"Ling Zun praised it." Ning Xia Qingqian said, and then asked: "I don't know what Ling Zun asked you to come to me today, what is the matter?" ”

Li Kou smiled for a moment, and then cut to the chase: "I heard that the girl not only kept the title deed of the mulberry garden, but also agreed to take it back after three years. ”

Ning Xia Qing replied without hesitation: "Exactly." The mulberry garden is my grandfather's painstaking effort, and I naturally can't let the clan snatch him away, sooner or later, I must take it back. ”

"But does the girl know how much capital it takes to run a mulberry garden? How many stewards and long-term workers do I need to hire? How much does the girl know about mulberry trees and silkworm seeds? Is there a way to sell silk? Do you know the price of silk in the market? Could it be that the girl is planning to sell it to the clan workshop with the eldest master? Will the workshop of the clan accept the silk from the girl's mulberry garden? ”

Ning Xia Qing couldn't help but be slightly surprised, what was the point of Li Kou asking this kind of thing at this time? It was three years later to take over Sang Yuan, and it didn't make sense to ask this at this time, but it seemed a little deliberately difficult, but why did Li Kou make it difficult for her?

Such a deliberate attempt to make things difficult for her is not like what Li Tie and Li Kou's father and son would do, could it be that Li Kou came to her today, the purpose is very secretive, and it will be related to some very important heavenly opportunity, so that Li Kou does not dare to announce it easily, so it is so meaningful that it is actually to test her mind?

Ning Xia Qing smiled calmly and said, "Those questions you just asked, not to mention how much I know, even if I do, I won't answer them." After all, that was three years later. If after three years, Ling Zun intends to help me, I can naturally entrust Ling Zun. If Ling Zun doesn't want to, I can also learn slowly. ”

Ning Ningqing's answer was perfect, and answering was equivalent to not answering, which made Li Kou a little surprised, but before Li Kou continued to test something, Ning Xia Qing had already pierced Li Kou's mind straightforwardly: "You don't have to continue to test me, let's get straight to the point." ”

Li Kou was stunned, and then laughed. Ning Ningqing's tricks that hit the key point made Li Kou unable to parry, so that Li Kou's various tricks had no chance to exert force. Li Kou smiled kindly, and couldn't help admiring: "The girl's way of speaking to the point is indeed a good strategy to defeat the enemy, since the girl can have such a mind at a young age, I really don't need to test anything." ”

Li Kou carefully took out a book wrapped in several layers of coarse cloth from his arms, handed the book into Ning Ningqing's hand, and said very seriously: "The reason why I came to disturb today is that my father asked me to deliver something to the girl. ”

Ning Xia Qing looked at the things in her hand, this book may not be called a book, it is broken, and even half of it is missing, she couldn't help but ask suspiciously: "What is this?" ”

Li Kou just said, "Girl, let's open it first." ”

Ningxia Qinghu opened it suspiciously, only to see that it was full of old and yellowed handwritten letters, some places outlined and drawn, and even annotations, Ningxia Qing immediately said: "I recognize this word, this is my grandfather's handwriting." My grandfather wrote very well, people often came to ask my grandfather to write Spring Festival couplets and elegiac couplets, when I learned to write, my grandmother asked me to copy my grandfather's words directly. ”

Ning Xia Qing slightly turned the half-volume fragment in his hand, and was even more puzzled: "Why is my grandfather's thing in Ling Zun?" Why did you send it to me? ”

"This is the relic of Master Wangping, and it has always been with my father. In fact, this thing should have been returned to its original owner a long time ago, when Master Wangping died, I brought this thing to find Master Yongda, but at that time, Master Yongda had already rented the mulberry garden to the eldest master, so I had to take this thing back and keep it until now. ”

Ning Xia Qing frowned slightly, it seems that this thing is related to Mulberry Garden, and it is something very important. She then didn't understand: "What did my grandfather write on it?" ”

Li Kou said leisurely: "This is the note left by Master Wangping when he was trying to re-cultivate the Holy Silk. ”

"What?" Ning Xia Qing couldn't help but flip through the notes, which were densely packed with words, and it was only half a book, so there must be more words in the whole book, since grandpa had already made so many notes, did that mean ...... She asked incredulously, "Could it be that my grandfather had already cultivated the Holy Silk back then?" ”

"Yes." Li Kou replied firmly.

"My grandfather actually ......" Ning Ningqing's heart was greatly impacted, and the holy silk that was regarded as a legend was actually re-cultivated by his grandfather? It was unbelievable to her.

Li Kou just said very calmly: "The next thing may make it more difficult for the girl to accept, is the girl ready?" ”

Ning Xia Qing said softly: "Say it." However, she actually vaguely knew what Li Kou was going to say next, it was a seed that had been buried in her heart for a long time, and at this moment she faintly saw the hope that broke through the ground, she wanted to confirm her secret guess, but she didn't dare to confirm it, because once it was really confirmed, then the world was too dark.

Li Kou said with a serious expression: "After hundreds of years, on the day when Saint Silk reappeared, Master Wangping did a very strange thing. Master Wangping divided the notes he had worked so hard to write down in two, gave half of them to my father, and confessed some strange things. ”

Li Kou frowned: "My father didn't understand why Master Wangping did this, but he only remembered that Master Wangping's expression was extremely serious at that time. Later, a terrible thing happened, that is, our mulberry garden was on fire, and almost all the silkworm seeds that Master Wangping had worked so hard to cultivate and could cultivate the holy silk were burned out. ”

Ning Xia Qing's voice changed a little: "Could it be that my grandfather had already guessed that this kind of thing would happen, so he hid this notebook in advance?" ”

Li Kou shook his head slightly: "How did Master Wangping guess back then, this can't be confirmed." My father only knew that when the mulberry garden was on fire, in fact, Master Wangping planned to go to the mulberry garden, but Master Wangping did not go, and sent away several silkworm farmers in Mulberry Yuan with excuses. So Master Wangping should have guessed it. ”

The look in Li Kou's eyes became complicated: "Master Wangping didn't go to the mulberry garden that day, and he escaped with his life." However, a few hours later, Master Wangping lost his footing and drowned. ”

Ning Ningqing's eyes were red: "Did someone chase and kill my grandfather and push him into the water?" ”

Li Kou shook his head regretfully: "No one knows, and no one has any evidence." ”

Ning Xia Qing sat down, let out a long sigh, and asked weakly, "That...... Didn't my grandfather split this note in two? Where is the other half? Does Ling Zun know? ”

Li Kou replied: "It is a steward named Hong Hong, who used to be in charge of the mulberry garden under Master Wangping. ”

Ning Xia Qing immediately asked, "That...... What about others? ”

Li Kou shook his head again: "When the Mulberry Garden was on fire, he followed everyone to fight the fire, and that was the last time people saw him. Since then, his whereabouts have been unknown. Over the years, my father has been trying to find him in private, but there is no news of this Hong steward at all. ”

Ning Xia Qing said sarcastically: "A big living person disappeared like this!" ”

Li sighed, and then said, "But my father often said that if it weren't for the disappearance of Steward Hong, my father probably wouldn't be alive now." ”

Ning Ningqing had calmed down, but sighed weakly, and asked in a deep voice: "Although my father rented out the mulberry garden back then, you could have given him this half of the notebook." Why did it take more than ten years for you to come to me with it? ”

Li Kou smiled slightly, with a look of reminiscence in his eyes: "Because Master Wangping left a message for my father, saying that if the clan snatched Young Master Yongda's mulberry garden, don't give this note to Young Master Yongda." Master Wangping said, Young Master Yongda is honest by nature, and it is good to only guard the shop, if you rashly hand this over to Young Master Yongda, it will be to invite trouble for Young Master Yongda. ”

Li Kou couldn't help but look at Ning Ningqing, and said with a complicated look of excitement in his eyes: "Master Wangping also said that if Young Master Yongda can have a promising descendant under his knees, let my father hand over this half of the notebook to this person who can glorify the ancestors." My dad has been waiting for so many years, but he didn't expect to wait until the girl appeared! ”

Ning Xia Qing smiled bitterly and laughed at herself: "It's a pity that my father has no children and grandchildren, and I am just a girl, and there are too many obstacles if I want to take over the family business." She took a deep breath, her expression became resolute and cruel, and asked the question she wanted to ask the most: "When you came to see my father, did you tell my father these things?" ”

Li Kou was stunned for a moment, then revealed a slightly complicated hesitation, and after thinking for a while, he said slowly: "I don't know about this either." Neither my father nor I have told Young Master Yongda, but we don't know whether Young Master Yongda knows about it or not, after all, it has been more than ten years, and in these years, it is possible for Young Master Yongda to hear the wind even from somewhere. ”

Ning Xia Qing nodded, she thought the same way. Ning Yongda is not stupid, and he is even very keen in many things, but he is too honest and introverted by nature. More than ten years have passed, and it is not impossible for Ning Yongda to discover anything. She took a deep breath and asked, "How much do you know about that Hongjiang steward?" I'd like to know more. ”

Li Kou narrowed his eyes and recalled, "Steward Hongjiang...... I came to Mr. Wangping to do things with my father, because they were of the same age, and they worked hard together, so the friendship was not bad. But Hong Guan is a little lonely, he is not interested in human relations, he is only extremely obsessed with silkworm raising, and he soaks in the mulberry garden all day long. Therefore, Steward Hong is responsible for concentrating on raising silkworms, and my father is responsible for taking care of the money and manpower. ”

Ning Xia Qing asked again: "Then do you know if Steward Hong is a local?" Where is my hometown? Who else is in the family? Have you ever been married? Are there any offspring? ”

Li Kou waved his hand and said, "As I just said, that Hong steward is only interested in raising silkworms, and he is withdrawn, and rarely gets together with other stewards to drink and talk about the mountains, so others don't know him very well." Only once, he mentioned to my father that he had a sister who had been given away by his family. I don't know about the rest. ”

"We don't know anything, it's difficult......" Ning Xia Qing was a little annoyed, and he really didn't know much about Hongjiang's life experience. However, listening to Li Kou, Hong Jiang is withdrawn by nature, and he has won Ning Wangping's trust, so he should not be able to betray Ning Wangping. Is there any other possibility?

She couldn't help asking: "In addition to Ling Zun and Steward Hong, who else knew about my grandfather's cultivation of the Holy Silk?" ”

Li Kou blurted out: "There are a few senior silkworm farmers who must have guessed it." After all, the silkworm farmers stayed in the mulberry garden all day long, and they must have seen some signs, and the senior mulberry farmers guessed one or two. ”

Li Kou suddenly said: "Oh yes, my father said, in fact, it is not only Lord Wangping who wants to revive the heirloom glaze." ”

Ning Xia Qing couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "What do you say?" ”

"My father heard that the patriarch of the Ning clan, the Xiao clan of Yueling County of Chengsong County, and the Luo clan of Zizhou County are all riveting and want to revive the heirloom glaze. After all, the heirloom glass is the treasure of the world, and there is no clan in this line that does not want to revive it. It's just that they threw a lot of money into it, but they never succeeded. ”

Ningxia Qing was surprised: "Why didn't they succeed?" ”

Li Kou thought for a moment and said, "This statement is more vague. My father only heard that it seemed that because of water and soil reasons, their silkworm seeds died before they could grow and spit out holy silk. ”

Ning Xia Qing thought for a moment and couldn't help but sigh.

The things about the Saints, the Patriarch, the Xiao Clan, and the Luo Clan were too old and vague, and she knew very little, so it was really impossible to plan anything on this basis.

And she had an even bigger worry in her heart at the moment.

She knew that her grandfather had drowned by accident, and it was likely that he had been killed, and she herself had drowned after being pushed into the water by Du Qiutong in her previous life, and it was estimated that she would be said to have "accidentally" drowned under the ice of the courtyard. She couldn't help but think of something.

Since grandpa's death was because of Mulberry Garden, could her death also be because of Mulberry Garden?

She clearly remembered that Du Qiutong said when he pushed her into the water that Tan Wenshi didn't like her to be too smart and in the limelight, and since Tan Wenshi killed Ning Yongda and calculated all the family property left by Ning Yongda into his own hands, Tan Wenshi has always been worried that Ning Ningqing will know the truth one day and will retaliate against him, so he instructed Du Qiutong to cut the grass and eradicate the roots.

However, does what Du Qiutong said necessarily be the truth?

Not to mention whether what Tan Wenshi said to Du Qiutong is true or false, just talking about Du Qiutong, Du Qiutong hates Ningxia Qing so much, and it is possible to deliberately satirize Ningxia Qing with oil and vinegar.

In this case, was Tan Wenshi the real murderer who killed Ning Yongda in his previous life? Could it be that Ning Yongda inadvertently got a glimpse of the truth about Ning Wangping's death, so he attracted the extermination of the real murderer back then?

In this case, in his previous life, the reason why Tan Wenshi wanted Ningxia Qing to die, was it as Du Qiutong said, or was it because Ningxia Qing proposed to give the legendary mulberry garden to Zi'er as a dowry without knowing it, which made Tan Wenshi have murderous intentions? So, how much does Tan Wenshi know about that mulberry garden?

She really couldn't see through these things.

She lowered her voice and asked, "You came to me today, do the people from Baoluo Village know?" ”

Li Kou shook his head: "Don't worry, girl." Since my father and I have been able to keep this half of the notebook for more than ten years, it is naturally not just because our family relaxed our vigilance against us after the disappearance of Steward Hong. My father often told me that since we are guarding the secret for Master Wangping, we need to be cautious in our words and deeds all our lives, and we have to think about it before coughing. I'm also very careful today, no one knows I've been here. ”

Only then did Ning Xia Qing understand better why Li Kou was just about to ask herself those questions that sounded a little questioning, and she couldn't help but be moved: "I've suffered you all these years." I won't be pretending to be polite to you, so I won't keep you more today, so as not to let the people of Baoluozhuang notice. Ling Zun and your righteousness are thin clouds, and I will repay you in the future! ”

"I'm just here to deliver something to the girl today, and when the thing is delivered, I'll go back." Li Kou stood up, hugged his fists, and said: "My father is loyal to Lord Wangping, and he has endured humiliation and burdens for more than ten years, not wanting to reciprocate, just wanting to keep this last wish for Lord Wangping." But I ...... Girl, don't dislike me, villain......"

Li Kou just nodded, and Ning Xia Qing immediately understood, and promised: "People are born for profit, what you want is really human nature, Ling Zun's friendship with you, as I just said, will be rewarded in the future!" ”

Li Kou thanked him again and again, and then said excitedly: "Sometimes my father will chatter, saying that all this will be a game laid out by Master Wangping, Master Wangping has long known the temperament of Young Master Yongda, so he let Young Master Yongda guard the small family with peace of mind, maybe Master Wangping has long known that there will be a promising junior behind him." Sure enough, more than ten years after the death of Master Wangping, the girl appeared. ”

"It's over." Ningxia Qingqian said.

Li Kou smiled politely, then bowed down and left the Ning family in a blind way.

After Li Kou left, Ning Ningqing couldn't help but feel a lot of emotions.

In fact, Li Tie and Li Kouda can hand over this half of the booklet to the patriarch, and not only will they not have to hide the secret so carefully when the time comes, but with this credit, they will definitely be able to eat and drink spicy food and spicy food under the patriarch for the rest of their lives. But why didn't they do it?

It may really be because of their loyalty to Ning Wangping.

There may also be some reasons why Ning Xia Qing doesn't know, maybe there is something behind this that makes her even more incomprehensible. She couldn't help but hold her forehead, she couldn't trust anyone anymore, all the seemingly close people could betray her, this feeling had exhausted all the trust she could give to others.

Ah Zheng walked in at this moment.

She looked at Ah Zheng and suddenly felt that it didn't seem that she had to trust others.

She didn't know why, so she opened her mouth and told Ah Zheng everything she had just said to Li Kou.

She held the half of the fragment, her hands trembled slightly, her eyes were red, and she suddenly became afraid, and said uneasily: "This thing took my grandfather's life, and it also made the Li family's father and son walk on thin ice for so many years, and now it is in my hands...... I ...... "No matter how brave she is, she is always afraid of death."

"Don't be afraid." Ah Zheng didn't want to say it.

"How can you not be afraid of ......"

"Haven't I always been by your side, I will protect you, and as long as I am alive, I will not let others harm you."

She lowered her eyes and saw Ah Zheng crouching in front of her, patiently coaxing her.