Zhuang Yuncheng arrived at the door of Liu's mansion, came out to welcome him, Liu Zhen was polite first, and then introduced the two people in the hall to Zhuang Yuncheng, he said: "Brother Yuncheng, this is An Yan, Commander An, this is Zhong Yuqian, Boss Zhong." ”

Zhuang Yuncheng glanced at it a few times, and he could see that An Yan, who had dark skin and sharp eyes, was a military general, and Zhong Yuqian, who had bright eyes and a pleasant face, was a cunning businessman.

Zhuang Yuncheng returned the salute one by one and called him "big brother".

An Yan and Zhong Yuqian nodded in appreciation: "Young talent." ”

Zhuang Yuncheng smiled and said: "Brother An, Brother Zhong has a good reputation, and he has achieved nothing in his second and fifth years." ”

An Yan and Zhong Yuqian laughed, Liu Zhen beckoned several people to sit down, and asked, "Lao An, when did you arrive?" A trip from Xuzhou, tired from the journey, must rest for a few days, right? ”

"Yesterday afternoon, I entered the capital and rested at home for the night, military people, and in this time of war, how much time do you have to rest?" An Yan smiled and said, "We are all working for Master Zhang, you and Lao Zhong are idle, I can only envy but not get it." ”

Zhong Yuqian smiled and said: "Lao An is farting again, and I don't know how to enjoy it in the field." ”

"I don't know what Boss Zhong is doing in this capital, but he said that he fell in love with me? Alas, today is going to break Brother Liu again, so I should go to Lao Zhong's house. ”

"Hahaha......" Liu Zhen laughed a few times.

"Look at what you say, how much more money can I save? In the afternoon, I invited a group of actors to watch it, and how about a table of banquets in Tianxiang Lou in the evening? Just take the wind for Commander An! ”

An Yan laughed at him a few times, and even said yes, and remembered one more thing, so he said: "The wife and the little girl in the family have to make clothes, and add some spices, and the child's illness has been committed again, and the medicine has been exhausted, if there is anything in the shop, send it to my house." ”

Zhong Yuqian agreed with a smile, and Liu Zhen asked again: "Ling Lang's illness has not been cured yet?" ”

"It was better, but it happened again in early spring."

"This year, there is a new medicine from abroad, and it is nourishing, so I will send someone to deliver it in the afternoon." Zhong Yuqian said.

"Okay, eat and see, if you eat and see good, you can keep the old clock for me."

"That's nature." Zhong Yuqian asked Liu Zhen again, "Madame took that medicine, can it be effectively tested?" ”

"There are some signs, I asked the doctor to see them a few days ago, and I said yes, so I went to the temple to make a vow that day."

"Congratulations." An Yan and Zhong Yuqian said hello together.

Zhuang Yuncheng seemed to be smiling, guessing that one of Liu Zhen's wives was pregnant, but he didn't dare to ask.

An Yan asked again: "If you are tired, sore and sore for several days, is there a miracle medicine in the shop to nourish the body?" ”

"Yes, I sent someone to send some to the house, you need to find a doctor to mix and eat, don't eat too much, eat for a few days in a row, the most is to nourish the body and generate strength."

"That's good." An Yan asked, "Lao Liu, don't you want some?" ”

Liu Zhen only smiled.

"He's eating, too." Zhong Yuqian said, "I saw that he was also looking bad earlier, so I matched him." ”

An Yan looked at Liu Zhen and laughed, ** said: "You are always at home, accompanied by two wives, and you also have to be temperate and maintained, but now it is more physically demanding than our marching people?" ”

Zhong Yuqian also laughed.

"What nonsense!" Liu Zhen scolded, "Brother Yun Cheng is still there!" ”

Zhuang Yuncheng's face was red and white, like sitting on pins and needles, and he didn't laugh, and he didn't laugh.

"What's the matter?" An Yan asked, "Brother Yuncheng is not too young, I don't know if there is a marriage match?" ”

Zhuang Yuncheng smiled: "No." ”

"Oh—that's it, let's not talk about it."

They have nothing to do with each other in the east and west, a "Master Zhang" for a while, and a "Master Li" for a while, "I don't know who they are or what they do, although the words are shallow and rough, but they are also vague, Zhuang Yuncheng doesn't know what they are talking about, and when it comes to dinner, Zhuang Yuncheng seems to have been boiling in an oil pot for a long time.

At the dinner table, they also chatted, and Zhuang Yuncheng felt as if they were hiding some details and deliberately not letting themselves know.

After the meal, Liu Zhen sent Zhuang Yuncheng home, Zhuang Yuncheng didn't know why, he thought angrily: "This Liu Zhen, bothered to ask me to eat, snubbed me the whole time, didn't have time to give me a cup of tea after the meal and sent me away, what do you mean?" ”

Liu Zhen and the others saw that Zhuang Yuncheng was gone, so they put tea on the table and said: "This is the only son of the ** old general, although he has changed his name, I am sure that it is this person." ”

"There is a slight resemblance in appearance, but it doesn't look like half of his father's demeanor back then."

"The hundred-legged insect, dead but not stiff, although the dynasty has changed, the old general Zhuang has passed away, but he still has a certain influence, many of his protégés and colleagues held important positions in the previous dynasty, even now, although some are in the wild, some are still active." Liu Zhen said, "How did you say that the old general died?" It is rumored that on the same day, Emperor Xuantong abdicated the edict, the capital vibrated all over the city, and the news reached the Zhuang Mansion. ”

"I wasn't in the city at the time, so I didn't hear of it, but Zhuang Lao is iron-clad, and everyone knows his loyalty to the Qing Dynasty." An Yan said.

"Exactly, now that Zhuang Lao is gone, we might as well guide his son to be with us, and with his identity and father's prestige, we can attract more people and grow our power. ”

"He, can he?"

"And tentatively, I think he came back this time, and it was very different from usual. Besides, now that he doesn't have his father, who can he rely on? He is the only one, and the young man is a wild horse that has escaped the reins, although it is difficult to tame, but once tamed, it will be difficult for him to break free from the reins. ”

"You're absolutely right." An Yan said, "You do it like this, Master Zhang, I will be very happy when I go back." ”

Liu Zhen nodded and asked again: "What did you do when you returned to Beijing this time?" ”

"Take two important people down to Xuzhou, and leave the day after tomorrow."

Liu Zhen didn't ask who it was, Zhong Yuqian said again: "I'm afraid you'll stay for a long time after you go south this time, we are in Beijing, just leave it to us if you have any unfinished business." ”

"There's nothing else to do, it's just that the family neglects to take care of it, and my brother is often busy with business, so I don't have time to take care of it, you just help take care of it, I told my family, if you don't have anything to do, just ask Boss Zhong for it, don't shirk it."

"This is not unnecessary." Zhong Yuqian said, and asked again: "Lao An, did you come back to see Steward Yuan this time?" ”

"Not yet, but Master Zhang ordered me to ask about the family by the way, and I will see him tomorrow. You're not ......."

"No, no," Zhong Yuqian said, "it's just that you came back to bring a message for Master Zhang, and you can say a few words in front of him." ”

"I know." An Yan said.

Liu Zhen and Zhong Yuqian both laughed, and the three of them said again, Zhong Yuqian said goodbye and said that he would go back to arrange the troupe, and An Yan and Liu Zhen talked again before going over there.

On the second day, Liu Zhen brought a pot of wine, a roast duck, a roast chicken, a few melons and fruits and snacks to Zhuang Yuncheng.

Zhuang Yuncheng and the two sisters were standing at the gate to watch a few workers hang "plaques", and a medium-sized dark black and red carved plaque had two words written on it - Zhuang House.

"Uhhhh Yun Yun pointed and shouted.

"No, you're slanting." Zhuang Die said, so he pulled Yun Yun over to him and let her see.

Yun Yun smiled: "It turned out to be just right, impartial." ”

Zhuang Yuncheng smiled, and suddenly caught a glimpse of Liu Zhen coming, and the little guy behind him was carrying many things.

"Brother Liu." Zhuang Yuncheng greeted the past.

Yunyun goes into the house.

"Brother Yun Cheng, where is the plaque?"

"Yes." Zhuang Yuncheng replied, and asked again: "Who are you?" ”

"I offended yesterday, so I'm here to apologize."

"No, how can Brother Liu think like this, it seems that I am stingy."

Liu Zhen said with a smile: "In this case, I will treat me today, there was a guest yesterday, but I didn't have a good time, so we will talk about it today." ”

"It's just that Brother Liu broke the bill again, I originally asked you, so it made me difficult to speak."

"What's the matter? Just say it. ”

"Go in and say, please." Zhuang Yuncheng welcomed Liu Zhen, Zhuang Die made tea and brought it out, Liu Zhen ordered the little servant to hand over all kinds of food to Zhuang Yuncheng, Zhuang Yuncheng took it, and said to Xiaodie: "You take it in and make a table of dishes." She picked up her things and left.

Liu Zhen looked around and said, "You don't have a gatekeeper in this yard?" There's no waiting girl, so it's not lonely! ”

"That's exactly what I'm going to say, recently I wanted to find a few people to help take care of the family, but I don't know where to find it, and now although the streets are full of people, I don't know if it's good or bad."

"I see, it's not a big deal, you just say you want those people, and I'll ask someone to find them, that is, two or three days of work."

"Thank you, all the expenses are still paid by myself, Brother Liu, don't break the bank, otherwise I won't dare to bother you in the future."

Liu Zhen couldn't, so he responded with a smile.

At this time, the workers had already installed the plaques and came in to report, Yun Yun looked up in front of the door, it was very proper, so she paid the money.

Liu Zhen talked about An Yan and Zhong Yuqian, and said: "I expected that it would be inconvenient for you to come yesterday, but they must see you, so they forced you to come." ”

"Why do you have to see me? I have never seen them, and they don't know me. ”

"It's all when I talk about you in front of them, and they're like that."

"Say me?"

"Horizontal and vertical are good words, Yun Cheng don't worry about it."

Zhuang Yuncheng smiled suspiciously, and he didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing, so he didn't ask.

"Actually, it's good to meet them, and if you suddenly see them in the future, it's good to talk."

Zhuang Yuncheng was even more puzzled, thinking: "There is something in this Liu Zhen's words, is yesterday's meeting to prepare for future meetings?" What was his purpose? ”

Liu Zhen said unhurriedly: An Yan, commander An, master tens of thousands of troops in the northwest region of Xuzhou, and Lord Zhang Xun values him very much; Zhong Yuqian, Boss Zhong, was originally the old family of Lord Zhang Xun, and helped the Zhang family manage a few shops, not to mention a few shops, it was enough for him to earn. ”

Zhuang Yuncheng thought about it for a while and asked, "Lord Zhang Xun, is it Lord Zhang, the commander of the previous dynasty?" ”

"Exactly, Brother Yun Cheng seems to know?"

"Oh, I heard that." He remembered that his father had interacted with this person, when his father decided to marry him, he chose his daughter, but later after the Qing Dynasty died, his father passed away, and he moved his family to Japan, which had long been left behind.

Liu Zhen said again: "But now, Lord Zhang Xun has already moved to Xuzhou to serve as a patrol envoy of the Yangtze River. ”

"Oh." Zhuang Yuncheng nodded, he thought that An Yan and Zhong Yuqian were both Zhang Xun's people, and this Liu Zhen was so close to them, and he should also be related to Zhang Xun.

Liu Zhen asked again: "Now that they have settled down, what are the plans of the Yuncheng brothers?" ”

"I don't know, I told their sisters yesterday that if you follow me, I'm afraid there will be days when you can't even afford to eat in the future."

"Brother Yun Cheng is serious." Liu Zhen smiled, "You can afford to live in such a yard, how can you be short of money." ”

"Brother Liu doesn't know, even if he has money, who can guarantee that he can keep it for a long time, just take this yard as an example, I have only been gone for three years, and it has been looted. In this world, who knows that one night there will be a gang of robbers, who will take the money at least and take their lives at the worst. Saying that, Zhuang Yuncheng shook his head and said to himself, "The world is really impermanent, who knows how many people have changed from princes and nobles to commoners overnight." ”

"Money, it's not something that people like Brother Yuncheng should worry about, your ambitions shouldn't stop there."

"What other ambitions can I have? Literature cannot be written, and martial arts cannot be martial. Zhuang Yuncheng laughed at himself.

"Hey, young man, don't look down on yourself."

"It's not that I look down on myself, but I'm already low into the dirt and let others trample on it!" Zhuang Yuncheng remembered that when he was still Young Master Zhuang, how many people flattered themselves and lifted themselves to the sky, and overnight, everyone was in danger, and they fell from the sky to the ground; When I arrived in Japan, I couldn't exert any strength, and when I saw the two sisters in danger and I was helpless, it was like falling into hell, full of darkness and despair.

"Hey! Brother Yuncheng, Brother Yuncheng ......" Liu Zhen saw him wandering out of the world, and shouted a few times one after another.

Zhuang Die came out and said, "Brother, it's time to set the meal." ”

"Okay, Brother Liu, let's eat."

The two moved to the side hall, on the small table, and the two drank.

"Brother Yun Cheng, I know most of what you think in your heart, there is an opportunity in front of you, are you willing to seize it?"

"You know?" Zhuang Yuncheng asked.

"I can guess," Liu Zhen said, "after all, if you are a young person, will you have no ideals?" Not to mention you. ”

Zhuang Yuncheng smiled: "What's more, me? Why did Brother Liu say that? ”

"I think your father used to be a powerful figure, although the Yun Cheng brothers have no success in their careers, they have also been stained a lot, but now you have fallen from the sky to the ground, from a phoenix to a black chicken, how can you be willing? Don't you want to soar into the sky all at once? At that time, the black rooster will become a phoenix, and then become a master! ”

Zhuang Yuncheng was stunned for a moment, and said, "You-know me?" ”

"Of course I know, otherwise I wouldn't dare to be abrupt."

"Always known?"

"Yes," Liu Zhen knew that it was appropriate to stimulate him at this time, so he said again, "Under the imperial city, there are no idlers, if the Yuncheng brothers do not have this background, forgive Liu for being disrespectful and say a harsh word, I will not sit at your house today and eat wine with you." ”

Zhuang Yuncheng looked at Liu Zhen, and his face changed.

"Brother Yuncheng, why do you have to hide it, this is not a disgraceful thing."

"What, it's glorious? From heaven to earth, what else can I show off. ”

"It seems that you don't understand, although Ling Zun has passed away, but you don't know, his original first-class right-hand man was later transferred to Yuan Shikai's subordinates, and he had a meritorious role in suppressing the rebels the year before last, and he has been promoted; There is also a student of General Zhuang, named Cai Mingyi, who is now the chairman of the Beiyang government; In addition, Lord Zhang Xun also has a friendship with Zhuang Lao; The original Dali Siqing, Ling Zun once saved his life, although he returned to the field, his son was working under the Cai Yi overseer...... Brother Yun Cheng, think about the reason. ”

Zhuang Yuncheng didn't speak, only frowned.

Liu Zhen didn't eat a mouthful of food, only drank the wine, got up and said, "Brother Yuncheng, you think about it yourself, I still have something to do, so I will leave first." ”

Zhuang Yuncheng glanced at him, still sitting, and Liu Zhen walked away.

Yun Yun and Zhuang Die saw that Liu Zhen was gone, so they came over, Zhuang Yuncheng drank a big bowl of wine in one go, his throat was hot and painful, he held the bowl in one hand, held the corner of the table with the other, his eyes were wide open, staring at the plate of roast chicken, and said in a deep voice: "I have lived for twenty-four years in vain!" ”

"Brother, what's wrong, your face is so red?" Yun Yun sat next to him and asked.

Zhuang Die sat in Liu Zhen's original position and looked at him thoughtfully.

"It's okay, you haven't eaten either, eat by yourself." He stood up and said, "Ignore me." Then he went out, shut the door, and went into his own room, and fell on the bed.

"It was fine just now," Yun Yun asked, "Sister, do you know what's going on?" ”

Zhuang Die shook his head and guessed: "Maybe it's because of Liu Zhen, that person is definitely not so kind as he seems. ”

"Do you want to see him?"

Zhuang Die handed her a chicken leg and said, "Ignore him, give you this chicken leg." ”

Yun Yun suddenly smiled and took it, and said, "Good sister, you don't care about him, but you care about me." ”

"Still?" Zhuang Die stuffed the duck leg into Yun Yun's mouth and said, "It's not enough for you to eat!" ”

Yun Yun took a bite of the duck leg and muttered, "That's enough, don't leave him alone," and returned the chicken leg to Fluttershy, saying, "I didn't eat this, give it to you." ”

Fluttershy takes it on her plate, stains it twice, and says, "This looks greasy, I won't eat it." She cooked herself and ate some vegetarian dishes, which she had studied at the military academy in Japan, and she had to control her diet, otherwise her body would be out of shape, and it would be inconvenient to perform her tasks, and her body would become weaker and weaker.