The Romance of the Famous Marshals of the Early Tang Dynasty Li Jichuan

Chapter 11 Xu Gai is eccentric again

On the evening of the eleventh day, Xu Gai and the housekeeper Xu Quan rode home, and when the lady heard the news, she hurriedly pulled Xu Gai into the inner room, poured a cup of tea for Xu Gai, and asked, "Master, tell me how Xu Maogong went to Yicheng Temple to learn martial arts?"

Xu Gai took a sip of tea and replied with a smile: "When Weifu and Xu Maogong arrived at Yicheng Temple, Master Abbot Huitong summoned the monks of Yicheng Temple to participate in the apprenticeship ceremony, and Uncle Sun asked the monks to take care of Xu Maogong by the way.

For the husband, Sun Anfu invited all the monks to sit down in the monk's hall, burned incense and fasted to make offerings, and distributed congratulatory gifts to the monks of all ministry. Zen Master Huiliao of the temple led Xu Maogong to visit all the uncles, brothers, and brothers. Brother Sun Anfu presented an ancient inkstone to Huida Zen Master and asked him to take more care of Xu Maogong, and Huida Zen Master has agreed: to protect Xu Maogong in many ways. ”

Madame interjected and asked, "I said in advance, everything should be used by my family, how can I make Sun Anfuxian's brother break the bank?"

Xu Gai replied: "Madam, my husband said the same thing at that time, and I prepared a gift for my husband to return to Fox County and give it to Zen Master Huida. But Uncle Sun said: Huida Zen Master has a hobby of practicing calligraphy, other gifts Huida Zen Master will not receive, the old man's ancient inkstone Huida Zen Master has seen a few times, he also likes it, this ancient inkstone to him is not a gift, just to express brotherhood, he will understand the old man's mind, Huida Zen Master will naturally take more care of Xu Maogong. The husband had no choice but to agree. ”

At this time, the housekeeper Xu Quan replied outside the door: "Master, madam, the meal is ready, when will the meal start?"

Xu Gai replied, "Butler, come into the inner room and talk."

The housekeeper Xu Quan pushed open the door, walked into the inner room lightly, stood by the door, and closed the door casually.

Xu Gai said to the housekeeper Xu Quan: "Housekeeper, the eldest young master went to learn martial arts, and the people all served meritoriously, and each person was rewarded with one or two snowflakes of silver."

The housekeeper Xu Quan said: "Master, it is the duty of the little ones to take care of the eldest and young masters, how can they still expect rewards?"

Xu Gai said: "Housekeeper, sir, I said: meritorious service will be rewarded, and this matter will be done according to what the master said." Butler, did you find the scholar you asked the eldest young master to find? ”

The housekeeper Xu Quan replied: "Master, the younger one has already inquired about the two suitable ages, when will the master be free?" The little ones will be brought and the master will be chosen. ”

Xu Gai replied: "The day after tomorrow, butler, you go to the account office to pay the silver, and today you will give the reward to the people."

The housekeeper Xu Quan smiled and said, "Yes, thank you for the reward."

Xu Gai then instructed: "Butler, go and set the table, and then start the meal."

Butler Xu Quan responded: "Yes." He turned and walked out of the inner room.

Xu Gai said with a smile: "Madam, how about choosing a scholar for Xu Maogong for her husband the day after tomorrow, and accompanying her to Jinan Mansion to find a century-old store and give her a brand new set of silver jewelry?"

The lady replied with a smile: "Master, there are a lot of jewelry for my wife, there is no need to buy new jewelry, my son Mao Gong will have a great future in the future, and he is happier than wearing any jewelry for his wife."

Madame took Xu Gai's hand and asked with a smile: "Master, you have been on the road all afternoon, are you hungry?" Let's go eat. ”

Xu Gai replied with a smile: "Madam, it can make me hungry." After speaking, the two walked out of the inner room together.

The main hall has set up the dining table, Xu Gai sat in the center, Xu Gai took a bite of the rice bowl, put down the rice bowl, looked down and saw that the chair next to him that Xu Maogong was sitting on was empty, looked up at Mrs., looked at Da Ni and Erni next to Mrs., and saw the Yiya five-flavor chicken, a plate of sauced beef, a plate of steamed mackerel, a plate of spiced peanuts, a plate of salted edamame, a plate of dried tofu, and the circles under his eyes were red.

At this time, Erni just looked up to pick up the vegetables, saw her father looking at herself, and immediately said: "Dad, this easy-toothed five-flavor chicken is made by my mother under the guidance of my daughter, how about my father taste the famous dishes made by his daughter?"

Xu Gai didn't reply, lowered his head and picked up a lump of rice with chopsticks, tears rolled down his face like beads with broken threads, and fell on top of the lump of rice, Xu Gai picked up the lump of rice, raised his hand and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing slowly, and what appeared in front of him: In the empty West Zen room, Xu Maogong sat alone at the table, eating green vegetables and tofu one bite at a time.

Xu Gai only ate a small half bowl of rice, and he couldn't eat any more, put down the dishes and chopsticks, stood up and walked to the inner room.

Dani asked in a low voice, "Mother, what's wrong with Dad?"

Madame replied in a low voice as she stood up, "Dani, let's eat, don't ask."

Madame also walked briskly to the inner room.

After the lady entered the inner room, she asked softly, "Master, why did you only eat half a bowl of rice?" Is Erni's easy-toothed five-flavor chicken delicious? ”

Xu Gai wiped away his tears, sighed and said: "Madam, pick up the rice bowl for your husband, and remember that Xu Maogong ate green vegetable tofu in Yicheng Temple, he really can't eat it, he is only twelve years old, and he will eat green vegetable tofu every day from now on." Speaking of which, tears rained down.

Mrs. comforted: "Master, you and I have already discussed, my son has to learn skills, and it is inevitable to suffer a little."

Xu Gai folded his hands and prayed to the heavens, and said, "Dad, it's the son who is not good, he didn't take good care of your eldest grandson, he eats turnips and greens in the temple every day."

Mrs. comforted: "The master said that famous teachers are hard to find, and now I have found a famous teacher like Master Huitong in Yicheng Temple, Mao Gong has no choice but to go to the temple to learn martial arts, and it is only temporary to endure some hardships."

Xu Gai continued: "Dad, when Mao Gong was just born, he often got minor illnesses, and your old man felt sorry for his eldest grandson, so he found many people to ask for advice. Finally found Caozhou celebrity chef Yi Yuanchao, son, I learned from the famous chef Yi Yuanchao for two years of therapeutic cooking, and learned to cook dozens of famous dishes, but your eldest grandson eats green vegetables and tofu in Yicheng Temple every day, and his son makes famous dishes, he can't eat a bite. After speaking, he cried out loud.

While gently rubbing Xu Gai's chest, the lady persuaded her: "Master, Xu Mao has successfully learned martial arts, and he will come back in two or three years."

Xu Gai said again: "My son eats radish and greens every day, and he has to help Zen Master Huida clean the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, and he has to endure the difficulties of Zen Master Huiyuan from time to time ......"

Speaking of this, thinking of Zen Master Huiyuan's vicious face, he couldn't say any more, Xu Gai couldn't help crying loudly.

Xu Gai cried and cried and suddenly remembered something, wiped a handful of tears, stood up suddenly, rubbed his two big hands repeatedly, walked around the house, stopped, and said in surprise: "Madam, someone is bullying my son."

The lady asked in a low voice, "Master, how can you see it?"

Xu Gai replied: "Uncle Sun said that when Zen Master Huiyuan came to Yicheng Temple at the age of five, he was helpless, and among the more than 500 monks, there were ten or eight unscrupulous disciples, who often bullied him, and maybe they would also bully Xu Maogong."

Mrs. smiled and said: "Master, I have been worried, the master said: Uncle Sun asked the monks to take care of Xu Maogong, and Brother Sun Anfu gave a Chengni inkstone to Huida Zen Master, and Huida Zen Master has promised: Xu Maogong will be maintained in many ways, and there will be no unscrupulous people to bully Xu Maogong."

At this time, Dani asked outside the door, "Mother, why is Dad crying?"

The lady replied, "Your father misses Xu Maogong."

Dani asked, "Mother, I heard that Xu Maogong voluntarily went to Yicheng Temple to learn martial arts?"

The lady replied: "Dani, at first Xu Maogong didn't say that he was willing, nor did he say that he was unwilling to go to Yicheng Temple to learn martial arts, but after two coaxes and persuasions from me and your father, Xu Maogong agreed to go to Yicheng Temple to learn martial arts."

Dani said: "The last time Erni went to her grandmother's house for three months, she didn't see her father crying, Xu Maogong cried after only a day of walking, and Dad was too partial."

Xu Gai said: "Can that be the same? Your grandmother's family eats big fish and meat every day, eats radish and greens in the temple every day, and cleans the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion every day. The more Xu Gai spoke, the more sad he became, and the louder he cried.

The lady said, "Dani, come into the inner room and speak."

The door opened, and Dani took Erni's hand and walked into the inner room.

Xu Gai glanced at Dani and said, "I miss my son, cry a few times, what's in your way?" said that Lao Tzu was eccentric, and on the first day of every month in the future, everyone would eat vegetarian dishes, which was fair. ”

Dani asked, "Dad, how can we eat vegetarian food on the first day of every month?"

Xu Gai replied: "Lao Tzu doesn't care whether he is rich or poor, who made you say that Lao Tzu is eccentric."

Erni hurriedly asked, "Dad, I didn't say that you are partial, I also want to accompany you to eat vegetarian dishes on the first day of every month?"

Xu Gai replied: "Anyone who calls me dad has to eat vegetarian dishes on the first day of every month, so that some people say that Lao Tzu is biased."

After Xu Gai finished speaking, he sat down in the chair and began to cry again.

Dani pouted and clung to her neck and didn't speak.

The lady said, "Dani, don't want to stay here, go to your grandmother's house."

Xu Gai said again: "Uncle Sun said: "Xu Maogong has long been in contact with villains, he has seen the ugly face of villains, and he understands more about the sinister nature of people's hearts, and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Xu Gai continued: "Xu Maogong can see the villain's face clearly? I don't know, but I've seen a villain clearly. ”

Dani said, "Dad, how can you say that your own daughter is a villain?"

Madame said, "Dani, what's the matter with you?" Your father said a word, you said a word, don't our old Xu family have a family law? ”

Dani lowered her head in fright, not daring to speak again.

Erni said: "Mom and Dad, it's our bad and we made you angry, so we went back to the house." After speaking, he pulled Dani and walked out of the inner room quickly.

Xu Gai wiped away his tears and said to himself: "Xu Mao is still good, promising, and filial."

Mrs. rubbed Xu Gai's back, while saying: "Master, my mother often says: children have great skills, will have great achievements, I always think: while Xu Maogong is young, learn more useful skills, look at the old man you cry sadly, a month later, the master went to Yicheng Temple to find an excuse to take Xu Maogong back, and wait for Xu Maogong to grow up to fifteen or sixteen and then go to learn martial arts."

Xu Gai smiled and asked, "Madam, what excuse should you find?"

The lady replied: "Master, let's just say that Xu Maogong's grandfather has brought a letter to celebrate his birthday, and asked Xu Maogong to celebrate his birthday, what does the master think of this excuse?"

Xu Gai replied, "Madam, this excuse is good."