has made up his mind, saw Chu Zhen, who usually stays in the cabin, come out, and hurriedly put down the things in his hand, and touched slightly, Shen Seventeen immediately felt that his intuition was not wrong, whether it was words and deeds, or the faintly noble temperament, it was enough to prove that this son was really not from an ordinary family.

Although he has received more than ten years of modern education, he is also regarded as a second person, and naturally deeply understands what he does not want, and does not apply to others, knows how to think about problems from the perspective of others, and usually treats people easily and politely, but he lives in a spacious and gorgeous mansion, nourishes and moves his body, Chu Zhen now lives in a spacious and gorgeous mansion, eats exquisite and rich food, wears satin and velvet clothes, and comes and goes with some celebrities and scholars, literati, dignitaries, eyes open, temperament gradually changes, and the actions are affected by it, and naturally brings some grandeur out. Naturally, I don't feel it, but in the eyes of others, it's a different feeling.

"As far as I know, most of the surnames of Shen in Hangzhou are concentrated in Qiantang County." Chu Zhen smiled and asked: "In this way, you should have something to do with the new science list and the Jiangning Mansion's general judgment Shen Yu." ”

Glancing at Chu Zhen in surprise, Shen Qiqi shook his head slightly, his eyes flickered, and said with a smile: "Gongzi said that he laughed, Bangyan Gong is a star in the sky, how can ordinary people like me climb high." ”

"Oh, I thought you were a family." Chu Zhi said lightly, and he didn't feel strange, after all, the world is big, and the families with the same surname are as vast as stars, if you don't trace back to the source, it is normal to have no blood relationship within a few generations.

"Listen to the meaning of the child, could it be that he is acquainted with Bangyan Gong?" Shen Qiqi asked tentatively.

Glancing at Shen Seventeen, Chu Zhi chuckled and said, "Not only do we know each other, but we are very familiar with each other, and we often get together to drink and get drunk together, but this kid's behavior is not very good." ”

"What do you mean by that?" Shen Qiqi asked with curiosity on his face, and the fist on his back tightened.

"Alas, I didn't want to say it, but it doesn't hurt to tell you if it's pleasing to your eyes." Chu Zhen sighed lightly and said: "This kid often takes himself without asking, and when he left Beijing not long ago, he also greedily confiscated my beloved things, which made my heart ache for a long time." ”

When Shen Qiqi heard this, he was angry, his face was cloudy, and he was hesitating whether to teach the kid in front of him who was full of nonsense and slandered people to teach some lessons.

"What, you don't believe it?" Chu Zhen frowned and said, he didn't expect Chu Zhen to ask like this, Shen Qileng was about to answer, but he saw Chu Zhen laughing, and his voice was hearty and comfortable.

"I was bored for a few days, and I said a joke, but I didn't expect Brother Shen to take it seriously." Chu Zhen smiled and said: "What kind of person is the palace test list, how can anyone know it, does Brother Shen think so?" ”

Shen Qiqi wanted to admit it directly, but after thinking about it, he changed his more tactful tone and smiled lightly: "Childe is reasonable." ”

Enjoying the scenery of the lake for a while, chatting with Shen Qiqi for a few words, the lake suddenly narrowed, the lake became deeper and deeper, and the river channel more than ten zhang wide came into view.

And for Shen Seventeen, it is a big thing that cannot be ignored, someone dares to slander the reputation of the eldest prince in front of him, if he pretends to be deaf and dumb, it is really difficult to eliminate the resentment in his heart, but the problem is that the way this kid came from is not clear, and he must not act recklessly, so as not to offend the person who cannot be offended.

Besides, when this kid spoke, it didn't seem like he was lying, could it be that the eldest prince was really Shen Qiqi hurriedly shook his head vigorously, throwing this ridiculous idea out of his mind.

"Seventh brother, what's wrong with you?" Seeing this, several boatmen asked inexplicably.

"How credible do you think that kid's words are?" Shen Qiqi asked softly.

"It's pure slander, I actually dare to spread rumors on the Shen family's ship, I really don't know whether I live or die, Seventh Brother, you will leave this matter to the younger brother to handle it, and at night, I will quietly 'touch' the kid's cabin, and when the time comes, hehe, oops, who dares to beat me, what's wrong with Seventh Brother?" A certain boatman "touched" his head and said.

"What do you want to do when you 'touch' someone's cabin?" Shen Qiqi angrily reprimanded: "We are serious people, not bandits who kill people and plunder goods. ”

The most disgusting and taboo thing for those who eat the food of running a boat is the water bandits, and when the boatmen heard this, they immediately expressed their anger and condemnation.

"It's like, you're so confused."

"You are really kind, you are so ruthless, you will stay away from me in the future." One of the shipwrights who was in the same cabin as the man did not know that what he was saying would be misleading, and accused: "Don't sleep in the same bed with me." ”

"Where did you go, I just wanted to scare that kid." The ship worker who came up with the idea said.

"Cut."

Several boatmen unanimously expressed their contempt.

"Brother Seven, it's better for you to make up your mind, whatever you say, we'll do it." Someone's proposal was approved by everyone, as a buddy of the Shen family, fate is closely related to the Shen family, hearing someone say bad things about the proprietor's family, or in the eyes of others, this is just a trivial matter, but for them, it is difficult to accept and tolerate.

"Arrive in Yangzhou tomorrow, let a brother take the opportunity to go ashore, go to the shop to inform the shopkeeper of this matter, let the shopkeeper Feishu to the eldest lady, and ask her to decide." After thinking for a moment, Shen Qiqi said in a deep voice.

"Seventh brother, it's a trivial matter, don't alarm the eldest lady." A shipwright hesitated and said, "Besides, that boy has already said that he is just joking, and there is no need to work hard to move the crowd." ”

"Of course I know, so when I report, I focused on the situation of our return to Bianliang this time, as well as what happened when we sailed the ship, and finally mentioned the son." Shen Qiqi smiled and said, "If I'm not mistaken, that prince should know the eldest prince." ”

"Seventh brother, what did you say?" Several people were surprised, how could Shen Qiqi change his words in the blink of an eye.

"Now I wake up, the tone of the son's voice is clearly a joke between friends, there is not the slightest malice in the words, it is indeed just a joke that cannot be taken seriously." Shen Seventeen said that he has traveled south and north for many years, read countless people, and has rich experience, so he should not make a mistake in judgment.

"That's right, the eldest prince has been in the capital for a few months, and it's not unusual to know a few friends." Don't think that the shipwrights and miscellaneous servants are vulgar people, people have been running around all the year round, and their knowledge is probably stronger than that of some people who can only read, and their reactions are more clever. ”

"Seventh brother, find another opportunity to probe his tone."

Qiantang, Shen Garden, the overall layout is natural and harmonious, the scenery in the garden is simple and simple, generous, not to win by ingenuity, and strive to be suitable for the landscape, just like the natural scenery, it can be described as a unique ingenuity, several pavilions and water pavilions, rockeries and strange stones behind the flower garden lawn temporarily put a few tables and chairs, fruits, pastries, tea on the table, and there are maids and maids waiting next to it.

There is a gorgeously dressed woman sitting straight on the chair, slightly hanging her head, stroking the pipa, stroking the strings of the ten fingers slender and beautiful, the pipa song slowly "swings", the rhythm is like wishing, the strings are long, lingering and compassionate, the wind in the song is warm and fragrant, people do not drink and get drunk, suddenly, the sound of strings is suddenly broken, but I heard the woman in Chinese clothes say: "Bottle, what's the matter?" ”

The pretty girl who was wandering not far in front of the flower garden heard it, and hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "The bottle has seen the eldest lady, this is a letter from the Yangzhou shop, please take a look at the eldest lady." ”

The woman in Chinese clothes raised her head slightly, but saw that her posture was beautiful, her temples were holding dark clouds, her eyebrows were bent and crescent, she looked about twenty-two or three years old, with a standard melon seed face, Qiong Yuxiu's nose was straight and small, and her beautiful cherry lips were as rich and bright as petals.

"Bottle, go and invite the eldest prince to come." The woman in Chinese clothes said with a smile, and after a while, I saw a personable good boy coming, but it was Shen Yu, who had returned to his hometown.

"Sister Yao is looking for her little brother, but she doesn't know what's going on?" Shen Yu said with a smile.

"The person you're waiting for may be coming, so you should be happy now." Shen Yao pursed her lips and smiled, her willow eyebrows were slightly curved like the moon, her beautiful eyes were shining, and she looked forward to her life.

"Who am I waiting for?" "Confused" and "confused", Shen Yu reacted, and said happily: "Sister Yao is saying that Jing Chun has arrived"

Originally, a few days ago, Shen Yu had already planned to set off for Jiangning Mansion to take up his post, but he heard the news from Qiantang County, and the officials issued an official document that the new magistrate of the county was actually Chu Qian, and he was going to take office on the same day.

"This is news from Seventeen, see for yourself." Shen Yao chuckled, with a woman's unique intuition, she thought that person should be Chu Qian.

"The surname is Chu, he is about twenty years old, and his appearance is right." After taking the letter and reading it carefully for a while, Shen Yu said happily, a few days is enough for Shen Seventeen to extract Chu Zhen's surname from Changgui's entourage, if it is not for random inquiries about other people's names, it is easy to arouse suspicion, I am afraid that the names of the three generations of Chu Zhen's ancestors will be clearly understood.

"In that case, Wentong, can you tell me?" Shen Yao asked with a smile: "What the letter said about not asking for self-infliction, and greedy for things that are not loved by others, what's going on?" ”

"Absolutely not." Blinking his eyes, Shen Yu smiled and explained: "Jing Chun is a person who usually likes to make some harmless jokes, Sister Yao, don't believe it." ”

"Naturally, I don't believe it, and people admit that they are just joking, but judging by your reaction, people have to be suspicious." Shen Yao said, leisurely picking up a cup of steaming tea soup, and a smile bloomed on her plump red lips.

"Well, I'll admit it. At the meeting, I took a few of his calligraphy and paintings. Shen Yu muttered, "But it's not just me who is doing this." ”

"And what is that beloved thing?" Shen Yao chuckled, a little curious.

"It's really hard to guess, when you leave Beijing." Shen Yu groaned, Shen Yu seemed to have an understanding, glanced at Shen Yao, and then said with a smile: "Obviously you are there Sister Yao, why do you still come to ask me." ”

"Am I here?" Shen Yao was surprised, the slender eyelashes trembled slightly, the autumn water-like eyes flowed, and the slender hand took out a delicate folding fan from his arms, gently unfolded it, and "revealed" a few lines of elegant calligraphy, which was the poem written by Chu Zhen himself when Shen Yu set off for Beijing that day.

"That's it, Sister Yao, since you have taken other people's gifts, you have to repay other people's favors, if there is anything in the future, remember to take care of it." Shen Yu chuckled.

"People will be our parents in Qiantang County in the future, where will I need this little woman to take care of." Shen Yao said with a smile, her slender fingers, which were as white as jade, elegantly brushed a few flowing green silk hairs on her shoulders, and her inadvertent movements showed her delicate and charming meaning even more.

"Jing Chun is still young, he has lived in Bianliang for a long time, and he is the first time to be an official, and he has come from thousands of miles away, so it is inevitable that he is not suitable for the customs of Qiantang, if there is something that is not done properly, he still needs it." Shen Yu said softly.

"Alright, let's remind him more." Shen Yaoxiu frowned slightly, and sighed slightly: "Wentong, since you know that, what is it called, Chu Zhen is right, after you want to come to Qiantang to take up your post, you have said this more than a hundred times, and people who don't know still think that he is your brother." ”

"It's just an outsider, what's worth noting." A clear voice sounded, and I saw a young man wearing a pale white "color" Confucian costume, with a clear appearance, somewhat similar to Shen Yu, walking over slowly, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, but a trace of cold arrogance flashed through his translucent eyes.

"Ruida, don't add to the 'chaos'." Shen Yu frowned and said, knowing that his younger brother's "sexual" personality is a little arrogant, especially he likes to meet friends with literature, to put it bluntly, he is fighting with others, and he is not tired of it, Shen Yu is very disapproving, what is it to win or lose for a while, you must know that participating in the imperial examination, being on the list is the right way.

Quietly pursed the corners of his mouth, Shen Liao's eyes "revealed" a little excited, the literati in Qiantang had already finished the challenge, and when they were lonely, someone actually sent it to the door, it was really unexpected.

"Wentong, you have been stranded at home for several days, if you don't leave sooner, I'm afraid you will have to delay your appointment." Shen Yao advised softly: "Anyway, that Chu Zhen has already arrived, so you should be here." ”

"Don't worry, it's only two or three days from Qiantang to Jiangning, and it's still too late." Shen Yu said lightly: "Besides, according to the route, Jingchun should also arrive tomorrow, and it will not be bad for these two days, after seeing Jingchun, it is not too late to start again with the friendship of the landlord." ”

"You're not afraid that if you're late, Shangguan will think that you are deliberately procrastinating?" Shen Liao said coldly.

"To be able to become a prefect of one party, he must also be a reasonable person, as long as I explain a little, things will be clear, what is there to be afraid of." Shen Yu smiled.

"Okay, since Wentong has made up his mind, it's useless to say more." Shen Yao shook his head slightly, and raised his voice: "Bottle, let people know Liu Renzhi, and tomorrow they are ready to welcome the new county official." ”

The next day, the sun is shining, the warm breeze is slow, Chu quality stands on the bow of the boat in the wind, looking at the green mountains and green waters on both sides, the mood is also a little comfortable, not only can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the south of the Yangtze River, the most important thing is that there is half an hour, you can reach the wharf of Hangzhou City, and the mood of Chu quality is inevitably a little joyful and excited.

"Childe, listening to those who run boats, Hangzhou City is also quite lively and prosperous, but I don't know if it can be compared with Bianliang." Changgui's face was full of excitement.

"Bianliang is at the foot of the Son of Heaven, there are more than 200,000 households in the city alone, but there are less than 50,000 households in Hangzhou City, which is not a level at all, how can it be compared." It was Shen Seventeen who spoke, and after inquiring and contacting in the past few days, he became more and more sure that Chu Zhen and his eldest son knew each other, so he naturally waited carefully.

"Naturally, I can't do it now, and it's hard to say it in the future." Chu Zhen muttered, thinking that a hundred years later, Hu Qi destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty, occupied half of the country, and the Southern Song Dynasty set the capital of Hangzhou and changed its name to Lin'an, and his heart was a little irritable.

"Childe, what were you talking about?" Changgui thought he was talking to himself, and hurriedly asked respectfully.

"Tell them to pack their bags and get ready to disembark." Chu Zhi said, a little indifferent, turned around and returned to the cabin, picked up a book and read it, before there was no strength, people who wanted to change the historical process never had a good end, far away from Shang Yan as an example, near Fan Zhongyan as a lesson.

"Isn't the luggage already packed?" Changgui was a little inexplicable, and he didn't dare to disturb Chu Zhen to read, but stood on the bow of the boat, looking carefully from afar, wanting to see Hangzhou City for the first time, so as to report to Chu Qian.

The merchant ships moved slowly, and from time to time a few boats could be seen passing by on the wide river, and looking towards the shore, you could also faintly see the houses with smoke rising from the cooking, and the patches of rice paddies.

"Brothers, you're going home, work hard." Looking at these familiar scenes, Shen Qiqi, who was standing on the bow deck, couldn't help but shout loudly.

Under Shen XVII's order, the boatmen agreed in unison, stretched out eight long oars on both sides of the bottom of the boat, and fell into the river, accompanied by the rhythmic trumpet, raised their heads and bowed their heads, their arms were forced, and they rowed in unison, and after a while, they felt hot and sweaty.

Smooth sailing, as well as external assistance, the merchant ship is also like a flying arrow, briskly moving forward, less than half an hour, a majestic city shadow came into view, Changgui endured the excitement, confirmed that it was Hangzhou City, immediately ran back to the cabin to report the good news to Chu Qian.

Chu Zhen then put down the books in his hand, walked lightly to the bow of the boat, and looked at the majestic Hangzhou City in front of him, his mood was a little complicated, if there was no accident, he would have to live here for two or three years, but he didn't know what it was like to live like this, and he was really looking forward to it.

When there is still some distance from the wharf, the speed of the ship slows down, looking at the front and rear of the surrounding merchants, cargo ships, the noisy scene, Chu Zhen also smiled on his face, to judge whether the economy of a place is prosperous, the simplest and most effective way is to understand the business situation of the place, from the current scene, Hangzhou City is not as good as Bianliang, but compared with many places, it should belong to the upper level.

Along the way, although most of the time was on the boat, there was no chance to go ashore to watch, but also passed by some small towns, Chu Qian, who had already prepared in his heart, was still shocked by the scene in front of him, and the child was just a child, even the adult man had a yellow face and thin muscles, his clothes were not covered, and his numb and sluggish gaze made Chu Zhen dare not look at him, which was obviously the look when he couldn't feel the hope brought by life.

If you don't see it with your own eyes, you know the Chu quality of the people's suffering, and you will never imagine how much the people are suffering, after all, what you know is just some information and data compiled by others, sigh a few words, and then you may have been indifferent, and there is no sense of substitution at all.

This is the situation in a corner of the place, Chu Zhen believes that there must be a more tragic situation than this, and the blood "liquid" that he thought was already as cold as ice actually boiled a little, which made Chu Zhen feel very strange, and a thought quietly surfaced in the depths of his mind, or it was time for him to do something within his ability.

Many years later, some people in Hangzhou City still relished what kind of scene they saw Chu Zhen for the first time, the blazing sun made the water surface of the river shine, a merchant ship went down the water, towards the wharf slowly "swinged", the bow of the boat stood a young man in white, paper fan and scarf, dressed as a scholar, the river breeze blew on his face, blowing his silk hair and clothes corners, fluttering like a fairy crossing the river.

"Jing Chun."

A melodious and familiar voice sounded, "confused" and "confused" looked around the dock, and suddenly, a familiar face came into his eyes, Chu Zhen's eyes condensed slightly, blinked his eyes, and confirmed that he was not mistaken, and a bright smile bloomed between his lips.

"Brother Wentong, don't come unharmed." Chu Zhen beckoned again and again, and hearty laughter echoed in the deck of the ship.

Seeing this, Shen Qiqi on the side quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, fortunately there was no misjudgment, otherwise it was really the flood that washed the Dragon King Temple, and the family didn't know the family.

"Brothers, it's time to dock." Shen Qiqi shouted loudly and commanded: "Throw the rope and drop anchor." ”

The boat slowly approached the shore of the wharf, the boatmen hurriedly put down the cable planks, and with the support of the entourage, Chu Zhen took the lead in getting off the boat, walked quickly to Shen Yu, who was full of smiles, patted him on the shoulder, and couldn't help but hug.